tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58448854805960164872024-03-15T00:25:36.992-07:00Captain K's CornerKLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-76732265119528469082011-06-27T09:15:00.000-07:002011-06-27T09:21:39.998-07:00Terrell Owens- could it be curtains?<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Late Sunday night, I read on twitter that Terrell Owens tore his ACL. Now I’m not absolutely sure if this is true and if it is I don’t know how it occurred but the alleged injury did inspire this piece. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Owens is 36 and if the ACL tear is true, it’ll be at the least a six month recovery for him. I’m not sure that’ll end his career but it may. Owens has had a great career by all accounts but his personality and his travels have made him one of the NFL’s more polarizing figures in recent memory. It begs the question, “What will Owens legacy be when he ultimately calls it quits? Is he a Hall of Famer?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" >There have been many trials and tribulations in Owens career, seemingly starting with that touchdown catch from Steve Young in the 1998 NFC Wild Card game. That seemed to be when the Star of Terrell Owens was born. He had finally broken through that year as he became a top target for Hall of Fame QB Steve Young and that was his signature moment. The catch between three Packer defenders and the tears that streamed from Owens face after he got up with the ball in his hands simply made that moment everything a signature moment is expected to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Owens has had many game changing plays. He’s crossed the goalline 153 times in his career, and he has 1,078 catches at 14 yards a catch. The talent was there, the effort was there for the most part. There aren’t many WRs in this era who blocked with the ferocity that Owens does. There aren’t many who fought for every yard like Owens did. There aren’t many who can break a game open the way he did. I don’t think anything negative that is said regarding Owens and his career that is based on his skill. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" >But for as good as Owens was on the field and in between the lines, his constant need for attention, and him essentially being an NFL nomad for the last four years of his career has soured many people’s lasting thoughts on him. One can make the argument that his attitude is as bad as his production is good. You know that has to be the case where we can debate the legacy of a man who has 1,078 catches, 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Owens has clashed with players (both offensive and defensive), head coaches, offensive coordinators. He clashed with Jeff Garcia which divided that locker room and ultimately led to the demise of the 49ers. He openly questioned Jeff Garcia’s sexuality (the relevance to football is?), and made that relationship uncomfortable. He then got his wish and got a trade to a winning team, the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2004 he helped trigger QB Donovan McNabb’s best season as a pro as he and McNabb lit secondaries up that entire season. In 14 games, Owens had 77 catches for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns and a 15.6 average. Owens and McNabb just clicked. Short, medium deep, screens, hitches, it didn’t matter. Nobody could stop them as the Eagles stomped through the league to the NFC’s best record and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Unfortunately in a relatively meaningless week 15 game, General Horse Collar (S Roy Williams) did his deed and collared Owens breaking his leg. Owens missed five games and came back in the Superbowl. He played on a broken wheel in the Superbowl and still put forth an amazing performance as he caught 9 passes for 122 yards.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" >I think that performance and the aftermath/chatter following it sum up the public perception regarding Owens. Some of us looked at the performance and said “Man, what a performance,” then others minimized it. And before we could let the performance marinate, Owens is doing situps on his driveway. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Then he eventually forced his way out of Philadelphia as he could get along with no one. He was traded to Dallas, and that ended unceremoniously for him as well as he was released. Then he was banished to Czechoslovakia (Buffalo), for a year then played in Cincinnati. All I could wonder while this was happening is what would have happened had Owens just been a professional. What if he and McNabb could co-exist? Both of their careers might have taken different paths. McNabb might have some jewelry, and Owens might have a better legacy. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>How will I remember Owens? I’ll remember him as a game breaking one of a kind talent who was came into the league without much fanfare and will leave the same way. I’ll remember him as the receiver who could do a little bit of everything, and delivered some of the nastiest stiff arms I’ve ever seen on the gridiron. I’ll remember him grabbing nine balls (many of which were very poorly thrown) in the Superbowl on a bad wheel. I’ll remember him for his frank nature in the media, even if it understandably didn’t come across well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Most of all, I’ll remember him for being a Hall of Fame Caliber FOOTBALL player. At last check the Hall of Fame is about performance. 1,078 catches, 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns is HALL OF FAMER, no matter how you want to slice it. Like him, love him, have no feelings towards him, the man played and produced like a Hall of Famer. The day it becomes about personality and/or politics should be the day he misses out. But this isn’t a beauty pageant, it is football. </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:115%"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com147tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-69547486935338234802011-02-22T14:10:00.000-08:002011-02-22T14:59:16.189-08:00Carmelo Anthony is a New York Knick....finally<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;">Mercifully, the Carmelo Anthony drama has come to an end as the Denver Nuggets traded him to the New York Knicks Monday night. The Knicks sent F Danilo Gallinari, F Wilson Chandler, C Timofey Mozgov, PG Raymond Felton, a 2014 first round draft pick and 2 second round draft picks to the Nuggets in exchange for F Carmelo Anthony, PG Chauncey Billups, F/C Shelden Williams aka Mr. Candace Parker, G Anthony Carter and F Renaldo Balkman. Minnesota also received Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph in the deal while sending F Corey Brewer to the Knicks.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i>I like Carmelo Anthony as a player. In my eyes he's the best pure scorer in the game, and there isn't a single thing offensively he can't do. I admit I wasn't on board with this trade a week ago, but when I thought about it, I realized that only one of these players really had a long term future with the team (Gallinari), and that put me at ease. I don't think the Knicks handled it as well as they probably should've but given the magnitude of the player at hand, and the uncertainty of the current CBA something had to be done. As much as the tired 'You could have signed him in free agency' card gets played, Anthony wasn't going to pass up $65 million. If the Knicks were going to get him they needed to do so now, and they did exactly that.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i>The Knicks also upgraded their point guard spot, getting Chauncey Billups to replace Raymond Felton. Felton is a tough guy, a leader, and I enjoyed watching him play but he can't shoot and he wasn't a long term option at PG anyway. I like Felton but at the very least Billups is a lateral move. Billups is also a knock down shooter from three. Neither one of them is going to be here after next season, so that isn't overly significant one way or another, but I think it helps the Knicks in the short term.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i>Wilson Chandler is a solid player. He can credibly guard three positions, he can shoot it, he can get to the rim and overall is a solid basketball player. Denver got a nice player in Chandler, and his versatility is a weapon for any basketball team. From the Knicks standpoint, Chandler is a restricted free agent and the Knicks had to renounce his rights to open up space down the road. He wasn't going to be a Knick after this season so that loss is minimal. I think the Nuggets made out well as a whole since there was no way Carmelo was going to come back to the team in the offseason.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i>Danilo Gallinari is the only part of the trade that hurts for me. Gallinari is already a solid, albeit inconsistent, NBA player who can shoot the ball, put the ball on the deck, and is an underrated defender who is a still developing 22 year old. I like Gallinari and am sad to see him go. I think he has a bright future in the NBA and I personally enjoyed his flair for the dramatic as well as his charisma. I also thought, if somehow the Knicks could have kept him, he would've been a nice piece to go along with the current team. But as the old adage goes, "You have to give to get". As sad as I am to see Gallinari go, I'm even more happy to see Carmelo Anthony arrive.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i>I thought the Knicks should've drawn the line at Mozgov on general principle alone but at the same time how would Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni ever be taken seriously again if their claim to fame was 'We wouldn't trade Timofey Mozgov for Carmelo Anthony?' Answer? They wouldn't be, unless Timofey Mozgov turned into a top center in the NBA.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i>The rest of the trade isn't even worth discussing (Eddy "I eat a cheeseburger for every million I steal" Curry, Anthony "Splinters" Randolph).</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i>Did the Knicks give up a lot from a "this year" standpoint? Yes, now the Knicks have absolutely no front court depth. Chandler, and Mozgov were both important in that particular regard. But this trade isn't about this year, it's about competing for jewelry in the near future. Whether or not the Knicks will be, we don't know, but they are closer to that ultimate longer term goal now than they were yesterday. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i>The Knicks started on the "Let's get two superstars" goal, three years ago. Now they completed that goal, with a third superstar in mind. What's to complain about? I think the first time Mr. Anthony drops 45 on 60% shooting while single handedly winning a game, you'll hear a lot of 'Who did we trade again?' sentiments. </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999999;"><i>One thing we can all agree on, is the relief that this drama is finally over. After long last, Carmelo Anthony is home. Knick fans, rejoice. In the words of Ice Cube, "Today is a Good Day".</i></span></div>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-10960240576798269022011-02-07T23:24:00.000-08:002011-02-07T23:37:04.725-08:00Aaron Rodgers is just NOW elite? Really?<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:medium;"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- color:transparent;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.821981064742431" style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Now that the Green Bay Packers have won football’s ultimate prize, I have heard sentiments from many that this cements Aaron Rodgers as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks. And to those sentiments I have to ask, where have you been hiding the last three years? And why is it that a TEAM accomplishment defines what an individual does? Fact of the matter is, Rodgers had elite numbers, and elite ability long before the clock read :00 on Sunday night. People become too wrapped up in championships and comparing people from that standpoint. How many people does it take to win a championship? How about sticking to comparing individuals.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"></span><br /></span></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">ESPN’s Michael Smith had a great quote on twitter on the other day that pretty much sums up how I feel on the matter of Rodgers’ greatness. </span></span></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">“In a team sport I do not define a player's greatness by how many championships his TEAM has won. I WATCH a player and determine if hes great,” Sometimes people become a prisoner to the “rings” argument. While it is certainly relevant, I think it’s far down the list of tools to determine a player’s greatness. Individual productiona and the good old “eye test” should be the biggest determining factors.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"></span><br /></span></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Back to Rodgers, in my eyes he’s been elite for the last two years. Here are his last three years (first three years starting in the league, mind you):</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"></span><br /></span></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">2008: 63.6% completion percentage 4038 yards 7.5 YPA 28 TD 13 INT 93.8 QB rating</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">2009: 64.7% completion percentage 4434 yards 8.2 YPA 30 TD 7 INT 103.2 QB rating</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">2010: 65.7% completion percentage 3922 yards 8.3 YPA 28 TD 11 INT 101.2 QB rating</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"></span><br /></span></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">We all saw what we did in the postseason this year, and even last year in a losing effort. I can understand not wanting to jump the gun in 2008 when he first came on the scene because many players, regardless of the sport, flame out after a really good initial year. But after putting up 86 touchdowns and 31 interceptions, there are still people out there who needed MORE to be able to call this man an elite quarterback? Really? </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"></span><br /></span></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">As far as his ability, there is nothing Rodgers can’t do. He has excellent pocket presence, he has one of the strongest arms in the sport, he is mobile, he has arguably the quickest release in the sport, is one of the most accurate QBs in the game and is cerebral on top of that. I completely understand not wanting to crown someone too early before they have accomplished too much but Rodgers three year stretch is top of the line comparatively speaking in the history of the league yet NOW he’s elite because his TEAM won a Superbowl? Really? I just believe too many people put far too much stock into team success and thus far late to the punch bowl in situations like this, where a player has been playing at an elite level for three years.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:Arial;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">I'm not saying he's the best QB in the league (though I believe it can be argued that he is), or that he'll be the best quarterback ever or anything of the sort. I'm just saying that looking at what he brings to the table, he's been near the top of the league for a couple of years. His last three years are no accident. I personally rank him right there with Peyton Manning as the two best quarterbacks in the league. I'd probably give Manning a slight edge, but it's close. And when it comes to natural passing ability, Rodgers is as gifted a passer as the NFL has to offer.<br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"></span><br /></span></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">I hope Rodgers stays healthy and continues on his already torrid pace, and rewrites some of the history books. He’s exciting to watch as he, in my eyes, is the game’s most gifted passer regardless of what his team just accomplished in winning Superbowl 45.</span></span></span></div></span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-31760148159519552692011-02-06T22:00:00.000-08:002011-02-06T22:03:05.451-08:00SB XLV Wrap Up<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background-color: transparent; "><span id="internal-source-marker_0.641131209442392" style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Superbowl XLV wrap up</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">-Great game. It wasn’t necessarily the most well played game but it delivered when it came to the excitement. It came down to the last possession and you can’t ask for much more out of a Superbowl.