Sources close to the situation report that runningback Darrel Williams has been suspended 7 games by the Arizona Cardinals for having multiple sports betting apps on his NFL Microsoft Surface. It is unclear if he has placed any bets but the team wanted to get ahead of any possible suspensions handed out by the NFL. As a result of the suspension, it will likely sideline him for the remainder of the season as the 4-8 Cardinals do not appear to be headed to the playoffs. 

A similar suspension happened last year where the NFL suspended Atlanta's star wide-out, Calvin Ridley, for an entire season. Clearly the NFL is sending a message that sports gambling will not be allowed among staff and players. We will monitor this situation closely to see if the NFL feels that Arizona's suspension is appropriate or if they add addiitonal games. 

Quarter One - The Denver Broncos Recap

By: Ryan Koenigsberg (RZ Network Beat Writer)

The first four games of the Denver Broncos has definitely been very "rocky". They enter week five with a record of 2-2 and tied for second in the AFC West. The 2nd quarter consists of games versus the Patriots, Dolphins, and a struggling Chiefs team. Realistically, they could go 3-0 on the second quarter of the season and be looking at 5-2 going into the home stretch. Anything less than 2-1 during this stretch will be very disappointing, all things considered. Up until the New York Jets game, the tone of this article was much more negative and I was ready to sound the alarm. The team looked awful on offense and defense and I was starting to wonder if we were headed to another top ten pick in the draft. Could the Jets victory change the outlook of the season or was it just a lucky break? Let's break down parts of the roster over the first four games. 

Quarterbacks: 

I'm really getting sick of COVID-19 and it speared it's ugly head in week 2, when Drew Lock came down with the illness and was forced to sit out. Without their leader, the team still managed to whoop the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-10. Overall, I've been pleased with the QB room. Drew Lock has had 5 touchdowns to two interceptions in the last two games and is really starting to find his groove. If Lock can stay on this current pace and limit the interceptions, I expect the front office to give him the keys to the franchise. Overall, I'll give this squad a B.

Runningbacks:

I'm going to be the one to say it, for the life of me, I cannot understand what this team is doing in the runningback room. To date, Phillip Lindsay has 2 carries, Melvin Gordon with 22, and Royce Freeman with 52 CARRIES!!! Why!?!? The critics will point out to me that he's averaging 5.1 YPC, so you can't bench him. Is any defense legitimately afraid  of Royce? I can't beleive many teams are gameplanning around him. However, Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay? Teams have to adjust for that talent. By starting Royce Freeman, this offensive coordinator is putting a lot of pressure on Drew Lock and his receivers to get open. The reason Royce is averaging 5.1 YPC is because teams aren't taking him serious or focusing on containment. If Royce is going to beat them, they deserved to lose. I truly hope this is an area that sees improvement in week two. In my opinion, this should be a 40/40/20 split, with Royce seeing 20% of the carries. I'm giving this department a D-. 

Receiving Core: 

I was ready to walk in here today and SCREAM about the team's lack of use for one of the greatest receiver talents we have ever seen as a rookie. Prior to week 4, Jerry Jeudy had ONE reception. How is that possible? I'm hopeful the team finally realized his potential in week 4, where he busted out for a 5 reception, 78 yard, and 1 touchdown game. I truly believe that is the type of performance you can see from him weekly. Another bright star in this offense? Noah Fant. Drew Lock has absolutely fell in love with him, albiet force feeding occationally. Fant is on pace to be a top TE in this league and the chemistry he has developed with Lock is impressive this early on in the season. I'll give this department an incomplete grade, as I want to see how they incorporate Jeudy in the next couple games. 

Defensive Line:

It's hard to write about something when there is nothing to write about. Have these guys even suited up each game? I swear, I haven't seen any of them. This team has one sack through four games. I thought for sure that was a typo so I went back through the film and watched every defensive snap and it's true. This is a league worst and is truly remarkable. Obviously trading Von Miller had a huge affect on the pass rush but I expected Bradley Chubb to step up. Perhaps they traded the wrong pass rusher because I don't think Chubb has been in the stadium on Sunday's either. It's easy to second guess the trade but this team is not making the playoffs if they put up 4 sacks all year. In addition to the awful pass rush, run defense hasn't been anything special either finishing in the second half of the league. In past systems, Coach Astin has been able to get everything he needed out of their defenses but thus far, it's been underwhelming. I'll give it a D+.

Secondary:

I beleive this might be the most inconsistent committee on the team. Through 4 games, they have forced 13 interceptions (second in the league trailing the Buffalo Bills). The problem for the Broncos is a majority of these turnovers were forced in one game. Justin Simmons has had an interception in every game, including a 3 interception game in Week 2 versus the Steelers. Can he keep this up? Not likely but if he can even stay close, he's an early nom for Defensive Player of the Year. Outside of Justin, the other safety, Kareem Jackson, has also had a good season. Dues to the safety play, I'll grade this area a B+ but I would like to see a bit more consistency from game to game.

Overall, I'm much more positive on the team than I was 24 hours ago but I also don't see this team being a serious contender in the AFC this year. I'd expect a 9-7 record with sneaking into the wild card. Here's to hopeful thinking! 

RZ Market Watch - Season 62

What’s up Redzone! It’s your favorite retired veteran burning the midnight oil to make a quick dime. As a retired old man, I’ve started to enjoy dabbling in the stock market and was thrilled when RZ opened up their Red Zone Market! I’m going to break down each division, which stocks you should invest in and which stocks I am spending my hard earned money on. Each season, I’ll do a recap and try and decide if I want to buy, sell, or hold the stock. In the RZ Stock Market world, prices only adjust in the offseason and can go up or down based on certain criteria (I’ll get into that a bit later). 

