By Zack Cimini
notjustagame23@gmail.com

With all of the underdogs that covered last week, we are just happy to deliver another week of over .500 picks. Each and every week we’ve done that thus far and will try to continue that pattern heading into week five.

Last Weeks Record: 8-6
Overall Record: 33-27-2

Baltimore -7- The Ravens will make the necessary adjustments and halt the Broncos dink and dump offense. It’s amazing they’ve put together this many wins without a running game.

Jacksonville- Pick- If David Garrard manages a game properly like he did against the Colts this should be a smooth breeze. The problem with Jacksonville is Garrard has a hard time with his consistency. We’d expect him to be able to win this matchup against Fitzpatrick. Look for Buffalo to run it a lot with Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller, but be left in the dust.

Kansas City +8- Here’s a line that’s moved considerably since opening around 8.5-9 points depending on the sports book. Indianapolis has a plethora of injuries on both sides of the ball and just isn’t near the dominating team were use to seeing. Kansas City has a new demeanor as a team and will have the physicality edge against the Colts. That may not be enough to win the game but will take the points easily.

Detroit- -3- St. Louis’s defense has been underrated this year. Their play has helped to protect rookie Sam Bradford from having to force and generate points. Detroit is a tough team to stop offensively. This week should be the first that we see a lot of Bradford mistakes.

Atlanta -3- Cleveland almost let one slip away in the fourth after outplaying the Bengals for most of the game. Atlanta is a disciplined team that has too many difference makers than the Browns.

Cincinnati -7- The lines this high for a reason. We don’t necessarily like it but sometimes you have to study the line and think why did the odds makers set it so high. Tampa Bay was a fortunate 2-0 team that made Charlie Batch look like a legit veteran.

Chicago -3- Even with Todd Collins starting the Bears can do enough offensively to put pressure on Jimmy Clausen. Plus Clausen has little weapons to utilize with Steve Smith out and receiver Dwayne Jarret cut. The Giants did wear the Bears defense down eventually with the run game. Backs such as DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have the capabilities but how much will they be down by the fourth this game?

Washington +2.5- The Redskins jumped on the Eagles early and controlled the game the rest of it. Green Bay has quietly side stepped issues they have had barely winning games. The injury bug has hit them rough and this won’t be a game they can escape narrowly.

NY Giants +3- Andre Johnson’s dinged up and Arian Foster should come back to Earth this game. Matt Schaub has always struggled against pressure. After what New York did last week it’ll already be in his head mentally.

New Orleans -7- This line hasn’t been moving much for some reason. Even if the Saints do not score a ton offensively the points they convert off turnovers will be enough.

San Diego -6- The Raiders will be looking to run the football extensively with Michael Bush and Darren McFadden. Three of their receivers are hurt in Chaz Schilens, Louis Murphy, and Derrius Hayward-Bey. San Diego got that clinching win last week against the Cardinals that should propel them against their divisional rivals.

Dallas -6.5- Tennessee is in trouble with Chris Johnson getting drilled and having difficulty getting in the open field. Vince Young doesn’t have the arm to win a game and may see himself seated on the bench once again.

San Francisco -3.5- 49ers just keep losing the close ones. You’ve got to feel bad for them. Kevin Kolb gets a chance to put his stamp on the starting job. He didn’t handle the pressure to well the first time. After losing to McNabb and answering questions all week, we see him handling this in a poor outing.

Minnesota +4- If the Vikings would of started the year on the right foot the way people expected, this would be a pick em game. Take the points and watch the Vikings come out with the swagger that’s been missing their first three weeks. Traveling to New York in a prime time game coming off a bye week with an addition of Randy Moss, sounds like an adrenaline boost.

Tune in to this weeks new pod cast. Features fantasy segments and spread picks analysis to help you for week five.

Jabbar Harris and Zack Cimini discuss the Mike Vick/Kevin Kolb controversy at quarterback. Coaches on the hotseat. Start em/Sit’ em Fantasy players. Lock and upset underdog choices this weekend and much more.

By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

One agent that deserves strong praise is that of Michael Vick’s. Away from the game over a year he landed Vick a contract over a million last year, and an option of 5.2 million for the second year. Well the Eagles brought him back after almost everyone expected them to part ways. That salary will make Vick one of the highest paid backups in the NFL. Pressure is on the young first year starting quarterback Kevin Kolb.

He knows the team made a huge sacrifice and gutsy move by parting ways with one of the biggest Eagles franchise players since the 80’s in Donovan McNabb. Playing in Philadelphia comes with expected results. Wins. Kolb needs to go out and produce from week one onward. If not guess who is awaiting in the wings to get out there and showcase his redemption attempt as a starting quarterback? Mr. Vick.

Last year was sort of like a tune up for Vick. We all know his capabilities and what his old weaknesses were. Those likely will not change. After all his time off though he looked out of gear sort of like when Michael Jordan came back in 1995 after a huge layoff playing baseball. Now that Vick has familiarized himself and been active in football like drills daily, his sense of the game is going to reappear on a stronger level. The Eagles must of saw some flashes of Vick’s old self or the project of brining him back would have ended abruptly.

Right now the Eagles have no clue what direction they’re headed. They will know by mid to late October though. This franchise is either getting turned over to Kevin Kolb or Michael Vick. The game of toying with Vick as a decoy and specially utilized player ten times a game will not happen anymore. It caused more harm to the flow of the teams overall chemistry than Andy Reid would of liked in 2009. Plus Vick is no longer the third string quarterback. As a backup entering 2010 they need to protect their insurance in case Kolb lands out with an injury. They surely do not want to have to start Mike Kafka.

Showcasing what the Eagles have done from a front office stand point it leaves them with options. They’re believing Kevin Kolb can get the job done but are they? They extended his contract that was set to expire after this year only an extra season. The value is only 12.2 million for both those years. Not the top of the heap when it comes to starting quarterbacks money. Vick will be making nearly just as much this season. Call it more of an investment strategy where the Eagles spent a combined 11 million to figure things out.

Fantasy discussions of Vick are premature but he will be a factor this season. It’s hard to name a first year starter that has come out and lit afire from the gate. It just does not happen and won’t for Kevin Kolb. There’s just a lot more things they can go wrong instead of go his way. Donovan McNabb basically led the Eagles to the playoffs like clockwork every season.

Bordering at or below .500 will only raise the pressure on Kolb and reasons to see Vick in action. If Kolb gets the team rolling, how will the typical string of losses affect him as they happen? Some quarterbacks fight it off and others succumb and fold even further. It’ll be interesting to see what happens but Vick will be ready to go. Once he gets out there what type of quarterback will we see? We think Vick can flourish in the Eagles system and create havoc just like he did a few years ago. This is not a dream like turn of events story that we envision happening. This is business related. You can see where this is headed with a binocular view from general manager Tom Heckert’s press box.