AFC PLAYOFF OUTLOOK

AFC Predicted Playoff Seeding
1.Denver Broncos
-Peyton might be nicked up at the moment, but I don't expect the injury to affect his play too dramatically. Too many weapons at Peyton's disposal for this team to fall short of the one or two seed. Their high powered number one ranked passing attack should be enough to mask their deficiencies on defense.
2.New England Patriots
-Tom Brady and company are coming off a 55 point explosion against Pittsburgh and the offense appears to be clicking at the right time. Amendola had a breakout game last week, Gronk hauled in his first touchdown and Aaron Dobson finally looked like a second round pick. With Shane Vereen back in the fold next week the Pat's will have the luxury of a reliable pass-catching back who can help alleviate the Pat's struggles on third downs. If the Pat's continue to get healthy and if the defense continues to maintain its steady play then it appears the Pat's are poised to capture a first round bye.
3. Indianapolis Colts
-The Colts looked awful at home against the Ram's getting absolutely destroyed. This game is a concern as it comes off the loss of Reggie Wayne and shows the Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde nature of this team. Lose to Miami and St. Louis at home but beat Denver, San Francisco and Seattle. Inconsistency on both sides of the ball is a concern but when this team plays well they can beat anyone.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
- A big time defense and a sneaky 7th ranked passing attack, the Bengals are a team that could make some noise come playoff time. AJ Green is a superstar receiver with exceptional body control and Gio Bernard is a nightmare to tackle in the open field. A couple tough overtime losses have kept this team from being in contention for a first round bye.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
- Only reason this team is a 5 seed is because they share a division with Denver. A dominant defense with a ferocious defensive front led by Tamba Hali and Justin Houston who have combined for 20 sacks this season. The offense is effective but not the true strength of this team. Alex Smith is an effective game manager but isn't a game changer at the quarterback position. Teams better keep tabs on Jamal Charles though who is 5th in the NFL in rushing. Despite being 9-0 the Chiefs have played a relatively weak schedule and a much tougher back half of the schedule could result in four losses.
6. Baltimore Ravens
- Despite being just 4-5 right now the Ravens are my pick to be the 6th playoff team. Their defense is legit and has only allowed more than 20 points once in the last four games. If the offense, especially their league worst rushing attack, can find a away to put some points on the board then I believe the super bowl champs will find a way back to the playoffs.

Game Predictions

 AFC Wild Card Weekend 
Baltimore Ravens Over Indianapolis Colts- 17-16
Cincinnati Bengals Over Kansas City Chiefs- 21-17

AFC Divisional Round
New England Patriots Over Cincinnati Bengals- 30-20
Denver Broncos Over Baltimore Ravens- 42-17

AFC Championship
New England Patriots Over Denver Broncos- 38-35

Red Sox Offseason 2013-2014

Though it's only been a few weeks, and Mike Napoli is probably still parading around shirtless somewhere, Major League Baseball Free Agency began already (November 5th to be exact). Nobody has yet to sign, as the MLB is known for having a slow start to free agency that usually picks up in early December. For my Predictions, I will start by Red Sox players who are now free agents, followed by potential signees and then possible trade targets to wrap it up.

Red Sox Free Agents: Jacoby Ellsbury, Stephen Drew, Mike Napoli, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Joel Hanrahan.

Let's Start with the biggest name:

1. Jacoby Ellsbury:

In a previous blog, I mentioned that Jacoby is the tone setter for the Boston Red Sox. By that, I meant that he literally determines how the game goes. One of the best leadoff hitters in baseball, Jacoby is one of few who can get on first, steal second, and score on a base hit. He scored a very solid 92 runs this year, which happened to lead the Red Sox. Jacoby Ellsbury is the total package when it comes to evaluating a baseball player. He can run, he can hit and he can play center field with ease. Personally, I believe this is the one person the Red Sox CANNOT let walk. But based on reports, it looks like Ellsbury's time here is done. If that is true, I see him in one of three spots. First, The Seattle Mariners. This was his hometown team growing up (he is from Oregon), and it makes the most sense. Seattle has lost out on big free agents in the past and shouldn't let Jacoby slide by either. Two sleeper teams could be the Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees. The Nationals have a good young team built around Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper, and adding Ellsbury could put them above and beyond. The Yankees, always looking to make a splash, makes sense because Curtis Granderson could easily walk, opening up center field in the Bronx. When it's all said and done, I sadly see Jacoby heading out west, the AL West, and accepting a deal with his hometown squad. As far as money goes, I see him raking in about 130 million dollars for 6 years.

