Kings Could Get A Steal In Derrick Williams

Most of us haven't heard the name Derrick Williams since draft night, when he was taken 2nd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Most of us haven't sen him play meaningful basketball since even before that, when he was shredding Duke in the NCAA tournament while playing for Sean Miller at Arizona. With that said most people are quick to label him a bust and a lost cause but it seems the Sacramento Kings see something different. Last night it was being widely reported that the Kings had agreed to a trade with the Timberwolves for Derrick Williams in exchange for Luc Mbah a Moute. With Williams receiving a fresh start in a new city, with a system that will fit him better and a cast of players he can mesh well with, the Kings got themselves quite a steal.

Let's all take a step back and remember Williams is only 22 years old and still has plenty of time to develop in this league. He may not be a star or even live up to the hype of being the second overall pick, but come on would you rather have Mbah a Moute? Have you ever even heard that name before I just typed it? That,s what I thought. If Williams gets a chance in Sactown to play alongside Boogie Cousins and be the stretch four/three he is built to be then he can be a hell of a bargain for the Kings and could prove many of us in the basketball world wrong. Not only will he get to play with a down low center like Cousins, he will also have veterans Chuck Hayes and Patrick Patterson in Sacramento to mentor him. With all those helping hands and a solid role for him to play on the court, we could see the Derrick Williams we saw at Arizona and the one we expected to see his rookie season in Minnesota.

Williams will get to play his game, the way he likes to play and will get to return to his spot on the floor where he dominated not that long ago. Minnesota can enjoy the Mbah a Moute era, but they just gave the Kings a hell of a steal.

Who Will Be The Number One Pick?

There will be much debate this college basketball season over the three heralded freshmen Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle and Jabari Parker. Ask any NBA analyst or scout and they'll tell you one of them will be going number one overall in April. Some may say Marcus Smart is making a push early on to be included in that group, but lets be honest. That ain't happening. One of the freshman phenoms will be given the honor of hearing his name called first, and that first name read will be......Julius Randle.

All the hype this summer came in on Wiggins like he was LeBron. Well, he's not. Not even close. No one on the planet is close to LBJ and while that may be an unfair way to criticize Wiggins, he also looks like the third best of the freshman, something that not a lot of people expected to see. He stole headlines from Jabari once he reclassified and everyone got a look at his athleticism. While that has been on full display so far at Kansas, nothing much else has been. Wiggins looks too small to play the four spot and not a good enough ball handler to play the three. He looks small by college standards much less NBA standards and his shot early on has been less than impressive. Couple that with the fact that Bill Self has never done well developing one and done players and Wiggins will find himself being picked 3rd in the draft, and don't let the hype tell you any different.

Now about that guy who Wiggins stole all the headlines from, Jabari Parker. The mormon sensation has lived up to and exceeded his hype early on in Coach K's system and while he may have benefited from added hype given to Wiggins, he has blown people away. Comparisons have been drawn to Melo and rightly so and Parker can shoot from anywhere on the floor with confidence and has underrated athleticism for such a tall guy at 6'9''. The Melo comparison doesn't stop there unfortunately, one reason the comp works so well is that like Melo, Parker has been lackluster on the defensive end of the floor. You see Parker catch a lob and while you're still watching the replay, he's giving up a drive and an offensive board on the other end of the floor.  He has time to improve that facet of his game he will have to in order to be the number one pick. Like Wiggins, there is also some debate over whether he should play the small or power forward position at the next level. Parker very well could be the top pick, but if he has a few off nights against good opponents, or starts chucking up bad shots the media will jump all over him and scouts will be more than aware of it.

So who does that leave, you know it, Julius Randle. I can hear it now, as Adam Silver announces his name and he walks to the stage with that big Julius smile on his face. While all three of these players could be a worthy number one pick, only one has the size, strength, and total game to be absolutely NBA ready. Julius Randle is a more athletic Chris Webber, and as a Chris Webber fan I don't give that compliment out lightly. Randle has the size and brute strength that not many NBA stars posses and HE'S ONLY 19. Yeah. That's ridiculous. Not only does Randle have a hell of a post game already, he has the coach who will develop him more in his one year than any other coach in the country could in John Calipari. Calipari has shown he knows how to prepare his players for the next level in one year. Just ask Derrick Rose, John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, and Anthony Davis. Cal is working with Randle on his game away from the basket and that will make him just about unguardable. Randle already has a smooth mid-range jumper and can hit the three when it's open if he has consistently take big men off the dribble AND beat them up down low, he will be unstoppable in college as well as against most players in the NBA. Bow down basketball world, Julius Randle is your next big star, and your number one pick.

Jaylen Johnson is a Card!

Big news for Rick Pitino this morning as ESPN 100 Power Forward Jaylen Johnson commits to the Louisville Basketball program. This really isn't a shocker as Louisville has been rumored the favorite for the past month or so for Johnson's services. The Kid is only sixteen so there is still room for him to improve and mature. This now gives Pitino and his staff three verbal commitments for the class of 2014 all being in the ESPN 100. This has the potential to be Pitino's best class here while at Louisville. He is still in on one of the best players in the country Trey Lyles and according to many experts it is down to Louisville and Kentucky. There is no doubt that Pitino is using the momentum from last years National Championship to keep the ball rolling here at Louisville. With Louisville heading into the ACC the 2014-2015 athletic year, we will need the best players we can get. If Pitino keeps recruiting like this there is no doubt we will continue to have Years of the Cardinals! Make sure you follow @theflexblog on twitter and me to keep up with all things Louisville. I will have my first official post of a review from this weeks football game against EKU and all other things cardinals. As always GO CARDS!!!

The Flex's NFL Preview

If you know anything about us here at The Flex, or anyone in America for that matter, we love football and we are counting down the seconds to kickoff of the NFL season. I can smell it. It smells like facemasks and aggression. Well seeing as how well myself and Michael Herrmann broke down the stage set for the college football landscape this year (go read that now!) , its only right that we do the same for the big boys. And this time were bringing in some new blood, helping us will be The Flex's newest writer, Craig Lucas. Lets face it there are as many if not more questions waiting to be answered in the National Football League. Its getting close people, your favorite team will be taking the field of gladiators in a matter of days. Lets get to it.

Will The Patriots Struggle With Lack of Receivers?

