These are the picks for the 2005 season. Bold represents the team selected to win. Games in red represent the Upset of the Week. At the bottom, The weekly and overall records for the season appear at the bottom. These picks are based purely on winners and losers with no consideration from the spread. The spread is only used to determine upsets for the Upset of the Week.
J. Whyatt Mondesire should be fired. The president of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP took time out of advancing colored people to rip one of his own in a column in a local newspaper. It's one thing to criticize a player for his on-field performance, but to somehow draw race into it was out of line, ignorant, and asinine.
Let me jog the memory banks. Mondesire ripped Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb a new one in a column that appeared in the Philadelphia Sunday Sun. Mondesire called McNabb "mediocre at best," which is within his right to have that opinion. But he then accuses McNabb of playing "the race card."
Who, McNabb? Is this the same Donovan McNabb I've seen during interviews always making race a non-issue? Mondesire must be talking about someone else.
No, Mondesire meant the McNabb I know. And the accusations are preposterous:
"In essence Donny, you are mediocre at best. And trying to disguise that fact behind some concocted reasoning that African American quarterbacks who can scramble and who can run the ball are somehow lesser field generals than one who can summon up dead-on passes at a whim is more insulting off the field than on."
First off, I don't ever remember McNabb insinuating that. Secondly, even if he did, there's evidence McNabb would be right. So far, what has Michael Vick won? How about Randall Cunningham? Michael Bishop couldn't beat out Drew Bledsoe in New England. Heck, you can even point out white QBs. Steve Young and Brett Favre were fun to watch run for a while, but they became successful when they learned to be efficient. Mondesire points out Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams' performance, throwing for 340 yards and four scores. If Williams was a runner, he would had never led the Washington Redskins to 35 points in the second quarter.
Forget that Williams lacked the athleticism to do it. But his TD passes were 80, 27, 50, and eight yards in distance. No QB will ever rip three TD runs of that length in a regular season game, let alone a championship game. As a quarterback, it's your job to throw the ball to your playmakers, not run and make the plays on your own. Option two is the quickest route to the sideline with conversations with the team trainer.
"So, for you to continue to deny we fans (as well as yourself) one of the strongest elements of your game by claiming that "everybody expects black quarterbacks to scramble" not only amounts to a breach of faith but also belittles the real struggles of black athletes who've had to overcome real racial stereotypcasting in addition to downright segregation."
Blacks had to out-perform their white counterparts in similar positions to draw accolades. For black QBs to do so, they needed to bring an element to the table that many white passers lacked. That is the ability to scramble, which McNabb still does, though he does it to buy time to throw instead of to gain yards (A passer can make a bigger gain throwing over tucking the ball and going for broke).
Not needing to scramble proves the stereotype of a black quarterback not being smart enough to play the position wrong. Brothas can step to the line, read the defense, call an audible, look off a safety, and throw to a target on time just like Joe Montana or Dan Marino. Heck, maybe if it wasn't for McNabb showing development as a passer, as well as previous black QBs, would Byron Leftwich been drafted in the first round by Jacksonville if the stigma about black QBs still existed? McNabb has done more help than we can quantify right now. Years down the road, we'll understand the positive effect he's made.
All McNabb wants is to be treated as just another quarterback. It's not that he doesn't understand the significance of his race. McNabb just wants race to not be an issue. He's not a black quarterback, he's a quarterback. Just like Jackie Robinson wanted to be just a baseball player.
It's obvious Mondesire's comments are the ranting of a jaded Eagles fan disappointed in the performance of McNabb and the team after a Super Bowl appearance. If Mondesire stuck to talking about the sport, he'd sound foolish. But drawing race into the conversation to try to add legitimacy to his argument only leads others to question his leadership.
The slogan for the Sun is "The most trusted news voice in the African American Community."Can African Americans trust Mondesire after what he said about McNabb? He's proven to be a back-stabber and he shouldn't be in his position.
As for me, I positioned myself very well with a 9-7 week. I'm aim higher this week.
Dallas at Carolina - L
The secret is out in 'Lina. Somehow the gameplan for Saturday's game got out: Blitz every down. With Cowboys QB Drew Bledsoe going down seven times the previous week, the Panthers defense is drooling and hungry for quarterbacks instead of holiday ham. Pass the cranberry sauce as the Panthers dine on the 'Boys.
