Happy Monday! Here’s a few headlines to get you through your lunch break!

Elvis Dumervil has signed with the Baltimore Ravens.

Elvis Has Left… Denver

After a pretty dramatic week that included Fax-Gate, Elvis Dumervil and the Denver Broncos have parted ways and he’s headed to the Baltimore Ravens. A team that desperately needs some players. Thanks Joe Flacco!

Per NFL.com, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Dumervil’s contract is worth up to $35 million. He will receive $1 million in base salary in the first year and a $7.5 million signing bonus. Schefter also reported that Dumervil has a $3.5 million injury guarantee on next year’s option bonus, guaranteeing he’ll receive $12 million in the contract.

Aerys NFL’s own Brenda Stidham talks about the timing issues with Elvis and the Broncos. Check out Denver Horse Force. For more on the deal from the Ravens perspective, check out Aerys’ The Purple Nest.

Other items

* Tim Tebow might be one of the nicest people alive. Just ask the Wichita State basketball team. That’s all.

* Darrius Heyward-Bey might be the mystery wide receiver Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has been talking about. DHB is set to meet with the Colts either tonight or tomorrow. Check out this story. » Continue reading “Mid-Day Monday Blitz: Elvis Goes Baltimore, Tebow And More”

The Aerys NFL staff weighed in with their picks for MVP, Comeback Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and the remainder of The Associated Press 2012 NFL Awards earlier this morning, but now it’s time for the staff to share their thoughts on really important off-the-field awards, like which “ing” is better: Tebowing or Kapernicking? We know you’re all dying to know…

Weigh in with your thought on our Postseason awards in the comments section below.

Favorite spokesman/advertisement

Peyton Manning had a pretty successful year both on and off the field.

Miranda (Offsides): The Cam Newton/Nate/NFL Play 60 ad! “I’m just warming up my arm!”
Brenda (Broncos): Peyton Manning for Buick. How ‘bout that?
Patty (Rams): Isn’t this category dominated by Peyton Manning every year? LOL.
Kristine (Jets): I’m basically president of the anything Cam Netwon fan club but that State Farm commercial with the little girl serving Aaron Rodgers ‘tude about his interception because he didn’t read the safety is the best thing ever.
Taina (Bears): Maybe the kid deserves more credit then Cam Newton, but HELLOOO— NFL Play 60 anyone???
Jamie (Browns): Aaron Rodgers Pizza Hut commercials are just pure gold.
Kim (Vikings): If we can do retired players, Brett Favre + Wranglers = match made in heaven
Casey (Packers): Aaron Rodgers/B.J. Raji. I may be biased, but “show me what ya got, what ya got Raji” gets me everytime!
Krissy (Saints): Cam Newton, NFL Play 60, The little kid steals the show “Become your momma’s favorite player…”
Melanie (Steelers): The Play 60 kid that challenges Cam Newton.  I can never fast-forwards through it.

Best postgame press conference

Miranda: Aaron Rodgers presser after the MNF game blown by replacement referees.
Brenda: It wasn’t a postgame press conference per se, but Chuck Pagano’s Dec. 24 press conference, his first since leaving the team for leukemia treatment in September, was must-see TV. Beautiful. Emotional.
Patty: Jim Harbaugh. Gobble gobble jive turkey gobble.
Kristine: Gobble, Gobble jive turkey .
Taina: Not the entire conference, but the moment when Mike Tomlin used this gem of a line: “Excuses Are The Tools Of The Incompetent.”
Jamie: Aaron Rodgers: Sept. 25th. After such a terrible end to the game (was it a touchdown or an interception?) Rodgers handled it very well. Very poised, but you could see his anger boiling.
Kim: It wasn’t post game but when Christian Ponder said he would go by the name Christian Steele and how it sounded like a porn star name — THE BEST
Casey: Ray Rice! Hey diddle-diddle, Ray Rice up the middle! Lame I know, but he really is just too adorable…. J
Krissy: Aaron Rodgers after controversial Week 3 loss to Seahawks.
Melanie: Mike Tomlin every week, but best quote of the season: “Excuses are the tools of the incompetent.”

Worst post-game press conference

Miranda: Any of Rex Ryan’s pressers after a loss.
Brenda: Again, not a press conference per se, Bill Belichick immaturely and unprofessionally blew off a CBS postgame interview following the Patriots’ AFC Championship Game loss.
Patty: Jim Harbaugh. Gobble gobble jive turkey gobble.
Kristine: Every single Mark Sanchez post-game press conference following a loss.
Taina: Anything Jim Harbaugh. Great coach, needs help with media relations. And stress management.
Kim: GOBBLE GOBBLE TURKEY — HUH?
Jamie: Mike Tomlin: Oct. 12. He’s one angry man.
Casey: Harbaugh gobbling…lol
Krissy: Aaron Rodgers after Week 3 loss to Seahawks
Melanie: Every time we hear Tony Romo say the same thing with the same monotone.

