2019 TransGriot NFL Picks -Week 5

We have now gone through a quarter of the 2019 NFL season with the calendar page turning to October.   Week 4 was good to me because I won my second week of this year's prognostication contest despite all the upsets.

I didn't see the Texans- Panthers game because I was in downtown Houston attending the GLBT Caucus Equality Brunch.   Glad I was because I probably would have been throwing things at my TV.   Can y'all fire Bill O'Brien and get us a new coach?

The Cowboys lost to the Saints, so anything that shuts up the Harris County Dallas Cowchip fans is all good for me.

Who Dat?  Who Dat?  Who dat thought they were gonna beat dem Saints?

Enough messing with these Cowchip fans, time to get to this week's picks.  Another 15 games since the Lions and Dolphins are on their bye week     As usual, my picks will be in bold red print with the home team in all CAPS.    Mike's Week 5 picks can be found at this link.

Week 4 Results                            NFL Season Results
TransGriot  9-6                             TransGriot   39-23-1
Mike           8-7                              Mike           38-24-1

Thursday Night Game
SEAHAWKS over Rams

Sunday Early Games 
TEXANS over Falcons
Jaguars over PANTHERS
Patriots over WASHINGTON
TITANS over Bills
Ravens over STEELERS
BENGALS over Cardinals
SAINTS over Buccaneers
Vikings over GIANTS
Bears over RAIDERS
EAGLES over Jets

Sunday Afternoon Games
CHARGERS over Broncos
Packers over COWBOYS

Sunday Night Game
CHIEFS over Colts

Monday Night Game
49ERS over Browns

2019 TransGriot NFL Picks -Week 2

The 2019 NFL season is underway, and so is the season long prognostication contest between myself and Mr. Watts.   We're still deadlocked after i got the Bills-Jets game right and he got the Buccaneers- 49ers one correct.

And ugh, one I came 2 seconds from getting wrong was the Saints-Texans one.  A 58 yard game winning field goal saved that pick because you don't go against the Saints when they are playing in the Superdome. 

And yeah, Saints fans are still majorly pissed about the call in the NFC Championship Game eight months ago that cost them a trip to the Super Bowl

Gotta shake it off because there are 16 more games to pick this week and I need to build on the nice Week 1 start.    Speaking of good starts, there are a few NFL teams that will be like my Texans fighting for their first win of the young NFL season so they don't fall into an 0-2 hole.

My picks will be in bold red print with the HOME team in all CAPS.   Mike's picks will be at this link for you to peruse.

Week 1 Results                                              2019 Season Record 
TransGriot   10-5-1                                         TransGriot  10-5-1
Mike            10-5-1                                         Mike           10-5-1


Thursday Night Game
PANTHERS over Buccaneers

Sunday Early Games 
TEXANS over Jaguars
RAVENS over Cardinals
Cowboys over WASHINGTON
TITANS over Colts
Seahawks over STEELERS
GIANTS over Bills
BENGALS over 49ers
Chargers over LIONS
PACKERS over Vikings
Patriots over DOLPHINS

Sunday Afternoon Games
Chiefs over RAIDERS
Saints over RAMS
Bears over BRONCOS

Sunday Night Game
Eagles over FALCONS

Monday Night Game
Browns over JETS

Colin Kaepernick To Get Settlement In NFL Collusion Case

Had a feeling when the arbitrator ruled in Kaepernick's favor last August against the NFL's attempt to get summary judgement on this case, this was inevitably going to happen.

The NFL and Kaepernick announced that they have reached a settlement in his lawsuit against the NFL for blackballing him for two season over the NFL anthem protests.

Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reed, who joined Kaepernick in the initial take a knee protests when both were San Francisco 49ers teammates, also settled out of court with the league for an undisclosed amount.

Even though Reed ended up with the Panthers, there was still the issue that cropped up during the 2018 season of him shadily being 'randomly' drug tested nine times.

While the terms of the settlement for both players were not revealed, and they are subject to a confidentiality agreement, it is speculated that Kaepernick is being paid by the NFL owners somewhere in the $60 to $80 million dollar range.

The NFL Players Association also issued a statement in the wake of the announced settlements for both players.

