Cutler/Broncos drama

Boy I can't wait until the draft, then training camp, and the regular season. The itch for football needs to be scratched and scratched soon. Maybe the start of the baseball regular season will alleviate that itch, but only time will tell.

Today Matt Cassel was traded, along with Mike Vrabel to Kansas City for a second round pick. But a bigger story was the fact that Jay Cutler was supposedly dangled out there in an attempt by Josh McDaniels to land Matt Cassel. Cassel, who is now a Chief, worked with McDaniels last season when Tom Brady went down with a season ending knee injury. Conflicting reports, and sidebars have been going around on this all day. One minute you hear, that Denver has been dangling him in trade talks, and then the next minute you hear that Denver was approached. There is no way of any of us knowing, without inside information which side of the equation is true. I'm going to go with the Denver has been dangling him side of the story, since you don't normally hear the name of a young franchise QB in trade talks EVER. To me, that says that the Broncos had to at least be leading on that he could be available. Now to my thoughts:

-I think the notion that Cassel is better than Cutler, or is worth trading or potentially eternally pissing off Cutler is absolutely ridiculous. I mean, when I heard this and read the unfolding drama that then came after this I couldn't help but say several times, 'All this for a bum quarterback?'. Seriously this is Matt Cassel, we are talking about. The guy who looked lost for the majority of last season, the guy who besides AFC West teams, compiled an absolutely mediocre 13 TDs to 10 INTs, the guy who was essentially playing on a record setting offense, with possibly the biggest changing threat in the NFL, the guy who looked absolutely putrid against any halfway decent defense he played against all year. Yeah, that guy. Whenever I read a trade rumor involving any current or ex Patriot, I feel like I am in the twilight zone.

- I find it funny how a brand new coach comes in, fresh off riding the coattails of Bill Belichick (See: Weis, Charlie, and Crennel, Romeo) and his first important order of business is trying to move Jay Cutler, the Broncos franchise player, and a 24 year old top 10 quarterback. And assuming that the Broncos are the ones that have initiated the talks, it says a lot about the classic Patriot arrogance (Believe me I am a Notre Dame fan, and Charlie Weis for someone who has accomplished jack as a head coach just OOZES arrogance). It's one thing if Jay Cutler was someone like Matt Schaub, but he isn't, he's a young, super talented, productive QB who also happens to be a fan favorite. So McDaniels is willing to piss off Cutler (if the potential trade fell through like it did), and have the entire city of Denver lined up against him and calling for his head at every opportunity for......... Matt 'I have no pocket presence, and can't throw anything deep for the life of me' Cassel? Interesting.

- So, once again assuming that Denver management is behind this, isn't this quite the confidence in a coach who comes from a Coaching Tree that has not ONE TIME, produced an even respectable head coach? So, let's say the Broncos go ahead and trade Jay Cutler, then what happens if McDanels and Cassel both flop, which given history is actually very likely? Not only do you need a new head coach, now you have to start over at the QB position, because you gave free reign to a coach who has proven absolutely nothing. I'm sure that would go over well. I guess McDaniels wanted someone who has no sense of what a pocket is, but can throw the 5 yard come back route like a champ!!

-Apparently, Bill Belichick is the only reason Jay Cutler is still in a Broncos uniform as he supposedly rejected a trade that would have netted him the #12 overall pick instead of the second round pick he did get. Perhaps, he was trying to stick it to McDaniels or help out Pioli. Which one remains to be seen, but if not for the Patriot ties we are probably talking about the Buccaneers acquisition of Cutler, while only giving up a 3rd round pick. Perhaps he had a gentleman's agreement with Piolo and just went through with it. Who knows?

- After reading Cutler's initial comments, which were taken somewhat out of context, I thought he was being a bit of a drama queen but after reading the whole transcript of the interview with Chris Mortensen I thought he was just being his usual candid self. Sometimes, his candid nature, and him taking things too hard can be his downfall. Watching him as much as he has, when something goes wrong, he tends to take it hard and try even harder to avenge the wrongdoing often times by forcing a throw. I do think that Cutler is the reason this is even a story given his comments and how he apparently feels spurned but I can't fault him for his honesty. He was just being honest with the way he felt, and not your usual PC athlete. 'You have to respect the other team, they are a good team, regardless of who the team is'. My favorite in this regard is Bill Belichick after a game with the Jets in 2005, 'Brooks Bollinger is a threat at the QB position, as he can throw the ball and run the ball, you have to gameplan for him and worry about him because he is dangerous. Really, Bill!

