Pay That Man: Alteraaun Verner

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With free agency beginning soon and the draft just around the corner, the 53 man roster for the 2014 football season will begin to be molded in the next few months.  The current status of the Titans organization is largely unknown.  There is a new coach,  a new staff, and new players that may be coming soon.  We are all anxiously waiting to see how the roster will shake out.  There are a number of players who will either be cut or their contracts will run out this off season.  These players will hit the unknown world of free agency.  Players like Chris Johnson and Kenny Britt will quickly find out their worth on the open market.  It won't be much.  Some players, however, will find a flowing waterfall of cash being thrown at their doorstep.

Alterraun Verner, corner back for the Titans, is one player that will be making a large sum of money somewhere next season.  It's been well documented that the Titans are expected to allow him to test the waters of free agency.  That's a mistake.  Verner was arguably the Titans best defensive player 2013.  He was the lone Titan on the pro bowl roster.  He's also a good teammate and well liked by the community (an underrated quality in today's NFL).  The defense last year wasn't great.  Verner and Bernard Pollard (another free agent) are two of the few bright spots in the defense last year. 

Akeem Ayers, Zach Brown, and Moise Fokou underperformed for a large portion of the season.  They were part of a line backing corp that was supposed to work magic for the Titans last season. It was the secondary, though, that surprised us.  They played outstanding ball all season.  Bernard Pollard was a leader, Michael Griffin played how he was expected to play after the new contract, and Verner and Jason McCourty became one of the best corner back duos in the league.  Taking that tandem away would set the defense back.  This defense doesn't have room to go backwards.  It needs to go forwards.

At the beginning of training camp, Verner was battling with Tommie Campbell for the cornerback slot opposite of McCourty.  Verner earned that spot.  He earned it for last year and many years to come.  The Titans finally have a position on the roster that is taken care of.  They have two corner backs.  Don't take that step back.  Sign Verner and work on other areas.  McCourty and Verner will be fine.  The Titans need to work on their defensive line and line backing corp.  If they can keep the secondary the same, that would be considered a win for the organization.  Pay that man:  Alterraun Verner.

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
2/13/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

Improve Your Game Series

Welcome to the Improve Your Game series conducted by me, Trey Frisbey, writer and co-creator of Boy Meets Sports.  I've decided to run this series for everyone who wants to improve their basketball game in any way possible.  If, once the series is over, I don't touch on a part of the game that you need, let me know through the "contact us" tab and I'll continue (I'll do my best to touch every aspect of the game).  Here is an overview of how the series will be conducted.

Every week or two, I'll be posting a new lesson on a certain part of the game (shooting, ball handling, conditioning, etc.).  I'll include: instruction, drill suggestions, how and why you need the skill, motivational tips, and links to websites or videos that may help in the specific area.  All comments will be welcome.  Tips and suggestions are absolutely welcome and should be made through blog comments or the "contact us" tab.  After all, the reason for this series to get you into tip-top basketball shape.

Each of the following will be covered extensively throughout the series.  Each topic will get one in-depth post.

1. Strength and Conditioning
2. Ball Handling
3. Shooting
4. Passing
5. Footwork
6. Defensive Positioning and Technique
7. Offensive Positioning and Technique
8. Defensive Schemes
9. Offensive Schemes
10. Game Management Strategies
11. Fast Break Technique
12. End of the Game Madness
13. Basketball Tips and Tricks
14. Closure/ Requests/ Comments/ Feedback

I'll take requests before I begin the series.  Feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email.

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
2/11/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

Make Me Want to Buy A Ticket, LP Field

Much has been made of LP field and the Titans tickets prices rising next year.  It seems weird, to most of us, that prices are rising given the product that has been put on the field in the past few years.  In reality, though, the tickets have been very reasonable considering comparable markets like Charlotte and Indianapolis.  In return of rising ticket prices, fans want to see improvement.  Improvement of the game day experience and improvement in the win/loss record.  The stadium recently received a jumbo tron upgrade, but many of us would gladly trade that for better convenience and a better overall atmosphere.  here are five simple, but effective ways to provide a better game-day atmosphere in Nashville.

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Cheaper Food

The subtitle speaks for itself.  I can't find one person who is excited about going to a football game and spending eight dollars on a hot dog.  We're attending football games in the south, not a five star restaurant in Belize.  I'm pretty sure you would still make money on a ballpark frank charging three bucks a pop.

