The new football season kicked off in grand fashion yesterday afternoon and evening, and it was absolutely great to be able to watch football again! Some great games and great individual efforts put forth yesterday, along with a couple of early upsets to set the table for what should be a tremendously exciting collegiate football season.
Teams one through eight in most pre-season rankings pretty much rolled right over their opponents, with the exception being Missouri having to fight off a pesky Illini team that would not go away. But after that, three top twenty teams were the victims of early season shockers.
Clemson being manhandled by Alabama, Virginia Tech's loss to ECU and Pittsburgh inexplicable home-opener debacle against Bowling Green.
Outside of the top 25, it was another humbling loss in the Big House for the Wolverines, this time to Utah. Rich Rodriguez, welcom to Ann Arbor. What should be of concern to Michigan is that they were only able to put the ball in the endzone following turnovers by the Utes.
The other score, a field goal, were the only points for Michigan that wasn't preceded by a turnover. Meantime, Brian Johnson showed that he might be unknown outside of Salt Lake, but has some skills.
Meantime, I hope Dave Wannestadt has some thick earplugs the next few days to help blunt the loud yells for his head on a platter. And Clemson, though playing a tough Alabama ballclub, showed yet again it is not quite ready for prime time.
Some positive notes, quite a few players stood out for me. Cal running backs Jahved Best and Shane Vereen, while Cal QB Kevin Riley had a solid showing in his first start. Michigan St. sophomore wideout Dell and LB Greg Jones. Oregon has one of the quickest teams in the nation on both sides of the ball and used it to run down a young Huskie ballclub. But in a couple of years, look out for Washington. Their sophomore QB Jake Locker and fresman wideoutsdid a pretty good job against a tough Pac10 defensive opponent. And the Huskies have some young talent on defense as well.
Misourri's offense and defense took it right to Illinois for most of the game, but had lapses at times too. The injury to Maclin is disconcerting and he will hopefully be back in action soon. 6-6 tight end Coffman played out of his mind and have some NFL scouts drooling already. Chase Smith and counterpart Juice Williams showed why they are solid behind center, and I liked the play of Illini DB Marques Williams.
So while the season is now officially underway, there still needs to be a few games played before I go out and start making predicitons on who is #1 through #20. In fact, on Monday night, there's yet another college season opener on tap as UCLA takes on Tennessee, which should be a dandy as well.
Just around the corner after our collegiate Monday night treat is the beginning of the 2008 NFL season when the Redskins and the Giants tangle. I can't begin to tell you how great it is to have football back and I wore out my remote yesterday going back and forth through all the games.
Heck, I still have games to watch that I recorded but didn't get to watch yet, like the SoCal shellacking of Virginia. Glad I have Monday off ! Enjoy the holiday everyone.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Mac's NFL Power Rankings - 2008-09 Pre-Season Special
Pre-Season Week Three - Mac's NFL Power Rankings
Each week I will be offering up my thoughts on just where the power resides in the NFL among the 32 participants, and how they stack up in terms of power. Early last year the Colts were #1 and stayed that way until their first loss of the season, at home, to rival New England. The Patriots held that spot until the very last game of the year, which they lost. Unfortunately for them, it happened to be in the Super Bowl.
This year, with a new season before us and many expectations throughout NFL fandom as high as they will be all season, it's time to lay out who I think will ultimately have the best shot at being in Tampa at the end of the 2008-09 season. It should be a great, competitive season with many a thrill, not to mention some nail-biting endings.
So for now, here are my rankings of each of the 32 teams in the NFL as we enter the 3rd week of pre-season. Only two weeks away from opening day.
1. San Diego - This team is ready to make their move. Only serious injuries or a complete meltdown will keep this team from the AFC Championship. Only injuries can keep this team from at least the AFC Championship Game.
2. New England - So long as the offense can score at will, their defense is not a concern. If the offense gets stopped there'll be trouble.
3. Indianapolis - Hard to say early. If Sanders, Freeney, Manning & Harrison are 100% and everyone stays healthy, look out!
4. Dallas - It's put up or shut up time for the Cowboys. Anything less than a trip to the Super Bowl is a failure. They are what the Colts were pre-2006.
5. Jacksonville - Allowing Stroud to leave was mind boggling. And if Garrard can't duplicate last season's precision, it could prove fatal. Their pre-season hasn't looked too good. But then, these games don't count.
6. Pittsburgh - Could be the spoiler in the title hopes of the other 3 AFC teams. If Big Ben is hot, the Steelers could be in Tampa in '09.
7. NY Giants - Benefit of the doubt, championship rings give the Giants an early top ten berth here. But they're still not dominant.
8. Seattle - I hate putting Seattle in the top 10, because they play in almost as weak a division as New England. But not quite. Their defense will need to be good with the offense losing Engram for the early part of the season and having some question marks at running back.
9. Minnesota - Everybody's darling darkhorse with AP in the backfield. The man with more pressure on him is Tavaris Jackson.
10. New Orleans - Edges out the Titans early in the season "on paper", but injuries to the defense might cause a rough start.
11. Tennessee - Good, nasty, physical defense and it looks like Vince Young is primed for a banner year. He better be if the Titans look to challenge in the AFC South.
12. Cleveland - The question is "Can they do it again?" Or was it a one-year wonder, like New Orleans in 2006. The potential is there.
13. Carolina - This team has a chance, defensively, to get it to the playoffs. The offense is the key in 2008.
14.Green Bay - Many say the Favre-less Pack will be neck-in-neck with Minnesota for the division crown. I don't see it with Rodgers really in his "first" year as an NFL quarterback.
15. Baltimore - The Ravens are set at QB with Troy Smith, so no excuses there. Can the defense play solid/healthy for 16 weeks is the real question.
16. Philadelphia - With a defense that looks more formidable than last year, it will all be up to the offense. The NFC East will be a slugfest.
17. Washington - Watch out for this ballclub, especially if Jim Zorn gets Campbell to catch fire. Dangerous corps of receivers and a running game.
18. Tampa Bay - While the Bucs missed out on Favre, I've always thought Garcia was pretty good. But they still don't have that elite WR speedster.
19. Houston - This team was oh-so-close to their first above-500 season last year. If they can get out of the gate quickly, they might be a sleeper playoff team. No, really !
20. Arizona - Same for the Cardinals. The D in the desert is potentially deadly. Rattlesnake deadly. Now they need their offense to re-boot.
21. Denver - Not quite ready to make a run at the Chargers this year, though they could sneak into the playoffs if the Browns,Titans and Texans stumble.
22. Buffalo - Fans in Buffalo are stoked about the chance to battle for a wildcard playoff spot. Edwards needs to show he can lead them there.
23. NY Jets - If Favre gets the Jets to the playoffs, he may be voted into the Hall at the end of this season. And if he does, he should. But it's more likely the Jets would get there behind a super offensive line and a power running game. Not enough playoff spots to go 'round in the rugged AFC.
24. Cincinnati - Potential for an exciting season on offense, while the defense still remains in rebuilding mode. Even though Henry is an off-field problem, he is the main reason T.J. and Ocho Cinco are so deadly on the field. With the three of them, you can't concentrate on just one.
25. San Francisco - Last year was supposed to be their breakout year, but injuries took their toll. If healthy, the 49ers could make it interesting.
26. Chicago - This team has surprise written all over it IF the defense comes back strong and the O-line gives the QB time in the pocket. The backfield is potentially explosive, especially when Jones gets back to full-tilt!
27. Detroit - We've been expecting a playoff run for years out of this team. Kinda like expecting the Lion GM to be fired for years. Not sure if we'll see it this year. Either one.
28. Oakland - The Raiders will definitely get someones attention a time or two this year. Still need improvement along the offensive line and Russell will not be a QB to be worried about for another year or more.
29. St. Louis - This team, with the Stephen Jackson holdout, could be the team selecting #1 come next April. I feel bad for Howie's son.
30. Atlanta - Matt Ryan has been pretty solid in pre-season. With some good fortune, the Falcons may create some noise this season.
31. Kansas City - Just too many gaping holes to fill for this team to deal with this year. Still in rebuilding mode, but Croyle better improve or he's gone.
32. Miami - I would fully expect the Dolphins to move a little by the end of the year. In fact, I think Bill Parcells will insist on it.
Each week I will be offering up my thoughts on just where the power resides in the NFL among the 32 participants, and how they stack up in terms of power. Early last year the Colts were #1 and stayed that way until their first loss of the season, at home, to rival New England. The Patriots held that spot until the very last game of the year, which they lost. Unfortunately for them, it happened to be in the Super Bowl.
This year, with a new season before us and many expectations throughout NFL fandom as high as they will be all season, it's time to lay out who I think will ultimately have the best shot at being in Tampa at the end of the 2008-09 season. It should be a great, competitive season with many a thrill, not to mention some nail-biting endings.
So for now, here are my rankings of each of the 32 teams in the NFL as we enter the 3rd week of pre-season. Only two weeks away from opening day.
1. San Diego - This team is ready to make their move. Only serious injuries or a complete meltdown will keep this team from the AFC Championship. Only injuries can keep this team from at least the AFC Championship Game.
2. New England - So long as the offense can score at will, their defense is not a concern. If the offense gets stopped there'll be trouble.
3. Indianapolis - Hard to say early. If Sanders, Freeney, Manning & Harrison are 100% and everyone stays healthy, look out!
