Author: anthonywootton78

We’re finally into Super Bowl week, but one story still dominates the NFL – the size of Brady’s balls. This story will not go away.

The New England head coach, Bill Belichick has become a physics professor in the last seven days. He’s even resulted to name checking characters from My Cousin Vinny when discussing ballsgate.

Nobody plays the media better than Belichick. He knows how ridiculous this storyline is, especially during the biggest week of the year for the NFL. Both the Patriots and the Colts had the same size balls in the second half – New England blew Indy away 28-0 in that final half hour.

If there’s any team that can bottle up this negative energy and use it to their advantage it’s the Patriots. Nothing seems to phase them. They seem to relish adversity. Tom Brady looked like he was ready to choke during his press conference last week, but when it comes down to business he’ll step up to the plate and perform. He’s a winner and he’s hungry for that fourth ring.

There’s always a lot of media hysteria around Super Bowl week. Professional footballers are excellent at uniting together and blocking out the outside world. It’s what they do. Both Seattle and New England will be quietly going about their business and using ball pressure to their advantage.

The full line-up of kickoff times for the 2015 International Series is:

October 4: New York Jets at Miami Dolphins, 2:30 p.m. UK (9:30 a.m. ET)

October 25: Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:30 p.m. UK (9:30 a.m. ET)

November 1: Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs, 2:30 p.m. UK (9:30 a.m. ET)

This marks the first time that all three International Series games in London will occupy a stand-alone breakfast time slot in the US. The first and only previous International Series game to be staged as an early afternoon kickoff in the UK was when the Atlanta Falcons hosted the Detroit Lions on October 26, 2014.

NFLUK Managing Director Alistair Kirkwood said: “Our fan research has shown overwhelming support for early kickoffs. It has been a complex process to get that agreed for all three games but we are delighted to have done so. It means that the London games all have their own timeslot and also allows the teams to get home a day earlier to begin their bye weeks. I’m sure the fans will be excited about having four live game windows on those three Sundays.”

The championship games failed to disappoint. There can be no better advert for the sport than the game we saw in Seattle.

The Seahawks were down and out going into the final quarter. Their fans, regarded by some as the best in the league, had given up on them. Hundreds of “The Twelves” had already left the stadium by the time their quarterback, Russell Wilson, led the team down the field and ran in a touchdown moments before the two minute warning.

Cue the onside kick. The Seahawks kicker, Steven Hauschka, was 1&4 for onside kick-offs as he ran up to the ball. The pigskin hung in the air, arching its way to Green Bay’s number one receiver. But it never made it never landed in the arms of Jordy Nelson. His blocker, tight end Brandon Bostick, sensed his moment of glory as he reached to pick the ball from the air. Rather than clutch it in his hands, he dropped the ball and handed possession to Seattle. The Seahawks scored and completed the two-point conversion which meant a Packers field goal in the remaining 1:25 would take the game into overtime.

Rodgers led the charge with a limp, set up Mason Crosby’s 48 yard field goal and added time ensued. The Seahawks won the toss and the rest is history. Jermaine Kearse caught the championship-winning touchdown for the second season in a row.

Russell Wilson proved why he’s set to become the league’s highest paid QB. Despite struggling for three quarters, throwing four picks, he rallied his troops when they needed him. A lesser team would have rolled over, but these defending champions have forgotten how to lose and they won’t give up their crown without a fight.

If Seattle are going to win back-to-back Super Bowls they’ll have to stop the greatest-ever post season quarterback. Tom Brady broke Joe Montana’s play-off record for touchdowns thrown against the Ravens last week. He led the Patriots in their AFC championship thumping of the Indianapolis Colts, beating Andrew Luck & Co 45-7.

The Patriots are heading to their sixth Super Bowl of the Brady-Belichick era. They rarely ran the ball last week, but it was a different story in this championship game. LeGarrette Blount rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns in this drubbing. This Pats team can mix it up when they have to, offensive lineman Nate Solder even caught a touchdown.

Super Bowl XLIX has all the hallmarks for a classic. Tom Brady vs the Legion of Boom. Russell Wilson vs the best Patriots defence for eight years.

The Seahawks defend their crown in Arizona, the scene of the Patriots’ toughest loss under Belichick. Expect to read plenty more plots over the coming fortnight as we gear up for a spectacular season finale between the two best teams in the league.

Sunday – 7:30pm: Green Bay Packers vs Seattle Seahawks (Sky Sports 1)

Sunday – 11:30pm: Indianapolis Colts vs New England Patriots (Sky Sports 1)

Monday – 11:35pm: The American Football Show (highlights on Channel 4)

San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York and General Manager Trent Baalke surprised a few people on Wednesday when they announced the appointment of Defensive Line coach Jim Tomsula as the team’s new Head Coach.  

