Kaepernick isn't just better than you at football. He's a better person too.

By now, you've heard of, or know of who Colin Kaepernick is, what he has done, and the situation he finds himself in with the National Football League. Perception is that Kaepernick is an awful quarterback and that is the sole reason, or the main reason why he has not found himself a position on a roster heading into the 2017 season. This perception, is likely due to the lack of respect to the message of his protest gesture and the pure disdain for the method of his protest. As a United States Army veteran, I am not offended by his act but I do care to see him blackballed out of the NFL. With NFL executives stating Kaepernick would hurt a teams “brand” or it would “upset people” to sign him, proved it's about more than football.

People are STILL upset.... outraged even! But as a nation, we should care more and pay better attention to the message that was being conveyed and not the visual of a silent, albeit public, protest. He wasn't even the only one who knelt... just the one who had started it. If he would have been outspoken in his efforts, he'd have been ridiculed. If he had incited riots, he would have been ridiculed, but he stayed silent in his efforts and invoked conversations that made the majority uncomfortable. Uncomfortable to the point where he can no longer find employment within the NFL.

He did opt out of his contract with the 49ers, which is understandable with the new leadership of the franchise and new coaches coming on board. The team itself is vastly different. Perhaps the 49ers should have kept him to see how he would flourish or falter in a new system and new scheme. The team has made strides to improve in multiple areas, but it is difficult to see where Kaepernick would have been a worse option than Brian Hoyer (disregarding his comfortability with the new offensive system), or worse than Matt Barkley (current number 2 and at risk of losing out back up duties to drafted rookie C.J. Beathard).

But for the argument in which Kaepernick “sucks anyway”.... his stats for this last season show something different. He has appeared in 12 games, starting 11, for an offense that ranked 31st in the NFL. He and Blaine Gabbert (current back up in Arizona) had the fortunes of playing behind the number 28 ranked offensive line. Only better than Minnesota, Miami. San Diego and Seattle. In those 12 games for Kaepernick- his rating was 90.7. His rating was better than Tyrod Taylor (starter in Buffalo), Phillip Rivers (starter in LA), Carson Palmer (starter in Arizona), Jameis Winston (starter in Tampa Bay), Eli Manning (starter in NY), Joe Flacco (starter in Baltimore), Carson Wentz (starter in Philadelphia) to name a few. Kaepernick was 17^th in the league in rating while also throwing for 16 touchdowns (25^th) and 4 interceptions (less than 25 other quarterbacks). The 16 touchdowns Kaepernick threw was more than both current quarterbacks for the 49ers, which combined for 14 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

The supporting cast for the 49ers was also abysmal. Awful. Terrible. Aside from an offensive line ranking 28^th, the leading receiver for the 49ers was Jeremy Kerley with 667 yards on 64 receptions. Other receivers depended on last season was Quinton Patton (no longer with the team), Torrey Smith (no longer with the team), Vance McDonald (TE), Shaun Draughn (RB), and Rod Streater. Starting running back Carlos Hyde appeared in 13 games and rushed for 988 yards. He has yet to be able to stay healthy for a full season since entering the league in 2014. Kaepernick was 2^nd on the team in rushing with 468 (also 2^nd amongst quarterbacks in the league). Shaun Draughn and DuJuan Harris also saw workloads late in the year, both amassing under 200 yards each on 74 and 38 carries respectively.

Kaepernick, and even Gabbert, had an uphill battle last season trying to quarterback a team with holes to fill in every area. No team should depend on the likes of Kerley, Streater, McDonald, Draughn or Harris. Kaepernick was able to find success, even mild success on a team ranked at or near the bottom in all categories. Meanwhile, his individual rank among quarterbacks remain better than half the league in touchdowns and interceptions with a cast of misfits.

The matter at hand, the protest.... was not because Kaepernick hates the troops or hates the military. He knelt during the National Anthem, in which he felt, in the anthem for a nation which turns its back on the black community. It was a hot topic of discussion regarding the mistreatment of african americans by law enforcement and by a society as a whole. That cannot be disputed. To say his protest, his efforts to raise awareness, were something other than the need for a nation to realize its own faults in unfairly treating a populous, is irresponsible. Those ignoring the message and pointing to the act directly are also ignoring the conversation. Ignorance is bliss.

But he has put his efforts beyond trying to invoke conversation on a national level to donating his own money and time to charitable efforts. Amongst his donations are contributions to healing and strategic planning retreat for California families who have lost loved ones to police violence, Urban Underground in Milwaukee, WI, Mothers Against Police Brutality, Black Youth Project, Gathering for Justice and Appetite for Change to name a few. He spent some of his first days of the off season donating clothes and books to shelters. He has donated money to Meals on Wheels and has worked directly with Love Army for Somalia to raise the money to deliver food and water to Somalia.

