NFL: We Made It through 8 Weeks.

We're now at the half-way mark in the NFL season. We know a lot now. Who are the best teams, worst teams and who isn't meeting our expectations. I talk about the trade the Patriots made that could work out for the team he went to. Also, I think he can be the MVP but his name and game has raised our expectations. I give you my Super Bowl Predictions, I think we'll get a rematch of a recent Super Bowl. 

Bengals Talk: With Derek Forrest

The Bengals are traveling to London to take on the Washington Redskins. With the way the season has been going for both teams this game could go either way. Can Andy Dalton and AJ Green go across the pond and get a win or will Kirk Cousins and company spoil their trip?

I am joined by sports anchor/reporter Derek Forrest of WLWT to talk about this weeks game. 

Brock Osweiler Needs One More Thing Before I Can Tell If He's A Franchise Quarterback

 

 

Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler hasn't looked too impressive through the first quarter of the NFL regular season. With the Texans atop a very mediocre-looking AFC south at 4-and-2 through the first six weeks, it's really a miracle, that record could easily be 2-and-4; they had two victories where they came from behind in the fourth quarter and won (Colts and the Bears). Even with the team being in first place in the division, you can't really say it's been because of the quarterback play. 

Osweiler signed with the Texans this off season, leaving the Denver Broncos, after winning a Super Bowl as the teams backup quarterback; he was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second-round of the 2012 draft (57th overall)

Osweiler, who will be 26 this season, is in his fifth season in the NFL and this is his first as a full-time starter. After signing a franchise-player-like contract with the Texans and going to a team that has been longing for stability at the position for nearly five years, it's almost certain to say the pressures on. In his first four seasons, before joining the Texans, he only had 305 pass attempts, 2,100 yards passing and 11 touchdowns (95 percent of these stats came in 2015). 

Coming into the season it was looking as if the Texans were putting the relatively inexperienced quarterback in a comfortable situation. The team already had an all-pro caliber receiver in DeAndre Hopkins. And in the 2016 draft they added former-Nortre Dame receiver Will Fuller and quarterback-turned-receiver Braxton Miller from Ohio State University. Both of these players are speed receivers and have uncanny play-making ability. 

Through the first six games of the season, Osweiler has 1,400 passing yards [24th], 59-percent completion rate, with his touchdowns being locked for a tie with interceptions with 8 each. 

One thing that we fail to really look at, honestly, Brock is in a new system with new players. He turned down the opportunity to remain in Denver with the Broncos, the team his had familiarity with and the team that drafted him.  After being benched heading into the playoffs for a quarterback, who he out-performed, named Peyton Manning; the Broncos won the Super Bowl, the Media had praised Manning and the games that Osweiler had helped them win in the regular season were an after-thought. 

One thing that we have to give any player in a new system, not matter of the pieces around him, is TIME!  With things being the way that they are in this day-and-age, it seems like that the one thing that we don't have to give. Every team is in a "win now" mind state. Is that how struggling teams become successful? or do they get young players, groom them, watch them develop after providing them with the tools to be successful for a handful of years? The goal for any struggling franchise or organization shouldn't be to "win now" it should be for long-term stability and a winning culture. 

 In 2015, the Texans played musical chairs with quarterback, going through several starters throughout the season -- Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallet, T.J. Yates and Brandon Weeden -- And they couldn't find one worthy enough to hold the position. In 2016, they're hoping Brock Osweiler can sit in the seat permanently for years to come. 

Do You Really Think The Bengals Should Fire Marvin Lewis?

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has been mentioned to be on the "hot seat", early, after a slow start to the season. I've been hearing a lot of media outlets and fans saying that Marvin Lewis is one reason for the Bengals 2-and-4 start. However, is firing Lewis something that Bengals fans should really want? I explain why firing Lewis would be a terrible decision for the Bengals organization.

The 2016 NBA Season Will Be Fun, But It's Missing Something.

The 2016 NBA season was really close to becoming the 1999 season, but there's something that saves it. We always hope that players walk away from the game while they're still able to with some respect. These players walked away after giving us everything they had for nearly 20 years. 

I Like The New Kaepernick Deal, Here's Why

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was just awarded his job back after the team suffered it's fourth loss of the season, now to 1-4. He was also awarded something else this week, control over his future. After the 2016 season he can opt out of the two-year deal that he just signed and sign with another team. There are a few teams that could use his talent and I think that he still has a lot left in the tank. 

The Dallas Discussion: The Rookie vs The Relationship

The Dallas Cowboys are in prime position to take the NFC east and they're doing it with a rookie quarterback, Dak Prescott. Now, we know everything sounds good right? Veteran quarterback, Tony Romo might have a problem with this and there's been a lot of discussion as of late. One question everyone has been asking: Who do you play when Romo is healthy? ... I have the answer for you and it could be a no-brainer.