Rob Q. Ink - A Philly Sports Blog

Early this season the National Football League put out a commercial poking fun at conspiracy theories that their games are fixed or the season is scripted. Doth thou protest too much? I was sent two conspiracy theories about the NFL last week. The first came completely unsolicited from someone I know quite well who has posted about at least one other conspiracy theory on social media. The other came from a buddy after I mentioned the first message to him. The first message was a link to an Instagram video with a voiceover saying that “former NFL superstar and Super Bowl 37 winner, Dwight Smith, admitted in a sports radio interview that the winner of major NFL games are predetermined by the league and that both teams know literally every play that the other team will run[.] [A]s he puts it the games aren’t decided on the field.” The video also says that Smith stated “that the NFL picks teams for the Super Bowls for the storylines they will generate.” The voiceover concludes saying th

Just three games remain in the NFL season. It’s conference championship weekend. I wasn’t sure I’d make it this far giving my picks in college football and the NFL. Admittedly, I had to take a two-week break to clear my head at the end of a tough regular season as I let my pick on Michigan to win the college football championship ride. But with three straight winning weeks, including going 2-1 for +$115 last weekend, I’m 4-3 for +$345 in the New Year. For the season, I’m actually at my high-water mark at +$148.48 despite a record of 30-49-3. A couple weeks ago, I went with the voices of my commenters, taking the Buccaneers on the money line to eke out a winning week. Last week, I held my ground after a couple commenters sided with the Bills, going with the Chiefs (after a bit of a nod via text from Angry Mike) on the money line to get another winning week. A half point non-cover by the 49ers, which I noted fearing, cost me Saturday’s teaser that included the Ravens and a huge weekend

Jon Marks is the latest Philadelphia sports talker to launch his own podcast . The former drive-time host on WIP, who was also on The Fanatic, joins Harry Mayes , Jason Myrtetus , and Mike Missanelli , in leaving one of the local sports talk stations for various reasons and starting their own podcast. To quote the once familiar Mayes sound drop, “What is going on back there?” This topic really caught my attention when I started noticing Stephen A. Smith’s YouTube show / podcast on the home screen when I’d go on the site. Smith is often described as the face of ESPN. I believe he makes a ton of money. Why would he do his own podcast? Now, I heard Dan Le Batard, a former ESPN guy doing his own thing (I believe), say Smith’s contract is coming to an end and suggested he might want to have some leverage – my word, but that’s what he was saying. (I don’t buy it, but I guess it makes sense.) I’ve been blogging at different levels of regularity for almost 20 years. At one point, I w

My readers / commenters deserve ALL the credit for my picks ending up at +$15 last week. I went 1-2, winning with only the Bucs, who Angry Mike was on as a lock, and JZ liked them as well. I’ll admit, I was leaning the other way,  and those guys swayed me. I actually probably went too big last week, putting $100 on the Cowboys and the money line with the Bucs. (And, of course, I lost a parlay throwing in the Packers, because losing parlays is apparently what I do. Unbelievable!) Don’t bet grumpy! I’ve said it all season, ladies and gentlemen. These posts are about having some fun, putting thoughts on games out there, and trying to beat the books together. I’m no expert . . . if anyone tells you they are, they’re lying . . . and I love hearing from readers looking to join the conversation – on these posts and all my posts. (Especially when I make money listening to you!!) In fact, my last post,  Fire Sirianni? , has generated some debate  –  feel free to add your two cents! This wee

Would you fire Nick Sirianni? The Eagles collapse ended with a Wild Card playoff loss last night in Tampa Bay, 32-9. From 10-1 to 11-6, the Birds went from Super Bowl contender to a team in disarray. Symbolic of the seemingly inexplicable 1-5 finish plus a one-and-done playoff was the sudden change of defensive coordinators – a panic moved that accomplished nothing. The Eagles were buried by Troy Aikman and Joe Buck for a lack of effort on the Monday Night Football last night. At one point, Aikman said that even the body language looked bad for the Birds. I have to think that will rankle Eagles owner Jeff Lurie, a guy who desperately wants to be seen as the mastermind of an elite franchise. Legitimate injury excuses exist. The Eagles defense was peppered with injuries most of the season. Suggestions are out there that Jalen Hurts is banged up more than has been reported. Sirianni has also had a lot of success early on. He had the best record of any new Eagles head coach through

I finished the college football season with a nice 1-0 week for +$215 as Michigan took the championship. My best pick of the year, the win got me out of the red on the blog for the season, leaving me at +18.48. A frustrating total to say the least. Alas, the NFL playoffs are calling. Of course, I can’t watch all of the NFL playoff games this weekend because the league decided to up its game in screwing fans by putting Saturday night’s Dolphins - Chiefs matchup exclusively on NBC’s streaming service, Peacock. It was pathetic watching Mike Tirico, the reputable broadcaster, doing the Sunday Night Football season finale call it historic that the game would be on Peacock. Hearing his partner Cris Collinsworth telling viewers to get the service right away so they don’t have worry about it Saturday night was about par for the course – do we really expect better from him? I get it. They work for NBC. They were told to play it up. The words “historic” or “making history” weren’t off the cuff.