The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Week 4 Awards

The “What I do have, are a very particular set of skills. Skills I’ve acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for the people like you” Award presented by Liam Neeson and the “Taken” trilogy - Steve Smith. You knew a game like this was coming when Smith faced off against the Panthers, and he lived up to his reputation both on an off the field. “Blood and Guts” torched his former teammates for seven receptions, 139 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-10 win. After the game Smith called out everyone, including Panthers GM David Gettleman. “If the first thing that comes out is, ‘It wasn’t personal’ ... Guess what? It was personal,” Smith said, ““I don’t have anything to say to Dave Gettleman. He told me what he thought of me. And my play [Sunday] told me what I thought of him.”

The “Movie storyline where it’s obvious to everyone but the person in a position of power that a benched guy should be playing…then said guy goes out and proves it” Award presented by Teen Wolf (Michael J Fox version) - Mike Glennon. I think Lovie Smith was the only person in the world to understand why Josh McCown came into this season as the starting quarterback. It took an 0-3 start and a blowout on national TV to turn the reigns over to the person that earned the job last season. Just like that, the Bucs finally got in the win column.

The “You can never question my dedication to the cause” Award presented by Spock in Star Trek 2: Wrath of Khan - Renaldo Dorsett. There’s something to be said about sacrifice, the most brave noble and selfless thing a person can do. So I’ll allow my picks to take a hit and go against the Dolphins in my column, just to see them win in real life. I would say the nation owes me a debt of gratitude, but clearly I’m far too modest for that.

WEEK 4 RESULTS

Renaldo: 5-8 (34-26, .567)

Sannie: 7-6 (28-32, .467)

Week 5

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers

I would have much more faith in Teddy and his band of misfits if this wasn’t a Thursday night game. In four weeks so far, every Thursday game has been an unwatchable blowout. Just give Thursday to the women and their Scandal and pack it up guys. There’s always Sunday.

PACKERS over Vikings

SANNIE: Clay Matthews looks exactly like my favourite character in Sons of Anarchy, Jax. They both have that blonde, unkept, sexy bad boy look.

PACKERS over Vikings

Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions

Here’s a few things I know about Kyle Orton. He can never grow a good beard, his nickname should be “Cowboy,” he wears huge sleeves on his jersey and for the immediate future of a franchise he’s an extremely effective stop-gap solution for a game or two.

BILLS over Lions

SANNIE: I just love saying Ndamukong Suh. Even though I am positive I am saying it wrong, it sounds so strong, like a winner. How can you lose with someone like that on your team?

LIONS over Bills

Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts

Speaking in NCAA basketball terms (because it’s pretty much what I apply to any situation), at this point the Colts wouldn’t get into the tournament because of their low RPI and lack of a signature win. Beating a Baltimore team at home, a team that is in the midst of a three game winning streak could be that signature win to earn a top three seed (I miss Kentucky basketball so very, very much).

COLTS over Ravens

SANNIE : Andrew Luck. Keep giving me luck with my picks this week.

COLTS over Ravens

Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans

The Titans could be the worse team in the league when Charlie Whitehurst and Zach Mettenberger are in the lineup, but “The Hurt Locker” will be back under centre this week, much to the delight of Kendall Wright fantasy football league owners everywhere.

TITANS over Browns

SANNIE: I’ve got to stick with family.

BROWNS over Titans

Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers

As great as the Bears’ offence is, their hobbled defence is that much worse. This may be exactly what Cam Newton needs to get back on track despite the fact that the only healthy running backs behind him will be Chris Ogbonnaya, Fozzy Whittaker and Darrin Reaves. Typing that sentence I realised two things - I have an irrational level of confidence in Cam Newton and there is nothing that could bring my life more happiness than Fozzy Whittaker becoming a household name.

PANTHERS over Bears

SANNIE: OMG! I just learned Kristin Cavallari is married to a Jay Cutler. I love her, she was the first reality star I ever hated. I miss “The Hills”.

BEARS over Panthers

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys

Can we get Vince McMahon to somehow host this game. This seems like it should be a WWE match. Loser leaves the state. Best case scenario - Cowboys go for a game winning field goal, DeMarcus Ware comes running from the stands to knock out the referee and Tony Romo, who for some reason is filling in as the holder. Worst case scenario - JJ Watt hits Ryan Fitzpatrick with a steel chair, rips off his Texans jersey only to reveal a Cowboys jersey underneath.

