Derrick Rose's Retires as the NBA's Greatest What If Story

Derrick Rose called it a career this morning. He has officially retired from the NBA. You could see this coming after the Grizzlies released him about a week ago. If the place he played his college basketball was not going to keep him on the team, even in an Udonis Haslem type role, the writing was on the wall.

Rose had one of the biggest "what if" careers in the history of the NBA. Rose was a star when he played at Memphis. He was an all American, led the Tigers to their most regular season wins, led them to the title game and their first number one ranking in the polls in 25 years. Sure, there were some issues off the court that were investigated, but that is rampant in college basketball back then, and even now. He parlayed this college success into being selected first overall in the 2008 draft by the Chicago Bulls. This was an easy pick for the Bulls back then. He was the surefire guy. He was the explosive guard that teams coveted. And he was damn good early on in his career. He was the 2009 Rookie of the Year. He put in 16 points per game, 6 assists and 3 rebounds. Not too shabby for a rookie point guard. He made his first all star team in year two. In the 2010-2011 season, Rose went off. The explosiveness that was so coveted came into full focus. Rose averaged well over 20 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds. He led the Bulls to 60+ wins. They were the number 1 seed. They won their first two playoff matchups. Rose had become everything the Bulls hoped he would be when they took him first overall two years prior. Rose and the Bulls ended up facing the Heat, and they took them down in five games.

Then the injuries happened. Rose got a raise, but tore his ACL in round one of the playoffs against the 76ers. It was bad. Rose missed all of the next season. He came back in 2013-14, only to tear his meniscus in November. He came back the next year, but he still looked a bit off. His bounce and explosiveness was rare and hard to find now. He couldn't get to the spots he used to with ease. It was discovered that he needed another surgery on his right knee. He had torn his meniscus again. He played his last season with the Bulls in 2015-16. He had moments, but he was not the same guy as he was in 08,09 and 2010. He wasn't a feared rim runner anymore. He couldn't beat guys off the dribble. His knees gave out on him.

Rose still managed to stick around long enough to make more highlights post his Bulls playing days. He went to play for the Knicks after the Bulls. He played here and there, not doing too much. He also left the team at one point without telling them. He was going to see his mom. When he came back, he did score 30 in a win over the Celtics. He left after one season in New York due to some differences with the scheme. He went to play for the Cavs in 17-18, joining LeBron James. He hurt his ankle midway through the season, and left the team to decide if he wanted to keep playing. He played here and there occasionally before hurting his ankle again and moving on to Minnesota. He was kind of revitalized, as much as he could at this point. He had one night where he scored 50 and it was awesome to see. It was at this moment when I really respected and was happy that he was one of my favorite modern players in the NBA. He proved how great he could still be when given the chance. He got to play for Tom Thibodeau again, he was teammates again with guys he loved like Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler and he seemed happy playing again. Rose was a key part to the Timberwolves in their semi return to relevance. After his time in Minnesota he ended up with the Detroit Pistons. I had forgotten about his time there. It was uneventful. He did have seven straight games of scoring 20 points, was a starter again and really embraced the role of a sixth man. After Detroit he went back to New York, reuniting yet again with Tom Thibeodeau. He ended up third in sixth man of the year voting in 2021. He also returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. After two seasons in New York, Rose returned to where he played his college ball, signing with the Memphis Grizzlies. He went back to number 23, had a whole video about returning home and got a humongous ovation when he took the court for the first time that season. He sparingly played for a shell of the Memphis Grizzlies. And then he stepped away after being released.

Rose, if he had stayed healthy, could've been an all timer. He was Russell Westbrook before Russell Westbrook. He was such a dominant athlete, but his body betrayed him. It is a real bummer. He showed flashes later in his career, but he was never the same after winning his MVP award. I'm still on the fence about Rose being a hall of fame player. But, those first three years of his NBA career were amazing and extremely memorable. Enjoy retirement Derrick Rose. You were lightning in a bottle until your injuries halted what could have been a great, great career. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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The (Non) Humility of JJ Redick

I was listening to "The Lowe Post" earlier today and Zach Lowe had JJ Redick on as a guest. Let’s discuss.

This was Redick’s first podcast interview since being named the head coach of the LA Lakers, a job I fully believe he is wildly unqualified for. They both chatted for a bit, Redick did typical coach speak nonsense, not really saying much of anything . Zach Lowe eventually asked Redick the question I hoped he would, did Redick feel like he "skipped the line" after getting the head coaching position with the Lakers.

This was when the interview got interesting, and really opened my eyes to what a jerk JJ Redick can be. Lowe asked him a very straight forward question that I have to mention is on a bunch of peoples minds right now. Redick has done zero in the world of coaching. I read he coached a fourth grade basketball team, but other than that, he has done nothing. His career coaching record is 0-0. He has never been an assistant coach. He was never a college coach, either assistant or head coach. He never even coached high school basketball. To me, to get a head coaching job as big as the Lakers, one of the biggest brands in professional sports, that is the definition of "skipping the line". Redick built up a friendship with LeBron James, called a few playoff games for ESPN and somehow turned that into a head coaching job. It's baffling. So, instead of showing grace and humility, Redick proceeded to talk about how he "earned" the job and how he "put in the work". Having a podcast that you turn into a tv show does not earn one a professional head coaching job. Being friends with LeBron is not "putting in work". Talking out of the side of his mouth on his own podcast doesn't mean he is ready for this moment. These are all things he mentioned today. Lowe brought up Doc Rivers saying he is glad Redick got a job because now he may rethink some of the stuff he has said about other coaches on his pod. This seems like a very fair suggestion from Rivers. Redick in turn said he felt nothing about it, and mentioned the tenuous relationship he had with Rivers.

JJ Redick has no humility. Sure, he worked hard to make it to the NBA, but he grew up with money and had all the coaches he could have ever wanted to help him achieve this goal. He played college basketball at Duke, so he never had to worry about officiating or being called out for doing gross stuff in college. He was a run of the mill pro. He was good enough to start, but he never really wowed anyone. For his career he averaged 12 points a game, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. He was never an all star, never an all NBA player, never won any kind of awards. Again, he was an okay pro. A guy you want around because he may hit four or five threes in a game, but not a guy counted on to win big. At least when Steve Nash got the Brooklyn job he had multiple MVP awards, multiple all star appearances and was on a few all NBA teams. Redick was just a dude.

What made this interview really gross to me, what made me actually call him an asshole out loud to no one, was how he spoke down to NBA fans, and even more-so, Zach Lowe. He mentioned his "podcast empire", and said that he started that because he was sick of NBA writers asking the same questions in different ways. He said this to an NBA writer who has a podcast and asks the same questions. He seemed to be implying that he was better at podcasting than a seasoned pro. That is a dick move. But, what really upset me, what sent this interview overboard was when he mentioned NBA podcast fans. He went on to make some analogy about how sugar is good, and gives you instant gratification, but sometimes "others" want a leafy green salad. He talked down to the majority of podcast listeners. He seemed to imply that he is better, and smarter than anyone else.

Redick’s whole attitude during this interview was gross and uncalled for. It reeked of privilege. It was as if a glorified white basketball, who has never had to work very hard in life, was hand gifted a job because of who he knows, rather than his accomplishments. That is JJ Redick to a T if you ask me. I don't wish ill will on anyone, but after hearing this today, I hope this goes downhill quickly for him. He talks and acts like he is better than everyone. He is not, and being the head coach of the Lakers will hopefully be a real eye opener for him. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ohtani is Must Watch

Shohei Ohtani has just further made his case as one of the best to ever play the game of baseball professionally. It was not enough that he went 6 for 6 in the Dodgers game yesterday, with three home runs and 10 RBI's. He also became the first and only member in the 50/50 club in baseball history. Unreal.

For people that don't know, Ohtani now has 51 home runs and 50 stolen bases. That is incredible. For Ohtani to achieve this so early in his MLB career is amazing. Again, he is the only player to ever do this. I remember when Jose Canseco made the 40/40 club back when I was kid. It was a big deal. Not many people had done that to that point. Ohtani has upped it by 10 plus, with a good amount of games left. It would be wild if he joined the 60/60. And the crazy thing, I wouldn't be stunned if he did it. That is how good he is at the game of baseball. Ohtani can hit with the best of them. Not only does he have 50 home runs, he has 120 RBI's and has a batting average of .294. Oh, and he may end up pitching in the postseason. It's more likely that he won't, but the sheer possibility that he could is baffling.

There is no other player like Shohei Ohtani. There hasn't been a player like him since Babe Ruth, and Ruth never had a season of hitting and pitching like Ohtani has had. He has had multiple seasons where he is a dominant pitcher and a home run hitter. He has won the MVP already, but he should be no doubt MVP this year. He is doing amazing things on the field. Not only does he provide power, but when he gets on base, he is one of the better base stealers in the MLB. A single is going to be a double, at least now. He is going to swipe second base when he gets the chance. Outside of Elly De La Cruz, I don't know that any other player is more of a threat to steal bases than Ohtani. And he's damn good at it too. As good as he is at hitting homers. For a bit I would say that Mike Trout and Bryce Harper were the best players in baseball. That's not true, and it's not even close. Shoei Ohtani is far and away the best player in baseball. He is leaps and bounds above everyone else. I thought that maybe this season would be a little rough for him. He had a scandal with his interpreter, he was coming off injury, he was changing teams and he had this massive contract to live up to. None of that has stopped him from having a massive season. The scandal was over before it ever really started. The injury only affected his pitching. The team change was not a big deal because he didn't have to leave the city he was initially playing in. And he has more than lived up to the money the Dodgers decided to give him. This is the new world of sports contracts, and Ohtani has proven that the Dodgers were right to give him one of the biggest contracts in the history of pro sports.

Shohei Ohtani is the best player in baseball. He has now done something else that no other MLB player has done. He is in a league all his own. I'm not a Dodgers fan by any means, but I sure as hell am going to watch them in the playoffs because I want to see what amazing thing Shoei Ohtani is going to do next. He is making me become more of a baseball fan. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Why is Being a Sports Fan Not Fun Anymore?

Over the past couple of days I have heard a few different people have some interesting takes on sports. My buddy Kirk sent me a stand up video where the comic stated why they like going to concerts over sporting events. He said, in not so many words, that he is never upset after going to a concert. He gets to hear his favorite songs, has a good time and gets to vibe out with friends. At a sporting event, your team doesn't always win, a player you may like might get hurt and you can come home in a bad mood half the time. That is a very fair assessment I think.

Then, while on a run today I was listening to "Doughboys" and their guest was talking about their husband who is a Celtics fan. She said that when the Celtics won, her husband went outside and laid on the ground. She asked what was wrong, and he said he was relieved that his team won it all. This, again, is also relatable for me. When Michigan won it all last season, I was grateful and relieved. At the same time. It was a weird feeling, but that was how I took the title. I celebrated the win during the off season, but now that a new season is here, I am only worried about how they finish this season. I know that you are not supposed to celebrate a title only during the off season, but still, they are reigning champs. That should be enough to make me happy. It isn't though, and that stinks.

