Welcome to the relaunch

Well kiddies, I haven’t written much since the NHL season started(OK I haven’t published a damn thing since I made my pre-season predictions) and that is because I was lazy….  Well that and I finally came to the great realization that I don’t really know enough about anything other than football to claim to cover all sports.  Ooh I know sports, and better than most, but I don’t have the time, energy or resources to give everything the full coverage it deserves.   Therefore, with this unveiling of the new banner, this will be a NFL-only website from now on.  What we’re promising this time around is more in-depth coverage of each team; starting tomorrow, we’ll be giving you a different team preview every day and once the season starts you’ll continue to receive the best free handicapping advice on the net(3 winning seasons out of 3).  Additionally, if you want to see something here, just shoot me an email and provided it’s valid, I’ll do my best to give you at least a few hundred words on the subject.  Lastly, we will be doing contests, but after the ridiculousness of our last sponsor(gave us fake jerseys as prizes) we’ll be vetting everything a lot more seriously going forward.

So I apologize for the delay, but we’re officially back in business bringing everything(ok mostly just the important items) you ever wanted to know about the NFL.  Starting tomorrow with Atlanta, we’ll be giving you a preview a day as we present “32 teams in 32 days”.

Looking forward to another profitable season,

The Captain

NFL Conference Championships

Well… I can’t put it any other way than to say that I shit the bed last week.  I’m not going to take the cowards way out and say that two gifted TDs(INT where there was clear pass interference, and a phantom holding call which led to a Manning fumble, which led to a Ravens TD) cost me a cover(cost the Broncos a lot more than it cost me) or that the Falcons stopped playing in the 2nd half and cost me a TONNE by 1/2 a point.  No I shall not make these excuses because that’s not what we do. The result is what it is, and for me last week it was poor.  I was incorrect in assuming that Green Bay would stand too tough a challenge for Colin Kaepernick.  I shall not doubt him again.

-San Francisco (-4) @ Atlanta – For all intents and purposes last week was the NFC Championship.  The two best teams went at it and the 49ers beat the Packers pretty handily.  On the other side Atlanta started very strongly against an overrated Seahawks team and then almost blew it at the end before getting a late field goal from Matt Bryant to win it(but of course, fail to cover).  Atlanta has weapons galore, but just doesn’t seem to be able to play a full 60 minutes in any game.  That will not be anywhere close to being good enough against a 49ers team that is ramping it up at the right time.  Colin Kaepernick is a weapon as a QB and there doesn’t seem to be any way to stop the multi-faceted QB.  San Francisco wins this game by a TONNE.

-Baltimore @ New England(-8) – Baltimore seems to be a team of destiny, as anyone who watched them play last week will agree that they needed everything to go right in order for them to win that game.  They needed Champ Bailey to have the worst game of his career, they needed Peyton Manning to make the mistakes he only seems to make in the playoffs, and they needed Joe Flacco to look like an elite QB(which for the record, he still is NOT).  This will not happen against New England.  These things do not happen under Belichick’s system.  He commands discipline out of his players every game, and that is never more apparent than during the playoffs.  Tom Brady doesn’t make mistakes like Manning does.  The Patriots key defensive players(Hightower, Mayo, Wilfork) don’t disappear like the Broncos’ did last week(Miller, Woodyard and Dumervil were held to 1 total sack and were largely ineffective).  Vince Wilfork has looked especially dangerous.  Lastly, the Patriots took one of their biggest weaknesses and turned it into a strength when they moved Devin McCourty from corner to safety.  He has been excellent since the switch.  These guys will NOT get burned by Torrey Smith(who is quick, but nowhere as fast as Bailey made him look last week), and Flacco will get hit a LOT more than he did last week.  Baltimore isn’t as good as Houston and if the Texans couldn’t cover this spread there’s no way the Ravens will.  Patriots ROUT!!

Well we took a $210 bath last week, but we know that’s how it works right?  We’re still up a ton this year so at the end of the day we’re still laughing! This week we’re playing both games as well as a parlay on our two picks.

Starting Bankroll: $2000.00

Current Bankroll: $3132.66

-San Francisco(-4) laying $220 to win $200

-New England(-8) laying $105 to win $100

-SF(-4)/NE(-8) laying $50 to win $136.50

That’s it for now, but please remember, BET WITHIN YOUR MEANS!!

*All lines come from bet365.com, the site we play on.

