What You Will Never Hear Ray Lewis Say

After losing to Tom Brady and the Patriots on this past Sunday, "Sweet Baby" Ray Lewis vented in the locker room afterwards about two roughing the passer penalties called against his Ravens. The rules to protect QB's have been there more than a couple of years now. If you go anywhere near the head or anywhere near the knees, you will be flagged. If you don't want the flag, don't go there. You may not agree with the rules being so protective but if it is on the books you can't argue with it being called. But I digress, that is a subject for another day. Today I want to write about what you will NEVER, EVER hear "Sweet Baby" Ray say.

Ray Lewis is a great football player. He is a first ballot Hall of Famer who gives his all in every game. Why can't Ray give his all in crediting the other team when he gets beat? I can't recall ever hearing Ray Lewis admit that the other team was better than him and his team on that particular day.

The Patriots offensive line has struggled all season to protect Brady. In fact, the Ravens sacked Brady 3 times Sunday but the Patriots did well enough to allow Brady to get them 27 points compared to the Ravens 21 points. If Ray said anything to indicate what kind of job the Patriots did, it did not make national media.

In addition, I wonder what Ray's reaction would have been if his QB had of been the one to get those calls instead of the opposing teams QB? Would Ray still have been yelling to the media after the game about how bad the calls were? As strongly as he stated his comments, he feels the rules are wrong. If the rules are wrong to be called on his team then surely they would be wrong to be called on the other team, right?

A few years ago the Ravens hosted the Chiefs on Monday night. Priest Holmes rushed for over 200 yards against the Ravens. The Chiefs as a team rushed for over 30o yards. This game was the ultimate butt whipping when it came to an offensive line dominating a defensive front 7, which included "Sweet Baby" Ray. Ray never addressed the media after the game. He dressed and left before the media got into the locker room.

I challenge you to observe closely how Ray handles post game comments after winning and losing. If he wins he is the center of the attention. The heart and soul leader of that team. If he loses, it appears he is never around to answer the tough questions. It also appears he will never give his opponent the credit they deserve for beating his team.

It is easy being the leader when your team wins. Accepting all the congratulations and bouquets of love. Talking about how great you and your team are. Posing for pictures. All very EASY.

Hey Ray, real leaders are there to take the questions of criticism when their teams get beat or even whipped. Real respect comes when you can win humbly and when you can admit you got beat, while acknowledging the effort of your opponent.

Oregon Football Is Weak If They Let LeGarrette Blount Play Again!

At the end of the first University of Oregon football game this year, running back LeGarrette Blount sucker punched a Boise State player in the jaw. He then pushed his teammates that tried to restrain him. As he left the field, the Boise State crowd taunted him and he tried to go into the crowd. Blount had to be removed from the field by 4 or 5 people, a couple of which were security personnel.

In the days that followed, Oregon head coach Chip Kelley announced that Blount would not play in another game this season, which is Blount's senior season. The President of Oregon as well as the Pac 10 Commissioner applauded the move and strongly backed Kelley.

Well, now Kelley has announced that Blount may return if he continues to follow guidelines set out by the university. HUH? No way. I cannot let a player that embarrasses my program that bad return to play. Yes, he can continue to be on the team and work out. Stay in shape and pursue a NFL career. But no, he cannot ever play in a real game for my team again.

Information has surfaced according to collegefootballtalk.com, that Oregon caving on the punishment could be linked to a threat from Blount's parents of a possible lawsuit. I recommend you read the articles on collegefootballtalk.com. I literally became nauseated by the story.

Sometimes you just have to do the right thing. Second chances are allowed. However, Blount's second chance was used in advance when while being removed from the field after the first punch, he tried to enter the stands after fans, some of which may have been paying customers.

Apparently everyone is controlled by money. Sorry, I need to be able to look at my self in the mirror and go to bed with a clear conscience worse than I need money. If you cave in to this threat of a lawsuit, where do you draw the line? Because this will only open the door for more lawsuits and challenges. Players and their families will be trying every way in the world to trump Coaches' and Universities' authority. The T.O.'s of the world don't stop until they are the only authority.

Chip Kelley and the University of Oregon should find some testicular fortitude and stand by their disciplinary action. Tell the Blount's and any lawyers, do what you gotta do because we are gonna do what we have to do and that is uphold the season long suspension.

I am sure Oregon will eventually settle at best rather than face a lawsuit. But as for me, if I were in charge at the University of Oregon, we would say go ahead, sue us. LeGarrette Blount you may win a lot of money from me in a lawsuit but I will have something more valuable than money to you. I will have your senior season which you can never get back. By the time this thing gets through court, the football season will be over and your eligibility completely gone. Oh, and once you file that lawsuit you are banished from any and all contact and participation with the team that you would have had. More important than any of this, I will be sending the correct message to my current players, recruits and their families, alumni, supporters, boosters, faculty, students, and fans. That is, as the head coach of Oregon I will see that the players, staff, and myself will conduct ourselves in a manner that will not embarrass or humiliate the students, faculty, administration, boosters, or fans. In addition, I will see that the behavior of everyone associated with Oregon football will bring a sense of pride to our fans and not a sense of shame.

Sometimes, just doing the right thing will require that you dig deeper and find the utmost courage, guts, and character. That straight and narrow path can be very lonely.

How Did Jim Zorn Not Get Fired?

Redskins fans came into this NFL season without very high expectations after last season. However, they never knew how low their expectations should have really been. After 3 games the Skins are 1 - 2, not good but their performance is worse than their record indicates.

The fact that the Skins lost to the Giants in week 1 on the road was not that big of deal. However, they looked very lackluster with no offense and seemed very unmotivated. The ugly begin to show in week 2. Hosting the horrible Rams for their first home game of the season, the Skins laid a nice fat egg but snuck out the back door with a 9 - 7 win. How would you have liked to paid top dollar to see that disgusting display of offense?

If that was ugly, the hideous showed up this past Sunday as the Skins FOUND a way to lose to the hapless Lions. Think about this, the Skins are supposed to be somewhat competitive - on paper - with the Giants, Cowboys, and Eagles. Yet, they beat a Rams team that had lost 11 consecutive regular season games by 9 - 7. Then the next week they LOST to a Lions team that had lost 19 consecutive regular season games.

EMBARRASSING! SIMPLY EMBARRASSING! NO EXCUSES FOR IT! VERY UNDER ACHIEVING AND COMPLETELY THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL! Therefore, I ask you this question, why didn't the owner Daniel Snyder fire head coach Jim Zorn immediately following the game Sunday? Could it get worse? Not in my opinion. You played two of the worst teams in the NFL. Barely beat one and lost to the other.

If I were Daniel Snyder, I would rather have a team motivated & learning a new coach than to have an underachieving team that is full steam in the wrong direction. I would have fired Zorn in Detroit and given him the money for a plane ticket home. These guys are professionals who supposedly put 14 and 15 hour days in trying to be successful. After working 14 hour days, if all you can get out of the Redskins' talent is a 2 point win over the Lambs and a loss to the Big Pussy Cats, then you will never get the job done and almost anything is better than this.

Daniel Snyder has done some silly things as owner of the Redskins that would indicate he is a totally incompetent football evaluator. He gave big money to Deion Sanders and Bruce Smith when both were over the hill and couldn't play any more. He brought Joe Gibbs back after the game had passed him by. He turns over the roster like it is a fantasy football team. He tries to buy a trophy. Amazingly though, it was what Snyder didn't do on Sunday or Monday that provides the most evidence that he is a totally incompetent football evaluator. Snyder didn't fire Jim Zorn immediately after watching the two most embarrassing performances his team has ever had.

Sergeant Football's Quick Hits

Vikings vs 49ers will be the only game this coming weekend matching undefeated teams. In addition, the NFL's top two leading rushers will be playing - Frank Gore and Adrian "All Day" Peterson.

Not this Sunday, but the next we have a little game known as the Packers @ the Vikings - might be of a little interest.

Why did the Cowboys want to throw the ball when they were running at will against the Giants?

Why did the Chargers line up in a 3 TE Jumbo eye formation package on 4th and 2 against the Ravens with Little Bitty Darren Sproyles at tailback carrying the ball? Norv Turner could mess up a paid date with a prostitute.

How does a receiver as good as Andre Johnson have over 160 yards receiving and 2 TD's, when there is not another good receiver on his team? I don't know who is going to catch the ball, but I know who isn't! Andre Johnson, whether I have to put 2 or 3 men on him.

USC was 0 - 10 on 3rd down conversions in the loss to Washington. Just like not getting base hits with men in scoring position and 2 outs in baseball, if you don't convert on 3rd down in football you usually won't win.

Steelers and Patriots are struggling to run the ball effectively. The Colts couldn't stop the run on Monday night. Hard to be a championship team when you can't run or stop the run.

