Sports Psyche: (Josh Norman got into OBJ's Head)

We see this in every sport from time to time. Whether it be basketball, baseball, golf, or football, trash talk has and will be apart of any sport. Is trash talk just something used by athletes to ridicule their opponents? Or can it is used to psych the player out in order for them to lose focus during games. How can trash talk affect players? Let's take a closer look into sports psyche.

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According to the Webster dictionary, the term "trash talk" means to "disparage, taunt, or boast comments especially between opponents trying to intimidate each other." This definition can clearly be seen between Carolina Panther's cornerback Josh Norman and New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr since the beginning of last week. Both of these players are at the top of their games right now, so football fans everywhere were looking forward to seeing the two go head-to-head. When Josh Norman was interviewed about the matchup, Norman referred to the matchup as "edible". When Beckham was asked about the matchup, he simply stated that the matchup was "just another matchup", yet he seemed as to have a very serious demeanor when trying to answer such a question. Fast forward to Sunday, and OBJ is flagged for three personal fouls throughout the game. The initial trash talk was not exactly the reason that OBJ played in such a mild manner Sunday, but I'm sure that Norman and the rest of the defense knew they could get into OBJ's head due to the way he plays the game. Athletes that really play with a lot of emotion could really be up or down, depending on what's happening. In this case, OBJ was frustrated, as his team only managed to score 7 points within the first half. In addition, Beckham was struggling to produce. This combination brought OBJ to really go back and forth with Josh Norman. It even got to the point in which three after the play skirmishes occurred in the first quarter alone. It even reached to the point that both were hitting each other out of pure frustration. The difference between Norman and OBJ was that Norman had more self control over his emotion when pushing or distracting Beckham. Through"secret" ,or not as obvious blows to OBJ, Norman was less likely to be penalized for his actions. In the case of OBJ, Beckham's frustration level got to the point where he didn't care about getting penalized, as long as he was able to retaliate to whatever actions Norman was performing. This psychologically takes OBJ out of the game because he is so distracted with Norman. Although Norman is important to his team, OBJ is even more important to the Giants. Therefore, it is imperative that OBJ tries to keep his cool moving forward in order to help his team win.

Athletes will always be challenged at some point psychologically during their respected events. Whether it be opposing players, coaches, or fans, it is important for participants to tune out the negatively impacting noise. Doing so will allow them to focus


 Check out this link to see the highlights between Josh Norman and OBJ http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000605411/Odell-Beckham-Jr-vs-Josh-Norman-highlights

How Hard is it to Actually Get a Ticket to this year's Super Bowl L?

In American , this annual sports event is by far the largest one of it's kind. More than over 100 million people around the globe tune-in to watch the superbowl. This event would be a dream come true to many. But how exactly does that happen? If you have the money, is that enough? No way.

According to NFL.com, a number of tickets are given to the two teams. In addition to those tickets, certain businesses are given sports tickets.  After those tickets are given out, you (the public) must enter a raffle in order for a chance to win 2 tickets to the SuperBowl. Registration for those tickets are from February to June. So if you are looking to purchase tickets for this year's SuperBowl, it is unfortunately too late to enter the raffle. With that being said, some of the lucky winners do resell their tickets. The most secure website to search for this is the NFL Ticket Exchange.

Besides the NFL Ticket Exchange, one may get lucky by someone selling their tickets on Stub Hub, Ticket Master, etc. Besides those sites, connections are everything. Good luck with the ticket hunt!

Piecing Together the Houston Texans

Last season, everything that could possibly go wrong for a team did for the Houston Texans. Although JJ Watt was defensive player of the year, the team was far from successful. Houston missed the playoffs for the second year in a row, which really got the fans worried. The team has struggled with the quarterback position as no man could keep the starting position.

The team recently lost star receiver Andre Johnson to the Indianapolis Colts, Jadeveon Clowney is still recovering from his knee injury last year, and RB Arian Foster is out recovering from surgery. How will the Texans match up this season?

JJ Watt

How will offense look?