- To the readers, I want you to put your thinking caps on for a second. Can you name ONE player who New England traded or released who actually went on to be good for another team? And by good, I mean good, not passable, average, intangibles and magic laden, flat out good. Ty Law? Lawyer Milloy? Deion Branch? David Givens? Willie McGinest? What makes anyone think this will be any different?

- What is so special about Matt Cassel? Asides from AFC West opponents, all of which were mediocre, he compiled 13 TDs to 10 INTs as I stated earlier. His pocket presence is brutally bad. His accuracy on anything even remotely considered deep is pitiful. Randy Moss playing with a decent QB, puts up 15+ TDs this season. Seriously, the guy performed admirably on what was previously a record setting offense. He has mediocre stamped all over him. For the record I think Tyler Thigpen is a better quarterback than Cassel, and barring a trade, I feel bad for the young man. He proved he can ball last year in horrific playing conditions (ie horrific head coach, no offensive line, no defense) and kept that team in games, and now he loses his job to an overrated, system quarterback. Maybe Pioli (and McDaniels for that matter) wanted someone who can execute the checkdown. Lord knows Cassel performs it more and better than anyone else.

-If Cutler proves to actually be on the trading block, half the NFL should be giving calls to Denver, including the New York Jets. As of right now I have no faith in the Jets, but if they manage to pull a miracle and get Cutler for a non Hershcel Walker type of package, my faith will be somewhat restored.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

The first day of Free Agency

Boy has it been a busy day, whew. I don't think I've ever hit the refresh button so many times in my life. 'Bart Scott signed', 'No he didn't', 'He's giving the Ravens a chance to match', 'It's official', 'No it's not'.

Let me start by saying that the 'I must beat other journalists to the punch' type of attitude is very frustrating. Now I understand that it is just them doing their jobs, and it is something that can't be avoided, but reading 10 different things in 10 minutes isn't exactly rosy.

Now on to the signings/transactions

Albert Haynesworth, Skins- Big Al becomes the first non QB in NFL history to see a contract in excess of 100 million dollars. I've changed my mind several times on this signing, as it's a tough one in which to form a solid opinion. Haynesworth has been a great DT for the last 4 years, and an utterly dominant one over the course of the last 2 seasons. But he hasn't played a full season since 2002, and his 2 best years came in contract years. On the flip side, he has been arguably the best DT in football for the last 2 seasons, he provides versatility as he can play both tackle and end, and is flat out nasty against the run. Albert is an excellent player, but after getting his payday will he care enough to continue being the excellent player he has been? 100 million is a lot to give for anyone (there is only one player worth that and his name is Peyton Manning), but the Redskins haven't had a good defensive line since when? The Ice Age? A defensive line rotation featuring Anthony Montgomery, Cornelius Griffin, and Albery Haynesworth sounds nice. We'll see how it works out.

DeAngelo Hall, Washington Redskins- I don't understand how this guy continues to get major paydays, regardless of the Redskins consistently dancing like Beyonce around the salary cap. Well at least Washington didn't give up anything besides the loot for him. The presence of Albert Haynesworth could help him immensely. With Shawn Springs all but out the door, they might as well give Hall a chance to show his worth. The money amount is ridiculous, but Jay-Z might as well be the official spokesman for the Washington Redskins, as their motto should be 'Money Ain't a Thang'.

Bart Scott, New York Jets- As a Jets fan, I'm not pleased that they gave a guy who has done very little since 2006, as much money as they did. Looking at it from an outsider's point of view, Rex Ryan is the new coach, Scott was his former player and the Jets had a gaping hole at ILB, so it makes sense from that standpoint. I've never really viewed Scott as anything more than average, save for his 2006 season, but if anyone knows what he is or isn't capable of it's Rex Ryan. Hopefully Rex knows what he is doing.

Jonathan Vilma, New Orleans Saints- Nice young linebacker, but one who has a knee problem. The biggest problem with the Saints is the defense, so you might as well keep one of the few even remotely bright spots on that defense in hopes that you could build around him. I think he's a better player than Bart Scott and he got signed to a more reasonable contract. This was a no-brainer for the Saints.

Kellen Winslow, traded to the Buccaneers for undisclosed draft picks- I'll keep it short and sweet on this one. Winslow must have REALLY become a malcontent behind the scenes for Cleveland to just move someone as talented as he is for undisclosed draft picks. Though, I'll dust one off for the Jets fans that might read this, 'Winslow isn't a Mangini guy'. Boy did I ABHOR that expression. Good grief.

