Merriman: Person Who Came Up With Idea of Tuesday Games Didn't Play
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Former NFL Pro Bowler Shawne Merriman is back with Gambling.com to highlight the major pro football storylines to help with your NFL betting.
This week, we discuss the current COVID situation in the league, Urban Meyer’s firing in Jacksonville and who could replace him.
COVID’s Affect on the NFL
Gambling.com: COVID is affecting players, teams and the league right now. What is your take on the situation and how it’s unfolding?
Shawne Merriman: I think that they need to change the protocol ASAP because guys are missing time that could ultimately change the entire season. I’ve talked to over 20 players about it, and they just want to play. They just want to play. That’s it.
You got to reward guys who are vaccinated. There should not be the same rules for guys who aren’t vaccinated. Because what the hell are you getting the vaccination for if you got to live under the same roof.
GDC: How do you see this affecting teams in the playoff chase and teams in the postseason?
SM: Depth becomes very important because if key players are missing time because of COVID and some of these guys are fine, asymptomatic and have been vaccinated. If someone is gone at a key position, it changes the entire situation. It changes everything.
What’s Next for Jacksonville?
GDC: Urban Meyer was fired last week from Jacksonville. A report came out that former kicker Josh Lambo was kicked by Meyer and told to make his kicks. What was your reaction to Meyer’s firing and the story with Lambo?
SM: I was surprised the kicker didn’t put hands on him. I’m not surprised Urban Meyer kicked him, I’m surprised he didn’t put his hands on Urban Meyer, and it would have been justified. That is why you have a lot of college coaches not to have success in the NFL. If you treat these guys like they’re 18-year old kids, like a teenager, it’s not going to end well for you.
GDC: Who do you think would be a good candidate for the Jacksonville head coaching job?
SM: I think (Dallas offensive coordinator) Kellen Moore is No. 1. You got Trevor Lawrence there, and if Jacksonville doesn’t go after him, I wouldn’t even know what to say about that. Also, (Kansas City offensive coordinator) Eric Bieniemy. It’s a toss-up. One of those two, I would go full steam ahead at either Kellen Moore or Eric Bieniemy as soon as they are able to venture out.
Tom Brady vs. Father Time
GDC: One key you’ve highlighted during the year was to see how Tom Brady would hold up at the end of the year. Is there any cause for concern after seeing Tampa Bay get shut out against New Orleans?
SM: It is 100%. I said this early on that what Tom has done is incredible, but Father Time is going to kick your ass at some point. This back half of the season with 17 games and with the playoffs is going to kick some ass with steel-toed boots on.
Putting Game in Players’ Hands
GDC: Baltimore coach John Harbaugh went for two and the win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14 and the Green Bay Packers in Week 15. What is your take on the coach going for the win late in games instead of the tie?
SM: He goes to his quarterback and asks what he wants to do. You put it in the players' hands, man. The players know what the tempo is and what the momentum is like on the field, and you put it in the players' hands. That’s what I would do.
Tuesday Games Not Conceived by Someone Who Played
GDC: How different do you feel it is for players to have to deal with postponed games and play on weird times such as Tuesdays?
SM: Everything is evolved around a regimen. These guys are not getting ready for dinner, or getting ready for an outing with some friends. And everything's a regimen, so as soon as you get a guy out of his regimen, you got to watch that.
Also, guys that played the game and have been in there have to make decisions like that because sometimes you wonder who's making a final decision on this. It's hard for me to believe that a former football player, somebody who actually played the game, can sit back and say, yeah, let's go play a game on Tuesday.
Football is so physically demanding and it's so violent, that you have to get prepared for that. You don't just show up to the stadium and go, ‘Hey, let's go play some football.’ So, it's hard for me to believe that somebody who actually played the game is making these decisions.
Don’t Kick Staley for Aggressive Call
GDC: Your Los Angeles Chargers gave up the late lead and lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. How frustrating was that loss after seeing them control much of the game?
SM: I was there, and it was even worse in person because you know the Chargers are better. They just are. They played the game better.
