Sweet 16 Preview

Louisville vs. Oregon:

(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1567293-top-moments-in-louisville-basketball-history)

Entering the tournament there may not have been a hotter team than Louisville, and they've kept that going so far in the tournament, winning their first two games by an average margin of 28.5 points. While the game will certainly be closer than that, the Big East champions will be extending their win streak to 13 games against Oregon. Despite Oregon being criminally under-seeded, they simply don't have the talent to take down Louisville. I could go into detail about specific match-ups in order to justify this pick but there really is no need. If you're not convinced, then take a look at Louisville's schedule this year. They haven't lost since February 9th and all but one of their wins were by double digits. I rest my case. See you in the Elite 8.

Duke vs. Michigan State:

(http://www.phrma.org/news-media/speeches/michael-krzyzewski-2011-phrma-annual-meeting)

Coach K just looks like a rat doesn't he. The resemblance is uncanny. Alright so I'm bias and a hater and whatever else you wanna call me. What can I say? I'm a Terp. Despite that, and how much it pains me to say this, Duke is going to win this match-up. Duke just has too many weapons for Michigan State to handle at this point in time. If it's not Miles Plumlee then its Seth Curry, and if it's not Curry then its Ryan Kelly, and if its not Kelly then it's Rasheed Sulaimon. You get my point. On a side note, keep an eye on this Sulaimon kid. He's gonna be the next big thing for Duke. Anyway, back to my point. If a team can't match up with Duke's talent, then the only way to beat them is to dominate the boards. Duke ranked 213th in the country in rebounding this year, leaving them susceptible to good rebounding teams. Exhibit A is the fact that Maryland (3rd in the nation in rebounding) was able to beat the Blue Devils twice this season (WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!! Seriously still hype from those games). While Michigan State is no slouch on the boards at 55th in the country, they don't have the rebounding prowess to overcome Duke's talent.

Wichita State vs. La Salle:

(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1581518-wichita-state-vs-la-salle-game-time-tv-schedule-spread-info-and-predictions)

Alright so I'm not gonna sit here and pretend that I watched either of these teams play this season prior to the tournament. I didn't even know where Wichita State was until just now when I googled it so I wouldn't look like a moron. It's in Kansas if any of you are wondering. That being said I'm just gonna go off my gut and what I've seen during the tourney. Wichita State will win this game because...um...I mean...hmm. How bout you just trust me on this one. Next!

Ohio State vs. Arizona:

Ohio State is another one of those teams that has been on a role as of late, winning ten games in a row. Granted, there is a lot controversy over their most recent win against Iowa State and a lot of people don't think they should still be in the tournament. While that definitely should have been called a block instead of a charge, there is no telling how that last minute and a half of the game would have played out had the call been made. Plus, I find it useless to live in a world of "what ifs". Ohio State is playing in the Sweet Sixteen and will be moving on to the Elite 8. The close call against Iowa State will serve as a wake up call, causing the Buckeyes to come into this next game with much more focus. Aaron Craft (pictured above) will be able to use his stellar defense to neutralize Arizona's leading scorer, Mark Lyons, which will make it difficult for the Wildcats' offense to get going. Behind the defense of Craft and scoring of Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State will move on with relative ease.

Kansas vs. Michigan:

(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1448711-michigan-basketball-will-brutal-big-ten-leave-no-1-ranking-elusive)

This was the toughest game for me to pick. However, I'm going to stick with what I put in my bracket which is Michigan advancing past Kansas to the Elite 8. Despite the good record and everything they have done, I honestly haven't been impressed by Kansas this year. Although Michigan had some struggles at the end of the season, I credit that to the gauntlet that was the Big Ten conference this season. Seven teams from that conference made the tournament and four of them remain standing in the Sweet Sixteen. The Big 12 on the other hand was sub par this year. Five teams from that conference made the tournament but Kansas is the only one still standing. Only one other (Iowa State) even made it out of the round of 64. I think Michigan's experience playing against higher caliber teams will propel them to a win over Kansas. This will be a good game though and I am excited to see the showdown between Trey Burke (Michigan) and Ben McLemore (Kansas) as they attempt to one up each other.

