Crazy's Morning Digest after Jets blowout loss to Dolphins

The Jets have quit, the entire team has given up. They no longer care and it is apparent in their play. They have quit on Todd Bowles and that is a huge indictment on not only him but the coaching staff as well. The embarrassing displays from Brandon Marshall, Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, the Secondary, and Special Teams were abysmal. Todd Bowles has lost his 53-man roster to agony over a lost season and the only people giving a damn are the youngsters (Leo Williams, Darron Lee, Jordan Jenkins, Juston Burris, Bryce Petty, Quincy Enunwa, and Robby Anderson), let's not forget Bilal Powell either, who should have been the starting RB the entire season.

Bryce Petty is playing to the best of his abilities, his ceiling is a Landry Jones or Matt Moore type player, but damn the kid plays with some heart. He is a gunslinger with a live arm and the Jets offense has been better than it as all season under his direction (not saying much). Last night, he was off his game and made apparent rookie mistakes. One thing that caught every Jets fans' attention is when he was sandwiched by Wake and Suh. The Jets entire Offensive Line decided to block one Miami Dolphin and Eric Tomlinson did not even bother to look up. This collective group of misfits let their QB get killed and not one of them helped him up, which is very telling to some. Petty getting the wind knocked out of him allowed cockroach, Ryan Fitzpatrick to come into the game and get in on the interception party. If Fitzpatrick starts a meaningless game next week @ New England it will be very revealing as to how the Jets feel about 2nd round pick, Christain Hackenberg's development. Fitzpatrick should never take another snap as a member of the New York Jets and this is coming from someone who wanted him back in the off-season. If neither Petty or Hackenberg can go, Bilal Powell should start out of the wildcat offense.

Via Barstool Sports on Twitter, RIP Bryce Petty

Let's talk about the coaching staff here.... Todd Bowles has to go. I was on the fence about firing him after the Indy Monday Night Football debacle because you do not fire a coach every two years. You create a losing culture and neither players nor potential coaches will be attracted to that. Bowles is a very sound defensive mind, whose defense has been nothing shy of atrocious this season. The defense is the main issue for this team with a defensive HC, that does not go over too well with the fanbase. The two coordinators Kacy Rogers and Chan Gailey have shown vanilla gameplans and might be the biggest issue on this coaching staff. I am one to believe that Woody Johnson is still the biggest problem with the Jets and if you are a die hard Jets fan you probably are crossing your fingers and praying to God that Johnson accepts an ambassador position in the Trump administration.

How can the Jets be fixed? Well, it sure as hell ain't an easy one. First things first, I would fire Todd Bowles and hire an offensive minded experienced Head Coach. Names like Josh McDaniels, Todd Haley, and Sean Payton come to mind. Haley seems the most likely because he does have extensive ties to the Jets and had some success as the Kansas City Chiefs HC from 2009-2011. Next, stick to a re-build. Look what teams like Oakland, Dallas, Tampa Bay, and Tennesse have all done and stick to that. The key there is that they all have franchise QBs. Also, the Jets need an entire roster overhaul, cut everyone that you can possibly cut that is a veteran and makes sense financially. 25 new faces should be on this roster next season and you could put good money on it that they will come via the draft and undrafted free agency. Speaking of the draft, I will have a 3-round Jets mock draft at the bottom. Finally, the Jets need to find a franchise QB. It seems to me that neither Bryce Petty or Christian Hackenberg are the answer to their 40+ year's prayer and they may need to try again in this draft. Names like Mitch Trubisky and DeShaun Watson come to mind here. Whatever it is, the Jets need to find an answer to their biggest glaring hole on their roster and that position just happens to be the most important one in the NFL.

3- Round Jets Mock Draft
1st Round: Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama. The Jets will finally get a much-needed edge rusher to pair with Jordan Jenkins and Lorenzo Mauldin and help their invisible blitz in 2016. This draft choice would probably mean the end of the road for Sheldon Richardson as a Jet (fingers crossed).