As I sit here and think about it, my fandom that is, why do we do this to ourselves? I'm speaking to all sports fans. I have seen an Onion headline that states, local child picks sports team to make their lives miserable forever, or something like that. And it's true. When I was a child I chose Michigan football. My dad is a fan, he would watch the games and I wanted to hang out with him during the game. It was a pretty easy 1 to 1 for me. I was probably about 8 years old. Now, 33 years later, I'm a fanatic. I love Michigan football more than any other team in pro or college sports. I live and die by the results of their games. I constantly read about the team. I want to know what is going on, and hopefully I can be one of the first to know the news. It's been like that for 33 years now. And when I was a kid, it wasn't that hard. I watched the games, the results were the results and that was that. There was no internet, no constant stream of tv shows, no Twitter or Facebook or Instagram. It was great.

Yet, over time, the internet and tv shows are EVERYWHERE, and EVERYONE has a take. Your team can win, but if they don't win by enough, they're trash. God help you if they get beat, the keyboard warriors will tell all of the regular fans how bad your team is, no matter what. Be it coaching changes, a down season, one bad game or not being dominant enough, internet personalities and tv hosts are ready with the ammo to attack your team. It is rough. It's brutal to be a fan of any team nowadays. After Nick Saban left Alabama, the internet had a field day. Washington got beat by Washington State in the Apple Cup last week, and now Washington is consider lower tier. Colorado struggles to beat North Dakota State and podcast hosts instantly call out Deion Sanders. Arch Manning comes in to take over for an injured Quinn Ewers last week, and now everyone says Manning needs to be the starter. Georgia barely beats Kentucky, on the road, and now they are "vulnerable" all of the sudden. It's rough. And all of us sports fans decided that we were going to almost always be miserable the moment we picked our favorite sports team. It's not fun. I want to go back to when I was a kid and it was fun. Sure, your friends would roast you from time to time, but it was all good, clean fun. Now, it's just mean and vindictive. Everyone, who never played the sport mind you, has a hot take now, and they have it at the ready the moment the game hits all zeros in the fourth quarter. Sports can be wonderful and make you very happy, but for the most part, it is brutal and a dumb choice we made when we were way, way too young. And the keyboard warriors don't make it any easier.

Oh well, on to USC for Michigan this weekend, and I am as nervous as ever. Why did I choose this, I guess to hang with my dad and root for a team. But, it has gotten harder and harder each season to experience true joy. And Michigan is reigning national champs. Yikes. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Daniel Jones Over Saquon Barkley and Other Notable Sports Decisions

While out to coffee with my dad this morning we were talking about how the Giants picked Daniel Jones over Saquon Barkley. Let’s discuss.

We both agreed that this was a bad choice by the Giants front office. Barkley is a generational talent. He scored three TDs on the opening weekend. He is a good pass catcher out of the backfield, can return kicks and is hard to tackle and has some good open field speed. Daniel Jones is Daniel Jones. He threw two pick 6's last weekend. He has thrown more pick 6's than long TD passes since signing his massive deal. The Vikings defense said that they "started to feel bad" for him during the last game. He is one of the worst starting QB's in the NFL. His contract is rough, and this decision is going to lead to a bunch of people looking for a new job next season.

This conversation had me thinking after coffee. I was out for a run and I started to think more and more about these decisions by front offices. Both good and bad choices came to mind. The bad choices are much more provocative, but the good ones can be beneficial. One of the good ones I thought of was the Denver Nuggets picking Nikola Jokic over Jusuf Nurkic. I am not a Jokic fan, but the Nuggets have won a title, been a contender every year and Jokic has won three MVP awards. While I like Nurkic's game, he isn't even close to Jokic's level. He has no rings, no MVP awards, no all star game appearances. He has solid numbers, but he is a fringe starter at best. Another good move in choosing a player is the Raptors picking Kyle Lowry to stay after trading for Kawhi Leonard. Someone had to go, and that someone was DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan is going to be much more appreciated when he retires. He is a great mid range scorer, has had a long and personally successful career and is beloved by his teammates on every team he has been a part of. But he had to go to acquire Leonard, and Lowry fits much better with his game. The Raptors got a title out of this. DeRozan is still searching for his first ring. As for football, the Patriots decision to stick with Tom Brady after Drew Bledsoe got hurt will go down in history. Brady and the Patriots had a dynasty and many consider Brady as one of the greatest QB's ever. Bledsoe had a fine career, but it doesn't even come close to what Brady and the Patriots achieved once they moved on from him.

Now for the bad decisions, the Jones over Barkley type decision. The first one that comes to my mind is the Dolphins picking Daunte Caulpepper over Drew Brees. At the time, I thought Culpepper was the correct choice. He had more success at that point, Brees was coming off injury, Culpepper was more mobile and had a better arm. Well, Culpepper flamed out pretty quick and Drew Brees has multiple MVP's and a Super Bowl ring. He is also one of the best to ever play the position. He is going to be a hall of famer for sure. Culpepper, he will unfortunately be a footnote. The Bears decided in the 2017 draft that they had to trade up one spot to take Mitch Trubisky. Some players that went after Trubisky include Christian McCaffery, Jamal Adams, Evan Engram, Jabrill Peppers, TJ Watt, David Njoku, oh yeah, and Patrick Mahomes. Sure, maybe the Bears didn't need some of the other guys due to position. But, they picked Trubisky over Mahomes. That is some Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan stuff right there. Getting back to picking a player over another player, the last one I want to bring up is Kobe Bryant over Shaq. This one may cause division with others. Kobe had a great career post Shaq. That is undeniable. He won MVP awards. He won titles. He was always on the all star team. He is one of the better NBA players we have ever seen. But it took time. Kobe wasn't instantly successful after the Lakers picked him over Shaq. It took time. On the other hand, Shaq won a title immediately. He teamed up with Dwyane Wade in Miami and got a ring that season. Shaq was what the Heat needed, he went there and he won right away. We all remember how Shaq told the world he was better too. Look it up. Shaq was also beloved, for the most part. Kobe was not. His teammates despised him from what I have read. Shaq was fun. Kobe was vigilant. Shaq knew what to do and when to do it. Kobe expected things from people that may not have been able to provide it. I am also a Shaq fan, so that is why I believe the Lakers made the wrong choice. But, I do have to say that both parties benefited from the choice.

Let me know if you all have some that I may have missed out on. I like stuff like this. Send them my way. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Predicts the 2024 College Football Season

Today I will wrap up my 2024 football preview with NCAA football. This is my favorite sport to watch. I loathe the NCAA, but man do I love college football. We actually get started this weekend with four games, but it all truly pops off next weekend. College football is just around the corner and I cannot wait. This year is different with conference realignment and the first year of the 12 team playoff. I'll still pick power 5 conference winners, but I'm not going to go team by team in each conference. I'm just going to pick the winners, one surprise from each conference, both good and bad, and then give you my 12 team playoff, with predictions all the way to the title game. I'll also do award predictions. And, of course, I'm going to talk about Michigan no matter what. With all that being said, let's get into the power 5 conference picks.

I'll start with the ACC. A bunch of teams have joined this conference of late, but it doesn't really matter. Clemson or FSU will win it this season, and I'll go with Clemson. They look quietly good coming into this season. As for my surprises, I think FSU is going to take a step back. Their game against Georgia Tech in Ireland this weekend will speak volumes as to how their season is going to play out. As for my good surprise, give me NC State. They got Grayson McCall to commit out of the portal and he is a good QB. I believe they will be Clemson's biggest threat. On to the Big 12 now.

The Big 12 has added a few teams in the past couple years. They are trying to remain a viable power conference, and they've had some good success over the past few years. My conference winner is Utah. It is weird that Utah is even in the Big 12, and I am counting on the QB to stay healthy, which is not a safe bet, but they have the most complete team in the conference and the best coaching staff. It wouldn't surprise me if they win the Big 12 with ease to be honest. As for my not so good surprise, I have zero faith in Oklahoma State. Their star running back was arrested for a DUI recently and their dickhead of a head coach laughed it off. Their QB is in his 7th year, and he is not Stetson Bennett. And now they are going to have QR codes on their helmets to help with NIL. This all seems like a recipe for disaster. My good surprise, give me KU. They have a great QB, who needs to stay healthy. But, they won big games without him last year. KU has a good football team. On to the skeleton of the Pac 12.

There's two teams left. Everyone else is gone. I don't know why they didn't just fold, but they didn't, and here we are. This is between two mediocre teams as well, Oregon State and Washington State. Oregon State has an entirely new coaching staff, and Washington State hasn't been a true threat in over a decade. I guess I'll go with WSU to win the Pac 12, but honestly, who cares? Moving on to the SEC.

The SEC has always been one of the best power 5 conferences, and after adding Texas and Oklahoma, the gauntlet is even tougher now. The SEC is one of two true power conferences left, the second one I'll get to next. There is some major turnover within this conference, namely Nick Saban retiring after last year. Georgia maybe should have been a playoff team last year, and they return a good portion of that team this year. They are the team to beat in this conference, and I think they are the team to beat in all of college football. They have a tremendous offense and an elite defense. Georgia is the cream of the crop in college football. My bad surprise team is LSU. I have no faith in Brian Kelly as a head coach. He has never really shined in big games. They also have to replace some excellent wideouts, and their Heisman winning QB. Regression is due with this team. My good surprise, South Carolina. I believe, though the belief is dwindling, that they have a good coaching staff. They also have the best athlete in all of college football on their team, Nyck Harbor. And he has a year of playing behind him. He knows the speed of the game and what to expect. If they can scheme him ways to get the ball as much as possible, big things are in store for him and the team.

Now to the Big 10, my conference. Before I pick my winner, let me talk about Michigan for a second. Michigan is the three time Big 10 champ and reigning national title winner. They have nothing to answer for, and for people out there who still think that they are going to get in trouble, it's not happening. Let it go. Harbaugh is gone, as expected, but they did the correct thing in hiring Sherrone Moore as the head coach. He has proven himself as a coordinator and position coach, and now it's his turn. The kids love playing for him too. A lot of important players graduated or opted for the draft. They do have to replace some important players. But they have guys that can do it, and guys that have proven they can do it. Their defense should be elite yet again. Michigan will not win the Big 10 this year, they have a brutal schedule, but they aren't going to roll over and die. They have good to great players, a wonderful defense and can grind games out by running the ball. Moore's pedigree is offensive line play, and Michigan should be elite there once again. Michigan isn't going anywhere. Now, onto my Big 10 picks.

Everyone and their mother assume the University of Ohio State is going to run away with the Big 10. They went out and purchased one of the best rosters money can buy in the NIL era. But Ryan Day is still the head coach, and while he has a pretty great record as a head coach, he is timid and afraid to go for the jugular in big, important games. That being said, give me Oregon to win the conference. They have a loaded roster, Phil Knight is dumping money into that program and they all want a title come hell or high water. My bad surprise team, Iowa. They cannot seem to figure out their offense. Their offense was historically bad last year. And by all accounts, it is as bad this season during camp and practice. Their defense should be great, but having this bad of an offense for too many seasons in a row is not a good look. My good surprise, give me Wisconsin. This is year two for Luke Fickell. He is a good head coach. He is a good recruiter. He has taken lesser programs to the playoff. Wisconsin should be on the come up, and I think we will see the first signs of it this season.