Florida vs. Florida Gulf Coast:

(http://jacksonville.com/sports/college/florida-gators/2012-03-07/story/floridas-patric-young-named-sec-scholar-athlete-year)

So...this is a little awkward. Florida Gulf Coast (FGC) is the sweet heart of the tournament. Everyone in the country is getting behind this team that plays an exciting brand of basketball and was the first 15 seed to beat a 2 seed ever. Great stuff. They're going to lose to Florida. Let me rephrase...they're gonna get stomped. I'm sorry to rain on everybody's parade, but during the excitement of watching this team people seem to have forgotten that they were a 15 seed for a reason...they aren't that good. What they've done so far is certainly impressive, but let's not blow it out of proportion. Georgetown has been a disaster in the tournament during recent years, being bounced by double digit seeds in five consecutive tournament appearances. As for San Diego State, they couldn't even win their Mountain West conference. So while the wins are impressive, I don't understand why people all of a sudden are projecting a Final Four appearance. The Gators will have their way with FGC by slowing down the pace of the game and taking care of the ball. FGC thrives off an up and down game and scoring in the fast break. The two ways to start a fast break are off a missed shot or a turnover. Sadly for FGC, the Gators are 8th in the country in field goal percentage and average only 11 turnovers per game which is good for 23rd in the country. By limiting FGC's fast break opportunities, Florida will be advancing to the Elite 8 with ease.

Indiana vs. Syracuse:

(http://www.local10.com/sports/Hoosiers-survive-Wyatt-Temple-to-advance-in-tournament/-/1717082/19448638/-/ht9jp0/-/index.html)

Temple just gave Indiana everything that they could handle. Thanks to some clutch shooting from Victor Oladipo the Hoosiers were able to escape with a six point victory. Now they have to take on the Syracuse Orange to get into the Elite 8. While it won't be easy, I do believe they will be able to pull it off. The duo of Oladipo and Cody Zeller (both pictured above) is one of the best one-two punches in the country and will be too much for Syracuse, who just doesn't have the offensive firepower to keep up.

Miami vs. Marquette:

(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1523388-miami-basketball-hurricanes-are-easy-choice-for-no-1-seed-in-ncaa-tournament)

Shane Larkin, Shane Larkin, Shane Larkin. In my opinion, 'nuff said, but I'll elaborate. Miami is going to win this game for a number of reasons. Marquette has barely squeaked by in their first two games of the tournament, winning by a combined total of 3 points. Miami's roster is full of upperclassmen that have a lot of experience and know how to handle adversity. Miami had a wake up call against Illinois and will come in to this game more focused. These reasons are all well and good, but my faith in Miami rides on the shoulders of sophomore point guard Shane Larkin. I have fully jumped on board the Larkin band wagon and you all should too. This kid is a special player that has a bright future in the game of basketball. Sadly, he will be forever underrated because he is only 5'11", but he's going to be special. And remember you heard it here first. This young man has a versatile offensive game, with the ability to attack the basket, shoot the three, and create for others. Just as important is that he has swagger. No, not "swag", whatever the hell that means. He has swagger, which just means that he has that self confidence that he can take and make the big shot when his team needs it. This was on full display with his nasty step back three pointer with one minute left against Illinois to take the lead. Larkin is going to will his team to the Elite 8 and beyond.

Top Five Centers in the NBA

The days of the dominant centers are sadly gone. No longer do we have the joy of watching guys like Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson, or Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon. Despite the lack of dominance at the center position, there are still a handful of talented big men. I'm going to rank the top five centers in the league right now. Just so you all know, guys like Chris Bosh, Tim Duncan, and Pau Gasol are not eligible for this list because even though they've spent time as centers, they're true position is power forward.

