A shared, mutual bond of hating the Patriots, but some perspective on why we let this happen again

If you know me, you understand that my sports fandom is essentially a living hell.

At 19, the Patriots are responsible for crushing my hopes and dreams as a cautiously optimistic die-hard Jets fan. My father, who used to be a Jets season ticket holder is responsible for my fandom, and while we often come to blows over the state of our disappointing football team, we share a common and mutual bond of hating the Patriots.

Hating the Patriots is as American as Apple Pie and Baseball. My first memory as a Jets fan was seeing a lifeless Eric Mangini led team blown out in the Wild Card round by the Patriots, 37-16. The next season, the Patriots went undefeated in the regular season, Spygate, and we know the rest, right?

Yesterday in the mix of seeing what has become all too familiar, I felt like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day.

Now that I am at Temple University, I am a ways away from my home in Charlotte, North Carolina, but the bond between my dad and I over the hatred of the Patriots continues through texts and miserable phone calls after the game's commencement.

Here are some texts I received:

- "This is disgusting."
- "What the f*uck, you don't hit Brady, this is what the f*uck happens."
- "Lol."
- "F*ck the Patriots."
- "KC has no f*ucking defense."
-"You knew this was going to happen the only way you beat Tom Brady is you knock him down and Kansas City didn't even do that once."
- "Lmao."
- "They [Kansas City] look like the New York f*cking Jets on defense pathetic. You know where the ball is going."

I'd have to agree with my dad's assessment. You know where the ball is going, Tony Romo knew where the ball was going, everybody in the Stadium knew where the ball was going, but the Chiefs just did not have the personnel to stop a Hall of Fame quarterback.

I am not going to sit here and argue over Tom Brady's greatness. He is the greatest quarterback in the modern era in football, but yesterday, he was not good, if anything he was not the Tom Brady that we've grown accustomed to seeing.

Brady threw three interceptions, including a season-ending one, where he overthrew Rob Gronkowski, but he was bailed out by Dee Ford's hand being in the neutral zone. The Patriots got their expected break and carried that over into winning the game, as improbable as that seemed.

I have to say, the reaction from the sports media over the outcome of this game is frankly quite embarrassing. Brady was not sacked, barely touched, and not a single ounce of credit has been given to the Patriots OL coach Dante Scarnecchia or the five players on the offensive line, who neutralized the NFL's most feared pass-rush, led by Ford, Justin Houston, and Chris Jones. Kansas City was tied for the lead in sacks in the regular season with 52 sacks in 16 games, which is just about 3.5 sacks per game.

Patrick Mahomes (15) lays on the ground after being knocked down all night. The NFL MVP was hit hard and often, while Tom Brady (not pictured) was not sacked once. | JAY BIGGERSTAFF / USA TODAY

The Patriots are brilliantly coached. They schemed to get the ball out quickly and protect Brady, that is the way to beat the Chiefs. If anyone has watched the Chiefs all season, they won because Patrick Mahomes played at an MVP level and they had an elite pass-rush, their secondary oftentimes held them back. Eric Berry was injured for the majority of the season, and they did not correctly replace the departures of Marcus Peters or Terrance Mitchell.

The glaring issues of the defense have been personnel based and Bob Sutton's outdated schemes have been getting exposed for a while now. Watching the game, Julian Edelman ran the same route on almost every play, a crossing route to the middle, where he was wide open every single time.

The Chiefs knew what was coming, they just did not have the personnel to stop it, which was ever so evident when they allowed the Patriots to convert three third-and-longs on a 13 play-75 yard drive to take them to Atlanta.

The Patriots play a simple brand of football. They get the ball out quickly, they protect the quarterback, and they run the football. It's not hard to defend, but opposing coaches continuously see their own shadows, overthink, overcompensate, and get outcoached every single time. Mike Tomlin and Anthony Lynn for example, who played zone defense against the Patriots when the literal unwritten rule is to play man-to-man.