4. Dallas - It's put up or shut up time for the Cowboys. Anything less than a trip to the Super Bowl is a failure. They are what the Colts were pre-2006.
5. Jacksonville - Allowing Stroud to leave was mind boggling. And if Garrard can't duplicate last season's precision, it could prove fatal. Their pre-season hasn't looked too good. But then, these games don't count.
6. Pittsburgh - Could be the spoiler in the title hopes of the other 3 AFC teams. If Big Ben is hot, the Steelers could be in Tampa in '09.
7. NY Giants - Benefit of the doubt, championship rings give the Giants an early top ten berth here. But they're still not dominant.
8. Seattle - I hate putting Seattle in the top 10, because they play in almost as weak a division as New England. But not quite. Their defense will need to be good with the offense losing Engram for the early part of the season and having some question marks at running back.
9. Minnesota - Everybody's darling darkhorse with AP in the backfield. The man with more pressure on him is Tavaris Jackson.
10. New Orleans - Edges out the Titans early in the season "on paper", but injuries to the defense might cause a rough start.
11. Tennessee - Good, nasty, physical defense and it looks like Vince Young is primed for a banner year. He better be if the Titans look to challenge in the AFC South.
12. Cleveland - The question is "Can they do it again?" Or was it a one-year wonder, like New Orleans in 2006. The potential is there.
13. Carolina - This team has a chance, defensively, to get it to the playoffs. The offense is the key in 2008.
14.Green Bay - Many say the Favre-less Pack will be neck-in-neck with Minnesota for the division crown. I don't see it with Rodgers really in his "first" year as an NFL quarterback.
15. Baltimore - The Ravens are set at QB with Troy Smith, so no excuses there. Can the defense play solid/healthy for 16 weeks is the real question.
16. Philadelphia - With a defense that looks more formidable than last year, it will all be up to the offense. The NFC East will be a slugfest.
17. Washington - Watch out for this ballclub, especially if Jim Zorn gets Campbell to catch fire. Dangerous corps of receivers and a running game.
18. Tampa Bay - While the Bucs missed out on Favre, I've always thought Garcia was pretty good. But they still don't have that elite WR speedster.
19. Houston - This team was oh-so-close to their first above-500 season last year. If they can get out of the gate quickly, they might be a sleeper playoff team. No, really !
20. Arizona - Same for the Cardinals. The D in the desert is potentially deadly. Rattlesnake deadly. Now they need their offense to re-boot.
21. Denver - Not quite ready to make a run at the Chargers this year, though they could sneak into the playoffs if the Browns,Titans and Texans stumble.
22. Buffalo - Fans in Buffalo are stoked about the chance to battle for a wildcard playoff spot. Edwards needs to show he can lead them there.
23. NY Jets - If Favre gets the Jets to the playoffs, he may be voted into the Hall at the end of this season. And if he does, he should. But it's more likely the Jets would get there behind a super offensive line and a power running game. Not enough playoff spots to go 'round in the rugged AFC.
24. Cincinnati - Potential for an exciting season on offense, while the defense still remains in rebuilding mode. Even though Henry is an off-field problem, he is the main reason T.J. and Ocho Cinco are so deadly on the field. With the three of them, you can't concentrate on just one.
25. San Francisco - Last year was supposed to be their breakout year, but injuries took their toll. If healthy, the 49ers could make it interesting.
26. Chicago - This team has surprise written all over it IF the defense comes back strong and the O-line gives the QB time in the pocket. The backfield is potentially explosive, especially when Jones gets back to full-tilt!
27. Detroit - We've been expecting a playoff run for years out of this team. Kinda like expecting the Lion GM to be fired for years. Not sure if we'll see it this year. Either one.
28. Oakland - The Raiders will definitely get someones attention a time or two this year. Still need improvement along the offensive line and Russell will not be a QB to be worried about for another year or more.
29. St. Louis - This team, with the Stephen Jackson holdout, could be the team selecting #1 come next April. I feel bad for Howie's son.
30. Atlanta - Matt Ryan has been pretty solid in pre-season. With some good fortune, the Falcons may create some noise this season.
31. Kansas City - Just too many gaping holes to fill for this team to deal with this year. Still in rebuilding mode, but Croyle better improve or he's gone.
32. Miami - I would fully expect the Dolphins to move a little by the end of the year. In fact, I think Bill Parcells will insist on it.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Version One - Very, Very Preliminary 2009 NFL Mock Draft
With the regular season about to begin, but still some pre-season action to endure, I offer up my extremely early view on the 2009 NFL Draft. A draft which looks to be pretty heavy on lineman and defensive personnel with no clear cut, exceptionally talented quarterback causing the scouts to drool and consider moving up or trading away players at this point in time.
1. Miami - Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
2. Atlanta - Michael Other, OT, Ole MIss
3. Kansas City - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
4. Oakland - Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma
5. San Francisco - Louis Murphy, WR, Florida
6. St. Louis - James Laurnitais, LB, Ohio St.
7. NY Jets - Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
8. Detroit - Malcom Jenkins, CB, Ohio St.
9. Houston - James Davis, RB, Clemson
10. Baltimore - Ray Maualuga, LB, USC
11. Denver - Chris Wells, RB, Ohio St.
12. Philadelphia (From Carolina) - Taylor Mays, S, USC
13. Cincinnati - Tyson Jackson, DT, LSU
14. Chicago - Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
15. Arizona - Fili Moala, DT, USC
16. Washington - George Selvie, DE, South Florida
17. Buffalo - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St.
18. Philadelphia - Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma
19. Tennessee - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
20. Tampa Bay - Domonique Johnson, CB, Jackson St.
21. Seattle - Alex Mack, C, California
22. Cleveland - LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt
23. NY Giants - Ciron Black, OT, LSU
24.Pittsburgh - Herman Johnson, OG, LSU
25.Green Bay - Maurice Evans, DE, Penn St.
26.Jacksonville - Myron Rolle, S, FSU
27.Minnesota - William Moore, FS, Missouri
28. New England - Mike Mickens, CB, Cincinnati
29. Dallas - Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
30. San Diego - Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
31. New Orleans - Greg Hardy, DE, Mississippi
32. Indianapolis - Marko Mitchell, WR, Nevada
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Summarizing a 5 month void
Not sure how I managed it, but I lost my way back to this blog for nearly 6 months. Well, I guess it was because I was immersed in the NFL draft and the subsequent dissection of it over at drafttek.com - where I have spent an inordinant amount of time since signing on as the Indianapolis Colt correspondent.
That and the fact my Boilers lost and it takes time to recover from stinging losses like that one.
But I'm back now and ready to roll through further musings and observations. What I want to do before adding anything "new" for the upcoming football season, is to copy/paste some writing I have done over at drafttek.com in order to add some perpsective to what has happened since I last wrote.
In fact, today we are still cherishing one of the most magnificent performances in Olympic history as Michael Phelps broke the 1972 gold medal mark set by Mark Spitz during the Munich games, winning his 8th total gold medal after leading the U.S. team in the 4x100 relay. It was quite a showing the past 9 nine days and completely over-shadowed the "Redeem Team" basketball squad.
But allow me to recap some of the summer-long writings that I have penned since March. First off a re-cap of the 2008 NFL Draft for the Colts:
April
This was a substance draft for the Indianapolis Colts.
No glitz, no glamour, no WOW moment. Strictly bidness.
1) Three O-lineman, all capable of being Jeff Saturday's eventual replacement, but two potential starters right off the bat will end up at Guard. The O-line is now potentially secure for close to a decade, with possibly the exception of depth at Left Tackle. There's always the risk of injury or a contract mess down the road, but all in all, the O-line is near perfectly completed. Add this to the clever move up in last April's draft to get LOT Tony Ugoh, and you can now see how formidable this frontline could be for years to come.
2) Running Back depth targeted. I wonder why we allowed Chauncey Washington to slip by, but there is no doubt the Colts know running backs, so I'm ultimately not worried. Hart is a leader and has the moxy to fight continually for the extra yard AND HE CAN CATCH THE ROCK. As some other ColtPower poster noted in a 2008 Draft thread, we can sign a bundle of UDFA's for RB and probably find another potential starter. Ultimately, KK is gone I think.
3) Tight End Depth - Love the double TE selections of Tamme and Santi. I thought for awhile we were going to snag big Joey Haynos, but a good receiving TE and a good blocking TE gives us needed depth and flexibility. No doubt the Offensive Coordinator is pleased that he has some bodies to work with again.
4) WR - Wideout pickup late is most notable for what it doesn't say: Marvin's injury looks career ending. So that, at least initially, is a very good sign. Now we have "The Flying Frenchman" to utilize (potentially) as a kick/punt returner - and Lord knows we need one - as well as an understudy for either Marvin or Gonzo, or both. The beauty of the pick is that there is no IMMEDIATE pressure on him to perform as a wideout. He can learn the system and mesh into the fold. He's not a burner, but he's tough once he catches the ball and he's willing to go over the middle.
5) The LB corps was helped in depth with the addition of Philip Wheeler. No way is he an edge rusher, but definitely adds quality to LB rotation. His tackling is his strongest asset, but his ability vs the pass (as it relates to RB coverage) is questionable. This could translate into Special Teams standout and backup LB. No doubt Dungy and Meeks will shore up any weaknesses and he'll be another good overall fit. Barring injuries, the position is upgraded for the '08 season.