5. Brook Lopez

(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1183277-nba-free-agents-2012-predicting-where-top-players-will-land)

I had a hard time choosing who got this last spot on my list. I finally settled on Brook Lopez, who is actually the leading scorer among centers this season with 18.8 points per game. He has always had a potent offensive game, averaging 17.7 points over his career, but this season he's doing it at his most efficient level since his rookie season (52 FG%). He's also posting a career high in blocks at 2.2 per game. Although he is a great scorer there are other aspects of his game that still need work if he wants to move up this list. He needs to get a little better at passing from the post, as well as increase his rebounding. 7.1 rebounds per game is way too low for a seven footer, showing his lack of effort and desire in that facet of the game. If he can bring that number up to ten per game then we can start to talk about Lopez as a top 3 three center

4. Al Jefferson

(http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Al+Jefferson/Utah+Jazz+v+Dallas+Mavericks/mRshL8TMiGY)

Al Jefferson is one of the few traditional centers left in the NBA. He's an old fashioned, back-to-the-basket post up player that uses fundamental footwork and great touch around the basket to score. Sadly, this skill is undervalued and under appreciated by fans because it's not flashy like Blake Griffin's dunks or Dwight Howard's blocks. Despite flying under the radar he continues to put up great numbers, scoring 17.7 ppg (2nd among centers) and grabbing 9.4 rpg. The Jazz are currently hanging on to the last playoff spot in the West, and if they're going to have any hope of fending off the Lakers it will be on the shoulders of this man.

3. Joakim Noah

(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1169074-chicago-bulls-why-joakim-noah-is-the-biggest-x-factor-in-the-nba-playoffs)

Yeah....try unseeing that picture...but seriously this picture perfectly exemplifies Joakim Noah's value. He plays with immense passion and seemingly infinite energy. As I've said before, when you have a guy that plays that hard, it automatically rubs off on his teammates, giving the entire team a boost. This energy allows him to grab 11.4 rebounds per game while also playing great team defense. He's a great help defender, blocks 2.3 shots per game, and steals the ball 1.3 times per game. While his offensive game isn't extremely refined, he's a better post player than people give him credit for, resulting in 12 points per game. The most impressive aspect of his offensive game, however, is his passing ability. He is the best passing center in the game right now, averaging 4.2 assists per game. Of all the people on this list, Noah probably has the least amount of talent, but makes up for it with a passion rarely seen in sports today.

2. Al Horford

(http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/sports/hawks/hawks-2012-homeopener/)

Former teammate of Noah at the University of Florida, Al Horford has quietly become the second best center in the NBA. The Hawks have flown under the radar this season but are currently sitting at 5th in the East despite losing Joe Johnson to the Nets during free agency. Without Johnson, the Hawks' leading scorer since arriving in Atlanta in 2005, Horford has stepped up and taken on a bigger role. The result is that he is having a career year, averaging 17.4 points per game to go along with 10 rebounds per game. He's also shooting 56% from the field and dishing out 3.3 assists per game. His offensive versatility is what makes him the player that he is today. He can score in the post, step out and hit a mid range jumper, or set up teammates with his above average passing ability. While the future of teammate Josh Smith is in question, the Hawks at least have Horford to build around for the future.

1. Dwight Howard

(http://dimemag.com/2012/10/dwight-howard-gets-dissed-again-by-shaq-memphis-adds-star-power/)

I mean....yeah....I guess....whatever.

NBA's Most Overrated Players

A few days ago I gave you a list of some NBA players that don't get the recognition that they should. Now let's take a look at some players that are given far more credit than they deserve. Once again this is in no particular order.

