THE BLACKOUT REPORT, STEELERS ROLL, GUN THREATENS RICKEY & A FAMOUS NAME WALKS ON AT MIZZOU
We will definitely have a White Christmas here at the Lake, it began snowing a few minutes ago. Since we aren't traveling, let it snow. There are only 2 movie theaters within 60-miles of here but luckily the nicer of the two is one mile from our house. If my knee permits it, we'll probably step out later today or even tomorrow & see a movie. Smoked ham, au gratin potatoes, a spinach souffle & pumpkin pie on the menu for Christmas dinner. I hope you have a special holiday with friends or family. If you venture out, watch the road conditions & I highly recommend a designated driver, folks it's just not worth the risk. Merry Christmas to all!
Chiefs' fans got an early Christmas present on Thursday when enough non-premium tickets were sold for the Tennessee-K.C. game, thereby lifting the blackout. It was unknown if the Chiefs or one of their major sponsors purchased the nearly 1,000 remaining seats before the deadline. Buffalo & Arizona joined Kansas City by selling just enough tickets to get local TV blackouts lifted. Cincinnati & Tampa weren't so fortunate, locals won't be able to watch on free TV. Oakland got an extension till noon ET today to sell the few remaining seats for their do-or-die showdown with the Indianapolis Colts.
A little injury news about a few major names around the NFL. Detroit QB Matthew Stafford tried to throw on Thursday but was shutdown by doctors. Charger TE Antonio Gates will not play again unless San Diego makes the playoffs. His injured foot has kept him sidelined the last two games. The Colts placed WR Austin Collie on injured reserve. This is a major blow to QB Peyton Manning & the Colts. Collie had become Manning's 2nd "go-to" guy after TE Dallas Clark was placed on I.R. way back in week 8. Collie had 58 receptions good for 649-yards & 8 touchdowns. Big loss for Indy when they are facing 2 must-win games to claim the AFC South. But all is not lost for the Colts, RB Joseph Addai returned to practice yesterday & could be activated for Sunday's game. Addai has missed the past 8-games with a nerve problem in his right shoulder.
Pittsburgh rolled over the Carolina Panthers last night 27-3, in a game that wasn't as close as the score might indicate. The Steelers held their opponents to just 119-total yards of offense & 3 points. One more Steeler win clinches a 1st round bye in the playoffs. It won't be easy, Pittsburgh will play their arch rivals, the Cleveland Browns, on the road next Sunday.
The "Best Team No One's Heard Of", San Diego State, made the most of their only national TV audience this season, pounding Navy, 35-14. Aztec coach Brady Hoke did something that hadn't been done at SDSU since Don Coryell headed this program, he won a bowl game. Not since 1969 had the Aztecs won a post-season game. Freshman RB Ronnie Hillman had 28 carries for game record 228-yards & three touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass from QB Ryan Lindley. The Aztecs rolled up 555-yards of total offense, Lindley accounting for 276-yards passing on an 18 of 23 performance. Hillman broke a number of freshman records previously held by Marshall Faulk. This team finished 9-4, their 4 loses by a total of 15-points. It took the "Mizzou Moe Miracle" for the Tigers to defeat SDSU by three in the last minute of the game.
The feisty defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, Gunther Cunningham, is really feeling his oats. On Thursday the 64-year old threatened Dolphins RB Rickey Williams with bodily harm if Williams throws an illegal crack back block on one of Detroit DB's. Cunningham contends he's seen two illegal blocks by the former Heisman winner in the past two games. "If Rickey hits one of our DB's in the back with a crack block, I'm comin' on the field" Cunningham warned. "He's had a couple of knockouts, but they're non-legal, that's all I'm sayin." Chill Gunther, chill.
A young man with a famous name given to him by a famous father will walk-on at Mizzou. Derrion Thomas, son of the late Chiefs' Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas, will enroll at Columbia next month so he can participate in spring football. Thomas is a graduate of Blue Springs South High School outside Kansas City. He attended Fort Scott Community College the past three semesters & will go to MU with three years of eligibility left. He was recruited by a number of schools, including Alabama, his dad's alma mater. But Thomas said a few years ago, Mizzou is where he always wanted to go & nothing was going to change his mind. Coach Gary Pinkel could very well put Thomas on scholarship after spring practice. If Thomas becomes a fraction of the player his father was, the Tigers are getting someone special.
The more I think about these 5-game suspensions for the Ohio State five, the more disgusted I become. Why are they allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl? I heard ESPN's Mark May rant about the BIG TEN being a "sacred cow", they just weren't treated the same as everybody else. I have to agree with him. This is the first time I've seen a delayed suspension. This is especially bothersome because these kids are all juniors, they display their talents in the Sugar Bowl, then declare for the NFL. No suspensions, no punishments, they won't even have to pay back the money because they'll be gone. College football is a near-perfect game that is constantly disrupted by lame bureaucrats & greedy bowl committees. It's examples like this that make the point yet again. Some programs just get better treatment, like it or not.
Unless there is breaking news in the next 36-hours, I'm stepping away from the keyboard, talk to you on Sunday morning. Once again, have a safe & happy Holiday. Merry Christmas.
Chiefs' fans got an early Christmas present on Thursday when enough non-premium tickets were sold for the Tennessee-K.C. game, thereby lifting the blackout. It was unknown if the Chiefs or one of their major sponsors purchased the nearly 1,000 remaining seats before the deadline. Buffalo & Arizona joined Kansas City by selling just enough tickets to get local TV blackouts lifted. Cincinnati & Tampa weren't so fortunate, locals won't be able to watch on free TV. Oakland got an extension till noon ET today to sell the few remaining seats for their do-or-die showdown with the Indianapolis Colts.
A little injury news about a few major names around the NFL. Detroit QB Matthew Stafford tried to throw on Thursday but was shutdown by doctors. Charger TE Antonio Gates will not play again unless San Diego makes the playoffs. His injured foot has kept him sidelined the last two games. The Colts placed WR Austin Collie on injured reserve. This is a major blow to QB Peyton Manning & the Colts. Collie had become Manning's 2nd "go-to" guy after TE Dallas Clark was placed on I.R. way back in week 8. Collie had 58 receptions good for 649-yards & 8 touchdowns. Big loss for Indy when they are facing 2 must-win games to claim the AFC South. But all is not lost for the Colts, RB Joseph Addai returned to practice yesterday & could be activated for Sunday's game. Addai has missed the past 8-games with a nerve problem in his right shoulder.
Pittsburgh rolled over the Carolina Panthers last night 27-3, in a game that wasn't as close as the score might indicate. The Steelers held their opponents to just 119-total yards of offense & 3 points. One more Steeler win clinches a 1st round bye in the playoffs. It won't be easy, Pittsburgh will play their arch rivals, the Cleveland Browns, on the road next Sunday.
The "Best Team No One's Heard Of", San Diego State, made the most of their only national TV audience this season, pounding Navy, 35-14. Aztec coach Brady Hoke did something that hadn't been done at SDSU since Don Coryell headed this program, he won a bowl game. Not since 1969 had the Aztecs won a post-season game. Freshman RB Ronnie Hillman had 28 carries for game record 228-yards & three touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass from QB Ryan Lindley. The Aztecs rolled up 555-yards of total offense, Lindley accounting for 276-yards passing on an 18 of 23 performance. Hillman broke a number of freshman records previously held by Marshall Faulk. This team finished 9-4, their 4 loses by a total of 15-points. It took the "Mizzou Moe Miracle" for the Tigers to defeat SDSU by three in the last minute of the game.
The feisty defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, Gunther Cunningham, is really feeling his oats. On Thursday the 64-year old threatened Dolphins RB Rickey Williams with bodily harm if Williams throws an illegal crack back block on one of Detroit DB's. Cunningham contends he's seen two illegal blocks by the former Heisman winner in the past two games. "If Rickey hits one of our DB's in the back with a crack block, I'm comin' on the field" Cunningham warned. "He's had a couple of knockouts, but they're non-legal, that's all I'm sayin." Chill Gunther, chill.
A young man with a famous name given to him by a famous father will walk-on at Mizzou. Derrion Thomas, son of the late Chiefs' Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas, will enroll at Columbia next month so he can participate in spring football. Thomas is a graduate of Blue Springs South High School outside Kansas City. He attended Fort Scott Community College the past three semesters & will go to MU with three years of eligibility left. He was recruited by a number of schools, including Alabama, his dad's alma mater. But Thomas said a few years ago, Mizzou is where he always wanted to go & nothing was going to change his mind. Coach Gary Pinkel could very well put Thomas on scholarship after spring practice. If Thomas becomes a fraction of the player his father was, the Tigers are getting someone special.
The more I think about these 5-game suspensions for the Ohio State five, the more disgusted I become. Why are they allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl? I heard ESPN's Mark May rant about the BIG TEN being a "sacred cow", they just weren't treated the same as everybody else. I have to agree with him. This is the first time I've seen a delayed suspension. This is especially bothersome because these kids are all juniors, they display their talents in the Sugar Bowl, then declare for the NFL. No suspensions, no punishments, they won't even have to pay back the money because they'll be gone. College football is a near-perfect game that is constantly disrupted by lame bureaucrats & greedy bowl committees. It's examples like this that make the point yet again. Some programs just get better treatment, like it or not.
Unless there is breaking news in the next 36-hours, I'm stepping away from the keyboard, talk to you on Sunday morning. Once again, have a safe & happy Holiday. Merry Christmas.
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