While Kaepernick is being denied the privilege of playing in the NFL and might not find himself on the winning side of another football game. He is winning at life by being selfless and helping those in need. His legacy in life will far surpass his legacy on the field. The efforts of Malcolm X, Muhammed Ali, and Martin Luther King Jr. weren't praised or appreciated during the times in which they were prevalent either. Yes, that comparison will draw ire... but yes.... that comparison is relevant.

For more on his efforts, and to assist in aiding his efforts for a better world, head to http://kaepernick7.com

Mobility Solutions- Discussion 2

Futbol, or soccer, is the most widely played and most popular sport in the world. For the US however, it is the youngest in regards to the fans and supporters (Broughton, 2014). In study done by Catalyst, an IMG Consulting Company, conducted a Sports Fan Engagement Study and found avid soccer fans in the United States are more likely to engage with brands aligned with their sport more than the other major leagues (Broughton, 2014). The study found that 84% of soccer fans had connected and taken action with a brand involved in the sport with 36% indicating they had actually purchased the product or service (Broughton, 2014). Having the youngest following might make it easier for the MLS to market and grow in the United States. Having a generation of fans that are growing up with social media, makes it clear that MLS must use social media in its marketing plans. The 2014 season saw a 220% increase in digital content consumption with Facebook and Twitter having their audience double (Broughton, 2014). Adidas has continued a “24 Under 24” digital campaign that has been embraced by fans over the last 5 years.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup also saw a large increase in use of mobile sports applications. ESPN, BBC sports and Eurosport saw a 300% increase in activity during game times (M2 Communications, 2014). These analytics showed a 200% increase in Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Skype Chat and Viber during game time (M2 Communications, 2014). Network peak times changed from what they typically were, say during the evening times, to the times of the game. Yaniv Sulkes, AVP marketing at Allot Communications stated, “Our analysis of mobile traffic surrounding the World Cup games definitely showed us that it's all about the online experience...”. That is largely similar to the finding of the Catalyst study which found that social media was found as the primary source for sports information more often than newspapers, radio and magazines for a third straight year (Broughton, 2014).

Broughton, D. (2014). Soccer fans follow sponsors to social media. Retrieved from http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2014/10/13/Research-and-Ratings/Sports -Fan-Engagement-Study.aspx

M2 Communications. (2014). Fan engagement via mobile sports apps up 300% during FIFA World Cup. Telecomworldwire (M2)

Mobility Technology and Marketing: Discussion 1

Smart phones have had the greatest single impact on mobility technology of the 21^st century. Cell phones grew and certainly changed the way people communicate with one another but once these devices became 'smart', it changed the way businesses and companies market and function. Smart phones have gone from having a 3G connection to an industry current best, 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) infrastructure (Kickham, 2012). The stronger and more dependable the network, the greater the capabilities are for consumers to be able to experience content while away from home. It seems to be that just about any commercial break on television is including at least one commercial for a cellular service provider claiming to have the best and most dependable network. The effort is warranted as cell phones are being produced with as much anticipation each year as there has been for any other product.

With the expanding LTE coverage across the nation, businesses need to begin to exercise mobile campaigns to reach the market of smart phone users. Social media is experienced via mobile devices and video content is streamed as well. Sports organizations live stream their content for mobile devices as well as deliver customized news alerts to users. While television contracts remain to be most important revenue source for sports leagues, mobile solutions are a growing need. While mobile capabilities might not over take television needs, there is a clear dissent for the raising prices of cable subscriptions due largely in part to the expensive sports subscription rates. Mobile devices allow for cable providers to be able to provide live content via a cable service subscription. This allows fans and consumers to view live content at work, on the road, at a party or anywhere else outside of their home.

Kickham, V. F. (2012). SMART PHONES AND TABLETS STILL DRIVE GROWTH. Electronic Design, 60(1), 90.

Questionnaire with Nick Hart of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

I would like to thank Nick Hart of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for his participation in this assignment. It is great insight on a new level from someone who is young and in the sports industry. 

What are your responsibilities and how do these responsibilities integrate with marketing and business objectives for the organization?

My responsibilities include: Providing game names, bios, and statistics to coaches, players, team and league officials, and media that attend Wilkes-Barre/Scranton home games. I am the primary point of contact for game credential requests and interview requests. I build relationships with our local reporters and serve as a liaison between the team and the media. Press releases and post-game recaps come through me. I am also the primary content provider for our game program, team website, and blog.

