2012 Baylor Bears Football Season Preview

Head coach Art Briles has done a wonderful job of turning this program around in just his 4th year on the job. Baylor just completed their first 10-win season since 1980, and Briles has taken this team to two straight bowl games. Art has certainly proved himself to be a solid recruiter, now it will be up to him to take this team to the next level with the loss of a great talent in Robert Griffin III.

While the Bears return a solid 14 starters and 54 lettermen, their offense take a hit since they lose five NFL draft choices on that side of the ball alone. Baylor relied on their offense to win games last year, now they may need their defense to shoulder most of the weight in the new season.

Nfl 2012

Offense

Baylor had one of the better offenses in the country last season. They averaged a whopping 45.3 points and 587 total yards/game. They also had extremely good balance that made them extremely tough to defend. They averaged 351 yards through the air and 236 yards per game on the ground. With only six starters returning on offense, Baylor will have a very hard time putting up the same numbers it did last year.

Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III will be very difficult to replace at quarterback. He was selected as the second overall pick in the draft by the Washington Redskins and his amazing production will be sorely missed.

Senior Nick Florence takes over at quarterback, and even though he is nowhere near as talented as Griffin, at least he has some experience.

Running back Tarrance Ganaway will be missed by the Bears in many different ways as he was an extremely underrated player on the team. He was picked by the New York Jets in the 6th round of the NFL draft. Oregon transfer Lache Seastrunk will likely be the new starter in 2012.

Kendall Wright also moved on to the NFL, but the Bears can take the solace on the fact that they bring back six of their top seven receivers. The players returning include Terrance Williams, Tevin Reese, Lanear Sampson, and junior TE Jordan Najvar.

The Bears also lose great players on the line in first-team All-Big 12 Philip Blake and second-team All-Big 12 right guard Robert T. Griffin. They do bring back three starters and 77 careers starts up front, but they have lost their two best linemen.

Defense

Despite a criminally poor defense that yielded 37.2 points and 488 total yards/game, Baylor was still able to win 10 games. Whatever the cause, 2012 should be a much improved season for them on defense with eight starters returning.

The Bears gave up 197 yards per game and 5.2/carry on the ground last season. They lose two solid defensive tackles in Nicolas Jean-Baptiste and Tracy Robertson. Junior DE Terrance Lloyd and senior DE Gary Mason are two returning starters who will anchor the defensive line.

The Bears should still be solid at linebacker despite losing leading tackler Elliot Coffey to graduation. They have five of their top six returning including junior starters Ahmad Dixon and Rodney Chadwick. Sophomore Bryce Hager is expected to replace Chadwick at middle linebacker, while Eddie Lackey is expected to start right away.

The secondary may just be the strength of the team as they helped Baylor to force a lot of turnovers. They had a ridiculous 18 takeaways over the final five regular season games and with the entire 2-deep back in the defensive backfield, more of the same can be expected.

Big 12 Prediction - 9th Place

This is a rebuilding year for Baylor since it's virtually impossible to replace the players they lost to the NFL draft. A lot of their talent on the offensive side of the ball is gone and it's very hard to see them post anywhere near the same numbers as last year. While their defense will obviously be improved, their defense last year was so bad that it won't mean much. Baylor has an extremely tough schedule ahead of them and it seems as though this team can win no more than two conference games.

2012 Baylor Bears Football Season Preview

Jack Jones posts his football picks at Betfirms.com as well as FootballFreePicks.com.

2012 New York Jets Football Preview: Turbulence Ahead For Mark Sanchez and the Jets

2012 New York Jets football Preview: Turbulence Ahead For Mark Sanchez and the Jets

The New York jets followed up an 11-win season two years ago with a dismal 8-8 season in 2011. The Jets finished the season in a free-fall losing three straight games to a combined 93-50, and that trend will continue into the upcoming season.

Super Bowl 2012

Online sportsbook Just Bet has listed the Jets as 12-to-1 to win the AFC and an eye-popping 25-to-1 to win the Super bowl.

In the Super Bowl preview, the Jets did not make the cut and in the NFL Win Total Predictions for every team, the Jets were forecast to go under 8.5 wins on the season. The win totals for the Jets is currently listed at 8.5 (u+125). If that were to come true, the Jets would fall below.500 for the first time since the 2007 season.

One of the biggest problems for the Jets a year ago was team chemistry as the locker room turned on one another as the season ended. As long as players like Santonio Holmes are still on the team that is unlikely to change.

Mark Sanchez is under tremendous pressure at the quarterback spot and the Jets brass did not do him any favors by bringing in the mass-media mega machine in Tim Tebow. Rex Ryan has already announced that Tebow will play a big role in the offense and any bad play by Sanchez will turn the team, fans, and media on Sanchez. The disappointing season by the Jets could most certainly mean the end of Mark Sanchez with the Jets.

The 2012 Jets football schedule is not going to help them either. They start the season off by hosting the improved Buffalo Bills and the opening line posted by WagerWeb was unbelievable. The Jets will lose that game, yet they are still favorites? They could easily be swept by the Patriots, have tough road games against the Steelers, Buffalo, and Seattle, and brutal home games against the 49ers, Texans, and the Chargers.

In short, the New York Jets are looking for another long season without a chance of taking down the Patriots for the AFC East.

The Jets have not addressed the lack of speed on this team and if anything they have taken a step back. The Jets will finish the season at 7-9 if they are lucky and will miss the playoffs for the second season in a row.

2012 New York Jets Football Preview: Turbulence Ahead For Mark Sanchez and the Jets

For more NFL previews on the upcoming season check out http://www.bookieblitz.com for all your NFL needs.

Overview of the 2012 Rutgers Football Team

With the departure of 11-year head coach Greg Schiano for the NFL, the Rutgers are now set for a new era. Schiano's time with the team was littered with accomplishments and success and he will be sorely missed.

Rutgers hired Schiano's assistant Kyle Flood in the hopes that he could maintain Schiano's program. Flood takes over the team with some real talent and 15 starters returning. They had a record of 9-4 last season, and the transition to the new coaching staff will certainly be easier, but it's still a concern.

Nfl 2012

Offense:

Last year, Rutgers was forced to split quarterback duties between a couple of freshman in Gary Nova and Chas Dodd and they struggled in the process. Neither quarterback did well enough to secure their spot in the starting lineup in 2012. What will likely happen is that neither player will have the starting job locked up until the end of fall practice.

Regardless of who ends up starting at quarterback, they need to find a way of turning things around in the running game. They averaged a measly 98 yards/game and only 2.8 yards/carry last year. The Scarlet Knights once again struggled to crack the 3.0 yards/carry mark. It was certainly a surprise to see the team struggle with their running game as much as they did last year. Rutgers landed one of the top recruits in the nation in Savon Huggins but he struggled to make a lasting impact until his season ended seven games into the season. Red-shirt freshman Jawan Jamison managed to lead the team with 897 yards and nine touchdowns, but it's likely he takes a step back to Huggins in 2012.

The Scarlet Knights must find a way to replace the production of 4th Team All-American Mohamed Sanu. The departure of Sanu would have definitely hurt more if it wasn't for the emergence of freshman Brandon Coleman last year.

Despite having a mediocre quarterback under center and an unproven running game, their offensive line should be one of the best in the Big East this coming season. They have to replace three starters, but the addition of Maryland transfer R.J. Dill at right tackle, the emergence of Andre Civil as one of the top left guards in the conference and with 3rd Team Freshman All-American left tackle Kaleb Johnson coming back, this unit looks to be deadly in 2012.

Defense:

The defense of the Scarlet Knights is what will make this squad fun to watch as they had an excellent campaign in that regard last year. With eight starters coming back in 2012, look for the team to continue to be one of the best defenses in the Big East.

Despite losing starting defensive tackle Justin Francis and defensive end Manny Abreu, the defensive line should be even better than it was a year ago. Rutgers returns one of the premier defensive tackles in all of college football in Scott Vallone, and add in one of the top ten freshman defensive ends in the country in Darius Hamilton. They also expect big things out of highly touted red-shirt defensive tackle Marquise Wright.

The return of all three starting linebackers from last year is what is keeping this team as one of the top defenses in the Big East this season. Weak-side linebacker Khaseem Green headlines this unit and he was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2011.

The secondary also figures to be unit loaded with different weapons and talent. The Scarlet Knights have one of the top corners in the nation in junior Logan Ryan and a big time playmaker at free safety in Duron Harmon. They also have starting corner Brandon Jones and one of their top backup corners in Mason Robinson both coming back.

Big East Prediction - 4th Place

The loss of Schiano is the biggest reason this team slips to 4th place. Flood can still lead this team to a Big East title, but chances are they will disappoint. They have a very hard schedule where they face both South Florida and Pittsburgh on the road. Both teams are among the two highest rated teams in the conference.

Overview of the 2012 Rutgers Football Team

Jack Jones provides his football picks each Saturday at BetFirms and Football Free Picks.

The Avengers Movie's Success

The Avengers is a film produced by the Marvel Studios and released in 2012. It is a superhero film based on the superhero team from the Marvel Comics. The screenplay was written by Joss Whedon and is distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The cast of the Avengers film has famous actors such as Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and additional cast members: Cobie Smulders, Chris Hemsworth, Clark Gregg, Chris Evans, Tom Hiddleston and Jeremy Renner among others.

The Disney Company decided to change the title of the film in the United Kingdom. Instead of Marvel's Avengers it was released as Marvel's Avengers Assemble. This is because the company did not want the public to confuse the film with a TV series in the UK that has the same name. The film had its world premiere on April 11th 2012, at the El Capitan Theatre in California. The film broke many box office records immediately after its release on that day. The Avengers film made a record 7,438,708 during its first weekend at the theaters. This is a noteworthy record because Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 managed to acquire 9.2 million in its first weekend after the premiere. In its first week, the film broke the Dark Knight's 2008 record of 8.6 million by bringing in 0.019 million in ticket sales.

