The NFL Top Ten Is No Top Ten At All/Summer Soccer continues to sizzle

The NFL Top Ten Is No Top Ten At All

This year’s National Football League top ten is laughable and should be completely restructured. The number one player on this list is Patriots QB Tom Brady. Tom Brady does not deserve to be placed in the top ten in my opinion because of his mediocre at best playoff performance last season. In the AFC Divisional playoff game against The New York Jets, Tom Brady played a less than stellar game. Even though the Jets defensive scheme was great, Mr. All football should have been able to dissect the Jets defense. Peyton Manning was chosen as the second best player in the NFL. Peyton Manning didn’t’ have a Manning type year last, and his playoff performance reminded how short number 18 has come up in big playoff games during his career. This list should be called the lifetime achievement award because I don’t understand how these two players finished in the top two.

Here is my top five NFL Players of 2011

1. Aaron Rodgers- Aaron Rodgers has brought prestige and the NFL title back to its origin “Title Town.” During the duration of the Super Bowl, Aaron Rodgers played a complete game and made everyone in Green Bay forget about that what’s his name o yea Bret Favre.
2. Troy Polamalu- Troy Polamalu has every intangible a first ballot defensive hall of famer needs to encompass. Look at how dissimulated the Steelers defense was last year when Troy was out with an Achilles injury. He is the quarterback of that defense, and the most complete player in the NFL at his position.
3. Phillip Rivers- The San Diego quarterback has put up impressive numbers year after year. In that fame NFL draft that included Rivers, Roethlisberger, and Eli Manning, I feel that Rivers is the best out of all three. I know he is the only one out of the three that doesn’t possess a ring, but he talent is much more advance than the other two especially Eli Manning. Philipp Rivers is consistent every year without much of a talented team around him.
4. Adrian Peterson- There is not a more intimidating back in the NFL. Every time this man runs, defensive players are praying not to get run over. The Minnesota Vikings really didn’t have anything to smile about this year from Farve retiring to Childress dismissal as head football coach. I think as long as the have AP, they should keep fans in the seats at the new stadium.
5. Ray Lewis- No middle linebacker has able to dominate as long a Ray Lewis has. Ray Lewis is entering his mind 30’s, and he is still the most dominate player at the middle linebacker position. He has been able to hit the hardest for over a decade, and he still has one of the best eyes for the football at the defensive position. In my lifetime, I have not seen a player control the defensive side of football like the second best middle linebacker in NFL history Mr.  Ray Lewis.

Summer Soccer continues to sizzle

So the Gold Cup ended in disappointment for US soccer fans as the US lost out to Mexico in the Gold Cup final 4-2 on home soil. However there is still a lot more soccer to be played.

Now that the Gold Cup ahs come to an end, the time for Copa America has arrived as Argentina and Brazil will look to lift the trophy as two of the favorites. The tournament is being played in Argentina.

Argentina and Brazil are the teams expected to meet in the final match of the competition being that they are the most successful sides in South America. There are 8 other teams from that region as well as two guest nations from North and Central America in Mexico and Costa Rica.

Mexico and Costa Rica will field their under-23 squads due to the request of FIFA and since their A teams just took part in the Gold Cup. However one player from that senior squad is taking part in this tournament. That player is none other than Giovanni Dos Santos who was voted man of the match in the Gold Cup final after scoring the gorgeous goal to make it 4-2.

The first matches have been played in the tournament as both Argentina and Brazil were off to slow starts.

Argentina began with a surprising 1-1 draw against an underdog side in Bolivia. Bolivia struck first with a fortunate goal and then a gorgeous one time shot from Sergio Kun Aguero into the top corner leveled terms.

Brazil played Venezuela in a game where they did not play with their familiar Samba style. Their game was slow and boring as none of their four stars in Robinho, Ganso, Neymar, or Pato were able to put on a show. The final score was 0-0.

In Argentina’s group, Colombia defeated Costa Rica 1-0 and the hosts will meet the winners of that match on Wednesday night. Messi, Tevez, Aguero, and Di Maria will look to lead their beloved nation to victory while Colombia will look for the upset.

Brazil will play Paraguay on Saturday as both teams will look to get their first victory in the group. Paraguay tied Ecuador 0-0 in their first fixture and Brazil will be even tougher.

The Copa America has proven to be tightly knit thus far and will only get more difficult as the games progress. No team is taking this tournament lightly as they all possess the desire to put it all on the line for victory. However the most pressure is on the hosts Argentina as they will look to finally win the title after losing out in both 2004 and 2007 to arch rivals Brazil.

Stay tuned folks as some of the world’s best soccer is being played in South America. This should end up being a tournament full of talent and amazement.