POLLS ARE %$@!&, MAJOR COLLEGE INJURIES, NIKE TO REPLACE REEBOK-UGH, DANARIO GETS HIS SHOT & WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE SAINTS?
College football is driven by polls, they account for two-thirds of the BCS total score but they continue to baffle me with their biased stupidity. Let me explain. Alabama lost by 2 touchdowns to South Carolina & they fell from first to #8 in every poll. It's hard to rank Bama ahead of South Carolina, the very team that beat them, but the Gamecocks are ranked between #10 & #12 in the polls. SC has only one loss just like Alabama, their loss coming at #7 Auburn by 8 points. Confused? I certainly am. Wait there's more. Boise State beat Toledo 57-13 & lost poll points to both Ohio State & Oregon this week. OSU beat hapless Indiana by 28 & Oregon struggled for a while before beating Washington State 43-23. The same Washington State team that has won all of 3 games in the last three seasons. The four computer rankings that the BCS uses all ranked Toledo, on average, 20-spots higher than Indiana & 43-spots ahead of Washington State. Let's take this a step further, TCU whipped Wyoming 45-0. Wyoming is also ranked ahead of both Indiana & Washington State but TCU also lost ranking points in both polls to Ohio State & Oregon. Do you see a pattern here? One more to point out is 6-0 Nevada, currently ranked 19th, 20th & 21st in the polls, beat BYU in Provo by 14 & everyone else on their schedule by 21 or more. That includes a 52-31 beatdown of the Cal Bears, who have beaten everyone on their schedule by huge margins except then #9 Arizona who they lost to 10-9 in Tucson. What is hurting Nevada more than anything is the fact 5 of their 6 games have kicked off at 9 PM Eastern time or later. More of the same this week as they travel to Hawaii. The football media as well as the coaches vote for the established football powers regardless of what the facts are. They, like the BCS, don't want Boise, TCU or even Nevada in the conversation come bowl bid time. But are they happy with the horrific ACC & Big East & their automatic BCS bids? Like Boise State coach Chris Peterson said after their win on Saturday night "You say Alabama lost? We'll probably slip five spots in the polls." Sarcastic but not far off the mark.
Alabama lost more than the number one ranking, they lost All-American WR Julio Jones for at least two games with a broken hand. He underwent surgery yesterday morning & hopes to return in three weeks after games with Ole Miss, Tennessee & their bye week for the LSU game. The Crimson Tide will also be without starting right tackle D.J. Fluker with a groin injury for at least the next two weeks. Oregon State lost WR James Rodgers for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. If you watched their win at Arizona, you saw what a gross-out the injury was when it happened. Rodgers is a senior who hasn't used his redshirt yet so the Beavers will petition the PAC-10 for a medical waiver allowing him to return next season. Rodgers is a decent little wide receiver but he's one of the most dangerous punt returners in the nation, currently averaging 18.3 yards per return. Houston will also apply for a medical waiver for QB Case Keenum who tore his ACL in a game against UCLA. He is close to breaking every single major passing record the NCAA keeps track of & he wants to return to the Cougars next season. Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph, ranked as the best senior NFL prospect at his position, will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his hamstring away from the bone on Saturday. He'll undergo surgery later this week & faces a 6-month rehab before he can workout for NFL scouts. Mizzou's Blaine Gabbert sustained a right hip pointer in the Tigers 26-0 win against Colorado Saturday night. He is moving fine according to coach Gary Pinkel & will start this Saturday at Texas A&M. The news on pass rush phenom Aldon Smith isn't as good. Pinkel said he was still doubtful, recovering from a fractured tibia.
Georgia running back Caleb King became the latest player suspended two games by coach Mark Richt for off the field issues. He was ticketed for speeding back in August, going 76 in a 55. Well King missed his court date & a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. Once again the culture of no accountability rears it's ugly head.
In other disciplinary moves, UCLA has suspended 6 players, yet to be named, for the October 23rd game at Oregon. The offense wasn't revealed yet either.
