Football Wrap Week 2: AJ Green's Great Start

I could go ahead and praise Cam Newton once again (400+ yards on the champs, yet 3 INTs and confusion why the Panthers are abandoning DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart). But I’m going to praise another SEC rookie who’s having a great start this year.

AJ Green had a big day for Cincinnati (124 yards, 10 catches and a TD) and he’s scored in both games to start his career. Like Killa Cam, he had to overcome a BS scandal in his college career that showed why the NCAA are crooked pimps. And like Cam, he’s a physical marvel that’s going to shine in his opportunity.

Rookie QB Andy Dalton is going to target Green cause he has limited options besides Jermaine Gresham. And that’s why Green is going to have a better year than his SEC counterpart Julio Jones. Jones has to share throws with Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez so it’ll take a while for him to get established.

So even though Cam is rightly getting all the rookie ink, keep an eye on Green possibly getting close to 800-1,000 yards. Now for the rest of the tidbits…

Glad to see the return of Miles “Lazarus” Austin with a 3 TD day but the hero should be Jesse Holley. Two years from earning a roster spot from Michael Irvin’s TV show, he comes up huge with that near TD in OT. Good for him! (Now if Lazarus and Felix are hurt for Washington Sunday…..)

I stand by what I said last week on Tony Romo. And I stand by what I’m going to say now. Tony Romo showed incredible stones coming back from cracked ribs (Edit: And a punctured lung) and bad INTs to lead that 4^th quarter comeback.

Romo isn’t a bad quarterback. He makes too many mental mistakes but when he’s sharp and focused, he can do stuff like that. It’s not a fluke. It’s Good Tony vs. Bad Romo every week.

Yahoo captioned this as WR Tim Tebow. Hahahahahaha!!!!!!

Tim Tebow was lined up at WR yesterday. Who does Denver think he is? Eric Crouch? Antwaan Randle-El. Tebow isn't fast enough to be a slot receiver. Oh the hilarity of the Broncos trying to use him like he's some incredible athlete.

Josh Freeman! As much as I wish he’d mess up so my fellow USD Torero Josh Johnson could get some shine, Freeman is playing extremely well. Add another comeback to his resume – down 17 points to DMCNabb and Co. and pulled off the win.

When’s the last time you saw Antonio Gates as a non-factor? I had trouble figuring out when and I’m wondering if despite his solid game last week, it’s a sign of a decline with Gates still recovering from his toe injury.

Had to use a pic from last week since he didn't have a catch against the Pats.

Hard to admit that as a Chargers fan. Forget Tom Brady being surgical again (nearly 1,000 yards in 2 games!!) or Norv Turner’s latest brain fart going for it on 4^th and 1 down 3 or the Chargers lacking speed at the skill positions. I’m worried about Gates longterm this year.

Mike Vick’s gonna make a lot of folks look prophetic getting knocked out too often. But it’s not his fault they lost. Blame that front seven not being able to stop Michael Turner on that 61-yard run. Blame that O-line letting him jacked up the last 2 weeks. Almost makes you think Philly should’ve chased some linemen this summer like they chased DB’s and backups.

Oh yeah, that boy Dunta Robinson stays hitting like he’s being paid for a bounty. Somebody teach him how to lead with his body before he maims somebody or tears up his brain.

Somebody stop the Bills. On second thought, can we stop them and the Lions? Shout out to Trent Dilfer 2.0 (Rex Grossman) starting off 2-0 for Washington – hope we rough that wack sucker up Sunday.

Poor Jamaal Charles, out for the year with an ACL. Kansas City is setting up for a terrible season but they don’t need Andrew Luck, they need some help on defense.  And yes, add Charles to the stockpile of longterm knee/leg injuries we’ve seen rise this year.

College Football (I didn’t see too much due to the birthday bash but some quick hits)

Texas is much different than they were a year ago with great speed and McCoy 2 behind center showed great promise in his first start. UCLA is counting down til Brett Hundley can get healthy because Kevin Prince should no longer be starting. Boggles my mind why we didn’t run the ball more.

Notre Dame ruined my birthday by winning. I’m putting out a call to my bro @MrESPN and ask him why his Spartans had to go lay a goose egg to the Irish. But just like UCLA, safe to say Dayne Crist will be riding the bench. QB's from the San Fernando Valley didn't have a great week - including Louisiana Tech QB Nick Isham who lost a 34-7 lead to Houston, who scored 28 points in 17 minutes. 