Lito Sheppard, traded to the Jets for conditional picks- I've long said that Lito is one of the more overrated players in the entire NFL. The little, and well over hyped, success he did have was a product of the scheme more than anything else, and even with that he got burnt a ton in Philadelphia. The compensation can go as high a second, but I'd be floored if Philadelphia sees that. At least here, he'll be covering #2s for the most part, which should help him. I just can't get excited with Mr. Burnt Like Toast lining up opposite Revis come opening day. As I said earlier, hopefully Rex knows what he is doing. By the way, this move isn't official yet.

-Ray Lewis' ego must have taken a big hit today. Bart Scott's phone ringing off the hook since yesterday, and Lewis' ex coordinator, choosing Scott over him? Ouch, I wonder if Ray still thinks he is a 10 million a year player, or is he going to go back to Baltimore and take less. I'm very interested to see how that plays out.

- A zillion contradictory reports coming out about Brian Dawkins to the Broncos. If that happens, it honestly makes me sad, though I am the furthest thing from a fan of the Eagles. He gave his heart and soul for 14 years there, and never got the ring he was chasing. For it to end basically over the difference between one and two years would be heartbreaking, but it's business. We'll see what happens.

There are still a lot of names out there to be had. It has definitely been a good start to the FA period though.

The A-Rod saga

Well, this has dominated the news recently, and my thoughts on the situation are:

- I'm disappointed that the Yankees have to deal with this walking, talking, breathing reality TV show for the next 9 years. Maybe Hank Steinbrenner regrets not listening to Cashman now, when Cash wanted to cut ties with Rodriguez. On one side of the coin I realize that he is a top 3 player in the game, but on the other side of the coin I realize that he is drama, and nothing but drama. That can't be good for a clubhouse in the longterm.

-Alex Rodriguez is wrong, and there is no denying that but the other 103 names need to be released just in the light of fairness. Alex should not be the only one forced to take the walk of shame. It wouldn't be fair. I don't expect the 103 names to be released though, and that would just be convenient.

- Alex claims he didn't know what he was taking over the course of the three years. How dumb does he think the general public is? He is sitting there telling America that he, the ultimate perfectionist, doesn't know what he was taking? Ok, and I am really Barack Obama.

- I thought the interview, where he confessed, was alright. I think Gammons could have been a bit harder on him, and he didn't follow up and a lot of crucial spots in the interview. For example, Gammons asked Rodriguez what made him resort to steroids and Rodriguez said that the pressure of living up to the contract that he signed was a big part of it. I thought Gammons should have came back with a 'What about the pressure to get that contract to begin with?' question. I think he was a bit soft on him.

-If Rodriguez thought that people didn't like him before, he has seen nothing yet. It is going to be a circus in Yankee away games. Can you imagine when A-Rod steps into the batter's box in Fenway for the first time in the 2009 season? Boy it is going to be madness, plain and simple.

- I, for one, do not believe that he only took steroids from 2001-2003. I don't know, or have any thoughts on the possible duration of his steroid usage, but his explanation alone led me to that belief. 'I was under pressure to live up to the contract'. Oh really? What about the pressure to get that contract? What about the pressure of playing next to the most popular athlete in New York? Is it possible that he only took steroids for 3 seasons? Perhaps, but that explanation was like swiss cheese.

- The home run record will probably never be "clean" again. It hit me like a ton of bricks on Saturday when the report came about. Is it possible that a squeaky clean player will come along and break the record? Sure, but it isn't likely and it's very disappointing.

- Hopefully, now that he "came clean" (I use that term VERY loosely), the Yankees can move on and they can play baseball without the barrage of steroid questions before and after every game. I am not concerned with integrity and all of that stuff. My favorite baseball team is the New York Yankees and I want success for them. Hopefully this black cloud doesn't ruin this season. I do believe that Rodriguez will have a huge season for the Yankees.

Now that the offseason has began...my thoughts on the state of the new York Jets

- I am fine with the hire of Rex Ryan. As I stated in a recent blog entry, I'm trying to be even keeled with anything Jets related these days as more times than not it ends in disappointment. The only thing that concerns me with Ryan is the recent history of Baltimore defensive coordinators becoming head coaches (Marvin Lewis, Nike Nolan). That scares me. Other than that, I just hope to see a team willing to get physical for once.

-I hope Brett Favre moves on. I already disliked this guy enough before he got here, then he got here, and threw picks like they were going out of style. I still give him props for running Chad Pennington out of town. I don't care how viciously the media rode the Pennington bandwagon. He will never take you anywhere in the postseason and severely limits the offense you can run. You did your good deed for the Jets Brett, now retire. You are finished.