Super Bowl 2012

The Avenger's film received positive reviews by many notable critics. For example, the film got a 93% rating from the Rotten Tomatoes, which is a review aggregator website. It also obtained an average 8.1 points on 10 from the overall 267 reviews. CinemaScore gave the film an A+ grade based on the audience reviews. Another review from Metacritic showed the film received a score of 69 out of 100, due to the aggregation of 43 reviews.

The factors that contribute to the success of the movie are the stars, careful planning, as well as the original content. The stars of the film were all main characters in their various films and Marvel Comic books. When they came together, the fans wanted to know what would happen in the film, making the film a box office hit. The directors and producers of the film took the time to plan the film and released several teasers and one commercial spot in the Super Bowl. These actions increased the hype of the film, and many people looked forward to the premiere of the film.

The film did not make any changes to the characters, and they appeared just as they did in their previous films and comic books. The only character who underwent some changes was the Hulk. He was greener in the first Hulk film released in 2003, and the 2008 Hulk was too masculine. The film director decided to reduce the Hulk's green color and minimize his muscled appearance in the Avengers Film. The actors also showed their professionalism and dedication, by bringing out all the emotions required, despite the fact that it is an action film. In the film, there was no main character because all the characters worked as a team and each of them had their own moment to shine. The film's special effects, as well as the action, proved worth watching and increased the film's appreciation by the audience. Another important factor in the success of the Avengers is the dedication of the director/ producer Joss Whedon. He developed the story from the comic characters and did not try to create a completely new story that deviated from the comic characters.

The character of Bruce Banner enhanced the success of the film. Mark Ruffalo played the roles of the brilliant, yet cynical Dr. Banner and the Hulk in the film. He brought out the characters in such a marvellous way, enhancing the film's reception. He brought out the Hulk's character well by refreshing the character. He also brought out the geeky and irritated character of Dr. Banner in a spectacular way. Many critics appreciated the film's plot in addition to the character's dialogues.

The Avengers Movie's Success

Nicki Minaj On Faith and Lifestyle

Onika Tanya Maraj grew up in Queens, New York City, after moving from Trinidad, where she was born in 1982. She was 5 yrs old at the time, and was not yet known as Nicki Minaj, the songwriter, singer, rapper and performer.

In August of 2009, after the release of three successful mixtapes, Minaj was signed to Young Money Entertainment which is owned by Lil Wayne. Her debut album titled Pink Friday, was released in November of 2010, and was quickly recognized as a commercial success. It was certified Platinum, selling well one over one million units in one month after being released, and peaked at number one the U.S. Billboard 200 charts.

Super Bowl 2012

Along with recognition as a recording artist and performer, Nicki Minaj has also become involved with endorsing several products. She has contracts signed with a variety of corporations that include soft drinks manufacturers, Doll makers, clothing brands and cosmetics.

She appears to have been influenced by a wide range of personalities, including Foxy Brown, Jay-Z, Jada Pinkett Smith, Britney Spears and Madonna, with whom she performed a number at the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show.

Not only recognized for her music, Nicki is recognized for her personae, that includes costume and make up that may be considered as outlandish. She may also receive attention for some of her quotes on various aspects of life and faith

Minaj is transparent on her faith as a Christian, and on December 25, in 2011, she sent a biblical passage to millions of followers on the social network Twitter. She openly states that her heroes are God and her mother. She also revealed some personal details about her dad, who changed his life after attending rehab and started going to church.

In many of her songs and during many interviews, there appears to be an implication of sexual ambiguity, or that she does not date. During an interview with Vibe magazine, she states "I just embrace all people of all lifestyles and I don't tell them they are bad people. And I say girls are beautiful and girls are sexy and they need to be told that, and if they don't have anyone to tell them that and mean it, I'm gonna tell them that. But I feel like people always want to define me and I don't want to be defined."

Although she accepts the fact that she may be considered as a role model by many, Minaj seems to dislike being labelled and further states that "The point is, everyone is not black and white. There are so many shades in the middle, and you've got to let people feel comfortable with saying what they want to say when they want to say it."

Nicki Minaj On Faith and Lifestyle

You can find out more about the influences and background of Nicki with Nicki Minaj quotes
Public figures may sometimes be reluctant to express a belief or adherence to any faith. Read more about the influence of faith with Faith quotes.

Six Non-1st Round Rookies To Consider In Fantasy Football

Most fantasy football players will be concentrating on the big-name rookies selected in the 1st round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Trent Richardson, Justin Blackmon, Michael Floyd and Doug Martin are the obvious rookies to consider adding to your fantasy team. However, often there are rookies taken after the 1st round who have surprisingly productive seasons and outperform the more heralded ones.

Marques Colston was a little-known 7th round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. All he did for the Saints in his rookie year was catch 70 passes for 1,038 yards (14.8 per) and score 8 touchdowns. Aaron Hernandez was taken in the 4th round of the 2010 NFL Draft and contributed 45 receptions for 563 yards (12.5 per) and 6 scores for New England as a rookie. DeMarco Murray (3rd round, 2011 NFL Draft) was the most impressive rookie running back last year before an ankle injury ended his season. Murray rushed for 897 yards, averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored 2 touchdowns with just 7 starts for Dallas. The following are six rookies who could be more productive than many fantasy football players expect:

Nfl 2012

TE Dwayne Allen, Indianapolis Colts: The 2011 John Mackey Award winner was the draft's best all-around tight end. Allen has the size and strength to be a solid blocker. He also has the athleticism and hands to be a receiving threat. The Colts would like to play 2 tight ends, 2 wide receivers and 1 running back as their base offense. That is why they drafted Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen back-to-back. Allen figures to play a lot in this offense. Indianapolis is wisely tailoring their offense around the talents of their quarterback, Andrew Luck. The former Stanford star is used to an offense that features tight ends. Stanford did not have a strong core of receivers, but Luck thrived throwing to a deep and talented group of tight ends. A tight end can be a fine security blanket for a quarterback. Dwayne Allen could find himself the target of a good number of Andrew Luck passes.

WR Juron Criner, Oakland Raiders: The Silver & Black need a good possession receiver to complement some of their speed on the outside. Juron Criner may prove to be a steal for the Raiders and fantasy football players. Criner caught 32 touchdowns passes in college and has a knack for catching the ball in traffic. His route running ability enables him to play faster than he times in the Forty-yard dash. Carson Palmer should develop confidence in throwing the ball to Criner because he has such terrific hands. Palmer should also be better this year with a full off-season to learn the Raiders' offense. Juron Criner could push for playing time as a rookie and be a surprising contributor to the Raiders.

WR Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears: The Bears were wasting Jay Cutler's passing ability with a mediocre group of receivers. That changed this off-season. Brandon Marshall was brought in via a trade and Alshon Jeffery was drafted in the 2nd round. Jeffery is a big target with huge, soft hands. His ability to highpoint the ball is very impressive. A subpar conditioning effort and poor quarterback play led to a less productive 2011 season for Jeffery and cost him being a 1st round selection. He reportedly is in shape now and Jay Cutler can deliver the football. Jeffery can be a factor in the end zone and a solid possession receiver for Chicago in 2012.

RB Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins: There is a lot of change in Miami with a new coaching staff. The west coast offense will be used and that means a good number of quick, short passes. Naturally, Reggie Bush will be utilized more as a pass receiver this season. Lamar Miller did not catch a lot of passes out of the backfield for the Hurricanes, but displayed pretty good hands. Miller has outstanding acceleration and speed. His burst was better than any back in the 2012 NFL Draft. The University of Miami product dropped in the draft due concerns over his surgically repaired shoulder. Miller is recovering well from his December surgery and will be able to handle contact in time for training camp.

He could very well beat out Daniel Thomas who was very disappointing as a rookie last year. Thomas (581 rushing yards, 3.5 yards per carry and zero touchdowns) did not run with power or speed in 2011. Miller could carve out a nice niche in Miami's offense as a complement to Bush. In addition, Reggie Bush has averaged only nine starts a season in his six-year career. It may have been an aberration that Bush started fifteen games last year. Miller is also a dangerous kickoff returner and his speed is a big play waiting to happen. A mediocre group of receivers could mean that the Dolphins must find a way to get the ball into the hands of their two most explosive players (Reggie Bush and Lamar Miller).

WR Rueben Randle, New York Giants: A rookie playing much on a Super Bowl-winning team normally does not happen. However, the Giants lost Mario Manningham to free agency and need a 3rd receiver to emerge. Randle could have put-up much bigger receiving numbers in college had he been in a better situation. LSU wins a lot of games with their strong defense and running attack. This philosophy combined with erratic quarterback play does not shine the spotlight on receiving talent. Randle ran a number of routes in college and has a good feel for the wide receiver position. He has an NFL body and physically should be able to handle press coverage. Randle is not a speed merchant, but he has enough to make some big plays downfield.

He will also notice a big difference between Eli Manning delivering the ball to him rather than Jarrett Lee or Jordan Jefferson (his LSU quarterbacks). The competition for the 3rd receiver spot is not steep for Randle. Domenik Hixon has struggled with injuries and really is a better kickoff returner than receiver. Ramses Barden has made zero impact in three seasons. Jerrel Jernigan has speed and quickness, but is small. He may be best as a punt returner and slot receiver. The Giants ideally would like Victor Cruz to work the slot and have another receiver complement Hakeem Nicks on the outside. Rueben Randle will have every opportunity to be the Giants' 3rd receiver this season.

WR Mohamed Sanu, Cincinnati Bengals: The free agency losses of Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell means the Bengals need some young wideouts to emerge. A.J. Green clearly is the lead receiver and an emerging star. Who is going to complement Green remains up in the air. Sanu has a good chance to emerge as a valuable contributor to Cincinnati's passing attack. Andy Dalton does not have a big arm and the fact that Sanu lacks speed may not matter much.

