Kelvin Benjamin traded to the Bills

The Carolina Panthers have traded wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to the Buffalo Bills for a third and seventh round draft pick. This is shocking to Panthers fans because the team has so little help at wide receiver.

Benjamin was never a favorite of mine, I thought he was lazy but I am very surprised that the Panthers traded a former first round draft choice for a 3^rd and a 7^th. The Bills are stocking up on former Carolina Panthers and the Panthers may be trying to forget former GM Dave Gettleman by dumping one of his picks.

  Devin Funchess, Curtis Samuel and Russell Shepard will be the main wide receivers left on the Panthers roster. This may also give Christian McCaffrey more time at wide receiver since he is struggling as a running back, other than at catching out of the backfield.

25 years of WFNZ in Charlotte

WFNZ “The Fan” a sports radio station in Charlotte North Carolina is celebrating 25 years on the air. WFNZ has been around since the 1940's but became a sports talk radio station in August of 1992. Gerry Vallincort and  Michele Tafoya were two early hosts on WFNZ when it went to sports.

I have been an avid listener of WFNZ for about 15 years. I started listening after a well known WFNZ caller (James from Maiden) kept raving about the station to me, we used to be good friends. Long time listeners of the evening shows may have heard me on the Whiner Line, I was known as the “Two Z's Guy” a nickname given to me by then producer QCB.

My first impulse was to write a smear job of the station because they seem to have banned me since I wrote an article on another blog bashing them for firing QCB. I drive around all day on my job and I listen to all the shows and often text them. I used to have a lot of texts read on the air but not anymore unless they read one and don't attach my name to it.

But I have had a lot of boring driving hours made better listening to WFNZ over the years and will give an honest opinion of all the shows that are on the station now. My favorite shows on WFNZ since I started listening was Brenston Buckner with Frank Garcia, and Taylor Zarzour with Marc James. I know Mark Packer was popular with listeners but I thought he was an ass. I did love the Mac Attack when Jim Celania was on there. T-Bone who produces the Mac Attack is my favorite producer ever on the station and is a class act.

I had cut back on my listening of WFNZ recently because I started to listening to a Christian radio station more often. Then when the NFL season got started this year I went back to listening to more WFNZ because that is by far my favorite sport. I was glad then Tony “The Hitman” was named as the programming director of the station after it was sold and they had to replace D.J. Stout.

My review of the current WFNZ shows

Mac Attack

I was more of a fan of Mac when he had Jim Celania as a co-host. To me he is a bit much to take that early in the morning when he gets a little hyper. Mac does have his fans thought and there was recently a nice write upabout him in the Charlotte Observer.

Garcia and Bailey

This is probably my favorite WFNZ show right now. I said very early that Kyle Bailey was the best new WFNZ hire since Taylor Zarzour. Teaming Bailey with Frank Garcia was great work in my opinion. I like Frank because he tells it like it is and because he was an original Carolina Panther.

Primetime

Primetime with Chris Kroeger is also a great show. Kroeger proved to be a genius years ago when working for another station he called me a “NFL Encyclopedia” when I was a regular caller of that show. Krog's likes his Hornets a little much for my taste as I am a NFL fan only. Still he has a great knowledge of all the sports and I always like the rotating co-host format of the Primetime show on WFNZ.

 

Free Week 9 NFL game picks

Thanks for checking out my 2017 week 9 NFL game predictions. I do these free NFL game picks each week on the Monday before the week. My NFL game picking record is 68 and 48 this season so don't bet the kids college fund using my picks.

Week 9 NFL Game Picks

1 Buffalo Bills at New York Jets

My free week 9 NFL game prediction is that the Bills win 23 to 21.

2 Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans

The Texans will win 35 to 24.

3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

Saints win 37 to 27.

4 Los Angeles Rams at New York Giants

The Rams will win 23 to 20.

5 Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

The Falcons will beat the Panthers 23 to 17.

6 Denver Broncos at Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles win at home 24 to 14.

7 Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans

I like the Titans to win 24 to 14.

8 Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers win 20 to 17.

9 Washington Redskins at Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks will win 28 to 24.

10 Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys will win 31 to 28.

11 Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins

The Raiders win 20 to 14.

12 Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers

I like the Lions to win 27 to 24.

13 Cincinnati Bengals at Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars will win 23 to 21.

Week 8 NFL Game Picks

Thanks for reading my free week 8 NFL game picks. My record for the season is 60-43 at picking pro football pool picks. These game predictions are written on the Monday before that week of the 2017 NFL season.

Week 8 NFL Game Picks

1 Dolphins at the Ravens

I like the Dolphins to win 23 to 17.

2 Vikings at Browns

The Vikings will win 28 to 20 over the hapless Browns.

3 Falcons at Jets

The Falcons will win 23 to 17.

4 Panthers at Buccaneers

The Buccaneers will win 20 to 13.

5 49ers at Eagles

I like the Eagles to win 28 to 14.

6 Bears at Saints

New Orleans will win 24 to 10.

7 Chargers at Patriots

The Patriots win 27 to 23.

8 Raiders at Bills

The Raiders will win 24 to 21.

