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Beckham suspension / College Bowls / NFL QB's / College Hoops

12/29/2015

The Odell Beckham Jr. suspension of one game is a complete joke. That should have easily been 4 games due to multiple penalties and the act of spearing an opponent with intent to injure went way over the line. Josh Norman, the recipient of Beckham's human missile launch should also have garnered at least a two game suspension as he was just as much an instigator in his scuffles with Beckham. The officiating crew should have also landed a suspension by letting that situation get completely out of control. Another instance this season where the officials look like buffoons. The NFL really needs to take a hard look at officiating. The quality has dropped to that of the replacement officials that took field during strike.

While I'll be the first to tell you that there are too many bowl games and even worse that there are too many .500 and below teams filling the field, I'm also consuming about every game that I am able to watch. The simple fact is that soon, college football will be over and only a handful of NFL playoff games left and then there will be no football. So, I'm happy to watch any games available and enjoy getting to watch football on weekday afternoons.

Can you remember an NFL season where so many quarterbacks have been used? As we move into the final week of the regular season, teams are still signing guys off the street. I'm waiting for a team to announce they have signed Vinny Testeverde or Jon Kitna. Not to mention one of the teams that has used 4 QB's this season, the Houston Texans, are vying to land a playoff spot with a quarterback that was previously on another team where he is one of 4 QB's they used this season, the Dallas Cowboys. Brando Weeden went 0-3 as a starter in Dallas, was then benched in favor of Matt Cassel and then cut when Tony Romo came off the injured reserve list. The Indianapolis Colts with faint playoff hopes signed Josh Freeman who are down to their 4th quarterback in Stephen Morris.

So I was having lunch with my friend Lisa today and she told me she has been reading my blog and expects me to start writing about college basketball soon. I'm here after all to take requests and happy to oblige, especially for someone who is rabid about her Kentucky Wildcats to the point I think her blood really is blue. The Wildcats had their annual date with in-state arch rival Louisville this past Saturday and scored a 75-73 win over the Cardinals. I think too much is being made of Louisville Coach Rick Pitino skipping the post game press conference. In all honesty, the pressers are just a huge waste of time and nothing of great consequence is really said most of the time. Now, did Pitino give Kentucky fans the finger? Video seems to indicate he shot a quick one and he said the fans were yelling some over the line stuff at him. Although I don't condone flipping off the fans, if you do, go double barrel like Bryan Cox did with the Miami Dolphins back in the day. The other thing I don't condone is poor fan behavior. Yes, spending your hard earned money gives you the right to cheer and boo and even talk some smack. I don't believe it entitles you to to be personal and insulting. Bottom line in this case is that both sides need to be better than that.

I have a new podcast out this week. Episode 3 features my discussion about my favorite play by play announcers and studio hosts. The SoundCloud feed is embedded below, so hope you'll give it a listen. It is also available on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jeff-allen-sportstalk/id1068897310 and now on TuneIn at this link: http://tunein.com/radio/Jeff-Allen-Sportstalk-p822047/. I hope you will subscribe.

Also don't forget to follow me on Twitter @jeffallen_88

Jeff Allen Sportstalk is brought to you exclusively by Kramer's Salve For Dogs. Help your dog end that itch and hot spot cycle by ordering Kramer's Salve today at kramersalve.net

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My Top 10 Things In Sports for 2015

12/22/2015

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I've compiled my Top 10 in sports for 2015. I'm listing them on this blog and you can get more in-depth thoughts from me on my latest podcast which I will embed in the blog. It's also available on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jeff-allen-sportstalk/id1068897310

Holly Holm taking down the seemingly invincible Rhonda Rousey in UFC.

The New England Patriots goal line interception to win the Super Bowl and subsequent second guessing of whether Seattle should have run the ball.

The Kansas City Royals winning their first World Series in 30 years.

Wichita State knocking off in-state rival Kansas in the NCAA tournament. The Shockers exacting some payback to Jayhawks for not scheduling them since 1993.

Georgia State's first round March Madness upset of Butler as RJ Hunter hits the game winning shot and his father, coaching from a stool due to an Achilles injury, falls off the stool in joy of the moment.

Legendary play by play man Verne Lundquist returning to his roots to call a Dallas Cowboys game on radio.

Golden State winning the NBA Championship for the first time since 1975.

US Women's Soccer winning the World Cup, capped by Carli Lloyd's hat trick in the final game.

Jordan Speith and Jason Day emerging to win majors in golf.

Novak Djokovic winning 3 grand slams in tennis.

Hope you enjoy the podcast - brought to you by Kramer's Salve for Dogs. Happy Holidays!

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The Heisman / Fox Sports Live

12/16/2015

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The race for the Heisman always takes interesting turns over the course of the season to see who wins the award as the best player in college football. I have no problem with the three finalists, Clemson QB Deshaun Watson, Stanford RB Christian McCaffery and the award winner in Alabama RB Derrick Henry. But I do feel that they should invite more finalists and most notably, Navy QB Keenan Reynolds. While Reynolds best statistical season was 2013, his 2015 number were still outstanding and he now holds the career mark for rushing TD's in Division I with 85. While the Heisman is supposed to be for the top player of the year, I think there is room for players for career achievement who have been in the discussion for the award to be on the stage for the ceremony. Reynolds nearly led the Midshipmen to a New Years Six Bowl and what I find most impressive about his career numbers is that Navy is completely focused on running the ball with their triple option offense. Defenses know it and that Reynolds will keep it a lot of the time and he is still almost unstoppable.