» Continue reading “NFL Postseason Awards From the Aerys NFL Staff”

Joe Flacco

You had to see it to believe it!

That’s the best way to describe the Ravens defeat of the Broncos 38-35, that went 2OT!

Let’s discuss some of the highlights of this game and what it all means!

* Justin Tucker. The Ravens won the game with a 47-yard field goal from Tucker at 1:42 into the second overtime. Even in the cold, Tucker was making kicks from 67 yards out in pre-game workouts.

* Joe Flacco. Elite? Well… the 70-yard touchdown pass Flacco threw to Jacoby Jones with 31 seconds left in the game was pretty epic. It was an excellent play. I’ll admit it! It was made even more epic or excellent by the fact that it was Joe Flacco that threw it. Joe Flacco. Come on. Let’s all get one collective heavy sigh out of the way. 1, 2 … 3. … Better? No! Didn’t think so! Flacco finished with 331 yards and three touchdowns including a 32-yard connection to Torrey Smith, marking the second time Smith beat Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey. In the first quarter, Smith got behind Bailey for a 59-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

* More Ray! Ray Lewis’s career gets extended one more week to the AFC Championship game where the Ravens will take on either the Houston Texans or the New England Patriots. Either game is sure to be epic. Another week. Another dance. Ray’s story continues! And, I should tell you a little about how Ray played Saturday. He had 17 tackles in 77 minutes of play. Pick your jaw up!

* Oh Peyton, NO! Peyton fell to 0-4 lifetime with the temperature is below 40 degrees. At kickoff, the temperature was 13 degrees. Per CBS, by the second overtime, it was snowy and about six degrees. Yes. 6. Degrees! Yikes. He really had no shot, did he!

* Trindon Holliday. WOW! How about this kid! Holliday returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown and a kickoff 104 yards for another score for the Broncos. Both were playoff records for longest returns, as was the 248 total return yards. Amazing!

For more on the Broncos, click over to Denver Horse Force. And for more on the Ravens, check out The Purple Nest!

The playoffs and the road to Super Bowl XLVII is finally here!  The defending champion New York Giants will have no shot at defending their title after they were eliminated from playoff contention Week 17.  A new champion will be crowned on February 3rd.  Here is a look at the playoff picture and how I think it will pan out.

Please note:  These are merely predictions.  The Divisional, Championship, and Super Bowl matchups are subject to change.  Nothing is final. » Continue reading “2013 NFL Playoff and Super Bowl XLVII Predictions: Who will win it all?”

Minnesota Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson

It’s that time of the year when the votes will be cast for the regular season individual awards.  I already did a series a few weeks ago, but held off on the MVP.  I wanted the season to end to see who made the playoffs.  Well the regular season is over, and here are my predictions for the MVP award.

Who should win » Continue reading “2012 NFL MVP Predictions – Will Adrian Peterson win the MVP?”

We’re #1! We’re #1! The Chiefs may have lost (again) to the Broncos this Sunday, falling 38-3 in their final game of the season, but hey, at least they get the top draft pick in April! But even that small victory wasn’t ideal, because the Chiefs tied their losing record with the Jaguars, who also went 2-14 on the season.

The Chiefs gained a whopping 119 yards all game. QB Brady Quinn completed 7 of 16 passes for 49 yards.

QB Brady Quinn, sacked yet again

Jamaal Charles continued to carry the offense, but even he couldn’t do much, rushing for 53 yards and running for 14.

Sadly, that’s all there is to summarize, because it really wasn’t much of a game (unless you’re Peyton Manning and his circus of receivers).

So Happy New Year Chiefs fans! We can now look forward to the Pro Bowl, and it can only get better from here…right?

Indianapolis Colts’ wide receiver Reggie Wayne

This is always one of the harder categories to debate over because everyone loves their quarterbacks and the rest of the offense gets left behind.

Who should win:

Peyton Manning – QB – Denver Broncos
From neck surgeries to MVP caliber year…Manning deserves it.

Who will win:

Peyton Manning – QB – Denver Broncos
Hey, voters love Peyton Manning, and they love what he’s done since he’s come back.

Honorable Mentions:

Tom Brady – QB – New England Patriots
If Brady doesn’t even get consideration, there will be anarchy in Boston.

Reggie Wayne – WR – Indianapolis Colts
He may have lost Manning as his quarterback, but he’s moving along just fine with his new guy Andrew Luck.  Wayne leads in receiving yards this season and has looked better than ever.  Only reason I don’t think he’ll get votes is because well…he’s not a quarterback.

Adrian Peterson – RB – Minnesota Vikings
This will really depend on where the Vikings are at the end of the season.  If they make the playoffs, Peterson could get more votes.

Check back tomorrow for my Defensive Player of the Year predictions

You can follow Kelsey O’Donnell on Twitter @KelsODonnell

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning

I’ve been scratching my head over this award all season now.  There are really only two players to take into consideration and honestly…it’s a tossup.  Each player had their own significant injury and were predicted to never be the same again.  Both players not only came back to the NFL, but they picked back up right where they left off, as if they never had injuries.  Here are my two candidates and I will jabber at the end as to who I think will win it.