6) Many Colt fans have noted how our pass rush needed another phenom to help in case of injury or in general rotational depth. Marcus Howard answers the call and BP says he's "not Mathis, but he's LIKE Mathis"....which is cool by me. His weakness is tackling skill vs the run, but he is very quick when it comes to rushing the QB. Probably a niche player but brings needed depth to the DE rotation.
In general, I had hoped for an offense-heavy draft and that's really what we got. But it wasn't at the skill position, which is fine, because we certainly need those "big uglies" up front. The injuries along the O-line killed us last year, and with the off-season FA losses, made depth an immediately serious issue. No longer.
Defense had a depth issue at DE and we resolved that, but there is still a void to fill at DT. Perhaps UDFA's fill that void or we wait til next year. The LB corps and special teams were addressed with the Wheeler and Garcon picks, but the Colts will have to become much more productive on special teams if they want to stop the bleeding by giving up so much field position when they kick the ball away.
All in all it was certainly a solid draft and the coaching staff, BP and so forth will probably end up as genius yet again for the subtle, low-key picks that turn to gold.
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May 19th
Indy Awaits Word
The anticipation is palpable.
Occassional peeks out through tiny slivers of curtain can be seen in homes across the state. Hushed conversations are going on in nearly every corner of the state, be it at businesses, restaraunt dining tables, the local watering hole or around the family living room. Farmers have put away their implements, opting instead to nervously draining another cup of coffee.
The ticking of each agonizing second of this, a very mild Monday in May, can be heard as if it eminates from a gigantic kettle drum, perhaps 50 times larger than Purdue’s Worlds Largest Drum. Larry Bird’s presser on plans for the upcoming NBA draft go ignored. Larry-freakin-Bird ignored? In Indiana? Drivers at the Indy 500 noticed an unusual, even disturbing distraction from the usual fervor during qualifications this past weekend.
What is going on they wonder?
Simply put, the citizens of the great state of Indiana are anxious. They’re nervous. They’re also cautiously excited. Giddy almost. Yet wary. Once they were so close, yet fate handed them a dagger. This year the nerves are still there, but the lid is on the outward show of emotion as the clock continues to tick towards Tuesday.
All eyes and ears are straining to hear the first reports from Atlanta on that day.
Okay, perhaps I am over-stating it a bit. Maybe there aren’t any folks peeking out from behind closed curtains.And maybe it wasn’t quite as hushed downtown as I thought it was yesterday. And yeah, farmers always drink coffee after putting away the tractor, so that might have been a bit over-the-top. And okay, that ticking sound is actually from my wristwatch. Seems my head was laying on my wrist after falling asleep at my computer, thinking about what to write. But it IS mild here in Indiana today! 59 degrees a high for May?
But I digress.
Tuesday in Atlanta. It is the site of the annual NFL owners meeting and it IS definitely on the minds of many here in Indiana.You see, Indianapolis - and the citizens of Indiana - want to host the 2012 Super Bowl. Bad. Real bad. Almost as bad as getting another Super Bowl win. But tell ya what, why not “kill two birds with one stone”, ya know? If Indy can host the 2012 Super Bowl AND the Colts win it right here in our own backyard that very year (against the Cowboys !! ) everything from last year is forgiven. Deal?
By a vote of 17-15 last year, Indianapolis became the first NFL city in over 20 years that was building a brand new stadium, yet lost out in the bidding to host a Super Bowl. Seems Jerry Jones and an extra $23 million incentive gave Dallas a slight edge in last year’s bid. Thus, the city of Indianapolis is back at it again this year.
The city doesn’t have beaches, palm trees or enchanted mountain peeks in the distance. But not every NFL city can be so fortunate. And if the folks in the Motor City can play host to the biggest sporting event in the world, there is no doubt Indianapolis can do just as good a job, if not better.
And that is no slap at Motown either, who did a fantastic job the last time they hosted the Super Bowl. But in Indy, we host big events every year for hundreds of thousands when the Indy 500 starts up every May, and again in August when NASCAR comes to town for the Brickyard 400. And there are all those Final Fours and other top athletic events year ’round.
But this is a different animal altogether. We know.
Houston and Glendale are the other cities up for the bid nomination, and both have hosted a Super Bowl already. Glendale finished up their first one last year and did a wonderful job. Which leaves, in reality, Houston and Indy. Houston held their first a few years back. And after having come so close last year, one would think it’d a done deal really. Which is why the anxiety is sky-high. Restrained. Hair trigger ready for release. One columnist in the state commented that Indy is in the “pole position” for getting the bid. We’ll see. I hope so.
The city of Indianapolis and the citizens of the state deserve it. Think of all those years of residents forced to support the Cubs, the White Sox or the Reds in MLB. Or in the NFL rooting for the Bears, Packers or (gasp!) the Bengals when a professional team didn’t exist in Indy save the ABA Pacers.
Talk about coming a long way, baby ! (Apologies for ending this column with an obscure 1970’s cigarette ad reference) But then again, it’s rather aprapo for just where this city has come from, don’t you think? From obscurity to a world stage. How fitting it would be.
Have a great day all !
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May 20th
Indy It Is !
Well, just 24 hours since I last posted, and the 2012 Super Bowl host has been selected. Congratulations to the city of Indianapolis. Well deserved by the entire citizenry of both the city and state, who have long supported this team (and others) who have not exactly racked up W’s and playoff appearances until more recent years.
It took a surprising 4 rounds of voting, but Indianapolis was the winner of what was perhaps to be their final attempt for hosting a Super Bowl. After all, if a brand new $750 million dollar stadium can’t bring a Super Bowl, I’m guessing not much else will.
There are also a couple of folks in the Indianapolis bid circle from the past that need to be recognized for initially getting Indianapolis to the precipice of actually being in a position for the bidding. Former Indy mayor Bart Peterson, who lost to current Mayor Greg Ballard in the last election. It was Mayor Peterson who initially ( and continually ) pushing and prodding the state to buy off on bringing a new stadium to Indianapolis, and thus, a chance at hosting the world’s premiere sporting event.
Another gentleman, attorney Fred Glass, was the head of the delegation to put together the first bid for an Indianapolis Super Bowl last year, only to fall two votes shy to Dallas. He is to be commended for building the original concept of the bid and having left in place a tremendous outline on how to come back a year later and bid again.
Mark Miles, this year’is bid leader, kept that hope and dream alive and ensured that the first failed bid came back as a solid foundation and helped to bring the city of Indianapolis the biggest event in the city’s history.
Current Mayor Greg Ballard has stated that Indy will put on a show to remember. I, for one, intend to be in the middle of the merriment in downtown Indianapolis that week in 2012 and witness in person what exactly he is talking about and to witness this potentially precedent-setting event.
Let’s now hope - not only for the sake of this wonderful opportunity for Indianapolis, but the entire football loving world - that the owners and NFLPA can reach common ground on a new collective bargaining agreeement, thereby removing the chance of a potential strike, or worse yet, a non-Super Bowl year.
Which would be the cruelest of ironies on what’s supposed to be the day Indy hosts their Super Bowl.
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July 21st
I Can Feel It In My Bones Now !
Just 5 more weeks and 3 days from today, at 7 p.m., it begins. A brand-spanking new season of pro football returns. Whew....it was getting dicey there for awhile, suffering through tennis and golf and NASCAR weekend after weekend. Nothing wrong with those sports if you're participating IN them, but they are NOT a television spectator sport. The biggest distraction from the doldrums of the off-season for me has been my beloved Chicago Cubs. If they pull off a world championship in the 100th year since their last, that could quite possibly eclipse the NFL for a week or two. Possibly.
In the meantime, training camps are slated to get underway (and have) and the fans will get their first look at rookies and newly acquired free agents that give hope to those teams looking from the outside in, trying desperately to find that final piece of the puzzle that will ingite a run to Super Bowl XXXXXGOLLIEGEE....or whatever roman numerals apply these days. (It's officially Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa).While the camps are a welcomed return of football action, and the Hall of Fame game between the Colts and Redskins will signal the new season, it's not quite a fix for the complete withdrawal.
But it's better than suffering through another episode of pool tournaments and truck driving in Alaska. And if you're a big fan of the Indianapolis Colts or Dallas Cowboys, you will get an extra treat by enjoying the new digs of a wonderful new stadium for the first time. That is worth a pre-season viist just to say you were there for the first game ever.
No wonder Brett Favre is climbing the walls to get back into uniform (any uniform apparently) and start playing the game he loves again. Okay, there's my gratuitous mention of Brett and a not-so-subtle jab at his not-so-subtle change of heart about playing (again) in the NFL. And while much of the focus nationwide is on the NFL, many like me are also a huge fans of collegiate football. After all, it's mainly where future NFL stars make their name and cause the fans to start drooling, hoping one day that star is in uniform for their favorite team.
Before ever seeing an NFL game in person, I was fortunate to have gone to several college games as a youngster. My first ever was in 1969. Yes, that's right, I'm that freakin old ! It was a top national matchup between Stanford and Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana. A beautifully sunny Saturday afternoon in October, with the sounds of the 5th Dimension's "Aquarius" blaring on the car radios as we drove into the throng of tailgaters awaiting what turned out to be an unforgettable shoot-out between two highly talented quarterbacks. Jim Plunkett for the Cardinal, and Mike Phipps for the Boilermakers.
In the end, Phipps led the hometeam to a thrilling 36-35 victory and made an indelible mark on this youngster for life. Football was AWESOME, and being in the stadium to hear the roar of the crowds, smell the aroma from wafts of cigar smoke, taking part in the pre-game tailgating and enjoying the rich sounds of the bands. It was, and still is, a truly a remarkable atmosphere for a young boy to experience foootball for the first time.