What methods of communications does the organization use to reach their publics and how they are effective?

Our team uses a wide distribution list for out press releases, game recaps, and media advisories to control the message surrounding our team. We also have a very strong social media presence, in addition to an active base of players dedicated to community outreach.

What are some examples of communications strategies you have used to achieve success and what were the results?

The communication strategy we have used most effectively is social media. We try and provide a bevy of content to our fans on Twitter, Facebook, and a team blog that covers news surrounding the Penguins organization at both the National and American Hockey League levels. On all of these platforms, we try and make our content as visible as possible and always inform readers/listeners where and how they can purchase tickets and team merchandise.

How has your public relations practice affected the reputation of the organization?

Our PR and New Media department has won awards as the American Hockey League’s best as recently as 2014-15. Since I have taken over, my goal has been to uphold the high standard set by my PR predecessors as well as the players on the ice for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. While we are a minor league hockey team, we do not work to be “minor league”. We are big time, and we want the perception around the sports world to reflect that attitude.

How did you get to where you are today?

After studying journalism for four years in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, I got in contact with several minor league and junior hockey teams about filling potential broadcast positions within their organizations. After a series of close-but-no-cigar situations, an opportunity opened up with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins shortly before the season began. I believe building my résumé as much as possible in college with real-life experiences in broadcasting and print journalism buoyed my chances amid a quick interview process as the team tried to fill the position before the season began.

What advice would you give someone wanting to follow a similar path?

1. No experience is bad experience. Build your résumé as much as possible. Journalists and public relations professionals are expected to have a number of tools in their utility belt and cannot be one trick ponies, no matter how good that one trick might be. Do as many internships as possible, and if there is no professional organization at school for you to join to gain experience, do not be afraid to go off on your own and put in the work to build that résumé.

2. Network. Network as much as possible. The biggest reason I was able to get an interview with my current employer had NOTHING to do with how good or bad I was at my job. I was fortunate enough to know the General Manager of the team from previous work experience and he got me in the door for an interview. Do not be afraid to reach out to as many current professionals in your field of choice as much as you can, either. You may not get responses on 19-of-20 inquiries or so, but that one connection made could provide valuable insight or even build a professional relationship for the future.

3. Proof read more than you already do. I’ve been stunned by the number of intern applicants that submit writing samples to professional organizations that are littered with typos. Much of the PR field requires a laser-focus to detail, and a quick way to end up in the discard pile is with typos.

Which professional or organization would you recommend connecting with?

All of them. Like I said, you may not get responses on even half of your attempted connections, but those communications can never, ever hurt you.

What do you know now that you wish you would have known earlier in your career?

You think that you are prepared for the late nights and long hours, but can never ever truly be ready for the grind of a profession in pro sports and the toll it can take on your sleeping schedule and social life. It’s an adjustment that some can make easier than others, but no matter how much you convince yourself you can handle it, there will be times when you feel overwhelmed as you get used to life as a professional and the schedule and workload that comes with it.

Brief Video

This is for an assignment and does reflect the opinion or statements from any company or person.

TO on FOX

This content is for an assignment and does not reflect the views of any outside person or company.

Get your POPCORN READY!!

TO IS BACK! I am back and around the sport I LOVE. I dominated on the field and I will dominate on the set as I am the newest member of the Fox Sports 1 NFL broadcast crew. My time in the NFL is well noted with my time I spent in the end zone. TO WITH THE TD!! But now it is TO ON THE TV. I know you're all as excited as I am. But maybe not, because I do love me some me.

But for real, TO is going to be revolutionizing the game of analyzing the game. I've been in the league and not only did I perform... I dominated! Fox Sports has always had a way of dominating with its studio shows and their expert analysis of the game. I couldn't be happier to join fellow Hall Of Fame members Michael Strahan and Jerome Bettis. Mike has tons of experience he can share and it will be invaluable. The BUS is an all time great and will definitely add to our expert panel of personalities.

There is no personality though, like that of TO! Except this... Regis Philbin is also going to be anchoring our crew!! How much fun is this going to be!! We are going to entertain and energize stuido analysis of the NFL. Everyone better be on notice for when TO is on! And all I can say is make sure you GET YOUR POPCORN READY!

