Top 10 NFL Logos

Honorable Mention: Dallas Cowboys: Since 1964, the Dallas Cowboys have left their logo untouched, and the Dallas star is a clear symbol of this billion dollar franchise. "America's Team" has won 5 Super Bowls starting in 1971, and throughout the highs and lows, their logo stayed the same. The Dallas star originates from Texas' nickname,"The Lone Star State", and is regarded as one of the most well-known logos in all of sports. Everything is bigger in Texas, or so the saying goes, but in this case, the Dallas Cowboys believe a simple logo is the way to go.

10. Indianapolis Colts: It may be an extremely simple design, but the horseshoe seen on Indianapolis' helmet is a perfect symbol of the Colts franchise. The blue-and-white combination looks great on the uniforms, and the logo is not too overwhelming. Apart from a slight tweaking to the logo in 2002, the Indianapolis Colts have left the horseshoe virtually untouched since 1984. The simplicity and history associated with Indianapolis' logo makes it well deserving of the tenth spot on our countdown.

9. Philadelphia Eagles: In 1996, the Philadelphia Eagles organization transformed their logo from a realistic eagle clutching a football in its talons, to a cartoon version of a bald eagle's head. Despite its cartoony design, the Eagles' intimidating glare makes this logo a masterpiece. The silver and green go well together, and just like the insanely popular app Angry Birds, this bird is here to stay.

8. San Diego Chargers: After their logo featured the San Diego Chargers helmet from 1974 to 2001, the San Diego organization decided to simplify things by transitioning to a lone lightning bolt. Originally, the bolt was white with a yellow outline, but in 2007, the bolt turned yellow with different shades of blue lining the edges. Whatever a "Charger" may be, the yellow and blue lightning bolt is a perfect symbol of this electric San Diego franchise.

7. Green Bay Packers: In 1961, or so the story goes, legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi asked his equipment manager for a team logo, and the result was the Packers "G". The "G" stands for Green Bay, and its shape supposedly models after the irregular shape of a football. The green and yellow was not added to Green Bay's logo until 1980. The Packers organization have their design heavily copyrighted, as they believe their design is one of the best in sports. I love the story associated with this logo, and the colors look extraordinary as they outline the Green Bay "G".

6. Oakland Raiders: After changing their logo three times in five years, the Oakland Raiders finally found their logo in 1964 that is the same general design seen on the uniforms today. Al Davis changed the color scheme to black and silver, and after several minor changes, the logo consisted of a silver pirate wearing Oakland's helmet. In contrast with the silver pirate was a black shield, where the word "Raiders" was etched at the top. The general design has been left untouched for close to 50 years, and is regarded as one of the best in the National Football League.

5. Atlanta Falcons: The top 5. This is where we start to analyze some of the best logos in sports. The Atlanta Falcons logo shows a red and black hawk soaring through the air, talons at the ready. This falcon is shaped like the letter "F", a creative addition to an already fantastic logo. The red and black duo looks absolutely fantastic, and this logo is clearly deserving of a top 5 spot.

4. Minnesota Vikings: For the first time since 1966, the Minnesota Vikings organization has decided to modify their logo. Though the changes are rather small, the bold black streaks through theViking's hair adds a certain crispness to this logo. Purple and gold is a unique color tandem in the National Football League, and the designer of this particular logo had some creativity in order to successfully include both colors into the design. Though I like the current Minnesota helmets that just feature two horns on either side, these logos are too good to not be seen on every helmet.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers: In 1969, a Republic Steel based in Cleveland recommended to the Steelers organization that they adopt the industry logo. This logo features three astroids, where the three different colors represent the the ingredients needed to make steel; red for iron ore, blue for scrap steel, and yellow to make coal. The original industry logo had the word steel inscribed inside, but Steelers gained permission to add E-R-S to their brand new logo. Unlike other logos in the league, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a complicated story behind the symbol of their franchise, which is why the Pittsburgh Steelers logo ranks number three on our list.

