Ok, so that quote is hilarious, but what does it have to do with football?

Well let’s, for arguments sake, make the Indianapolis Colts the world with out war. They were a great story last season with the drafting of Andrew Luck to replace Peyton Manning. Turning around a 2-14 team to go 11-5 last year and make the playoffs. The inspirational story of head coach Chuck Pagano and his fight with leukemia touched us all last season. They were the “feel good” story last year and have continued to be a “world without war, a world without hate.” Everything has been looked at through rose covered glasses for the last year in Indy.

And they may have just been attacked.

Trent Richardson for a 1st round pick??? Now hold on, before you blast me about Richardson and how good he is and what he will mean to Andrew Luck and the Colts, think about this for a sec, and not from a fantasy football perspective.

Is Trent Richardson worth a 1st round pick? Hell no.

You can debate this either way really, but I like to play devils advocate, so while i think Richardson will pay dividends for Pep Hamilton and the Colts offense in the short term, I think they over payed and panicked in acquiring him.

Richardson has a ton of talent, but he is injury prone. He has a history of knee injuries and rib injuries as well. Are the Colts that close to a championship that Richardson puts them over the top? No. Could they have used that 1st round pick on a offensive lineman or a pass rusher next season? Yes.

I don’t think the Colts were “trade raped” on this one. Richardson will help and be a lot more productive in the Colts offense, but in the long run I think Cleveland gets the better of this trade. Two picks in the 1st, 3rd rounds and 5th rounds of the draft when you are rebuilding is never a bad thing.

Lets take a look around the league after 2 weeks division by division… then some Fantasy dudes for week 3 and of course the picks of the week.

AFC EAST — Brady and the Pats WR’s are not on the same page, however they are 2-0 with Gronk on the mend. Miami looks for real so far and that defense, led by Cameron Wake has 9 sacks through 2 games. Buffalo has been better than expected and the Jets are playing hard but are offensively challenged.

Miami could give the Pats fits unless those WR’s grow up a lot in a

little.

AFC NORTH — Yuk. The Steelers and Browns look lost. The Browns were my surprise pick to make a run at the playoffs, but that pick looks to have shit the bed after 2 weeks. weeden is hurt and has fell out of favor in Cleveland and the traded Trent Richardson to Indy, they might as well come out waving the white flag in Minnesota this weekend. Ravens and Bengals look to fight this one until the end.

Giovanni Benard showed what he can do on MNF, expect a lot more of the same moving forward. He is a difference maker.

AFC SOUTH — Hey Jaguars, Please dial 1-800-TEB-OOOW so we can actually care about you again. The Titans look better than what was expected, but I’m not sold on the QB. This looks to be the Texans division still, but with Indy getting Richardson, I don’t think it’s better for them long term, but for this season, it should make the two Colts vs. Texans games this year very interesting.

AFC WEST — Say what you want about Oakland, they have been fun to watch and if RUN-DMC can stay healthy they are going to surprise some people this year. The Chargers are playing hard but losing Malcom Floyd for a month after already losing DX, Denario Alexander for the season, Phillip Rivers is running out of WR’s fast. Chiefs have a defense that is physical and puts pressure on the QB, Hali and Houston are monsters, but The Broncos look like a steamroller. the division is theirs.

NFC WEST — I told you no one wants to go to Seattle and play. The NFC teams

need to do all they can to prevent this team from getting home field advantage. The 49ers talk tough, but cant cover a twin bed with a queen size blanket. Rams and Cardinals will continue to improve as the season moves along.

NFC SOUTH — Tampa is a mess and Revis Island is complaining, already. Carolina looks lost and the Giants will try not to provide a map for them this Sunday. The Falcons are the Falcons…if the WR’s stay healthy they can go far, if Roddy and Julio continued to get banged up the division is

the Saints to lose. Welcome back Sean Payton.

NFC NORTH — This division is fun to watch as well. The Bears have surprised, the Cutler and Trestman experiment plus a little Black Unicorn…so far so good. The Vikings and Lions will be a part of some crazy games this year but are not really contenders. Reggie Bush is hurt already. HEY RODGERS….DISCOUNT DOUBLE CHECK. Packers offensive is a juggernaut.

NFC LEAST…I MEAN EAST — Jesus, this has been disgusting. I’m nauseous just writing about it. So far I was right about the Eagles, funto watch but no defense and Vick turns the ball over to much. Dallas is Dallas, same ol Cowboys… they will have a game in their hands and then Dez will drop it. I’m trying no to gloat cause it’s so early, but RGKNEE?? I saw ESPN use that on FIRST TAKE, RGKNEE was my brainchild and I wish to be compensated…lol I also said the same offense wouldn’t work in Washington this year…so far so good.

