Posts Tagged pro football

Todd Haley Should Be the Adult in Pittsburgh

Posted by klownboy in NFL, sports blogging on February 21, 2012

There has been a lot made over the Todd Haley-Ben Roethlisberger brouhaha in the Steel City.

Haley, the new offensive coordinator, has yet to meet with Roethlisberger, the star QB.  Or vice-versa.  Either way, it’s a story that’s starting to run amok in the NFL landscape.

Here’s the deal.  While both of these guys need to be adults and pick up the damn phone, I think most of this falls on Haley.

After all, Big Ben has won two out of three Super Bowls – winning one of those against Haley (while he was an assistant in Arizona).  He is a top-five QB, and he is entering his prime.  His play and success (four AFC North division titles, three AFC titles, and the two aforementioned Super Bowl titles) speak for themselves.

And let’s be real about something: it’s not like Haley has had a lot recent success.  Haley was canned in Kansas city last season after opening the season with a 5-8 record.  His record as Chiefs head coach was 19-26.

Simply put, Haley has no business playing “high post” under ANY circumstances.

Look, I’m confident that these two grown-ass men will start ACTING LIKE grown-ass men and talk sometime before mini-camp.  I just think the new guy should know his role and pick up the damn phone.

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Peyton Needs to Retire

Posted by klownboy in NFL, sports blogging on February 16, 2012

Word came out that Indianapolis Colts QB (at the moment) Peyton Manning had a fourth – a FOURTH – procedure performed on his neck last season.  It was said that this fourth surgery was the most serious of them all.  And the kicker was that this was before his neck fusion surgery Sept. 9.

Simply put, this is a huge freaking deal.

Five surgeries on his neck.  FIVE.

Could you imagine having to evade 300-pound defensive lineman, and hard-hitting linebackers after five procedures done on YOUR neck?  Peyton would be risking a whole helluva lot going out there against the likes of Mario Williams twice a year, Terrell Suggs and my man James Harrison after five neck procedures.

Look, I understand that Peyton has WAY too much pride to not go out on his own terms.  He is a hard worker, and will work tirelessly to get back on the field.

I think dude should retire.

I mean, what else does Peyton have to prove?  He is a four-time MVP winner.  He has won a Super Bowl.  He is arguably the greatest REGULAR SEASON quarterback of all time.

While head injuries are considered the most serious and dangerous injuries, I would imagine neck injuries are a close second.  I cannot see Peyton risking serious complications on his neck for the rest of his life for the sake of salvaging some pride by playing another season or three.

Peyton, here is some unsolicited advice: no matter how much money the Redskins and Dolphins throw at you, it’s not worth jeopardizing your long term health.

Walk away…

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Eli Is Still not Better than Peyton

Posted by klownboy in NFL, sports blogging on February 5, 2012

Congrats to Eli Manning and the New York Giants for beating the New England Patriots, a.k.a. “the anti-Christ” 21-17.  Now folks are debating whether Eli is better than his brother Peyton Manning.

Slow your roll folks.

While Eli is now the more accomplished quarterback in terms of the post-season, Peyton is still the better of the two.  I have always said that Peyton is the most accomplished REGULAR SEASON quarterback in NFL history.  He broke the season touchdown record previously held by Dan Marino.  Peyton is also a multiple MVP winner.

I’m sorry folks, but Eli’s resume doesn’t even compute and compare to Peyton’s.  However, I will say this: Eli is the more CLUTCH quarterback of the two.  A stellar post-season record, including winning both Super Bowl appearances (both against Tom Brady), is the epitome of clutch.

However just because you are more clutch, it does not necessarily make you the best.  Is Big Ben better than Peyton?

I didn’t think so…

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Super Bowl XLVI Preview

Posted by klownboy in NFL, sports blogging on February 2, 2012

I am not ready for the last official NFL game to take place, simply because I am not ready for months of no NFL.

Sigh.

At least this game is the Super Bowl I suppose.  Speaking of which, here is how I see Super Bowl XLVI plays out:

New York Giants vs. New England Patriots.  Ah, another Super Bowl rematch.  We all know there are questions surrounding Rob Gronkowski’s high ankle sprain.  While I think he will play, Gronk will be no more than a glorified decoy.  While the Giants of 2008 shocked the world, that Giants team was not as talented as THIS Giants team.  And this Patriots team was not as talented as that 18-0 juggernaut (which later became 18-1) in the previous Super Bowl matchup.