Handicapping The NFL Division Playoffs:

Well, a .500 week is nothing to brag about, but to be fair, I firmly believe the ‘Skins would have continued hammering the Seahawks had RGIII stayed relatively healthy during the game.  Football is a game of momentum and they had all of it.  As soon as Griffin hobbled over to center to throw the second TD pass it was obvious he wasn’t anywhere close to 100% and the Seahawks started licking their chops.  That was the game.  Anyone who tells you they picked Seattle and weren’t worried early on is a liar.  They were on the way to having their asses handed to them.  Big Mo snuck in when RGIII had that awkward fall at the sideline and THAT was the game.  This week people are still going to convince themselves that the Seahawks are a great team and that they can defeat the Falcons.  Do yourself a favour and take these peoples’ money off their hands.

Playoff Picks: (Current Record: 2-2)

-Baltimore @ Denver(-9.5) – I have learned to stop betting against the Broncos.  They haven’t lost since the elder Bush was in office(at least it seems that way) and apparently have no plans of letting off the gas pedal.  They may not be a team that has done it every year, but their QB sure knows what he’s up against in a playoff run and Manning and Brady seem destined to end up meeting in another conference final.  Baltimore had a big emotional win for Ray Lewis last week but that ends here.  Take Denver to destroy the Ravens.

-Green Bay +3 @ San Francisco – The 49ers haven’t had as dominating a season as they did last year and truth be told, they SHOULD be playing this game in Wisconsin(If Green Bay had been given the W against Seattle they would have had the #2 seed).  I like a whole lot of things about the Packers, but mostly the fact that in the past 4 weeks, Aaron Rodgers has thrown 11 TDs and ZERO interceptions.  When he plays like that, they don’t lose.  San Francisco is going to need to get to Rodgers a LOT and have Kaepernick show up big time to win this one.  I don’t see both of those things happening.  Green Bay wins outright.

-Seattle @ Atlanta (-3) – I can’t believe this line is currently at (-120) if you’re taking Seattle.  You people are insane!  Atlanta may not be the best team in the NFC but they’re a very good team, with a LOT of weapons, and a solid defense.  They’re SO MUCH BETTER than the Seahawks.  Oooh they’re also playing AT HOME where they went 7-1 this season.  This line is ridiculous.  Take Atlanta heavy here.

-Houston @ New England(-9.5) – Yes again I’m taking the almost double-digit favourite in a divisional playoff game.  It’s definitely crazy, but as I’ve previously stated I believe the Patriots and Broncos are destined to meet in the Conference final and it would just make the story that much sexier if both were coming off massive blowouts in their divisional games.  Besides that, Houston has been in a but of a free fall over the last month or so of the season(losing 3 of their final 4 regular season games).  This team isn’t the same without Brian Cushing, even if Whitney Mercilus is stepping up this year.  The Pats blew them out of the water last time and will do it again.

Well RGIII’s knee kept us from going 2/2 and making a tidy $230 profit, but we broke even and we’ll take it.  This week we are making a play on every game as we like the lines a ton.

Starting Bankroll: $2000.00

Current Bankroll: $3342.66

-Denver (-9.5) laying $110 to win $100

-Green Bay MONEY LINE(+125) laying $100 to win $125

-Atlanta (-3) laying $200 to win $200

-New England (-9.5) laying $105 to win $100

That’s it for now, but please remember, BET WITHIN YOUR MEANS!!

*All lines come from bet365.com, the site we play on.

Handicapping Week 17 in the NFL:

Well we’re officially back on the winning side with our second straight week in the black.  For those keeping track that’s 12 winning weeks out of 16…. Not too shabby if you ask me(and even if you haven’t asked me, I’m still gonna say it!).  This week we have all divisional contests, a few with massive playoff implications and a few teams just playing out the schedule.  The only thing we know for sure about week 17 is that it is unpredictable.  I rarely wager a lot of money on the last week of the regular season as it tends to have more than it’s share of surprises but if you insist:

Regular Plays: (Current Record: 72-55-3)

-NY Jets @ Buffalo(-3) – Two teams playing out the rest of their schedule.  Buffalo has lost 3 in a row and really shouldn’t be a favourite against anyone, luckily for them they’re at home against the possibly more inept Jets.  Mark Sanchez returns to the starting line-up due to injury(certainly not anything he’s done) and the Bills secondary are licking their chops.  At the end of the day, both teams stink so give me the home team laying a small number.