Now to my playoff teams and predictions. The playoff format is a bit different, giving four auto bids to the four major conference winners, and one from a group of 5 conference winners. So, that would mean I have Georgia representing the SEC, Utah from the Big 12, Clemson from the ACC and Oregon from the Big 10. My group of 5 playoff auto bid is Liberty. They made a big bowl game last year, hung with Oregon for a half and returned most of their key players. That doesn't mean they are the 5 seed though. For me, and most others, Liberty is the 12 seed. As for the four major conference winners, from 1-4 give me Georgia, Oregon, Clemson and then Utah. So that leaves us with spots 5-11. I believe they will be, in order, the University of Ohio State, Notre Dame, Mizzou, Ole Miss, Penn State, Texas and Michigan. That last spot was between Michigan and Bama, so I'm going to go with my heart here and take Michigan. This seems like a pretty darn good field for this expanded playoff, of which I'm a big fan. The matchups would be as follows, the top four teams get a first round bye. So, my 5-12 game features the University of Ohio State facing Liberty. The University of Ohio State wins that game going away. My 6-11 Matchup has an old time rivalry, Notre Dame and Michigan. Give me Michigan baby! They will head into South Bend and win an ugly, low scoring game. My 7-10 game has Mizzou facing Texas. Texas is going to be lethal this year and Mizzou doesn't have the rushing attack that they had last year. Texas wins here. And the 8-9 game will showcase Ole Miss and Penn State. Ole Miss is going to run up and down the field on Penn State and win going away. On to the quarterfinals. Number 1 Georgia will face off with Ole Miss. Georgia will maul this team. They are as fast and much better at almost every position. Oregon will then match up with Texas. Oregon is too good, they have a more explosive QB that is willing to run and Texas will not be able to match the Ducks speed. Clemson will get Michigan. This is where Michigan's title defense ends. This will be another ugly game, but due to more complete QB and wideout play, Clemson will win. And Utah will get the University of Ohio State. We have seen this story before and Utah cannot hang with a team that likes to run and gun up and down the field. The university of Ohio State wins a shootout. The semifinals are set with Georgia facing Oregon and Clemson facing the university of Ohio State. This has all been leading up to Georgia playing the university of Ohio State for the title. Clemson isn't ready yet, and Oregon always finds a way to blow a big game. Give me Georgia winning it all. They are the best team in college football. They will remind everyone that they are the top college football team. Ryan Day will find a way to get supremely outcoached by Kirby Smart and Georgia will win the inaugural 12 team college football playoff.

Onto awards. I am going with Dillon Gabriel to win the Heisman. Oregon will let him do anything and everything he wants. He is also playing behind one of the best o lines in college football. I have Luther Burden III of Mizzou winning the Biletnikoff. I'll take Omarion Hampton from UNC as the Daok Walker winner. Will Johnson will win the Jim Thorpe award. And Mason Graham will win the Outland Trophy. Colston Loveland will win the Mackey Award. James Pearce Jr will win both the Lombardi and Ted Hendricks award. Harold Perkins wins the Butkus award. And Travis Hunter has the Paul Hornung award almost already locked up. Finally, the coach of the year in college football will be Dan Lanning at Oregon. He will take them very far this year, they will have an elite offense and their defense has improved every season under his coaching.

That does it for everything football for the time being. I can't wait for the season to start and I can't wait to see how everything turns out. It is football season baby. Time to get excited. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty Predicts the 2024 NFL Champs and Award Winners

Wrapping up my NFL countdown stuff, today I come to you all with my postseason predictions and award winners. Tomorrow will be my college football preview and predictions, but today is my last day of NFL preview stuff for awhile now. I'll start with my AFC and NFC division winners, name some wild cards and then fully predict the playoffs. After that I will pick award winners. Let's get to it.

I'll start with the AFC East. This, to me, is a two team race. I think the Bills and Dolphins are the front runners. I have zero faith in the Jets offense being any good outside of Breece Hall, and the Patriots are a dumpster fire on offense. I think I'm going to go with the Dolphins. They have the best offense by a mile and the defense should be improved. The Bills don't have many more weapons and they are proven to not show up in big games. It will be tight the whole way, but I see the Dolphins wrapping it up by week 15.

The AFC North is going to be an absolute bloodbath. This may be the most competitive division in all of football. I believe that three of the teams were in my top 10, and the Steelers weren't very far off. I do believe each team could be over .500 and three could make the playoffs. I think in the long run it will come down to the Bengals and Ravens and I have the Ravens winning it. They have proven to be able to stay healthy and they have a much better coaching staff. But it is going to be brutal all season long when they play division games.

The AFC South has the juice to be pretty good. It isn't that much of a joke anymore. The teams are competent, they have solid QB play and the coaches are pretty darn good. The Colts and Jags will fight for second place, and whoever gets second place will probably be a playoff team. The Titans are no good and should be rebuilding as is. But this is the Texans division, and it shouldn't be that close. They have the best QB, the best offense, the best defense and the best coaching staff. The Texans are a very, very good football team.

The AFC West is not that tough. The Chiefs are the cream of the crop and should win this division going away. The Chargers will be frisky, the Raiders have an elite defense but no offense and the Broncos are starting a rookie at QB. The Chiefs have the best QB in the league, the best tight end, a much improved defense and the best coach in football. They win this division going away.

As for my playoff teams from the AFC, I have the four division winners, Dolphins, Ravens, Texans and Chiefs. Then we have the wild card teams, the Bengals, Jags and Bills. As for seeding, going from 1-7, I have the Texans, Chiefs, Ravens, Dolphins, Bengals, Jags and Bills. In the 4-5 matchup I have the Dolphins facing the Bengals. Give me the Bengals. They are a better overall team. The 3-6 matchup features the Ravens and Jaguars. The Ravens will win in a walk. The 2-7 matchup gives me the Chiefs facing the Bills. We have seen this matchup and we all know how it ends, with the Chiefs winning. So that would leave the Texans facing the Ravens and the Chiefs facing the Bengals. I really want to pick the Texans, but I think the Ravens are better and I feel like they are going to finally show up in a big game. Lamar Jackson will have perfect field conditions and he will thrive. The Chiefs-Bengals game should be epic. We have seen the Bengals win in KC, and I bet we will see it again. The Chiefs are tired and the Bengals are hungry. So my AFC title matchup is the Bengals and Ravens. The Bengals will be too tired from the previous game and Lamar Jackson will continue his redemption and revenge tour in the playoffs. Give me the Ravens representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.

Now for the NFC.

We will start with the NFC East, which is a weird division. I don't fully trust any team in this division. The Cowboys are a good regular season team, but they have so many outside issues. The Eagles are loaded with talent, but they have more issues with their team and staff than the Cowboys. The Commanders are coming, but they are too young. And the Giants stink. I'm going to go with the Eagles to win this division over the Cowboys because they have better QB and running back play than their opponents.

The NFC North has three good teams, and then there's the Vikings. This is a gap year for them. They can just take it off. The Bears are going to be good in a year or two, but not yet. They will show signs, but they aren't ready for the playoffs just yet. The Packers are pretty good and have a ton of talent, but they are still the youngest team in the NFL, and I want to see if last season was a fluke or not. The Lions are the cream of the crop here. They have pretty much everything you want in a very good NFL team. This division is theirs.

I cannot figure out the NFC South to save my life. The Panthers were awful last year so they are due to get better, but I don't think they'll be not much better. The Buccaneers are counting on a continued Baker Mayfield renaissance. I don't want anything to do with that. The Falcons are going with Kirk Cousins, who seems immune to winning important games. And the Saints are still rolling out Derek Carr and letting Dennis Allen continue to head coach this team. I guess I'll go with the Falcons, but they may only win eight games. And that may be enough here.

The NFC West may be frisky, but not great. The Rams have the guys, if they can stay on the field. The Seahawks have some quality skill guys and a competent QB, but they have a bad o line and a whole new coaching staff. I like what the Cardinals are doing, but they are still a few seasons away from true contention. Then we have the 49ers. They are the best and most complete team, outside the QB position, and they have to hope they get another year as healthy as last season. I'll go with the 49ers, but the Rams can push.

So, my four division winners, and locks for the playoffs, are the Eagles, Lions, Falcons and 49ers. My three wild card teams are the Packers, Cowboys and Rams. The rankings, from 1-7 are, the Lions, 49ers, Eagles, Falcons, Packers, Rams and Cowboys. The 4-5 matchup features the Falcons and Packers. Give me the Packers all day in this matchup. They may be younger, but they are better. The 3-6 matchup gives us the Eagles and Rams. This is where the Eagles will fall apart. The Rams will take advantage of the Eagles old secondary and they will win by outscoring the Eagles. The 2-7 matchup has the 49ers and Cowboys. It is an old school matchup where the 49ers will crush the Cowboys and send them into their next rebuild. So, the 1st seed Lions will face the 49ers and the Packers will face the Rams. Give me Green Bay in a home game over the Rams. It will be a good, close fought game. The Rams will stick around, but Lambeau will work its magic and the Packers will get to the NFC title game. The Lions and 49ers will give us a great rematch from last season, but this time the Lions will exorcise last year's second half debacle. I could see Detroit winning handily. This means we have a Lions-Packers NFC title game. This is a dope matchup on the field and within my family. We have fans of both, and the text chains will be great. The Lions are a better, more complete team, and they will win to finally get to a Super Bowl. They are the NFC champs.

That means I have the Lions and Ravens facing off in the Super Bowl. I'm going to go with the Ravens. Lamar Jackson will finish the revenge tour with a Super Bowl title and etch his name into greatness at the QB position.

As for award winners, first off Lamar Jackson will win the Super Bowl MVP. I also see him winning the regular season MVP for a second year in a row. Offensive Player of the Year will go to someone other than Jackson, and I'm going with Ja'Marr Chase. He's going to have a humongous season. Defensive Player of the Year will be Aiden Hutchinson. He is on the ascent, and this will be his first of many DPOY wins in his career. Offensive ROTY is going to be Caleb Williams. He is as advertised, and he is awesome. Defensive ROTY is a homer pick for me, as I am going with Mike Sainristil. He is going to be a big part on defense for a team that could surprise some this season. And Coach of the Year is going to be DeMeco Ryans. The Texans are going to be great this season, and the fact that he will have this team on this kind of a rise in year two will not go unnoticed.

That's it for preseason NFL stuff. Come back tomorrow for my college football preview and picks. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Ranks the 2024 NFL Teams: The Best Bunch

Today is the final day of my preseason 2024 NFL countdown. These are the four best teams in my rankings and I believe that all four could win the Super Bowl this season.

At 4 I have the Detroit Lions. The Lions are on the come up. They kind of, almost, have it all. They have very good to great players at almost every position. One position where they don't have top of the line talent is QB. Jared Goff is fine. He is milquetoast. You know exactly what you're going to get from him. He won't blow a game for you, but he won't win a game for you either. He is a run of the mill QB. David Montgomery is a very good starting running back. He gets you the tough yards and can pop a run off here and there. Jahmyr Gibbs is better than him. He is more explosive, is a better pass catcher and is younger. Gibbs is the future at this position for the Lions. Amon Ra St.Brown is an upper tier wideout. He is so good at every level as a receiver. Jameson Williams looks to be healthy and I feel like he is going to bust out this year. Sam LaPorta is already one of the better tight ends in the NFL. And this is the best o line in football. They are locked and loaded everywhere on the o line. They run and pass block better than any unit in the NFL. The defense is up and coming. Aidan Hutchinson is going to be one of the best edge rushers in the NFL sooner rather than later. He is a perfect fit in Detroit. Marcus Davenport can thrive playing opposite Hutchinson. Jack Campbell was solid in college and already looks solid in the NFL. Terrion Arnold was a hell of a pick and Brian Branch is a heavy hitting strong safety. The Lions are the truth. They almost made the Super Bowl last season, but they blew it. I am dying to see if they can remedy that this season. The Lions are going to be very good for a good amount of time. They should win the NFC North and probably can get to 13 or 14 wins during the regular season.