Sanu uses his good size and toughness to run slants effectively. Dalton may develop confidence in the rookie to keep drives alive with well-executed short passes. His competition for playing time is an undistinguished group of receivers. Jordan Shipley (recovering from a serious knee injury), Marvin Jones (fellow rookie), Brandon Tate (better kickoff returner than receiver), Armon Binns and Ryan Whalen are not proven NFL wide receivers. Mohamed Sanu has an excellent opportunity to play a good number of snaps as a rookie.

Six Non-1st Round Rookies To Consider In Fantasy Football

http://www.profootballdraftnetwork.com provides extensive pre and post NFL draft analysis. The site features scouting reports, rankings, top values, biggest risks, interviews with college coaches, players and mock drafts.

McConnell's Gamble: Give 'Em What They Asked For

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell gave Democrats a way out of financial Armageddon yesterday, offering them what they said they wanted: a way to raise the national debt ceiling on a "clean" vote.

Will they take it?

Super Bowl 2012

Let's settle in with our snacks and beverages and watch the action unfold. With pro football and basketball officially on lockout, and with all due respect to last night's All-Stars and the rest of Major League Baseball, the big game is getting underway on C-SPAN and the cable news networks.

McConnell's move was as stunning - and some would say as risky - as the onside kick that New Orleans used to strip the ball from Indianapolis at the start of the second half of Super Bowl XLIV. Let's set the scene. With the clock ticking down toward the Aug. 2 deadline at which the Treasury expects to run out of borrowed cash, President Obama and the Democrats were grinding out political yardage by accusing Republicans of risking national default rather than raise taxes on corporations and the wealthy. Democrats pointed to their own willingness to cut spending - though the spending cuts offered were both ephemeral and years in the future - while they said Republicans were stuck in take-it-or-leave-it mode.

These same Democrats have long argued that the national debt ceiling should be raised on its own merits. The nation has already borrowed more than trillion, and it needs to continue borrowing so it can refinance and pay interest on that debt, as well as fund this year's .5 trillion of red ink. The White House spent the first quarter of the year calling for a pure debt limit vote. So did Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Both Obama and Reid declared that their own votes against raising the debt ceiling in 2006, when George W. Bush was in the White House and Republicans controlled the Senate, were mistaken.

Yet when the Republican-controlled House of Representatives held just such a vote last month, Democrats denounced the maneuver as a stunt. House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer said he wanted a clean debt limit increase but still urged Democrats to reject it as an "irresponsible piece of legislation that should have been handled in a bipartisan fashion." (1) Reid said it "sends a terrible message to the international community." Apparently that message was that it is important to increase the debt ceiling, but it is more important to diffuse responsibility so that Democrats won't have to face irate voters alone.

The bill died on a 318-97 vote. Every Republican voted against it, while 97 Democrats voted for it, 82 voted against, and seven courageous souls pronounced themselves "present."

McConnell's proposal would revive the clean debt ceiling increase, with a couple of twists. It would come in three stages: 0 billion, 0 billion and 0 billion, totaling .5 trillion. That would cover new borrowing past the 2012 elections and into the next Congress. Obama would be required to propose offsetting spending cuts, but the debt limit increases would take effect regardless of whether the spending cuts were enacted, unless a two-thirds vote in each chamber blocked the scheduled increase. There would be no tax increase.

Default would be averted. Obama and his fellow Democrats could choose whatever spending cuts they wanted to propose, and they would not even be obliged to pass such cuts into law. The federal debt mountain would grow, but that is inevitable under any form of debt limit increase. The debate is about how fast the mountain will grow, how big it will get, and who will ultimately pay more in taxes or receive less in federal spending to keep it from getting even bigger.

This is pretty disappointing to many Republicans. They hoped to use the impending debt limit to force major cuts in federal outlays. The problem is that they do not have the votes to force that outcome unless, on the eve of a default, Democrats simply cave. That is possible, but it is not a prospect that is very soothing to financial markets already preoccupied with fiscal turmoil in Europe. McConnell called his own proposal a "last-choice option," acceptable only because he is convinced that the "first choice" of deep spending cuts without major tax increases is unattainable while Obama occupies the White House.

A lot of Republicans, especially House freshmen who arrived with strong Tea Party backing, are going to reject McConnell's idea outright. House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor did not immediately weigh in, but I think they could deliver enough GOP votes to get it passed - if Democrats say "yes" this time to the debt ceiling increase they themselves demanded. On the Senate side, Reid and McConnell likewise ought to be able to deliver enough votes to put a deal on the president's desk.

Once that happens, it remains to be seen whether Obama still wants the clean increase he once called for. The real brilliance of McConnell's plan is that it places full responsibility for additional debt and spending in the remainder of Obama's current term squarely on the president's shoulders. This is not a president who typically relishes carrying such burdens.

If you are not a football fan, an onside kick is a trick play in which one team deliberately kicks the ball only 10 yards or so, rather than toward the other end of the field. The risk is that if the receiving team grabs the ball, it is much closer to the kicking team's goal and a potential touchdown. But if the receiving team is taken by surprise or fails to grab the loose ball, the kicking team can recover it and try to keep its own touchdown hopes alive.

It is usually a desperate move, tried by teams that are losing late in the game. The New Orleans Saints shocked everyone when they did it with half a game still to play and only a 10-6 deficit against the Colts. It worked. The Saints recovered the ball, drove for a touchdown that gave them the lead, and won the Super Bowl handily.

Big gambles can bring big payoffs. McConnell's gutsy call shows he knows how to play.

Sources:

1) CNN Politics, "House rejects debt ceiling increase, 318-97"

McConnell's Gamble: Give 'Em What They Asked For

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Chicago Bears' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

1st Round (#19) DE Shea McClellin, Boise State

2nd Round (#45) WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

Nfl 2012

3rd Round (#79) FS Brandon Hardin, Oregon State

4th Round (#111) TE Evan Rodriguez, Temple

6th Round (#184) CB Isaiah Frey, Nevada

7th Round (#220) CB Greg McCoy, TCU

Analysis of Notable Selections:

Shea McClellin: Chicago sought a bookend defensive end to pair with Julius Peppers. McClellin (6' 3" and 260 lbs) is a high motor player who lacks great physical tools for an NFL defensive end. He very well may have more potential as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 than as a defensive end. The former Boise State star may have trouble defending the run against powerful NFL offensive tackles. McClellin was a good (7 sacks in his senior season), but not an exceptional pass rusher in college. The Bears passed on Chandler Jones, Whitney Mercilus and Nick Perry. Jones has a bigger frame and more growth potential than McClellin. Perry is a more explosive athlete than McClellin. Mercilus led the nation in sacks (16) playing against better offensive lineman than McClellin faced. McClellin was a questionable selection by the Bears.

Alshon Jeffery: The Bears traded for Brandon Marshall to provide him with a talented lead receiver. The selection of Jeffery adds a big possession receiver and an excellent red zone target to Chicago's passing attack. Jeffery could be a bargain in the 2nd round. The former Gamecock has terrific hands and made plenty of plays against SEC defenses. He slipped to the 2nd round due to concerns over his conditioning and work ethic. If he keeps his weight down and commits to being a pro then Jeffery is going to help the Bears. This was a relatively low risk/high reward selection.

Brandon Hardin: The search for improved safety play continues for Chicago. Hardin played cornerback at Oregon State, but has the size (6' 2" and 220 lbs) and tackling skills to play safety. The problem is he was frequently injured in college (missed last season with a shoulder injury that required surgery). Hardin also was not much of a ball-hawk (7 pass breakups and 1 interception in 3 seasons) for Oregon State. The Bears passed on offensive line help (Bobby Massie) and cornerback help (Jayron Hosley and Jamell Fleming) for Hardin. This pick looks like a reach and Hardin may have been available later in the draft.

2012 NFL Draft Grade: C+

Bottom Line: The Bears have to hope that Shea McClellin is big and strong enough to put consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. His career production will be compared to Chandler Jones, Whitney Mercilus and Nick Perry to see if Chicago made the right decision for years to come. Chicago did not improve their offensive line or the cornerback position in this draft. A team that plays twice a year against Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford should have done more than add Brandon Hardin as a potential safety.

Chicago Bears' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

http://www.profootballdraftnetwork.com provides extensive pre and post NFL draft analysis. The site features scouting reports, rankings, top values, biggest risks, interviews with college coaches and players and mock drafts.

2012 Oklahoma State Cowboys Season Predictions

The Oklahoma State Cowboys are coming off of their most productive season in school history. The only that thing that kept the Cowboys from competing for a national title was their shocking loss to Iowa State. Even so, the team won their first outright conference championship in the post WWII era. They finished with a 12-1 record after narrowly beating Stanford 41-38 in the Fiesta Bowl, finishing No. 3 in the final polls.

Mike Gundy has completely turned the OSU around in just seven seasons as the team's head coach. Not only has he turned the Cowboys in a Big 12 contender, but a national contender as well. 2012 will be a tough year for him though as he loses several key players on last year's team. The Cowboys return just 12 starters in all, but they do have a good amount of depth with 50 lettermen coming back.

Nfl 2012

Offense

The Cowboys had a record-setting offense last season that will be tough to replicate in 2012. They averaged 48.7 points and 546 total yards per game last year, and those gaudy numbers are almost certain to drop drastically in the new season. This is because only four starters return on offense, and almost all their best players are gone.

Brandon Weeden is irreplaceable after throwing for 4,277 yards with 37 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2011. Freshman Wes Lunt will have big shoes to fill as he earned the starting job in the spring. He's a big, strong pocket passer and he does resemble Weeden's lanky frame of 6'4'' and 211 lbs. I still expect their passing numbers to take a big hit in 2012.

