The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: NFL

  • When in-person sports can’t be a reality, fantasy delievers

    When in-person sports can’t be a reality, fantasy delievers

    The Lumberjack guide to fantasy football

    2020 has been a year of disruption felt throughout the globe let alone Humboldt State campus. Like most industries in America, live sports has been subjected to repercussions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    With most states banning the gatherings of large amounts of people, sports organizations such as the NBA and MLB have attempted to salvage the remaining portions of their seasons in order to keep fans entertained and revenue coming in. As the fall has drawn closer many have worried the pandemic would stifle the incoming football season. Though the arenas in which these teams rival for the next few months may be empty, the fans at home are champing at the bits for the action their hearts long for.

    Despite the current pandemic stifling most ways fans enjoy football season, one thing remains as popular as ever: Fantasy Football.

    Though it might be daunting from an outsider looking in, fantasy football is a pretty easy game to get into for fans of all ages.The first step of the game for any prospective fantasy football franchise owner is finding a league.This can be accomplished by joining or starting a league with a group of friends, coworkers or family members, if not joining a league online.

    For the novice beginner with no previous experience we suggest joining a league with people you know first. Each league ranges in size from eight to sixteen team owners.The league fee also ranges from group to group, often varying from twenty to a few hundred dollars per individual participating in the season.This pool of money is then distributed to the team that come in first place.

    Fantasy football is a game that can be learned as the season progresses but the gist is that the better your players perform during the regular NFL season, the better they will perform each week against other teams in your league. The players’ stats from each week are added up and the team with the most points is the winner.It is important to start your franchise off with a solid roster. As draft day approaches here’s a few tips and tricks that will help you curate a team that will hopefully perform well throughout your season.

    Select players that you project will continue to perform well from last season.

    Be weary of players that have the same by weeks during the season because this will dramatically affect your teams chances of winning during such weeks.

    Steer clear of players that are prone to injuries, suspensions or any lackluster performance from previous seasons.

    At the end of the day what you learn throughout the season will be as a result of trial and error. Have fun with it, learn from your mistakes and don’t be afraid to take a chance on certain opportunities that may arise during the season.

  • Determined and Dedicated: Eureka Local Paves the Way to the NFL

    Determined and Dedicated: Eureka Local Paves the Way to the NFL

    NFL Green Bay Packers pick up Eureka standout in the 2020 Draft

    You’re watching the 2020 NFL Draft. It’s the sixth round and the Green Bay Packers are on their 29th pick. The Packers are about to make a life altering call to a player who will soon have the chance of playing alongside the quarterback legend, Aaron Rodgers. A familiar Humboldt County name flashes across the screen. Former local Eureka high school alumnus and University of Oregon center, Jake Hanson has just been drafted as the 208th overall pick for the Green Bay Packers for this upcoming 2020-21 season.

    A key component of Hanson’s journey began when he signed to play for the Oregon Ducks in 2015. During his four seasons playing with the Ducks, Hanson started almost every game. During his first three seasons, Hanson didn’t allow a single sack with a total of 2,738 snaps. The starting center received a total of two honorable AP second team Pac-12 All Conference recognitions.

    Tyson Miller is a local MMA pro fighter, former high school teammate and good friend of Hanson’s. Miller and Hanson initially met in kindergarten but it wasn’t until the two went to a football camp together their freshman year when they really hit it off and started hanging out. Miller sees what many fans have noticed on social media since the draft. Hanson comes in at almost 6’5”, 303 lbs, his size works to his advantage.

    “First of all, his size,” Miller said, “He was bigger than most of the other lineman on the field.”

    Size is not the only key feature that stands out about Hanson. Miller points to Hanson’s effort on the field as a big upside.

    “He’s going to be a professional football player.”

    Tyson Miller

    “Jake is going to give it 100%,” Miller said. “If somebody demanded more than 100%, he was more than willing to give more than 100% right back.”

    The dedication and game mentality that Hanson possesses is one that is truly admired by not only Miller, but by others as well. The ability to turn up the heat in a game is sets athletes apart from one another.

    “[He is] going to be a professional athlete,” Miller said, “He’s going to be a professional football player.”

    Hanson is going to be a memorable name within the community and make an unforgettable mark for the Packer Nation.

    In an article by Forbes, Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst pointed out Hanson’s work ethic and personality as a positive for the teams newly acquired offensive lineman.