9 Colts at Bengals

The Bengals should win 31 to 17.

10 Texans at Seahawks

The Texans will win 20 to 17.

11 Cowboys at Redskins

The Redskins will win 31 to 27.

12 Steelers at Lions

The Steelers win 23 to 17.

13 Broncos at Chiefs

The Chiefs will win 24 to 21.  

Fire Mike Shula Petition being done by Panthers fans

Carolina Panthers fans are fed up with Mike Shula and his play calling. Shula has been under fire for most of his time as the offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. Of course in 2015 when Cam Newton was the MVP and the Panthers made the Super Bowl, the Shula haters were quiet.

I have gone back and fourth on my feelings about Mike Shula. Greg Cosell from NFL Films has praised Shula in the past. My high school classmate Darin Gantt from Profootballtalk.com is not a fan of Shula and recently said Ron Rivera only hired him to keep from getting a coach that the team would be tempted to replace Rivera with.

Most of the time I look at the bad offensive line play (at least at tackle) and wonder if Shula would look like a better coach with better offensive players. It would certainly help Cam Newton to have better players around him since he is inconsistent at times due to poor mechanics. And Shula can't be blamed for that, Cam is on record saying passing mechanics don't matter much.

Still Shula is not a good game day coach at the very least. If you want to sign the fire Mike Shula petition then go to this link.

Week 7 NFL Game Picks

Thanks for reading my free week 7 NFL game predictions. I do pro football pool picks each week and sucked last week with a 3-9 record not counting the Monday Night Game. That brings my 2017 NFL game prediction record to 51 and 38. So don't bet the kids college fun on my NFL gambling advice but I do try my best.

Week 7 NFL Predictions

Week 7 NFL Byes- Texans and Lions.

1 Kansas City at Oakland

I like the Chiefs to win 27 to 24 over the Raiders.

2 Tampa Bay at Buffalo

The Bills will beat the Buccaneers 23 to 17.

3 Jets at Dolphins

My free week 7 NFL pick is the Dolphins win at home 20 to 17.

4 Cardinals at Rams.

The Rams should win 28 to 24.

5 Jacksonville at Indianapolis.

I like the Jaguars to win 28 to 21.

6 New Orleans at Green Bay

Saints win 38 to 27.

7 Carolina at Chicago

Panthers will beat the Bears 28 to 24.

8 Tennessee at Cleveland

The Titans will win 17 to 14.

9 Dallas at San Francisco

The Cowboys should win 28 to 21.

10 Broncos at Chargers

Denver wins 23 to 21.

11 Bengals at Steelers

The Steelers will win 27 to 23.

12 Seahawks at Giants

The Giants win 20 to 17.

13 Falcons at Patriots

The Falcons will blow a 4^th quarter lead and Patriots win 42 to 37.

14 Redskins at Eagles

This will be a good game and the Eagles win 28 to 24.

Why the Packers should sign Collin Kaepernick

Will the Green Bay Packers sign Collin Kaepernick now that Aaron Rodgers has suffered a broken collarbone? According to the Packers roster on NFL.com the only quarterbacks on the team are Rodgers and Brett Hundley.

Hundley is a third year player who had thrown 3 NFL passes coming into the Vikings game where Rodgers was hurt. Collin Kaepernick started the whole kneeling during the anthem protest last year and has not been signed by a NFL team since his release by the 49ers.

I don't like Kaepernock's politics because he supports Fidel Castro but I respect his right to protest. That being said NFL teams have a right to not sign players who cause them bad publicity. Free Speech really means freedom to criticize the government without fear of imprisonment, not to protect you from employers.

That being said Collin Kaepernick could start for a handful of NFL teams and would be the best choice at backup on most of them. The Packers are the only NFL team without an owner, they are owned by the city and its a football crazy city.

I think the Packers should bring in Collin Kaepernick for a workout at the very least. I think Packers fans would overlook his dislike of the country if he came in and won some games for the Packers Kaepernick isn't highly accurate but he does not turn the ball over too often as well. The Packers have better skill players than the 49ers did last year as well.

Photo By Daniel W. Hartwig - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwhartwig/9712475125/in/set-72157635464014192, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57930075ic

Is Luke Kuechly a Hall of Famer if he retires right now?

Would Luke Kuechly be a NFL Hall of Fame player if he retired right now? I will admit to being a biased Carolina Panthers fan but I think Luke Kuechly has already done enough to be in the Hall oi Fame.

It is likely that Luke Kuechly's career will be cut short due to concussions even if he plays again after getting one (his third) this season. I frankly hope Luke Kuechly does retire and never plays again putting himself in grave danger for his future.

Terrell Davis, Ken Easley, Dwight Stephensen and other NFL greats have been voted into the Hall of Fame after shortened careers. At the time of this writing Luke Kuechly is in his 6^th NFL season and has played in 77 games.

All these stats are from Profootballreference.com. Like was the AP rookie defensive player and defensive player of the year in 2013. Luke is a 4 time Pro Bowler, 3 Time All Pro and 4 time defensive player of the week.