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">-Before I get started on the game, I’ll talk about the commercials, the anthem and the post game performance. As far as the national anthem, Christina Aguilera completely botched it and it’s a shame. I wonder how that affects the people who bet on how long it would last. As far as the commercials, the only one that I liked was the Kim Kardashian commercial. I think we all know the reasoning behind that one. The Black Eyed Peas halftime performance was absolutely dreadful. Janet Jackson’s “display” in 2004 ruined the Superbowl forever.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">-Aaron Rodgers performance was truly magnificent. Mike McCarthy basically put the game on his shoulders, and Rodgers took that responsibility and played a great game. Despite six drops by Packer WRs, Rodgers still put up 300+ yards and 3 touchdowns. I mentioned in my previous entry that the Packers couldn’t be one dimensional but they were and it worked. McCarthy put everything on his best player and he came through big time.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">-James Jones drops a 50+ yard touchdown every game it seems. I thought that play would end up making the game a lot closer than it should have been, and it ended up working out as such. Jones isn’t a bad fourth option but he has had several killer drops.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">-I thought the Steelers should have kept with the running game more than they did. They did run the ball quite a few times but I thought they should have ran it more considering Green Bay really could not stop them on the ground. Of course, however, when you’re down 18 like the Steelers were it’s easier said than done to remain balanced.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">-Where was Troy Polamalu all night? He didn’t make a single impact play. The Packers did a good job of neutralizing him and Polamalu’s incorrect guess on Greg Jennings touchdown catch hurt.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">-I felt bad for Charles Woodson. It’s unfortunate he couldn’t finish out the game but I’m glad he got that long awaited ring. He’s been a good player for a long time, and also been a great teammate. Hats off to #21.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">-I thought the Packers were too conservative with the pass rush on Ben Roethlisberger. I’m not sure what the splits looked like but it seemed like they had success when they blitzed him. Capers was content in rushing three and four guys repeatedly and Roethlisberger had plenty of time to pass the ball. Had the Packers lost the game I thought that would have been one of the bigger stories.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">-I still find it hilarious that NOW people are coming to the realization that Aaron Rodgers is elite, just because he now has a SB ring. The guy has been elite for awhile, but as usual there are a lot of folks that are late to the punch bowl.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">-The Steelers are a tough football team, and I have great respect for them. They are never out of a game and though they were down 18 points, they came back and made it a one possession game. Much props to their resiliency, as they could’ve easily folded up tent and got blown out.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">-I’m surprised that on the last possession, the Steelers didn’t target Hines Ward once. He’s been their money receiver for years now, and it doesn’t get much bigger than that possession. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">-Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers on winning SB XLV. Well deserved.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">-Hopefully this isn’t the last football we see for over a year. Let’s pray on that. </span></span></div></span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-79175737831290176002011-02-06T00:55:00.000-08:002011-02-06T01:13:15.275-08:00SB XLV- Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:medium;"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background- color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">An assortment of thoughts on the game:<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"></span><br /></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">-How will the Packers respond to the nature of the game? I’m not a big believer in the experience angle and it being in the favor of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but being there for the first time is bound to lead to some jitters. Will Aaron Rodgers be too charged up early? How will the rest of the Packers respond?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"></span><br /></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">-How will the Steelers respond to the Packers spread sets? The Packers like to use a lot of four and five wide receiver sets. Teams spreading out and throwing short passes give the Steelers some trouble. After halftime of the AFC Championship Game, the Jets had a lot of success with the spread sets as Mark Sanchez warmed up and got everyone involved. I don’t view the Steeler secondary as a strength and if Aaron Rodgers gets time to throw the ball, it could be a long day for them.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"></span><br /></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">-How will the Packers defend Rashard Mendenhall? In the first half of the AFC title game, Mendenhall unleashed fury on the Jets as he nearly rushed for 100 yards in the first half of the game. The Packers, for the all the notoriety their defense gets, are terrible in the art of stopping the run. They were LAST in the league in yards per carry against. The only reason that statistic doesn’t get more play is the fact that only five teams saw less rushing attempts against them than the Packers did. If the Packers let Mendenhall get off, then Pittsburgh gets the sight they want to see the most and that is Aaron Rodgers on the sideline spectating.<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><br /></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">-Do the Packers fall too much in love with the pass? I realize that Aaron Rodgers is arguably the most gifted passer in the league and that attacking Steeler defense with a methodical air attack is probably for the best. With that said, you can’t become too one dimensional because those pass rushers will make life hell for the Packers offensive line and subsequently Mr. Rodgers. The Jets did a good job of that in the second half of the Title Game. While they were playing “catch up”, they still mixed in the run to keep the Steelers guessing. You cannot let James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley pin their ears back and give them a green light to see off on Rodgers. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"></span><br /></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">-Does Troy Polamalu make an impact? As great as Polamalu is he hasn’t really had a significant tangible impact on the postseason to date. You would think, given his history and the magnitude of the game at hand, Polamalu will have his hand in a big play or two come Sunday. I believe when it comes to pure “game speed”, Polamalu plays faster than the majority of the players in the league. Obviously his foot speed complements that as well, as he runs like a gazelle. The thing about Polamalu that gives offenses trouble, is his penchant for seemingly being in five places at once. One minute, Polamalu will be at the line of scrimmage bluffing blitz and in the next minute he’s picking off a pass 40 yards down the field. He’s football’s David Blaine and it’s imperative the Packers identify where he is at all times, because if anybody can break the game open in the Steelers favor, it’s #43.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"></span><br /></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">-Mike McCarthy vs Dick Lebeau. Who wins this matchup? As a football geek/enthusiast, this matchup is one of the most exciting this game has to offer. I think McCarthy’s offensive genius is truly overlooked and severely underappreciated. While he may have other issues as a head coach, I believe he’s one of the very best playcallers the sport has to offer. His offenses have always been well oiled machines. Dick LeBeau’s resume in the NFL and his time in Pittsburgh speak for themselves. After all the man is revered in football circles as the inventor of the zone blitz. The INVENTOR! Pittsburgh’s defenses have made life hell on quarterbacks for years on end, and have ranked near the top of the league for the majority of LeBeau’s stay. Does McCarthy attack the Steeler defense with spread sets, and try to exploit a spotty Steeler secondary? If he does, how does LeBeau counter? Does McCarthy run a more traditional offense with balance? What wrinkles will LeBeau have for Aaron Rodgers? It’s truly a football purist’s dream.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"></span><br /></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">-While Dick LeBeau seems to have grabbed most of the headlines in the two week hiatus leading up to Superbowl Sunday, Dom Capers is no slouch. The Packers defense has ranked top five in each of the last two seasons. How will he unleash Matthews? How will he free him up? With the dearth of good CBs the Packers have they can afford to play Charles Woodson in a hybrid CB/S role, hence why he blitzes off the slot more than any player I’ve ever seen in my life. I think Capers will have a solid game plan, and it’s up to the players to go out there and execute it. To their credit, they have up until this point.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"></span><br /></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">-How much damage will Ben Roethlisberger do with his legs? Although Roethlisberger doesn’t necessarily look fast, he’s awfully nimble for a man his size. He always makes plays with his legs, and has a penchant for making men miss. He will break contain every now and then and make a play but can the Packers minimize his affect on the game outside the pocket? Can they minimize the missed tackles? </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"></span><br /></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">-How will the Packers secondary handle Mike Wallace? While I realize the Steelers have more weapons, I think it is the most imperative to keep Wallace in check because he is a home run threat from anywhere on the field. He didn’t average 21 yards per catch this by accident. I already made mention of the Packers excellent secondary, and the exotic blitz schemes Capers will bring to the party. Will they do enough to stop arguably the most dangerous player that will suit up in the Superbowl?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"></span><br /></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">Final thoughts and Prediction: I can’t really get excited for this game because of how close the Jets came to being in it. Also, I have a strong distaste for “Steeler nation” but that’s neither here nor there. I’ll still watch the game and stuff my face like I always do. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"></span><br /></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">As far as the game itself, Aaron Rodgers has been red hot since the Week 16 game against the New York Giants. Ben Roehlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers will be a tough obstacle for the Packers to get over but I think the Packers win as the Steelers have issues stopping the plethora of weapons the Packers bring to the table. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"></span><br /></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">Score: Packers 27 Steelers 24 </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"></span><br /></span><span style=" background- font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">Happy Superbowl Sunday!!</span></span></div></span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-45252558583152445072011-01-12T03:38:00.000-08:002011-01-12T06:05:56.385-08:00As the Melo Turns<span class="Apple-style-span" >First of all, let me say that I am dog tired of this whole drama involving Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony. This is worse than the whole LeBron James free agency extravaganza that took place in the summer. With James, it was the summer and there was no basketball going on and he was arguably the biggest free agent ever. This is going on during the season and every day something different comes about, then you hear the obvious things that everyone knew already. Then Anthony was close to being traded how many times now? It's the NBA's version of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'. The 'he said, she said', this source, that source crap gets old. All of that aside, I do have an interest in it because of the magnitude of the player and because the Knicks are within the heart of the rumors. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >It's a complicated situation that doesn't seem to be near to a close. There are so many questions that still need to be answered on Anthony's end, on the Nuggets end, and on the end of whichever team (looking more and more like the New Jersey Nets) is willing to trade for him. Is Denver trying to openly spite Anthony? Is Anthony willing to sign an extension with the Nets? Is Anthony 'all in' on eventually being a New York Knick? There is no way to accurately gauge what is going on within the trade rumors, especially when there is a plethora of different rumors every single day. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I'm not particularly sure why Anthony would want to sign his future off to New Jersey when they currently are a poor team who wouldn't stand to get much better with the trade. Of course though, there is the sticky issue of a new CBA agreement, and the money Anthony would potentially pass up by foregoing an extension now. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Of course I'm somewhat biased here as I'm a Knicks fan but I think his best bet going forward would be playing for the New York Knicks. Given the fact that the Knicks are in a somewhat tricky cap situation in this coming offseason, mostly due to Wilson Chandler's cap hold, the Knicks almost have to trade for him if they want him. Ultimately, if the Knicks trade for him they might clear their pantry of role players but the trio of PG Raymond Felton, PF/C Amar'e Stoudemire and Anthony would be a force for years to come.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >If I had to make a prediction now on where Carmelo will end up, I'd say he'll be a Knick. Of course, I also swore LeBron would be a Knick. I'm tempered in my thoughts this time as I saw a similar situation play out last summer. Who knows what Melo wants? Does Melo even know what he wants? Who knows anything involving Melo at this stage that isn't speculative? Nobody knows anything. But I know this, tomorrow features another episode of 'As the Melo Turns'. </span></div>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-30044042846158638392011-01-11T02:34:00.000-08:002011-01-11T03:25:55.492-08:00For the Jets this showdown may be "business", but for me it's personal<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span>As anyone who knows anything about me is well aware of, I'm a diehard football fan. Most of all, I'm a diehard Jets fan. I'm not going to sit here and act like I've been a fan of the Jets since football was invented. I'm a young guy, 'only' 23 years old. That doesn't change the fact that I absolutely love this team, and the fact that I cannot possibly be more emotionally invested in this team. The Jets are my favorite professional sports franchise, and I ride with them to the very end. I watch every second of Jets football I can watch, no matter what. 1-15 Jets? I'll watch. Kliff Kingsbury is starting because 4 QBs on your team are hurt? I'll watch. Chad Pennington's shoulder is spaghetti? I'll watch. My passion for this team is simply off the charts. Through everything, I stick with the team I grew up loving. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">The last two seasons for the team have been among the best Jet memories I've had. I am fully aware that I'm not saying much with that statement given what the Jets have done for the last 15 years. Since the hire of head coach Rex Ryan, the culture of the team has changed. The team is far more physical than it was under the previous regime. The team in its entirety is more about physicality and beating you straight forward as opposed to the finesse, the smoke and mirrors that marred the Eric Mangini era. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span>Ryan definitely has his flaws, both on the field and off it. On the field, sometimes his clock management can be spotty. Sometimes, I think Rex's bravado and general overconfidence can have an adverse affect on a game (see: fake punt in Week 16 for prime example). And sometimes all the talking he does gets absolutely old, but overall the Jets are 23-13 as the Jets coach with two straight playoff appearances and three road playoff wins. I'm extremely appreciative of Rex Ryan and what he has done for my team, as far as the culture and obviously the record. I'm encouraged with the direction the team is headed. Now there are quite a few tough decisions for the offseason but this isn't the time for that. Once the season is over, I can talk about the offseason.