    “Just really a model of consistency and another culture guy,” Gutekunst said. “The kind of guys that we like to bring into our offensive line room.”

    While the Packers have their seven year veteran center Corey Linsley under contract for another year, there is no doubt that Hanson will be Linsley’s backup for this upcoming season. Hanson is going to be a great asset to the Packers. His strength, size and quick feet will play a pivotal role in his movement of helping block the defensive line. I am predicting that with time, after the team continues to work with him and his snap consistency, he will be their starting man.

    If you’re looking to watch some football and don’t know what to do without Humboldt State’s football program but still want that local spin, be sure to tune into some of the Green Bay Packers match ups. Remember to look for #67 on the field.

  • Here’s How You Can Drown Your Sports Sorrows

    Here’s How You Can Drown Your Sports Sorrows

    While sports may be at a standstill, you can still relish and relive your favorite game moments

    Every major sports league, from the UEFA Champions League to the NBA, has canceled or postponed their league for the remainder of the year to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. This is a very tough pill to swallow for sports fans around the world, but there are still opportunities for fans to relive past games and watch sports shows and documentaries while practicing social distancing.

    One way these professional leagues are accommodating their fans is by offering free league passes to watch any past game you could think of. Leagues like the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB are offering these free league passes until May 31.

    If you have a cable provider like Spectrum or AT&T, channels like ESPN, FOX Sports, TUDN and CBS sports are showing daily replays of old football, basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer both at the professional and college levels.

    In addition to all these replays, ESPN has pushed up the release of one of their most anticipated documentaries, “The Last Dance,” to April 19. The documentary is based on Michael Jordan and the 1990s Chicago Bulls, who won six NBA championships and are generally considered the greatest basketball dynasty of all time. The documentary is a 10-part series of never-before-seen behind-the-scenes.

    From movies to shows, sports are being given to us at an all-time high rate through many mediums.

    Netflix is also doing its part in getting more sports to us through shows and documentaries. Some of the more popular documentaries include three must-sees. First, “I Am Bolt,” detailing the athletic legacy of the greatest Olympic sprinter in history, Usain Bolt. Second, “Q-Ball,” a documentary about the basketball league in San Quentin prison. Third, “Notorious,” the documentary on UFC’s bad boy, Conor McGregor, and his rise to fame in the sport.

    Sports TV shows can also help entertain you through social distancing. One of the more popular shows right now is “All-American.” The show is based around Spencer, one of the best high school football players in the country from Crenshaw in Los Angeles, who transfers to Beverly Hills High School. The TV drama is basically “90210” meets “Friday Night Lights.”

    If you’re a wrestling fan, you’re in luck. Hulu has every episode of WWE’s “Raw” and “Smackdown” so you can relive the best fights. The same goes for the “Ultimate Fighter,” which produced some of the best UFC fighters such as TJ Dillashaw, Rashad Evans and Tony Ferguson.

    YouTube can also help with sports withdrawals. It has any kind of highlight you can think of, from France’s run toward the 2018 World Cup, to Lebron James’ first championship in 2012 with the Heat, to highlights from Super Bowl LII when the Eagles upset Tom Brady and the Patriots. The list goes on. Any sporting memory you have is almost guaranteed to be on YouTube.

    These are just a few options we have during social distancing to stay in touch with our inner fan. From movies to shows, sports are being given to us at an all-time high rate through many mediums. So stay home, stay healthy and drown your sorrows of social distancing with your favorite sports.

  • Ja’Quan Gardner Rushes into the XFL

    Ja’Quan Gardner Rushes into the XFL

    HSU adds another pro football player to its record, but not for the league you think

    The XFL is back after a 19-year break and is the next football league to try to fill the gap between NFL seasons. Former Humboldt State University running back Ja’Quan Gardner has joined the Seattle Dragons along with former NFL prospects and players.

    This isn’t the first professional league that Gardner has played in. A story by the Lost Coast Outpost said he spent a short time in the NFL after being signed as a non-drafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers, only to play one preseason game in 2018 before being waived. He also played for another rival league to the NFL, the now-defunct Alliance of America Football where he led the league in rushing on the San Diego Fleet before having to undergo shoulder surgery.

    It may seem like just another NFL, but the XFL does have some aspects that make it stand out.

