Just the 22 Of Us...

As was pointed out in the comments section, the Bottom 10 gets a little screwy in the weeks where certain team analysis categories are not completed, as some teams are penalized because I, in my slowness, have not covered their division yet. This is a true and valid point, but one for which there is not a perfect solution. That is why I start with a different division for each category. Plus, it shakes things up a little bit from week to week. If a team ends up on the wrong end of the draw and falls into the Bottom 10 because they haven't been scored in a category yet, then they better hope they've got a strong enough appeal to keep from getting cut.

Even if I were to eliminate the uniform/logo/color points for every team, the bottom 5 remains unchanged. Besides, let's face it, I've got a pretty good idea where a lot of the teams will fall out in the future rankings as well. I don't think anybody is getting cut who isn't bound to get cut anyway. If these teams had actual ears (and cared about this at all) I'd just tell them they should have done well enough in the other categories, then this wouldn't be an issue.

So with that said, let's review this week's Bottom 10 one more time...

Chicago Bears -28

Tennessee Titans - 27

Jacksonville Jaguars - 25

Indianapolis Colts - 22

Minnesota Vikings - 19

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 19

Baltimore Ravens - 18

Carolina Panthers - 18

Houston Texans - 17

New Orleans Saints - 15

And now, the cuts.  This week really came down to 3 teams, all 3 of which have been regulars in the Bottom 10, but for different reasons.  One is an organization with an uncertain future, one has a bright future but a rocky past, and the other, well, I just have no feelings for.  So which two are out?

Carolina Panthers: Here's the deal Panthers, I just have no feelings for you. Not good ones, not bad ones, just none. I don't like you, I don't dislike you, I'm completely apathetic. We both deserve better than that. Don't act surprised, we both know that your best attribute was that you were convenient. Outside of that, we've really got nothing. Best of luck and maybe I'll see you around.

New Orleans Saints:  Am I really going to eliminate the best team in the NFL who also happens to be the 3rd closest team to me? Yes. The bottom line is this: if I pick the Saints this year of all years, I'll never be able to look the true, longtime Saints fans in the eyes. Their fans have been completely tortured by bad football since the team's formation and are finally starting to feel like they arrived. If I jump on now, I'm basically the NFL equivalent of the guy who has been a Red Sox fan "since 2003". "How long have you been a Saints fan?" "Since 2009." "Oh, since their best year in franchise history? Congratulations." As a matter of fact, I doubt the true Saints fans even want me on their bandwagon right now, it's probably already getting crowded as it is. Sorry Saints, but you're a victim of your own success this time. I'm eliminating you out of respect for the real Saints fans who are finally reaping some benefits for years of true, painful fandom.

So who was the 3rd team?  The Jaguars.  Maybe it was the calendar, or maybe it's just the mystery of where this team is going to be 3 years from now.  I'm just not quite ready to pull the plug quite yet.  They, along with 21 others, live to see another week. 

The Bottom 10

It's Friday, which means it's cut-day. Two more teams from the Bottom 10 will be eliminated this afternoon. Here is this week's Bottom 10 (a little different with only half of the uniforms/logos/colors category completed). Who should stay? Who should go? Let me know what you think. This is going to be a tough one.

Chicago Bears -28

Tennessee Titans - 27

Jacksonville Jaguars - 25

Indianapolis Colts - 22

Minnesota Vikings - 19

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 19

Baltimore Ravens - 18

Carolina Panthers - 18

Houston Texans - 17

New Orleans Saints - 15

And the Chiefs/Bears tie for the 10th spot this week shows that if it's a close call, you want to be the one who bribed me...

Desecration or Modernization? Uniforms, Logos, and Colors of the AFC East

Next up on the runway, modeling this year's winter line...

AFC East

Buffalo Bills - The colors are fine, but that uniform has a lot going on. Between the blue and white stripes down the helmet, the random assortment of blue and red designs on the road uniform, and the all-blue home unis, I just can't get on board here. I just can't picture Thurman Thomas and Jim Kelly wearing the current duds.

3/15

Miami Dolphins - You want variety? How about aqua and coral?!? Quite possible the least intimidating uniforms in the league. Then there's the fact that your logo is a dolphin wearing a football helmet with no face-mask and it doesn't even have your own logo on it. Granted, the all white uniforms actually look pretty nice, but when you start adding in the aqua jerseys or pants, it's just a little much. Tell me anywhere besides South Beach where it's ok for grown men to wear aqua and coral?

