Which 1-2 NFL Teams Have a Hope of Reaching the Playoffs?

Oh the perils of your favorite NFL team getting off to a poor start! For every team savoring in their early good fortune this season, there are equal numbers of team feeling quite the opposite; battered and bruised after several losses and unsure of where to turn for hope in the duration of this season. And while I’d be expecting the worst for any team that has started 0-3 (Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers), for those 1-2 teams there is still a small hope of salvaging this season, but they’ll need to pick up their game in a hurry.

While there are some of the typically poor teams currently sitting at 1-2, there are also several usually strong teams who were even involved in the playoffs last year that have gotten off to bad starts. These surprising poor starters include the Green Bay Packers, the San Francisco 49ers, the Indianapolis Colts, the New Orleans Saints, and the Kansas City Chiefs. That’s nearly half of last season’s playoff teams now suffering below .500!

In my mind these are the teams most likely to rescue their seasons. And history actually beckons warmly for several of them, including the Packers and 49ers, who both started 1-2 last year only to resurrect their hopes and make a strong playoff push.

The key ingredient for such teams is in how they finish the season, not how they’ve started it. Football teams are an organic being, as injuries, player development, and unforeseen future obstacles can alter a team’s shape and style immensely over the course of the year. NFL rosters look very different in September than they do in January and it’s the teams that can handle such change effectively that do well in the later months and typically end up claiming a playoff spot. Unquestionably, a great quarterback can also go a long way to leading a team back from a poor start to a potentially championship-winning season.

Each of the 1-2 teams I mentioned carries great starting quarterbacks (including Aaron Rodgers, Colin Kaepernick, Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, and Alex Smith) and this is why they still have hope. Other 1-2 teams that I wouldn’t expect to hear much of a whimper from are the Miami Dolphins, the New York Jets, the Cleveland Browns, the Minnesota Vikings, the Tennessee Titans, the New York Giants, the Washington Redskins, and the St. Louis Rams. These teams look to lack any sort of presence on the field and have been pretty marginable for years. Their poor records are due to simple lack of talent.

But for the better teams, they’ve just not clicked into high gear or have been unfortunate in the couple of key plays that can often decide a game one way or the other. Another thing to realize is that 1-2 is just a single game away from 2-1. A play here and there could have made the difference, and I’m sure you’ll find that most fans of 2-1 teams are more than satisfied with their seasons’ beginnings.

As the NFL season wears on, those slight hiccups or mistaken plays will carry less weight as the true contenders of the league emerge and get their needed wins. While I certainly wouldn’t be expecting a Super Bowl following two early losses for teams like the Packers, Chiefs, Colts, 49ers, or Saints, I think it’s far too early to be writing them off as has-beens or incapable of salvaging the season. In many cases they’ve done it before and these specific teams certainly have the talent capable to make a serious run at their respective divisions. But be careful, with their collective poor starts, I would only suspect 2 or 3 of these teams manage to right the ship and make the playoffs this year…

No matter which NFL team you root for, AAA Sports Memorabilia has an enormous selection of sports collectibles for your favorite team.  Whether you are looking for an autographed collectible for your favorite athlete or a non-autographed collectible, we have what you are looking for.  We also carry display cases that are built by hand right here in the USA.  Check us out weekly as we are always adding new product.

Widespread Disappointments In 2013 NFL Season: Which Team Has Been Worst?

Here are a few of the legitimate predictions for the 2013 season BEFORE it began: The Minnesota Vikings will contend for the NFC North with Christian Ponder finally becoming a good player and with the addition of Greg Jennings.  Robert Griffin III will fight back through his injury and lead the Washington Redskins to greatness.  Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are simply too good.  The Houston Texans have all the needed pieces of the puzzle for winning the Super Bowl; they just need to win the big games.  The Pittsburgh Steelers will be contenders with Troy Polamalu playing healthy again.  With Steven Jackson, anything is possible for the Atlanta Falcons!  As we now can see, many of these teams have failed to live up to expectations this year.  So who was the worst?

Every year a handful of teams crumble under the pressure of high expectations and above you’ve seen the list of this year.  For every surprising upstart by a team like the Carolina Panthers, another team must suffer.  Such is the way of life in the NFL.  However terrible their seasons have been I think two teams deserve a bit of slack as far as their disappointments:  The Packers and the Redskins.

Sure, the Redskins have the most politically incorrect name and their cocky antics have set them up well to be mocked for their pathetic 3-9 record, but their season was ruined in the NFC Playoffs last year when Griffin III suffered a catastrophic knee injury.  His return to the field was rushed and caused him to miss an entire offseason of practice.  He doesn’t move with the ease and fluidity as he did last year and he is not the same player.  For anyone to expect him to return with the prowess of his rookie year is quite ridiculous.  I sense he may be headed for more success next season.