-Miami +10.5 @ New England – The Pats still have a chance at a 1st round bye so many will love the Pats here.  At the end of the day New England knows they’re likely finishing in 3rd place and even though they don’t like to rest their starters they’ll probably be up a couple of scores late and allow a backdoor cover(just like last time).  Miami plays them tough and wants to finish the year at .500 so I expect this one to stay within single digits.

-Baltimore +2.5 @ Cinncinati – Last week the Ravens finally woke up after their second half slumber and the Bengals finally got the monkey off their back by beating one of the big boys in their division.  My money says they’re not going to do it again.  Yes the Ravens don’t look as dangerous as they once did, and the Bengals look good, but Cinncy is a team who beats the teams they should beat and loses to the teams they should lose to.  Baltimore is a team they should lose to.  Take the points and consider the money line.

-Cleveland @ Pittsburgh – OFF THE BOARD – I’ve only seen one line pop up for this and it was Pittsburgh (-2.5).  Certainly if you can give less than a FG, Pittsburgh is the correct choice.

-Houston(-7) @ Indy – This is a toughy.  Indy has been a good team this year and the Texans have shown weakness at times.  The big picture here sees the Colts locked in at the number 5 seen whilst the Texans can end up anywhere from 1st to 3rd thanks to last week’s loss to the Vikings.  Houston should be the hungrier of the two and Indy hasn’t shown an ability to compete against the big boys yet(Green Bay doesn’t count because they obviously hadn’t started the season yet), so until they do we’ll assume the Texans are gonna pummel them.

-Jacksonville @ Tennessee(-4) – Probably the least watchable game of the week sees the Titans as 4 point favourites against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars.  With Mojo still expected not to play there isn’t a lot to like about the Jags here.  The best player in the game is probably Chris Johnson and we know he can take a game over on his own, so let’s run with that.  Tennessee by a major.

-Philadelphia +7 @ NY Giants – This game could go either way as we have no idea which Giants team is going to show up this week.  What we do know is that it is the return of Michael Vick, who many believe is auditioning for a job next year.  What that means remains to be seen but the Eagles usually finish the year looking better than when they started it so I’m gonna take the points here.  You’re welcome Goose.

-Tampa Bay @ Atlanta – OFF THE BOARD – At this time there is no line, presumably because the Falcons have the #1 spot locked up and may rest some players.

-Kansas City +16.5 @ Denver – The Broncos have won 10 in a row.  They have the 2nd best point differential in the NFL.  They also have a chance at the 1st seed in the AFC.  Kansas City has lost all 11 conference games so far.  They have the worst point differential in the NFL.  They have a chance at the 1st overall pick this offseason.  All of this said, you don’t lay more than 2 scores inside the division.  Take Kansas City because it’s the right thing to do.  Even if it seems insane.  Which it does.

-Oakland @ San Diego – OFF THE BOARD –

-Arizona +16.5 @ San Francisco – Just like the KC/Denver game, there is no reason to take the Cardinals but you must as this is FAAAR too many points to give up in a divisional game.  If you always take the dog in these games, more often than not, it’ll come up in your favour.

(Current Record: 20-25)

-Green Bay(-3.5) @ Minnesota – Everyone seems to love the home dog here, as they need a win to clinch a playoff spot, but Green Bay has just as much to play for(a win clinches a 1st round bye) and is a much better team.  They have a +100 point differential(compared to Minny’s 28) and are 5-0 within the division.  They win when they need to and this weekend they need to.  Minny’s cinderella season ends here.

-Dallas @ Washington(-3) – Oooh what a game this will be.  Last week Dallas fought back to send their game against the Saints into overtime only to watch the Saints shut them down and then kick the winning field goal,  crushing Cowboys’ fans dreams everywhere.  But wait, it really didn’t matter as the ‘Boys still control their destiny.  A win here nets them the division.  Unfortunately they are still the Cowboys and as they tend to do, will probably throw this one away.  RGIII will be a lil healthier this week and the Redskins are riding a high that will propel them into the division title.  Take Washington.

-BAL/CIN – OVER 41 – a LOW total between two teams who’s defenses have been anything but dominating this season.  Cinncy’s offense is flying high and if Baltimore can resemble anything like last week this should easily go over 41.  It’s not your father’s AFC North anymore.

