2018 NFL Picks - week 4

Last Week - 10-6

Overall - 28-19

Rams over Minnesota - Vikings haven't decided which end is up after the loss against the Bills. Won't find it this week.

Atlanta over Cincinnati - Tossup. Either way. I think my hatred drove me to the Falcons.

Chicago over Tampa Bay - Hmmm...Tampa may pull this one-off, but obviously, I didn't believe that at the time I made my picks.

Dallas over Detroit - I haven't seen the Cowboys yet, but they're at home, and I figured they have to put it together at some point, right?

Green Bay over Buffalo - If the Bills win against Aaron Rodgers and company, we football media journalists might have to rethink things. (Like how I lumped myself in there?)

Philadelphia over Tennessee - I just didn't feel the Eagles would lose.

Indianapolis over Houston - I think the Colts offense will rally this week. Note the "I think."

New England over Miami - If the Pats lose today, the world might crumble. I get it Pats fans, I get it. I struggled with this pick, but I'm going with the experience and the will to win from Tom Brady.

Jacksonville over Jets - I lost a good friend this week. He was 45 years old and died of cardiac arrest. He was a huge Jets fan, and every time I hear the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets chant, I think of Patrick. Always have. Unfortunately, I don't have faith in them that Patrick had over the years. Where ever he is, I hope he still gets to see his beloved football.

Oakland over Cleveland - I think the Raiders do it this week.

Seattle over Arizona - Not too sure of the Cardinals' offense thus far, so I went with the Seahawks and Russell Wilson.

New Orleans over Giants - This will probably be another throw fest. I just hope for Eli Manning-it isn't into the hands of the Saints' defense.

Chargers over San Francisco - I don't know, do the 49ers even have another quarterback? Their main man is gone for the year, and a no-name (although he started a few games in 2017) is taking the field today. But, really, if Garrappolo couldn't lead this team, how much faith was I suppose to give to C.J. Beathard?

Pittsburgh over Baltimore - I do not feel we have our shit together to take out this team, but I like to pretend that my faith is stronger than my feelings. Plus, it's a night game. Plus, we still have stuff to prove?

Kansas City over Denver - I'm thinking now is the time to jump on the bandwagon and say that this is the year the Chiefs just might take the whole enchilada. They've got the weapons and the leader and have been hovering for a couple of years. Keep it together, and they might just win the Big Bowl.

Steelers recap - Monday Night Football

Yep. A late start to getting to the game. Smooth drive. Pouring rain. Major traffic. We'd roll, and then we'd stop. As we got twenty blocks from the stadium, there was nothing to see but a sea of black and gold, towels twirling, and the chant, "Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go." Any visitor would've wondered if he'd arrived in Pittsburgh instead of Tampa. It's truly amazing this fan base. We're everywhere.

The rain stopped just as we arrived at the destination where we were to meet my Steelers buddy. Tom, tired of driving and having taken a wrong turn, just pulled in and parked in one of the many neighborhood yards allowing parking, and we decided to forgo the tailgate to hike to the stadium for a bathroom, some dinner, and hopefully a dry area.

Our seats were not as nosebleed as they were several years ago, and I was more than grateful for the evening game, but September football in Florida? At over $100 a ticket? SO only worth it for the Steelers. By the time the game was over, I was a ball of sweaty, stinky mush. The crowd started out sparse but built by kickoff, and we were surrounded by Steelers fans except for the guy directly behind the woman next to my friend Grandpa Bob and me. The guy behind me? Obnoxious to the point of indecency.

The scoreboard nonsense was ridiculously loud, with the bass thumping so hard my heart began its jumpiness. That, coupled with the heat and my anxiety, made me wonder if I'd pass out and tumble into the rows in front of me. It was the kind of first half that had us leaping to our feet, towels twirling, vocals straining with the whoops and hollering. By halftime, the noise was at a more respectful decimal, mainly due to the Steelers defense.

Halftime, where Tony Dungy was inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor, was nice. The Steelers and their fans love Dungy, a former Pittsburgh Steelers player, and coach. I enjoyed seeing the Bucs players of the past. As I told the woman next to us, I root for Tampa when they aren't playing my Steelers. She said thank you and then turned a bit witchy by the end of the game. She told Grandpa Bob, the nicest man on the planet, to fuck off when he commented on how well the Bucs fought to come back. Okay, then. Nothing like MNF.

