With Alex Smith being traded to the Washington Redskins, Kirk Cousins' time in Washington is running on fumes. Cousins and Smiths both have identical stats in particular areas; both are comparable in completion percentage (Smith completed 67.5% while Cousins completed 64.3% in 2017), pass touchdowns (26 for Cousins, 27 for Smith), and passing yards (Smith had 4,042 passing yards, while Cousins had 4,093). However, Smith is older and is a riskier option for Washington. As for Cousins, here's where he can land.

• Denver Broncos: The Broncos collapsed this season in part to their offense being non-existent. It was their quarterback play that did them in, so Cousins would be a fit here. Even Von Miller's on board, saying that "Cousins would put us over the edge."
• Jacksonville Jaguars: There has been discussion about the Jaguars' need for a quarterback for most of the season. However, the Jaguars don't have much cap space to work with, so they'll need to free up some space. There's also the Blake Bortles factor, in which he played much better in the later stages of the season.
  
• Arizona Cardinals: Like the Jaguars, the Cardinals will need to free up some cap space if they want Cousins. There is a great amount of certainty surrounding one of the league's oldest rosters, with Larry Fitzgerald contemplating retirement.
• Buffalo Bills: If the Bills want to take the next step, they'll have to figure out what's going to happen with Tyrod Taylor. If Taylor's gone, Cousins can be a viable option for Buffalo.
• Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings got by with Case Keenum to the point of reaching the NFC Championship. Minnesota has a great set of receivers and skill players for Cousins to work with. They also have enough cap room to pay Cousins.
• New York Jets: If the Jets don't draft a quarterback, they can always make a play for Cousins. New York hasn't had a quality quarterback in ages, so Cousins can be the breath of fresh air for Gang Green (or he can be another casualty in East Rutherford).

I am experiencing many changes in my life this year, starting with my internship. But that's not all I have to expect! This Monday, I will post on my website what I have planned for the future! In the meantime, enjoy some of the greatest Super Bowl moments of all time!

 So I have some exciting news!! I applied to graduate for school last week, putting a saga of learning in a scholarly setting to a near close (at least for now). Part of me is excited to finally get out into the real world and experience new settings and ideas. Part of me is saddened that my experience is coming to an end.

I know where I want to move out to and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get out of the snowy trenches of Michigan. Some reasons include getting away from the snow and taking a break from friends and family in order to meet new friends elsewhere. However, what is there to do with my degree? What can I do to earn as much income as humanly possible?

There are some careers that I can go into such as a social media manager and public relations. I'd want a job that can get me the optimal work experience and with reasonable pay. According to payscale.com, being an executive producer and a social media manager are the top two jobs with regards to my communication degree.

As for the show, I'm hoping to take this to iTunes and get more content to the viewers. I'm also looking to add a new section to my website where I show you a bit of what's going on with my podcast. I also would like to release an eBook in the future, mainly serving as a satirical tutorial on how to build a winning fantasy sports team.

As of right now, I'm just looking to graduate and look for a job where I can relocate and start a new life. Here's hoping that the future holds great things for me!!

As a fan, have you ever expressed regret over not picking a particular player in the draft? Sometimes, there are athletes that teams will pass up, not realizing that said athlete will become a superstar one day. It's not the team's fault; you can't see into the future to find out if that athlete's a bust or a star. But there will always be that lingering regret fans will have about their teams missing the boat on a particular star. I might've passed up some players on this list, but there wasn't enough room to fit them all in. Here's a list of some athletes that teams shouldn't have passed up:

• Tom Brady: 6th round, pick #199: The obvious start to the list, Brady has had a multitude of accomplishments in his career. On the cusp of becoming a six-time Super Bowl champion, Brady has four Super Bowl MVPs, 13 First-team All-Pros, two NFL MVPs, and other achievements to his name. Brady has never had a losing season at quarterback on top of that. Talk about the Patriots scoring big.
• Aaron Rodgers: 1st round, pick #24: Yes, Rodgers was a first-round pick in the 2005 draft. However, there were a plethora of teams needing a quarterback who could've taken Rodgers earlier in the round that didn't. The Packers wound up getting him and ended up winning a Super Bowl with the two-time NFL MVP under center.
• Steve Smith: 3rd round, pick #74: Seen as an undersized receiver out of Utah, Smith was passed up by everyone in the 2001 NFL Draft before eventually going to Carolina. He ended up going to five Pro Bowls and was a two-time First-team All-Pro as well as being named the NFL Comeback Player of the year in 2005. In 2001, Smith was also the first rookie to make the Pro Bowl as a special teams player since Tyrone Hughes in 1993.
• Randy Moss: 1st round, pick #21: Many teams during the 1998 NFL Draft saw Randy Moss as a potential troublemaker due to his legal issues, thus passing him up despite having needs at wide receiver. The Vikings wound up picking Moss, who wound up being the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1998. He led the NFL in receiving touchdowns five separate times, made six Pro Bowls, and was a four-time First-team All-Pro.
• Michael Strahan: 2nd round, pick #40: Strahan wasn't much of a thought during the early rounds of the 1993 NFL Draft before the Giants picked him up in the second round. Strahan went on to win a Super Bowl, make seven Pro Bowls, lead the NFL in sacks twice, be named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2001, and be a four-time First-Team All-Pro.

Usually, the MLB offseason is ripe with big names going to different teams. Teams fill their needs by signing superstars in order to take the next step towards winning the World Series. However, this offseason seems a little peculiar. There isn't much in the line of free agent signings. In fact, the bigger story for the offseason has been the trades that have went down.

You can blame Scott Boras for asking teams to pay outrageous prices for his clients. You can blame most contending teams having a need at one particular position filled (see Eric Hosmer). But one major reason for the stagnant action is next year's free agent class.

The free agent class of 2018-2019 will feature names like Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Charlie Blackmon, Josh Donaldson, and even Clayton Kershaw if he opts out of his current deal. That's just the icing on the cake. There will be plenty of all-stars on the list that teams will be shaking their dollars at in order to bolster their World Series chances.

So while current free agents like Hosmer and Yu Darvish have to sit back and wait for a suitor, next year's class will be expecting big bucks from willing teams. Thus is the reason why teams are shying away from picking up these free agents. If teams like the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox spend money on the current crop of free agents, they won't have enough money to spend on next year's class without encountering MLB's luxury tax.

There's a realistic possibility that many of these free agents won't be with a team when spring training rolls around. There's also a good chance that many of the current free agents will get discounted deals. Whatever the case, next year's free agent class is already having an impact.

Who would've thought that the Detroit Pistons would start the season hot? The Pistons moved to downtown Detroit this season, bringing with them a 10-3 start that included wins over Minnesota and a road win against the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors. Their start had raised eyebrows among NBA analysts, writers, and media members alike.

Now? They've fallen on hard times with a five-game losing streak and are currently sitting on the outside looking in with regards to the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Their home loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday dropped the Pistons below .500 for the first time this season. The Pistons are 3-4 in games decided by three points or less, showing an inability to get the edge on opponents.

So should the Pistons forge on and continue their quest for a playoff spot or should they tank it like the Philadelphia 76ers did for the past few years? It's tough being stuck inside lower-seed purgatory, especially when you know you aren't going to last in the first round by the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Boston Celtics.

With that being said, what Stan Van Gundy and the Pistons should do is scrap the team and start from scratch. While the lottery isn't a 'slam dunk' with regards to the number one pick, the Pistons will be getting high draft picks if they tank. Cleveland is on its last legs, but teams like Boston and Philadelphia are starting to emerge in the Eastern Conference. If the Pistons go on the current route of the lower-seed abyss, they'll end being in what I call the "Wading in the Average" style. This style is where a team only aspires to be knocked out of the first round of the NBA playoffs or just misses the postseason altogether.