Just hours before his appointment news was spreading on social media that the Denver Broncos Offensive Coordinator, Adam Gase, had been interviewed and was set to be named as the new top man. Instead, the hierarchy at the Levi’s Stadium opted to stay in-house. “Jim Tomsula is clearly the right man for the job”, said York.  

Within minutes the 49ers’ Tight End, Vernon Davis, was on Instagram pledging his support for his new leader. He was later on TV saying, “I think Tomsula has what it takes to be one of the best coaches in the league”. Davis had a season to forget in 2014, so if Tomsula can get him back to being the player he was 12 months earlier then he’s halfway to cracking it.  

The players clearly love him. 49ers Safety, Eric Reid, tweeted, “Extremely happy for Jimmy T! Can’t wait to get back at it!” Linebacker Patrick Willis has worked with Tomsula since his rookie year and has talked about his “love” for his new HC and called him a player’s coach.

That’s what this team have got, a leader who connects with his players. Jim Tomsula is a man who has gained the respect of this talented squad and he now has the challenge of turning them into winners again. It’s not going to be easy to replicate the success Jim Harbaugh had in his first three years in charge. But, the players had clearly grown tired of Harbaugh’s methods. Okay, the team was ravaged with injuries last season but it was obvious that they’d lost that desire to fall on their swords for their leader.  

Hours before their final game at home to Arizona on the 28th of December, Harbaugh announced to his players that he was leaving. During the 60 minutes of football that followed the 49ers had their swagger back. They looked like the team that had made the NFC Championship games the previous three years running. They played with spirit. For whatever reason, they looked like the shackles had been freed.  

This man slept in his car with his cat and dog whilst chasing his dream

Tomsula appears to have their full support and, most importantly, the support of the leaders within the team. The 49ers just might get their game back in 2015, along with a group of elite players returning from injury.

It will be interesting to see who he appoints as his new Offensive Coordinator. Whoever he brings in will have to get to work on improving their franchise quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. Kap regressed last season and needs to improve if this team is going to succeed next season. A wide receiver with pace will be top of their recruiting priorities this off season, be it in the draft or free agency. Could we see Adam Gase come in, if he doesn’t get his Head Coach offer elsewhere?  

Jim Tomsula certainly deserves his crack at the big time. Before coaching full time he worked as a janitor, a rug salesman, a newspaper deliverer and a firewood cutter. He did all of that to make ends meet while chasing his dream. The phone call that changed his life forever came as he was selling floor cleaning products to a department store. He was asked to move to London and coach defensive linemen for the London Monarchs. He also spent time with the Scottish Claymores, before moving to Germany and worked as defensive coordinator for the Berlin Thunder a position he held for the 2004 and 2005 seasons. In 2006 he became the head coach of Rhein Fire. 

In 2007 he moved to The Bay. This man slept in his car with his cat and dog whilst chasing his dream. We’ll soon find out if this fairytale story has a happy ending.

NFL UK announced on the weekend that the two October International Series games will have a lunchtime kick-off. The early kick-off was trialled on the Detroit Lions vs Atlanta Falcons game this season and it proved a success.

Huge crowds gathered at the tailgate from as early as 9:30am. Channel 4 bought into the occasion with Tim Lovejoy presenting Sunday Brunch outside Wembley Arena.

These kick-off times are exclusive. They’re a symbol of how far the game has grown in the UK. No other game will be broadcast in the States whilst the two teams slug it out under the Wembley arch.

The London games have become a unique occasion. Players and staff have enjoyed their experiences over here and teams are keen to come. The Kansas City Chiefs don’t have to head over. They only get eight home games a season and they sell out each and every one. But they know there’s a market here and they want a slice of it.

UK fans are some of the most devoted in the world. For three decades we’ve stayed awake until the early hours of the morning to follow the game we love. These early kick-off times allow us to experience games like the Americans do. Traditionally it’s a sport played on a Sunday afternoon. Fans flock to the stadium for a spot of lunch at the tailgate and then enjoy three hours of exhilarating football.

The early times also makes the sport accessible for a wider audience. Families can watch it on television sets without worrying about getting the children to bed on time. Children, the fans of the future, are able to see more of the sport than the “old guard”. It means the sport can grow this side of the Atlantic and demand for our London franchise will remain strong.

The NFL will keep testing us until they’re certain that every stone hasn’t been left unturned. What they’ll find is that UK fans are ready for our team.

October 4: New York Jets at Miami Dolphins, 2:30 p.m. UK (9:30 a.m. ET)

October 25: Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:30 p.m. UK (9:30 a.m. ET)

Kickoff time for the Detroit Lions at the Kansas City Chiefs on November 1 will be confirmed in the near future

And then there were four.

What a weekend of football it was. It started with the best game of the weekend at Foxboro on Saturday night.

