MORE FALLOUT FROM COLTS & RED RAIDERS
Fired up the old Commodore 64 again to get some new info online this morning, the P.C. is still hurting. We worked on it till 2 AM with limited success, hopefully today will bring better results.
The fallout from the Colts' loss on Sunday to the Jets is extensive & some of it is just plain ridiculous. GM Bill Polian pulled the plug on his radio show Monday afternoon about 10 minutes before it was scheduled to end. A caller had him so twisted into a knot, he just walked away, leaving dead air until station personnel could cue up nearly 10 minutes worth of commercials. The fan was trying to make Polian understand the difference between resting players in a meaningless game & pulling start players in a close game when you have an undefeated season about 5 quarters down the road. Apparently Polian did understand his caller's point, he just didn't want to say so on the air, so he walked away. Indianapolis city councilman Berut SerVaas, is attempting to find out if the council could pass legislation requiring the Colts to refund the ticket prices for everyone in attendance Sunday. The Republican has been on the council for 41-years & he's just full of good ideas isn't he? Another Republican, Ryan Vaughn, thought to be the next council president & a Colts season ticket holder, said "I was just as unhappy with their decision Sunday as anyone, but honestly, don't we have better things to do with our time than this?" The "Colts Fan Forum", an online message board run by the club on it's website, has told fans, thru the site's moderator, to stop this "complaining & negative posting, just move on." Sort of reminds me of people in Washington who will tell you in no uncertain terms to get off a subject if it doesn't agree with their agenda. Makes no difference if you want to talk about it, "stop talking about it now." By doing this it only inflames the really disgruntled fans & keeps those who might be straddling the fence right in the discussion, because no one likes to be told what to do by an entity that is supported by your cash.
I forgot to mention yesterday how pleased I was the Larry Johnson didn't do squat against Kansas City Sunday. After a 9-yard reception, Johnson was smacked along the sideline by DeMarrio Williams. Johnson popped up, shoving & shouting only to be corralled by head coach Marvin Lewis, who pushed Johnson way back from the sideline. He didn't make it onto the field again after that episode. Oh yeah, LJ amassed 11 rushing yards to go with his 9 yards receiving, so much for "rolling over the Chiefs" as Johnson had promised the week after his release from the Chiefs. I don't see him in football next year, he won't play special teams, carries way too much baggage both legally & attitude-wise, plus he can't make anybody miss at this point in his career.
The Eagles lost center Jamaal Jackson for the rest of the season with a torn knee ligament. Backup Nick Cole will be working extensively with Donovan McNabb this week to get each snap just the way McNabb likes it. The Eagles run out of the shotgun formation over 90% of the time, so snapping it exactly when McNabb wants it is vitally important. Cole hasn't played with McNabb much before last Sunday & it showed, Donovan was left waving his hands frantically wanting Cole to snap the ball on time.
The Monday night game was an overtime thriller. Brett Favre led the Vikings downfield at the end of regulation, throwing a 9-yard touchdown to a leaping Sidney Rice with less than 20 seconds left to tie the game. Minnesota should have won the game but in the 1st half the Vikes missed a point after attempt. Favre chewed up the Bears Cover-2 defensive scheme, but they couldn't overcome Adrian Peterson's fumble at their own 39-yardline in the overtime. Bears' QB Jay Cutler, having his best game of the season, went up top to Devin Aromashodu on the 1st play after the fumble for his 4th TD pass, winning it for the Bears. I have to say the Vikings ought to be very concerned with their 3-game losing skid. Their offensive line isn't protecting Favre like it did early on this season. Although they were able to run the ball somewhat last night, in their previous 3 games, they couldn't. Teams are starting to out-quick the massive line of the Vikings. The whole defensive line slants right or left into the gaps against the Vikings & they haven't had an answer for it. Jared Allen has become almost invisible, only 1 sack & less than 10 total tackles in the last 4 games. Second year offensive tackle Chris Williams did a solid job against Allen last night, holding him to just 2 tackles. The loss of E.J. Henderson at middle linebacker has really hurt their defense as the only backup not injured or suspended right now is rookie Jasper Brinkley. I was high on Brinkley coming out of S. Carolina, but he gets caught out of position too often in the passing game. Normally he wouldn't be on the field on obvious passing downs, but they don't have anyone to cover in that spot, so he's it. He was left in the dust on a touchdown pass to TE Desmond Clark. Veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield forces the run as well as any corner in the league, he's a tough, sure tackler. But at his age, receivers are starting to blow by him with alarming regularity. Aromashodu ran right past Winfield for the winning score in overtime. The Vikes are undefeated at home, so I might concede one playoff victory, but I think they have too many defensive ills, pass protection issues & ball security problems to go much further. Regardless of how well the 40-year old Favre plays.
