NFL PRIMTIME FLEX: 'No Father To His Game?'

The feud with Josh Norman against the Carolina Panthers last season.

The feud with Norman again against the Washington Redskins this season, including the subsequent tirade and dubious incident with sideline practice equipment.

Constant self-promotion.

Tactless comments in response to media scrutiny.

Key dropped passes in his playoff debut followed by another incident with an inanimate object while exiting a press conference at the Green Bay Packers training facility.

Shirtless dancing.

The club.

The yacht.

It hasn't exactly been a smooth start for Odell Beckham, Jr. in his first three NFL seasons as a New York Giant, but it definitely hasn't been all bad either.  ODB's persona and celebrity has made him look wilder than the Brooklyn Zoo, but his numbers over 43 career games put him right up there with some of the best dirt dogs to ever do it.

However you feel about him as a person, based on football numbers alone, Beckham hasn't done anything to remove himself from the conversation as one of the greatest receivers of all-time.

Stats over first 43 games via pro-football-reference.com

Odell Beckham, Jr. 2013-16

Catches   Yards     Y/C     TDs

    288       4122     14.3     35

Terrell Owens 1996-98
    142        2198     15.5     21

Randy Moss 1998-00

    207         3752     18.0    38

Jerry Rice 1985-87   
    197         3485     17.2    38

Julio Jones 2011-14
    236         3590     15.3    23

Antonio Brown 2010-13
    192         2560      13.3    9

2012 NFL Week 1 'BIG UPS' 9-11-12

Moss swaggin' out in the end zone, per usual.

Week 1 NFL season in the books.  So much to talk about, so much to look forward to.  Time to give props where props are due. The players and teams that caught my eye or surprised me the most in the week of NFL....now without further ado, LEGGO!-Mr. AllDayEryDay



The San Francisco 49ers.  The Green Bay Packers were coming off a disappointing end to last season after going 15-1, and getting bumped from the playoffs early, and probably couldn't wait to knock the blocks off the Niners in Week 1 at Lambeau . . . Jim Harbaugh's boys weren't having at as they used a now trademark physical style of play to subdue Aaron Rodgers and the vaunted Packers offense 30-22.  I would be remiss if I failed to mention one Randy Gene Moss, who had a 14-yard receiving TD that was his first in the NFL since Oct. 24 2010.

Robert Griffin, III.  Andrew Luck, 3 INTS in a loss . . . Ryan Tannenhill, 3 INTS in a loss . . . Brandon Weeden, 4 INTS in a loss . . . RGIII, balled out for 320 yards on 19-26 passing, 2 TDs and 0 INTS in a road win against the New Orleans Saints.  A lot of screen passes early, and it's just one game, I know, but it was the first game that really mattered, and it came against a team that was probably amped up about the overturning of player suspensions from the 'Bounty Gate' incident.  It's too early for playoff talk or even 'Griffining', but you have to admire the young man's poise.

The Dallas Cowboys.  Spoiled that Super Bowl party for the New York Giants, Tony Romo and the 'Boys were oh so rude on the opening night of the NFL.  Romo found a rhythm making quick passes to avoid the Giants premiere pass rush and it eventually softened up the ground game for DeMarco Murray to run.  It had to be a sweet feeling for Dallas to start the year with a win like that, where you execute with precision against a division rival and a team that knocked you out of playoff contention in Week 17 last year.  Now the only question is do they make noise in January for the first time in what, like 15 years?

Julio Jones.  If Calvin Johnson is Megatron, then I can definitely see Quintorris Lopez 'Julio' Jones transforming into Optimus Prime this year.  Jones had six catches for 108 yards and 2 TDs in a season opening 41-24 Falcons win over the Kansas City Chiefs.  The numbers aren't what give Jones the BIG UPS nod.  It's the combination of speed, athleticism, and sheer strength and aggressiveness at the point of attack.  We all know Julio has game breaking potential but it really looks like he feels comfortable in the league now and has lost all the tentativity that young players experience.  Nothing but big things and more BIG UPS ahead for this kid, no doubt in my mind.