Buffalo at Cincinnati - L
The non-celebration by Cincy's Chad Johnson might had been his best TD celebration yet. He'll be up for a daytime Emmy for that performance. Sure the Bengals have the division title locked up, but head coach Marvin Lewis knows not to let up on his young team and will make sure they win this game against the Bills.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland - W
"Ooh, my thumbs hurts, but I'll play through the pain." "Hey, that guy hit me low. That's a cheap shot." If Pittsburgh's whole attitude is supposed to be about toughness, what is quarterback Ben Roethisberger doing whining? It's not tough if you talk about it. Big Ben will cry through the pain and lead the Steelers to victory.
Jacksonville at Houston - L
What are the Jaguars doing throwing 40 times? It's not their game, especially with David Garrard under center instead of Byron Leftwich. They barely escaped San Francisco. If they decide to air it out again, the Texans will ground Jacksonville in the Upset of the Week.
San Diego at Kansas City - L
Don't rest on your laurels. S.D. didn't win a thing besides a game by knocking off undefeated Indianapolis. That champagne in the locker room was courtesy of the 1972 Miami Dolphins players. As long as the Chargers didn't sip too much bubbly, they will keep their heads and down the Chiefs.
Tennessee at Miami - W
Um, hello? We won a game? Any questions? I could imagine the current Dolphins players felt a little ignored when representatives for the undefeated 1972 team got the podium instead of them. If they want attention, Miami needs a second win in a row. They score it, as the Dolphins thump the Titans.
Detroit at New Orleans - W
Joey Harrington will be back under center for the Lions for the first time in the A.M. - After Mariucci. The loss of his coach coould be a wake-up call for Harrington. For the first time Harrington will play lights out as he drives the Lions over the Saints.
San Francisco at St. Louis - L
People are already raising questions whether San Fran's Alex Smith has what it takes to be a NFL quarterback after totaling 33-for-70, 385 yards, no touches, and five picks in his last three starts. He wasn't going to get it overnight. Even St. Louis' Ryan Fitzpatrick is winless in his three starts. We'll see more growing pains, but Fitzpatrick and the Rams has a few inches on Smith and the 49ers.
Atlanta at Tampa Bay - L
This could get ugly. We got two shell-shocked QBs facing off for the chance to lead their teams into the playoffs. Neither will feel comfortable in the pocket as they drop back to pass. At least can run away from it all. Tie your laces tight, Michael Vick, as you scamper your Falcons past the Buccaneers.
New York Giants at Washington - W
If it was at all possible, RB Tiki Barber should had saved some of his yardage for this week. If Barber can't get going, he and the Giants will come up short against the desperate Redskins.
Philadelphia at Arizona - L
'Zona's quarterback controversy got a little more simple. The only thing keeping Josh McCown from starting the rest of the season is a good prescription. The flu knocked McCown out of the last game. This time it will be the Eagles defense in a Philly win.
Oakland at Denver - W
Let's review last week. Oakland had a good start and quickly fell apart. Denver started slow, before turning it up in the second half. Somehow I doubt one score will be enough for the Raiders. They'll be buried by the Broncos.
Indianapolis at Seattle - W
Indy will go the rest of the season without one of the team's MVPs. QB Peyton Manning gets the headlines, but LB Cato June helped make the defense the top story with his five picks and 102 tackles. We know the Colts offense would be nothing without Manning. Without June, the defense will slip as well. The Seahawks still have something to play for and go for the win.
Chicago at Green Bay - W
Already down Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport, the Green Bay backfield took yet another hit with the news Samkon Gado is lost for the season as well. The Packers won't sign another ball carrier. Instead they'll switch to a run-and-shoot empty backfield offense. Unfortunately it eliminates the guesswork for the Bears defense as they tee off every snap and bury G.B.
Minnesota at Baltimore - L
You can't win if you don't score points, as Minnesota found out after going 1-4 in the red zone, scoring three points. If the defense does what they should, all the Vikings have to do is double their output to be out of the Ravens' reach.
New England at New York Jets - Monday Night - W
Alcohol will not be served because of violence that took place during the last Jets home game, including a fan stabbing two others. I figured to booze would keep Jets fans from turning the knife on themselves. This loss to the Patriots will cut deep.
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