UFC - Reebok turmoil

The UFC signed six-year deal with Reebok to be uniform provider for the sport. This would eliminate fighters have their own individual sponsors and partners. Fighters used to be paid by their own self promotion and self sponsoring efforts. Now, under Reebok, fighters do not have the ability to wear their own sponsorships on their trunks as they used to. Their pay as well is based off of a tier structure of experience and championship status. It is meant to benefit the best of the sport but makes it increasingly difficult for fighters just getting started that cannot make the money they were once able to because of their own personal sponsorships. The new pay scale isn't the only issue with Reebok's deal. Upon announcement of the deal, new replica kits were made available for purchase with many mistakes to them. Misspelled names and wrong nicknames were abundant. Fighters also had their birth names on the kits and not the names in which they fight under. UFC returned to Ireland for an event in October and Reebok released a shirt of a Map of Ireland that cut off Northern Ireland and caused an uproar over fans. Ireland has been one of the more demanding fan bases in part to the rise of Ireland star and champion Conner McGregor.

The deal has seemingly had more downs than ups. The fighters are limited to wearing only white or black kits for their fights. There is no individuality or unique nature to being a fighter anymore. Most fighters would have had to have seen losses financially due to the new pay structure implemented. I understand the reasoning behind having a uniform provider much like any other major sport has. But the UFC is different and was different. I'd still have made the deal with Reebok, but without the specifics it has now. Reebok could have provided the uniforms/kits, apparel and merchandise but keeping it unique to the fighter. Individual sponsorships that the fighters had could have been kept as long as it wasn't with a direct competitor to Reebok. Fighters wouldn't be seen with Reebok kits sporting Under Armour, Nike or Adidas branding. The trunks should have came with more variety options. The kits for fans should never have had the mistakes they did. Each fighter should have had a say in their name and design. The UFC was so coveted due to its one-of-a-kind nature. That nature was changed with Reebok but could have easily been avoided. More customization and variety between the roster and Reebok would make a big difference in the perception of the deal. Damage as been done, and Reebok needs to utilize the fighters in making a turn around.

The pay scale isn't the worst part of the deal even though it might be the most glaring. Fighters could have taken in as much money as sponsors could have wanted them to have. Instead, they are delegated to a pay scale for the first time. For the sacrifice and hard work that UFC fighters go through leading up to a fight. To walk out with a $2,500 payout after an event in embarrassing and an unneeded kick to the gut that they don't need. 17 of 22 fighters during an event in South Korea walked away with the minimum ($2,500). Fighter could easily come up with more sponsorship money other than that of which Reebok is paying. Reebok awards fighters when they fight. Sponsors would pay fighters to train and for social media promotion. Now fighters have to undertake other responsibilities away from training to earn a living since they can't fight every month. So taking away from their training, takes away from how well the fight, which takes away their income and hurts the potential of what the UFC should be.

NFL Tailgate

 Sunday is finally here! How/where will you be watching the game? Is your team going to win their match up this week? Which game are you most looking forward to? Share your pregame selfies here or find us on Facebook and Twitter!

How do you tailgate?

Full Saturday of College Football is upon us! Don't forget to send in those tailgating selfies whether you are at the game or on the couch! Either way... stay warm and have fun!

How I Tailgate!

I am employing my first campaign this week throughout my social media pages. I want to see how you tailgate, Whether you tailgate at home, at the game, at a friends, or any sports bar/establishment. Simply post a photo of yourself tailgating/watching your sport event to any of the DesktopTailgate pages available. Follow buttons can be seen towards the top right of this blog and can be found via https://www.facebook.com/DesktopTailgate  Thank you for your participation in this campaign, as you'll find how fun it is to take tailgating to the digital scene as well as aiding in my success in class.

This is how I Tailgate. Being a 49ers fan on the East Coast, I don't have too many chances to see them play on national TV, so I take advantage of Sunday NFL Ticket by DIRECTV.  I enjoy it at my desk in my manspace/mancave.

Desktop Tailgate: Digital Tailgating

Welcome to the new age of tailgating! Tailgating is a sports tradition that requires you to be at the event surrounded by fans. But with the growing social media community, digital tailgating is a new realm of fandom that has yet to be explored. This new platform will allow you, the fan, to tailgate from the comfort of your home in a way that is innovative, easy, and new. Connecting with fans via Desktop Tailgate will allow you to engage with fans you didn't know were in your area and allow for better sports viewing experiences.

Please like and follow Desktop Tailgate on social media for updates!

https://www.facebook.com/DesktopTailgate/timeline

https://twitter.com/DesktopTailgate

https://www.pinterest.com/desktoptailgate/

Desktop Tailgate. We don't give a truck.

 What makes Desktop Tailgate different is also what makes it special. Tailgating doesn't need to take place at the stadium anymore. You don't need a truck bed to haul a grill and coolers. Digital tailgating is a realm which is vastly under explored. It's not a typical social media group page or a chat forum that is impossible to find relevant information in. With DesktopTailgate, you're able to find the fans you want to find, in your hometown, to tailgate with you.