Peyton Manning – QB – Denver Broncos
Manning was once the beloved franchise quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts.  Last season he missed the entire year after having four different surgeries on his neck.  Given his age, his injuries, the struggles the Colts went through that landed them with the number one draft pick, the ultimately decided to cut ties with Manning and kicked him to the curb.  What a thank you for so many great years, huh?  Manning was determined to return to the NFL and started talking to various teams.  In the end, the Denver Broncos said, “Sorry Tim Tebow, but you gotta go” and signed Manning to a contract.  Right away Super Bowl predictions were flying around.  How great would it be if the New York Giants returned to the Super Bowl and Eli had to play against his big brother.  WOAH! Can we start the season first?  Manning struggled to start the season, likely trying to get his rhythm going, but once he did, he was the Manning of old.  Right now…not trying to get ahead of myself…but a Broncos-Giants Super Bowl isn’t impossible, but it just seems too storybook.  That aside, playing football after having a major neck injury is almost like a death sentence.  Manning came off his three surgeries and is playing football as if nothing had happened.  He hasn’t missed a beat.

Adrian Peterson – RB – Minnesota Vikings
Last December, Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson suffered an ACL tear and sidelined him for the remainder of the season.  Peterson had his surgery, rehabbed during the offseason, and missed all of the preseason this year.  As frustrated as he was missing time and training, he stayed patient.  He somehow made it in time for the start of the regular season, but whatever doctor treated him during the offseason should get an award.  Peterson has exploded back onto the field likely even better than he was before.  The problem with a lot of ACL injuries, especially in the NFL, is that players tend to rush their recoveries to try and get back on the field for the next season.  As a result, they are more likely to re-tear before they even get a chance.  Peterson took his time, did everything he was supposed to do, and returned stronger than ever.  ACL tears are inevitable, you never know when it will happen.  It’s not an injury that happens from getting hit.  Peterson isn’t showing signs of fear that he could re-tear his and he’s running through defenses like his old self.

So there are your two candidates.  As far as voting goes, it really depends on the voter and how they see each situation.  If I had a vote, I’d look at the injury that not only is career threatening, but life threatening if it needs to get to that level.  With that said, my vote would go to Manning.  The NFL is a violent sport, and to have a neck injury as severe as his…I never expected Manning to return.  This vote could go either way, but if I had a vote, it’s going to Manning.

Check back tomorrow for my Offensive Player of the Year predictions.

You can follow Kelsey O’Donnell on Twitter @KelsODonnell

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the Denver Broncos, 31-23, clinching the AFC West for the Broncos and the NFC South for the Atlanta Falcons.

The Bucs controlled the game for the first half, holding Broncos QB Peyton Manning to just one touchdown and going into halftime ahead 10-7.

But in the third quarter, Manning took over with three touchdowns and the Bucs defense didn’t provide much pressure. The Bucs offense was also completely silent in the third.

Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman was 18 of 39 for 242 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. But the Broncos defense held Doug Martin to just 56 yards.

Tampa Bay made a come-back in the fourth, scoring 13 more points, but it wasn’t enough to match the Broncos third quarter explosion. When Manning went to take a knee at the end of the game, the Bucs defense continued to come after him, just as they did with his brother Eli Manning when they played the Giants early in the season. Not everyone is please with Tampa Bay’s never-say-die tactics. Argh.

The (6-6) Buccaneers host the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.

Despite coach Romeo Crennel’s good track record against Petyon Manning, the Chiefs lost their 8th straight game to the Broncos this Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, 17-9.

Emily’s favorite moment of the game: now-starting QB Brady Quinn’s out of bounds pass, caught by former-starting QB Matt Cassel. Quinn was 13 of 25 for 126 yards for the Chiefs, who mostly wanted to run the ball. RB Jamaal Charles was again the most popular target on the run, notching up 107 yards on 23 carries.

Game low: Ryan Succop scored thrice for the Chiefs, but no touchdowns (KC hasn’t had a touchdown since November 12th) means no prolonged prancing of Warpaint. That’s right, we missed yet another chance to see Eric Berry’s fear of horses first hand. Although, if you’re looking for positives, the Broncos kicker Matt Prater missed two out of his three kicks while Succop hit all three of his, putting the Chiefs on the board, and actually ahead at several different moments in the game.

Brandon Flowers

The Kansas City defense made a much better showing this game, and even grabbed an elusive P. Manning interception. This awesome play by Brandon Flowers ended with a lateral pass to safety Abram Elam who ran it for another ten yards. LB Justin Houston also came up big with two sacks. The offense, while better in the first half, wasn’t enough to hold off Denver. They had a chance to retake the lead late in the 4th quarter, but the drive stalled. The Chiefs got the ball back one last time, but the final play was a Quinn Hail Mary which was intercepted.

The Chiefs are now the only one-win team in the NFL with a 1-10 record. They look to get their first home win against the Panthers next week.