2. Detroit Lions: The Detroit Lions' logo is very straightforward; an intimidating lion on its hind legs, ready to do battle. Minor details were added in 2009 to this logo, which clearly makes the logo look more realistic. Though I am sure there is no such thing as a blue lion living in the wild, the "honolulu-blue" mixed with white makes this logo a tasteful masterpiece. The minor changes in 2009 helped this logo sky-rocket upwards in terms of popularity, and with only one logo left to be named in our countdown, the Lions organization should be happy with a number two ranking.

1. Denver Broncos: Though I am a huge fan of the Denver Broncos logo from the 70s and 80s, today's logo is the best in all of football. The glistening orange mane incorporates Denver's primary color, while the blue shadows streaking through its white hair includes the secondary color. Since the logo was introduced by the franchise in 1997, this particular logo has been one of my favorites in all of sports. The grimacing look of sheer determination seen on the Broncos face represents the kind of attitude organizations look for in their players. I would not be surprised if some people do not agree with my first choice, so be sure to comment your rankings in the comment section below.

NFL Free Agency: Day 3 Recap

Darren Sproles Traded to Eagles: Widely considered to be the most versatile running back in all of football, Darren Sproles has now been traded to Philadelphia from his team of three years. The Eagles acquiring Sproles is somewhat surprising because they already have All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy. At 30 years old, the Eagles will have to pay the $3.5 million left on Sproles' contract for one season, but Chip Kelly appears to be content with his recent acquisition.

Vince Wilfork Asks to be Released by Pats: Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork has asked the New England Patriots, a franchise that he has played for throughout his career, to be released. The New England Patriots were looking to re-negotiate his contract after an injury to the Achilles cost him the majority of the 2013 season. Wilfork did not take the news well. A five-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champion, Vince Wilfork may still have trouble finding eligible suitors due to the likeliness of future injuries.

Justin Tuck Accepts Deal from Raiders: The Oakland Raiders are looking to improve their weak pass rush by acquiring former New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck. This two-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion will make $11 million over the course of two years. After back-to-back seasons with single-digit sacks, Tuck recorded 11 sacks in 2013, so the Oakland Raiders are now looking to improve from their 38 sacks in 2013.

Steve Smith Officially Cut By Panthers: After 13 seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Steve Smith has officially been cut from the Panthers' roster. It is rumored that the Panthers looked to dump the 34 year old receiver in order to require a younger Hakeem Knicks.

Future HOF James Harrison Cut: After the Cincinnati Bengals picked up James Harrison just one-year ago, the Bengals have decided to drop this aging star in order to look for more youthful talent. Despite his great years in Pittsburgh, Harrison recorded just 2 sacks and 30 tackles despite playing in 15 games in 2013.

Other Storylines: Chris Johnson will reportedly take a pay cut in order to leave Tennessee, Ted Ginn joins Cardinals under a three-year contract, Brandon Browners is rumored to have reached an agreement with New England, and LaMarr Woodley joins Justin Tuck in Oakland.

Many thanks to all the @Bengals fans for your support over the last year - I had a great time in Cincinnati.
— James Harrison (@jharrison9292) March 13, 2014

Text from Justin Tuck: "Done deal." He's an Oakland Raider.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2014

College Football-NFL Comparisons: Johnny Manziel

        I've been waiting to write this one for a while now, as a good debate surrounding Manziel fires me up like it does any college football enthusiast. Say what you want about Manziel, (and everyone takes this liberty), he is going to play a game for a living and make a lot of money doing it. I am not very interested in the off the field stuff (some NFL scouts reportedly are) but I, like most anyone with even a passing interest in football, am enormously intrigued by Manziel as a player. Because, amazingly, the debate does not stop when Manziel steps on the field. People remain divided about him, even as a player, and many question his NFL success. Jaworski, for one, "wouldn't take Manziel in the first three rounds." But the kid won a Heisman for Pete's sake. So of course there is much debate about his ability to perform, but chances are he will go early, some say fifth overall to the Raiders. I see this happening, easily, and when Manziel goes to the NFL I could see him playing like a Doug Flutie.