6/15

New England Patriots - Bring back Pat the Patriot!!!  I hate to keep beating a dead horse, but the modernization of the uniforms (a.k.a. darkening the colors) strikes again. It's not Pat the Patriot and the red jerseys, but the current Patriots uniforms do have a touch of class, though it makes zero sense why a team called the Patriots opts for silver over Red, White, and Blue.

8/15

New York Jets - Unique but classy, simple but bold. I like it. Nothing over the top here, just 2 colors, green and white (unless the Jets are really the Titans, then it's more of navy and gold, but that's another story). Not a lot to say here, just a good, solid uniform.


11/15

Burgundy to Blue...Uniforms, Logos, and Colors of the NFC East

Fashion week continues here on the SWF Network as we take a look at the clothing line of the NFC East...

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys - Just because it's the most popular jersey doesn't necessarily mean it's the best.    Thankfully for the Cowboys, they opt for the sharp and tidy white jersey at home over the navy version. Still, the Cowboys are yet another case where the their throwback/alternate jersey outshines their normal one. If they stuck to the stars on the shoulders, they'd fare much better in this category.


8/15

New York Giants - Can you name another team who can pull off completely different primary colors at home and on the road? The home jerseys? Blue and White. The road jerseys? White and Red. If it weren't for the helmet you would think it was two different teams...but it works for them. While it seems like 95% of the NFL teams were some combination of blue and red, the Giants do it well.

10/15

Philadelphia Eagles - ELIMINATED - The winged helmets are up there with the best in all of football and the actual logo is downright frightening. My only two complaints here are this: Why did you have to darken the green and can you ease up on the black? I'm baffled why the trend of the modern era is to take what were once great, bold, colors and darken them (see the Broncos and Rams) but I wish we could hit undo and give these uniforms some of their personality back.

8/15

Washington Redskins - I think it's safe to say that the Redskins are the only pro sports team to claim the color burgundy as their own. As long as they stick to the white pants, they pull it off well. The great logo and the gold face-mask make the helmet one of the best in the NFL. A cool, distinguishing uniform that I hope never falls victim to "modernization".


12/15

Bribes, Turncoats, and Creamsicles - Week 9 Roundup

Time to giveth and taketh away based off some good and some bad from Week 9…

Week 9

+2 Cincinnati Bengals via OchoCinco's bribe - I know, I know, I just eliminated the Bengals, but I've got to give credit where credit is due. If you didn't laugh when 85 walked to the replay official with a dollar in hand, then you have no sense of humor. Someone let OchoCinco know that I'm also willing to take bribes to "un-eliminate" the Bengals

+1 Pittsburgh Steelers via Mile-High Beatdown - In rural parts of Alabama, we call that a "whuppin"
.
-2 Denver Broncos via Selling Tickets to the Enemy - Look, I know the Steelers' fans travel well and I know the economy is bad, but I am convinced there were more Steelers than Broncos fans at Monday night's game and that is inexcusable. Maybe you have to give up your tickets. Fine. But there had to be plenty of Broncos fans who would have taken a ticket to see their team play on Monday Night Football against the defending champs? Never sell tickets to an opposing team's fan. Never.

-1 New York Giants via Chokejob - If you're up 3 with 3:14 left and have 1st and Goal from the 4 on your home field, you probably need to find a way to win that game, especially if you've lost your last 3.

+1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers via No Longer Defeated - And we will not have another 0-17 team this year thanks to Tampa Bay's win over the Packers. Apparently they found that the winning formula was to wear throwbacks of some of the ugliest uniforms of one of the worst teams in NFL history. Whatever works…

-1 Green Bay Packers via Losing to the Creamsicles? - It's one thing to lose to a bad team, and it's another thing to lose to a team wearing the throwback uniforms of one of the worst teams in NFL history.

+1 Arizona Cardinals via Pat Tillman - I've been reminded of this incredible story this week in light of Veteran's Day. This is by no means anywhere near a fitting tribute to the hero that Pat Tillman is or for the sacrifice he made, but it's something that doesn't get discussed nearly enough. One of the most incredible stories in all of sports when you look at what Pat Tillman walked away from to follow what he felt was his duty to his country. Truly incredible.