2. Stephen Drew-

A lot of people hated on Stephen Drew because of his bat in the postseason. Everybody overlooked his defense skills and jumped right to his Batting Average. While it was awful, Drew batted .256 in the regular season while driving in 67 runs. Not bad for a guy known for his defense, not bad at all. While Drew is set to decline his 14.1 million qualifying offer, that doesn't quite close the door on his return to the Sox. Drew is thought to be seeking a 3-4 year deal, somewhere in the range of 12-14 per year. I believe that is excessive for him, but the market calls for what the market calls for. It would be a mistake to let Drew walk without even offering a multiyear deal, because Bogaerts at short and Middlebrooks at third will not return you to the World Series. If I were the Sox, I would lock up Drew for 3 years and make Xander a third basemen. When Drew's contract is up, Bogaerts is 25 at the oldest and can make the switch back to short. (Assuming Garin Cecchini keeps flying up the Red Sox farm system at 3rd base). Along with the Red Sox, I can see Drew going many places, especially St. Louis. As we saw in October they are an outstanding young baseball team with a dire need for a shortstop. Drew could and very well may be that guy. One sleeper team could be the Reds, but I think that is a long shot. When free agency heats up, I see Stephen Drew staying in Boston for 3 years and 39 million dollars. 

3. Mike Napoli: 

Last winter, when the Sox inked Mike Napoli to a deal, I was very excited. I had seen what he had done in Anaheim and in Texas (mostly when he was hitting nukes against us), so i expected the same here. And that's where my love for Mike Napoli ended. Sure, he hit 23 home runs and drove in 92 runs which is fine and dandy, but unless your a hard ass with stats like I am, you may have missed some things. First of all, the number of times Mike Napoli struck out this year is astonishing. The guy went down by way of a "K" 187 times. Pedroia's strikeout number? 75. You can not play major league baseball and get away with that many strikeouts. But somehow Napoli does. Hell, Salty can't hit a fastball and he only struck out 139 times, which still sucks but you get the point. It doesn't matter what I think though, it matters what GM Ben Cherington and his baseball operations guys think. And their view is much different than mine. They like Mike Napoli and hope to bring him back. Along with the 14.1 million dollar qualifying offer, which he will deny, the sox are reported to have offered Napoli multiple years. While he will test the market, don't be surprised to see him back in a Red Sox uniform for the next couple of years. There is a slight chance he returns to Texas, but my prediction is Mike Napoli comes back to the Red Sox for 3 years and at least 30 million dollars.

(Beard or no Beard?)

4. The "Salty" Dog:

Don't get me wrong, Jarrod Saltalamacchia seems like a good guy off the field, but on the field he looks like a lost puppy. Statistically, Salty had his best season, but most of the time it is comical to watch him bat. It even became a running joke during that playoffs between me and Justin. We would guess how many pitches it would take for Salty to strike out. (Spoiler alert: it's usually no more than 3). I don't want to get into his defense, so I will leave it at this: There are far better catchers out there for the Red Sox to get. (Mostly through trades because Salty is sadly the 2nd best Catcher on the market). The Sox didn't extend a qualifying offer to Salty, which made him a free agent right away. Of course we can't rule out a return to Boston, but I see Salty fitting in with the White Sox or the Phillies. I would pay him about 5 million max based on the market, but he could probably grab up to 10 million per year. I believe Salty ends up with the White Sox on a 4 year deal worth about 26 million dollars. 

(Can't argue that he has some sweet salad under that hat.)