In my first blog, I mentioned that I would highlight sports personalities and broadcasts that I like to follow. Today, I want to give props to Fox Sports Live on FS1, which is their nightly competitive offering to ESPN SportsCenter. The main anchor duo of Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole are very humorous and entertaining. They were big in Canada on TSN (one of that nations 24 hour sports nets and ESPN owns a piece of) and have the kind of chemistry that reminds me of the Dan Patrick/Keith Olbermann pairing on ESPN in the 90's. When Fox Sports Live started in 2013, they had a cast of thousands with a third host in Charissa Thompson and a panel of experts, personalities and ex-jocks which made it a bulky operation with no flow. With Jay & Dan featured and more emphasis on the highlights and news, this show is really hitting it's stride and has great energy. If your like me and like finding alternatives to ESPN, this is a good one to put on your list.

Jeff Allen Sportstalk is sponsored by Kramer's Salve for Dogs. Does your dog itch, suffer from debilitating skin allergies, or troubling hot spots? Go to kramersalve.net today to find out how to help your dog can end the itch, hot spot cycle.

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December Crunch Time

12/9/2015

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This is the month that it all comes to fruition. When the contenders separate from the pretenders in the NFL and make the move towards the playoffs. At this time last year, Carolina was 3-8-1 and then caught fire to win a weak NFC South and they haven't lost a regular season game since. Dallas was considered toast after a Thanksgiving beat down by Philadelphia but then ran the table in December in dominant fashion to win the NFC East and now hope to duplicate what the Panthers did last year by rising from the ashes. Here's my take division by division.

AFC East - New England is feeling the effects of injuries taking their toll but their 10-0 start was plenty enough. The real surprise is the NY Jets. Todd Bowles is having an impact as the first year head coach and getting a better than average quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick has them currently as the 6th seed.

AFC North - Cincinnati is having an incredible year. Will they finally be able to win a playoff game. I think this is the year. Pittsburgh is in the playoff hunt at 7-5. If they keep Ben Rothleisberger upright, I think they will be the team no one wants to play if they get in.

AFC South - It comes down to Indianapolis and Houston for the division with both at 6-6. The team that comes in 2nd will be on the bubble. I think Houston comes out on top in this race.

AFC West - Denver leads the division at 10-2. Brock Osweiler has reset the Broncos with Peyton Manning hurt. They should keep riding him. Kansas City started 1-5. Season over, right? Not so fast. After 6 wins in a row they are the 5th seed currently and will be another tough draw in the playoff.

NFC East - Who wants to win this division? Anybody? Anybody? Will someone raise their hand? Doesn't matter. Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington and the NY Giants would have zero impact in the playoffs after taking the division.

NFC North - Green Bay and Minnesota are both 8-4 and currently in the playoff picture. I think they both stay in.

NFC South - Carolina will be the number one seed in the NFC and they have a defense they can ride all the way to the Super Bowl. Tampa Bay is on the rise and Atlanta on the decline at 6-6. I don't either have enough to make a run to get in the playoffs.

NFC West - Another championship caliber defense resides with Arizona. It would be a pretty epic NFC Championship if they play Carolina. Seattle has their legs back under them and will make the playoffs.

I bet if you looked back at power rankings and playoff predictions from late September and early October, it would look like a pile of horse crap. Very little is clear at the quarter pole.

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How bad is the NFL? / Coaching Carousel / Pet Peeves

12/2/2015

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Parity is one thing, but the only thing that is seems to be on par is how many bad teams and how much bad play there is in the NFL. 28 of 32 teams are within 2 games of a playoff spot going into Week 13. That is not a typo. 28! The most at this point in the season since the current playoff format was established in 1990. Teams that have no business even being alive in the playoff hunt can still make a run with 5 games to play. Throw on top of that, the incredible amount of bad officiating and the pro product really has taken a hit. Throw in some lack of administering concussion protocol, off field player issues and the league should be facing a crisis, right? Even with all of that, the NFL is about to get another windfall with the Thursday Night Football package going up for bids which will line up their coffers some more. Roger Goodell comes up short in many areas but somehow seems to fail upwards. We should all be so lucky.

The college coaching carousel is busier this year than most. If you are in the SEC and can't beat Nick Saban, congrats, you are on the hot seat. Mark Richt has been a model coach at Georgia but did not win enough of the BIG games or SEC titles. He will however will get Miami over the hump and back in national championship picture as the ACC will be an easier path and he brings great credibility to the Canes. Les Miles survives at LSU but should never have been in danger. He will need to make some changes in philosophy in order to get the Tigers in contention again. The elite coaches are able to modify so this will be a chance to prove it.

I launched my podcast this past weekend. The theme was my sports pet peeves. Here's a brief synopsis:

1. ESPN game coverage - I am frustrated how throughout a game the game announcers spend so much time giving opinion on the sports issues of the day during the game. ESPN has 20 hours of SportsCenter to do that. Keep it there and let us watch the game!

2. Network Lead Announcers - I find it annoying that networks let their marquee play by play guys do all the big events when often they barely do any games leading up to that. They should rotate those assignments to the other talent that cover the sport more thoroughly. Joe Buck at Fox and Jim Nantz at CBS are the biggest offenders.

3. Phil Simms - He is brutal to listen to during a game. Between his lack of ability to manufacturer his thoughts in speech and plain poor analysis, it's a head scratcher that he is able to broadcast NFL games.

I'd like to know your sports pet peeves. Please do so in the comments section or hit me up on Twitter @jeffallen_88

You can hear more in depth on my podcast which I will embed below for your listening pleasure. I hope you enjoy it.

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Unique yet common sense sports opinions

Beckham suspension / College Bowls / NFL QB's / College Hoops

My Top 10 Things In Sports for 2015

The Heisman / Fox Sports Live

December Crunch Time

How bad is the NFL? / Coaching Carousel / Pet Peeves

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