Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Bring Back NFL Follies

It finally happened, Ndamukong Suh got suspended for 2 games. The NFL headquarters put Suh in his place. He has been out of control for the past 2 seasons. Next should be Buffalo Bills wide out Stevie Johnson. Playing games in the end zone like he has pistols in his belt, falling on the ground like he has been shot, but really just putting on a show. Johnson received a $10,000. fine for his antics last Sunday vs. the NY Jets. If we recall, wasn't he the receiver that just flat out dropped the easy pass in the end zone from Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick against the Steelers that would have won the game in 2010 for the Bills. There are enough good players out there that are high character guys that would love to play in the NFL. The NFL does not need players like Stevie Johnson and Chad Johnson, who has to put on his H.O.F. jacket during a game a few years back for the Bengals. The NFL is a top of the line organization that should not condone this type of behavior. What is wrong with a player being humble? The coaches of each team also need to put their foot down on this nonsense. Remember when Randy Moss squirted water at a referee during a game! When you look back, it seems many of the problems and glorified antics are situated amongst the wide receivers. This is a ridiculous thought, but I would like to see the NFL allow Jerry Jones to spike a football after the Cowboys score a touchdown. Why not, Jerry Jones is down on the field anyways. One final thought: have you ever seen a placekicker run into the goal post area after he has kicked a field goal, retrieve the football, and slam dunk the ball over the crossbar. Never going to occur. He is not a wide receiver. Bring back NFL Follies!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Act Like You Have Been There Before

Every week the NFL is levying fines on a multitude of players. A few weeks back Woodland Hills grad Rob Gronkowski was fined 7500. for spiking the ball too close to a NY Jets defensive back. Earlier in the season, Ravens OC Matt Birk was fined 5000. for removing his microphone because it was bothering him. The NFL reversed the fine after an appeal by his agent. Steelers safety Ryan Clark got nailed for a 40000 fine on a helmet to helmet hit vs. the Ravens. These fines are getting ridiculous. But there is a reality check here. Football used to be a contact sport but now it is a collision sport. Players get paid to make plays. Injuries are a major part of the game. Is the League attempting to cut back on the injuries? Yes but Players are going to get injured in football. There is no way around it. When you have 22 players flying around the field at high rates of speed and aggression, people are going to get hurt. Leading with the helmet by a defensive player seems to stir up the most controversy and potential injury and therefore these defensive players are being levied the most fines. But what about running backs who lead with a helmet. No fines are levied against running backs. I am all for ELIMINATING the fines or just get rid of the facemask. But if you get rid of the facemask, then the players faces will be chewed up and damaged. So what is the answer? Rather than fine players, give the players a series of warnings followed by SUSPENSION without pay if they do not adhere to the warnings. Lions DT Ndamukong Suh has been out of control the past 2 seasons. Roger Goddell has even called him into the NFL headquarters to discuss his style of play. What he did on Thanksgiving day was ridiculous by stomping on a Packer offensive linemen after pushing his helmet into the ground multiple times. Just suspend Suh for a series a of games without pay. If he does not stop his over-aggressive antics, then suspend Suh for the season without pay. Suspension will make it stop. Are the NFL football fans going to games to see Rob Gronkowski spike the football or are they going to see Rob Gronkowski make catches, run after the catch, and score points. Are the fans of the NFL going to N.O. Saints games to watch TE Jimmy Graham catch, run, and score or are they going to see Jimmy Graham dunk a football over the crossbar, pull the crossbar out of position, and then subsequently see the game delayed to repair the crossbar. The players need to" Act Like They Have Been There Before "when they score a Touchdown. I am tired of seeing wide receivers like former NFL player Terrell Owens do his mime routine after he scores or do a dance routine in the endzone. Who cares? Play the game like it is supposed to be played.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Tidbits

If I would have told you around the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day 2010 that these 5 universities would have new football coaches on Thanksgiving Day 2011, would you have believed me? The universities are Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State, West Virginia, and Pitt and most likely you would probably have laughed at me in dis-belief. If I also would have told you last Thanksgiving 2010 that the Indianapolis Colts would be 0 and 10 and the San Francisco 49ers would be 9 and 1 during Thanksgiving week of 2011, would you have believed me? If I also would have explained to you on Turkey Day 2010 that the U. of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University would join the A.C.C. and West Virginia University would be joining the Big 12, would you have believed me?..........A new trend may be starting:coaches coming out of the booth to get back into the coaching circles. After a 10 year hiatus, Coach Bob Davie(Moon Township native and former Notre Dame Head Coach)accepts the U. of New Mexico position and with a short lived position at CBS Sports, Coach Rich Rodriquez takes the U. of Arizona position. Skeptics think RichRod should have never left West Virginia for U of Michigan but let's see what RichRod can do with the Arizona Wildcats in the Pac 10. Who is going to be next to come out of the booth?

