Fresh Blood

[The Gipper]

Even though the LA Kings have lost two in a row now, they still hold a 3-2 lead in the NHL Stanley Cup Finals round. Assuming they win 1 more game, that will be Championship Fresh Blood in that league as The Kings have never won a title since they were created in 1967.

 

And in the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the betting favorites to take the NBA title.

That too will be fresh blood, for a new city if not so fresh for that franchise. Oklahoma City has only had a team for like 4-5 years, so clearly that would be a new city to win a title.

I also consider the Oklahoma Thunder to be a new franchise that is only the same 4-5 years old. I know it is the remnants of the former Seattle Super Sonic, and that the Thunder are some sort of "hybrid franchise" that theoretically has dual ownership of the Sonics histoy with Seattle. However, I was under the impression that the Sonics franchise was to have been held in trust for a new Seattle team when they built a new arena in that town. (like the Browns were when Modell tried to move them to Balt.). Even if you assume that the Sonics/Thunder are one and the same, it has been since 1979 since that franchise has won a title. (God please make it so. Who wants to endure the insufferable Heat? ....note the double entendre).

 

But, bringing this back to football and the NFL as we are mandated to do so as not to get this thread removed....hopefully there will be some Fresh Blood this fall in the Super Bowl race. In case you didn't know only one half of the current NFL franchises have won a Super Bowl since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger. Sixteen have won, 16 have not. Now, several of the 16 that have not won were not in existance in 1970, but the majority were. Let's look at these:

Houston Texans, no titles since 2001 origins

Jacksonville Jaguars, no titles since 1995 origin

Carolina Panthers, no title since 1995 origin

Seattle Seahawks, no title since 1976 origin

Kansas City Chiefs, no title since 1969

New York Jets, no title since 1968

Cincinnati Bengals, no title since 1968 origin

Atlanta Falcons, no title since 1967 origin

Buffalo Bills, no title since 1965 AFL title

Cleveland Browns, no title since 1964 NFL title

San Diego Chargers, no title since 1963 NFL title

Tennessee Titans (Oilers), no title since 1961 AFL title in Houston

Minnesota Vikings, no title since 1960 origin

Philadelphia Eagles, no title since 1960 NFL title

Detroit Lions, no title since 1957 NFL title

Arizona Cardinals, no title since 1947 NFL title (in Chicago)

 

The titles won in the NFL have been a bit front loaded, as here are the teams that have won:

Steelers 6 times

Cowboys 5

49ers 5

Giants 4

Raiders 3

Patriots 3

Redskins 3

Broncos 2

Packers 2

Colts 2

Dolphins 2

Ravens 1

Saints 1

Bucs 1

Bears 1

Rams 1

 

So, which of the teams in that first set above do you think will be most likely to break through to win a title this year? Who will become the new "Fresh Blood".

[The Gipper]

How about these conference title game matchups:

 

Lions vs. Eagle NFC

 

Bengals vs. Texans AFC?

[The Gipper]

By the way, here are the current Super Bowl odds per BetVegas.com:

 

Packers 13-2

Pats 8-1

49ers 10-1

Broncos 12-1

Texans 12-1

Eagles 14-1

Ravens 16-1

Bears 18-1

Saints 18-1

Giants 18-1

Steelers 18-1

Cowboys 20-1

Lions 22-1

Falcons 25-1

Jets 25-1

Chargers 25-1

Panthers 35-1

Bengals 40-1

Cardinals 50-1

Bills 50-1

Chiefs 50-1

Dolphins 50-1

Seahawks 50-1

Titans 50-1

Redskins 50-1

Raiders 65-1

Bucs 65-1

Rams 75-1

Vikings 100-1

Colts 150-1

Jags 150-1

Browns 200-1

[The Gipper]

Furthermore, if these odds are right, that would mean that the Browns would likely have a Top 5 drft pick again next year. They would be in line for some of these prospects at areas of need (I am assuming QB will not be one of them):

 

Wide Receivers Robert Woods USC or Keenan Allen Cal (if Browns still looking for #1 WR)

 

Defensive Ends Barkevious Mingo LSU or Sam Montgomery LSU (to replace Parker/Rucker)

 

OLB Jarvis Jones Georgia (to replace Fujita/Gocong)

 

Davis Amerson CB NC St. (to replace Sheldon Brown)

 

Eric Reid Safety LSU (to replace Usama Young)

 

Johnathan Hankins DT Ohio State

 

According to this LSU has at least 3 of the top 10 prospects in next year's draft. All on defense. As I see it, that DE/OLB position may end up being the Browns top priority (if it isn't WR).

[WRREBEL]

Im putting All my money I have on the browns to win it all. And 200 to 1. I would bring home 20 grand