NFL Pros Use Guess Work To Determine Future NFL Stars

ESPN.com is running a story called “QB Growth Stocks“ where they anonymously interviewed NFL front office types to gather their feelings on QBs. This is pretty much the reverse of the “Moneyball” strategy. In Moneyball the A’s front office used actual statistics and a “walk first” mentality, along with the idea that defense and speed aren’t important to make educated guesses on players.

Granted this was baseball, but when you read below you will find the same stuff that was outlined in the book. In Moneyball, scouts for the A’s would say things like “He looks like a pitcher, he has a lot of potential, he has a stong arm.”

NFL Week 15

“Dr. Bob Has Your Remedy”

I am not sure how many of you caught The World Wide Leader’s new sports show “E: 60.” A month ago, they did a feature on a handicapper named “Dr. Bob,” who is 57% correct on his picks over his 19 years in the business.

While this doesn’t sound like a huge number, it’s not only impressive, but lucrative as well. To be a successful gambler, you need to be correct 52% of the time to turn any profit whatsoever. That extra 5% is HUGE when we are talking about people who bet thousands per game.

The Man Of Cheese With His Picks 12/13

Let me start this week by entertaining LWN readers with a conspiracy theory. Let me set the stage for you… the Browns are ahead of the Jets 17 to 12 with around 2 minutes left in the 4th quarter. The Jets are driving in the red zone, but face a 4th Any person with common sense understands that you have to go for the first down in this situation. A touch down sets you up for the win, and a field goal does almost nothing for you. Yet for some strange reason, Eric Mangini sends out the field goal team to kick a field goal. Huh??? Cue Herm Edwards… and 10.