Craig: The patriots are the patriots and as long as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are running the show they are a playoff contender. We are talking about a team that has won the AFC east nine times in the last ten years. The Pats let go of Deion Branch and Gronkowski health is still a concern but I believe they will be fine. They signed former Rams receiver Danny Amendola to replace Wes Walker who will be catching balls from another Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning this season, but the patriots never struggle and I see no reason for them to this year.

Davey: The answer to this question would be an absolute, indisputable yes, if any other quarterback in the league was running this offense. Fortunately for Foxboro, Tom Brady could turn my father and his friends into pro bowl caliber receivers. This guy made a superstar out of Wes Welker and brought Randy Moss back to life. Anyone ever heard of Troy Brown before or after Brady? Didn't think so. With Brady at the helm the Pats will fill the void left by Hernandez with young TE Zach Sudfeld and will keep rolling until they get the Frankenstein monster that is Rob Gronkowski back in the huddle. Danny Amendola is basically the Pepsi to Wes Welker's Coca Cola, if Pepsi was good. As long as Gisele's husband in under center the Pats will be fine.

Michael: Nope, Tom Brady is a great quarterback and they always do well. Hell, they even did well with Matt Cassel at the helm. I think their success lies in video cameras, not wide receivers. 

Which Young Quarterback Will Take A Step Back?

Craig: I believe the 2012 NFL draft will go down as the best Quarterback class of all time, yeah I said it. Even better than the 2004 draft class which features Eli Manning, Ben Rothislberger, and Phillip Rivers. That class has a combined four super bowl wins between them, pretty Impressive. But I still like the 2012 class better, but one of these young guns will have a sophomore slump and I think it will be Andrew Luck. As much as I like Luck I feel he is in the worst situation out of all the second year quarterbacks right now. The Colts did go out and sign Ahmad Bradshaw but that will not be enough to help Luck. The Lack of an Elite receiver, Reggie Wayne is ageing, not the best Offensive Line and you have a Sophomore slump in the making. I do believe that Luck will have the better career, he just doesn't have the team around him right now to be successful this year. 

Davey: With so many first or second year quarterbacks playing at elite levels last year, one is destined to take a step back. For me it comes down to two, Andrew Luck who even though no one wants to admit it had the WORST year of the QBs in this discussion and Colin Kaepernick who probably has the least to work with on offense and will face the toughest competition. My pick has to be Luck. He through an ungodly amount of interceptions last season in a system that babied him the entire year. Yet, for some reason people think he stacks up to RG3 or could even be better. Based on last year that notion is laughable and this year Luck gets exposed. His turnovers will cost the Colts games with a tougher schedule and Luck will take a step back, even if only in perception. Quit foolin yourselves, he is no RG3.

Michael: Andrew Luck, solely because of the talent around him. Luck is the most prolific passer of the last two draft classes, but he doesn't have the same talent around him as does Russell Wilson or Robert Griffin III. I really, though, think Andrew Luck, and all of the young quarterbacks, succeed in their sophomore campaign. 

Can Adrian Peterson Pull Off A Repeat Performance?

Craig: No no and no. Adrian Peterson is an amazing talent and you have to be to run for 2097 yards and twelve touchdowns in a season, but not even superman himself could repeat that performance. Adrian Peterson will have a great year, but it would be tough for anyone to go through that again.  

Davey: YES. Why should anyone doubt this guy? He obviously isn't human so why should I doubt that he can do something that humans aren't capable of. If any running back could put up an even more impressive season than a 2,000 yard almost record breaking year its Purple Jesus. Defensive backs and linebackers beware, this man will not be stopped and if he has his eyes on Eric Dickerson and his out dated rec specs then hes going to shatter that record even if he has to chew Christian Ponder's arm off to make sure he gets the ball every play. Look out Christian, just give him the ball and slink away quietly, don't get eaten.

Michael: He sure can! He won't, but he can! Adrian Peterson is a very, very hard-luck player. He could get 1,500 yards in the first 12 games, then break his leg. He could rush for 1,994 yards. He could simply have a down year and rush for 800 yards and 9 touchdowns. Don't get me wrong, he's an incredible talent, but I don't think the stars will align for this lispy wolverine.

Will The Eagles Thrive In Chip Kelly's Offense?

Craig: If I could give Chip Kelly any NFL team to run the offense he ran at Oregon it would have been the Eagles. They have weapons all over the field and not to mention Micheal Vick at Quarterback. This offense will be tough to stop this year especially in a division that doesn't really have a great defensive team. Look for the eagles to have one of the better offenses in the NFL. Sadly for Chip Kelly and the Eagles this won't result in very many wins as they lack the tough Philadelphia spirit that their beloved city has. They are are in a tough division with the Cowboys, and Redskins and Micheal Vick has only completed one NFL season in his career. They also lost receiver Jeremy Maclin for the year, but I still believe they will put up points, just not enough to win football games.

Davey: Thrive? Possibly but they wont win many games with their lackluster defense behind them, but there is no doubt they will be a high powered excited offense. Vick is still a serviceable NFL quarterback and is the perfect QB for the Kelly system. DeSean Jackson will put up some big numbers this year and they will win some shootouts for sure. It will basically look like a madden offense out there for 16 weeks. Don't sleep on Shady McCoy either, Chip Kelly will run the ball in a lot of different ways (draws, wildcat, read option) and Shady is always a threat in the passing game. Chip will get him the ball in space and give him room to work with which as we all know can leave any NFL defender looking for their broken ankles. If they can stretch the field with Jackson and get McCoy in space they could score ridiculous amounts of points. The Eagles defense however, may give up an even more absurd amount of points this year.

Michael: Sure they will. The offense will, at least. Even without Jeremy Maclin, the high-paced Screech Attack will thrive with DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy and Michael Vick. Pete Carroll has done quite well with Seattle as a coach from the Pac-10, so I believe Chip Kelly will succeed, even if it's moderately and solely offensively.

Who Takes Home The MVP?

Craig: This man is dangerous, this man also has the most underrated hair in the NFL, this man can fly! His name is Larry Fitzgerald. Larry struggled last year as did the Arizona Cardinals. It is time for him and the Cardinals to redeem themselves. The Cardinals now have a quarterback in Carson Palmer throwing him the ball which should be a major upgrade from Kevin Kolb and John Skelton last year. He also has receiver Micheal Floyd to take all the attention off him, he can make plays too. Larry also has the help of former Colts great offensive coordinator Tom Moore calling the plays. All this leads up to an MVP season for the great Larry Fitzgerald!