5. Joel Hanrahan: 

If you are asking yourself "who?" then you probably aren't alone here. Back in the winter offseason the Sox were involved in a 6 player deal that sent the 31 year old closer to Beantown. He unfortunately had to be shutdown in May. Whether he comes back or not depends on price. Obviously if he comes back it would have to be on a one year deal and for not a lot of money. I can see Hanrahan going to a boat load of teams, but if he comes back I think it'll be in the 5-8 million range.

POTENTIAL FREE AGENT SIGNINGS:

Brian McCann: This would be a costly one for the Red Sox, maybe even 100 million, but I think this would be a fantastic signing. McCann has been the man behind the plate for the Atlanta Braves for several seasons, making many All-Star appearances. He is only 29 (30 in February), but he is a solid defensive catcher and can swing the bat fairly well. Two big reasons why he may end up here: 1. He is a good friend of former Brave and current Sox catcher David Ross. 2. To keep him out of New York. The Yankees need a long term catcher and McCann is their guy. It would be nice to see McCann in Red Sox instead of Pinstripes.

Carlos Beltran: Because it has been in the news, I felt the need to address this guy. A 36 year old outfielder who is in decline and can barely play the field, and the sox are "very interested". The Sox should not act on this. They should not sign Carlos Beltran. Signing him would move an aging Victorino to center, it would cut into Jonny Gomes playing time, and lastly it may move Daniel Nava to first base which isn't terrible but not preferred. Hopefully this isn't the big splash the Sox make.

Tim Hudson: A veteran right hander, Tim Hudson is a free agent after a long and successful career in Atlanta. Ross could also be big in bringing Hudson in, but the problem is the Sox already have 6 starters, when Major League teams only go with 5. If they really want the 38 year old, they will have to move a starter which would most likely be Peavy or Dempster (but don't rule out Lackey or Buchholz). I see this as a long shot and probably something not to get your hopes up about.

Carlos Ruiz: Another catcher, 34 year old Ruiz would be a decent option for the Sox. He could split with Ross and have Ryan Lavarnway catch every now and then. This will only happen if the sox believe one of their 3 minor league guys are close to making it to the Big Show. (Those 3 being Vazquez, Snyder and Swihart). 

Bullpen: By way of Free Agency, I could see the Sox picking up any of the following 3: Jesse Crain, Joaquin Benoit or Edward Mujica. Those are some names to keep an eye on. 

TRADE TARGETS: 

Giancarlo Stanton: Very Unlikely, but if Ellsbury is going to walk, why not inquire about Stanton? The only downside is they would probably have to include Xander Bogaerts.

David Price: Another unlikely but talked about trade is David Price. I can't see the Rays trading their stud pitcher within the division, and the Sox would have to give up a lot to get him.

Ryan Hanigan: An Andover native, Hanigan brings personality but not necessarily the statistics. Could be a minor move to get a backup catcher. 

Hopefully the Sox make the right choices and have another great season!

See you at Spring Training Dr. Creepy!

Drunkest Red Sox Player After Game 6

Has to be John Lackey, Guy is a booze bag. Mike Carp is a close second though. Sully put it best "I think Carp is in the corner with throw up on him".

PS- Breslow is definitely drinking water

Better Game Tyer???

THIS

or

THIS

12 and 34 Legendary

Does it get any better than this for Boston sports fans. First you see a vintage Tom Brady 4th quarter comeback and then you see a David Ortiz grand slam to tie a game that seemed almost hopeless innings earlier. The roller coaster of emotion today has been ridiculous and I'm sad it's over. All looked lost in the Patriots game when Brady threw an ugly interception with a couple minutes left in the 4th quarter. Then the defense stepped up big time and gave TB12 another shot at leading the Pat's to victory. Brady didn't waste this opportunity, and systematically picked apart the Saint's secondary leading to a game winning touchdown toss to Kenbrell Thompkin's with just 5 seconds left. Speechless. Then a few hours later chances of victory appeared slim during the second game of the Red Sox ALCS series with the Tiger's. Scherzer threw an absolute gem through 7 and things looked grim. Then Middlebrook's doubled, Jacoby walked and Pedroia singled. This set up another legend, David Ortiz, with a chance to tie the game with one swing of the Bat. Ortiz goes yard off the first pitch, the Sox end up winning and once again the sports world was left in awe. Two legends on the same day led their teams to victory with vintage performances that mirrored those of years past. It simply doesn't get better than that. 