As for this edition of Giants-Patriots, I think the Giants have the upper hand on the Pats.  The Giants are loaded offensively, QB Eli Manning is playing out of his mind, and the Giants defensive line will harass Pats QB Tom Brady all night long.  Oh, the Pats defense is just not that good – the Denver Broncos game notwithstanding.  I think the game will be close, but I expect the New York team to get over on a Boston-based team ONCE AGAIN…

Giants 27, Patriots 20.

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An Annoying Peyton Manning Poll…

Posted by klownboy in NFL, sports blogging on February 1, 2012

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This Just in: the Pro Bowl Sucks

Posted by klownboy in NFL, sports blogging on January 30, 2012

Wow, talk about an exciting all-star game.  It was so exciting, I didn’t even bother to tune into the game.

Let’s face it folks, the Pro Bowl sucks.

The fans know it.  The players know it (which is why some guys do not bother making the trip).  And most importantly, the commissioner knows  it.

NFL Commissioner/Warden/Playa-Hater Roger Goodell thought that fan interest would increase by allowing players to tweet DURING the game.  He figured that fans would tune in just for the ability to communicate with players or at the very least, see what was on the players’ minds.

Here’s the deal.  The only way the NFL will improve the Pro Bowl (the product and the interest in it) is to do one of the following:

  • Allowing blitzing.  Wouldn’t fans want to see how the best pass rushers would fare against the best offensive linemen?
  • Have huge payouts for the winning team.  I know the players who do participate get bonuses, but what if players on the winning team got an extra $1 million for their troubles?
  • A more radical solution: the winning conference’s teams get an extra draft pick per round.  A little – ok, VERY – extreme, but who wouldn’t want extra draft picks?  Could you imagine the Colts getting an extra first round draft pick?

I admit that none of those recommendation (especially the third one) may not materialize but dammit, someone had to do something.  What better way to do so than in a blog where most would not even bother to take seriously (oops)?

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Goodell Should not Have Received ANY Extension

Posted by klownboy in NFL, sports blogging on January 26, 2012

NFL Commissioner/warden/playa hater Roger Goodell received a contract extension that will run through 2018.  Needless to say I am not too happy about this move.

This is a man who presided over the first work stoppage in the NFL in over 20 years this past offseason.  This is the same dude who is trying to take the “football” out of football by implementing those stupid-ass “defenseless player” rules (though I do agree with the helmet-to-helmet rules).  Defensive players cannot even touch nor breathe on receivers down the field without fear of pass interference calls.

And here’s the capper: players cannot hit those pretty-ass quarterbacks up high and down low.  In short, Goodell is turning the NFL into a mixture of flag football and soccer.

I miss the NFL of old where fans witnessed big hit after big hit without any fear of penalties and fines.  I miss the NFL where defense was valued a bit more.

Thanks to Goodell’s stupid-ass, the NFL is softer than college football.  Don’t be surprised to see offensive players wearing flags and quarterbacks wearing pink skirts.

Yeah Goodell brought the NFL a tougher player conduct policy, but who cares.  Goodell sucks…

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Peyton Will not Be a Colt

Posted by klownboy in NFL, sports blogging on January 25, 2012

Easy one to figure out right?

I mean, not only Peyton Manning is coming off a few neck surgeries that he is STILL not 100% on, but the Indianapolis Colts practically fired his entire support system.  Gone are the Polians (vice president Bill and general manager Chris), and the head coach in addition to the coaching staff.

Oh, and there is this $28 million bonus that is due to Manning in March.

So while we all know that Peyton will be an ex-Colt, what’s next for him?  Where will he go?

A lot of people are postulating that teams such as the Jets, Redskins, 49ers and Cardinals are interested in his services.  Hell, a lot of people are jumping on the “Peyton to the Cardinals” bandwagon.

I personally think that Peyton will retire.  Reports say that dude is not close to being on the way back.  He has a feeling that the Colts will not pay him his $28 million and cut him.  I mean, why would Peyton want to start from scratch with a bad team that is rebuilding?  Why would he want to warm the seat for Andrew Luck?  And more importantly, why would a team want a player who is not near 100%, even if he is Peyton Manning?