2nd Round: DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson. Not a huge Watson fan, but the Jets simply need a QB (again). Watson's stats at Clemson are a huge indicator of success and he is a born winner. Something not too many New York Jets are accustomed to.

3rd Round: Tyler Orlosky, C, West Virginia. Nick Mangold has been a staple on the Jets OL for nearly a decade. The future Jets Ring of Honor' body has clearly broken down and his cap hit is not worth it anymore. Wesley Johnson has played well when given the opportunity to fill in for Mangold, but he is not a long-term solution.

Crazy's 2016-2017 NFL Predictions

AFC East
Patriots: 12-4 (1)
Jets: 10-6 (5)
Bills: 7-9
Dolphins: 6-10

AFC North
Bengals: 11-5 (2)
Steelers: 10-6 (6)
Ravens: 7-9
Browns: 4-12

Rematch of Super Bowl 31, 20 years later in Houston

AFC South
Texans: 9-7 (4)
Jaguars: 8-8
Colts: 6-10
Titans: 3-13

AFC West
Chiefs: 10-6 (3)
Broncos: 9-7
Raiders: 8-8
Chargers: 5-11

AFC Playoffs
Steelers (6) over Chiefs (3)
Jets (5) over Texans (4)
Patriots (1) over Steelers (6)
Bengals (2) over Jets (5)
Patriots (1) over Bengals (2)
AFC Champions: Patriots (1)

NFC East
Giants: 9-7 (4)
Redskins: 8-8
Cowboys: 7-9
Eagles: 4-12

NFC North
Packers: 13-3 (1)
Vikings: 9-7 (6)
Lions: 7-9
Bears: 6-10

NFC South
Panthers: 12-4 (2)
Falcons: 8-8
Saints: 7-9
Bucs: 6-10

NFC West
Seahawks: 12-4 (3)
Cardinals: 11-5 (5)
Rams: 7-9
49ers: 2-14

NFC Playoffs
Seahawks (3) over Vikings (6)
Cardinals (5) over Giants (4)
Packers (1) over Cardinals (5)
Panthers (2) over Seahawks (3)
Packers (1) over Panthers (2)
NFC Champions: Packers

Super Bowl:
Packers (1) over Patriots (1)

NFL Awards
MVP: Aaron Rodgers
OPOY: Andrew Luck
DPOY: Khalil Mack
OROY: Ezekiel Elliott
DROY: Jalen Ramsey
COY: Marvin Lewis
CPOY: Kelvin Benjamin

Mets, Dead in the Water

After getting swept by the first place Nationals, the Mets are floundering. Currently, the Mets are just 3 games above 500 at 40-37 and are 6 games back from first place. You would think getting swept by the worst team in the NL would be enough for this team to start panicking, but somehow that wasn't enough. This team is barely functioning with all their injuries, they can't hit, pitch, manage, run, or field and something has got to change with this team if they don't want to be buried under 500 by the best team in baseball this upcoming weekend. The Mets are so dysfunctional right now, they can't even stop news about a little Noah Syndergaard bone spur from getting out.

As the title of this blog post insinuates, the Mets are dead in the water. They put a solid pitching effort out there every night and just watch their stone-cold offense torture the fan base. It might be impossible for the Mets to get a hit with runners in scoring position or manufacture runs because I sure as hell haven't seen them be able to simply do that. 

When your offense gets mowed down by Bud Norris. Bud Freaking Norris, there is a greater issue at hand with this offense and instead of sitting on their hands, the organization needs to find a viable solution for this issue.

This picture says it all for the Mets season, Alejandro De Aza miserable Mets career in one picture

Now, where does the blame fall? It doesn't fall too far from the tree for me. Personally, I think Terry Collins is way in over his head. He has never ever come into a season as the Mets manager with a legitimate expectation. Now that the team he runs has World Series aspirations, they are cracking under the pressure and the manager is always the first one to go. Granted, when the front office comes into the season with no bench and no depth. And especially no contingency plan for your injury prone players, you shouldn't be surprised with the results happening on the field. Also, when Alejandro De Aza is your best option at "depth", it may be time to monitor Sandy Alderson on his little miserable off-season spending sprees. Obviously, Alderson hasn't handed Collins the best of hands at times, but it is up to Collins to have this team play competitively and they can't even simply do that.