What Might Have Been...Uniforms, Logos, and Colors of the AFC West

And we continue with the uniform/logo/color portion of the team analysis. As I mentioned in the previous post, there are three certainties in this category:

1. You undoubtedly think your team's jersey is the best in the NFL.
2. This is completely subjective and there is no way I can have a right or wrong answer
3. My personal taste is questionable at best.

Keep those in mind as you read the scores and question my sanity as I rank some of these teams.

AFC West

Denver Broncos - Another team that dialed back its uniforms a few years back to a tamer version and I just don't get it. How many NFL teams do we need wearing navy? What was wrong with the orange crush years? Don't be afraid to stand out Denver. Today's jerseys? The logo is awesome, but the color scheme is lacking in comparison to what it once was. I do like the alternate orange jerseys, these should be the norm instead of the more bland navy jerseys.

7/15

Kansas City Chiefs - Other than adjusting for a move from Texas to Kansas City, the Chiefs uniforms have not changed a whole lot over the years, sporting their distinctive KC Arrowhead logo on the helmets along with the classic red jerseys and a touch of gold. They're classy and simple. It's not a uniform most people throw into the argume of best in the league, but it's classy, traditional, and appropriate for the Chiefs.

8/15

Oakland Raiders - ELIMINATED If it weren't for the guys wearing them, these would be the most intimidating uniforms in the NFL. Perhaps no other team's colors capture the image they want to portray moreso than the Raiders. For a team wanting to be the bad boys of football, the uniforms are almost perfect. On a side note, is it just me or does the "raider" on the team logo have his non-patched eye closed? Also, isn't he actually a pretty friendly looking fellow (other than the swords and all). Just an observation.

14/15

San Diego Chargers - The lightning bolt remains one of the simplest yet most distinctive logos and the current helmets are nice. Still, the question has been asked so much it's almost cliché, but it remains true, WHY WOULD THEY EVER STOP WEARING THE POWDER BLUE? Once or twice a year does not suffice, these are some of the best uniforms in sports. Like the Rams, they traded in their distinctiveness and opted to err on the side of generic. I will give them credit for embracing the powder blue more in recent years via alternate jerseys and throwbacks, but isn't it time to get rid of the navy and re-embrace the powder?

10/15

Tacky or Timeless? Uniforms, Logos, and Colors of the NFC West

So we move onto the next category in the team analysis, and it is arguably the most subjective (and some would say least important). No one wants to cheer for the team with the hideous colors, so this is a factor in the team search. Now, a few things to keep in mind here:

1.  Every fan thinks "their" team has the best uniforms in the league. Every fan. Now, there are two schools of thought here, those that love the traditional/simple/classic looks and those that love the new-school/cool/modern uniforms. Both can be good, and if your team wears one or the other you've probably already talked yourself into liking that style more, it's just natural.

2.  There is absolutely no way I can be right or wrong here. I realize, if I don't give your team one of the highest scores then I'm inherently wrong in your mind, but I'm prepared to deal with that. The bottom line is this is nothing but my opinion. And on that note…

3.  I'll be the first to admit, my style is suspect. My favorite shirt is my highlighter-yellow polo shirt, I have a pair of white loafers that have been labeled as anything from "water shoes" to "gigolo shoes", and I have an affinity for argyle. So on that note, don't be offended by my choices here…

So with that in mind, let's see which teams are the most aesthetically pleasing…

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals - Fairly simple yet sharp. The cardinal red jerseys are a little generic, but the white road jerseys with the red shoulders are one of my favorites of the "new-school" class. The logo is simple but effective, with the Cardinal showing the perfect amount of fierceness without crossing too far into cartoonishness. They do (outside of the white helmets) lack a little bit of the distinctiveness of some of the great NFL uniforms, and granted, it's pretty hard to mess up red, black, and white, but the Cardinals have found a good balance between a new-school look with a classy feel.

9/15

San Francisco 49ers - The 49ers uniforms are in that unmistakable class of uniforms that seem to jump off a screen when you're flipping between games and let you know the 49ers are playing before the rest of your brain catches up to identify anything else. The home jersey is unmistakable and just gives you the feel of watching a big game. Is a lot of it due to the fact that we've seen so many great highlights with players wearing these same jerseys? Absolutely. Still, taking that away, can you think of any other instance where a male can mix red and gold and not look ridiculous? I can't, so I’m torn on why I think the 49ers uniforms look good. Have I been brainwashed by NFL films? Possibly. Still, there's something to be said for distinctiveness.