Likewise, the Packers have suffered the loss of star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.  At 5-2 before his collarbone injury, everything was going right for the team.  Now everything has gone wrong, and they are barely limping ahead and only remain in the playoff race because the Detroit Lions aren’t very good either.  They too can be spared blame because losing a star quarterback is as catastrophic as it can get in the NFL. But for the other teams mentioned (Steelers, Texans, Falcons, Vikings) this season has been a major disappointment and it’s hard to know where to point the finger.

The Vikings were expecting big things following their 10-6 record last season and a trip to the playoffs.  Adding veteran wide receiver Greg Jennings and linebacker Desmond Bishop were supposed to be key ingredients for a side ready to get over the hump.  Instead?  They have yet to figure out who their starting quarterback is and have tried 3, who have all largely failed.  The team is 3-8-1 and wondering what on Earth happened and where to start fixing it.

And then there are the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Traditionally built around a strong offensive line and a tough defense, it’s been anything but that for the Steelers.  Their defense is quite average and their offensive line is quite wretched, highlighted by running back Le’Veon Bell’s 3.3 yard average per rush and Ben Roethlisberger’s 36 sacks (4^th highest in the league).  At 5-7, the 2013 Steelers are practically finished and seem far removed from their Super Bowl days past.

But these aren’t even the worst.  No, there are even far greater disappointments in this league.  Let us take a look at the Atlanta Falcons.  This team has been near the top of the NFC for roughly 5 years and was able to convince Tony Gonzalez to come back for one more go-around.  They just fell short in the NFC Championship game last year, and with quarterback Matt Ryan, incoming running back Steven Jackson, and a generally mature squad of playmakers they expected to contend this season.  What happened?  Star wide receiver Julio Jones got hurt, Jackson is clearly over the hill, and Ryan has been frightfully average.  Meanwhile their once respectable defense is morbid and simply cannot get after the quarterback.  They stand at 3-9 while everyone scratches their heads.

And then there’s the most disappointing team of all: the Houston Texans.  Having reached the playoffs in 2011 and 2012, this team was ready to get over the hump and start contending.  Supposed inexperience in the playoffs had doomed them to early exits in those years, but their roster talent was shown as contender-worthy.  Arian Foster, Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels, and J.J. Watt are all capable of making highlight plays.  Matt Schaub was as good a game managing quarterback the NFL knew.  But he lost focus.  After endless weeks of pick 6’s, Schaub was cheered when he left a game injured and hasn’t been seen since.  Meanwhile, the team simply hasn’t made impact plays.  They have forced just 9 turnovers on the year (they’ve lost 21), and they crumble under pressure.  Now with fresh quarterback Case Keenum starting (and playing very average) the Texans are 2-10 and eagerly awaiting this nightmare to be over.  Where will they go from here?

The ability of fortunes to be reversed so quickly in the NFL reveals just how close the competition is in the NFL.  Each of these teams have had recent success and made the playoffs quite often, but 2013 simply isn’t their year.  While disappointment is surely running rampant, fans can rest easy with the single thought that next season they will have every opportunity to come back to form.  And at least next year’s NFL Draft will be exciting with a high draft pick!

Sports fans and collectors have been visiting AAA Sports Memorabilia since 2006 for all their collecting needs. We have every sport and every team, along with your favorite athletes. Our specialty is autographed sports memorabilia including autographed photos, signed helmets, autographed balls, signed jerseys, and much more. We also carry display cases and officially licensed sports collectibles. New items are added daily so check with us often to find your next collectible.

Brett Favre Can Clear His Name With Cell Phone Forensics

The recent allegations against Minnesota Vikings
quarterback  Brett Farve are only the latest  in a long
list of very public scandals  involving inappropriate text
messages. Mr Farve in this case has been accused of
sending inappropriate cell phone text messages and even
nude pics over his  cellular phone. This scandal follows in
the footsteps of a year of text message  scandals involving
everyone from Tiger Woods to Aston Kutcher.

Mr Farve has been accused first of sending nude photos to
Jenn Sterger  and recently Favre was sued for sexual
harassment by two massage therapists who  claimed they
received sexually suggestive texts from him. And now,
another  massage therapist,Stephanie Dusenberry,  has come
forward saying that Favre  pulled the same shenanigans on
her while he was with the Minnesota Vikings.