I've seen my team lose to the Patriots 45-3, 38-3, so forth and so on. I've also seen my beloved Jets beat them in the divisional round of the playoffs after playing a perfect brand of football and what is known as an anti-Patriots repellent. Getting Brady on the ground and forcing turnovers.

There are too many what if's obviously, what could have been, but the Patriots were not a good team this season. They won due to their coaching and that is as clear as day. Nobody has discounted them, nobody has treated them as underdogs, nobody thinks Brady is too old, etc. The notion that people not wanting them to win equated to them being bet against and counted out is laughable. The Chiefs were the best team in the AFC this season, they were the No. 1 overall seed playing at home behind their MVP quarterback, while the Patriots went 3-5 on the road in the regular season. Of course, the Chiefs were favorited, that's not surprising, that's how betting lines and Las Vegas works.

The Patriots have caused me much angst in my life. I felt that loss hard like I was a Chiefs fan. I experienced the pain of the die-hards because I have made myself into a die-hard Patriots hater. I emotionally invest myself and while I was not surprised, the same feeling of being disappointed and just utter state of shock hit me like a tractor trailer.

For now, I have to root for the Los Angeles Rams in two weeks. I don't think the Patriots are losing and I may have to go into a self-induced hibernation to avoid the ridiculous pre-game storylines for the next two weeks.

Myself, along with the rest of America will be rooting for the Patriots demise, but we know how this ends. It'll all come to down to whether a Wade Phillips coached defense will be able to get pressure on Brady, regardless of what Sean McVay has up his sleeve.

For now, I am the biggest Los Angeles Rams fan you know.

Monday Morning Quarterback- 2017 Mets Edition

The disaster that is the Mets season looks to have come to a fitting close on Sunday. Fitting for Sunday as anytime the Mets needed a series win or a sweep on a Sunday, the team would lay down and pack it in for the weekend. On this particular Sunday, with the Mets looking to sweep the Rockies, Steven Matz took the ball and proceeded to give up 7 runs on 9 hits without recording an out in the 2nd inning. This performance embodied the Mets season as a whole. Another piss poor outing from the starter, followed by 6 runs allowed from Salas, Bradford, and Ramirez (Not exactly the Three Musketeers), and hitters not coming through in big spots again. Two consecutive blow out wins in a row vs the current 2nd Wild-Card team, made it seem as if the Mets were bound for another 2nd half run. In '15 and '16 the Mets had the pitching to help carry this team to the playoffs, this season it's just deGrom/Lugo and then pray for rain.

Steven Matz leaves in the 2nd inning without recording a single out

The biggest issue coming into this season was whether or not the Mets starting pitching could maintain a healthy status and continue their dominance of the National League. The Mets putting all their marbles into thinking that their starting pitching would be healthy enough and not worry about constructing a bullpen because they were 7 deep in the rotation and they could just toss Gsellman and Lugo into the pen, came back to bite them where the sun doesn't shine. When Matz and Lugo went down, the Mets were left with an average bullpen. Once Familia underwent surgery and Salas/Robles showed their true colors, the bullpen regressed to the lackluster group of misfits that Sandy Anderson cooked up. Alderson's lack of spending on non-Mets free agents is quite embarrassing. The moves to re-sign Cespedes, Walker, and Blevins were clear no-brainers, as well as picking up the option of Jay Bruce, which turned out to be a terrific move. Not non-tendering Lucas Duda, signing Fernando Salas, or bolstering the pen in any way shape or form is why the Mets stand at 8 games under .500.

Where do the Mets stand now? They should sell all valuable assets that will be free agents this off-season. I would sell high on Jay Bruce and Addison Reed while trying to find trade partners for players like Curtis Granderson, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Lucas Duda. The only way I'd trade Jerry Blevins is if the Mets can get a Kings Ransom back, as he is a terrific lefty specialist, under team control until 2018. The Mets can still pretend to contend like the 2016 Yankees while trading off assets and gaining back top prospects, who can potentially help the Mets in the near future. With close to $60 million coming off the books and two top prospects waiting in the wings, there is no excuse as to why the Mets can't contend in the 2018 season. The Mets need to add a 3B like Mike Moustakas to help improve their offense. You can absolutely live with TJ Rivera at 2B, a potential Lagares/Nimmo platoon in CF (Or just re-sign Bruce and have Conforto man CF), and promote top catching prospect Tomas Nido, with Rene Rivera as his steady backup. The Mets then need to add a veteran starting pitcher, who can eat innings and 2-3 relief pitchers that can hold down innings 6-8.