Davey: First off Craig, I will be as good a quarterback this year as Carson Palmer and I went undrafted yet again. I love Larry but not with that ginger train wreck throwing to him. Now, to my MVP pick. There is really only one choice here. A man who will score 99% of his team's touchdowns, a man who has set passing as well as rushing records in this league, a man who can run you over or throw absolute bombs over the top of a defense, and a man who will take the next step this year and become an absolute superstar all the while smiling and screaming while he rips your team's throat out. That man, is Cam Newton. Cam has his doubters for whatever reason (his body language, REALLY?!) and this year he proves them wrong. He alone will lead the Panthers to a winning season and take home the hardware. Remember the year he had at Auburn? It will be like that, except more impressive on the big stage. Don't doubt Cam!

Michael: Peyton Manning. Peyton, with Welker, Decker, Thomas, and Tamme, the Broncos will dominate the AFC West and make a Super Bowl Push. Peyton will pass for 5,000 yards and win his first outright MVP award all while leading Team Michael (name pending) to a fantasy title over Team Davey and Team Craig.

Which Team Will Surprise Us?

Craig: This is a hard one for me. I think the talent in the NFL over the past couple of years has gotten better as a whole and any team could breakout this year and have a great year. I'm going up north to Cleveland and picking the Cleveland Browns. Yes the factory of sadness. Cleveland has all the tools to have a breakout season this year. Trent Richardson can't wait to run all over that division. Brandon Weeden is the quarterback no one is talking about and will fly under the radar. Lets not forget the defense. Joe Hayden is ready prove he can shutdown any great receiver in the NFL. Bring on A.J. Green and Torrey Smith. Barkevious Mingo is also a sleeper for defensive rookie of the year. The talent is up and so will the brownies. They will surprise everyone and make the playoffs this year!

Davey: With the parody level of the NFL, this might be our toughest question to answer. Every year a team jolts into the playoff race after being written off in the pre-season. My pick has to be the Detroit Lions. Last year they posted a 4-12 record last season with a disastrous year. This year they added Reggie Bush who is a perfect fit for the Detroit offense and who is being written off way too early in his career. Bush will have a breakout performance this year catching passes out of the backfield and returning kicks, and of course there is always Megatron. In the tough NFC north the Lions are being slept on but take a peek at their defensive line. Nick Fairley is progressing very well and will surprise this year and rookie Ziggy Ansah will he an impact player from week 1. That's two very good defensive lineman and we haven't even mentioned the monster himself, Ndamukong Suh. Suh may rip Jay Cutler limb from limb this year and no one would be surprised. With Stafford at the helm throwing for 5,000 yards, the Lions will find themselves in the playoffs this season.

Michael: The Clevelands will have a very solid 8-8 season. Brandon Weeden is much improved from last years getting trapped under the flag fiasco and Paul Kruger strengthens the front seven. Joe Haden proves a shutdown corner and Trent Richardson leads the league in rushing, rushing touchdowns, and ties for the league lead in linebackers decapitated. Brown makes a good playoff push, but, while missing the postseason, they surprise everyone.

Which Team Will Disappoint?

Craig: Seattle Seahawks. My main reason for picking the Seahawks is because of Russel Wilson . I'm not ready to name him the next Drew Brees yet. The Seahawks whole team really came out of nowhere with names like Russel Wilson, Richard Sherman, and Bruce Irvin. There is no doubt the talent is there but not the experience of sustained success that you see with the other top NFL teams. Look for the Seahawks to disappoint this year.

Davey: This honor goes to the New Orleans Saints. After last year spiraled out of control Sanits' fans blamed Roger Goodell for their woes, but Goodell wasn't out there playing cornerback. Th Saints defense is getting worse and worse and its also getting really OLD. They have no pass rush to speak of and will get picked apart by the likes of Matt Ryan, Cam Newton and other big armed quarterbacks they face this season. Sean Payton is back I know, but they also hired Rex Ryan's fatter and dumber brother to run an already abysmal defense. Brees will bounce back from last year but outside of Jimmy Graham his best target will be Darren Sproles out of the backfield. Not exactly a formula for a Super Bowl team. The Saint will have a very similar year to last year, and they wont be able to blame Fidel Goodell for this one. 

Michael: Atlanta will not live up to expectations. Be them the expectations of a great regular season or the expectations of finally making a postseason run, I think the Falcons fall short. Steven Jackson is a good running back, but, to LaRome White's dismay, he's not the back that he once was. Matt Ryan is a good quarterback, but he's not on the same level as Peyton Manning or Drew Brees or, hell, even Andrew Luck. The Falcons fall short.

Years of the Cardinals!

Thanks to my blue bloods friends Davey Rudolph and Micheal Herrmann for allowing me to publish with The Flex. I want to add some red to this blue crazy Blog. Be on the look out for a weekly post that I will start doing next week called Years of the Cardinals! The 2012-2013 school year was a special one for the Cardinal athletic program. Last year the Department racked in on some serious hardware. When Interviewed Tom Jurich said "Yes this was the year of the cardinal, but we want to make it years of the cardinals." Make sure you follow The Flex on twitter at @TheFlexblog. Can't wait to get started on the first post of the season as UofL travels to Lexington to take down the Cats. It should be another great year for our Cardinals as we have nationally ranked teams in Football, Volleyball, and Soccer in the fall. Get ready for a fun year, and as always GO CARDS!!!

The Flex's College Football Preview

We know, you're more than ready for some football. Some real football, not that football like substance that is preseason NFL football. Well the wait is just about over and the college season will be here in less than a week and there are plenty of questions headed into the 2013 season and who better to answer than us here at The Flex. So naturally, I enlisted the help of The Flex's own Michael Herrmann to answer the most burning questions before the gridiron opens for business next Saturday. Have another question we didn't answer? Be sure to leave a comment and let us know what other knowledge we can impart on the pigskin.

Can Alabama Pull Off The 3-Peat?

Davey: Of course they can. Have they given us any reason to doubt them? As hard as it is to win back-to-back titles in any sport they pulled it off and didn't make it look too hard. Normally I would take the field on a question like this, but with Bama I'm almost inclined to say they will. Nick Saban is either Satan come to reign over college football, or the reincarnation of Bear Bryant on steroids. It wouldn't shock me if they won four in a row honestly. The guy brings in top talent every single year and shows no sign of slowing up. He has an NFL factory running and hitting on all cylinders so who are we to doubt him as mere mortals? All hail Saban and god help us all.

