Quick Hits

Well, as the Monday night football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings is beginning to wind down, so has a very entertaining, and somewhat thought-provoking week five of the NFL. As I look at my picks that I made just two days ago on Saturday, it is clear that I had an off week. For all those who took my advice and bet on games, I apologize, but still, shame on you for taking the advice of a 20 year-old college student. Here are five thoughts for week 5.

1. While they might not be pretty to watch, Tennessee may the best all around team in the NFL.
They don't put up points on offense, they are the least flashy team in the NFL, and they have a 35+ year-old journeyman quarterback as their quarterback, as their manic-depressant 25 year old quarterback contimplates suicide as he sits on the bench. Yet, they are 5-0, they have enough weapons on offense to score on offense, and their aged defense led by Keith Bullick still swarms around the ball. If the Colts don't start playing more consistent (or at least better in the first 3 quarters) real soon, the Titans could have the AFC South wrapped up by the beggining of December.

2. Clinton Portis is re-establishing himself as a top-tier runningback
Portis was a stud at the U (University of Miami), was a stud in Denver, and when he got traded for Champ Bailey, the sky was the limit for the 3rd year runningback. Ever since then (2004), Portis has flown under the radar, as injuries and a jacked-up attitude has overshadowed his talents. Now, as a 7-year veteran, maybe it was maturity, maybe it was a sense of urgency and a better offensive line, but man Portis looks good throughout the first 5 games of this season. He tore up New Orleans for 2 TD's in the fourth quarter to carry the Skins' to a victory, torched Dallas's vaunted D-Line to lead the Skins' to an upset in Dallas, and spurned the Eagles #1 ranked run defense for 130+ yards, leading the Skins' to a 4-1 record in the toughest division in football. If Jason Campbell keeps on improving like a 3rd year quarterback should, the Redskins and the Giants will be two favorites in the NFC to reach the superbowl come playoff time.

3. Plaxico Burress is an idiot, and quite frankly, his team doesn't need him
On Monday, when Plax came back from his one week suspension, there was no being contrite and apologetic. Plax did not admit any wrongdoing, didn't mention the affect his suspension had on his teamates, and went on with practice. Selfish, Selfish, Selfish. His teammates recongnize this, and responded in a 44-6 beating over the Seahawks. Granted, the Seahawks look disgracful, but Sinorice Moss, Steve Smith, and Amani Toomer dropped one ball this week, and seemed to be working quite peacefully with Eli Manning. Peacefully, being the key word, is the reason that Plax won't be excepted in the Giants lockeroom, unless he changes his attitude.

4. The 2008 Season is the coming out Party for Reggie Bush
Since I started writing this post (17 minutes ago), Reggie Bush has returned two punts for Touchdown's in the Monday night game. All that stuff about him not being an every-down back, and a typical runningback is absolutely true. He can't run between the tackles well, he doesn't run north-south enough, and gets stopped too many times behind the line of scrimmage. But man, is this kid electrifying or what! Some scouts said that his speed and agility wouldn't be as much of a factor in the NFL, but they were flat-out wrong. Bush already had 3 TD's on punt-returns through 5 games this year, and is also leading the Pass-happy Saints offense in receptions. Yes, he's still a work in progess, and he may not be a great traditional running back, but he is a rare player in the NFL today, and a valuble one at that. Look for Bush to have 12+ TD's this year, and be among a few players mentioned for NFC Offensive Player of the year by seasons end.

5. Being a Houston Texans fan is almost..note i said ALMOST..as tough as being a Philadelphia Eagles fan
Being a Philadelphia Eagles fan is one of the toughest jobs in this world. If losing 3 NFC Championships and 1 Super Bowl wasn't bad enough, now we have to watch team with two of the most talented players in the NFL on both sides of the ball (Brian Westbrook and Asante Samuel) go 2-3 in their first 5 games, falling to the cellar of the NFC East. Yes, I did just vent my frustrations, but it was just to show Texans fans reading this blog that I feel your pain. You didn't know that up 27-10, backup QB Sage Rosenfels would turn the ball over twice in a three minute span.The ladder one, a flashback from the movie Any Given Sunday, with Rosenfels (Any Given Sunday's version of Steamin' Willie Beamen) getting jacked up with his body parallel to the ground three feet in the air, fumbling the ball in the process, and letting Colts' LB Gary Brackett return the ball 68 yards for a touchdown. One Reggie Wayne remarkable TD catch and one Sage Rosenfels interception later, the Texans ended up losing 31-27, falling to 0-4 this year. Texans fans, look on the bright side, Philly-product Steve Slaton is filthy good, and your 12 games away from having a battle-royal with the Rams and the Lions for the #1 pick in the 2009 Draft.

That's it for today, the next post will be in a day or two, about the implications of week five, key injuries, and some much-needed venting as the Eagles critical loss to the Skins' this week will finally set in by that point.

Hope you all enjoy.
Go Phillies.