The Armchair Quarterback’s Guide To The NFL: 2014 Draft Bargains

The Armchair Quarterback’s Odds And Ends Of The Week

Beer Review Of The Week:

New Belgium Brewing’s 1554 Black Lager

This week I decided to go with one of my favorite staples that I often keep on hand, New Belgium’s 1554 Black Lager. The beer is based upon an ancient recipe dating back to 1554 (hence the name). What I like about this beer is that it has a lot of the flavors of some of my favorite dark styles (porters or stouts) but with an easier drinkability. I find myself drinking 1554 more often when the weather gets warmer. While I can drink a good stout any time of year, I’ll admit that on a warm summer day it sometimes seems a little heavy. I find that 1554 gives me some of those same roasty, chocolate and coffee flavors in a beer that is a little lighter. So I’d recommend this beer for fans of dark beers that might enjoy a “lighter” dark beer and I’d also recommend it for those that have never tried a true dark beer before as this might be a way to ease them into the flavor profile.

My Rating (1-10): 8

A Way To Pass The Time This Week:

Every week during the offseason I pass on a tip to help pass the time until real football returns. This week my advice is to get outside and take in a baseball game. While football is my one and only true sports love, there’s something about taking in that first baseball game of the Spring that just feels like an annual right of passage. I’m usually bored with baseball by the time the 4th of July rolls around, but right now is the perfect time of year to take in a game. Here in the midwest it’s finally warmed up a little and an afternoon game in sunny 70 degree weather after all the cold and gray days we survived this past winter feels fantastic. So whether it’s an actual MLB game or just a local college or minor league team, get out and take in a ballgame. They’ll be plenty of time to ignore baseball once training camp starts. Until then, enjoy the distraction.

Rant Of The Week:

I think that rioting in the streets after your team wins a championship has to be about the dumbest thing in the entire sports universe (and that’s saying something). I get that drunk people do stupid things, but people get drunk all the time and don’t set fire to couches and turn over cars in the middle of the street. Seriously, what message are you people that drag a couch out into the street and set it on fire going for? Is that a celebratory thing? Is a statement against “THE MAN”, like “I don’t care about anything since my team won so I’ll set fire to this couch and there’s nothing you can do about it!” I guess maybe I’m getting old because it seriously boggles my mind. What might be even worse is when people vandalize their own community. Basically, they are so proud that the team that represents their town won that they destroy the town that they are so proud of. I dare you to try and find any reason in that. You can’t do it. It’s stupid. I don’t know what else to say. Be proud of your team. Live it up when they win. Soak in every moment and really enjoy it. Just don’t ruin that feeling of pride by ending up on the local news as the yo-yo that set the 7-11 on fire.

That does it for this week’s Armchair Quarterback. Don’t forget to let me know what you thought of the 2014 NFL Draft Bargain Prospects in the comments below.

Thanks for reading.

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