Eagles Win Super Bowl 41 to 33

Nick Foles won the Super Bowl with the same team that he left 3 years ago.  That goes to show that the problem was not the player, the problem was the manager that couldn't develop talent and know how to use the skillset of his team to win.  Well, I did not see this coming: the New England Patriots lost to the Philadelphia Eagles!  This is the first Super Win for the Philadelphia Eagles. The final score was
Eagles - 41
Patriots - 33


For the NFL history buffs Patriots vs Eagles is a rematch from Superbowl XXXIX where the Patriots won 24 to 21. This year things turned out differently.  The Patriots was behind in every quarter of this game, never taking the lead.  For some reason, starting Cornerback, Malcolm Butler, did not play in this game due to coaches decision.

With an injured hand, Tom Brady threw for 505 yards, which is a record, but it was not enough to overcome destiny.  I do not know if the Patriots were celebrating too early, but they did not have an answer for the Eagles well managed team.  To be honest, it was a dog fight and the Patriots did not have an answer for the hay maker blows the Eagles dished out.

The Eagles played as a solid well managed team, but a lot of credit has to be given to Nick Foles. Foles was drafted by the Eagles in 2012.  He had a good start taking over for NFL Michael Vick.  In 2015, out of the blue, Nick Foles was traded to the Rams for an injured Sam Bradford and draft pick.  This was the beginning of the end for Foles career.  Foles lost the start Quarterback on the Rams and became a back up for the Rams and Chiefs.

In 2017, Foles was free agent, signed to a 1 year deal to back the Rookie star Carson Wentz.  The Eagles went on a championship run to clinch a bye week as the top seed in the playoffs.  In week 14, Carson Wentz went down with a season ending ACL tear injury.  Nick Foles was named the started and took the team to win a Super Bowl Championship. What are the odds?  Nick Foles was tossed aside by a bad manager, and he came back to win the team a championship.

As a long time Eagles fan, all I can say is Fly Eagles Fly!  Nick Foles what a hell of a Quartback, from traded to another team to Super Bowl MVP.

Who is John Madden and Why does he have a Video Game?

All I know about John Madden is that he has a video game, and he makes slick statements on why throw the ball short of the first down when you needed the first down to keep the drive going (you have to play the early Madden games to get that reference). So, I always wondered why did John Madden have a video game?

To answer the question we have to start at the beginning of John Madden's professional career.  Few people know that John Madden was a great football player in high school and college.   While in college, Madden won all conference honors as an offensive tackle.  In 1958, John Madden was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 21st round (244 overall).  During training camp, Madden had a knee injury and never gained a chance to play professional in the NFL.  Unable to perform physically, Madden was useless to the NFL and his professional career as a player was over before it got started.

Despite being unable to be a worker in the field, John Madden had a plan that would help him continue his professional football career as a leader on the sidelines.  Madden said, "I got hurt in my rookie year with the Philadelphia Eagles - a knee injury - and I couldn't play.  While I was rehabbing, Norm Van Brocklin would be watching films and would explain what was happening.  I ended up with a degree in teaching, and my love for football meshed with teaching."

Professional success was not instant for John Madden.  In 1960, Madden became assistant coach for the Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.  He was promoted to head in 1962.  After spending 6 years coaching college, Madden got his football in the door of the NFL again.

In 1967, John Madden became the Linebackers coach for the Oakland Raiders.  During that year the Raiders reached the Super Bowl.  After John Rauch resigned from Raiders head coach spot to take the head coach position with the Buffalo Bills, Madden was named the head coach of the Raiders. In 1969, John Madden became the youngest head in the history of the Raiders at 32. In his first season, Madden lead the team to a 12-101 record.

As the Raider's head coach, John reached the AFC championship game 5 out 7.  After losing to the legendary undefeated Dolphins of 1972 and being on the defeated side of the last minute "immaculate reception", Madden gained his first Super Bowl championship in 1976 against the Minnesota Vikings.

After winning the Super in 1976, the Raiders would lose the AFC championship in 1977 and fail to make the playoffs in 1978.  After 10 years, John Madden decided to retire.  Madden would retire as the most winning head coach in NFL history and youngest coach to gain 100 wins.  Madden also never had a losing season as a head coach.