I would love to hear GM Bill Parcells opinion of his Dolphins last drive against the Colts. Just plain UGLY for a 2 minute offense trying to win a game. BRUTAL! I may vomit, oooh I can taste it in the back of throat!

After his 2 long TD runs this past Sunday, Frank Gore is only the 2nd player in NFL history to have 2 TD runs of 75 or more yards in one game. The first guy to do it was somebody named Barry Sanders - they say he was pretty good.

Tennessee shutting down Florida's offense was a case of a great NFL coach in Monte Kiffin schooling a great college coach in Urban Meyer. Great NFL coaches like Monte work longer hours than college coaches and usually have deeper knowledge. Meyer had no answer for the Vol defense - no creativity, no true misdirection, no adjustments. Also, against the Vols at least, the Gators don't cross the T's and dot the I's the way they should. Watch how many times they do not carry out fakes. A good fake is another block!

No Matter How Good Your QB Is, You Must.....

Football can be a very complex game and it can be a very simple game. The New England Patriots are making the game complex and forgetting to keep it simple.

No matter how good your quarterback is, you cannot become one dimensional on offense. The Patriots are very one dimensional on offense right now and this is making it easier for defenses. The offensive line is not as good as it used to be and the Pats cannot line up and run straight ahead. This has caused them to rely to heavily on the pass.

Defenses have realized this and since they do not fear the running game, they can lay their ears back and blitz Tom Brady to death. Brady is rushed and unable to set his feet before he throws, meaning many passes are inaccurate and out of time with the receiver's route. The Jets exposed this on Sunday, just as the Giants did in the Super Bowl two years ago.

To stop the blitz and pass rush, a team must run the ball, use the draw play, and execute the screen pass effectively. The Patriots have thrown 100 passes in two games. That is on pace to throw 800 passes in the season, which would break the NFL record by 109 passes. Conversely, the Patriots have only ran the ball 47 times in those 2 games.

Offensively you do not have to be perfectly balanced between the run and the pass but you cannot be one dimensional. If the Patriots do not start running the ball more they are going to struggle to even make the playoffs. Because they are unable to line up and run straight at people, they should spread the field with 3 or 4 receivers to create space and hand off out of the shotgun. In addition, the screen pass should be used as part of the running game.

No matter how good your quarterback is, if your opponent does not respect the fact that you will attempt to run the ball , the blitzing and heavy pass rush is coming all day long. Even if you can't run the ball well, you better make the effort so as to keep the defense honest. If your quarterback can't set his feet and throw, your success rate drops. Just ask Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, etc.

Ohio State, Please Just Go Away!

I don't know about you, but I am tired of seeing Ohio State in a so called "big" game. Sure, the Buckeyes have a good team year in and year out under Jim Tressel. However, "good" does not mean great.

For the last 4 seasons, Ohio State has beat up on the weak Big 10 conference. Eventually, either during the season or at the end of the season, the Buckeyes have been in a so called "big" game and the ending keeps repeating.

During the 2005 season, they lose to #2 Texas during the regular season 25-22. They show up in the 2007 BS, yes the C was left out to make a point, National Title game against Florida and get whipped. Not beat, but beat down on by 41-14.

That whipping didn't deter the Buckeyes and the very next season they ended up in the 2008 BS, yes the C was left out to make a point, National Title game against LSU. Once again, LOSER 38-24.

Last season they began a home and home series with the USC Trojans. One of the biggest hyped games of the regular season. Tressel and the Buckeyes went home from Los Angeles embarrassed by 35-3.

Now, the Buckeyes are supposed to be one of the top teams in the country for the 2009 season. USC had to visit the Buckeyes in the Horseshoe at Columbus last Saturday evening. Another prime time game considered a prime time match up involving Ohio State. Surely, the Buckeyes win this one. USC is flying across country and starting an untested true freshman at quarterback. WRONG! Trojans drive the length of the field to score with less than 2 minutes left to win 18-15.

Ohio State, please, JUST GO AWAY! I can't take anymore. I have seen the same ending over and over and over again. It is no longer a "big" game when the Buckeyes are involved BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW HOW IT IT GOING TO END!

What On Earth Was Rick Neuheisel Thinking?

So Saturday afternoon, I am watching some college football. Bouncing between UCLA @ Tennessee, Houston stunning Oklahoma State, and Notre Dame @ Michigan, I finally land on UCLA @ Tennessee. UCLA leading in the last minutes of the game by 6, believe. UCLA makes a goal line stand and gets the ball back with less than 2 minutes to go at their on 2 yard line.

Here's where I couldn't believe what I was seeing out of a seasoned somewhat successful veteran college coach like Rick Neuheisel of UCLA. The Vols had 2 timeouts to use. I immediately agreed with my Sound Off Sports co-host, The Official Scorekeeper (who I was on the phone with at the time keeping him updated on the game as he was coaching little league football), that all UCLA had to do was run 3 quarterback sneaks, force the Vols to burn their timeouts, then take a safety on 4th down and free quick back to the Vols from the 20 yard line with well less than a minute left in the game. This was simple. For a high school coach this was simple.

For Rick Neuheisel, no it wasn't simple. UCLA turns and hands the ball off 5 yards deep in the end zone. Hey Rick, you want the safety but on 4th down not 1st down. You need to run some clock and make the Vols burn timeouts. On 2nd down, UCLA runs wide and barely gets out of the end zone again. Not only did they risk the safety but the fumble by handing the ball off. Sure enough, the Bruin running back fumbled and after review it was determined that UCLA recovered it. Two bullets dodged so surely they will quarterback sneak on 3rd and long then take the safety. NO! UCLA runs a naked bootleg with the quarterback deep in the end zone trying to throw then trying to run out and he gets stuck for the safety and a fractured jaw. This stupidity in play calling, that caused the safety on 3rd down instead of 4th down, left the Vols 30 to 40 more seconds that UCLA could have run off before taking the safety on 4th down.

All I could ask was what the heck is going on? UCLA did punt from the 20 and in the end were able to win because Tennessee's quarterback was not competent enough to move the ball in the final seconds. However, UCLA's coaching staff tried in every way to keep Tennessee in the game and give it to them. Absolutely no excuse for not taking the quarterback sneak three plays in a row, then taking the safety on 4th down.

As, Rick Neuheisel critiques his players while watching film on Sunday, I hope the Athletic Director will walk in and critique Rick on his horrendous and almost loss causing decision making in the final 2 minutes.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! THE NFL IS BACK! HERE'S SOME PREDICTIONS!

It's been 7 months and 9 days since Super Bowl XLIII. Finally, the NFL is back. Enjoy every minute as it will go much faster than it got here.

Those of us competing in the fantasy league I belong to, have been predicting the NFL for over 18 seasons now. No, we are still not very good at it. Yes, I have predicted the Super Bowl winner a couple of times and in 1995 I predicted the winner and loser of the Super Bowl. With all of that said, I strongly urge you to make your own predictions. It will become more addictive every year. However, I would highly recommend you only predict, DON'T WAGER - unless you have money to lose. For your entertainment pleasure only and because I don't have much of a life here are some predictions for you ridicule me about.

NFC Division Champs - Giants, Packers, Saints, Seahawks
NFC Wild Cards - Eagles, Vikings
AFC Division Champs - Patriots, Steelers, Colts, Chargers
AFC Wild Cards - Titans, Ravens
NFL MVP - Drew Brees.....OFF. Rookie of YR - Donald Brown -Colts...
Def. Rookie of Yr - Brian Arapko - Redskins
Def. MVP - Mario Williams...Coach of the Yr - Mike Tomlin - Steelers
NFC Champ - Giants over Packers
AFC Champ - Steelers over Chargers
Super Bowl XLIV - Steelers over Giants
Super Bowl XLIV MVP - Ben Roethlisberger

Boy, that was difficult. Like trying to make spotted paint. The NFL becomes more convoluted every year. Enjoy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! THE NFL IS BACK

Jerry Jones Admits He Is The Anti-Christ Of The NFL

I have hated Jerry Jones since the day he fired Tom Landry as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. I understood the move and it worked out great for Jerry. Jimmy Johnson providing 2 Super Bowl rings as coach and a third Super Bowl ring that Barry Switzer won as head coach on auto pilot with Jimmy's players . I had been a life long Cowboy fan because of Roger Staubach and Tom Landry. Landry deserved better. He should have been allowed to leave on his on terms or at least given a small window of opportunity to do that. Jerry was and is all about money and making money. If any thing in life is true, it is the fact that the LOVE - not money but the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Well, Jerry Jones' love of money is going to jeopardize the future well being of the NFL.

The NFL is so much better than the other pro sports and college sports because of the parity - it is easy for teams to be as good as other teams (unless your a Lions or Raiders fan). The system is set up to make teams very equal and any team can win in any given year (again see reference above to Lions and Raiders). The dollars do not get in the way of the league being competitive.