(Current Record: 32-15-1)

-Carolina @ New Orleans(-5) – The Panthers have won 3 in a row so they’re kind of a sexy pick at the moment.  Newton has remembered how much skill he has and their defense has been a little better.  They’re still not a “good” team though and we believe the Saints are.  Drew Brees has been on fire since the debacle against Atlanta, and the team seems determined to end the year on a high.  Finishing .500 after their atrocious start would be considered a victory and I believe they accomplish that this weekend as they paste the Panthers.

-Chicago Bears(-3) @ Detroit – All of the money here seems to be on Detroit(currently at -120) which is very surprising.  Chicago needs to win to have a chance at the postseason, the Lions have lost 7 in a row, and the Bears defense matches up very well against any team with Matthew Stafford as its QB.  Chicago wins when their defense comes up big.  Stafford is prone to the worst kind of brain farts.  This is clearly a match made in heaven.  Chicago wins large.

-St Louis +11 @ Seattle – Yes the Seahawks pasted the 49ers last week but this week will be a little different.  For one, they know they have a playoff spot locked up so they may give some guys a break in the 2nd half(especially if they have a lead).  Secondly, they’re no longer thought of as a “surprise”; teams game plan for them. St. Louis has been a VERY tough divisional opponent this year(4-0-1) and have no business being double-digit dogs to ANYONE in the conference.  Seattle will win, but not by more than a TD.

Additional Totals You Should Love: (Current Record: 19-9-1)

none this week.

 

Starting Bankroll: $2000.00

Current Bankroll: $3342.66

As a rule, we never bet on the last week of the season.  Too many surprises.  Our favourite pick is St. Louis, but again, don’t advise betting on week 17.

That’s it for now, but please remember, BET WITHIN YOUR MEANS!!

*All lines come from bet365.com, the site we play on.

Handicapping Week 16 in the NFL:

Perhaps I should have taken Hasselhoff up on that offer to play him on the new “Baywatch”…

Well, we’re back on the winning ledger after last week, but it could have been a lot sweeter had those Patriots finished off that insane second half comeback on Sunday night.  Alas, we’ll take what we can get.  We made some great calls(such as taking Minny on the money line, and GB to clinch the division) and laid a couple of stinkers(ummm.. the Giants… oops).  At the end of the day we’re back to our winning ways so let’s keep that going.

Regular Plays (Current Record: 66-51-2)

-Oakland+8 @ Carolina – This is a tough one.  Cam Newton has the Panthers rolling pretty good and the Raiders are NOT a good team but how do you lay 8 points with a 5-win team.  Just not something I am willing to do.  Not betting on this one, but if forced to I’d take the points.  If this gets below a TD I’d probably flip.  That’s how tough this one is.

-Cinncy+3.5 @ Pittsburgh – This might be the sexiest game of the week.  Cinncy currently sits a game ahead of the Steelers with a brutal 1-3 divisional record.  This game is a must-win for both teams and even though I think the Steelers might end up on the winning end of this one I see it being a last second or OT field goal deciding this one.  More than a FG is just a lil too much for a game this huge.  Not a favourite of mine this week but I’m taking the Bengals as long as I’m getting more than a FG

-New England(-14.5) @ Jacksonville – So I’m laying MASSIVE points in this one.  Has the Pats beaten the 49ers last week I’m sure I’d be taking he Jags here but the Pats are going to be angry, and knowing that they absolutely must win to have a shot at a 1st round bye they’ll be going on all cylinders.  That is terrible news for a Jacksonville team who was hammered by the offensively inept Miami Dolphins last week.  If Miami can win by 21, surely the Pats can win by 120 right?? New England storms back with a vengeance and destroys the Jags.

-New Orleans +2.5 @ Dallas – These are the games that the Cowboys lose.  Everyone thought they were going to lose last week and they surprised everyone(well they had some help from Antonio Brown and Big Ben) but the ‘Boys love to get everyone excited before dropping a big one in the sheets.  New Orleans still has a chance at the playoffs(a SLIM one) and will be playing for pride.  They’ve been better since Vitt came back and should win this one outright.

-Washington @ Philadelphia+6.5 – This is a tough game to handicap as the Eagles are a seemingly better team with Nick Foles and who knows how healthy RGIII is going to be, and whether or not the injury os going to change the way he plays.  At the end of the day it’s a road divisional game and a lot of points.  Philly would love to spoil things for the ‘Skins and may just keep it close.