11/15

Seattle Seahawks - ELIMINATED - A very aquatic combination of navy, and blue the Seahawks apparently didn't want to branch out too far on the color spectrum when making their choice. As for the logo, I'm not sure if I showed it to someone with no NFL knowledge their first guess wouldn't be that it was a Seahawk (in fact, I don't think their first guess would even be a bird). Then, just as I'm about to say the uniforms are a little bland, I'm reminded of the unbelievably bright neon green jerseys that made their debut this season. I'm all for brightening up Seattle's colors a little, but a dash of white trim or maybe separating the colors by more than 2 shades would have helped. Instead, they gave new meaning to the nuclear option.

2/15

St. Louis Rams - ELIMINATED - If the Rams had never changed from the old school blue and yellow, they would have scored much higher. Instead, they traded in the boldness of the L.A. blue and yellow for a darker shade of blue and gold, opting for something a little more subtle. I still like the helmets, but liked them a lot better with the old colors.

5/15

In Honor of this Week's Bengals/Steelers Game

This video is a few years old, so ignore the fact that 99% of the players mentioned don't play for the Bengals any more, but it still sets the tone for this week's matchup and sort of makes me regret my decision to cut the Bengals...

Only 24 Remain...

Lots of points handed out today, so naturally we've got a big shakeup in the Bottom 10. Some teams worked their way out via some nice responses, which means some others fell in. Here's a look at this week's Bottom 10 from which two teams will be cut...

New England Patriots (21)

Kansas City Chiefs (20)

Minnesota Vikings (19)

Baltimore Ravens (18)

Carolina Panthers (18)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (18)

Houston Texans (17)

Oakland Raiders (16)

Cincinnati Bengals (15)

New Orleans Saints (15)

Some surprising names in the list. So who's getting the boot? The first choice isn't too hard to explain...

Oakland Raiders - For a long time the Raiders organization was the epitome of cool. Here were the NFL's bad boys with the NFL's most intimidating fan base. The black and silver struck fear in just about every NFL city (and was a popular clothing choice among the cool kids at school). Unfortunately, that really hasn't been the case for close to 20 years.  The Raiders of today are the laughingstock of the league and have truly turned into the "Black Hole" where no veteran wants to end up.  They draft terribly, they seem to change coaches almost every year, and then there's Al Davis. Considering the Raiders are headed for another losing season, no one has heard from Al Davis in months, and the National Organization for Women is protesting for the current coach to be fired, I wouldn't say that there's a light at the end of the tunnel quite yet. Sorry Oakland, I'm avoiding this train-wreck.

The second choice pains me a little, but I think it's time to part ways...

Cincinnati Bengals - No player entertains me more than Chad Ocho Cinco. He had me laughing every week on Hard Knocks, I read every one of his Tweets, I love his celebrations, I even watch his Ustreams from time to time. But, I think this may be one of those things best viewed from afar. The Bengals look like they're finally headed in the right direction this season and haven't had a player arrested in a quite a while. Still, there's a lot of bad history to overcome and I think Bengals fans would admit they're always waiting on the other shoe to drop. This one season isn't enough to convince me that I wouldn't be choosing a life of misery as a Bengals fan. They've got enough evidence to suggest that curses do exist and I don't think I want any part of that. As for Ocho Cinco, it pains me to say it, but let's just be friends. On the other hand, if some how and some way Esteban Ocho Cinco himself can make a plea as to why I should get on the Bengals bandwagon, maybe there is still room for them in a Wild Card spot. Until then, well, they're out. The ball is in your court Ocho Cinco.

Ranking the Responses

Over the course of the search I've received some great responses from to the letters I sent at the beginning (or just to the search itself).  So far, those teams haven't really been rewarded in terms of points or ranking (in fact, 2 have already been eliminated) so I think it's time to give some credit for these responses.  Granted, a great response doesn't ensure a team of anything but gives them an opportunity to state their own case on why their team is the right fit for me.  Some have done that through letters, some through gifts, and some through bikini calendars.  No matter their approach, I think the fact that they've taken the time to respond is deserving of at least a few points.  While the points are a tangible metric, the responses will no doubt be in the back of my mind when making eliminations as well.