Unlike other sports, the NFL has revenue sharing. In other words, all of the money made by all of the teams is put into 1 pot and equally divided among the 32 teams. This allows smaller cities such as Pittsburgh and Green Bay to compete with the bigger cities such as New York, New England (Boston), and Dallas. The salary cap with this revenue sharing helps keep the playing field even.

Pay attention to media reports and you will hear about the statement Jerry made this past Friday night. Filthy rich Jerry Jones is sick of making money to help teams that aren't making as much money. His statement made reference to the fact that revenue sharing must end and will end. I suppose Jerry wants to have the most expensive stadium, which he now does, the most expensive team so he can win the most championships which will allow him to make the most money.

People, if you love the competition of the NFL then you will hope that Jerry Jones does not get revenue sharing ended. It is bad enough that if a new labor agreement between the players union and owners doesn't get worked out the salary cap could be gone next season. Teams could spend as much or as little as the owner wants, which would give us major league baseball. A few teams are very good because they buy all of the best players and the other teams just aren't good enough because they don't have enough money to spend on players. BORING!

I greatly appreciate people who are about winning at what they love to do. Especially in a team oriented event. People who are great and make their peers or teammates rise to a higher level of performance. Money can be a motivating factor as we all like to have a lot, but I am talking about people who play for the trophy. Jerry Jones doesn't care about the well being of the entire NFL, just the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones plays for the trophy but only because the trophy brings more money. In reality, he is playing just for the money. Don't be fooled by Jerry Jones' expensive suits, hair weaves, or face lifts. Jerry Jones in the long run is pure evil for the NFL.

Finally, It's Football Season!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, it is true - IT'S FOOTBALL SEASON! With the kickoff of relevant college games tonight and the start of the NFL season one week from tonight, the real games are here.
As a football fan, there are a few important things you need to realize and lay claim to.

First and foremost, football season is but a vapor. Pay attention! FOOTBALL SEASON flies by. You must stop to enjoy it thoroughly because before you know it, you will be channel surfing through a bunch of garbage television programs that are the barren wasteland of football off season.

Breathe deeply while in the zone known as football season. Soak it all in like a thirsty sponge soaks up water. The question is not "if" you will be able to watch all of the games you want to but "HOW" you will watch all of the games you want to. Remember, football season crowns you king of your life, again. Yes, you may defer to wife, kids, relatives, friends, etc. during the rest of the year but football season is YOURS!

Wife had a romantic weekend planned - WRONG, SORRY - pick a weekend between mid February and the end of August. Friends have a wedding - I DON'T THINK SO - if they wanted you to come that bad they should have scheduled it around football season. Boss needs you to work over during the week - SURE BUT ONLY ON TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY!

Lay claim to your football season like a 300 lb muscle bound rabid pit bull would lay claim to a steak. Dare anyone (outside of whichever Higher Being you believe in - if you believe in One) to get between you and your football. Believe me, you must be this aggressive or people will take advantage. Especially, people close to you. They are afraid that football is more important than they are to you. So they will test you. NIP IT! NIP IT IN THE BUD!

Just as you must lay claim, you must also let some things go in order to enjoy the football season. Yard work, painting, working out, housework, paying bills other than the electrical and cable/satellite, changing the oil in the car, putting the kids to bed, any "honey do" list, etc. must all wait if football that you want to see is on television. Knee deep grass will be there tomorrow to cut. The Colts vs the Patriots will not. Texas vs Oklahoma will not. LET ANY AND ALL PROJECTS GO IF THEY ARE IN THE WAY OF YOUR FOOTBALL!

This is YOUR football season. Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow may not come. Those close to you must respect how important it is to you. You must make them respect how important it is to you. Other projects can't get in the way. Know your goal and reach it. Football season is like a great amusement park ride. You wait an hour in line for it, then it is over in less than a couple of minutes. ENJOY EVERY SECOND OF EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY HOUR OF EVERY DAY OF THE SEASON!

Everything That Glitters Is Not Gold, Or Even Copper For That Matter!

As the 2009 NFL Season is approaching at break neck speed, one must consider that everything you see is not what it appears to be. It is like the beautiful girl in high school who you thought would be the dream girlfriend. Then you found out all of the inside information about her, saw her without makeup, had to pay for her over expensive taste, met her family, met her psychotic ex-boyfriend, or experienced how bad her breath really was. Yes, just like the far away beautiful girl in high school, some players and teams in the NFL look good only from far away.

Let's start with the defending NFC champion Arizona Cardinals. Several people are loving their high powered offense. Kurt Warner slinging the ball all over the yard to Fitzgerald and Boldin, while adding rookie Beanie Wells to mix in a better run game. Our memories tend to be short. We only remember the Cardinals almost beating the Steelers in the Super Bowl. We don't remember the Cardinals going 9-7 and getting blown out by the Jets and Patriots. In addition, remember how fragile Warner is. He can get hurt sneezing. How attractive are the Cardinals without Warner running the show or giving up 55 to the Jets last year?

The Houston Texans seem to be a hot ticket. People talking about them winning the AFC South. Huh? The Texans have never shown that they can beat the Colts, Titans, or Jaguars on a consistent basis. As with most teams, their hopes rest on the health of quarterback Matt Schaub. He hasn't been able to play a full season without getting a significant injury of some sort. He just came up lame with a leg injury Monday night against the Vikings. In addition, the Texans don't have Sage Rosenfels to back up Schaub - not if, but when he gets hurt. The defense appears to be young and almost good, then Monday night Adrian Peterson gashes them for a 75 yard TD run on the first play of the game. Until they prove differently, the Texans are 7-9 or 8-8.

The Seattle Seahawks were in the Super Bowl a few years ago. They play in the weak NFC West. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is healthy again and they acquired T.J. Houshmanzadeh. Looks good, right. Look again. Future Hall Of Fame Tackle Walter Jones has had problems with knee surgery. No idea what they will get from him or the offensive line. Julius Jones and Edgerrin James are not a great running game. Jim Mora is the new head coach. If they were a chick, the Seahawks could be attractive, but then again you might find out she wears hip hugger "granny" underwear.

The New England Patriots or as I like to call them the Triots (tree-ots). New England is high power with Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Fred Taylor, etc. Without a doubt, the Triots will score and score often. Right? I don't know about that. The offensive line is suspect. Brady is being hurried and hit more than he was in the past. After last year, we all know the Triots are not a Super Bowl contender without Brady. In addition, they cannot run the ball well anymore providing more evidence that the o-line is suspect. Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, and Mike Vrabel are all gone off the defense and they represented a large portion of the heart and soul of the Championship Patriot teams. Sure, New England looks good as always from here, but you never know up close this chick could be wearing a wig and stuffing with toilet tissue.

Last but not least, Sergeant Football always preaches you must win because of your quarterback and not in spite of your quarterback. Teams that have the questionable quarterback are the blind date. Someone can talk them up. Make you believe how attractive the chick is. Then you actually see and meet them and it is nothing like you imagined. The teams that are the blind date include the Jets, the Chiefs, the Broncos, the Bills, the Buccaneers, and the 49ers. The Raiders, Browns, Rams, and Lions are just plain ugly. Medusa ugly, snakes for hair and if you look at them you might turn to stone.

Will he or won't he? Not Favre but Peyton!

So I am eating with two close friends who are big Peyton Manning fans. As the conversation turns to Tennessee Vols football, I make a statement that I have been sure about for a few years. This statement was a no brainer for me. Well, these friends that are big fans informed me that I was wrong.

The statement I made was that Peyton Manning will coach at the high school, college, or pro level when he retires as a player. I believe Peyton will coach at the college level because he has stated how he loves college football and college campus life. It was very clear how much he loved college football when he announced that he would be returning for his senior season rather than enter the NFL.

The two gentlemen I was eating with are both big Vols and Peyton fans. They feel that Peyton will not coach because he doesn't need it. He has made his money. He will go into business. They continued that there really aren't any great players who have been coaches. Peyton has so many opportunities including acting according to these fans. Bottom line they said he will not coach because he doesn't have to or need to.

I was blown away. I have expected for years now that Peyton will coach. He is a coach on the field now. He is different from other players because although he has great physical ability he also has extraordinary mental ability. A huge portion of Manning's game is the mental facet and study. Hello, this what coaches do. In addition, Manning runs a QB school with his Dad and brother, Eli. He walks like a coach, talks like a coach, acts like a coach, studies like a coach, leads like a coach! How could he not be a coach in the future?

I strongly disagree that Manning doesn't need to coach. No, he doesn't need the money but he will need the football. Football is his life, literally. He will need the competition at a high level. His lifestyle of competition and study is like a drug and you can't just cut it off without withdrawal.

