The NFL season is winding down already. I hate that the season is so short as I love football more than any other professional sport. Week 13 is in the books and here are some things to mull over:
It's a QB league: Duh. The Cardinals are 4-9, the Eagles 4-9, the Jags and Chiefs 2-11. The theme here? Pretty obvious. The exceptions right now are the Lions, Saints, Raiders and Panthers. All woeful teams this season, but more due to horrific defenses than anything else. The jury is out (for me anyway) on the Titans. Jake Locker has shown flashes of potential. The Cardiac Cards are cardiac not for excitement but for killing their fans with the horrific play at QB. Ken Whisenhunt gets a pass from me as GM Rod Graves should be left holding the bag for this wipe-out. Kolb was a bust, Skelton has been less horrible(?) and rookie QB Ryan Lindley is in way over his head. They should have begged Kurt Warner to come back. I bet you Larry Fitz is still texting Warner as we speak.
Philly's Nick Foles is still a big question mark. He won a game against an abysmal (and I mean PUTRID) Tampa Bay secondary. It kills me to say that for what it's worth. Tampa is probably out of the playoffs now but I'll get to that. Foles got the job done and is auditioning for the rest of the season with Mike Vick on the bench. We'll see what Foles can do against teams not starting a 50 year old in the secondary. I have a feeling the Bengals, Redskins and Giants are going set Foles back years. Vick appears to be done in Philly and probably Andy Reid too so will Foles' development be hindered by this? Going to be tough to assess given the Eagles' remaining schedule.
The Chiefs continue to play around (see guess, throw darts at a picture, flip a coin) at deciding which is the lesser of two evils in Brady Quinn and Matt (product of a great system) Cassell. Both of these guys flat out suck. I'll say it. So will Chiefs fans. I really like GM Scott Pioli and some of the things he's done, but Cassell was an A number one bust. Cassell clearly benefited from the talent the Patriots had in place in the one season he led the team and has clearly shown he cannot lead a team by himself. Even with a player like Jamal Charles in the backfield, Cassell can't seem to keep opposing defenses even remotely honest. Brady Quinn was never, and I mean never, an NFL caliber QB to begin with. Period. End of story. Time for the Chiefs to jettison Cassell and Quinn and move on. The QB crop is not spectacular come draft time this year and Pioli better make something happen or he'll be following these flops out the door.
The Jags had moved up six spots in the NFL draft to grab Blaine Gabbert during a run of QB's in 2011. Gabbert thus far has been anything but a first round pick in his tenure so far with Jacksonville. The Jags went WR and again traded up in 2012 to get Gabbert help with their #1 pick in Justin Blackmon. They also signed away Laurent Robinson from the Cowboys to help Gabbert all to no avail. To be fair Gabbert hasn't had Maurice Jones-Drew at running back much at all this season but Gabbert's numbers are still pungent. I don't foresee much, if any improvement in Gabbert in the future and Jacksonville will pay a heavy price having traded up those six spots to get him.
The Chiefs and Cardinals are in the best position to draft a Matt Barkley, Geno Smith or Landry Jones. Will the Jags throw in the towel on Gabbert and hit the reset button to go get one of these guys? Is Foles going to be the guy in Philly? In my book anybody is better than Gabbert, but my point remains that you HAVE to have a stud QB in the NFL now. It;s more important than it's ever been to have someone that can move you up and down the field and the NFL has been maneuvering the league to be more pretty and fast paced for years. Adapt or die I suppose.
More later in the week with playoff scenarios, what the hell happened to my Buc's and why the Cowboys will not only get to the playoffs but win a game when they do.
Peace and elbow grease!
Opp
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
NFL Week 8 - OPPinions!
