Category Archives: NFL Football

The National Football League (NFL) is the highest level of professional American football in the United States. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing its name to the National Football League in 1922.

2012 NFL preseason matchups set

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Are you already suffering from football withdrawal? Well, don’t fear as the first NFL preseason game kicks off exactly four months from today with the Hall of Fame Game – which was canceled last year due to the lockout – between the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints.

That means the Cards and Saints will be the first teams to report to training camp in July – the Saints will need all the time they will have to adjust to a new coach in the wake of Sean Payton’s season-long suspension for the bounty scandal. Will Bill Parcells come out of retirement to take his protégé’s spot for a season? That remains to be seen.

The Super Bowl champion New York Giants will host the Chicago Bears on Friday, Aug. 24 (CBS, 8 p.m. ET) for their first nationally televised game since defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. And the Pats and Giants will face off in the final preseason game – although that’s generally when the starters rarely play.

Peyton Manning makes his Broncos debut in a Week 1 preseason game, when Denver plays at Chicago some time from Aug. 9-13. In Week 3, the Colts, who are expected to take quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, will be at the Washington Redskins, who are expected to take Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III with the second pick.

Exact dates and times for games not shown on national TV will be announced later.

Hall of Fame Game

Aug. 5             Arizona vs. New Orleans in Canton, Ohio, 8 p.m. (NFL Network)

Week 1 (Aug. 9-13)

Aug. 9             Green Bay at San Diego, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Aug. 13 Dallas at Oakland, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

TBA    Arizona at Kansas City

TBA    Baltimore at Atlanta

TBA    Cleveland at Detroit

TBA    Denver at Chicago

TBA    Houston at Carolina

TBA    Minnesota at San Francisco

TBA    New Orleans at New England

TBA    N.Y. Giants at Jacksonville

TBA    N.Y. Jets at Cincinnati

TBA    Pittsburgh at Philadelphia

TBA    St. Louis at Indianapolis

TBA    Tampa Bay at Miami

TBA    Tennessee at Seattle

TBA    Washington at Buffalo

Week 2 (Aug. 16-20)

Aug. 16 Cincinnati at Atlanta, 8 p.m. (FOX)

Aug. 17 Detroit at Baltimore, 8 p.m. (FOX)

Aug. 19 Indianapolis at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. (NBC)

Aug. 20 Philadelphia at New England, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

TBA    Buffalo at Minnesota

TBA    Cleveland at Green Bay

TBA    Dallas at San Diego

TBA    Jacksonville at New Orleans

TBA    Kansas City at St. Louis

TBA    Miami at Carolina

TBA    N.Y. Giants at N.Y. Jets

TBA    Oakland at Arizona

TBA    San Francisco at Houston

TBA    Seattle at Denver

TBA    Tennessee at Tampa Bay

TBA    Washington at Chicago

Week 3 (Aug. 23-26)

Aug. 23 Arizona at Tennessee, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Aug. 24 Chicago at N.Y. Giants, 8 p.m. (CBS)

Aug. 25 Houston at New Orleans, 8 p.m. (CBS)

Aug. 26 San Francisco at Denver, 4 p.m. (FOX)

Aug. 26 Carolina at N.Y. Jets, 8 p.m. (NBC)

TBA    Atlanta at Miami

TBA    Detroit at Oakland

TBA    Green Bay at Cincinnati

TBA    Indianapolis at Washington

TBA    Jacksonville at Baltimore

TBA    New England at Tampa Bay

TBA    Philadelphia at Cleveland

TBA    Pittsburgh at Buffalo

TBA    San Diego at Minnesota

TBA    Seattle at Kansas City

TBA    St. Louis at Dallas

Week 4 (Aug. 29-30)

TBA    Atlanta at Jacksonville

TBA    Baltimore at St. Louis

TBA    Buffalo at Detroit

TBA    Carolina at Pittsburgh

TBA    Chicago at Cleveland

TBA    Cincinnati at Indianapolis

TBA    Denver at Arizona

TBA    Kansas City at Green Bay

TBA    Miami at Dallas

TBA    Minnesota at Houston

TBA    New England at N.Y. Giants

TBA    New Orleans at Tennessee

TBA    N.Y. Jets at Philadelphia

TBA    Oakland at Seattle

TBA    San Diego at San Francisco

TBA    Tampa Bay at Washington

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Rumor: Tim Tebow caught in Swift/Agron love triangle

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Every day, finds a way to make me hate him a little more…

It looks like the former Broncos QB can’t quite decide between cherubic blonde and cherubic blonde : He invited both the singer and the Glee star to his foundation’s second annual charity golf tournament next month, the New York Post reports.

