
We weren't about to let a little rain stop our party!
The boys gathered on the Doofus Deck in the pouring rain this weekend to watch some March Madness. To keep out the wind and rain I put up some tan colored shower curtains. It kept us nice and toasty as we watched from noon to midnight. The brown distilled beverages helped too.
Mrs Doofus was not a big fan of the hastily constructed shelter. Imagine how appalled she would have been if I used the aquarium decorated shower curtains favored by the gang.
Still waiting for all the remaining schedules to be complete. All the college football schedules are out except for the Mountain West. The MWC is usually the last one out the gate as they also schedule all the television times at the same time.
The NFL schedule will be released shortly before the draft (April 25th). Meanwhile, the NFL free agency signings have been going full bore. Some of the key signings include:
Atlanta – signed RB Steven Jackson (St Louis) and resigned Tony Gonzalez. Great moves by the Falcons. They were 10 yards away from the Super Bowl last year and have now improved their high powered offense. Steven Jackson love the hair is a huge upgrade over the slow, pedestrian Michael Turner. Shortly after Jackson signed Gonzalez decided to hold off retirement for another year and a shot at the Super Bowl. He just might get his chance.
Detroit – What an offseason for the Lions. First they get a great weapon out of the backfield by signing RB Reggie Bush (Miami). Bush is the threat to go all the way that Detroit has been missing since Barry Sanders. He’s no Barry but his ability to catch it out of the backfield will cause defenses to pay when they overload against Megatron Can't wait for six or seven in the box.
With the offense now in great shape the Lions finally got around to improving their defense with a couple of key signings. DE Jason Jones (Seattle) will make up for the loss of Cliff Avril while bringing pressure from the inside. Then they upgraded the secondary with S Glover Quin (Denver) while resigning S Louis Delmas. Quin is a converted CB and is now a great coverage safety 3 pick day. Pairing up with the often injured Delmas means that both Lions safeties can now cover taking away the threats from tight ends. They also have multiple threats for safety blitzes. With the Vikings losing Harvin and the Bears stupidly firing their head coach and about to lose their leader on defense in Brian Urlacher, the Lions should be in a race with Green Bay for the NFC Nord.
Baltimore – resigned QB Joe Flacco – The Ravens were forced to make this signing even though they paid way too much ($120 million). Flacco just led them to a Super Bowl championship and his productivity really took off after the Ravens canned former OC Cam Cameron. If they didn’t sign Flacco the Ravens would be entering a free agent market with a dearth of available quality QB’s (Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Moore, Matt Hasselback, Matt Cassel ugh). And this year’s draft was even worse for QBs.
But by signing the self proclaimed “elite” QB Baltimore may have dug itself a hole. Flacco single handedly swallowed up all their cap space. That meant that several veterans are going to walk. First, Ray Lewis retired, then S Ed Reed and WR Anquan Boldin bolted. Baltimore looks like they are going to be the latest in the line of Super Bowl champs one year – missing the playoffs entirely the next. Some good news recently though. After DE Elvis Dumerville’s agent blew his resigning with Denver by faxing in his contract late, Dumerville opted for more money with Baltimore. It’ll help just not sure it will be enough.
San Francisco/Seattle - These two have been in an escalating arms race. Seattle kicked things off by trading for Percy Harvin (Minnesota). Harvin gets banged up and can be a head case but he is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. He’s been torturing the Lions for years Nice Start. Good riddance! Russell Wilson now has a weapon to unleash in the overrated Niner secondary.
San Fran responded by acquiring Anquan Boldin from the Ravens. Boldin is getting on in years (33) but he was instrumental in the Ravens Super Bowl stretch run. He will pair up far better with 49er WR Michael Crabtree than Randy Moss ever could.
Seattle then went lights out with two great pick ups in DE’s Cliff Avril (Detroit) and Michael Bennett (Tampa Bay). Wow - add in current DE/OLB Bruce Irvin and the Seahawks are going to put a ton of pressure on opposing QBs including 49er Colin Kaepernick. The Seahawks are now my favorite to win the NFC West.
