SB Nation User Blog: MonkeyBusiness

Nicknames for Donald Brown

MonkeyBusiness — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:16:25 -0000

As we all know, it's important for players to have nicknames. During the FO draft, I stated the following, after suggesting that all players be compared to dinosaurs:

"Monkey Business: Donald Brown is a great one-cut, north/south runner, much like a Velociraptor."

It has subsequently been noted as being "the single greatest line ever written about the game of football."

Consequently, I'm recommending that we nickname our new rookie running back Donald "Velociraptor" Brown.

Thoughts?

Where does drafting in the first round get you? Let's find out!

MonkeyBusiness — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:24:09 -0000

I posted this over on 18to88.com and thought I'd share it here too.

So, I went back and made a draft chart to figure out whether there's any correspondence to winning the Super Bowl, and where and how many times you draft in the 1st round.

The minimum number of draft picks was 5 (Colts, Dolphins, Eagles, Redskins), and the maximum was 9 (49ers, Lions). The 4 Super Bowl winners from this period drafted 8 (Steelers and Patriots), 6 (Giants) and 5 (Colts).

The teams that drafted the most in the top 8 picks (1/4th) are the Raiders (5), Lions/Browns (4), Cardinals/Jets/Saints/Falcons/Jaguars (3). The teams that did not draft at all in the top 8 picks are the Pats, Steelers, Ravens, Broncos, and Colts. It should be noted that during the selected time period, the Colts didn't even draft in the top 16 picks, and only drafted ONCE in the top 24. The Giants drafted twice in the top 24, the Pats drafted 6 times, and the Steelers drafted 5 times.

2 Super Bowl participants (Cardinals and Bears) and the 2 multiple winners (Patriots and Steelers) were in the top half in number of first round picks. 3 participants and the other two winners were in the bottom half.

Only the Cardinals were in the top half of top 8 picks. The Bears, Panthers, Giants, and Seahawks had 1 each. and the Pats, Steelers, Colts, and Eagles had none.

So, here's my conclusion.
- There is a negative correlation between drafting multiple times in the top 8 picks and either making or winning the Super Bowl. Only the Cardinals drafted that much that high and made it. Single selections are unlikely but possible (Giants won; Bears, Panthers, and Seahawks lost)
- The Super Bowl winner and participant will most likely draft in the bottom 16 picks. Only 3 teams have come from outside this area (Pats, Cards, and Panthers).
- The Super Bowl winner will have a pick in the first round. The participant may not.
- There is a positive correlation between a high number of first round picks and winning the Super Bowl. The Patriots and Steelers both drafted 8 times in the first round, second most throughout the league.
- There is also a positive correlation between drafting little in the first round. The Giants and Colts drafted 6 times and 5 times, respectively.

And now, my commentary:
- Arizona's run last season was improbable, to say the least. They're tied for 3rd for most top 8 picks.
- The Colts need more first round picks. We drafted 3 less times than the Steelers or Patriots, both of whom won 2 Super Bowls during the selected time period.
- If you're a betting man, here are your "safe" bets for the Super Bowl winner: Jets, Bears, Bucs, Eagles, Vikings, Pats, Falcons, Dolphins, Ravens, Colts, Giants, Cardinals, or Steelers. I personally would eliminate the Jets, Bears, Bucs, and Dolphins, Ravens, and Cardinals. So, Eagles, Vikings, Pats, Falcons, Colts, Giants, or Steelers.

So, to answer the premise of the article, it's actually in Detroit's best interest to not even draft in the top 16. Yes, it sounds ridiculous, but history has shown that if you're drafting that high, you're not winning the Super Bowl.

Colts fans in Chicago

MonkeyBusiness — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 04:53:33 -0000

I don't know what everyone else is doing for the Colts game this weekend, but my best friend is going to be in town and we wanted to hang out at a Colts bar in Chicago. As I understand it, Mullen's in Wrigleyville is a good spot for us. I was wondering if there are any other Colts fans in Chicago that wanted to come hang out and join the party? It'd be great to meet some people and watch our favorite team. GO COLTS!

The Greatest Game Ever Played II: Colts Vs. Giants, Super Bowl XLIII

MonkeyBusiness — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 01:05:03 -0000

I know it's premature, but I just saw an article on ESPN noting that the Greatest Game Ever Played celebrates it's 50th anniversary this season. Wouldn't it be something if the Colts and Giants met in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa for a rematch?

You've got the Manning Brothers, the oldest of which is often favorably compared to Johnny Unitas. You've got two sets of offensive and defensive lines. Two sets of playmakers on both sides of the ball. It would be an incredible game.