Wisconsin's Bret Bielema & Minnesota's Tim Brewster won't be having beers together anytime soon. The Badgers smoked Brewster's Gophers last Saturday 41-23. Leading 41-16 with 6:39 left in the game, Bielema went for a 2-point conversion citing his 2-point chart as the reason. Some coaches, lame ones like Bielema, keep these charts on the sidelines & refer to them when in doubt about when is the right time to go for a 2-point conversion. Honestly, this is a common sense kind of deal. But when you don't possess common sense you go to the chart. Common sense would dictate just kicking the PAT leading by 25 to a far inferior opponent. But to hell with sportsmanship, to hell with class, I've got no common sense, so what does the chart say I should do? Being clueless isn't a crime, but it does expose your character flaws. Brewster made a huge deal of it after the game, but it was a case of changing the subject from his pitiful 1-5 start IMO. If Brewster had a record of running the score up on opponents, I'd say good for Bielema, but Minnesota doesn't run up the score on anybody, they're just thrilled to win by any margin. By the way, they've lost 11 straight to the Badgers, so revenge can't be a motive, I just think Bielema is a clueless clod.
Here's some potentially bad news. Nike will replace Reebok as the NFL's primary clothing provider. Reebok has been in control of NFL uniforms for over 10-years, but no more. If you've seen the Oregon Ducks & the hideous combinations they play in every Saturday, be afraid, be very afraid. A Nike spokesman said today "we plan to change the NFL jersey dramatically just like we've done with the college program." Sorry, but I don't like this move.
On the NFL injury front Denver & Green Bay suffered too many last Sunday. Denver will lose OLB Robert Ayers for a minimum 6 weeks after foot surgery to repair two fractures. Safety Brian Dawkins will be out for 2-3 weeks with a knee strain. Nickel cornerback Darcel McBath sustained a high ankle sprain & will miss 3-5 weeks. Backup OLB & special teams terror Wesley Woodward will miss 2-3 weeks with a hamstring pull. I documented Green Bay's injury list yesterday, extensive as it is. The Jets' Darrelle Revis, who returned last night to action after missing two games with a sore hamstring, was noticeably limping today & coach Rex Ryan said he was doubtful for their trip to Denver this week. Vikings starting right cornerback Cedric Griffin might miss the rest of the season after injuring his knee last night. Brett Favre has tendonitus in his right elbow. It was obviously hurting him last night. Right now, that's the least of Favre's problems as I see it.
Favre threw his 500th touchdown pass in the third quarter to a streaking Randy Moss in the endzone. He later threw #'s 501 & 502 to Percy Harvin before missing a wide open Harvin on a pass that could have set up a winning field goal. On the next snap, he threw a pick-six, sealing the game for New York. Afterward, Favre was asked about his tearful pregame apology to his teammates & he responded "that's between me & my teammates, or at least most of them." Referring to kicker Ryan Longwell, who spilled the story to Michelle Tafoya before the game. He refused to answer any questions about the Jenn Sterger mess. The fact Favre hasn't denied any of the stories is telling. He should have stayed retired.
Charger left tackle Marcus McNeill signed a 5-year contract extension after holding out since before training camp. He will return to the starting lineup on October 24th.
Tim Hasselback said last night the increase in QB fumbles in the past two weeks is directly tied to the Breast Cancer Awareness footballs the NFL is using in the month of October. The pink ribbon on the balls, as well as the balls themselves are "slicker than the balls used before." Keep an eye out, the balls will be used another three weeks.
Danario Alexander is getting his chance, one he richly deserves after battling back from numerous injuries & multiple surgeries, as he was signed off the Rams practice squad by St. Louis. Alexander was even given a signing bonus of $36,000, equivalent to a 7th round draft pick. Most practice squad players earn $5,200 a week, which is great money by any standard, but as an active player, that pay increases significantly to over $22,000 a week. With John Avery & Mark Clayton going on I.R. with knee injuries, it opened the door for Alexander. I hope he & Sam Bradford can play pitch & catch for many years in St. Louis. Alexander fell from a 2nd round prospect, while leading the nation in receiving yards last season at Mizzou, to an undrafted free agent who wasn't signed until September, he never gave up & now he get's his shot.