BIGGEST UPS
BALTIMORE RAVENS & ED REED.

Reed has 58 career interceptions and seven return TDs.

Reed, 34, set the NFL record for career interception return yards (1,497) after picking off Cincy's Andy Dalton on and returning it 34 yards for a TD.  Just another accolade to add that to the list of Hall of Fame-type play in Reed's illustrious career.  The Ravens rolled 44-13 over the Bengals and the defense looks dominant as ever.  Sack specialist and 'Ball So Hard' CEO Terrell Suggs will be out for a while after off-season knee surgery, but expect rookie OLB Courtney Upshaw to pick up the slack.  Joe Flacco gets better with every snap and has complete command of the Jon Harbaugh offense.

2012 NFL Playoff Preview: 'Small Thing To A Giant'

Miller anchors a Broncos D that is praying for more Tebow magic.

AFC Wildcard Playoff
Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
Sunday, January 8th, 2012 - Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, CO

Tim Tebow magic has lost a little bit of its dazzle in the past few weeks (lost last three games of the season) as the Denver Broncos (8-8) had to depend on an Oakland Raiders loss to get into the playoffs after controlling its own destiny.  But if there were ever a time for the Broncos to revive that it would be Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Ben Roethlisberger will likely still not be 100-percent after suffering a severe high ankle sprain Week 14 against the Cleveland Browns.  Running back Mewelde Moore is ruled out and Rashard Mendenhall tore his ACL in the season finale and was placed on injured reserve.  All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey is nursing an ankle injury and is also ruled out.  The Broncos defense has to hold the crippled Pittsburgh offense to a low score so come 4th quarter Tebow can do his thing.

Pick:  Broncos, 16-13

Key to game for Steelers:  Keep Roethlisberger upright.  He clearly is not fully recovered from his injury and will not be the same guy that we're used to seeing scrambling out of the pocket and throwing on the run.
Key to game for Broncos:  No turnovers.  Troy Polamalu and James Harrison are ballhawks on that Steeler defense and must be accounted for on every single snap.

Cruz has to play big for the Giants to win.

NFC Wildcard Playoff
Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants
Sunday, January 8th, 2012 - Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

The NFC East was wide open this year and the New York Giants played its way in to the playoff field after handling division rival Dallas Cowboys in the final week of the season.  The Giants (9-7) have been for the most part inconsistent through out the year (lost four in a row after starting 6-2) but much like the team that won the Super Bowl in 2008, they are playing good ball at just the right time.  Eli Manning has put up great offensive numbers (4,933 yards, 29 TDs, 92.9 QBR) despite his receiving corps leading the NFL in dropped passes.  His go to guy is the biggest threat on the field for either team in the form of wide receiver Victor Cruz.  The Massachusetts alumn broke the Giants team record for receiving yards in a single season (1,536) and has been the game breaker in several of New York's wins this season.  The defense has had to deal with multiple injuries in the secondary but the pass rush has been solid all year, including a breakout year for second-year end Jason Pierre-Paul (16.5 sacks).  If the Giants get enough help on offense from running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, and the defensive secondary holds up they should be in good shape.  The Atlanta Falcons have been under the radar all year after being many experts pick to go to the Super Bowl in 2010.  Matt Ryan and rookie receiver Julio Jones head a potent Falcon offense, but its the defense that will be the biggest question mark in this game.  The Dirty Birds (10-6) have to give themselves a chance to win without having to score a touchdown on every drive, and they won't be able to do that if they are playing from behind and the Giants pass rush gets to pin their ears back.

Pick:  Giants, 34-17

Key to game for Falcons:  Stop the run first.  Force Manning and the Giants into third and long situations will take most of the guessing out of the defensive gameplan.
Key to game for Giants:  Stop the run first.  Michael Turner is back and healthy for the Falcons who will look to him to soften up the Giant pass rush.  Stuffing the run will bring up third and long situations and will allow Pierre-Paul, Mathias Kiwanuka and Osi Umenyora to do their thing.