For the first season, these projected records are straight from an independent source (Jim) and I had no input on the records. Based on the record, a stock price was assigned to each team. I have decided to invest $2,500 in the RZ Market. My goal is to achieve a 8% return on investment each season. For full transparency, the Seattle Seahawks stock is currently frozen until league commissioners can address the current staffing issues. Below are the opening prices for each team in this inaugural RZ Market. 

Now I’m sure you are curious, how can stock prices go up and down? There are a couple different measures that RZ has put into place. After each season, I will review my profile and update the stock prices for the next year while highlighting my YTD profits. 

1) Achieve a better or worse record than what was predicted (or previous year record). The following is the direct impact the record will have on a team’s stock price.  
 

1. Finish 5 or more wins above the projected team total (or previous year record) = 25% Value Increase

2. Finish 4 wins above the projected team total (or previous year record) = 20% Value Increase

3. Finish 3 wins above the projected team total (or previous year record) = 15% Value Increase

4. Finish 2 wins above the projected team total (or previous year record) = 10% Value Increase

5. Finish 1 win above the projected team total (or previous year record) = 5% Value Increase

6. Finish at the projected team total (or previous year record) = 3% Value Increase

7. Finish 1 win below the projected team total (or previous year record) = 5% Value Decrease

8. Finish 2 wins below the projected team total (or previous year record) = 10% Value Decrease

9. Finish 3 wins below the projected team total (or previous year record) = 15% Value Decrease

10. Finish 4 wins below the projected team total (or previous year record) = 20% Value Decrease

11. Finish 5 or more wins below the projected team total (or previous year record) = 25% Value Increase
     

2) Playoff Success Bonuses

1. Win the Superbowl = 5% Value Increase

2. Win 1 or more Playoff Games = 3% Value Increase

3. Make the Playoffs = 1% Value Increase 
    

AFC North:
 

Stock Purchases: Nada
 

I consider this division to be my “Penny Stock” Division and to be completely honest, I’m not too excited about investing in any of these teams. Like any penny stock, they can make you a lot of money quickly, but what goes up must come down. I don’t trust any of these users enough to put in my portfolio. Yeah, Blueprint has a stacked team but when's the last time you saw Blueprint make a deep run in the playoffs? Yeah, I’m told King Johns is going to be the real deal but we all know how hard it is to adjust to RZ as a newbie. Blueprint should have a free 5-6 wins every season, but I’m not sure where he’s getting the other 8-9 wins from. I’m staying away until these prices dip. I expect the Ravens to drop to around $75-80 next year and may consider investing at that point. 
 

AFC East:
 

Stock Purchases:

New York Jets - 5 Shares @ $49/each = $245.00

Miami Dolphins - 15 Shares @ $21/each = $315.00 
 

With these investments, I'm investing in the “CEO”, not the company. You’re telling me I can get stock in a team ran by a former Super Bowl champ for pennies on the dollar? Consider it sold. Look, I know this team is arguably the worst team in the league. They are awful, pathetic, and should be demoted to the XFL. But if you’re telling me Moj ain’t gonna win 10+ games each year and be in the playoffs consistently, I can’t help you. 
 

Secondly, the blatant disrespect for Black Magic has got to end. 3 Wins?!? He’s got two guaranteed against Glenn each season. I love the value here and expect the Dolphins to be in the 6 win range next season. Man, I love free money! 
 

AFC West:
 

Stock Purchases:

Denver Broncos - 5 Shares @ $91/each = $455.00
 

It wouldn’t be a portfolio without investing in some of your favorite brands. The Denver Broncos will get a guaranteed 4% playoff boost each season, the risk is they have a down year and take a slight regular season loss. I’m willing to take a gamble that they will atleast get their 13 wins with the potential each season of a Super Bowl victory. 
 

I think the Oakland Raiders are a little undervalued here but in this division, it’s going to be really tough for Tiko to make his mark. I think he’ll constantly be competing for 3rd place and more times than not (or every time), he’ll finish in 4th. As a fan, I can’t find myself investing in the Chiefs but that roster is stacked, if Tspittah doesn’t win the division in year one, he’s never going to win it. 
 

AFC South:
 

Stock Purchases: Nada
 

This division was really tough to evaluate. I absolutely love Jake with the Colts but at $100/share?! There’s little to no return value. I’ll hope for a down year in Season 62 and invest next season. I went back and forth on the Texans and Jaguars. Both owners have shown potential in the past but this is a super tough division. Will the Jaguars win a division game this year? Is Metal invested with the Texans or does the magic only occur when he’s with the Eagles? 
 

I’m going to wait and see on this division, I’m not ready to put my money on the line at this point. Hopefully the market corrects itself and I can find some value. There are a lot of users I like in this division, but the pricing is just not where I want it. Pass for now. 
 

NFC North:
 

Stock Purchases:

Green Bay Packers - 5 Shares @ $91/each = $455.00
 

When I’m investing in the real world, I have one rule. Don’t invest in a company I don’t understand or don’t know anything about. I have no clue who Rfox is. He hasn’t posted in the chat since May so I hope he’s doing alright, but I’m not putting a dime of my money in his corner. 
 

Secondly, I honestly had no clue Beat was still in the league. There’s a lot of variables in this division such as what happens if RFox gets fired? Will Beat hang ‘em up like his buddy Mans? I don’t like the idea of unknowns and potential new hires coming into the division but I’m still going to put some money on the Packers. I don’t see the Vikings competing in this division so Packers should make the playoffs each year. I trust in the team building and coaching of this franchise and fully anticipate to be in the green profit next offseason. 
 