The good, the bad and the ugly
NFC:
The good:
- Doug Martin RB Tampa Bay Buc's - Martin runs for 251 and 4 touchdowns as the Buc's win over the Raiders to move to 4-4. This is an amazing feat not only for the yardage and scoring by Martin but that he has done it without the services of all-world offensive lineman Carl Nicks on one side and minus Pro Bowler Davin Joseph on the other. Martin is the first RB in Buc history to run for 3 touchdowns longer than 40+ yards. Simply amazing.
- The Bears defense - The Monsters of the Midway forced 6 turnovers including a pick six by Brian Urlacher. The Bears humiliated the Titans from the word go today prompting owner Bud Allen to state all facets of the Titans will be evaluated for the remainder of the season from front office to coaches to players. The Bears also get a blocked punt for a TD just to rub salt in the wound.
- The Green Bay Packers - Are the Pack back? It certainly seems that way. After most of America had written the Packers off as the Packers were below .500 for the first time in recent memory, Green Bay has stormed back into contention. Aaron Rodgers has thrown 14 touchdowns to one interception over the last 3 games and is also getting done on his feet. This team's defense has confounded me over the last 2 seasons. They have a one man wrecking machine in Clay Matthews Jr., a mammoth on the line in B.J. Raji and and superstar in the secondary in Charles Woodson. Despite all this they rank nearly dead last in total team defense. Despite all this the Packers are now 6-3 and on a tear.
- The Dallas Cowboys - America's team is in a downward spiral and this week Tony Romo can't be blamed. The fact of the matter is that the 'Boys gave the Falcons everything they could handle and then some but in my opinion Felix Jones and the Dallas running game are completely ineffective. Felix Jones is just not an every down back and despite being given the opportunity with DeMarco Murray being hurt, Jones just continues to underwhelm. The Cowboys have a greatly improved defense and held Atlanta to just 16 points, but again they cannot close the deal in a game that matters. DeMarco Murray cannot back soon enough, but it's too little too late for Dallas at 3-5.
- The Washington Redskins - Washington loses to one win Carolina and looked bad doing so. Despite the emergence of rookie running back Alfred Morris, and soon to be superstar RG3, this team cannot put it together week to week. Injuries to Pierre Garcon, Brain Orakpo, Fred Davis and others have hindered this team, and today they lost WR Santana Moss to a concussion thinning an already weak WR corps. The Redskins came out flat at home to the Panthers however, and never recovered. The Redskins are headed n the wrong direction and quickly.
- The Minnesota Vikings - The Vikes started out on an improbable run winning four of their first five games. They've gone just 1-3 since and they get the Detroit Lions next week who seemingly have their ship righted and at just the right time. Minnesota should have lost to Detroit in their first match up and the fact that Minnesota looks completely one dimensional right now does not bode well for them as they prepare to face the Lions. Christian Ponder has regressed and Adrian Peterson is literally carrying this team. The Lions have a horrific secondary and a stout front seven which is worst case scenario for a team in Minnesota that relys so much on Peterson in the run game and who seemingly can't count on Ponder for anything. They may want to ponder getting a new QB next season.
- In Minnesota's loss to Seattle Sunday, Adrian Peterson had a whopping 144 yards rushing in the first half! Why is this ugly? Peterson only touched the ball 5 times in the second half registering just 40 yards. Christian Ponder was even worse falling from the top of the ugly tree and hitting every branch on the way down. He finished 11 for 22 for 63 yards. For the game. That's ugly.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Western Conference Finals
A lot more intelligent and important people have said this before me but this one goes out to the people of Seattle. Really happy for OKC, but that team was and always will be Seattle's. OKC owner Clay Bennett stole that franchise from Seattle and David Stern helped him do it. That being said this is a special, special group of players. Kevin Durant should be the league MVP and LeBron is somewhere scratching his head wondering how KD does it in the clutch. LeBron hasn't carried anything but Dwayne Wades cup since James beat the Pistons in 07. OKC is young, athletic and extremely talented. They are going to be a force to reckon with in the NBA for years to come.
