NFL: So Much For Competitive Balance

ROBBINS NEST

By Lenn Robbins

The have and the have nots. Welcome to the NFL, the league that believes in competitive balances more than it does transparency. Too harsh?

Consider it was just this summer that the league grandly pledged it was ending race-norming, the despicable notion that Black players started out with lower cognitive function – in the $1 billion settlement of brain injury claims and review past scores for any potential race bias, according to the Associated Press.

And only the truly naïve or hardened of heart believes there aren’t more than just a few emails in the 650,000 that have been uncovered in The Washington Football Team sexual harassment investigation that might be just a wee bit embarrassment to Roger Goodell, or one of his many flunkeys.

Come to think of it, the sign outside Goodell’s office should read National Flunkeys League.

But we would need 650,000 words to fully out the NFL for all its revolting practices. It blackballs Colin Kaepernick but then tries to assuage itself by playing Lift Every Voice and Sing before games.

So let’s stick to a sure thing – betting.

In a rarity, there are three games this weekend with double digit lines. The Bucs are giving 12.5 to the Bears and rookie QB Justin Fields. The Rams are giving 15.5 over the Lions and jettisoned quarterback Jared Goff. And the Cardinals are giving an astounding 17.5 over the Texans.

Taking the favorites and giving double digits has about a 48-percent success rate. As awful as the Bears, Lions and Texans are, in that order, it’s a risky proposition. Contrary to our picks.

Broncos +4.5 over BROWNS – Baker “The Commercial Maker” Baker is out. Kareem Hunt is out. Nick Chubb is out. The Browns defense is out of order. The Broncos strength, their secondary, could neutralize Cleveland’s passing game, even if Jarvis Landry returns. Case Kennum seeks to create a QB controversy.

RAVENS -6.5 over Bengals – The Bengals are a much-improved team and Joe Burrow to Jamar Chase could go down in history as one of the great QB-WR combos in history. One problem. Lamar “The Lab Experiment” Jackson is part Hulk/part $600 Million Man.

Panthers -3 over GIANTS – Sam Darnold returns to MetLife Stadium where he never saw ghosts. He won’t this weekend. The Giants don’t scare anyone. Trade proposal – Saquon Barkley completes the Bills offense for 3^rd-rounder and conditional 5^th.

PACKERS -8.5 over Washington – LEMMY AWARDS! In the category for NFL Biggest Disappointments by a unit, the nominee is: The Washington defense. In the category for Most Impressive Acquisitions, the nominee is: The Packers – Whitney Mercilus and Jaylon Smith.

TITANS +5.5 over Chiefs – Before the trumpet the resurgence of the Chiefs, let’s remember they rallied over the Washington defense, winner of this year’s LEMMY for disappointing unit. The Titans run with the Bills and Ravens for physical teams in the AFC. Speaking of running, Derrick “Designator Hitter” Henry could get 200 against the Chiefs defense.

Falcons -2.5 over DOLPHINS – The Dolphins ended the Jaguars 20-game losing streak. ‘Nuf said.

+PATRIOTS -7 over Jets – Speaking of ghosts. The first time Zach Wilson faced the Patriots he threw four interceptions. He has shown signs of improvement. This time he throws two interceptions. Mac Jones completes 71.1-percent of his passes and the question, “Did the Jets Draft the Right QB?” makes it way to a Times Square billboard.

RAMS –15.5 over Lions – Jared Goff faces his old team and comes to the same realization that the Rams did. Trade him.

BUCCANEERS -12.5 over Bears – Zach Wilson (57.7-percent) actually has a higher completion percentage than Justin Fields (53.3). They have combined to throw six touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. Tom Brady has a career completion rating of 64.1-percent. He has thrown 598 touchdowns and 194 interceptions.

+CARDINALS -17.7 over Texans – How many points can a team give?! Not enough. The Cardinals are the best team in football. The Texans might now be the worst after Jacksonville’s win over Miami. The only thing that can stop the Cards from covering is bad weather. There is a zero percent chance of rain on Sunday in in Scottsdale.

49ERS -4.5 over Colts – Bet ya that 49ers fans never thought they’d be thrilled to have Jimmy G return from injury. Trey Lance looks like he can be something special but San Fran is in win now mode.

Saints +4.5 over SEAHAWKS – Jameis Winston has been doing the Cha-Cha. He was great in Game 1; lousy in Game 2. Great in Game 3, lousy in Game 4. Great in Game 5. Even if he’s lousy in Game 6, Geno Smith has been doing backward line dancing – he was lousy in his first game in replacing Russell Wilson and worse in his second game. Heck, the Seahawks just signed Jacob Eason.

RAIDERS -3 over Eagles – Anyone who knows that’s going on with the post-Jon Gruden Raiders raise your hand? Liar. The Silver and Black played great defense in its first game without its former head coach. Do they come crashing back to Earth? We think not. In fact, email scandal notwithstanding, the Raiders might be better off.

Hme team in CAPS

+ Best bets.

Last Week: 8-6; Best Bet: 1-1.

Season, 46-44-3; 5-2.