It’s 2019 NFL mock draft update time! With the Super Bowl now over, the full draft order is now set. Team needs were sometimes, but often not taken into account, as it’s still early for a 2019 mock draft in the purest sense.
Follow paulmbanksPat Fitzgerald Emphatically Shoots Down Green Bay Packers Rumors
December 31, 2018 By Leave a Comment
So much for the Pat Fitzgerald to the Green Bay Packers rumors. In celebrating a record setting come-from-behind Holiday Bowl victory over the #17 Utah Utes, the Northwestern head coach made an emphatic statement.
It was reported by multiple outlets on Sunday that Packers CEO Mark Murphy, who elevated Fitzgerald to head coach in 2006 when he was NU athletic director, was interested in interviewing Fitzgerald for the open Packers head coaching position.
Follow paulmbanksGreen Bay Packers Want to Interview Pat Fitzgerald for Open Coaching Position
December 31, 2018 By Leave a Comment
According to multiple reports, Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald is on the list of candidates to potentially fill the Green Bay Packers head coaching vacancy. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the ball is in Fitzgerald’s court right now too. The Packers have contacted Fitz about scheduling an interview, but the NU mentor is currently focused on preparing his team to take on #17 Utah in the Holiday Bowl tomorrow (full game preview and prediction at this link).
We won’t know until after the bowl game whether or not Fitz will hear their Packers out on their offer, but he “has shut down countless interview requests from the NFL in the past,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Follow paulmbanksAaron Rodgers’ return could be key as Green Bay face Minnesota
September 4, 2018 By Leave a Comment
By Joseph Plunkett
The Green Bay Packers will host the Minnesota Vikings on September 16 aiming to prove that they are genuine contenders for an NFL play-off berth this season.
Follow paulmbanksNFL Handicapping 101 – Playing NFL Trends
September 2, 2018 By Leave a Comment
By Joe Connolly
Yes, NFL rosters can change from one year to the next. Injuries and trades can change a roster from one week to the next. Still, there’s value in respecting historical betting trends when betting on NFL games. It’s not really clear why one team always seems to struggle against one specific rival or opponent. As a sports handicapper, you are always looking for an advantage. Sometimes, the advantage could come from respecting a betting trend even in the face of all logic.
Follow paulmbanksNew Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Increases Chances of a London Super Bowl
August 13, 2018 By Leave a Comment
It couldn’t happen until 2025 at the earliest, but the chances of the NFL potentially staging a Super Bowl in London someday increase with the coming advent of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The 62,062 capacity venue at White Hart Lane will open Sept 15, about a month or so after its target date, but its design includes facilities that directly support American football, in addition to English football (soccer).
According to Sports Illustrated, the National Football League put $13.3 million toward its approximate £350-£400 ($600) million construction costs. From the locker rooms to the retractable field (among the many other new bells and whistles), Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was constructed to support both English Premier League and National Football League action, even on the same day, according to their stated plans.
Follow paulmbanksNFL Goes Full On Meathead, Panders to Right Wing Troglodytes
May 24, 2018 By 1 Comment
Take care NFL- it’s been nice knowing you! This is certainly not the National Football League that us older millenials/younger Gen Xers used to know and love. While it’s been painfully obvious for some time that the NBA peaked long ago with its 1990s Golden Age, yesterday we learned that the NFL is over the hill too.
At least in this instance the league isn’t micro-managing itself into irrelevance by pandering to some corporatism middle ground. This time they shot themselves in the foot by taking a side- the wrong one. The ruling to penalize those who protest the national anthem is so stupid and maladaptive on so many levels, it’s hard to know where to even begin in vivisecting this. [Read more…]
Follow paulmbanks2018 NFL Mock Draft 4-26-18 FINAL EDITION
April 25, 2018 By 23 Comments
Welcome to the 2018 NFL mock draft. The big night, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas is now upon us. What will happen at Jerry’s World/The DeathStar? Our best projections follow below.
With only 32 picks to go around, yes, there will be a guy or two that you feel very strongly should be a first rounder, but got left out. Sorry, but it’s inevitable. Also, many of you will strongly disagree with the projections here, and with the write-ups, but try to be respectful about it in the comments section.
Follow paulmbanksListing 70 of the Worst NFL Draft Cliches, Buzzwords, and Assorted Word Salad
April 25, 2018 By Leave a Comment
By this week, all the soundbites for every NFL draft prospect now run together into an indecipherable word salad. Actually, it all becomes gobbedly-gook well before this week, due to the over-usage of cliches. All the Draftniks do it:
Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, Mike Mayock, and Jon Gruden most of all. Gruden speaks with a much higher buzz word/NFL draft catch-phrase per sentence percentage than anyone. If I sat down and watched Gruden’s “QB Camp” show again, this list would be four times as long.
Follow paulmbanksNotre Dame NFL Draft Mocksourcing: Nelson, McGlinchey, St. Brown
April 17, 2018 By Leave a Comment
In 2017, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly finally went against his pass happy ways and committed to the run game. Why? Because he had two future NFL studs on the left side of his offensive line, and he set up not just the rushing attack, but the offense itself to play to the strengths of the Fighting Irish.
Tackle Mike McGlinchey and Guard Quenton Nelson paved the way for what was certainly a top ten, maybe top five run game in the nation. In just a week from tomorrow night, we’ll find out where both of these big boys will be balling professionally. With Nelson, there seems to be a very positive consensus- he won’t last beyond the top ten, and looks very likely to be selected top five.
Follow paulmbanks2018 NFL Draft Attendees: Where All 22 Could Get Selected
April 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Only 22 players were invited to the 2018 NFL Draft, and for those that made the cut, the future looks very bright indeed. We’ve since updated our 2018 NFL Mock Draft, in the wake of the attendees list being announced.
Getting named to this short list is about as good as it gets in terms of NFL Draft stock, as it’s the highest indicator possible of first round potential. It also provides a glimpse into who has the best odds of being selected first overall. Like an online casino, trying to project who gets selected where, is fun and engaging, because it’s so unpredictable.
In fact, sports books do take bets on which players will be drafted where.
Follow paulmbanksForecasting the NFL Pro Bowl as Patriots, Eagles Players Replaced
January 22, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Now that we know for certain that it will be the New England Patriots versus the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII, the Pro Bowl rosters have also been updated. All the members of the Eagles and Patriots who were honored with a Pro Bowl selection must now withdraw from the exhibition game, as they have a much more important business trip to Minnesota to prepare for.
The original Pro Bowl rosters were announced on December 20, but since then we’ve learned that several players won’t be able to participate. Now that we’re in the home stretch, and we know who’s in and who’s out, it’s time to preview and handicap the NFL All-Star game which commences at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida this Sunday 1/28 at 3PM eastern.
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