St Louis – The Rams saw what Seattle was up to and signed OL Jake Long (Miami) to protect QB Sam Bradford’s blind side. Long is getting up there in years and the injuries are becoming more frequent but when healthy is among the best. The Rams won’t challenge in the NFC West but at least they will keep Bradford upright more and keep the recently signed back up QB Matt Hasselback on the sidelines - clipboard firmly in hand.
New England / Denver – With the Ravens getting ready to fade into the sunset the Pats and Broncos also got into an arms race to dominate the AFC. Denver kicked things off by acquiring Wes Walker Slot Man from the Pats. It was a crafty strategic move. It upsets Tom Brady as he loses his favorite weapon and gives Peyton Manning another option in the slot to go with wide outs Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker.
New England responded by signing Danny Amendola from the Rams. Amendola is more talented and younger than Walker. If he can get anywhere near the same page with Brady as Walker has been through the years (a big if) then New England’s offense will be even more potent.
So Denver retaliated by picking up DB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (NY Jets) and NT Terance Knighton (Jaguars). Cromartie is talented but has an extra large helping of apathy. Denver wisely signed him to a one year “prove it”contract. If he plays up to his potential the Denver secondary is going to be a real strength. Knighton is a
load at 330 pounds and solidifies the Bronco’s run defense.
New England may have gotten the last laugh when the resigned CB Aqib Talib. Talib is outstanding but also a head case. The Patriots also smartly signed him on a one year “prove it” contract too. Denver and New England are the front runners for the AFC championship next year
Houston is not far behind. The Texans faded down the stretch last year especially on defense. So they went after S Ed Reed (Baltimore). Reed is past his prime but rules the locker room and provides that intangible leadership that championship teams need. Still – losing Quin to Detroit will offset a lot of the gain from signing Reed. The Texans are treading water while Houston and New England improve.
And while all these signing look great in March far too many free agents coast after signing a big contract. How they look in September and more importantly in December and January is what really counts.
Remember the GO JUMBO weekend is Oct 26th at the LVH hotel – see you there!!
Mrs Doofus was not a big fan of the hastily constructed shelter. Imagine how appalled she would have been if I used the aquarium decorated shower curtains favored by the gang.
Still waiting for all the remaining schedules to be complete. All the college football schedules are out except for the Mountain West. The MWC is usually the last one out the gate as they also schedule all the television times at the same time.
The NFL schedule will be released shortly before the draft (April 25th). Meanwhile, the NFL free agency signings have been going full bore. Some of the key signings include:
Atlanta – signed RB Steven Jackson (St Louis) and resigned Tony Gonzalez. Great moves by the Falcons. They were 10 yards away from the Super Bowl last year and have now improved their high powered offense. Steven Jackson love the hair is a huge upgrade over the slow, pedestrian Michael Turner. Shortly after Jackson signed Gonzalez decided to hold off retirement for another year and a shot at the Super Bowl. He just might get his chance.
Detroit – What an offseason for the Lions. First they get a great weapon out of the backfield by signing RB Reggie Bush (Miami). Bush is the threat to go all the way that Detroit has been missing since Barry Sanders. He’s no Barry but his ability to catch it out of the backfield will cause defenses to pay when they overload against Megatron Can't wait for six or seven in the box.
With the offense now in great shape the Lions finally got around to improving their defense with a couple of key signings. DE Jason Jones (Seattle) will make up for the loss of Cliff Avril while bringing pressure from the inside. Then they upgraded the secondary with S Glover Quin (Denver) while resigning S Louis Delmas. Quin is a converted CB and is now a great coverage safety 3 pick day. Pairing up with the often injured Delmas means that both Lions safeties can now cover taking away the threats from tight ends. They also have multiple threats for safety blitzes. With the Vikings losing Harvin and the Bears stupidly firing their head coach and about to lose their leader on defense in Brian Urlacher, the Lions should be in a race with Green Bay for the NFC Nord.