Sunday, November 20, 2011

T-bow

Everybody around the NFL circles are talking about Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow(former Florida Gators QB). The Broncos have won 4 out of the last 5 games with Tebow at the helm. But the nationwide media is giving Tim Tebow a tremendous amount of credit for this run by the Broncos. Tebow deserves the recognition but lets give credit to some other areas of the Denver Broncos team. Lets talk about the Broncos defense. In these 4 victories in the past 5 contests, the turnover ratio is a Plus 4 for the Broncos. Their defense is shutting teams down, especially the last 2 games vs. the Chiefs and the Jets(many teams can do this). Then on the offensive side, the Broncos are running the football. John Fox and the Broncos offensive staff have utilized Tim Tebow's talents and that is running a different style of offense not used much in the NFL. It is the spread option. Tim Tebow is running the ball out of this offensive scheme and it is working. In these 4 Bronco victories, Tebow has passed for a pathetic 458 yards(about 115 yards per game)and in the Chiefs game, Tebow only completed 2 passes, one shy of an all time low record held by Chargers Ryan Leaf. Flip the page and Tebow has rushed himself for 388 yards in these 4 games(just a shade under 100 yards per game). Since Tebow has been a starter, the Broncos are 4 and 1. They had a bad game vs Detroit losing 45 to 10 is this 5 game sequence. Against the Lions, the Broncos turnover margin was -3. With Tim Tebow at the helm, the Broncos are going to run the football, attempt to take care of the football, and use a sophisticated passing game that matches Tebow's talents. I will repeat myself again, throw to score, run the football to win.

Monday, November 14, 2011

NFL MVP

After 10 weeks of the NFL season with a multitude of unpredictable games the past few weeks, who would be the league's MVP up to this point. I would cast my vote for Green Bay's QB Aaron Rogers. Others to recognize are SF 49ers RB Frank Gore or Houston Texans RB Arian Foster or Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson or Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. In my estimation the real Most Valuable Player is the National Football League this 2011 season should be Peyton Manning. How can I say this, Peyton Manning is not even playing. I am making this statement on the mere fact that the Indianapolis Colts are 0 and 10, have a legit shot at going 0 and 16, and basically cannot score points. Early in the season, the Colts battled the Steelers in a close contest. But since then, the Colts have gone in the tank. With Peyton Manning at the helm, the Colts are a totally different team. Their offense under Manning can be explosive and his TE Dallas Clark at times was one of the NFL's leading receivers. Dallas Clark is non-existent this 2011 season. The Colts used to run the football well. The Colts defense is constantly on the field. They had a shot to win yesterday vs. the Jaguars but only had a field goal. They may be the NFL's next 0 and 16 team. It is either going to be Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck next year at the the Colt's helm.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Huge Game

The football game tomorrow is a very large game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals are tied atop the AFC North at 6 and 2 but the Ravens are 2 and 0 in the Division while the Bengals are 1 and 0. Whereas the Steelers are 6 and 3 overall but 0 and 2 in the Division. This game on Sunday November 13th is a MUST win for the Steelers. If the Steelers go down to defeat to the Bengals, they will drop to 0 and 3 in the AFC North and 6 and 4 overall. At 0 and 3 in the division, there chances are slim and none to win the division. The Steelers would virtually have to win out or proceed to go 5 and 1 their last 6 games to get a shot at a wild card. If the Pittsburgh Steelers win tomorrow, they will be 1 and 2 in the Division, 7 and 3 overall, and must continue to win to shoot for a lock at a wild card slot. Now it would depend what the Baltimore Ravens do the rest of the way. In the National Football League, there are no sure fire wins anymore. Miami goes into Kansas City and pounds them last week. The NY Giants go to New England and beat them. The Ravens and Joe Flacco have to drive 92 yards at the end of this contest to beat the Steelers at Heinz Field. With a 16 game schedule, injuries all over the place in the NFL, another upset waiting to happen, a holding call to damage a drive or a kick return, in other words, nothing surprises me anymore in the National Football League. The Bengals game tomorrow is a large game.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Too early for hoops

It is hard to believe, but NCAA Division 1 basketball is commencing already. It is only November 8 and today was like a summer day and basketball is starting . I know practice by NCAA rules was allowed to begin until 12:01 AM October 15th. No problem, but I would rather have practice begin on either November 1 or November 15th. My rationale is that the men's and women's basketball players are supposed to be student-athletes. Now you have an NCAA sport here, basketball, that encompasses 2 semesters, the Fall and the Spring. Wouldn't it be more feasible for the players involved, to play their first game sometime in December right after final exams are completed. Practicing is OK but travelling can cut into class and study time. Most Division 1 teams are going to play 27 to 30 regular season games. Play these games from December 10th until the Middle of March, then start the NCAA tournament later on in March and finish the tournament near the middle of April. Anyhow Division 1 football is still in full swing so why overlap two sports. Most Division 1 programs complete their regular football season just before final exams. You turn on the television and you can see both football and basketball, plus NHL Hockey, and even some late season Golf. I guess there is a market for it.