FFF Week 1

NOTE: This wasn't posted until Saturday due to tech issues.

Each week, I will be making five predictions for the upcoming Sunday of NFL action. Three of these will be straight up selections, the fourth will be a best bet, and the fifth will be an upset special (where the underdog will WIN OUTRIGHT, not just cover).

When our show resumes on the radio, I will be including these choices, known from here on out as the FRIDAY FOOTBALL FORECASTS, as a segment on the show. I will only be picking games played on Sunday itself during the regular season in this spot.

So here are my week one selections: only three road teams are favored on Sunday, and I like two of them

Game One: Dallas -5 ½ over Tampa Bay
The Buccaneers decision to tab Byron Leftwich as the starter makes sense because he the most ready among them to win. But his lack of mobility makes him an easy target, and DeMarcus Ware and the Cowboys' defense should register many sacks and pressures. Plus, I think that Tony Romo is tired of hearing about how he won't be as good now that T.O. and Jessica Simpson are gone from his life; I think he makes a big statement against a new Bucs D still trying to get used to life without 'The Full Monty' (as in Kiffin).

Game Two: Minnesota -3 ½ over Cleveland
Most people are viewing this game by focusing on the quarterback situations of both teams: Brett Favre with his new Vikings teammates, and the Derek Anderson/Brady Quinn situation for the Browns. But doing so leads people to miss the more obvious. The Vikings defensive line is superior to the Browns offensive line, especially now that both Pat and Kevin Williams are free to play this entire season without being suddenly suspended in the middle of it. And the Vikings offensive line is superior to the Browns defensive line, meaning Adrian Peterson should push the 200 yard mark. Shockingly low number on this one - jump on it

Game Three: NY Jets +4 ½ over Houston
The Texans have been a trendy pick to grab a wild card spot this season. It makes sense with a healthy Matt Schaub handing the ball to underrated running back Steve Slaton and throwing the ball to maybe the best wide receiver in the league in Andre Johnson. But Schaub is dinged up, and their defense seems a little shaky. I know the Jets have a rookie QB in Sanchez, and they have some issues themselves. Call this my "Special Agent Gibbs" selection - I'm going with my gut (NCIS reference).

Game Four: BEST BET: Arizona -6 ½ over San Francisco
Let me get this straight - the 49ers have Shaun Hill at quarterback, their top WR's are Arnaz Battle and Isaac Bruce, the second best defensive player on their roster is their head coach, and they are less than a touchdown dog at the defending NFC champions? I'd make this selection if the line was 12 ½ - I think its going to be another long year for the Niners.

Game Five: UPSET SPECIAL: Denver winning outright +4 over Cincinnati
To say that Denver has had a rough off-season is being way too kind. But consider: home teams always get 3 points, so if this game were neutral site, they Bengals would be a 1 point favorite - virtually a pick 'em. Something tells me that the Broncos are going to play with a bit of an edge - mainly because their defense is still pretty good, especially with the addition of Brian Dawkins to the secondary. As a result, I have no confidence that Carson Palmer, with limited mobility, and the Bengals will score a lot of points. This feels like a first team to 13 points wins kind of game. The Broncos will do just enough to pull it out.

Enjoy the Sunday games everyone.

SHOW ALERT: Status is now 'On Hiatus'

If you've been looking for our radio show the last couple of weeks, let me first of all thank you for wanting to listen to the show and secondly apologize for not being there to provide that programming for you.

Due to financial issues (which I will speak out on my personal blog) I have been unable to continue financing the show myself in terms of a location to host the show from and also to pay for the time on the network itself.

As a result, we are currently 'On Hiatus' until my financial situation resolves itself. I have been given assurances that the resolution to my situation is set to be completed imminently. Until it does, I cannot do the show.

My hope is to jump on with new shows as of Monday September 21st. Please check here for more updates, and thanks so much for your support.

By the way, if you or someone you know wants to talk about advertising opportunities geared towards helping me get back 'on-the-air', please feel free to contact me via e-mail at this address: moncriefinthemorning@gmail.com

Moving through our first week

Hey there - so as we get ready for the end of our first week of episodes of Moncrief in the Morning, we are optimistic about working through some of our continuing technical bug-a-boos and increasing the quality of shows next week and beyond.

