#PSBSportsChop: NFL Fantasy Football – Season Recap – January 14, 2016

Our Fantasy Football League is an annual tradition now in its’ fifth season. With 10 teams, every week is a battle against a team full of name brand players. I caught you up with my team at the midseason point. At the time, we were sitting in playoff contention with a 4-3 overall record. We went 3-3 down the stretch gaining the final berth in the four-team playoff. We won the first round matchup over Chris Hansen‘s “Hateration Station,” the No. 1 team in the league at the time. That setup a matchup versus Stephen Peck‘s “EBGJS!!” with the league crown on the line. Here’s how the season finished up.

Listen to more about this topic on the PSBPopCulture.com Report at the 3:00 min mark:

NOTE: I want to thank all the guys who are a part for playing in the league. The competition with you makes Sundays after Labor Day much more interesting.

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture

TEAM NAME: 8 More Than 92 Equals 100 (a tribute to The Game and Drake track that topped the charts earlier this year)

ROSTER MOVES SINCE WEEK SEVEN:

With 32 acquisitions on the year, the road to the final week was filled with Wednesday morning roster moves and Sunday morning adjustments. The injury bug hit my top performers hard as I lost my top two running backs and second leading wide receiver for the season. Keeping a close eye on the league allowed me to plug those holes and still find value added options to replace them down the stretch.

NOTABLE PLAYER RELEASES:

Keenan Allen (broken collarbone / added Doug Baldwin)
Charles Clay (lack of production / added Jordan Reed)
Falcons Defense (lack of production / addded Kansas City’s defense)
Justin Forsett (broken arm / added Javorius Allen)
Dustin Hopkins (lack of production / added Graham Gano)
Rishard Matthews (lack of production / added DeSean Jackson)
Jonathan Stewart (foot injury / added Tim Hightower)
Matt Ryan (lack of production / added Zach Ertz)

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SCORE / ROSTER BREAKDOWN:

EBGJS

Championship Score Breakdown

FINAL BREAKDOWN: I’m already looking forward to the 2016-17 season. As Keil Moore says, “Clay’s always in his War Room prepared on Draft Day.” I get that honestly from my dad, John. Truthfully, I’m glad to bring another title home to the Clay household. Now it’s on to the second half of our Fantasy Basketball League. I’ll check in with a mid-year update next week.

Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. Adding in a SLAM (Basketball) Magazine subscription in the late-90’s had him setup up for lifelong success. You can follow him on Twitter @psbpopculture.

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#PSBSportsChop: Orlando Magic vs Minnesota Timberwolves – January 1, 2016

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture

I had the chance to take in a game a couple of weeks ago at the Amway Center in downtown Orlando. Plenty of the NBA’s top young players laced up their sneakers in this one. Here are some of takeaways from my court side seat on the hardwood:

Orlando Magic

I love Aaron Gordon’s energy. The former Arizona Wildcat averages around 18 minutes a night but uses every ounce of activity that he has. He talks on defense alerting his teammates of screens and how he plans on defending them. Gordon is a player to keep an eye on as his offensive game catches up to his frame and activity / energy.

Can Victor Oladipo continue to grow his outside game? There is no question that the budding star has the strength to make plays slashing to the rim. In a league full of dominant attackers, adding a consistent jump shot appears to be the difference in whether Oladipo will thrive for the next 10 seasons or settle into a career as a solid option at the off guard position.

With his ability to attack the lane and distribute the ball, Elfrid Payton has made an impact in his short time as a starting point guard in the league. Like Oladipo, Payton is still developing his outside range but his creativity with the ball bodes well for his NBA future.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Keep an eye on Zach LaVine. I remember watching him at UCLA two seasons ago wondering if he would be able to transition to the NBA as a point guard. This season, serving as the Timberwolves backup to Ricky Rubio, LaVine is answering that question with a solid yes. I still believe that his best days in the NBA could be spent as an off the ball option but for now he’s earning his check on it.

Speaking of Rubio, he is one of the best passers that I’ve seen in person. The Spanish National Team member’s ability to find the open player is uncanny. While his jumper might not stretch defenses the way Minnesota’s front office and coaching staff might want, Rubio is arguably one of the 10 best in the world at passing the ball right now.

The sky is the limit for Karl-Anthony Towns. The No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, he could make Anthony Davis like strides over the next two seasons establishing himself as a potential Olympian in 2020 in the process. Towns caught the ball in the trail post and made a rip through that nearly brought me out of my seat.

