Teams hoping to advance in the NFL playoffs will tap into any advantage available. Which 10 iPhone apps figure to dial their way into Wild-card game plans?
Repeat
The Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets would benefit from repeat performances this weekend in rematches against the Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals respectively. The 99-cent Repeat game, similar to Simon Says, awards players for successfully reproducing the same sequences. Cardinal players, as well, would also love an NFC playoff encore and should download this iPhone app.
Injuries & Wounds
Although this app won’t bring Wes Welker back to the field this year, the Patriots organization would be wise to distribute team-wide downloads of this free application. Team trainers can access Injuries & Wounds to better protect Tom Brady’s cracked ribs. Bill Belichick may also want to take a peak the next time he is afflicted with temporary brain damage and plays a star in a meaningless game or goes for it on 4th down in his own territory.
Southwest Airlines
After impressively guiding the Cowboys to an NFC East championship, Tony Romo has earned the right to get away on his days off without any scrutiny. While Romo’s next one-to-three weeks will be booked, perhaps he can access his Rapid Rewards account with the free Southwest Airlines app and take a brief respite before heading with his teammates to Miami next month.
Running Log
With Willis McGahee carrying the Baltimore Ravens to the playoffs with three touchdowns against the Oakland Raiders, the franchise formerly known as the Cleveland Browns now a have formidable two-headed monster at running back with second-year stud Ray Rice. Quarterback Joe Flacco should download the $1.99 Running Log iPhone app to remind him that his team can win merely by putting one foot ahead of the other.
Memory Sweep
Even with the divisional championship on the line, the Eagles laid an egg in their Week 17 tilt against the Cowboys. That’s why Donovan McNabb & Co. would be well-served downloading Memory Sweep. Just as Eagle players could manage their iPhone’s memory with this free app, they can also flush away mental images of Felix Jones taking it to the house before next week’s rematch. In a related story, the players who voted to give Michael Vick a courage award already display a good dose of selective memory.
Chad Ocho Cinco Experience
The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver is again charging $2.99 for his application (after running a free promotion during the holidays). Perhaps that money should be allocated to a new imaging campaign if Chad indeed decides to change his last name back to Johnson. At least his app can live by a guarantee not to get shut down. Maybe we can get his MRI results on the app as well?
Future Ball
No team has done a more impressive job purging the past and looking forward than the Green Bay Packers. As the Pack readies for a rematch against the Cardinals (and a possible epic battle against Brett Favre and the Vikings), Aaron Rogers and his teammates should invest 99 cents in Future Ball. The fortune telling application may reveal another future Hall-of-Fame quarterback in northern Wisconsin in the years to come.
Magellan Roadmate 2010 North America
Although the New York Jets have seemingly gone in circles this season, they are now set for a new voyage in the playoffs. First-time NFL coach Rex Ryan and rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez should download Magellan Roadmate to guide them along. Sure, the navigation app is $70, but that’s peanuts for a team about to return to New York City.
Alarm Clock Deluxe
While the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints will enjoy a bye week this round, the truth is that neither team really showed up during their last two games of the year. While both teams have the talent to go the distance, downloading the free Alarm Clock Deluxe app could help wake them up so they’re ready for their next meaningful game.
Bump
There is little job security for several coaches who did not guide their teams to the playoffs this year. Washington Redskins’ coach Jim Zorn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ coach Raheem Morris and (lord willing) Lovie Smith of the Bears may want to brush up on their professional networking skills with this free and game-changing application. Bump allows people to exchange data and contact information by “bumping” their iPhones. Imagine if it were installed in helmets.