Baltimore – resigned QB Joe Flacco – The Ravens were forced to make this signing even though they paid way too much ($120 million). Flacco just led them to a Super Bowl championship and his productivity really took off after the Ravens canned former OC Cam Cameron. If they didn’t sign Flacco the Ravens would be entering a free agent market with a dearth of available quality QB’s (Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Moore, Matt Hasselback, Matt Cassel ugh). And this year’s draft was even worse for QBs.
But by signing the self proclaimed “elite” QB Baltimore may have dug itself a hole. Flacco single handedly swallowed up all their cap space. That meant that several veterans are going to walk. First, Ray Lewis retired, then S Ed Reed and WR Anquan Boldin bolted. Baltimore looks like they are going to be the latest in the line of Super Bowl champs one year – missing the playoffs entirely the next. Some good news recently though. After DE Elvis Dumerville’s agent blew his resigning with Denver by faxing in his contract late, Dumerville opted for more money with Baltimore. It’ll help just not sure it will be enough.
San Francisco/Seattle - These two have been in an escalating arms race. Seattle kicked things off by trading for Percy Harvin (Minnesota). Harvin gets banged up and can be a head case but he is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. He’s been torturing the Lions for years Nice Start. Good riddance! Russell Wilson now has a weapon to unleash in the overrated Niner secondary.
San Fran responded by acquiring Anquan Boldin from the Ravens. Boldin is getting on in years (33) but he was instrumental in the Ravens Super Bowl stretch run. He will pair up far better with 49er WR Michael Crabtree than Randy Moss ever could.
Seattle then went lights out with two great pick ups in DE’s Cliff Avril (Detroit) and Michael Bennett (Tampa Bay). Wow - add in current DE/OLB Bruce Irvin and the Seahawks are going to put a ton of pressure on opposing QBs including 49er Colin Kaepernick. The Seahawks are now my favorite to win the NFC West.
St Louis – The Rams saw what Seattle was up to and signed OL Jake Long (Miami) to protect QB Sam Bradford’s blind side. Long is getting up there in years and the injuries are becoming more frequent but when healthy is among the best. The Rams won’t challenge in the NFC West but at least they will keep Bradford upright more and keep the recently signed back up QB Matt Hasselback on the sidelines - clipboard firmly in hand.
New England / Denver – With the Ravens getting ready to fade into the sunset the Pats and Broncos also got into an arms race to dominate the AFC. Denver kicked things off by acquiring Wes Walker Slot Man from the Pats. It was a crafty strategic move. It upsets Tom Brady as he loses his favorite weapon and gives Peyton Manning another option in the slot to go with wide outs Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker.
New England responded by signing Danny Amendola from the Rams. Amendola is more talented and younger than Walker. If he can get anywhere near the same page with Brady as Walker has been through the years (a big if) then New England’s offense will be even more potent.
So Denver retaliated by picking up DB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (NY Jets) and NT Terance Knighton (Jaguars). Cromartie is talented but has an extra large helping of apathy. Denver wisely signed him to a one year “prove it”contract. If he plays up to his potential the Denver secondary is going to be a real strength. Knighton is a
load at 330 pounds and solidifies the Bronco’s run defense.
New England may have gotten the last laugh when the resigned CB Aqib Talib. Talib is outstanding but also a head case. The Patriots also smartly signed him on a one year “prove it” contract too. Denver and New England are the front runners for the AFC championship next year
Houston is not far behind. The Texans faded down the stretch last year especially on defense. So they went after S Ed Reed (Baltimore). Reed is past his prime but rules the locker room and provides that intangible leadership that championship teams need. Still – losing Quin to Detroit will offset a lot of the gain from signing Reed. The Texans are treading water while Houston and New England improve.
And while all these signing look great in March far too many free agents coast after signing a big contract. How they look in September and more importantly in December and January is what really counts.
Remember the GO JUMBO weekend is Oct 26th at the LVH hotel – see you there!!