Durant, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka and co. form the core of a team that just hit their stride and at a very young age. Let's look at the contenders to the newly crowned champs' Western Conference Championship title:
The Thunder seem poised to ride this momentum to a title. I can't see either Boston or Miami beating OKC in seven games. The fatigue will be too much for the Celts and the pressure too much for LeBron and Co.
Thunder in six.
Durant, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka and co. form the core of a team that just hit their stride and at a very young age. Let's look at the contenders to the newly crowned champs' Western Conference Championship title:
- Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe isn't getting any younger. He's been playing in the NBA since he was 17 years old (still think the then Charlotte Hornets regret trading him away?) and seems to become more prone to injury every season. Andrew Bynum and Meta World Peace are talented but both serious head cases that can't be counted on to be reliable, let alone clutch. Pau Gasol from all reports will likely be traded in the off season and the Lakers bench is thin and thats being polite about it. Whatever the Lakers get for Gasol won't be enough to restore them to playoff prominence. P.S. Don't think Kobe wasn't mad watching his friend former teammate, Derek Fisher, knock down clutch shot after clutch shot in the 4th quarter for OKC tonight.
- San Antonio Spurs: Everyone is talking about who has the real "Big Three" Boston, Miami or OKC. Did you forget about Duncan, Parker and Ginobli? I think the window for San Antonio is probably 2 more seasons tops. As I told my friend D Agee, the Spurs big 3 are "basketball old". Duncan looked like he was 21 again tonight in the 4th quarter but can he harness it and make it through another FULL NBA season and all the way through the playoffs? If Stephen Jackson isn't on the court for tonight's Game 6, the Spurs get blown out and are an afterthought. Again the bench is a factor for the Spurs. San Antonio needs to get young fast because that window is closing even faster.
- Los Angeles Clippers: As recently as two seasons ago we were still using the Clippers as the butt of most any sports joke...for any sport. Now they're on the way to establishing their own "big three". All indications are that Chris Paul wants to stay in L.A. and if he stays so will Blake Griffin. Eric Bledsoe could be the third piece but we need a full NBA season under their belts to make that call. Owner Donald Sterling, who has been ridiculed endlessly and openly mocked as being the worst owner in sports (yes IN SPORTS) seems to have finally loosened his grip on control of the franchise and also on the purse strings. Veterans Chauncey Billups (one of my all time favorite players) and scoring machine Caron Butler makes this a team to have to worry about.
- Dallas Mavericks: Nowitzki is still the player he always has been, just another year older. I think the Mav's caught lightning in a bottle last season and played far better than the talent now currently on their roster. Jason Kidd is clearly in the twilight of his career and now that he has his ring I wouldn't at all be surprised to see him walk off into the Texas sunset, trophy in hand. The Mavs let big pieces of their championship team walk in Tyson Chandler (the Knicks) and J.J. Barea (Timberwolves). They thought former Laker Lamar Odom was the answer and that blew up in Mark Cuban's face completely. The roster even voted NOT to give Odom his share of the playoff bonus. This team needs a couple of big pieces before they can be considered a contender again.
- Memphis Grizzlies: This team is a serious Jekyll and Hyde group. A Cinderella story a season ago, bigs Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol couldn't put it together consistently in the post-season. Rudy Gay is a solid all around PG even if he isn't on ESPN every night. Bet you didn't know that Agent Zero, Gilbert Arenas is on this team did you? I don't think the Grizzlies do either unless they're looking at payroll. O.J. Mayo has never lived up to his draft hype. The NBA is all about match ups and Gasol and Randolph create a lot of mismatches but this team is still a couple of draft/free agent classes away from the Western Conference semi-finals.
The Thunder seem poised to ride this momentum to a title. I can't see either Boston or Miami beating OKC in seven games. The fatigue will be too much for the Celts and the pressure too much for LeBron and Co.