Tebow has been spotted out and about with Swift, but is also rumored to be quite enamored with Agron, who just recently split with actor Sebastian Stan.

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Peyton Manning to pick team by Tuesday?

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It appears that the race for ’s services are down to two teams, both of which he already has visited: the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals.

Denver might have the advantage. Manning has left the door open to a trip to the other conference, but don’t count on it. He’s much more familiar with AFC teams, especially their defenses. Moreover, he wouldn’t want to be the one to knock his brother Eli out of Super Bowl contention. Manning has huge respect for Broncos boss John Elway, although he may not want to be known as the guy who ran Tim Tebow out of town. Reportedly the Broncos would trade Tebow, likely to Jacksonville, if they sign Manning.

The Broncos have a good offensive line, a solid running game and a defense that is on the verge of becoming one of the better units in the league. The only problem is at wide receiver, where not a single player stands out despite the abundance of speed and skill with the likes of Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas. Still, if Reggie Wayne follows Manning, Denver can kill two birds with one stone.

Manning has to take a leap of faith with Denver coach John Fox, hoping he can fix the defense, which allowed 40 points or more five times in 18 games last season. And then there’s the matter of the weather. Manning played half of every pro season in a dome. Denver has one dome game next year, at Atlanta.

Regarding the fixes of the current lineup on offense and defense, Denver will be in good shape to go shopping in free agency. The Broncos are $44.7 million under the league’s $120.6 million salary cap, Profootballtalk.com reported Sunday night. That’s far better than the Cards, who will have some cuts to make to get under the cap by Tuesday afternoon.

As for Arizona, it plays 11 games in a dome this year — and the eight home games are on grass, not artificial turf. For a quarterback like Manning, who loves playing when weather’s not a factor (what quarterback doesn’t?), that’s a big edge. Arizona’s home field has a retractable roof, but it’s likely the team would keep it closed as a nod to Manning, even on lovely days. The Cards won Won seven of the last nine in 2011, never allowing more than 23 points in the nine games … Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald would be attractive for any quarterback, obviously, and the Cards used him in their recruiting efforts over the weekend.

Manning is now out of Arizona, having returned to his Florida home. There’s no indication whether he will meet with the Miami Dolphins, who are rumored to be ready to put on the full-court press. There are reports Manning intends to make his decision by Tuesday — that’s the starting day of the new league year and the point where teams can officially negotiate with non-released free agents.

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Washington Redskins looking to draft Baylor’s Robert Griffin III

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According to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, the are over Peyton Manning.

Glazer tweeted on Friday night that the Redskins have agreed to a trade with the St. Louis Rams that would put them in position to draft Heisman Trophy-winning Baylor quarterback III.

The extended text of Glazer’s tweet indicated that the Redskins were sending the No. 6 selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, two future No. 1 picks and additional selections in exchange for the Rams’ No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

While the Denver Broncos, the Miami Dolphins and several other teams are just beginning their courtships of free agent quarterback Peyton Manning, the Skins were reportedly out of the running almost immediately.

According to Chris Russell of ESPN 980 in DC, the four-time NFL MVP has no interest in joining the Redskins despite the fact that the franchise reportedly intended to make an “aggressive effort” to sign him.

With Manning apparently unlikely to be lured to the Beltway, the Redskins have, per Glazer, gone aggressively in another direction. Just two days before Glazer tweeted about this deal, Wes Bunting of the National Football Post projected that Washington would trade up in the draft to select RG3 in the No. 2 slot. After Glazer’s tweet, NFL media and fans quickly began weighing in on all aspects of the deal.

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Super Bowl Futures: Harbaugh’s Niners Set to Build on Successful Season

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The San Francisco 49ers were better than expected this past season, going 13-3 and advancing to the NFC Championship Game. Still, that only has them as a second-tier choice on the newly-released odds to win next year’s Super Bowl XLVII.

Find the complete list of the openingodds for Super Bowl XLVII right now at Bovada.

The Niners currently find themselves at 15/1 at Bovada to win next year’s big game, but at least that puts them in some good company – the defending-champion Giants sit at 15/1 odds on those NFL futures as well.

