The market is right most of the time.
Tom Brady is in the prime of his 11-year NFL career. The 33-year-old Brady, who recently signed a four-year contract extension for $72 million, is the highest-paid player in football and justifiably so.
A three-time Super Bowl champ, Brady has never looked better, leading NFL quarterbacks this season with a passer rating of 105.8. He has thrown 23 touchdown passes against only four interceptions.
Brady's recent form is even more impressive than his season-to-date numbers. He has thrown 11 touchdown strikes over the last four weeks and has not thrown an interception in the last six games.
For a player who was drafted in the sixth round (#199 overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft, the University of Michigan product has exceeded all expectations, progressing from a fourth-string quarterback - behind Drew Bledsoe, John Friesz and Michael Bishop - to undoubtedly the greatest quarterback in the game today.
Quarterbacks drafted ahead of Tom Brady in the 2000 NFL Draft include Chad Pennington, Giovanni Carmazzi, Chris Redman and Tee Martin, proving the market isn't right all the time and occasionally makes colossal mistakes.
POUTING PEYTON.....While Brady enjoys an MVP-caliber year, Peyton Manning is experiencing a subpar season. Manning has thrown 11 interceptions over the past three games with four of the 11 "picks" returned for touchdowns, leading directly to three straight losses for the 6-6 Indianapolis Colts.
Indy's 2010 regular-season winning percentage (.500) now matches Peyton's career playoff winning percentage (.500) after 18 postseason contests. The quarterback who is on pace to set career records in every major statistical passing category is only 9-9 in his franchise's most important games.
And here's Peyton Manning's biggest flaw: the best game-manager to ever quarterback a football game is among the worst at controlling his on-field emotions. Manning acts his poorest when his team needs him most, unraveling in tight situations like yesterday's four-interception day which resulted in an overtime loss against resurgent Dallas. Manning's agitated facial expressions and negative body language are signs of a weak leader and not the way to win friends and influence people.
NFL NOTES AND QUOTES.....The most important comments from NFL head coaches are not heard in the press conferences immediately following a Sunday game, but rather during the Tuesday press conference after the coaches have had a chance to review the all-important game film. To interpret a coach's raw reaction to a game, check out the post-game speeches in the locker room that are often shown on the NFL Network.
A BOOKMAKER'S VIEW.....Bob Scucci is the Nevada Director of Race and Sports Book Operations for Boyd Gaming. He serves as one of the most influential voices in the state's race and sports book industry.
Scucci recently relayed two of the biggest challenges to his job under today's current conditions.
"A few years ago, we had players who were betting $10,000 a game on every game on the board. Not anymore. Everyone seems to be betting less money. The $200 bettor is now betting $100, the $100 bettor is now betting $50, and so on...," said Scucci.
He continued, "Another challenge for bookmakers is the growing sophistication of the betting public. The winning players are sharper than ever before and the so-called squares are learning quickly."
Scucci's corporate approach of accounting for every dollar received and monitoring every dollar spent is in sharp contrast to Las Vegas bookies of the past, who were able to operate freely without much company control or corporate interference.
Bookmakers like Scotty Schettler and Jimmy Vaccaro, who were able to wheel-and-deal under a more relaxed atmosphere, are the most popular in the gambling fraternity, but Scucci represents today's corporate bookmakers, who are less popular among everyday gamblers, but follow orders, sing the company line and most importantly, maximize profits and respect rules for the company's shareholders.
MONDAY'S BEST BETS.....I like one college hoop game from today's short card: 517 NEVADA +6.5 over Houston. The Cougars have three victories this season by four points or fewer, including a narrow 3-point win over Division II Abilene Christian in an exhibition game. Nevada has lost five straight games after opening the season with a solid 81-66 home win over Montana. The Wolf Pack enjoy a drop in class after getting manhandled (but not giving up) against rival UNLV last Saturday night in Reno. In a game to be decided in the final minute, take the 6.5-point head start.
COMING FRIDAY.....A look at the key to the BCS Championship Game between Oregon and Auburn.