I don't think the mess in Lubbock is going to end well. It has been reported by several Texas newspapers coach Mike Leach was given 5 days to apologize to wide receiver Adam James(son of ESPN's Craig James) & Leach refused. When the 5 days expired the university suspended him. Leach told a Lubbock reporter that "James was a slacker & his father was always calling & acting like a little league dad." I imagine James will have to be replaced on the Alamo Bowl telecast considering what has transpired between the James' family & Leach. There's speculation down in the Lone Star State that James is interested in politics, so backing down here isn't likely. Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeil will replace Leach this week to prepare for Saturday's game. Leach has always been a quirky guy, one who is respected for his "mad football genius", but somewhat annoying to many of the alums. I don't see Leach apologizing, he is truly his own man, regardless of the consequences. Two big problems in this story, Leach had recruited what Rivals.com has called the 24th best recruiting class in the nation. If Leach isn't at Tech, how many of these kids will go elsewhere? Secondly, where does Mike Leach go? Before he came to Lubbock, Tech had only been to 11 bowls games in the school's history, since his 1999 arrival, they've had 10 bowl invites. Lubbock isn't a destination campus, it's not near anything, it isn't considered a cool place by most people that have been there. Leach has been successful recruiting because kids want to play in his offense, it's fun, it's exciting & the Red Raiders win way more than they lose in a highly visible conference. I just don't think this mess will be resolved in a way all sides can save face. Leach doesn't appear to be a person who would compromise his beliefs & kiss some ass to save his job. I don't believe he'll hang the recruiting class over the Tech administration, but I don't see him ever apologizing. I hope I'm dead wrong, Leach is such a colorful character, I'd hate to see him move on because of this incident.
I'm going back to bed, still feeling crappy plus the hamster turning the wheel to power this exotic computing device is going on strike if I don't give him a break. There might be another update this evening, but no play on either bowl game.
The fallout from the Colts' loss on Sunday to the Jets is extensive & some of it is just plain ridiculous. GM Bill Polian pulled the plug on his radio show Monday afternoon about 10 minutes before it was scheduled to end. A caller had him so twisted into a knot, he just walked away, leaving dead air until station personnel could cue up nearly 10 minutes worth of commercials. The fan was trying to make Polian understand the difference between resting players in a meaningless game & pulling start players in a close game when you have an undefeated season about 5 quarters down the road. Apparently Polian did understand his caller's point, he just didn't want to say so on the air, so he walked away. Indianapolis city councilman Berut SerVaas, is attempting to find out if the council could pass legislation requiring the Colts to refund the ticket prices for everyone in attendance Sunday. The Republican has been on the council for 41-years & he's just full of good ideas isn't he? Another Republican, Ryan Vaughn, thought to be the next council president & a Colts season ticket holder, said "I was just as unhappy with their decision Sunday as anyone, but honestly, don't we have better things to do with our time than this?" The "Colts Fan Forum", an online message board run by the club on it's website, has told fans, thru the site's moderator, to stop this "complaining & negative posting, just move on." Sort of reminds me of people in Washington who will tell you in no uncertain terms to get off a subject if it doesn't agree with their agenda. Makes no difference if you want to talk about it, "stop talking about it now." By doing this it only inflames the really disgruntled fans & keeps those who might be straddling the fence right in the discussion, because no one likes to be told what to do by an entity that is supported by your cash.
I forgot to mention yesterday how pleased I was the Larry Johnson didn't do squat against Kansas City Sunday. After a 9-yard reception, Johnson was smacked along the sideline by DeMarrio Williams. Johnson popped up, shoving & shouting only to be corralled by head coach Marvin Lewis, who pushed Johnson way back from the sideline. He didn't make it onto the field again after that episode. Oh yeah, LJ amassed 11 rushing yards to go with his 9 yards receiving, so much for "rolling over the Chiefs" as Johnson had promised the week after his release from the Chiefs. I don't see him in football next year, he won't play special teams, carries way too much baggage both legally & attitude-wise, plus he can't make anybody miss at this point in his career.
