Pagano: It's going to be a great journey
Football Betting Lines
01/26/2012 - Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Indianapolis Colts introduced new head coach Chuck Pagano to the media on Thursday.
It has been a whirlwind week for the former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator who anticipated being in Indianapolis for another reason.
"I thought, for sure, that I was going to be coming to Indy to play for a world championship," admitted the 51-year-old Pagano. "That's what I thought I was coming here for, certainly not standing here as the next head football coach."
Pagano and the Ravens lost to the New England Patriots on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game after Billy Cundiff missed a game-tying field goal in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter.
"Words can't describe the emotions that I'm going through right now and the feelings," Pagano said. "Coming off probably the most devastating loss that I've ever been a part of in the AFC championship game and to go in that locker room and see the faces and we all know how hard it is to get to that stage and to see the tears. It's an all-time low, and the last thing I ever expected came across my table and now here I [stand] at an all-time high."
Pagano was the Ravens' defensive coordinator in 2011, and the unit ranked third in total defense and allowed the third-fewest points in the NFL. He was Baltimore's secondary coach for three seasons prior to taking over the defense.
"I can't tell you how excited I am," the first-time head coach added. "It's the next chapter, another journey, and it's going to be a great journey."
Pagano takes over a 2-14 team that could be in a complete transition depending on the status of star quarterback Peyton Manning. The four-time MVP missed the entire 2011 season because of neck surgery, and with Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck available as the first pick in the NFL Draft, Manning's tenure with the Colts is clearly in doubt.
Regardless of the personnel at his disposal, Pagano said he "can't wait to go to work and start building and recreating the excitement and passion and energy that's been here for so long."
Pagano was also the defensive backs coach for the Oakland Raiders (2005-06) and secondary coach with the Cleveland Browns (2001-04). He has also held a string of jobs at the collegiate level.
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FOOTBALL BETTING
After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
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