OSU may have to rely heavily on its rushing attack more this season and their top returning playmaker, junior RB Joseph Randle needs to step it up even more. He rushed for 1,248 yards and a whopping 24 touchdowns last season, while also catching 43 balls for 266 yards and two scores to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors. Junior Jeremy Smith (666 yards, nine touchdowns), and sophomore Herschel Sims (244 yards, two touchdowns) will return to help form one of the best backfields in the Big 12.

The receiving corps lost its top two playmakers in Justin Blackmon (122 receptions, 1,522 yards, 18 touchdowns) and Josh Cooper (71 receptions, 715 yards, 3 touchdowns). They lose three of their top four, but do retain senior starter Tracy Moore (45 receptions, 672 yards, 4 touchdowns). Sophomore Josh Stewart (19 receptions, 291 yards, two touchdowns) and Junior Isaiah Anderson (28 receptions, 315 yards, 4 touchdowns) are all expected to have increased roles in the upcoming season. Junior college All-American Blake Jackson should also make significant contributions.

The offensive line loses three starters up front, including first-team All-Big 12 and first-team All-American tackle Levy Adcock and center Grant Garner, the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2011. Despite big losing two of their best linemen, they do return 63 career starts. The returning players they have up front are right guard Lane Tayler and senior left guard Jonathan Rush.

Defense

The Cowboys were able to win the Big 12 last year despite subpar defense. They allowed 26.8 points and 457 total yards per game. Despite giving up so much yardage, this unit was able to come away with many key takeaways throughout the year. OSU finished +21 in turnover margin in 2011.

All-Big 12 DE Jamie Blatnick (50 tackles, 8 sacks) and DE Richetti Jones (33 tackles, 4 sacks) are moving on to the NFL. No defensive lineman had more than two sacks last year. That's unfortunate considering the Cowboys surrendered 185 yards and 4.4 per carry on the ground last year. Senior DE Nigel Nicholas (35 tackles, 2 sacks, 8 tackles for loss) and junior DT Anthony Rogers (21 tackles) are two of their most experienced linemen returning.

Linebacker will definitely be a position of strength for the Cowboys in 2012. This is mainly due to them having five of their top six guys coming back, including their #2, #3 and #6 tacklers. These are Alex Elkins (90 tackles), junior Caleb Lavey (74 tackles) and junior Shaun Lewis (61 tackles, 8 for loss). Gundy has boasted that this is his best linebacker corps yet.

OSU finished #2 in FBS with 24 interceptions a year ago. The secondary loses first-team All-Big 12 strong safety Markelle Martin, but brings back seven of their top eight defensive backs. Three starters return in first-team All-Big 12 corner Brodrick Brown (68 tackles, 15 pass break-ups, five INT), junior corner Justin Gilbert (59 tackles, 10 pass break-ups, five INT) and junior free safety Daytawion Lowe (97 tackles). The talent and depth this team has could make the Cowboys the top secondaries in the country.

Big 12 Prediction - 4th Place

While the defense should be improved, the offense is going to take such a big hit that there's very little chance the Cowboys contend for a repeat at the Big 12 title. QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon are huge losses to their team and they'll have a very hard time to replicate the success they had last year at the offensive end. They also lose two of their top linemen from one of the most underrated front fives in the country last year. OSU does have a manageable road schedule aside from a visit to Oklahoma. They have Texas, TCU and West Virginia at home, but it is highly unlikely that they win all three of those games. That's the reason why the Cowboys will have difficulty in contending for another conference championship.

2012 Oklahoma State Cowboys Season Predictions

Jack Jones posts his football picks at Betfirms.com as well as FootballFreePicks.com.

2012 Dallas Cowboys Offseason Needs

The Dallas Cowboys always seem to have a way of ruining their season. In 2011, the Cowboys started out the year primed to win the NFC East with a 7-4 record, but they ended their year just 1-4 over the final five games to finish with a disappointing 8-8 record. The poor finish was even more disconcerting for the Cowboys since the rival New York Giants won the division with a mediocre 9-7 record and went on to win the Super Bowl. Dallas has the weapons on the offensive side of the ball, but it needs to address some of its needs on the defensive side. The Cowboys took a big step forward thanks to the addition of free agent cornerback Brandon Carr, but more work needs to be done. Here are some of the Cowboys' big additions and subtractions so far in the young offseason, plus a breakdown of their biggest needs heading into the draft.

Additions:

Super Bowl 2012

CB Brandon Carr

QB Kyle Orton

ILB Dan Connor

FB Lawrence Vickers

S Brodney Pool

G Nate Livings

G Mackenzy Bernadeau

Subtractions:

WR Laurent Robinson

CB Terence Newman

ILB Bradie James

TE Martellus Bennett

FB Tony Fiammetta

G Kyle Kosier

Top 5 Needs:

1. Center/Guard
Dallas had huge problems just getting the snap to the quarterback last year. Some of the Cowboys' problems stemmed from the insane number of bad snaps their starting center, Phil Costa, had last year. If he remains the starter in 2012, then the Cowboys may have more of the same problems. They also need help at the guard spot. While there aren't any centers worth taking in the first round, the addition of Stanford's David DeCastro or Georgia's Cordy Glenn could greatly improve their offensive line.

2. Defensive Line
Despite being undersized, Jay Ratliff has shown tremendous awareness and ability at nose tackle. If the Cowboys had their way, they would move Ratliff to one of the two defensive end spots and find a new starting nose tackle. However, if that doesn't happen, look for the Cowboys to get an upgrade over Kenyon Coleman and Marcus Spears on the outside.

3. Outside Linebacker
The Cowboys re-signed outside linebacker Anthony Spencer, but I think they need to look for another player who can get to the quarterback. Spencer had just 6 sacks last season, while fellow outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware had a whopping 19.5. Someone line Alabama's Courtney Upshaw would do wonders for the Cowboys defense. While there may be bigger holes in the secondary, an improved pass rush can generally improve the play of your defensive backs.

4. Safety
Last year, the Cowboys brought in Abram Elam from the Cleveland Browns along with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. While Ryan's defense showed some promise last year, Elam was such a huge disappointment that the Cowboys seem uninterested in retaining the free agent. They added Brodney Pool from the New York Jets, but he's not that much of an improvement over Elam. If the Cowboys feel that they need to address this need through the draft, then they might go after Alabama safety Mark Barron, who is by far the best safety prospect in the draft.

5. Cornerback
Now that they have added Carr to the defensive unit and let go of Terrence Newman, the Cowboys have a vastly improved secondary. Carr was the Kansas City Chiefs' No. 2 corner behind Brandon Flowers, but he is more than capable of being the top guy. The Cowboys might be more compelled to add additional help at this position, unless Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick show marked improvements.

2012 Dallas Cowboys Offseason Needs

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Houston Texans' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

1st Round (#26) DE Whitney Mercilus, Illinois

3rd Round (#68) WR DeVier Posey, Ohio State

Nfl 2012

3rd Round (#76) G Brandon Brooks, Miami (OH)

4th Round (#99) C Ben Jones, Georgia

4th Round (#121) WR Keshawn Martin, Michigan State

4th Round (#126) DT Jared Crick, Nebraska

5th Round (#161) K Randy Bullock, Texas A & M

6th Round (#195) OT Nick Mondek, Purdue

Analysis of Notable Selections:

Whitney Mercilus: The Texans finally made it to the playoffs and the defensive turnaround was a huge reason why. Houston let Mario Williams depart via free agency. The key element to a Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense is a strong pass rush. Mercilus led the nation in sacks last season and has the pass rushing skills and work ethic to develop into a fine outside linebacker in Houston's defense. The team wisely passed on wide receiver help to further strengthen the defense with another young and talented front seven defender. Mercilus has work to do at stopping the run and setting the edge. He likely will start out as a pass rushing specialist and join Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed in a rotation. The Texans passed on Nick Perry. Mercilus has more pass rush moves than Perry does and looks more comfortable standing up.

DeVier Posey: Houston has been looking for improved receiver help to complement Andre Johnson for quite some time. Posey has decent size (6' 1 ½" and 210 lbs) and speed (4.45 in the Forty), but needs a lot of work on becoming a precise route runner. He is a bit of a project who may never develop into a trusted 2nd receiver. The Texans passed on several promising wide receiver prospects such as, Mohamed Sanu and Jarius Wright. Houston was correct in addressing the wide receiver position, but they may not have chosen the correct one.

Brandon Brooks: The former University of Miami (Ohio) offensive guard has heavy hands, tremendous size and a powerful lower body. He has a chance to push for a starting job in Houston at guard provided he keeps his weight under control. Brooks moves well for a player of his size (6' 5" and 345 lbs) and is athletic enough to handle Houston's zone blocking scheme. The key question for Brooks is conditioning and keeping his focus during games over the course of a season. The Texans love to run the ball and Brandon Brooks has the potential to be a solid addition to the team's offensive line.

Jared Crick: A torn pectoral muscle cost Jared Crick 8 games during his senior season and he dropped to the 4th round. Crick does not have J.J. Watt's size, but he plays with a similar intensity and awareness. The Texans will convert Crick from a defensive tackle into a defensive end in their 3-4 defense. Wade Phillips version of the 3-4 defense enables smaller defensive linemen to excel, as long as they have quickness. Crick has to get stronger, but he does fit Houston's defense. He represented value in the 4th round.

2012 NFL Draft Grade: B

Bottom Line: The Texans added a key pass rusher (Whitney Mercilus) to their defense and that is always a positive. They also added to their offensive line depth with the selections of Brandon Brooks and Ben Jones. The Jared Crick pick was likely the team's best from a value standpoint. He joins a young and talented front seven. The only question regarding Houston's draft was did they find receiver help for Andre Johnson? DeVier Posey was a key pick near the top of the 3rd round. Posey has to prove to his quarterback that he can consistently be in the right spot and relied upon.