 "We are not privy to the details of the settlement, but support the decision by the players and their counsel," it read. "We continuously supported Colin and Eric from the start of their protests, participated with their lawyers throughout their legal proceedings, and were prepared to participate in the upcoming trial in pursuit of both truth and justice for what we believe the NFL and its clubs did to them. We are glad that Eric has earned a job and a new contract, and we continue to hope that Colin gets his opportunity as well." 

Congratulation to both players.   Justice was served in this case.   Hopefully we'll see Colin on an NFL gridiron soon.

Rooting For Fort Bend Marshall

My high school alma mater was messed with by HISD to the point that it no longer has high school athletics on campus.  But I'm still a high school football fan, just not to the level I was when my beloved Jones Falcons were in the hunt for Texas high school football glory.   

Yesterday started the Texas high school football championship weekend here in the Lone Star State.  It's a smorgasbord of Texas high school football, with twelve title games from Class A (six man) to Class 6A being played at one location over the next four days. with all the games being broadcast on Fox Sports Southwest.

It also makes it easier for all the collegiate recruiters to check out players they either have signed during the NCAA early signing period or spot one they may not have noticed previously that is a late football bloomer.

The championship games location are rotated between Houston, Dallas and San Antonio because all three cities have domed stadiums, This year and in 2019, all the games will be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington 

In Texas high school football and basketball, the top four teams in each district make the playoffs.  Two teams are placed in the Division I playoff bracket, and the other two in the Division II bracket based in enrollment.

I'm always rooting for Houston area teams that make it to the title game in their class, and this year is no different.

The highly anticipated Class 6A Division I game on Saturday night has undefeated Galena Park North Shore (15-0) who rolled over perennial powerhouse Katy in their usual clash at NRG Stadium and also beat them in the regular season.   The Mustangs try to complete their perfect season against unbeaten DFW area homeboys Duncanville (14-0), who beat top 5 nationally ranked Allen in their march to the finals. 

In the Class 6A Division II game Saturday afternoon Beaumont West Brook (13-2) will take on unbeaten perennial East Texas high school powerhouse Longview (15-0).

In the Class 6A Division I game it's a clash of the unbeaten old versus the new kids on the playoff block.   The Highland Park Scots, the team with the most wins in Texas high school football history, that has played in some legendary games still talked about among Texas high school football fans, and is the alma mater of Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford, takes on Alvin Shadow Creek. 

The Sharks are playing their first year of varsity football, and are trying to attempt the feat their district mates Manvel failed to accomplish by winning a state championship in their first year of play.

The game I'll definitely be watching is taking place on Friday night in Class 5A Division II.
Unbeaten Fort Bend Marshall (15-0), who made a deep playoff run last year but fell short, tries to capture its first state title against (15-0) Aledo.  The Bearcats were upset in the state title game last year against College Station, and are looking to avenge that loss at Marshall's expense.

Aledo has more than few UIL championship trophies in their school trophy case, having won six state football titles in the last nine years.

Marshall is not only trying to complete an unbeaten season, they are trying to do so while grieving the loss of  their senior teammate Drew Conley days before their semifinal playoff game.

Conley was murdered by his uncle, and five days later the Buffs pulled out an emotional game against Corpus Christi Calallen last week 19-17 to punch their ticket to the Jerrydome.

The other reasons I'm rooting for Marshall is the school is named for the eminent Supreme Court justice, and their school colors are the same black, gold and white my Falcons wore.

The Buffs were recently visited by Houston Texans DB Tyrann Mathieu for a motivational speech.

We'll see if it worked for the Buffs tomorrow night at 7 PM.   Go Buffs!  Do it for Drew.  Bring that Class 5A Division II title back to the Houston area!.

TransGriot Update:  They hung with them for a quarter, but Aledo unfortunately beat Marshall 55-19 

Houston Tapped To Host 2024 College Football Championship Game

Texas conservafools, this is another undeniable example of the Lone Star State getting nice things when you peeps don't go to Austin and pass hateful legislation. 

Houston was a finalist for the initial rounds of College Football Championship games that in large part because of the HERO repeal referendum vote being in the news when these games were awarded on November 1, 2015, subsequently went to Atlanta (2018), Santa Clara, CA (2019) and New Orleans (2020). 

