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Last September I joined a program called TWELVE. Through TWELVE, I have had the opportunity to impact youth all over the country by participating in school assemblies, speaking at youth groups, and serving at my local church. TWELVE is nine months of dedication to serving God through ministry and missions trips. Unfortunately, neither are those of free and so I’m asking for your help to pay my tuition. Tuition is originally $4,500 for each student. I have been able to raise money throughout these nine months, so I only have $1,150 to go! Please help me impact America (and Mexico’s) youth!

Ripples from the Splash of Revis' Trade

After long talks and a few bumps in the road, cornerback Darelle Revis signed a six-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Revis passed Tampa Bay’s physical check, but it’s not clear how healthy he will be coming into the season. However, if Revis is able to play at his customary high level at any point, the Bucs backfield will be very imposing. No matter what, this trade will have league-wide implications. Let’s see who will be affected by the ripples of this splash.

First in line is the NFC South, one of the league’s most pass-happy divisions. Back in the AFC East, Revis’ only real challenge of a quarterback was Tom Brady, even though he’ll be happy to be rid of Bills receiver Stevie Johnson and ex-Patriot Wes Welker, who always seemed to be his kryptonite. Revis will now face the likes of Drew Brees/Marques Colston, Matt Ryan/Roddy White, and Cam Newton/Steve Smith twice a year. These new rivals will be a tough test of the veteran corner’s skills, as well as a challenge for the elite quarterbacks within that division. Revis’ presence as the humble, strong leader he’s always been will be a great benefit to the young, maturing Bucs, especially in a backfield that includes young talents like Mark Barron and Eric Wright, and new signee Dashon Goldson. (sidenote: the young safety Barron currently wears number 24, I wonder what Revis will have to do to lure him away from it?)

Tom Brady and the AFC East will also be beneficiaries of this trade, excluding the Jets of course. Revis has been a thorn in the Patriot’s side for years now, and as a fan myself I’m not sad to see him go. The timing of Revis’ departure could not have been better, as Tom Brady will be trying to build chemistry with Danny Amendola and his overhauled receiving corps. The Bills will also appreciate the corner’s absence, coming into the season with a new head coach and questions to answer at the quarterback position (now that their film staff finally turned over all the tape and they released Ryan Fitzpatrick). As for the Dolphins, Ryan Tannehill is probably throwing a party right now.

The Jets will receive their own category here, mainly because I think they deserve something with all the mediocrity in their coming future. With Revis gone, there really are no bright spots on New Jersey’s roster (yes, New Jersey Jets. Just call them what they are). Antonio Cromartie isn’t completely talentless, but much of his success stemmed for quarterbacks’ unwillingness to throw in the direction of Revis, like Larry Brown playing across from Deion Sanders. On the bright side, New Jersey received Tampa Bay’s 2013 first round pick and a conditional pick in 2014. The first round pick (#13) could be used to acquire a young playmaker like Alabama’s Dee Milliner or Washington’s Desmond Trufant. Unfortunately for the Jets, the addition of one or two good players will not save this nose-diving team. Obviously Tebow could save this whole situation, but since Pudgy McPudge III won’t give him a chance, the draft is their next best chance.

Long story short, this trade will have implications that we will continue to see throughout the season. Revis’ arrival immediately makes the rising Bucs better and his old friends in the AFC East won’t miss him. Hopefully this will not deter Tampa Bay from re-signing veteran Ronde Barber, who has certainly earned the right to leave the game on his own terms. Now let’s all join Tim Tebow in a short prayer for the Jet’s season.

Can the Ravens Repeat?

In the NFL’s illustrious history, only seven teams have managed to win back-to-back Super Bowl championships, and the Pittsburgh Steelers managed to pull off this feat two separate times. In the lead-up to every new season we ask ourselves, “Will last year’s champion repeat? What are their chances?” and it’s time to address these questions once again. I may not be pleasantly pre-disposed to  the Ravens (who really is outside of Baltimore?), but even I must acknowledge that they earned every inch of that Lombardi Trophy with some spectacular plays in the big game and throughout the playoffs. So can they repeat? Let’s ponder it together.

The first factor going against Baltimore is their weakened linebacking corps. Most notable is obviously Ray Lewis’ departure from the team and the league overall, the announcement of which inspired the team to finish their season as strong as possible. Even while donning an Anakin Skywalker-esque arm brace, the veteran’s presence was felt in each playoff game with 44 tackles and another seven in the Super Bowl. During free agency, the Ravens then lost 2012 Paul Kruger to the Cleveland Browns and Ray Lewis heir apparent Danell Ellerbe to the Dolphins in the same day. With Jarret Johnson bolting for San Diego (see what I did there?) last season, Baltimore’s linebacker corps is seriously weakened. They will now have to depend on sophomore Courtney Bradshaw, ex-Raider Rolando McClain and a veteran Terrell Suggs who has not been able to return to form after suffering an ACL injury last offseason. The Ravens did manage to sign Elvis Dumervil after his confusing release from the Broncos, and he can provide some front-end relief for inexperienced linebackers.

Baltimore has also been weakened at the safety position with Ed Reed joining the upstart Houston Texans. Reed’s greatness needs no explanation, let’s talk about him anyway. Despite being in his mid-30’s, Reed posted 123 tackles and 15 interceptions in his last three seasons with Ravens. Reed’s signing was a great move by the Texans, who just lost young playmaker Glover Quin to the lure of the enterprising Lions, but now presents Baltimore with questions to be answered. GM Ozzie Newsome attempted to answer these questions quickly though, once again dipping in the Alameda gene pool to sign safety Michael Huff away from the Raiders. It still stands to see how Huff will adjust to a new system though, you might recall a former teammate of Huff’s who was signed by the Eagles a few seasons ago and didn’t necessarily meet expectations.

Now, I know this seems like a lot of negativity, but the Ravens do have a few things going for them. Their Joe Flacco/Ray Rice combination still stands together, and the two are better working with each other every year. Working together as in, when Flacco is throwing interceptions Rice converts a 4^th and 29 to make it all better. Despite trading Anquan Boldin, their leading receiver in yards for the past three seasons and hero of their Super Bowl run, to the 49ers (which makes soooo much sense…) Baltimore can still depend on the playmaking ability of Torrey Smith, who contributed eight touchdowns last season and continues to show a knack for getting open at all the right times. And let’s not forget that all this speculation precedes the Draft, where the Ravens could very well find players to fill every team need.

Ultimately, Baltimore’s chances of hoisting the Lombardi for a second time (or third, technically) are slim. It was a nice storyline last season with everyone rallying to see Ray Lewis off with a second ring, but now too many players have moved on to other teams. However, don’t think this means they’re not contenders. Like the Patriots, who the Ravens have competed against in the past two AFC Championships, it will most likely be a while before they are not in contention for the Lombardi. As a fan of the men in Foxboro though, I’m hoping that day comes sooner than later for John Harbaugh’s boys.