Rajon Rondo

(http://www.businessinsider.com/rajon-rondo-celtics-heat-2012-10)

Let me start this by saying I actually respect what Rajon Rondo has done in his career. When the Boston Three Party formed (Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce) many people cited the point guard position (aka Rondo) as the team's only weakness that could prevent them from winning a championship. He handled that difficult situation very well and, as we all know, the Celtics did in fact win the title that year. That being said, Rondo has recently drifted into the realm of overrated. The reason he has become overrated is because he is a stat sheet stuffer. He led the league in assists last year and was leading the league in assists this year prior to tearing his ACL. He is also a triple double waiting to happen. However, one's true value cannot be defined solely by statistics. It's rare that someone who leads the league in assists can be called selfish, but it seems like he passes so he can lead the league in assists, rather than passing to help the team. This may seem confusing, so let me explain. Rather than passing and keeping the ball moving in order to keep everyone involved on each possession, he dominates the ball until he finds a pass that will get him the assist. It almost seems like he isn't happy unless he's the one who set up the basket. Then there is Rondo's complete inability to hit a jumper on a consistent basis. This greatly limits his ability to take over a game offensively in the way other point guards can (like Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, etc.). Finally, his notoriously bad attitude has a drastically negative impact on his team. Not only does it mess with team chemistry on the court, but it even drove ex-teammate Ray Allen away (and right into the arms of the defending champion Heat). To exemplify this point, the Celtics were 20-23 prior to Rondo's injury, but since then they are 13-4. 'Nuff said.

Dwight Howard

(http://www.ibtimes.com/los-angeles-lakers-news-will-dwight-howard-re-sign-la-761137)

Rewind a short two years ago. Dwight Howard was easily one of my favorite players in the NBA. I loved how happy he always seemed and respected the intensity with which he played defense. Now fast forward back to today. I cannot stand this man. I lost all respect for him after how poorly he handled his contract situation in Orlando. I could rant and rant about his frustrating inability to make a decision, but I shall resist. Howard is considered to be a superstar in the NBA but I'm here to tell you that he falls short of that label. He may still be the best center in the league, but that isn't saying all that much. He has proven that he does not have the ability to be the number one option on a championship team. This is mainly because of his absolutely horrendous free throw shooting. For those of you wondering, he is only making 48% of his free throws this season. That number makes me cringe. Some people use Shaquille O'Neal as an example to say that someone who is awful at free throws can carry a team. That's all well and good, but Shaq had a much more refined offensive game. Howard is, at best, inconsistent in the post. Until he is able to develop a more consistent post game and hit some foul shots, he will not live up to the high expectations people have of him.

Deron Williams

(http://www.waheedatv.com/brooklyn-nets-very-own-deron-williams-chosen-for-forbes-magazine-30-under-30/)

It turns out that Deron Williams is not the superstar that everyone thought he was when he left Utah to go to the Nets. It has become apparent to me that Williams was indeed the product of the brilliant system Jerry Sloan had in place with the Jazz. Long gone are the days where he averaged almost 20 points per game to go along with double digit assists. His efficiency has dropped dramatically since he came to the Nets and is currently shooting 42% from the field. The most disappointing aspect of Williams game, however, is the fact that he is only averaging 7.5 assists per game which is the lowest total since his rookie season. This is surprising because there is plenty of talent on the Nets' roster. So although Williams is certainly talented, he is the not a superstar that can carry a team like many people thought. On a side note, Jerry Sloan deserves way more credit for how great of a coach he was.

DeMarcus Cousins

(http://www.celticslife.com/2012/01/todays-poll-should-celtics-pursue.html)

I'm tired of hearing people talk about how great DeMarcus Cousins could be if he were to get his head on straight. He is almost through his third year in the NBA but still is having the same character issues that were a concern when he was originally drafted. He consistently puts forth lackluster effort and gets frustrated very easily often resulting in him getting into foul trouble. He has also been suspended two separate times this season for behavioral issues. If you watch the Kings play (not that anyone would really want to) you can see him complain to the refs on a regular basis, further highlighting his immaturity. He may have an immense amount of talent, but that can only take you so far. Despite all that talent, he shoots under 45% from the field which is way too low for a big man in the NBA. Sure he's still young and there's still hope that he could mature at some point. But until that time I don't want to hear any more talk about him being one of the best centers in the league. And don't worry, you can trust my analysis of Cousins because I'm not at all bitter that I used a 3rd round pick on him in my fantasy league.....okay, maybe just a little.