Regardless of what people want to say about coach (Brandon) Staley going forward, they won two games this year by going for it. So, it's one of those things where you get the first down or you score on fourth-and-short and everybody's patting you on the back.
And if you don't get it, everybody's kicking you in the ass, and that’s basically what happened.
Time for Cardinals to Panic?
GDC: The Arizona Cardinals had a no-show performance, losing to the Detroit Lions. What do you feel like plays a part in that kind of loss?
SM: The Cardinals should be very worried right now. This is the time of the year when the really good teams start to play better. The teams that are not real, they start to decline.
Week 16 NFL Picks, Analysis
Here are Shawne’s picks for the week. All moneyline odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook.
San Francisco 49ers (-170) at Tennessee Titans (+150)
SM: It’s hard because the (Atlanta) Falcons are not a good team, and I know the 49ers handled them, but I’m going with the 49ers.
Cleveland Browns (+245) at Green Bay Packers (-310)
SM: Packers. I think it’s going to be a smoke show, too. You talk about how the game is on Christmas, I think the Packers are going to light them up like a Christmas tree.
Indianapolis Colts (+100) at Arizona Cardinals (-120)
SM: I’m taking the Colts, man. I think they’re one of the hottest teams right now. (Indianapolis running back) Jonathan Taylor should be an MVP candidate.
I know they don’t typically like to give it to the running back position or a defensive player or something like that, but when you do what he’s doing, it only happens every few years, so if they’re going to give it to someone outside of a quarterback, he should be up for it.
Detroit Lions (+200) at Atlanta Falcons (-250)
SM: I’m taking the Lions. I said a few weeks ago they would win at least three games this year, and this would be the third game they win.
Baltimore Ravens (+125) at Cincinnati Bengals (-145)
SM: I think (Baltimore quarterback) Tyler Huntley did a great job stepping in for Lamar Jackson, but it’s a different ballgame when you have the starting position. It really is. This is going to be a good matchup, but I’m taking the Bengals.
Los Angeles Rams (-145) at Minnesota Vikings (+125)
SM: I’m taking the Rams.
Buffalo Bills (+115) at New England Patriots (-135)
SM: I’m taking the Patriots. They’re playing at Foxborough, so I’m taking the Patriots.
Jacksonville Jaguars (+115) at New York Jets (-135)
SM: It’s like who can lose better, hey? I’m taking the Jets.
New York Giants (+360) at Philadelphia Eagles (-490)
SM: I’m going with the Eagles.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-510) at Carolina Panthers (+375)
SM: Bucs.
Los Angeles Chargers (-400) at Houston Texans (+300)
SM: I’m taking the Chargers. Would like to see the Chargers have conventional wins and not play down to another team’s level. They’re better than the Texans.
Chicago Bears (+220) at Seattle Seahawks (-275)
SM: I’m taking the Seahawks. I’m convinced they’re trying to get (Chicago coach) Matt Nagy out of there. With Justin Fields there, whatever team doesn’t take Kellen Moore or Eric Bieniemy, one of those needs to be a head coach. So, whatever one doesn’t go to Jacksonville, needs to go to Chicago. You have Justin Fields, someone who can put points on the board and make big plays for you. He just has to have the opportunity, and they have not been giving him a good opportunity to do so.
Pittsburgh Steelers (+270) at Kansas City Chiefs (-350)
SM: Chiefs. I don’t know about the Chiefs (being a Super Bowl favorite), but they are playing a lot better than they were several weeks ago. But Super Bowl favorites? I don’t think there’s anyone in the AFC right now that can be a Super Bowl favorite.
Denver Broncos (+100) at Las Vegas Raiders (-120)
SM: I’m taking the Broncos, but I think they need to be in the hunt in the offseason for a good quarterback. I think that’s going to happen.
Washington Football Team (+350) at Dallas Cowboys (-475)
SM: I’m taking the Cowboys.
Miami Dolphins (+150) at New Orleans Saints (-170)
SM: I’m taking the Saints. I think they got a real opportunity to come out with some smoke. With the (Dolphins) winning six in a row, it all just depends on who they play. They can match up well because they’re a tough team and they know how to gut it out. They are a very gutsy team that will gut things out.
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