Like the NFL says – It’s back to football! And back to our pro football contest, “Beat ‘The Putz.’”
There have been a bevy of offseason moves involving the New England Patriots, including relocating “Revis Island” to New England; preparing for the return of Gronk, Wilfork, and Mayo (who each suffered season ending injuries in 2013); and, welcoming Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner (after he serves a four-game suspension for the use of PEDs) to the team.
In the final days of the preseason, the Patriots pulled off another stunner when owner Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick traded for Tampa Bay wide receiver Timothy Wright, a 6-foot, 4-inch, 220-pound talent expected to play the role of Aaron Hernandez. The risk involved unloading the team’s mainstay on the offensive line, Logan Mankins. The upside is a more explosive offense.
The reigning American Football Conference champion Denver Broncos might have something to say about that.
The Broncos return the ’13 MVP Peyton Manning; an upgraded defensive unit – former Pat cornerback Aqib Talib, ex-Cowboy defensive end Demarcus Ware, and T.J. Ward; versatile running back Montee Ball; dynamic wide receivers Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, and new face Emmanuel Sanders (Steelers), and rookie Cody Latimer; as well as tight end Julius Thomas.
The Broncos and Patriots do not meet until November 2. It will likely not be the last time the two teams meet this season.
While there are several weeks to go before those teams collide, there is a whole slate of games to whet the appetite in Week 1.
New England travels to Miami, Denver hosts Indy (in our tiebreaker game), Drew Brees leads the New Orleans Saints into a Hard Knocks affair in Atlanta, the Bengals and Ravens battle in Baltimore, RG3 and Washington invade Houston, Cam Newton tries to buck Tampa, and Colin Kaepernick rushes the 49ers into little “d.” (Sorry I had to do that one.)
Pick one team in each of those contests, beat “The Putz,” (yes, that’s me, sports editor Chris Putz), and finish first overall to win a weekly gift certificate to The Tavern Restaurant on Broad Street in Westfield.
The Sunday night game, which this week is the Broncos and Colts, will be used to break any ties. Don’t forget to put a tiebreaker total (the total number of points scored by both teams) in the box. The entrant closest to the Sunday Night total will be deemed the winner. If a tie still exists, a random drawing will be used to determine that week’s champion.
All entrants who beat “The Putz” will be eligible for the grand prize drawing following season’s end.
Good luck to all!
Pick up your copy of The Westfield News to begin playing our contest, beginning Tuesday.