-St Louis+3 @ Tampa Bay – Tough to lay 3 points with a team who has lost 4 in a row.  St Louis has played teams tough and tends to make things happen against struggling teams.  Tampa Bay has fallen apart(where have we seen this before Josh Freeman??) and can’t be trusted to lay points against anyone.  Take the points.

-NY Giants(-2.5) @ Baltimore – By the time this game starts the Ravens may have clinched the division.  That is excellent news for the Giants who desperately need a win in order to have a shot at the playoffs .  Baltimore isn’t scaring anyone these days and their once-dominating defense has given up the second MOST points in their division.  The Giants were embarrassed last week and a chance to play a stumbling team is just what they need.  If Pittsburgh has a big lead during their game against Cinncy you should really look at this line and if you can still get less than a FG take it heavy.

-Indianapolis(-7) @ Kansas City – Most believe that losing to the Texans last week was a good thing for the growth of the Colts young team.  I agree.  Indy needed to be brought down a peg and they surely were, learning who the team to beat in the division really is.  They’ll come back hard this week and against a Chiefs team who has trouble scoring against awful defenses(See: Raiders – 402 pts given up), they shouldn’t put up much of a fight against the Colts who are a lil better.  Unless Charles can run for 275 yards and 3TDs this should be a laugher.  Colts all the way.

-Minnesota @ Houston(-7.5) – The Texans showed us last week that they mean business.  They needed the win to clinch the division and this week they’ll hope to take care of the #1 seeding for the playoffs.  Minnesota has been much better than expected largely due to Adrian Peterson destroying everything in his path but they still lack a passing game because they lack a QB.  The Texans are skilled at every position and will show the Vikes what class is this weekend in a severe beating.

-Cleveland+13 @ Denver – Yeah the Broncos are going to win this game(their 10th in a row) but expecting them to beat the competitive Browns by two touchdowns is a little much.  This might be a trap game for the Broncos, simply meaning they only win it by a TD.  Cleveland is only -30 on the year, and considering their record, that is quite a feat.  They don’t get blown out a lot and should keep this one close enough to cover this massive spread.

-San Diego+2.5 @ NY Jets – How do you handicap this game? Both teams are horrid and the Jets seem determined to give away any game they can.  They should have won last week against the Titans but Sanchez “dropped the ball” and “threw the game away”(Ain’t I clever).  On the other hand the Chargers threw away the division this year and keep losing to bad teams(Cleveland, Carolina). At the end of the day we’ll take whoever we can get points with and in this case it’s the Chargers.

(Current Record: 18-24… gross!!)

-Tennessee @ Green Bay(-12.5) – The Titans should have lost at home last week to the Jets.  That’s all that is really needed to say about this one.  I hate laying this many points but it’s not a divisional game, it’s not a road game, and the Pack still have something to play for(1st round bye and a shot at home field advantage)  Green Bay is rolling and beat the Bears by more than a TD in Chicago, so there is absolutely no logic that will suggest they won’t beat the Titans by two touchdowns at home.

-Buffalo @ Miami(-4.5) – The Buffalo Bills are making their annual trip to Miami and the Dolphins will have revenge on their minds.  Had they beaten the Bills in November(a game they probably should have won) they’d be in the thick of the playoff hunt right now.  As it is they’re not eliminated but need a LOT of help to get in.  They’ll still be hungry, and having Davone Bess return after last week’s day off should help them, as they’ve had a few drops by their receivers lately.  Buffalo has nothing to play for and were downright awful last week.  Can’t come up with a reason to take them.  Miami by more than a TD.

-SD/NYJ – UNDER 40 – Both awful teams.  The Jets love to play awful, low-scoring games and the Chargers offense isn’t the same one from years past.  Probably ends 16-6 for the Chargers.

(Current Record: 30-14-1)

-Atlanta(-3.5) @ Detroit – Someone woke the Falcons up.  They haven’t been getting any respect from anyone all year, even though they’ve been at least tied for 1st in the league EVERY WEEK of the season.  These Lions have lost 6 in a row and showed absolutely ZERO heart last week in a blowout loss to the lowly Cards.  Atlanta needs one more win to wrap up home field throughout the NFC playoffs and they’ll get it this week.