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">The Jets defeated the Colts last week on a "walk off" field goal, setting up Round Three of New England Patriots vs New York Jets. Round One was a decisive Jets victory backed by an impressive performance from QB Mark Sanchez and saw the defense pitch a second half shutout. Game Two, which pretty much decided the division, saw the Patriots take the Jets behind the woodshed behind Woodhead.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Now it's time for Round Three between the rivals. Ryan has talked all year about what he believes his team is capable of, and how anything short of a Superbowl is a failure. He's mentioned how he isn't here to kiss Belichick's rings and his particular distaste for the Patriots. Well it's safe to say that he certainly isn't alone with that particular sentiment. I'm sure many of the other Jets players, coaches, and staff members feel that way too. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">More than anyone though, I feel the Jets fanbase HATES the New England Patriots and everything about them. I'm not going to speak for them, as I can only speak for myself. And on my end, I absolutely despise the Patriots. Obviously the fact that they are winning is a small part of the hatred, but everything about that team rubs me the wrong way. From the smug arrogant owner to the QB who whines whenever he gets touched, down to the coach who left us at the 12th hour to go to New England and has won three championships since then (while we've been through four head coaches), everything about them rubs me the wrong way. The fact that this incredible run they have been on for the last 10 years basically started with a fateful hit by Jets MLB Mo Lewis makes it all the more nauseating. Lewis took out then Patriot QB Drew Bledsoe, and Tom Brady took over. And from there, the story tells itself.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">I can respect those guys because of how they seemingly ease into any and everything seamlessly. They are a winning franchise, with a winning coach and a winning QB. So while I do hate them with a passion, I'm not a blind fan. I recognize what they have done and why they are a model franchise. And as a result, the exposure they get makes my stomach turn. I'm not trying to say they don’t deserve the admiration and respect they get, far from it. They've been the model of consistency for years now, but the weasel head coach, and the whiny QB, along with the fact that all of this is taking place for a bitter rival in Massachusetts make it difficult to stomach. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Honestly, it hurts. And over the ten year period of dominance all they have done is beat the Jets like they stole something repeatedly. They have owned us for the better part of this decade, and I'm tired of it. The Jets have been a fairly successful franchise over the past ten years, as they have appeared in the playoffs six times. The Jets also have had one home playoff game in that time span, mostly because the Patriots have dominated the AFC East. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Rock bottom for me as a football came during week 13 of this NFL season, as I watched the Patriots run roughshod all over the Jets to the tune of 45-3. I have never been so embarrassed as a Jets fan. As well documented at the top, I’ve seen quite a bit of negative as a Jet fan. There is practically nothing negative as a football fan that I've never experienced. When they say that being a Jets fan "builds character", it's the truth. I can attest to that one. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Honestly that game was the most painful to endure as a Jets fan. I was in a bar full of Jets fans, and midway through the second quarter the game was all but decided, and everyone was dejected. The Jets were tied for the division lead going into the game, and it was probably the biggest regular season game the Jets have ever played in since I became a fan back in 1996. The fact that they lost wasn't the hard part because the Patriots are a damn good team. The fact that they embarrassed themselves, and basically no showed on National television cut deep. It stung like no other loss I've ever experienced, with the possible exception of the 1998 AFC Title Game. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Bottom line, I give the Patriots respect because for all they have represented over the last ten years (even with the cheating scandal and the weasel head coach), as they are epitome of winning. Even with the respect, comes a hatred not matched by any other sports franchises. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">All the talk all year from everyone within the team was how the goal was Superbowl or Bust. Go out there and take it. The second step is walking out of Foxboro victorious. Go out there and do the "impossible". Do it for yourselves, do it for the man next to you and do it for me. I'm ready for Sunday, and at 4:30 Sunday we'll see if the Jets are too. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">So to the New York Jets players, coaching staff, and everyone who is involved with the team---have the game of your lives. Make yourselves, your fellow employees, the millions of Jets fans in the world and the city proud. Go out there and shock the world. Beat the New England Patriots, and knock the smirk off Tom Brady's face. Make sure he'll hate us even more than he already does. Make sure the fourth quarter of this game won't be a Patriot trash talking fest like it probably was during the week 13 massacre. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span">For the Jet players, coaches and the like, this may be more business and football than anything else. For me, and a legion of other Jets fans, it's personal. Let's get it. Go Jets. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-7140357796239623572011-01-09T22:40:00.001-08:002011-01-10T10:36:03.089-08:00Thoughts on Wild Card Weekend<div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-Though I didn't think much of the Seahawks, and actually laughed (and still do laugh) at the idea of a 7-9 team hosting a playoff game, I ate my crow with ketchup. I like it when a team no one expects to do anything ends up shocking the world. I thought the outrage of them making the playoffs was a bit ridiculous. Yes they were basically the skinniest kid at fat camp but the fact of the matter is they won their division. I think the outrage was a bit much honestly. Good for them. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-The Saints defense is terrible. Besides the ridiculous Marshawn Lynch run, one play was a microcosm of their performance. That long touchdown from QB Matt Hasselbeck to WR Brandon Stokley, where Stokley ran down the field unimpeded as four guys chased helplessly while he waltzed into the endzone summed it up. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-Is Reggie Bush really that bad at the running the ball to the point where he can't beat out Julius Jones. It's the worst kept secret in the history of the world that I don't think much of him as a player, but it really makes you wonder about him, where the Saints find the need to give the ball to Jones more than him. Can he really be that bad a runner?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >- That Marshawn Lynch run was perhaps the best run I've ever seen in my life when you take all the factors into account. The man broke eight tackles on one play, and made the Saints defense look like a pee wee defense. And Tracy Porter, all I have to say about you is 'C'mon man'. I think he's still flying from that stiff arm.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-Reggie Wayne. 1 catch, 1 yard. Does anyone STILL not believe Darrelle Revis isn't the best DB in the sport? If you don't, there's no point of return for you. I think Kanye West and Jay-Z put forth the track 'Monster' with Revis in mind, because that's exactly what he is--a monster. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-I thought the offensive playcalling for the Colts was particularly bizarre. Do I realize the Jets basically dared the Colts to run the ball all night? Yes. The Jets dared the Colts, and particularly Peyton Manning to be patient and I believe they were <i>too </i>patient the entire night. I was surprised that Rex Ryan was so patient and conservative with his playcalling and I was just as surprised that Peyton Manning was SO patient. The Colts can't run the ball, and couldn't run the ball despite the Jets giving the run game to them all night. When they passed the ball, the Jets rarely ever touched Manning, so why they didn't pass more I'll never know. I'm glad they didn't.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-The timeout that Colts coach Jim Caldwell called on the last drive was befuddling. You weren't going to get the ball back. The Jets had control of the clock. The Jets were at the 32 yard line, so the field goal isn't exactly a chip shot. In essence, all the timeout did was give the Jets extra time to think about what play they were going to run. Then Caldwell's explanation after the game made even less sense than the timeout itself. It was something to the effect of "We wanted them to run more plays,". Uh, what?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-Out of any quarterback with good numbers, QB Matt Cassel is probably by far the most unimpressive I've ever seen. Honestly, I expected the Chiefs would get blown out simply because I thought their body of work was unimpressive. I thought the Chiefs were the worst AFC team coming into the playoffs. They beat nobody all year asides from the Chargers, who didn't even make the postseason. The Ravens are simply on a different level. Back on Cassel, the guy just doesn't look like a good quarterback. I've seen some of the Chiefs this year and I've never sat there and thought, "Man, this guy is good," He didn't even crack 100 yards and threw three interceptions on Sunday. He looked like a high school quarterback for the majority of the game. Color me unsurprised.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-I will never understand for the life of me why HB Jamaal Charles doesn't get more carries. This isn't so much about yesterday as it is the just generally speaking with the Chiefs. I understand that the guy is less than 200 LBs, but the man averaged more than SIX yards per carry. He had only nine carries yesterday, and in the last two seasons he has only had 400 carries. I understand you don't want to burn him out but the guy has to get more touches. He's far too explosive to 'spare'. They have to use that guy more.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-I like Andy Reid. I think he's one of the brightest offensive minds in football, and I think his resume backs that claim. However, why is it that in EVERY short yardage situation Reid just HAS to try and get cute. I completely understand that the Eagles don't exactly have the ideal short yardage package. The interior of their line is shoddy and with the loss of Leonard Weaver they don't have anything that even looks like a short yardage back. Even so, at some point when do you just run the ball up the middle with your running back? 2nd and short, 3rd and short you run back to back QB draws with your 180 LB QB? Really? That wasn't a big deal in the game (they did score on that drive) but every time I see that I wonder if Andy Reid is trying to win a beauty pageant or a football game.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-QB Mike Vick going for the jugular on the last play of the game throwing to WR Riley Cooper was a little puzzling. Now if the throw was just a tad deeper, this part of the entry might have a different tint, but why not go with what got you there? WR Desean Jackson, WR Jeremy Maclin, HB LeSean McCoy and TE Brent Celek are the Eagles best skill players. Vick has all of those guys, yet with the season on the line he's throwing jump balls to.....Riley Cooper? Really?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-I'm glad Aaron Rodgers got his first playoff victory. He played a really good game, and I don't think the guy gets credit for how good he is for the simple fact that he doesn't have the playoff success others have. Well, in time he'll get his. He continues to impress.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-The Eagles offensive line should all thank the heavens that Mike Vick is their quarterback. Otherwise, they'd give up an immense number of sacks. They need some tinkering, especially on the interior of the line. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-All in all, three good games and a bad one this weekend. It was a pretty good weekend of football and hopefully next week brings us the same. </span></div>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-72304229539706700402011-01-07T23:36:00.000-08:002011-01-08T00:39:52.840-08:00NFC Wildcard Game- (5) New Orleans Saints @ ("4") Seattle Seahawks<span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;">I really wish I could summon the energy to type out some serious analysis on the game but the fact of the matter is, this game is as one sided as it gets. You have an under .500 team going up against the defending Superbowl Champions who happen to be led by one of the very best quarterbacks in the sport. Regular season record is not necessarily everything when it comes to a playoff team, as there are other factors like how the team ends the season, health, and matchups among other things. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;">That aside, this Seattle Seahawk team is putrid. They were outscored by 97 points in the regular season. In order to fill this out a little bit, I'll look at some things to watch for this game.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;">-Does New Orleans play tight? New Orleans is nearly two touchdown favorites, and it is pretty much world renown how they should have no problem winning this game. In this situation, sometimes teams either underestimate their opponent or flat out play tight and keep the opponent in the game. It'll be interesting to see how New Orleans deals with this.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;">-While the Saints have one of the best passers in the business, their top two running backs (Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory) are out for this game, leaving them down to Reggie Bush and Julius Jones. That is a very uninspiring duo, but given the fact that the Seahawks defend against the pass and the run equally poorly, it probably won't matter.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;">-The Saints need to throttle the Seahawks early. As poor as the Seahawks are, in a game of this magnitude, the crowd can be the great equalizer. The Seahawks boast one of the best "12th men" in the league. Unfortunately they are stuck with the first eleven men they have on both sides of the football</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;">-If the Seahawks are to stand a chance, they must play the game of their life. If that is to happen, they must show something they haven't all year. They must show they have the ability to play like a good team. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;">Final Thoughts and Prediction:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;">This is a major mismatch, and the Saints will show why it is with a blowout win.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;">Saints 34 Seahawks 14</span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-44030707704880823542011-01-07T23:29:00.000-08:002011-01-07T23:34:52.103-08:00WIldcard Weekend- (6) New York Jets @ (3) Indianapolis Colts<a href="http://www.usaplayers.com/images/news/rex_ryan.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 251px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://www.usaplayers.com/images/news/rex_ryan.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"><br /></span><div></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#999999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#999999;">I prayed as hard as imaginable to avoid a situation where my New York Jets would face Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Unfortunately, all that praying didn't work, and the Jets will see the NFL player that scares me the most. As the Tennesee Titans were driving last week, I was feeling good as I thought the Titans were on their way to sending the Jets to Kansas City. Unfortunately Kerry Collins did his best Rex Grossman and fumbled the snap, and thus the game away to the Colts.<br /><br />Regardless, before I break into the same rage I was in last week watching it, I will talk about the game itself.