It’s all on BIG BLUE. Play the way you are capable of playing every week and this division is yours for the taking.

FANTASY PLAYS WEEK 3–

“I told you so” Player of week 2 — Martellus Bennett — 70 yards…2 Touchdowns. Thats Right!!

Players I like this week…

QB — Eli Manning – Giants — Carolina is pulling corners off their practice squad and the Giants can’t run the ball. Eli has a huge day.

RB – Pierre Thomas – Saints — He is averaging 5.1 yards a carry and Mark Ingram is out. He will split time with Sproles but expect Thomas to find the end zone this weekend.

RB – Stevan Ridley – Patriots — The Pats have had 10 days to prepare for the Bucs. Expect them to score in the 30’s and Ridley to score a TD and add on yards in the 2nd half to work to clock.

WR- Michael Floyd – Cardinals — There is a new stat in fantasy football called OTD…it reflects scoring opportunities and chance near or in the End Zone. Floyd hasn’t caught a TD but he is tied for 7th in OTD and has been targeted 7 times in 2 weeks inside opponents 10 yard line…in a shoot out in New Orleans, Floyd gets his first TD of the year. Could have a huge game its Fitzgerald is out.

WR – Golden Tate – Seahawks — The Jaguars are visiting Seattle. Pray for them. Tate makes a big play and finds pay dirt.

PICKS OF THE WEEK —

Last week — 3-2-1

For the season — 5-4-2

If you are gambling and above .500 on the year, you should have no complaints at all. I’ve had some good calls so far and for the most part I’ve been in every game. Let’s see if I can keep it going.

Seattle -19.5 over the jaguars — I know it’s 20 points, but I think I would take Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M against

these Jags.

Seattle 30- Jaguars 3

Dolphins -3 over the Falcons– This defense is going to give the Falcons offensive line fits all day. I like Miami in their home opener.

Dolphins 24-Falcons 27

Giants PICK EM over the Panthers — Will the real NY Giants please stand up? Carolina is gonna have a problem here.

Giants 30 Panthers 14

UPSETS OF THE WEEK —

Colts +10 over the 49ers — 49ers secondary is playing horrible and Luck will keep this close. Niners win but don’t cover.

49ers 23 Colts 20

Cardinals +7.5 over the Saints — Do I think the Cards win?…No. But Brees will throw pick against an improving Cards secondary and Palmer does enough to make it interesting late.

Saints 34 Cards 30

Enjoy the games and your weekend people …LETS GO BIG BLUE!!!!

The post Deep Football Thoughts Week 3 first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

Can you smell it? Can you feel that electricity coursing through your veins?

If you are a die hard fan like me, you know exactly what I’m talking about. For those of us that BLEED BIG BLUE there is a sour taste in our mouths from last season. The way that last month of the season ended has not sat well with me at all, and I’m sure it has not been easy for all of you as well.

Two years ago 9-7 got us to the playoffs, where we made another magical run to ring number four. Last year 9-7 left us on the outside looking in and wondering what might have been. I know I look back and say what if all the time.

What if the GIANTS run the ball that night in Philadelphia and Ramses Barden doesn’t get that terrible offensive pass interference call? We would have finished 10-6 and won another Super Bowl right? Wrong.

Bottom line in the NFL these days is that the talent is so even throughout the league, for the most part, sorry JETS fans, that a game early in the season can have ramifications come week 17. Every blown game, every mental breakdown, every missed opportunity is almost guaranteed to come back and haunt you because no one is running away with this division.

I’ve read all the so called ”experts” and what they are saying about the NFC East. All I hear is Redskins this and Cowboys that. RGKnee and Redskins. Tony Romo and the Cowboys. It’s their division to lose says all the tabloids and TV stations.

Here is the reality Giants fans, see I am BIG BLUE all day long, but I pride myself on not only knowing the Giants, but knowing the game of football.

You can make a case in my opinion for the Cowboys, the Redskins and our G-Men to win the division now, but the odds are this is all coming down to week 17…again. One team is going 10-6, the other 9-7 and the third will most likely be 8-8. You can flip a coin to decide which team finishes where and when all is said and done there will most likely be one game, or one play that we can point to that either puts us in the playoffs or has us watching again.

But this is BLEED BIG BLUE right? So let’s make a case for our GMEN,

Here are some thoughts on our division, team by team.