    The XFL originally started in 2001, and ran for a season with poor ratings as it tried to turn football into a reality show similar to the WWE. After learning his lesson the first time, WWE Chairman and founder of the original XFL Vince McMahon has brought the league back with familiar faces.

    In October, Gardner was drafted to the Seattle Dragons, who lost their opener 31-19 against the D.C. Defenders with Gardner rushing for only 36 yards in nine attempts. In their second game against the Tampa Bay Vipers on Feb. 15, they came out victorious with the Dragons winning 17-9. Gardner rushed for 27 yards in 10 attempts.

    It may seem like just another NFL, but the XFL does have some aspects that make it stand out.

    An NPR article explained the league has a few notable rule changes that make it unique.

    In the NFL, nearly every score ends with an extra point try. In the XFL, they have ditched the kick and replaced it with 3-point, 2-point and 1-point tries from the 10-yard, 5-yard and 2-yard line, respectively. Paired with this is a so-called comeback period where the clock will stop after every play in the final two minutes of each half. This will give trailing teams a better chance at making a comeback.

    The play clock has been shortened to 25 seconds, teams only have two timeouts, halftime is only 10 minutes and the clock doesn’t stop after incomplete passes and out-of-bound plays like in the NFL. These time changes are in an attempt to shorten the three-hour-long games the NFL is accustomed to and limit the downtime in the game.

    These are just a few of the new rules the XFL is changing to try and become a reasonable substitution for the NFL during the spring.

    You can watch Ja’Quan Gardner and the Seattle Dragons take on the Dallas Renegades Feb. 22 at 5:00 p.m.

  • Athletes Are People Too

    Athletes Are People Too

    Pro sports is a two-sided business in need of a power redistribution 

    Owners of professional sports teams have made headlines the last few years for all the wrong reasons. The primary issue regards team owners treating players as property instead of as people, and a good amount of this coverage surrounds the National Basketball Association and the National Football League.

    Since 2014 there have been numerous situations where owners of sports teams made racially-toned remarks concerning their athletes, who are predominately black. Simply referring to whomever controls the majority of the team as ‘owner’ can have its own racial implications in leagues where most players are people of color.

    According to the NBA’s 2015 Racial and Gender Report Card and a 2014 NFL Census, 75% of NBA players and 68% of NFL athletes are black. The NBA also has the largest percentage of people of color in its fan base, whereas NFL fans are primarily white.

    In 2014, The NBA forced former LA Clippers’ shareholder Donald Sterling to sell his team after a tape of him spouting racist remarks was released to TMZ. But in the NFL it seems like their majority shareholders are able to get away with more. NFL team owners were more vocal than ever this past season due to the outrage from many fans about players kneeling during the National Anthem.

    While NFL contracts may seem ridiculous compared to other high-grossing sports, professional football players receive the lowest percentage of guaranteed money in their contracts. In contrast, NBA athletes make every cent of their contracts and are often considered to be involved in the daily running of the league as opposed to just their respective teams’ shareholders making all the decisions.

    When it comes to the relationship between owners and their athletes, a large factor in the athlete’s treatment is how fans act. Rhetoric during the kneeling protests relayed many of the players who took a knee as unpatriotic, spoiled and privileged, with fans telling players to “shut up and play.”

    Fans treat players as if they are toys for amusement instead of human beings. And team owners treat players like property that can be replaced at any moment. But when there is a media storm of fans and others calling for change like with the Clippers in 2014, progress can be made. Fans hold more power than they know and can directly affect how teams are handled and how athletes are treated.

  • Get ready for the NFL Draft this Thursday

    Get ready for the NFL Draft this Thursday

    The NFL Draft is coming to Nashville Tennessee on April 25-April 27. The NFL Draft is when National Football League franchises get to select newly eligible players who are coming from colleges.

    There have been 11 players drafted to the NFL that went to Humboldt State University in 84 years of the Draft. Alex Kappa was the last Humboldt State player to be selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 94th overall college player in the 2018 NFL Draft.

    Mike Mayock was quoted in 2018 saying, “he had the nastiest tape of any Division II offensive lineman he has ever seen.” Before that the last time an HSU student-athlete was drafted was 1992, it was Freeman Baysinger.

    Baysinger was selected as the 333rd overall player by the New England Patriots. The difficulty and the journey to be considered for one of the top spots in football is a statistical longshot but these few may have what it takes.