These are very serious allegations against the Vikings QB
but we must  remember that this is still America and we are
considered innocent until proven  guilty. Although Mr Farve
is not facing any criminal charges, allegations like  these
could jeopardize his association with the NFL.  An
organization that has  very strict morals clauses and
certainly is not fond of bad press or a bad public image.

It is a situation like where forensic science can give us
conclusive  evidence to either clear Mr Farves name or
prove the allegations to be true. Any  person facing
allegations of inappropriate text messages has the option
to  submit their cellular device to a forensic examination.

This type of investigation can recover deleted data from a
cell phone such as deleted text  messages, sent or received
call logs and even pictures deleted from the  device. In
some devices voice maails are stored on the internal memory
and even that data caan be undeleted.

Once the device has been forensically examined and the
deleted text messages have been undelted the phone can be
turned over to the opposing side of the litigation and they
can also exaamine the device.

A report returned from a qualified cell phone forensic
analyst can either  be entered as evidence in a court of
law or present at a press conference in a  court of public
opinion when a high profile athlete or celebrity wants to
confront allegations and clear their good name.

—————————————————-
Ed Opperman is President of Opperman Investigations Inc. He
is considered an expert in computer and cellular phone
forensics.To learn more about how to recover deleted text
messages and images please click here now:===>
http://www.emailrevealer.com

AAA Sports Memorabilia has been serving Minnesota Vikings fans and other sports fans since 2006 with their sports collecting needs.  We offer autographed sports memorabilia along with officially licensed non-autographed sports collectibles.  New products are added daily so check us out often.

Is Brett Favre’s Ankle Serious?

The reason Favre is so enjoyable to watch is because you
never know what is coming next.  No one could have
predicted the scene at Lambeau as the Green Bay Packers
defeated their rival and hero, the Minnesota Vikings with Brett Favre.

Are you really a Hero when you play through injuries and
avoid medical attention during a game? I have read many
articles trying to decipher this ankle injury, but the
reports are vague only stating Favre suffers from two minor
ankle fractures including a stress fracture and an avulsion
fracture.

I have also read a report that discusses a so called “heel”
problems or injury.  The reports say neither injury is
severe and surgery is not necessary and the Vikings star is
not practicing and resting in a controlled ankle motion
boot (CAM Walker).

Whether Favre will play on Sunday is still unknown. I
cannot predict or diagnose an injury without seeing them
physically but here is what I know about Favre’s recovery
time.  Bone takes about 6 weeks to regain adequate strength
after it breaks.  Stress fractures heal faster since they
are only hairline defects but still require a significant
time of rest and decreased activity.  Most stress fractures
are secondary to overuse over time and not the result of a
blunt trauma.  Avulsion fractures result when ligaments or
tendons pull off a piece of bone during a traumatic event.
This injury most certainly happened after Favre was
tackled.  These injuries do not always need surgery, but
they do require time to heal.

I find it interesting we nearly praise someone for playing
through pain and injury when infarct they are only hurting
themselves and their team.  Ignoring an injury that is
visibly impairing you can be very dangerous.  I worry that
many young men athletes think Favre’s actions are heroic.
High school football injuries are getting a lot of
attention this year.   Many are suffering from damaging
concussions and few have even died during a high school
football game.  Favre may be sending the wrong message to
these young athletes.

Your body does have a limit and ignoring a painful limp
does not make you superhuman.  It is after all just a game.
The future hall of famer, the Green Bay legend and the
greatest quarterback of all time will always be remembered
as a man who redefined the odds of the game and was at
times above the game.

Today, we wonder if Childress and Favre are reading comic
books or pretending to be Superman.  You can’t play
football with a broken ankle, a heel problem and tendonitis
in your throwing arm.  Well, Favre probably can but will he
be any good?  Favre has proven everything he possibly could
on the field, now it is time to prove he can sit the bench.
 Not even Favre can go beyond his body’s limits.

—————————————————-
Dr. Peter Wishnie is a NJ podiatrist who specializes in
foot and ankle surgery. His office is in
Piscataway/Hillsborough,NJ. His goals are to educate the
public on the care of their feet and ankles and to get them
functioning as quickly as possible. For more foot health
tips on foot pain, get a Free copy of their book, “Stop
Foot Pain Fast,” by visiting their website:
http://www.stopfootpainfast.com

AAA Sports Memorabilia has a great selection of Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings autographed sports memorabilia, along with all the other NFL teams.  Not into autographed sports memorabilia, no problem, we also carry non-autographed officially licensed sports collectibles ranging from jerseys, caps, helmets, bobble heads, games, and more.  Our autographed sports memorabilia includes certificates of authenticities and a lifetime guarantee. 

 

Minnesota Vikings Just Released Randy Moss !