I believe when Peyton Manning retires he will either be a NFL Head Coach, a NFL QB coach, a NFL Offensive Coordinator, or a front office man for the Colts until his dream job comes open. Peyton Manning will eventually fill the role as Head Coach for the University of Tennessee Vols.

He loves college life, he loves college football, he would be in full control at the college level, and he loves the University of Tennessee. Who he is would make his recruiting easy. No doubt he would always be able to land a top quarterback prospect. The job would be his as long as he wanted it. His teams would have to be bad, very bad for a long time for the Vol Nation to fire him. Can't you see it? Peyton walking the sidelines in the Tennessee hat with the head set on. Instructing players, doing interviews, and of course, leading the band.

I am absolutely stunned. For two high school coaches who are big Peyton fans to tell me that Peyton WILL NOT coach was completely mind blowing. I have thought for years that it is a for gone conclusion. Of course, I can be wrong. I always thought Peyton would have won more than 1 Super Bowl in 11 NFL seasons!

What Has Happened To The Patriots O-Line?

Look out Pats fans. Tom Brady's shoulder may be seriously hurt. Albert Haynesworth landed, all 300 plus pounds on Tom causing Brady's right arm to be flattened parallel to the ground. The arm was above Brady's head and the shoulder joint went flat to the ground as his head bounced against it.

The best case scenario here will be a very sore shoulder. I will not be surprised if there is damage to his shoulder as the joint hyper-extended badly. Of course, Belichick will be as vague as possible about the condition.

My question is what has happened to the Patriots offensive line? What used to be one of the best units in the NFL seems to be very average. While watching 2 of the 3 preseason games, I have noticed that Brady is hurried and has nervous feet in the pocket. It will be difficult enough for Brady to get over the mental fear of getting hit again while throwing. It appears that task just got twice as difficult because his line has shown that they can't protect him as well anymore. Brady was drilled last week by a Bengal that practically got a clean shot at Brady due to a blown assignment on the line.

Brady has been very durable in the past. That durability begins with the fact that his line kept him very protected. Belichick and the coaching staff better fix the o-line issues and make sure the Patriots #1 asset stays up right. As good as Brady looked in the first quarter, finding Moss for 2 TD's and putting the ball on the money, he will not be able to stay healthy for the 2009 season with the way his line is playing as of now. That is if he isn't already seriously injured.

Eagles Locker Room and Fans Will Split Over McNabb and Vick

A big time split, like the one in the middle of Shemp's hair on The Three Stooges, is coming soon to the Philadelphia Eagles. When I heard that the Eagles had signed Michael Vick, my first thought was, why? The Eagles have one of the top ten quarterbacks in the NFL with Donovan McNabb. In addition, McNabb has been on shaky ground with Eagles fans since the day he was drafted, in spite of his success.

This combination has the makings for a huge problem. McNabb was booed by Philly fans when he was drafted. He has taken the Eagles to 5 NFC championship games and 1 Super Bowl. However, he still isn't appreciated by Eagles fans. Last season, he was benched at halftime of the Ravens game. The Eagles were still in the game and had a chance to win it late when Kevin Kolb threw the game ending interception.

Enter Michael Vick. McNabb claims he lobbied for Vick to be an Eagle. The problem is that Vick is still in his prime. Vick possibly has 5 or 6 years of tread left on the tire. Meaning, he could be the Eagles quarterback of the future. Is it possible that is what Andy Reid is thinking? Could Reid be unhappy with McNabb's inability to win the Super Bowl after being so close on 5 occasions?

Eagle fans have been split on McNabb from day 1. Until now they did not really have another answer. That split is going to grow deeper and wider because last night in the first pre season game Vick participated in, fans were chanting "we want Vick". After the game McNabb indirectly indicated that Vick entering the game disrupted the rhythm of the offense.

Do you see where this is headed? Some where in the future this will come to a head and it will not be good for the Eagles. When McNabb struggles, at all, some fans are going to chant for Vick. Then it will eventually come to light that the locker room is split. Some players wanting Vick and others wanting McNabb. The Vikings only have one accomplished quarterback in their locker room. The odds of a split there diminish greatly if Favre plays well. With 2 capable quarterbacks in the Eagles locker room, a part of fans and teammates is coming. Right down the center, just like Shemp's hair on The Three Stooges.

Production Will Determine How Viking Teammates Feel About Favre

Everywhere Brett Favre goes drama follows him and he loves the attention. Reports have surfaced from Vikings camp that there is a rift in the locker room over who the team wants to be the starting quarterback.

First of all, very rarely does it matter who the players want to be the quarterback. The owners' opinion, money invested, championships won, etc. usually determine who is the quarterback. Second of all, the NFL is a production business. Very rarely do you get to be unproductive and keep your job, unless your Matt Millen as the GM of the Lions. I am still trying to figure out what kind of pictures he had on the Ford family.

Regardless of what you hear about how the players feel right now in Vikings camp, understand that how Favre performs in the regular season will determine how the Vikings players feel in the end. This is the NFL, not high school or even college. Players of more important status are treated differently and other players accept that. They may not like it but they understand it is part of the business. All that matters in the NFL is WINNING!

Some Vikings may be loyal to Tavaris Jackson and feel like he was done wrong. If Favre struggles and the Vikings lose, those feelings will grow stronger and then you do have a real rift in the locker room. However, if Favre plays great and the Vikings win there will be no such thing as a rift. Let Favre throw for 300 yards and 3 TD's while leading the Vikings to a last second win in their first game of the season and several of the players loyal to Jackson will have trouble remembering who Jackson is.

A so called rift in the locker room in week 3 of the pre season is not a big deal. That's the media digging up a so called story. Wait until week 5 or 6 of the regular season, then you will know if there is a real rift. Simply by looking at Favre's performance and the Vikings record. It is the NFL. A what have you done for me lately business. If Favre is winning in the regular season his teammates will care less what happened in the off season and pre season. Winning fixes all "team" problems in sports.

After 20 Years Pete Rose Should Go On The Aggressive Against Baseball Hall Of Fame

20 years ago yesterday, Pete Rose was banned from baseball for gambling. Note that his gambling occurred while he was a manager, not a player. Why hasn't Pete Rose the player been put in the Hall of Fame? Everyone knows he earned the due honor on the field. His numbers are unbelievable and by the way I was not a Rose fan at all. He is 1st all time in several offensive categories including hits. His career total in hits is a record that possibly will never be broken.

I understand banning a gambler because of the detriment it could cause to the game. Banning Rose the manager from participating in the game for life was enough punishment. Not to mention making Rose the player wait so many years for enshrinement into the Hall of Fame. Now we have seen performance enhancing drugs cause what could be almost as severe damage to the game. At least to the best of our knowledge, Rose accumulated his stats the old fashioned way - without JUICE. With the embarrassment and shock caused by the JUICERS the last few years, it is time for baseball to end its grudge with Rose and place him where he belongs in the Hall of Fame. And yes, his gambling and the price he paid should be noted in as large of letters as his stats are on his monument.

Since baseball has wanted to hold a grudge for so long, if I were Rose I would start a grudge of my own. I believe Rose should have announced yesterday, on the 20th anniversary of his banning, that he would NEVER allow the baseball Hall of Fame to enshrine him or anything of his name or likeness. In fact, if I were Rose I would have demanded the Hall of Fame return items of his that are currently displayed there such as bats, uniforms, cleats, etc. Absolutely nothing having to do with Pete Rose would be allowed in the baseball Hall of Fame, ever. He should put it in official documents so that it cannot happen after his death.

By doing this, Rose's story would only grow. He would be known as the only person to ever refuse to agree to enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. One more trivia question he would be the answer to. This action would take his story from Jack and Jill status to Paul Bunyan status, even more head and shoulders above other historic baseball stories.

As stated earlier, everyone who knows anything about baseball knows Rose is a Hall of Famer, no questions asked. Being a Hall of Famer is more about the fan acknowledging you as such, than having some plaque put on a wall with your stats in some building.

2 Things That Will Determine Brett Favre's Success Or Failure

Now that Brett Favre has signed with the Vikings, what will determine his success or failure? Sure his offensive line, how Adrian Peterson does, how the defense plays, etc. All of these are the obvious observations that you could state about almost any NFL quarterback. Let me give you 2 underlying factors to watch "As The World of Favre Turns In '09".