    There are a ton of great future pro bowlers in this year’s draft that teams need. The top five picks are sure to make an impact in their first season and for their organizations. Here are my top (projected) five picks in the draft and the teams that will select them.

    1. Kyler Murray – Quarterback – Arizona Cardinals

    Murray is an outstanding thrower and playmaker from Oklahoma University, opting to play professional football over playing professional baseball. He is an excellent pocket passer that can extend plays with his feet and deliver the pass on the run. The Cardinals already drafted quarterback Josh Rosen last year but went just 3-13. Patience might be running out in the desert with likely only one season left for Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame career. With David Johnson, Christian Kirk, and newly signed receiver Kevin White, there is undoubtedly enough star power to win games for Murray in Arizona.

    2. Nick Bosa – Defensive End – San Francisco 49ers

    Bosa is an explosive lineman that attacks the line of scrimmage with authority. He went to The Ohio State University and his brother Joey is a top 10 defensive end in the NFL on the Los Angeles Chargers. The 49ers can use all the defensive help they can get. They went out and acquired a top linebacker in Kwon Alexander, and added outside linebacker/pass rusher Dee Ford who compiled 13 sacks for the Kansas City Chiefs last year. The 49ers also have Defensive End Deforest Buckner who had 12 sacks last year as well. With Bosa and Buckner on the ends and Ford coming to rush the passer as well this defense should be much improved given the health of their star cornerback Richard Sherman.

    3. Josh Allen – Outside Linebacker – New York Jets

    Allen, a University of Kentucky product, is a fantastic edge rusher, something the Jets need. Allen is fast and extremely athletic, closing in on the ball carrier or QB with speed. The Jets acquired C.J. Mosley to man the middle in free agency and Zadarius Smith. They should see an upgrade on the defensive side of the ball. Leonard Williams and Jamal Adams are among the elite on the defensive side of the ball and are looking to change the identity of the Jets D. If the Jets select Allen at three expect him to be a starter Week 1.

    4. Quinnen Williams – Defensive Tackle – Oakland Raiders

    The Raiders need someone to plug the middle of the defense, and Williams can do just that. Coming from the University of Alabama, Williams is a disruptive force. He stuffs the run and rushes the pass from the interior gaps along the line. Grabbing Lamarcus Joyner and Vontaze Burfict in free agency were significant additions to this defense, Williams would immediately help as well. With three first round picks the Raiders can’t afford to mess this up. If they choose Williams they should be ok.

    5. Devin White – Inside Linebacker – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    Losing Kwon Alexander to the 49ers was huge but getting White would also be a great addition. With current linebacker Lavonte David and White paired, they would be one of the best tandems in the league. With Jason Pierre-Paul who had 12.5 sacks and Gerald McCoy who is a force on the line, this group has talent. They are looking to improve and White’s speed will do just that. Nobody in this year’s draft has the defensive intelligence to obtain a quick read on the ball like White. This ability helps him get into crucial spots on the field, where he’s waiting to make the big play. The Buccaneers will need this going up against the speedy New Orleans Saints offense.

  • Patriots dynasty a ticking time bomb

    Patriots dynasty a ticking time bomb

    The New England Patriots have established a dynasty unlike any other team in the National Football League over the past 20 years.

    However, all great things must come to and end.

    For the Patriots, the end means kicking down the door.

    We have all seen the numbers: five Super Bowl wins, seven Super Bowl appearances, 12 American Football Conference titles and 15 divisional titles.

    Dominance like this in professional football is unheard of. The Patriots got extremely lucky back in 2001 when Drew Bledsoe’s injury made way for an unknown quarterback from the University of Michigan to step onto the field.

    The NFL was changed forever.

    Tom Brady’s legacy as the best quarterback in football history cannot be mentioned without saying the name Bill Belichick, a strategic genius who always knows the perfect counter to an opponent’s game plan. Bellchick is the peanut butter to Brady’s jelly.

    Brady and Belichick hoarded wins, championships and individual honors together, including Most Valuable Player awards for Brady and Coach of the Year honors for Belichick. If you look closely, though, the Patriots’ recent loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII marks the beginning of the end of the dynasty for a number of reasons.

    Brady is getting old. According to an opinion written in the Boston Globe, quarterbacks usually peak in their 20’s. If this is correct, that was 20 years ago for Tom Brady. So the likelihood of injuries becoming a factor increases exponentially with each passing week.