Click on the team names below to review what each team's response included.

Buffalo Bills +12  - There can be only one "first" and no team will be able to replicate the excitement experienced when I opened the mailbox and had my first letter. That tingly feeling was brought to me courtesy of the Buffalo Bills.

Detroit Lions +4  - The Lions were a quick responder as well, and thus far are the only team to offer up a keychain. The Lions, however, stepped on some toes (mostly mine) by referring to me as a "Lions Fan", a mistake that multiple teams would make along the way, effectively serving as a flashing light alerting me this was strictly a form letter.

Tennessee Titans +5 - A simple but quality response. The Titans gave me the first bumper-sticker as well as bookmark.

Atlanta Falcons +3  - The Falcons had one of the more puzzling responses (no pun intended) as they were the only team to send a Word Search (within which a meticulous reader with a little too much time on his hands actually found an error).

Miami Dolphins +8 - The Dolphins provided a solid response including a bumper sticker, team photo, and my only pennant thus far. The only negative was that they, like the Lions, did refer to me as a "Dolphins Fan".

Green Bay Packers +10  - The Packers were the first team to send a letter through which it was clear that they understood what I was trying to do. They were the first team to acknowledge that I was seeking a team and offer their "persuasion". They also sent some pretty cool stuff including a flag, postcard, and team photo. Sometimes it's the little things that count, and by a simple acknowledgement that I was a "prospective fan" the Packers showed they care about the little things.

Jacksonville Jaguars +10  - No team has hung on in this search as a result of their response more than the Jags. They were on their way to being the first team eliminated until they pulled out all the stops with their response. Neglecting the normal response, the Jaguars instead opted for the autographed cheerleader bikini calendar and are alive in this search to this day as a result. Way to go Jags.

Kansas City Chiefs +8 - The Chiefs either put some thought into their response or were lucky to have a lot of Brodie Croyle autographed photos left over from the previous year. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they read the letter and saw I was an Alabama fan.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers +5 - The Bucs provided quite the grab-bag of swag, including an info card on their head coach and GM, a pencil and a couple of temporary tattoos. I did think it was odd to include a card on your GM and not any of the players, but then again I've also seen their roster.

Arizona Cardinals +20  - So far, the closest thing to a perfect response a person could ask for. If you haven't taken the time to review their response, please do so now. An extremely personal 2 page letter, everything from a t-shirt to a DVD to a car flag, and two tickets to a home game. The Cardinals hit an absolute grand slam.

Houston Texans +6 - The latest team to respond and the first to bring inflatables into the equation. They also followed Jacksonville's lead by going the cheerleader route, though theirs was in one photo and they were slightly more clothed.

Keep in mind that while some of these point totals aren't astronomical, I'm keeping these responses in mind as I make eliminations as well.  I just thought it was time to start assigning some tangible bonuses for the teams that did take the time to respond.

The Biggest Loser, Favre Bowl 2, and Vinsanity - Week 8 Roundup

Short and sweet for this week, just hitting the high and low points....

-2 Detroit Lions via Maintaining Their Spot In History - I know they've already been eliminated, but the Lions ensured that they would remain the only 0-17 team in NFL history by being slightly worse than a terrible Rams team. If the 72 Dolphins sip champagne when the last undefeated team loses its first game, what do the 08 Lions do when the last winless team finally wins one? Pour some out?

+1 New Orleans Saints via Staying Perfect - Is there a more fun team to watch right now than the Saints? It's amazing what a franchise QB will do for a team.

+1 Tennessee Titans via a Sign of Life - Chris Johnson goes off with 228 yards and 2 TDs (not shocking) but Vince Young is 15 for 18?

+1 Houston Texans via Playoffs? - Don't look now, but the Texans are 5-3. With few exceptions, this franchise has quietly improved each year and that Matt Schaub signing is looking pretty smart. Could they sneak their way into the postseason this year? That gave at Indy this week is suddenly a big one.

-1 Green Bay Packers via No D? - Remember all the talk Nick Barnett had about finally getting to hit Favre? Did he mean "let Brett Favre walk back into our house and put up 38 on us?" The Packers sacked Favre exactly ZERO times.

