Anquan Boldin: One of the Most Overlooked Wide Receivers in History

Detroit Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin saw his 14^th season end last night with a loss in Seattle. However, the wide receiver continues to make an impact even in this late stage of his career. Not many casual fans know of how consistent and effective Boldin has been through his career. A few factors have contributed to him not getting the shine that he deserves. Playing alongside great future Hall of Famers and playing for multiple teams are just a couple of factors that have contributed to him being underrated. When it comes to the Hall of Fame, Anquan Boldin will be a lock once he becomes eligible for consideration.

Boldin started off his career in 2003 with the Arizona Cardinals. He was an immediate threat catching 101 passes for over 1,300 yards in his rookie season. This set an NFL record for most receiving yards for a rookie wide receiver. Boldin was the only rookie to go to the Pro Bowl in 2004. He did have a bit of a sophomore slump in his 2^nd year, however, this is mainly due to an injury he suffered. Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald formed a premier wide receiver tandem of the NFL causing defenders to have fits whenever defenses played Arizona. During his Arizona tenure, he became the fastest player in NFL history to catch 500 career receptions. Unfortunately, the casual NFL fan seems to forget how vital he was to Arizona’s offense, due in part to the great Larry Fitzgerald and the insane amount of success he has obtained throughout his career. However, Boldin’s story did not end in Arizona.

In 2010, Anquan Boldin found himself with the Baltimore Ravens. He immediately became a favorite target for quarterback Joe Flacco, catching 7 passes for 110 yards in his Ravens debut. His first year as a Raven was the year he caught the most touchdown passes in his Baltimore tenure receiving 7 touchdowns. Boldin eventually secured his first Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in 2012, after having one of the best games for a wide receiver against the 49ers. In the Super Bowl, he caught 6 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. This same season was the year Boldin had his highest amount of passing yards (921), since his final year in Arizona. Ironically, he was traded to San Francisco the following off-season. He was a key contributor for them as well. Boldin had over 1,000 yards receiving in 2 out of his 3 years as a 49er. Now he is playing for the Detroit Lions, which has made him a bit of a journeyman. He was a weapon for Matthew Stafford this year catching 8 touchdowns on the season.  Unfortunately, the amount of teams he has now played for may also have a part in him being overlooked. Nevertheless, Anquan Boldin is not a 1 time Super Bowl Champion and 3 time Pro Bowler for nothing.

Anquan Boldin makes an impact off the field as well. Last season, he won the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award. This award honors a player’s volunteer work while he excels on the football field. Despite playing with future Hall of Famer’s like Larry Fitzgerald, Joe Flacco, and Patrick Willis, Boldin’s skill-set has been massively underrated. Yes, the man is a bit of a journeyman, but in today’s NFL, that is fairly common anymore. Boldin’s resume boasts his accomplishments and shows why he belongs in the Hall of Fame one day. The man is a Super Bowl Champion, 3 time Pro Bowler, Walter Peyton Man of the Year recipient, and former Rookie of the Year, which tells why Anquan Boldin is one of the best receivers of our time.

Wes Unseld: The Best Outlet Passer the NBA has Ever Seen

Outlet passing is often the forgotten art in the sport of basketball. It is one of the most fundamental plays if executed properly, yet not many players know how to do it effectively anymore. In today’s modern NBA, the premier outlet passer that jumps to mind is Kevin Love. However, what if I were to tell you that there was a player from back in the day who was even better at it? What if I were to tell you that player actually inspired Kevin Love to be the effective outlet passer he is today? That player would be former Washington Bullet Wes Unseld.