Alexander in his last Big-12 game, beating Kansas in the Border War Game
The Saints are experiencing typical Super Bowl hangover. New Orleans is circled on everyone's schedule as the game you want to win, beat the champs. Some players experience a slight letdown as they have reached the pinnacle, achieved their dream. They play a difficult schedule, get a couple of injuries & boom, you're 3-2. It's goes deeper than that, the Saints are rushing the ball less & for a lesser average, like a full yard less. Their defense which led the NFL in takeaways in '09 & converted a high percentage of them into points, isn't getting the turnovers in big numbers this year. Darren Sharper led the league in interceptions last year, he has none in 2010, still rehabbing from a knee operation in the off-season. Those short fields created by the takeaways were huge as were short fields created by the special teams. With Reggie Bush on the shelf, that's no longer an advantage for the Saints. I predicted the Falcons would win the NFC South, New Orleans might not even make the post-season this year, that Super Bowl hangover is a powerful thing.
Alabama lost more than the number one ranking, they lost All-American WR Julio Jones for at least two games with a broken hand. He underwent surgery yesterday morning & hopes to return in three weeks after games with Ole Miss, Tennessee & their bye week for the LSU game. The Crimson Tide will also be without starting right tackle D.J. Fluker with a groin injury for at least the next two weeks. Oregon State lost WR James Rodgers for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. If you watched their win at Arizona, you saw what a gross-out the injury was when it happened. Rodgers is a senior who hasn't used his redshirt yet so the Beavers will petition the PAC-10 for a medical waiver allowing him to return next season. Rodgers is a decent little wide receiver but he's one of the most dangerous punt returners in the nation, currently averaging 18.3 yards per return. Houston will also apply for a medical waiver for QB Case Keenum who tore his ACL in a game against UCLA. He is close to breaking every single major passing record the NCAA keeps track of & he wants to return to the Cougars next season. Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph, ranked as the best senior NFL prospect at his position, will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his hamstring away from the bone on Saturday. He'll undergo surgery later this week & faces a 6-month rehab before he can workout for NFL scouts. Mizzou's Blaine Gabbert sustained a right hip pointer in the Tigers 26-0 win against Colorado Saturday night. He is moving fine according to coach Gary Pinkel & will start this Saturday at Texas A&M. The news on pass rush phenom Aldon Smith isn't as good. Pinkel said he was still doubtful, recovering from a fractured tibia.
Georgia running back Caleb King became the latest player suspended two games by coach Mark Richt for off the field issues. He was ticketed for speeding back in August, going 76 in a 55. Well King missed his court date & a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. Once again the culture of no accountability rears it's ugly head.
In other disciplinary moves, UCLA has suspended 6 players, yet to be named, for the October 23rd game at Oregon. The offense wasn't revealed yet either.
Wisconsin's Bret Bielema & Minnesota's Tim Brewster won't be having beers together anytime soon. The Badgers smoked Brewster's Gophers last Saturday 41-23. Leading 41-16 with 6:39 left in the game, Bielema went for a 2-point conversion citing his 2-point chart as the reason. Some coaches, lame ones like Bielema, keep these charts on the sidelines & refer to them when in doubt about when is the right time to go for a 2-point conversion. Honestly, this is a common sense kind of deal. But when you don't possess common sense you go to the chart. Common sense would dictate just kicking the PAT leading by 25 to a far inferior opponent. But to hell with sportsmanship, to hell with class, I've got no common sense, so what does the chart say I should do? Being clueless isn't a crime, but it does expose your character flaws. Brewster made a huge deal of it after the game, but it was a case of changing the subject from his pitiful 1-5 start IMO. If Brewster had a record of running the score up on opponents, I'd say good for Bielema, but Minnesota doesn't run up the score on anybody, they're just thrilled to win by any margin. By the way, they've lost 11 straight to the Badgers, so revenge can't be a motive, I just think Bielema is a clueless clod.