First, Brett said at his press conference that a tear in his rotator cuff was found by Dr. James Andrews during surgery to repair his torn biceps tendon. According to Brett, Dr. Andrews indicated he could play with the tear. He never said Dr. Andrews, the best in the business, indicated he could play well for the entire season with the tear. Reports from Viking camp show that Viking players are in awe of how strong Favre's arm is and with what zip he has on the ball. However, online information from interviews with other Doctors shows that it is very possible that the tear in the rotator cuff could worsen as the season continues, especially at Favre's age. If the tear does worsen, expect Favre to lose arm strength and velocity. A gunslinger mind plus a pop gun arm would mean the interceptions would come in bunches, like bananas. Favre's shoulder and arm must stay strong for him to succeed. If he fails expect him to blame the rotator cuff tear somewhere down the road. If I am the Vikes, I limit Favre's passing as much as possible.

Second is a very tiny but very important need for Brett Favre that you hardly ever hear mentioned. Brett Favre needs a coach that will hold him accountable to his face and in the media. The stats prove that when Favre has a coach like Mike Holgrem or Mike McCarthy he succeeds. Both of these coaches would chew Favre out for mistakes and criticize his poor decisions in the media. However, while playing for a coach like Mike Sherman, Favre has not played as well. Sherman worshipped Favre and had no control over him. Favre would force passes thinking he had to make a play and the interceptions came more often. Watch Brad Childress closely. If he gets in Favre's face or calls him out in the media, Favre should play with more discipline. But if Chilly, as Favre calls him, is the new president of Favre's fan club expect the Viking ship to find rough waters, eventually.

Please Tell Me You Are Not Surprised!!!!!!!

Yes, Brett Favre is playing for the Vikings. You should know that if you have read this blog any time at all. I have "screamed" from the very beginning that Favre would at least want to play.

I believe Favre wanted to play from the beginning. I believe a deal was worked out with the Vikings weeks ago. I believe both parties agreed to play out the charade that has went on the last few weeks. Brett claims he made the decision all in one moment, Monday, when Childress called again. Really? Sorry Brett, but I find it hard to believe you make that decision, pack, fly to Minny, get your physical, suit up, practice, and be scheduled to start Friday's pre-season game all in less than 36 hours. No sir, not unless a plan was in place and everyone important knew this was your arrival date.

Now that Favre is here and ready to play, ask yourself why? Brett was stunned when the Packers didn't want him back last year. He finally realized that GM Ted Thompson and Head Coach Mike McCarthy no longer wanted him, but wanted Aaron Rodgers instead. Brett has 2 goals in mind. Number 1, win another Super Bowl. This will directly contribute to number 2, which is driving the stake into Thompson and McCarthy's heart that they were wrong to choose Rodgers over him. Is Favre really willing to ruin his legacy with the Packer fans just to get revenge on Thompson and McCarthy? Yes sir he is. Remember to succeed at the level Favre has, you must be a vicious competitor. Few things are more demeaning in pro sports than for the organization that you are worshipped by to show you the door when you have just completed a 13-3 year and NFC Championship game appearance. Favre should be fiercely motivated with vengance in his eyes. Two things will determine whether he succeeds. We will address those in the next article. Stay Tuned!

Is Dungy Risking Too Much For Vick?

Tony Dungy has proven to be a wonderful man of great character. He has build an impeccable reputation as a human being not only in the NFL but in society itself. Dungy is the ideal person to be a mentor for, not only Michael Vick, but for all NFL players. In fact, I believe the NFL should start a new mentoring program for those players who have issues with drugs, drinking, arrests, domestic violence, and etc. Dungy should head the program and any player that gets in trouble should enter the program. With all of that said, I cannot get away from one recurring question that I have with regard to Dungy mentoring Vick. Has Dungy stuck his neck out too far for Vick?

I believe Dungy is a truthful man and that he believes that Vick has remorse. Only time will tell if Vick has truly change or not. I believe Vick should be allowed to play in the NFL again. He has paid his due to society. His actions were awful but he has admitted his guilt, took a while but he did, and he has paid his debt. I also believe he should have very strict limitations with any serious offenses resulting in permanent ban from the NFL. Dungy has went to bat for Vick to the ninth degree. Not only mentoring, but vouching for Vick that Vick deserves this chance and that Vick has changed. Dungy has made very direct statements that presents himself as very confident about Vick.

My question is what if Vick makes another bad mistake? Note that I wrote "bad" mistake. We all know he will make mistakes, as we all do. However, if he makes a bad mistake that ruins this chance for him, how will that impact Dungy's reputation? Dungy has worked a lifetime to build this reputation. Should Dungy be with Vick twenty four hours a day for seven days a week to make sure Vick walks the line? No, absolutely not. Vick is a grown man and must make his own decisions. Is Dungy responsible if Vick goes astray? No, absolutely not. Dungy can only mentor he can't make Vick behave in a certain way. Should people look at Dungy different if Vick makes that bad mistake? No, absolutely not but that doesn't mean that people will not question Dungy's ability as a character reference.

If Mike Vick doesn't take advantage of this opportunity and makes another bad mistake, whatever it may be, will I think worse of Tony Dungy? No. Tony Dungy's life speaks for itself. There is more than enough proof in the pudding. Tony Dungy is the ideal man to lead a "mentoring" program for the entire NFL and if I were Roger Goodell I would pursue that today. Unfortunately, Dungy has given the appearance of total confidence in Vick. Confidence is ok, but Dungy should have left the impression more open ended by noting that only Vick knows if he has changed and only Vick can make sure Vick behaves appropiately. Dungy's intentions are good as always. However, should Vick fail Dungy with another bad mistake, Dungy's reputation will take a hit of some sort. Dungy should be careful to state his belief in Vick, while at the same time put all of the responsibility on Vick by stating, "Michael Vick's future is in the hands of Michael Vick".

Pre-season NFL Television Ratings Show By How Far The NFL Is The #1 Sport!

Finally, football is back as the Titans and Bills played the Hall of Fame game on Sunday night. Sure, the starters only played one quarter and the guys playing in the 4th quarter had hardly ever been heard of, but it was NFL football on TV again. If you are like me then you make the same statement over and over again on almost a daily basis during the football off season, "Without football, there is absolutely nothing but garbage on TV!".

How great is it to have NFL football back on TV? Well, the TV ratings made it very, very clear that it was greater than ever to have the pro pigskin back. According to ESPN, the pre-season game between the Titans and Bills had a rating of 5.2 (whatever that means). The Yankees and Red Sox were playing a real regular season game on TV at the same time as the Titans and Bills. The best rivalry in baseball playing a key 1st vs 2nd place prime time game had a rating in the 3's (again whatever that means).

Baseball, basketball, golf, NASCAR (if you consider it a sport, I consider it a competition among "machinists" not athletes), hockey, MMA fighting, boxing, and any other TV sport you can name are good. However, when a meaningless pre-season NFL game pulls a blowout in TV ratings over the best rivalry in baseball, it is just visual proof of what we have all known all along - that the NFL is far and away the absolute, no questions asked, undisputed #1 sport in the United States of America. It is not even close, it could be the biggest blowout you have ever witnessed.

So let's welcome NFL football back to TV with wide open arms and tears of joy. Don't blink, stay wide eyed, and don't miss any of it. Just like a great roller coaster, you stand in line forever then the ride is over so fast you barely remember it. NFL football on TV is an oasis full of ice cold water in the middle of the desert that is television viewing throughout the year. Drink! No, gulp! Yes, gulp my friends, gulp as fast as you can from this oasis. Before you know it, we will be back in the blistering hot desert of non-NFL TV that is full of garbage programs, reruns, and boring sports!

I Could Be A Reality Coach For Pro Athletes!

As I was reading up on pro football on Thursday morning, I read a story that opened my eyes to a glaring need. After hearing of so many pro athletes who say things that are absurd and do things that are embarrassing, I believe I can be a big help as a "reality coach". Yes, I would charge $10,000 a month to keep these people in touch with reality or to basically do what my father, or your father, mother, brother, sister, grandmother, cousin, best friend, etc. would do.

The article I read was about Vince Young's interview with Esquire magazine. Vince has proclaimed he will be the next African American quarterback to win a Super Bowl. If you can stop laughing long enough to pay attention, he continued with the statement that he will make the pro football hall of fame. Ok, dry your eyes and settle down the laughter. I have no problem with Vince believing that about himself. In fact, you must have that kind of confidence to succeed at the pro level. However, you don't say it when you are struggling as a backup. He should be saying nothing but how he is working to help the team and prove that he is a starting quarterback when he gets his next opportunity.

Brett Favre has went on and on for 3 or 4 years now about he may retire, no he won't, no wait he will. Brett acts as though people can't get on with their lives until they find out if he will play or not. He displays an unprecedented amount of arrogance, conceit, vanity, and self worship.

Of course, then you have T.O. Terrell Owens even proclaims that he loves him some him. Chad Johnson makes it clear that his mind is on him getting attention rather than on his team getting better. Plaxico Burress carries an illegal gun into a club, blatantly breaks the law and then expects not to do any jail time at all. Huh? Me or you wouldn't get to testify before the grand jury and try to prey on their sympathy. We would be headed for the lock up for the mandatory 3 1/2 years without questions, comments, passing "Go", or collecting $200.