So while the NFL kicks off it's 2008-09 season officially on Thursday, September 4th, at 7 p.m. with the Redskins traveling to Gotham to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Giants of New York, there are some compelling early games to start with in August on the college gridiron. Consider the opening television game on CBS, August 23rd at 7 p.m., featuring Fort Valley State at Valdosta State. Ugh,.......ahem,....wait a second. Don't consider that one.
Okay, here are a couple a few days later (August 28th) that are sure to provide some drama: North Carolina State at South Carolina ( 7p.m. on ESPN) and Oregon at Stanford ( 8 p.m. on ESPN 2). Now those aren't too bad at all. But my personal favorite for most interesting early season game in college football will be the USC-Virginia game on the 30th of August, played at Virginia at 2:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN. Can the Cavs upset the Trojans in Charlottesville while over 61,000 raucous fans pack Scott Stadium? It will be fun to watch them try.
Other interesting games on the 30th of August will feature Alabama at Clemson, Michigan State at Cal, Illinois vs Missouri and Washington at Oregon. So in the first week or so of college football, we're looking at almost a dozen games that feature conference matchups, state rivalries and unusual cross-country matchups.
And that first full NFL Sunday should be a treat to watch as well. Straight outta the shoot it's a division game between Tampa Bay and New Orleans in the NFC South, while the AFC South has Jacksonville traveling to Tennessee. Zona goes to San Francisco in an NFC West battle, while the revamped Jets take on the new-look Dolphins in Miami. And the two top matchups on opening Sunday in the NFL? At 4:15 p.m. it should be a wild one between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns, with the Dawg Pound certain to be at maximum frenzy.
Then the late game features a rematch of Super Bowl Xtra Large 1, with the Chicago Bears meeting up with the Colts in Indianapolis. And if that weren't enough to start us off right, Monday night has another double-header waiting with Minnesota and Green Bay tangling for an early advantage in the NFC North, while Oakland hosts the Denver Bronco's in an AFC West tilt.
I'm tellin' ya, it's still a month or more away, but I am ready to get this season started RIGHT NOW !!! It should be an extremely exciting and entertaining year in both collegiate football, and the National Football League.
As everybody's favorite attention deprived wide receiver would say: "Getch ya popcorn ready!" I bet you thought I meant Ocho Cinco at first, didn't you !?
July 22nd
Drew Brees Must Be in Shock(ey)
They’ve probably tried several times, for hours now, to try and remove (or at least soften) that extremely wide, toothy grin stretched across the face of Saint’s quarterback Drew Brees. After announcing the impending trade for Jeremy Shockey, only coach Sean Payton could be happier than the former Purdue quarterback, who now has a bonafide #2 receiver that will not only give Brees a huge mid-range target, but also take away some of the double pressure applied to Marques Colston. So HE is smiling big today too.
New Orleans now, at least as it stands from first-look impression, immediately joins Indianapolis, San Diego and New England with what looks to be score-from-anywhere-at-anytime-capability, which bodes well for them in the defensive NFC South.
Imagine opposing defenes trying to determine just which weapon the Saints will be utilizing on any given play. A swing pass to Reggie Bush, Deuce off-tackle, Reggie with a interior-zone run, the post to Colston, crossing route to David Patten, or the crossing route from their newest acquisition, Jeremey Shockey.
Oh, and did I mention run and pass blocking? Yeah, well, Shockey does that pretty well too. And that makes Deuce and Reggie (as well as Stecker and Thomas) just as happy as the rest. What’s more, Brees will have an extra big-body slowing down oncoming defensive ends, and then Shockey can release off the DE and take the short dump pass and quickly advance the ball to the next level while linebackers and the secondary are dealing with Colston, Patten and Henderson.
And that doesn’t even count Robert Meachem and Adrian Arrington, two guys who could make the receiving corps one of the best in the league if they come through this season. Mark my words, Arrington will prove to be a significant addition to the Saints this year.
But with Jeremey Shockey, the Saints can now afford to utilize the run more often, which enables them to control the clock and keep their defense rested. Something they could not do last year enough times to help them stave off defeat in critical games. Of course, that 0-4 start put everyone behind the 8-ball to start with, but this year the balance this offense has could potentially give New Orleans the type of defense Indianapolis has enjoyed: Big leads that allow them to tee-off and rush the quarterback. So add Sedrick Ellis and Jonathan Vilma to the list of happy campers!
Now all of this is extremely premature and obviously completely dependant upon how Shockey works and gets along with the team. But from all indications thus far, he’s just as excited to be going to a team that wants him as much as he wanted to be on a team that needed his skill set. And believe, Drew Brees will find him…..again, and again, and again. Ask one Antonio Gates of San Diego.
The Saints were already my pick to win their division, but the addition to Shockey gives me reason to pencil in New Orleans as one half of the NFC Championship duo that will meet to see who advances to the Super Bowl in Tampa in 2009.
I know we’re along way off from that right now, but this move just added even more excitement to the NFL season, and half the training camps aren’t even completed yet !
July 28th
The Brett Favre Saga
My fellow correspondent Michael Schottey had a wonderful article on his thoughts as to why Brett should have left well enough alone. And I completely agree. Brett shouldn’t have unretired. But Thompson should have given him his release. Even though I think what is going on in Green Bay’s front office right now is absolutely ridiculous, it didn’t have to be that way. Brett shouldn’t have come back, but he did. And the Packers were ridiculous for ending it right there, one way or the other.
As GM, ( STOP LAUGHING !! ) I would have made one of two VERY QUICK decisions:
1) Brett Favre is back as our starting QB and we’ll allow him to be here through the remainder of his contract. If he decides to retire and then un-retire after next season, he will be release - and I’ve talked with him about this and he is in total agreement. END OF STORY.
Or…..
2) I would quickly give him his desired relase. ( STOP LAUGHING ! ) You see, I’d betcha dollars to doughnuts he would NOT lead the Vikes (or Bears, or Bucs or Jets or anyone else) over the Pack for a division title or playoff victory.
Think about it.
If Favre was allowed his release, would Minnesota REALLY snap him up? I don’t think so. Why would they want a larger circus coming to them than the one currently being played out in Green Bay? And imagine how long it would take him to “win” those players over, understand the offense well enough to play full-time and have the offense gel into the potential that already exists in Minnesota.
The Bears? Even worse. Favre can’t carry that team as they have no wideouts and the line is being rebuilt. The Bears only addressed their horrible running game in the draft this past April, after wasting time trying to see if Cedric Benson could carry the load ONLY AFTER unloading their most productive RB in years - Thomas Jones.
IF the Bears had a solid offensive line and a solid back that could carry the load, not to mention at least ONE wideout of consistent quality, then yes, he might have a good shot at running them to the playoffs. But with the aforementioned disaster on offense already holding that team back for the past two years, you can easily see why either Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton are NOT the reason the Bears stink. It’s their front office. Grossman hasn’t helped, but the QB is the scapegoat in the Windy City.
But I digress.
The GM had the opportunity to squelch this drama immediately with either a quick release, or an announcement that Favre is back as our #1 QB. If he had made Favre the number one, they would have lost Rodgers after this year. So what? What legendary performances has he accomplished?
That might seem cold, but hey, it’s a cold hard fact. If he’s THAT good, he’ll relish the opportunity to go somewhere and possibly start. If he’s THAT good, he’ll stick around knowing how good a group of players he will have in Green Bay once Brett decides it’s really time to hang it up.
So yes, Favre shouldn’t have come back but he did. But Thompson should have made a quick, total decision to either reinstate him as the starting QB or release him immediately.
Either way, the Packer GM has blown the entire thing and has turned it into what it is at present. A cluster !
August
8/04/08
Colt Trumps Colts in Hall of Fame Game
It was the unintended storyline of the pre-pre-season game in Canton, Ohio last night. Hawaii’s graduated gun-slinger, Colt Brennan, goes nearly perfect in an aerial assault against the Indianapolis Colts and helps the Redskins end a perfect weekend (for their fans) with a 30-16 victory over Indy.
Now let me be clear about one thing before I go on. Well, let me make it a few things.
#1) Mr. Campbell and Mr. Collins will still be 1-2 on the Skins QB depth chart. #2) He performed this feat against the 2nd and 3rd string units of the still-injury-recovering-and-suddenly-retiring-defensive tackles-at-age-23 Indy defense. (Quinn Pitcock, who was slated to be the starting DT for the Colts in just his second year, retired abruptly right before training camp) So let’s not get carried away with his two-touchdown performance.
But it was fun to watch his excitement and he did lay some nice tosses into the hands of his receivers. I’m happy for the kid, even if it was against my Colts and even if it wasn’t in a crucial moment of NFL history. And for Redskin fans, it certainly was a nice way to top-off a weekend of celebration as legendary Daryl Green and Art Monk get enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And to add one more voice to the cresendo league-wide on the long awaited induction of Art Monk: It’s about damn time !
For the Colts, they have a backup QB duel heating up. No, Sorgi will still be the backup. But the battle for the #3 spot was on last night, and Quinn Gray came away the early leader in those sweepstakes.