It was the Giants who put an end to the Niners’ season last month, beating them by a score of 20-17 in overtime in the NFC Championship Game. San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith completed just 12 of 26 pass attempts for 196 yards through the air in that contest, with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the defeat.

And Smith now heads toward free agency coming off a season in which he showed some improvement with a QB Rating of 90.7 to go along with 3,144 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and just five interceptions in Jim Harbaugh‘s system.

Smith, of course, has been much maligned over the course of his career, but reports out of San Francisco suggest that the team still wants him back as their starting quarterback for next season.

Cornerback Carlos Rogers is also an impending free agent for the Niners, and could end up as a casualty of the team’s depth on defense if he asks for big dollars on a long-term contract. SafetyDashon Goldson is another key piece of offseason business for the team, and he might end up getting the franchise tag.

NFL futures are updated right now at Bovada’s sportsbook.

Be There For Every Victory.

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NHL Betting Picks: Vancouver Canucks host Minnesota Wild on Thursday

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Vancouver at Minnesota
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 9, 2012
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota

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THE STORY: Alain Vigneault continues to experiment with separating the Sedin twins. The Vancouver Canucks coach elected to split up the All-Star Swedes to start Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout victory over the Nashville Predators. The two reunited and found magic twice during a 23-second stretch in the first period. Captain Henrik Sedin was seen in a walking boot on Wednesday, thus putting his streak of having played 552 consecutive games in jeopardy for Thursday’s contest against the host Minnesota Wild.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, RSNP, FSNO

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (33-15-5): G Roberto Luongo has stopped all 90 shots in three straight shutouts against Minnesota – although those contests have taken place in British Columbia. On Dec. 19, Luongo made 33 saves in a 4-0 win over the Wild and he stopped 28 shots in a 3-0 triumph on Jan. 4. In Minnesota, however, Luongo has been pulled in each of his last three starts. C Ryan Kesler has scored a goal in four straight games and five of his last six.

ABOUT THE WILD (25-20-8): Minnesota fell for the third time in four games when it dropped a 3-1 decision to the cellar-dwelling Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Since Dec. 13, the Wild have collected just 15 of a possible 46 points. By comparison, the league-worst Blue Jackets have secured 16 of a possible 48. The Wild may get a boost on Thursday as captain Mikko Koivu is in line to make his return from a shoulder injury which has sidelined him since Jan. 14.

OVERTIME:

1. At 18-9-1, Vancouver is tied with the Philadelphia Flyers for the most road victories this season.

2. Wild G Niklas Backstrom has dropped two meetings against the Canucks this season and is 11-11-6 in his career versus Vancouver.

PREDICTION: Canucks 3, Wild 1. CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package For 5$    

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Brees, Saints Look for Better Playoff Results Next Season

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The New Orleans Saints won 13 games this past season but couldn’t get past the second round of the playoffs. They’ll be looking for better results next season as one of the favorites on the opening Super Bowl XLVII odds at Bovada.

Find the complete NFL betting list for the 2012-13 season at Bovada.

The Saints are listed at 8/1 on the opening Super Bowl XLVII odds at Bovada, which puts them behind only the 6/1 Green Bay Packers and the 7/1 New England Patriots. The Texans, Eagles, and Steelers are all just behind them at 12/1 odds to win the title.

New Orleans went 13-3 straight up and a lucrative 12-4 against the spread during the regular season, then thumped the Lions 45-28 in the first round of the playoffs. The Saints, though, faltered in San Francisco in the second round, losing 36-32 in that contest.

Drew Brees went 40 of 63 for 462 yards passing with four touchdowns and two interceptions in that loss to the Niners, and during the season he posted a QB Rating of 110.6 with 5,476 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions en route to being named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.

And those kind of numbers are going to cost the Saints some big dollars, as Brees is a free agent this offseason. The quarterback is expected to come to a long-term agreement with the team at some point in the next month, although the franchise tag is a possibility too.

The Saints also have offensive guard Carl Nicks and wide receiver Marques Colston set to become free agents this offseason, and they’re both candidates for the franchise tag as well – the deadline for that important decision would be March 5.

NFL futures are updated right now at Bovada’s sportsbook.

Be There For Every Victory.

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Can Giants Make it Back-to-Back Payouts on Super Bowl Odds?

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The New York Giants weren’t expected to even win the NFC East division this season, never mind the Super Bowl – so it’s not much of a surprise that they’re not at the top of the odds to win Super Bowl XLVII at Bovada.