Michael: They can, of course, but I'm not convinced that they will. In the past, Alabama have more than proven a dynastic program and Nick Saban (All hail!) is, far and away, the greatest recruiter in the history of amateur athletics, but a three-peat is a difficult task. Given that only nine collegiate programs, even in the most obscure of sports (yay USC water polo!) have ever collected three consecutive National Titles and only one of those major men's sports post-1950 - USC Baseball, 1970-74 - Alabama faces a difficult task. All said, I think if any football program ever will, it's a Saban-led Alabama squad.

Is Louisville A National Championship Threat?

Davey: Simply put, NO. They are a threat to go undefeated based on their marshmallow soft schedule, but other programs with more on their resume will be placed above the Ville at the end of the year even with a loss or two. Would anyone think an undefeated Louisville squad deserves a title shot more than a one loss Alabama or Georgia team? No chance in hell. They may not even be a threat for a BCS bowl since they lose the automatic bid of the Big East this year that got them there in years past. They could very well beat every orphanage that they have managed to schedule this year, but I think they will slip up and drop a game at some point. They will end the year with one loss and Teddy Bridgewater will begin his career as a Raider and will never be heard from again.

Michael: Any given Saturday, this Chuck Strong-led bunch of great athletes and great men-sans-Michael Dyer can beat any team in the country. I'm never, never, betting against a team featuring the great Ezekiel Pike as a third-string Tight End. Granted, being a fan may sway my vote, but I truly believe Louisville can be worthy adversary to the SEC. Who else can beat an SEC team than a former SEC coach?

Can Johnny Manziel Win Back-To-Back Hesimans?

Davey: Not only can he, Money Manziel will win his second Heisman this year and I hope he accepts it with sparklers dangling out of his mouth and throws money on Mark Ingram on stage. Manziel is still the best player in college football this year and when is comes to quarterbacks it isn't even close. Clowney could give him a run for his money (no pun intended) but I just don't see a defensive player having the season needed to take home the Heisman, even a player of the caliber of Clowney. Johnny is going to have another great year and while he may not top last season, I don't expect any drop off. He may take the field vs. Alabama drunk and wearing a Tebow jersey and STILL manage to slay the Crimson Tide. People allow the off-field "issues" to cloud their memories of just how dynamic Johnny Football was last year and with a year under his belt, he will make sure they don't forget his ability ever again. #TeamManziel

Michael: Nope. Not a chance. If Tim Tebow, the most composed, most professional, most mature athlete to ever grace a field, pitch, court, rink, etc. can't win two, a man who can't stay sober long enough to coach at a QB camp or avoid being thrown out of a frat party certainly cannot. But Michael, you say, Archie Griffin won two! To you, I say, 1975 was quite a different time. Johnny Manziel isn't the special athlete that, say, Jimmie Johnson is. Johnny Manziel is a real talent, but he certainly isn't composed enough to win another Heisman. Be it Tajh Boyd, Jadaveon Clowney, Teddy Bridgewater, or some Jason White type that comes out of nowhere, Johnny Manziel isn't winning the Heisman Trophy again.

Who Is The Dark Horse With a Real Shot To Win It All?

Davey: I'm not sure that there is a dark horse with a real shot, simply because of the nature of college football. The heavy favorites (Bama, Ohio State, Georgia) are heavy favorites for a reason and there is a big gap between them and the rest of the nation. However, one team to keep an eye on is Clemson. Led by Tajh Boyd who is the best NFL quarterback prospect that will grace the gridiron this year they could have a case to make if they run the table. It will all depend on the play of Boyd and will be up to him to vault the Tigers into that upper echelon of teams in the 2013 season and that will be no easy task. Simply because of Tajh I give Clemson the best shot of any dark horse to hoist the crystal football, but lets be real here, one of the favorites will be the kings of college football at the end of the year. There's no avoiding it.

Michael: Naturally, I want to say Boise State. I think Chris Petersen is an admirable coach with a bright future. I don't, however, think Boise State makes a real push this season. Clemson will make a title run, but they're hardly a dark horse with a Heisman front-runner at the helm. Northwestern is a team that could make a great run, but they're a year, at least, away from making any true BCS run. Michigan State, based solely on their locker room pranks, are a team to look out for, as are that husking bunch led by Taylor Martinez (who have the potential to be the greatest Nebraskan anything since Elliott Smith or Bright Eyes), but I can't really pin any true dark horse contenders. Nebraska is my bet, if necessary, but I'll stick to the top-10 for now.

What Top 10 Team Will Disappoint?

Davey: The Fighting Brian Kellys barely missed the top ten or they would surely be the pick here, but since they were on the outside of the top 10 looking in, my pick has to be South Carolina. Clowney is the big story coming out of the Gamecocks' preseason hype as he should be, but as good as he is and that defense is they just wont be able to compete in the SEC. They have an offense that I believe will self destruct at times especially against top level competition and will cost them at least one game if not more. They are a solid team despite Steve Spurrier being a certified crazy person but they aren't an SEC top tier caliber team and they will fall down the rankings throughout the season and wont be in the BCS conversation once it gets cold outside. Sorry Steve.

Michael: Texas A&M. Texas A&M. Texas A&M. I know, I know, Johnny Football this, Johnny Football that, but I don't think Texas A&M are nearly as good as they were. Losing Luke Joekel will hurt far more than expected and I think A&M are lacking too much talent outside of the offensive skill positions. The tl;dr version: Texas A&M.

Will Oregon Struggle Without Chip Kelly?

Davey: In the short term we will still see the same swagged out, faster than hell Oregon team that we have seen under the command of Chip. This year will go smoothly with the return of Marcus Mariota and of course De'Anthony Thomas, but in the coming years there bee some drop off in the elite play in Eugene as we see the effect of Chip's recruiting prowess leaving for the NFL. They will still be good with the extreme influence they receive from Nike but they will no longer be competing for national titles without Chip once his guys make the jump to the next level. So this year, rest easy Duck fans, just enjoy it while it lasts because it is very much fleeting right in from of your eyes.