While Sorgi was “protected” on the sidelines after his initial series of work, Gray led Indy to a couple of TD’s to put the Colts up by a 16-9 margin. The “hefty-lefty” came in and looked every bit as unsure of the Colts playbook as one would expect after just a week or so learning it. That he couldn’t move all over the field like Gray can is the main reason he failed, while Gray succeeded. That’s definitely going to be a consideration when it comes time to make the decision on who the #3 guy will be for the Colts.
The Indianapolis defense looked like it had it’s top two starters missing, but I did like the play of rookie DE Curtis Johnson of Clark-Atlanta, along with rookie Tight End Gijon Robinson from Missouri Western State.
Those two, along with rookie wideout Pierre Garcon of Mount Union and rookie RB Mike Hart of Michigan were the standouts for the Colts last night. I must also add that rookie offensive lineman Jamey Richards of Buffalo, who was playing Center and snapped the ball past the QB for a safety earlier in the game, came back and did some good work on the run blocks for his ballclub later in the game. Good work Jamey.
For Washington, I like the way Jason Campbell looked in his initial start. You can tell Zorn has worked with him on his footwork while going through his dropback. It looks comfortable and natural, which is sometimes not the case when changing up a guy who is used to doing things one way. I also must applaud the exception game by rookie Safety Chris Horton out of UCLA. The guy was everywhere and certainly planted himself into the “must watch closely” list in camp and the remainder of pre-season.
Rookie TE Fred Davis had some good plays as well for the Skins. Sure would’ve like to have seen wideouts Malcom Kelly and Devin Thomas in action. The more you look at that offense, the more you get to thinking that this team is going to be racking up some points pretty soon, and pretty consistently.
Finally, kudos to both coaches for a very low penalty count, no fisticuffs or serious injuries, though there was some good, solid hitting going on. I like how Zorn has implemented the passing offense from Seattle, but allowed Joe Bugel to keep the running game basically as it was prior to Zorn’s arrival. Good move.
Though just an early, non-critical pre-pre-season football game, I enjoyed it and am SUPER GLAD football is back on a television set in my living room! Finally! The Manning brothers were right during their television commercial - I miss football too !
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8/7/08
Favre Lands a Jet,....or, Jets Land Favre
Well the trade has finally happened, although while the ink still dries there could be further (and stranger) things still to come. But considering for the moment that Brett Favre reports to the Jets and begins to lead this team into the 2008 campaign, how much of an impact will he make in terms of playoff contention?
On the immediate surface it is obvious that he is the better of the previous options at QB. With the Jets moving Pennington out and dropping Clemens to the backup, New York has a top veteran QB that can go toe to toe with any QB in the league. But now comes the hard part.
Three difficult parts to be precise.
#1) How quickly and how well can Brett Favre digest the new offense and wear it like a glove?
This will be the biggest element because the longer it takes him to get comfortable, the longer it will take the Jets to hold position among the AFC playoff teams that are already ahead of New York coming into this season. More on that a bit later.
#2) How comfortable will Brett be in this new environment and how quickly will he gel with his new teammates?
I tend to believe Brett can be a positive influence just about anywhere, in any locker room. The circumstances surrounding this new environment, however, are pretty bitter and are probably wearing on his nerves. Not New York, but just the leftover taste in his mouth from Green Bay and being forced out of town. So the danger now is for this feeling to continue lingering, dragging him down even further. Which is why it will be extremely critical for a solid bond to be established with his new offensive teammates. And soon.
#3) The schedule.
It ain’t gonna be easy, and it starts out tough right away. Let’s look at the first half which is the time one figures Brett will have the most struggle with as he learns the system and the capabilities of his new offensive weapons.
At Miami, home to New England, at San Diego, home to Arizona, BYE, home to the Bengals, at Oakland and then home to both Kansas City and Buffalo.
So that’s a game each against division opponents, with two of those games on the road. Which is good - because a home game gives a better chance for a “W” most times, and since the division games at home are later in the season, you would expect Favre & Co. to be firing on all cylinders by then.
But at any rate, the three division games ARE winnable, but doubtful against New England. The other games that will be an immediate test and impact the playoff race in the first half of the season for New York will be games wtih Cincinnati, KC, Oakland and San Diego.
Just a goofy sidethought I had at this point: If you think the media circus has been crazy the past month or so in the Brett Favre saga, just wait and see what would happen if by some miracle Brett leads the Jets to an early 4-0 record, with upsets over New England and San Diego. Not saying he will (and I believe it to be practically impossible) but if he DID, the media would be going bananas.
I think New England and San Diego are just too much, too early, for the Jets to handle - even with Brett Favre. But the Pats are coming to the Meadowlands, so there’s is that. And the games wtih the Bengals, KC and Oakland are still possible for New York to win. Again, it will come down to how well Favre and the offense have come together by that time.
The second half of the season doesn’t look AS daunting, but still provides challenges - especially on the road. Most notable are the games at New England, at Seattle and at Tennessee. They also have the third of four West Coast trips, this time against the 49ers, who have a very stout defense as well. Home games include St. Louis, Denver, Buffalo and the regular season closer against the Dolphins. So realistically, the Jets could have 3 wins out of 4 at home in the second half. Denver and Buffalo will be the toughtest of those four.
#4) The seriously tough AFC.
The playoff spots in the AFC are hard to come by and there are many teams with the talent to legitimately be in post-season play. Right off the top you have Indy, New England, San Diego and Pittsburgh as favorites for division winners. Then comes Jacksonville and possibly Cleveland. All six were playoff teams last year. This year, add in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Denver and the Jets, and you can see why each and every AFC game for New York will be critical this season. And they play three games against AFC playoff teams from a year ago ( New England - twice & San Diego) as well as three potential playoff teams ( Tennessee, Denver & Cincy) fighting for spots this year.
The biggest cause of concern in this regard? All of the aforementioned games against AFC opponents obviously have playoff implications. However, in the first half of the season for the Jets, they play seven games against AFC teams, as opposed to just 5 in the second half.
That gives Favre and the Jets very little room for error, and puts significantly more pressure on Favre and the offense to be ready to roll right out of the gate and be able to put points on the board. However, one thing Brett has is a potentially excellent offensive line and a solid running back. If the Jets can use that to their advantage and keep the “need” of a huge passing game to a minimum in the first half of the season, it would give Favre even more time to get the system down and become more proficient with it.
The only thing that jeopardizes a more conservative approach in those first five games is that four of the first five teams they face will be high-scoring offensive ballclubs, so unless the defense is extremely tough and can hold each of those teams in the low teens, it will be necessary for the offense to score a bunch of points.
To summarize, I think if the Jets and Favre can come away with a record of 5-3 in the first half of the season, they could be on their way to a wild card spot. If they’re 4-4 it’s still possible. Anything below that is not too probable, because even though the second half of the season isn’t quite as formidable, it’s not division 1-AA ball either.
If the Jets can go 4-4 or better in both halves, they have a shot. The most critical element in the Jets schedule is their ability to protect home turf. If they can manage to go 7-1 at home, they should be in the playoffs, because I believe they can win at least win one, if not two on the road.
Lots of room for possibility, lots of room for disaster. Should be quite a wild, fun ride for Jets fans (and Brett Favre fans) to witness in the upcoming season.
Certainly Favre helps make the Jets an immediate contender, with the caveat that he learns the system and gels enough/early enough with his new offensive teammates. That’s a all order for anyone. If he does lead them to a playoff spot, there is no doubt about the HOF resume of this QB.
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So now you're caught up on MOST of the stuff that has happened the past 6 months or so. Not included were my Chicago Cubs quest for a centennial celebration of a World Series title. (They are currently ahead of Milwaukee by 4 and a half games ! Also in baseball, the annual Colt World Series in Lafayette, Indiana just recently completed as McCallen, Texas blasted Puerto Rico 12-2 in the Championship game. But not before requiring a game ending tag out at the plate of the potential tying run by Hoosier North, giving McCallen a nail-biting 2-1 victory to advance.
I'll have my pre-season NFL thoughts and power rankings a little later, but for now, that's it.
That and the fact my Boilers lost and it takes time to recover from stinging losses like that one.
But I'm back now and ready to roll through further musings and observations. What I want to do before adding anything "new" for the upcoming football season, is to copy/paste some writing I have done over at drafttek.com in order to add some perpsective to what has happened since I last wrote.
In fact, today we are still cherishing one of the most magnificent performances in Olympic history as Michael Phelps broke the 1972 gold medal mark set by Mark Spitz during the Munich games, winning his 8th total gold medal after leading the U.S. team in the 4x100 relay. It was quite a showing the past 9 nine days and completely over-shadowed the "Redeem Team" basketball squad.
But allow me to recap some of the summer-long writings that I have penned since March. First off a re-cap of the 2008 NFL Draft for the Colts:
April
This was a substance draft for the Indianapolis Colts.
No glitz, no glamour, no WOW moment. Strictly bidness.
1) Three O-lineman, all capable of being Jeff Saturday's eventual replacement, but two potential starters right off the bat will end up at Guard. The O-line is now potentially secure for close to a decade, with possibly the exception of depth at Left Tackle. There's always the risk of injury or a contract mess down the road, but all in all, the O-line is near perfectly completed. Add this to the clever move up in last April's draft to get LOT Tony Ugoh, and you can now see how formidable this frontline could be for years to come.
2) Running Back depth targeted. I wonder why we allowed Chauncey Washington to slip by, but there is no doubt the Colts know running backs, so I'm ultimately not worried. Hart is a leader and has the moxy to fight continually for the extra yard AND HE CAN CATCH THE ROCK. As some other ColtPower poster noted in a 2008 Draft thread, we can sign a bundle of UDFA's for RB and probably find another potential starter. Ultimately, KK is gone I think.