The sites for the next four College Football Championship games from 2021-2024 were announced yesterday.  Guess what Texas city made that final list? 

Assuming the Texas GOP conservafools don't do something stupid to cause it to be moved, the 2024 College Football Championship Game will be hosted at NRG Stadium in Houston.

The 2021 game will be played in Miami, in 2022 Indianapolis, and in the soon to be opened stadium in Los Angeles in 2023.

So don't screw it up, Texas conservafools.  Or to ensure they don't mess with our tourism money, I suggest we reality based Texans kick their butts out of power in the Lone Star State so we can continue to have nice things like major sporting events and conventions come to Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.

Houston Texans 2017 Training Camp Starts Today

Today the Houston Texans make a little franchise history as their 2017 training camp opens in White Sulphur Springs, WV in the cooler Appalachian mountain climate at the Greenbrier resort until August 17.

The Greenbrier has a $30 million training facility that was built for the New Orleans Saints, who trained there for the last three seasons until they returned back to Louisiana this season.
 

It's the first time that the Texans have ever held training camp outside of the city of Houston, and the Greenbrier itself has some interesting history of its own.

If the United States had ever been nuked, underneath a wing of the Greenbrier hotel was a until 1992 secret fallout shelter and bunker that would have housed the federal government.

Construction of the 112, 544 square foot bunker began in 1958 and was completed in 1961.  It was kept in constant readiness for World War III by a team of undercover government employees.  

A May 31, 1992 Washington Post article leaked that closely guarded Cold War secret, and The Bunker 720 feet under the West Virginia Wing of the hotel was decommissioned in 1995.

What we Texans fans want to know is are the Texans ready to threepeat as AFC South champions, is JJ Watt ready to play and make last year's number one rated defense better, and whether Tom Savage or Deshaun Watson will be the Texans starting quarterback when they open the 2017 NFL season at NRG Stadium against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

TransGriot 2016 NFL Picks- Week 17

This is the last week of the 2016 NFL season, and since there was no Thursday night game, I'm taking the extra days to think long and hard about these final picks of the season for the sixteen games that will happen on New Year's Day.

Short of a disaster, I'm probably going to accomplish my goal of winning back to back NFL prognostication titles.        

Speaking of champions, my fave NFL squad despite losing JJ Watt and still having quarterback issues on offense, persevered to win their fourth AFC South Division title in six years after beating the Cincinnati Bengals (again) 12-10 thanks to former Texan kicker Randy Bullock missing a game winning field goal.

And thank you to the Jacksonville Jaguars for beating the crap out of the Tennessee Traitors 38-17 so that my Texans could have the opportunity to clinch at home.   Now they have the opportunity to do something they have never done in franchise history when they go to Nashville to play the Traitors tomorrow:  Go 6-0 in the division .  

I''m also looking to something I've never done in all my years of NFL prognostication and go through an entire season without a losing week.

Last week Mike and I tied once again  I correctly picked ,the Saints-Bucs game and he got the Bills-Dolphins one right  

So let's get this last week of picks done and see if I can do it.  16 games, teams I'm picking in bold print and home teams in CAPS.    Mike's picks can be viewed via this link.

NFL Week 16 Results                                   2016 NFL Season Results
TransGriot 10-6                                             TransGriot    160-78-2
Mike          10-6                                             Mike             152-87-2
Eli              --                                                  Eli

New Year's Day Early Games
Texans over TITANS
Ravens over BENGALS
Panthers over BUCCANEERS
STEELERS over Browns
Cowboys over EAGLES
Bills over JETS
VIKINGS over Bears
COLTS over Jaguars
Patriots over DOLPHINS

New Year's Day Afternoon Games
Chiefs over CHARGERS
Cardinals over RAMS
Raiders over BRONCOS
Giants over WASHINGTON
Seahawks over 49ERS
FALCONS over Saints

New Year's Day Night Game
Packers over LIONS

TransGriot 2016 NFL Picks -Week 14

Had a nice rebound with my Week 13 picks in which I went 13-2 to win the week and pad my lead once again in the season long prognostication contest between me and Mr. Watts.