Eagles – Are they even worth mentioning here? Yes. Chip Kelly’s offense should bring some excitement early in the season. Vick in that offense will make some plays and with Lesean McCoy, who looks great this preseason and Desean Jackson the Eagles will be competitive and score some points. The downside for Philly is this, they are horrendous on defense and Michael Vick is careless with the football even if he can stay healthy.

Eagles finish 6-10 and last place in the NFC East.

Redskins – I’m not drinking the Kool-Aid on this one and for one reason only. RGKNEE.
I’m not sold at all. I think a lot of what the Redskins did last year was due the read option and the defenses inability to figure out who had the ball. That’s why RGKnee completed a high percentage of passes last year, and Alfred Morris ran through defenses. It was the offense they ran, their ability to keep defenses off balance.

Two reasons that doesn’t happen this year.

Adapt or die: Defenses catch up eventually. It happened to the Run n Shoot offense and the Wildcat, pick a gimmick any gimmick, they don’t last. I’ve seen interviews and have read many articles about defensive coordinators and coaches reaching out to college coaches this off season. Why? They want to know how do they stop the read option? The answer has been unanimous. You hit the QB, whether he has the ball or not. Then on the next play, you hit him again and when the next play comes you hit him harder. Punish the QB, cut off the head and the body dies, which leads us to number 2…

2. RGKNEE – Ok, let me start by saying this, RGIII is a tremendous talent and one of the most dangerous players in the league with the ball in his hands. But does anyone else feel that the knee brace he will be wearing for the entire season might as well be a bulls-eye for opposing defenses? I do. If the way to beat the read option is to pound the QB, how long does RGKnee last this year? Can he take the punishment coming his way? Both physically and mentally he will be tested this year. Put it this way, if you take away his ability to run the football the advantage goes to the defense, can he adapt without those receivers running free and Alfred Morris not finding as many lanes to run through because the main threat of that offense, RGIII’s knee is not capable of doing what it did last year?

Redskins finish 8-8 and in 3rd place.

Cowboys — We’ve all heard this one before and it’s almost become a punch line now among us NFC EAST fans no matter who your team is. This is the Cowboys year. I laughed just writing that. Are the Cowboys a talented team that can very likely make a run this year? Yes. Will they? Well that depends on one man. Tony Romo. Can he make plays when it counts, in December and in the 4th quarter? The talent around him is scary. DeMarco Murray is healthy and should be ready to carry the run game. Dez Bryant looks poised to have a huge season and is a game breaker. Miles Austin and Jason Witten are perfect compliments and the defense should be much better this year with Monte Kiffin calling the shots, but in the end it will come down to Romo. If Tony can stop making those terrible decisions that Cowboys fans still have nightmares about, this team can be very dangerous and even a Super Bowl contender. Remember, Romo and the Cowboys had the ball with a chance to go down and score and take the division from the Redskins last year in week 17 and on the very first play of that drive Romo throws a interception. If seeing is believing, then we need to see Romo stop making such terrible decisions with the ball in crucial moments to truly believe the Cowboys can contend for a championship. The Jury is still out.

Cowboys finish 9-7 and make the playoffs via the wild card.

Giants — I honestly think this is Coughlin’s last season as coach and I feel like the veterans on the team sense it as well. If the Giants fall flat on their faces like they did last season that would make 4 out of the last 5 years out of the playoffs. Yes, we have a 2 Super Bowl wins in 7 seasons but as you all know the NFL is not about looking back, it’s about moving forward, and with no playoff appearance this year the Giants would face a serious quagmire at years end. So why do I bring this up? Cause motivation fuels our Giants. This team has always played great with their back to wall and like feces when they are praised and told how good they are. I think Tom has another run in him and the Giants are talented enough to be hosting the Super Bowl at MetLife stadium this year in more ways then just one. The key to the season in my opinion is very simple. Show up every week for 17 weeks. If you remember last year, we went into San Francisco and took apart the 49ers, the game was never close, we dominated them from start to finish. The 49ers were a play away from winning the Super Bowl last year. What does that tell us? We can play with anyone…any week…anywhere. But, we also know that this team is more than capable of laying eggs during the course of the 17 week season… The Eagles game in Philly was tragic and the losses to the Ravens and Falcons left us flabbergasted and befuddled, for lack of better words. So why do I think this year will be different?

While I feel the other teams in our division will come flying out of the gates early this year, I think our Giants are built to get better as the season moves towards December.
And look for the players to rally around their beloved coach for one more magical playoff run.

Giants finish 10-6 and win the NFC East.

Post Written By James Donino (Facebook – James Donino & Twitter – @Trifecta24)

The post NFC East Predictions 2013 first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.