Tight End Takeover

Lately in the NFL, the role of the tight end has increased from barely there to game breaker. The TE usually is matched up with a strong safety or maybe a Strong LB. When the offense utilizes 3 or more WR, the TE is usually covered by a 4th or 5th choice player. When going against certain defensive looks, the TE will create a mismatch that will put him in great positions to help the team.
The Patriots use their TEs well when they go 3 & 4 WRs. The middle of the field is usually guarded by speedsters and not pounders. A TE matched up with a DB sometimes don’t come out in favor of the DB. If a LB is matched up with the TE then the TE has a chance to take them deep and use their speed to beat the LB. TEs are the “X” factor that will help teams advance in the NFC/AFC Championship games.

#Broncos Melt #Steelers

At Mile High Stadium, the Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime 29-23. Tim Tebow threw for 316 yards on 10 completions to send the Steelers packing for the 2011 playoffs. Both teams racked up over 400 yards in total offense but it was an 80 yard TD pass from Tebow to Thomas that sealed the deal for the Broncos. The way the Broncos scored was a post route into the Steelers defense that had no safeties in the secondary. It was a horrible defensive call by guru Dick Lebeau as he put 9 people in the box with anticipation of a first down run. Instead the Broncos threw on first down for the first time in the game. The next match up will be against the Patriots and former coach Josh McDaniels, who drafted Tebow 2 years ago, in the AFC Division championship game.
Who are you picking in this game?

Marijuana Found At Bengal’s Home

Police said a package containing 2 1/2 pounds of marijuana was delivered from Eureka, Calif., to the suburban Kentucky home of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson on Tuesday, where authorities say they conducted a search and found six more pounds of marijuana inside.

Michelle Gregory, spokeswoman for the California Department of Justice, confirmed to the Cincinnati Enquirer a report published by CaliforniaWatch.org , a group of investigative journalists, on Wednesday night, which detailed the operation. It was initiated by a special marijuana task force after agents discovered a suspicious package at a commercial sorting facility in Sacramento.

Simpson’s teammate, offensive tackle Anthony Collins, was also present when a woman, identified as Aleen Smith, 27, accepted the package on Tuesday. All three were questioned at the residence, but no arrests were made at the time.

Simpson told police that he lived at the residence and gave officers consent to search the premises, Gregory said. Police allegedly found other empty parcels, scales and packaging material inside Simpson’s home.

“The house was set up as a potential distribution network,” said Tommy LaNier, head of the National Marijuana Initiative, a group that is funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and helps coordinate marijuana enforcement operations around the United States. “They had it all set up to receive supplies of high-grade marijuana from Northern California, and from there, it was being distributed from that residence,” LaNier told California Watch.

All the packages were sent from an area of Northern California known as the “Emerald Triangle,” LaNier said. The area is known for producing large amounts of marijuana.

Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said he had heard rumors of the bust but had no further comment.

“There’s nothing of substance in the development of rumors that we’re aware of,” he said. “There’s nothing to hang a hat on at this point.”

Simpson had four catches for 136 yards last week in a 24-22 loss to the Denver Broncos .