This weekend is make or break for the Mets, if they fall under 500, people should be fired. This is the type of bad play that causes people to lose their jobs and Willie Randolph was let go for much less. It's time for the Mets to "shake things up" like they said they were going to after the debacle vs Atlanta. Make a managerial change, go get Gourriel, go get a 7th inning guy. Just do something before it's too late. This team can not sit on their hands until July 31st, otherwise, it will be the 1987 Mets all over again.

Crazy's Final 2016 NFL Mock Draft

Top quarterback prospects, Jared Goff, and Carson Wentz are the unanimous 1-2 in the 2016 NFL Draft

#1 LA- Jared Goff, QB, California (From TEN)
#2 PHI- Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State (From CLE)

#3 SD- Ronnie Stanley, T, Notre Dame

#4 DAL- Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State

#5 JAC- Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

#6 BAL- Laremy Tunsil, T, Ole Miss

#7 SF- DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon

#8 CLE- Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA (From PHI through MIA)

#9 TB- Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida  

#10 NYG- Jack Conklin, T, Michigan State

#11 CHI- Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia

#12 NO- Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville

#13 MIA- Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (From PHI)

#14 OAK- Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
#15 TEN- Taylor Decker, T, Ohio State (From LA)

#16 DET- Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama

#17 ATL- Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State

#18 IND- Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama

#19 BUF- Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson

#20 NYJ- Noah Spence, EDGE, Eastern Kentucky
#21 WSH- A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
#22 HOU- Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
#23 MIN- Laquon Treadwell. WR, Ole Miss
#24 CIN- Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
#25 PIT- Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
#26 SEA- Germain Ifedi, OG, Texas A&M
#27 GB- Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
#28 KC- William Jackson, CB, Houston
#29 AZ- Artie Burns, CB, Miami
#30 CAR- Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
#31 DEN- Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

Draft Notes:
1) If the Browns "guy" is not there at 8, I think they take a real hard look at Paxton Lynch or they trade back and control next year's draft.

2) I can see Paxton Lynch falling to #20, but if the Jets think he is their guy, they may have to move up to #7, in front of the Browns to take him or in front of the Bills.

3) Panthers do not necessarily need to go CB in Round 1 if Apple, Burns, and Jackson are already gone by #30. Dodd is a better fit than any of those CB's "would be" and Dave Gettleman will not reach for one here.

4) Broncos decide that #31 may be a reach for Paxton Lynch, but if Denver is serious about grooming another QB prospect a la Brock, they need to draft him 

Crazy's 2016 MLB Predictions

My Predicted World Series Matchup: Mets over Astros in 6 games

AL East
Blue Jays: 93-69
Yankees: 87-75
Red Sox: 84-78
Rays: 81-81
Orioles: 78-84

AL Central
Royals: 95-67
Tigers: 90-72 (Wild Card #2)
White Sox: 83-79
Indians: 77-85
Twins: 73-89

AL West
Astros: 92-70
Rangers: 91-71 (Wild Card #1)
Mariners: 86-76
Angels: 77-85
A's: 70-92

NL East
Mets: 94-68
Nationals: 88-74
Marlins: 74-88
Braves: 63-99
Phillies: 60-102

NL Central
Cubs: 101-61
Cardinals: 95-67 (Wild Card #1)
Pirates: 88-74
Brewers: 64-98
Reds: 62-100

NL West
Giants: 91-71
Diamondbacks: 89-73 (Wild Card #2)
Dodgers: 86-76
Padres: 69-93
Rockies: 61-101

AL MVP: Carlos Correa
AL Cy Young: Jordan Zimmerman
AL Rookie of the Year: Tyler White
AL Manager of the Year: Brad Ausmus

NL MVP: Bryce Harper
NL Cy Young: Noah Syndergaard
NL Rookie of the Year: Trevor Story
AL Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon

Astros over Royals in ALCS in 7 games
Mets over Cubs in NLCS in 7 games
Mets over Astros in World Series in 6 games (MVP: Matt Harvey)

Crazy's 1.0 2016 NFL Mock Draft

I am only doing two mock drafts in this draft season. One a month away from the draft and the next one a week before the draft. So here is my 1st Mock draft of 2016:

Round 1:
#1 TEN- Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss

#2 CLE- Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

#3 SD- Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State

#4 DAL- Myles Jack, LB, UCLA

#5 JAC- Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

#6 BAL- Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

#7 SF- Jared Goff, QB, Cal

#8 PHI-  Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (From MIA)

#9 TB- DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon

#10 NYG- Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida

#11 CHI- Leonard Floyd, DE/OLB, Georgia

#12 NO- A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama

#13 MIA- Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson (From PHI)

#14 OAK- Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State

#15 LA- Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

#16 DET- Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama

#17 ATL- Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson

#18 IND- Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State

#19 BUF- Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State

#20 NYJ- Noah Spence, OLB, Eastern Kentucky

#21 WSH- Jarran Reed, DL, Alabama

#22 HOU- Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame

#23 MIN- Josh Doctson, WR, TCU

#24 CIN- Andrew Billings, NT, Baylor

#25 PIT- William Jackson III, CB, Houston

#26 SEA- Jonathan Bullard, DL, Florida

#27 GB- Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas

#28 KC- Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

#29 AZ- Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson

#30 CAR- Keanu Neal, FS, Florida

#31 DEN- Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

Dominating Defense surges Broncos past Panthers in a snooze fest Super Bowl

The Carolina Panthers went into Santa Clara cocky and expecting to win. They had time and they had their chances, but, in the end, the Denver Broncos #1 ranked defense was too much for them to overcome.
 

Cam Newton gets strip-sacked by Von Miller in the 4th Quarter to all but seal a Broncos Super Bowl 50 victory.

In the first quarter down 3-0, Cam Newton stepped back to pass and was strip-sacked by Super Bowl MVP, Von Miller. The fumble was recovered for a touchdown and it was at that moment that the Panthers and their fans suddenly knew that they were in trouble. That strip sack represented the theme of the game. The theme of Cam Newton getting hit hard and hit hard often. The Panthers offensive line had no answer for the Broncos’ defense and it proved costly.


Despite all of the Panthers uncharacteristic mistakes, such as turnovers, bad offensive line play, penalties, and falling asleep at the wheel on special teams, they had the football two times in the 4th Quarter down 16-10 and could not do anything with it. Denver later went on to score another Touchdown after Cam Newton fumbled away the Cardiac Cats' last opportunity. On that play were Newton was strip-sacked again, the MVP made no attempt or effort to go after the ball. It symbolized that Cam Newton and the Panthers as cocky as they were did not want it as badly as the Broncos did.

Here is the main problem that arises, the Panthers going into this game did nothing to change their game plan to prepare for the best defense they have faced all season long. The offense that Cam Newton carried on his back all season long did not show up for this game and neither did the coaching staff. Mike Shula as the offensive coordinator ran the same run play on every first down, a run play up the middle. That play did not work a single time. The Panthers were stubborn and refused to adjust the way they played the game versus one of the best defenses in modern history. That is what did the Panthers in, in the long run, and that is why Peyton Manning was allowed to ride off into the sunset in what will most likely be his final NFL game. The Panthers did exactly everything the Broncos expected them to do offensively and the Broncos read them like a book.

Crazy's Super Bowl Prediction, 18-1 or BUST!

Super Bowl Weekend is finally here after two slow weeks of the media running out of questions to ask and watching star players play two-hand touch football in Honolulu. 