Much was made of the brilliance of Flacco in the run-up to the game. He lived up to his tag in the early stages of each half, clocking up a 14-point lead on both occasions. But, never write off Brady, the man ignored 198 times in the 2000 draft and he’s been playing with a chip on his shoulder ever since. At the start of this campaign the Patriots were 0&2.

According to some people Brady had had it. His glorious career was over. But, before you could say AFC Championship he threw his team to Number 1 seed in the conference.

The quarterback is coolness personified. Lesser men would have turned to their running back in those freezing conditions on Saturday night. Instead, the Patriots rushed it once in 28 snaps in the second half and that was a quarterback sneak!

He’s officially the best passer the game has ever seen in the postseason. His 23-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell broke the record for postseason scoring passes. It was his 46th and it moved him to one ahead of San Francisco 49ers legend Joe Montana.

The game will be remembered for Edelman’s 51-yard pass to Danny Amendola. Brady passed back to his receiver and the former college quarterback threw the pass to Amendola. It was a play that caught us all by surprise, including the Ravens D.

Panthers Tamed

The Seahawks continued the defence of their title by dominating the Carolina Panthers…on defence.

Kam Chancellor summed up their display when the safety stepped in front of a Cam Newton pass and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown.

On the other side of the ball Russell Wilson completed 15 of 22 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns, including a 63-yard scoring pass to Jermaine Kearse in the second quarter.

It was more of a frustrating night for Newton, who completed 23 of 36 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. He drew Carolina level in the second quarter with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin, but the Seahawks were soon out of sight.

“The difference was just missed opportunities,” said Newton after the game. It’s going to take the very best to beat Seattle.

Cowboys Shot Down

Ice Bowl Part 2 was decided in controversial circumstances at Lambeau Field. Deep in the fourth quarter on fourth and two, Bryant rose spectacularly to catch a 31-yard pass from Tony Romo and move the Cowboys to the one-yard line. The officials ruled the pass incomplete, handing the ball back to the Packers on their 33-yard line and Green Bay never gave the ball back to close out the win.

The Cowboys were leading 21-13 at one point in the third quarter. Romo completed 15 of 19 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Despite struggling with a calf injury, Rodgers did what he does best, throwing back-to-back touchdowns in quick succession. He passed for three touchdowns and 317 yards as he led his team to victory.

Luck Outguns Manning

What does the future hold for Peyton Manning? The 38 year old looked the shadow of his former self as he lobbed deep ball after deep ball to nowhere. It was painful viewing as one of the greats looked more like Blaine Gabbert with constant overthrows. He completed 26 of 46 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown.

Andrew Luck, the man who replaced Manning as the Colts’ signal-caller in 2012, led his team to the AFC Championship game by completing 27 of 43 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns. But it wasn’t all down to him. His O-line stood firm and stopped the Broncos from getting any hits or sacks on their star man.

The Colts became the only road team to win their Divisional Playoff clash this weekend, but much will be made of Denver’s demise. Their GM, John Elway, invested so much into his defence in the last off season. We’ll see how he shapes his side going into 2015. His first bit of business might be in keeping Offensive Coordinator Adam Gase at Mile High. There are a host of teams sniffing around, willing to promote him to head coach.

Indy, however, head to Foxboro looking to avenge the 42-20 drubbing the Patriots gave them in Week 11.

Four of this season’s top teams enter the play-offs this weekend.

It all starts on Saturday night when Joe Flacco and his in-form Ravens travel to Foxboro to tackle the New England Patriots. Flacco completed 18 of 29 passes for 259yds and two touchdowns in last week’s wildcard win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Baltimore QB seems to like January. His seven road play-off wins are the most by a quarterback since the 1970 merger.

Tom Brady has had another 4000+ yard season. He’s thrown 33 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions from his 373 completed passes. His number one receiver is Tight End Rob Gronkowski with 82 receptions, 1124yds and 12 TDs. He’s the man Baltimore will need to watch in freezing conditions, but we all know Brady is the coolest customer inside the pocket and can see the field better than anyone.

Newton vs Wilson

The defending Super Bowl champs enter the fold in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Cam Newton got his first postseason win last weekend, but he knows he has to do better against a solid Seahawks defence. He’s also got to compete against “The Twelves”. The Seattle fans get CenturyLink rocking and make it difficult for even the elite signal-callers. But, Seattle’s offence isn’t invincible and Carolina’s D is looking strong.

Ice Bowl Part 2

Green Bay’s success this postseason could come down to the fitness of Aaron Rodgers. The Quarterback’s calf muscle has a slight tear in it in addition to being significantly strained, according to league sources. The injury is not expected to prevent Rodgers from playing in Sunday evening’s divisional round playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys, but it could affect how mobile and effective he is.