At 3 I have the Kansas City Chiefs. The reigning Super Bowl champs. They have almost everyone back, and that everyone is top of the line in the NFL. Patrick Mahomes is the best QB in the NFL. I trust him more than any other QB right now. He took a team that wasn't great last season and won a title with them. Mahomes is the man. Isiah Pacheco runs like a man possessed. He runs mean. He looks angry. He wants to dole out the punishment. He is very, very good. Rashee Rice is coming off a decent year. They signed Hollywood Brown. That seems unfair. And they were able to draft Xavier Worthy. The rich get richer. Travis Kelce is the best tight end in the league. He may be older, but he is Mahomes' security blanket and he is productive. This may be his last season, so I'm sure he'll want to go out with a bang. The o line is great. The defense was way better last season then they have been since Mahomes and Andy Reid got there. Chris Jones got his money and he was disruptive as hell. George Karlaftis is a good edge guy. Mike Danna is young and good. Nick Bolton is a tackling machine. They'll miss L'Jarius Sneed, but they still have Justin Reid and Trent McDuffie, so the secondary should be just fine. The Chiefs are the new Brady/Belichek Patriots. They are here to win and win big. They'll probably get 12 or 13 regular season wins on their way to another playoff run.

At 2 I have the San Francisco 49ers. This is a last chance at a ring for this team. They had almost everyone healthy last season, had a lead in the Super Bowl and they still couldn't finish the job. Kyle Shanahan may be a poor big game coach. I still have no energy to root for Brock Purdy. I think he is a fine QB, but not as good as some media outlets may have us believe. Purdy should not be counted on to win you a game. He is, at his very best, a game manager, and not even one of the best game managers in the NFL. Christian McCaffery is incredible. He is a prototype modern day running back. He may be the only player on the 49ers that I actively like. And he was healthy pretty much all season last year. I don't know if that will ever happen for him again. Counting on his health for two years in a row is a bad sign for him and this team. Brandon Aiyuk may or may not be on the team. He may or may not get paid. He is in far too much limbo. Deebo Samuel Jr is pretty great too, but his schtick seems to have been figured out. He doesn't pop off the big runs and long passing gains like he did two years ago. I think George Kittle is overrated. He is a very good blocking tight end, but he isn't the passing threat that people make him out to be. The o line is okay, but not at the level of Detroit or KC. This defense is still very good, but not the dominant force it once was. Nick Bosa is a dickhead that I will never, ever root for or say anything nice about ever. Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner are awesome. I felt bad for Warner last year when he tore his ACL running on the field during the Super Bowl. That stinks for him. He will be back though. Charvarius Ward is elite. Leonard Floyd still has something left. And Ambry Thomas is a promising nickel corner. The 49ers have a good team, but a flawed team. They also still have a very good defense that will win them some games. I say they get 12 this season.

And finally, at number 1, which some people have told me I'm dumb about this, is the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson is my favorite NFL player to watch. He is the best modern day QB. He has gotten better every season. This team goes as he goes, and he usually goes far. He needs to show up better in big games, but he is still awesome. I adore Lamar Jackson. Derrick Henry adds a very nice dimension to this offense. He can take pressure off Jackson and help grind out games even more for this team. Zay Flowers has crazy speed. Rashod Bateman has a now or never type season, and I could see him showing up and showing out. And Nelson Agholor will bring nice production to this offense. Mark Andrews is an elite tight end, probably second best in the league. The o line is very, very good. The defense needs to replace Mike MacDonald, but they have the dudes to keep this defense humming. Odafe Owweh is an up and coming edge rusher. David Ojabo appears to be healthy finally. Getting Roquan Smith was such a good move a few seasons ago. Kyle Van Noy brings veteran experience. Kyle Hamilton is one of the best young safeties in the league. Marlon Humphrey is a very good cover corner. The Ravens are really, really good at every key position. The head coach has won big games. The QB has won multiple MVP awards. The new running back is a former rushing yards champ. The defense is blitz crazy and causes turnovers at a high rate. The Ravens, to me, are the cream of the crop this year. I look at them as the favorites for the Super Bowl going into this season. They appear to me to be a 13 or 14 regular season wins team. They are the best.

That's it for my preseason 2024 NFL countdown. Come back tomorrow for my playoff and awards predictions. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Ranks the 2024 NFL Teams: The Contenders Bunch

Here we are at day seven of my preseason 2024 NFL countdown.

At number 8 I have the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have talent, but they also have issues. This defense played out of their minds last year, and I think they can recreate that again this season. Having Nick Chubb coming back from injury will be nice too. Deshaun Watson is the QB, and he has issues both on and off the field. He has never been the same QB since all of the allegations came out against him. These are real allegations, and he should be in more trouble. He also is not as good as he was while in Houston as a QB. He doesn't seem to have the juice anymore. Nick Chubb is back, as previously mentioned, but he is coming off a major injury. That is never a good thing for a running back. He may be on his last chance, however unfair that may be. Amari Cooper had a great year last season, but he has been in a ton of trade rumors, and maybe he just wants out. They traded for Jerry Jeudy, in what I think will end up being good for both the player and the team. And David Njoku was about the only thing that went right for me on my fantasy football team last year. The o line is stable and good. The defense is elite. Myles Garrett is the returning DPOY and he is a backfield destroyer. They signed Za'Darius Smith, and that dude still has some gas left. Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II and Grant Delpit form an unbelievable secondary. And they are taking a chance on Devin Bush, who has had his moments. This team wins with running the ball and defense. They need better QB play and to not have their top wideouts in trade conversations constantly. But they will win games and make another playoff run. I have them at 10 or 11 wins.

At number 7 I have the Philadelphia Eagles. I'd have them higher if there wasn't a ton of turmoil surrounding the coaching staff. I am a Jalen Hurts fan. I think he is good, he is one of the best dual threat QBs in the league, and his passing has gotten so much better. They were able to sign Saquon Barkley. I feel like not enough people have talked about how big a deal this is for this team. Barkley adds another potent threat to a run-heavy offense in which he should thrive. This is a big, big deal. Devonta Smith is as advertised. I'm stoked that the Eagles didn't let his height affect drafting him. AJ Brown is in a much better situation. The o line will miss Jason Kelce a ton, but they still have the other guys back from one of the better o lines in the league. On defense, Jordan Davis is a world beater. Josh Sweat brings it from linebacker. CJ Gardner-Johnson and Darius Slay JR make for some nice pieces in the secondary. And Brandon Graham is back for one last ride with this team. The Eagles have the guys on paper to make a Super Bowl push. They need to straighten things up behind the scenes to do so. That being said, they are going to win 12, maybe 13 games this season.

At number 6 I have the Cincinnati Bengals. This team is so good, especially on offense, when everyone is healthy and available. That is not always the case with this team. They always seem to have a key player hurt when they need them most. Joe Burrow has proven himself on the field. The guy can play. He is a top tier QB and he has shown that he can beat the Chiefs in KC. Ja'Marr Chase is, probably, the best wideout in the game. He is damn near unguardable. He is, like he likes to say, always open. They signed Zack Moss to take over as the starting running back. Moss is a pro who will produce whatever they need from him. Tee Higgins is back, maybe only for this season, and when he is on the field he can put up numbers. The o line is much improved and should keep the QBs and running backs from getting too banged up. The defense, according to RD, is young. Dax Hill is a very capable, very good safety. He came in and found a place right away. Sam Hubbard is a very good edge rusher. Sheldon Rankins can be a problem when he wants to be. Kris Jenkins was a good draft pick for them to add depth. Cam Taylor-Britt is okay. This defense has guys that can play, they just need to play. They will get that chance this season. If this team can stay on the field and stay in one piece, I can definitely see them making a Super Bowl run. They just have to hope that this year is different from years past as far as injuries go. I say they are good enough to win 11, maybe 12 games during the regular season, if healthy.

At number 5 I have the Houston Texans. This is a team on the rise. They showed out last year and I only see more of that to some. CJ Stroud is elite. He had one of the best rookie seasons we have ever seen. He looked awesome and he will only get better. Joe Mixon was signed away from the Bengals and he will start here. He adds toughness and big play ability out of the backfield. The Texans may have the best receiving corps in professional football. Nico Collins exploded onto the scene as their number one option last year. He will only be better. Tank Dell was another rookie who had a phenomenal year. And they got Stefon Diggs to come on over. He should love being a part of this offense.. The o line is solid. They do their jobs. The defense is going to be better this year too. Will Anderson Jr is awesome. He is the next great edge rusher in this league. He is so explosive off the ball and he can mess up your backfield in an instant. Mario Edwards Jr can take on double teams to free up other d lineman. Danielle Hunter is a beast off the edge. Henry To'oTo'o is as solid as they come at linebacker. And Desmond King II and Derek Stingley can wreck your passing game at a moments notice. The Texans are good and should be for a good amount of time now. They are also a blast to watch play this game. They are going to win at least 12 games this season and it wouldn't shock me to see them win 13, hell, even 14 games. The Texans are legit.

That's it for today. Come back for the final four teams tomorrow. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Ranks the 2024 NFL Teams: The Good Bunch

Welcome back to my preseason 2024 NFL countdown. I hope you all had a good weekend and pored over what I had to say last week. From here on out the teams all have some kind of a chance at making a postseason run. These are my "good" teams.

At number 12 I have the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams are going to miss Aaron Donald a ton. He is one of the greatest to ever do it at the d line position. His ability to take on double teams and still create pressure will never be replaced. Outside of Aaron Donald retiring, the Rams bring back a decent veteran team that made a playoff run last year. Matthew Stafford is back. He is old and slow and cannot make all the throws, but he can make the necessary throws. He is in the game management business now, and that should suit him nicely. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum should make for a formidable backfield. Williams is more of an explosive player and Corum will get you the gritty, tough yards. I expect a big rookie year from Corum. The receiving corps brings back a healthy Cooper Kuup, which is good for this team, and two young bucks in Puka Nacua and Demarcus Robinson. Robinson had moments, but I expect a leap, and Nacua exploded onto the scene. He has the makings of a number 1 wideout very soon. Kuup, if he can stay on the field, is about as consistent as they get in the NFL. The o line is good and will protect Stafford and open lanes for Williams and Corum. The defense is interesting. Jared Verse may have something left in the tank. Kobie Turner is intriguing. Tre'Davious White has his moments. And Byron Young looks solid. But they don't have the big names anymore. This isn't a flashy defense. They need to perform for this team to be any real threat, and I think they have the potential to be decent. I think this version of the Rams has a last season all together quality. And I think they will perform enough to win 11 games and sneak into the playoffs.

At number 11 I have the Dallas Cowboys. I mean, this has to be the last chance for Mike McCarthy, Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott, right? They can win in the regular season, but then they crap the bed in the playoffs. I like Dak Prescott as a dude. He seems like a good guy to me. But man does he crack under pressure. He would be better off moving on from this team and playing on a team that makes football fun. I was stunned when they brought Ezekiel Elliott back. This isn't 2019. This dude is washed. And they let Tony Pollard walk out of the door for nothing. They must resign CeeDee Lamb if they want to be taken seriously at all. He is the only true threat they have. Jerry Jones needs to get his racist ass in line and give this dude his money. He is all they have. Brandin Cooks is old and Luke Schoonmaker wasn't even my favorite tight end on the team when he played for Michigan. The o line is fine, but old and starting to show cracks. The defense got burned in the playoffs last year, and they seemingly did nothing to shore it up this offseason. Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence are very, very good edge rushers. Parsons may be the best in the game. They can only do so much. They need more help. Erick Kendricks is old. Trevon Diggs feels like a flash in the pan. Jourdan Lewis is consistent, but never explosive. Mazi Smith has this allergic reaction thing. I don't trust this defense, especially in the secondary to make the needed stops. The Cowboys are built to win 11 or 12 games every regular season, and they get stomped in the first round of the playoff. If I were a betting man, I'd bet that will happen this year, and then massive changes will be made next offseason.

