Broncos Busted

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen puzzles me.  He’s owned the Broncos for 25 years and knows that franchise quarterbacks are the key to long term NFL success.  He had one in John Elway and when it came down to a dispute with former coach Dan Reeves, Elway won that battle because Bowlen was smart enough to know that players, not coaches, win in the league.  Which makes the saga of Jay Cutler very difficult to understand.  Bowlen announced yesterday that he is fed up and is putting Cutler on the trading block.  In essence, Bowlen is throwing his support behind his new boy wonder, head coach Josh McDaniels, rather than his stud QB.  Yes, there are those who will say that Cutler is a baby and that he should get over the fact that McDaniels tried to trade him at the start of free agency and shut up and play.  But the fact is that the modern day NFL is a star-oriented league and pissing of your franchise QB is not the way to succeed.  The arrogance both Bowlen and McDaniels are showing is amazing. Who the hell is Josh McDaniels anyway?  This guy thinks he’s the second coming because he won 11 games with Matt Cassell.  If I were Bowlen I’d need to see a lot more before I let some rookie head coach chase my franchise QB out of town.  It’s true that Bowlen has to stand behind his new hire to unify the organization but my question is why not just get rid of McDaniels and admit you made a mistake hiring a guy who is too big for his britches?  That way you get to keep a QB that is about ready to blossom as a star, his attitude be damned, and have a fighting chance to compete every year.  Cutler is the only reason a bad Broncos team had any shot of winning the AFC West last year.  Yes they collapsed but that was a function of a porous defense, not Cutler.  You just don’t trade franchise-type NFL QBs.  That’s the message the league always sends.  Just ask the Colts, who traded Elway and never recovered from that mistake until getting Peyton Manning.  The Broncos were on the receiving end of that mistake so they, better than anyone should know the importance of stars in a players league.  I guess that idea is now lost on Bowlen and the team that wins the Cutler sweepstakes should be eternally grateful to him  for this decision.

Cancer Cured

What can I say?  Today is a great sports day.  A-Roid is out 10 weeks and T.O. the cancer is no longer a Dallas Cowboy.  As a Red Sox and Cowboys fan it doesn’t get much better than this!  The A-Rod injury is what it is and the Yankees will still be expected to win the AL East without him because of their pitching.  But the real story here is the release of T.O.  As a Cowboys fan, you can never be sure what owner Jerry Jones is going to do and after the collapse in Philly last January my fear was he’d keep everything status quo because he simply saw 2008 as a fluke.  My biggest fear was that we’d have another year of the cancer that is T.O. in the locker room.  Now, the problems last year were not all the fault of T.O. but subtracting him from the mess that was the end of last season cannot hurt.  I’m surprised Jerry sucked it up and admitted he lost his devil’s bet in acquiring Owens and cut his losses.  I believe Dallas will be a better team without Owens next year.  I have confidence Roy Williams will step in as the #1 receiver and Tony Romo will improve because he can finally play in peace.  Owens is a proven distraction.  Again, he wasn’t solely responsible for this team’s underachievement last year, but being a cancer is what he does.  It’s his M.O. and he can’t help himself when he feels disrespected.  He did it in Philly and San Francisco and he’ll do it at his next landing spot.  Good riddance!  I never wanted the guy in Dallas in the first place.  Super Bowls were won in Dallas before he came and they’ll be won again now that he’s gone.  Hopefully Jerry will learn from this high profile mistake and procure team oriented guys first in the future.  This release gives me hope that Jerry MAY have turned the corner as a GM.