Here Comes Houston

And the Houston Texans are the 11th team to respond.  Contents of their package include:

• Houston Texans Inflatable "Fan Finger"
• 8x10 of Houston Texans Cheerleaders
• Texans 2009 Schedule
• Texans Pocket Schedule
• "Texans Care" temporary tattoo

So Houston follows Jacksonville's lead and goes the cheerleader route (always a safe bet) while also providing the first inflatable item thus far.  So have the inflatable fingers officially replaced the foam finger (seriously, when was the last time you saw someone with a foam finger at a game)?  Hopefully they've at least replaced thunder-sticks.

Thanks to Houston for the response.

Omar, Chili-Dogs, Rock and Roll, and 3 Rivers- Location of the AFC North

And we conclude our location scoring with our other brethren to the North. Last but not least...

AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
City: Baltimore, Maryland
Population: 2.7 million (metro)
Distance: 780 miles
I've never technically been to Baltimore, but I did watch all 5 seasons of The Wire over the course of about a month last summer and that counts for something. So what did I learn about Baltimore? Well, there is a reason they chose B-More for the backdrop for a series about the drug trade, and unless I've got Omar or Weebay escorting me downtown, it's not a city I need to spend too much time in. Granted, I'm sure it's like most major cities where you have your safe and unsafe areas, but I honestly couldn't tell you much else about the city. It's close to D.C., so that's a plus. Outside of that? I'll have to refer to The Wire.

5/15

Cincinnati Bengals
City: Cincinnati, OH
Population: 2.1 million (metro)
Distance: 469 miles
I made my first and only visit to Cincy over the summer and actually had a good time. Granted, most of my time was spent at the Great American Ballpark, but the city itself was clean, easy to get around, and set up nicely along the Ohio River.
It's not a short drive, but it's do-able by car. But while the city was nice, I didn't leave thinking I had to get back there soon. For all of the good things about it, we couldn't find anywhere to kill four hours before a baseball game. Oh, and Skyline Chili? Completely overrated.

8/15

Cleveland Browns - ELIMINATED
City: Cleveland, OH
Population: 2.2 million (metro)
Distance: 713 miles

And had we continued on from Cincy for about another 5 hours, we could have checked out Cleveland...but we didn't, so it's another city I'm yet to visit. I mean no disrespect to the city or its residents, as I'm sure it's a wonderful place, it's just that the extent of my knowledge on the city includes 3 things, low temperatures, Drew Carey, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I'm sure if I were to ever visit, the people would be great and the city would be enjoyable, but I honestly don't have the city on the top of my priorities to visit.

6/15

Pittsburgh Steelers
City: Pittsburgh, PA
Population: 2.5 million (metro)
Distance: 753 miles
Another city that I'm yet to step foot in, so forgive me for judging on reputation and Wikipedia alone. In an interesting tidbit, they do call Birmingham the Pittsburgh of the South, so maybe the city would feel like home. I've heard nothing but positives on the city, including its cleanliness, livability, and safety, not to mention that nice backdrop of the three rivers. Still, it's not a city I've ever had the notion to put at the top of my weekend getaways. It's a good distance away, and if I'm going during the season, I'm going to need to buy a coat.


8/15

Breezes, Leases, Cheeses, and Freezes - Location of the NFC North

In our last region of the location analysis, we take a look at the North. First up, the NFC...

NFC North

Chicago Bears
City: Chicago, IL
Population: 9.8 million (metro)
Distance: 661 miles
One of my favorite "big cities" to visit, I always have a good time in Chicago. Between the Magnificent Mile, Wrigleyville, and the best pizza in America, it's a city I would have no qualms experiencing the Windy City on a more regular basis. It's not drivable, but direct flights are easy to come by and pretty affordable. Not much more I can say, just a great city to visit.

12/15

Detroit Lions - ELIMINATED
City: Detroit, MI
Population: 4.4 million (metro)
Distance: 726 miles
Since Detroit's already been eliminated, I'm not going to expound too much here and kick a team while it's down. Detroit is a great American city with a rich history. It's also cold, a long way off, and not somewhere I've ever considered visiting.