Wish I could say the same about my fave NFL squad.  They have now dropped into a three way tie for first place in the AFC South Division st 6-6 with the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Traitors after losing three straight games.   They face the Colts in Indy this Sunday, where they are 1- 13,and only won their first game in franchise history there last year.

It isn't helping that the Harris County Arlington Cowchip traitors are arrogantly starting to open their mouths and take their Cowboys gear out of mothballs now that they have a winning record this season.  

How 'bout them Cowboys?   Yeah right.   Still hate 'em, and ain't nothing changed even with a Black quarterback.  The best thing about the Cowboys when they are losing is their bandwagon riding fansbase is cricket chirping silent about them.

Enough hatin' on the Cowchips.  Moving on.  Four weeks to go to a repeat title, and have to keep the positive momentum going.

So let's do this.  16 games from now on until the end of the season.   Teams I'm picking will be in bold print, with HOME team in caps.    Mike's picks can be viewed here.


NFL Week 13 Results                                                 2016 NFL Season Results  

TransGriot   13-2                                                         TransGriot   127-64-2
Mike            11-4                                                          Mike           121-70-2
Eli                ---                                                             Eli                   ---

Thursday Night Game
CHIEFS over Raiders

Sunday Early Games
Texans over COLTS
Steelers over BILLS
Broncos over TITANS
Washington over EAGLES
Cardinals over DOLPHINS
Vikings over JAGUARS
PANTHERS over Chargers
Bengals over BROWNS
LIONS over Bears

Sunday Afternoon Games
Jets over 49ERS
BUCCANEERS over Saints
Falcons over RAMS
Seahawks over PACKERS

Sunday Night Game
Cowboys over GIANTS

Monday Night Game
PATRIOTS over Ravens

Will The Washington NFL Team's October 16 Win Translate To A Clinton One?

One of the interesting election bellwethers in American politics involves our national passion of NFL football and the Washington NFL franchise.  I'm refusing to use the racist nickname of the team in this post and per TransGriot policy out of respect to my Native American friends.

Since the team moved to DC from Boston in 1937, when the Washington NFL franchise wins their last home game before the presidential election, the incumbent party stays in the Oval Office.  If they lose their last home game, according to the rule, the party out of power wins the subsequent national presidential election.

The Washington Rule has been remarkably consistent, and only been wrong once.

In 2012, the Washington NFL team lost to the Carolina Panthers 21-13, but incumbent President Barack Obama won in an electoral landslide over Mitt Romney.

If you count the presidential elections of 1932 and 1936 before the team relocated to Washington DC, it's twice.

In 1932, they beat the Staten Island Stapletons in their last home game before the election 19-6 but Democratic nominee Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated incumbent Republican president Herbert Hoover for the first of his four terms.

In 1936, the first year they competed under their racist nickname, they beat the Chicago Cardinals 13-10 in their last home game before the election, and FDR was reelected in a landslide.

The Washington NFL franchise is playing across The Pond at Wembley Stadium today against the Cincinnati Bengals and because of their subsequent bye week, won't be playing their next home game against the Minnesota Vikings until after the election on November 13.

So what was the result of their last home game?   The Washington NFL team's last home game was on October 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles, who they defeated 27-20.  According to the rule, that means the incumbent party (the Democrats) will keep the White House and Hillary Clinton will become our next POTUS..

Will that result on October 16 be backed up by the election on November 8?   We'll find out in a few days.

TransGriot Update : Nope 

2016 UH Cougar Watch- Cougars Beat Cincinnati 40-16

The game was actually closer than the final score indicated, but the number 6 ranked University of Houston Cougars beat the Cincinnati Bearcats 40-16 in front of a national television audience and a sold out Nippert Stadium/

It was The American conference game opener between two unbeaten teams considered the favorites to be playing in The American title game in December.  It was also a clash two teams rumored to be the front runners in the Big XII expansion sweepstakes.

But after a frustrating first half in which they turned the ball over twice and despite moving the ball at ease on the Bearcats went in at halftime tied 10-10,

The Third Ward Defense shut down any Bearcat attempts to run the football, but still managed because of Cougar turnovers to grab a 16-12 fourth quarter lead.