Steelers:

• First of all, the Steelers plane had to reroute and land at the Clearwater airport instead of in Tampa on Sunday due to lightning. We actually passed the buses going in the opposite direction accompanied by four police escorts as we drove back from the Road Warrier Party. The players joked they thought they had been kidnapped, and it added to the way this season is going; drama, upon drama, upon drama.
• We play well on MNF. For someone that truly believes this and who hadn't any doubt that the Steelers would come to play, I was a bundle of raging, heart-pounding stress. On the first play of the game, we got a penalty. Seriously? Then, another, then another, and then four more - boom, boom, boom, boom. People, that is on the head coach. Tomlin has got to rein in these emotions. Hire a psychologist. A hypnotist. Someone who will get these guys to check their emotions at the entrance. 
• The defense, certainly not the curtain of old, had a lot to make up for, and they did just that...in the first half. Forced fumble.Two interceptions. A pick-six. The second half? Ugh. Same old, same old. It's like at 30-10, they went into the locker room and said, "Well, that's it. We did it. Whew." When will we learn this is a two-half game? Four quarters? Several hours? I'm not sure what is worse, leading the game and then watching the opposition slowly pick their way back or losing and having to come from behind. We can't seem to break the mold on either.
• Kicker Chris Boswell could also use some mental help. I hate when kickers go from money to will he/won't he. They have one job. Get this kid some help. I love Boswell and punter Jordan Berry, but right now, these two need an intervention.
• Roughing the quarterback was the major flag of the night--on both sides. And boy, did all of those flags set off the Bucs fan behind us. When Tampa got the flag, Ben was a phenomenal actor. When we got the flag, we were dirty, rotten players trying to kill FitzMagic. This is such a hard one, but players better believe that this season is all about protecting the quarterback. Don't touch these guys and if you do, for god's sake, do so without your entire body. Or your head. Or your hand. Tee Hee.
• The Bucs almost lost a guy when Isaiah Johnson ran into the wall while breaking up a Steelers touchdown. Johnson was completely in beast mode concentrating on defense, forgetting there was a wall at the end zone's back. A Steelers fan behind us (ironically wearing a Ryan Shazier shirt) started some ugliness, which set off the Bucs woman next to us. I told her the Steelers weren't that kind of fan and that the guy was just drunk. She responded with, "He's a friend of mine." I think he was her boyfriend and a friend of my Steelers buddy. He was just baiting her. Either way, she left the game in the opposite direction of him.
• Although I was a tad worried that his feet came out of bounds with his leaping antics into the end zone, Antonio Brown got his touchdown. Of course, I should've relied on Tony Toe Tap to make sure he knew where his feet were touching, but again I find that stuff immature. Let's start manning up. Run into the end zone and then do your happy dance if necessary.
• How is it that the stiff-arm is allowed? Seems to me, this maneuver is just as harmful as a face mask, horse collar, etc. And yes, I know, it's football. Blah, blah. But in the new regime of protecting these guys' bodies, I think the stiff arm to the head or face is certainly an issue.
• Tampa did well with Fitzpatrick's arm, especially on third down. I hope the Bucs keep him in the game next week over Winston. Why would you mess with the momentum? These guys trust the old man, and they really are magic with him.
• Flo-rida was a nice surprise at halftime. Not that I was anywhere near the ship. Once I get to my seat, my butt stays there. Plus, I wanted to see the halftime induction.
• Tony Dungy! Tony Dungy! What a great guy. He talked about his Christian values and coaching guys to be good role models in addition to being great players. For the most part, he succeeded, and those players, many of them on the field with Dungy last night, let the man lead them. I wish the NFL would turn over the dumb asses who screw up to Dungy. That should be a requirement. Fuck up, and you go to Dungy camp. The fines could pay for it. 
• Of course, I kept yelling, "We love you, Tony! And we never fired you!" Tee Hee. I'm sure that annoyed the woman next to us. But really, that was a stain on the Bucs organization in my book. But then again, it's a job, and the owners expect the job to get done. Mike Tomlin, a former Bucs assistant, and Tony Dungy prodigy had better heed those words.