- I think the Jets need to figure out their WR situation. Coles is declining and probably will ask for a new contract like he does every season. Cotchery is good, but he isn't a #1 WR. The Jets also don't have a redzone threat/potential future redzone threat anywhere on the roster asides from Dustin Keller who had a nice rookie season. If I was Mike Tannebaum I would watch the Braylon Edwards situation closely. I know he had a problem with the dropsies this past season, but he still has one of the better skillsets in the NFL at the WR position and is one year removed from a monster season. Braylon would certainly make life easier on whoever happens to be the starting quarterback for the Jets in the 2009 season. Hopefully David Clowney can emerge to provide a deep threat the Jets haven't had since Santana Moss was traded.

- With the #17 pick in the draft, I would love to see the Jets do any of the following:

-Trade the pick for Braylon Edwards
-Draft MLB Rey Mauluaga from USC
- Draft WR Darius Heyward Bey
-Draft CB Malcolm Jenkins
-Draft CB Vontae Davis

I would be happy with any of the above options. I like Mauluaga a lot, and think he will have a bright future in the NFL. Jenkins and Davis would fill a pressing need at #2 CB, as I don't think I could watch Dwight Lowery get toasted all season for a second year straight. Heyward Bey has unlimited potential and could potentially be the #1 WR the Jets need in time.

- I don't believe the Jets cap situation is as bad as many of the journalists and talking heads make it seem. I read the other day (I forget from who, or I would cite it) from someone that the Jets have the worst cap situation in the history of the NFL. I think that is WAY off base and exaggerated. The Jets can cut a few guys, and restructure a few others and be under the cap far enough to make a big splash this offseason.

- On the possibility of Ray Lewis to the Jets, the more I hear, the more I think it is possible. As far as how I feel about it, I think it's good and bad. I think it's good from the standpoint, that Ray is probably the best leader in the NFL. He also knows the head coach and the system. The best thing about the signing is the accountability that Lewis demands from the other players in the huddle. I wouldn't want to be the one caught slacking on a play, then having to confront Lewis. I think his leadership alone would get the best out of everyone on the defensive unit. The downside is that Lewis, in my opinion, has been declining for awhile now. The leadership is good and all, but no one is going to listen to a mediocre LB. Lewis is still good, for now, but how long will that last?

-Please, for my sanity sake, give Leon Washington the damn ball more often. You would think in an offense lacking playmakers, they would give the one proven playmaker the ball often enough to make an impact. That would make sense, right? The Jets just defy logic. I am not saying that Washington is an every down back or that he should be used as one, but I'm saying he should get the ball in as many ways as possible. He was near the tops of the league in plays covering more than 4o yards. Get the ball in his hands more often, period.

- I would like to see Kellen Clemens get one last shot behind an actual legitimate NFL offensive line. I still hold out hope for him, though I think his 'throwing stance' is a bit of a concern. For those of you who watch baseball, think Jim Edmonds in the batter's box. That's what Kellen Clemens looks like when throwing the ball. That concerns me with him. I do think he has an NFL arm though, and he is tough. I hope he turns out to be something. If not, then probably another long search for a franchise QB.

Go Jets. Make the 2009 season a successful one.

Thoughts on the Superbowl

-This is the first Superbowl in awhile where I actually like both teams involved and have no rooting interests. It's a bit weird, and it actually takes away from it a little bit for me, and is a complete 180 from last season where I rooted for the Giants like my life and well being depended on it. I do, have a little bias towards Kurt Warner for knocking Donovan McNabb out of the postseason, but I also like the Steelers so it cancels out.

-I've never seen so many people carrying stuff around in preparation for the game (ie food, televisions). It seems like every single person is stocking up for the game. Hell, my mother even came in with a lot of food the other day. I jokingly asked, 'What's the occasion?'. 'Superbowl Sunday', then I asked 'Who's playing?' She stammered then said 'New York and Cleveland?'.

Some thoughts about the game itself:

- Ken Whisenhunt/Tom Haley vs the Grandfather of the Zone Blitz, Dick Lebeau- This is a very interesting matchup. With the weapons that Arizona has on offense and the stable of talent that Pittsburgh has on defense, this is pretty much where the game will be decided. If I had a dollar for every time I heard 'If AZ protects Warner.......' Not to beat a dead horse but that will be the key to the game.

-Ben Roethlisberger- He shows up the biggest when the stakes are at its highest. Time will tell if he does it again. He has all but vowed to make amends for his poor game the last time Pittsburgh was here. We'll see if it happens. I do like the matchup of their pass offense against the Arizona secondary.