At number 10 I have the Green Bay Packers. This is my team. This is who I root for. I have come around on Matt Lafleur as a head coach. They won playing with house money last year. This is the test this year if they are actually any good. I have faith they are good. Jordan Love looked like a competent, and at times, exceptional starting NFL QB last season. He did everything that was asked of him, sometimes doing more. He still throws off his back foot more than I like, but that can be fixed. He got paid and I think the pure fact that he knows this team is his will help push him to other levels. I'm not crazy about Aaron Jones leaving for a division rival, but they replaced him with Josh Jacobs, a move I was stoked on when it happened. I love Jacobs' game, and he is in a place that wants him to thrive. I can't wait to watch him play this season. The wideouts are young, but they have potential. Jayden Reed popped last year. Christian Watson has the makings of a number 1 receiver. And Romeo Doubs is the guy they need to stretch the field. The o line is good, as always in Green Bay. The defense used to freak me out, but they had one hell of a season last year, and I think they can be better this year. Preston Smith and Rashan Gary are as good an edge rushing duo as you could want in the NFL. They will destroy backfields. Quay Walker has the makings of a perennial pro bowl player. Jaire Alexander is one of the best cover corners in the league. Eric Stokes brings the heat from the safety position. The Packers have a good, all around roster. They are solely reliant on the QB anymore. They can beat you in many different ways. I see this team as a near lock for 11 wins and a postseason berth.

At number 9 I have the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins look damn near unbeatable when they play in perfect conditions. When they don't, it can be ugly. Tua Tagovailoa maybe shouldn't be playing football because of the concussions, but he is really, really good at the QB position. He can wing it. He can also scramble. And he looks a bit more solid now, so maybe, hopefully for his sake, the concussions are a thing of the past. Devon Achane and Raheem Mostert are both good and both crucial to this offense. Mostert does the gritty work and Achane can take the top off of a defense. Tyreek Hill is the fastest and one of the best wideouts in football. Get him the ball and watch him go. Jaylen Waddle is a perfect second wideout to Hill and he thrives in that position. The o line is better and they are giving this high powered offense all the time it needs. The defense can be a problem, even more so than the weather. They are full of older dudes or unproven dudes. Calais Campbell and Jalen Ramsey are still kicking around. Jordan Poyer is now on this team. Bradley Chubb is hoping this works better for him. Then it is a bunch of guys I've never heard of. The Dolphins got a brutal weather game in the playoffs last season, but that is the case with the NFL and playing in winter. They are never going to have perfect weather unless they get to play every game at home. But, when this team is humming, they may have the best offense in the NFL. And that offense will lead them to a 12 win season.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Ranks the 2024 NFL Teams: The Looking to Make Some Noise Bunch

Welcome to day five of my preseason 2024 NFL countdown.

At 16 I have the Indianapolis Colts. I don't really understand why I have this level of confidence in this team, but I think they are playoff bound this year. My main reason for optimism is Anthony Richardson. This dude is big, physical, fast and can make some spectacular throws. I do think he opts to run far too much, but with a year behind him, that will only help take his game up another level. I do worry about him getting injured, but he looks like he got even bigger this offseason. Johnathan Taylor is an elite running back. He is the type of player you can count on to get tough yards, get 100 yards and score a TD or two in each game he plays. Michael Pittman Jr let it be known last season that he is on the come up. I love the Adonai Mitchell pick for them. This adds speed and excellent hands to this receiving corps. The o line is very solid. Hell, they are an upper tier o line in the NFL. The defense may be the question mark here. Kwity Paye is okay, but hasn't really popped off just yet. DeForest Buckner is pretty old. The linebackers are decent. And the secondary is full of unknown players to me. This team will go as Richardson and Taylor go. If they are both playing and performing, the Colts could be an eleven or fifteen win team. If they are hurt, they will be lucky to win seven or eight games. I'm going to go right in the middle and say they win ten and sneak into the playoffs.

At 15 I have the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Tomlin is still here, still one of the most underrated coaches and will have this team above .500 because that is what he does. Tomlin is one of the better coaches to ever walk the NFL sidelines. They do have a choice at QB with Justin Fields or Russell Wilson. Fields adds running and big play ability, but he's inconsistent. Wilson is a veteran leader who's won the biggest prize, but his rah rah stuff won't gel in Pittsburgh, and he is on the back end of his career. I think they will use both guys, but Tomlin will probably stick with Wilson in the long run. He is more of a sure thing between the two of them. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren make a nice backfield duo, but it seems like Warren is the better option. Harris is taking carries away from him and they may need to choose between the two of these guys, just like at the QB position. They drafted Roman Wilson, who I adore, and maybe this will be the year that George Pickens finally pops. I don't know if that will happen, but if he does, these two could make for a nice, young wideout combination. They shored up the o line via the draft, so there may be bumps in the road, but it should work itself out. The defense has studs, TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick are top tier talents. I also like the addition of Patrick Queen. Cameron Hayward is still pretty darn productive. And Joey Porter Jr is a really good cornerback. The more I look at this team the more I think I may have them too low. Mike Tomlin will get the best out of these guys, but with the uncertainty at QB, I think ten wins is the best case scenario for them. But it wouldn't surprise me to see them win twelve games.

At number 14 I have the Jacksonville Jaguars. This is another team that kind of reminds me of the Steelers. No frills, but competent play from all spots and solid coaching. Trevor Lawrence isn't the generational talent some thought he could be, but he is good. He is consistent. Travis Etienne Jr is a very good back when healthy. He had a heck of a year last year and I could see him being even better. The receiving corps is fine. They aren't great but they aren't bad. Evan Engram had a big season at tight end last year for them. The o line does a good job run and pass blocking. The defense has athletes. Travon Walker needs to produce more, but he has gotten better. Getting Darnell Savage in their secondary brings a heavy hitter. I'm going to miss him in Green Bay. Arik Armstead can still play well here and there. Josh Hines-Allen is one of the better pass rushers in the league. The Jags aren't going to look fancy when they play, but they will try and beat you into submission. They want to drain the clock and hit you hard on defense. All of that is good enough for eleven wins.

At number 13 I have the Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen is still here and still a pretty solid QB. I had my doubts about him, and I still do not enjoy him as a person, but the guy puts up numbers. He is a fantasy player's dream QB. James Cook should get the bulk of the carries and I think he is ready for an expanded role. Khalil Shakir really came on string at the end of last year. Curtis Samuel brings something interesting. And Keon Coleman has been the star of the offseason, both on and off the field. I don't think they'll miss Stefon Diggs too much. The o line is nasty and big and good. The defense is pretty solid too. The d line is nasty. Greg Rousseau is a o line wrecker. Ed Oliver is still out there putting up numbers. AJ Espensea looks to be a bit better than last year. The linebacker corps is okay, but I think they will miss Von Miller's veteran leadership. He's still there, but he is now a backup and he is often injured. He's still one of my all time favorite players. Damar Hamlin is still playing football, I don't know if that is best, but he is pretty good. Taylor Rapp is a force. And I'd love to see Kaiir Elam get some time in the secondary. The Bills will win regular season games. They could win twelve or thirteen. But they choke hard in the playoffs. They cannot beat the Chiefs. The rest of the AFC is very good. The Bills are a playoff team, but how far they go is up to them, and they have shown in the past that that may be too much to handle.

That is it for this week. Come back Monday for the next four teams. We are getting to the true threats to make real noise starting next week. See you then. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty Ranks the 2024 NFL Teams: The Outside Looking In Bunch

Welcome to day four of my 2024 preseason NFL countdown.

At number 20 I have the Chicago Bears. The Bears are a team on the rise. They are going to be a problem in a few years if these picks hit, and after seeing just a little bit this offseason, the picks look good. Caleb Williams is as advertised. He knows the game. He knows what he does best. He gets the ball out quick and is on target most of the time. He was born to play QB and he looks like a damn fine number 1 overall pick. But, he is a rookie and the wall is coming. D'Andre Swift is a capable back, but they need to upgrade at that position to be a real overall offensive threat as a team. The receiving corps is great. They drafted Rome Odunze, who was my favorite wideout not named Marvin Harrison Jr in this most recent draft. He is big and physical and fast and has great hands. They got Keenan Allen in a trade and he brings veteran leadership and veteran production to this team. And DJ Moore is the deep threat they need at the third wideout spot. Cole Kmet is a nice safety blanket for Williams in his rookie year. The o line is fine. It's not great and it's not a disaster. The defense can be better. There is room for growth. Getting Montez Sweat was a nice deal for the future last season. Kevin Byard is a fine safety. And Tremaine Edwards is an okay linebacker. Other than that, these are dudes that haven't really shown much yet. They will probably get exposed, but if they can shore it up by the middle of the season, the Bears could be a nice surprise. Getting Williams was a great thing and he could be a long term QB for this team. As for now, seven wins seems like the most likely outcome.

At number 19 I have the Atlanta Falcons. This may be too low for them, but I don't have the best feeling about this team. They gave Kirk Cousins way too much money and years. I cannot fathom a world in which Cousins keeps getting paid while other, younger QB's are consistently passed on. He is a fine regular season player, but when the lights are brightest, he falters. Bijan Robinson has some value, but he wasn't used correctly last season, he took a step back at the midpoint of last season and I worry about his health. Kyle Pitts should be the happiest person on the team now that they have a new head coach. Maybe, just maybe he will be used more in the pass game. But he is only getting older. Drake London had some moments last season, but now defenses will be locked in on him. I want to see him produce while being a focal point. The o line is fine. The defense got a big jolt yesterday when they acquired Matthew Judon. He makes their defense instantly better. He will be a great QB for the defense. Jessie Bates is a wonderful safety in the NFL. The fact that the Falcons got these two guys in the past two offseasons is a much better get than signing Kirk Cousins. The rest of the guys do their job, just not as well as I thought they might last year. The Falcons have some dudes, but they are in the Kirk Cousins business, and that have never really reaped any true rewards. eight or nine wins seems like the best the fans can hope for.

At number 18 I have the New York Jets. This is another team I see people ranking much higher than I do. I don't get it. Aaron Rodgers is 40, insane and coming off a brutal injury. He can't stop saying nonsense and he is old. I despise him. Breece Hall is a good back. He played well after Rodgers' injury last season. Hall is going to put up numbers. Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams are good wideouts, if they don't have to play with a backup QB. They are both capable of stretching the field and getting the first down on third down plays. The o line upgraded after last season, but they are blocking for a 40 year old maniac. I think they'd prefer to block for Breece Hall and anyone else at QB. The defense is legit. Sauce Gardner is an awesome cornerback. He is as shut down as they get in the NFL. He talks the talk and walks the walk. Quinnen Williams is a very good defensive tackle. CJ Mosley is a good linebacker. They have Hasson Reddick, but he already wants out, and I don't think that speaks well for the culture of this team. The defense will keep them in games, but the fact that they are banking on a healthy season from a 40 year old psychopath at QB doesn't bode well for them. I say nine wins at best for this team.