        Flutie's career was fragmented and short of stellar, but of course he owns some serious college fame and was a great collegiate player. This can undoubtedly be said about Manziel as well, but taken on its own would be a very weak comparison. There are several reasons I join others (specifically, NFL.com) in drawing this comparison: Flutie was mobile as anyone, shocking defenses with his ability to extend plays, move in and out of the pocket, and throw on the run. Manziel and Flutie are incredibly similar in this regard: They make a great highlight reel, with the occasional truly outstanding play, one that runs on Sportscenter for easily a year. Evading and frustrating defensive lines, showing explosive speed and outstanding athleticism, and capping it off with some sort of ridiculous, off balance throw ten seconds after the ball was snapped. Both also exhibit very solid arm strength, and even in the pocket throw a fairly accurate ball downfield, especially down the sideline. Manziel, of course, hopes to have a more prominent run than Flutie in the NFL, perhaps sans the Canadian stints. It should be fun to watch him play professional football, and I recommend you get used to hearing the talk about him, because sometimes it seems that's all we do.

Week 13 Predictions (Thanksgiving Day)

On Thanksgiving Day, you eat an abundance of food, spend time with your family, listen to this strange stories from your weird Uncle Joe, and give thanks for all that you have; however, one of the greatest traditions of Thanksgiving is the football being played throughout the day. This year, the games  are not quite as good as in years past, but they are still worth watching in a day filled with food and laughter. The NFL Report wishes all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Packers @ Lions: This game would be ten times more interesting if Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was in the starting lineup, but it seems as though Matt Flynn will be the starting quarterback for Green Bay for the first time since December 31, 2011. Last Sunday, Flynn replaced an injured Scott Tolzien, where Flynn overcame a 16 point deficit, eventually tying the game and sending it into overtime. In the end Green Bay tied the game, but Matt Flynn's comeback was a good sign for Packers fans. Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions have lost back to back games, where their most recent loss came against the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The passing game is clearly the strength of this team, where the connection between Stafford and Calvin Johnson is by far the best in the NFL. Already tempers are flaring between these two teams, where Green Bay Packers lineman Josh Sitton accused Detroit's defense of taking "cheap shots all the time." These division rivals clearly do not like one another, so we can expect a decent amount of drama on Thanksgiving. A minor side note: Tomorrow marks the two year anniversary for Ndamukong Suh's infamous stomp against the Packers in 2011.
Prediction: Lions over Packers 31-17

"Their entire defense takes cheap shots all the time. That's what they do. That's who they are" - Packers Josh Sitton on the Lions defense
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 27, 2013

Raiders @ Cowboys: This game between the Cowboys and the Raiders appears to be somewhat of a mismatch, where the 4-7 Raiders are taking on the NFC-East leading Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys are coming off of an emotional victory over their division rivals, the New York Giants. Even though many accuse Tony Romo of choking in the clutch, he was able to drive down the field, setting up a game winning field goal as time expired by kicker Dan Bailey. Dallas' defense this season has been atrocious, ranking 30th overall in passing yards allowed and 31st in the league in rushing yards allowed. The Oakland Raiders are 1-3 in their last four games, one of which was a loss against the New York Giants. With quarterback Terrelle Pryor still injured, the Raiders will have Matt McGloin start on Thanksgiving against the Cowboys. The Cowboys are the clear favorites in this matchup; if Dallas ends up losing tomorrow, they are completely undeserving of a spot in the playoffs.
Prediction: Cowboys over Raiders 28-14

Steelers @ Ravens: The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens were the best of rivals throughout the start of the 21st century. But the rivalry is no longer the same, where both teams are aging, and several key players have either left or retired. Both Baltimore and Pittsburgh are 5-6 in 2013, so a win on Thanksgiving will keep the playoff hopes alive. Ray Rice, who served as the core of Baltimore's offense during their Super Bowl run, has rushed for just 470 yards with 4 touchdowns in 2013, averaging 2.9 yards per carry. Even quarterback Joe Flacco is having a down season, which is worrisome considering the Ravens signed him to a six year deal worth $120.6 million. After starting the season with a 0-4 record, the Pittsburgh Steelers have truly turned their game around, as their record stands at 5-2 in the past 7 games. I only wish this game took place 5 years ago on Thanksgiving Day, back when both teams were fierce competitors in the AFC North. In 2013, however, these two aging teams will do battle so they can remain in playoff contention.
Prediction: Steelers over Ravens 30-27 (OT)