NFC East:
 

Stock Purchases:

Dallas Cowboys - 20 Shares @ $14/each = $280.00
 

Was this a typo? I get the Dallas Cowboys are in a tough division but two wins?! This team is too stacked to only get two wins and if that actually happens, WG needs to quit the league. He’s shown some promise last year and I can’t imagine this team only winning two games. Maybe he ran over Jim’s dog or cut him off on the way to work, but two wins is downright disrespectful. I’ll take the value and hope WG can find himself into a 6-10 or 7-9 season. 
 

I want to invest in Weed and Beech here but that Redskins team is awful.I fully expect that stock price to dip next season. As far as the Giants, I'm not really sure what to expect from this team. Beech will be the first to let you know he won a Super Bowl, but I don’t see Tom Brady anywhere on this roster. Saquan had some injury concerns last cycle and I’m not ready to invest my money on a running back who can’t stay healthy.  
 

NFC West:
 

Stock Purchases:

Arizona Cardinals - 5 Shares @ $77/each = $385.00
 

There’s another big unknown in this division. Sin has been AWOL for a month. Will he be back before the season starts? I'm sure. Do I want to invest money in a coach who hasn’t been around? Not at this moment. I’m putting my money on Ramesu. He’s always a top user in the league and seems to have put a big investment of time into his team this year. I love Jim, but he’s not winning 10 games with the Rams, even with an OP Aaron Donald. It will be interesting who takes over the Seahawks as that could throw a curve in my investment. 
 

If Sin invests the time, that 49ers roster is downright scary and could be worthy of an investment but the lack of activity has scared me off (especially in a year where league commissioners seem to be harping on activity). 
 

NFC South:
 

Stock Purchases:

Carolina Panthers - 5 Shares @ $35/each = $175.00
 

In my opinion, there’s a lot of good value in this division. I could make a case for the Falcons, Panthers, and the Saints. Unfortunately, on a limited budget, I can’t invest in all three. The Bucs will be decent in year one but what’s the answer when Tom Brady steps down? I don’t trust Tauph much as a user in big games so I’m shying away from this team. I see them more as a 10-11 win team. 
 

That brings me to Kelly. Kelly was once a top 5 user in the league, will he give the same investment of time? I really want to put money on this man but there is a level of unknown. My assumption is he hasn’t played a game of Madden since he left which makes it tough to invest at this point. I see him winning this division more times than not, however, once he gets his feet wet.
 

That leaves me to Malik and Spencer. The Saints are stacked and Spencer seems to be showing more effort and attention to the league but will that turn into success on the field? I hope so because I really do love that kid. In the end, I’m going to put my money on Malik and the Carolina Panthers. CMAC is a human cheat code and will make up for their lack of QB options. I see this team being in the 7 win territory which will give me a slight boosted ROI. 
 

Best Fit for Each User - Madden 21 Edition

AFC NORTH 

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (Empty team...or is it..?) - Commish Adel made it very clear he was going to spend night and day scouting and recruiting new blood for Redzone. It’s possible this team stays empty to begin Madden 21 but I think Adel has a few tricks up his sleeve. I’m not sure what to write here but given the right user, the team could have promise. They will need to figure out their QB soon but having a talent like Juju should make it easy for any QB to jump right in. 
    

2. Cincinnati Bengals (Astin) -Astin is already in the RZ HOF, but imagine what his legacy could do if he could take the worst football team in the league and turn them into a dynasty? There’s very little to like on this team, besides QB Joe Burrow. They are awful on defense and AJ Green is inching towards retirement. If he can win multiple titles with a crappy team like this, it’s time to start labeling him the RZ GOAT.
    

3. Baltimore Ravens (Tauph) - Let's not kid ourselves, Tauph loves the powerhouse teams that don't need much building. He also needs a 90+ QB to help not throw 30 picks a season. He gets an instant cheat code out of the books and if he doesn’t win this division, he should quit immediately. All jokes aside, I love this guy and will be happy to see him win a championship for the city of Baltimore.
    

4. Cleveland Browns (Eikim) - Eikim loves shiny objects on Offense and there is a lot to like on this Cleveland Browns roster. Chubb is destined to break out this season, add in a young QB in Baker Mayfield and a top WR in OBJ and you have an offense that could be really fun. They also have some pieces on the defense that should give them a solid balance. The Browns underperformed last season so Madden may hurt their ratings a bit but they should still be solid in the areas that matter. 
    

AFC WEST

1. Kansas City Chiefs (White Greg) - WG gets his wish by landing this awful franchise and also gets his wish of fucking with Moji as well. In what is quickly turning into the Ego Division, WG will brag all year about how he is going to 16-0 and schedule his ring sizing appointment, but in reality he will finish 3rd-4th in the division each year and ruin Patrick Mahomes. Meanwhile, I’ll be sipping my martini on the side enjoying every second of it.
    

2. Denver Broncos (Pat) - There’s two reasons Pat takes this team. 1) So I can do all of his media for him and 2) To piss off Moji. These two have a weird friendship as I’m pretty sure they hate each other but in typical New Yorker fashion, all is fair in love and war. The Broncos/Raiders rivalry will take a step further as Pat gets a Drew Lock jersey and leads the Mile High City back to the promised land. 

3. Las Vegas Raiders (Moji) - I really want to cheer for Moj next cycle in potentially his farewell tour but I won't be able to because he’ll be back to black and silver. When I think of the 5 guys I’d want to be in Vegas with, Moj is top of the list. He returns to the team he coached when I first met him and has his work cut out for him. Good chance Carr will be gone quicker than Moj can get rid of his latest STD and he’ll start fresh with a rookie. 