The Minnesota Vikings just waived Randy Moss after just obtaining him just a couple weeks ago.  They had given up a third-round draft pick to the New England Patriots for Moss.

We are not sure why the Vikings released Moss since they really need some receivers on their offense, but after the Vikings loss to the Patriots yesterday, Moss announced that he would not be answering any more questions from the media for the rest of the season.  Moss had been fined $25,000 from the NFL for not cooperating with the media and he has not spoken to them since October 13. 

Moss commented, “I got fined $25,000 for not speaking to you all. Me, personally, I really don’t care.  But at the same time, I do answer questions throughout the week. For the league to fine me $25,000, I’m not going to answer any more questions for the rest of this year. If it’s going to be an interview, I’m going to conduct [it]. … I’ll ask myself the questions, then give y’all the answers. So from here on out, I’m not answering any more questions for the rest of this season.”

Randy Moss’ return to the Vikings was a godsend for most of the fans.  However, in the four games with the Vikings, Moss only had 13 receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns. The Vikings were 1-3 in those games, including Sunday’s 28-18 loss at New England.

AAA Sports Memorabilia is based out of Minnesota and has been serving Minnesota Vikings fans, and other NFL fans, since 2006 with their collecting needs.  Our speciality is authentic autographed sports memorabilia.  Our autographed memorabilia includes certificates of authenticity and lifetime guarantees.  Visit us daily as new products are added constantly.

Vikings Brett Favre Is Allegedly Calling It Quits

The Associated Press reported today that someone told them that Brett Favre will not return for his second season with the Minnesota Vikings.  

The person the AP was referring to alleges that Favre called Brad Childress and texted some of the players and team officials regarding his intentions for 2010.  Favre allegedly told them that his injured left ankle was not healing as expected.  Since no official announcements have been made, the person who contacted the AP remained anonymous. 

After this morning’s practices, Childress would not confirm Favre’s status with the team.  He advised he had not talked with Favre directly but said he may have a message waiting for him. 

The AP made attempts to contact Favre and his agent by they would not return messages. 

If Favre actually does not return this year, he will end one of the most successful NFL careers in history.  He is a three-time league MVP (1995-97) and won the Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 1997.  He has made the most Pro Bowl appearances by any quarterback with 11.  He holds most major NFL records including touchdowns (497), yards passing (69,329), wins (181), seasons with at least 3,000 yards (18), most interceptions (317), and has been sacked 503 times.

As we have seen in the past, the 40-year-old quarterback may change his mind before the start of the season.  All Vikings fans, including staff at AAA Sports Memorabilia, are hoping for at least one more year from their once hated Green Bay Packers quarterback to now beloved Minnesota Vikings quarterback. 

AAA Sports Memorabilia has a great selection of Brett Favre sports memorabilia.  We specialize in authentic autographed sports memorabilia for all professional sports along with officially licensed sports collectibles.  A certificate of authenticity is included with all autographed memorabilia along with a lifetime guarantee. 

Brett Favre To Return In 2010?

Minnesota Vikings fans got a glimpse into what is in store for their 2010 season.  Fans are once again wondering if Brett Favre will return for one more season.  At the end of last season, Favre suffered an ankle injury in which his ankle swelled up as big as a football.  Up until a couple of days ago, Favre was still undecided if he would have surgery on his ankle and/or if he would return for one more year.

Those questions may have been answered when Favre made a surprise visit to his alma mater and spoke to the Southern Miss baseball team.   While there, one of the players asked Favre the question that is on everyone’s minds and wanted to know if he was returning to the NFL.  According to the Biloxi Sun-Herald, Favre gave the players his world-famous “boyish grin” and told the players he was willing to make a wager.  Favre told the players:

I was a kid again watching y’all play in the College World Series.  That was amazing. I don’t know — yet.  Let’s make a (fun) be.  If you guys go back to the College World Series this year — I will come back and play. How about that? You go back and I go back.

So now, not only is our staff Vikings fans, but we are now rooting for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball team who are 16-9.   We are expecting the team to make the College World Series so we can have Favre return and bring the Super Bowl to the Minnesota Vikings.  GO GOLDEN EAGLES!!!!

AAA Sports Memorabilia has been serving Vikings and NFL fans since 2006.  AAA Sports Memorabilia specializes in authentic autographed sports memorabilia including autographed helmets, autographed footballs, autographed jerseys, signed photos, game used equipment and more.  We also carry non-autographed officially licensed sports collectibles including tailgating supplies, jerseys, bobble heads, games, mugs and glasses, blankets, and more.  Our autographed memorabilia is guaranteed for life to be authentic and each item includes a certificate of authenticity from a respected sports company such as Upper Deck, Steiner Sports, Mounted Memories, and APE.  Visit us often as new items are added daily.

