I'll be back!

Total slacker, I know, but life kind of got in the way here. It's all good, y'all! I will be back at the start of the 2013 offseason!

Drama in the Saints locker room

Well, not really in the locker room since their season is over, but there's still drama. Apparently there's an unnamed member of the Saints defense that is not happy with offensive coordinator Steve Spagunolo. This morning New Orleans newspaper The Times-Picayune published comments from this unnamed player. Comments such as: "He does have that good-guy persona, but he is a control freak and treats people like crap," the player said. (Spagnuolo has) no patience and zero personality. (He) has a way of pissing players and our defensive coaches off with how he says and does things. (I) think it's even harder after having (former defensive coordinator) Gregg (Williams), who guys enjoyed." This didn't sit too well with some players, namely linebackers Jonathan Vilma and Curtis Lofton. Vilma said, "We're not the Jets who run to the media for everything." When he was asked if the comments were off base he didn't exactly defend Spags but instead took issue that the anonymous player ran his mouth. "That's not the question or the point. If he's man enough to tell you, he should be man enough to put his name on it. And you should do the same." Lofton, on the other hand, defended Coach Spagunolo. "It was his first year putting [his defense scheme] in, and everything we went through, yeah I'm a firm believer in the system... I think it's a complicated system, but at the same time it has an answer for everything an offense does. We will be successful in the future. ... Yes, there is some thinking that goes into it before the play and during the play, but once you've got a grasp to it, I really think this is a great system." Interesting, to say the least. Link: http://mobile.nola.com/nolabatonrouge/pm_119533/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=ulx4EoUw

After 17 years in the game, 13-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XXXV MVP linebacker Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens will retire after his playoff run. Greatest middle linebacker of all time. In my opinion. Sad to see him go, but after an injury-plagued season perhaps it's time.

It's wild card playoff time (this weekend)!

I'm looking forward to this post-season more than someone whose team is out normally would. Perhaps it's because I've accepted the fact that my team wasn't going to be in the playoffs after week 1. That doesn't mean I can't get excited, right? Of course not. I can give unbiased predictions and look at the playoff schedule with an open mind, not to mention less stress.

This weekend brings us four match ups, one potentially epic.

AFC: Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans (Saturday, January 5 @ 4:30pm eastern): How horrible has Houston been of late? Now, before I get too far into this I want to let it known that I was one of the ones who never bought into this "Bulls on Parade" thing this season. Yes, they're a decent team, but that's all I'm going to give them. They won a weak division and trounced weak teams - although they barely beat Jacksonville and Detroit. When they were put up against "real" teams (like Green Bay and New England) they showed their true colors - a team not ready for the prime time just yet. They have the talent to win but they are far outmatched against established teams, not to even mention the fact that they have a horrid pass defense. The Bengals team they will face this post-season is not the same one that laid down and died in that 31-10 defeat they faced against the Texans last year and they have a great chance to expose the Texans' injury-riddled secondary, and I think they will do just that. The advantage is for the Texans, given that they're playing at home but if the same team that's showed up during the final weeks of the season - and I think they will - and if Matt Schaub doesn't bring an epic performance - and I don't think he will - this is going to be a tight game, and Cincinnati will walk away with the win. I think it will come down to a field goal, perhaps even in overtime. Cincinnati 24, Houston 21.

NFC: Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers (Saturday, January 5 @ 8:00pm eastern): Naturally one would give the advantage to Green Bay simply because they have Aaron Rodgers and Lambeau Field on their side. I personally think those two things are enough to give this game to the Packers. But, just as with Houston, their secondary leaves a lot to be desired, so I don't think this win will be handed to them on a silver platter. It will be a fight but the score won't reflect it. Of course Adrian Peterson is going to run the ball, but that won't be enough to win. Neither will the fact that Christian Ponder is much better than he was when the season started. Minnesota 17, Green Bay 27.

AFC: Indianapolis Colts @ Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, January 6 @ 1:00pm eastern): This one is hard for me because it's the battle between an unpredictable team and an unpredictable quarterback. If the Joe Flacco who played against (and beat) the Giants earlier in the season shows up, Baltimore will win. If the Colts that beat Houston last week show up, they will win. No pun intended, but the Colts have seemingly had luck on their side all season, not to mention the added inspiration of Chuck Pagnano. If Andrew Luck can make a few huge plays, it will be their game to lose. I'm going to go on a whim here... Indianapolis 21, Baltimore 17.