An interesting article from Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record came out today, speculating whether or not the Mets refuse to call-up Amed Rosario due to the cancerous situation that surrounds starting 2B, Asdrubal Cabrera. Cabrera after being moved to 2B because of his age and therefore lack of range threw a fit, in which he demanded a trade and that the Mets pick up his option for 2018 at the same time. Cabrera is simply not a good enough player for the Mets to keep holding Rosario down at AAA-Las Vegas. It's time for the Mets to send Cabrera into orbit and just let the kid play. He is the #3 prospect in all of baseball after all and the Mets shouldn't let a mediocre journeyman with a bad attitude, prevent them from calling him up.

If the Mets win, say 75 games this year, somebody has to take the fall for that, and Terry Collins is the perfect man for the job. Collins, the Mets manager since 2011, is a terrific player's manager but lacks any skill at in-game managing. His bullpen management, lineup cards, lack of emotion/arguing calls, and playing footsies with the media has put his job on the hot seat and helped this conversation even come into fruition. The Mets overall as a team lack basic fundamentals, such as bunting, base running, and defense, that falls on the lap of the manager and so does under performing with big expectations. Looking beyond this loss of a season, there will be three options at manager for the Mets: Bob Green, Chip Hale, and David Wright. Geren and Hale are both Alderson guys, who will read you the company line, and probably do a decent job, but the Mets can't keep going with status quo. Wright is a ballsy choice as he has no managing experience, but the guy is clearly the leader of this team and it's crystal clear that the team responds positively to his leadership. Wright would certainly be my pick, but as long as Terry Collins is no longer managing the Mets in 2018, it's a win-win situation in my eyes.

Pump the Breaks on the Gloom and Doom

After starting off 7-3 and holding the league's best record, the Mets looked destined for another playoff run. They then went into Washington maintaining an 8-13 record and 1-10 in their last 11 games. A great start was meddled by terrible situational hitting, a not so good bullpen, horrendous managing, and a galore of injuries. The Mets then proceeded to win four consecutive series' in a row from the Nationals, Braves, Marlins, and Giants. Making their mark at 16-17 and going 8-4 in their last 12 games. Through injuries, controversy, and some laughs, the Mets are back at 1 game under .500 because of their outstanding hitting. Players like Michael Conforto, T.J. Rivera, Jay Bruce, and Rene Rivera have all stepped up to the task and have replaced the production of Yoenis Cespedes and Travis d'Arnaud. The pitching, on the other hand, has yet to step up. Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler have both been solid on the mound, while Robert Gsellman, Rafael Montero, Adam Wilk, and Matt Harvey have all been subpar. Gsellman has yet to take the second step in his sophomore season, Montero just can't find the strike zone, Wilk took one for the team after Harvey was suspended, but isn't an MLB pitcher, and Harvey is a troubled diva, who needs to get out of his own way and just think about pitching and not Adriana Lima. Tommy Milone looked serviceable in his Mets debut but resembled a poor mans Jon Niese too much for his own good.

Mets cap off comeback vs. Giants with a Neil Walker walk-off RBI Single

The Harvey situation is a lose-lose situation for both sides. If you don't know already, Matt Harvey claimed he had a "migraine" after going out golfing, when he really was out partying until 4 am because he was upset that his supermodel girlfriend was spending time with her ex-boyfriend, Patriots wide receiver, Julian Edelman. Harvey skipped out on the Mets game on Saturday and that was apparently the last straw for the "embattled diva". The immature 28-year-old was suspended three games without pay and made a heartfelt apology to his teammates after Adam Wilk has flown in after no sleep to take one on the chin for a suspended Harvey.

