We've seen this happen a few times in life.A man who was ragged on — chewed up and spit out — dies and then, he's lifted up on everyone's shoulders.
Raiders fans have been ragging on Al Davis for years — if you don't believe me, go into the Sirius/XM NFL Radio archives and listen to the Raider callers.
"Al Davis must go."
"Davis is washed up."
"Davis has no idea what he's doing."
And those are the clean versions.
Then, the NFL legend — and I actually mean that when I say it — passes away at age 82 Saturday, and the callers call with their condolences and praise — as they should.
I was driving to a wedding when the breaking news came across Sirius/XM NFL Radio, and I was absolutely shocked. There are those people that you just don't expect to hear the phrase "…passed away earlier today" after their names.
It's not like Amy Winehouse, where most everyone shrugged it off as in, "Knew it."
For Al Davis, even though he was 82, it was a shock, because he was still a vivid part of the Raiders organization. And it's a shame, too, because the Raiders are having a very good season.
Now, they will continue their season and I'm sure it will be with a little added push of one Al Davis.
He helped change the game of football into what it is today. If you haven't heard all the stories or read about the NFL legend, take some time today to read some Al Davis stories.
It will be worth it.
Raiders fans will morn today, and tomorrow.
And the franchise may even move to Los Angeles in the future.
But one thing remains certain: Al Davis will always be a part of the Raiders.
Team Boyer (3-1) at Sunday Slackers (3-1)
Series History: Boyer leads series 2-1.
The only matchup this week to feature two winning teams is this one, and for that, I have to give credit to the Slackers for making this possible. This is what the poll predicted, that these two teams would be division leaders and therefore, this matchup would be a great one to watch.
Well, it's Week 5 and they're both 3-1. The Slackers are not the division leaders as they were predicted to be, but at 3-1, that tells you that he still has his eyes set on a division title.
But today, there will be a setback.
Yes, here I go again, picking against the Slackers.
Call me biased, but it's hard to like the Slackers on a week where Ray Rice is resting on the bye. Rice is averaging 20.3 points per week, and in his place is Earnest Graham, who is averaging 6.1 per week.
Graham is a good start, though — I will give you that — because Boyer will be going with his dogs, Michael Turner and LeGarrette Blount, and if Graham can be a vulture and steal some TDs from Blount, the Slackers could turn the tables on this matchup.
This also is another great QB matchup with Tom Brady against Drew Brees, but I have to give the edge to Brady on this one. He's at home against the hated Jets and there's nothing Brady wants more than to toss a few big passes over that overrated Jets defense.
Boyer has a good WR going in Steve Johnson, and I have to think he'll score because the Eagles are just so bad — and you know if I'm saying that, it has to be true.
But I have to give the edge in WRs to the Slackers because of two guys, Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley. The Falcons defense has been shaky, and I could see one of these guys getting a TD, if not both. I'd put my money on Nelson because he's the kind of guy who can sneak out and run a big post pattern past the safeties for like a 40-some-yard TD.
For the Slackers, this matchup really hinges on Matt Forte. Last week, he busted out with 205 rushing yards, but to be fair, running against the Panthers is a lot different than running against the Lions. The Lions are ranked fourth against the rush, and part of that has to do with the fact that Stafford has helped the Lions take big leads in Weeks 1 and 2, and another part has to do with the fact that the Vikings and Cowboys decided not to run when they were up by 20 points.
The main part, though, has to do with that interior defensive line. It's not easy to run in between the gaps because there are not many gaps.
Forte will have to be used on screen passes out in the flat, where he also excels.
If Forte can catch about eight passes for 80-some yards and a TD, I'd say the Slackers win this matchup.
But — of course I am — I'm not seeing that happening against my new favorite team, the Lions.
Monday night's game is going to be an excellent one to watch and it will have many of us on the edge of our seats.
The Slackers will be there, teetering on the cushions hoping for explosive plays, but it's not going to happen.
Jammers' Prediction: Boyer 129, Slackers 122
Graybill's Generals (2-2) at Real Houserville (3-1)
Series History: Houserville leads 2-1.
The Ville's new QB is back with another big test, and while he may not win the game for the Panthers, he will certainly help win it for the Ville.
New Orleans has been suspect against the pass, and the versatile Cam Newton will run, pass and run some more against the Saints. He will give them a bit of a scare, but in the end the Saints will prevail in a high-scoring game.
And, of course, Houserville will benefit from all the points. Newton should go for another 30, if not 40 points today, giving him a great chance to move to 4-1.
Even more interesting will be what Darren McFadden will do. The inspired Raiders should play a little bit harder today, but it will be tough against the revamped Texans defense. Still, that new-look defense has given up points to the RBs, and McFadden will be a beast again today. Look for about 150 yards and two scores.
Mike Wallace and Rob Gronkowski are great starts this week, and their performances added with Newton's and McFadden's should seal this matchup.
And Mike Tolbert may get one of his goal line TDs, but the Ville has to worry about a drop in touches since Tolbert has put the ball on the ground twice in the last three weeks. With Ryan Mathews solidifying his position at the No. 1 starter, Tolbert will continue to be a change-of-pace and a give-Mathews-a-breather kind of back.
On the other side of the ball, the Generals have to go with Matt Cassel because Joe Flacco is on the bye — and technically, after last week's pitiful Flacco performance, he's on the bye for the second week in a row.
Cassel has steadily improved from Week 2, and against Indy, you think the Chiefs would be able to get some big passing plays. And the Generals is hoping this happens, because that means that Steve Breaston will likely get some love.
Sidney Rice has had double-digits in both of his games since returning from injury, and will look to make it three straight against the Giants today.