NFL Week 2 Impressions

Don’t think the Chargers have to worry about a quality backup for LT.  A 103 yd. kickoff return and 66 yd. swing pass TD for the lightning fast Darren Sproles assures that much… Welcome to the NFL Matt Ryan.  Unlike vs. the JV Lions, that was a real defense you faced in Tampa this week… Where was this Julius Jones the last 2 years?… Adrian Peterson is a beast but the Vikings aren’t winning anything with Tavaris Jackson at QB.  You can’t hide your QB in this league… Somebody named Thigpen quarterbacked the Chiefs.  No wonder the on-his way-out Lane Kiffin-led Raiders rolled to the easy win behind Darren McFadden… It could be a long year in Cincinnati and Seattle… Until they prove otherwise, they’re the same old Jets… Buffalo’s Trent Edwards can really play… Big brass ones for Mike Shanahan going for two and the win vs. San Diego… Brutal day for ref Ed Hochuli in Denver with two missed replay calls that cost the Chargers a win…  Crucial win for the Colts this week.  They didn’t want to be 0-2 with Jacksonville up next. Instead all the pressure is on the 0-2 Jags… Five worst teams: Miami, Kansas City, Detroit, St. Louis. Oakland.  Most overrated: Minnesota, NY Jets.

Not the Time for Patience

Jerry Jones is an impatient guy. He wants his Dallas Cowboys to win and win big. He’s shown that he’s not afraid to go get a player if he thinks it will help the team. That’s why I find it puzzling that Jerry is not going after disgruntled Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Especially considering that his current receiver corps is a M.A.S.H. unit going into Cleveland this week, down to just two healthy bodies: Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton. Boldin has made it clear to Cardinals management that he does not want to be there. They want a first round pick for him. Jerry is thinking Super Bowl. It’s a perfect match, yet Jerry won’t pull the trigger because he doesn’t want to do anything foolish. I say go get Boldin, he is a top 15 receiver. This Dallas team is on the precipice of possibly doing something special. Boldin will help them make that pick be very low first round so I say it is worth the risk. The team needs third and fourth receivers Sam Hurd and Miles Austin to make the offense go but they are unavailable for the first few weeks. Boldin is a good fit. Forget that he doesn’t know the offense. He’s a receiver. All he has to do is run and catch, it’s not that big a deal. Tony Romo will find a way to get it to him. I’m shocked at Jerry’s patience with his team favored to reach the Super Bowl from the NFC. Usually it would be a good thing but with the team so beat up at receiver he needs to make it happen. The Cowboys are one injury away from a total disaster at wide receiver. Not the way to start a season Jerry. Just do it!

Nobody Did It Better

I was flipping channels the other night and came across the NFL Network. That night they were showing an old ‘98 NFC Divisional Playoff between the Packers and 49ers. It was the original live feed of the game from FOX complete with the original announcers, Pat Summerall and John Madden. I sat there for a while and watched a little of this old game just to hear Summerall’s brilliant voice once again. For me, Pat Summerall was the NFL Sunday experience. Now that he is retired, the NFL is just not the same. There’s truly a void in the broadcast booth these days. Hearing him do a game brings me back to my early days as a kid watching the NFL at my grandparent’s house on Sundays. Whenever I heard his voice, I knew it was game day and that it was a big game. I grew up on the NFL during the 1970’s and 80’s, an era when Summerall was at the height of his powers as the best in the broadcasting business. Nobody, even to this day, was ever better at NFL play-by-play work. Summerall was a man of few words but whose timing was impeccable and whose calls of different NFL games will always be etched in the minds of many men my age. He spoke so little doing the play-by-play but you never felt like you missed anything. Summerall was a master at letting the game talk to the fan and he would just add the necessary words to fill in the rest of the story. It is he who allowed John Madden to shine as an analyst and that is why their paring will never again be equaled on television. I often find myself longing for Summerall when the big games are played in January. Nobody can describe the big moments like he did. Joe Buck and Jim Nantz are competent lead network announcers but neither of them is Summerall. I don’t think there’ll ever be another like him. In fact, the only real peer left in the business is Dick Enberg at CBS. I grew up on Enberg also and he is fantastic but his style is a bit different than Summerall’s and a little less memorable. I guess I will always have a bias toward Summerall because he called so many games of my favorite team, the Cowboys, because he always worked for the network that covered the NFC. So, as the new NFL season approaches, if you’re passing by the NFL Network and you see an old CBS or FOX playoff game and you hear that familiar voice, stop for a moment. Stop and listen to a voice that is sorely missed now that it is retired.