Alex Smith the Answer for the Chiefs?

(http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/49ers-QB-Smith-on-IR-likely-ending-his-tenure-3195411.php)

Let's just be honest for a minute, Alex Smith got hosed this season. After having easily the best year of his career, Smith had to sit out a game due to a concussion. The unwritten rule is that a player shouldn't be able to lose his job because of an injury. Unfortunately, that is not the reality. Colin Kaepernick came in and played at a very high level, causing Jim Harbaugh to name him the starter for the remainder of the season as the team made it all the way to the Super Bowl. Smith obviously has no desire to be a backup so he wanted to get out of San Francisco. As a result the 49ers traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now a moment of silence for the death of Smith's Super Bowl dreams.

But seriously, now that the trade has happened it's time to determine whether or not we think this move will make the lowly Chiefs a serious playoff contender. In order to make this determination, let's first take a look at what it takes for Smith to be successful.

It's fair to say that Smith was a sub par quarterback until the past two seasons. The biggest reason for his more recent success is that he was no longer asked to carry a team. His job over the past two years has been to be a game manager that doesn't make many mistakes, while the team is carried by a strong defense and potent running game. San Francisco ranked 2nd in scoring defense each of the past two years, while concurrently ranking in the top 8 in rushing. With less responsibility on him, Smith was able to flourish and finish 7th in total QBR last year.

Now let's take a look at the Chiefs and see if the circumstances are similar enough for Smith to continue his success. The defense in Kansas City is...how do I say this nicely...dreadful. Last season they ranked 25th in scoring defense which clearly leaves a lot to be desired on that side of the ball. The rushing attack is a completely different story. Led by Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs had the fifth ranked rushing attack in the league last season. So although the defense certainly needs improvement, with the help of a strong rushing game it would appear that Smith does have an opportunity to continue his high level of play.

Before we make a final determination we must also take a look at another person new in Kansas City, the coach Andy Reid. Reid is notorious for being a pass happy play caller that under-utilizes talented running backs. Despite having LeSean McCoy with the Eagles, Reid chose to run a pass heavy offense regardless of who was lined up under center. Michael Vick and Nick Foles both played games for the Eagles last season and both of them threw the ball 38 times per game. On the other hand, Smith was only asked to throw the ball 26 times per game.

As I stated before, Smith is a better quarterback when he doesn't have to do too much. Historically, Reid asks a lot of his QBs and refuses to make adjustments based on his team's personnel. With that being the case, I just don't see Smith having a whole lot of success with the Chiefs. There is definitely a lot of potential here, but if Reid is unwilling to alter his philosophy, I don't see Smith being any better than a mediocre quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Underrated Players of the NBA

I believe in giving credit where credit is due. That is why I have assembled a list of NBA players that aren't getting the recognition they deserve. This is in no particular order.

Greivis Vasquez

(http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-03-03/sports/bal-sp.terpshoop03mar03_1_greivis-vasquez-maryland-student-section-hayes-and-milbourne)

I have been waiting and waiting for an opportunity to write about one of my favorite players in the NBA. Now that the time has come I just couldn't help but go with a throwback picture from his days at UMD. Vasquez has been underrated since his college days, especially when he was being evaluated by scouts for the NBA. The biggest knock on him was his lack of athleticism, causing him to drop to the 28th pick of the 2010 NBA Draft. Then, after one year of serving as a backup for the Memphis Grizzlies, they sent him off to New Orleans to be the backup for Jarrett Jack (who is now with the Golden State Warriors). After paying his dues the past two season, he came into this year as the de facto starter for the Hornets. However, most analysts suggested that it was only a matter of time until Vasquez lost his job to either Brian Roberts or Austin Rivers, both of whom are rookies. Those analysts are now eating their words because not only has Rivers been an utter disappointment so far, but Vasquez has quietly been one of the better point guards in the league this season. As of today, he is third in the league in assists per game at 9.4, putting him behind only Rajon Rondo (11.1) and MVP candidate Chris Paul (9.5). He also averages 14 points per game, as well as 4.5 rebounds. What's most impressive about these numbers is that he has done all this despite the injury issues that have plagued two of the team's top players, Eric Gordon and Anthony Davis. While his production has not resulted in a lot of wins, it's time to recognize Vasquez as a legitimate point guard in the NBA.