Find the complete list of the opening odds for Super Bowl XLVII right now at Bovada.

The Giants got strong performances from each of Eli Manning, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Hakeem Nicks on Sunday as they grabbed a 21-17 win over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. That makes two championships now for Manning.

However, if Manning is going to guide his team to a third title next season he’ll have to do it by starting out at just 15/1 on the opening Super Bowl XLVII odds at Bovada.

The Green Bay Packers are the very-early favorites to win next year’s big game at 6/1, followed by the Patriots at 7/1, the Saints at 8/1, and each of the Texans, Eagles, and Steelers at 12/1. The Ravens then sit at 14/1 odds before we find the Giants at 15/1.

New York went just 9-7 straight up during the regular season, but claimed the NFC East title after both the Eagles and the Cowboys turned in disappointing 8-8 campaigns. The Giants were also 8-7-1 against the spread for NFL bettors in 2011.

Manning seems to be hitting his stride as an NFL quarterback, posting a QB Rating of 92.9 this season with 4,933 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions – down from 25 interceptions during the 2010 season. As well, top weapons Nicks and Victor Cruz at wide receiver still have room to grow.

One key piece of business for New York this offseason might be trading defensive lineman Osi Umenyiora; he has one more year left on his current contract, but wants a new deal.

NFL futures are updated right now at Bovada’s sportsbook.

 

Be There For Every Victory

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Packers Head into Next Season as the Super Bowl Favorites

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The Green Bay Packers were upset by the eventual-champion Giants in the second round of the NFL playoffs this season, but with their MVP quarterback on board they’re still listed as the 6/1 favorites on the opening Super Bowl XLVII odds at Bovada.

Find the complete list of the openingodds for Super Bowl XLVII right now at Bovada.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers rolled to the best record in the league this season, losing just once in 16 games while posting an 11-5 mark against the spread. However, that all went out the window in the playoffs when they lost 37-20 at home to the Giants in the Divisional Round.

Rodgers posted a QB Rating of just 78.5 in that defeat, going 26 of 46 for 264 yards passing with two touchdowns and one interception – and getting outplayed by Giants counterpart Eli Manning in the process.

Still, Rodgers was named the league’s MVP this year with a QB Rating of 122.5 to go along with 4,643 passing yards, 45 touchdown strikes, and only six interceptions. Rodgers also rushed for 257 yards and three scores on the year.

Green Bay has some work to do this offseason, most notably getting tight end Jermichael Finleysigned to a new contract. Finley had 55 catches for 767 yards and eight touchdowns for the Packers this season, and could be a candidate to get the franchise tag.

Center Scott Wells, running back Ryan Grant, and backup quarterback Matt Flynn are all potential free agents this offseason as well for the Packers, with Wells another of the team’s priorities but Flynn expected to look for work elsewhere as a starting quarterback.

NFL futures are updated right now at Bovada’s sportsbook.

Be There For Every Victory

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Giants Upset Patriots Again; Win Super Bowl 21-17

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Once again the New York Giants were underdogs, and once again they beat the odds to take Super Bowl XLVI.

The game was another nail biter, but for four quarters the Giants defensive line held off the New England Patriots, covering as 3-point underdogs and going UNDER the 53-point total with the 21-17 win.

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“It’s been a wild game, a wild season,” Giants quarterback Eli Manning said. “This isn’t about one person. It’s about one team, a team coming together.”

Late in the contest, it appeared as if Patriots coach Bill Belichick had pulled another “Belichick” move by allowing Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw to score late — giving Tom Brady 59 seconds to orchestrate a game-winning drive.

However, like they’ve done all game, the Giants D-line held the Pats offense at bay; Brady could only settle for a hail-mary pass with five seconds remaining that fell through the hands of tight endRob Grownkowski.

“Great toughness, great faith, and great plays by a number of guys today,” Manning said, avoiding any questions about winning it all in his brother Peyton’s house. “It just feels good to win a Super Bowl, it doesn’t matter where you are.”

Manning was named Super Bowl MVP, his second since entering the NFL. Let the Manning versus Manning speculation begin.

Betting Analysis: As for 2013 NFL Futures don’t expect the Giants to be favorites to win the 2013 Super Bowl. The Giants are talented, but on offense they are still too inconsistent during the regular season to bet the house on them early.

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