I have only 1 question, is there not anyone around these individuals to inform them of how ridiculous they look and sound. Someone that they respect to say "Hey, what are you thinking?". If I did any of these things I would have numerous family members and friends ripping me right to my face about how embarrassing I was acting. Sure, I understand that my family is outstanding and not more than 5% of people have that kind of family, but isn't there someone - anyone?
Well, appartently there isn't or if there is these athletes, who have become sad excuses for people, refuse to listen. I believe that you, the reader of this, can name at least 2 people that would give you a dose of reality should you become famous and act like an idiot.

Sure once you reach the level of Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson you can make your inner circle of only "yes" people and enablers. I have trouble believing that every pro athlete can do that. Therefore, I am here to help. For a mere $10,000 a month, I will tell pro athletes and celebrities how silly, stupid, ridiculous, and disgusting they look and sound. I have to charge a huge sum of money or they will not believe I am any good. I will be there every time they mess up. With my guidance of common sense, these people will become more likeable and gain respect from others, goodness knows they already have too much self respect. I will be like a drill seargant telling them how they cannot make such foolish statements or act like they are better and more important than any other human to walk the planet.

The best part is I will never be out of work. Not only will there always be plenty of these self absorbed ego maniacs around acting like idiots, but even when someone close to them warns them and counsels them about their actions THEY WILL NOT LISTEN! Vince, if you are going to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, you will need to buy a ticket and take a tour. Brett, as much as you think people love you, they have grown to despise you over the last few years. T.O., you may love you some you, but most people can't stand them some you. Chad, you get attention alright, attention as an underachieving laughing stock.

By the way, all of those comments were "free samples" as I didn't charge for them. Future counsel will be $10,000 a month - what's that Dad? I am ridiculous for charging $10,000 a month just for acting like I care about someone's well being? See, do you see, I can't even write a blog without being put in my place!

4 Things To Expect In The 2009 NFL Season

Baseball is boring, basketball is basketball, golfers are mentally weak, and NASCARs can only turn left. EUPHORIA! LET FOOTBALL BEGIN - ESPECIALLY, THE NFL! As the 2009 NFL season is rapidly approaching with training camps in full force, let's take a brief moment to give a shout out to loyal follower Duran Smith and give you 4 items you should expect this year.

4) Expect the San Francisco 49ers to notably improve and contend for the NFC West division title. Head Coach Mike Singletary is the real deal and will be a candidate for Coach of the Year. He can and will get the best out of his players. His no nonsense approach with no room for excuses reminds one of Bill Parcels. Whether he will win championships like Parcels did remains to be seen. However, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and acts like a duck, it is probably a duck. The only serious question is whether Singletary has a real quarterback on the roster. This could be the one flaw that hinders his and the Niners evolution back to a winning franchise. Expect the Niners to be better in '09 because of their head coach.

3) Expect Washington Redskins Head Coach Jim Zorn and Houston Texans Head Coach Gary Kubiak to be on the hottest seats all season. Redskins Owner Daniel Snyder thinks he is playing fantasy football and replaces people faster than Paris Hilton replaces boyfriends. In addition, Snyder is always after that legendary name and there are plenty of those out there in Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan, and Jon Gruden. Expect the Redskins to be mediocre at best and Snyder to fire Zorn immediately and hire Mike Shanahan, who has made it very clear that he wants to coach again in the '10 NFL season. Kubiak simply is at the end of his opportunity. He must put up or be shut up. Texans make the playoffs he is safe. Texans don't make the playoffs he is fired, very simple.

2) Expect Saints' running back Reggie Bush to find his career in serious jeopardy as his knee problem continues to get worse. Rumors have flown that Bush had microfracture surgery in the off season. Microfracture surgery is a procedure that tries to help the lack of cartilage between the bones in the knee. It has been rarely successful. If unsuccessful the knee eventually wears to bone rubbing on bone and a knee replacement somewhere in the future. The knee already has swelling and Bush has been unable to finish practices in training camp. Expect the career of Reggie Bush to begin a downward spiral in '09 due to the fact that knee will never get better.

1) Surely you could guess number 1. If you couldn't I am disappointed in you. Either you aren't a fan of this blogger or you aren't paying attention. Expect Brett Favre to want to play in '09. Yes, I know he has said he isn't playing and the Vikings claim to have moved on, but Brett will announce he wants to play. See, Brett just didn't want to have to live in a college dorm with a bunch of 20 somethings for a month of training camp. Will the Vikings take him when he does want to play? Of course, he gives them a real shot at the Super Bowl, if he is healthy. It may be the 3rd week of August, it may be week 4, it may even be November 1st, but expect Brett Favre to want to play in the '09 NFL season.

Favre Wants You To Believe The Vikings Want Him Worse Than He Wants To Play

Just want you want to see. Another article or comment about Brett Favre and his pondering to play for the Minnesota Vikings. It is ashamed how successful individuals can personally stain their career achievements out of pure ego and selfishness. The irony is that the selfishness and ego that has driven them to stain their achievements, is the same tool that drove them to reach the highest levels of success. This writer has always contended that Brett Favre will play in '09 for the Vikings, if he is healthy. He should play if he has the desire to and is healthy. He can still be one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL, again if his arm/shoulder are healthy.

As the summer begins to wind down and NFL training camps are opening, Favre still hasn't given a final decision. Every indication is that he is going to play. He has had surgery to fix his shoulder, he is passing regularly with a high school team in Mississippi, and he obviously is working out as his arms appear to be more toned than in past off seasons.

In recent days, Favre has put the final piece of his public relations plan, to become a Viking, in motion. The final piece of the public relations puzzle is that the Vikings must appear to want Favre more than he wants the Vikings. If the public believes this, then Favre appears as though he is coming to save the day, be the hero, answer the call of duty, etc. rather than appearing to be a selfish, egotistical, spoiled athlete. Recently it was reported that a "source" close to Favre said that if so many Viking players, including star running back Adrian Peterson, had not phoned Favre to tell him how much they want him to join the Vikings, that Favre would probably have already announced that he was NOT returning to the NFL. Well, my guess is that so called "source" is someone working or related to Favre and they were instructed by the powers that be in Favre's camp to make that statement to the media. Most likely it was Favre's agent, Bus Cooke.

Don't be fooled by such propaganda. Brett Favre wants to play for the Vikes as much or more than the Vikes want him. Why can't Favre just be genuine? Why has he rushed to talk retirement the last several years rather refuse to discuss it until he has a decision made? Not only has Favre damaged his achievements with wavering, but his camp has made calculated public relations moves that have turned a simple, but difficult decision into a summer long circus. The sad part is Favre and his camp do not realize that such PR moves have back fired on them. Most fans can see through these PR moves and Favre, causing those fans to lose more and more for Favre and his accomplishments.

As I have said all along, Favre will be a Viking. He wants to be loved, worshipped, and cheered until he can't physically play anymore. He also has vengeance to serve on the Packers. Now that the idea that the Vikings want him desperately has been floated out there, the press conference to announce his return should be next. Mark it down, in that press conference you will hear Favre say and express how the Vikings just pursued him until he couldn't say no. He will make it appear as he is sort of obligated because he can still play and they are a Super Bowl caliber team in need of a quarterback. After all, they are in need of a hero and he is well, a hero, right.

Brett, there is nothing wrong, in my opinion, with you wanting to play for the Vikings. When healthy, you can still play at a high level. I have no problem with you wanting to prove to the Packers that they made a mistake. JUST BE GENUINE! Stop with all the pr moves and propaganda. Stop playing the game of teasing fans with whether you will or won't. Amazing, a man can be more successful than he ever imagined in money, fame, and achievements. Yet, he still can't satisfy his EGO.

The Stanley Cup - The Best Trophy In All Of Sports!

The Stanley Cup is the BEST trophy in all of sports, bar none. Yes, the NHL's ultimate prize has more tradition and flamboyance than any other trophy. You ask why? Well, here are just a few answers.

The Stanley Cup is named after a Lord as it's full name is Lord Stanley's Cup. If you want to know why, well, you will have to do that research as I never have. All I know is Lord Stanley's Cup sounds a lot better than The Lombardi Trophy, The Sprint Cup, The BCS trophy, or any other trophy in sports.

The Stanley Cup is often referred to as being "hoisted" by the winning team. It is tradition for members of the winning team to "hoist" the Stanley Cup. Can you name any other trophy that has a traditional action reference with it? Sorry, but the closest I can get is the milk drinking at the Indy 500 or kissing the bricks at the brickyard and neither of those are as catchy as "hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup".