Greg Ward, Jr. then shook off the third quarter end zone interception he threw that the Bearcats converted for their go ahead touchdown to march the Cougars on a clutch drive to take the lead back 19-16, then the defense took over.

They contributed back to back pick sixes as part of that 28 point fourth quarter explosion to move the Cougars to 3-0 on the season and win their opening American conference game.

Will these two teams meet in December?  We'll see. But the Cougars travel to San Marcos next week to take on the Texas State Bobcats in a non conference matchup as they continue on their mission to crash the CFA College Football Playoff party.   .

Super Bowl 50 Musings

In a few hours Super Bowl 50 will kick off between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers to determine who walks away with the NFL title and the Vince Lombardi trophy.

I've already made my Super Bowl prediction like 'errbody' else in media world, but as the clock ticks down to the start of the final NFL game of the 2015-16 season, I have other random thoughts that are percolating in my mind besides the action that will take place at Levi's Stadium starting at 5:30 PM CST.

In addition to the mass quantities of food we Americans consume during that game and the billions we bet on it legally and illegally, corporations spend millions for Super Bowl advertising slots before and during the game and on making the good, bad, indifferent and 'what the hell were they thinking' commercials that will run during it.

I'm parked in front of the TV not only for the game and the armchair analysis of it, but to spend some quality time with my friends.  You haven't lived until you've watched a Super Bowl with a room full of TBLG people and allies.  It's a hilarious and wonderful slice of life where for just a few hours, we LGBT World NFL fans can forget about the reality that on Monday or as soon as the last confetti has been swept off the turf, the rest of America will go back to hatin' us with a foaming at the mouth determination and gleefully working to roll back our human rights.

For that few hours during a Super Bowl, we trans. bi and SGL NFL fans are just like everyone else, rooting for our fave team (,in this year's case either the Broncos or the Panthers) to win and then plotting if you live in Denver or Charlotte where and how fast can you get your championship swag if they handle their Super Bowl 50 business.

Speaking of human rights, hey Mayor Turner and everyone else from Houston observing what is happening in the San Francisco Bay Area this week in advance of my hometown hosting Super Bowl LI in 2017, how about y'all doing us Houstonians a huge favor?   As soon as y'all step off the plane from Cali, how about you and City Council get busy and start working on expeditiously passing HERO 2.0?

World class cities protect the human rights of their citizens, and if you want H-town to ever be considered as a host for another Super Bowl, better get busy with that necessary human rights task.

When I watch a Super Bowl, I'm also cognizant of the possibility that if I'm fortunate, I'll get to watch some Black history being made at the same time while I'm munching on pizza or wings.

I remember bursting with pride when Doug Williams became in 1988 the first African-American quarterback to win a Super Bowl, and Russell Wilson doing so in 2014.   It was why I was so incensed when that boneheaded pass play call in last year's game call cost the Seahawks not the change to win back to back titles, but Wilson the opportunity to become the first ever Black NFL starting QB to win back to back NFL titles.

And it's no secret I want to see Cam Newton join that exclusive fraternity of Black NFL QB's who have hoisted a Lombardi Trophy in a few hours and deliciously shutting up his racist haters.

Because Newton winning the NFL MVP award for 2015 last night, leading the team to a 17-1 record and the franchise's second NFC title and Super Bowl berth won't be enough to silence them.  But I have noticed during my lifetime that winning shuts bigots up.

While as a Texans fans I despise the Indianapolis Colts, I put that rivalry aside when the Tony Dungy led Colts and Lovie Smith's Chicago Bears faced off in what we called in the Black community the 'Soul Bowl'.

Even the NFL officials calling the Super Bowl at times have made Black history.  Mike Carey, the second Black NFL referee when he was hired in 1995 and is now retired, in 2008 became the first Black referee to call the title game.  In 2013 Jerome Boger became the second Black referee to do officiate a Super Bowl.

Looking forward to seeing the day a female NFL official gets to do that and be the referee at a Super Bowl, but that's another post.

Well, hope the players got enough sleep for their busy and career making day.