4. Los Angeles chargers (JP) - I could see JP taking the Broncos or Las Vegas but the luck of the dice will land in LA with a Oregon QB not named Mariota. The LA Chargers have a lot of room to grow on offense but arguably have a top defense that will allow JP to compete in all 16 games. If abilities stick around in M21, he will have an instant 30-40 sack guy with Bosa, and a veteran secondary to make up for the limited points he will score on offense. 

AFC EAST

1. New England Patriots (Mans) - I’m predicting Mans will be towards the end of the team lottery which, unfortunately, won’t leave him many options. The Patriots are entering a rebuild after splitting up with Tom Brady. They don’t have an answer at QB and Edelmann isn’t getting any younger. I don’t think the Patriots will be a “high” desired team in M21 and will be there when Mans is picking. I hope we can get ‘invested’ Mans back as there are very few people in the league (or world) that have a heart like our buddy Joe.

2. New York Jets (Tiko) - Hey Moj, how are the gyms in New York? Our good buddy Tiko is coming to town! The Jets are an interesting team in Madden 21 as a lot of their success will be based on how EA Sports evaluates Sam Darnold for his ratings. Do they see him as the franchise guy? He hasn’t been helped out much by this roster and then again, ignored WR in the first round but did land Denzel Mims in the second round. I’m a big Mims guy so I think he will fit in nice. Hopefully Big Boy Becton can be an anchor in the offensive line and keep Darnold healthy. I’m not sure what to expect from Tiko in New York but it can’t be any worse than Chicago, right? /shrug

3. Buffalo Bills (Sin) - At first, I had Sin in the NFC but I don’t think he can be fully invested if he constantly has to face his beloved Giants. I see Sin staying near the New York area but heading to Bills Mafia. The team has added Stefon Diggs from the Vikings which will give Josh Allen an instant target. The defense has also continued to improve. It’s a nice young starter team that will be competitive all cycle. 

4. Miami Dolphins (Spittah) - Tank for Tua has become a reality and Terrance will take over a potentially exciting team in Miami. Tua will take some years to develop and you hope his injury rating doesn’t hurt him (remember Cave’s rookie QB that couldn’t stay healthy?). DeVante Parker will see a big boost in fantasy value as it’s already been rumored that he’s working out with Tua in Florida. This division is wide open and could see a different division winner each season.

AFC SOUTH

1. Tennessee Titans (Lefty) - Lefty is another one of those guys who loves to pound the rock. I can’t think of a better team than the Titans with Derrick Henry. There are some holes on this roster but they have some young talent to work with. Lefty will jump from one QB contract nightmare to another with Tannehill but I’m guessing Tanney will get enough of a Madden rating boost to be serviceable. 

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (Beat) - I’ll be honest, I didn’t even know Beat was still in the league until I saw his name on the M21 roster. Another candidate who will be lower on the draft lottery puts him on a team that is a disaster from start to finish. This team has little hope, but the same could be said for Beat’s media production hope. Odds he last the entire cycle? I’m putting it at +280. The Jaguars have a few young pieces but there's a very high possibility Ngakoue will be traded before the cycle begins. Good luck bud. 

3. Houston Texans (BluePrint) - The Texans are a team that took a step back in the offseason. Losing Hopkins hurt significantly but they replaced him with Brandin Cooks. It’s a shape QB Watson has been dealt the cards he has in Houston but you have to hope this can be a playoff team. I’m not a big fan of what the Texans have done in the last 6 months, signing Tunsil and Roby to large contracts. David Johnson is also old and will not provide much for BP. There’s some work to do here but the most important position (QB) is set for the cycle. Let’s see what the Texans “Blueprint” for success looks like in Madden 21. 

4. Indianapolis Colts (Prewitt) - I was really hoping Nick was going to be in the new user lineup I received from Adel so I could make the joke about him picking Indianapolis to play with Andrew Luck…but I guess I will have to make due with Prewitt. I think this is an interesting team for Madden 21 as they are kind of stuck in quicksand. Are they a playoff team? Or in a rebuild? Who is QB 1? Old Man Rivers or Brissett? Too many questions for my liking with this team but have fun Prewitt! 

NFC NORTH 

1. Green Bay Packers (Ramesu) -Ramesu is a historian and what’s a better franchise to take over than the history in Green Bay. In addition to the team’s history, they have a HOF quarterback and a potential replacement in Jordan Love that can take over in a few years. Ram likes to run the ball and Aaron Jones will give him exactly the weapon he needs. I like Ramesu to land here and think he can have some legit success.
    

2. Minnesota Vikings (Spencer) - My fellow mini-Duke loving, friend is going to head North. The weather won’t quite be like what he’s experienced in the South but I think he will fit in nicely in Minnesota. He’ll need to practice his SKOL chants but this team will fit his playstyle nice. The defense has some young pieces and they will need a year or two to groom. In addition, losing Diggs hurts the offense a lot but I really like Justin Jefferson out of LSU to replace Diggs’ production immediately. 

3. Chicago Bears (Glenn) - I don’t know much about Glenn, but if the rumors are true that he loves interceptions...I can’t think of a better fit than Chicago. Mitch Trubisky loves throwing interceptions as much as Pat loves money. I expect Glenn to take the Bears over and win 3-4 games a season. Khalil Mack will eventually ask for a trade, and Chicago will be in a world of suck. 

4. Detroit Lions (BlackMagic) - I really thought Weed was going to have the success that Jake had with Detroit but he could never get over the hump. Black Magic is next in the rotation to bring this Detroit team back to some form of success. The Lions added RB Swift in the draft which should give their offense a solid spark paired with Marvin Jones and Golladay. Okudah will be able to step in immediately and provides a deadly duo with Trufant. The more I look at this team, the more I think they win the division in the first year. 