Michael: Nope. Offense. By promoting the offensive coordinator, I think Oregon won't miss a beat in their offensive attack, which, well, is their entire game plan. Marcus Mariota and De'Anthony Thomas are superstars, and their high-paced attack will allow for plenty of ransacking in the Pac-10 - until Stanford. Stanford, I believe give the Nikes a run for their money, even if the green uniforms are still allowed (see Boise State uniform ban).

The Cincinnati Bengals X-Factor: Giovani Bernard

For years Bengals fans have clamored for a dynamic running back. Through years of Rudi Johnson, Cedric Benson, and even Benjarvis Green-Ellis, fans have dreamed of a running back ho can break a tackle and get to the next level of the defense. A back who could come out of the backfield and catch passes and add a wrinkle to the offense this team has been missing since the days of James Brooks. We have been waiting for a home run hitting who we could watch sprint down the sidelines on Sundays.

Enter Giovani Bernard.

You know when you make a super quick running back on Madden? A guy who is crazy elusive and breaks every arm tackle thrown his way? A guy who has speed that Usain Bolt could relate to and returns kicks so well that he should be high-stepping down the field like Deion Sanders? Yeah, Gio Bernard is that guy. He is basically a cheat code, and when added to this offense could be the missing piece in a Super Bowl run that we all dream of. Gone will be the days of a three yard run by a bulky back who is dragged down quickly in a cloud of dust. Now you'll see Gio line up out wide and streaking down field after Dalton hits him over the middle coming out of the backfield. Think Reggie Bush at USC if he was a little bit smaller. After doing some scouting on Gio and really understanding how much he is capable of, I'm convinced he will be the steal of the 2013 draft. Teams will be asking how they let this guy fall to the second round. You can keep Eddie Lacy, I'm with Gio.

Now don't get it twisted, I don't think Gio will be the starter in Week 1. The coaching staff has made it clear The Law Firm will be the starter, but that wont last long. By next year I doubt Green-Ellis will be in Cincinnati and the young'n from Carolina will be the star of the running game, and honestly I wouldn't be shocked if Benjarvis is riding the pine by week 8 or 9 in favor of Bernard. Once he learns his blocking assignments and gets used to the nuances of transitioning from the college game to the NFL, Gio will be one of the most dynamic backs in the league.

Now, to focus on what Gio can do this year. He will be given an opportunity to shine in the passing game and will for sure be the third down back out of the gate. Like I said depending on how his blocking improves in the passing game (he has struggled in camp early but has improved significantly) he will be given an opportunity in the running game on first and second down as well. The Law Firm will be the starter but he struggled late last season with coughing up the ball and if those problems continue into this season, it will be Gio who will need to step up and fill the void at running back. Another skill in the bag of tricks Bernard posses is his knack for returning punts. He is as quick as anyone in the game and can hit the corner and be off to the races before you can locate him on the field. (Just ask NC State) He could be the explosive north-to-south runner that fans have wanted ever since Peter Warrick and there's no doubt he could excel if given the job. Now whether he will be given the chance is a different story. The coaches seem dead set on letting Brandon Tate return kicks for some insane reason, so Gio may have to wait to shine in the return role.

Bengals fans, I'm going on record now saying Giovani Bernard will be the most explosive weapon on the Bengals roster outside of A.J. Green once he develops, whether that is this year or next. Remember who told you first who the X-factor was this year for your Cincinnati Bengals.

Don't believe me? Just watch.

Who Dey.

But What About Jermaine?

For Bengals fans the upcoming season is littered with high expectations. Super Bowl predictions, AFC North favorites and more than a handful of pro bowl players which fans expect to take the next step into being stars of the NFL. Of course that group includes the young quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton will have plenty of weapons on offense to spread the ball to even excluding A.J. Green. Green is the centerpiece of the offense and new additions Tyler Eifert and Giovanni Bernard have been highly touted and for good reason. Fans and media alike have shown tons of love for the Cincinnati offense and talked about every weapon and the impact they could have this year. We've heard about the potential of Sanu, and Marvin Jones and the X-factor that is Andrew Hawkins.

But what about Jermaine?

The forgotten player in the Bengals hype is tight end Jermaine Gresham. Still a young player, Gresham has shown many flashes of play making ability that is as good as any tight end in the league not named Jimmy Graham. Yes, Gresh has his moments where he may not be the most likable player on the field and he drops a pass on occasion, but lets not forget the spectacular catches he goes up to get over defenders. Not to mention he is the tailor made red zone target that Andy Dalton needs coming off the line. One thing that Gresham never gets credit for and that's the way he plays. On the field he is mean as a snake and when he gets the ball in his hands he is looking to punish defenders who try to bring him down. Ask Desmond Trufant how that feels.

A lot of Bengals fan point to the drafting of Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert as leading to the downfall of Gresham in Cincinnati. The opposite is true. The drafting of Eifert has lit a fire under Jermaine that the coaching staff says they have never seen before. Eifert will run two TE sets with Gresh which will be reminiscent of the Gronk & Hernandez show in recent years. Eifert wont push Jermaine out of Cincinnati, he will push him to be better than ever which should be a scary thought for every other team in the league, and should put a smile on the face of every Bengals fan that reads this.

Don't forget about Jermaine, Just because Dalton has a few new toys this year, doesn't mean his pro bowl tight end is going anywhere. Gresh will have a better year than Eifert, Marvin Jones and I think even better than Mohamed Sanu. He will be Dalton's main red zone target outside of A.J. Green and don't forget his one handed grabs over top of outmatched defensive backs. You'll be seeing a lot of Jermaine dunking on the goalposts this year so keep an eye on the big guy.

Who Dey.

Marcus Camby Signs With Rockets

It looks like Dwight Howard isn't the only big name center headed to Houston when the NBA season starts back up. Dwight and James Harden will have veteran big man Marcus Camby playing alongside them. Camby signed a one year deal with the Rockets today worth the league minimum. Camby played last year with the New York Knicks, where he didn't receive much playing time on a team loaded with big names veterans. Camby was rumored to be in talks with the Miami Heat, but with the possibility of former number one pick Greg Oden headed down to South Beach, the Heat backed off and opened the door for the Rockets to further fortify their bench.

This isn't a game changer when it comes to the landscape of the NBA Western Conference, but it could shake up the Rockets roster just a bit. Omer Asik requested a trade soon after the team signed Dwight but the owner was adamant that Asik wasn't going anywhere. It remains to be seen, but this may give the Rockets the option of dangling Asik out there and fielding offers on the high paid rebounding specialist. One thing is for sure and that is the Houston Rockets will have no shortage of capable big men down low when they take the floor this fall.