The plethora of injuries started with Yoenis Cespedes pulling up lame on a double and re-injuring his hamstring even worse than it was before. Cespedes had tweaked his hamstring before and rested during a three-game series. After resting Cespedes then re-injured his hamstring and was placed on the 10-day DL. Travis d'Arnaud injured his wrist after hitting his hand on the back of a bat barrel trying to throw out a runner. He too, rested a few days and then was back in the line-up, only to also re-injure himself. Noah Syndergaard refused to take an MRI on what was called "Biceps Tendinitis", felt he was good to go on that Sunday afternoon, gave up 5 runs in the 1st inning, and then partially tore his lat muscle in the 2nd inning. Leading to a disastrous and embarrassing 23-8 defeat after winning the series in Washington. This all goes into the notion that the Mets mishandle injuries like there is no tomorrow. Their training staff has to be the worst in baseball and year after year, there is always a barrage of injuries, no matter what. Something has got to give with that, you just cannot be the most unhealthy team in baseball season after season, year after year. The Mets have been mocked mercilessly due to their mismanagement of injuries, as Cespedes, d'Arnaud, and Syndergaard have joined already injured players such as David Wright, Steven Matz, Seth Lugo, and Lucas Duda.

The injuries can not overshadow how well the Mets have played as of late though. The offense has clicked on all cylinders and the bullpen has been extremely solid minus the Jeurys Familia blown save that he was due for yesterday. This team has guts, and they are fighters. I really did not expect them to come back to .500 or near .500 this quickly. I am not a fan of him, nor do I like his bullpen management styles as Addison Reed, Jerry Blevins, Fernando Salas, and Hansel Robles are all near the top of the MLB in appearance, which does not seem sustainable, but you have to give Terry Collins a little bit of credit for his team not quitting during this bombardment of injuries. During the past two seasons, through all his bad decision making, Collins has kept his team together through the thick and thin of controversy and injury, and they somehow this season, have bounced backed again through the controversies of Matt Harvey and Noah Syndergaard and every single injury that has impacted this team.

The Mets are also extremely fortunate that the current holders of first place in the National League East, do not have much of a bullpen at all. They are only 5.5 games back when in fact, it could be much much worse. The Nationals have the best and deepest lineup in baseball, but if the Mets can figure out their rotation, they sure as hell can go toe-toe with the Nationals any day of the week.

Through tough times, this team has battled like no other. The depth of their offense will create good problems, and the lack of depth of their pitching will create bad ones. If this team can play like they are right now, and keep taking series', they'll be a fun watch down the stretch. They are for sure a second half-team, proven for two consecutive seasons in a row. For now, they need to focus on their upcoming three-game series in Milwaukee vs. the Brewers with Matt Harvey on the bump trying to win a fifth consecutive series.

Crazy's 2017 MLB Predictions: Indians over Dodgers in 6

Projected Indians vs. Dodgers World Series Matchup

AL East
Red Sox: 95-67
Blue Jays: 91-71 (Wild Card #1)
Orioles: 82-80
Yankees: 81-81
Rays: 77-85

AL Central

Francona gets the last laugh this time

Indians: 97-65
Tigers: 85-77
Royals: 75-87
Twins: 66-96
White Sox: 61-101

AL West
Mariners: 92-70
Astros: 88-74 (Wild Card #2)
Rangers: 84-78
Angels: 83-79
A's: 79-83

AL Wild Card: Blue Jays over Astros
ALDS: Indians over Blue Jays
ALDS: Red Sox over Mariners
ALCS: Indians over Red Sox
AL Champions: Indians

AL MVP: Mookie Betts
AL CY Young: Corey Kluber
AL ROY: Andrew Benintendi
AL Manager of the Year: Scott Servais
Comeback Player of the Year: Michael Brantley

NL East
Mets: 94-68
Nationals: 90-72 (Wild Card #1)
Marlins: 80-82
Phillies: 76-86
Braves: 72-90