Houston Texans' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

http://www.profootballdraftnetwork.com provides extensive pre and post NFL draft analysis. The site features scouting reports, rankings, top values, biggest risks, interviews with college coaches and players and mock drafts.

LSU Tigers 2012 Football Predictions

2011 was a great year for LSU. The Tigers finished the regular season with an undefeated 12-0 run, including impressive wins against then No. 3 Oregon, No. 3 Arkansas, and No. 2 Alabama. They would finish with an impressive 13-0 with a 42-10 thrashing of No. 12 Georgia in the SEC Title Game, setting up the much anticipated rematch with Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game. It ended up being a cakewalk for Alabama though as they just decimated the Tigers 21-0 in their second meeting. LSU was unable to make it past midfield until the 4th quarter and were outgained 384-92 in total yards.

2012 will be another year where heavy expectations are set in Baton Rouge. Les Miles will have 13 starters (7 offense, 6 defense) back from last year squad. While the expectations may be high, there is plenty to be excited about in the new season. Despite the fact that they will have a new quarterback and will have to replace some big names on the defensive side of the ball, this year's team is arguably better or equally just as talented as the team that went 13-1 in 2011.

Nfl 2012

Offense

The Tigers averaged 35.7 points per game behind a powerful rushing attack that averaged 203 ypg on the ground. The running game looks to be the main focus again in 2012, as they are extremely talented at the running back position and are very experienced up front on the offensive line.

What many fail to realize is that the running back corps were all relatively young last year. Their top four rushers were all freshmen and sophomores. They also boast one of the more balanced attacks in the country. Spencer Ware received 2nd-Team All-SEC honors with 707 yards and eight touchdowns and looks to be the starter heading into 2012. Michael Ford (756 yards, seven touchdowns), Alfred Blue (539 yards, seven touchdowns), and Kenny Hilliard (336 yards, eight touchdowns) will look to help out Ware on the backfield.

All of that talent in the backfield will only benefit from one of the top offensive lines in the country. Despite them losing 2nd-Team All-American guard Will Blackwell, they do have some capable starters returning to fill the void in starting tackles Chris Faulk and Alex Hurst, guard Josh Williford and center P.J. Lonergan. They also get back injured starting guard Josh Dworaczyk. Dworaczyk was the projected starter head into last season, but a season-ending injury thwarted that chance last August. Hurst, Faulk, and Williford are each considered to be one of the top 15 players at their respective positions in the country.

The quarterback position is where there will be a huge change on offense. The Tigers lost their quarterback rotation last year in Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson. It seems that junior college transfer Zach Mettenberger is the projected starting quarterback in 2012. But he will face some stiff competition in a couple of highly recruited red-shirt freshmen in Stephen Rivers (brother of NFL QB Phillip Rivers) and Jerrard Randall.

Passing hasn't been a huge emphasis in the Tiger's offense in recent years despite them sporting a strong core of receivers that have come through the program. They lost 1st Team All-SEC wide out Rueben Randle and his team-best 53 catches for 917 yards and eight touchdowns. But they do have two highly recruited receivers in Odell Beckham (41 catches, 475 yards, two touchdowns) and Russell Shepard (14 catches, 190 yards, four touchdowns) coming back. Sophomore Jarvis Landry is also someone who the Tigers are expecting huge things from over the next three seasons.

Defense

Defensively, the Tigers were superb last year. They help opposing offenses to just 11.3 points/game and 262 yards of total offense. They were outstanding in forcing opposing teams into mistakes, as they finished the year +20 in the turnover department. They were able to capitalize on those mistakes and turn them into scores.

LSU has been widely known for producing NFL talent on the defensive line, as they have had at least one defensive lineman selected in each of the last nine drafts. This year, they lost top defensive tackles in the country in Michael Brockers, who was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the first round. But despite that, LSU still figures to be one of the top units in the trenches in 2012. Sam Montgomery and Barkevius Mingo, two of the top defensive end in the SEC, are set to return. Starting defensive tackle Bennie Logan and 1st Team Freshman All-American tackle Anthony Johnson round out the team.

There is also a lot to like in the secondary if you are a LSU fan. While the Tigers lose 1st Team All-American corner Morris Claiborne, starting strong safety Brandon Taylor, and backup corner Ron Brooks. They also return 1st Team All-American corner Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu and one of the elite free safeties in the country in Eric Reed. They also add in one of the top safety prospects in junior Craig Loston to fill the void left by Taylor, and will have another great player at corner in Tharold Simon.

Linebacker is the one spot where the Tigers may have problems defensively. They've lost two starters in Ryan Baker and Stefoin Francois, but returning middle linebacker can help fill the immeasurable void. Juniors Lamin Barrow and Tahj Jones may take over for the vacant spots, however, one or two of the five talented freshmen can swoop in and win the starting spot.

SEC Prediction - 1st SEC West

The Tigers can defend their SEC Title and go back to the Championship Game, but it's not going to be easy. While they get Alabama at home, they have to go and face Auburn, Florida, Texas A&M and Arkansas on the road. Most of their success will hinge on the shoulders of their new starting quarterback. With Alabama losing some very important pieces defensively and their star running back Trent Richardson, and Arkansas having to deal with the loss of head coach Bobby Petrino, it's looking like the Tigers will win the SEC West and finish the year with at least 11 wins.

LSU Tigers 2012 Football Predictions

Jack Jones posts his football picks at Betfirms.com as well as FootballFreePicks.com.

Baltimore Ravens' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

2nd Round (#35) OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

2nd Round (#60) OT Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State

Nfl 2012

3rd Round (#84) RB Bernard Pierce, Temple

4th Round (#98) G Gino Gradkowski, Delaware

4th Round (#130) FS Christian Thompson, South Carolina State

5th Round (#169) CB Asa Jackson, Cal-Poly

6th Round (#198) WR Tommy Streeter, Miami

7th Round (#236) DE Deangelo Tyson, Georgia

Analysis of Notable Selections:

Courtney Upshaw: The Ravens were able to add a 4th round draft choice by moving down six spots in a trade with Minnesota. Baltimore then selected Upshaw with the high 2nd round selection. Upshaw's lack of top athleticism did cost him a 1st round selection. However, the former Alabama defender is tough, physical and should fit in well with Baltimore. The team has been searching for an outside linebacker who can rush the quarterback to pair with Terrell Suggs for some time. Jarret Johnson (a better run stuffer than pass rusher) signed with San Diego. Paul Kruger has been average and Sergio Kindle may never recover fully from a fractured skull sustained in 2010. Upshaw plays the run well and with experience can be a decent pass rusher as well. Baltimore had to have been pleased to add Courtney Upshaw to their defense in the 2nd round.

Kelechi Osemele: This is another excellent fit for the Ravens. Ben Grubbs left via free agency for the Saints. Baltimore wants to run the ball with their best offensive player, Ray Rice. Osemele does not have the quickness to play offensive tackle in the NFL. However, his tremendous size and power are what Baltimore is looking for in a guard. Osemele is no Ben Grubbs at this point. He has to improve his technique and play tougher. The Ravens add a guard with excellent potential, but it may take him some time to reach it.

Bernard Pierce: The retirement of Ricky Williams led the Ravens to find a complement to Ray Rice. Pierce is a good-sized back (6' and 220 lbs) who can be a physical runner. His job will be to give Rice a breather. Pierce will have to improve his ball security and earn his coaches' trust. Lamar Miller has a superior burst to Pierce, but Baltimore was looking for a bigger and more physical back. Robert Turbin has a similar skill-set to Pierce. Turbin catches the ball more naturally than Pierce does. The former Utah State back may have been the better selection and Baltimore would not have had to trade up to secure his services. Bernard Pierce was a decent selection, but time will tell whether he or Robert Turbin was the way to go.

2012 NFL Draft Grade: B

Bottom Line: The Ravens added two starters (Courtney Upshaw and Kelechi Osemele) in the near future. The rest of their draft consisted mostly of adding potential backups at running back, offensive line and the secondary. Gino Gradkowski is the most appealing of Baltimore's 3rd day draft choices. The former Delaware offensive lineman played guard and center. His football IQ and dedication give him a chance to develop into a starting center down the road with a lot of work.

Baltimore Ravens' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

http://www.profootballdraftnetwork.com provides extensive pre and post NFL draft analysis. The site features scouting reports, rankings, top values, biggest risks, interviews with college coaches and players and mock drafts.

2012 NFL Mock Draft (17-24)

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

With the loss of cornerback Leon Hall to a torn Achilles' tendon, look for the Cincinnati Bengals to use one of their picks to address the hole left in the secondary. They added Jason Allen and brought back Adam "Pacman" Jones, but they still need to add more depth in the draft. With two first-round picks in the draft, the Bengals have the luxury of picking Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick, who would've landed much higher in the draft if it weren't for his questionable behaviour. Kirkpatrick certainly has the potential to be something great, as he has the size at 6'2" to match up against big receivers and the speed to keep from getting burnt deep. Despite a few character concerns, he is definitely worth the Bengals taking a risk on, and not waiting to see if he will fall to them at No. 21.

Nfl 2012

18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

Another team that is in desperate need of improving their pass rush is the San Diego Chargers. The big reason they struggled against the pass last year was because of their inability to put pressure on the quarterback. Larry English was supposed to be their guy, but it's becoming more and more apparent that he will never turn into the player they were hoping him to be. Whitney Mercilus was the most productive pass rusher in college football last year, and he might just be San Diego's answer if he is still on the board. Mercilus has the uncanny ability to get to the quarterback and force turnovers, and that is definitely something NFL teams are looking for. He led the nation with 16 sacks and nine forced fumbles last year.