The Flex's Top 5 Most Underrated NFL Players

Yesterday we brought you the top five most overrated in the NFL today. Some of you agreed and some of you couldn't see the light, but nonetheless, top we hit you all with the top five underrated gridiron gladiators that don't get the respect they deserve from talking heads and fans alike. These players need to be given more of the spotlight than they are receiving and could use a little more air time on ESPN if they ever decide to talk about anyone besides Tim Tebow or Joe Flacco. I wont hold my breath on that one. Without further ado, lets count em down.

1. Cam Newton

People might question whether a former number one pick could be considered underrated, but if you think Cam Newton doesn't deserve to be atop this list, than you haven't been paying enough attention to this superstar in the making. Newton is the most dynamic quarterback the league has ever seen and that is simply a fact. He can throw the deep ball as well as anyone and can thread the needle when he needs to. His arm alone would be enough to keep him in the top realm of quarterbacks, but Newton has much more in his skill set than an incredible right arm. Anyone who has seen Newton outrun defensive backs and run over defensive ends on the goal line might confuse him with a top level running back. Cam is a rare talent that is essentially a whole offense wrapped up in one gigantic quarterback. This guy continues to run wild on  defenses and pick them apart through the air and once Carolina can surround him with any sort of talent, the rest of the league will be in serious trouble.

2. Andy Dalton

Some will call me a homer, but look at the facts. In his two years of action Dalton has led the Bengals franchise to the postseason and successfully rinsed the taste of Carson Palmer's abandonment out of the mouths of Bengals fans. With the success of other young quarterbacks like Cam Newton and RG3, Dalton has largely gone unnoticed to the casual NFL fan when he has been getting it done in Cincy since day one. The kid has show veteran tendencies in his young career already and rarely makes the mistakes of a young quarterback we have come to expect. He has poise that even veteran QBs cant muster and looks to still be improving. 2013 will be a big year for Dalton as he is set for a jolt into the national spotlight with his skills still on the rise. With another great year, Dalton could become a household name and finally get the respect he deserves from the NFL community. Don't sleep on the Red Rifle.

3. Steve Smith

Back when the Panthers made their Superbowl run, Steve Smith was a superstar by production and he gained national status. After a few down years in Carolina everyone seemed to forget just how good Smith was, even though his production never dropped off, he just didn't get the attention he deserved. Now with the young star Cam Newton throwing the pigskin his way, people are beginning to take notice once again of the incredible feats Smith pulls off on Sundays. He is an incredible deep threat and can stretch the field as well as any receiver has ever been able to. Now with Newton and his huge arm able to air it out, Smith's skills are finally being utilized to the fullest once again. He has become Cam's main offensive weapon and is showing no signs of slowing down. He may be older than the last time he garnered the attention from the sports pundits, but make no mistake he hasn't lost a step. Quite the contrary, he continues to be the fastest player on the field week after week.

4. Geno Atkins

The leader of the best defensive line in football comes in at number four on our list, and his stock continues to rise every year. Geno Atkins is the best player on a very good, and very underrated Bengals defense led by the impeccable defensive front. Atkins was a pro-bowl defensive tackle last year and is starting to garner the respect he deserves from teams as they start to double team him, and he still finds a way to get in the backfield every Sunday and wreak havoc. After putting up huge sack numbers and striking few into the hearts of quarterbacks the past two years, Atkins seems poised to win a defensive MVP in the near future. The NFL landscape is taking note of this young DT and soon Geno Sacks will be regarded as the best defensive player in the NFL.

5. Stevie Johnson

Stevie got loose. As UK fans will remember, Stevie Johnson has the ability to break free from any defender and he has made his presence known in recent years while developing into the best offensive weapon the Buffalo Bills have to offer. Stevie had a breakout year two years ago and had another fantastic year last year all while having zero talent at the quarterback position throwing to him. Now with E.J. Manuel arriving in Buffalo Stevie may have a dynamic QB in the pocket who can get the ball to him and take full advantage of his talents on the edge and expose the fact that Stevie Johnson is an elite NFL receiver. Remember his name, because before you know it you will be wishing Stevie was dancing in the end zone for your team.

Honorable Mention: Robert Griffin III

Unlike the QB he is always compared against (Andrew Luck), RG3 was asked to do just about everything to create the offense for the Redskins in his rookie year. He aired it out and stretched the field and was asked to be the main rushing option as well, and he proved he was more than capable of doing anything asked of him. Whether burning the Dallas defense with an absolute bomb from the pocket, or outrunning the entire Minnesota defense on a 76-yard touchdown run, RG3 has done it all and he has only been in the league for one year. The number one threat to Cam Newton to overtake him as the next superstar QB is Griffin. He does everything an offensive weapon could and he may even develop into a better pocket passer than Newton. While Andrew Luck was babied with check downs and screen passes, Griffin was handed the keys to offense and he drove it full speed all while throwing for more touchdowns and less interceptions than Luck.

The Flex's Top 5 Most Overrated NFL Players

As you may remember, last year we presented a list and counted down the most overrated and underrated players in the NBA. Now with the NFL season quickly approaching, and training camps across the nation showcasing the top gridiron gladiators the NFL has to offer, we thought it was only right to let you know who isn't as good as advertised. We all know the media as well as fellow fans hype up certain players that when you see them on Sundays, don't live up to the hype. Some more than others. We'll countdown the ones with the most undeserved hype right now so you can openly mock the ones who sing the praises of these hyped up average joes.

1. Joe Flacco

This may be the easiest call in the history of anything in the realm of sports. Prior to last years Superbowl run that was aided by a great defense and an incompetent Denver safety who couldn't properly time a jump, Joe Flacco was just a run of the mill, interception machine that only Baltimore fans dared to ride for. Now he wins a title and plays well in a few playoff games and I'm supposed to call him elite? No way in hell. I cant be the only one who remembers Jacoby Jones running wild and winning the Lombardi trophy almost single-handedly, only to have his glory stolen by some schlub named Flacco, simply because he was the quarterback. If the Ravens' front office wants to give an average-at-best gunslinger all of their money, then so be it. But don't get mad at me when I point out how they are simply throwing their money away on a quarterback who has peaked. Joe Flacco deserves no hype, much less the Manning-like hype he has been receiving recently. I cant wait until the Bengals defense gets a hold of him and exposes him. I cant wait to see how ESPN reacts to the public shaming of their golden child.