3/15

Green Bay Packers
City: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Population: 226k (metro)
Distance: 866 miles
In researching this, I was surprised by two things: 1) Green Bay has an airport and 2) You can fly there pretty inexpensively. Let's be honest, if it weren't for the Packers, there is a 0.3% chance I'd EVER visit Green Bay. I'm sure it's a great town, but why would I ever need to go there? But, of all the NFL cities, none have the novelty of Green Bay. In what other city does a large percentage of its population act as owners of the local NFL team? I'd love to do the "Green Bay Experience" at least once in my lifetime...but this is an evaluation the city itself. I'm giving some points here for the unexplainable fact that a city of 226k has an NFL team, but I've also got to take away some for the fact that it's not a city I'd ever plan to visit for any reason outside of football and because, honestly, I'd literally freeze to death.

9/15

Minnesota Vikings
City: Minneapolis, MN
Population: 3.5 million (metro)
Distance: 1,069 miles
Who doesn't love lakes? Especially when they're completely frozen. I probably could have copied and pasted this description and saved myself some time, but it falls into the "I've never been there, I'm sure it's nice, but I couldn't tell you a thing to do in the city." This one just happens to be a long way away and a little too cold for comfort.

7/15

Raising Arizona

I think it's safe to say the bar has been raised. Before listing the contents, let me explain the full story of this package. I found a shoebox sized package left on my front porch with an Arizona Cardinals logo on the side. I, of course, immediately open the package and see a large envelope with the words "Please Read First" on top of Cardinal-red colored tissue paper covering the other contents of the package. The letter was a 2 page typed personal letter from a member of the Cardinals organization.  You can click the pictures below to read the letter for yourself, but in summary it tells the stories of players such as Kurt Warner, Darnell Dockett, and Larry Fitzgerald and the struggles they've overcome to succeed in the NFL.  He also discusses the Cardinals work in the community and explains how the Cardinals are a team that "always keeps you on the edge of your seat" and will "take the role of the underdog and always stay in the fight".  My summary really doesn't do the letter justice and it was the epitome of what I hoped to hear from one of the teams that I wrote.  It was personal, it was poignant, and it was persuasive. 

The letter also explains that several items are included in the package to help familiarize me with the team.  These items included:

• Arizona Cardinals 2009 Media Guide
• Arizona Cardinals 2008 NFC Champions DVD 
• Cardinals Gameday Program from their October 11 game against the Texans
• Pat Tillman Biography
• Cardinals Cap
• Cardinals T-Shirt
• Cardinals Car Flag
• 3 Cardinals Pins (including 1 Breast Cancer Awareness Pin)
• Cardinals Lanyard
• Cardinals Stickers
  

An unbelievable response, but that's not all....at the end of the letter, it reads:

"Finally, I am extending the opportunity to experience Cardinals Football by offering you my personal two tickets to our game against the St. Louis Rams on December 27th.  I can guarantee you we are one of a few cities that will be beautiful in December with no rain or snow anywhere in sight.  I really hope you will consider coming out to visit us and experience being part of the RED SEA at University of Phoenix Stadium."

Wow.  So how about spending some of the holidays in Phoenix?  Doesn't sound too bad to me.

The entire response completely blew me away.  The stuff they sent was great, tickets for a game are unbelievable, and the letter writer even took time to arrange the contents (with the tissue/"Please Read First", etc.), but the letter itself captured exactly what this search is about.  Someone took the time to write a personal letter explaining exactly why they loved the Cardinals and thought they were the right team for me.  I've gotten numerous emails and comments just like this from fans of teams, as well, and seeing the enthusiasm and passion in those responses and letters like this are by far the best thing to come from this entire search.  I'd like to think if someone were looking for a MLB, NBA or college team, I'd be able to respond with the same level of passion about my teams.

So again, thanks to the Arizona Cardinals.

The Big D, the Big Apple, and Big Brother - Location of the NFC East

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys
City: Dallas, TX
Population: 6.3 million (metro)
Distance: 636 miles

My one experience in Dallas involved finally getting there after spending 8 hours waiting on stand-by flights from Atlanta, watching Alabama kick a game-winning FG to win the Cotton Bowl, eating at Joe's Crab Shack, getting up at 6 a.m. to try to catch a flight home (on stand-by again), waiting about 10 hours in the Dallas airport, then finally getting on a plane. That, my friends, is not how you should experience Dallas. In the city's defense, I'm sure it's a lot easier to get to when you're not flying stand-by on New Year's Day. On the other hand, once we got there, we had no idea what to do in Dallas, hence the classy dinner at Joe's Crab Shack.

