Odell Beckham Jr and Aaron Rodgers finally got paid this week. It was a good week for them but it was also a good week for NFL owners. Why was it a good week for the owners you ask? Neither contract included an opt out. Rodgers privately expressed that he wanted built in options in his next contract with the Packers that would allow him to opt out if he…
College Football: XNOJOE’s Pre-Season Top 25
Tua Tagovailoa will look to go back to back for the second time in the Nick Saban era. It’s a new season and here is our first top 25 of the season. We will give you our weekly top 25 each and every week so make sure you come back. 1. Alabama 2. Clemson 3. Georgia 4. Ohio State 5. Wisconsin 6. Auburn 7. Washington 8. Oklahoma 9. Miami (Fla)…
College Football: Our Top Ten Heisman Candidates for 2018
It is never too early to start identifying who will be a Heisman Trophy contender in 2018. There are several high profile players around the country who merit consideration. Here are our top ten Heisman Trophy candidates. 1. Bryce Love, RB, Stanford: Love rushed for 2,118 yards last season. He had an NCAA record 13 rushes of over 50 yards. Love is the favorite going into this season but he…
Patriots Pulse Blog: The Patriots Gave Shaq Mason a Fair Market Deal
Photo courtesy of the Boston Herald. The Patriots announced on Monday that they have signed guard Shaq Mason to a five year, $50 million dollar extension. $23.5 of that is guaranteed. On the surface, that might seem like a lot of money for a guard but in reality, it is a fair market deal. Mason has played at a pro bowl level each of the past two seasons. Despite lacking…
College Football: UMass 2018 Football Preview
Opening Thought: The Minutemen went 4-8 last season but after winning three of their last four games, expectations are higher this season for a team that returns several key starters including redshirt senior quarterback Andrew Ford and senior wide receiver Andy Isabella. It is year five in Mark Whipple’s system so it is not out of the realm of possibility that the Minutemen could compete for a bowl bid. Here…
Patriots Pulse Preview: New England Patriots (2-0) at Carolina Panthers (2-0)
Opening Thought: The Patriots play their third pre-season game tonight in Carolina against the Panthers. Teams have traditionally played their starters the most in the third pre-season game. The Patriots have played their starters a fair amount thus far this pre-season so it will be interesting to see how much Brady and company play. Here are five things to look for tonight. 1. Brady’s Playing Time: It will be interesting…
College Football: You Didn’t Think Ohio State Was Going to Fire Urban Meyer did you?
Ohio State suspended embattled coach Urban Meyer for three games without pay on Wednesday for lying publicly about what he knew regarding former receivers coach Zack Smith abusing his ex-wife Courtney Smith. Meyer’s suspension has been greeted with wide spread criticism and rightfully so. Meyer has shown no remorse for employing a wife beater like Smith or for publicly lying about whether or not he knew Smith was abusing his…
Patriots Pulse Recap: Patriots 37 Eagles 20
Game Rewind: The Patriots exacted a tiny measure of revenge against the Eagles last night in a 37-20 win at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots improved to 2-0 on the pre-season. Here are my thoughts on the game. 1. Brady Was On: Remember all that talk that Tom Brady was going to be rusty after missing voluntary OTA’s? Yeah. It didn’t matter. Brady played the entire first half and put up…
Patriots Pulse Preview: Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots
Pre-Game Primer: It is a rematch of Super Bowl 52 as the Philadelphia Eagles come into Gillette Stadium to battle the Patriots in pre-season game number two. The Patriots played several starters on both sides of the ball last week but they did not start Tom Brady who was out reportedly because of a sore back. Brady is expected to play tonight. Many of the starters should once again see…
Patriots Pulse Blog: Positional Breakdown: Defensive Line
On paper, this defensive line might be the most defensive line the Patriots have had the last ten years. The acquisitions of defensive tackle Danny Shelton and defensive end Adrian Clayborn to go along with Malcolm Brown, Lawrence Guy, Vincent Valentine Trey Flowers, Deatrich Wise and Derek Rivers gives the Patriots a deep and versatile group up front defensively. Rushing the passer has been an issue for the Patriots in…