NFC: Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Redskins (Sunday, January 6 @ 4:40pm eastern): I'm looking forward to this match up more than the Super Bowl. Rookie vs. Rookie. Make that Amazing Rookie vs. Amazing Rookie. Washington's defense isn't particularly stellar so they will be leaning on Robert Griffin III's arm and legs just as they have all season, probably even moreso. Seattle's defense is what sets the tone in their games, so if they bring their A-game the Redskins are going to have to do more than letting RGIII keep the ball. These two teams didn't get this far by having mediocre quarterbacks. Russell Wilson is sensational and I just don't see Washington's defense easily containing him. However, Seattle's record on the road this season is kind of dismal (3-5) and that glaring fact cannot be overlooked. This is definitely going to be an interesting game, hopefully an epic one, and has the potential to be the best game of the entire post-season. Seattle 24, Washington 31.

As for who I want to win - Houston over Cincinnati, Green Bay over Minnesota, Baltimore over Indianapolis, Washington over Seattle.

Black Monday recap anyone?

Condensing the information so you don’t have to! The NFL unemployment line is long and it’s only one day out of the regular season.

Here is a team-by-team daily update:

Arizona Cardinals : GM Rod Graves, head coach Ken Whisenhunt, assistant head coach/offensive line coach Russ Grimm, offensive coordinator Mike Miller, offensive quality control coach Chad Grimm, quarterbacks coach John McNulty, wide receivers coach Frank Reich and running backs coach Tommie Robinson all got the axe today. The only offensive coach not fired was tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens.

Baltimore Ravens : With 7 head coaches and 5 general managers being let go today there are quite a few major job openings around the league. The Ravens have confirmed that “a number of NFL teams” have contacted the team asking to interview Assistant GM Eric DeCosta. Hopes were dashed when DeCosta nixed the idea before it even started. “I love being a part of the Ravens and plan to stay here and help them win championships… I have no intentions of leaving this team.”

Buffalo Bills : This one is simple to report. After a 6-10 season, head coach Chan Gailey and his entire staff has been dismissed. GM Buddy Nix still has a job, as of now. I think the forking out of that $100 million for Mario Williams won’t really help matters much.

Carolina Panthers : Head coach Ron Rivera might not have a job. That’s about all the news I’ve got on that front. I think it would be ridiculous to get rid of him.

Chicago Bears : In a move that shocked a lot of people (well, unless you’re a Bears fan), head coach Lovie Smith was let go today, even if his team that was significantly banged up won 10 games this season.

Cleveland Browns : Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur were relieved of their duties as general manager and head coach, respectively. I’ll pretend to act shocked….

Dallas Cowboys : Jason Garrett still has a job.

Detroit Lions : … so does Jim Schwartz.

(But Lovie Smith doesn’t.)

Kansas City Chiefs : Romeo Crennel was relieved of his head coaching duties. I assume this is because those that run the team apparently think changing head coaches will magically make a team better. Three coaches in the last 5 years and nothing has changed. Obviously there’s something else wrong there. (*ahemScottPiolicough*)

New Orleans Saints : They didn’t fire defensive coordinator Steve Spagunolo despite having the worst defense in NFL history. Not only that, but they’re probably the only 7-9 team that signed their head coach to a new contract. And, as of today, that whole bounty thing has officially ceased to be important.

New York Jets : General manager Mike Tannebbaum is now looking for another job. Rex Ryan is not.

Philadelphia Eagles : Duh. Andy Reid = gone. The Eagles have confirmed reports they will be interviewing Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and Falcons special teams coach Keith Armstrong.

San Diego Chargers : So long, Norv Turner and AJ Smith. By the way, the Saints want to thank you for Drew Brees and Darren Sproles. Best thing you've ever done!

Late start?

I know the season is over, but that doesn’t mean I can get started with this blog of mine now, right? Right. This is something I’ve been wanting to do all season long but jumping in mid-season would throw off the balance of things, or something like that.

Since I’m new here, let’s get a few things out of the way:

#1: Yes, I’m a female. That doesn’t mean I don’t know about football. That doesn’t mean I just watch to look at the tight ends in their tight pants. However, being female, a straight female at that, I do appreciate eye candy from time to time. Bite me. This isn’t a blog for me to post the “sexy NFL player of the week.” I have opinions and thoughts and observations, dammit.

#2: I’m from New Orleans, born and raised. I AM A SAINTS FAN. Hopefully the fact that I’m coming in late here will show some people that I am not biased. I will gladly sit here and tell the world that the Saints sucked huge you-know-what this season. If you want to discuss that, bring it on. I ain’t scared!

#3: This is an NFL blog, not a European football blog. If you came here thinking I’d be discussing Juventus or Manchester United or Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, sorry. You are more than welcomed to stick around though and learn a few things! (You can also marvel at the fact that I just listed four European football teams.)

#4: Just because this is a football blog doesn’t mean I might not drop in the occasional observation/opinion/rant about baseball, boxing or soccer (European football). It happens. I just won’t discuss basketball because I don’t watch it, nor do I care about it.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go finish laughing at Tony Romo and prepare for what I hope will be an exciting NFL post-season.