19. Chicago Bears: Cordy Glenn, OT/G, Georgia

By trading for Pro Bowl wideout Brandon Marshall, the Chicago Bears has finally took care of their biggest need. They can now use their first-round pick to further bolster their already-improving offensive line. It seems as though Chicago is going after Georgia's Cordy Glenn, and if he is still available, could form a solid combo alongside offensive tackle Gabe Carimi. Despite starting at left tackle for Georgia, he could very well be moved to guard in the NFL. He can certainly shine at guard in the NFL, especially being a powerful run-blocker. They could go for someone like Stanford's Jonathan Martin, should they be interested in adding a tackle. The main thing here is that the Bears should be addressing the offensive line with this pick.

20. Tennessee Titans: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Tennessee Titans have pretty much covered all their biggest needs this offseason, and will now look into boosting their secondary after watching Cortland Finnegan leave for the Rams. Despite having a disappointing season last year, Stephon Gilmore is making a lot of noise on the draft boards. He certainly has the ability and the potential to be a star in the NFL and if he is available, Tennessee will be more than happy to draft him with its pick. Not only is Gilmore capable of making plays on the ball, he is also extremely strong against the run.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Once the Bengals have selected Kirkpatrick with their first pick in the first round, it seems as though their next pick would be a playmaker on the offensive side of the ball. They have lucked into acquiring an elite wideout in A.J. Green, but could use an upgrade at the No. 2 spot. He didn't show much at the combine, but Baylor's Kendall Wright certainly has the skills to burn defenses deep. Wright could force defenses to keep a guy over the top, allowing more room for the rest of the receivers to work in the middle of the field. Another reason why the Bengals will end up picking this guy is that he would be a major upgrade in the return game for Cincinnati.

22. Cleveland Browns: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

After taking receiver Justin Blackmon with their first pick in the draft, the Cleveland Browns now have another shot at improving their offense. Quarterback Colt McCoy needs to be better protected than he was last year so that his potential can be fully achieved in Cleveland. The biggest need for the Browns is to find a replacement at right tackle, and Stanford's Jonathan Martin definitely fits that bill. Martin is a dominant run blocker, but he still has a ways to go in pass protection. That makes him a perfect fit at right tackle early in his career and he will most definitely be the guy the Browns target with this pick.

23. Detroit Lions: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

In order for the Detroit Lions to take that next step and contend for the NFC North title, they need to improve their secondary. They need help at both corner and safety. They could take a gamble on oft-maligned player Janoris Jenkins out of North Alabama, but I believe that the organization has enough troubled pieces in the locker room. The best fit for Detroit is Alabama safety Mark Barron. The draft class is incredibly thin at safety, so the Lions must use this pick if they want to upgrade at safety. Barron has incredible instincts and is really strong and powerful when he tackles. He would make opposing wideouts think twice about going across the middle and he would help tremendously against the run.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

The Pittsburgh Steelers could definitely go a number of ways with this pick. They could use the pick on the offensive line, corner or nose tackle, but I believe that they will not pass up the opportunity to grab Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower. The Steelers just seem to have the knack of grooming players on the defensive front seven, and Hightower is one of those players whom they love to go after. He is phenomenal against the run and can put pressure on the quarterback in passing situations. The situation fits perfectly for Hightower, since the Steelers just let go of inside linebacker James Farrior, so they need him to fill a void for them.

2012 NFL Mock Draft (17-24)

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Character Development: Questions for Creating Character Facts and Personalities

An author who wants to create a realistic character needs to know everything possible about that character, not only to keep the facts straight, but also to understand that character's motivations. While critics often differentiate between a plot-driven and a character-driven story, a writer who does his or her work well will find that the character's motivations will drive the plot, and understanding the character's past is the key to understanding his or her motivations for the present and the future. Asking the character a series of questions not only helps to create a realistic character, but often the oddest or seemingly most random questions will result in new information about the character that can help a writer to overcome writer's block.

Creating a character questionnaire for each major character can lead to richer fiction and greater focus. Following are some sample questions to ask your character. Envision the character sitting in the room with you and telling you about him- or herself. Then fill in the answers to the questions as they are provided. Depending on your character, you might find many other questions to ask that will provide you with an additional understanding of the character and more material for your story.

Super Bowl 2012

FACTS:

1. What is your full name?
2. How did your parents decide on your name?
3. How tall are you?
4. What color is your hair?
5. What color are your eyes?
6. How much do you weigh?
7. What is your birthday (month, date, and year)? (Note: It's important to pinpoint this date so you can figure out details about the character's past and how old he or she would have been during certain events. It might be a good idea to create a character timeline.)
8. What is your father's name?
9. What is your mother's name?
10. What are your grandparents' names?
11. Do you have any siblings? What are their names, birthdates, and birth order?
12. Where were you born?
13. Where were your parents born?
14. Where were your grandparents' born?
15. Where do you live now?
16. Do you have any medical problems, diseases, injuries?
17. Do you have any distinguishing marks on your body (a mole, a birthmark, a missing finger, a tattoo, etc.)?
18. What religion are you, and why?
19. What is your annual income?
20. How much money do you have saved?
21. What kind of house/apartment do you live in?
22. What kind of car do you own?
23. Do you have any pets?
24. When will you be able to retire?
25. Are you married? If so, what is your spouse's name?

(Note: You can make a new character sheet for the spouse if the person is significant and ask that character all of these questions as well. Depending on the main characters in your story, you might also do the same for the parents, grandparents, siblings, children, etc. It might be interesting to ask your characters to describe a specific event that happened to the family to see how they might all describe and respond to it differently).

HISTORY:

1. Where did you go to school?
2. How many times have you moved in your life?
3. When did you move to where you live now?
4. Did you attend college, trade school, etc. and where?
5. What did you study in school?
6. When you were a child, what did you dream of being when you grew up?
7. What jobs have you held and what years? (What does your resume look like?)
8. What is the first historical event you remember? (The Great Depression, Kennedy's assassination, the moon landing, September 11^th)?
9. How did you feel/react to (Princess Diana's death, Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, the Columbine shooting, Michael Jackson's death, the O.J. Simpson Trial, Betty White's 90^th birthday, the Fall of the Berlin Wall, The Super Bowl in 1989, 2004, 2012, etc.)?
10. Who did you vote for in the (1960, 1972, 1980, 1992, 2008) presidential election?
11. What places have you visited on vacation?
12. Have you visited any interesting places for work?
13. Who was your best friend as a child?
14. Who was your best friend in high school?
15. Who was your best friend in college?
16. Who is your best friend now?
17. Who are all of the people whom you have dated?
18. Why did your relationship with each person you dated not work out?
19. What is the worst thing that ever happened to you?
20. What is the best thing that ever happened to you?
21. Who was your fourth grade teacher and what influence did he/she have on you?
22. Who did you take to the prom in high school?
23. What groups, organizations did you belong to in high school, or what sports did you play?
24. How did you meet your current significant other?
25. Who important to you has died in your life and how did you cope with their deaths?

PERSONALITY:

1. What is your favorite color?
2. What is your favorite place to vacation and why?
3. What is your favorite book?
4. Who is your favorite actor?
5. Who is an actor you can't stand?
6. What is your favorite movie?
7. Which movies do you absolutely hate?
8. What is your favorite TV show?
9. What is your favorite food(s)?
10. What is your favorite restaurant?
11. What most annoys you about (your mom, dad, brother, sister, wife, son, daughter, best friend, boss, co-worker)?
12. How often do you exercise? What are your exercise goals?
13. Which of your buttons does your mother (sister, brother, son, wife, girlfriend, etc.) like to push that sets you off?
14. Do you believe it's okay to tell a lie and under what circumstances?
15. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
16. What things might you be asked to do that you hate doing but do anyway (attend birthday parties, weddings, do chores for your elderly aunt, etc.)?
17. Have you ever been arrested and why?
18. Who would you lay down your life for?
19. Who would you really like to tell off?
20. What are your spending habits?
21. Do you enjoy hot weather, or do you prefer colder temperatures?
22. What kind of relationship do you have with God?
23. If you could describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say?
24. If your (best friend, wife, daughter, boss, neighbor etc.) were to describe you in one sentence, what do you think he/she would say?
25. What do you think is the meaning of life?

Hopefully, those are enough questions to get you a start in developing your character. Some of them may be irrelevant, but I suspect a lot of them will trigger more ideas and questions for you to ask.

It's important to spend some time getting to know your character. Hang out with him or her. Envision the person riding in the car with you, spending time with you, going to dinner with you. After all, you might be spending the next several months or years writing about this person, so you want to get to know him or her as well as you can. I find that asking questions and letting the characters answer in their own voices can take a story to new and exciting places and make both the characters and the plot richer as a result. Don't be shy. Ask your characters these probing questions and you'll discover enough about them to fill many books.

Character Development: Questions for Creating Character Facts and Personalities

Irene Watson is the Managing Editor of Reader Views, where avid readers can find reviews of recently published books as well as read interviews with authors. Her team also provides author publicity and a variety of other services specific to writing and publishing books.

2012 Michigan State Spartans Football Predictions

Michigan has been a powerhouse these past two seasons. It earned a share of the Big Ten title in 2010 finishing the year at 11-2, and won the Legends division last year, finishing 11-3.

Michigan State's success has them among elite company, as are one of just seven BCS schools to have won at least 11 games over the past two seasons. The string of 11-win seasons could very well come to an end in 2012 as they must replace a plethora of offensive stars.

Nfl 2012

Offense

Without a doubt, the loss of quarterback Kirk Cousins will sting as the Spartans will miss his play and leadership abilities. He led Michigan State to rank second in the Big Ten in passing offense last season.

Junior Andrew Maxwell is expected to take over under center, but he won't have the same proven playmakers to throw to that Cousins had last season. Wide receivers B.J. Cunningham, Keshawn Martin and running back Edwin Baker have all moved on the NFL.