2. Tony Romo

Tony Romo should go ahead and send Joe Flacco a gift basket for keeping him out of the number one spot on this list. Romo has never one a single thing in his career. Not a single thing, and yet he was just given more money than he could ever count by the Cowboys because the only entity more ridiculous than Tony Romo, is the team he plays for. Jerry Jones continue to bet his franchise on the underachieving arm of a no-name QB turned starter that has crapped away more games than he has won. Count up the interceptions and the miscues that led to turnovers and its plain to see that Romo deserves a spot on this list for life. If there is ever an overrated hall of fame, Romo is without a doubt a first ballot inductee.

3. Matt Schaub

We can bring up the subject of never winning anything without bringing up the always over hyped, Matt Schaub. The man under center for the Texans has been serviceable most of the time, but has for some reason gained a reputation for being an above average quarterback for no real reason. He has been the beneficiary of some amazing offensive weapons. From Andre Johnson, to Arian Foster and even Owen Daniels. And what has he done with it? He;s taken a backseat to Arian Foster and possibly wasted the prime years of Andre Johnson's career by only being able to throw a deep ball and never having any sort of touch or exceptional accuracy. He has a huge arm and will have a decent career, but don't get it twisted when it comes to Matt Schaub there is simply nothing special about him.

4. Clay Matthews

During the Packers' Superbowl run, the NFL nation was swept up in the flowing lochs and celebrations of one Clay Matthews. He had a great postseason run but he has been living off of those few games ever since. He can cause havoc when let loose, but struggles with his assignments especially when asked to drop back in coverage. Matthews has the ability to produce big plays, but they overshadow the lack of fundamental play he brings to the table, as well as the missed tackles he lets slip away in the backfield. He makes a big show of making a big play, but it is all or nothing for the Green Bay linebacker, and at the end of the day he makes many more mistakes than big plays and it forces the rest of that Packer defense to pick up the slack. He can be fun to watch when he makes a ball hawking play, but he is absolutely not an elite NFL linebacker.

5. Phillip Rivers

Besides occasionally making Jay Cutler look like a punk (we thank you for that Phillip) Rivers has never really achieved the potential that most still believe he possesses. Year after year the Chargers seemed poised to make a deep playoff run and also appear to have an elite offense led by Rivers. And year after year neither one of those things come to fruition. Yes, Rivers can lead the San Diego faithful to the playoffs, but for the praise he receives he has to be held to higher standards than that. He has a great deep ball and can have incredible performances but we have also seen complete meltdowns filled with turnovers and sacks piled high on top of each other. Phillip Rivers may be destined to be a quarterback who's potential always outweighed his NFL reality, but it is time for us to start accepting reality. That reality is that Phillip Rivers will never be a top quarterback in the National Football League, regardless of what any so-called experts would have you believe.

Honorable Mention: Andrew Luck

In the coming years Andrew Luck may very well become a very good NFL signal caller, but he has not proven a thing so far and since day one has been treated as the next coming of Dan Marino. He had good numbers last year, but lets not forget how the Colts babied Luck with their system. They asked him to do as little as possible to protect him, kept him in the pocket and never really called upon him to make difficult throws down field. With the heavy dependence on swing routes from the backfield and check down throws in the flat, Luck hasn't proved a thing yet in his young career. Not to mention the ungodly amount of interception Luck threw in his rookie year. I'm not saying he is a bust, in fact he is far from it but until he carries that team on his back like a Manning or Brady does, he will never sniff the upper-class of quarterbacks. He has not shown himself to be a field general or anything close and until the Colts ask him to make some real throws that should be expected of top-shelf QBs, we wont know exactly how good Andrew Luck really is.

What We've Learned From Ryan Braun

In the fragile, ritualistic world that is the world of baseball, cheaters are nothing new. From Bonds to McGwire to Sosa to Rodriguez. They have come and gone some of them with larger home run numbers and hat sizes than others, but all cheaters none the less. And now in the middle of the 2013 season we have a new round of cheaters than fans will cry and yell in the wake of and who reporters and players alike will blast. This new class of vagrants includes Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta, A-Rod (once again), and Ryan Braun. Yes that Ryan Braun. The same Ryan Braun who adamantly denied using any banned substance or PED just a few years ago while getting off the hook because of a technicality with his urine test. The same Ryan Braun who publicly embarrassed his teammates and fans by telling us all bold face lies on national TV.

How could we as baseball fans be so incredibly stupid?

We saw Rafael Palmeiro wag his finger at congress to deny any PED use and McGwire refuse to discuss any use of steroids in the past as his biceps bulged and Roger Maris rolled over in his grave. And of course, each one of those claims were absolute lies. We have lived through lie after lie in the hallowed realm of baseball and after seeing such mighty idols fall, why would we ever believe Braun? Braun had elevated levels of testosterone so he took SOMETHING. We don't know what exactly but it was something illegal. Now with this second failed test Braun removed all doubt in every one's minds that he was just as fraudulent as we all thought in the first place. At this point in baseball history no one should be thought to be telling the truth when denying a positive drug test. Why should they? They have all lied and have left baseball fans with egg on their faces for believing such ludicrous lies.

Ryan Braun has taught us that if someone is suspected of taking steroids, we should just assume they are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Don't listen to what they say. Don't listen to the explanation soaked in lies. Don't fool yourself or let any player pull the wool over your eyes. They are guilty. And no matter what cockamamie story they want to throw at us we shall never let them brush off their crimes on the diamond and take their word for it.

For this writer at least, the belief of the lies ends here. No matter hat player decides to get in front of TV cameras and yell from the mountain tops about their so called innocence, I'm just not falling for it anymore.

Thank you Ryan Braun. Thank you for freeing me from the hassle of ever believing in the lies spewed through the dugouts from lying cheaters like you. Thank you for teaching me that if it looks like a cheater and sounds like a cheater, then no matter what story the player proclaims, they are without a doubt a cheater.

Way Too Early Super Bowl Predictions

Welp, it's that time of the year. Football is over, basketball just ended, and no sports are on. Let me rephrase: no sports that I care about. 

Now until September are grueling months for me every year. Withdrawal symptoms galore.