Tony Parker

(http://atlantablackstar.com/2012/06/24/tony-parker-expected-to-play-in-olympics-despite-eye-surgery/)

Normally it would be a hard sell to claim that an All-Star is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. Alas, this is the case with Tony Parker. When asked who the best point guard in the league is, most people respond with Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, or even Russell Westbrook. Rarely does Parker's name come up which is simply blasphemous because not only should he be in the discussion for top PG, but he should also be right in the middle of the MVP conversation. Parker is the unquestioned leader of the Spurs as they currently sit atop the Western Conference with a record of 47-14. What sets him apart from all the other point guards in the league is the phenomenal efficiency with which he plays the game. This season he is shooting 53.3% from the field which is almost unheard of for his position. He does this while scoring 21 points per game to go along with 7.6 assists per game. So although he certainly does get some recognition, it's not nearly as much as he deserves. And if that doesn't convince you he's underrated, he also has a french rap album that you probably didn't know about. And it's awesome.

Reggie Evans

(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1508188-reggie-evans-rips-miami-heat-says-they-didnt-win-real-nba-title-last-season)

While the casual NBA fan may not even know who Reggie Evans is, I believe every team in the league needs a guy like him. He is a true specialist, but not in the traditional sense of the word. Most people think of specialists as 3-point specialists (like Steve Novak) or defensive specialists (like Tony Allen). Evans is an energy and rebounding specialist with a very limited offensive game, as evidenced by his career average of 4 points per game. Despite playing under 23 minutes per game he averages 9.3 rebounds per game, good for 14th in the league. On a per 48 minute basis he is first in the league in rebounding. Even more important to his value is the incessant energy he plays with. Anyone who has played a sport knows that when you see a teammate giving it everything he's got, it inspires you to do the same. If you're on the court with Evans it is impossible not to give 100%, making his value to a team immeasurably high.


David West

(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1460101-should-indiana-pacers-bring-david-west-back-next-year-for-how-much)

The Indiana Pacers have the second best record in the East despite the fact that they have been without their leading scorer from last year for most of this season and the fact that Roy Hibbert has been struggling. This is, in large part, due to the leadership and play of David West. He is the team's leading scorer with 17.7 points per game and is their go to scorer when they absolutely need a bucket. He also sets the tone by playing with a lot of physicality, showing that no one can come in and push his team around. He also is an integral part of their strong team defense that is ranked second in the league in points allowed per game. While the strong play of Paul George has been a big part of their success as well, he has been recognized for it with his first All-Star appearance this season. West continues to fly under the radar even though there is no doubt in my mind that without him they would be fighting for one of the last playoff spots in the East.


John Wall

(http://defpenradio.com/wizards-john-wall-pushing-for-season-debut-this-saturday/)

I never imagined myself saying this, but John Wall has actually become underrated. He's always put up good numbers, but the lack of winning always made me feel like all the attention was unwarranted. This season, however, he has proved me wrong. He is still working his way back from his injury so his stats aren't at the level they've been in past years, but there's no arguing with the results of the games. While Wall was out with his injury the Wizards were just dreadful with a record of 5-28. Since his return the team is 14-11 which isn't outstanding by any means, but is certainly a drastic improvement. This is a small sample for sure, but Wall has clearly been the key to the Wizards' recent success and for the first time in years Wizards fans may have something to look forward to.

Tune in tomorrow to see what I have to say about Alex Smith's future with the Chiefs!