For those of you that don't remember, the Colts won :)

Looking Ahead to Next Season: Colts and Titans

MonkeyBusiness — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:35:07 -0000

With the Titans clinching of an AFC South championship thanks to a win over the moribund Browns, I thought I'd take a look and see how the two teams' schedules will look for next season. The AFC South draws the AFC East and the NFC West next season.

Colts
Home: TEN, HOU, JAX, NE, NYJ, SF, SEA, SD
Away: TEN, HOU, JAX, BUF, MIA, ARI, STL, BAL

Titans
Home: IND, HOU, JAX, BUF, MIA, ARI, STL, DEN
Away: IND, HOU, JAX, NE, NYJ, SF, SEA, PIT

The Colts definitely have a more favorable schedule. They get the Patriots, Jets, and San Diego at home, and may only face real road challenges in Buffalo (depending on the timing), Arizona, and Baltimore. However, Baltimore has a tendency to be up one year and down another. This year seems to be an up year and the Colts always play best against them, so that might be more lopsided than predicted. Also, the jury is still out on Arizona, who could be worse than advertised next season.

The Titans draw away games at New England, New York, and Pittsburgh, and take long trips to San Francisco and Seattle.

The Colts will play likely Divisional champs TEN, NYJ, and ARI. However, it's very easy to predict that NE and SD could regain their Divisional crowns next season.

The Titans will play likely Divisional champs ARI, DEN, NYJ, and PIT. However, they draw the Colts twice and NE.

My Predictions: Colts go 13-3 with an AFC South championship. Titans go 10-6 and barely miss the playoffs.

My Reason: This season has shown that the Colts are a tough, resiliant organization, and similar to 2007 I predict the Colts will come back with a vengeance and start destroying teams, especially divisional rivals, again. Injured players will get healthy, another stellar draft class will offer their services, and the Colts will continue to just win. It's hard to predict which games the Colts will lose; the AFC South is not an easy division, but we draw our hardest games at home. Still, in bad weather it's possible to knock us around.

The Titans are due for a big regression. Prior to stomping on the head of Andre Gurode, no one had heard of Albert Haynesworth. Now he's an unstoppable defensive force, who is once again in a contract year. The Titans will be faced with the unenviable position of giving him a big money long term contract, which will kill his work ethic and desire to play like a man possessed, or lose his services and let him go elsewhere. Moreover, they have a real problem at quarterback. Kerry Collins is no spring chicken, but Vince Young has not shown the maturity or ability to lead a franchise yet. In a best case scenario, Collins stays around another year or two as a starter and mentor to VY before retiring, and the Titans are forced to give him a starter-level contract or franchise him for two years. Worst case scenario: Collins goes elsewhere, Vince Young gets cut, and the Titans hope to replicate the success of Atlanta and Baltimore with Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco.

So, what's everyone's thoughts?

Manning Bowl II - The Hype Has Begun!

MonkeyBusiness — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:11:27 -0000

From SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/lee_jenkins/11/26/mannings/index.html?eref=T1)

"Although hype is building mostly for a potential Giants-Jets Super Bowl, a Manning-Manning Super Bowl cannot be ruled out either.

Not only have the Colts won four games in a row, but also they've captured the unofficial title of "team no one in their right mind wants to face in the playoffs." The Colts have little chance of overtaking Tennessee in the AFC South, but at 7-4 they control their own destiny for a wild-card berth, owning tiebreakers over New England and Baltimore. As a wild-card entry, the Colts would almost certainly have to win three road games to get to the Super Bowl, but in the past four weeks they have already won at Pittsburgh, at San Diego and beaten the Patriots at home. The Titans and Jets, nouveau riche in the AFC, have nowhere near the postseason pedigree the Colts do.

The Colts have a history of peaking too early. In 2005, they started 13-0. In '06, they started 9-0. In '07, they started 7-0. But only one of those seasons ended at the Super Bowl. The Colts, by virtue of their torrid starts, were able to relax at the end of the regular season. Once they relaxed, their momentum waned. But this season, without their traditional margin for error, the Colts have proven they can play on an edge. Their four straight victories have come by a combined 16 points, proof that they are not as potent as they used to be, but perhaps more gutty. Against San Diego on Sunday night, the Colts offense practically refused to leave the field, converting an impressive 10 of 17 third downs and two fourth downs."

Now, as much as I'd like to win another Super Bowl, the hype on an all-Manning Super Bowl would completely bury the Pats 19-0 quest last season. You'd be talking about the last two Super Bowl MVPs, who also happen to be brothers.