As I'm sure you know (probably not), I am a huge football fan. I like college the best but know way more about NFL thanks to fantasy football and the 24/7 NFL network on Direct TV, channel 212.

So with all the headlines and news, I will now go into my playoff and subsequent super bowl predictions.

We'll go ahead and follow the same format as last year's predictions. Which, not to toot my own horn here or anything, came 100% true! The score was wrong, but I predicted the Ravens over the 49er's in the big dance.

Let's see if this year yields the same results. Look for more predictions once the season starts. 

Legooo


* = Conference Winner** = Clinched Wild Card


AFC North
My home town division. Bengals are on the up-and-up. They've got a receiving core that can compete with the best of them, a ruthless defense, and are solid on just about every position. Their success will grow as Andy Dalton's does. Ravens have lost a lot, and I'm just not faithful they will see same successes as last year. They'll grab that wildcard however. Steelers have lots of issues; not quite playoff bound yet. Browns suck.

1) Bengals
2) Ravens**
3) Steelers
4) Browns


AFC West
This is a division on the up-and-up. Broncos are going to do great things, while Chargers and Cheifs will be competitive. Still, besides the Broncos, not a division with much going on and much to say. Broncos win with ease. I mean c'mon, Peyton getting Wes is just not fair. This team is going to be nasty.

1) Broncos*
2) Chargers
3) Cheifs
4) Raiders

AFC South
I want to put the Colts in first place soo bad. I've never really fully jumped on that Houston band wagon. Something about them is just missing to really get it done consistently. On the offensive side mostly. They need elite play from Shaub and more skilled receivers. I would say I'm going to play it safe, but this whole blog is a risk! I'm just worried about sophomore years of players who have breakout rookie years, i.e. Andrew Luck (should've won rookie of the year by the way). Titans are going to be very competitive I predict; I believe in Jake Locker. Jaguars have too many issues.

1) Colts
2) Texans**
3) Titans
4) Jaguars

AFC East
E.J. Manuel will be a great quarterback this coming season, says the all mighty predictor. Not saying the Bills will do amazing things, but I was very close to putting them in second place here. Pats will get it. It's their division to lose and that's not going to happen any time soon. Miami is gonna make a lot of noise here. They'll just miss the last Wildcard. Be patient young Dolphins, your time will come. Jets suck and need to leave Metlife. 

1) Patriots
2) Dolphins
3) Bills
4) Jets


NFC North
The play of Aaron Rodgers is going to keep me from putting the Vikings in first here. That and the inconsistent play of Christian Ponder. I'm just not sure about Chicago. Again, seem to be a team with just something missing. An offensive line mostly. The Lions will win a few good games, but they really need to get back to the play of a couple years ago when they reached the playoffs. Looks like this division will end the same as last year.

1) Packers*
2) Vikings
3) Bears
4) Lions

NFC West
Talk about a tough division. Talk about a tough conference. San Fran will be a power house again, as long as Kaepernick continues his success from last year. Seattle will be a sick, as long as Russel continues (I believe in Russell). Actually, I have more faith in Russell than Kaepernick, so I'm gonna do something a little tricky here. Seattle wins! The Rams are going to be tough as well. Not really sure about the Cardinals and their new helm. All I know is that the best receiver in the league, Mr. Larry, needs a QB to prove his crown.

1) Seahawks
2) 49er's**
3) Rams
4) Cardinals

NFC South
Man, so many questions about so many teams. Guess that's the down side of doing this in June...But, the return of Sean Peyton should bring good tides back to New Orleans. It'll be interesting to see the battle for the division between them and the Falcons. Still not totally on board with Atlanta. They'll be good, but the only reason I'm putting them first is because I think NOLA still has some defensive rebuilding to do. Panthers and Bucs will battle for 3rd and 4th. Interchangeable really. Panthers have a better QB so they win.

1) Falcons
2) Saints**
3) Panthers
4) Buccaners

NFC East
Giants, Giants, Giants! ...will do God knows what. I love my Gmen, but I really just cannot predict these guys. The contact issues with Cruz and Nicks worry me, as well as the inconsistent play of Eli and the entire defense. Plus the loss of Osi. Just don't know...It will take a year or two for the Eagles to really adjust to Chip Kelly, while RG3 will make a comeback for the ages. However, as I am always an optimist, I'm sticking with my boys. I have faith, right?

1) Giants
2) Redskins
3) Cowboys
4) Eagles



PLAYOFFS

AFC SEEDS
Some great divisional games here at the wildcard level. Bengals will finally get a sweet sweet playoff win over the defending champs at home, while the Colts falter in Andrew Luck's first playoff game. Bengals lose handily in New England while Broncos take care of the Texans. Then the big one: good ol' return of Manning VS Brady. This will be a good one with the former ultimately coming out on top.

1) Broncos
2) Patriots
3) Bengals
4) Colts
5) Texans
6) Ravens

Bracket
(6) Ravens @ (3) Bengals --> (3) Bengals @ (2) Patriots --> (2) Patriots @ (1) Broncos
(5) Texans @ (4) Colts --> (5) Texans @ (1) Broncos 

2013 AFC Champion: Denver Broncos


NFC SEEDS
Maybe it's my new obsession with Seattle in Madden 13', but I'm on a Seahawks kick. They were so close last year, and they'll repeat and then some this year. 49er's make a tough run though with trips and subsequent wins in Metlife and Lambeau. Seahawks make up for a tough loss in Atlanta, then send the 49er's packing with a great inter-divisional NFC Championship game. It's really tough to win playoff games in Seattle, but that's not the only reason Seattle wins. What a tough conference.

1) Packers
2) Falcons
3) Seahawks
4) Giants
5) 49er's
6) Saints

Bracket
(6) Saints @ (3) Seahawks --> (3) Seahawks @ (2) Falcons --> (5) 49er's @ (3) Seahawks
(5) 49er's @ (4) Giants --> (5) 49er's @ (1) Packers 

2013 NFC Champion: Seattle Seahawks


SUPER BOWL PREDICTION
So we've got the Broncos verses the Seahawks in Metlife stadium. It'll be a cold one. Unfortunately, this is actually a pretty easy decision. As much as I don't want it to be, this team is too strong. His brother won in his house last time, so it's time for him to grab his second championship in his younger sibling's work place.





Super Bowl Prediction: Denver Broncos over Seattle Seahawks

Football season cannot come quick enough....