Junior running back Le'Veon Bell is the team's top returning receiver. He hauled in 35 passes for 267 yards last year. He also rushed for 948 yards and 13 scores.

Bell has the opportunity to really show his skill this season with four returning starters on the offensive line. However, Maxwell will need to be able to stretch the field in order to keep defenses from loading the box in an attempt to slow down Bell.

Defense

The Spartans are so good defensively that they will have an opportunity to contend for a second-straight Legends division title.

Michigan State welcomes back eight starters from a unit that led the Big Ten in total defense, run defense, sacks and interceptions.

The defense is led by menacing end William Gholston, who plays the run as well as the pass and imposes his will against opposing offenses.

The Spartans are stacked at linebacker with anchors Denicos Allen and Max Bullough. Allen is the team's primary line of defense against the quarterback, having recorded 11 sacks in 2011. Bullogh is the team's top returning tackler, having recorded 89 stops last year.

The secondary looks to be strong as well with corners Johnny Adams and Darqueze Dennard and safety Isaiah Lewis showing potential this spring. Lewis is a big time hitter who also picked off four passes a year ago.

Big Ten Legends Prediction: 3rd Place

The defense will carry this team once again as their offense takes a considerable hit heading into 2012. With their suspect offense, it just seems unlikely for them to get another Legends title. They get a difficult stretch in the new season which will make or break their bid to repeat as division champs as they face Michigan and Wisconsin on the road. They'll also face a Nebraska team at home that defeated them 24-3 last year.

2012 Michigan State Spartans Football Predictions

Jack Jones posts his football picks at Betfirms.com as well as FootballFreePicks.com.

Youth Football Is Under Attack, How to Defend Our Game

Defending Our Game

If you haven't been camping out under a rock for the last few months, you know our game is under attack. The game we love and devote so much time to in order that our sons and players can gain the life lessons most of us learned from the game, is being viciously assaulted on many fronts. Some are calling for an out right ban on youth football due to the concussion issue or not allowing kids to play until age 13. One of the major problems in today's society is that perception is reality and that perception is shaped by those who are yelling the loudest and the most often.

Nfl 2012

In all fairness, there are football people who did offer up some kindling to get this firestorm started. The NFL and it's "Bountygate" scandal didn't do the game any favors. While the youth game isn't the NFL, many soccer moms think that youth football is a microcosm of the NFL and what happens in little Johnny's league is just a mini version of what happens in the NFL. We also had some youth coaches who didn't understand how to teach safe blocking and tackling or how to recognize concussions. While those coaches are rare today, their legacy lives on. And like it or not, soccer moms make a lot of decisions on whether little Johnny is allowed to play youth football or not.

As most of you are well aware, Bountygate is the least of our worries. The concussion issue is what is dominating the airwaves these days. Concussion diagnosis and prevention has been a point of emphasis for the last 2-3 years. More fuel to that fire was added when Hall of Fame player Junior Seau died of an apparent suicide last week. Speculation was that his depression and subsequent suicide was caused by concussion issues. The Seau suicide was a tragedy, by all accounts Junior was a solid citizen. However there is no evidence that concussions played a role in his death or even that suicide rates are higher among NFL players than the general population. It should be noted that Samoans have one of, if not the highest suicide rate in the world and the US has a very high suicide rate compared to other developed nations.

Another interesting scientifically verified statistic is that former NFL players live much longer than the general population. Did you have any idea that was a verified truth? Many would have you believe that all these former NFL players break down and die prematurely in their 50's. Well that isn't the case at all, they are OUTLIVING the general population. A study was commissioned by the players union to study this very topic.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh), began it's data collection in 1990 and released its findings in January, 2012. They studied 3,439 players who were in the N.F.L. for five seasons or more. They found a lower death rate among former N.F.L. players than among men in the general population - the institute had expected to find that 625 members of the group it studied would be dead based on estimates from the general population, but instead found that 334 of the retired players had died. Yes, those alive were almost DOUBLE the number compared to the general population. These numbers are amazing considering the number of 300 lb plus players and African-American players who are in the NFL, since these groups typically have much higher early mortality rates than the general population. So the next time someone spouts off that National Enquirer like "stat" that NFL players are all dying prematurely in their 50's, please set them straight with the facts.

When it comes to youth football, again it's an entirely different game. We don't have 300 lb players who can run 4.8 40 yard dashes and who can bench press 225 lbs 35 times. Statistics say that 70% of youth players won't play High School football, let alone be part of the 2-3% that go on to play College Football or be one of the 1 in 20,000- 30,000 to go on to play in the NFL. The NFL is the cream of the cream of the cream of the crop, genetic freaks who have honed their bodies into athletic machines capable of inflicting significant hits to one another. But the NFL players abilities have very little correlation to what the average 10 year old can do with his body and in turn to other players.

Mayo Clinic Study

In fact the Mayo Clinic did a study of 913 youth football players on 42 different teams age 9-13. Back in 1997 they found that "most injuries that occurred were mild and that youth football injuries were uncommon." According to Mayo Clinic spokesman Michael J. Stuart M.D the findings showed that "the risk of injury in youth football does not appear greater than the risk associated with other recreational or competitive sports." Most of the injuries were mild and the most common type was a contusion, which occurred in 33 players. Four injuries (fractures involving the ankle growth plate) were such that they prevented players from No player required hospitalization or surgery. Again scientific fact flies in the face of those who would want you to believe that you are somehow an irresponsible Neanderthal parent if you want your son to play youth football.

Most of us coach youth football because the game did something for us and we want to pass that same thing onto others. We want kids to experience being part of a team, teamwork, perseverance, selflessness, goal setting, commitment, hard work, making friends, being coachable, delayed gratification, humility, grace, overcoming obstacles, competition, having fun and much more. There are people out there who for whatever reason either don't understand what youth football is about, had a bad experience from a "bad apple" program or coach or simply oppose kids learning and embracing some of those traditional character traits listed above. Don't let the haters and naysayers dominate the "debate." Know the facts and Share the data so people can make legitimate and honest decisions about their child's involvement in youth football. An additional footnote, I've coached youth football for over 25 years and not a single one of my players have ever been diagnosed with a concussion from anything they did on the football field.

Youth Football Is Under Attack, How to Defend Our Game

Dave Cisar-
Dave is a Nike "Coach of the Year" Designate and speaks nationwide at Coaches Clinics. His book "Winning Youth Football a Step by Step Plan" was endorsed by Tom Osborne and Dave Rimington. His personal teams using this system to date and has a 132-18 record in 5 Different Leagues.

To Sign up for his free tips and drills newsletter or to view 500 free youth football coaching tips go to: Football Plays

3 Critical Strategies Every Home Based Business Owner Must Use (100% Free)

Are you starting a home based business, but not sure which strategies are a "must" and which ones are simply icing on the cake? Do you find yourself overwhelmed with options, and opinions and aren't sure which areas to implement right away? The good news is, if you are just starting a home based business in 2012, I can honestly say that there has never been a better or more existing time to launch a small startup than right NOW. (and on a bootstrap budget to boot!)

I'm going to give you 3 very simple recommendations on what I would do first.....and simultaneously, I'm going to also tell you what I'd avoid doing as well. (especially considering these are the most common mistakes MOST professionals make when migrating online, or starting something new from scratch as well)

Super Bowl 2012

1 - You MUST have a blog.

But, you've also got to be willing to update your blog often if it's going to be an asset for your business, and NOT an eyesore. There is nothing more off putting for me, as a potential client, than seeing a company blog that hasn't been updated in 3 or 4 months......or super sporadic posting across an extended period of time. The good news? You can literally update your blog with good resources in your area of expertise WITHOUT really having to do much writing at all. Simply find information that meets the needs of your potential readers, write a short excerpt, and then link to the source of the content and you're GOOD to go! Not only will this give you the appearance of "authority" very quickly, the search engines love this sort of liberal linking strategy as well. (I call this the "Google loves sites that love other sites" strategy!)

2 - You need a Facebook Page

Facebook is literally changing the landscape for doing business.....PERIOD. Don't let anyone tell you they're not, either. Did you know that 50% of the advertisers in the 2012 Super Bowl used their Facebook page as the destination page for the ad? That is an unbelievably powerful statistic, made more eye opening by virtue of it being done by biggest brands in the world as well. The truth is, social media content, especially Facebook is so incredibly easy to share and spread, that businesses that aren't reaping the beautiful benefits of viral marketing are losing out in a major league way.

3 - Classified Ad Sites

This is a bit more optional than the 2 above, but you can literally build your entire business on the back of sites like Craigslist, and leverage the many, many millions of readers they get each day. I placed an ad last weekend for a marketing related function and literally got 100 visitors to my site in less than 4 hours, of which 30 signed up to learn more. It took me all of 7 minutes to create the ad and post it, and I can republish it every 3 days simply by pushing a button and hitting renew. Very powerful, and I've worked with clients who have built 6 figure incomes from Craiglist in a matter of 12 months or less.

Remember...

You don't need to spend "big" money on a blog or a Facebook page to have tremendous success. You are FAR better off using a "free" blog than a fancy pants web design, and investing your time, effort and money in creating killer content your readers (and potential clients) will love!

3 Critical Strategies Every Home Based Business Owner Must Use (100% Free)

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2012 St Louis Rams Offseason Needs

People were expecting too much from the St. Louis Rams after they just missed out on a division title in 2010, but to say that they disappointed last year was an understatement. They finished the year with an abysmal 2-14 record, which tied the Colts for worst in the NFL. There is some reason for optimism, however, as they have signed former Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher after letting go of Steve Spagnuolo. Fisher's schemes will likely take some time before the players can buy in, but you better believe that they will be more competitive than they were a season ago. The Rams traded away their No. 2 pick to Washington for the No. 6 pick, Washington's first-round pick in both 2013 and 2014 and a second-round pick this year. Here are some of the Rams' big additions and subtractions so far in this young offseason, plus a breakdown of their biggest needs heading into the draft.