Andrew Wiggins is a problem. He’s got the length to play on the wing, the athleticism to finish at and around the rim and is developing the skill to be an effective scorer from outside. Wiggins start to his sophomore campaign is building on an inaugural season that earned him NBA Rookie of the Year honors.

Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @PSBPopCulture.

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#PSBSportsChop: Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina Panthers – December 31, 2015

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture

As an Atlanta Falcons fan, it’s been refreshing to see the team get into the playoffs four times since the 2008 season. This year hasn’t been the best but the Dirty Birds have still been competitive at 7-7 entering the Carolina game. The Panthers, on the other hand, were the league’s best team at 14-0. They are an NFC South rival and their quarterback, Cam “Dab” Newton, is a local guy having attended Westlake HS. Just two weeks ago, Newton and Company beat the Falcons 38-0 in Charlotte so a little payback was on the menu.

PSBPopCulture.com Team Member, Taylor Johnson, joined me in the Mountain Dew suite for this one and the atmosphere didn’t disappoint. I have to toss a huge shoutout to Floyd Ferjuste of PepsiCo. for the assist on this one. The Georgia Dome was packed with seemingly a 50/50 split of Falcons and Panthers fans. It was a huge win for the Falcons spearheaded by a highlight reel touchdown from All-Pro Wide Receiver, Julio Jones.

The game clinching stop by the Falcons defense:

Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @PSBPopCulture.

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#PSBSportsChop: Atlanta vs. Miami – December 15, 2015

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture and By: Jordan Davis @JDavisPSB

ATLANTA – With the Miami Heat in town, it was a perfect time to check out the Atlanta Hawks live in action for the first time since Opening Night. PSBPopCulture.com Team members Jordan Davis and Taylor Johnson were on hand for the action. The crowd was filled with music stars including Atlanta-based acts Keri Hilson sitting two rows in front of us and 2 Chainz across the floor sitting so close he could trip a ball player.

On the hardwood, Kent Bazemore (Hawks) and Chris Bosh (Heat) led their teams statistically as the Heat led this one from the start. Expect to see both of these teams in the Eastern Conference Playoffs with a rematch possible along the way.

FINAL BOX SCORES:

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Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @PSBPopCulture.

J-Davis-PSBPopCulture Jordan Davis is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com with a unique blend of #PSBPopCulture reviews. Davis has been rocking the latest trends since arriving here in 1995. He is currently a student at Kennesaw State, a Social Media Intern with PeachStateBasketball.com and is well on his way to being the youngest in charge sooner than later.

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#PSBSportsChop: In Defense of Jay Cutler – November 22, 2015

By: Jonathan Hemingway @JLHemingwayPSB

I will admit that I am a fan of Jay Cutler. I am fully aware of how silly this may sound to many, but I cannot help it. I am a Bears fan and here are the quarterbacks the team has played since I was a kid:

Jim McMahon (Super Bowl winner)
Mike Tomczak
Doug Flutie
Jim Harbaough
Peter Tom Willis
Steve Walsh
Erik Kramer
Dave Krieg
Rick Mirer
Steve Stenstrom
Moses Moreno
Shane Matthews
Cade McNown
Jim Miller
Chris Chandler
Henry Burris
Kordell Stewart
Rex Grossman
Chad Hutchinson
Craig Kenzel
Kyle Orton
Brian Griese
Jay Cutler

That is a list devoid of a legendary quarterback.

All of these years we have prided ourselves as the “Monsters of the Midway,” but somehow never find a QB with talent. Yes, we did go to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman but this is a guy who had more “Bad Rex” moments than “Good Rex.” Lovie Smith’s turnover creating defense should truly get the credit there.

Then we find Jay Cutler. Highly talented. Highly controversial. I concede what the detractors will say about him:

– He has poor body language
– He makes critical bad decisions
– He does not excude the ‘air’ of a leader

Fact is this: Jay Cutler has won more games and thrown for more touchdowns than any Chicago quarterback, EVER. He may be fatally flawed. He just may never be good enough to lead us back to another Super Bowl. I understand all of this. But I still root for the guy. Why? I am not sure.
But here is an attempt at an explanation…

First: There are LOTS of bad quarterbacks in the league. Sure we could trade or cut the guy, but that would get a guy like Ryan Fitzpatrick or Mark Sanchez…You do not just find an Aaron Rodgers on every street corner.