The Packers’ coach Mike McCarthy told reporters this week that Rodgers was back in practice on Thursday, for the first time all week, and “looked good”.

The opposite QB, Tony Romo, is the league’s top rated player in his position this season. His wideout, Dez Bryant, is the league’s leading receiver and their running back, DeMarco Murray, tops the rushing charts.

We might get a classic in -21C conditions.

The Master vs The Apprentice

Peyton Manning takes on the team he won the Super Bowl with in the weekend’s final game.

Andrew Luck is the man who replaced Manning as the Colts’ quarterback. A lot has been made about these two this week, but Luck was quick to point out, “We face the Broncos, in a sense. I’ve never been into the quarterback versus quarterback thing, you know, we’re not on the field at the same time. But I have a lot of respect for (Manning) obviously. What he does, what he still does, is amazing. He’s a stud, but I’ll worry about the Denver defence. That’s what I’ve got to worry about.”

Manning missed all of last week’s workouts with a thigh injury, but he’s declared himself fit for this one.

In the Luck vs Manning bracket, Luck narrowly leads the veteran in yardage: 4,761 yards, just ahead of Manning’s 4,727

When these teams last met in September, Manning picked up three touchdowns in their 31-24 home win. Luck produced two TDs for Indy.

This is too close to call.

They say there’s no such thing as an off season in the NFL. Here’s a list of key dates coming up in the next few months:

Jan. 15: Deadline for underclassmen to declare for 2015 NFL Draft
Players with at least one year of eligibility remaining must reach their decision by this point. It will be a quick turnaround for Ohio State and Oregon players, who will play their final game Jan. 12. Last year, a record 98 underclassmen declared for the draft.

Jan. 17: East-West Shrine Game
The annual college all-star game in St. Petersburg, Florida, pits draft-eligible prospects against each other in an exhibition that serves as the endpoint of a highly scrutinized week of practice. This year’s teams are coached by former NFL coaches Mike Singletary and Jim Zorn.

Jan. 24: Senior Bowl
Similar to the East-West Shrine Game but loaded with a number of potential first-round picks. The practices for this game draw hundreds of coaches, general managers and scouts to Mobile, Alabama, for a game that is treated as the city’s Super Bowl.

Jan. 25: Pro Bowl
The game will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, which is also the site for Super Bowl XLIX.

Feb. 1: Super Bowl XLIX

Feb. 7: First of five NFL Regional Combines opens for draft-eligible prospects
Designed for players who are not invited to the NFL’s annual scouting combine in Indianapolis, the events provide a showcase for some potential diamonds in the rough. This year’s will be held in Davie, Florida; Houston (Feb. 14); Dove Valley, Colorado (Feb. 21); Owings Mills, Maryland (Feb. 28) and Lake Forest, Illinois (March 7).

Feb. 16: Teams can start designating Franchise and Transition players
Teams can designate one of their unrestricted free agents with each one of these tags. The franchise tag, which is used much more frequently than the transition tag, provides a player with a guaranteed, one-year deal that pays commensurate to the top five players at his respective position. The deadline to lock up players with these tags is March 2.

Feb. 17-23: NFL Scouting Combine
The main event in terms of evaluating draft-eligible prospects will once again be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

March 1: College Pro Days begins
Coaches will cross the country to watch college prospects go through drills and exercises similar to what they performed at the Combine, but in the comfortable environments of their respective college campuses.

March 7-10: Teams can enter into contract negotiations with unrestricted free agents
This allows teams to talk through and even finalize deals with players, but nothing is official until 9pm (GMT) on March 10.
March 10 (before 9 p.m. GMT): Teams must be under 2015 salary cap, exercise options with restricted free agents
It’s unknown yet what the salary cap will be for each of the NFL’s 32 teams, but it’s anticipated to be higher than last year’s total of $133 million.

March 10 (9 pm GMT): 2015 league year and free agency officially begins
It’s showtime.

March 22-25: Annual league meetings
Owners and NFL officials head to Phoenix, Arizona, for their annual three-day meetings to discuss a variety of issues.

April 20: Clubs with returning head coaches can begin off season workout programs
Teams with new head coaches can begin two weeks earlier.

April 30-May 2: 2015 NFL Draft
Starting with the first round on a primetime Thursday, the three-day event will be held in Chicago for the first time since 1964.

May 8-11: Post-draft rookie minicamps
Teams can opt to hold them from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday. They can also conduct them on the following weekend.

Saturday: 9:35pm – Baltimore Ravens vs New England Patriots (Sky Sports 2)

Sunday: 1:15am – Carolina Panthers vs Seattle Seahawks (Sky Sports 2)

Sunday: 6:05pm – Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers (Sky Sports 3)

Sunday: 9:40pm – Indianapolis Colts vs Denver Broncos (Sky Sports 3)