Tom Brady is in the prime of his 11-year NFL career. The 33-year-old Brady, who recently signed a four-year contract extension for $72 million, is the highest-paid player in football and justifiably so.
A three-time Super Bowl champ, Brady has never looked better, leading NFL quarterbacks this season with a passer rating of 105.8. He has thrown 23 touchdown passes against only four interceptions.
Brady's recent form is even more impressive than his season-to-date numbers. He has thrown 11 touchdown strikes over the last four weeks and has not thrown an interception in the last six games.
For a player who was drafted in the sixth round (#199 overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft, the University of Michigan product has exceeded all expectations, progressing from a fourth-string quarterback - behind Drew Bledsoe, John Friesz and Michael Bishop - to undoubtedly the greatest quarterback in the game today.
Quarterbacks drafted ahead of Tom Brady in the 2000 NFL Draft include Chad Pennington, Giovanni Carmazzi, Chris Redman and Tee Martin, proving the market isn't right all the time and occasionally makes colossal mistakes.
POUTING PEYTON.....While Brady enjoys an MVP-caliber year, Peyton Manning is experiencing a subpar season. Manning has thrown 11 interceptions over the past three games with four of the 11 "picks" returned for touchdowns, leading directly to three straight losses for the 6-6 Indianapolis Colts.
Indy's 2010 regular-season winning percentage (.500) now matches Peyton's career playoff winning percentage (.500) after 18 postseason contests. The quarterback who is on pace to set career records in every major statistical passing category is only 9-9 in his franchise's most important games.
And here's Peyton Manning's biggest flaw: the best game-manager to ever quarterback a football game is among the worst at controlling his on-field emotions. Manning acts his poorest when his team needs him most, unraveling in tight situations like yesterday's four-interception day which resulted in an overtime loss against resurgent Dallas. Manning's agitated facial expressions and negative body language are signs of a weak leader and not the way to win friends and influence people.
NFL NOTES AND QUOTES.....The most important comments from NFL head coaches are not heard in the press conferences immediately following a Sunday game, but rather during the Tuesday press conference after the coaches have had a chance to review the all-important game film. To interpret a coach's raw reaction to a game, check out the post-game speeches in the locker room that are often shown on the NFL Network.
A BOOKMAKER'S VIEW.....Bob Scucci is the Nevada Director of Race and Sports Book Operations for Boyd Gaming. He serves as one of the most influential voices in the state's race and sports book industry.
Scucci recently relayed two of the biggest challenges to his job under today's current conditions.
"A few years ago, we had players who were betting $10,000 a game on every game on the board. Not anymore. Everyone seems to be betting less money. The $200 bettor is now betting $100, the $100 bettor is now betting $50, and so on...," said Scucci.
He continued, "Another challenge for bookmakers is the growing sophistication of the betting public. The winning players are sharper than ever before and the so-called squares are learning quickly."
Scucci's corporate approach of accounting for every dollar received and monitoring every dollar spent is in sharp contrast to Las Vegas bookies of the past, who were able to operate freely without much company control or corporate interference.
Bookmakers like Scotty Schettler and Jimmy Vaccaro, who were able to wheel-and-deal under a more relaxed atmosphere, are the most popular in the gambling fraternity, but Scucci represents today's corporate bookmakers, who are less popular among everyday gamblers, but follow orders, sing the company line and most importantly, maximize profits and respect rules for the company's shareholders.
MONDAY'S BEST BETS.....I like one college hoop game from today's short card: 517 NEVADA +6.5 over Houston. The Cougars have three victories this season by four points or fewer, including a narrow 3-point win over Division II Abilene Christian in an exhibition game. Nevada has lost five straight games after opening the season with a solid 81-66 home win over Montana. The Wolf Pack enjoy a drop in class after getting manhandled (but not giving up) against rival UNLV last Saturday night in Reno. In a game to be decided in the final minute, take the 6.5-point head start.
COMING FRIDAY.....A look at the key to the BCS Championship Game between Oregon and Auburn.