Panthers vs Broncos may be the most lopsided matchup since Broncos vs Falcons Super Bowl in the 1998-1999 season. No one is really giving the Broncos a chance and rightfully so. This is not the same Peyton Manning who threw 55 touchdowns almost 3 years ago, this is a very limited Peyton Manning. Going into this game, the Broncos clearly have the better defense, but not the better offense. Sure, Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware can get after the quarterback and Chris Harris and Aqib Talib can lock down your best wide receivers each and every week, but this is not the Patriots make-shift offensive line. This Panthers offensive line might not even be comparable to the Patriots, it is much much better and they very may be able to contain one of the most ferocious pass rushers in the National Football League. Plus Cam Newton is a more mobile quarterback than Tom Brady and is a pain in the neck to bring down. 

This is Super Bowl 48 all over again. Maybe we are saying different things if Peyton Manning is fully healthy and not almost 40 years old, but this is the Panthers game to lose and it is very hard to foresee them choking it away to an inferior team. Cam Newton is playing like the best quarterback in the league and I cannot see the Panthers letting up, especially when he and his teammates absolutely tore up two comparable defenses in the Cardinals and Seahawks. The Panthers will not lose this game and you can hold me accountable for this one. 

I have the Panthers in this game 34-20. As good as the Broncos defense is, it will not be enough to make up for an offense that is a shell of it's former self. I have the Panthers scoring 34 points because I feel as if Peyton Manning will panic with the Panthers front 7 in his face all game long. He will have at least 2 interceptions and one will be returned for a touchdown. Unless something goes horribly wrong, Cam Newton will most likely be the MVP of the NFL and the MVP of the Super Bowl. 

Watching Matt Moore, Chris Weinke, Tony Pike, and Jimmy Clausen set the quarterback position back 50 years was all worth this. Hopefully, the team with two states can bring back the Super Bowl to where it clearly belongs this season. 

I know I am "Crazy For New York Sports", but this Jets fan who has lived in Charlotte for the past decade and is a closet Panthers fan since 2006, says Keep Pounding and bring this Super Bowl back home!  

Crazy's 2016 NFL Playoff Picks (Panthers take home 1st Super Bowl trophy)

AFC

1) Broncos-Bye

2) Patriots-Bye

3) Bengals

4) Texans

5) Chiefs 

6) Steelers

Chiefs over Texans

Bengals over Steelers

Chiefs over Broncos

Patriots over Bengals

Chiefs over Patriots

AFC Champions: Chiefs

NFC

1) Panthers-Bye

2) Cardinals-Bye

3) Vikings

4) Redskins

5) Packers

6) Seahawks

Seahawks over Vikings

Redskins over Packers

Panthers over Seahawks

Cardinals over Redskins

Panthers over Cardinals

NFC Champions: Panthers

Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, CA: 

Panthers 31- Chiefs 23

MVP: Cam Newton

Jets Choke Again

It pains me with every fiber in my body to write this. The Jets choked, they blew it when it mattered the most. They looked over-matched and were out-played/out-coached in the most meaningful game of the season.

The Jets promising season came to an end last Sunday as Ryan FitzMagic looked more like Ryan FitzTragic in the most decisive game of the season,

Most of the Jets players and their fans are still hurting. All they had to do was win 1 more game and they were in, but Rex Ryan had other plans. This was his "Super Bowl" and it's the only "Super Bowl" he'll ever win. It doesn't matter, he had his guys prepared and was ready to go to war to keep the Jets out of the playoffs, in which he succeeded. 

The Jets problems in that game were on all 3 sides of the ball. Offensively, they could not get anything going and featured Stevan Ridley more than Chris Ivory. Which I still cannot fathom. Defensively, the defense could not get a 3rd down stop all game long and Darelle Revis looked like a rather pedestrian cornerback. Special Teams, Ryan Squibley, the Fat Kicker, and the Fair Catch King struck again. 

Although this season is a huge improvement over last, it's not a successful one. The whole goal is to make the playoffs and make a run to win the Super Bowl. The Jets blew that opportunity, they had 1 game to win and could not do it. I cannot remember a season where the AFC was this wide open, the Jets could have potentially made a Super Bowl run and that's why this loss hurts even more.

I do not think I have it in me to forgive the Jets for blowing this. Will still be a fan for life and live through the pain and suffering. But man, it hurts knowing that your team could be one of 8 teams playing this weekend.