Oklahoma is pretty good after all. And folks have the nerve to praise Matt Barkley so much. Landry Jones is the 3^rd best QB in the nation. Big time throw for that go-ahead TD.

South Carolina escaping from Navy and Auburn coming back to earth are showing me that I’m right in saying the Big 12 (team for team) is better than the SEC team for team. After Oklahoma and Alabama, what SEC team is hanging with Oklahoma State or Texas?

Football Wrap Week 11: Bengals' Blues, Josh Freeman and the Iron Bowl

No lead story this week. Just quick hits since I was distracted by my choir's concert on Sunday. Let's start with the NFL and the new laughingstock of the league

- You're up 35-14 at halftime. At home. You're supposed to win. Carson Palmer and the Cincinnati D are the GOAT's of the year for not only losing that lead but giving up 35 UNANSWERED POINTS to Buffalo. Oh yeah, Terrell Owens isn't to blame for that.

He's having a great season and he's been giving his all in every game. I blame Carson looking like an average QB and their defense being terrible before I blame TO or OchoCinco.

- Peyton Manning can only do so much with a patchwork group of RB's and WR's - nevertheless, Brady won that game. I almost feel bad for PM but I'm impressed with how he manages to stay close in every game. Do y'all realize how many careers he's helped? Reggie Wayne, Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, Joseph Addai, Dallas Clark, Brandon Stokley...

- I haven't talked much about Josh Freeman or Tampa Bay's 7-3 record. If there's a Pro Bowl caliber more under the radar than him, I want their name pronto. I may be biased because he's starting above my fellow USD alum Josh Johnson but game recognizes game and Freeman's showing leadership/decision-making and a knack for winning.

- Vince Young needs counseling. He needs somebody who'll keep him in check. Physically he's a great QB but he's reminding me of where Michael Vick used to be. A great arm, great feet, but mentally he's soft. I root for him to get it together because he's still one of the best QB/athletes I've ever seen.

Long story short, Titans owner Bud Adams needs to release him and let him get a fresh start. It's not your fault, it's best for both of y'all in the long run.

- Dallas won two games in a row? STOP THE PRESSES. My 'Boys finally got some pride in them! And San Diego won too? Fire up some bottle rockets and let's celebrate this glorious moment of both my teams winning.

NCAA Preview

The Iron Bowl on Friday is the biggest college football game of the season. It's bigger than just Alabama-Auburn and their great rivalry because there's more at stake. If Alabama wins this, all heck will break loose in the BCS.

If Bama wins, TCU or Boise State would rejoice because they're going into the title game. Auburn still has to win this game and beat South Carolina again on a neutral site for the SEC title. Oregon's gotta be rooting for Auburn because they don't want to see Boise State again after last year.

Speaking of the Ducky Boys, they got Arizona Friday night. Oregon hasn't been slowed down and I don't think Arizona's got the horses to do it. But will it be a great game? You bet. The Ducky Boys have been tested by Cal and Arizona knows they have a better QB who can test that defense.

But this game is one more test before the ultimate test. The Civil War with Oregon State next week - that weekend deserves its own crazy blog but we can't go there yet til this one is done.

Saturday's crazy action keeps coming with Ohio State-Michigan. Michigan State needs to root for Michigan to win because should there be a 3-way tie for the Big 10, they'd be screwed because the tie is broken by BS (i mean BCS) standings.

The Spartans beat Wisconsin and by some bad scheduling, don't get to play Ohio State. They need to hope that Terrelle Pryor doesn't decide to end his rivalry with Michigan with a bang.

(Even madder than Sparty if Ohio State wins? Iowa, who not only beat Michigan State but lost to Ohio State and Wisconsin by only 4 points. These. Are. The Breaks.)

My predictions? Auburn wins the Iron Bowl by 9 or less. Ohio State wins by 14 and Shoelace Robinson has to miss part of the 2nd half again. Oregon beats Arizona by 15.

Oh yeah, went 3-1 in fantasy this week. Still alive in the playoffs for 3 of my teams with winning records. But it's time to wonder how I'm gonna survive without Hakeem Nicks for 3 weeks.