Thunder in six.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Absolute power corrupts absolutely
Joe Paterno, former Head Coach at Penn State, passed away today. His passing away has generated some passionate and emotional responses. If you are an unabashed supporter of Mr. Paterno, be forewarned this blog may not sit well with you.
Today's topic is "moral obligation". Joe Paterno has been widely viewed not only as a great football coach, but as some sort of guru, a leader of men and as someone who regularly imparted life lessons to his players and not just football knowledge. So much so that he was quoted in textbooks in classes ranging from ethics in business, to communications and a number of other areas. There was actually a class at Penn State called "Joe Paterno: Communications and the media". He has a statue on campus and the Big Ten trophy once bore his name until recently. Penn State players, coaches and alumni today are decrying the fact that anyone dare speak a cross word about Joe Paterno given everything he has done for Penn State.
Let's just put it right out there. God will be Paterno's final judge. People are still entitled to their OPPinions however. Paterno had an OBLIGATION to do more than the bare minimum in reporting Jerry Sandusky. He told his boss. Thats it. He met the "legal obligation" and did only what the law required at the minimum and NOTHING more. Jerry Sandusky was Joe Paterno's best friend...his right hand man. It had been since 2002 that a grad student had brought to Paterno an issue so large that no normal person could ignore. Paterno's reaction? He told his boss. The next day. He didn't ask any other questions. Not one. Didn't ask McQueary anything, didn't ask Sandusky anything, didn't follow up with his boss or his bosses boss. He simply went on about his business, including working with Sandusky and McQueary as if nothing ever happened.
No one has been able to explain why Paterno failed to act at any point after. Paterno continued to meet with Sandusky on football related issues and other things. If my best friend, who just happened to work for me, who happened to travel with me, game plan with me, frequent my house and hang out with me and my family, was accused of conduct like Sandusky was, that relationship would change dramatically. To say the least. Friend or not, if I was told my best friend was seen raping a little boy, I would act. I would act out of a MORAL OBLIGATION to make sure NO ONE ELSE was hurt. Joe Paterno failed. Failed to act, failed to protect other innocent victims of Sandusky. Failed in adhering to an antiquated code. The "good ol' boys" club. Paterno's lack of caring for anyone or anything other than his friend, and his rule of the realm at Penn State, will forever tarnish, and perhaps even bury, whatever good he did for his precious Nittany Lions. He could have protected those kids. By asking a few simple questions he could have saved lives that have now been destroyed or damaged to the point of no return. Many children who are abused in this fashion go on to become abusers themselves. See the case of Bernie Fine, assistant basketball coach at Syracuse University. One of Fine's alleged victims is on trial (he has now plead guilty) for criminal sexual conduct involving minor boys.
Paterno held more power at Penn State than the University President Graham Spanier, AD Tim Curley, and Vice President Gary Schultz. No one did or said anything at Penn State without Paterno's knowledge or approval. He could have ended this horrific situation with a few well placed phone calls or questions and yet...he did nothing. He would later say "I didn't know what to do. I had never heard of rape and a man before." Paterno knew enough to know that he needed to go to Spanier so why, if he felt such a sense of urgency to go to the figurehead President, did he not feel that obligation to notify the authorities? This was his EMPLOYEE. Paterno also knew Sandusky's role with the Second Mile, which kept Sandusky involved with little boys constantly, and yet...he did nothing.
Do I feel sorry for Joe Paterno's wife and children and can I empathize with them in their grief? Certainly. That doesn't change the fact that Joe Paterno inexorably changed the lives of multiple young boys and their families. He failed to protect innocent children while protecting his friend and his power. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Paterno should have faced criminal and civil charges for his actions...or lack thereof. I am not sad that Paterno is gone. Anything he did for his players will forever be tainted, perhaps outright forgotten, due to what he didn't do for those children. Unless you've been through the nightmare of having your family experience the pain and humiliation of having someone betray you in this manner, you will not be able to understand my point of view. My condolences go out to the Paterno family for the loss of their father, a husband and friend. My thoughts and prayers however will be with the children that Joe Paterno turned his back on.