Luke Kuechly has great athletic talent but is like a coach on the field with his football intelligence. At this time Kuechly has 13 interceptions, 47 passes defensed, 5 forced and 5 fumble returns, 9 sacks, 482 tackles and 286 assisted tackles. I think Luke Kuechly is a Hall of Fame player even if he never plays another down.

Top 5 Dallas Cowboys of all time

Thanks for reading my article on the top 5 Dallas Cowboys of all time. With a historic franchise like the Dallas Cowboys its hard to pick just 5 of the best players they ever had. Still I think I managed to do it and of course with all sports lists, half the fun is arguing with it.

1 Roger Staubach

I think Roger Staubach is the best Dallas Cowboy player of all time. His stats may not compare with modern Cowboys quarterbacks. That is because the NFL played less games per season and the defenses could do more to defend against the pass which dampened passing stats compared to today.

2 Larry Allen

Larry Allen was a monster of an offensive tackle and I think the best Cowboys offensive lineman of all time. Allen is in the NFL Hall of Fame and was a multiple time Pro Bowler and All Pro offensive tackle for America's Team.

3 Randy White

They called him “Manster” for half man and half monster. Failed as a linebacker Randy White became a Hall of Fame defensive tackle. White could rush the passer, play the run or occupy blockers leaving somebody else to make the tackle.

4 Bob Hayes

Bullet Bob Hayes changed the way the NFL played pass defense. He was billed as the Worlds Fastest Human and he was the fastest man in the league during his time. Hayes was hard to stop and I think he did more for the Cowboys than any other receiver they ever had.

5 Emmitt Smith

Smith may actually be underrated because he played with those great Dallas Cowboys offensive linemen. He still set NFL rushing records that will never be broken. Emmitt Smith could run, catch and block and was one of the best Dallas Cowboys ever.

Week 6 NFL Game Picks

Thanks for reading my week 6 NFL game predictions for the 2017 season. I write free pro football picks every Monday for the following week. So far my NFL predicting record is 47 and 29, so don't be the kids college fund on my picks.

Free week 6 NFL Game Picks

Week 6 NFL Byes

Bengals, Cowboys, Bills, Seahawks

1 Philadelphia Eagles at Carolina Panthers

Two of the hottest teams in the NFC face off. When in doubt pick the home team on Thursday games. Panthers win 27 to 24.

2 Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens

I like the Ravens at home to win 20 to 17.

3 Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings

My week 6 football office pool pick is the Packers win 23 to 20.

4 Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints

I like the Lions to win 35 to 27.

5 Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons

Falcons win at home 31 to 24.

6 New England Patriots at New York Jets

The Patriots will beat the Jets 28 to 27.

7 San Francisco 49ers at Washington Redskins

The Redskins should win 28 to 24.

8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arizona Cardinals

The Bucs will win 31 to 24.

9 Los Angeles Rams at Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars win 28 to 25.

10 Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs

I like the Chiefs to win 28 to 21.

11 Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Raiders

Chargers will win 28 to 21.

`12 New York Giants at Denver Broncos

Broncos win 27 to 14.

13 Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans

The Colts win 17 to 14.

Week 5 NFL Game Predictions

Thanks for reading my free week 5 NFL game predictions. I do these football pool type NFL game picks every week and went 11-4 last week not counting the Monday Night Game. I write these on Monday for the next week. My 2017 NFL prediction record is now 41-21.

Week 5 NFL Picks

Week 5 Byes

Falcons, Redskins, Saints, Broncos

1 New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

My week 5 NFL game pick is that the Patriots win 35 to 31 in Tampa.

2 New York Jets at Cleveland Browns

I like the Jets to win 23 to 20.

3 Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions

I think my Panthers have a letdown after beating the Patriots. Lions win 28 to 24.

4 San Francisco 49ers at Indianapolis Colts

I like the 49ers to win 23 to 21.

5 Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins

My week 5 office football pool pick is the Dolphins win 17 to 13.

6 Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals

The Bills should win 24 to 20.

7 Los Angeles Chargers at New York Giants

Eli beats the team he shunned, 21 to 17.

8 Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers win 20 to 17,

9 Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles

Philly wins 23 to 17.

10 Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams

The Rams win 27 to 20.

11 Baltimore Ravens at Oakland (for now) Raiders

My week 5 NFL predictions is that the Raiders win 21 to 13.

12 Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys

I think the Packers will beat the Cowboys 35 to 28.

13 Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans

My pick is that the Texans win 23 to 20.

14 Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

The Vikings win 23 to 14.  

Cam Newton gets his Mojo back in upset over Patriots

Coming off a bad season last year and shoulder surgery in the off season, Cam Newton has struggled in 2017. Cam Newton got his mojo back against the New England Patriots however. Cam Newton missed a few passes but the arm strength was there and he had by far his best game of the season,

Cam Newton had been taking limited reps in practice this year after the shoulder surgery. Newton practiced more this week and it showed. Newton ran the ball better than he has this year and his passing was more accurate in the win over the Patriots.

For Cam Newton to lead the Panthers to a win in New England with a late 4^th quarter drive was huge. Newton completed 22 of 29 passes for 316 yards, 3 touchdowns and one interception. Newton also ran for 44 yards and a touchdown.