Here's some potentially bad news. Nike will replace Reebok as the NFL's primary clothing provider. Reebok has been in control of NFL uniforms for over 10-years, but no more. If you've seen the Oregon Ducks & the hideous combinations they play in every Saturday, be afraid, be very afraid. A Nike spokesman said today "we plan to change the NFL jersey dramatically just like we've done with the college program." Sorry, but I don't like this move.
On the NFL injury front Denver & Green Bay suffered too many last Sunday. Denver will lose OLB Robert Ayers for a minimum 6 weeks after foot surgery to repair two fractures. Safety Brian Dawkins will be out for 2-3 weeks with a knee strain. Nickel cornerback Darcel McBath sustained a high ankle sprain & will miss 3-5 weeks. Backup OLB & special teams terror Wesley Woodward will miss 2-3 weeks with a hamstring pull. I documented Green Bay's injury list yesterday, extensive as it is. The Jets' Darrelle Revis, who returned last night to action after missing two games with a sore hamstring, was noticeably limping today & coach Rex Ryan said he was doubtful for their trip to Denver this week. Vikings starting right cornerback Cedric Griffin might miss the rest of the season after injuring his knee last night. Brett Favre has tendonitus in his right elbow. It was obviously hurting him last night. Right now, that's the least of Favre's problems as I see it.
Favre threw his 500th touchdown pass in the third quarter to a streaking Randy Moss in the endzone. He later threw #'s 501 & 502 to Percy Harvin before missing a wide open Harvin on a pass that could have set up a winning field goal. On the next snap, he threw a pick-six, sealing the game for New York. Afterward, Favre was asked about his tearful pregame apology to his teammates & he responded "that's between me & my teammates, or at least most of them." Referring to kicker Ryan Longwell, who spilled the story to Michelle Tafoya before the game. He refused to answer any questions about the Jenn Sterger mess. The fact Favre hasn't denied any of the stories is telling. He should have stayed retired.
Charger left tackle Marcus McNeill signed a 5-year contract extension after holding out since before training camp. He will return to the starting lineup on October 24th.
Tim Hasselback said last night the increase in QB fumbles in the past two weeks is directly tied to the Breast Cancer Awareness footballs the NFL is using in the month of October. The pink ribbon on the balls, as well as the balls themselves are "slicker than the balls used before." Keep an eye out, the balls will be used another three weeks.
Danario Alexander is getting his chance, one he richly deserves after battling back from numerous injuries & multiple surgeries, as he was signed off the Rams practice squad by St. Louis. Alexander was even given a signing bonus of $36,000, equivalent to a 7th round draft pick. Most practice squad players earn $5,200 a week, which is great money by any standard, but as an active player, that pay increases significantly to over $22,000 a week. With John Avery & Mark Clayton going on I.R. with knee injuries, it opened the door for Alexander. I hope he & Sam Bradford can play pitch & catch for many years in St. Louis. Alexander fell from a 2nd round prospect, while leading the nation in receiving yards last season at Mizzou, to an undrafted free agent who wasn't signed until September, he never gave up & now he get's his shot.
Alexander in his last Big-12 game, beating Kansas in the Border War Game
The Saints are experiencing typical Super Bowl hangover. New Orleans is circled on everyone's schedule as the game you want to win, beat the champs. Some players experience a slight letdown as they have reached the pinnacle, achieved their dream. They play a difficult schedule, get a couple of injuries & boom, you're 3-2. It's goes deeper than that, the Saints are rushing the ball less & for a lesser average, like a full yard less. Their defense which led the NFL in takeaways in '09 & converted a high percentage of them into points, isn't getting the turnovers in big numbers this year. Darren Sharper led the league in interceptions last year, he has none in 2010, still rehabbing from a knee operation in the off-season. Those short fields created by the takeaways were huge as were short fields created by the special teams. With Reggie Bush on the shelf, that's no longer an advantage for the Saints. I predicted the Falcons would win the NFC South, New Orleans might not even make the post-season this year, that Super Bowl hangover is a powerful thing.
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