The 2012 NFL season will be different without Peyton Manning…

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Ravens and 49ers Gave Their Games Away

Posted by klownboy in NFL, sports blogging on January 23, 2012

The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers lost their respective games in the worst possible way: they both outplayed their opponents.

Let’s start with the first game.  The Ravens lost to the New England Patriots 23-20, thanks to a missed kick by their normally reliable kicker Billy Cundiff in the last few seconds of the game.  Ravens QB Joe Flacco thoroughly out-played his counterpart Tom Brady the entire game.  Hell, Brady didn’t even have a touchdown pass.  At any rate, the Ravens forced the Pats into a few turnovers and clearly out-hit them.

I think it’s wrong to place the blame squarely at Cundiff’s feet – though he will get the lion’s share of the blame.  I blame the missed opportunities.  The Ravens had opportunities to extended their lead over New England in the 3rd quarter after that fumble recovery during the Pat’s kickoff return.  Simply put, you cannot – I repeat CANNOT – settle for field goals on the road in the playoffs, let alone against the Patriots.  But no Ravens fan is as irate over that as they are over Lee Evans’ drop near the end of regulation that would have won the game for them.  He should have caught that ball, period.

Now as for the second game, what else is there to say?  I mean the 49ers’ defense played their asses off.  QB Alex Smith had a decent day throwing the ball, tight end Vernon Davis continues to ball like the stud that he is (did you see him run away from defenders on that first touchdown pass?), and coach Jim Harbaugh coached a good game.  Alas, mistakes on special teams – namely Kyle Williams – did them in.  Williams’ two fumbles – the first muff on a punt return was a head-scratcher (just get the hell out of the way, dude!) – gave the New York Giants 10 points.  Oh by the way, the Giants won 20-17 in overtime.

The good news is the future is bright for the Ravens (namely Flacco) and the 49ers.  I just hate seeing games, especially championship games, decided my mistakes like that.

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2012 NFL Conference Championship Preview

Posted by klownboy in NFL, sports blogging on January 20, 2012

Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots.  This is a classic game of the immovable object (Ravens) and the unstoppable force (Patriots).  You gotta love the best defense vs. best offense encounters.  That said, the Ravens are not going to be able to hang with the Pats.  Sure the Ravens are not intimidated, and they do have Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs a.k.a. “T-Sizzle”, and Ed Reed anchoring the defense.  However, the Ravens do not have a pass rush outside of Suggs and their linebackers and safeties cannot hang with stud tight ends  Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.  You know QB Tom Brady will spread the Ravens out and make those linebackers cover, and that will spell doom for the Ravens.  Plus, there is no way I trust Joe Flacco in a big game.

This is a funny game for me.  As a Steelers fan, I don’t like Baltimore, but I hate New England.  So as much as I would like to see “The Wire”-like Ravens from the ‘hood beat the pretty boy “Mad Men” Patriots on the road (courtesy of Jason Whitlock), it ain’t happening.  Patriots 27, Ravens 10.

New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers.  Talk about a blast from the past.  For those of you who appreciate anything old-school, this is the matchup for you.  I hearken back to those Giants-49ers clashes in the 1980s, watching Joe Montana and Jerry Rice go against Lawrence Taylor, Ronnie Lott matching wits against Phil Simms.  As for the 2012 version, I see this game going down to the wire.

While I admire and respect how 49ers QB Alex Smith turned things around, I see the Giants turning Smith back into the OLD Alex Smith.  Look for the Giants defense, learning their lesson from their previous matchup with the 49ers during the regular season, will go zone in order to confuse Smith.  That alone will take away stud tight end Vernon Davis’ ability to make plays.  Plus the Giants have the front four to generate pressure on Smith without having the need to blitz.

And while the 49ers defense is the west coast answer to the Steelers and Ravens, I think QB Eli Manning is going to have a big day passing the ball.  That receiving trio of Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and salsa king Victor Cruz will be too much for the 49ers secondary.

I have a rule of which teams to pull for in the playoffs.  If my Steelers are no longer in it, then I would go with the New York team that is left in the playoffs (I am originally from Brooklyn).  I think the Giants will grant me my wish in what should be a great game.  Giants 23, 49ers 20.

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