The Eagles lost center Jamaal Jackson for the rest of the season with a torn knee ligament. Backup Nick Cole will be working extensively with Donovan McNabb this week to get each snap just the way McNabb likes it. The Eagles run out of the shotgun formation over 90% of the time, so snapping it exactly when McNabb wants it is vitally important. Cole hasn't played with McNabb much before last Sunday & it showed, Donovan was left waving his hands frantically wanting Cole to snap the ball on time.
The Monday night game was an overtime thriller. Brett Favre led the Vikings downfield at the end of regulation, throwing a 9-yard touchdown to a leaping Sidney Rice with less than 20 seconds left to tie the game. Minnesota should have won the game but in the 1st half the Vikes missed a point after attempt. Favre chewed up the Bears Cover-2 defensive scheme, but they couldn't overcome Adrian Peterson's fumble at their own 39-yardline in the overtime. Bears' QB Jay Cutler, having his best game of the season, went up top to Devin Aromashodu on the 1st play after the fumble for his 4th TD pass, winning it for the Bears. I have to say the Vikings ought to be very concerned with their 3-game losing skid. Their offensive line isn't protecting Favre like it did early on this season. Although they were able to run the ball somewhat last night, in their previous 3 games, they couldn't. Teams are starting to out-quick the massive line of the Vikings. The whole defensive line slants right or left into the gaps against the Vikings & they haven't had an answer for it. Jared Allen has become almost invisible, only 1 sack & less than 10 total tackles in the last 4 games. Second year offensive tackle Chris Williams did a solid job against Allen last night, holding him to just 2 tackles. The loss of E.J. Henderson at middle linebacker has really hurt their defense as the only backup not injured or suspended right now is rookie Jasper Brinkley. I was high on Brinkley coming out of S. Carolina, but he gets caught out of position too often in the passing game. Normally he wouldn't be on the field on obvious passing downs, but they don't have anyone to cover in that spot, so he's it. He was left in the dust on a touchdown pass to TE Desmond Clark. Veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield forces the run as well as any corner in the league, he's a tough, sure tackler. But at his age, receivers are starting to blow by him with alarming regularity. Aromashodu ran right past Winfield for the winning score in overtime. The Vikes are undefeated at home, so I might concede one playoff victory, but I think they have too many defensive ills, pass protection issues & ball security problems to go much further. Regardless of how well the 40-year old Favre plays.
I don't think the mess in Lubbock is going to end well. It has been reported by several Texas newspapers coach Mike Leach was given 5 days to apologize to wide receiver Adam James(son of ESPN's Craig James) & Leach refused. When the 5 days expired the university suspended him. Leach told a Lubbock reporter that "James was a slacker & his father was always calling & acting like a little league dad." I imagine James will have to be replaced on the Alamo Bowl telecast considering what has transpired between the James' family & Leach. There's speculation down in the Lone Star State that James is interested in politics, so backing down here isn't likely. Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeil will replace Leach this week to prepare for Saturday's game. Leach has always been a quirky guy, one who is respected for his "mad football genius", but somewhat annoying to many of the alums. I don't see Leach apologizing, he is truly his own man, regardless of the consequences. Two big problems in this story, Leach had recruited what Rivals.com has called the 24th best recruiting class in the nation. If Leach isn't at Tech, how many of these kids will go elsewhere? Secondly, where does Mike Leach go? Before he came to Lubbock, Tech had only been to 11 bowls games in the school's history, since his 1999 arrival, they've had 10 bowl invites. Lubbock isn't a destination campus, it's not near anything, it isn't considered a cool place by most people that have been there. Leach has been successful recruiting because kids want to play in his offense, it's fun, it's exciting & the Red Raiders win way more than they lose in a highly visible conference. I just don't think this mess will be resolved in a way all sides can save face. Leach doesn't appear to be a person who would compromise his beliefs & kiss some ass to save his job. I don't believe he'll hang the recruiting class over the Tech administration, but I don't see him ever apologizing. I hope I'm dead wrong, Leach is such a colorful character, I'd hate to see him move on because of this incident.
I'm going back to bed, still feeling crappy plus the hamster turning the wheel to power this exotic computing device is going on strike if I don't give him a break. There might be another update this evening, but no play on either bowl game.
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