<br /><br />It has been an interesting season for the New York Jets to say the least. Exploits both on the field and off have made for the most interesting season in recent memory for the Jets. Dramatic wins in the last minute of games, the Boston massacre at the hands of the Patriots, "tripgate", and "footgate" have contributed to a wild Jets season.<br /><br />The Colts have struggled by their standards this season as they needed to win the last four games of the season to get into the postseason, winning the AFC South at 10-6. The Colts have suffered through several key injuries, namely to offensive skill players TE Dallas Clark, WR Austin Collie and RB Joseph Addai.<br /><br />While Peyton Manning threw for 4,700 yards and 33 touchdowns he also threw 17 interceptions, 11 of them coming in a rough three game stretch against the Cowboys, Patriots, and Chargers where the Colts lost three straight and nearly compromised their playoff chances in the process. This season was probably the most trying season for the Colts in some time, as they dealt with more adversity than they usually do. Normally they have the AFC South division wrapped up by the beginning of December, but clinched in week 17 this season. Peyton Manning went through the worst three game stretch of his career and the Colts dealt with several key injuries. Despite all of that the Colts still made the postseason, and come into the postseason on a four game win streak.<br /><br />Thoughts on the game:<br /><br />-Can the Jets offense step up? Can they sustain drives long enough to help themselves and their defense? The Jet offense has been highly inconsistent all season long, but they have been better in recent weeks with good showings in road games against the Steelers and Bears. The Jets have the skill players to get it done, but often times disjointed playcalling from OC Brian Schotteinheimer and inconsistency from second year QB Mark Sanchez adversely affect the offense's production.<br /><br />-The Jets have lacked a pass rush for the majority of the season as quarterbacks often sat in the pocket with an eternity to throw the ball. Fortunately for the team, they have arguably the best CB tandem in the NFL featuring all world CB Darrelle Revis and CB Antonio Cromartie which have been a significant help in masking the deficiencies in the front seven.<br /><br />-How often will the Colts exploit the Jets LBs and nickel/dime backs in coverage? That has been a weak point of the Jets defense all year, as teams have consistently gone to that well and the middle of the field has been open 24/7. Dallas Clark being out there would cause major problems as he's an All Pro tight end, but Jacob Tamme has been solid in his absence. He's built in a similar mold, as he's a pass catching tight end with wide receiver like qualities. The Jets have nobody who can handle him in coverage, and nobody is better at exploiting a mismatch than Peyton Manning.<br /><br />Final thoughts and prediction:<br /><br />While I truly believe the Jets are the better overall team, the Colts have Peyton Manning, and I don't feel the Jets team is well enough equipped to deal with him.<br /><br />Colts 27 Jets 23<br /></span></div></span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-68424272977658357262010-02-07T01:28:00.000-08:002010-02-07T01:29:24.664-08:00Thoughts on SB XLIV (Saints- Colts)<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/G23per35VLo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/G23per35VLo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-41191837806126621162010-01-16T07:33:00.000-08:002010-01-16T08:55:43.141-08:00NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xFYQQPAOz7Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xFYQQPAOz7Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />New York Jets @ San Diego Chargers</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;">Thoughts: As much as I want to pick the Jets, and as much as I want to see them win, I see the buck stopping here for the Jets. I see the Chargers 'secondary' weapons being the reason they win the game. By secondary, I'm talking about guys like Darren <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sproles</span>, Malcolm Floyd, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Legedu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Naanee</span> and others. I don't see the Jets letting Philip Rivers throwing to Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates beat them, so they will force the hands of the complimentary players, and they'll rise to the occasion. While I expect the Jets to hold the Chargers below their offensive averages, and play well, I expect the Jets offense to falter a bit. While they played well last week, there is more that points to that being a fluke than it being a sign. The Jets have a lot of positives for the near and distant future to build on, but the 2009 buck stops in California, as Rivers and company move on to the AFC Championship Game.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;">PREDICTION: Chargers 27 Jets 17</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;">Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;">Thoughts: I'm hearing a lot of love for Baltimore this week, and rightfully so. They are a very good team. They can run the ball, play defense and they have a QB who's not going to hurt them. That being said, I like Peyton Manning and the Colts here, but the game will be a close one. I think the game will come down to Joe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Flacco</span> eventually having to make plays to lead his team, and I don't see that happening. Though I think the Colts defense is very suspect, I've seen very little that makes Joe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Flacco</span> reliable in a game where he has to win it on his arm. That is what I think he will have to do, as the Colts will do everything in their power to stop the Ravens strong rushing attack. The Ravens fall a bit short, Manning and the Colts move on to the AFC Title game. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;">Prediction: Colts 31 Ravens 20</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;">Thoughts: Dallas is coming in riding a wave of momentum, and these teams are polar opposites when it comes to their <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">respective</span> season ends. Minnesota finished losing 2 out of 3, and Dallas has won 4 straight. Minnesota has struggled in making Carolina and Chicago's offenses look like world beaters. The Cowboys defense is dominating, and in that four game winning streak, they kept the Saints to 17, they shut out the Eagles, and Redskins, and held the Eagles in check last week. The Cowboys pass rush has become fearsome with Anthony Spencer, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">DeMarcus</span> Ware, and Jay Ratliff leading the way. I think Minnesota's pass blocking is a bit suspect, which <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Favre</span> covers up for with his excellent pocket presence, and quick release. I think when you combine the pass rush with the secondary play, you'll have a vintage Brett <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Favre</span> playoff performance. That means, expect to see a backbreaking interception in there somewhere. I think Tony <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Romo</span> is more trustworthy in this spot, given <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Favre's</span> history, and his play this year has been superb. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Romo</span> has silenced a lot of critics along the way and I expect them to be like a public library after this game. I like Dallas. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;">Prediction: Cowboys 34 Vikings 27</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;">Arizona Cardinals @ New Orleans Saints</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;">Thoughts: I hope the scoreboard operator(s) has plenty of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">light bulbs</span>. This one is going to be high scoring. I could see either one of these teams winning the game, but it's hard to get a read on the Saints right now. They limped into the gate, losing two out of their last three, and before that really hadn't played all that well. That being said, they still have Drew <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Brees</span>, they still have that offense, and if last week is any indication, defense to the Arizona Cardinals is clearly optional. Kurt Warner is one of the best postseason Quarterbacks ever, and I don't see this game taking anything away from his numbers as he is going against a very suspect New Orleans defense. I see this one being very "Madden-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">esque</span>". It's a toss up but I'll go with New Orleans at home.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;">Prediction: Saints 45 Cardinals 38</span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-14449334602786400652010-01-11T10:38:00.000-08:002010-01-11T10:42:38.520-08:00Thoughts on Wildcard Weekend<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >- All the games this weekend were brutal with the exception of the Shootout in the Wild West featuring the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >- 96 points, more than 1,000 yards of total offense, two QBs picking apart helpless defenses. If not for AZ/GB, this entire weekend of football would have been a disaster when it comes to the caliber of the game. And the fact that the game ended in a defensive score is the highest form of irony. The defensive players in this game played like they were stuck in quick sand. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >-On the second play of last drive for Green Bay in the Overtime period, how exactly was Bertrand Berry not called for a penalty? He not only hit Rodgers in the face, but he hit him 'late' (according to the NFL standards anyway), and didn't get called for a thing. I could only imagine if that happened to Tom Brady. Berry would probably be banned for life. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >- Dos Cuatro> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ocho</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cinco</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >-Kurt Warner had more touchdowns than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">incompletions</span>. Wow.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >-Seeing Neil <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Rackers</span> miss that field goal at the end of regulation makes me wonder if there ever has been</span><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> a worse period for kickers. Brutal</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >-How many garbage calls did they make against Darrelle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Revis</span> in that game? That pass interference was a joke, and on the first illegal contact, the wide receiver ran into him and gave him a two handed shove. The refs were a joke during that game. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >- It's rare that you see the Patriots look that bad, but the Ravens really kicked them in the teeth. It was an ominous sign when Ray Rice rumbled for an 83 yard TD before the seats even filled up. From minute one to minute 60, the Ravens simply did whatever they wanted with the Patriots. I look forward to the week worth of '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">WWWD</span>' (What Would <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Welker</span> Do), sentiments/excuses</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >-I keep hearing how the Ravens over the Patriots is an upset and I don't understand how. They played earlier this season and the Ravens were done in with a couple awful calls. The Patriots haven't been the same team we've come to know all year. They were evenly matched, so where is this "upset"?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >- Did the Bengals hand this game to the Jets too? That's all I heard throughout the week leading up to the game, and the Jets kicked the stuffing out of them on Saturday. They pounded the rock, were efficient passing the ball and played great defense. Mark Sanchez was basically spotless in his first playoff game, and Carson Palmer looked completely brutal.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >- The entire Eagle team laid an egg, and I'll get that out of the way. That being said, I'd like to give a shout out to the great Donovan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">McNabb</span> for adding to his playoff lore with a performance for the ages Saturday night. He's such a leader, and is a top QB in the league. On a more serious note, Saturday night was a 60 minute snapshot as to why Philadelphia will never win anything with him under center. He doesn't have the makeup to get it done.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >-I guess no one is bashing Tony <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Romo</span> these days for being overrated, a guy who comes up small, and being the sole reason for Dallas' failures? Regardless he played very well and has done so for basically the entire season as he has been magnificent. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">McNabb</span> should take some notes from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Romo</span>. He certainly could use them.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >-What was Mike Jenkins doing lateraling the ball when his team was up 20+ points? Take your INT, make snow angels on the ground and be done with it.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >- I think we've seen the last of Brian Westbrook in a Philadelphia uniform.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >- What was the point of signing Jeremiah Trotter? I don't get Philly management. They can let Brian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Dawkins</span> go, though his price was reasonable but then they sign Mike Vick and Trotter who's been done for about a decade? Really?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >- Whoever thought it was a good idea to put Joe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Theismann</span> and Joe Gibbs in the booth together needs to be terminated immediately. </span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-49254292775326708902010-01-08T21:48:00.001-08:002010-01-09T02:08:59.939-08:00Playoffs?!?!?!?!<div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-oSFYxDGKy8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-oSFYxDGKy8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Wildcard Weekend</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">New York Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals</span><br /></div></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Thoughts: I keep hearing how the Bengals laid down for the Jets last week, and I can't help but think that is ridiculous. I don't care how much you may/may not want to play a certain team, you don't lie down, get your collective ass kicked and give that team ultimate confidence going into the playoff game. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >That being said, these are two evenly matched teams, with the one glaring difference being that the Bengals have a good QB, and the Jets have one of arguably the three worst in the league. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >I'll go with the obvious here for a second. The key to this game is the Jets run offense against the Bengals run defense. If the Bengals let the Jets run anywhere near as effectively as they did last week, the Jets chances increase tremendously. The less Mark Sanchez throws the ball, the better for obvious reasons.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Even with the Jets glaring hole at the QB spot I like the Jets defense and running game to lift the team to a victory, sending them to sunny San Diego for a match up for Philip Rivers and the hot Chargers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Prediction: </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Jets 17 </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Bengals 13</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Thoughts: I like this matchup in Baltimore's favor for a few reasons. One is the revenge they want to inflict on the Patriots after the early season loss, which featured the worst call in NFL history (the roughing the passer where Terrell Suggs stomped on a bug in the general vicinity of Brady). Another is the simple matchup on paper. These teams matchup well, and while you'll never confuse Joe Flacco with a great QB, or the Baltimore passing game for the 1999 Rams, Baltimore is respectable in all aspects of the game. Their defense, which was much maligned early, has come back strong and finished 3rd in the league. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >New England lost Wes Welker for the rest of the season, but I don't think the loss is going to hurt them all that much. While the talking heads make Welker out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, I think his production is more about the role in that offense and what is around him as opposed to him being a world beater. Edelman isn't as good as Welker and that is understood, but the facts are in the two games where Edelman got the majority of the playing time he had 18 catches. Edelman will do enough and not be a liability. Baltimore's secondary is nothing to write home about either so I wouldn't be shocked to see the Patriots spread them out and attack them that way. Oh look, Frank Walker just committed a pass interference penalty as I type this. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" > The Patriots defense, while it is 4th in the league, is liable in the secondary and I expect the Ravens to take a few shots at them next week. While Brady and Belichick have the pedigree, I expect the Ravens to walk in and win, in the only game that I am confident about this weekend.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Prediction:<br />Baltimore 24<br />New England 17</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Thoughts: I think the NFC games are incredibly hard to forecast. The Cowboys beat the Eagles twice this season and held the Eagle offense in check in both meetings, but it's incredibly hard to beat the same team three times in one year, especially when the teams are as evenly matched as these two are. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >The Cowboys come in on a roll but I don't buy regular season momentum carrying over into the postseason, but I do buy the change in Tony Romo's style of play. Maybe a playoff win will get the credit Romo the credit that he deserves since he gets bashed more than nearly every other QB in football. 4,483 yards, 26 touchdowns, 9 interceptions later, Romo has put up yet another excellent regular season. The Cowboy defense has been good, but I don't like the matchup of their secondary vs the Eagle WRs. Had it not been for Donovan McNabb doing his best "McNabb in a big game" impersonation, Philly might be at home right now waiting for the next opponent. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >As far as the Eagles, I expect the defense to throw the entire arsenal at Tony Romo and the Cowboy offense this week. Last week in the first half, the Eagle defense didn't look good, but the second half they had some success, while McNabb and the offense stalled. The Eagle offense is very reliant on the big play, especially with Desean Jackson scoring a 50+ yard TD seemingly every week. They are very feast or famine. Their running game lacks but that is nothing new. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >The Cowboys are probably slightly better and are at home so I like the Cowboys this week. I don't trust McNabb at all in big spots, so I'll take Dallas in a close one. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Prediction: </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Dallas 27</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Philadelphia 21</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Thoughts: This game is a 50/50 toss up in my opinion. It features two fairly even teams, and two explosive offensive teams. I'm sure the Packers absolutely regret handing the reigns to Aaron Rodgers. Upgrading at QB was the worst thing the Packers could ever do. On a more serious note, Rodgers is one of the best QBs in football. He went for 65% completion percentage, 4,434 yards, 30 touchdowns and 7 interceptions and has proven himself to be one of the very best quarterbacks in the business. I fully expect the Packers to take advantage of Dominique Rodgers Cromartie, considering his penchant to be overaggressive combined with his injury. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" ><br />The Cardinals defense is about middle of the pack, but on a team featuring an offense like that, an average defense is all that is needed. I think their secondary is suspect and I see Aaron Rodgers having a coming out party (for those who still can't get over Brett Favre or overemphasize wins/playoff wins) of the ages on Sunday. Ryan Grant will be a non factor, so expect Rodgers to toss it around on the Cardinals defense. I don't think they'll be up to the task of stopping him. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >The Cardinals offense should put up plenty of points, even without Anquan Boldin. When Warner is in rhythm he's right up there with the game's best. He better be on point Sunday, or the game could get ugly quickly.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >In the wildest game of the weekend, I like Green Bay to win a shootout.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Prediction:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Green Bay 38</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Arizona 34 </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" > </span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-26384971532254689942009-12-31T22:14:00.001-08:002010-01-02T14:04:39.596-08:00Top 10 Sports Memories of the Last Decade (2000-2009)<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >10. Yankees/Angels <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ALCS</span> Game 2- October 17, 2009</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >I notice that a lot of these games happened around my birthday (10/14). This one is on the list simply because of what I was doing while the game was going down. I had just walked into the club and was drinking a little when Alex Rodriguez came to the plate with the Yankees down 3-2, and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Based on what had transpired this past season with Rodriguez and Fuentes’ propensity to implosion, I thought something big was coming. When Rodriguez hit the ball, and it proceeded to barely make it over Bobby <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Abreu</span>’s glove, the place went CRAZY. Then immediately after the “walk off error” by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Maicer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Izturis</span>, the DJ proceeded to play a mix of Jay-Z’s “Empire State Of Mind” and Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York”. That is one of the two times I actually appreciated the song “Empire State of Mind”. The other was, you guessed it, the 2009 World Series ticker tape parade/rally. This was one of those nights, and the Rodriguez homer triggered it. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >9. Mike Piazza’s Game winning HR against Braves- September 21, 2001</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >I'm not a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mets</span> fan, but the feeling I had when Piazza hit this HR isn't matched by many in my years of watching sports. While I understand sometimes the overemphasis of the importance of sports, this game was a getaway of sorts. With all the stuff going on, the tragedy and such the game was a nice way to get away from it all. It was ten days later but the lingering effects were still there, and this was the first professional sports game in New York since the tragedy.<br /><br />In a city in need of an emotional lift of any kind, Piazza stepped up to the plate with his team down 2-1 in the bottom of the 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> inning with a man on base. He proceeded to homer to center field, and sent chills down my spine and lifted a city in turmoil. That home run was about more than baseball. It was like something straight out of a movie and it almost felt as if a spirit was watching over the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Mets</span> that night as they gave the city a well needed jolt. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >8. Jets/Dolphins, Monday Night Miracle- October 10,2000</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" > For once, my undying loyalty to the Jets paid off. For the most part, unless <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Kliff</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Kingsbury</span> is playing QB, I stick around until the game is over. While I was a young pup at this time, that was still my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">modus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">operandi</span>. At 30-7, all I can think was that the game over, and then the unthinkable happened. The Jets were on the giving end of a heartbreaking, gut wrenching defeat. I’ll never forget the look on Jumbo Elliott’s face as he looked up to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Jumbotron</span> after catching the game tying touchdown pass. Honestly, the only reason this one is so far down the list is because I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">wasn</span>’t old enough at the time to truly recognize the magnitude of the comeback and appreciate it for what it was. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >7.Jets/Packers, Win and you’re in regular season finale- December 29, 2002</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >The game itself was relatively uneventful as the Jets blew the doors off Brett <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Favre</span> and the Packers, 42-17. The events before, and during the game made the game and the day special for Jets fans. The Jets needed a win and some assistance from the hated Patriots to make the postseason.<br /><br />They needed the Patriots to beat the then division leader Dolphins, and it didn't look good when the Patriots trailed 21-10 with five minutes left to play. Then the tables turned in unbelievable fashion as the Dolphins folded like a cheap tent. They let the Patriots score 11 unanswered in the last 4 minutes, and proceeded to lose in Overtime. I remember seeing a 'Game Break' on Fox detailing the loss, and being excited. For once as a Jets fan, I had no doubts they were going to win, and they did exactly that setting off a three and a half hour long party in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Meadowlands</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >6. Yankees/Red <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Sox</span>- July 1, 2004</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >I know most remember the game for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Jeter</span> diving in the stands and bloodying his face, but the game itself was an incredible game. On a side note, a forgotten nugget in that game is that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Nomar</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Garciaparra</span> was the only active player on EITHER SIDE not to play in the game, and that basically hastened his exit from Boston. In the game itself, it was a hotly contested game, and I'll personally never forget the image of Ruben Sierra huffing and puffing while looking like he was about to collapse, on his way to home plate on the game tying RBI triple on Miguel Cairo. Then John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Flaherty</span>, the lightest hitter on the team, came through with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">GW</span> RBI 'double' to win it. This was yet another awesome game in the Yankee-Red <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Sox</span> rivalry. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >5. Jets/Chargers AFC Divisional Playoff- January 8, 2004</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" > This game honestly should not even be on this list. Had it not been for Eric Barton going Mortal <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Kombat</span> on Drew <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Brees</span> head needlessly and unnecessarily, this game wouldn't be here. That is part of the Jets charm though since in the rare instances they do win, it is never painless. Up 17-10, on a 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">th</span> and goal inside the ten, the Jets had the victory before Eric Barton decided to deliver an elbow to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Brees</span>’ head, which gave the Chargers new life and they proceeded to force OT. The Jets then got a missed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">FG</span> from Nate ‘Baby Face’ <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Kaeding</span>, and proceeded to drive down for the winning <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">FG</span>. As usual with the Jets, after the game is over I felt like I was on the field with them for 60 minutes.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >4. Yankees World Series run/subsequent parade- November 2009</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Honestly, most of the games were fairly nondescript (save for Game Two of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">ALDS</span>, Game Two of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">ALCS</span>, Game Four of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">WS</span>), but just being old enough to actually appreciate the title, and being there among literally a sea of Yankee fans was an experience I’ll never forget and hope to replicate in the near future. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >3. Yankees/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">D'Backs</span> 2001 World Series Games Four and Five- October 31- November 2, 2001</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" > I’m telling you, the Yankees always make things interesting. This series came on the heels of 9/11, and while the Yankees were outclassed in pretty much every way imaginable the entire series it seemed like it was destined for them to win the series. Regardless, games Four and Five were all kinds of drama. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Tino</span> Martinez hitting a two out game tying HR in Game 4, and Scott <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Brosius</span> hitting a game tying two out, two run HR in Game 5 marked the loudest I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">ve</span> ever heard Yankee Stadium. I felt the noise all the way from the Northeast Bronx. Both those home runs gave me the chills, and you had Game Four ending with Derek <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Jeter</span> hitting a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">walkoff</span> home run at the very beginning of November. That was an incredible 2 nights of baseball. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >2. Giants/Patriots SB <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">XLII</span>- February 3, 2008</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >As everyone and their mother knows, I loathe the Patriots. I’m also a Giants supporter. I’m a New York kid, so I support all the locals besides the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Mets</span>. That being said, this entry is more about the hated Patriots losing their bid for perfection than anything else.<br /><br />I remember the week before the game, ESPN with ‘fantasy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">matchups</span>’ of the Patriots vs teams like the 1985 Bears, and had the Patriots “winning”. That kind of stuff just made me say “Can they win the damn game first before we crown them? Good grief,” Lo and behold, The Giants defense put Tom Brady on his back countless times, and Eli Manning drove the troops down the field, in a drive that will go down in football lore, to win the game. And the David Tyree play was probably the most shocking play I have ever seen in my life, considering this guy was cut a year later, and that year had 4 catches. It was great to see someone finally one up Tom Brady, and end the Patriots run for perfection. Thank you Eli Manning. I wonder how Mercury Morris felt? </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >1. Yankees/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Sox</span> Game 7 2003 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">ALCS</span>- October 16, 2003</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" > This is probably the most heart pumping, exciting baseball game I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">ve</span> ever watched. As much as I get tired of the Yankee and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">Sox</span> centric coverage, I definitely miss the Yankees- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Sox</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">ALCS</span>’. They featured fights, great games, great players, and just epic wars. This game itself was epic. The Yankees fell behind 4-0 early, then got two Jason <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">Giambi</span> home runs.