Too Much Gray Area

The fallout from the NFL’s “Spygate” affair makes one thing perfectly clear to me: Bill Belichick should not ever be considered one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. I don’t care how many games or Super Bowls he wins, they are all tainted because of this fiasco. After watching former assistant Matt Walsh’s first TV interview on HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” there’s just too much doubt about who knew what and when. For me, there are two unanswered issues that should taint Belichick the rest of his career. Number one, if the spying was worth nothing to him why did the team keep doing it and take steps to hide it? And number two, why is Belichick saying that Walsh’s version of the story is wrong and that he doesn’t recall things when he supposed to be such a genius coach? Those two things just don’t sit right with me. People who are innocent of something will always vociferously proclaim their innocence verbally. Belichick has not done that because he can’t. He got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. But instead of explaining his reasons for it, he plays dumb and hopes it all goes away. Well, he can’t have it both ways. Continuing to play dumb will always allow people to question the veracity of his coaching skills. He’s better off trying to explain his reasons for the spying while admitting he was wrong. We all know why he did it- because winning takes precedence over everything else in his life, including integrity. That’s common knowledge about Belichick and is the reason why people equate the Patriots to the New York Yankees, who also desire to win at all costs. I’m sorry, this spying story takes Belichick out of the discussion as far as the greatest coaches ever. There are just too many questions and shaky answers to them. Like Richard Nixon, whose Watergate scandal always clouds the great moments of his presidency, Belichick should suffer a similar fate in the annals of the NFL because of this incident. If it’s possible, he’s even more arrogant than Nixon. At least Nixon knew he had to resign. Belichick would never approach doing that. In fact, he won’t even explain himself. That tells me all I need to know.

Let It Go, Already

OK, it is now a witch hunt for Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter when it comes to Spygate and the NFL. Specter is apparently not satisfied that NFL commisioner Roger Goodell is capable of minding his own store so Specter is willing to lend the government’s assistance to him in order to save the integrity of the sport. Gimme a break. I commented on the phony and nonsensical nature of Specter and his grandstanding back in February in this space and my thoughts have not changed. Simply put, give it a rest Arlen. We know you’re all pissed off your Philadelphia Eagles lost a Super Bowl to Bill Belichick’s Patriots a few years ago. But blame Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid for that one. They were sleepwalking down the field instead of running a hurry-up offense in the last few minutes of that game and THAT’S why your team lost and not because of videotaping. Get it through your head that spending taxpayer money on a Mitchell Report-like investigation into signal taping in the NFL is a colossal waste of money and reeks of arrogance. With gas now over $4 per gallon and people losing their homes left and right, this is what congress wants to look into? How about investigating the executive branch of our government? I promise you’ll find plenty of scandal there. Stop wasting everybody’s time with this grandstanding garbage. The American people are angry enough at this government already. Don’t give us yet another reason to see incompetence 101 on display. Simply drop this investigation talk. We don’t need another Mitchell-like Report to come out and tell us nothing new about the NFL. What will taint the NFL is the investigative process to produce the report, not the finished product. Just like in baseball. Stop the insanity now, Arlen. Nobody in America cares what you think. I hate Belichick, but not enough to spend taxpayer money to investigate him further. America never spends it’s money wisely anymore. Don’t make this another example of it.

