The Penalty Flag

Keenan Allen commits blasphemy by wearing Raiders cap

James Cobern — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:05:30 +0000

Former CAL and recently drafted wide receiver of the San Diego Chargers Keenan Allen is going to have to learn that you don’t wear a division rivals’ apparel. A recent photo of Allen wearing an Oakland Raiders cap surfaced and it doesn’t look good for the rookie one bit.

It may have been a joke photo, or Allen is genuinely a Raiders fan from his time going to CAL that is located in Oakland, but you don’t sport an opposing teams color... Read more

What are the chances of a 49ers Super Bowl return?

James Cobern — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:57:01 +0000

One of the toughest realizations after the San Francisco 49ers lost Super Bowl XLVII was they may never get back there again. There will be some homers who will jump to contradict that statement, but one of the biggest advantages the 49ers had in terms of coming back to prominence in the NFL was surprise. No one expected Harbaugh to take Alex Smith to the NFC Championship game in 2011. By the same token, no one expected Colin Kaepernick to lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012... Read more

Detroit Lions battle shaping up at OLB?

Earl Richmond — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:50 +0000

After the Detroit Lions set up Stephen Tulloch, DeAndre Levy and Justin Durant as their starting linebackers two seasons ago, I (and a lot of other observers) never thought that the positions would be a question mark so soon. The Lions failed to re-sign Durant this off season and while middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch is playing under a long-term deal and DeAndre Levy has a new deal in hand, the vacancy created by Durant, or should I say the Lions, remains an apparent question mark and gaping hole in the defense... Read more

With Ingram out, Chargers hoping for full Manti

Eric Eulau — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:00:21 +0000

The shocking news of Melvin Ingram’s season ending ACL injury crushed any hopes of the Chargers producing a quality defense for the upcoming 2013 season. With their top pick from the 2012 draft, not to mention their best pass rusher besides the now departed Shaun Phillips, out for the season, the pressure to generate defensive stops will be further heaped on none other than Manti Te’o.

Newly christened general manager Tom Telesco made a huge gamble by trading up to get Te’o in the 2^nd round at the expense of addressing the tattered defensive and offensive lines... Read more

Buffalo Bills will win AFC East in 2013

Boomer Smith — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:00:01 +0000

As the season rapidly approaches its all about the talk, the hype, and the question marks. No one knows what’s going to happen but they all have an opinion. So here is mine, the Buffalo Bills shock the NFL by not only making the Playoffs but take the AFC East crown as well.

Buffalo has the easiest schedule of the AFC East teams with their opponents combine record of 121-135 from last season... Read more

Buccaneers defense an embarrassment, can they change?

GB Bongiovanni — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:00:23 +0000

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense led by Lavonte David, Mason Foster and Ronde Barber were horrific in 2012.

Ranking 29th in the league in sacks and dead last in passing yards allowed, they were an embarrassment, or were they?

The Buccaneers finished number one against the run allowing only 1,320 yards on the ground and only 3.5 yards per carry. Opposing teams averaged only 82.5 yards per carry which is a ginormous difference between the worst team in the league, 147.6 by the New Orleans Saints... Read more

Dallas Cowboys 2013 offseason: Chaos or Playoffs?

James Cobern — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:00:02 +0000

Every time you think of the Dallas Cowboys’ upcoming season in 2013, becomes a sense of dread and disappointment. What little credibility Jerry Jones had by bringing three Super Bowl titles is on its last thread, the contracts are bloated, the stars are dimming, and a franchise desperately looking for stability may be without a Head Coach at the end of the season. The only constant in this looming chaos will be Tony Romo, because if Romo didn’t sign that massive extension earlier this year, it would have made the anxiety in Dallas come to a massive crescendo... Read more

Montee Ball’s fantasy value in 2013

James Cobern — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:00:38 +0000

Denver Broncos running back Montee Ball is one of the most buzzed about rookies in Fantasy Football circles this year, because he ended up in an offense with Peyton Manning. However, the downside is Ball ended up in an offense with Peyton Manning. The focus on offense for the Broncos in 2013 will continue to be the passing game, and why not if you add Wes Welker to an already pass friendly receiving core with a future HOF running the show... Read more

Coleman vs Harrell: A fight for the Packers backup job

Andrew Megow — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:00:26 +0000

Aaron Rodgers is questionably the best quarterback in the league right now. His accurate arm and leadership literally holds the Green Bay Packers 2013 season and Super Bowl chances. With this in mind, it is sometimes intimidating to see what lies behind Rodgers on the roster. Behind him are back up quarterbacks Graham Harrell and B.J. Coleman. If Rodgers were to ever go down in an injury or lost for the season the fate of the team is in these two QB’s hands... Read more

Do the Detroit Lions, NFL owe Titus Young?

Earl Richmond — Sat, 18 May 2013 02:33:41 +0000

The problems he created seemed to escalate with each passing week. Titus Young had become, in the minds of most Lions’ fans, a first-rate troublemaker. To the Lions’ management and coaching staff the distractions and diversions were becoming increasingly difficult to deal with and harder to defend. At some point, Titus Young had to go. But not before the behavior got really bizarre, on national television no less. Lining up improperly, shooting his mouth off to then –wide receiver coach Shawn Jefferson and then finally the accusatory tweets challenging his employer to release him. The Detroit Lions looked like first class fools for picking him out of Boise State, but geniuses for obliging his tweeted demands and releasing him before irreparable harm was done to team and organization... Read more