The Stanley Cup is literally handled with white gloves until it is presented to the winning team. To the best of my knowledge, there is not another trophy treated with such respect and class. Once the Stanley Cup Finals reaches what could be a deciding game, you will hear the statement that the Stanley Cup is in the house as a television shot of the trophy being in the arena is given.

The winners actually drink champagne from the Stanley Cup. Another great reference you will hear when discussing who will win the NHL championship is who will drink from Lord Stanley's Cup.

All of the names of the players on all of the winning teams have been engraved on the Stanley Cup. Apparently, as they run out of space they add another ring to the Cup. Next time you see it, look closely and you will see the engravings.

During the off season, each individual of the Stanley Cup Champion team gets to keep the Stanley Cup for a day. They can do whatever they want with it, and if I understand it correctly, the Cup is sent to their home.

There are bigger trophies. There are more beautiful trophies. There are older trophies. But there are none with more tradition, more class, or more personality than Lord Stanley's Cup!

Coming Soon, Why The Stanley Cup Is The Best Trophy In All of Sports - Stay Tuned!

When Will Favre Show Up As A VIking You Ask, I Can Answer That For You!

Well, Well, Well, Brett Favre recently had surgery to fix his right biceps tendon. Surely, you weren't surprised by this. You have believed me when I have told you that if he is healthy he will be a Viking in 09', haven't you? Here is something else you can believe me about, when Brett Favre will finally show up in Minnesota.

Seems that several media people are speculating about the Vikings giving Favre a deadline to give them an answer. Well, I believe the answer has already been given. The plan is in place and is completely on schedule. The Vikings already know he is coming and you should too. The deadline does not exist because the Vikings already know his reporting date.

Brett Favre hates off season team activities. He has for several years and has refused to participate in such. This year will not be any different. I believe the Vikings have four more scheduled OTA's (off season team activities). Favre will not participate in any. He may physically show up at the last one to meet and greet, as well as, grab a playbook but that is it.

Now that you know how bad Favre hates OTA's, you can do the math on his rehab from surgery to calculate his arrival date for his actual first physical practice with the Norwegian Seaman. Reports indicate that his rehab will be four to six weeks. That would put him healthy near the end of July. Well, whatta you know, training camp opens around the end of July. See, Brett, planned this all out. He waited to have the surgery this late so he would not be physically able to perform in the OTA's but be ready for the start of training camp. Sometimes, 2 + 2 still = 4, and besides it is still Brett's world and everyone else in it worships him, right?

So the next time someone is talking about Favre and is it or is it not going to happen with the Vikes? Go ahead and put it out there, sure it is going to happen and both Brett and Vikes have known the plan for a while now. Brett will show up at training camp for his first physical practice, and remember, this won't be about him coming back. This is about a good team who wants and needs him for a Super Bowl run. Well, at least in Brett's mind he believes everyone thinks he is coming back to help the Vikes. What Brett doesn't realize is that almost everyone knows what is on Brett's mind is Brett!

Hype Around Tom Brady Way Too Soon!

I picked up the Sports Illustrated for the Week of May 25, 2009 and could not believe who was on the cover. The NBA playoffs are in the Conference Finals and both series have been good. Was Lebron, Kobe, or Dwight on the cover? NO. Baseball is starting to get into full swing. Any baseball players on the cover? Uh, NO. The Indy 500 was this past weekend. Was the winner on the cover? NO. Believe it or not, in the dead zone of the NFL off season (after the draft and before training camp), a football player who played only 15 plays last season was on the cover. Thomas Edward Brady, the quarterback of the New England Patriots, or as I like to call them The 'Triots (Tree-otts).

Most of you think, Brady is McGaw "The Hater's" favorite athlete. What none of you really know is that Maria Sharapova is my favorite athlete. You figure it out. As much as I pull for Tom, I could not understand how or why he would be on the cover of SI for this week? NFL Preview issue, sure. As training camp opens, after the NBA and NHL, middle of baseball season, sure. But now? It is absolutely ridiculous! The article was great but it should have waited at least another month.

The article, I believe written by Peter King, talked about how good Brady felt and how he was on schedule to start training camp at 100%. Brady claims he has no limitations from his surgically repaired knee. He has no pain running, cutting, or stepping into throws. In fact, Brady has already been working out with all of his receivers as the team has been putting in new pass plays. Well, as any Brady fan, I am thrilled BUT as Santa says to the reindeer every Christmas Eve, "we gotta long way to go"!

Sure, it is great that Brady feels as well as he does but the real tests will come later. During two a day practices, after being on his feet for several hours and running several wind sprints, will the knee swell up? How long will it take for the knee to recover from any stiffness, as it recovers from those grueling long practices? In addition, several players who have had torn ACL's have shown that they were not completely healed and at 100% until approximately 18 months after the surgery, which would be April of 2010 for Brady.

However, McGaw "The Hater" doesn't really worry about the physical rehab for Brady. Brady is one of the fiercest competitors in all of sports. He will be in the best physical condition possible, as far as rehabbing the knee. McGaw "The Hater" worries about the mental rehab. How will Brady react when he is in the pocket, bodies crashing all around him, as he steps forward to unleash a pass, and someone falls right at his feet? Remember, Brady's knee was shredded as he stepped forward to throw and a defenders' head hit his left knee. When bodies land at his feet will he see them and flinch? Will it cause his accuracy to be just a little off? In addition, he has only played 15 plays in live game action since February 2008, that's 15 months? Can you say rusty?

Brady is great, one of the best of all time but he is no where close, physically or mentally, to being the quarterback who threw 50 TD passes in 2007. He is only "getting there". After he goes through training camp without any complications or set backs, he will be a little more confident. Until he takes his first hit on that knee, he will always have the question is it going to hold up? If Brady doesn't suffer any set backs in preseason games, when real defenders are trying to take his head off, he will build a little more physical and mental confidence.

But no one will know, including Brady, how good his knee and mental edge are until he gets to Week 1 of the 2009 NFL season against the Buffalo Bills. No more red "do not touch jersey" of practice. No more bland, basic defensive schemes of preseason while playing only a quarter or two. The first team defense of the Bills will be coming full bore trying to not only rip Brady's head off but his knee apart also. McGaw "The Hater" even expects the Triots to ease Brady back into the saddle in that game by running the football more. So it could be the second or third or even fourth game of the 2009 season before Brady is close to being what he once was. Everyone around Brady may be upbeat in the third week of May about his condition, but until Brady takes some hits in the pocket during a real NFL game and still delivers the ball with pin point accuracy, McGaw "The Hater" will refer to his status as "getting there"! And Sports Illustrated, along with everyone else, should also!

Top Ten NFL Receiving Corps in History, Are You Kidding Me?

Memorial Day morning I awoke to put my television on NFL Network. The current program was "The Top Ten Receiving Corps in NFL History". Having seen several other such countdown or ranking shows, I thought here is one I haven't seen and since I cannot stomach the "sugarcoated we will teach you everything about life" morning shows on the major networks, I will view this and of course develop my own opinion.

I picked the show up at number 2, better late than never. Before advancing to their number 1 receiving corp of all time, the others were reviewed from number 10 down to number 2. As I watched, I tried to determine who would be their number 1 and who was my number 1. Groups such as the Chargers of Joiner, Jefferson, and Winslow; the Steelers with Swann and Stallworth; the 49ers with Rice and Taylor; and even the current Patriots with Moss and Welker came to my mind as possible candidates for the list. Back to the show, #10 was the Colts with Harrison and Wayne; between #9 and #3, but not in order, were groups that include the 70's Raiders of Biletnikoff, Branch, and Casper; the Marks brothers of the Dolphins with Marino - Duper and Clayton; and the Vikings of the 90's with Moss, Carter, and Reed. #3 was the 49ers of the 80's with Rice, Taylor, Jones, and Craig. #2 was the Rams "Greatest Show on Turf" with Bruce, Holt, and Faulk. #1 was the Chargers of the 80's with Jefferson, Joiner, and Winslow.

Amazingly at first I didn't have any problems with the list. All of those mentioned are reasonable, I may have them order slightly different, but they are reasonable. Then all of a sudden it hit me like a John Elway bullet pass in the side of the head. WHERE ARE SWANN AND STALLWORTH? I HATED THE STEELERS OF THE 70'S AND PRETTY MUCH STILL HATE THEM TODAY, BUT, WHERE ARE SWANN AND STALLWORTH? I TELL YOU WHERE THEY ARE, A LITTLE TOWN CALLED CANTON AT A BUILDING YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF KNOWN AS THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME - BOTH OF THEM ARE THERE!

Swann and Stallworth were not on the list. How? They helped there teams win 4 Super Bowls. They were key components in those Super Bowl teams making big plays when games were on the line. And they aren't good enough to be in the Top 10? Whichever of the so called "experts" left them off this list should have their so called "expert" card revoked and shredded and be forced to write about food for a year.