8/15

New York Giants
City: New York City
Population: 19.0 million (metro)
Distance: 962 miles

Look, I'm lazy. Scroll down and read the location write-up for the Jets. It's the same city (even though they both technically play in New Jersey) so what more can I say? Just so you don't feel cheated, here are the first 10 things that pop in my head when I think of New York: cheesecake, pizza, Diddy, Broadway, pigeons, Macy's, the big Christmas tree, Seinfeld, Letterman, and taxis.

12/15

Philadelphia Eagles - ELIMINATED
City: Philadelphia, PA
Population: 5.8 million (metro)
Distance: 881 miles

Since, Philly has been eliminated, I won't harp too much here. In my short time in Philly, I ate a cheese-steak, saw the Rocky steps/statue, and did the historical sites. If you're a male and you don't do the first 2 of those things while you're in Philly, then you're not really male. On the other hand, it's cold, it's windy, and I'm still a little bitter about the last 2 NLCS series.

7/15

Washington Redskins
City: Washington, D.C.
Population: 5.3 (metro)
Distance: 741 miles

Can I really get on here and say anything bad about the nation's capital (other than the fact that it's full of politicians)? D.C. is just a great city to be in. I don't consider myself a history-buff by any means, but you can't help but get caught up in the importance of everything from the monuments to the museums to the government buildings. It's just one of those places you should visit every chance you get. Now, in terms of being the home of my future NFL team, it still faces the disadvantage of requiring that I book a flight to see my team play.

12/15

Apples, Beans, Wings, and The Fresh Prince - Location of the AFC East

So we're a little behind here with the Location analysis (you'll notice the points were factored into the spreadsheets on Friday for elimination day) so I'll be cranking these out rapid-fire so we can get to the next category. First up, the East Coast.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills
City: Buffalo, New York
Population: 1.2 (metro)
Distance: 900 miles

I'll be honest, here is what I knew about Buffalo before this search: They have an NFL team and I am fairly certain Buffalo Wings originated there. Outside of that, I'm pretty clueless. Still, there's something inherently cool about a small city the size of Buffalo having an NFL team. It doesn't really add up but it may be the one thing that distinguishes the team the most. However, to be honest, I don't think Buffalo is a trip that I would plan to make were there no NFL team in the city, and I'm not sure how easy of a trip it is even at this point. But the uniqueness of the city in comparison to other NFL cities (outside of maybe Green Bay) is worth something, and where would we be without Buffalo wings?

7/15

Miami Dolphins
City: Miami, FL
Population: 5.4 million (metro)
Distance: 807 miles

I haven't technically been to Miami, but do I really have to go to make this ranking? It's Miami? The weather is going to be awesome, the beaches are incredible, and I'm pretty sure it's not a town you're going to get bored in. If I plan it just right, I could head to Miami for a home game, head out the next morning on a cruise, then come back just in time to catch another game before heading home. How's that for a vacation? The downside? Not sure this would help my "saving for retirement" plan.

12/15

New England Patriots:
City: Foxborough, MA
Population: 16,298k (but really 4 mil in Boston metro area)
Distance: 1,163 miles

Yes, the New England Patriots are technically in Foxborough, but if I'm visiting the team, I'm probably going to be spending my time in Boston. Boston's a great city to spend a weekend in. Easy to get to, good food, all kinds of history, plenty to do, etc. There is a downside to the city, however, and that is a green-clad basketball team that calls it home. As with San Francisco and the Dodgers, can I rightfully full-heartedly love the Lakers while giving another piece of my heart to a team that shares a city with their arch-rival? Is it fair to penalize the entire city for that? Yes. Yes it is.

8/15

New York Jets:
City: New York City
Population: 19.0 million (metro)
Distance: 962 miles

I've only been to NYC one time, and I've got to admit, I was completely in awe the entire time. I only spent a few days there and feel like I only saw about 1/10th of what I wanted to see. I don't think there is any real reason to expound on what all is cool about New York, but I just know as soon as I left I was already trying to plan a trip back up there. Still, it's not a quick or inexpensive trip to make, but I stand by the fact that as you get closer to Christmas, there's not a better city to be in (and that mindset is very much influenced by Home Alone 2)

12/15