At number 17 I have the Seattle Seahawks. The Geno Smith glowup has been awesome to watch. He has really excelled since signing with this team. I love seeing him find a place to play and play well. He has earned this job. But he is old. Kenneth Walker III is a solid running back, but he is often injured. DK Metcalf, Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett form a very good, very unique receiving corps. They can all do different things very well. The o line is suspect. I feel like Walker III's injuries are due to lack of holes and they don't give Smith nearly enough time in the pocket. This defense is not Legion of Boom, but they did hire a defensive minded coach in Mike MacDonald. He knows how to coordinate a defense, let's see if he can do that while coaching a whole team. And when I look at some of the names, there isn't anyone too familiar outside Devon Witherspoon, who is great. Johnathan Hankins feels like he may be washed. Leonard Williams has bounced around a ton. The rest are dudes I have never really heard of. But, MacDonald may get the best out of these guys. Time will tell. I think the Seahawks could win ten games and threaten for a playoff spot, but eight seems like the more likely outcome to me.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Ranks the 2024 NFL Teams: The Not Quite Ready Bunch

Welcome today to day three of my 2024 preseason NFL countdown.

Coming in at number 24 I have the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders did some good things this offseason. They hired Antonio Pierce. He was the best choice and the players may have revolted if they didn't hire him. They also moved on from Jimmy Garropolo, which was the best thing they could have done for their locker room. He is not the answer at QB. They needed a change. But, I'm not so sure that Aiden O'Connell and Gardner Minshew are the answer. O'Connell had moments last season, but he is no more than a backup game manager. Minshew is the poor man's Ryan Fitzpatrick. He brings some fun to the team, but wins don't usually follow. They had to move Josh Jacobs, he was unhappy, but they replaced him with a mash unit. Zamir White is unproven and Alexander Mattison is old and washed. Davante Adams is a top flight wideout. He is a boss. It is unfortunate that he has to play with these mediocre QB's. They don't have much else at that position. They drafted Brock Bowers, who looks like he could be great, but he is going to run into a rookie wall, and he is coming off an injury last season. The o line is unremarkable. The defense is good, and this is where Pierce shines as a head coach. Maxx Crosby is dope. He is an upper echelon pass rusher. Christian Wilkins found a place that fits. The linebacking unit is solid, as is the secondary. This is where the Raiders win games, on defense. I don't know how many wins that will be due to poor QB play and a mediocre run game. And Davante Adams may ask for a trade in the middle of the season. The Raiders made good choices this offseason, and they need to continue that trend for another season. Then they can make some noise. As for now, eight wins seems like the best to hope for based solely on their defense.

At number 23 I have the Minnesota Vikings. I may have put them lower if I knew about JJ McCarhty's injury sooner. Losing him for the year is a blow. I didn't expect him to help them win much, but he was a better option at QB than Nick Mullens or Sam Darnold. They are stuck with those dudes now, for better or worse. They signed Aaron Jones this offseason. That is a fine move, but after watching Jones the past two years, a player I adore, he gets injured far too much. He is good when he plays, but that gets smaller every season. Justin Jefferson is probably the best wideout in the game. He is fast, runs excellent routes, has great hands and just got paid. He is going to put up numbers regardless of who is playing QB. It is just unfortunate that he hasn't gotten to play with an elite QB yet. He is like this era's Andre Johnson, only better. TJ Hockenson is a quality tight end, and the o line does enough. The Vikings defense is not so great. I look at these dudes on their depth chart, and it is some washed dudes, Harrison Smith, a Michigan guy who frustrated me to no end, Josh Mettulus and a bunch of guys I've never heard of. The Vikings used to win with defense, but that is not the case anymore. The Vikings are going to struggle mightily this season, and McCarthy being done for the year does not help. I'd say five wins at most now after seeing the injury news.

At number 22 I have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. You may see this and think it is too low. They resigned Baker Mayfield and seem to have it all figured out now you'd tell me. I don't buy this hype around Mayfield. I didn't like him in college, I was not a fan of him being taken first overall and I have watched him bounce from team to team. I don't trust that he has figured it all out. Rachaad White is counting on himself, and I like that confidence from him. I could see him having a solid year. Mike Evans is a good wideout who just got paid as well. He is about as consistent as they get in the NFL right now. You know he will produce. And Chris Godwin is a fine second receiver. And the o line is good enough. The defense, which is what propelled them to a Super Bowl in 2020, has taken a step back. Antoine Winfield Jr is still a good secondary player. And Lavonte David is a tackling machine. But outside of them, they don't have much. Vita Vea is old. Logan Hall is not a true threat off the edge. The linebackers, outside of David, aren't top notch. And the secondary has only Winfield Jr to count on. This is a team that thinks it has an answer at QB and probably thinks they are better than they actually are. I'd say nine wins is the tops for them, with seven being a more likely outcome. Baker Mayfield has to prove he isn't washed to me.

At number 21 I have the Los Angeles Chargers. Or maybe I should just refer to them as Michigan West now. They got the big fish this offseason when they hired Jim Harbaugh. The dude wins everywhere he goes. He has a proven track record and he brought a bunch of familiar coaches along with him. He has instilled his system with his staff and it will eventually pay off. Justin Herbert is a good QB. He gets treated as if he is great, but he hasn't earned that just yet. But, he is going to get to great soon. It is coming. Getting JK Dobbins to back up Gus Edwards is a solid, and heady move. If Dobbins can play half the season, he and Edwards will make for an interesting backfield. Harbaugh did let some solid vet receivers walk, namely Keenan Allen. That was odd to me. They drafted some dudes, Ladd McConkey and Cornelius Johnson, and they should be productive, in time. They also took a flyer on DJ Chark, who is a burner. The o line is okay, and they will build and get better in time. That is Harbaugh's thing. The defense is old, old, old. Joey Bosa, who is a dickhead, and Khalil Mack, while very good players, are on the back half of their careers. Derwin James is still going to hit dudes, but he may be a step slower this year. Asante Samuel Jr looks like he can take a leap. And maybe Denzel Perryman will find the fountain of youth. Jesse Minter plays a solid and sophisticated style of defense. Once these guys get clicking, they could be tough to beat. But the defense needs an inflection of youth. The Chargers will be much higher on this list as soon as next year. As for this season, they may struggle to hit nine wins, but seven or eight is not out of the question.

That does it for day three. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Ranks the 2024 NFL Teams: The Better Luck Next Year Bunch

Welcome to day two of my 2024 NFL countdown.

At number 28 I have the Denver Broncos. They are one year behind what should have been the start of a rebuild last year. They reached real hard, in my opinion, for Bo Nix in the draft, and it looks like he will be starting this year. I don't know how that will look, but he is older so maybe he won't hit a rookie wall. I'm also certain he will, but maybe I'll be wrong. They don't have the best backup options either. Zack Wilson is a bust and Jarret Stidham should only ever be an emergency QB. Javonte Williams is a fine running back, but he will get overused. He is all they have on that side of the ball. Jerry Jeudy is gone and all they have to show for it is Courtland Sutton. The other wideouts are not that good, and Sutton is, at best, a third option at receiver. The o line is middle of the road on their best days. The defense is young and inexperienced. They will do their best to keep this team in games, but it won't be enough. The defense and Williams is about all the fans have to be hopeful for, and they will be counted on for way more than they can provide. I have a very bad feeling about Bo Nix, and the fact that Jerry Jeudy couldn't wait to be gone is a bad sign. I think that maybe Sean Payton is too old school to win in the NFL at a high level again. He is building this team in his image, but this is not the early 2010's. He has to adjust or the Broncos will be left behind in a hurry. I'd say 6-8 wins is their best possible outcome. They will most likely miss the playoffs by a wide margin for another season.

At number 27 I have the New York Giants. This team is a mess. They chose Daniel Jones over Saquon Barkley. I get that running backs are more expendable these days, but Barkley is a once in a generation guy. Daniel Jones is one of the worst starting QB's in the league. He used one playoff win, a game that wouldn't have been won without Barkley, and turned it into a big payday. He is over, done, finito. Daniel Jones will be cut or traded by next season. They replaced Barkley with Devin Singleltary. That is akin to going from wagyu steak to on sale ground beef. No disrespect to Singletary, but he is nowhere close to Barkley's level. Malik Nabers was a good pick, but he already looks frustrated playing with Jones. He gets open, but the ball never seems to find him. Wan'Dale Robinson needs to pop now or it will never happen. The o line is fine, but they don't have a back like Barkley to block for anymore, and that has to be frustrating. The defense went out and got Brian Burns, which was a tremendous trade for them. He and Kayvon Thibodeaux form an excellent pass rush. And the secondary is really solid at every position. The Giants defense could make a jump from good to great this season. But, they will be on the field way too much because Daniel Jones is not the type of guy that instills fear in an opponent's defense. This offense is going to be anemic. They picked the wrong dude to sign long term and their wins will suffer due to that. I'd say eight wins is the best outcome, and that is only if the defense becomes absolutely elite. They need to be otherworldly for that to happen.

At number 26 I have the Washington Commanders. The Commanders are coming. I like what they have put together. The only problem is the youth. This team is inexperienced. But, this team is also athletic. I love the Jayden Daniels pick. He was one of my top prospects going into the last draft. He may be a little thin, but he will put on muscle, and if he can keep that speed, watch out. He has a good arm, can throw into tight spaces and he can extend plays. He has all the tools to be awesome. Brian Robinson Jr is a very capable running back. He can grind out yards and make catches out of the backfield. Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson make for a nice receiving duo. They have gotten better each season, and now that they have a competent QB, they could put up big time numbers. The o line is fine. They do enough. The defense is going young as well. They traded their two best pass rushers for picks. I wasn't crazy about it at the time, but I get it. They do have Clelin Ferrel and Johnathan Allen on the d line. They are okay enough. I, of course, love the Mike Sainristil pick. I think he is going to have a very long and very productive career. Jeremy Chinn is solid. Bobby Wagner is a heavy hitter. Benjamin St-Juste is a decent coverage guy. And maybe this is when Dante Fowler Jr figures it all out. The Commanders, much like the Cardinals, are coming, they are just a year or two away. All they need is for these guys to get real game reps, and that should make them a playoff caliber team in 2026 or 27. As for this year, seven wins seems to be the ceiling.

At number 25 I have the New Orleans Saints. This is a pivotal year for this franchise. Derek Carr is not the answer at QB. He is too small, too slow and cannot make the big time throws. This is another case of one good game making people think he was going to catapult into stardom. Both the team and the player need to move on from each other. Alvin Kamara can still do some cool things, but he is old and he wants out. I don't blame him. He has been anything and everything this offense has asked him to be, and they still don't give him all the credit he is due. I'd want out if I were him as well. Chris Olave deserves better. He could be an elite wideout with better QB play. Rashid Shaheed is the burner of all burners, but the QB's miss him too much when he is open. Juwan Johnson is an okay tight end, but they could find better on the open market. The o line is good, they just have a mediocre QB to block for. The defense is old. Cam Jordan was once great. He's still good, but he is double teamed constantly. Marshon Lattimore crushed in his rookie year, but he took a step back last season. I love Tyrann Mathieu, but he was past his prime two years ago. Demario Davis is fine at linebacker, but not as the anchor of a defense. This team needs to make changes, mainly in the back half of their secondary, their QB and head coach. They need a new mind and a new look. Until then, eight wins may be the best to hope for out of this team.