New Overtime Rules for the NFL !

In order to mitigate NFL games ending in a tie, a sudden overtime death rule was implemented in 1974.  Basically, in overtime, who ever scored first would win the game.

A lot of things have changed since 1974 including the game itself.  Athletes have gotten bigger, faster, and stronger.   More importantly, placekickers have become more accurate at longer distances.  In 1994, the NFL changed the kickoff rules requiring the kickoff to be at the 30 yard line instead of the 35.

The NFL owners got together to decide if the current sudden death overtime rule had become outdated.  It seems that whoever wins the coin toss at the beginning of overtime, typically wins because the kicker can kicker farther and more accurately. 

The owners have implemented the following rules in an attempt to make overtime more fair:

1.)  Both teams must have the opportunity to possess the ball once during overtime, unless the team that receives the opening kick actually scores a touchdown. 

2.)  If the team that possesses the ball first kicks a field goal on its initial possession, the other team will have an opportunity to possess the ball.

3.)  If the score is tied at the end of the 15-minute overtime period, another 15-minute overtime period will begin.

Of the 32 teams, only four voted against it.  Those teams were the Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and the Cincinnati Bengals.  It’s surprising the the Vikings voted against this new rule considering that they lost the NFC Championship game in overtime on a field goal that was made on the New Orleans Saints opening drive.

It will be interesting to see how many overtime games there are in the upcoming season and how this rule will effect the outcome.

AAA Sports Memorabilia has a great selection of NFL autographed sports memorabilia.  Our autographed memorabilia comes from the most well-known and most repected companies in the field such as Mounted Memories, Upper Deck, Steiner Sports, APE, and others.  AAA Sports Memorabilia also carries non-autographed sports collectibles including bobbleheads, tailgating supplies, blankets, office decor, games, dinnerware, and more.  Visit us everyday as we add products daily. 

Scott Fujita shows thanks to city upon leaving

New Orleans Saints Linebacker Scott Fujita has moved again to another team

Scott Fujita

and will be playing for the Cleveland Browns when the 2010 season begins.   AAA Sports Memorabilia has been a great fan of Fujita since he use to play for our hometown the Minnesota Vikings.  We were sad to see him leave our team for the Saints, but are happy for him in partaking and winning the Super Bowl.

Fujita will be moving on as a free agent after he signed with the Browns.  But before moving on to the next chapter of his professional career, he has done something that has made us an even greater fan. 

Before he left New Orleans, Fujita provided a gift to their great citizens and fans.   Fujita gave half of his Super Bowl check to charity, half of that going to relief efforts in Haiti, and the other half going to coastal restoration in New Orleans.

Fujita was quoted, “”The people of this city and region have been so good to me and my family that we just felt strongly about doing something to protect the city we have come to love so much.  And helping on the coastal issue has been on the back of my mind since I first got here.”

Scott Fujita has just raised the bar for all other free agents.   Fujita has always been a standup guy and we’re sure he will find a good cause in Cleveland once he arrives and will make every attempt to assist them also.  

AAA Sports Memorabilia is your headquarters for autographed sports memorabilia for all professional sports.  AAA Sports Memorabilia has a great selection of New Orleans Super Bowl merchandise including both autographed memorabilia and non-autographed sports collectibles.  All of our autographed memorabilia is guaranteed for life to be authentic as they come direct from such great companies as Mounted Memories, Upper Deck, Highland Mint, and more. 

Surprising NFL Players Released / Signed

There have been some big names being released by NFL teams. We will go through some of that list right now.

 

 

  

The Indianapolis Colts released Brandon Stokley and defensive tackle Montae Reagor. Both players were integral parts of the team that just won the Super Bowl. They were later injured with Stokley rupturing his right Achilles’ tendon and Reagor receiving facial injuries during an automobile accident.

  

 

The 49er’s signed cornerback Nate Clements from the Bills for an eight-year $80 million contract. They also signed Michael Lewis (Eagle’s safety).

  

 

Derrick Dockery (Washington Redskins), Langston Walker (Oakland Raiders), and Jason Whittle (Minnesota Vikings) will be leaving their respective teams and will be joining the Buffalo Bills.

 

 

Surprisingly, the New England Patriots have released running back Corey Dillion. Dillon is 32 years old and is contemplating retirement.

  

Remember great moments in NFL history with authentic autographed sports memorabilia from AAA Sports Memorabilia.  We have been helping sports fans since 2006 expand or start their sports collection.