-Anquan Boldin- With all the suffocating Fitzgerald hype, as he has become the flavor of the month (hasn't he been this good for half a decade now?), Boldin is being overlooked by the pundits as having an impact on this game for the most part. I think with the two weeks to rest and get healthy, he will be able to put forth a good enough effort to give the Steelers problems in the secondary. If the Cardinals can protect Warner, Boldin will have a major impact. (Beating the dead horse I know).

-The Cards defense- After their showing against the Eagles, I am not really sold on this unit putting forth a good display in the Superbowl. They left WRs open the entire game against Philly, and for the most part McNabb missed them, or the receivers had to make some sort of acrobatic catch which minimized what they could do after the catch. While Pittsburgh is a run first team, if Arizona gives them those type of opportunities in the passing game, Roethlisberger will certainly take advantage.

- I personally think the Cardinals should spread the Steelers out, and attack them that way. That will give them more to worry about in the passing game, and then free up things like draw plays and screens. I think playing a traditional offense is playing right into their hands. I say you spread them out, and dare them to bring the kitchen sink.

As far as my prediction goes, I have been waffling all week. I don't really know who to pick. I've thought about several scenarios, and thought about comparisons to different teams but I'll stick with my initial thought on the game:

Pittsburgh 27
Arizona 20

Ultimately though, I just hope for a game that comes down to the ball being in Ben Roethlisberger's hands with a chance to win it. I love watching him play with the game on the line.

New Jets coach Rex Ryan

The Jets history has been, for the most part, a turbulent one, filled with failure and tough times. Most recently, he Jets suffered through a 1-4 dry spell at the end of a season that looked so promising when the team was 8-3 and flying high. That dry spell ultimately cost former Jets coach Eric Mangini his job, as he really didn't have any answers down the stretch of the season.

Today, Rex Ryan was introduced as the Jets coach. During the interview process, he wowed the Jets hierarchy with his personality and detailed power point presentation. Today he made an impression very quickly. Within two minutes he was already speaking about the team meeting newly minted President Barack Obama, saying, "With all these cameras here I was looking around for the new President. Oh well, I think we will get to meet him within the next few years anyway." Those are big words there by the new coach. He showed his affable side, delivering many funny one-liners. He talked about how he wants his team to be stating, 'If you take a swipe at our guys, we take two at yours." He also spoke about the effort he expects from his players saying, "I expect us to not only play to the whistle but through the whistle. " He certainly made a good first impression today, as he spoke glowingly about some of the players, he preached aggressiveness on the defensive side of the ball, and really sounded like a true leader.

As far as my opinion on the hire goes, I'm fine with the hire. Rarely do I ever get excited about anything Jets related, and it works out, so I have taken more of a 'wait and see' approach regarding anything with the Jets. Compared to the rest of the candidates, I did like Rex Ryan the most and I hope he can bring an attacking style of defense that he alluded to on several occasions in his opening PC. Most of all, I would love for the Jets to be a team that can beat up the other team physically en route to a victory.

I know it's too much to expect this team to line up and be physical like the Ravens defenses over the years, but over time maybe the defense can develop the attitude and nastiness those guys have. I'm sick and tired of the Jets having to trick and confuse people to win. I understand the nuances of the game of football. I understand that you have to scheme to win, and I am well aware that you can't line up in predictable defenses and expect to win. All I am asking is that the team be able to impose sheer physicality on the other team, and play with an attitude and a little emotion for once.

Thoughts on Championship Weekend

- I could talk about Larry Fitzgerald, I could talk about Kurt Warner, I could even talk about Adrian Wilson and the game that he played. But firstly I will give Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley a lot of credit. He called an excellent game. All of the screens, all of the misdirection plays, the "flea flicker" play that went for a TD. He did a good job of using Philadelphia's aggressive ways against them. The Phliadelphia defense definitely had its hands full and didn't rise to the occasion.

-It's crazy how good Larry Fitzgerald is. And now the entire world has had the privilege of seeing him go crazy throughout the playoffs. Besides Andre Johnson, is there a WR on Larry's level right now?

- I've been saying this for a long time and I'll say it once again. Donovan McNabb isn't a Superbowl Caliber quarterback. He showed as much yesterday, once again coming up small in a big game. Yes his statistics showed that he played a wonderful game, but sometimes you have to look past the face value of the statistics and look at the game to make fair evaluations. McNabb was off for a good portion of the football game, and when the chips were down, he failed once again. Yes, people can speak on the Curtis "drop" or missed penalty, but if McNabb makes a good throw on any of the first three downs it doesn't come down to that.