Jenkins does make a good point though. The Jets and Titans aren't known for their playoff successes. Moreover, the Jets still have to win their division, which isn't assured yet. The Titans have the AFC South locked up, but that doesn't mean that Kerry Collins or Albert Haynesworth couldn't get hurt and set them adrift.

I'll tell you what though; whoever gets that 5th AFC seed is going to be greatful for a trip to Denver instead of New York or Pittsburgh.

Can the Colts catch the Titans?

MonkeyBusiness — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:08:48 -0000

Now that the Colts are finally playing Colts football, we have to ask ourselves whether or not they can catch the Tennessee Titans and claim another AFC South Championship.

As of today, the Titans are 5-0, 2-0 in Divisional play. The Colts are 3-2, at 1-1 in Divisional play. Here are their schedules:

Titans
@KC
Indy
Packers
@ Chicago
@ Jax
Jets
@ Lions
@ Browns
@ Texans
Steelers
@ Indy

Colts
@ Packers
@ Titans
Patriots
@ Steelers
Texans
@ Chargers
@ Browns
Bengals
Lions
@ Jags
Titans

The Titans have 7 away games remaining, including trips to all three AFC South teams.

The Colts have 6 away games, with 2 trips to the rest of the AFC South.

Realistically, I don't believe that either team will beat the Steelers. I could be wrong, and I hope I am, but I don't see it happening. I could see the Titans losing to the Jets, and the Colts losing to the Chargers.

The key for the Colts is to beat the Titans twice and run the table on the rest of the division, something they should easily be able to do. I'm predicting 12-4 records for both teams, with the Titans finishing in second with a 5-1 Divisional record and an 8-4 AFC Record, and the Colts finishing with a 5-1 Divisional record and a 9-3 AFC Record.

This assumes no catastrophic injuries for either team (Haynesworth for the Titans, Manning for the Colts), and that the Titans don't put Vince Young back in. If the Titans put VY back in, then pencil them in for 10-6 and missing the playoffs.

Thoughts?

Why Brady's Injury Is Good For Us, No Matter What

MonkeyBusiness — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:25:15 -0000

I was thinking about this earlier, and honestly no matter how the Pats' season plays out, it's good for us.

There are two possible outcomes: either the Pats stink up the joint, or they go all the way. By all the way, I mean playoffs or better.

IF THE PATS GO ALL THE WAY:
Then Brady is just an above average QB that benefits greatly from the system he's in, and Belichick is a genius.

IF THE PATS STINK UP THE JOINT:
Then all of Belichick's success is due to having one of the best QBs ever on his team, and Brady becomes the 1a to Manning's 1b.

Let's remember that prior to Brady, Belichick had stunk up the joint in Cleveland.

No matter what, we win, because one of these guys will end up looking much worse than they do now after the season.

Manning vs. Favre - Stats Nerdery!

MonkeyBusiness — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:03:59 -0000

I was intrigued by the Favre fellating as of late, so I decided to figure out where Manning will stand at a hypothetical retirement.

I did basic stats interpretation: I used his career numbers thus far and averaged them out over the remainder of his career, which I assumed to be 8 years, as he's previously stated he'd like to retire after 18 years.

Wins: 201
This assumes the Colts win 12 games over the next 8 years. They could win more. It's the least scientific of the bunch.

TDs: 551
Assumes an average of 30.6 per year. 59 more than Favre has now. He'd need two or three more seasons to put it comfortably out of reach.

Yards: 74,656
It's about 14,000 more yards than Favre has now. He'd need another 3.5 years to put it out of reach.

INTs: 275
Favre will probably keep this one. he's thrown 288.

Games Started: 288
Manning would need 6 more years to beat Favre's games started total. Unlikely but not out of the realm of possibility, and well within his 8 years remaining.

At retirement, Manning would have the #1 spot on all 4 major QB records. It's remarkable; we're literally watching history being made.

Peter King - "Indy will get 2012 Super Bowl"

MonkeyBusiness — Mon, 19 May 2008 11:52:18 -0000

From Peter King's MMQB on SI.com -

"4. I think the worst-kept secret in the NFL is that Indianapolis will get the 2012 Super Bowl when owners meet in Atlanta this week. Indy deserves it. The city lost the 2011 game to Dallas, 17 votes to 15, and there's always been a strong feeling toward new stadiums in cities that have enough hotel rooms and are weatherproof. All domed stadiums in northern cities eventually get one Super Bowl. It happened at the Metrodome, the Silverdome and Ford Field, and the Colts are in line to get the first one ever played in Indiana."