Not that we haven't had great segments this week, because we certainly have. None better than those of our guests. Just look at this list from this week so far:

- MONDAY: author Marty Appel of the NY Times Best-seller MUNSON: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain; University of Louisiana Monroe football coach Charlie Weatherby; and hockey correspondent Courtney Ports.
- TUESDAY: no guests, but an establishment of our philosophy, influences, and ideals for our show
- WEDNESDAY: Back on track with guests like Heidi Androl of Kingsvision on the upcoming Hockey Fest '09 in Los Angeles; boxing correspondent Ivan Jones.
- THURSDAY: Golf World magazine writer Ryan Herrington on the PGA Championship; college football correspondent Chris Griffin.

And for tomorrow's finale of the first week, we present two more guests: Daryl Evans, radio game analyst for the Los Angeles Kings; Jennifer Colli, college basketball correspondent.

Next week, we'll bring on our correspondents: Christopher Kerr on the NFL; Bradley Weber on Auto Racing; Ray Manukay, my Sunday Tailgate co-host, on baseball; and more.

We're also trying to get you involved in the show. Beginning tomorrow, you can comment on what we're talking about by sending us an e-mail. All you do is send the e-mail to moncriefinbox@gmail.com - be sure to put your name and city plus the topic in the Subject line, and we'll read the best ones on the air during the show!

In the coming weeks, we'll also launch a live chat room during our broadcasts, and we'll be putting up clips of specific interviews from the show. If you missed any of this week's shows, be sure to log onto to the Sports Journey website and click the 'Archives' section to listen to one our shows in its entirety.

Also, we will soon be launching Facebook and Twitter pages as well, so stay tuned for those announcements. I thank all of you for your feedback on the show so far.

Monday August 10th scheduled guests

Hey everyone, we're excited about Monday's launch of the sports radio program Moncrief in the Morning. We can be heard live every morning from 9AM-noon eastern Time - that's 6-9AM here in Los Angeles. You can find us on the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. Remember, you can also hear the show in its entirety on tape-delay by logging onto the Sports Journey website and clicking the 'Past Shows' tab.

This Monday, our line-up of guests is very impressive, and includes a preview of six college football teams preparing for the 2009 season, as part of a comprehensive series of previews of all 120 FBS teams:

- UL Monroe, head football coach Charlie Weatherbie (pictured left) will join us live (photo courtesy ULM Athletic Department)
- UL Lafayette, previewed by Josh Parrott of the Lafayette Daily Advertiser
- Middle Tennessee, previewed by radio play-by-play man Chip Walters
- North Texas, preview by Brett Vito of the Denton Record Chronicle
- Troy, preview by radio play-by-play man Barry McKnight
- Western Kentucky, previewed by Nick Baumgardner of the Bowling Green Daily News

And our featured guest on Monday morning is Marty Appel, author of the new book:


The book is currently on The New York Times Bestseller list, and recalls Munson's career and life, which tragically ended in a fatal plane crash 30 years ago last week.

So its full first show on Monday morning, and we hope you'll join us. Later this week, we'll continue to have numerous college football preview interviews with beat writers and broadcasters from around the country, and even a few coaches here and there. Also on Tuesday morning, Ed Berliner from Stone Cold Sports.com will join us; on Wednesday morning we'll talk hockey with Dan Rosen of NHL.com; and Thursday morning we'll preview the PGA Championship with Ryan Harrington of Golf World magazine.

Remember, live or archive, Moncrief in the Morning can be heard exclusively on the Sports Journey Broadcast Network.

Welcome to the home of Moncrief in the Morning

Greetings - the time is finally close at hand. After seemingly more delays than NASA during a space launch gone awry, the kinks have been worked out and there are no more excuses.

This Monday morning, August 10, 2009, the Sports Journey Broadcast Network resumes its programming schedule. This is highlighted by the debut of Moncrief in the Morning, a brand new three-hour sports radio talk show airing weekdays from 9AM until noon Eastern Time.

My name is Jon Moncrief, and I will be your host for this daily three hour excursion through the world of sports. In the coming days, I'll be posting information about our scheduled guests and topics, as well as a list of our correspondents and update anchors who will be helping me with the show.

I'm thrilled to be a part of the Sports Journey Broadcast Network family, and I'm looking forward to bringing you the best sports talk show on the planet. So be sure to check back here often for updates, and be sure to listen to us Monday through Friday mornings on the Sports Journey Broadcast Network!