- Kurt Warner has now brought two franchises out of exile to the promised land. The man has had a nice career numbers wise, but he brought the St Louis Rams from the dead, and now has brought another listless franchise from the dead. More than his numbers, his impact on those two franchises is what will ultimately get him into the Hall of Fame. What was St Louis before Warner arrived? Then what were they when he left? What was Arizona before he arrived? What are they now? A Super Bowl participant. That is a hell of a change.

- I wonder if this is Brian Dawkins last shot at getting to the big dance. Hearing him after the game, he sounded as dejected as can be. I think he realizes he had an excellent shot, and the team blew it. He is an unrestricted free agent after the season so it will be interesting to see what contract he comes to an agreement with in Philly.

- As much as Arizona won the football game and are now the great story, they did everything in their power to keep Philadelphia in that game yesterday. The sack on McNabb on a 3rd and 1 being called back due to an absolutely idiotic holding penalty as someone just tackled Westbrook even though he had absolutely nothing to do with the play. The 3rd and 19, in the middle of the 3rd quarter, up 18, when they let Kevin Curtis get behind them. Arizona did everything they could to make the game an exciting one! That's for sure.

- I've heard a lot about Anquan Boldin since the game ended. We all saw the spat him and the offensive coordinator were having on the sideline, apparently about the playing time Boldin was receiving. I mean, honestly, what else could Boldin have been yelling about with 5 minutes left in the biggest game (to this point), in Arizona Cardinals franchise history, while Haley is trying to direct the Cardinals to a potential winning drive. Then supposedly, he left the locker room early during the team's celebration. In my opinion, Boldin is showing his selfish side, and is clearly jealous of the success Fitzgerald is having, along with being ticked off about his contract. The team just made the Superbowl, this isn't a distraction that they need right now

- I thought the moment when Pam Oliver interviewed Adrian Wilson and he was crying tears of joy, was a great moment. It was just pure emotion. Not to sound sappy, but moments like this make sports great.

- The Pittsburgh defense is absolutely awesome. They are all over the place, and put intense pressure on the Quarterback. Is it crazy to talk about them among the all time great defenses in the NFL? After all they were near tops in the league in every defensive category, and they didn't allow an offense to gain 300 yards in ANY game ALL SEASON. That defense is scary. We'll see if they are up to the task of stopping the Cinderella Cardinals in SB XLIII.

- I like Ben Roethlisberger's game. His numbers were not impressive yesterday, but the man is a playmaker. When a play needs to be made it's Ben usually makes it on offense for Pittsburgh. And Ben is absolutely ridiculous when it comes to avoiding sacks. If I had a dollar for every time I've seen Ben shrug off a tackler, I'd be on a yacht in France somewhere. Now it may not always be pretty with Ben, as sometimes he takes unnecessary sacks and sometimes he holds onto the ball but when you need him, he usually comes through when needed. I swear, it feels like the Steelers convert 10 3rd and 7s a game.

- Props to Troy Polamalu on a big game yesterday. The stop on Flacco on the QB sneak was incredible, and his pick 6 iced the game. He played a big game yesterday, as he was all over the field from beginning to end. On a side note, something completely unrelated to football, is it me or is that guy's voice VERY soft? It rivals Cole Hamels voice.

-That hit on Willis McGahee was absolutely brutal. Ryan Clark has been a part of probably the two most memorable hits of the season (on McGahee yesterday, on Welker earlier in the season). It was just something that in the heat of the battle, happens. I don't think Clark had any intent. I hope Willis is alright and is able to be fully functional.

- I think Terrell Suggs is a stud. He is going to get himself some serious $$$$ in the offseason. Yesterday he had 2 sacks, and a couple other hurries playing with basically one arm. I wonder which team will give him the big money. That should be an interesting case to follow in the offseason.

- Hopefully Pittsburgh-Baltimore rivalry continues to the point where they frequently play meaningful games. Watching those two defenses is truly a treat. Two well coached, smashmouth, hard hitting football teams getting together for games as intense as these two teams play is something I'd like to see more over the course of the next few years. Here's to more Pitt/Baltimore battles.

Thoughts on Week 17 in the NFL

- 5 games come on in NY locally (1 being the Sunday night game), and all of them were terrible games. Unbelievable.

- Aaron Rodgers completed an impressive first season starting in the NFL today throwing for 4,038 yards, 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions and leading the fifth ranked scoring offense, and the eighth ranked passing offense in the league. He has a bright future ahead of him, and the Packers found themselves a nice gem to build their franchise around.