Tailgating as a displaced fan is horrible. Living on the East coast as I do, being a 49ers fan, makes it difficult to watch many games with like minded fans. Where would I go to escape the Philadelphia Eagles, NY Giants/Jets fans? How do I avoid the Pittsburgh fans? I want to know where the other 49ers fans are around me. With DesktopTailgate it's possible.

I live in North East Pennsylvania and watch sports whenever possible. The San Francisco 49ers, New York Mets, New York Rangers, Philadelphia 76ers are my main teams of interest. I also watch WWE programming on television and the WWE Network. I usually watch most games alone, with my girlfriend or one/both of my brothers. All of whom have different interests in teams. I would enjoy watching a game with some other fans of the 49ers or the Mets. Especially during this World Series run. But aside from scouring chat forums, posting group pages or the hope of getting confronted wearing team gear in public... the options of finding fans is limited and complicated. So what's your fan story?

Where do you live and which teams do you prefer? How do you tailgate? Do you stay in the living room? Do you use a projector in the back yard? Is BBQ your specialty? Are you a displaced fan with not a lot of like minded fans in your area (that you know of)?

Duprey, D. (2015, January 1). Tailgating Concerns Football [Photograph]. Retrieved from Associated Press.

NFL Picks Week 3

So last week was a reminder than no one knows anything about football. I had not done any worse making picks... ever really. It wasn't pretty, and didn't bode well for Daily Fantasy Football either. My league team won again so that's a plus.

Last week: 4-12.. oh the misery.

I dare to dream that things could turn around this week but the parity is also good for the sport... let's get on with the picks.

Thursday Night Football

Washington @ New York Giants

Winner: Washington

The Giants aren't getting quality from the whole team while Washington surprised everyone in running all over one of the most feared fronts in football last week. The Giants haven't been able to put games away and this Washington team doesn't seem like the team you want to keep around.

Atlanta @ Dallas

Winner: Atlanta

Dallas has been getting bitten by the injury bug too much so far. The trade for Matt Cassel likely won't offer much of a pay off, especially this week. I don't expect the defense to handle Julio Jones or the offense to be able to keep up with Weeden and Williams as the main components. The running game isn't where it needs to be and their most reliable player, Witten, has a hurt whole lower body.

Indianapolis @ Tennessee

Winner: Tennessee

Well the Colts need to win at some point. It's possibly this week, but I don't like how the Colts have shaped their team this year. Luck is on the brink of being elite in the NFL but the franchise chose aging players to help him and it just hasn't. Mariota should be able to bounce back against the Indy defense.

Oakland @ Cleveland

Winner: Oakland

I almost pulled the upset card last week but went with Baltimore instead. This week I will go with Oakland although Cleveland has won 3 out of the last 4 against them. The coaching staff still doesn't know how to handle the Cleveland QB battle and Oakland has to be feeling they can play with Cleveland after beating Baltimore. 

Cincinnati @ Baltimore

Winner: Baltimore

AFC North match ups are always physical and fun to watch if you love defense. This might come down to more of a shootout. Dalton and AJ Green impress more than Flacco and Smith Jr who is as veteran as it gets. I don't see Baltimore allowing themselves to lose two straight and Flacco continues to get better this year.

Jacksonville @ New England

Winner: New England

New England is mighty after all. Jacksonville will be competitive but the score probably won't be indicative of how hard they play.

New Orleans @ Carolina

Winner: Carolina 

Drew Brees is hurt and wasn't playing well when healthy. Carolina is healthier and Cam has to be ready to be dynamic again. He will have the chance against a substandard New Orleans defense.

Philadelphia @ New York Jets

Winner: J-E-T-S

How fitting that this is the week Mark Sanchez gets back under center. This Bradford experiment isn't working out to Chips favor and DeMarco Murray has 21 carries for 11 yards. Money well spent. The Jets on the other hand caused 5 turnovers against the unLucky Colts, including 3 interceptions. Revis Island and the Jet's defense will be the difference.

Tampa Bay @ Texans

Winner: Tampa Bay

Texans sorely miss Arian Foster. Winston will likely miss his tight end Jenkins but is more solid at QB than anyone the Texans have fielded this year.

San Diego @ Minnesota

Winner: San Diego

Adrian Peterson started to look like his regular self on the football field but had a couple of fumbles. Turnovers cannot be part of the Minnesota offense with the play makers they have. San Diego's offense will be sure to exploit the Vikings' mistakes.

Pittsburgh @ St. Louis

Winner: Pittsburgh

Antonio Brown is fast. Big Ben is still very good. And Bell is back at running back for the Steelers. St. Louis got ran over by the Washington backs last week and could very much happen again between Bell and Williams in the back field for Pittsburgh.