Blood Sweat and Beards: Breaking Down the ALCS

Tonight the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers will take the field to kick off the 2013 American League Championship Series. It will be a best of seven series, with the first two being at America's Most beloved ballpark. (Fenway, if you didn't know that). Before I make a prediction, lets take a look at each area and what team has the advantage on paper.

Pitching: For starting pitching, the Tigers are tough to beat. If you are a casual baseball fan, you have heard the name Justin Verlander. He unanimously won the 2011 Cy Young, and also took home the AL MVP that year as well. Those are just two of the numerous awards he has collected in his career. The guy is a stud. He even dated that girl Kate Upton.

(She's only half-decent looking, maybe a 6/10 on a good day).

Nonetheless, back to baseball. The Tigers also have Max Scherzer, who emerged this year and had an outstanding win-loss record of 21-3. Those two alone can carry you to the World Series, but when you throw in Anibal Sanchez, who had the best ERA in the American league this year, this team looks like a lock, right? Wrong. Yes the Tigers have great pitching, but if there is one team that can match them it is Boston. Jon Lester has beaten them twice this season alone (Once against previously mentioned Max Scherzer). Clay Buchholz, who was 12-1 himself, has proven before that he can rise to the challenge and pitch a great game. A key pitcher in this series is going to be Jake Peavy. Not only will he start Game 4, but John Farrell also said he would be available out of the bullpen in Game 1. Peavy proved in Tampa that he can win playoff games, but it will be interesting to see how he copes with a real playoff atmosphere in Detroit. In the end though, I give the advantage to Detroit but would not be surprised if the Sox pitching staff outduels them in this series. 

For Offense, I choose Boston and I'll tell you why. Detroit has star power all over their lineup, with the exception of the bottom three hitters. Guys like Prince Fielder (.278, 25 Homers) and Miguel Cabrera (.348, 44 big fly's) don't come around too often. That's just the beginning. They also have Victor Martinez, smooth as silk Torii Hunter, and Jhonny Peralta, the man suspended for PED's early this season. They have tons of talent, but the Red Sox have more of a "team" feel. Runs for this team can come from anywhere, whether it's a nuke from Big Papi or a passed ball, this team finds a way. That is why i believe they can find a way against Verlander and Scherzer. Will they? That remains to be seen.

Players to Watch: 

Jacoby Ellsbury: The tone setter for this Red Sox offense, Ellsbury will be one of the deciding factors in this series. He hit .500 against the Rays, with 4 stolen bases and 7 runs scored. Since this series will most likely go 5-7 games, if Jacoby can put up around the same numbers or even a little bit worse, the Red Sox go to the World Series. Also, who wouldn't want free tacos again like in 2007?

Miguel Cabrera: When healthy, this guy mashes baseballs. However, a lingering groin injury may keep his stats at bay this series. When he is on, he wins the Triple Crown, but when he is off, he is just another run of the mill ballplayer. If Miguel Cabrera shows up in this series, I think the Tigers take it. If not, the Sox will be back at the Dance.

(Who wears Crowns anymore??)

Xander Bogaerts: I know I know, he doesn't even start, but Xander has a chance to be HUGE in this series. With Will Middlebrooks struggling to hit above his weight, look for Xander to pinch hit or even get a start here or there. Xander drew two key walks in the sox clinching win against the Rays. With Will struggling, look for the future star to have a major impact, much like Jacoby did in the 07 postseason. 

(Get to know this beautiful Aruban mug)

Prediction: After going through stats and matchups and what not, I have finally come to a conclusion. I went back and forth all week, mostly leaning towards the Tigers in 7. But I am a homer and I've been riding this team for 167 games, so why stop now? I take the Red Sox in 6 games, and they better win in 6 because nobody wants Game 7 to depend on this guy.

HEY ROB WHERE YOU AT?