By the end of the game, Black and Gold had taken over the stadium. The Bucs fans began leaving in droves before the two-minute warning. Uh? What? I don't understand that mentality. Stay until the end. Have some faith in your team. I mean, I had more confidence in the Bucs and the implosion of the Steelers than they did. Thankfully, they ran out of time. Gonna be a long season...but at least I got a win with the $$ I spent. Yippee!

Monday NFL 2018 Football Recap

Here we are at week three, and I didn't watch football. I know. Insert the emoji with the bulging eyes. I saw snippets, but this Sunday was all about Steelers football, and my Steelers buddy and I took to the road to travel to the Road Warrier Party in Tampa put on by Steelers Nation Unite.

I joined this organization in 2014 when I received an email explaining how the Rooney's wanted to give back to the fans, and thus SNU was created. I joined and began participating in their points earned competition earning Hall of Fame status four years in a row. I automatically entered into drawings (one of which I won a load of Steelers gear) and got multiple discounts and free shipping on Steelers merchandise. Plus, SNU offers great incentives such as their road parties at away games that include Steelers players and a meet and greet.

I've looked at the pictures over the years and thought, what a great idea. Steelers fans are everywhere, and so when I got the email inviting me to the first of the year party in Tampa, I signed right up. Count me in! Appearances scheduled were Rocky Bleier (ROCKY FREAKIN' BLEIER!), LaMar Woodley, and Santonio Holmes. I was beyond excited, but having been to a Steelers/Bucs game before, I knew that SNU might not be prepared for the crowd they would get.

I was right. The party was held at a pub in Tampa, home to a local Steelers group who gather there every week to watch the Steelers. The line was out the door and down the sidewalk when we arrived before the start of the event. We stood in line and chatted with the people in front of us who had traveled from Orlando. The inside of the pub was packed. SNU also set up outside in the back with a stage, a DJ, and several tents. There was a bar. And a guy cooking hamburgers on a grill. There was face painting. And a photo booth. They had two sections set up for a meet and greet, and while the line for Rocky Bleier was LONG, I did get some close-up photos of the man and enjoyed hearing him speak.

My invitation said there would be raffles every fifteen minutes, and we were each given a number upon entering, but that didn't happen. What did happen was a storm. Welcome to Florida. It rolled in quickly just as LaMar Woodley could be seen, a half an hour late, strolling toward the stage. Whoop, the man was swept away before he took more than a few steps, and an announcement was made that we needed to retreat to our cars. Then the rain came down in buckets. Since we were already under the tent at the stage, we stayed put and watched all of the idiots fans dancing, hollering, and waving their Terrible Towels in the downpour.

It ended after about twenty minutes, and we resumed our wait for the last two stars dancing to the music. Two things were raffled off, and a couple of freebies were tossed into the crowd. The DJ suddenly decided he liked taunting the group, and he strolled around the stage, making us dance, shout, and sing without throwing out the freebies. The double cocktail I had helped me not to come unhinged. But then the rain came again, and this time it came like a hurricane in sheets. We gave up and left because to get indoors was not going to happen. The crowd was too great. It was a disappointment. The two stars were scheduled to come at 4:30, and I saw on social media that they didn't even take the stage indoors until well after I arrived home at 7:00 pm. Not what I would consider a great shingding. I think SNU underestimated the huge fan base here in Florida. It was definitely more a Sunday of drinking in the heat and rain without the football--and I missed all of the other football games.

But I watched the highlights and some Sunday Night football so here goes:

Other:

• Whoa. What is up with the Pats? Not that I'm complaining, but hey, it happens to most of us. But I'm not ready to put a fork in them any more than I am in my own team.
• The Pats' Gronk supposedly threatened to retire if he was traded? Boo, fucking Hoo. 
• Whoa. What was up with the Bills? Obviously, they didn't get the message that they were done.
• I don't care for Adam Schefter, the pompous NFL "journalist" on ESPN who comes across as a smarmy used-car salesman. He concentrates so much on getting the scoop that he reminds me of the stereotypical movie ambulance chaser. Give me Jay Glazer any time over this twit.
• The 49ers lost their quarterback Jimmy Grappolo, and I lost one of my fantasy quarterbacks. I found crazy his teammates on camera discussing their disappointment in his decision to stay in bounds. This is going to be the season where players are throwing their teammates under the bus, huh?
• The Colts organization doesn't seem to have much faith in quarterback Andrew Luck replacing him in the last shot in the fourth quarter. Uh oh.
• How did I miss that Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer retired? Or apparently, I just forgot that he did. This season's revolving and jumping ships of quarterbacks has got me all discombobulated.
• Another week of Packers Clay Matthews getting a roughing the passer call on a sack of the quarterback. Even the quarterback Alex Smith was rolling his eyes at the flag. Packers coach Mike McCarthy went ballistic on the sidelines, cursing and advancing on the ref who kept backing up like he was afraid of a punch coming. How come that wasn't flagged? Matthews feels he is being targeted. Yep. Talk to James Harrison on that one, buddy. As usual, the NFL hasn't thought things through carefully. I liked Howie Long's suggestion; make it reviewable.
• The new play in both pro and college seems to be the hurdle. Jumping over the opposition to get further down the field. I hear Chris Berman's "whoop" every time I see it, but I'm telling you now that trick isn't going to end well for someone.

The Steelers/Bucs play tonight on Monday Night Football. ESPN SportsCenter did a great blurb on the implosion of the team. I'm hoping they've got it together tonight. I'll be there in person with 18 other fans in our group. I'm hopeful for a win. I need it, and the Steelers definitely need it. 

2018 NFL picks - week 3

Week 1 - 10-5

Week 2 - 7-8

Overall - 17-13

I think my Yahoo Football Pick'em game needs to add a "tie" column, huh? Another tie game and the research teams on the networks just might come unhinged. Football has started with a bang; tie games, team drama, rule controversy. Pretty much same old, same old. 

Cleveland over Jets - I'm going with the Browns tonight at home. They've had enough practice now to get it right.

Atlanta over New Orleans - I've only gotten to see a few teams thus far into the season, so I'm flying blind still on some picks. The Falcons won big last week after losing big in week 1. I agonized over this pick, not having seen much of the Falcons, and then went with them at home.

Kansas City over San Francisco - Supposedly, this team and this quarterback are the NFL's second comings. After last week's game, you don't have to convince me.

Miami over Oakland - I really thought John Gruden would sculpt this Raider team into a winning group, but they've failed to show up so far. The Dolphins, on the other hand, are showing they are the real deal.

Minnesota over Buffalo - If the Bills have team members retiring during halftime of games, how am I suppose to believe they are any good? 

Philadelphia over Indianapolis - It's the return of the Eagles' Carson Wentz at home. Yikes! Talk about pressure. It should be an interesting game, but I went with emotions. Plus, the Eagles got beat last week and aren't going to let that happen, especially on such an important day.

Green Bay over Washington - The other Gruden isn't doing so well with his team either. I don't see his team doing anything this week against the Packers' old school quarterback.

Cincinnati over Carolina - It's a toss-up for me on which division team I hate more, the Bengals or the Ravens, but I can't dispute that they have their shit together as a team and are winning.

Jacksonville over Tennesee - Throw a coin for this game.

Baltimore over Denver - John Elway had better go back to the drawing board. Not sure what is happening in Denver, and I don't see them winning on the Ravens field this week.

Giants over Houston - The Giants issues aren't as drama related as the Steelers, but both teams have far better weapons and quarterbacks, and this week I think they show up to play.

Rams over the Chargers - Flying blind again here. I always seem to miss those teams that play in the late afternoon, so I've not gotten a chance to observe these teams. As usual, well, I am a romance writer. I'm going with sex-on-a-stick Coach McVay.

Chicago over Arizona - What is happening with the Cardinals? I have no idea.

Seattle over Dallas - Again, these later teams... I haven't seen the Cowboys play yet, and so this game was a coin tosser too. I went with Wilson and company at home despite their wishy-washy play.

New England over Detroit - Uh, are the Lions even showing up?

Pittsburgh over Tampa Bay - Oh, boy. This should be an exciting game. Monday Night Football. Tampa's feel-good quarterback story vs. Tampa's idiotic quarterback story vs. Pittsburgh's locker room drama vs. Pittsburgh's no-show running back. You know the MNF staff is rubbing their collective palms at how much material they will have to discuss and run. 

