THURSDAY PART DEAUX
I've been a fan of Bob Costas for a long time, I think he brings very intelligent insight to whatever sports topic he discusses. He has a new show on The NBC Sports Network formerly Versus, formerly Outdoor Living Network. On tonight's premiere show, it was all football, after all it is Super Bowl week. He had some of the Football Night in America gang on, Dungy, Harrison, Collinsworth etc. They spent a good amount of time discussing what has to be a top concern for the NFL, concussions & the long term effects from them. Rodney Harrison made an impassioned plea to Peyton Manning to quit football. He talked about all his ailments, five knee surgeries, pending shoulder surgery, at least a dozen concussions, short term memory loss & almost constant headaches. Rodney Harrison isn't even 40-years old. This hard-hitting veteran safety is a good example of why the rules have to change, the equipment must be improved & players must be required to wear a mouthpiece & additional pads. All of these things must happen or the number of suicides, ex-players unable to speak, walk or remember anything will continue to trend upward at an alarming rate.
Costas welcomed Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to the show & Jones promptly claimed while playing at Arkansas he'd suffered "50 concussions." That explains a lot doesn't it? Fifty Jerry? Seriously? You had fifty concussions in four years? Wild & totally insensitive claims like this remind me of someone in my past who routinely said/says outrageous stuff like this. In fact, they're about the same age. Anyway, I'm getting off topic, The way Jones minimizes the concussion with his ridiculous claims is a big part of the problem. This is a violent game, played by men who, for the most part are fearless & don't really focus on the possible consequences that comes with their participation. One more note on Jones, he also claimed had he not suffered these fifty concussions he would have "been president of the United States instead of owning the Dallas Cowboys." Jerry, Jerry, Jerry, now I'm beginning to believe you did take some hard blows to your melon with quotes like these.
Peyton Manning claims he has been given the "all clear to return to football." Structurally, his neck is fine but, here comes one of those very big buts, until the nerve regenerates, he won't be effective enough to play in the NFL at anywhere near the level he's accustomed to. So will he play again? I think the Colts & Manning will go this charade next week & after careful consideration, he'll be released. But we knew all along Robert Irsay wasn't going to pay Manning a $28 million roster bonus the first week of March, just too many things about his condition that could spell doom for his career as an NFL quarterback. Once you give him that money, there's no getting it back. There will be huge interest for his services, but how well he can throw & at what level of pain will determine his future with another NFL franchise. He'll do the tour, be examined over & over plus throwing the ball on every stop to see just how well he really is. I figure by Friday at the latest, we'll see Manning released from the Indianapolis Colts. They will move on with a new general manager, coach, coordinators & certainly a new quarterback.
The Green Bay Packers have filled the offensive coordinator position by promoting quarterbacks coach Tom Clements. He has been in that job for 7-years, so he has been Aaron Rodgers' coach as well as Matt Flynn, who figures to break the bank as this year's highest demand free agent, outside of Peyton Manning of course. Clements' coaching record is a good one & the former Chiefs backup quarterback(played for 4 different CFL teams, KC only NFL team to sign him-go figure) is now the offensive coordinator.
Romeo Crennel acknowledged on Thursday he had interviewed QB's coach Jim Zorn & Raiders former offensive coordinator Al Saunders for the opening on his staff. He said he might speak to "one or two others" before making a decision. It could be he wants to speak to a coach for the Giants or most likely, the Patriots. Their staffs are off limits until after Sunday's game.
The reclusive Scott Pioli did interviews on Thursday, very short interviews. He did answer questions about the "Arrowhead Anxiety" piece written by Kent Babb for The Kansas City Star. He said he & owner Clark Hunt "unequivocally deny what was written in the article, it's untrue. What we have are a lot of employees who are very, very happy in their jobs & excited to help us get better as a franchise." Setting aside all of the fired employees, the number of people who have moved onto other jobs with other teams would suggest the number of very, very happy employees out at Arrowhead might be overblown somewhat. Pioli also addressed the loss of Phil Emery, who became the general manager of the Chicago Bears. Emery had been the Chiefs director of college scouting. With the scouting combine coming up February 23rd & the draft in April, his departure couldn't have worse timing. Pioli said they would not interview anyone to fill the position until after the draft, which makes sense, but it puts a lot more pressure on the scouting department & Pioli at a time the general manager is helping to fill out the coaching staff & contemplating free agency. Pioli has a lot of balls in the air, plus micromanaging the office staff at Arrowhead. He has to produce with this free agency period & draft, has to come up big in both.