    Brady has already suffered a major knee injury in 2008 to go along with the normal trauma suffered in the NFL. Seventeen years is a long time to get hit by giant humans trained in the art of sacking quarterbacks. Father Time is still undefeated, no matter how many life-changing TB12 shakes Brady drinks.

    Secondly, it seems that the equilibrium established inside the Patriots organization has been thrown out of whack. An infamously private team, the Patriots have only let two scandals distract them from putting the NFL in a sleeper-hold: Deflategate and Spygate.

    As reported by Seth Wickersham, Belichick and Brady have been in a silent power struggle for who will be the man taking the credit for their unprecedented triumphs.

    The cracks in the relationship show mostly when looking at the Jimmy Garoppolo trade. Brady went over Belichick’s head directly to owner Robert Kraft about trading his successor.

    This means that Belichick didn’t want to let go of Garoppolo and Brady was threatened by this. Kraft choosing to side with Brady shows that the tug of war between the two titans has ended in another victory for number 12. Coach Belichick doesn’t get to share this one.

    Belichick will run to the green pastures of retirement as soon as Brady stops leading the Patriots to big games in the post-season. Marking the end to a true dynasty, one unlikely to be repeated in our lifetime.

  • Tom Brady is the G.O.A.T.

    Tom Brady is the G.O.A.T.

    NFL fans are one week away from the Super Bowl clash between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles in what will mark the eighth time in 16 years that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will be the starter in the big game.

    It is time to end the debate: Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in NFL history, and his case is only going to get stronger.

    In the NFL, there are players who play over a decade without ever reaching the Super Bowl, let alone players who spend their entire careers chasing that beloved trophy.

    Brady has been to eight now. At this point, his appearance in the game has become more of an expectation than a surprise.

    The University of Michigan alumnus has accomplished unimaginable things during his time in the NFL: five Super Bowls, four Super Bowl MVPs, two regular season MVPs, 13 Pro Bowl selections and three first-team All-Pro selections.

    Since taking over the starting quarterback job for the Patriots during week two of the 2001 season, Brady has never missed the playoffs (the Pats did not make the playoffs during the 2008 season when Brady suffered a torn ACL during week one).

    In addition, Brady has appeared in each of the past seven AFC championship games and has gone to the Super Bowl in four of those years.

    Up until last year, Brady seemed to be embedded under Joe Montana as the second best quarterback to ever play. But that was before his epic 25-point comeback over Matt Ryan and the Falcons, which was by far the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.

    With his all-time leading fifth Super Bowl victory on the line, Brady’s Patriots were down 28-3 with two minutes and eight seconds left in the third quarter.

    Brady, the former sixth-round pick, responded by turning in possibly his best performance ever by throwing for 466 yards (a Super Bowl record) and two touchdowns to shock the Falcons in overtime.

    Last year’s game may have cemented Brady to be above the rest, but this year’s matchup with Philadelphia is shaping up to be a phenominal encore.

    This season’s Eagles is perhaps the best team that Brady has faced in the Super Bowl so far, as they are the only team to face him with a top-five offense and defense.

    While New England is a five-point favorite, many experts are predicting an Eagles upset due to their high-scoring offensive attack, led by quarterback Nick Foles, and the Eagles’ stout defense.

    If the past is any indication, Brady will overcome this upcoming obstacle and win his sixth Super Bowl ring, which will end all discussions about who the greatest of all time is.

    At this point, it’s not even a race, Brady is just running on his own.

  • WOTS: How do you feel about Trump’s comments on NFL players kneeling?

    WOTS: How do you feel about Trump’s comments on NFL players kneeling?

    By | Bryan Donoghue

    WOTS_Web_--2

    Abraham Neri, Freshman philosophy major.

    “They should have the right to any freedom of expression. I understand where the players are coming from, and I respect what they’re doing. As far as his Presidency, it goes to show how a white man with power and money by instigating oppression and diminishing the value of our first amendment.”

    WOTS_Web_--4

    Noah Gladstone Brookman, Kinesiology/Spanish, Senior

    “F*ck Donald Trump. F*ck the national anthem. I think the players need to be treated better in terms of equality. It comes down to the fact its not about football, it’s about politics and race. There’s other sh*t going on. I think the national anthem is overused, I don’t think it should be as big a deal as it is. There’s definitely a division and it’s creating more division between the population.”