The Texans center, Chris Myers retired from the NFL after 10 seasons.  Also, Danieal Manning announced his retirement from the Texans in July. He was a safety. Recently, Brian Hoyer was named starting quarterback after battling it out with Ryan Mallet. Slowly, the Texans are forming a team as the regular season approaches.  Hopefully Hoyer will be able to pull the new offense together and bring home some wins. Though Hoyer and Mallet were reasonably the same in consistency, Hoyer has more experience and knows the offensive system a little better. With Arian Foster in recovery, Alfred Blue will have to step up as the new running back.

I’m a big Texans fan, largely due to JJ Watt and Arian Foster. Although Foster is out, I cannot wait to see what Watt has in store for the season. He’s won Defensive Player of the Year for two years and honestly deserves MVP of the NFL.

Seattle Seahawks Preview

QB: Russell Wilson: Wilson has just signed a new contract with the Seahawks longterm which should make Seahawks fans excited. Wilson is one of the games most reliable options at QB and has a cannon arm along with good decision making skills and mobility.

RB: Marshawn Lynch: Not much needs to be said about Lynch, he's one of the leagues top backs and has the power and speed that all teams desire. His age may be a concern.

Marshawn Lynch 

WR: Jermaine Kearse, Ricardo Lockette, Doug Baldwin: These receivers are all solid, but all lack that extra "stuff" that can bring them to the level of great receivers. They have reliable hands, but are not athletic freaks like a Dez Bryant or Calvin Johnson.

TE: Jimmy Graham. This is where the Seahawks really improved in the offseasons. They get arguably the top TE (or second) in the business. Graham has been a reliable source for TD's for the Saints for years so it's very confusing of why they would give him up. Wilson will now have a Redzone target that is sure handed.

OL: Max Unger is gone from the Seahawks as he was traded for Graham, but the Seahawks still boast some of the top linemen in the country.

DL: The Seahawks defensive line will still wreak havoc to opposing QB's. Avril and Bennett lead a group of a strong unit.

LB: Bruce Irvin leads a group of some of the best run stoppers in the game. The Seahawks look to stay solid in this department.

DB: The big names of the Seahawks defense are in this group. Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas return to the top secondary in the NFL. This team will shut down receivers and cause panic among QB's.

Monday Night Preview: Cowboys vs. Redskins

This is one of the absolute LONGEST rivalries in the NFL. The Redskins and Cowboys have played each other over 100 times since the existence of the NFL, beginning in the eaerly 1960's. While the Cowboys lead the overall series, the Redskins have won important games in the most recent years against the Cowboys. In 2012, the Redskins were able to pull off a week 17 victory led by RGIII that led the Redskins to a playoff appearance.  With that being said, the Cowboys are the heavy favorite in this game.

Cowboys:  How about them boyz? The Cowboys are by far the most surprising team this year. After four straight years of an 8-8 record or worse, the Cowboys are currently 6-1. They have been able to find a winning formula that allows them to produce alot of points. Unparalleled to previous years, the Cowboys have chosen to run the ball heavily. This year , they have looked to run alot more. Running back DeMarco Murray is simply off to a stupendous year. Murray is on pace to break the record for most carriers in one single season in NFL History. Murray has rushed for at least 100 yards in ALL 7 games, in addition to scoring at least 1 touchdown in 6 out of 7 games.

              Running the ball the way that the Cowboys do does multiple things. First , running the ball successfully takes pressure off of Tony Romo and the passing game. If the Cowboys are able to run the ball the way they have , defenses will be forced to try to stop their running game. Once that happens, when the Cowboys look to pass, they will have a greater chance of doing so. Less attention will be on Dez Bryant, which is something no team should ever do.This also allows for Romo to take advantage of the blitzes that teams use in order to stop the run. Running the ball relieves pressure from the defense. The defense was notorious for giving up large amounts of yards and touchdowns last season. Granted, many of their key players were injured throughout the year, but they were still considered as one of the lower ranked defenses. One of the effects of running the ball includes extended offensive drives which keeps the defense off of the field and energized. Last but not least, running the ball and winning games makes Jerry Jones seem like a complete genius. 4 out of the last 5 first round picks that the Cowboys have had are offensive lineman. While it may not be the most popular thing to do, offensive lineman can make or break a team. With a 6-1 record, the lineman are clearly making the team.