Not Your Average Joe

After yet another long layoff my blog is making a comeback with a vengeance. I will be posting a new blog every night of this week with various topics ranging from the NBA's most underrated/overrated players to Alex Smith and the Chiefs. Who knows, I may even have a little something for you hockey lovers out there. For tonight, I will be discussing the question that many people have been asking the past few days: Does Joe Flacco deserve his new contract?

(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1103/nfl-memorable-wonderlic-scores/content.1.html)

This weekend Joe Flacco received a six year, $120.6 million deal with $52 million guaranteed. Take a moment to let that sink in. This deal makes him the highest paid player in NFL history, which of course makes us wonder if he truly is deserving of this amount (assuming that any athlete is actually worth the amount he is paid). The answer to this question is not as clear cut as one might think.

Since Flacco has been in the league all he's done is win games, accumulating a record of 63-30 including the postseason. During that span he reached the AFC Championship game three times and has one Super Bowl Championship and Super Bowl MVP. During his most recent postseason run that resulted in a Super Bowl victory, Flacco put up historic numbers by throwing 11 touchdowns without a single interception. This production is undoubtedly impressive, but when evaluating his overall worth it is important to look at his body of work as a whole.

It's undeniable that Flacco has won a lot of football games in just five years in the league. However, it is important to note that a lot of those wins were the result of stellar defense, rather than Flacco's play. The Ravens ranked 3rd in scoring defense each of his first four years in the league. This past season the defense struggled (at least by Ravens stardards), ranking 12th in scoring defense resulting in more pressure being placed on Flacco and his offense. With the offense carrying the team, the Ravens limped into the playoffs with a 10-6 record, losing 4 of their last 5 games.

Inconsistency has plagued Flacco throughout his career and this past season was no different. He has the ability to play great, as he displayed during his playoff run. He also showed flashes of brilliance throughout the regular season, finishing three games with a QBR of over 90. If this were the norm for him then he would deserve this contract with no debate from anyone. Sadly for him, that is not the case. This season Flacco had the two lowest QBR ratings since the stat started to be recorded in 2008 (0.3 and 0.4). His overall QBR for the entire season is also less than impressive seeing as he ranked 25th in the NFL. That puts him behind the likes of Christian Ponder, Ryan Tannehill, and Jake Locker.

Consistency, to me, is one of the most important characteristics a QB can have. Everyone has a bad game here or there, but the roller coaster performances keep him from being what I consider to be elite. With that being the case, it is impossible for me to say that he deserves the contract that he was given. That's not to say that he wasn't deserving of a big pay day. I just think he should be paid more on the level of a guy like Ben Roethlisberger or Tony Romo, and certainly should not be making more than Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, or Drew Brees.

NFL MVP and Rookie of the Year

My long awaited return to the blogosphere has finally come. All two of my avid readers can now breathe a sigh of relief. For my first blog of 2013 (yeah, we survived Dec. 21 2012...suck it, Mayans) I will be taking a look at the two most highly debated NFL award races this season:

MVP

Let's be honest, this is a two man race between Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson, who are also the two main candidates for Comeback Player of the Year. The thing I don't like about this kind of debate is that to make my point, I will have to downgrade what the one of these players has done. So I will preface my pick by saying that both had amazing seasons and are very deserving. That being said, I believe that Adrian Peterson is most deserving of this award. This is no disrespect to Manning, who finished second only to Aaron Rodgers with a passer rating of 105.8, and led the Broncos to a 13-3 record. I recognize that this award generally is given to quarterbacks, and understandably so, as they handle the ball on every play and the NFL has become a pass first league. The biggest argument against Manning is simply that the Broncos are a very talented team even without him, especially on defense as they finished second in total defense. The Broncos even made the playoffs last season with someone at quarterback that couldn't even supplant Mark Sanchez as the starter for the Jets this season (I will not mention his name since you all hear it enough from ESPN).