One other reason why the Pistons should tank it is going to sting a little for Detroit lovers and Piston fans alike. While the new arena does look nice and is a major cog in Detroit's revitalization, the Motor City isn't exactly a sexy destination to go to. At least, when Detroit's being compared to the likes of Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, or the Bay Area. The one thing the NBA does well that many other sports leagues don't is market their players efficiently. They get a myriad number of companies, i.e. Nike and Under Armour, to have NBA superstars endorse their products. If I'm an NBA superstar, would I have a better time being marketed in Detroit or would I be better suited in New York? The answer would obviously be the Big Apple, especially if the Pistons aren’t filling Little Caesar’s Arena every night.

But what players would be ripe for being sent off to start a new rebuild? One player that makes complete sense is small forward Tobias Harris. The leading scorer for the Pistons (18 PPG) is a versatile player who's also young at the age of 25. Harris also isn't much of a cap hit considering that he'll be a free agent come 2019. The closer the Pistons trade Harris to his free agent year, the less dead cap space they'll have.

Another player that makes sense is shooting guard Avery Bradley. Bradley is a terrific two-way player who was acquired from the Boston Celtics in the offseason. Bradley will be a free agent after this season, which will make him a prime target should the Pistons fall out of favor in the playoff picture. Don't forget that Bradley's cap hit is just below $9 million, making him a cheap option for contending teams.

As for players like Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, there's not much sense in trading them right now. There aren't many teams that would want Jackson, especially with his injury history. As for Drummond? He's currently under the second year of a five-year contract extension and his cap hit is sizable. Considering that the Pistons are paying a guy roughly $23 million just to pull down rebounds, I don't think that'd be much of a benefit considering the opportunity costs tied with Drummond.

The Pistons have some decisions to make in the coming months. Should they get another piece or should they sell off some assets? For a team without a definitive superstar, this decision must come quickly. Otherwise, Piston fans will turn off this brand of “DEEEEE-TROIT BASKETBALL!”

The Cleveland Cavaliers are close to a transitional period. Their megastar LeBron James looks ready to leave for brighter lights, the cupboard for draft picks appears bare, and the roster isn't getting any younger. Don't forget about that juggernaut in the Bay Area that the Cavs can't seem to get past.

Losers of eight of their last eleven, Cleveland has fallen a bit by the wayside. It seems impossible for them to get the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference considering that Boston's fighting for the best record in the NBA (34-12, tops in the Eastern Conference). So why should the Cavs be optimistic about their chances of returning to the NBA Finals?

One reason has to point back to LeBron. LeBron has been to seven straight NBA Finals and while his record isn't exactly appealing, LeBron has averaged 28.1 PPG in his last seven playoff seasons. James has also averaged 7.9 RPG and 6.7 APG in his last seven postseason trips, including ten rebounds a game, 29.7 PPG, and eight rebounds a game in his last three playoff seasons. LeBron has elevated his game when it mattered most.

However, he either hasn't had much of a team around him or he's simply faced better teams put in front of him. So what can Cleveland do to usurp Golden State? There lies the other reason for Cleveland to be optimistic: Brooklyn's 2018 first-round draft pick. Cleveland acquired this pick when they traded Kyrie Irving to Boston, who still has plenty of picks to spare. If Cleveland wanted to make one last gasp at the Larry O'Brien trophy, they can use that pick to get another player to Cleveland, i.e. a player like DeAndre Jordan or Kemba Walker.

They can do this or use that pick to begin rebuilding if LeBron indeed bolts Cleveland for the second time. Cleveland can start from scratch and try what Philadelphia did, which is, "Trust the Process". In any case, Cleveland's time for chasing the NBA title is running out. It appears that they won't be getting that title barring a miracle or a dramatic event involving Golden State.