- Drew Brees leads the comeback against the Panthers, then watches his defense give the lead back, and falls short of the passing record by 24 yards. I have a feeling Drew Brees will forever be a stat monger in New Orleans, as they seem committed to putting him opposite a crap defense.

-Congratulations to the Atlanta Falcons. Long overdue, and well late but congratulations to them on their significant turnaround and the success they have had this season. 11-5, who would've thought? They deserve this success, after the whole Vick/Petrino sagas.

- Dallas...Dallas...Dallas. I don't even know what to say. That team has a lot of issues, and that performance on Sunday was one of the worst I've ever seen in a game that mattered as much as it did. It was an unbelievably bad performance all the way around.

- As much as it burns my behind to say this, congratulations to the Miami Dolphins on their record turnaround, and their AFC East division crown. They've had a memorable season, and Sparano has done an incredible job. If they had an 'Offensive Coordinator of the Year' award Dan Henning would win that one easily. He has done a great job with the wildcat, the motion and the creative playcalling used as a masking device for Pennington. Watching the game though I must say about Pennington, he is still the same quarterback he always was, and while Favre didn't work out, I am glad the Jets took the chance and I am glad Chad is no longer the QB of the team as he was a dead end proposition.

- The Denver Broncos looked lost Sunday night. Can someone answer me this? Do the Broncos practice tackling? All year they have looked like a junior varsity high school team trying to tackle, and Darren Sproles exploited that in a big way Sunday night. The Broncos have serious issues on the defensive end and will never win until they fix them.

- Andre Johnson is absolutely ridiculous. It's too bad he plays for the Texans and isn't in the public eye more often, as he arguably the most complete WR the game has to offer. When will the Texans take the next step in being a playoff team? It was thought by many they'd take that step this season and they started off too slowly to make a run. They have the offensive pieces to do so, and they have a young nucleus of players on the defense (Super Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, Amobi Okoye). Houston needs to take that next step, and Andre Johnson will be pivotal in that journey.

- The Lions. I was glad to see them make history today as it is something I have never seen, but I feel bad for their fans. They have had to sit through years of Matt Millen's stupid and incompetent management, and now this? Don't worry Lions fans, it will get better soon. After all, it can't get worse, can it?

-There were many complete fold jobs by teams vying for playoff spots late. Denver, Tampa and the Jets all completed late season collapses with losses. Hopefully, for my sanity sake, the Jets collapse costs Mangini his job

Being a fan of the Jets is just painful

I'm a passionate fan. I love the Jets. I watch every game, root my heart out for them. I root for them with all my energy every week. When they lose a gut wrenching game, I take it hard. When they win, it puts me on a high for the week. No matter who's on the team, no matter how good or bad they have been I have been there right in front of my TV watching every minute of every game. From watching Kliff Kingsbury start at QB, to watching Brooks Bollinger run for his life, to watching Chad Pennington with half a shoulder I've watched as much Jets football as I can since Age 8 (Im now 21). 1998 the Jets make a magical run to the AFC title game, where they lose to a John Elway led Broncos team. The pain comes in because the Falcons were in the SB, and they didn't belong there. The Jets destroyed them earlier in the season, and the Broncos then proceeded to destroy them in the Superbowl. I have little doubt in my mind that the Jets would have walloped the Falcons had they made the Superbowl. That was the one game that actually brought me to tears. I was a young pup back then (11) but realized the importance of the game. And the manner which they lost was painful.

1999, SB expectations following Elway's retirement and the run to the AFC title game the year before, the energy surrounding the Jets is great. The kickoff before the first game, the crowd was going crazy. Before the first play, I go answer my door as the pizza had just gotten there, right in time. I come back, and there it is. Vinny Testaverde writhing in pain on the ground. I'm just like "..........." I had no words. He was holding his achillies and during the game the news came out. Torn achillies, out for the season. Just..........unreal. 2004, we make the postseason at 10-6, with a top 5 defense. We win an absolute roller coaster game against SD that featured a roughing the passer on Eric Barton that essentially tied the game for them after they missed a fourth down, and then a missed Nate Kaeding FG in overtime that gave the Jets new life. They promptly scored on the next drive to seal the deal and send themselves to the AFC divisional round.