Today's topic is "moral obligation". Joe Paterno has been widely viewed not only as a great football coach, but as some sort of guru, a leader of men and as someone who regularly imparted life lessons to his players and not just football knowledge. So much so that he was quoted in textbooks in classes ranging from ethics in business, to communications and a number of other areas. There was actually a class at Penn State called "Joe Paterno: Communications and the media". He has a statue on campus and the Big Ten trophy once bore his name until recently. Penn State players, coaches and alumni today are decrying the fact that anyone dare speak a cross word about Joe Paterno given everything he has done for Penn State.
Let's just put it right out there. God will be Paterno's final judge. People are still entitled to their OPPinions however. Paterno had an OBLIGATION to do more than the bare minimum in reporting Jerry Sandusky. He told his boss. Thats it. He met the "legal obligation" and did only what the law required at the minimum and NOTHING more. Jerry Sandusky was Joe Paterno's best friend...his right hand man. It had been since 2002 that a grad student had brought to Paterno an issue so large that no normal person could ignore. Paterno's reaction? He told his boss. The next day. He didn't ask any other questions. Not one. Didn't ask McQueary anything, didn't ask Sandusky anything, didn't follow up with his boss or his bosses boss. He simply went on about his business, including working with Sandusky and McQueary as if nothing ever happened.
No one has been able to explain why Paterno failed to act at any point after. Paterno continued to meet with Sandusky on football related issues and other things. If my best friend, who just happened to work for me, who happened to travel with me, game plan with me, frequent my house and hang out with me and my family, was accused of conduct like Sandusky was, that relationship would change dramatically. To say the least. Friend or not, if I was told my best friend was seen raping a little boy, I would act. I would act out of a MORAL OBLIGATION to make sure NO ONE ELSE was hurt. Joe Paterno failed. Failed to act, failed to protect other innocent victims of Sandusky. Failed in adhering to an antiquated code. The "good ol' boys" club. Paterno's lack of caring for anyone or anything other than his friend, and his rule of the realm at Penn State, will forever tarnish, and perhaps even bury, whatever good he did for his precious Nittany Lions. He could have protected those kids. By asking a few simple questions he could have saved lives that have now been destroyed or damaged to the point of no return. Many children who are abused in this fashion go on to become abusers themselves. See the case of Bernie Fine, assistant basketball coach at Syracuse University. One of Fine's alleged victims is on trial (he has now plead guilty) for criminal sexual conduct involving minor boys.
Paterno held more power at Penn State than the University President Graham Spanier, AD Tim Curley, and Vice President Gary Schultz. No one did or said anything at Penn State without Paterno's knowledge or approval. He could have ended this horrific situation with a few well placed phone calls or questions and yet...he did nothing. He would later say "I didn't know what to do. I had never heard of rape and a man before." Paterno knew enough to know that he needed to go to Spanier so why, if he felt such a sense of urgency to go to the figurehead President, did he not feel that obligation to notify the authorities? This was his EMPLOYEE. Paterno also knew Sandusky's role with the Second Mile, which kept Sandusky involved with little boys constantly, and yet...he did nothing.
Do I feel sorry for Joe Paterno's wife and children and can I empathize with them in their grief? Certainly. That doesn't change the fact that Joe Paterno inexorably changed the lives of multiple young boys and their families. He failed to protect innocent children while protecting his friend and his power. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Paterno should have faced criminal and civil charges for his actions...or lack thereof. I am not sad that Paterno is gone. Anything he did for his players will forever be tainted, perhaps outright forgotten, due to what he didn't do for those children. Unless you've been through the nightmare of having your family experience the pain and humiliation of having someone betray you in this manner, you will not be able to understand my point of view. My condolences go out to the Paterno family for the loss of their father, a husband and friend. My thoughts and prayers however will be with the children that Joe Paterno turned his back on.
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