<br /><br />They were trailing 5-2 going into the eighth inning, where Derek <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">Jeter</span>, like he has so many times, got the rally started with a double to right field. Bernie singled him home , <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">Matsui</span> then doubled, setting up a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">matchup</span> between Jorge <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">Posada</span> and Pedro Martinez, who had a confrontation earlier in the series where Martinez pointed towards his own head as if to say that is where he’d hit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">Posada</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">Posada</span> then served a blooper into no man’s land to tie the game and I swear I felt my TV shake. After three innings of impeccable scoreless relief from Mariano Rivera, Aaron Boone stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the 11<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">th</span> inning. He took one mighty swing at one of Tim Wakefield’s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">knuckleballs</span>, sent Yankee Stadium into hysteria, sent me into my pillow screaming in joy, and sent the Yankees to the World Series. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Honorable mentions</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">-</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Jets release Chad Pennington</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Jason Kidd traded to Nets- Summer 2001</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Jets blow out the Colts 41-0 in 2002 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">Wildcard</span> Round</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" ><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">LeBron</span> James goes off for the last 25 Cavalier points in Game 5 of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">ECF</span> vs Detroit</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Nets make the finals in 2002</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Nets make the finals in 2003</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Yankees come back from 0-2 down against Athletics<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60"></span><br />Jason <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">Giambi's</span> walk off Grand Slam against Minnesota in the rain in 2001<br /></span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-2746358808220972602009-12-28T23:09:00.000-08:002009-12-31T20:05:04.919-08:00Thoughts on NFL Week 16<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-While I think the 'Indy benching scandal' is being overblown, considering what the Colts have to play for at this point, I didn't agree with how they handled the situation. I thought, at 15-10, Caldwell should have given the offense a shot to go up two scores. Then once you get up two scores, bench your starters and such, or just have them play three quarters. I think if you play the starters for three quarters each of the last two games, that keeps them 'fresh' enough and in good enough 'game shape' for the postseason. That being said, all the folks who are complaining and criticizing now, would be the same ones who would be complaining and criticizing had an important player went down with a significant injury. Health>being undefeated. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-On a related note, thank you to the Indianapolis Colts and Jim Caldwell for benching Peyton Manning. I'll be at the game next week (my first, and the last at the Meadowlands), and now it is actually for something. That was the best Christmas present I got. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-The Cincinnati Bengals are the Shrek of football. Hopefully they don't look like Snow White this week. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Why are the Ravens such an undisciplined football team? I swear, every time I look up they are being flagged, but most of all some of them are either boneheaded, completely obvious or both. On the TD return on the INT by Dominique Foxworth, Terrell Suggs committed a block in the back that had absolutely no impact on the play. Suggs could have literally lied on the field making pretend snow angels, and Foxworth would have scored, so why the penalty that costs your team 6 pts? They have always been a chatty bunch, full of talk and bravado, but a dumb one as well. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Who the hell was that playing QB for the Rams this past week? I consider myself an avid football fan, and I have never once heard of the guy in my life.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-The Giants are an absolute embarrassment. It's bad enough laying an egg like that, making Matt Moore look like an All-Pro, and getting steamrolled in every sense of the word, but it was also the last game in the Meadowlands for the Giants. This is how they say farewell to the Stadium? What a joke. I have no idea what happened to that defense but I think it's safe to say, from a football sense, that the Giants and Steve Spagnuolo both miss each other dearly. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-All the Tony Romo bashing that I've heard repeatedly over the course of the years, does it stop? Or is it now, that he played an excellent December, he needs to win in the postseason? Whatever it is, he deserves a ton of credit, as he played very well in December which I was led to believe was an utter and complete impossibility of apocalyptic, earth shattering type of proportions. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-The New England Patriots win this week helped the Jets. So, I'll throw them a thank you. Thanks New England. On a related note, to the Jaguars, you might want to get a hand on that guy named Moss. I've heard he's alright. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-That is the Jay Cutler I've come to know and love. He played an excellent game, though the Vikings defense is struggling. Too bad it's too little, too late. Hopefully he can build on that for next season. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >- San Diego will represent the AFC in the Superbowl. As much as I don't trust them, the only team in the AFC I see getting in their way is Indianapolis, and I think the Colts D is soft like tissue paper. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-I swear, the Texans and 8-8 go together like peanut butter and jelly, Bonnie and Clyde, like chocolate cake and ice cream. And next year all the prognosticators again will tell me how it will be the year they will breakout. Now it very well may be, but it reeks of throwing stuff at a wall and hoping it sticks. Every single year, Houston is supposed to breakout and it never happens.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Watching Jay Cutler and Brett Favre, as much as I can't stand Favre, go tit for tat was great. I absolutely enjoy great QB play, and that game had it all in that regard. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Do the Packers still need to have Brett Favre and were idiotic for letting him go? Or will the media, and others FINALLY let that go and admit that Aaron Rodgers is the BUSINESS?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-The Redskins, per the usual, are a hot mess.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-I'm curious to see how this Eagles-Cowboys game plays out next week. Both teams are playing well, and the Eagles are now playing for a first round bye. Who would've thought that was possible about, oh, 2 weeks ago? Boy, can things change quickly.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-On his last throw of the Steeler/Ravens game, what in the name of everything that is holy and sacred was Ben Roethlisberger doing?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-The Denver Broncos started out 6-0, and have gone 2-7 ever since. But wait, I thought Kyle Orton was this winner? Yet, their PPG took a dip, and Eddie Royal (at this point, he almost warrants a 'Who?', even though I was led to believe that he was simply unbelievably awesome and a top flight WR) has completely disappeared. At least the ridiculous Orton nonsense, making him out to be something he is not (anything more than average, and an MVP candidate) has died like a bug on a windshield. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Happy Holidays to all those who read.</span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-87887318275365837832009-11-29T11:07:00.000-08:002009-11-29T11:10:23.693-08:00Video entry: Thoughts on Allen Iverson's pending retirement<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iywZ3qGvUUI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iywZ3qGvUUI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Link-->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iywZ3qGvUUIKLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-84927987444669168732009-10-12T21:01:00.000-07:002009-10-12T22:57:16.865-07:00Thoughts on Week 5 of the NFL season<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-I don't think this story is getting enough play, but the Bengals winning that game, with the death of Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's wife hanging over their heads was a nice story. The fact that they won the game with Zimmer choosing to be there with them on game day was nice, and giving Zimmer the game ball (along with the speech that came with it) was very touching. It was all around great win for Cincinnati, and I'm happy they won that game in light of what was going on with Zimmer. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-I don't know what's worse, the fact that Derek Anderson completed two passes in a professional football game, or the fact that the Buffalo Bills lost to a team who completed two passes the entire game.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-The Patriots look mortal these days. Tom Brady just doesn't look good to this point, as he probably needs to overcome the mental block of the knee surgery. That pass he missed to Wes Welker in the 4th quarter was absolutely crucial, and he also missed a TD from about 35 yards out to Randy Moss in the first half. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-What about the Broncos? 5-0. Who saw that coming? Their defense is playing lights out, and Orton played a great game this past week. They're going well, and they're getting all the breaks as well. There was one play where the ball was deflected 3 times by Patriot players only to land in the waiting arms of Jabar Gaffney. Those are the kind of breaks you get when you are going well.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-I think all the talk of Josh McDaniels celebration being exaggerated is somewhat unnecessary, but I'll admit that the celebration was a bit much. Take a second though to consider the magnitude of the game for him personally, and for his team, and all he has been through as the coach, I can see why he celebrated like he did. It was a big game, and his team is 5-0, good for him. It's not often you see have a moment like that between the fans and the coach. I thought it was refreshing. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-How about them Cowboys? I know they needed a win, but the fact that this game was so important from a team temperament standpoint, and they came out and played a very average game full of mistakes speaks volumes about them. I know a 'W' is a 'W', but it would have been a lot more encouraging if they had come out and whip the Chiefs but they did not. They left them in the game, and the Chiefs just were not good enough to take it.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-How about Miles Austin? 250 yards, and 2 TDs in his first career start. What a game for him, and what bad tackling on KC's part. It's one thing to be slippery and break a lot of tackles, but watching that game you essentially saw the same play several times. The Chiefs might want to practice tackling a bit harder in practice this week.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-The only game on locally on Sunday early was New York-Oakland. Imagine my dismay, as the Giants smashed Oakland into a fine dust. Can you say, mismatch? When asked about the game this week, Richard Seymour said something to the tune of 'The weather is nice'. Indeed it is Richard, indeed it is.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-The clock is ticking on Jim Zorn. Tick, tock. I don't agree that he should be on the chopping blocks but someone has to be held accountable, and Zorn is probably the first guy on that line.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-How about Jeremy Maclin in his first career start going for 142 yards and 2 TDs. I liked that guy in the draft and McNabb looked for him early and often Sunday, including an absolute rope on the first TD. Props to McNabb on a good game, coming back from the injury, and props to Maclin making the most of his first career start.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Can the St. Louis Rams be removed from the NFL? The word to describe their startling ineptitude hasn't been created yet.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Dre Bly's "display" after catching an INT on Sunday was absolute comedy. Catching the interception then doing the "Deion" when he hadn't even reached midfield, then proceeding to get stripped, all the while being down 25 points, was absolutely hysterical. I'm surprised Singletary didn't come on the field and tackle him. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >- Andre Johnson is simply a monster. That TD catch to tie the game at 21 against AZ was ridiculous. In my opinion, he is the best wide receiver the NFL has to offer.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Peyton Manning might be playing the best football of his life, and that is saying a LOT. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-While the Jets did lose, the performance of Braylon Edwards was very encouraging. He brings a dynamic at the WR position that I have never seen in my years of following the team. Ultimately, that and Mark Sanchez' resilience were the only things to be encouraged about on this night. The defense' performance was embarrassing, and I thought the coaches did a bad job as well. Hopefully it was just a bump in the road for the defense, although I was and still am worried about the lack of a ace pass rusher. Schemes and exotic blitz schemes can only account for so much</span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-50477926184507241112009-10-08T13:40:00.000-07:002009-10-08T18:51:47.806-07:00Thoughts on Week 4 of the NFL Regular season<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Brett <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Favre</span> looked like vintage Brett on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">MNF</span>. As much as I have '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Favre</span> fatigue' and as much as I think Rodgers is better overall and was better Monday night, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Favre</span> still played an excellent football game. The Packers took Adrian Peterson out of the game and forced <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Favre</span> to beat them and he obliged. The TD pass he threw to Sidney Rice in the second quarter was a Hall of Fame throw. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >- I thought, especially given the circumstances, that Aaron Rodgers performance was absolutely magnificent. Yes, I know he threw an INT, and had a costly fumble, but the Vikings front four was killing the offensive line (and subsequently Rodgers), all night, and he still managed to light up the place. That kid is a really good QB.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Steve Smith (the NYG version), is absolutely putting on a clinic week in and week out. The guy just knows how to get open. He works all of the field, and has excellent hands. Smith and Eli Manning have incredible chemistry, and it shows in the numbers, and how often Manning looks to him on 'big' downs. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mark</span> Sanchez finally played like a rookie and it cost the Jets big time. I thought it was especially evident on the fumble in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">endzone</span> when he should have just thrown it in the first row. Although, considering the fact that he threw a INT that just went for a TD, it would be nice to know why the Jets are even throwing inside their own 2 anyway. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >- The Jets defense is absolutely for real, and having Calvin Pace back just makes them that much better.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-I really, REALLY do not like Brian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Schotteinheimer</span>. I'll leave it at that, before I break the computer and am unable to finish this entry.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Can we just call the Rams 'The Ringling Brothers'? Good lord, they are bad. Steve <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Spagnoulo</span>, I hope you are enjoying the fatter paychecks because that is all there is to enjoy in St Louis at the moment.