NL Central
Cubs: 99-63
Cardinals: 86-76
Pirates: 77-83
Brewers: 71-91
Reds: 62-100

NL West
Dodgers: 96-66
Rockies: 87-75 (Wild Card #2)
Giants 78-84
Diamondbacks: 74-87
Padres: 66-96

NL Wild Card: Nationals over Rockies
NLDS: Cubs over Nationals
NLDS: Dodgers over Mets
NLCS: Dodgers over Cubs
NL Champions: Dodgers

NL MVP: Nolan Arenado
NL Cy Young: Noah Syndergaard
NL ROY: Dansby Swanson
NL Manager of the Year: Bud Black
Comeback Player of the Year: Bryce Harper

World Series: Indians over Dodgers in 6
World Series MVP: Francisco Lindor
Playoff MVP: Corey Seager

Crazy's Thoughts on the Jets New QB

Yesterday evening, the Jets signed a 38-year-old career journeyman to a 1 year/$6.5 million deal. Josh McCown is not a flashy signing, nor is he the most talented quarterback on the current free agent market, but he clearly fits the Jets current plan of tanking. 

McCown comes with high praise. A great teammate, leader, mentor, and father. He will come into camp as the starter, but Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg will have every opportunity to beat him out for that starting job. It is clear cut that his duty on this team is to mentor these quarterback prospects and hopefully one of them will turn into the Jets starter of the future. Right now, that does not look like the case, and it seems like the Jets have turned their full attention to obtaining the #1 selection in the 2018 NFL Draft and selecting the best quarterback prospect in Sam Darnold, from USC.

The last time Josh McCown was in New York....

In my opinion, this was the right move to make. Cutler and Kaepernick are both more talented and both would demand more money, but a team in the position of the Jets do not need those type of distractions on the back page New York tabloids. Many Jets fans were agitated by this signing, which to me makes little to no sense. McCown knows his role, hell he did it for the past two seasons in Cleveland. He is the right guy in the locker room for this young and rebuilding team and with his contract, it does not force the Jets hand into starting him, especially if Petty and Hackenberg perform well in Training Camp.

Of course, there will be jokes about the Jets signing McCown because he is a career journeyman with some pretty bad statistics (granted, he has been on some God-awful teams). McCown will absolutely go out there every Sunday and give you everything he's got, that can't be said for someone named Jay Cutler. He's the definition of a team player and someone who you definitely want on your team if you are currently in the stages of rebuilding.

Clearly, it is not the prettiest signing in the world, but if McCown can be everything that Fitzpatrick wasn't to Petty/Hack, the $6.5 million is worth every penny. Put me down on record saying that McCown won't start more games than Petty/Hack, but he'll sure hold that clipboard for almost $7 million and mentor these guys like he has in the past.

If everything goes as planned, Josh McCown will rarely take snaps from under center as QB #1 of the New York Jets. Ideally, Christian Hackenberg can emerge as the starter in training camp and the starting QB of the future. That's the Jets plan after all. 

Crazy's AFC & NFC Championship Game Predictions

Green Bay @ Atlanta, 3:05 ET on Fox- Joe Buck and Troy Aikman on the Call.

A week 8 rematch in which a Packers team started their free fall, the Falcons barely inching out a victory at 33-32. The Packers, while beat up, are a much different team now. They ran the table after 4 straight losses, including 2 blowouts to non-playoff teams. They are also coming off beating the #1 seed at home. Aaron Rodgers is on fire, he is on a mission to take his team to Houston and the only way that Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons can put out this fire is by winning in a shootout. Neither team has an impressive defense, the Falcons might have the upper hand with Vic Beasley, but both teams have injury ridden secondaries and are quite easy to pass on. The MVP voters have probably already voted, but this is a true battle between MVP candidates. Whoever comes out on top is much deserving of the MVP and I believe it to be Aaron Rodgers. I'm sticking to my pre-season Super Bowl which had the Packers coming out of the NFC and the Patriots coming out of the AFC. I am still rooting for Atlanta to win this game because I feel like it's time for some new blood in the Super Bowl, but Rodgers vs Brady will be a battle for the ages.