 The Pat's were one for eleven on third downs today. Who could have helped out there? I'm looking at you Rob. Our tight end production against the Bengals was one catch by Hooman for eleven yards. The tight end position was the focal point of our passing game last year and now it is nowhere to be found. In week one, He wasn't ready. In weeks two and three he was making strides but was not quite ready for game action. By the time week four rolled around I was fully expecting Gronk to play. He was full speed in practice and was looking close to form. Then he says his "family" thinks he should wait before coming back and he sits out against Atlanta. This bothered me but it made me optimistic for a week five return against Cincinnati. We all know what happens next. Gronk doesn't make the trip and the Pat's offense looks abysmal (especially on third downs), a spot where Gronk could have offered a security blanket for Brady. A fresh off an injury Amendola and a pair of inconsistent rookies are not what the doctor ordered when it comes to success on third downs. My patience with Gronk has expired. His absence didn't hurt us last week but it sure as hell did this week. We need his production. At least Amendola gutted it out this week despite hurting his groin in week one. Gronk is absolutely healthier than Amendola yet he is still holding out. Next week New Orleans is coming to town along with the leagues best tight end Jimmy Graham. Time to suit up and play Rob, after all you only live once.

Play Calling Struggles Galore

Josh McDaniels:

It's first and goal on the half yard line. Everyone in the world knows they are running the ball. Stuffed. You lose a yard. Second and goal play action, Brady drops back under pressure, looking...looking, incomplete. The only man running a route that play? Only a beastly tight end, a man among boys, the great Rob...Wait that was Nate Solder? The left tackle just ran a post on second and goal? To quote the high pitched Jim Mora, "You kidding Me?!". Third and goal, and Brady never has a chance. He gets the ball in the shotgun and has to throw it immediately because the offensive line couldn't stop a nosebleed today. What a wasted series. Sure Aaron Dobson should have just stayed to the outside, and if Amendola knew where he was he would have rolled in for a touchdown. But they didn't and you have to live with first and goal inside the 1. And you can't convert. I have been saying it since he came back from Denver that Josh McDaniel's is an abysmal play caller. This is not the first time the Patriots offense has stalled. Maybe it is more evident this year because of the personnel on offense, but too many drives never get past three damn plays. Too many drives this year have been two pathetic runs, third and long, and Tom throws a screen at the line of scrimmage for no gain. Too many times conceding on a third and long, such as a draw play for two yards. Why not throw for a first? Why not call plays that get you closer to the sticks on first and second down rather than waiting for third? I put this blame on one man. Josh McDaniels.

Every time they show Tom Brady on the sidelines, he is sitting with McDaniel's. The guy who talks to him through his helmet? If you guessed Josh you would be correct. I am well aware that we have rookie receivers and injuries and all that, but that doesn't mean you can't call better plays. A guy like Hooman showed today that he can catch the ball. We have seen flashes of Dobson and Thompkins and what they can do. It's time to literally put the ball in their hands, and get some yards. Tom needs to take command like he used to. I haven't seen him take the time and read the defense as much as he has in the past. Sure, he still does it, calling out the "Mike" linebacker every play, but more often than not I believe he is just listening to McDaniel's and running the play. That should end this week with a painful performance against the Bengals. 

You may think this is just an overreaction to today's 13-6 loss, but it isn't at all. This play calling has been so bad for so long, and it's time for a serious change. 

Sidenote: You can wrestle guys in bars two weeks after surgery but you can't practice for 5 straight weeks and then play in a game that counts? Figure it out.

The Jagr Score Tonight?

I know he failed to score in the playoffs last year. I know he looked old and slow, But god do I love the Jagr. Now he's gone and I miss him dearly. Jagr is playing against Pittsburgh tonight in his debut for the Devils and something tells me that JJ has some magic left in his stick (both sticks if you catch my drift haha Jagr like dirty jokes). Jagr go boom tonight bubba, hat trick for the Jags. However when the Jagr goes hat trick, people don't throw hats on the ice, only the girls throw bras and panties on the ice #Pantytrick #thejagr. Godspeed JJ, even though you failed to make an impact on the ice, you made a huge impact on me and you probably made a huge impact on some of the females in the city of Boston (hahaha Jagr see what you did there). Good luck in Jersey buddy, (Jagr beat the beat up with Pauly D on the Jersey Shore 10000 percent, Jagr also think the Snookie is cute).