Better Parking

Quite frankly, I'm sick of paying 20 bucks to park across the river and have to walk a mile and half over a bridge to get to the stadium's campus (yes I know that there are other places to park, but not everyone reading this does).  There is plenty of room around LP Field.  If they can't make the parking work how it is now, then change it!  There is plenty of space. Buy more space if you need to.  Traffic and parking is a huge issue on game-day. There is no reason not to make this a priority.

Better Cell Phone Service

You know, sometimes at half time and TV breaks I don't want to watch Kia give away a car or root for the bunny bread bunny to win a race that's going to get me a free loaf of bread.  I want to check twitter! I want to look at my phone and see what Jim Wyatt has to say about injuries. I want to see what kind of negative spin Paul Kuharsky can put on the game even if we're up 30 to 0.  I want to see scores around the league and how my fantasy team is doing.  You know what I can't do at LP Field?  Any of those things.  Make cell phones work in your stadium, LP.

Redefine the Pro Shop
 
The first three were fairly obvious ways to improve the game-day experience, but this one isn't spouted off too much.  The jersey and gear prices are ridiculously expensive.  I can go to Ross or TJ Maxx and get Titans gear for a quarter of the pro shop asks.  I know it's not reasonable to ask for a huge price drop, but they're selling to a market that is incredibly small.  The high class and first-time game goers are the target group of people who buy gear from the pro shop.  With a reasonable price drop, and some marketing, they could sell a lot of gear.  I'd buy a hat at the game for 15 dollars, not for 30, though.

Just Win

The message of this subtitle goes out to the Titans organization.  If you really want to put butts in the seats, win games.  What we really want is to see a higher number in the left column of the win/loss chart.  Make me want to buy seats, Titans.  Win some games and see Nashville rock like it did in 1999 and the early 2000's.  Go Titans!

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
2/6/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

Wrestlemania XXX Predictions

Wrestlemania XXX taking place in New Orleans is less than 2 months away. Here are my predictions for the big event:

Pre-Show Match: Battle Royal to determine #1 Contender for Intercontinental Championship
Participants: Antonio Cesaro, Wade Barrett, Big Show, Brodus Clay, Christian, Curtis Axel, Damien Sandow, Darren Young, Dolph Ziggler, 3MB, Los Matadores, The Wyatt Family, Evan Bourne, Fandango, The Great Khali, Jack Swagger, Justin Gabriel, Kofi Kingston, Mark Henry, The Miz, R-Truth, Ryback, Santino Marella, Sheamus, Sin Cara, Tensai, Titus O'Neil, Tyson Kidd, Xavier Woods, Zack Ryder.

Essentiall all those who did not get a match on the main card will be on the Pre-Show with the winner facing Big E Langston later in the show. As for a winner, I will pick Antonio Cesaro.

Main Card:

1. Goldust vs. Cody Rhodes

Goldust will turn heel after they fail to win the tag titles, blaming Cody for the losses. This is a match he has been pushing for for a long time and we will finally get it.

2. United States Championship Match: Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns

At Elimination Chamber, the implosion of the Shield will hit a boiling point after a loss to the Wyatt Family. At Wrestlemania they will collide in a triple threat for the US Championship.

3. Alberto Del Rio vs. Rey Mysterio

These two have such great chemistry so why not put them together? This might be the last Wrestlemania match for Rey Mysterio so look for him to put on a great performance.

4. John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt

The Wyatts will continue to torment Cena and cost him another chance at the Championship. This will be the biggest match for the career of Bray Wyatt. What happens in this match will decide if he will be in the main event or mid card for life.

5. Tag Team Championships: The New Age Outlaws vs. The Usos

The Outlaws get one last Wrestlemania match together where they will pass the torch to The Usos, who have been the hottest tag team for the last year and deserve to win the titles at the grandest stage.

6. WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Randy Orton vs. Batista

This will suck the life out of the crowd. I am hoping for an Orton win, but I expect Batista to win the title.

7. Intercontinental Championship: Big E Langston vs. Antonio Cesaro

Cesaro faces Big E after winning the battle royal in the pre-show. I think this match will be very good and I am picking Cesaro to win the belt.

8. Triple H vs. Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan finally stands up to Triple H and challenges him to a match at Wrestlemania. After a great match, Bryan picks up the win. After the match, 80,000 people will be chanting YES all in unison.