Redskins: The Skins just cannot seem to get it going this year. They were able to add more explosiveness to their offense this year, signing wide receiver DeSean Jackson. For a second straight season, RGIII has been able to successfully stay on the field due to injuries. This hurts the Redskins, as they need their talented quarterback to perform and at a high level in order for them to be successful. The Redskins have lost the last 4 out of 5 games. Led by backup Kirk Cousins , the Redskins could not seem to get it going. The coaching staff decided to give 3rd string quarterback Colt McCoy a chance to play and show off his skills. Fortunately , he was able to lead them to a 19-17 victory. After the win, the head coach name McCoy as the starter for tonight's game.

While the Redskins have been struggling, they hope to somehow get back on the track. What better way than to do so by beating a red hot team on their home turf? Wins such as these give teams a major confidence boost. Once a team beats the best at that time, they feel as though they can beat anybody. Therefore, look for them to come out focused and attacking early.

Matchup:
This will overall be a matchup that will be closer than people think. These two teams see each other twice a year, and they aren't very fond of each other, no matter the record. Look for the Redskins to make some big plays, but will it be enough? Only time will tell.

NFL Game of the Week: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts

Yes, this game is definitely a Monday Night Game for a reason! This game will be the battle of the two high powered offenses. The Eagles , led by Nick Foles, can put up points very quickly with their fast paced offense. It also doesn't hurt to have one of the best running backs in the league behind you.

WHAT TO WATCH

Philadelphia Eagles: The Philadelphia Eagles are a GREAT balanced team, ranked 7th in passing yards, and 9th in rushing. Teams such as these are hard for any defense to defend. Nick Foles has utilized his weapons very well! Whether it be Jeremy Maclin, Zach Ertz, or Riley Cooper, Foles has been able to spread the ball very well. The rushing game for the Eagles is led by one man: LeSean McCoy. Coming off of a 2,000 yard season, McCoy is one of the most explosive backs in the league! His ability to avoid defenders is just simply unmatched. Look for him to get close to 20 touches this game.

Indianapolis Colts: The Colts are led by quarterback star Andrew Luck. One thing that we do know about the Colts is that they pass very heavily. As of right now, they are ranked 1st in passing yards, but 31st in rushing yards. Andrew Luck will make sure that the Colts will stay in position to score on each and every drive.

THE X FACTOR

Philadelphia Eagles: For the Eagles, the x factor will have to be their defense. The Eagles offense will be able to score many points, especially when hot. The Eagles gave up 17 points in the first half alone against the Jaguars. Unfortunately for them, the Colts will be an even tougher offense. They must tighten up on the big plays in order to make things easier for the offense. Expect the defense to play a lot of nickel and dime coverage.

Indianapolis Colts: The X factor for the Colts will be their rushing game. In order to be taken as a very serious contender, they must find a way to get the rushing game going. If they fail to do so, look for them to rely heavily on the passing game.

PREDICTION:
This game is expected to be a shootout. Two high powered offenses will go against each other , so it should be an exciting game to watch! My prediction is that the Eagles will win.

Want to discuss anything about this article? Follow us @SportsWatcherss.

NFL Fantasy Draft Sleepers: Robert Griffin III

We all know that Robert Griffin III (RGIII) had one of the most exciting rookie seasons in the history of the game. After starting off 3-6, the Redskins went on to win 6 straight games to finish the season 9-7. During that winning streak, RGIII  threw 12 touchdowns and just under 1,000 yards. This past season, RGIII and the Redskins underachieved expectations, finishing 3-13. For fantasy owners, RGIII is a bit of a risk. Even though he was injured most of the year, RGIII consistently played poor. In addition, if people want to ensure having a mobile solid quarterback, they can easily choose to pick Colin Kaepernick or Cam Newton. With that being said , I say that it's wise to go with RGIII as one of your quarterbacks.