After retiring, John Madden spent his time from 1979 to 2008 as NFL analyst and commentator.  Madden would later turn his analyst skills to new venture known as video games.  In 1988, the first Madden video was created.  When asked why did Madden lend his voice, personality, and name Madden said he views the video games as an educational tool for teaching and testing plays.  in 2012, Madden stated "a way for people to learn the game and participate in the game at a pretty sophisticated level".

And there you have it.  The reason there is a Madden game is b/c Madden was a fan of the sport that had great skills at developing talent and coaching that talent to the most victories in NFL history.  In a way Madden is like video gamers b/c he never played the game professionally but he knows about players and tools to lead to success.  May one day we will see a Madden player become a coach one day.

My take away from studying John Madden's career is that when one door closes, there is always hope another will open by using your knowledge to win and succeed.

Which Underdog teams are in the 2017 - 2018 NFL Playoffs?

2017-2018 was not a perfect or pretty season, but these are the teams listed above are the teams that fought hard and earn a chance to win a championship. If you're like me, then you are surprised by which teams made the NFL playoffs this year.  This year teams competing for the championship title are not the usual teams like the Dallas Cowboys or Seattle Seahawks.  This year teams that have been absent from the playoffs for decades like the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans are looking to redeem their franchise name.  Champions can't be predicted by analyst.  Championships are won by the hearts of champions when it counts.

NFL Playoffs 
AFC
1. New England Patriots
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Kansas City Chief
5.Tennessee Titans
6. Buffalo Bills

NFC
1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. Minnesota Vikings
3. Los Angeles Rams
4.New Orleans Saints
5. Carolina Panthers
6. Atlanta Falcons

First Female Coach in NFL

NFL history has been made by the Arizona Cardinals when they signed Jen Welters is its Linebackers coach for the 2015 season.

According to NFL.com, Jen Welter played rugby at college and then 14 years of professional football in the Women’s Football Alliance. She is currently a member of the Indoor Football League. Welter will complete an internship with the Arizona Cardinals then coach inside linebackers during the preseason training camp.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians, who made the decision to hire Welter, said that gender shouldn’t come into play when it comes to coaching. “If you can make me better, I don’t care if you’re the Green Hornet, man, I’ll listen,” he told NFL.com.

Is ESPN Becoming a Premium Channel?

Founded in 1979, ESPN has provided 24 hour sports of global news to its viewers.  There is no denying that ESPN controls the sports news market.  With demand for sports increasing with the upcoming college and NFL football seasons, rumors are floating around ESPN has a plan to unbundle with the cable packages and be offered as a separate premium channel like HBO. 

Ranked as one of the top reasons consumers renew cable services, ESPN is the primary non-premium channel in demand.  On average consumers only pay around $6 for about 10+ ESPN affiliated channels, so it is reasonable to think that ESPN, an ABC- Disney owned channel, would want more pieces of the pie. It all boils down to money, and who gets the most of it.  

Representatives for ESPN spoke about the idea, and the only information that was given focused on a plan in 5 years to test the waters on the idea but no serious plans other than that.  Being a business and broadcasting double major, I know that with an opportunity like that out there, we should prepare our wallets to start paying for service of sports news from ESPN.

ESPY's Honors a Real Man

Test of a real man. When you know if you don't get out there to provide and protect, then someone you love will die. I know the feeling my brother.  NFL honors Devon Stills and his daughter at the ESPY awards July 15. 

A Multi-Billion Dollar Lawsuit Potentially for NFL and ESPN

During the 4th of July weekend, NFL player Jason Pierre-Paul lost his index finger due to a firework explosion. Several questions are being raised on whether Pierre-Paul has a career left due to his injury and how was this private medical information obtained?

My professional thoughts on if NFL player Jason Pierre-Paul career done because of the firework incident. I would sue ESPN for leaking/reporting private information containing medical records which is a HIPAA violation. If NFL denied him a chance to play/work because he is disabled, then I would sue the NFL because that's a ADA violation.

There has to be a clause in his contract that identifies certain activities that Pierre-Paul cannot participate in which would result in termination of his contract.  Regardless, the medical records being reported to the public by ESPN alone is a lawsuit that no one can get around.  At the least, the hospital and ESPN are liable for legal actions.