That is it for today. Come back for the next four teams tomorrow. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Ranks the 2024 NFL Teams: The Going Nowhere Bunch

Football is right around the corner. We are almost there. Luckily we had the Olympics to bide our time for a bit, I'm not much of a baseball fan anymore, but it has been pretty boring, for me, for all of the summer in regards to sports. But, college football starts in a little over two weeks, and the NFL is right after that. With that being said, I am going to do one of my favorite series of blogs. I'm going to spend the next two weeks counting down the NFL teams from worst to best, and then do a very big college football preview. I'll do four teams a day in the NFL, starting with my bottom four teams today. Let us tarry no further, it is time for the countdown.

Coming in at the very bottom of the NFL this year, at number 32 I have the New England Patriots. The Patriots have been on the decline for the past couple years, and now they are in full rebuild. They do not have much of any veteran talent and a bunch of unproven rookies. I was a big fan of the Jerrod Mayo hiring, but he is going to need a good amount of patience before this team looks decent. I hope he gets the time, but you never know. They have a few rookies to pick from at QB. They took Drake Maye number 3 overall, and got a steal with Joe Milton in the sixth round. I have been a Joe Milton fan since his days at Michigan, so I want to see him succeed. I don't know that he will play right away, but if Maye struggles, they have a perfectly good young guy to turn to. Rhamondre Stevenson is a solid back, but they will overuse him and he will probably get hurt. The o line is shaky. Hunter Henry is cooked. The receivers, outside of rookie Ja'Lynn Polk, are old and unproven. The defense is full of holes outside of Matthew Judon, who will probably get traded, and Jabrill Peppers, who is a fine journeyman. The rest of the defense is unknown, unproven and will most likely get lit up game after game. I don't think the Patriots will get beat every Sunday, but they will most Sundays. They are due another high pick in the 2025 draft. If you want a record prediction, I'd say 3-14.

At number 31 I have the Carolina Panthers. They got their QB number one overall last season, but Bryce Young really struggled. He didn't have much time, but when he did, he didn't do anything with it. He really struggled, but I do believe that he can bounce back. If not, he may not be in Carolina much longer. Chuba Hubbard looked like he may be decent last season, but he fizzled out fast. I don't know that I'd want to count on him as my starting running back. Adam Thielen had a solid year, but didn't get much help. I wonder if Diontae Johnson and Johnathan Mingo will add anything. I don't think so, especially since their former teams let them walk. They have no tight ends to speak of. And their o line is horrendous. They were one of the biggest reasons Young struggled so much. He had zero time at all. The defense is alright, but not that great. And they look a little old too. I have been a big fan of Jadaveon Clowney's entire career, but he is washed and doesn't stick anywhere that long anymore. A'Shawn Robinson hasn't really popped. The secondary is very blah. I just don't see any scenario where this team is any better this year than they were last year. The Panthers need Bryce Young to bounce back in a big way, but they also need help everywhere else. They may win, at most, five games this season.

At number 30 I have the Tennessee Titans. They went into full rebuild moment this offseason when they let Derrick Henry walk. It was best for both sides, but it was certain at that point that they were going to start over. Will Levis doesn't seem to have it. He looks more often bad than good. He looks scared at times out there. And he is not the best deep thrower. Tony Pollard had a moment in fantasy football, but he looks washed, which is a real bummer. I like Pollard, but he may be out of the league in a year. Deandre Hopkins is hurt and will miss time, which is not great because he is their best pass catcher. They signed Calvin Ridley, who is insanely fast and nothing else, and Tyler Boyd who is also fast, but under sized and hasn't produced much. The o line is very mediocre. The defense is very mediocre, except for L'Jarius Sneed. He is awesome. He is one of the best secondary players in the NFL. But he doesn't have a ton of help. Jeffrey Simmons is washed. Kenneth Murray hasn't been a world wrecker. Jamal Adams has become a journeyman. It is hard to find anyone, outside of Sneed, that really shines on defense. The Titans needed to rebuild, and they took the correct steps this past offseason. I'd say five wins is their ceiling.

My final team for the day, at number 29 I have the Arizona Cardinals. Now, the Cardinals are only this low because I think they just need one more year of a rebuild before they are formidable. Kyler Murray appears to be healthy again. I hope he is taking this offseason seriously because he is an absolute blast to watch when he is playing lights out on the field. He has a hell of an arm and is very tough to bring down in the open field. The dude can fly. I love the Marvin Harrison Jr pick. He was the best, most can't miss prospect in the draft. He is fast, tall, strong, runs great routes and is tough as hell. He is going to have a long, successful career. They need a better run game. James Connor is a great story, but he is on the bad side of his career. And they are not deep at that position on the bench. The problem, outside Harrison Jr and Murray, the Cardinals don't have any true threats, and the line is just middling. Those two need more help on that side of the ball. The defense has guys, but they haven't been as stingy as they could be. Budda Baker is awesome. I hope he stays. Sean Murphy-Bunting is a solid corner. They have some dudes on the d line that can get some sort of a pass rush. The linebackers are okay. But no one really shines in any area, except for Baker. The Cardinals are coming, but they are still a year or two away from truly competing. I'd say five wins, with seven being a possibility if the offense finds some more weapons to put on the field.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next four. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches USA vs Serbia Men's Olympic Basketball

I was able to catch one hell of an ending in the men's Olympic semifinal yesterday between Serbia and the US. I was doing other things when the game started, but I would check my phone periodically, looking for the score. Serbia was in total control of that game, from what I saw. through the first three quarters. I saw that Serbia was leading by 16 at one point, and they took an 11 point lead into halftime. I wasn't too nervous because I figured the US would turn it on in the third quarter and roll to an easy victory. I forgot to check the score for a good 10-15 minutes, and boy was I stunned when I saw Serbia had a 13 point lead going into the fourth quarter. I figured the US was cooked and they would be playing for bronze. I finished the recording I had with RD, and when signing off he told me that the US cut the lead to five. This was when I decided I had to turn it on. I told my son to come watch the game with me. He likes the Olympics and he loves basketball, so he was more than happy to watch the end of the game with me.

When we turned it on the lead was four in favor of Serbia 76-72. But it looked like the US had turned the lightswitch on on both ends of the floor. I saw Embiid get a paint touch, on soft ass Nikola Jokic, and he made an easy turnaround jumper to cut it to two. The US then suffocated Serbia, got a rebound and LeBron drove to the rim with no issues. Not one Serbian player tried to step in front of him. He cruised to the hoop to tie it up. Serbia got a couple free throws, but then it was Steph time. He came off a screen, had as wide open a look as he may ever get and he rimmed in a three. The US didn't look back. Serbia had a few chances to tie it, but the US tightened up and hit some clutch jumpers and clutch free throws. The US won 95-91 and will face France in the Gold medal game tomorrow afternoon.

I will admit that I was frustrated watching the end of the game. I'm a child of the 90's, I think Jordan is the GOAT and I am of the firm belief that the 92 Dream Team is the best assembly of basketball talent the world has ever seen. I did lean over to my son and say, "the Dream Team would've been up by 30 at this point". I was heated, I like this collection of current players and I expected a total blowout. That is not the case anymore. The talent has evened way more than back in 92. I need to check myself and calm down when making big statements like that. The US did what they had to do and they won. Steph was absolutely incredible on the offensive end. I think he ended up with 36 points. LeBron was the leader he has been throughout his entire career. He ended with 16 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. He is the only Olympian to record multiple triple doubles in Olympics play. He is truly astonishing to watch play the game of basketball. Embiid finally showed up and showed out. He is so much better at basketball than Nikola Jokic, and he showed as much yesterday. I don't care what the Zach Lowe's and stats nerds say, based on pure eye test, Embiid is a better defender, a better shooter, he cares more and he loves the game. What more could you want from a basketball player? Kevin Durant continued his wonderful run off the bench for Team USA. He has been a mid range killer in these games and he continued that trend yesterday. He had this beautiful moment where he flashed open for an elbow jumper and hit nothing but net to put the US up by four late in the fourth. He has been the guy that can get you a bucket when you most need it in these Olympics. Devin Booker did his job spacing the floor and bringing the ball up. Jrue Holiday, when he locked in, played incredible defense. Anthony Davis played his part in less minutes than he is used to. I mean, it has been so cool watching these superstars let go of egos and play the game as a team. They are doing what is best for everyone on the squad, not just themselves.

I do want to give Bogdan Bogdanovic a shout out. He was the only Serbian I saw yesterday that looked like he wanted to win. I feel like the rest of that team took on Jokic's ho hum attitude. Not Bogdanovic. He was out to win yesterday. He stayed attacking. He wanted the victory more than any of his other teammates. He was the best Serbian on the floor by a million miles. I've grown so tired and so bored of all the love that Jokic gets, so it was refreshing to see a different Serbian going all out yesterday. But it still wasn't enough.

The US survived and advanced. They have a very tough gold medal match coming up against the host country. France is big, they protect the rim and they have the fans and refs in their favor. I hope the US comes out with some fire in their bellies and puts away France early. If not they are in for another battle. But the US really showed some pride and grit and it was damn exciting to watch yesterday. I can't wait for the Gold medal game now. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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The NCAA is a Joke

The NCAA finally laid the proverbial "hammer" on former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. Obviously I'm close to this story and I have been following it since it broke last season. But, the "hammer" that was levied on Harbaugh stems from his improper recruiting during the COVID dead period in 2020-21. Let’s discuss.

If you don't remember what Harbaugh did, let me take you through his horrid crimes according to the NCAA. He bought a recruit and his family a burger. He did some other minimal things that any other college football coach would do. In fact, most college football coaches would take it further than Harbaugh and his former staffers took this whole thing. We live in a new era of recruiting. With NIL and the fact that recruits can make millions before even stepping on a college campus, it is the wild west now. There are no morals or "doing it the right way". Every division college football team is trying to find a leg up on the opposition. If you can match what a top recruit is looking for, you better go a little higher to get that kid to commit. And if they eventually sign a letter of intent, who's to say they won't transfer if they aren't getting the playing time they think they deserve. This is the nature of the beast. You have to either adapt or get left behind. This is going to be an almost certain death knell for the NCAA, but while they are still in business, they are damn determined to make an example out of Harbaugh. And maybe they did with this ruling.

Harbaugh has a four year show clause if he returns to college, and if he does, he is suspended for one year, that is if he returns within the four year suspension. The whole problem here, Jim Harbaugh is an NFL coach now with no eyes to return to college. He did all that he could possibly do while at Michigan. He revived that program. They were not great when he took over. Now, they are the defending National Champs. No one will be able to take that from them. They won each and every game they played last season, en route to a 21 point win in the title game.

While coaches like Bret Bielima and James Franklin and, most notably, Ryan Day may want more punishment, this seems to be truly it for Michigan and Harbaugh. I don't think anything is going to come from the nonsensical sign stealing "scandal" from last year. A bunch of teams had the opportunity to prove that Michigan was only good because of one low level staffer, and they couldn't. Ryan Day had every single advantage one coach could want coming into the Michigan game last year, and Sherrone Moore and Michigan still beat his ass. Day is the biggest whiner of this whole thing. Well, him and the NCAA.