Wes Unseld is one of the most underrated stars in NBA history. Not many common fans know about him because he played in an era that was dominated by elite big men like Wilt Chamberlain and Willis Reed. Surprisingly enough, Unseld was the second player ever to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season along with Wilt. Unseld became a leader for the Bullets throughout his career leading them to a title over the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1978 season. Before you ask, yes he did win Finals MVP. However, there was an aspect of his game that separated Unseld from the common star. Outlet passing was an art form in the game that Unseld had perfected. If you go on YouTube and look up some of his highlights, you can see some of his biggest highlights were throwing a beautiful outlet pass that led to a score. Kevin Love has even admitted that Wes inspired him to be the great outlet passer he is today for the Cavaliers. Not surprising considering how often we have seen him throw a pass to LeBron or Kyrie that led to an easy score. Rumor has it that Unseld used to be able to throw the pass the entire length of the court almost hitting the back board and still have it lead to a basket for a teammate. Unseld’s passing ability helped lead him to a career assist average of 3.9 per game which is actually not bad for a big man, especially when you consider how long ago he played. One season he even averaged 5.2 assists per game. His outlet passing became legendary and shaped the way players conduct outlet passing to this day.

Wes Unseld will always be one of the most beloved figures in Washington Bullets history. He was as good of a rebounder as they come and despite battling knee trouble throughout his career, he still managed to be elite. Nevertheless, the one thing that will always separate him from his other star counterparts in his era was his outlet passing. Never before had the NBA seen a big man be able to throw an outlet pass as smooth as he did and he ended up revolutionizing this aspect of basketball. Next time you are watching a game and see Kevin Love execute a perfect outlet pass, just remember that you can thank Wes Unseld for that part of the game today.

Why the NFL is on a Crash Course for an AFC Championship Re-Match

Mathew Huff

9/28/2016

Last year saw the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots pitted against each other for the battle of the AFC. The Broncos went on to win the game and carry the momentum to capture Super
Bowl 50. While many speculated that both teams may decline this year, it looks as of right now that we are on a crash course for an AFC Championship re-match. With both teams undefeated and looking unstoppable, it doesn't look like anyone else can match up within the league. 

The Patriots had questions around them all off-season with Brady being suspended for the first 5 games. However; those doubts have been laid to rest after shutting out the Houston Texans with a 3rd string quarterback last Thursday night. Bill Belicheck has proven time and again that he can make mountains out of mole hills. Well, with the rest of the talent this team possesses outside of the quarterback position, there seems to be only one team in the league that is standing in their way. That would be their AFC rival, the Denver Broncos. Despite being the defending champions, the Broncos have been utterly disrespected from when they won the championship. With every one counting them out due to their "key losses," the Broncos have just played with a chip on their shoulder like they did last year. With a offensive line that is finally good enough, and a young, spry quarterback that has shown great potential, there really is no reason for Denver not to be a favorite to repeat. With their core of the defense still intact, the Broncos have once again been striking fear into opposing offenses. Therefore; it is safe to say Denver's biggest threat to them defending the crown is the New England Patriots. The Patriots will have a new-found attitude of seeking vengeance on their AFC foes when they face off later in the year in a game that may decide home-field advantage for the post season. Meanwhile, the Broncos will have finally fully adapted to Gary Kubiak's offensive scheme and possibly even, I know it's scary to think about, improved their defense a bit. One thing is for certain, no other team in the AFC as of right now is on the level these two teams are on at this point. 

The Steelers showed major issues against the Eagles, the Chiefs and Raiders are still having trouble finding consistency, and the Bengals have some weaknesses of their own that will hurt them in the playoffs. The Patriots and Broncos are the two best equipped teams to make a run at Super Bowl 51. While things could change later in the year barring injuries, suspensions, and other risks, the reality here approaching week 4 is that things seem to be headed towards an AFC Championship re-match. While I am going to avoid predicting a winner between these two teams to remain as objective as possible, it is safe to say that a game between these two teams with the talent they have will be very fun to watch and analyze.

The Top 5 Most Underrated Players in the NBA right now

Mathew Huff

8/21/16

The NBA has always been a league that has featured the best of the best. From franchise players, to solid role players, all the way down to good players coming off the bench, the NBA is filled with talent. As a result of this, sometimes a select few get overlooked by the general fan base, or have their talent taken for granted by teams throughout the league. Therefore, it is important for NBA fans to start paying attention to these 5 players who are the most underrated players in the entire league as of right now.

