Ravens:
I can finally say it! Team of Destiny. 4th and 29: That was the first sign. 70 yard TD to Jacoby Jones with 30 second left in Denver to send the game to overtime: That was the 2nd sign. But now, with the game on the line, the defense kept Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers out of the end zone, and the moniker is official. Team of Destiny. Only 1 team in the playoffs was an underdog, and won. The Ravens did it. Not once. Not twice. But three times they were underdogs, and came out victorious. And if you thought winning the title was remarkable, then came the victory parade! Un-bliev-able hon!
Now, bask in the glory that comes with drafting 32nd in the league, because all hell is about to break loose. It’s what we in the business call “Salary cap hell.” Flacco’s agent is demanding that Joe be paid the highest of any quarterback in the NFL. Joe put all his eggs in one basket, hoping for a big payday at the end of the season, and he is probably going to get it. But at what cost? Joe made $8M in 2012. A Restricted Franchise tag would earn him $14.6M, and an unrestricted franchise tag will earn him almost $20M. Peyton Manning only gets $18M (not including his commercials). With a salary cap of $120+M, Joe figures to make 1/6th of the entire payroll, which doesn’t leave much room for the other 52 guys, and that pinch is going to come soon as key players are going to be cut, or let walk in the coming weeks. Outside analyst put Boldin and Jones as potential candidates to be released from their contracts. Ed Reed is a free agent already rumored to be going to NE, and, the Ravens figure to only be able to keep Kruger, Ellerbe, or Williams on defense. I tried to figure out what will happen, and I got a headache. This is why Ozzie gets paid the big bucks. This is why Ozzie has headaches. This is why our GM is collectively referred to as the Wizard of Oz. Ozzie, go work your magic, because now that we have tasted that sweet success, we want more.
Orioles:
Orioles have avoided arbitration on several more players, and continue to take chances with short contracts on questionable players as they look to continue their “moneyball” strategy. Although the pitching staff has some questions still, they are shaping up to be a dominant force again in the league. Offensivley, there is still a need for power and clutch hitting, which the Orioles management is hoping will evolve from within, because they sure haven’t signed anyone to fill that void. Given the youth of the team, it is not an unrealistic expectation, but a gamble all the same.
Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes continue to search for a new head coach after Marc Trestman left for Chicago. Several free agent signings have been made, but no names you would recognize.
Blast:
The Blast (17-5) took 2 from Syracuse last weekend and will hit the road for games in Wichita and Missouri this weekend. The blast are still 1 game behind Milwaukee for the league lead, but 3 back in the loss column, having played 4 more games than the Wave.
Chesapeake Bayhawks: (Home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
Seeking a pulse on Florida’s interest level for lacrosse, the Rochester Rattlers will host the Bayhawks on April 27 at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The 2013 schedule has been released.
Charm:
The Charm will open the 2013 season at Jacksonville on May 25.
Capitals (See website for more details):
The Caps have lost 3 in a row, and extended their lead to 3 points for worst record in the NHL.
Wizards (See website for more details):
After losing 4 in a row, the Wizards have reeled off 2 straight wins against the Clippers and Knicks. They now sit 2 games ahead of Charlotte, and 1.5 games behind Cleveland.
Mystics (See website for more details):
Nothing to report.
D.C.United (See website for more details):
The 2013 Schedule has been released.
What do you want to see in the Ravens report? What should be scrapped? Actually, never mind. No one is reading this anyway so you probably won’t know the difference. Send an email to iggy at tealdragon.net. Thanks!
Schedule
| 2012 Preseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Time | Result | |
| Thursday, August 9, 2012 | @Atlanta Falcons | 7:30 PM | W 31-17 | |
| Friday, August 17, 2012 | Detroit Lions | 8:00 PM | L 27-12 | |
| Thursday, August 23, 2012 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 7:30 PM | W 48-17 | |
| Thursday, August 30, 2012 | @Saint Louis Rams | 8:00 PM | L 31-17 | |
| 2012 Regular Season | ||||
| Date | Opponent | Record | Time | Result |
| Monday, September 10, 2012 | Cincinnati Bengals | 18-14 Overall, 11-6 Home | 7:00 PM | W 44-13 |
| Sunday, September 16, 2012 | @Philadelphia Eagles | 1-1-1 Overall, 1-0-1 Away | 1:00 PM | L 24-23 |
| Sunday, September 23, 2012 | New England Patriots | 1-7 Overall, 0-2 Home | 8:20 PM | W 31-30 |
| Thursday, September 27, 2012 | Cleveland Browns | 19-7 Overall, 10-3 Home | 8:20 PM | W 23-16 |
| Sunday, October 7, 2012 | @Kansas City Chiefs | 3-3 Overall, 2-0 Away | 1:00 PM | W 9-6 |
| Sunday, October 14, 2012 | Dallas Cowboys | 3-0 Overall, 2-0 Home | 1:00 PM | W 31-29 |
| Sunday, October 21, 2012 | @Houston Texans | 6-0 Overall, 3-0 Away | 1:00 PM | L 43-13 |
| Sunday, November 4, 2012 | @Cleveland Browns | 19-7 Overall, 9-4 Away | 1:00 PM | W 25-15 |
| Sunday, November 11, 2012 | Oakland Raiders | 6-1 Overall, 4-0 Home | 1:00 PM | W 55-20 |
| Sunday, November 18, 2012 | @pittsburgh steelers | 14-21 Overall, 6-12 Away | 8:20 PM | W 13-10 |
| Sunday, November 25, 2012 | @San Diego Chargers | 4-4 Overall, 2-4 Away | 4:05 PM | W 16-13 OT |
| Sunday, December 2, 2012 | pittsburgh steelers | 15-21 Overall, 8-9 Home | 4:25 PM | L 23-20 |
| Sunday, December 9, 2012 | @Washington Redskins | 3-1 Overall, 2-1 Away | 1:00 PM | L 31-28 OT |
| Sunday, December 16, 2012 | Denver Broncos | 6-3 Overall, 5-0 Home | 1:00 PM | L 34-17 |
| Sunday, December 23, 2012 | New York Giants | 3-1 Overall, 1-0 Home | 4:25 PM | W 33-14 |
| Sunday, January 30, 2012 | @Cincinnati Bengals | 18-14 Overall, 7-9 Away | 1:00 PM | L 23-17 |
| 2012 Post Season | ||||
| Date | Opponent | Record | Time | Result |
| Sunday, January 6 | Indianapolis Colts | 3-9 Overall, 3-4 Home | 1:00 PM | W 24-9 |
| Saturday, January 12 | @Denver Broncos | 6-4 Overall, 1-3 Away | 4:30 PM | W 38-35 (2 OT) |
| Sunday, January 20 | @New England Patriots | 2-7 Overall, 1-5 Away | 4:30 PM | W 28-13 |
| Sunday, February 3 | San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans |
3-1 Overall | 6:20 PM | W 34-31 |
Relevant Football Links
- NFL: Tie Breaking Procedures
- Johnny Road Trip NFL Schedules 2010-2017
- PrintYourBrackets.com Good source of printable team schedules
- NFL Rule Book
- Spotrac.com Awesome source of player contracts and impact on salary cap
Iggy’s Predictions
- Super Bowl
- BALTIMORE (+3.5) over San Francisco. All things being equal, the Ravens are a slight bit better, and more experienced than the 49ers. WIN!!!
- Season:: 174-93 Straight Up, and 138-129 Against the Spread
Please send comments to Iggy at tealdragon.net