My Prediction: Packers 30 Falcons 28. Another very close game, but the red-hot Green Bay Packers will try to make it 3 consecutive wins indoors.


Pittsburgh @ New England, 6:40 ET on CBS- Jim Nantz and Phil Simms on the Call.

Another rematch, this one in Week 7, where the Patriots won handily 27-16 vs a Big Ben-less Steelers. Nothing I want to see more is a Patriots loss, as a Jets fan, but I just cannot see it happening. The Patriots looked very beatable last week @ home vs Houston. If Houston had started Tom Savage over Brock Osweiler, Pittsburgh might be hosting the AFC Championship Game. That's not the case, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots look to punch their ticket to Houston vs a Steelers team that could not score a Touchdown last week @ Kansas City. I have the Patriots winning by 8, they will be too much for Steelers. A Steelers team that hasn't won at Gillette Stadium since 2008, when Matt Cassel was the Patriots starting QB (Brady tore his ACL- Week 1 vs KC). Mike Tomlin will see Bill Belichick's shadow and the Patriots will ultimately prevail. This is not an indictment on the Steelers, they are a very good team, but don't ever bet against Tom Brady or Bill Belichick at home, hosting a playoff game. New England has only lost one championship game at home in recent memory and that was 2012 to the Baltimore Ravens.

My Prediction: Patriots 31 Steelers 23. This game will be very close, but the Pats will pull away late in the 4th Quarter and meet the Packers for Super Bowl 51 in Houston.

I want to see a Pittsburgh-Atlanta Super Bowl very badly, two battles between two prolific offenses. The American people will be stuck with Green Bay-New England, which will still be a hell of a game. The Battle between Rodgers and Brady, who have never faced in a Super Bowl, that was Bledsoe and Favre in Super Bowl 31.

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. 

Win and the Jets are in

"It's about damn time" Todd Bowles exclaimed as the Jets pulled off the biggest victory in this new regimes young tenure. Injury-riddled or not, the Jets were the better team on Sunday and with a little help from Ryan Mallett, they are 1 win away from the playoffs.

The man standing in the way of the Jets is Rex Ryan. This is Ryan's Super Bowl, he would like nothing more to send the Jets home packing from a potential playoff berth as he did to the Dolphins 2x in the past two seasons. A Bills defense who has looked like they have quit after their horrible loss to the Jaguars in London. Do you really think they will play hard for a coaching staff they don't particularity like or will they lay down and let the Jets waltz into the playoffs?

The Jets also got help from Bill Belichick's arrogant decision to kick in overtime rather than to receive the football. Belichick thought he could get the Jets to punt and then kick a game-winning FG with his automatic kicker. The Jets were offended by this and were motivated by the doubt that BB had in their offense. Ryan Fitzpatrick (FitzMagic) drove the Jets down the field with ease and threw a game-winning 6 yard TD pass to Eric Decker.

No this is gravy or we are better than expected bull. It is time for the Jets to finally rise to the occasion and send this team to the promise land.

I do not know want to hear that the Patriots intentionally lost this game because they were afraid of the Steelers. Have you seen the Steelers secondary? Brady would have a field day! The Jets are a hot and potentially dangerous team that no one wants a part of in the playoffs. Do you think the Patriots really want to face the Jets after the confidence the Jets showed Sunday? They don't and neither does the rest of the AFC.

Prediction for Sunday; Jets will not let up vs Bills. Rex Ryan and his "Super Bowl aspirations" will come up short in a close and well-fought game. Jets win 27-18.

Jets at a mid-season crisis at 5-5

At this point in the season, the Jets are showing their true colors. They are a mediocre football team, who got off to a hot start. Yes, in the past two weeks Todd Bowles has made some questionable decisions and that comes with the price of a rookie head coach. Do you not think that Rex Ryan made some bad decisions his rookie season? Of course, he did.