9. Divas Championship: AJ Lee vs Emma

Emma made her debut last week. At Wrestlemania she will take on AJ Lee and I predict she will win the title.

10. Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar

WWE will learn their lesson and realize no match can top the match that the Undertaker will be in so he will main event the show. After a great back and forth contest, Undertaker will prevail and go to 22-0. After the match, Sting will make his debut and have a staredown with The Undertaker setting the stage for theirr match at Wrestlemania 31.

Well, there is my predictions. Whether I get them right or wrong the Wrestlemania season is always the best time to watch for WWE fans.

Until next time,
Nathan Krispin
Boy Meets Sports

5 NFL Teams Who Need a Little 'Johnny Me'

The most polarizing figure in college sports will have a new place to call home in May. He's exciting, he's lucky, and he's a little bit bad.  Johnny Manziel would electrify any NFL stadium with his on and off the field antics. He's not afraid to ruffle the feathers.  Some organizations need that fire.  Some need an athlete that will put butts in the seats.  Here are five (pretty bad) teams that could use a little Johnny Football under center.

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5. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags passed up on a golden opportunity to fill up their stadium when they passed on Tim Tebow.  They could have saved that franchise for Florida, instead they're likely to be the first one's to bolt when LA opens their new stadium.  Manziel could change that, though. Come on Kahn, make a move that someone will actually care about.  Unless, of course, you want out of Jacksonville.

4. New York Jets

The Jets past few quarterback experiments have been disastrous.  It may be safe to say that their best quarterback last year was Matt Simms, yes, Matt Simms.  That's pathetic.  Geno Smith is awful and is probably going to stay awful. There was nothing that made me think any positive thoughts about him last season.  Start fresh with Johnny Manziel, Rex Ryan.

3. Minnesota Vikings

I wish I could think of a Vikings quarterbacks over the last several years, but I can't.  They've all sucked.  Go get Johnny Football. Imagine the Adrian Peterson and Johnny Manziel tandem in that backfield.  That would be a force to be reckoned with.  That place can get loud, too.  The Vikings are only a quarterback away from being good.  Unless you want to see AP out the door soon, Minnesota, then go get Johnny Football.

2. Dallas Cowboys

I'm not sure if I agree with this choice, but I'm not sure I don't.  Romo has been a hell of a quarterback, like him or not, but he just can't win that game.  That game that needs to be won to get into the playoffs or advance in the playoffs.  It's fair to wonder if he has reached his ceiling.  His ceiling may be 1st round playoff out.  Jerry Jones would pull the trigger on Manziel, no doubt.  It's a long shot, and I don't think it's going to happen unless Johnny falls to a later round, but damn would it be exciting.

1. Houston Texans

This is where the real hype is.  This is where the fans want Johnny.  This is the perfect situation.  Matt Schaub is done in Houston and Case Keenum didn't necessarily light it up last year.  Johnny could bring the Texans right back to prominence in the AFC South, one of football's weakest division.  The Texans could be looking at the perfect storm, just like the Colts when they got Andrew Luck.  Do it, Houston.  Draft the biggest star in the short history of your franchise.  With all of the high picks you've had, this could be the biggest.

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
2/5/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

Start The Bruce Pearl Campaign, Tennessee

This may seem like a weird time to start calling for Pearl as the Volunteers have been playing pretty good basketball the last few games.  The problem with Tennessee basketball, though, is what I just said, "pretty good basketball". Cuonzo Martin has been a solid coach since he took over for Pearl three years ago, but solid isn't good enough. During Pearl's tenure, Tennessee fans got used to being good.  Damn good.  This year's team is Cuonzo's best team that he's had at Tennessee and they're looking for a nine seed in the dance at best.  The nine seed is an easy out in the first or second round.

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During Pearl's short lived Tennessee Career, he took them to the elite eight, had a number two team in the country, and had the fan base ecstatic each and every time the Vols took the court.  They had a top five college basketball atmosphere with Pearl at the helm.  I want that back.  I'm tired of mediocrity.  Consider McCrae and Stokes gone after this season.  That leaves the squad with whom? Martin has reached his ceiling at Tennessee and it isn't high. 