What Upsets Teach Us

Upsets are the lifeblood of sports. They provide an aura of unpredictability to the games we watch and are the reason we (at least I) keep coming back for more. The idea that we may see something we’ve never seen before is a powerful draw and keeps our attention riveted to the games. The Giants’ upset of the Patriots in last night’s Super Bowl just reiterated that thought for me. But more importantly, I think what the Giants pulled off last night can be seen in a larger context. Sports are very often a metaphor for life and never is this truer than when upsets occur. There are lessons inherent in the art of the upset that apply to us in the world at large. They show us that winning is not a given, it is a goal. We live in an age where a sense of entitlement now pervades our society. Many people think they are supposed to win in life because they were born into it. In some cases, they were never exposed to losing and don’t know how to react to it when it happens. But upsets teach us that it is no one’s birthright to win. You have to work hard to win and the best and brightest don’t always drink from the golden cup because that’s not how life works. I think people are attracted to sports and the underdog because it shows them that anything is possible and that no one has a patent on winning. It has to be worked toward as a goal and earned. It should never be assumed or taken for granted. There’s a reason why sports fans dislike the Cowboys, Yankees, Celtics and Montreal Canadiens so much. It is because those fan bases believe they are destined to win every year. Now in my case, I am a Cowboys fan but do not believe my team is entitled to a championship every year. It’s some of my fellow Cowboys fans who do and give the rest of us a bad name. But I know the other side of the coin as well being a Red Sox fan. I see the same arrogance in Yankees fans that others see in the Cowboys so I understand this paradox very well. Upsets suck when they happen to your team as I found out three weeks ago when the Giants defeated the Cowboys. But eventually you get over it and realize that the team just wasn’t good enough that day and didn’t earn it. There are no guarantees in sports and, by extension, life. Upsets show us that. They show us the possibilities of what could happen no matter how small the odds. The Giants last night proved that to be true. That’s why I admire what they did even though they are one of the Cowboys biggest rivals. I sensed Patriots fans starting to get arrogant about their team in the last few years and that’s why I’m happy the Giants won the game. It showed that no one has an exclusive on winning. I hope in the days and weeks to come people can learn a lesson from this “Giant” upset. I hope they see that feeling entitled doesn’t make you destined to come out on top. We all need to understand that if you don’t stay ahead of the game of life, it might just reach out and humble you when you least expect it. That is the best thing we can take away from an upset of this magnitude. Hopefully we can and will.

On Any Given Sunday…

Well, I never thought I’d say it but congratulations to the NY Giants on their Super Bowl XLII win over the previously undefeated New England Patriots, 17-14. I am a Dallas Cowboys fan so it really pains me to say that. However, one year of Giants bragging rights certainly beats listening to 20 years of gloating from Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Thank God the Giants pulled this off. I get the feeling the rest of the league is relieved as well as they don’t have to listen to the Patriots brag either. Todd Heap of the Ravens made reference to that idea earlier in the week on WFAN radio in New York. He said no NFL player wants to hear how their league was dominated by an undefeated team. He said it was a pride thing and that the rest of the league would be pulling for the Giants. As for the Patriots, this is a colossal disaster. To lose in the Super Bowl after an 18-0 run negates everything the Patriots did all year. If you are a Patriots fan you can’t deny that fact. You can’t say the Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season and call it a true record. They may have the most regular season wins in the modern era but it means nothing because they couldn’t finish the job. Losing the Super Bowl after going unbeaten to that point is an utter disaster. It’s all about who wins the Super Bowl. No one seems to remember the Super Bowl runner up, but they will for years in this case because it was their only loss. They are now right behind the Colts of Super Bowl III in infamy. But that’s why they actually play these games and why America loves sports so much. You never know what you might see that hasn’t been seen before. This victory was extra sweet to witness because we all got to watch Belichick shake Tom Coughlin’s hand quickly and then dart off the field before the final gun. That’s one reason why I am happy the Patriots lost. Belichick is a sore loser and sore winner. Nothing ever makes him happy. He wanted to stick it to the NFL and go 19-0 and run up scores as payback for the spygate scandal and he got it stuck right back up his ass. Good. Sometimes there is justice in sports. Of course he was full of one word answers in his post-game interview with FOX, which is typical. Next year I’ll be right back hating the Giants but for now they deserve all the accolades. They did a hell of a job and should bask in the glory- particularly Eli Manning, who grew up in full today as an NFL player on the biggest stage. He will never be his brother but he showed today that he has the guts to get it done and again, as a Cowboys fan, that is hard to admit but the result speaks for itself. He had it all on the table for him in the last 2:42 and he grabbed it and ran with it. That play he made on the scramble where he was just about sacked and then heaved it up to David Tyree, who made a circus catch, was the play of the game. I never thought I’d ever see Eli do that. He proved himself a winner and someone the Cowboys and everyone else will have to deal with in the years to come. Now, I don’t think this is the biggest upset in Super Bowl history. The Jets 16-7 win over the Colts in Super Bowl III was bigger. I think it was because without it, the NFL as we know it today might not exist. But this game is firmly in second place. To cause an 18-0 team’s season to collapse in an utter disaster is monumental and will be remembered for years. Congrats, Giants. I can’t wait to watch Patriots fans have to deal with losing to both of the Manning brothers, whom they hate, in consecutive years. In some circles, the Patriots are considered the Evil Empire because of Belichick. It’s nice to see that empire defeated in the game they could least afford to lose. It’s nice that everything the Patriots did this season is down the drain. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy than Belichick.