-Chicago(-5.5) @ Arizona – Now that the Cards have won a game, the “falling” team in the NFC has become the Bears.  Unfortunately the Cards still don’t have a QB and beating the Lions is nothing to brag about.  Chicago can put themselves in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot with a win this week and they will do so.  ‘Zona is happy they won last week but won’t be so happy when their brutal QBs go up against this elite defense.

-San Francisco(-1) @ Seattle – Yes Seattle is a better team than we thought and yes they are a solid team at home.  That’s about all we can say for this line being so small.  The 49ers are a better team on both sides of the ball and no matter how scrappy the Seahawks are they don’t compare to the the reigning division champs.  San Fran is a Superbowl contender and the ‘Hawks would be elated with a playoff game.  This difference in class will be displayed this Sunday night when the ‘Niners hands them their behinds.

Additional Totals You Should Love: (Current Record: 18-8-1)

-NO/DAL – OVER 51.5 – The Saints have been my go-to over this year and I see this one having the potential to go way over.  The Saints put up 41 last week and have their offense going like a well-oiled machine.  Dallas can put up points when they need to and managed 51 total points playing a team known for its tough defense.  This one should be a healthy score.

-SF/SEA – UNDER 39 – NFC West divisional game.  That’s all I need to say.

Well a modest $60 profit last week, but it’s a PROFIT and we won’t take any of them for granted.  We have a few juicy picks this week so let’s get at em:

Starting Bankroll: $2000.00

Current Bankroll: $3217.66

-ATL(-3.5) risking $110 to win $100

-CHI(-5.5) risking $110 to win $100

-SF(-1) risking $105 to win $100

-N.O. – MONEY LINE – risking $50 to win $60

Teaser Cards

GB(-6.5)/CIN+9.5/IND(-1)/HOU(-1.5)/CHI+1 – risking $30 to win $165.00

That’s it for now, but please remember, BET WITHIN YOUR MEANS!!

*All lines come from bet365.com, the site we play on.

A case for Miami: Why Peyton Manning needs to give South Beach serious thought

 

So the great Manning sweepstakes are underway.  On Friday when Peyton and Colts owner Jim Irsay stepped up to the podium to announce what we all already knew, that Manning would be playing for a different NFL team next season, it began.  As many as 12 reported teams would thus begin vying for the affection of the man who is probably best passing quarterback of all-time.  Even though most NFL teams should be interested and approximately 1/3 of them are assumed to have inquired there quickly emerged 3 favourites: The Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and as a mild surprise, the Denver Broncos.  As late as last night it was being reported that the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals had pushed forward as the top 2 choices, with Denver as possibly the leader in the race.  Let it be known that I am a die-hard Dolphins fan.  I won’t hide that fact, but I believe I can look at this objectively and when I do, I truly believe that Miami would be the best fit for Peyton.  When we look at each teams holes and weaknesses heading into the upcoming season it becomes even more clear where he belongs.

The frontrunning Denver Broncos might seem like an obvious choice being the only one of the three teams to have made the playoffs last season.  They have an excellent defense and a very efficient running game. Yes they have Tim Tebow, and he did win some big games last season, including a playoff game against the heavily favoured Steelers, but at the end of the day John Elway and the rest of Broncos brass have never seemed like they were interested in anointing him as the next permanent QB.  Add to that the fact that unless you have a top 5 QB or are currently rebuilding you’d have to be an idiot to not want one of the best of all time.  Besides Tebow is still young and hopefully with 3-4 years of tutelage from one of the game’s best, he might learn how to throw a spiral. So while there is no question the Broncos should want Manning, the question is whether or not HE should want THEM.  If you look at the way the offense is set up, from the line back it is set for the run.  Their offense was inefficient until it started going through the run game and then it was much more efficient.  While Edgerrin James and Joseph Addai had success running behind Manning, they were NEVER the focal point.  He was always a pass-first QB(as evidence by his gaudy numbers) and may not have those options in Denver.  The Broncos have traded two stud receivers in Brandon’s LLyod and Marshall in the past 2 years and finished the year with underwhelming options such as Eddie Royal and Demaryious Thomas.  Sure they aren’t awful, but are a FAR cry from the talent he had in Indy and even further from what is available to him elsewhere….

