Indianapolis Colts vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Indianapolis Colts(0-3) take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers(2-1) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay tonight, with 7:30CST kick off, televised on ESPN.  The Peyton Manning-less Colts are shown for the team people thought they were with Peyton artificially holding up the shell of the team they were just five years ago.  The 2006 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts find themselves in a situation very similar to that of the Dallas Cowboys last year.  Both teams were hopeful to play for the Lombardi trophy in their home stadium, with a franchise quarterback.  Both teams lost their franchise quarterback, and although the Colts still have time to salvage their season, it appears that the Colts will follow the path the Cowboys went in their abysmal six win 2010 season.

Jon Gruden will be announcing the game tonight, announcing the team that he, himself brought to the Super Bowl in 2003 (2002 season).  You might wonder whether he will be rooting for the team he once led, or against the team that fired him in 2009.  Some say the Super Bowl victory against his old team, the Oakland Raiders was largely due to the team that Tony Dungy built before him.  Gruden was fired in 2009 after getting knocked from the playoff hunt by the team he defeated in the Super Bowl six years before.

The post-Gruden Buccaneers surprised the football world, by going 10-6 without him.  The young talent, featuring rookies LeGarrette Blount (1,007 rushing yards in 2010) and Mike Williams (964 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns in 2010), largely made this happen. 

If Josh Freeman can prevent turnovers (to date he has 4 picks and 2 fumbles), and get the ball into Mike Williams hands, they should be able to defeat the deflated Colts easily.  If the Bucs O-Line can't contain the two weapons the Colts did not lose this year, Dwight Freeney (3 Sacks in 2011) and Robert Mathis (2 Sacks in 2011), we should have another one of those games that are fun to watch, but not because of expert play. 

Kevin

Last Minute Fantasy: Cam Newton

It has been one week since the Packers marched into Bank of America Stadium and left the broken Carolina Panthers with their second loss in two games.  Yet, all the football “experts” are talking about is how Cam Newton is 2^nd in NFL passing yards and is destined for greatness.  Really?  It was hard enough hearing Jim Mora Jr. pine over this fraud of a quarterback during the game (thank God Gruden wasn’t around), but even the days following held nothing but praise for the 0-2 QB who has more picks thrown than TDs.  Without even considering this young man’s serious character flaws, I can’t help but question why he is getting this unwarranted praise.  Many of you are thinking, “Hey guy, the numbers don’t lie.  Only Tom Brady has thrown for more yardage than Cam.”  I can’t argue that, but I can say that Cam Newton hasn’t proven a damn thing. 

In college, Cam was great in the non-pro system of Auburn.  In the NFL, he is nothing more than another rookie quarterback who isn’t ready to start.  He threw three picks last Sunday, and the Packers dropped three more.  He could not make a play when it mattered and had several off-target throws to wide open receivers.  The Packers won by a touchdown, but should have lost by two.  After making the errors that ultimately doomed his team, Cam could be seen sulking on the sidelines in solitude with a Gatorade towel covering his face instead of being a leader and preparing his team to march down the field when they got the ball back.  Real team player.  Fact: Cam Newton led Auburn to a national championship.  Fact: Auburn doesn’t run an offense that can be applied to the NFL.  Newton is a beast of an athlete, but that’s about it.  Cam Newton may lead the Panthers to a victory next Sunday (and I hope they do as I have 8 points on them in my pick ‘em pool), but it will only be because he’s at home, facing the Jaguars, and going up against another rookie QB, Blaine Gabbert, who is making his first NFL start.

Dan