San Francisco @ Arizona

Winner: Arizona

Oh I hope I am wrong. San Francisco needs a bounce back game this week which could prove difficult against another potent offense. 49ers need to get healthier in the back field already and have to show more fight on defense. That's not even mentioning the offensive line issues. The Cardinals have Fitzgerald and Brown, who could more have their way with the Niners defense this week.

Buffalo @ Miami

Winner: Buffalo

I think last weeks loss to New England will cause a bit of a hangover for Buffalo. And at the same time Miami needs to rebound from a tough loss to Jacksonville. Miami needs to prove they can take care of teams in their own division so here is to being hopeful that Tannehill can make that next step that's expected. But Miami has had difficulty with Buffalo in the past and this is as good as Buffalo has been in a few years.

Chicago @ Seattle

Winner: Seattle

Seattle will finally get a win this week as the Bears will be without Cutler and will likely have to depend on Jimmy Clausen. Even without Chancellor, I like Seattle's defense this week.

Denver @ Detroit

Winner: Denver

Denver keeps winning in spite of Peyton Manning which is as tough to realize as it was to type. Their defense is good enough to win them games but I'm not sure it is good enough to do it EVERY week. Detroit has been flawed and Stafford isn't totally healthy. A sore and beaten up QB against that defense could keep Denver rolling this week.

Monday Night Football

Kansas City @ Green Bay

Winner: Green Bay

There's no other night like Monday night. Until next week though, right? Those commercials are something else... but this game shouldn't be. Alex Smith lacks a vertical passing game thus far and he will need that against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Randall Cobb should get featured a little more week as well.

NFL Week 2

I will try to do more picks this year as I did last year but it's crazy hectic between work and school. So here goes for week 2 of the NFL.

Thursday Night- Denver @ Kansas City
Winner: Kansas City
 I thought Peyton Manning was done last year and with how he played the last half of the year and week 1, it isn't inspiring. The defense will attack KC but their offense isn't where it needs to be.

Texans @ Carolina
Winner: Carolina
Already a QB change for the Texans and while I think the change will be for the better, it just won't be better this week. Give it a couple of weeks with Mallet and they'll turn it around. But Carolina will figure out a way to give Olsen more opportunities in the passing game,

San Francisco@ Pittsburgh.
Winner: San Francisco
Might be a homer pick, but I loved what I saw out of the 49ers defense and their running game. If Pittsburgh had their full arsenal then it'd be a different story. But without Bell and Bryant, the offense might have a tough time against a physical defense. And the 49ers appear to have a running game that could maul the Pittsburgh defense.

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans
Winner: Saints
The Bucs got torched by Mariota last week. This week it's Drew Brees. Enough said.

Detroit @ Minnesota.
Winner: Detroit
I don't think Minnesota will be bad all year, but their coordinator needs to figure out a way to implement AP more effectively. The Detroit defense gave up a large lead last week, but Minnesota only put up 3 points.

Arizona @ Chicago
Winner: Arizona
The Bears defense isn't all that great. The Arizona offense with Carson Palmer is. The QB play will be the difference and I'd take Palmer over Cutler all day.

New England @ Buffalo
Winner: Buffalo
OH THE MIGHTY PATRIOTS! But Rex Ryan lead teams always play the Pats tough and he now has the great defense to win. It'll be interesting to see how Tyrod Taylor does as en encore to a great week 1.

San Diego @ Cincinnati
Winner: San Diego
Cincinnati's defense is usually very good at home. But I think San Diego will be riding some momentum still from their comeback victory over Detroit last week. The Bengals didn't look overly spectacular against a Carr-less Oakland team last week either.

Tennessee @ Cleveland
Winner: Tennessee
Whether it's McCown or Manziel starting for the Browns, Mariota will still be the best QB on the field. The Tennessee defense will be able to handle Manziel as they did Winston. There might be some magic for Mariota this year.

Atlanta @ New York (Giants)
Winner: Atlanta
If you saw what Julio Jones did against Maxwell and the E-A-G-L-E-S on Monday then he should have a better day against a much worse Giants secondary. Tevin Coleman is looking to have a good outing as well. It'll be interesting to watch how much of an emotional let down it was for New York to lose the way they did Sunday night.

St. Louis @ Washington
Winner: St. Louis.
The front 7 for St. Louis might be the best in the league. Washington might be the worst team. RG3 will be lucky he's riding the bench as QB3.