Such as Arizona.  The Cards made moves last season hoping to grab a hold of the weak NFC West division once again.  They traded Dominique Rogers-Cromartie along with a 2nd round pick to the Eagles for Kevin Kolb.  The experiment was definitely not a success.  Kolb battled injury and inconsistency and did not impress.  It wasn’t until the back half of the season when John Skelton took over that the team turned it around.  They finished by winning 4 out of 5 and finishing at 8-8, the same record as those Denver Broncos.  What is good about the Cardinals as an option? They have possibly the best receiver in the game in Larry Fitzgerald who there is no doubt would benefit from having a QB of Manning’s calibre throwing him the ball on a weekly basis. They also have a pretty solid running game behind Chris “Beanie” Wells, who when healthy is very efficient.  Their defense is also pretty solid.  It sat in the middle of the pack in most statistics but all of those numbers should increase if they were able to stay off the field more by signing a QB who wasn’t prone to three-and-outs.  On the other side of the coin while ‘Zona boasts a WR of Fitzgerald’s talent, beyond that lies a lot of question marks.  With Early Doucet expected to hit free agency they are left with Andre Roberts as their number 2 and no clear number 3…. Roberts may have finished the year strong but he is still an unproven quantity and their lack of depth will lead to teams double and triple covering Fitzgerald.  On top of all of this the Cardinals are in the NFC, where most believe Manning doesn’t want to play…..

Unlike the Miami Dolphins.  They play in the AFC where he apparently wants to stay.  They play in the AFC East against his great rival Tom Brady.  If there is one thing more famous than Manning’s work ethic, it is his competitive streak.  With the Sanchise re-upping in New York there really isn’t a “sexier” possibility than Manning-Brady TWICE A YEAR!! Yes the Dolphins are coming off a dismal 6-10 season.  Yes the team has a meddling owner who thinks he knows more about the game than he actually does.  Yes the team has had some issues on the right side of their offensive line.  All of these issues are greatly overshadowed by the benefits of playing in Miami.  First of all they definitely have the best recieving corps of the three teams in play.  Brandon Marshall is a perennial pro-bowler who would absolutely relish the chance to have a QB of Manning’s abilities throwing to him.  Davone Bess would give him a phenomenal slot option and Brian Hartline, who may not be the most physically gifted receiver, would more than make up for it by giving Manning the best pair of hands he’s had as an option since the glue-handed Marvin Harrison.  On top of that the Dolphins boast a formidable running game.  Now that they’ve figured out that Daniel Thomas is there to do the North-South heavy work and Reggie Bush makes an unstoppable option-back, their already potent running game will be even stronger.  Defensively they don’t have too much to worry about.  By the end of the season their secondary had gotten past their early season “we can’t make an open field tackle to save our lives” problem and had become quite the shutdown experts.  They may not have been the best secondary in football as Vontae Davis boasted pre-season, but they were good. and Davis cemented his position in the upper echelon of cornerbacks.  Miami had two major weak spots last season.  One was taht they didn’t have a stud QB in a league where you needed one.  Signing Manning would instantly solve that problem.  Their other major hole was at their O-line.  Jake Long is still the best left tackle in the game, and Mike Pouncey was fantastic.  Beyond that they had problems.  Luckily for the Miami Dolphins there is a stellar young right tackle entering the draft by the name of Riley Reiff.  He would be a perfect compliment to their young line.  Picking 8th most experts believe Reiff will still be there and if not surely Jonathan Martin will be.  Both are young quick and tough as nails.  Surely one of them can provide the added protection Manning might want.  The last thing I want to say about the Dolphins is that their record is misleading.  They lost a few close games early on that they should have won.  Mistakes made by Chad Henne and a few missed tackles really hurt the team.  Out of the three teams “in the running” they had the worst record by a full 2 games, but were the ONLY of the three to have a positive point differential.  Think about that.

Look, every team has strengths and weaknesses, but at the end of the day where will Peyton Benefit the most.  He can go to a team in Denver without passing options who only made the playoffs because their division was absolutely atrocious, or he can go to Arizona and play for a team that should be 9-7 with him, but will still probably miss the playoffs as the 49ers defense won’t be getting any worse and their offense can only get healthier and better, OR he can go to where he has a house, in South Florida, play in the beautiful weather, and have a solid chance at once again ruling the very bad AFC.  I hear he’s leaning towards Denver or Arizona, but the one thing I know about Peyton is that he is the most prepared QB in the game, and if he is that prepared for this decision the ONLY answer is Miami.