The roster is constructed as well as it can be. This season, the Quarterback position has not been the problem for the Jets. Ryan Fitzpatrick has played to the best of his abilities and has actually been the Jets best option at that position. Geno Smith is not the answer and never was, and Bryce Petty still has a couple years left to develop into an NFL player. As of now, Fitzpatrick is a good stop gap there.

The biggest issue the Jets face is not being able to overcome their big injuries. Losing Calvin Pryor and Nick Mangold has hurt the Jets more than the eye can see. Pryor has become the anchor of that secondary and Todd Bowles has him playing his natural position. Nick Mangold is a future hall of famer, and the Jets run game lives and dies on him being healthy. Hence why Chris Ivory has not been effective as of late.

Cutting Quinton Coples sends a message, whether the Jets intended it to or not. It sends a message that players who half-ass it on the field and are not a scheme fit, will not be here long. The Jets are implying that it does not matter whether you were a former 1st round pick or not. If you do not perform, you are a goner. This finally allows the Jets to "free" Lorenzo Mauldin and get the rookie, the playing time he deserves.

Lastly, Jets fans have to understand that 10 games will not undo 6 years of bad drafting and 4 years of non-playoff football. The last regime left the Jets with a good salary cap and a bad roster.The new regime has filled the necessary holes. Obviously the Jets still have glaring holes on both sides of the ball, but they are good enough to get by.

Right now the Jets are tied for the final wild-card spot and are still in the hunt. This Sunday vs the Dolphins will make or break this .500's team season and hopefully Todd Bowles going off on his players after Sunday's embarrassing loss and cutting Quinton Coples, will send a message and light a fire under this team, who desperately needs a spark.

Cam and the Cats, best team in the NFC

On August 19th, 2015, the Panthers season looked to be over before it started. Star receiver, Kelvin Benjamin went down with a torn ACL, leaving the Carolina Panthers with a scrap heap at the wide receiver position.

With the Panthers clearly not letting one injury define their season, they improved their record to 7-0 after beating the Colts in a sloppy game, in a torrential downpour.

How are the Panthers 7-0? Well, it starts in the trenches. The offensive and defensive lines have played fantastic this season. Especially the offensive line, they have really done a better job of protecting their franchise quarterback, Cam Newton. Newton looks like a more mature quarterback this season, he has finally put all the tools in place to become of the league's best at his position. He has little to no help on the offensive side of the ball, and he is still getting it done. The Panthers have also been able to run the football effectively this season. They had put their faith in injury prone running back, Jonathan Stewart, and it is finally paying off.

On the other side of the ball, Josh Norman has statistically been the best cornerback in the NFL. Other teams are actually afraid of throwing the ball to his side of the field because he is just that good of a cornerback.

The Panthers have what it takes this season, to go the distance all the way to Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco. They are elite on both sides of the football and finally have a mature leader at QB who can finally take them to the promise land.

The New York Mets are heading to the World Series

Years of long suffering have been worth all of this, the unexpected. Nobody coming into the season had the New York Metropolitans in the playoffs, let alone the World Series. But here we are, 3 days away from something not seen by the Mets faithful fans in nearly 15 years.

The season was over nearly a dozen times this season. Until Sandy Alderson manned up and finally decided to listen to his fan base. He made 3 crucial trades that has positively effected this ball club and he's never looked back. Without that strong showing at the trade deadline, the Mets are most likely in second place, watching next week's World Series from their couches.

I have waited a long time for this, as a die hard Mets fan.The fact that this team has faced every single side of adversity and is in the World Series still has not hit me yet. I guess you could say I am in shock, but that's because these moments are just surreal. You can also bet your behind that there will be chills going down my spine when I watch the game on Tuesday Night.

The "lovable losers" are even more lovable. This is gravy, as Terry Collins and many other Mets fans have reiterated. I am not going to settle for a World Series appearnce though, I want this World Series and I want the Mets to take the damn thing!

Whatever the result is come the end of the season though, I will be thrilled nonetheless. It's the Mets time and hopefully they have 4 more wins left in them, if not, they obviously will not go down without a fight.