Every team we've seen since he took over has underachieved overall.  He's been able to reason and win some of the fan base over by how the team finishes the season.  They have finished well with Martin as HC.  You know what happened last year when the team finished strong, though?  NIT.  I'm tired of the ten seed and the NIT.  Nobody cares about that tournament.  Tennessee is about championships.  National Championships. Not NIT championships. 

It hurts that football is struggling in Knoxville.  When Pearl was there, he was able to take some of that pain away.  Seeing him painted up at the ladies games, hearing his post-game analysis and interviews, and simply watching him doing what he loved and where he loved it was awesome.  The fans would do anything for him.  Don't settle for mediocrity, Tennessee.  Go back and get your guy.  The guy that shouldn't have been fired in the first place.  The guy who was penalized, in essence, for having a barbecue with recruits.  We've seen worse crimes in the NCAA since then.  It's time to stand up for Pearl.  We all know he wants to be here, and we want him here.  Tennessee, stop being afraid.  Stop being stubborn.  Bring back Pearl.

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
2/4/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

How To: Become A Better Ball Player (Intro)

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As a reddit user and a an r/basketball lurker, I've noticed a lot people looking for tips, tricks, drills, and other ways to hone in on their basketball skills.  As one of the most fundamental players on my high school team and growing up with a basketball coach as a father, I thought I might be able to help.  This is my guide to becoming a polished, poised, and elite basketball player.

Be Consistant

Find a weakness and work on it consistently.  Don't ignore any flaws you have.  They will only get bigger.  If your weakness is going left, spend days practicing going left outside in your driveway.  Look at your different skill sets as a bar graph.  You want all of the bars to be completely equal at whatever skill level they are. The wider ranger your skill set is, the more versatile and effective you will be.  Work hard and consistently.  It's like working out in a gym.  Find a daily or weekly schedule and stick to it.

Shoot, Shoot, Shoot

Get to hoop at put up as many shots as you can a day.  The more you shoot, as long as your shot is mechanically correct, the better you will be.  When shooting a basketball, you should never miss to the left or right.  Hitting the front or back rim is fine, but when your shot is hitting left or right rim, your mechanics are off.

Find A List Of Drills To Help With Weakness

There is no point in working on certain skills if you're working on them the wrong way.  Sometimes it's very uncomfortable when you change your fundamentals from what feels comfortable to what is actually correct. Here is a good list of individual drills for different skills.

Play As Much As Possible

Not only do you need to work on your individual skills, but you need to play the game.  Find an open gym somewhere or even some pick-up. Make sure, though, when you're playing pick-up ball to not fall back into your old patterns.  Go into each game wanting to work on a certain aspect of your game and don't stray from it.  Stay fundamental. Some people may not like the way you play, depending on what gym you're at, but that doesn't matter.  When you play pick-up ball it's easy to slip into old habits. Don't let that happen.

There are many other ways to improve your game, but these are great ways to start.  If you want to know more or have specific questions, feel free to comment or email me through the contact us tab, or follow us on twitter!

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
2/3/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

Titans: Welcome, 2014 Football Season

First, let us properly congratulate the Seattle Seahawks on their absolute demolishing performance against the Broncos in the big game. No, we didn't see it coming either.

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Now that we have that out of the way, let us focus of the 2014 football season that will be here in the blink of an eye.  The excitement will build slowly throughout free agency, the draft, mini camps, and training camps. Like the 31 other teams in the league, The Titans are 0-0 starting now and the anticipation and hope will rise slowly.

Here are five things the Titans need to do before they kick off their season on that hot summer day in September:

Release CJ, Britt 

I know many of you think Chris Johnson is still an "elite" running back in the NFL and that the Titans would be making a mistake by releasing him. In reality, though, CJ had three really good years that were followed by a mostly unproductive, average career.  Is he fast? Yes.  Can he be exciting? Yes. I just haven't seen much of either of those in the past three years. What once was is no more. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is insanity. As for Kenny Britt, well.... HA.

Draft a Running Back, Quarterback

There are are going to be a few holes on this team going into the season.  If they pull the trigger, one of the biggest will be at running back.  Look for them to take a running back in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft.  Who will it be? I'm not sure, you tell me.  At the QB position, Jake Locker will get one more shot and he deserves it, but they need to start developing a young quarterback just in case.  We'll see if its Tyler Wilson or a QB from the draft.

