As the Baltimore Ravens interlope their bodies with pads and lace up their cleats tonight, one fact holds true: there will be no Rice in the backfield. I mean, tonight there wasn't going to be any such Rice anyways due to his suspension but at least the ideal was still there. But now there isn't even the ideal that Ray Rice will be there at all; never again.
It is moments like these that are honestly awkward. When you really think about it, you can't help but feel empathy for the whole team of players. Here you are expected to focus on opponents week to week but what about friendships through the fire of business? We as fans talk so much about NFL teams as though it were the historical artifact of gladiators in coliseums. We often even relate as much to war as though it were some form of call of duty video game; far from the realist reality.
The truth is this: friends die, yes. But friends also make mistakes when they are alive. It is what drags the spiritual side of us into an honestly meaningless game. The real truth will be, will we either support those friends through the hard times or will we let them go by the way side because they reap the sins that they sew? I get it, losing jobs is a part of making those mistakes and reaping the consequences. But I want you gentlemen to seriously consider the extra mile. Would YOU be there for Ray Rice if you were his friend, no matter the level of mistake you considered to be dirty of all dirtiness?
And hence, this is what we will see from Baltimore's offense this season. Friends or so-called friends stepping up their game in the absence of a Rice well-known...or supposedly well-known. Tonight begins the first on-field play without that ideal of ever Ricing it up again. As the age old quote says, "the show must go on". Let's play ball, shall we?
Current Pick 6 Record after Week 1:
Reece: 5-1
Jonathan: 4-2
Owen: 4-2
Steven: 4-2
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens:
Being a rivalry game, this one should be close. But I see the Ravens struggling to focus, except for that of Steve Smith, always a beast! Steelers will put the hurt on them Ravens and come out with their second win of the season.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Washington Redskins:
The Redskins are too unstable for me to pick them. They're equivalent to the knee of RG3. The Jaguars looked very, very impressive last week despite the common cold in coughing up the game to the Eagles. I give it to Hurns and the bunch in retrieving their first win of the season. Jaguars get it.
Dallas Cowboys @ Tennessee Titans:
Uh...did anybody see the Cowboys last week? Yeah, I say Titans win this one.
Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills:
Miami impressed me BIG time against the Patriots last week but the Bills impressed me even more with that win in Chicago on the road. Therefore, I gotta give it to EJ Manuel & the gang. They look diced fresh!
Detroit Lions @ Carolina Panthers:
Megatron was mega INSANE last week! But against a solid Panthers defense? Maybe just one touchdown and two hundred yards for Calvin, but NO MORE. Panthers win with Cam.
Atlanta Falcons @ Cincinnati Bengals:
It is the Hard Knocks Bowl! Although this game WILL be a shoot out, I would rather put all of my chips on Matt Ryan & his weapons. Therefore, the Falcons get their second impressive win and both Palmer & Ryan put up the most numbers this week to be the top two fantasy QBs of week two. Yes, I said it!
Bold prediction, bold prediction, bold prediction? Hmm...if I had to go with a bold prediction, I'd say that I would not put it past the Vikings to possibly shut out Tom Brady & the Patriots this week at home in Minnesota to put the Pats at 0-2. And speaking of an upset...can somebody say 0-2 for Reece this week? Yes, now that is BOLD!!
And now, this is where I hand my pick 6 torch over to you. Care to light 'em up?
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