Miami @ Jacksonville
Winner: Miami
Miami almost had a let down in week 1 against Washington but they should trend up against another struggling team in Jacksonville. I'd expect a stellar game from Tannehill this week as he tries to bring Miami to the next level. Jacksonville has talent, but they need to find a way to bring it all together still.

Baltimore @ Oakland
Winner: Baltimore
I almost want to say this will be my upset this week with Oakland winning but if Carr isn't playing then they have no hope. And if Carr is playing, then they'll have to hope his hand is okay. Even without Suggs, the Ravens defense should be able to handle Oakland. Flacco needs to find a target in the passing game especially with the injury bug hitting Oakland early this year.

Dallas @ Philadelphia.
Winner: Philadelphia.
Why? I don't even want to pick this game but Dallas will struggle early to find success without Dez and they aren't sold yet on who will actually handle the running back duties yet. Philadelphia started to find it's stride and rhythm late in the game Monday and I expect them to come out the gate fast.I don't think Maxwell will struggle against the likes of Williams or Beasley like he did Julio Jones.

Seattle @ Green Bay
Winner: Green Bay
OH dare I say the consensus Super Bowl picks will be 0-2!? I do. I do think they go 0-2. James Jones might not have the magic again this week but someone for Green Bay will. The Seattle offense seems to be getting in their own way the last two games the played. That defense isn't the same without Chancellor and they be susceptible to the pass with Rodgers under center.

New York (Jets) @ Indianapolis
Winner: Indianapolis
 Again, this could be another one of those upsets but I don't see Luck allowing his team to go 0-2 to start the year. He will go into this game with a different fire than usual to come up with a win. He will need his supporting cast to step up in a big way. Gore cannot have 31 yards and expect his new team to win. If the Jets defense outplays the Colts defense, then it could be another frustrating day for Colts fans.

Sports Marketing Today

New Header and Logo

This design is my new header for Desktop Tailgate. The background photo is a photo I have taken of a basketball billboard. I will look to vary the backdrop throughout the seasons. As I share my thoughts, I hope to capture opinions of other fans for lively discussions. I want the sports experience of my blog to be more about the fans since fans are the pulse of sports. Desktop Tailgate is a place where fans can have the home advantage of a new digital tailgating. Tailgate in the comfort of your own home and take advantage of a fan emphasized sports experience.

My week 4 assignment was to do a news style video. I chose to do Floyd Mayweather. But to do the other side of him that isn't often reported.

My interview for my Week 3 Intro to Video class. Also a project i've been wanting to do for a while with Rich Patishnock. Luckily everything came into place and I was able to get this interview done before he left for his try outs for The Ultimate Fighter in Las Vegas.

The story of my GOAL with the New York Redbull

The shot I took with the New York RedBulls wasn't on the pitch. The shot I took with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms didn't happen on the ice. My swings with the Reading Fightin Phils and Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs weren't misses either. Also, there was a brief scoring opportunity that successfully landed with the Lehigh Valley Steel Hawks. No, I am not talking literal, or am I meaning metaphorically landing a new job.

Today, the new PPL Center in Allentown held their first annual career fair. Since I am a year through school, which I am loving, I know I was going to approach this in the manner as everyone else who had attended, which I'll get to how some of them acted a paragraph or so down. MY goal, which is immensely different, was to network. I will graduate in October of 2016. I have time left to really start to inquire about positions. But the most important area of my studies, besides maintaining my 3.75 GPA, is networking. I need to build relationships with the business professionals in order to allow the industry to work for me. I don't want to be one of the ones (like many I saw today) that graduate and are lost in an ocean of “What do I do now?”.

Now, nothing against anyone else education. Kudos and congrats for pursuing your dream. Now with that formality out of the way, my real thoughts- Full Sail University is preparing me better than anyone I happened to meet today at this career fair. Naturally I had to jump right into some conversations that I could not take listening to anymore, and again, that starts below. It did start off on the wrong foot though. I, being there for networking purposes, did not bring resumes, but business cards. Cards with a QR code to my about.me profile and a link to my LinkedIn profile- my digitally formatted resumes if you will. So it wasn't like I wasn't giving the team representatives my resume, it was just better than letting my resume fall into the pile that will order into a filing cabinet. Instead, my card will end up in pocket, or a wallet and be seen again surely. So all it takes, is two clicks of a smart phone to access my resume, and not sorting through thousands. Everything is digital now anyway right?

So my first interaction was with the New York Redbull and Joe. He, immediately stated upon the conclusion of our conversation, and with some force, that his advise was to bring resumes to a career fair. Maybe some of that was my fault because I really didn't properly make my intentions clear. After that, I figured out my pitch, and everyone I had interacted with at the booths went amazing. I was able to convey my intentions and land myself contacts that I will surely take advantage of during my time left at school. The message that seemed to be lost amongst the other students, that is emphasized day one at Full Sail, is the need for networking. It's largely about who you know. And that was my sole purpose.