Additions:

Nfl 2012

CB Cortland Finnegan

DT Kendall Langford

WR Steve Smith

G Quinn Ojinnaka

DE William Hayes

C Scott Wells

OLB Jo-Lonn Dunbar

DT Trevor Laws

Subtractions:

WR Brandon Lloyd

DT Justin Bannan

C Jason Brown

DT Fred Robbins

CB Ronald Bartell

OLB Chris Chamberlain

G Jacob Bell

Top 5 Needs:

1. Left Tackle

The Rams' top priority this offseason is to address their problems on the offensive line. Starting left tackle Rodger Saffold is better suited at left guard or right tackle, which makes them thin at left tackle if they move him. If Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon doesn't fall to the sixth pick, I think the Rams have to draft Iowa tackle Riley Reiff. If they do decide to go to a different direction, I believe they will no longer find a legitimate upgrade later in the draft or free agency.

2. Left Guard/Right Tackle

If St. Louis is able to upgrade at left tackle, then this need will be far less pressing. Either way, both these positions need to be addressed. Jason Smith has been a monumental disappointment at right tackle, and if they can move Saffold back to his guard spot, then things will be better for the Rams offensively.

3. Wide Receiver

While the Rams need to add some weapons at receiver, that needs to come after they address the offensive line. Once again, if Blackmon is available at the 6th pick, then he is the one player the Rams should pick. If he is not available, however, the Rams have two second-round picks where they can address this need. Wide receiver is one of the rare positions where great players can be had late in the draft.

4. Outside Linebacker

Starting weakside linebacker Chris Chamberlain has moved on and signed with the New Orleans Saints, and the Rams could use an upgrade at the starting strongside linebacker over Brady Poppinga. Jo-Lonn Dunbar was signed in the offseason, but the Rams need to keep looking for help at this spot.

5. Free Safety

The Rams have a number of additional needs, but I believe their next most pressing need is at free safety. Darian Stewart is simply not the answer, as he was dreadful as the starter for the Rams last year. There isn't really any one talent from the draft that could be a difference maker, which will likely force them to bring in a veteran free agent. Either way, the Rams need to make it a priority to find a suitable replacement, because clearly Stewart cannot be the starter.

2012 St Louis Rams Offseason Needs

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The NFL Without the Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys went from "Next Year's Team" in the late 1960's to "America's Team" in the 1970's with four Super Bowl appearances, including two Super Bowl titles. The Cowboys fell off during the 1980's as the 49ers took supremacy of the NFC and the NFL. After Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys and cleaned house in the organization in the late 1980's, which was heavily criticized, the team went to the bottom of the NFL with a record of 1-15 in 1989. A few years later the new Cowboys, put together by Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones, became an NFL powerhouse once again, and built a team that would go on to win three Super Bowls in four years and resurface the Dallas Cowboys as "America's Team", establishing the Cowboys as one of the elite franchises in the NFL along with the Packers, Steelers, and 49ers (Patriots would later join this list of elite franchises).

Unfortunately for the Cowboys and their fans, the last Super Bowl win came in January of 1996 and the franchise has only won two playoff games since their Super Bowl victory over the Steelers. The Cowboys have basically become just another franchise in the NFL since the mid 1990's and even so the NFL continues to be the dominant sport in the United States. The NFL is bigger than any one player and more importantly the NFL is bigger than any team. In 2008, the New England Patriots lost their super star quarterback and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player for the season because of an injury in Tom Brady during the first game on the season and believe it or not the NFL continued to carry on, the Patriots still had fans in their seats and with back up quarterback Matt Cassel the Patriots went on to go 11-5. Although the Patriots did miss the playoffs that season you could still consider that season a success after losing the best player in the league so early in the 2008 season.

Nfl 2012

Is the NFL better off with franchises like the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots being powerhouses of the league? I would say yes, but whether those teams are any good or not the NFL will continue to shine and it will be the most popular sport in the U.S. It is unfortunate to see that of those five teams, the Cowboys are the only franchise that hasn't recently experienced a deep playoff run or isn't viewed as a team to make a run at the Super Bowl for the upcoming 2012 season, but it is reality and Cowboys' fans everywhere must come to terms with that reality whether they want to or not.

It is important to point out that the only constant since Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys is Jerry Jones. The idea that it is time for the Dallas Cowboys' owner to step down as at least the General Manager has been spoken about for years, but this is another reality that Cowboys' fans must come to terms with, and that is that Jerry Jones is not stepping down as the GM of the Dallas Cowboys. No matter how much Cowboys' fans whine and cry about this matter Jerry Jones can do whatever he pleases with the Cowboys' organization because he is the owner and that will not change anytime soon. Cowboys' fans must hope that Mr. Jones brings in someone into the front office that will help build the Cowboys back into a powerhouse, or maybe that person is already in the organization and just hasn't had the success the Cowboys and their fans are hoping for. Only time will tell. One thing is certain, the NFL will continue to shine as the most popular sport in the U.S. with or without the Dallas Cowboys.

The NFL Without the Cowboys

2012 Texas Longhorns Football Predictions

The Texas Longhorns have endured back-to-back disappointing seasons and now they feel the pressure to get things turned around. The Longhorns failed to make a bowl in 2010 after 5-7 campaign, and had a mediocre showing with an 8-5 record in 2011. They started out well, winning their first four games before losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State derailed their Big 12 title hopes.

Head coach Mack Brown has tallied a 141-139 record at Texas as he enters his 15th season with the program. The Longhorns will have the most experienced team in the conference with 15 starters and 43 lettermen returning. They do not overwhelming expectations nationally, but they have the ability to sneak up on some teams in 2012.

Nfl 2012

Offense

The Longhorns had a poor offensive showing in 2011. They averaged just 28.3 points and 393 total yards per game last year. Their ground game (203 yards per game) was good, but they struggled on the passing attack (only 190 yards/game). Texas started three quarterbacks last year and they need to find that one guy who gives them the consistency they need.

Sophomore David Ash will get the first crack at quarterback despite being less productive than junior Case McCoy last year. Ash threw for 1,068 yards on 56.6 percent completions with four touchdowns and eight interceptions, while McCoy threw for 1,045 yards on 61.4 percent completions with seven touchdowns and four picks. McCoy committed five turnovers in their season-finale last year against Baylor, which prompted Ash to get all of the snaps in their 21-10 victory over California in the Holiday Bowl.

Texaswill have two of its top rushers returning in sophomores Malcolm Brown (742 yards, 4.3/carry, five touchdowns) and Joe Bergeron (463 yards, 6.4/carry, five touchdowns). They will also add the top freshman running back recruit in the country in Johnathan Gray. They might still be young, but this team has the potential to have one of the nation's top backfields.

Questionable quarterback play is what forced the receivers to almost be nonexistent last year, but this unit should be much-improved as their top three receivers all return. Junior Mike Davis (45 receptions, 609 yards, one touchdown), sophomore Jaxon Shipley (44, 607, three touchdowns) and senior Marquise Goodwin (33, 421, two touchdowns) are all expected to make major contributions in 2012. Senior Barrett Mathews will start at the tight end position, but he doesn't offer much in the passing game as he is known more for his blocking than pass-catching ability.

The offensive line should become a team strength in 2012 as four starters will return who have 63 career starts together. Mack Brown claims that the improvement in this unit was like "night and day" in the spring compared to 2011. The one lost starter will be replaced by talented junior college transfer Donald Hawkins at left tackle.

Defense

Texashad arguably one of the best defenses in the country last year. This unit gave up just 22.2 points and 306 total yards per game, despite playing in a conference where many of the most potent offenses in the country played. They do lose three of their top four tacklers from that unit, but return six starters, which should help them pick up right where they left off in 2011.

The Longhorns will feature one of the best defensive end tandems in the country in senior Alex Okafor (58 tackles, 7 sacks, 7 tackles for loss) and junior Jackson Jeffcoat (71 tackles, 8 sacks, 13 tackles for loss). Okafor earned first-team All American honors last year, but in a shocking twist, opted to stay and turned down a shot at the NFL. With a very talented defensive tackle rotation in juniors Brandon Moore and Ashton Dorsey, as well as sophomore Desmond Jackson, this looks to be one of the best defensive fronts in all of college football.

The linebacking corps suffers the biggest blow, as the Longhorns lose their top two tacklers. Emmanuel Acho (131 tackles) was drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns, while Keenan Robinson (106 tackles) was taken in the fourth round by the Washington Redskins. Junior Jordan Hicks (65 tackles) is their only returning starter at linebacker and becomes the leader of this unit. They are loaded with very highly touted recruits, but inexperience might be a recurring issue.

10 very highly touted players will compete for playing time in the secondary heading into 2012. The Longhorns return three starters in the defensive backfield in star FS Kenny Vaccaro (82 tackles, 10 passes defended), sophomore CB Quandre Diggs (51 tackles, 15 pass break-ups, four INT) and junior CB Carrington Byndom (58 tackles, 15 pass break-ups, two INT). Paired up with a very strong defensive line, we could see one of the better pass defenses in the country.

Big 12 Prediction - 2nd Place

Texaswill almost definitely boast one of the best defenses in the country in 2012, but their improvement on the offensive end will be at test of how far they can go. With nine starters back on offense, they will obviously be more productive than they were a year ago. Their rushing attack will once again be very good and they will definitely see some improvement on their quarterback play. Ash and McCoy gained valuable experience last year, and now it's time for one of them to step up and lead this team. They also have a manageable road schedule with Oklahoma State, Kansas, Texas Tech and Kansas State.

2012 Texas Longhorns Football Predictions

Jack Jones posts his football picks at Betfirms.com as well as FootballFreePicks.com.