Second: I am stubborn. I have taken plenty of criticism for Jay’s play in multiple group texts over the years. I would like nothing more than to see Jay Cutler lead the Bears to another playoff appearance. But somehow I think this guy can turn it around.

This season has been a victory for Cutler of sorts. Coach Fox’s new offense has calmed Cutler down. An experienced offensive line has given him more time. While an increased emphasis on the run game has given Cutler balance. His numbers are not gaudy (13 TD’s, 5 INT, 267 yards per game), but they are serviceable. He has kept them in games that last year would have been blow outs. Me, along with many other Bears fans, are very pleased with this year’s start.

We will learn some more about Cutler and the 4-5 Bears when they take on the Denver Broncos, which happens to be Cutler’s (and head coach John Fox) former team.

HEMI-HEAD-SHOTJonathan Hemingway is a Chicago sports fan who reps the Bears, Bulls and Cubs. He’s also a diehard NFL Sunday Ticket subscriber. Like Clay, Hemingway’s music taste are wide-ranged and depend on the day. He is also a major part of PeachStateBasketball.com wearing multiple hats with the title of Director of Domestic Scouting and owning CoachHemi.com.

You can follow him on Twitter @JLHemingwayPSB

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#PSBSportsChop: University of Missouri – November 9, 2015

The University of Missouri has been the center of media attention this weekend and today due to the racial tension due to the treatment of issues involving minority students. The story itself has been well documented by every credible media outlet nationally. Take a minute to research the background.

Listen to more about this topic on the PSBPopCulture.com Report at the 9:00 min mark:

Our PSBPopCulture.com Group Message kept my iPhone 6S Plus buzzing for the majority of the past 48 hours as the stories kept coming in. Given the racial unrest that was front page just months ago during the Ferguson, Mo., situation, I decided to write about this situation from a different angle.

My point of view is from that of the “student-athlete.” Based on finances generated through booster donations, ticket sales and athletic apparel sponsorships, the current “Power 5” conference system in both men’s basketball and football are funded better than any Minor League organizations in the United States and most draw better average attendance than their pro sports counterparts. Located in Columbia, Mo., the University of Missouri football program is no different.

Even during a down season for the emerging SEC powerhouse so far at 4-5, coach Gary Pinkel and his program are the go-to for Saturday entertainment in the Show Me State. What they say, what they do and how they carry themselves goes a long way in setting trends statewide. It’s why Nike has an endorsement contract to pay the school through cash and product millions of dollars annually. I credit the 36 players who risked their scholarships had the protest lagged on for weeks by saying they would not play football again until change was made. Those young men taking a stand that great says a lot about the tension that existed on the Missouri campus.

Then Pinkel released this tweet that received over 15,000 retweets on Sunday morning:

I talked to Carl Reed Jr., coach of the Lutheran North High program based inside the State of Missouri. One of his former players from a different school, Ronnell Perkins, is on the Missouri roster and was one of the players involved in the initial stance against the President. Reed Jr. had this to say, “I believed that Pinkel would side with the players given the subject matter and sheer amount of guys who felt strongly enough to take a stand. Pinkel’s willingness to stand behind his team and program will go a long way in recruiting future in-state prospects regardless of color.”

I heard a lyric off of Drake’s “6 PM in New York” on his last solo album that I felt captured my sentiments about much of the unrest nationwide including the Missouri situation:

“We need protection from those protecting the block/Nobody looking out for nobody/Maybe we should try and help somebody instead of being somebody that makes the news so every body can tweet about it/And then they start to RIP about it/Four weeks later nobody even speaks about it/Man, I just had to say my piece about it.

In this case, the block is the university and all that it encompasses. Everyone involved in the protest stood up and looked out for each other. By banding together and staying peaceful in the protest, the focus remained on the injustice that the group was calling out as opposed to the protestors themselves. As a result, this situation and the resignation of the President as a result will be talked about much more than four years from now let alone four weeks.

Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

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#ProSportsChop: NFL Fantasy Football – Week 7 – October 28, 2015

Our Fantasy Football League is an annual tradition now in its’ fifth season. With 10 teams, there are plenty of “name brand” players available even in the latter rounds of the draft. As with most quality leagues, the moves made between weeks six and eight are crucial to surviving bye weeks and injury gaps. Our League made the switch in platforms from Yahoo to ESPN and it’s been a good one. I want to drop a special shout out to Commissioner Jonathan Hemingway for making that move. Let me catch you up on the latest at the halfway point.