TEXANS over Cowboys

SANNIE: The Ebola virus is in Dallas. The end.

TEXANS over Cowboys

Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars

Blake has the entire city of Jacksonville “poppin’ Bortles,” must be nice to know that your franchise has a young franchise quarterback you can depend on for about 12 years. I’m a Dolphin fan, I have no idea what that feels like. The state of Florida gets win number two over the Steelers this week.

JAGS over Steelers

SANNIE: I can never go against Troy Polamalu and that beautiful, long, curly, hair.

STEELERS over Jags

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

As much as I would like to see Mike Glennon keep it going just to spite Lovie Smith, the Saints have one of the best home field advantages in the NFL and a point to prove.

SAINTS over Bucs

Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants

Was the 45 point outburst an indication that Eli and the Giants have a firm grasp of the new offence or are we just due for another standard Eli four interception game. Atlanta is not going to win on the road until the front office tells Matt Ryan that he has to play just as good once they leave the state of Georgia. It could help.

GIANTS over Falcons

SANNIE: Well hello, Odell Beckham Jr.

GIANTS over Falcons

St Louis Rams at Philadelphia Eagles

This is it. This is the week Chuck Norris and the rest of the Expendables free LeSean McCoy from Chip Kelly’s offence. I’m not going to tell anyone what to do with their personal life, but McCoy was arguably the best running back in the NFL until he started dating this reality TV character. Coincidence? I mean…she thought the underground railroad was an actual railroad, with tracks, steam engines and everything. I now question all his decisions.

EAGLES over Rams

SANNIE: LeSean McCoy is dating one of my Fav Real Housewives of Atlanta Reality stars Porsha Williams. I love her and her body. Way to go LeSean.

EAGLES over Rams

Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos

The Cardinals are “making noise” in the NFC but unless Carson Palmer comes back, is near 100 per cent and ready for a shootout, Peyton Manning will have a way to quiet that noise with just one word. Omaha.

BRONCOS over CARDS

SANNIE: Wes Welker, you had three concussions in 9 months you still playing? That’s some serious dedication.

BRONCOS over Cardinals

Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers

It’s been a good week for revenge games: Steve Smith versus the Panthers, Andre Rollins versus Brave Davis, and LeBron’s fluctuating hairline versus his forehead. The streak stops here though, there’ll be no successful revenge game for Alex Smith.

NINERS over Chiefs

SANNIE: No one would ever go choose to go Kansas City over San Francisco. EVER.

NINERS over Chiefs

New York Jets at San Diego Chargers

I’m excited for the media bombarding us with “I’ll tell you what, Phillip Rivers may be the league MVP” stories that are sure to get here in short order. Rivers is the league’s most efficient passer, destroyed the defending Super Bowl champions, has no running game and the average fan can’t name any of his receivers.

CHARGERS over Jets

SANNIE: I already picked New York once today, so Chargers win by default.

CHARGERS over Jets

Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots

I don’t want to say this a must win game for Brady and Belichick…but it really is. Belicheck answered five consecutive post game questions by saying either “We’re on to Cincinnati” or “We’re getting ready for Cincinnati.” Here’s the problem, a team that can’t protect the quarterback and lack playmakers at the skill positions faces one of the league’s best defences and the story of Devon Still and his daughter that has absolute through the roof “Chuckstrong” potential.

BENGALS over Pats

SANNIE: So the Bengals’ mascot’s nickname is WHO DEY. I love it. Sounds so Bahamian.

BENGALS over Patriots

Seattle Seahawks at Washington No Nicknames

Did RGIII’s job get solidified on a weekend when he didn’t even get out of bed. It’s possible. Kirk Cousins looked that bad Thursday night and for all the hoopla about him becoming the signal caller in Washington, he’s still just 2-5 as a starter while RGIII has led the team to the playoffs.

SEAHAWKS over Washington

SANNIE: I’m sorry, but Robert Griffin looks weird and freaky. I just can’t choose him. Since Kirk Cousins is playing the team’s general cuteness has gone up. I’ll take them.

WASHINGTON over Seahawks