3) Tight End Depth - Love the double TE selections of Tamme and Santi. I thought for awhile we were going to snag big Joey Haynos, but a good receiving TE and a good blocking TE gives us needed depth and flexibility. No doubt the Offensive Coordinator is pleased that he has some bodies to work with again.
4) WR - Wideout pickup late is most notable for what it doesn't say: Marvin's injury looks career ending. So that, at least initially, is a very good sign. Now we have "The Flying Frenchman" to utilize (potentially) as a kick/punt returner - and Lord knows we need one - as well as an understudy for either Marvin or Gonzo, or both. The beauty of the pick is that there is no IMMEDIATE pressure on him to perform as a wideout. He can learn the system and mesh into the fold. He's not a burner, but he's tough once he catches the ball and he's willing to go over the middle.
5) The LB corps was helped in depth with the addition of Philip Wheeler. No way is he an edge rusher, but definitely adds quality to LB rotation. His tackling is his strongest asset, but his ability vs the pass (as it relates to RB coverage) is questionable. This could translate into Special Teams standout and backup LB. No doubt Dungy and Meeks will shore up any weaknesses and he'll be another good overall fit. Barring injuries, the position is upgraded for the '08 season.
6) Many Colt fans have noted how our pass rush needed another phenom to help in case of injury or in general rotational depth. Marcus Howard answers the call and BP says he's "not Mathis, but he's LIKE Mathis"....which is cool by me. His weakness is tackling skill vs the run, but he is very quick when it comes to rushing the QB. Probably a niche player but brings needed depth to the DE rotation.
In general, I had hoped for an offense-heavy draft and that's really what we got. But it wasn't at the skill position, which is fine, because we certainly need those "big uglies" up front. The injuries along the O-line killed us last year, and with the off-season FA losses, made depth an immediately serious issue. No longer.
Defense had a depth issue at DE and we resolved that, but there is still a void to fill at DT. Perhaps UDFA's fill that void or we wait til next year. The LB corps and special teams were addressed with the Wheeler and Garcon picks, but the Colts will have to become much more productive on special teams if they want to stop the bleeding by giving up so much field position when they kick the ball away.
All in all it was certainly a solid draft and the coaching staff, BP and so forth will probably end up as genius yet again for the subtle, low-key picks that turn to gold.
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May 19th
Indy Awaits Word
The anticipation is palpable.
Occassional peeks out through tiny slivers of curtain can be seen in homes across the state. Hushed conversations are going on in nearly every corner of the state, be it at businesses, restaraunt dining tables, the local watering hole or around the family living room. Farmers have put away their implements, opting instead to nervously draining another cup of coffee.
The ticking of each agonizing second of this, a very mild Monday in May, can be heard as if it eminates from a gigantic kettle drum, perhaps 50 times larger than Purdue’s Worlds Largest Drum. Larry Bird’s presser on plans for the upcoming NBA draft go ignored. Larry-freakin-Bird ignored? In Indiana? Drivers at the Indy 500 noticed an unusual, even disturbing distraction from the usual fervor during qualifications this past weekend.
What is going on they wonder?
Simply put, the citizens of the great state of Indiana are anxious. They’re nervous. They’re also cautiously excited. Giddy almost. Yet wary. Once they were so close, yet fate handed them a dagger. This year the nerves are still there, but the lid is on the outward show of emotion as the clock continues to tick towards Tuesday.
All eyes and ears are straining to hear the first reports from Atlanta on that day.
Okay, perhaps I am over-stating it a bit. Maybe there aren’t any folks peeking out from behind closed curtains.And maybe it wasn’t quite as hushed downtown as I thought it was yesterday. And yeah, farmers always drink coffee after putting away the tractor, so that might have been a bit over-the-top. And okay, that ticking sound is actually from my wristwatch. Seems my head was laying on my wrist after falling asleep at my computer, thinking about what to write. But it IS mild here in Indiana today! 59 degrees a high for May?
But I digress.
Tuesday in Atlanta. It is the site of the annual NFL owners meeting and it IS definitely on the minds of many here in Indiana.You see, Indianapolis - and the citizens of Indiana - want to host the 2012 Super Bowl. Bad. Real bad. Almost as bad as getting another Super Bowl win. But tell ya what, why not “kill two birds with one stone”, ya know? If Indy can host the 2012 Super Bowl AND the Colts win it right here in our own backyard that very year (against the Cowboys !! ) everything from last year is forgiven. Deal?
By a vote of 17-15 last year, Indianapolis became the first NFL city in over 20 years that was building a brand new stadium, yet lost out in the bidding to host a Super Bowl. Seems Jerry Jones and an extra $23 million incentive gave Dallas a slight edge in last year’s bid. Thus, the city of Indianapolis is back at it again this year.
The city doesn’t have beaches, palm trees or enchanted mountain peeks in the distance. But not every NFL city can be so fortunate. And if the folks in the Motor City can play host to the biggest sporting event in the world, there is no doubt Indianapolis can do just as good a job, if not better.
And that is no slap at Motown either, who did a fantastic job the last time they hosted the Super Bowl. But in Indy, we host big events every year for hundreds of thousands when the Indy 500 starts up every May, and again in August when NASCAR comes to town for the Brickyard 400. And there are all those Final Fours and other top athletic events year ’round.
But this is a different animal altogether. We know.
Houston and Glendale are the other cities up for the bid nomination, and both have hosted a Super Bowl already. Glendale finished up their first one last year and did a wonderful job. Which leaves, in reality, Houston and Indy. Houston held their first a few years back. And after having come so close last year, one would think it’d a done deal really. Which is why the anxiety is sky-high. Restrained. Hair trigger ready for release. One columnist in the state commented that Indy is in the “pole position” for getting the bid. We’ll see. I hope so.
The city of Indianapolis and the citizens of the state deserve it. Think of all those years of residents forced to support the Cubs, the White Sox or the Reds in MLB. Or in the NFL rooting for the Bears, Packers or (gasp!) the Bengals when a professional team didn’t exist in Indy save the ABA Pacers.
Talk about coming a long way, baby ! (Apologies for ending this column with an obscure 1970’s cigarette ad reference) But then again, it’s rather aprapo for just where this city has come from, don’t you think? From obscurity to a world stage. How fitting it would be.
Have a great day all !
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May 20th
Indy It Is !
Well, just 24 hours since I last posted, and the 2012 Super Bowl host has been selected. Congratulations to the city of Indianapolis. Well deserved by the entire citizenry of both the city and state, who have long supported this team (and others) who have not exactly racked up W’s and playoff appearances until more recent years.
It took a surprising 4 rounds of voting, but Indianapolis was the winner of what was perhaps to be their final attempt for hosting a Super Bowl. After all, if a brand new $750 million dollar stadium can’t bring a Super Bowl, I’m guessing not much else will.
There are also a couple of folks in the Indianapolis bid circle from the past that need to be recognized for initially getting Indianapolis to the precipice of actually being in a position for the bidding. Former Indy mayor Bart Peterson, who lost to current Mayor Greg Ballard in the last election. It was Mayor Peterson who initially ( and continually ) pushing and prodding the state to buy off on bringing a new stadium to Indianapolis, and thus, a chance at hosting the world’s premiere sporting event.
Another gentleman, attorney Fred Glass, was the head of the delegation to put together the first bid for an Indianapolis Super Bowl last year, only to fall two votes shy to Dallas. He is to be commended for building the original concept of the bid and having left in place a tremendous outline on how to come back a year later and bid again.
Mark Miles, this year’is bid leader, kept that hope and dream alive and ensured that the first failed bid came back as a solid foundation and helped to bring the city of Indianapolis the biggest event in the city’s history.
Current Mayor Greg Ballard has stated that Indy will put on a show to remember. I, for one, intend to be in the middle of the merriment in downtown Indianapolis that week in 2012 and witness in person what exactly he is talking about and to witness this potentially precedent-setting event.
Let’s now hope - not only for the sake of this wonderful opportunity for Indianapolis, but the entire football loving world - that the owners and NFLPA can reach common ground on a new collective bargaining agreeement, thereby removing the chance of a potential strike, or worse yet, a non-Super Bowl year.
Which would be the cruelest of ironies on what’s supposed to be the day Indy hosts their Super Bowl.
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July 21st
I Can Feel It In My Bones Now !
Just 5 more weeks and 3 days from today, at 7 p.m., it begins. A brand-spanking new season of pro football returns. Whew....it was getting dicey there for awhile, suffering through tennis and golf and NASCAR weekend after weekend. Nothing wrong with those sports if you're participating IN them, but they are NOT a television spectator sport. The biggest distraction from the doldrums of the off-season for me has been my beloved Chicago Cubs. If they pull off a world championship in the 100th year since their last, that could quite possibly eclipse the NFL for a week or two. Possibly.
In the meantime, training camps are slated to get underway (and have) and the fans will get their first look at rookies and newly acquired free agents that give hope to those teams looking from the outside in, trying desperately to find that final piece of the puzzle that will ingite a run to Super Bowl XXXXXGOLLIEGEE....or whatever roman numerals apply these days. (It's officially Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa).While the camps are a welcomed return of football action, and the Hall of Fame game between the Colts and Redskins will signal the new season, it's not quite a fix for the complete withdrawal.
