Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Preseason Recap: Week 2

Ok fellow fanatics. Time to share my thoughts on what we saw last weekend. Please preface each comment with "I know it's the preseason but..."

Brett Favre threw a touchdown pass. Aaron Rodgers did not. Now...on with the recap.

The Tennessee Titans made an obvious attempt to jump start the passing game against Oakland. Well...it must have been the alternator and not the battery, because the offense sputtered...then eventually stalled...again. If Vince Young can at least break even with his touchdown to interception ratio, this team will be playoff bound again this year.

The New England Patriots backup quarterback situation is an out right tragedy. If anything happens to Tom Brady, this team will be the next in a long line of Super Bowl losers who failed to make the playoffs the following year. You will also see the "old" Randy Moss!

To my fantasy footballers: keep an eye on Drew Brees. He's completed 75 percent of his passes and has yet to turn the ball over in the preseason. If he's anything close to the Brees of 06, you could land yourself a great fantasy sleeper at QB.

And on a side note: Chad Johnson injured himself on the first series of the first quarter of the first home game....in Cincinnati. Does anybody here believe in karma?

See you on the other side of week 3!!!!!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Preseason Recap: Week One

The first weekend of exhibition games are officially in the book. Time to share my thoughts on what I've seen so far. Please preface each comment with "I know it's the preseason but......"

Peyton Manning gets my vote for MVP of the league this year for one simple reason. His team is absolutely unwatchable when he's not in the lineup. The Colts have always had a bland cast of characters, but without Manning they are boring....and bad! I have a renewed appreciation for what Peyton Manning brings to the table.

Several GM's around the league are thumping their chest at the sight of their first round pics in action. Matt Ryan, Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, and Chris Johnson of the Titans all made their General Managers look a lot smarter than the draft experts.

For my fantasy footballers....keep an eye on receivers wearing the number 17. In limited action, they combined for 16 catches...369 yards and 6 touchdowns. And that was with Plaxico Burress sitting this one out.

The 34-13 score in the Titans win over the Rams did not do the game justice. The Rams were bludgeoned into submission. Not only did the Titans rush for 340 yards, but they did it at 7.9 yards per rush....on 43 carries!!! In the second half, the Rams had the body language of the man who's been at the mall all day with his girlfriend....tired, hungry, and defeated. I can hear Commissioner Goodell..."And with the first pick in the NFL Draft....the St. Louis Rams select....."

Sunday, August 3, 2008

All Hail Commissioner Goodell

The NFL is arguably the most powerful sports entity in the world, making commissioner Roger Goodell one of the most powerful men in sports. But is he too powerful? Is he too visible? Is he becoming bigger than the league that created him? I applaud his hard line stance on player mis-conduct. Athletes are role models (whether the like it or not) and it's important to show that we should be accountable for our actions regardless of our social status. I do wonder, however, why there is no outside committee to hear a player's appeal. Even a prison warden has a parole board. With that being said, some of Goodell's recent quotes can be interpreted as alarming to say the least.

Goodell recently lashed out about rookie salaries, calling them "rediculous". With all due respect Mr. Goodell, Im sure there are social workers, police officers, and school teachers who would call your salary rediculous. Besides, each team is given the same salary cap amount to shape their roster. If a team decised to give the bulk of their money to an unproven player, and they say under the cap, then no harm no foul. The NFL will prosper whether that team is competitive or not.

Staying on the subject of the rediculous, apparantly Goodell has hired a security team to investigate possible gang activity going on during games. That's right...gangs...as in drive by shootings, murder, and mayhem. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't hand signals just as important to the NFL as the first down markers? And how can this be legislated without some form of profiling or stereotyping? I seriously doubt that any of Peyton Manning's pre snap antics will ever come under league review.

Still not convinced? How about Goodell's recent "involvement" with the on going feud between Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. By openly putting pressure on Green bay to resolve this matter, you indirectly handicap any chance for fair compensation should they indeed be looking to trade Favre. You compromise the integrity of the league office and you lift the lid on Pandora's box. Now I beg to question, what players are worthy of the Commissioner's intervention? Can Kurt Warner make his plea to be the starter over Matt Leinard? Can Daunte Culpepper "pull some strings" to reclaim his old job in Minnesota? A wise man once told me..."If it ain't broke...don't fix it".