Back to the NCAA for a minute. For the NCAA to lay this punishment down on a guy that doesn't even coach in college anymore is the most farcical thing that has come out of this whole story. Harbaugh is gone from college. He is not coming back. He has bigger fish to fry. But I think the NCAA is puffing their chest out and saying that they really crushed Harbaugh. That is hilarious. Harbaugh's attorney said it best. This is like a kid in college who gets suspended by his high school for not signing the yearbook on their way out. The NCAA is the jaded lover here, and Harbaugh doesn't even think about them anymore. Whatever Harbaugh may or may not have done while at Michigan, I love that he is not backing down and not admitting to anything.

All of these other fanbases acting holier than thou right now, it would be very interesting to me to see some of their skeletons come out. I'd love to see how some of these programs are acting behind closed doors. Under Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee was literally handing kids money, prior to NIL, in McDonald's bags. How on Earth did Alabama always have the top classes in the country every recruiting cycle? I'm sure it wasn't all above board. Georgia had some players involved in horrific car wrecks that may or may not have involved alcohol, but ESPN never goes hard on that. Nope, ESPN thinks buying a meal and having a low level staffer watch games to be the biggest cheat in NCAA football history. I think what it all really boils down to is the fact that Harbaugh was one of the first coaches to actively talk about paying players. He wants the players to have more freedom and more chances to make money off themselves while they can. He would scream it from the rafters. He wasn't about himself while coaching at Michigan. Just look at any post game interview from last season, he would have his players speak for themselves. Harbaugh was a thorn in the side of the NCAA, they got mad, Ryan Day cried, the Big 10 leveled dumb ass suspensions and Michigan and Harbaugh still came out on top. ESPN can say what they want, but they look foolish. Fans of other Big 10 teams that think they run clean programs, look in the mirror. And the NCAA, well, you will be nonexistent before this punishment for Harbaugh is even done.

This is a joke and for anyone to think this is a black mark on Harbaugh or Michigan, this sanction or punishment or whatever made me laugh out loud when it was levied yesterday. This is a joke and not nearly as bad as some other may think. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Russell Westbrook Playing in Denver is Not a Good Idea

Russell Westbrook's time in LA has come to an end. About an hour ago he was traded to the Jazz, where he will be waived and he will eventually sign with the Nuggets. This was his endgame all along. He said a few weeks back that he wanted to go play in Denver. He knew he was done with the Clippers, he still wants to play and he wants to go to the Nuggets. He is getting his wish. But, I don't know if it is going to be as fun and entertaining as he may hope.

I adore Russell Westbrook. He is one of my all time favorite players. I have gone to bat for him on this very website. I banged the drum loud and hard for him to win his MVP the season he won it. A lot of people didn't think he was the rightful MVP, but I did. He did remarkable things and kept the Thunder relevant after Kevin Durant left for the Warriors. And I liked him before. I was a Thunder fan for a while. While rooting for them, KD was my guy, but Russ was a very close second. I loved the enthusiasm and energy he played with. He was going 100 percent at all times. It didn't matter if he was playing a random game in the middle of the season or a high intensity playoff game, he was always going full bore. He attacked the rim, he made good passes, he is one of the best rebounding guards ever and he talked a great game. I was all in. And even when he left, for Houston and both LA teams, I would still tune in to watch him play. Hell, I watched his lone season in Washington. He still seemed to have something to contribute. And while I saw his rough first round playoff performance last season, I was still rooting hard. But, you can see that his game is just not what it used to be.

Westbrook doesn't hit the elbow/free throw line jumper like he used to. He has never been a good 3 point shooter and it has only fallen off more. He isn't a starter anymore. He has become a role player that you never know what you are going to get from him on any given night. He is older and can't do the things he used to be able to do. That is the end game for all of us. As we get older we can't do those things as well anymore. And when it happens to pro athletes, it is very clear. Russ has been on this path for a few years now. You could see it with the Clips. And as more of their guys got hurt, and Russ was asked to do more, he just couldn't bring it all together.

Going to Denver is not going to be good for Westbrook. Some, Zach Lowe, like to say that Nikola Jokic is the "best player in the world". I disagree. He doesn't play a lick of defense. And he is apathetic. I think those two things are going to frustrate Russ, which will frustrate Jokic. Jamal Murray has never really been able to stay fully healthy his whole career. If he is the point guard, like he has been, Russ is going to be his backup, and when Murray gets hurt, that will thrust Westbrook into a bigger role he is not suitable for anymore. He and Reggie Jackson have already played together and it did not end well. Jackson couldn't wait to get out of OKC after a few years playing with Russ. That was a dumb move on Jackson's behalf I thought at the time, and still think is true. Michael Porter Jr is a zero on defense and follows some weird conspiracy theories. These are some of the core dudes that Russ is going to have to learn to play and practice with everyday. Russ is older now too. He should be ring chasing, which maybe that is what he is trying to do. But this fit in Denver is odd. The other spots made sense. In Houston he got to play with CP3. In Washington he played with a young Bradley Beal. In regards to both LA teams, that is his hometown. This move to Denver, for me, makes zero sense. I don't think he fits in with the team. He is almost assured to be a bench guy, but I don't know where the meaningful minutes are going to come and how he is going to really contribute. I don't want to see his career end like a bunch of these guys, where he just fades into obscurity and becomes a "oh yeah, I remember him" type of guy. But that is what I fear may happen in Denver.

All this being said, I am still going to be rooting for him because he is an important basketball player in my fandom and I want the best for him. I just don't like this fit at all. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Watch out for Team France at the Olympics

The men's Team USA basketball team won their first scrimmage last night against Team Canada. Let’s discuss.

Team USA looked a little discombobulated at times, but they also looked good. Anthony Edwards played a solid game. LeBron and Steph seemed to have nice chemistry. All the bigs, with Joel Embiid being the exception, played okay. Embiid had a rough go, but I feel like he will figure it out.

This is a good group of pros for this team, and I do feel like they should be the favorites heading into the summer olympics. This will not be an easy go though. I understand we didn't have our absolute best at the FIBA Championships last summer, but they did not medal. That was worrisome. Germany is good. Spain is solid. Brazil has some decent players. Canada is loaded. But, I think the biggest obstacle, the hardest country to play is going to be France.

France is stacked. They have current and former NBA players up and down their roster. They have youth and they have size. They have chemistry. They play loose and have fun. They are not the favorites going into these games, so they are playing with house money. I had to look up their roster just to see how well put together it actually is. This is a solid group of players. Rudy Gobert, Victor Webanyama, Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum and Bilal Coulibaly are all currently on NBA rosters. Gobert, for all of his warts, is a very, very, very good defender. He has multiple DPOY's. He is one of the better rim protectors currently in the game. He can rebound and he can run a pick and roll. Wemby is the best young prospect in the NBA. He is the unicorn of unicorns. He is my favorite player to watch. He literally does it all. He is already as good a defender as Gobert. He is an excellent rebounder. He can shoot the three and attack the glass. He is an amazing player to watch and will be for a long, long time. Fournier and Batum's best days are behind them, but they always up their game in the Olympics. They can both shoot, and Batum plays solid defense. Coulibaly is coming off an okay rookie season, but he is playing with his home country and teaming up once again with Wemby. They have wonderful chemistry and they made the Metropolitan 96ers a team to watch last season. The rest of their roster is full of overseas pro players. The overseas players play on some of the best pro teams overseas and are integral parts of those teams. This France roster is almost as well constructed as Team USA. The French roster has much better chemistry than the US. These dudes use their offseasons playing together. They get together and work on their team building. They know how to play off one another. They have set plays that have worked time and time again. There is something to all of that. It is useful to have that kind of camaraderie and knowing your teammates abilities.

Team USA has some time to get a bit of chemistry, but it is not like the years that all of these other countries have played together. The US is going in as the betting favorite, but it is going to be an absolute bloodbath. They are going to play at their peak night in and night out. And even if they do that, France is going to come to play. I would not be shocked at all if these two meetup in the gold medal game and France won. That is how much respect I have for their roster. The US cannot go into a matchup with France and expect to win. They need to be ready for everything the French will throw at them. And I cannot wait to watch. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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I'm Not Happy With My VO2 Number

Four years ago I got one of the greatest gifts ever for the holiday. I'm a runner, as you all know, and my folks bought me a Garmin Fenix 5x watch. I had pined for one of these watches. As I got deeper and deeper into the running community, all of the people I knew would tell me about the greatness that is Garmin. I heard how they are the perfect watch for runners, they have a great GPS system obviously and they are durable as hell. They also have a pretty long lasting battery life.

So, when I opened that gift on Christmas morning in 2020, I was stoked. It gave me excitement in a very tough pandemic riddled world. All of the things I heard and read about the watch rang true, and still does to this day. I run five times a week, but I only have to charge the watch every 9-10 days. If I get confused about where I am on a trail, I use my map. I have dropped the watch, swam with the watch, fallen down with the watch on my wrist and there is no damage done. I'm all in on Garmin.

As I grew more accustomed to the watch, I started to add more fitness items on the app on my phone for the watch. One such item was my Vo2. I am still up in the air on what Vo2 fully means, but I do understand that it calculates your breathing as you exercise. The harder you go, the better your Vo2 max can get. I am usually right around a 43 or 44. I feel like that is pretty good for a runner my size.

This summer the Vo2 max and I have been fighting. I am trying a new thing with my running this summer. It has been very nice here in Saint Louis lately. But, that isn't always the case and it is about to get hot and humid again. So, this summer I am slowing down my pace. I'm taking my time a bit more. I'm not over exerting myself. I have recently started using an inhaler, so my doctor told me to slow down a bit when I run if I feel out of breath. So, I have been doing just that. My pace on the road has gone from 10 minute miles to 11. On the trail I'm at about 13 as opposed to 11 or 12, depending on the trail. It is only a minute, or just a little over a minute in some cases, but if you were to look at my training status and my Vo2 max on my Garmin app, you'd think I was hurt or slacking. I am still at a 43, but it is teetering on the edge of a 42. My fitness age is usually in the low 20's, but that is now averaging about 31. And it is really getting to me. It is making me legitimately angry. I will finish a run, like I did this morning, where I went slow but I feel good, and then get mad when I see my fitness age go up and my training status says "unproductive".

I know I shouldn't let this bother me. I understand that things like this happen when the weather changes. I get that I shouldn't be so invested in an app that is on my phone. I know how I feel after a run. I can tell from home my body feels. But I am really letting this whole Vo2 max thing get to me this summer. It is really pissing me off. I need to listen to the sound advice my sister in law gave me when I first started running. She has been one of my biggest supporters all along this running journey, and early on she told me not to take the numbers on a watch or phone app so seriously. She told me to focus on how I feel, not what an app says. And she is totally right. I ran six miles this morning. That is something I could have never done over ten years ago. And this was a smaller training run for me now. But I cannot help but be annoyed by that damn number on my app. It makes me angry. I get mad that I didn't do enough. I sit there and think about what I can do differently the next time I go out. But in actuality, I should be happy that I did anything this morning. I chose to get up and go run after taking my kids to camp. I could have gone home and sat on my ass, but I didn't do that. I got exercise. I burned almost 1200 calories. I am more prepared for my trail half that I am running in a few months than I was the day before. But, with all those positives, I'm still over here obsessing about that damn number.

Maybe I need to delete that portion from my app. I won't, but it is nice to have that option. I should be content with going out and getting exercise, and that is what I'm going to try to do moving forward. But to say that I won't think about that damn Vo2 max would be untrue. It is going to frustrate me until I decide to let it go. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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