I've got tickets for the game and am contemplating wearing my Bucs shirt under my Steelers shirt. I'm a fan when they aren't playing my team, but how can you not get excited about the Bucs' first two weeks? Their locker room is full of giddiness and antics. But I've got faith in my boys this week. We always play well on Monday night, and I'm hoping enough big boys stepped up and smacked around the big babies. Tomlin's livelihood is certainly on the line at this point as it should be, and I hope the owners have taken stock of how Dan Rooney did things and given their own lectures.

It should be a good football night for once.

No Monday football recap? Yikes!

No football recap this morning because I left for my nephew's wedding last week, and the festivities and craziness of that adventure have usurped football. Although, I did finish making my picks and setting my fantasy football team at the wedding reception itself. That's the last time I follow my sister and her son's advice on football. They led me astray.

I did not see the Steelers game. I listened to part of it on the Steelers radio network as I drove back to my brother's from the destination wedding, but I fell asleep after putting on my Steelers shirt upon arrival. Too much partying plus sharing a small hotel bed equaled one tired, old lady. I have yet to see any news of football beyond scores. My brother is a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan, and thus we watch baseball. Or golf. He doesn't do football and refuses to allow me control of the remote. I've had to turn to the Internet for any news, and that is minimal.

Rest assured, I'll be back at it next week. I'm going to the Steelers game in person on Monday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are suddenly WINNING with their tired, old quarterback. It should be an exciting game. In the meantime, enjoy these photos from the wedding of my brother's son.

NFL picks - not this week

I've made my picks, but alas, haven't posted them. I am out of town at a destination wedding in the Midwest. I had a few picks left to make and was waiting for more information, such as whether certain questionable receivers would be playing or not. Unfortunately, those picks were made late Saturday night with the aid of my tablemates; my sister, her husband, and my nephew.

Sorry if you were counting on my expertise to lead you to victory this week.

Monday morning 2018-2019 NFL recap - week 1

The first week is in the books. We had players wearing different colors for other teams, new rules that the refs eyeballed closely, and nerves and rust. We had big money-making athletes dormant and few athletes chewing up the field, and, more importantly, we had big plays coming down to the wire, including my beloved Steelers, who (I've said since before training camp) won't be contenders until they straighten out the locker room.

Let's get right to the recap.

Steelers: A tie? Do people pay for a tie?

• Initially, I wasn't going to comment on the Le'Veon Bell drama. What was the point? I said it all last year at this time, so what could I add to it? But then peeps kept asking me my take on it, so let's get this out of the way. One, I get that Bell feels he is the greatest running back and deserves a big paycheck. Two, the Steelers offered him that large paycheck. Three, neither side could agree for whatever reason, and so Bell is optioning his right not to show up or sign the franchise tag that the Steelers have put on him. That is his right. HOWEVER...One, I disagree that Bell's play lives up to the type of reward he is asking for from the Steelers organization. The man has been suspended twice for a drug violation. He missed another season due to injury. Had he shown up this year and played like he's done in the past, I wouldn't argue his big-money offer. Two, had Bell shown up this year for training camp and the season, I think it would have done more for him in terms of respect and negotiations for next year. I hear what he is saying in regards to his body and all, but can the NFL keep this precedent? Bell told his teammates that he would report after missing training camp, and he didn't show up for the Cleveland game forfeiting $855,000 (so, is it about the money or the title for his ego?). I'm okay with his teammates voicing their displeasure. This is a team sport, and while they all agree (or not) that each player should be paid, they also have the right to wonder if Bell even cares about the rest of them because pretty much he is staying away to stay healthy for his next team next year. Three, the NFL and players organization might want to sit down and reconsider all of this because what's the point? That being said, Seattle's Earl Thomas wants more money, but he showed up on game day for "his teammates," so I suppose that if Bell's holdout has shown one player, the err of his ways...
• James Connor got his first touchdown. It was smooth into the end zone with the team opening up a huge hole, but what I loved about it was his delayed excitement more than the touchdown itself. He was cool as a cucumber running, and then suddenly he was like holy-shit-I-just-scored-a-touchdown-in-the-NFL. You could see the moment when he realizes it, and I got a bit teary. Shook whatever nerves he looked like he didn't have. This kid has had an Osaka week (that's a US Open tennis reference btw) with the whole Bell drama, so I'm sure the celebration with the guys was pure and real and necessary for the entire team. He isn't a rookie this year, but he's number two, and yesterday he was number one.
• The whole James Connor story is a big one. Born and raised in Erie, PA. Goes to Pitt for college. Gets hurt and then sick. Discovers he has cancer. Twelve chemo rounds while he is recovering from his football injury. Back at football for Pitt and then drafted by his hometown team? People, this story vs. Le'Veon Bell? No contest. 135 yards rushing, 57 yards in passing, two touchdowns in his debut. So happy for this kid, although his fumble in the middle of the fourth quarter that resulted in the Browns comeback will be all he thinks about this morning, I'm sure. Pfft. Kid, you were the reason we were in this thing all day!
• Hey! Guess what? Penalties abounded (12 with 6 turnovers) just as if no one on the Steelers coaching staff took a look at my blog from last year or glanced at last year's tape. I'm going to keep track of how many Mondays I discuss this topic. Our defense kept getting frustrated like little kids on the playground. Artie Burns and Jarvis Landry messing with each other with a smack, a punch, a stiff arm, a face mask, and then wrestling on the turf? Boys. Please. Play some damn football and leave that other stuff for the bar.
• Ben ran! But it wasn't the typical Ben run. Roethlisberger lost weight, and apparently, that freed him. He must have practiced on perfecting his run because he looked like a runner should. Quite impressive for a big guy. Big Ben made some nice plays running and even threw in the elusive quarterback sneak. Too bad that didn't offset his three interceptions and two fumbles.
• Antonio Brown wasn't explosive with huge plays that will get him on ESPN's SportsCenter's Top Ten this morning, but he quietly received for 93 yards that pushed him into the 10,000-yard career receiving club, joining active receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshall, and Antonio Gates. Brown achieved the mark in 116 games, the second-fewest games to do that.
• The Steelers only had to hang on in the fourth, but they made PENALTIES that the Browns scored on, and the game went into overtime. The Steelers Boz missed his FG attempt, and the Steelers blocked the Browns FG attempt, and neither side posted a win or a loss. It's going to be a long year.  