NFC WEST

1. Seattle Seahawks (Roc) - The Seahawks have had a quiet offseason so far so I think they will go under the radar as far as the team draft. I have a rule in sports gambling and that is to never bet against Russell Wilson. He is one of the most fun QB’s to watch in the league and I think could be a really solid Madden QB if given to the right user. Roc has had success in his tenure with RZ and I think will make a really exciting addition to this division. 

2. Arizona Cardinals (weed) - Kyler Murray goes from one great user to another. Weed’s tenure with the Detroit Lions in Madden 20 would have to be looked at as a disappointment for Weed’s level of expectations. He was never able to win a ring in Madden 20 but I’m hopeful that can change in Arizona. The team needs some improvement but Kyler & Hopkins combo should be deadly. One of my favorite memories of 2019 was PMing with Weed back and forth about our rosters and offering opinions back and forth. I hope we can get that level of passion from Weed in Madden 21. 

3. San Francisco 49ers (Beech)- Contrary to popular believe, Beech is a super smart guy and I think he sees what happened in Madden 20 with D-line and player abilities and has the 49ers with a big * next to it. This is the best d-line in the league and it’s not close. If Madden 21 continues to have abilities that aren’t nurfed, this defense will be impossible to neutralize. Could Beech win rings in back to back cycles? I think this team has everything needed to make another run. 

4. Los Angeles Rams (Rfox) - On top of the awful contracts on this roster and limited youth, the owner of this team will now have to play with the ugly jerseys and team logo. I’m giving this one to the new guy as I think the Rams will hang around during the team draft. There’s not much to be excited about on this team outside of Aaron Donald. Good luck Rook, you’re gonna need it. 

NFC EAST 

1. Dallas Cowboys (Adel)- What’s a better spot for Adel than arguably the biggest football franchise in the world? Jerry’s world will be switched over to Adelmann’s World. Adel has had mixed results with rebuilds so I think he takes a happy medium here. The Cowboys landed a top WR in the draft class and have one of the best RB’s in the league. There are several gaps on defense but this can be a competitor day one. The next question will be, what’s bigger? The jumbotron or Adel’s forehead.
    

2. Washington Redskins (Vandosol) - I’ll be completely honest, I’m not really sure who this guy is or what team he managed in Madden 20. I see the name in the chat occasionally and he seems like a nice guy but as far as his Madden skills? I have zero insight. Being a newer guy, I’m guessing he will be lower in the lottery which ends him up in Washington. Jake proved that you can make this team successful so it would be wise for Vandosol to follow the Jacob Allen plans and attempt to duplicate his success. 

3. New York Giants (Jim) - I’m not sure where Jim will end up on the lottery draft order but I think the Giants could be an interesting team for him. Saquan is obviously a stud but there are big question marks at QB. The Giants drafted the best OT in the draft and brought in a RZ Favorite, the Fack Attack. There won’t be much “Lob City” in New York for a bit but as Sin has shown, with the right pieces this team can compete. 

4. Philadelphia Eagles (Metal) - Metal gets his Eagles back, a team he won his first Superbowl with. I think this team fits what Metal wants to do and his knowledge of this team should allow for him to succeed. I’ll be honest, I haven’t followed much of Metal’s team in Madden 20 (Mainly because it was the Raiders) but I think he’d love to return to a team where his success really shot off. He hasn’t been able to repeat his success from team to team the way Astin has so I think this team makes sense. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 

NFC SOUTH 

1. Carolina Panthers (Malik) - There is one reason you take this team and his name is Christian McCaffrey. The Stanford alum is an absolute game changer if used correctly and I think Malik will be drawn to that multi-purpose dimension. The Panthers are in a rebuild mode and in search of a QB of the future so I expect Malik to be active in the first draft or by trade. Perhaps Cam Newton will still be a free agent and the team will reconsider their decision? Talk about awkward....

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Jake) - Cue “I’m Coming Home” music...Jake gets to connect with a local Florida team while also syncing up with his first love, Tom Brady. This team will have heavy firepower on offense in the first year or two but Jake will have some obstacles to overcome if he doesn’t compete right away. This team is made to win now and Jake has typically taken a season or two to settle in. 

3. New Orleans Saints (Trent) - It’s been awhile since we’ve seen Trent competitive in Redzone. Whether it’s lack of time or just the wrong line-ups, it hasn’t come together for Trent. Now with a wife and child on the way, Trent needs a team that takes little GM work. He will need to figure out a future QB as Drew Brees is not getting any younger but this team should be able to win games right away. WHO DAT. 

4. Atlanta Falcons (IJ) - Outside of being a Tarheel loving bum, IJ is a good guy. Every man has a weakness and that is clearly his. The Falcons have some fun pieces and Julio Jones is still a top WR in the league. I think this could be a fun division and the Jake/IJ rivalry could be fun to watch unfold. The Falcons lost some key talent in the offseason but add in Todd Gurley, Dante Fowler, and Hayden Hurst. 

With Season 43 coming to a close, I wanted to take a look back and give each team a grade based on their performance thus far. I hope to make it through all 8 divisions, but let's be honest...I'll probably do two and then quit. With that being said, let's start with my favorite division, the NFC South. Let's start with the cycle-long dominant team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-4)

Preseason Prediction - 13-3
MVP - QB Jameis "Crablegs" Winston: 67% Completion Percentage, 3881 Yds, 29 TDs, 13 INTs
Overpaid Bum - WR Mike Evans - 6 REC, 136 YDs, $9.84 MIL 

In a division that has primarily been dominated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Bucs actually struggled in the division games going 2-3 through Week 14. Some would say that "they were due" and suffered some "freak" game winning touchdowns to lose to both the Saints & the Falcons. Regardless of their success in the division this season, they are once again the likely divisional champion and should finish the season 12-4 and potential first round bye. The Bucs have once again relied on their offense to win games and have been a top 10 offense across the board. The defense has been sneaky consistent with finishing top 10 in Sacks and INTs. Turnovers are the name to the game and while the Bucs give up a lot of yards through the air, they make plays when it matters. 

Season Grade: B+ - The Bucs got off to a somewhat slow start but have picked up steam lately. I don't like the 3 division losses as it gives your rivals "hope" but it's not how you start, it's how you finish. The Bucs are always around and in the mix Week 17. 

Carolina Panthers (8-6)

Preseason Prediction - 7-9
MVP - QB Marcus 'Why Am I in Carolina?" Mariota: 65% Completion Percentage, 4134 Yards, 29 TDs, 21 INTs 
Overpaid Bum: QB Teddy Bridgewater: 33% Completion Percentage, 8 Yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, $7.08 MIL

Oh, the Carolina Panthers... Where to begin. There are a couple different ways you could go with this team. Losing 6 games by 4, 3, 2, 5, 3, 7 points shows that they are in each game and have come a long way in competitiveness. You can also look at it as, they haven't been able to close out games and what "could have been". If the Panthers can close out the season with 2 wins, they'll finish 10-6 and have an outside shot at the Playoffs. For a team that won 5 games last year, you'll absolutely take that as improvement. There was a lot of discussion over the decision to bring Mariota in at starting QB over Teddy. Hindsight is 20/20 and the Panthers protected themselves from a QB injury that would have ruined their signing of OBJ to the squad. Mariota has come in and provided a spark and made the Panthers a top 10 offense overnight. One area for improvement would be the interceptions. In the Panthers 6 losses, Mariota has thrown 18 interceptions. In their 8 wins, 3 interceptions. Ball security is everything for this team and I look forward to seeing him improve next season. 

Season Grade: A- - The Panthers went into this season with nothing to lose and ended up having a fairly successful season. Losing their last 3 will be looked at as a disaster and choke job but the Panthers have greatly improved in their competitiveness and should continue to rival the #2 spot in the division for the next couple seasons. I can't help but think, however, what could have been... 

New Orleans Saints (3-11)

Preseason Prediction - 6-10

MVP - RE Khalil "Who Needs Retirement?" Mack: 45 Solo Tackles, 10 Sacks
Overpaid Bum - Starting Offensive Line: 56 Sacks, 26th Ranked Rushing Attack, $50 MIL

Speaking of what could have been, let me introduce you to the New Orleans Saints and GM/Coach James Panos. When the Saints hired him 8 years ago, many expected him to take over for Sean Payton and continue the NFC South dominance. Unfortunately, it's been the exact opposite. The Saints have continued to finish 3rd/4th for a majority of his tenure and at some point, you have to wonder, will they make a change? With a weaker schedule this year, I thought perhaps the Saints would be able to put together some wins and string along a bit of a run. Their offense hasn't been awful but another team that is prone to turnovers and in many cases, have cost them the game. Tucker Martin has continued to struggle in RZ and some have to wonder if he will get a new contract next season. In his 7-year career, he has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns just once (his rookie year). 

Season Grade: C- - There wasn't a whole lot of expectations for this team this year but at what point do you just cut everyone and push the restart button? The OL contracts have killed their ability to develop/keep talent and it clearly hasn't paid off as they haven't been able to run the ball since 2017 Kamara/Ingram duo. Panos days as HC of the Saints have to be numbered...

Atlanta Falcons (6-7)

Preseason Prediction - 10-6

MVP - MLB Deion "User Pick" Jones: 62 Solo Tackles, 2 Sacks, 7 INTs, 2 TDs
Overpaid Bum - QB Andrew Luck: 60% Completion Percentage, 3098 YDs, 21 TDs, 22 INTs, $17 MIL

After coming off one of their best years in recent memory and finally winning a divisional title, the Falcons have taken a bit of a downslide. Some estimated they would be competing for a back-to-back divisional title but after starting 1-4, those expectations were quickly tampered. The Andrew Luck experiment has had ups and downs throughout the year but overall, they have to be disappointed with his ball security. This offense also really misses Julio Jones as Tystreak Hill can only do so much. The offense is the reason this team has had a down year and I expect Coach Jim to make some improvements in the offseason. With $28 Million coming off the books with Vic Beasley and potentially another $17 Million if they don't re-sign Luck, expect the Falcons to be huge players in the Free Agency market. After tasting success last season, 6 wins is completely unacceptable. 

Season Grade: C+ - The Falcons had an up and down season and unfortunately couldn't overcome their 1-4 start. Since the awful beginning, they have gone 5-3 respectfully. If it wasn't for the Bucs getting hot, the Falcons could have found their way back into the divisional race. Look for this team to have a bounce back season and don't be surprised to see double digit wins next season. 

Week 2 - Games of the Week

Rams (1-0) @ Panthers (1-0)

• For the second week in a row, the Los Angeles Rams make the "Games of the Week". If you haven't caught on yet, they are my darkhorse team for the year. I fully expect them to win the NFC West as long as QB Wang can stay healthy. On the opposite side of the field is the Carolina Panthers. There has been a lot of discussion about the Panthers and their offseason. As many know, they went all out this year signing WR OBJ, SS Collins, and QB Mariota. Some in the organization are calling this a "revenge" game, as the Rams flat out embarrassed the Panthers in previous seasons by 60+ points. The Rams put up a very impressive week 1 victory versus the much improved Dolphins. If the Panthers can limit turnovers, this one could be interesting but I don't see that happening. Revenge is cute, but if the Rams strike early...what's the counter punch? My Projection - Rams 35, Panthers 17

Bills (0-1) @ Cardinals (0-1)

• If you would have told me going in to week 2 that both these teams were 0-1, I would have called you crazy. These are two playoff-caliber teams who could be real threats in their conference. The Buffalo Bills went into the offseason prepared to trade virtually anyone on their roster. Their roster has taken a downslide this offseason and they are starting QB Jared Trattou under center. If you didn't know who that is, don't worry...either do Buffalo fans. In Arizona, they have also found some QB drama as starter Mike McClure had turnovers for breakfast and decided he wanted to share. Having multiple interceptions and fumbles could make this game an absolute disaster start for Arizona. Both of these teams seasons are hanging in the balance and an 0-2 start could be too much to overcome in their respected divisions. I know it's early in the season, but the loser of this game will not make the playoffs. You heard it here first.... Cardinals 24, Bills 20

Vikings (0-1) @ Packers (0-1)

• Ahhh.... One of the best RZ rivalries in the league. The Minnesota Vikings versus the Green Bay Packers. Before last season, I would say this rivalry was dead and there wasn't much competition between the two. Somehow, someway.... the Packers SWEPT the Vikings last season and finished 8-8. They also found an absolute stud in WR Spencer Dixon. Was last year a fluke? Or will the Packers finally be able to compete in the divison? Both of these teams lost in killer fashion week 1. The Vikings lost on a blocked last second field goal while the Packers were destroyed by the Lions. My gut feeling says last year was a fraud and the Packers will return to a 3-4 win team but what if? If the Packers fall to 0-2, that will tell you all you need to know for them on the season. The schedule also doesn't do any favors for the Packers. In their first 7 games, they have 5 divison games and an early bye. Yikes! Vikings get their first win on the season this week and could easily be 2-0 if it weren't for a special teams blunder. Vikings 35, Packers 10

Last Week: 2-1
Season: 2-1

Week 1 - Games of the Week

Dolphins @ Rams

• After finishing 14-2 and losing in the AFC Championship game in controversial fashion, the Dolphins are looking to “rebuild” into a Championship Contender. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the Los Angeles Rams had a disappointing season at 6-10. I fully expect this to be an absolute battle and chess match. The Rams have one of the best defensive lines in the league while the Dolphins have one of the best offensive lines. The Dolphins drafted their franchise QB in the first round of the draft and there will be a lot of eyes on him in his first start. Will he live up to the hype, or will they regret benching Kizer one season after putting up 30 touchdowns? I’m going to pick the underdog in this one and pick the home team. Look for Wang to start off his MVP season and lead the Rams to 1-0 with a score of 31-27. 

Colts @ Vikings

• ·I’ll speak for myself in saying that I’m really excited for this game. Many experts have projected this to be the year that the Indianapolis Colts finally put together a full season and be a legit contender in the AFC. The Colts went all in by releasing future HOF Andrew Luck and trading for Jack Paulson. Paulson has the experience of being in the Super Bowl but has struggled in the past few years. The Vikings on the other hand had their fans worried by not having a Quarterback on their roster until the last minute of Free Agency. SKOL Nation brought in 39-year-old, Matt Ryan, and Nathan Peterman. Both quarterbacks are expected to compete for the starting job and local media will be intrigued to see who is under center when they play in Week 1. If I was a gambling man, I’d say Peterman gets the nod. Watch out for dark horse rookie QB Zenner. He was drafted in the second round and will be a project for them to develop. In the rest of the draft, the Vikings went defense heavy so expect them to rely on their D to win them games this year. I’m going to side with experience and pick the Vikings to win the game by a score of 20-10.

Redskins @ Ravens 

• ·In arguably the best game of the week, The Baltimore Ravens take on the Washington Redskins. This matchup could have easily been last year’s Super Bowl, so it’ll be exciting to see what the outcome looks like. The Redskins have one of the hottest offenses in the league and aren’t afraid to throw the rock around. After making some improves to their OL bringing in Tyron Smith and Morgan Sweezy, I expect to see more running from the Redskins. If the Redskins can find a way to be more balanced on offense, they might have better luck once the playoffs begin. In RZ42, they had the #1 passing attack and #25 running attack. That isn’t a healthy balance once playoffs begin and I think that is why they have not been able to make the Super Bowl in recent years. On the other side, if it ain’t broke…don’t fix it. The Ravens are one of the best teams to have suit up in this league and will continue to dominate this season. If you can’t hurt his QB, they will be nearly impossible to beat. This one will be worth getting the popcorn ready for as it’ll come down to the 4^th Quarter. At the end of the day, I expect the Ravens to pull away with the victory and win 27-23. 

Coach Spooner walked into the Carolina Panthers locker room, looked his guys in the eyes and said sternly "Remember this moment gentlemen. Remember the way you feel right this minute. This exact second needs to be the worst moment of your life. If it's not, don't show up for practice on Monday".

He went on further to discuss the need to do the little things better. Putting in the time and effort it takes to improve. These are the details that disappeared in the 62-3 schlacking that was put on in Week 1. Watching that game, you knew it was over in the first quarter. The "Panther Swagger" was gone after Rookie QB Wang led the Rams down the field in the first position of the game to go up 7-0. At that moment, the game was over. The confidence was gone, and the fans might as well have turned off the TV. There was no hope.

The road does not get any easier, so that confidence will need to come back fast or this season will be over before it begun...just like last night. This Panthers roster has a chance to do something special. Very few RZ Teams get embarrassed the way Carolina was. That marks the worst loss in Carolina Panther history and certainly the worst loss in HC Aaron Spooner's career. The defining moment will come Week 2 vs Division Rival, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Spooner's Panthers have recently struggled against the Bucs and this will be an excellent opportunity to quiet the doubters and regain confidence in their season. It will be important for their team to eliminate all turnovers, get pressure on the QB, and show why they were one of the top defenses last season. The potential is there but this team needs its leaders. It needs an identity, and most importantly it needs it's head coach. Following the game, the Head Coach of the Carolina Panthers walked out on his team. He avoided the press, and even got into a verbal altercation on the way to the plane with a heckler. No word has come out of league offices if the alternation will lead to a suspension or fine but there is no question, the coach has to be better.

What we witnessed last night was an embarrassment. It was an embarrassment for the Coach, it was an embarrassment for the players, an embarrassment for the city, and most importantly - an embarrassment for RedZone Football. If there was ever truth to one game defining a season, this is it. Luckily for the Panthers, the only direction is up.

Coach Spooner walked into the Carolina Panthers locker room, looked his guys in the eyes and said sternly "Remember this moment gentleman. Remember the way you feel right this minute. This exact second needs to be the worst moment of your life. If it's not, don't show up for practice on Monday".

He went on further to discuss the need to do the little things better. Putting in the time and effort it takes to improve. These are the details that disappeared in the 62-3 schlacking that was put on in Week 1. Watching that game, you knew it was over in the first quarter. The "Panther Swagger" was gone after Rookie QB Wang led the Rams down the field in the first position of the game to go up 7-0. At that moment, the game was over. The confidence was gone, and the fans might as well have turned off the TV. There was no hope.

The road does not get any easier, so that confidence will need to come back fast or this season will be over before it begun...just like last night. This Panthers roster has a chance to do something special. Very few RZ Teams get embarrassed the way Carolina was. That marks the worst loss in Carolina Panther history and certainly the worst loss in HC Aaron Spooner's career. The defining moment will come Week 2 vs Division Rival, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Spooner's Panthers have recently struggled against the Bucs and this will be an excellent opportunity to quiet the doubters and regain confidence in their season. It will be important for their team to eliminate all turnovers, get pressure on the QB, and show why they were one of the top defenses last season. The potential is there but this team needs it's leaders. It needs an identity, and most importantly it needs it's head coach. Following the game, the Head Coach of the Carolina Panthers walked out on his team. He avoided the press, and even got into a verbal altercation on the way to the plane with a heckler. No word has come out of league offices if the alternation will lead to a suspension or fine but there is no question, the coach has to be better.

What we witnessed last night was an embarrassment. It was an embarrassment for the Coach, it was an embarrassment for the players, an embarrassment for the city, and most importantly - an embarrassment for RedZone Football. If there was ever truth to one game defining a season, this is it. Luckily for the Panthers, the only direction is up.

With RZ40 kicking off, it's time to make projections for the season. Now while some people may make common predictions or the easy answers, I'm making 5 bold predictions that I believe will happen in RZ40. Will these come true? Probably not, but I'm going to make them anyways. Without further ado, let's get started. 

1) Projection #1 - The Buffalo Bills win RZBowl 40. 

• The Bills have gone all out this offseason bringing in Luke Kuechly, Keenan Allen, and several other weapons. In addition, if there is one user in this league who likes to prove a point, it's Mojica. With all the chatter that he can't win without a stock playbook, I think that will add to his motivation to tear through the AFC. Now while the road won't be easy with a stacked Ravens team and the Jets likely to compete in the conference, I think Coach Moji has the smarts and skill to put a second ring on his finger. Like it or not, a Moji SB is and always will be better than an Astin SB repeat. 

2) The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will win the NFC Championship game.

• Now don't get me wrong, I hate Coach Caveman as much as the next guy but he's finally going to put it all together and complete in a Super Bowl game. Unfortunately for him, he will lose in a heartbreaking fashion but nonetheless, he will compete. The Bucs are another team that went all out this offseason and I expect Von Miller to have 20 sacks. With his "Metalskull" like playstyle, he's a frustrating and extremely difficult team to faceoff against. He's not a sexy player, but the sex appeal dies after the first or second date. He'll do enough to win the NFC South and have a first round bye. 

3) After finishing #1 in the NFC, the Arizona Cardinals will finish 3rd in their division. 

• I think we can all agree, RZ was shocked when the Cardinals led the NFC as the #1 Seed finishing the season 14-2. I love Malik but I think he was a one-hit wonder. He won a lot of games last year against top talent, but can he duplicate the success after having several disappointing seasons prior? I think the 49ers and Rams will both improve this season which will leave the Cardinals to third place. I expect them to finish around 6-10 and back to a top 10 pick. Hope I'm wrong as he adds great parity to the best conference in RZ. 

4) The Dallas Cowboys will not have the #1 Overall Pick. 

• This might be my most bold prediction yet as I look at this roster but I feel like the Cowboys will put together 3-4 wins and just miss out on having the #1 Pick in the next draft. There is no question on paper, this team is arguably the worst in the league with their #1 WR being the Rookie Nimmo. Will Dory's best friend lead the team to their best record yet of the cycle? RZ39 they finished with 2 wins, RZ38 3 wins, RZ37 3 wins, and RZ36 0 Wins. In 4 seasons they have had 8 wins. That's incredible but I expect them to get 4 wins this year and finish with a top 5 pick. Where are the 4 wins coming from you ask? God, I wish I knew...

5) The Los Angeles Chargers will win the AFC West. 

• After finishing 5-11 in RZ39, the Chargers will be the "Arizona Cardinals" of the season and win 11 games. They were destroyed with injuries last season, including their stud QB Jorian Holmes. After having a rough rookie and sophomore year, I expect Holmes to finally put it together and finish the season with 30+ Touchdowns and around 15 INT's. The AFC West is wide open and I think the Chargers win it by Week 13 and compete for a first round bye. Call me crazy, but I'm all in on the Chargers bandwagon this season. Rookie MLB Will Barrow will also be your AFC ROTY.