    WOTS_Web_--3

    Emily Lopez, Anthropology, Freshman

    “Because it was a black person who went against him, Trump reacted. People didn’t care about that. It was a black man kneeling, if they were white, who knows? They felt like their people were being oppressed, they weren’t going against him.”

    WOTS_Web_-

    Angel Orellana, Criminology, Junior

    “Trump is a piece of shit, first of all. At the same time, I don’t feel those people sitting down goes against patriots. When they sit down for the national anthem, I don’t see it as disrespect. I feel they’re trying to bring to light the issues in America right now.”

  • Trump VS Sports

    Trump VS Sports

    On Friday night, President Trump started another one of his trademark fights. After firing off against African American athletes taking a knee during the national anthem, the stars of the NFL and NBA are aligning to respond to Trump.

    The president went after America’s most popular sport when he mentioned NFL players at a political rally in Huntsville, Alabama.

    “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. He’s fired. He’s fired,’” Trump said. “You know, some owner is going to do that. He’s going to say, ‘That guy disrespects our flag, he’s fired.’ And that owner, they don’t know it, but they’ll be the most popular person in this country.”

    Trump then went on to attack the NFL’s lower ratings and new safety procedures designed to make the game safer.

    “The NFL ratings are down massively,” he said. “Now the number one reason happens to be they like watching what’s happening with your truly. They like what’s happening. Because you know today if you hit too hard…15 yards. Throw him out the game. They’re ruining the game. That’s what they want to do. They want to hit. It is hurting the game.”

    NFL team owners donated millions to the Trump campaign. Patriots owner Robert Kraft even gave Trump his own Super Bowl ring. That didn’t stop NFL commissioner Roger Goodell from issuing a statement condemning Trump’s comments.

    “Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities,” Goodell said.

    NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith came to the defense of his players in a statement released Saturday morning.

    “The union will never back down when it comes to protecting the constitutional rights of our players as citizens, as well as their safety as men who compete in a game that exposes them to great risks,” Smith said.

    Trump was not finished there. Early Saturday morning, after finding out about NBA superstar Stephen Curry rescinding an invitation to the White House, the president took to Twitter.

    “Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!” Trump tweeted at 7:45 a.m. Saturday.

    Curry caught the President’s attention when he announced he would not vote to go to the White House when the team makes a decision as a whole.

     

    “By acting and not going,” Curry said, “hopefully that will inspire some change when it comes to what we tolerate in this country and what is accepted and what we turn a blind eye to”

    Lebron James also piled on to the president when he took to Twitter to defend his NBA comrade.

    “U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain’t going! So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to the White House was a great honor until you showed up!” James tweeted.

    With renewed attention on the players, all eyes are sure to be on Sunday’s NFL games and the players’ actions during the national anthem.

  • Like a fine wine, Brady passes Manning in the record books

    When will people stop doubting New England Patriots QB Tom Brady after one bad performance? It’s time to take the man at his word. If he can’t play well, he will retire.

    After last weeks abysmal game, talk of Brady’s retirement stirred up once again, but after shredding the Saints defense in week 2 the talk should stop. Brady threw for his third largest yard total of his career (447) in the regular season while adding three touchdowns and zero interceptions for the 52nd time in his career, passing up Peyton Manning for the all-time record.

    The Saints defense was riddled with holes, and the Patriots took advantage of every opportunity. Saints QB Drew Brees was unable to keep pace with the ageless wonder Brady, despite leading his team to over 420 total yards.

    Raiders win 45-20 over Jets

    Hyphey Mode was on full display Sunday as Raiders running back, Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch showed his dance moves on the Oakland sidelines, pumping up the crowd during their team’s 25-point romping of the Jets.

    Lynch showed he still has some gas left in his tank, rushing for 45-yards and a score. Raiders QB Derek Carr connected with his favorite target, wide-out Michael Crabtree for three touchdowns. The Raiders look like one of the favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl this year.

    Chiefs win 27-20 over Eagles

    Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt had only 7 yards at the halfway mark of Sunday’s game, but he exploded for a 53-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, which gave the Chiefs control of the game. The Chiefs D had 6 sacks with three from DE Chris Jones.