By: Brandon Clay @bballplusmusic

TEAM NAME: 8 More Than 92 Equals 100 (a tribute to The Game and Drake track that topped the charts earlier this year)

TEAM RECORD: 4-3

Last Week’s Game: 134.1 – 133. 1 win

BREAKDOWN: Going into Week Seven with a 3-3 record and a two-game winning streak, we needed to find a way to win. Tom Brady (New England Patriots QB) was big time once again leading the charge putting up 355 yards, 2 passing TD’s and a rush TD. We needed every play and Justin Forsett (Baltimore Ravens RB) gave us the lead for good at 9:30 pm on Monday as he scored a rushing touchdown.

KEY ROSTER MOVES: With Green Bay on a bye week, both James Jones (WR) and the Packers defense were unavailable. I went to the Waiver Wire to add Rishard Matthews (Miami Dolphins WR) and the Falcons defense. Matthews had 3 receptions for 75 and a TD while the Falcons held the lowly Tennessee Titans to seven points while snagging two interceptions in the process.

Here’s a look at my Week 7 roster:

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Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. Adding in a SLAM (Basketball) Magazine subscription in the late-90’s had him setup up for lifelong success. You can follow him on Twitter @psbpopculture.

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#ProSportsChop: USA Basketball Roundtable – Gregg Popovich – October 24, 2015

Earlier this week, current USA Basketball Senior National Team coach Mike Krzyzewski announced that he would step down after the 2016 Olympics. USA responded by striking gold as they landed five-time NBA Championship coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs as Coach K’s replacement.

Here’s what USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo had to say about the decision, per the team’s official press release:

“I’m absolutely delighted to announce Gregg Popovich as head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team for 2017-20. There is no doubt in my mind that we have the great fortune of bringing on board one of the NBA’s best and most successful coaches ever to lead the USA National Team for the 2017-20 quadrennium. By making this decision now, it will allow us to have a clean, efficient and immediate transition following the 2016 Olympic Games.”

Per the same release, here’s Popovich’s reaction:

“I’m extremely humbled and honored to have the opportunity to represent our country as the coach of the USA National Team…What the program has accomplished over the last decade under the leadership of Jerry Colangelo and Mike Krzyzewski is truly impressive. I will do my utmost to maintain the high standards of success, class and character established by Jerry, Coach K and the many players who have sacrificed their time on behalf of USA Basketball.”

Here is reaction from our PSBPopCulture.com experts:

CLAY: This move is right in line with the type of decisions that Colangelo has executed since taking over as USAB director in 2005. He has been impressive with his forward thinking and has once again made USA Basketball a destination for both elite coaches and players. The youth levels have shown both consistency and production as well. My educated guess is that Popovich will guide the USA to the 2020 Gold Medal and probably step aside after that. It will be interesting to chart who the next coach will be. Will they go in the direction of a younger guy Brad Stevens (Boston Celtics coach) who will be 41 after the 2020 Olympics or choose another veteran leader like Coach K or Pop?

HEMINGWAY: The hiring of Spurs coach Popovich is a home run. There is no other coach that has worldwide respect like ‘Pop.’ His longevity and success in the NBA give him instant credibility among America’s top players. Plus his ability to get superstars to buy into roles makes this a union that will work. Add in the fact that Spurs have traditionally played an international style of basketball and Pop appears to be the perfect coach for the job.

MOORE: Looking at the changes USA Basketball has made over the last decade, it’s evident they are organization working hard to stay ahead of the curve as opposed to reacting and responding late in an ever changing industry. As represented by this summer’s USA mini-camp in Las Vegas, we now have a true national team pool. Unlike the late-90’s/early 2000’s when we were begging players to “give up” their summer and play with the national team, we now have players that are jumping at the opportunity to put on a USA jersey. This is a testament to the work done by Colangelo and Krzysewski. Right now, the U.S. National program is arguably in the best place it has been in it’s history. Popovich is the perfect choice as the standard bearer for continued future success into the next decade.