I'm just hoping for a great game like the millions of people around the country that will be tuned in for it, and that one day I'll know what it is like to see my hometown NFL franchise play in one..
 

TransGriot 2015 NFL Picks-Super Bowl 50

Well, nailed both the conference title games picks which makes me 7-3 in the 2015-16 NFL playoffs to add to my 2015 NFL regular season prognostication title, and now it's time to get to my Super Bowl 50 pick.

Both teams have had a week off since their Championship Sunday tilts, and they are in Santa Clara getting ready to battle for the NFL title this Sunday.

This may be Peyton Manning's last NFL game, and the Broncos have my Houston homeboy Gary Kubiak as their head coach along with several former Texans in their lineup, and a top five defense.

I deeply appreciate them along with every NFL fan who can't stand New England for beating the Patriots 20-18 and ensuring that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick would be sitting at home watching this game.

But I just can't ignore the fact that the Carolina Panthers have been on a season long roll, also have a an amazing defense, finished 15-1, and only got better in the playoffs as they withstood a furious Seattle Seahawks comeback to win 31-24 after sprinting out to a 31-0 halftime lead in their Divisional round playoff game and stomping the Arizona Cardinals 49-15 in the NFC title game.

And yes, I'm rooting for Panthers coach Ron Rivera to make some NFL history as the second Latino head coach to win a Super Bowl after Tom Flores.   I also want Cam Newton to have the opportunity to shut up his racist haters and become the third African-American starting quarterback (Doug Williams 1988, Russell Wilson 2014) to take his team to a Super Bowl win.

Interestingly enough, Williams and Wilson both beat the Broncos to make that Black sporting history.

Enough jibber-jabber, lets get to my Super Bowl 50 pick. .So who will be hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the end of this game?

The Carolina Panthers will emerge as the 2015-16 NFL champions.

Countdown To Super Bowl 50

Super Bowl 50 will be taking place  in Santa Clara next Sunday, and even though my favorite NFL team won't be involved in it, I will have a rooting interest in one of the teams that will playing in this year's NFL championship game between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers..

There are also some interesting historical nuggets as we approach the kickoff time for this game. Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera is now the second Latino head coach after the Oakland Raiders Tom Flores to make it to the title game. 

He also wants to be like his idol Flores, the second Latino head coach to win a Super Bowl.   Flores as the hard coach of the Oakland/LA Raiders coached them to NFL titles twice in 1981 and 1984.

For the third straight year, a team with an African-American starting quarterback will be in the Super Bowl house.   Russell Wilson of the Seahawks was that quarterback the last two years and won (2014) and lost (2015) one, and this year it will be Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers representing at the QB spot..

Newton will be bidding to make some Black history by attempting to join Doug Williams and Wilson as African-American NFL starting quarterbacks that have won a Super Bowl.   Ironically both of those wins by Black quarterbacks in 1988 and 2014 came at the expense of the Denver Broncos, this Sunday's opponent.

Newton will be trying to do so against a quarterback in Peyton Manning who may be playing in his last Super Bowl.

As to who I'm picking to walk away with the Vince Lombardi Trophy next week?    I'll let y'all know on Friday.

UH Cougars Finish With No.8 AP Ranking!

Time to pop my collar again as a proud Cougar! This 2015 football season will rank as one of the more successful ones in recent UH athletic history, and last night the final AP college rankings were released that confirmed what we Cougar fans already knew.

In addition to this Cougar team finishing 13-1, capturing the American title, beating Florida State in the Peach Bowl , knocking off four ranked teams in 2015, and beating teams from the ACC (Louisville, Florida State) and the SEC (Vanderbilt), the  Cougars finished ranked at number 8 in the final AP NCAA football poll,

That is the Coogs highest ranking since 1979, and probably sets them up for a nice ranking in the 2016 preseason AP NCAA football rankings this fall.  The Coogs will also kick off the 2016 football season at NRG Stadium against the Big 12 champion Oklahoma Sooners.

The Coogs great season is also helping them in the recruiting wars, since we are located in one of the best areas in the state for high school football talent.

Hey ESPN College Football GameDay, how about y`all coming down to H-town and the UH campus again like y'all did in 2011 to start the 2016 season off?