NFL Newslines

Over a month after the Super Bowl and over day since free agency has begun, the NFL has some new headlines. Looking back, we saw that New Orleans can sure throw a party, especially for a Super Bowl. A week before that, the NFL's best managed to save the Pro Bowl...for now. Lastly, free agency has begun and the league's being shook up. There's so much going on in the NFL right now.

Despite the power going out in the Mercedes-Benz Dome midway through the third quarter, New Orleans threw a great Super Bowl. It seemed like all week long the media was constantly fixated on the never ending party being thrown in the Big Easy. Then came the game itself. Everything was good until the power went out because Beyonce managed to use it all. It was either that, or the Forty Niners have a curse which they cut the power at random times wherever they play because there power went out in San Francisco earlier last season. Either way, New Orleans proved itself as a great host for a Super Bowl.

However, a week before that, all eyes were on the Pro Bowl. Peyton Manning came out wearing the jersey of a totally different conference and a determination to prove the Pro Bowl's worth. Commissioner Roger Goodell threatened to drop the Pro Bowl if there was a lack of effort displayed, as there was in 2012's Pro Bowl. However, the game was a blowout, ending 62-35 in favour of the NFC team. Such a thrashing proved that the Pro Bowl wasn't just a recreational game.

But Finally, the latest and greatest NFL topic has been the recently born free agency period. Among the hype has been Wes Welker, who didn't resign with the New England Patriots, has gone ironically to the Denver Broncos. This means he has gone from one cannon, Tom Brady, to another, Peyton Manning; two quarterbacks whose names often can't be mentioned separately. Other headlines include Steven Jackson moving to Atlanta where he will replace Michael Turner, who was cut after failing a physical earlier this month. Also, Matt Cassel will go to Minnesota to compete with incumbent quarterback Christian Ponder.

And so, the NFL Offseason is under way. Ironically, the offseason is almost as followed and debate as the actual playing season is. The next few months will help define and shape the coming season.

Pink Pigskin and Girly Gridiron

With October comes cooler weather, changing leaves, spooky holiday decor, and the colour Pink. Yes, Pink. The National Football League's action starts to pick up in October, getting people to pay more and more attention each week. In light of this, the NFL has started a monster campaign for the greater good.

We live in a world where the egocentric celebrities, particularly the actors and the athletes, get all the fame, glory, attention, and of course money. This is while the philanthropists, the doctors, the scientists, who live among us, doing the most good for humanity, while the guys with a decade less of education are getting the air time on the news. The NFL has stepped forward to put aside the pointless hype of superstar quarterbacks, fantasy football, and power rankings, and united with the Players' Association to advocate for humanity. Behold, the "A CRUCIAL CATCH" campaign!

"A Crucial Catch" is in its fourth edition advocating the fight against Breast Cancer. However, not only are they pouring lots of money towards the cause they are also committing themselves to the most valuable asset in any campaign for any charitable cause: information.  The NFL has focused a lot on the education of the mass of the people. The focus of the campaign is actually not on research for a cure, though research is a beneficiary of the campaign. The true focus for "Crucial Catch" is stressing the importance to women of getting annual mammograms. Also, the pink apparel worn my referees, coaches, and players, are being auctioned off, profits benefiting the Community Health Advocates National Grants for Empowerment (CHANGE) program, organized by the American Cancer Society. The CHANGE program's focus is outreach and mammograms to women in poverty otherwise unable to receive preventive care.

However, the best way the advocacy campaign is working out, is that there has been a domino effect between the players and their fans. My "Rec" basketball league last winter had some kids who had no tattoos, and came from otherwise okay families, but they wore arm sleeves while playing. Of course, they taught it was cool to act like a NBA player who has tattoos so vulgar on his arm, he has to cover his arm while playing on national television. Anyways, the same effect has taken place in the Crucial Catch campaign but in a positive ways. Fans, particularly kids, see professional football players wearing pink arm bands, chin straps, socks, cleats, etc. during their football games, so these kids, rush into their local sports supplier, buy pink merchandise, wear them in their [the kids'] games, and bam, they are as cool as the Pros. So now, not only do you have more merchandise being purchased, which a percentage of the purchase goes to a respective advocacy group, but the awareness is being spread further and further. It's a pollination effect!

So, to sum this up, the NFL has got it right, and the focus of heroism, which is normally on sports and entertainment, not science and medicine, is on a cause that matters. There's no politics, no "what-is-in-it-for-me?". Just successful advocacy of stuff that matters. I am beginning to love October.

Source(s):

• NFL Pink - A Crucial Catch <http://nfl.com/pink>

NFL Week 2 Fantasy Picks

Not every week, but most weeks, I plan on doing a Fantasy Overview previewing the top performers of the month. Anyway, here it goes.

QB - Tom Brady - New England Patriots

Brady and the 'Pats' are up against the Arizona Cardinals. Obviously, there is no doubt that Tom Brady will have few issues against the Cardinals' defence, especially because the Patriots won the last meeting between the teams, 47 to 7.

RB - Brandon Jacobs - New York Giants

Brandon Jacobs has become better and better over the years, and he isn't too far from the stardom of Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson. Jacobs and the Giants will host the Tampa Bay Bucs', who have an average rush defence at best. Jacobs should be able to blow up the stats, and dispel any possible losing streak.

WR - Dez Bryant - Dallas Cowboys

Bryant, despite having some recent issues, could possibly blossom in the Week Two match up against the Seattle Seahawks. The Cowboys have had a very good rhythm in their passing game, through tight end Jason Witten, and wide receivers Miles Austin and Dez Bryant. Bryant could get in a touchdown or two this weekend.

TE - Jimmy Graham - New Orleans Saints

The Saints are looking to rebound after a bad loss to the Washington Redskins. Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham will head off to Charlotte to play the Carolina Panthers in Week Two. While the panthers have a moderate offence, their defence isn't the best. I expect Jimmy Graham to get some quality passes to make him a chart-topper in week two.

Defence -  Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are going up against a Philadelphia Eagles team, who can be good, but not spectacular. The Ravens are definitely a force to be reckoned with, and they will give Michael Vick and the Eagles lots of pain.