Re-Sign Bernard Pollard

Pollard became a staple of the defense as soon as he walked into camp last year.  He's a leader that has been much needed on this team.  He brought a fire that we haven't seen in quite some time. Letting him go would be taking a huge step back.  Bring him back, make a few defensive additions (especially on the line) and strive to be like that swarming Seattle defense we saw tonight.

Pick Up A Good Cornerback

Unfortunately, it's looking like Alterann Verner will not be wearing two toned blue next season.  If they do bring him back, we should all be ecstatic, but since I don't expect it to happen, they need to bring someone in to bring the production he brought.  Please, please don't give us the Tommie Campbell treatment again.  Really... Please.

Focus, Work, And Be Consistant

Being tough and having the right mindset should be a huge focus for Ken Wisenhunt and the new coaching staff.  We saw a lot of games slip through our hands last year.  We need a team that is hungry. We need a team that will finish.  We need a team with the heart of a champion.  No more soft play or soft minds.  The eye of the tiger is what they call it, I believe.

So here's to the 2014 season.   May it bring us bountiful gifts.  It's time to see two toned blue nation rise up and bring that trophy to Nashville.  Go Titans!

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
2/2/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

Golden be thy Name

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The 48th playing of the Super Bowl will be played today between the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos. I, along with many others, are hoping for a great game. However, I am also pulling for the Seahawks to win based on the fact that I went to high school and played baseball with one of their players, Golden Tate. I am going to give an inside scoop of what it was like being in high school and being friends with an NFL superstar.

My earliest memory of Golden was in 8th grade. I was playing football for Christ the King school (I went to St. Ann's but we did not have a football team). St. Joseph's was one of the worst teams in the league and lost almost every game. The last game of the season, we heard that St. Joseph's had a new player, his mom just now letting him play. They won the first game of the playoffs, but lost to the powerhouse Holy Rosary. It was us and Holy Rosary in the finals, while St. Joseph's was in the 3rd place game which took place right before our game. I got a chance to watch some of the game and I noticed somebody who was head and shoulders above the competition. You could see the potential in this kid and you knew that he was something special.

Fast forward to basketball season when my school took on St. Joseph's. It was one of the toughest games I have ever played. Golden was incredibly quick and you had to be in great condition just to keep up with him. You could tell that he was not as polished as a basketball player, but he was still really good and you were afraid to play him. We played them in a tournament later in the year. We were relieved to know that he was not playing due to bad grades. However, we lost to them in OT. They were a pretty stacked team with Golden.

During High School, I went to Pope John Paul II High School. Me and Golden were in the same grade. Everybody knew that he was a great athlete and treated him like such. I remember having a few classes with him. He was not the smartest guy but you could tell that he tried hard. During my junior year, we had a test in Personal Finance. Golden was sitting right next to me. I noticed that he keeped looking at the teacher and when the teacher looked away, he had a note card underneath the test that he would look at with all the answers. Personally, I always liked Golden. We were never great friends, but we always talked and he took the time to get to know me. I also liked that just because he was a star athlete he did not change who he was. He was not cocky and was very friendly. He was never in over his head and think he was better than anybody. I believe he got that attitude from his mom, who was a very sweet woman, but was also very stern.

In sports, Golden played football, basketball and baseball throughout high school. You could tell that football was the number 1 sport for him and the sport he loved the most. He played QB, wide receiver, running back, punt and kick return, and cornerback all throughout his high school career. Golden was an impact player and you had to keep your eyes on the game, because if you looked away you might miss something special. His biggest moment was againgst Goodpasture one year. We were down by 14 with about 20 seconds left. Game over right? Wrong! Golden scored a TD, recovered an onside kick, then scored the game-tying touchdown dragging 2 defenders with him to send the game to OT which we wind up winning. We knew he was going to go to a big time school. he would come into the baseball locker room with letters from schools like Nebraska, Michigan, Texas and Wisconsin among others. Every now and then, he would get a letter from a school like San Jose St. He would look at it and laugh and throw it at us and said we can open it. Phillip Fulmer came to our school one day, though we never saw him. Once when I was in theology class one day, Charlie Weis, head football coach of Notre Dame at the time, walks in and talks to us. Later that day, Golden walks up to the stage and lets the school know that he decided to play football at Notre Dame.