But it's better than suffering through another episode of pool tournaments and truck driving in Alaska. And if you're a big fan of the Indianapolis Colts or Dallas Cowboys, you will get an extra treat by enjoying the new digs of a wonderful new stadium for the first time. That is worth a pre-season viist just to say you were there for the first game ever.
No wonder Brett Favre is climbing the walls to get back into uniform (any uniform apparently) and start playing the game he loves again. Okay, there's my gratuitous mention of Brett and a not-so-subtle jab at his not-so-subtle change of heart about playing (again) in the NFL. And while much of the focus nationwide is on the NFL, many like me are also a huge fans of collegiate football. After all, it's mainly where future NFL stars make their name and cause the fans to start drooling, hoping one day that star is in uniform for their favorite team.
Before ever seeing an NFL game in person, I was fortunate to have gone to several college games as a youngster. My first ever was in 1969. Yes, that's right, I'm that freakin old ! It was a top national matchup between Stanford and Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana. A beautifully sunny Saturday afternoon in October, with the sounds of the 5th Dimension's "Aquarius" blaring on the car radios as we drove into the throng of tailgaters awaiting what turned out to be an unforgettable shoot-out between two highly talented quarterbacks. Jim Plunkett for the Cardinal, and Mike Phipps for the Boilermakers.
In the end, Phipps led the hometeam to a thrilling 36-35 victory and made an indelible mark on this youngster for life. Football was AWESOME, and being in the stadium to hear the roar of the crowds, smell the aroma from wafts of cigar smoke, taking part in the pre-game tailgating and enjoying the rich sounds of the bands. It was, and still is, a truly a remarkable atmosphere for a young boy to experience foootball for the first time.
So while the NFL kicks off it's 2008-09 season officially on Thursday, September 4th, at 7 p.m. with the Redskins traveling to Gotham to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Giants of New York, there are some compelling early games to start with in August on the college gridiron. Consider the opening television game on CBS, August 23rd at 7 p.m., featuring Fort Valley State at Valdosta State. Ugh,.......ahem,....wait a second. Don't consider that one.
Okay, here are a couple a few days later (August 28th) that are sure to provide some drama: North Carolina State at South Carolina ( 7p.m. on ESPN) and Oregon at Stanford ( 8 p.m. on ESPN 2). Now those aren't too bad at all. But my personal favorite for most interesting early season game in college football will be the USC-Virginia game on the 30th of August, played at Virginia at 2:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN. Can the Cavs upset the Trojans in Charlottesville while over 61,000 raucous fans pack Scott Stadium? It will be fun to watch them try.
Other interesting games on the 30th of August will feature Alabama at Clemson, Michigan State at Cal, Illinois vs Missouri and Washington at Oregon. So in the first week or so of college football, we're looking at almost a dozen games that feature conference matchups, state rivalries and unusual cross-country matchups.
And that first full NFL Sunday should be a treat to watch as well. Straight outta the shoot it's a division game between Tampa Bay and New Orleans in the NFC South, while the AFC South has Jacksonville traveling to Tennessee. Zona goes to San Francisco in an NFC West battle, while the revamped Jets take on the new-look Dolphins in Miami. And the two top matchups on opening Sunday in the NFL? At 4:15 p.m. it should be a wild one between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns, with the Dawg Pound certain to be at maximum frenzy.
Then the late game features a rematch of Super Bowl Xtra Large 1, with the Chicago Bears meeting up with the Colts in Indianapolis. And if that weren't enough to start us off right, Monday night has another double-header waiting with Minnesota and Green Bay tangling for an early advantage in the NFC North, while Oakland hosts the Denver Bronco's in an AFC West tilt.
I'm tellin' ya, it's still a month or more away, but I am ready to get this season started RIGHT NOW !!! It should be an extremely exciting and entertaining year in both collegiate football, and the National Football League.
As everybody's favorite attention deprived wide receiver would say: "Getch ya popcorn ready!" I bet you thought I meant Ocho Cinco at first, didn't you !?
July 22nd
Drew Brees Must Be in Shock(ey)
They’ve probably tried several times, for hours now, to try and remove (or at least soften) that extremely wide, toothy grin stretched across the face of Saint’s quarterback Drew Brees. After announcing the impending trade for Jeremy Shockey, only coach Sean Payton could be happier than the former Purdue quarterback, who now has a bonafide #2 receiver that will not only give Brees a huge mid-range target, but also take away some of the double pressure applied to Marques Colston. So HE is smiling big today too.
New Orleans now, at least as it stands from first-look impression, immediately joins Indianapolis, San Diego and New England with what looks to be score-from-anywhere-at-anytime-capability, which bodes well for them in the defensive NFC South.
Imagine opposing defenes trying to determine just which weapon the Saints will be utilizing on any given play. A swing pass to Reggie Bush, Deuce off-tackle, Reggie with a interior-zone run, the post to Colston, crossing route to David Patten, or the crossing route from their newest acquisition, Jeremey Shockey.
Oh, and did I mention run and pass blocking? Yeah, well, Shockey does that pretty well too. And that makes Deuce and Reggie (as well as Stecker and Thomas) just as happy as the rest. What’s more, Brees will have an extra big-body slowing down oncoming defensive ends, and then Shockey can release off the DE and take the short dump pass and quickly advance the ball to the next level while linebackers and the secondary are dealing with Colston, Patten and Henderson.
And that doesn’t even count Robert Meachem and Adrian Arrington, two guys who could make the receiving corps one of the best in the league if they come through this season. Mark my words, Arrington will prove to be a significant addition to the Saints this year.
But with Jeremey Shockey, the Saints can now afford to utilize the run more often, which enables them to control the clock and keep their defense rested. Something they could not do last year enough times to help them stave off defeat in critical games. Of course, that 0-4 start put everyone behind the 8-ball to start with, but this year the balance this offense has could potentially give New Orleans the type of defense Indianapolis has enjoyed: Big leads that allow them to tee-off and rush the quarterback. So add Sedrick Ellis and Jonathan Vilma to the list of happy campers!
Now all of this is extremely premature and obviously completely dependant upon how Shockey works and gets along with the team. But from all indications thus far, he’s just as excited to be going to a team that wants him as much as he wanted to be on a team that needed his skill set. And believe, Drew Brees will find him…..again, and again, and again. Ask one Antonio Gates of San Diego.
The Saints were already my pick to win their division, but the addition to Shockey gives me reason to pencil in New Orleans as one half of the NFC Championship duo that will meet to see who advances to the Super Bowl in Tampa in 2009.
I know we’re along way off from that right now, but this move just added even more excitement to the NFL season, and half the training camps aren’t even completed yet !
July 28th
The Brett Favre Saga
My fellow correspondent Michael Schottey had a wonderful article on his thoughts as to why Brett should have left well enough alone. And I completely agree. Brett shouldn’t have unretired. But Thompson should have given him his release. Even though I think what is going on in Green Bay’s front office right now is absolutely ridiculous, it didn’t have to be that way. Brett shouldn’t have come back, but he did. And the Packers were ridiculous for ending it right there, one way or the other.
As GM, ( STOP LAUGHING !! ) I would have made one of two VERY QUICK decisions:
1) Brett Favre is back as our starting QB and we’ll allow him to be here through the remainder of his contract. If he decides to retire and then un-retire after next season, he will be release - and I’ve talked with him about this and he is in total agreement. END OF STORY.
Or…..
2) I would quickly give him his desired relase. ( STOP LAUGHING ! ) You see, I’d betcha dollars to doughnuts he would NOT lead the Vikes (or Bears, or Bucs or Jets or anyone else) over the Pack for a division title or playoff victory.
Think about it.
If Favre was allowed his release, would Minnesota REALLY snap him up? I don’t think so. Why would they want a larger circus coming to them than the one currently being played out in Green Bay? And imagine how long it would take him to “win” those players over, understand the offense well enough to play full-time and have the offense gel into the potential that already exists in Minnesota.
The Bears? Even worse. Favre can’t carry that team as they have no wideouts and the line is being rebuilt. The Bears only addressed their horrible running game in the draft this past April, after wasting time trying to see if Cedric Benson could carry the load ONLY AFTER unloading their most productive RB in years - Thomas Jones.
IF the Bears had a solid offensive line and a solid back that could carry the load, not to mention at least ONE wideout of consistent quality, then yes, he might have a good shot at running them to the playoffs. But with the aforementioned disaster on offense already holding that team back for the past two years, you can easily see why either Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton are NOT the reason the Bears stink. It’s their front office. Grossman hasn’t helped, but the QB is the scapegoat in the Windy City.
But I digress.
The GM had the opportunity to squelch this drama immediately with either a quick release, or an announcement that Favre is back as our #1 QB. If he had made Favre the number one, they would have lost Rodgers after this year. So what? What legendary performances has he accomplished?
That might seem cold, but hey, it’s a cold hard fact. If he’s THAT good, he’ll relish the opportunity to go somewhere and possibly start. If he’s THAT good, he’ll stick around knowing how good a group of players he will have in Green Bay once Brett decides it’s really time to hang it up.
So yes, Favre shouldn’t have come back but he did. But Thompson should have made a quick, total decision to either reinstate him as the starting QB or release him immediately.
Either way, the Packer GM has blown the entire thing and has turned it into what it is at present. A cluster !