Kid Got His Face On An Eminem

What sort of sicko gets his face printed on m&ms? Big Sull apparently thought it would be cute to have himself and his girlfriends likeness plastered on a bag of m&ms for Valentines day. Total serial killer move if you ask me. I mean I know he's a "cereal" killer cuz that kid destroys Captain Crunch, but I'm starting to worry that he's gonna toss me in a well somewhere and tell me to put the lotion on the skin. Faces on m&ms are creepy bottom line.
PS. Sully was definitely the kind of kid who used to eat all the arms and legs off of Teddy Grahams and leave the rest. Absolute creepo move.

Celtics Preview 2013 Anythings Possible Except For A Winning Season

Outlook- The 2013 Boston Celtics are a team very much in the midst of a rebuild. The C's are likely going to be a lottery squad this year and new head coach Brad Stevens will need to deal with something he hasn't had to deal with a whole lot so far in his career as a head coach, losing. Steven's Butler squad made it to two national championships during his tenure and were a Gordon Hayward buzzer beater away from knocking off the Dukies in what would have been an insane upset. The 36 year old Steven's goal for this season shouldn't be hanging a banner it should be developing some of the solid young talent that the C's have on their roster.

Notable Additions- Kelly Olynyk (C), Kris Humphries (PF), Gerald Wallace (SF), Marshon Brooks (SG)

Notable Departures- Kevin Garnett (C), Paul Pierce (SF), Jason Terry (SG)

Players To Watch-

Jeff Green- Jeff "The Green Medicine" as the great Iron Sheik once called him is poised to take on an expanded role in the Celtics rotation this season. Without Pierce, Garnett and Rondo ( at least for the start of the season), Green is going to have to be the main scoring option for the green team. The Celtics will be in desperate need of a guy to help offset the nearly 50 PPG they will be losing with the loss of the 3 aforementioned guys. Green displayed flashes of brilliance last season highlighted by his 43 point explosion against the Heat. Green also averaged 20 points in the C's first round playoff series against the Knicks last April. I see Green having a breakout season out of necessity for the Celtics, averaging an impressive stat line that will look something like this (below).

Projected Line

PPG- 21.5

RPG- 6.5

APG- 2.1

BPG- 1.4

Big Al Gets A Facial

Avery Bradley: AB is a defensive stud, that much is known about the 23 year old ex Texas Longhorn. Without a viable option at point guard for the start of the 2013 season, I expect Bradley to accept the challenge and run the point. His defense won't be questioned as he will put the lock down on just about anybody he's guarding. The question with Bradley will be whether he can distribute the ball effectively enough for the C's to win a few games without the presence of all-star point guard Rajon Rondo. If Bradley's jumper is more consistent and if he proves that he can run the point effectively then he will have a breakout campaign. Bradley will also start the season fully recovered from his shoulder injury which hampered his growth last season. Let's not forget that AB was the number 1 ranked high school basketball player back in 2009, a class that included the likes of John Wall and Demarcus Cousins. If Bradley can live up to that sort of potential then he should post a breakout line that looks something like this (below).

Projected Line

PPG- 13

APG-6.5

SPG-2.5

RPG-3

Get That S*&T out!!

Kelly Olynyk: Finally we have the Canadian born Kelly Olynyk. This 7footer has a nice shooting touch out to the three point line and a bevy of post moves that will make him a difficult matchup. I wasn't excited initially about Danny Ainge's decision to pull the trigger on the Gonzaga product, but after an impressive summer league I'm sold on KO. He isn't the most athletic guy but with his skilled post moves and his solid three point shot, Kelly has the potential to turn into a Kevin Love type player for the C's. In todays NBA you need a stretch 4 who can space the floor and open up drive and kick lanes for the likes of Rondo and Bradley. With Olynyk's ability to knock down the open jumper, I wouldn't be shocked to see him have a big rookie year. Long hair nation is coming to the bean. 

Projected Line

PPG- 11.5

RPG- 7.5

BPG-1.2

APG-2.1

Larry Bird?