2012 NFL Predictions (AFC West)

1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6): If not for several injuries to key players in 2011, the Chiefs would have had a chance at making the playoffs for the second year in a row. Stars Eric Berry and Jamaal Charles return from season ending injuries, and will only help the Chiefs record in 2012. On paper, Kansas City has one of the best teams in the NFL, and will dominate the not-so-talented AFC West.

Jamaal Charles

Week 1: Falcons @ Chiefs L

Week 2: Bills @ Chiefs L

Week 3: Chiefs @ Saints L

Week 4: Chargers @ Chiefs W

Week 5: Ravens @ Chiefs W

Week 6: Chiefs @ Buccaneers W

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: Raiders @ Chiefs W

Week 9: Chiefs @ Chargers L

Week 10: Chiefs @ Steelers L

Week 11: Bengals @ Chiefs W

Week 12: Chiefs @ Broncos W

Week 13: Panthers @ Chiefs W

Week 14: Chiefs @ Browns W

Week 15: Chiefs @ Raiders W

Week 16: Colts @ Chiefs W

Week 17: Chiefs @ Broncos L

2. San Diego Chargers (10-6): After winning the divisional championship four years in a row ('06-'09), the Chargers missed a spot in the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Philip Rivers had a disappointing 2011 run (by his standards), passing for a career-high 20 interceptions as well as unable to lead his team into the playoffs. Now that his favorite target in Vincent Jackson has left for sunny Tampa, Rivers is left with Malcolm Floyd, Robert Meachem, and Eddie Royal (still a great receiving corp). The Chargers drafted linebacker Melvin Ingram in order to enhance their all round defense. Head coach Norv Turner is on the hot seat, and yet another unsuccessful season would not be good for his job.

Ryan Mathews

Week 1: Chargers @ Raiders L

Week 2: Titans @ Chargers W

Week 3: Falcons @ Chargers L

Week 4: Chargers @ Chiefs L

Week 5: Chargers @ Saints L

Week 6: Broncos @ Chargers W

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: Chargers @ Browns W

Week 9: Chiefs @ Chargers W

Week 10: Chargers @ Buccaneers W

Week 11: Chargers @ Broncos L

Week 12: Ravens @ Chargers W

Week 13: Bengals @ Chargers L

Week 14: Chargers @ Steelers W

Week 15: Panthers @ Chargers W

Week 16: Chargers @ Jets W

Week 17: Raiders @ Chargers W

3. Denver Broncos (8-8): Possibly the biggest question entering Week 1 is how Peyton Manning will play with one year removed from the NFL. According to Manning, the neck is not feeling 100%, something the Broncos are not happy to here from their million-dollar-man. In 2010, he may have put up obscene statistics, but the Colts went just 10-6. It would be hard to convince me that a neck injury at age 36 will help improve his play dramatically enough to make the playoffs once again. The defense has its stars, but overall would not be considered a top 10 squad. Denver: Manning will not be able to solve all of your problems.   

Von Miller

Week 1: Steelers @ Broncos W

Week 2: Broncos @ Falcons L

Week 3: Texans @ Broncos W

Week 4: Raiders @ Broncos W

Week 5: Broncos @ Patriots L

Week 6: Broncos @ Chargers L

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: Saints @ Broncos W

Week 9: Broncos @ Bengals L

Week 10: Broncos @ Panthers L

Week 11: Chargers @ Broncos W

Week 12: Broncos @ Chiefs L

Week 13: Buccaneers @ Broncos W

Week 14: Broncos @ Raiders L

Week 15: Broncos @ Ravens L

Week 16: Browns @ Broncos W

Week 17: Chiefs @ Broncos W

4. Oakland Raiders (6-10): If only Darren McFadden could just stay HEALTHY! In the seven games in which he played last season, McFadden averaged 5.4 yards per carry before suffering a Lisfranc fracture in Week 7. Oakland also lost their longtime GM AL Davis, who died at age 82 from heart complications. The Raiders organization is not quite stable enough to make a deep playoff run, especially if their defense and passing game do not improve.