At this point I would like to reiterate that I don't want to downgrade what Manning did for his team. The reason I have chosen Peterson for this is because he was the offense for the Vikings, and frankly I think that's an understatement. Plain and simple, Peterson was the reason the Vikings made it to the playoffs. The only other offensive threat that his team had was Percy Harvin, but he has been out with an injury since Week 10. Even though the impact a running back can have on a game is usually limited compared to that of a quarterback, that was not the case for this Minnesota Vikings team. From Week 7 on Peterson tallied a total of 1,598 yards on the ground, which is 97 more yards than their quarterback Christian Ponder threw during that same span. In this pass first version of the NFL something like that is almost unheard of. Peterson was also just 9 yards short of the all time rushing record, with a total of 2,097 yards on the ground.

Even more impressive is just how he got those yards. He averaged 6 yards per carry with 3 of those yards coming after contact. Take a moment to think about how impressive that is. He fought for every inch he could get on every single run and earned each one of his yards. Arian Foster, who is considered one of the top running backs in the league, averaged 4.1 yards per run. That's only 1.1 yards more than Peterson gets after contact alone. He put his team on his back each and every week and impacted the game more than any other running back has done in a long time, making Peterson more than deserving of MVP.

Rookie of the Year

This is without a doubt the most impressive rookie quarterback class that I have ever seen. I firmly believe that these three quarterbacks above (left to right: Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III) all have very bright futures in the NFL. Much like I said earlier when discussing the MVP, I don't like that I have to belittle the talent of any of these young players. They all had great rookie seasons, but alas, only one can win.  Let me start by evaluating the first overall pick, Andrew Luck. He was asked to throw the football much more than his rookie counterparts (234 more times to be exact), resulting in him throwing for an impressive 4,374 yards while leading the Colts back to the playoffs. He also garnered a reputation for coming up big in the clutch by leading the Colts on several game winning drives.

The main knock against Luck was his turnovers, throwing 18 interceptions and adding 10 fumbles. While his increased number of pass attempts definitely contributed to his higher number of interceptions, he also had the fewest pass attempts per interception thrown (about one interception per 35 attempts; Wilson and RGIII have one interception per 39 pass attempts and 79 pass attempts respectively). Luck also only completed only about 54% of his throws. Many like to focus on Luck's late game heroics, which are certainly impressive. But people tend to ignore the multiple interceptions he threw that put them in the position of needing a comeback. Personally, I value efficiency and taking care of the ball, leading me to rank him third in this award race.

That leaves it between RGIII and Wilson. I honestly had a little bit of trouble deciding between these two guys because they both were very efficient through the air and on the ground. I also have an immense amount of respect for both of these guys. Wilson overcame all odds, being drafted in the third round because he was "too short" and going to a team that had just brought in Matt Flynn for the purpose of being their franchise quarterback. However Wilson stole the starting job during the preseason and never looked back. He also is an extremely fierce competitor, often running down the field to help block after completing a pass or handing the ball off. He made multiple key blocks just yesterday in the playoff game against the Redskins. Not to mention he must be affluent in the ways of the force, seeing as he used a Jedi mind trick to make the refs give him a touchdown when he really threw an interception.

Then there's RGIII, who also had a phenomenal season. He set a rookie quarterback rushing record by running for 815 yards. He also proved that he was more than a capable passer, completing almost 66% of his passes and throwing for 20 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. Honestly, the only knock on him was his injury issues that caused him to miss a game, otherwise his stats would probably be even more impressive. More important than his stats though, is his ability to lead and come up big when it matters the most. When you watched the Skins this season, especially during their seven game win streak to end the season, you simply had the belief that RGIII was going to figure out a way to win the game.

When it came down to trying to pick between these two guys there was one key factor that helped my make my choice. While both these young quarterbacks led their respective teams to the playoffs, one of them had a lot more help. Wilson's Seahawks had the number one scoring defense in the league, allowing a measly 15.3 points per game. The Skins, on the other hand, were 22nd in the league in scoring defense, allowing 24.3 per game. This made RGIII's job significantly harder, knowing he had to put up major points each and every week to win. This factor caused me to give this award to Robert Griffin III, with Russell Wilson finishing second.