Also, there had to have been a limit to how many times they all could of heard “I took sports management, here's my resume, I need a job.”. There was a genuine look of relief from most people when I had told them I was in school for Sports Marketing and Media and my intentions were for networking, they all seemed beyond willing to help me in anything I would need throughout my education. In one line in particular, there was perhaps, thee most negative person i'd ever experienced. WOW. He must have been too many years removed from school or just high cynical of all things that didn't go his way. For sake of the article, i'll refer to him as J since I didn't catch his entire name. J was complaing every time I had stepped near him about the lack of positions actually available, how it was a waste of time. “I gambled and obviously lost.... that's 17 dollars I won't ever get anything from..”

Well then he should of left. And when J started to bad mouth the 76ers, whom weren't even in attendance, I had to jump on the conversation. He, through whatever local school and single track major, was so narrow minded in his grasp of the sports as an industry. It's simple to understand sports. It's simple to understand business. But he seriously seemed to lack the understanding of what it sports is as a business. I really should of asked J where he went to school. But instead I decided to just shut him up with my words and knowledge of sports.

So here's what went down: the 76ers aren't good by their record. But they are rebuilding and using the up coming NBA draft to do so. So J slammed them, “They suck, I don't understand how they sell tickets, they aren't good. But somehow they are selling out near tops in the league and I heard that teams actually ask them how they do it... But I don't know, they suck though....” SOO this is where I stepped in.. because if you know me.. I won't back down in a sports conversation...

So I chimed in with my expertise... The 76ers just ran a crowd sourcing campaign in which the younger fans of the 76ers were able to virtually create a brand new mascot for the team. Their fan outreach in this sense was sensational putting an actual figure of the franchise into the fans hands. So, with children being so in tune with the team and feeling like they had power in making a difference, and maybe not utterly aware of how bad the team on the court might be, they probably ask their parents to go to games. The team, through its crowdsourcing, gives off that they solemnly care about what the fans want. So in turn the fans are wanting them. So while the children felt empowered and responsible for the creating a mascot, get their parents and friends to go to the game and it's probably a bargaining chip for good grades and for getting homework done. It doesn't have to be about the product on the court, fans are loyal and in Philly, their the most passionate fans there are.

So then, J... kind of just.. I thought he wet himself to be honest. He didn't know what to say and muttered, oh well, yeah, wow, I guess you're right, I didn't even know. Yeah I see that. His buddies, sort of snickered and then we had a hearty conversation of Philadelphia sports while J stood in quiet for the first time that I saw.

But it made me thankful. Thankful for my love of sports and my education from Full Sail. It separated me today. In my eyes, and I hope in the eyes of some of the people I spoke with. Before I closed out my day, I returned to the Red Bull stand and talked with Devin this time and threw him the same pitch I had everyone else all day. And he loved it. He even told me that he “genuinely enjoyed this (our conversation and my pitch)”. So I then cleared up the air with Joe because I didn't want him to think I was ill prepared from out initial discussion and he definitely saw where my intentions were.

I would like to thank all those I was able to connect with today:

Devin and Joe from the Red Bulls

Chad with the Phantoms

Brad with the Iron Pigs

Mike with the River Sharks

Stephen with the Fightin Phils

Lauren with the Steel Hawks

Ricky with CSN Philadelphia

And also, thank you Full Sail for preparing me the right way for what I have ahead of me. I especially took notice today how lucky I am to have chosen Full Sail and how much more motivated I am. Next step is a networking event in Philadelphia in two weeks with the 76ers. I cannot wait.

Jets, Eagles, Washington fans...

The Eagles will want Marcus Mariota... It's expected the Bucs select Winston. Why not draft the Super talented kid from your own state. It'll sell more tickets. But Philly... They're going to need to make moves. You have the ammo and a starting quarterback to trade for either the Jets or Washington to rebuild with. Trade this year and next year's numner 1 pick and trade Foles. You're drafting a new QB and you can have any other serviceable back up.

 So the Jets start over with Foles and Branson Marshall and will need a running back. 

Washington spent a surplus of picks for RG3, BUT they'll get picks back now with this deal... And let RG3 RESSURECT his career elsewhere. Maybe in St. Louis. 

The only real hurdle is if a team wants to go through resigning Foles in two years if he stays on a level similar to two years ago. 

So what say you? Either team move around for Picks and a new QB? DO the Titans join the mix to have a veteran presence help Mettenberger?