    New Eagles kicker, Jake Elliot, missed a 30-yard field goal in the first half and QB Carson Wentz threw a game changing interception in the fourth quarter. The AFC West will be fun to watch with three teams in serious contention for a championship.

    Seahawks win 12-9 over 49ers

    After a weak showing by the Seattle offense in week 1, the 49ers were supposed to be an easy bounce back opponent. They were anything but, sacking QB Russell Wilson three times and holding Seattle’s offense out of the end zone until Wilson’s game winning touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter.

    49ers RB Carlos Hyde, was a rare bright spot for San Francisco. He gained 124 yards on 15 rushes for 8.3 yards per carry against Seattle’s elite defensive front.

    Dolphins win over Chargers 19-17

    The San Diego ― I mean Los Angeles Chargers ― have to be the unluckiest franchise in all of sports. Just six days since last week’s blocked kick, after being iced by Broncos coach Vance Joseph, Chargers kicker Younghoe Koo got another chance Sunday. After watching the 44-yard game winning field goal sail right, Charger fans have to be asking themselves “Why me?”

    The loss dropped the Chargers to 4-11 in one score games since the start of the 2016 season and 7-20 in such games since 2015. San Diego Charger fans that left the team have to be laughing to themselves a little bit.

    Dolphins QB Jay Cutler had a positive debut for his new team, throwing for over 200 yards and a score. The story was the workload of RB Jay Ajayi. He carried the ball a season high (for all running backs) 28 times for 128 yards. The Dolphins look like the only real competition in the AFC East for the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots.

    Week 2 Final Scores

    Texans 13 Bengals 9

    Ravens 24 Browns 10

    Steelers 26 Vikings 9

    Titans 37 Jaguars 16

    Cardinals 16 Colts 13

    Panthers 9 Bills 3

    Redskins 27 Rams 20

    Broncos 42 Cowboys 17

    Falcons 34 Packers 23

    Lions 24 Giants 10

     

     

  • NFL Draft Review

    NFL Draft Review

    By Danny Dunn

     

    The NFL draft results are in, which means it is time to start evaluating each pick in the draft before they have played a single down for their team.

    It is impossible to know for sure how each team did in this year’s draft until a few years down the road, but that does not mean there cannot be an initial reaction to each team’s selections, based on team needs and how early or late a player was drafted.

    Here is a look at some winners and losers of the 2017 NFL draft:

    Winners:

    San Francisco 49ers: New 49ers General Manager John Lynch absolutely fleeced the Chicago Bears in the first round of the draft, but more on that later. As for the players the 49ers actually selected in the draft, they were solid, and for the first time in a long time 49ers fans can be excited about their draft class. Defensive end Solomon Thomas out of Stanford will help sure up the defensive line, while linebacker out of Alabama Reuben Foster appears to be the best linebacking partner for Navorro Bowman since Patrick Willis.

    Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs have already made a splash this offseason by signing wide receiver DeSean Jackson to put alongside pro-bowler Mike Evans in the wide receiving corps. Through the draft they added tight end from Alabama O.J. Howard. Howard was the number one ranked tight end in college and rightfully so after a terrific performance in the national title game as one of Alabama’s best receivers. Quarterback Jameis Winston will now have a litter of elite offensive talent around him, so look for the Bucs to crash the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

    Houston Texans: The Texans have the defensive talent of a Super Bowl caliber team right now, and Pro Bowl level talent at the running back and wide receiver positions, but the only thing hindering their playoff success is the quarterback position. They may have solved that problem by drafting quarterback Deshaun Watson from Clemson, who has a chance to play in his third championship game in as many years.

    Losers:

    Chicago Bears: The Bears gave up two third round picks and a fourth to the 49ers to move up one space in the draft from number 3 to number 2, to draft quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. This stunned everyone that watched the draft, because usually teams do not trade up one space; also, the Niners were probably not going to draft Trubisky.

     

  • Raider Nation Finds New Home

    Raider Nation Finds New Home

    By Juan Herrera

    Party! Party! Party! that’s all I see in the new Las Vegas Raiders future as a professional football team. Early morning on March 27 the National Football League passed a vote moving the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas, Nevada. The former Oakland Raiders packed up their bags and started getting ready for their new home in sin city.

    Being a Raiders fan my whole life, hearing this news was like a nightmare you wish to wake up from. The Oakland Coliseum has always been the home of the Raiders and now it will truly never be the same. Ever since I can remember, my household was always the epitome of “Raider Nation” every Sunday during football season. Taking away the Raiders from Oakland is like ripping a tradition from my family for years.