Then this game against the Steelers, which Pittsburgh tried to gift wrap in every way imaginable. The Jets scored a defensive touchdown and a special teams touchdown, while Chad Pennington led us to a whopping three points. With all of that, after one of Ben Roethlisberger's 3 INTs on the game, Doug Brien had a chance to put the Jets in the lead with a little over a minute remaining. The FG hit the crossbar and bounced back, no good. Roethlisberger then threw another INT, and promptly we found ourselves in FG range. We then run the ball twice in an effort to run clock, then we take a knee to run more clock, which made little sense as we were going backwards. Doug Brien promptly missed the field goal by about 25 yards, then the Jets promptly lost the game in OT, in typical gut wrenching, excruciating 'Same Ol Jets' fashion. 2005-2007 were fairly nondescript seasons. Then this season, the Brett Favre trade happened before the season and nearly 200 million dollars were spent in free agency and expectations were at a reasonably high level for this Jets team to go out and prove something this season.

The Jets then sputtered to begin the season, sputtered through the first quarter of the season to a 2-2 season, including a pathetic loss to a Matt Cassel led Patriots team. Then the Jets went on a run after a close win over the inept Chiefs, winning five straight including wins over the rival Patriots and the previously undefeated Titans, where the Jets impressed in an absolute blowout. This then had people talking Superbowl, an all New York Superbowl. Over the last 5 games the Jets have lost games to the 49ers, Broncos, Seahawks and now completed the collapse with the loss to the Dolphins, and then watched the Dolphins celebrate the AFC East title on their homefield. Between Favre throwing stupid INTs like it was going out of style, and Eric Mangini standing there with that usual stupid look on his face, while chewing his gum and watching the defense get no pressure while getting shredded in the process the end of this season was a disaster. Same Old Jets? You bet. Oh the pain.

Oh how stupid I was to believe in the Jets...

The New York Jets, where to begin... I can begin with the disaster that was the last two weeks of horrid. I can begin with the sickening mentality of this football team or better yet the coaching staff. I can begin with the Jets reverting to Same Old Jets form. I can begin with the Jets apparently believing the season ended once they kicked the life out of Tennessee 2 Sundays ago.

I can begin with a lot of things, but mainly why did I take the bait? Why did I believe this team had turned the corner, and could overcome a completely inept coaching staff en route to a deep playoff run? In a conversation with my buddy Steve the other day, I asked him, "Is it bad I am thinking of the S word with this team?''. The 'S word' represents the Superbowl. Up until the last two weeks, I thought this was the best team I have seen since the '98 Jets which made the AFC Title game only to bring me to tears (literally) with a gut wrenching loss to the Broncos. But in the last two weeks, problems which have been a problem and I thought would hold this team back have resurfaced after the two big wins against Tennessee and New England.

-The quarterbacks have far too much time in the pocket. Between the coaching and the actual players, it's a joke to see QBs have enough time to get facials, manicures, go outside and pick up the paper before actually having to unload the football. Right now we have no one who can beat offensive linemen one on one consistently. Then you add the fact that for some reason, Mangini loves to send three at the QB, living in constant fear of getting beat over the top and the fact that the Jets are as vanilla as you can be with blitz schemes, and you get a horrific pass defense. It's amazing watching the other 3-4 teams, how different they are run compared to the Jets. The other 3-4 teams (Cowboys, Steelers, Patriots in particular), move around pre- snap, and give many different looks, while the Jets line up straight up, with no deception or anything as if they are going to bully the oppoonent apparently? I could go on all day but I'll end my frustrations with the defensive playcalling there.

-The offensive playcalling makes no sense either. Earlier in the season, the Jets played the Chiefs who were dead last in run defense and decided to go out all guns ablaze throwing the ball all over the place. Thomas Jones has been very good(wow how things change) for several weeks now, and you run the ball 11 times today? Why? Then again, making Shaun Hill look like Montana, and keeping their offense on the field couldn't have helped the cause.

-Laveranues Coles and his big mouth. The team is in the middle of a playoff race and Coles makes comments blasting Brett Favre. This guy has been consistently running his mouth, and where is the production ? 1 catch for 5 yards today. Good game Laveranues, keep running your mouth. You're definitely good enough to do so.

Look, this is definitely a post out of frustration as watching this team my entire life has been frustrating. I still think the team CAN make the postseason, and I am not giving up on them, but at this point, what's the use? The Ravens or Colts would both beat the snot out of the Jets. A Wildcard berth and a first round exit, what a surprise. I would almost rather the team go 8-8, and Mangini and company go bye bye. That is the only way this team will go anywhere. Then again, Woody Johnson, the Jets owner is clueless as well so he'd probably still keep Mangini here. Well hopefully the Jets can wake up. If not it will be a long offseason, especially if Miami with Ol Noodle manages to steal the division. Oy vey.