August
8/04/08
Colt Trumps Colts in Hall of Fame Game
It was the unintended storyline of the pre-pre-season game in Canton, Ohio last night. Hawaii’s graduated gun-slinger, Colt Brennan, goes nearly perfect in an aerial assault against the Indianapolis Colts and helps the Redskins end a perfect weekend (for their fans) with a 30-16 victory over Indy.
Now let me be clear about one thing before I go on. Well, let me make it a few things.
#1) Mr. Campbell and Mr. Collins will still be 1-2 on the Skins QB depth chart. #2) He performed this feat against the 2nd and 3rd string units of the still-injury-recovering-and-suddenly-retiring-defensive tackles-at-age-23 Indy defense. (Quinn Pitcock, who was slated to be the starting DT for the Colts in just his second year, retired abruptly right before training camp) So let’s not get carried away with his two-touchdown performance.
But it was fun to watch his excitement and he did lay some nice tosses into the hands of his receivers. I’m happy for the kid, even if it was against my Colts and even if it wasn’t in a crucial moment of NFL history. And for Redskin fans, it certainly was a nice way to top-off a weekend of celebration as legendary Daryl Green and Art Monk get enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And to add one more voice to the cresendo league-wide on the long awaited induction of Art Monk: It’s about damn time !
For the Colts, they have a backup QB duel heating up. No, Sorgi will still be the backup. But the battle for the #3 spot was on last night, and Quinn Gray came away the early leader in those sweepstakes.
While Sorgi was “protected” on the sidelines after his initial series of work, Gray led Indy to a couple of TD’s to put the Colts up by a 16-9 margin. The “hefty-lefty” came in and looked every bit as unsure of the Colts playbook as one would expect after just a week or so learning it. That he couldn’t move all over the field like Gray can is the main reason he failed, while Gray succeeded. That’s definitely going to be a consideration when it comes time to make the decision on who the #3 guy will be for the Colts.
The Indianapolis defense looked like it had it’s top two starters missing, but I did like the play of rookie DE Curtis Johnson of Clark-Atlanta, along with rookie Tight End Gijon Robinson from Missouri Western State.
Those two, along with rookie wideout Pierre Garcon of Mount Union and rookie RB Mike Hart of Michigan were the standouts for the Colts last night. I must also add that rookie offensive lineman Jamey Richards of Buffalo, who was playing Center and snapped the ball past the QB for a safety earlier in the game, came back and did some good work on the run blocks for his ballclub later in the game. Good work Jamey.
For Washington, I like the way Jason Campbell looked in his initial start. You can tell Zorn has worked with him on his footwork while going through his dropback. It looks comfortable and natural, which is sometimes not the case when changing up a guy who is used to doing things one way. I also must applaud the exception game by rookie Safety Chris Horton out of UCLA. The guy was everywhere and certainly planted himself into the “must watch closely” list in camp and the remainder of pre-season.
Rookie TE Fred Davis had some good plays as well for the Skins. Sure would’ve like to have seen wideouts Malcom Kelly and Devin Thomas in action. The more you look at that offense, the more you get to thinking that this team is going to be racking up some points pretty soon, and pretty consistently.
Finally, kudos to both coaches for a very low penalty count, no fisticuffs or serious injuries, though there was some good, solid hitting going on. I like how Zorn has implemented the passing offense from Seattle, but allowed Joe Bugel to keep the running game basically as it was prior to Zorn’s arrival. Good move.
Though just an early, non-critical pre-pre-season football game, I enjoyed it and am SUPER GLAD football is back on a television set in my living room! Finally! The Manning brothers were right during their television commercial - I miss football too !
######
8/7/08
Favre Lands a Jet,....or, Jets Land Favre
Well the trade has finally happened, although while the ink still dries there could be further (and stranger) things still to come. But considering for the moment that Brett Favre reports to the Jets and begins to lead this team into the 2008 campaign, how much of an impact will he make in terms of playoff contention?
On the immediate surface it is obvious that he is the better of the previous options at QB. With the Jets moving Pennington out and dropping Clemens to the backup, New York has a top veteran QB that can go toe to toe with any QB in the league. But now comes the hard part.
Three difficult parts to be precise.
#1) How quickly and how well can Brett Favre digest the new offense and wear it like a glove?
This will be the biggest element because the longer it takes him to get comfortable, the longer it will take the Jets to hold position among the AFC playoff teams that are already ahead of New York coming into this season. More on that a bit later.
#2) How comfortable will Brett be in this new environment and how quickly will he gel with his new teammates?
I tend to believe Brett can be a positive influence just about anywhere, in any locker room. The circumstances surrounding this new environment, however, are pretty bitter and are probably wearing on his nerves. Not New York, but just the leftover taste in his mouth from Green Bay and being forced out of town. So the danger now is for this feeling to continue lingering, dragging him down even further. Which is why it will be extremely critical for a solid bond to be established with his new offensive teammates. And soon.
#3) The schedule.
It ain’t gonna be easy, and it starts out tough right away. Let’s look at the first half which is the time one figures Brett will have the most struggle with as he learns the system and the capabilities of his new offensive weapons.
At Miami, home to New England, at San Diego, home to Arizona, BYE, home to the Bengals, at Oakland and then home to both Kansas City and Buffalo.
So that’s a game each against division opponents, with two of those games on the road. Which is good - because a home game gives a better chance for a “W” most times, and since the division games at home are later in the season, you would expect Favre & Co. to be firing on all cylinders by then.
But at any rate, the three division games ARE winnable, but doubtful against New England. The other games that will be an immediate test and impact the playoff race in the first half of the season for New York will be games wtih Cincinnati, KC, Oakland and San Diego.
Just a goofy sidethought I had at this point: If you think the media circus has been crazy the past month or so in the Brett Favre saga, just wait and see what would happen if by some miracle Brett leads the Jets to an early 4-0 record, with upsets over New England and San Diego. Not saying he will (and I believe it to be practically impossible) but if he DID, the media would be going bananas.
I think New England and San Diego are just too much, too early, for the Jets to handle - even with Brett Favre. But the Pats are coming to the Meadowlands, so there’s is that. And the games wtih the Bengals, KC and Oakland are still possible for New York to win. Again, it will come down to how well Favre and the offense have come together by that time.
The second half of the season doesn’t look AS daunting, but still provides challenges - especially on the road. Most notable are the games at New England, at Seattle and at Tennessee. They also have the third of four West Coast trips, this time against the 49ers, who have a very stout defense as well. Home games include St. Louis, Denver, Buffalo and the regular season closer against the Dolphins. So realistically, the Jets could have 3 wins out of 4 at home in the second half. Denver and Buffalo will be the toughtest of those four.
#4) The seriously tough AFC.
The playoff spots in the AFC are hard to come by and there are many teams with the talent to legitimately be in post-season play. Right off the top you have Indy, New England, San Diego and Pittsburgh as favorites for division winners. Then comes Jacksonville and possibly Cleveland. All six were playoff teams last year. This year, add in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Denver and the Jets, and you can see why each and every AFC game for New York will be critical this season. And they play three games against AFC playoff teams from a year ago ( New England - twice & San Diego) as well as three potential playoff teams ( Tennessee, Denver & Cincy) fighting for spots this year.
The biggest cause of concern in this regard? All of the aforementioned games against AFC opponents obviously have playoff implications. However, in the first half of the season for the Jets, they play seven games against AFC teams, as opposed to just 5 in the second half.
That gives Favre and the Jets very little room for error, and puts significantly more pressure on Favre and the offense to be ready to roll right out of the gate and be able to put points on the board. However, one thing Brett has is a potentially excellent offensive line and a solid running back. If the Jets can use that to their advantage and keep the “need” of a huge passing game to a minimum in the first half of the season, it would give Favre even more time to get the system down and become more proficient with it.
The only thing that jeopardizes a more conservative approach in those first five games is that four of the first five teams they face will be high-scoring offensive ballclubs, so unless the defense is extremely tough and can hold each of those teams in the low teens, it will be necessary for the offense to score a bunch of points.
To summarize, I think if the Jets and Favre can come away with a record of 5-3 in the first half of the season, they could be on their way to a wild card spot. If they’re 4-4 it’s still possible. Anything below that is not too probable, because even though the second half of the season isn’t quite as formidable, it’s not division 1-AA ball either.
If the Jets can go 4-4 or better in both halves, they have a shot. The most critical element in the Jets schedule is their ability to protect home turf. If they can manage to go 7-1 at home, they should be in the playoffs, because I believe they can win at least win one, if not two on the road.
Lots of room for possibility, lots of room for disaster. Should be quite a wild, fun ride for Jets fans (and Brett Favre fans) to witness in the upcoming season.
Certainly Favre helps make the Jets an immediate contender, with the caveat that he learns the system and gels enough/early enough with his new offensive teammates. That’s a all order for anyone. If he does lead them to a playoff spot, there is no doubt about the HOF resume of this QB.
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So now you're caught up on MOST of the stuff that has happened the past 6 months or so. Not included were my Chicago Cubs quest for a centennial celebration of a World Series title. (They are currently ahead of Milwaukee by 4 and a half games ! Also in baseball, the annual Colt World Series in Lafayette, Indiana just recently completed as McCallen, Texas blasted Puerto Rico 12-2 in the Championship game. But not before requiring a game ending tag out at the plate of the potential tying run by Hoosier North, giving McCallen a nail-biting 2-1 victory to advance.
I'll have my pre-season NFL thoughts and power rankings a little later, but for now, that's it.
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