You Gotta Be Kidding, Right?

Apparently Senator Arlen Specter and congress have nothing better to do. I mean, the economy is in the toilet, the Iraq war rages on, gas prices are skyrocketing again and the presidential campaigns are in full swing. But Specter and his cronies want to talk to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about destroying the spygate tapes from the New England Patriots cheating scandal? This guy is a moron of the highest order. He says he is concerned about the taping, the destruction of the tapes by the league and the penalties Goodell handed out to the Patriots. Gimme a break. Hey, Arlen, why don’t you go investigate why gas prices are approaching $4 per gallon and then get back to us. That might actually be helpful to America, don’t you think? Oh, right, the oil companies wouldn’t like that. I guess that’s not what you call a real scandal. Congress really has a high opinion of itself. First, they feel the need to get involved with the baseball steroid scandal so they can look like they actually do something every day and now this? Specter claims that he is getting involved because he is concerned about the integrity of the NFL and its anti-trust exemption. All of a sudden this is a pressing concern in America? The integrity of the NFL will survive just fine without congress sticking their noses in where it doesn’t belong. It’s not the job of the government to clean up sports leagues. The leagues can and do mind their own houses (I know, baseball’s Bud Selig is an exception but that’s another story for another day) The leagues might not always be perfect but there are certainly more serious world issues for congress to consider. Why they are going to look into something that is so inconsequential in the grand scheme of things is beyond me. Specter and his boys think they are heroes for trying to clean up pro sports when in fact they look like fools. People love sports and congress has no place in them. When will this message sink in with these clowns? I don’t hear or see anyone avoiding baseball because of steroids and their fallout. Red Sox tickets are as difficult to get as ever. If Specter thinks that fans will not watch the NFL because we think the games are rigged he is sadly mistaken. The games are just fine. So what has congress really accomplished by interfering in sports? The answer is nothing whatsoever. Fans like me don’t want to hear from congressmen trying to make a name for themselves. Was I happy with Goodell’s penalty toward the Patriots? Not really. I felt it should have been harsher- like him taking away BOTH of the Pats 1st round picks this spring. But that ship has sailed and it’s time to move forward. The penalty has been issued and I’m satisfied that the scandal is over. Let it go Specter. You’re just making yourself look ridiculous. This is not CIA spying that threatens America’s safety. It’s a sports league, for God’s sake!! So stop grandstanding to try to make this issue more important than it is. The integrity of the NFL is safe without help from the likes of you. This just gives America one more reason to roll its eyes at a congress that has no clue what really matters to the American people.