1) COACHING
Throughout last season, RGIII and head coach Mike Shanahan were in disagreement with a number of issues. There were times disagreements on whether or not RGIII should play due to his knee injury, the play style of the offense, and concluding why the team was not winning. After such a dismal 2013 season, Shanahan was fired as the head coach. This off-season, the Redskins hired Jay Gruden. So far, RGII has been very pleased with Gruden and plans to make a big splash heading into his third season. To put it into simple terms: Happy RGIII = more production.

2) DESEAN JACKSON
 One thing that the Redskins lacked at times was a deeper receiving core. They have Pierre Garcon, but they didn't have a consistency from anyone else. They have a Santana Moss that is slightly past his prime , a hot/cold Lenord Hankerson, and others who are questionable. This off-season, the Redskins were able to get one of the most explosive receivers in the game: DeSean Jackson. Between Jackson and Garcon, RGIII will only have to do one thing: get them the ball, and let them do the rest.

Between a new head coach, and the addition of DeSean Jackson, RGIII will be looking to get back to his explosive ways. Look for him to be healthier, faster, and more productive with his upgrade at the receiver position.
#HTTR

5 Teams You Should Be Looking Forward To Playing With On Madden

With the anticipation of Madden growing larger, we have made a short list of teams that should be fun to play with this year. In no particular order:

Washington Redskins
In Madden, you simply cannot go wrong with using RGIII. He's simply a dual-threat quarterback that is due to make big plays at any given time. With the style of offense that the Skins run, Alfred Morris is the perfect fit to help balance out the offense. This year, expect the Skins to be more explosive with the addition of DeSean Jackson. This will open up things for Pierre Garcon, Lenard Hankerson, and tight end Jordan Reed. Look out for the Skins.

San Franciso 49ers 

The 49ers are hands down the most exciting team that can be fun to play with from one side of the field to the other. On offense, the center of everything starts with the 6'4 quarterback from the University of Nevada. Colin Kaepernick is one of the most precision passers in the league. In addition to his passing skills, Kaepernick is a GREAT decision maker when running the option. Behind him is one of the most consistently overlooked running backs in the league, Frank Gore. Gore has rushed for over 1000 yards the past three seasons and looks to continue that streak. With options like Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree, and Anquan Boldin, the 49ers are a threat anytime they step on the field. The defense side is equally as explosive. Justin Smith leads the way on the defensive line. The linebackers are a SICK group led by Patrick Willis, and Eric Reid and Donte Whitner are great at protecting the back end. Can't go wrong in ANY way with the 49ers.

Seattle Seahawks
If you are looking for the most fun defense to play with, look no further. This defense is the perfect balance for anybody. The Seahawks have a very good front 7, led by Bobby Wagner. With that being said, every football fan knows what makes the Seahawks the best defense in the league: the Seattle Seahawks secondary also known as the Legion of Boom. Byron Maxwell, Earl Thomas , Kam Chancellor, and Richard Sherman fly to the ball like no other secondary in the league. They are known to really squeeze and disrupt an offense's gameplan. They can  jam and recover when beaten by a receiver. Being as cohesive as they are , they know when to help each other. What seperates them from a lot of secondary groups is their ability to TACKLE. They can tackle like no other, which is not seen very often in the NFL.

  

New Orleans Saints
Two words to describe the Saints offense: Drew Brees. Throughout his career, Brees has broken single season records and career records. Brees has the record for most consecutive games with at least 1 TD, highest completion percentage, and the most seasons with 5000 yards just to name a few. Plus, with a target like Jimmy Graham, the Saints are at times unstoppable. If you love passing the ball down the field, the Saints are the team to use.

Cleveland Browns
Normally, the Browns would be one of the first teams that you would thinks to use (unless you are a Browns fan). However, in the 2014 NFL Draft, with the 22nd pick the Cleveland Browns drafted a player by the name of Johnny Manziel. So , now the Browns are on the list as a fun team to play for that reason. The thing about Manziel that fans love is his ability to make plays. This guy will make whatever crazy throw, dangerous run, and even tackle just to win the game. Manziel is simply one of a kind. In other words, Manziel will either turn out to be a bust, or a superstar. As for right now, fans should enjoy playing with him as a rookie.