Welcome to another edition of "Blending Buddy", where I share with you some of my smoothie creations! This week's edition is what I like to call, "The Desert Creation".

• 1/5 cactus plant, diced
  
• 1 avocado
  
• 1 tomato, sliced
  

You read that right: A cactus plant going into a drink. I was asked this question by the cashier when she saw the cactus plant I bought at the grocery store. I told her it would be used for my morning smoothies, which left her with a shocked expression. Anyways, cactus can be used to treat hangovers along with diabetes and high cholesterol. Just be sure to remove all the prickly parts of the cactus before you drink.

The Detroit Lions are trying to end the stigma of losing attached to their name. They haven't won a pro championship since 1957, have only won one playoff game since that year, and haven't won a playoff game since the early 1990's. So it makes sense that general manager Bob Quinn would want to fire Jim Caldwell after not getting enough out of his team this season, despite a 9-7 record.

One of their targets, and the guy who's expected to get the job according to Adam Schefter, is New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. Patricia received a degree in aeronautical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he was a four-letter lineman from 1992 to 1995. He's been Bill Belichick's right hand man for most of New England's NFL dominance, with his positions ranging from offensive assistant to safeties coach to his current incarnation as the defensive coordinator.

There is a large question looming over Patricia's (and Detroit's) head concerning his potential head coach position: Is Patricia the right guy for the job? There's a laundry list of New England assistants whose head coaching careers didn't pan out in the pros. Some names on the list include Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel, and Josh McDaniels.

However, many of these assistants failed because they didn't bring the New England system with them. All successful football teams such as Alabama and New England have solid systems in place, leaving the newly anointed head coaches hapless in their job. This has been the case for the likes of Weis and Crennel. However, Quinn is putting the process of bringing the "Patriot Way", a philosophy centered around the operations of football, to the Detroit Lions.

If Matt Patricia is to succeed in Detroit if he goes there, he'll need to bring in his people. To start, he can bring in his defensive coordinator to fill the vacancy left by Teryl Austin, who left for Cincinnati for the same position. Many of the former New England assistants who got head coaching jobs didn't establish much of a system in their organizations, so Patricia must avoid their fate(s).

Fortunately for Patricia, he'll have a franchise quarterback in Matt Stafford. But the rest of the team is either spry or of average talent. Hopefully, Quinn will continue to instill the "Patriots Way" into a franchise with a hapless history. Lions fans are hoping that Patricia isn't just another New England assistant.

If you haven't noticed, the NBA is evolving into a more offensive league. No, it's not more vulgar. However, it's a league that is evolving with more scoring finesse than ever before.

Consider this. Fifteen years ago, only four NBA teams averaged more than 100 points a game in the regular season (Golden State was one of those teams, bizarrely enough, while none of the Eastern Conference teams averaged 100 points a game). As of this season, only two aren't averaging more than 100 points a game (All Eastern Conference teams are averaging over 100 points a game).

The obvious part for why the NBA is becoming a more offensive league is because more three-pointers are made. 18 teams are averaging more than ten three-pointers a game (Houston leads the league at 15.8), whereas in 1999-2000, no one was even over eight three-pointers a game. Teams like Golden State and Houston are taking more opportunities from beyond the arc, averaging as much as 30 three-point shots a game.

Players are also becoming faster, stronger, and longer. Teams like Philadelphia and Milwaukee are starting bigger players, hoping that their length and size will beat opposing teams into submission. A few years back, the Lakers tried pairing up Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard together to start alongside Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant. It turned out to be a dud. The Pelicans are trying the same thing, only with more athletic players. They're in the final playoff spot because of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, the two big players. The Pelicans would be better off if they had more of a team around them, mainly another superstar to help Cousins and Davis.

Will we see the days of players like Gary Payton, Kevin Garnett, and Ron Artest return? Who knows? As of now, today's an exciting period for offense and pizzazz.