Sure, some of the groups listed are in the conversation and can be argued to be better than Swann and Stallworth but some aren't even close. I don't even want to hear that other groups had better tight ends or running backs as receivers. Swann and Stallworth were good enough on their own to out play some of these groups with their tight ends and running backs. Especially Duper and Clayton of the Dolphins. If Marino had Swann and Stallworth he would have thrown for 6,000 yards in '84 instead of the still standing NFL record of 5,024 (+ or - a few). The Rams with the "Greatest Show on Turf" were great but for a short period. Swann and Stallworth were more successful, had several more productive years together, were more durable, and in my opinion based on the "eye ball test" of watching were flat out just better. The Vikings of Moss, Carter, and Reed, again great but for a short period and not nearly as successful as Swann and Stallworth. Even as great as the Chargers with Jefferson, Joiner, and Winslow were, the argument can be made that they were not nearly as successful as Swann and Stallworth. Swann and Stallworth got 4 rings. The last two groups mentioned got 0 rings in their entire careers combined.

You can make an argument for a lot of receiving corps as to which was the best in NFL history. The criteria for such ranking can vary with each person. However, please don't embarrass yourself by leaving out a group that includes two primary receivers who are both Hall of Famers with 4 Super Bowl rings each. In fact, show that you have at least a little knowledge about the NFL by making sure they are in your Top 5 of all time.

You have to be kidding me, Swann and Stallworth did not make the NFL Network's Top 10 receiving corps in NFL history? What's next? Elvis couldn't really sing, he was just a flash in the pan driven by media hype?

Patrick Ewing - SHUT UP!

Let's take a break from the NFL to torch and totally roast a former pro athlete for making a stupid, a very stupid statement. How long has it been since Patrick Ewing actually mattered as a player in the NBA? If you are basing it on championship rings, he has never mattered. I will not go that far as I do respect the outstanding career Patrick had in the NBA. Well, all of that work that Pat did from Georgetown through the NBA will never equal the stupidity he demonstrated in the off days before the game 7 between the Magic and Celtics.

Patrick is now an assistant coach, that is an "ASSISTANT" coach for the Orlando Magic. Pat has been an NBA assistant for a few years now. He has the same number of years experience as an NBA head coach as he does NBA and NCAA championship rings - 0. The Magic are in the middle of a grueling 7 game series with the NBA defending champion Celtics, as they try to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics, who I have and always will hate, have the heart of a champion and are playing wounded without Kevin Garnett. The Magic should have already won this series, but in game 5 leading by 10 points with 5 minutes to play, they choked getting outscored something like 17 - 4 to lose. The Magic came back home to win Game 6 and force a 7th and deciding game in Boston.

So let's evaluate, a YOUNG Orlando Magic team is trying to defeat the defending NBA Champion veteran Celtics ON THE ROAD AT BOSTON'S HOME COURT without the Celtics best player which has caused all of the other Celtics to play even harder. That is a pretty tall order. Well, ASSISTANT coach Patrick Ewing thought he would pull a great coaching maneuver. This young team needs some motivation, some fire, right? ASSISTANT coach Patrick Ewing, who has not been a relevant player in the NBA for years now, comes out and GUARANTEES THE MAGIC WILL WIN! HUH? HE DID WHAT? NO, HE DIDN'T?

How can a Patrick Ewing, no longer playing but assistant coaching, get involved in trash talk through the media when he is not an impacting player or head coach? What was he thinking? Maybe he was thinking this will be too easy for Dwight Howard and the boys, I don't want them to overlook the Celtics so I will give them a challenge. Hey Pat, the Celtics on the road, without Garnett, after the Magic have already choked a for sure win there is ENOUGH OF A CHALLENGE! He doesn't have one NBA championship ring. He couldn't back up trash talk against the very elite NBA players at the peak of his playing career. DID HE REALLY THINK HE WAS JOE NAMATH? Joe Namath was actually PLAYING in Super Bowl III, Patrick!

Patrick Ewing, two suggestions - 1) at least be a head coach before you flatten the tires on your players wheelbarrows that are already loaded with 3 tons of cement....2) SHUT UP - YOU DON'T PLAY ANY MORE!

2009 NFL Season a "Different" Season for Peyton

As the 2009 NFL Season approaches, everyone is looking at the rookies who were recently drafted, the schedules that were recently released, and of course, the fact that Bret FAV-REE (that is how his name should be pronounced) is still possibly playing. I direct you to a very subtle change that could have a significant impact and may have no impact at all. Regardless, for a serious NFL fan this should be on the radar as a notable situation to monitor.

Several NFL assistant coaches have considered retirement recently, because the coaches pension is no longer being handled by the NFL but has been given to the individual teams. Many coaches are apparently worried that this could cause a significant impact to their pension benefits, as there is not a union for NFL coaches. Rather than risk losing benefits, some NFL coaches, especially older ones, have opted to retire immediately. This has created a "possibly developing situation" with the Indianapolis Young Male Horses and Peyton Manning.

Peyton has had a Hall Fame career and most likely nothing will change this season barring injury. However, there are some significant pieces missing from Peyton's team as they enter the '09 campaign. First, as you all know by now, Tony Dungy retired at the end of '08. Although his replacement was on staff and hand picked by Dungy, he (I believe it is Jim Caldwell) is a first year head coach with absolutely no experience as a head coach. It will be interesting to see not only how he performs but how Peyton interacts with him if Peyton should disagree with some of his decisions, strategies. or coaching styles. Dungy was a respected head coach before Peyton became a Hall Fame player so the respect was in place when Dungy was hired. Peyton may know this coach well, but respect is earned at EACH coaching position. Should the new coach struggle and Peyton disagree with him, how high will the Peyton "FRUSTRATION-Meter" read? Could it have am impact on Peyton and the team? We all remember the Peyton "FRUSTRATION-Meter" after the Steelers beat them in January of '06, the emphamis how did Roethlisberger tackle that defensive back returning Bettis' fumble divisional playoff game. Peyton torched his offensive line with the quote to the media of "We had protection issues". Also, how many times have we seen the "FRUSTRATION-Meter" soar with the shaking head, frown, and throwing up of the hands as Petyon walks off the field?

Dungy retired to pursue other very admirable interests in life. However, two very important assistant coaches have now decided to retire in the early weeks of May due to the pension issues. Offensive coordinator, Tom Moore, and offensive line coach, Howard Mudd announced their retirement effective immediately. Sure, Peyton does not need an offensive coordinator but Tom Moore is the ONLY, that's right, ONLY offensive coordinator that Peyton has ever had in his NFL career. Howard Mudd is considered a legendary offensive line coach. Peyton has almost always had outstanding line protection, as any quarterback has to have to be successful. Both of these coaches have been referred to by many executives, coaches, players, and media personnel as great, influential coaches. Peyton is a coach on the field, no doubt. But it will definitely be worth watching how the loss of these two coaches will impact his team and his performance. Will the protection be as good? Will the offensive scheme be as open and imaginative? Will the discipline and the execution of the offense be the same?

Finally, another small but dependable piece is also missing for the first time in Peyton's NFL career, Marvin Harrison. Marvin has been a shell of himself since injuring his knee two seasons ago. Reggie Wayne is now the go to receiver while Anthony Gonzalez and Dallas Clark are outstanding. But Peyton shared a chemistry with Harrison that will never be duplicated. Peyton has thrown more TD passes to Harrison than any QB to WR tandem in the history of the NFL. They worked so hard and flawlessly together that they knew what each other was thinking in every situation. Harrison had to be some sort of security for all of those games, if Peyton ever needed any security. Peyton had great confidence in Harrison not only from a physical point of catching the ball but from a mental stand point of reading the defense and knowing where the weak points were and being on the same page as Peyton.

Peyton Manning's career speaks for itself. He has been great. Currently, I have him as the 4th greatest quarterback of my lifetime (first memory Super Bowl 6) behind Montana, Elway, Brady (feel free to make your own rankings of any QB's). It is very hard for one not to think that losing your head coach, only offensive coordinator you have ever had, great offensive line coach, and favorite receiver of your career would not have an impact on your play and your team. Most likely, Peyton will perform as he always has or maybe even better. If Peyton does perform even better his legend should grow after losing all of the people listed above. However, if Peyton "just doesn't quite look right or like himself" or if you start to hear the whispers "Peyton is getting old, his skills are diminishing", well, it may not be all Peyton. It could be what or who Peyton lost this off season.

P.S. After drafting RB Donald Brown in the first round this year, the Young Male Horses have now provided Peyton, during his entire NFL career, with 9 first round draft picks that are or were skill position players for his assistance - RB, WR, TE. The list includes Marvin Harrison, Edgerrin James, and Dallas Clark to name a few. Feel free to research the others yourself.