Other:

• Whoa! The Bucs came to play in New Orleans. It was a shootout match between the old-timers, both of them firing long bombs to receivers willing to catch. Brees and Fitzpatrick combined The Bucs won the slugfest, and quarterback Fitzpatrick should have the Bucs franchise fuckup quarterback rethinking his position, not to mention his ways. 
• Kudos to Saints Mike Thomas, who received from Brees and then fell to the turf with a handful of Bucs players staring down at him. However, not one touch, so Thomas stood up and took off running until he reached the end zone. Problem? The ref inadvertently blew the whistle. But nice follow through Thomas. Sorry, the refs f**ked it up.
• Roughing the quarterback was the new rule of the week. No more falling on top of the quarterback. ??? No more tackling by lowering the helmet. ??? Wow. Those rules were broken left and right and most likely will be until the players learn to tackle and fall in other ways. I'm not sure how you tackle without lowering your head. Is that not instinctive? And how do you stop yourself from falling on top of someone? Uh??? Crazy, but at least the NFL is trying?
• I got a big kick out of the head referee for the Colts/Bengals game. Mr. Cool and Collect. His reports were so deadpan that I just wanted to watch him to see if he would mess up and show some emotion--any emotion. It was chuckle-worthy.
• The Miami Dolphins game was suspended for two hours due to lightning in the area, and when I watched the RedZone channel, I thought, "Wow, what a boring game that one turned out to be," until I realized they were just coming out of the delay. Welcome to Florida football fans during hurricane/storm season. And apparently, the NFL isn't afraid of any other weather except lightning.
• A lot of good playing from teams and individuals--the Bucs, Kirk Cousins, and how great was it to see Andrew Luck back on the field? Although every time someone came near him, I cringed. Don't hurt Andy! Don't hurt Andy! 
• Chicago Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack ended the first half with a sack, a pick, a touchdown, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He also was tagged with the pressure on Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers that caused the injury that resulted in Rodgers leaving the field.
• BUT...Rodgers returned with his team down by 20 yards, and he showed, with the help of his receivers, that his big paycheck making him the highest-paid QB in the league was worth every penny. Hell, Bell, give Rodgers a call and ask him how he managed that money. Guarantee holding out and missing training camp isn't high on Rodgers list. Who has the money?