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

HEMI-HEAD-SHOTJonathan Hemingway is a Chicago sports fan who reps the Bears, Bulls and Cubs. He’s also a diehard NFL Sunday Ticket subscriber. Like Clay, Hemingway’s music taste are wide-ranged and depend on the day. He is also a major part of PeachStateBasketball.com wearing multiple hats with the title of Director of Domestic Scouting and owning CoachHemi.com.

Keil Moore Keil Moore is a Philadelphia sports fan who loves the Eagles, 76ers and Phillies. He’s the go-to NBA League Pass subscriber in the PSBPopCulture.com. Moore will contribute his expertise to multiple categories on the site. He is the owner of Keil Moore Basketball, Inc. You can follow him on Twitter @KeilMoorePSB.

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#ProSportsChop: Decade of the Point Guard – October 22, 2015

Every NBA generation gives us a wealth of depth at a certain position. In the 1990‘s, it was the Shooting Guard’s that ruled the league. Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Steve Smith and the list can go on and on. In the 2000’s, it was the Power Forward position that ruled the Association. Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Amare Stoudemire were just a few of the great Power Forwards of the generation.

By: Keil Moore @KeilMoorePSB with commentary from Brandon Clay @bballplusmusic

This decade is all about Point Guard play. Right now, the position is without a doubt he deepest in the NBA and here is a look at the top five playing the position to date.

Here is my list of the Fab Five right now with Brandon Clay’s commentary on each:

1) Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

MOORE: While one could make an argument for Chris Paul here. Curry is on top of the Basketball world right now. League MVP, NBA Championship and even his daughter has ridden the “Curry Wave” to stardom. With Curry’s recent success, it is hard to not give him the top spot.
More on Riley Curry

CLAY: What a run over the past two years for Steph. From a 5 year, $55 million extension guard to the future starting point guard for the US National Team and NBA MVP.
SIDENOTE: Riley Curry is the cutest kid in the game since Chris Paul’s son made “the Blake Face.”

2) Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

MOORE: Paul is the definition of the point guard position. Pass first, lead second, pressure the basketball, and score when needed. In my humble opinion, there isn’t a better point guard in basketball. There also might not be a better leader in basketball.

CLAY: He’s successfully made the Clippers the primary team inside Staples Center which also plays host to the Lakers. That said, if Paul plans on winning a title in LA he has to find a way to be more impactful than Curry and the guy below him again this season.

3) Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

MOORE: Westbrook was phenomenal last season. He put up video game numbers almost all season long. That said, Westbrook’s health issues keep him out of consideration for the top two spots here.

CLAY: What Westbrook did sans Kevin Durant last season was phenomenal and deserves praise. From the national Mountain Dew Kickstart campaign to the Jordan Brand signature lifestyle shoe, marketers and fans nationwide have taken notice.

4) Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

MOORE: Irving might be the most creative ball handler in the NBA right now. He is a dynamic athlete and brings flair to the point guard position. Like Westbrook, his health is also an issue. The best example of this is the 2015 NBA Finals.

CLAY: Irving could miss a chunk of time early in the season recovering from the season-ending knee injury Keil alluded to above. That said, Irving is the premier point guard in the Eastern Conference though I feel like John Wall is on his heels.

5) John Wall, Washington Wizards

MOORE: Clay’s favorite team, Atlanta Hawks, lucked out last season when Wall hurt his hand during the series against them. A healthy Wall might have propelled the Wizards into the Eastern Conference Finals. Wall is as explosive as any guard on this list and in my opinion Wall has been the victim of some tough USA Basketball National Team cuts.

CLAY: Wall is playing great basketball. He’s come a long way since his days of shooting less than 10 percent from beyond the arc during his rookie season.
SIDENOTE: Even though he’s on the verge of being an established veteran, I’d be remiss if I forgot to mention Jeff Teague. He’s easy to overlook in a league full of top shelf guards but Teague did lead the Atlanta Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

Who Is Next?

D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers – I am buying his stock. He showed himself as an excellent passer and a confident young player. Plus having Kobe Bryant as a mentor is always a nice way to start off a career.

Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic – In Orlando, Payton has a chance to grow alongside of the best young players in the league. He has to improve as a shooter but everything else is there.

Dante Exum, Utah Jazz – Exum is out this year due to an ACL tear. My extensive NBA League Pass research showed that while Exum struggled shooting the ball last year. He became a reliable starting point guard for Utah towards the end of the season. I’m “ALL IN” on Exum.

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

Keil Moore Keil Moore is a Philadelphia sports fan who loves the Eagles, 76ers and Phillies. He’s the go-to NBA League Pass subscriber in the PSBPopCulture.com. Moore will contribute his expertise to multiple categories on the site. He is the owner of Keil Moore Basketball, Inc. You can follow him on Twitter @KeilMoorePSB.

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#ProSportsChop: Top 5 NFL’s QB Right Now – October 20, 2015

I am on record as saying that the position of Quarterback is the most difficult position to master of all of sports. It is often impossible to predict the success of quarterbacks from college to the NFL. There is so much more involved than athleticism or arm strength. I often engage in lively debates in our PSBPopCulture.com group chat about the better QB’s in the league (which never included Tim Tebow).

By: Jonathan Hemingway @JLHemingwayPSB with commentary from Brandon Clay @bballplusmusic

Even quarterbacks who we believed to be sure-fire ELITE QBs this year are struggling. Look at Peyton Manning – his defense has carried the Broncos this year. Drew Brees has struggled to find his rhythm without Jimmy Graham. Even Andrew Luck has struggled with both injury and production!

Here is my list of the five best right now with Brandon Clay’s commentary on each:

CLAY: Before we start, do you have to keep reminding Keil Moore that his beloved Florida Gator Tim Tebow isn’t currently in the NFL? Come on Hemingway.

1) Tom Brady, New England Patriots

HEMINGWAY: Say what you want about the Patriots, but Brady is still the gold-standard. No one out-smarts these guys. Brady has laser focus that we have not seen in professional sports in years.

CLAY: Facts. Only. ACL Tear – No problem. Deflategate – No problem. Winner.

2) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

HEMINGWAY: This guy is terrific. Laser arm. Great athlete. His best attribute this year is to make plays even when the pocket collapses. His wideouts have been great even with Jordy Nelson being injured this year.

CLAY: Rodgers confidence is the steam that powers the Green (and Yellow). He plays with a chip on his shoulder despite all the success. No Nelson, insert James Jones and roll on to victory. At times, it seems that Rodgers still visualizes that 2005 NFL Draft night when he was selected 25th nightly.

3) Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

HEMINGWAY: I became a Newton fan this year when I drafted him in my dynasty-league (I said dynasty, not keeper. That is another blog post for another time). You have to give Cam a lot of credit. His best WR, Kelvin Benjamin, went down in the preseason. No problem though, 5-0 for Newton and the Panthers.

CLAY: Despite Newton being a NFC South rival to my Falcons, I respect his play so far. He’s using Greg Olsen, his tight end, as a primary target. In addition to Olsen, Newton is leading the team with three rushing TD’s as well.

4) Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

HEMINGWAY: Atlanta people never seem to be happy with this guy. He is not flashy and has not won the big game (yet). But the fact is that he puts up big numbers and the Falcons are 5-1. He is as talented as they come in the NFL. This year is big for him to crack the conversation of the ELITE.

CLAY: Hold on now Jon. Atlanta people (myself included) respect Ryan. We also know his salary eats up a considerable amount of the financial cap. So far this season, Ryan is earning his pay with Julio Jones cashing in on Ryan’s accuracy. “Matty Ice” should have a chance to earn postseason stripes this winter.

5) Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals

HEMINGWAY: Casual NFL observers may be surprised to see Palmer’s name on this list. Fact is that if Palmer had not been injured last year, the Cardinals may have challenged the Seahawks as the best team in the NFC. The veteran puts up big numbers week in and week out and he has some of the best wide receivers in the game.

CLAY: Agree 100%. Palmer picked up right where he left off. After two ACL surgeries, he’s throwing the ball as well as I can remember. In the process, Larry Fitzgerald looks like an All-Pro receiver once again.

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. With a degree from Georgia Southern in Sport Marketing, he keeps an eye of marketing trends in the entertainment field. Clay’s full-time position is serving as the Owner of PeachStateBasketball.com.

You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

HEMI-HEAD-SHOTJonathan Hemingway is a Chicago sports fan who reps the Bears, Bulls and Cubs. He’s also a diehard NFL Sunday Ticket subscriber. Like Clay, Hemingway’s music taste are wide-ranged and depend on the day. He is also a major part of PeachStateBasketball.com wearing multiple hats with the title of Director of Domestic Scouting and owning CoachHemi.com.

You can follow him on Twitter @JLHemingwayPSB

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