My Super Bowl preview & prediction will come tomorrow. Plus I'll give you a taste of the city that draws 5-times the people during Super Bowl weekend & I'm not talking about the host city.
Costas welcomed Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to the show & Jones promptly claimed while playing at Arkansas he'd suffered "50 concussions." That explains a lot doesn't it? Fifty Jerry? Seriously? You had fifty concussions in four years? Wild & totally insensitive claims like this remind me of someone in my past who routinely said/says outrageous stuff like this. In fact, they're about the same age. Anyway, I'm getting off topic, The way Jones minimizes the concussion with his ridiculous claims is a big part of the problem. This is a violent game, played by men who, for the most part are fearless & don't really focus on the possible consequences that comes with their participation. One more note on Jones, he also claimed had he not suffered these fifty concussions he would have "been president of the United States instead of owning the Dallas Cowboys." Jerry, Jerry, Jerry, now I'm beginning to believe you did take some hard blows to your melon with quotes like these.
Peyton Manning claims he has been given the "all clear to return to football." Structurally, his neck is fine but, here comes one of those very big buts, until the nerve regenerates, he won't be effective enough to play in the NFL at anywhere near the level he's accustomed to. So will he play again? I think the Colts & Manning will go this charade next week & after careful consideration, he'll be released. But we knew all along Robert Irsay wasn't going to pay Manning a $28 million roster bonus the first week of March, just too many things about his condition that could spell doom for his career as an NFL quarterback. Once you give him that money, there's no getting it back. There will be huge interest for his services, but how well he can throw & at what level of pain will determine his future with another NFL franchise. He'll do the tour, be examined over & over plus throwing the ball on every stop to see just how well he really is. I figure by Friday at the latest, we'll see Manning released from the Indianapolis Colts. They will move on with a new general manager, coach, coordinators & certainly a new quarterback.
The Green Bay Packers have filled the offensive coordinator position by promoting quarterbacks coach Tom Clements. He has been in that job for 7-years, so he has been Aaron Rodgers' coach as well as Matt Flynn, who figures to break the bank as this year's highest demand free agent, outside of Peyton Manning of course. Clements' coaching record is a good one & the former Chiefs backup quarterback(played for 4 different CFL teams, KC only NFL team to sign him-go figure) is now the offensive coordinator.
Romeo Crennel acknowledged on Thursday he had interviewed QB's coach Jim Zorn & Raiders former offensive coordinator Al Saunders for the opening on his staff. He said he might speak to "one or two others" before making a decision. It could be he wants to speak to a coach for the Giants or most likely, the Patriots. Their staffs are off limits until after Sunday's game.
The reclusive Scott Pioli did interviews on Thursday, very short interviews. He did answer questions about the "Arrowhead Anxiety" piece written by Kent Babb for The Kansas City Star. He said he & owner Clark Hunt "unequivocally deny what was written in the article, it's untrue. What we have are a lot of employees who are very, very happy in their jobs & excited to help us get better as a franchise." Setting aside all of the fired employees, the number of people who have moved onto other jobs with other teams would suggest the number of very, very happy employees out at Arrowhead might be overblown somewhat. Pioli also addressed the loss of Phil Emery, who became the general manager of the Chicago Bears. Emery had been the Chiefs director of college scouting. With the scouting combine coming up February 23rd & the draft in April, his departure couldn't have worse timing. Pioli said they would not interview anyone to fill the position until after the draft, which makes sense, but it puts a lot more pressure on the scouting department & Pioli at a time the general manager is helping to fill out the coaching staff & contemplating free agency. Pioli has a lot of balls in the air, plus micromanaging the office staff at Arrowhead. He has to produce with this free agency period & draft, has to come up big in both.
My Super Bowl preview & prediction will come tomorrow. Plus I'll give you a taste of the city that draws 5-times the people during Super Bowl weekend & I'm not talking about the host city.
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