    A major concern I have with the Raiders relocation is the amount partying that might take place in their off time. This is a young team that previously has had troubles complying with rules on and off the field in the NFL which brings an even more concern when moving to the “party” city.

    According to Josh Planos from the Washington post, since 2000 the Oakland Raiders have committed a whopping 2080 penalties. Planos goes on saying this sets them with 215 more penalties than any other team in the league.

    Although I am devastated over the move, Humboldt State student and former Oakland resident Lorea Euskadi expresses how she is torn apart over the change as well.
    “Ever since I could remember my mom would always secure our spots for our season tickets for the Raiders, but not this year.” Euskadi said. “Growing up in Alameda, where the Raiders practice field was, makes them not only a team but apart of my childhood and town.”

    Euskadi goes on to mention how even though she is spiteful against the Raiders moving she is still a loyal fan and is hoping for a strong season in 2017.

    Another heartbreaking change that is coming with the Raiders’ move is a large increase in ticket prices. According to Levi Damien from the online sports publication SB Nation, almost every section of ticket prices have increased by at least 25 percent with some even increasing by 100 percent. Damien reveals how the Raiders new stadium will cost around $925,000 per year and $3.5 million in total, which explains the fans having to pay the price in ticket increases.

    Even though many people are upset about the move, Kassidy Hayes, an HSU student from Las Vegas, talks about how she is more than excited for the new Las Vegas Raiders.

    “As I transfer to UNLV, I am beyond excited for what the Raiders are gonna do for my college in terms of football.” Hayes said. “The amount of recognition that the Rebels will be getting is incredible.”

    Hayes also discusses how as a resident of  Nevada it might not so inviting to have them come.

    “The area already gets ridiculously congested with traffic,” Hayes said. “And the location of the stadium is going to make matters worse.”

    As a Raider fan all I can hope is that the new Las Vegas Raiders will truly succeed and not get distracted from the crazy environment they now call home.

  • NFL Playoffs

    NFL Playoffs

    By: Keaundrey Clark

    The National Football League divisional round has passed and gone. We learned a few things this past weekend. You need an elite quarterback to get this far in the season. The four remaining quarterbacks, Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger have thrown for 135 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. You have Super Bowl winners (Rodgers, Roethlisberger, Brady), past MVPs (Brady and Rodgers) and the potential 2016 NFL MVP (Ryan).

    With four of the game’s best playing on the highest stages, we will see some classic games come this conference championship weekend. The Dallas Cowboys look set for the next 10 years with Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott as their stars. The two rookies shine in their first NFL playoff game and in defeat they showed they’ll be a force for years to come. The Seattle Seahawks are doing Russell Wilson a disservice by putting him behind an awful offensive line. That needs to be addressed if they want to even sniff the Super Bowl next season. This might be the Chiefs last run with Alex Smith as quarterback. He’s limited; average at best. If they don’t cut bait now, they’ll never get better. The Houston Texans, just like the Chiefs, have a roster to win now but are hamstrung by a shitty quarterback.

    Atlanta Falcons vs Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers vs Matt Ryan in a dome. Man, that’s a lot of points. Rodgers threw one of the greatest passes you’ll ever see, a 36-yard dart to Jared Cook to get his team into field goal range for the win, rolling to his left and threw it against his body, only where his player can catch it with his feet in bounds and left time on the clock. Each team’s defense is in the bottom half of the league in passing yards given up. These quarterbacks will pass for 350 yards each, probably push for 400 yards. Both teams will likely score 30 plus points. This game could literally come down to which team makes a play defensively or which quarterback has the ball last.

    My Pick: Packers 38 – Falcons 31

    New England Patriots vs Pittsburg Steelers: At this point, the Patriots are just a nameless, faceless machine. It feels  that every team they’ve had in the last 15 years has been identical with a few exceptions in the past. Two things remain the same: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. With those two, they always have a fighting chance.  The Steelers have arguably the best running back and receiver to grace an NFL field, a top five quarterback, yet they are 11th in scoring in the league. Not bad but not good especially for the talent they have. If they can put touchdowns on the board they have a chance to knock off Tom Brady and company.

    My Pick: Patriots 30 – Steelers 27