Golden also played basketball in High School, although he did not play his Senior year. You could tell that out of all the sports, basketball was his "worst" sport which really did not mean anything because he was still great. One of my favorite memories of high school is my junior year when we played our arch-rival Father Ryan at their place. Down by 1 with 3 seconds left, we inbound just past midcourt. We throw it to Golden at the top of the key who drives to the free throw line and puts up a floating bank shot that goes in to win the game. We rushed the court and it was an epic moment.

Golden also played baseball and boy could he play. I played with him for 3 years, but I mostly sat on the bench watching greatness. Golden is making a name for himself in the NFL but if he really wanted to he could switch over to baseball and he would do just fine. He actually got drafted right out of high school but decided to go to Notre Dame, where he played baseball as well. Golden was the perfect 5-tool player. He had it all and made everything look so easy. He was the starting Center fielder all 4 years. His range was incredible and he had a cannon of an arm. He could throw it from the fence, which was 375 feet away, all the way to home plate on just 1 hop! At the plate, he could hit for average and power. He once hit 3 homers in one day and had an inside-the-park homer as well. He had great speed on the basepath. Many times he would get picked off but he had the speed to get down to second base before the ball could get there. During his senior year, he was gone for most of the practices because he had to go to banquets and other commitments. However, his playing time was never cut, because you know it's Golden Tate. The coach would be stupid to bench him, although if anybody else did the same thing they would not have been playing. One day he even forgot his jersey and the coach gave him his. One day we were playing in a tournament when some scouts for the Yankees came to watch him play. At one point, he had to lay out for a ball. When he came back to the dugout, he asked us, "Is my thumb supposed to bend this way?" with his thumb bent in a weird direction. He wound up tearing a ligament in his thumb and that was the end of his baseball career in high school. He would run track the rest of the year.

As I watch the game today, I will be proud to know that I got to know Golden Tate. Many memories have revolved around him. The last time I saw him was 2 summers ago. I was walking around downtown Nashville when all of a sudden I saw him. Before I could say anything, he yelled my name and rans up to me and gave me a big hug. Not everyday you see an NFL star walking around downtown Nashville. I think that is what sums up Golden Tate. He is a very caring, genuine guy who never forgets the people from his past. He will never let fame get to his head and will never change who he is. That is the Golden Tate that I know and I wish all of you could know. Go Seahawks!

Until Next time,

Nathan Krispin
Boy Meets Sports

Polarizing Peyton: The Love And Hate Of The Greatest Ever

As a Tennessee Vol and Tennessee Titan fan, I have never loved and hated the same person at once in such extremes.  Peyton is a Knoxville legend. He was the hero in orange.  He never won a national championship at the University of Tennessee, but that didn't matter.  He was the best quarterback to ever touch the field at Neyland. I loved Peyton when he wore orange. As much as I loved him then, though, I hated that much in a Colts uniform.  He's one of the rare athletes that are loved and hated based on the team he plays for.  If your with him, you love him, if you're not, you hate him.  He's not a polarizing figure off the field, his presence and fame have come in between the lines, and there is a certain respect that comes with that.

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Unlike other athletes, Peyton is never questioned about his mechanics, work ethic, and "kick your butt" attitude. Everyone knows he has it all (other than the fact that he couldn't outrun my mother). That's what makes him interesting.  There are still people that hate Peyton.  People say he's too boring. He's hard to root for because he does the same thing over and over.  That's right folks, Peyton is ridiculed for being the best NFL quarterback ever and doing it every week.  He's hated because he's a legend who hasn't even retired yet. 

Unlike other athletes, there are no questions about his production or skill level.  People question LeBron James' heart, Tim Tebow's arm, and Kobe Bryant's team work. Those are all reasonable questions and great reasons to hate those players. No one hates Peyton because of reasons on the field, they hate him because he is good. Really good.  The best NFL player we've ever seen and will see for a very long time.  He has no weakness (other than his speed).
 

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As I was writing this story my younger brother saw a commercial with Manning in, and he said "you don't know nothing, Peyton".  People just hate him.  There's no reason for it.  They just hate him.  I'm sorry Peyton, you are the best.  There's no question about it.  I know you didn't get there by having thin skin.  Just remember this Sunday, while your playing on the biggest stage in the world, that you want this.  You've done almost everything you can do as professional quarterback.  Just go win one more, baby.  Do it for Knoxville, do it for Denver, but most of all, do it for yourself.  You're the best, cement it.

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
2/2/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports