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Hemingway getting wise to Green fun
The Green Side of Life
Article Last Updated; Thursday, October 08, 2009 12:50AM
Gridiron Guru
Ernest Hemingway once said, “Auto racing, bull fighting and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.”
“Ernie!” I bellowed, dragging him by the cuff of his jacket to an intrastate battle between the Chicago Cardinals and the Decatur Staleys. He confessed he was appalled not to have known the great courage of those young men, and he never again wrote a single word without donning a leather helmet.
Speaking of grace under pressure, Durango’s Bob Newlin won a tiebreaker in a hotly contested week of the Gridiron Green, going perfect despite playing for the first time this year.
“It was easy,” Newlin said before advising the Guru (12-2, 11-3 against the spread) to not waste his time reading injury reports.
Sunday
Patriots at Broncos –Denver has won five of its last seven against New England (3-1), which has struggled to establish a ground attack in 2009. Snow and rain are possible – all the better for the new-look Broncos defense. The verdict? The Boy Genius continues to spurn critics (Who, me?) and reaches 5-0 against his former boss, mentor, confidant and soul savior. Guru: Denver 24-21; Vegas: Patriots by 4.
Vikings at Rams – The Kyle Boller Experiment failed 35-0 in last week’s trial stage, but with Marc Bulger out, it’s him or the appropriately named 2009 sixth rounder Keith Null. Needless to say, advantage: Vikings. Guru: Minnesota 42-17;
Vegas: Vikings by 10.
Raiders at Giants – Oakland is averaging 120 yards passing, and New York’s vaunted pass defense is allowing just 115 yards. On the bright side for Oakland, the players aren’t paid by the point. Guru: N.Y. 36-0; Vegas: Giants by 15.
Buccaneers at Eagles – Quarterback Donovan McNabb is likely to start, but running back Brian Westbrook and wildcatter Michael Vick are the players to aim your spectacles on facing one of the NFL’s worst rush defenses. Guru: Philadelphia 37-12;
Vegas: Eagles by 15.
Redskins at Panthers – One of five winless teams in the league, Carolina has let attrition eat away at a team that once contended for Super Bowls. Washington plays its fourth consecutive game against a team that has lost at least four games in a row. Guru: Washington 19-13;
Vegas: Panthers by 4.
Bengals at Ravens – Like Henry’s love for Catherine in A Farewell to Arms, the Guru’s adoration of Baltimore endures after its desperate struggle against Patriots. Guru: Baltimore 27-6;
Vegas: Ravens by 9.
Browns at Bills – After nine games with nothing but three-and-outs and turnovers, Cleveland finally scored an offensive touchdown in a 23-20 overtime loss to the Bengals last week. They’d better savor it, because Wednesday they traded Pro Bowl wideout Braylon Edwards to the Jets for draft picks. Guru: Buffalo 24-12; Vegas: Bills by 6.
Steelers at Lions – Rashard Mendenhall will continue to shed his “bust” label, as well as Detroit tacklers, while leading the 2-2 Super Bowl champions back above .500. Guru: Pittsburgh 45-21; Vegas: Steelers by 11.
Cowboys at Chiefs – The Dallas defense has been suspect, and although the Chiefs have lost eight consecutive games – and Matt Cassel is no Tom Brady – they still have Larry Johnson. Don’t expect to hear the words “punt unit” very often. Guru: Dallas 38-35; Vegas: Cowboys by 9.
Falcons at 49ers – San Francisco has won its last five against the spread as bettors try to wrap their minds around the idea that Shaun Hill could be leading one of the NFC’s best teams. Good news for Hill: The 49ers finally inked 2009 first-rounder Michael Crabtree to a five-year deal Wednesday. Guru: San Francisco 20-16;
Vegas: 49ers by 3.
Jaguars at Seahawks – Jacksonville mighty mite Maurice Jones-Drew is showing that he can be an every-down back, but questions linger on the other side of the ball. This one is off the books because Matt Hasselbeck’s broken rib may be healed by kickoff. Guru: Seattle 26-23; Vegas: Off.
Texans at Cardinals – Similar teams, except that Houston’s defense gets torched on the ground (165 rushing yards allowed per game), while Arizona prefers its soufflé by air (280 yards allowed per game). Guru: Houston 31-28; Vegas: Cardinals by 6.
Colts at Titans – Jeff Fisher’s pass defense is ailing, a bad omen with Peyton Manning in town, but the winless Titans have won three of their last five against the unbeaten Colts. Don’t sleep on history. Guru: Indianapolis 20-19; Vegas: Colts by 5.
Monday
Jets at Dolphins – Edwards probably will suit up for New York, giving rookie quarterback Matt Sanchez a late-game option he could have used last week in the Big Easy. Guru: N.Y. 24-17; Vegas: Jets by 2.
Long story short, Week 5 bodes well for favorites. Bye weeks this week go to Green Bay, New Orleans, San Diego and Decatur, I mean, Chicago.
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