Closing Thoughts-

The Celtics have some promising young talent but this team doesn't have the fire power to truly compete for much of anything this season. The C's should focus on talent development this season and should honestly give Rondo the Derrick Rose treatment. The worst case scenario for the C's this season would be to become a fringe lottery team because these teams are essentially stuck in NBA purgatory (just ask the Milwaukee Bucks). These fringe teams are on the lower end of the lottery and miss out on the superstar talent that crappier teams receive. In the NBA if your not a top 4 team in your conference then it is literally best to be as bad as you can be. The Celtics should honestly "tank" and hope that Andrew Wiggins falls into their laps #tank4wiggins. This kid is ridiculous, check out his highlight tape here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJn74ufOx64

The Bear and the Gang 2013-2014 Edition: A quick look at this year's B's with Player's to Watch and Predictions

When the Spoked-B glistens on the TD garden Ice Thursday night, Bruins fans will get their first glimpse at the new and improved Bruins.

Here is a few key additions and losses this season:

OUT: Tyler Seguin, Nathan Horton, Rich Peverley, Anton Khudobin.

-Now, obviously the female portion of fans will miss Seguin, but ladies, the guy was not cutting it. Excessive partying and minimal production wasn't exactly what the Bruins brass were looking for with the number two pick in the draft. Sure he will probably be a 50 goal per year guy, but we want a team that wins Stanley Cups, not a selfish "superstar".

- Nathan Horton was thought to be a crushing loss. Hell, on NESN's 24/7 knockoff "Behind the B" even Peter Chiarelli and Cam Neely were devastated when Horton jumped ship to the great hockey city that is...wait for it....Columbus, Ohio. As much as I want to bash the guy i won't. If you want to leave a Cup contender for a fringe team be my guest, because the Bruins not only replaced you with someone better, but they got a guy who is dying to get his name on Lord Stanley's Cup.

IN: Jarome Iginla, Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, Chad Johnson.

Jarome Iginla is that upgrade on the 1st line right wing. A 36 year old who has been in the league since '96, Iginla is a tough, crafty veteran who is hungry for the one thing he is yet to accomplish: Raising the Cup. Bruins fans will quickly forget that Jarome chose Pittsburgh over Boston last year for a better shot at the Cup. Jarome is the type of player that this fan base absolutely loves. He will fight when needed(and usually win) and he can score when necessary (fans who saw preseason games already know this).

As I mentioned, Jarome Iginla will occupy the 1st line right wing position, so here are the rest of my projected lines and defensive pairs:

         Forwards: Lucic-Krejci-Iginla
                          Marchand-Bergeron-Eriksson
                          Soderberg/Caron-Kelly-Smith
                          Paille-Campbell-Thornton

         Defense:   Chara-Seidenberg
                          Boychuk-Hamilton
                          Mcquaid-Krug (Bartkowski will see plenty of action too).

         Goalies: Tuukka Rask and Chad Johnson

Players to Watch:
1. Tuukka Rask - After posting a solid 2.00 GAA and signing a deal for 8 years and 56 million dollars, all eyes will be on the guy between the pipes. It will be very interesting to see how many games Rask plays given that he doesn't have a formidable backup like he had in Anton Khudobin last season. Nonetheless, it should be exciting to watch how Tuukka follows up his outstanding season.

2. Chris Kelly - Most people would say Chris Kelly had a "down year" last season. 9 points in 34 games? Not exactly a year to remember. Look for Chris Kelly to have a turnaround year. Part of the reason he played so bad is because of his linemates Peverly and Seguin. They gave him no help. But this season he is centering a stronger and more comfortable Carl Soderberg and newcomer Reilly Smith. Look for this line to be very productive.

3. Loui Eriksson - Acquired from Dallas for aformentioned Tyler Seguin, Loui Eriksson is a guy who can put in around 30 goals and 70 total points. Unlike Seguin, Eriksson is a fantastic two-way hockey player. He is great at back-checking and can kill penalties, which is a major improvement over Tyler Seguin.

5 Bold Predictions for this Season:

1. Torey Krug and Matt Bartkowski outplay Dougie Hamilton, leading the young muppet look-alike  to see plenty of action---from the ninth level press box.

2. David Krejci is the star of this season. For some reason, David Krejci is always mentioned in trade talk. Not this season. Krejci gets 47 goals and 33 assists for an 80 point season. Count on it.

3. Chara wins the Norris Trophy. People think Chara is human and that he is physically worn out. Last time I checked Z is still about 7 feet on skates and in freakishly good shape. Barring anything crazy, I see Chara winning the Norris.

4. And Rask wins the Vezina. Two "U's" Two "K's" and usually two points. If I was a betting man I would bet Rask walks away with the honor of best goaltender in 2013-2014.

5. The Bruins win the Cup. They have all the pieces to the puzzle: An outstanding goalie, solid defense and an offense that can produce. I don't see any weak links in this lineup. Barring major injuries, the Boston Bruins will defeat the Los Angeles Kings in 5 games to win Lord Stanley's Cup for the 2nd time in 4 years.

*Sidenote: Claude Julien bears a striking resemblance to my dad.

The Legend Of Kiko Alonso

      Three years ago my buddy Mike Porras told me about an Oregon linebacker that he was family friends with. This linebacker is known as Kiko Alonso and he is taking the NFL by storm. Kiko was drafted in the second round by the Buffalo Bills in the 2013 NFL draft. The pick is paying off big time for the Bills. Kiko is killing it to start the 2013 season tallying 19 tackles, 4 picks and a forced fumble. Only Dick Butkus has ever had 4 picks through 4 games at the Linebacker position, not exactly bad company.
     It wasn't always peaches and butterflies for Kiko as he had some off the field problems back in Eugene that made some teams question his character. I guess accidentally breaking into someones apartment and passing out on their couch in a drunken haze is something that GM's frown upon. I say give the kid a break. Breaking into houses and falling asleep is standard operating procedure at most college campuses, its what we college kids do. We drink, we get sleepy and we find a couch to crash on. Kiko simply took some cuervo to the grill, picked the wrong apartment, and passed out on their couch, I don't see what the big deal is here.
    Kiko is also a natural when it comes to interviews. When asked where the name Kiko came from he gave a simple yet insightful answer, "Idk it's the name my parents gave me". Kiko also crushed his post game interview after the Ducks rose bowl victory against Wisconsin a couple years back. Check that video out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWSukoTEZCU, The Kiko part starts at the 5:50 mark. Also check out a snippet of his ESPN interview here http://bustedcoverage.com/2013/09/30/kiko-alonso-stoned/.
   Kiko is my newest NFL man crush. Im pretty torn up that the Pats didn't grab this guy. I can now only dream of what a Kiko Alonso and Gronk combination would be like. Strongman competitions in the locker room, pre-game wrestling matches the possibilities are literally endless. Kiko must be Gronk's long lost younger brother. I'd pay money to see these guys take the SAT. I'm not convinced their combined score would reach 1400. Kiko might not be the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree but he is one of the NFL's brightest young defensive stars.

Renaissance Man?

Who Are These Guys???

      Justin Healy aka "Rusty" and Matt Sullivan aka "Da Bulldog" are a couple of guys who love the sports. These 2 jamokes first met each other on the tee ball diamond over 13 years ago and now are roommates at the University of New Hampshire. In order to give you guys a good idea of what were all about, I decided to throw together a history of me and the bulldog expressed through pictures.

 Heres a pic of me and Matt all the way back in 5th grade taking in a paddleboat ride on the waters of Norwood lake. Don't let that beautiful brown water fool you, it is definitely not safe to swim in.
     

    Heres a pic a couple years later of some dangerous dudes getting ready to do work at the 7th grade formal. Note the untucked shirt and the pink tie, needless to say my hands spent their fair share of time around some hips that night. Matt on the other hand looks like he's gonna fix someones computer or something. Geek squad look if I've ever seen one.

 

Flash forward to our high school days and were looking sophisticated as hell. Don't hate us cuz were cultured.

                   Here we are at Junior Cotillion looking fly. We went with the same girl.

And finally here we are at graduation. Neither of us have pants on.