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >- Trent Edwards is the worst QB in the NFL not named <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">JaMarcus</span> Russell. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-To put <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">JaMarcus</span> Russell's ineptitude in perspective, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Shaquille</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">O'neal's</span> free throw percentage is higher than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">JaMarcus's</span> completion percentage. Enough said.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Jay Cutler is the man. As damn near everyone knows, he's my favorite active NFL player. He makes the players around him better, and that TD run was awesome. He really put his body on the line, and won. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-To this point, I think Johnny Knox has made a good case for himself as the Rookie of the Year.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >- Peyton Manning is a machine. The man simply is not real. 70% completions and 9 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">TDs</span> in four games thus far this season. Are you kidding me? Best QB in the league, and this year's MVP to this point. I know I gush about him every week, but I do it because I think football fans take him for granted. '300 yards, ho hum'. He's ridiculous.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-New England is like the character in the horror movie that just won't die. I picked against them the last two weeks, and they've shut me right up. Oh by the way, next time how about catching the ball, Mark Clayton?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Tennessee is awful. Is it a combination of things, or did <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Haynesworth</span> make that big a difference? I personally think it's a combination of both, as they haven't played well and haven't been able to catch a break either. Soon it's going to be Vince Young time in Nashville, and given how bad he is, there might be a lot of bottles of 'Tums' purchased in Tennessee.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Denver is 4-0. I never thought I'd see that. The Denver defense is playing great, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">McDaniels</span> has done a great job of changing the "laid back" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"></span> culture up there. Though, the amount of props Kyle Orton is getting is actually nauseating. He stinks. He has contributed next to nothing to the 4-0 start. He's bad, and him being on a winning team (a classic media misconception) doesn't make him any more or less, bad. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-That play by Brandon Marshall to win the game Sunday was excellent. It was a poorly thrown ball, Marshall 'Mossed' Terrence Newman and came down with the ball, then proceeded to run up his '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">YAC</span>' total, owning half the Dallas defense en route to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">endzone</span>. Good for him. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-San Diego is the league's paper champion every year. I think the first half of the game Sunday night was a 30 minute snap shot as to why. That team is poorly coached and poorly prepared every single week. If not for Philip Rivers, god knows where that team would be. They have all the talent you need, but their coaching staff is absolutely dreadful.</span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-32846770395778596862009-09-30T10:26:00.000-07:002009-09-30T11:10:51.687-07:00Thoughts on Week 3 of the NFL season<span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">- I have to give up to Old Man River aka Brett Favre. That was a hell of a drive he led culminating in a hell of a pass to win the game. I don't think the catch gets nearly as much credit as it deserves, but the throw was pretty much in the only spot Favre could have put it to have a chance for a completion. That was a great play by Favre. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">- San Francisco is going to be a tough out this year. They aren't the most talented team, but they play a tough, disciplined brand of football, and Singletary has them playing a tough brand of football. I think the 9ers will find themselves in the postseason this year.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">-Peyton Manning is just simply the best, period. Besides the fact that he is just damn great, he is definitely fun to watch. I definitely get a kick out of him getting to the line with 20 on the clock, then proceeding to gesture and jump up and down and around and around. He's the best QB I've ever had a chance to see play.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">-It was good to see Jay Cutler come up big again for the Bears in the waning moments of the game against Seattle. I think the guy is growing as a QB. And also much props to Devin Hester, who has silenced the critics (including myself) to this point with solid play to this point. And on a somewhat related note, Devin Hester has more yards than both Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal combined. Interesting stuff.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">-The topic of 'Troy Polamalu being absolutely great and vital to the Steelers' is old and misguided. Week 1, the Steelers gave up 10 points playing the majority of the game without Polamalu. Week 2. they gave up 17 points and week 3 they gave up 16. The defense is holding up it's end of the bargain. The Steelers have been screwed by a couple individual plays. This week it was the Sweed TD drop, and last week it was Reed missing 2 FGs. The notion that Polamalu being out being the main reason Pittsburgh is losing is head scratching. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">- Cleveland is an unmitigated disaster.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">- I've never seen so much hoopla over an 0-2, 7 rushing yard effort. I heard someone on the radio say "Vick looked comfortable, and he looked crisp.'' Completely forgetting that he played, I decided to peep the box score only to realize Vick didn't even complete a pass. I see the standards are still delightfully low when it comes to Vick. The more things change, the more they stay the same.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">- The Seattle Seahawks jerseys made me feel like I was watching a team of Human lifesavers. Whoever came up with those uniforms should be released of his duties immediately. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">-The Jets are 3-0. This start for them is completely unexpected. I don't think the defense played particularly well this week, but they did enough with the game on the line to come through with the 'W'. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">-Jerricho Cotchery is 3rd in the league in receiving yards to this poont (Vincent Jackson, Reggie Wayne). Hopefully he keeps ir up).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">-Every week Philip Rivers completes a bomb to Vincent Jackson that is mouth dropping. 3 guys draped all around, Jackson and he just comes down with it like it's nothing. Jackson is really making a name for himself among the game's top receivers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">- The play where Pennington injured himself didn't look that serious. Unfortunately for him, it was serious, and now his career is in jeopardy.</span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-76503257715146126952009-09-23T07:23:00.000-07:002009-09-23T07:59:08.445-07:00Thoughts on Week 2 of the NFL season<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Did Seattle put 11 guys on the field on D, Sunday? All I saw was Frank Gore, looking like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Usain</span> Bolt at an Olympic track meet, running untouched and unimpeded in straight lines in the open field. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Miami's tiring usage of the wildcat tells me one main thing. They have little to no confidence in Chad Pennington leading the offense and putting up enough points, so they rely on trickery and gimmicks to try and score points. That is why he is a lame duck QB and is as good as gone in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">offseason</span>. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">JaMarcus</span> Russell really 3/22 at one point in Sunday's game? 3/22? Really? You would think one would be able to complete more than 3 passes out of 22 by accident.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Baltimore needs to find a way to get Kelly Washington into the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">endzone</span> more often. That TD dance is absolutely hilarious.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >- The last drive for SD in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">BAL</span>/SD game was absolutely baffling. On second down, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Legedu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Naanee</span> is 1-2 stepping like Reggie Bush in the backfield, meanwhile he needs one yard for a first down. Why didn't the guy just lunge forward and get the first? I don't mind passing the ball on 3rd and 2, but it's almost as if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Norv</span> got his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">playcalls</span> mixed up for the respective 3rd and 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">th</span> downs. If you are going to run the ball on one of those downs why not make it 3rd and 2? And on 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">th</span> and 2, for the ball game, how does running a 175 LB back through the middle of a defense featuring <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Haloti</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Ngata</span> and Ray Lewis make any sense, especially considering Rivers had 425 passing yards in the game and is one of the league's best <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">QBs</span>? I think that drive puts into perspective why SD has always been paper champions. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Ray Lewis' play on the aforementioned 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">th</span> down was absolutely ridiculous. I'm surprised that:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >A) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Sproles</span> held onto the ball</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >B) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Sproles</span> is still alive and well </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-The Jets talked the talk, and then walked the walk. They brought the heat at Tom Brady all game long, and he was clearly flustered. Right now he is not the same QB. I think it's the psychological hurdle of having to overcome the 'fear' of the knee more than anything else. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >- Randy Moss is sore and it's quite funny. '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Revis</span> isn't a shutdown CB. No one is a shutdown CB, they all need help. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Revis</span> had help.' Did <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Revis</span> have help every where on the field? You might as well have filed a Missing Person's Report because Moss was nowhere to be found on Sunday. And if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Revis</span> isn't a shutdown CB because he needs "help" then there are no great or "dominant" players in the NFL then, since they all need "help", no?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Eli Manning leading his team on a fourth quarter comeback. Ho hum. It's amazing how good Eli looks on a regular basis, when the game is at its most chaotic stages. It's commonplace for him. That is the way to beat the Cowboys in the first game at their new palace. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Carson Palmer rebounded from a tough start and led his team to a W at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Lambeau</span> Field. Good for him. Hopefully he rebounds from an injury plagued 2008 season.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >- Can someone explain to me why Byron <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Leftwich</span> has a starting job in the NFL? The guy is not good, and is a 'never was'. I guess he is just holding the fort until Josh Freeman is ready, but man is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Leftwich</span> brutal.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Indianapolis ran 34 plays on Monday Night, and they scored 27 points in those 34 plays. Peyton Manning is just that damn good.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-It was nice to see Jay Cutler rebound and play a good game against the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Steelers</span> yesterday. He played disciplined smart football. He left the across the body madden <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">esque</span> throws in Green Bay, and it showed. Chicago needed some luck to win that game, but Cutler delivered when it mattered, leading the team to two scoring drives accounting for 10 points in the last 6 minutes of the game. On a related note, Johnny Knox looks solid. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-I'm in a gang of fantasy leagues, and in HALF of them I faced off with Chris Johnson. Guess how many of them I won for the week? Yep, zero. He's really good, but on that one long pass play what exactly was the Texans defense doing? </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >- The Redskins beat the Rams 9-7. Where was the Skins offense?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Kurt Warner, 24-26. That is video game <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">esque</span> right there. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Drew <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Brees</span> and Marques <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Colston</span> are percolating right now. It's hard to believe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Colston</span> was a 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">th</span> round draft pick. He's a very good wide receiver. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-Jake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Delhomme</span> rebounded fairly well from his latest stinker, but then did what he does best with the game on the line. He threw an interception.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-The Cleveland Browns are really, REALLY bad. Brady Quinn needs to step up and do something, ANYTHING, to keep his job and to point Cleveland in the right direction. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >-The Broncos are 2-0. That's a mild surprise, but they have played 2 pretty nondescript teams in the process (Cleveland, Cincinnati). The Broncos D looks FAR better than it did last year. </span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-27160795533950341712009-08-23T19:11:00.000-07:002009-08-23T19:22:06.715-07:00Top 10 Building Blocks/Cornerstones- NFC West<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >If I was to draft 10 players from the NFC West to serve as my core of a Superbowl contender for the next 3-4 seasons, the players I would draft and the priority I place on them are:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" ><br />10. John Carlson, TE, Seattle Seahawks- I'll be completely and bluntly honest. There are two reasons that Carlson is on this list. One of those reasons being that he used to play for the Fighting Irish, and another because the NFC West is absolutely pathetic. That being said, Carlson is a bright young player with a lot of skill who had an excellent rookie year. He had 55 catches for 627 yards, and 5 TDs, playing with a bunch of nobodies on an injury ravaged Seattle offense. He has a bright future ahead of him. Oh, and go Notre Dame!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >9. Dominique Rodgers Cromartie, CB, Arizona Cardinals- While he has a tendency to give up the big play, as he showed in the postseason, he still is an incredibly gifted athlete who showed some good things as a rookie. His kind of natural ability isn't matched by many CBs in the NFL. if he can harness the nuances of his position, the sky is the limit for this guy.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >8. OJ Atogwe, S, St Louis Rams- I rarely hear this guy's name mentioned among the league's best safeties, but he definitely is one of them. He's one of those really good players on a REALLY bad team so he doesn't get the notoriety some other players would. The last three seasons, Atogwe has 16 interceptions, and 24 pass deflections . He has proven he is adept in coverage, and has done so despite playing with a team practically devoid in talent in every other aspect of defense. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >7. Lofa Tatupu, MLB, Seattle Seahawks- Lofa is Mr Reliable. He isn't going to wow you with his natural ability, but the guy is a really good football player. He always seems to be in the right spot, and hits very well. The last four years he has racked up 431 tackles and nine interceptions. He is one of the best middle linebackers in football.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >6. Darnell Dockett, DT, Arizona Cardinals- Dockett is one of those guys who is just a disruption up front. He causes havoc on most weeks for whoever happens to have the unenviable task of blocking him. He's one of the league's better pass rushers from the defensive tackle spot, and can line up anywhere on the defensive line and cause problems. He doesn't have the greatest numbers in the world, but numbers aren't as paramount for defensive tackles, and don't really tell the whole story.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >5. Marcus Trufant, CB, Seattle Seahawks- I like Trufant. I believe he's a top CB in the league and has been so for awhile. He has great physical ability, and has been excellent for the Seahawks. He has poor hands, but that is not a prerequisite to being a good CB, it is a bonus. Trufant and Cromartie give the team a potentially dynamic set of CBs.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >4. Adrian Wilson, S, Arizona Cardinals- I think Wilson is behind only Ed Reed when it comes to safeties in the NFL. His speed, his size and his hitting ability (just ask Trent Edwards) makes him one of the league's best defensive players. He also is one of the league's best blitzers from the safety spot. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >3. Anquan Boldin, WR, Arizona Cardinals- The only reason he isn't #2 on this list is durability concerns. Boldin plays fairly recklessly so he's a risk, given his age and injury history. All that being said, the guy is a top WR in the game and embodies consistency. Year in and year out, you can rely on Boldin for very good numbers. He is arguably the league's best possession WR, but can beat you in a variety of ways. Add to that the fact that he's probably one of the two or three hardest WRs in the league to tackle and you have a force.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >2. Patrick Willis, MLB, San Francisco 49ers- There might not be a more talented defensive player in the league than Willis. He might also be one of the fastest players in the NFL, and an LB being in that discussion is saying something for sure. Willis flies to the ball and makes a ton of plays. His 315 tackles, 15 pass deflections and 5 sacks over the last two years speak to that ability and the scary part is that he can get even better. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >1. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals- Fitzgerald is one of the game's very best wideouts. His size, his strength, his physical ability and most of all his amazing hands separate himself from the pack. Regardless of the terrible QBs and offensive lines he has been around, Fitzgerald has produced in a major way pretty much every season he has been in the league. He's one of those receivers you can pretty much build an entire offense around, and be successful that way. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Others who garnered consideration</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Stephen Jackson, HB, St. Louis Rams</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Frank Gore, HB, San Francicso 49ers</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle Seahawks</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Karlos Dansby, LB, Arizona Cardinals</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Steve Breaston, WR, Arizona Cardinals</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >TJ Houshmanzadeh, WR, Seattle Seahawks </span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-24801096861395913712009-08-14T22:23:00.000-07:002009-08-15T00:52:15.557-07:00Michael Vick signs with the Eagles<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >About a month after his reinstatement to the NFL, Michael Vick has found his way back into the NFL. Vick signed a one-year deal, with an option for a second year, with the Philadelphia Eagles marking his official return to the NFL after a two year hiatus. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Personally, while I've never been high on Vick as a football player, it's cool with me that he is back in the NFL. I realize what he did was absolutely heinous, disgusting, reprehensible, among a laundry list of other not so flattering words. That being said, he did his time, and hopefully he learned from it and is a stronger person as a result. I'm not buying the whole sob story act, or the whole 'I'm sorry, please forgive me' act, because in reality if he didn't get caught, who's to say he wouldn't STILL be doing those disgusting things? Am I saying it is impossible for a human being to be rehabilitated? No, I am not, but I am skeptical by nature. It always kills me when people say 'Oh, well he looks remorseful,'. Well, some people are better actors than others. I'm not saying he can't be remorseful, just that I don't buy it. All that being said, I'm not one to hold grudges and I definitely believe that he deserves a chance to redeem himself for the wrong that he has done. However, I'm not buying any of the 'woe is me, I'm sorry for what I did' rhetoric. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I do think that some of the 'He shouldn't be allowed to play ever again in life' sentiments, and even as far as callers on sports radio wishing him injury is somewhat extreme. I can understand why people would be outraged, especially those who love animals. I can even understand those who say the punishment wasn't strict enough, but really, not allowing him to ever play again in the NFL? Really? Honestly, if Vick isn't allowed to play again then there are a ton of NFL players who shouldn't be allowed to play again, based on some events that we know of (Stallworth-yes I'm aware he got suspended for a year, Leonard Little among others), and several others of which we don't know (Ray Lewis, probably half of the rest of the NFL). If there is consistency in the argument, I don't mind it, but if the crying foul is exclusive to Vick, that isn't right. I AM NOT trying to rationalize what he did, but the extreme nature of some of the complaints regarding Vick are a bit misdirected and exaggerated. He is not the most evil man that has ever walked the face of the planet.<br /><br />And for the people crying foul about him being able to regain his job as a result, let's not forget the fact that, in essence, Vick DID lose his job. He was employed for the Atlanta Falcons making a truckload of money and got fired, and lost a ton of money during his jail stint. I also read a lot of comparing Vick to the regular joe. As unlikely as it is, someone fresh out of jail can also get a job somewhere else. Vick was released from his duties, went to jail, came out and another organization was interested in his duties. While Vick is playing in the same league, he now plays for a different employer for a reduced paycheck in a reduced role as he tries to rebuild his career. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm glad he is getting a chance to redeem himself, and genuinely hope he takes advantage of it. Will he ever be a good guy? Perhaps not. Is he actually sorry for what he's done, or what he lost as a result of getting caught? Who knows. But as a forgiving person, I hope he succeeds and becomes the latest good ol' American comeback story. What he did was heinous and inhumane, but I hope he rebounds from the adversity that he has faced, and conquers it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">As far as the football ramifications, I think the name and the luster of the story far outweigh what he will actually do on the field. The Eagles already have a QB, they already have a stable of weapons on the offensive side of the ball, and I'm not buying into the 'fad' called the Wildcat. I can see him being on the field for 7-10 plays a game and someone to be accounted for, but can't see him doing enough to make the signing a noteworthy one. </span></span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-65721316145024798352009-08-09T22:36:00.000-07:002009-08-10T11:59:09.524-07:00Thoughts on the Yankees/Red Sox series<div style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;">-The crowd was as loud as I've heard it all season over the weekend. A winning team and the hated Red <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sox</span> tend to have that kind of effect.<br /><br />-A.J. Burnett was simply marvelous Friday night. While Burnett can be somewhat erratic at times, his start Friday night was a snapshot to why the Yankees paid the man $82 million this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">offseason</span> to be their #2 starter.<br /><br />-Boy, John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Smoltz</span> has hit a wall hasn't he? If he was on any other team, I'd probably feel a little bad for the guy. It has to be tough for someone who has seen nothing but success for the majority of his career to have his performance just fall off a cliff like that. Regardless, I'm glad the Yankees were able to bash him into his current '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">DFA</span>' status.<br /><br />- It's truly a beautiful thing to watch Robinson <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Cano</span> and Derek <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Jeter</span> turn the double play. There were three that stuck out to me this weekend, those being the Ortiz 4-6-3 on Friday night, the 4-6-3 on Lowell Saturday, and the 6-4-3 on Bay tonight. Boy, can they turn it or what?<br /><br />- The ESPN broadcast team, as I've said ad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nauseum</span>, is absolutely horrendous. They make John Sterling sound like a combination of Marv Albert, Vin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Scully</span> and Al <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Michaels</span>.<br /><br />-It's good to see Alex Rodriguez come through with big hits for the team. Rodriguez is vilified far too much for a player of his stature. While he brings some of it on himself, the guy is a great baseball player. It's nice to see him come through in a big spot. He has actually done that quite a bit this year, and even in his relatively abbreviated season, he has come through quite a bit in the big spot. That was an absolute shot he hit off Lester tonight. </div> <div style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"> </div> <div style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;"><br />- Mark <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Teixiera</span> is simply an awesome baseball player. To this point that signing has been a rousing success. His offensive numbers, and his defense have been top notch. I think you can make a very good argument for him as the American League MVP. To this point, he has been worth every penny. That bomb he hit off Bard was incredible, and I've never heard the Stadium that loud. </div> <div style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;"> </div> <div style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><br />-This series was well pitched from the time A.J. Burnett took the mound on Friday to the end of the series. It's a pleasant change of pace from the usual sloppy, back and forth <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">slugfests</span> for which these two teams usually partake.</div> <div face="arial" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;"> </div> <div face="arial" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;"><br />- While the Red <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Sox</span> did get swept, I have to admit that they have the makings of a nice pitching staff with Beckett, Lester and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Bucholz</span> in the future. We all know about Lester and Beckett, as they are proven commodities, but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Bucholz</span> has nasty stuff and pitched very well on Saturday. </div> <div face="arial" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;"> </div> <div face="arial" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;"><br />- Mariano Rivera is so automatic that it's a surprise when he puts a runner on base. I'm going to miss that man when he retires</div> <div face="arial" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;"> </div> <div style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><br />- The chants of 'Sweep' at the end of Sunday's game was great. Hopefully the Stadium remains like this for the rest of the year, and the 'public library' atmosphere goes away. That is for the birds.</div> <div style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> </div> <div style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> </div> <div style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> </div> <div style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><br />-Johnny Damon, like the rest of the Yankee team, has <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">benefited</span> immensely from the short right field porch in the New stadium, but that shot he hit last night was legitimate. He blasted it, and sent the Stadium into a frenzy. He has been a very good offensive player for the Yankees this year, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">artificially</span> enhanced numbers or not.<br /><br />-The sweep is a significant body blow to the Red <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Sox</span>. They were already reeling and the Yankees set them back even further. It will be interesting to see if they can recover from it.<br /><br />- The chant of 'Sweep' at the end of last night's game was incredible.</div> <div style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> </div> <div style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><br />-Lastly, GO YANKEES! </div>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844885480596016487.post-10700120074760251802009-08-06T20:44:00.000-07:002009-08-07T10:18:03.394-07:00Eli Manning gets paid<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >And when I say 'paid' I mean 'PAID'. Can you say 'mucho dinero'? The Giants made Eli Manning, the NFL's highest paid player. Manning agreed to terms on a new contract that will pay him $106.9 million (I got a little light headed typing that) over the next seven seasons. He gets a six year, $97.5 extension added onto his current contract which has him making $9.4 million for this upcoming season, the final season of the previous contract. The average yearly salary of $15.23 million, between now and 2015, is an NFL record. The contract features $35 million as the signing bonus, Manning will see $41 million in the first two years of the pact.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Eli Manning is one of my favorite players in the NFL, and is my guy. That being said, this contract is a bit on the ridiculous side. I like him as a player, because he is a good QB. But is just a "good" QB, worth this contract? Eli has always handled himself like a champion through good and through bad, and is as good as it gets with the game in the balance. At the most chaotic of times during the course of a game, Eli's calm demeanor is never fazed. While Eli's statistics were never particularly pretty, he has thrown at least 20 TDs in every full season in the NFL. I think that particular fact is often overlooked when it comes to Eli. Manning is also one of the best QBs in the league in clutch situations, which he has displayed on a consistent basis. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >The Giants were in a tough spot when it comes to the negotiations, especially considering this is the last year of Eli's deal. If they offered Eli what he considered a "lowball" deal, what if he basically tells the Giants off, and says 'I'm going to free agency'? You then risk the guy leaving. For all of Eli's faults, he is a good quarterback and during the Superbowl run he was excellent. Do you take a risk on that particular fellow, who is also the Giants "franchise" QB leaving? Or do you pay him handsomely to keep him happy? This is, in essence, throwing a dog a bone. It's a 'Thank you for being a class act, and being so good during the last SB' pay raise for Manning. The only part I think it will affect, is the fact that a contract that big takes dollars away from other parts of the team down the line. I don't think the overpaying of him is really that big a deal, it's no different than the Steelers overpaying for Roethlisberger after last season.<br /></span>KLewis31http://www.blogger.com/profile/03308361294503461899noreply@blogger.com0