Shane Lechler

Week 1: Chargers @ Raiders W
Week 2: Raiders @ Dolphins L
Week 3: Steelers @ Raiders L
Week 4: Raiders @ Broncos L
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: Raiders @ Falcons L
Week 7: Jaguars @ Raiders W
Week 8: Raiders @ Chiefs L
Week 9: Buccaneers @ Raiders W
Week 10: Raiders @ Ravens L
Week 11: Saints @ Raiders W
Week 12: Raiders @ Bengals L
Week 13: Browns @ Raiders W
Week 14: Broncos @ Raiders W
Week 15: Chiefs @ Raiders L
Week 16: Raiders @ Panthers L
Week 17: Raiders @ Chargers L

Preseason: Players to Watch (AFC West)

Denver Broncos: QB Peyton Manning: Quite possibly the most dominant quarterback of the 21st century is no longer a member of the Indianapolis Colts, but instead a Denver Bronco. It will be odd to see Manning wearing orange and blue on Sundays, after 14 years of playing under the Lucas Oil lights. Peyton missed all of 2011 due to a neck injury, and though he feels 100%, we will not be sure until Manning plays in a few preseason games. Nearly 41,000 fans showed up to watch Manning scrimmage, so clearly he is on every one's mind in Denver. It will be interesting to see how Manning plays in the final three competitions.

Peyton Manning (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) 

San Diego Chargers: LB Melvin Ingram: The 18th overall pick is in my top 5 for the most talented defensive players coming out of the 2012 draft, and the San Diego Chargers are lucky to have him on their roster. San Diego was smart in moving him to the linebacker position over defensive end, for he has size identical to Patrick Willis and Ray Lewis. At DE, Ingram's height and weight would put him at a disadvantage when squaring off against a 6'5", 300 pound offensive lineman. Ingram set the school record for the most sacks in a single season while a Gamecock, and should improve San Diego's struggling pass rush. I have high hopes for Ingram in 2012, and I recommend keeping an eye out for this future star.

Kansas City Chiefs: NT Dontari Poe: Many, including myself, were skeptical about nose tackle Dontari Poe. Out of Memphis, Poe was not expected to be taken ahead of the third round, let alone the first 32 picks. However, after a monster draft combine, he got scouts everywhere in a tizzy. Kansas City were the buyers of Poe's draft day stock, and were later disappointed by his mediocre play. Head coach Romoeo Crennel said about Poe, "He needs to work on technique, he needs to work on understanding the system, he needs to get the calls correct all the time. He's got a ways to go." Dontari Poe isn't even a starter entering the regular season, unless he is able to change that in the preseason games.

Oakland Raiders: RB Darren McFadden: The raiders running back has had extreme difficulty staying healthy throughout the duration of a season. McFadden averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2011, on track to get 1,403 rushing yards and 9 rushing TDs, both career highs. At age 24, McFadden has the potential to be one of the league’s best backs. All four of his season’s spent in the NFL were incomplete due to injury, and the preseason will show if he has enough in the tank to play all 16 games.

Top 10 NFL Logos: Oakland Raiders

6. After changing their logo three times in five years, the Oakland Raiders finally found their logo in 1964 that is the same general design seen on the uniforms today. Al Davis changed the color scheme to black and silver, and after several minor changes, the logo consisted of a silver pirate wearing Oakland's helmet. In contrast with the silver pirate was a black shield, where the word "Raiders" was etched at the top. The general design has been left untouched for close to 50 years, and is regarded as one of the best in the National Football League.