But I'm not sure that Rice, Breaston and Johnny Knox, added with Leon Washington and Vernon Davis, have enough firepower to beat the Ville.
It will take a couple extraordinary performances to do so, and I do not see too many of those happening today.
Jammers' Prediction: Houserville 130, Generals 111
Channel 4 News Team (2-2) at Fear and Loathing (2-2)
Series History: News Team leads 3-2.
It's hard to go against the News Team.
No, I mean seriously, how can you go against him when the other side is starting a guy named Jackie Battle?
Who the hell is Jackie Battle?
Well, let me introduce you: Battle is a 6-2, 238-pound back out of Houston, who has been in the NFL for four years. And he makes his JFL debut today after gaining 37 yards on 10 carries for the Chiefs in 2011. He has 155 yards and two TDs in his four years.
Not exactly your fantasy starter, but when you lose Jamaal Charles and now Rashard Mendenhall — who will dress today, but will be limited — you're in need of a running back.
And Battle is the Fear's man this week, and he'll need a huge surprise from him to pull off a win against the News Team, because as we all know, Aaron Rodgers is the man.
Interestingly enough, after scoring 61.6 points last week, ranked second in JFL history, Rodgers is going up against the man who owns the JFL record at 64.5 points, Michael Vick.
Vick is going up against the Bills, who haven't been that great on defense, so the Rodgers vs. Vick matchup should be fun to watch, and since Rodgers is going at 8:20 p.m. Sunday, it could be a big comeback performance tonight.
Ha, what am I saying?
Comeback? There will be no comeback needed for the News Team.
When Rodgers takes his first snap, it will be the start of the rout. He will pile on the points and put the nail in the coffin.
Arian Foster, Beanie Wells and Vincent Jackson — to name a few — will take care of business during the day.
The News Teams RBs, WRs and TE are far better than Fear's and this should be no contest.
Jammers' Prediction: News Team 155, Fear 110
Jimmy Jammers (4-0) at T-Money (1-3)
Series History: Jammers leads 5-2.
T-Money has lost many matchups to the Jammers, and a few heartbreakers in the playoffs, so there's some bad blood here for the Money man.
Unfortunately, there's not much he's going to be able to do on Sunday to win this one.
He may be leading after Sunday, but the Jammers has Matthew Stafford, Brandon Pettigrew and the Lions defense all going Monday night, which should equate to about 50-60 points (30 for Stafford, 15-20 for the Lions defense and 10 for Pettigrew).
It will be an big night Monday for this matchup, unless the Jammers can get some big points from the rest of his squad.
The No. 6- and 7-ranked RBs, Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles, should be good for double-digits again Sunday, and the WRs should pull out some grabs, and combine for two TDs — at least.
T-Money does have good matchups for Steve Smith, Dwayne Bowe and Dustin Keller, but with Campbell going against Houston, in a game where the Raiders should run more than they pass, it will be tough go for the T-Money.
Jammers' Biased Prediction: Jammers 148, T-Money 113
Chinese Organ Thieves (0-4) at World of Noise (1-3)
Series History: Thieves lead 4-1.
It's the worst team in JFL history World of Noise vs. the worst team in the JFL this season, according to records, Chinese Organ Thieves.
And when it comes to this matchup, I have to go with history.
The Noise have been notoriously bad — despite that random Super Bowl run — and when Andre Johnson is out, I find it hard to believe that he'll beat the Thieves.
And boy did this matchup come at the right time.
The Thieves have been devastated by matchups where the other team just exploded for ridiculous points. He's given up 595.4 points, which is a shame because its a stat you can't personally control, but this week, he's going against the lowest scoring offense, a stat you can control.
Only 357.6 points for the Noise, which is 70 points fewer than the next lowest, and that will be just what the doctor prescribed for the Thieves.
And let me break away for a second here. Only four teams have given up more than 500 points in the first four weeks, and three of them are in the Nittany South. Even the high-scoring News Team has given up a next-to-last 580.1 points.
Tough schedule for what was deemed to be the toughest division in the JFL this season.
The Thieves should get out of the doghouse this week in that stat category.
I'd go player-by-player on his team, but I do that every week, and I've been disappointed a few times — as has Schiavo — so I'm going to just be quiet and pick him to win again.
Jammers' Prediction: Thieves 134, Noise 75
Dottsville Toasters (2-2) at Jawz Attack (1-3)
Series History: Toasters lead 1-0.
I just mentioned how unlucky the Thieves have been. If there is a runner-up to the unlucky power standings, the Attack would be right there. A few big weeks have been washed out by even bigger weeks on the other side.
I think that should change this week, and that's because of four guys. I'd pick a fifth guy, but I don't want you to think I'm saying a burger joint is going to decide this matchup.
1.) DeSean Jackson will find the holes in the Bills defense and go for better-than 100 yards and TD.
2.) Fred Jackson will find the even bigger holes in the Eagles defense and go for better-than 100 yards and maybe two TDs in the Eagles-Bills shootout.
3.) Percy Harvin will be a favorite of McNabb's today as the Vikings will put up the points against the Cardinals defense.
4.) Wes Welker. Do I need to explain anything more other than the fact that the No. 1 WR in the JFL is averaging 26.1 points. Chalk him up for another 20 this week.
And that will be enough to do away with the Toasters, who have a few good matchups and will need an epic Monday Night performance from Calvin Johnson to come back.
And since Johnson has scored two touchdowns a week to total eight — I told you that he was going to challenge Randy Moss for the NFL WR TD record — something epic is going to have to be more than two TDs.
If there's anyone who can do that, it's Johnson.
But he won't this week. He'll score just one TD this week.
Jammers' Prediction: Jawz Attack 129, Toasters 117
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