5. Gordon Hayward/ Utah Jazz SF.

            Hayward is a low-key solid small forward who can guard the opposition’s best player. Unfortunately, since the Jazz haven’t gotten the coverage lately that their used to getting normally, he has been massively overlooked. The fact that the Jazz roster features a stockpile of youthful talent like Trey Burke, Rudy Gobert, and Dante Exum has also had much to do with Hayward’s development being overshadowed. Many people remember Hayward as the guy who almost upset Duke in the NCAA championship by nearly nailing a half-court buzzer beater which would have cemented his alma-mater, Butler, as one of the best Cinderella stories of all time. While the shot did not go in, it still caught many fan’s attention, and rightfully so since Hayward is now on pace to becoming a top 10 small forward in today’s NBA.

4. Eric Bledsoe/ Phoenix Suns PG.

            The Phoenix Suns looked like a disaster last year, but they were actually formidable at the beginning of the season. What was a major factor in their downfall was losing Eric Bledsoe to a season ending knee injury, which showcased just how important he is to his team. In a league that is filled with more star point guards than ever before, it is easy to overlook a nice talent like Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe may not have Russell Westbrook-like athleticism, but he is still more than capable of breaking a couple of ankles. Many people speculate that Bledsoe got overpaid with his new contract, but if you have seen this guy play and how he can lead this Suns team, then you would see why he demanded the contract he obtained. I firmly believe that Bledsoe could be a great addition to many other teams in the NBA despite the fact that point guards are elevating their level to superstar status. Any point guard that can give you 20.4 points per game, 4 boards per game, and 6.1 assists per game is not one to be taken lightly by opposing defenses.

3. Kemba Walker/ Charlotte Hornets PG.

            Kemba Walker, much like Bledsoe, is also overshadowed by an array of point guards at an elite level like Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, and Russell Westbrook. You combine this with the fact that Charlotte can be so inconsistent at times, it’s easy to forget about their star Kemba Walker. You may remember Walker as the clutch point guard for UConn that delivered in the 4^th quarter, something that helped fuel their run to a NCAA title and is now adored by the UConn faithful. Walker has a very similar offensive stat line to Eric Bledsoe’s averaging just a tad more points per game. Kemba Walker is already a good defender, but yet still has more upside which could be frightening to other teams in the near future.

2. Nikola Vucevic/ Orlando Magic PF/C

            Here’s a shocking revelation for some NBA fans, but the Orlando Magic actually have some nice pieces on their roster they have constructed. A lot of people seem to discount the international big man in Nikola Vucevic who is a rebounding specimen. When people think of the Magic, they tend to think of Shaq and Dwight Howard leaving the franchise high and dry, or they think of Victor Oladipo (before he was traded), and Aaron Gordon right now, but they fail to recognize how much of a problem Vucevic can be on the boards against the opposition. Even with Orlando trading for Serge Ibaka from the Oklahoma City Thunder, one should not discount Nikola Vucevic making an impact in the paint this upcoming season.

1. LaMarcus Aldridge/ San Antonio Spurs PF/C

            This may come as a surprise to many fans, and sting in particular for Portland Trail Blazers fans, but I vigorously believe Aldridge is still the most underrated player in the NBA. Before Damian Lillard’s arrival to Portland, Aldridge helped anchor the Trail Blazers year in and year out consistently, but quietly putting up all-star numbers along the way. Aldridge is one of the toughest players in the league which was evidence by him having surgery on his thumb one year and still finding a way not to miss any time at all. Even though Aldridge doesn’t put up insane numbers during the all-star game like Russell Westbrook or Paul George, the man is a 5 time all-star, and continues to still be a star in the league even in Gregg Popovich’s system that showcases more of a get the best out of every player approach, rather than getting the star players the majority of the touches like most teams in the league do today. The Chicago Bulls just have to be kicking themselves for drafting this man and trading him away with the impact this player can bring to any team.

            It is safe to say that these 5 players can play with the best of them. There should be no doubt about that, but the fact of the matter is that when it comes a league as star studded as the NBA, there are bound to be good players that go unnoticed. However, that does not mean NBA fans should take these underrated players for granted due to the fact that many of these athletes are vitally important to their respective teams. These 5 NBA players have the potential to make or break an NBA team.