It looks like the washed up, diva wide receiver comeback tour is now a one man show. As Randy Moss was about to take the field today, I'm sure he had to be thinking...."Thanks T.O. Thanks Chad Johnson. Thanks for nothing!".
Around the time the 49ers and Broncos were about to take the field, T.O. was tweeting he had been cut by Seattle. That makes two failed high profile, washed up diva comebacks the last couple of weeks. Chad Johnson was unceremoniously let go on television...for the whole world to see. His comeback tour fell short because of off the field issues.
T.O. was released for his on the field issues, specifically not being able to catch the damn ball. How ironic considering how long it took for him to catch a break....but I digress.
Like it or not Moss, Johnson, and T.O. are grouped together. All three were once great, all three come with tons of baggage, and all three were non factors in the nfl last season. The nfl has clearly put this comeback tour on a short leash, evidenced by the fact that neither T.O. or Johnson even made it to the regular season. And the Dolphins and Seahawks could use quality veterans at the position. It's apparent that a lack of production or old antics will not be tolerated. The influx of new talent in the league have clearly made them expendable.
What should Moss take from this? The 49ers were a fumble away from the Super Bowl without him last year. Their leash will certainly be the shortest. Shut your mouth and catch everything thrown to you...whenever or how ever many times they throw it to you. Or you my friend, could be on the five year countdown to Canton....starting.....now. follow @plcolter
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Life imitating art for Chad Johnson
This is the first thing I've ever posted that I hope I'm wrong about, but something about the Chad Johnson arrest doesn't sit right with me. We all know that number 85 loves attention above all else. We also know that his wife is a reality show star herself, frequently seen actin a fool on tv. When I first saw the report last night, two things immediately stood out.
I watched the first episode of Hard Knocks with the Miami Dolphins earlier this week and Johnson told someone on the show he was going to get arrested. He even promised it....on camera. The very first weekend following the show's premier, Johnson made good on his promise. Now if that is not a coincidence, I don't know what is.
It also doesn't hurt that Chad Johnson and his wife Evelyn Lozada have their own reality show coming out next month. A friend of mine recently told me that drama is what sells nowadays, and this would certainly qualify as TMZ worthy. I'm certain that tons of people (including myself) will be tuning in to both shows to get a behind the scenes look at what really went on last night....just like they wanted.
I guess my friend was right. Good job by you Chad and Evelyn. follow @plcolter
I watched the first episode of Hard Knocks with the Miami Dolphins earlier this week and Johnson told someone on the show he was going to get arrested. He even promised it....on camera. The very first weekend following the show's premier, Johnson made good on his promise. Now if that is not a coincidence, I don't know what is.
It also doesn't hurt that Chad Johnson and his wife Evelyn Lozada have their own reality show coming out next month. A friend of mine recently told me that drama is what sells nowadays, and this would certainly qualify as TMZ worthy. I'm certain that tons of people (including myself) will be tuning in to both shows to get a behind the scenes look at what really went on last night....just like they wanted.
I guess my friend was right. Good job by you Chad and Evelyn. follow @plcolter
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Titans preseason: what to watch for
Finally...Titans football is back!! Well...kinda, but football is football...preseason or not. Even the most die hard fans have trouble watching an entire exhibition game, including myself. If you do plan on watching our beloved team get ready for the 2012 season, here are some things to keep an eye on.
Jake Locker: Yes, the battle for the starting qb position between Hasselbeck and Locker officially starts tonight. Conventional wisdom says the conservative Titans would rather Hasselbeck win the job to start, due to the "tough" schedule to start the year. And if we struggle out of the gate, the keys would be handed to Locker for good. But what if Locker plays lights out this preseason and earns the job? Uh-oh...what does coach Munchak do then? If Locker starts, then he has to start...forever. You can't bring in Hasselbeck if Locker struggles out of the gate, because if you do there will be a full blown qb controversy on your hands. Anyone remember Vince Young and Kerry Collins? In contrast, Steve McNair was never benched for Billy Volek...no matter how bad he played. That worked out pretty well for us.
The Big Uglies: The offensive and defensive lines respectively were the main reason the Titans did not make the playoffs last year. We were also the only team with a winning record last year that did not make the playoffs. So it's reasonable to assume that any improvement from these two units should have us in the race in December. On the offensive side, keep a close eye on center Fernando Velasco. He's taking over for veteran Eugene Amano, who is out for the season with a triceps injury. It may not matter who's the starting qb if Velasco is not up to the challenge. Newly acquired guard Steve Hutchinson looks to help the Titans run game....a run game that struggled mightily last year. Hutchinson was the pro bowl cog in Shaun Alexander and Adrian Peterson's monster seasons.
On the defensive side, keep an eye on rookie third round pick Mike Martin out of Michigan. I watched every one of his collegiate starts, and the Titans got a steal. He has a non stop motor, great leverage (former wrestling star), and he is the fiercest of competitors. For a defensive line that finished second to last in sacks last year, don't be surprised if Martin snags a week one start from one of the incumbent defensive tackles. And Derrick Morgan...it's put up or shut up time for you bruh.
Wide Receivers: This unit is an absolute mystery. The only thing we know about Kenny Britt is that we don't know. Nate Washington is solid, but if he's your number one, then you're lacking talent. Can rookie first rounder Kendall Wright make an impact? He'll most certainly have to...there aren't many other options. Tight end Jared Cook looked great to close the season. Will this be the year he finally lives up to his lofty potential?
I'm ready for some football. Go Titans! follow @plcolter
Jake Locker: Yes, the battle for the starting qb position between Hasselbeck and Locker officially starts tonight. Conventional wisdom says the conservative Titans would rather Hasselbeck win the job to start, due to the "tough" schedule to start the year. And if we struggle out of the gate, the keys would be handed to Locker for good. But what if Locker plays lights out this preseason and earns the job? Uh-oh...what does coach Munchak do then? If Locker starts, then he has to start...forever. You can't bring in Hasselbeck if Locker struggles out of the gate, because if you do there will be a full blown qb controversy on your hands. Anyone remember Vince Young and Kerry Collins? In contrast, Steve McNair was never benched for Billy Volek...no matter how bad he played. That worked out pretty well for us.
The Big Uglies: The offensive and defensive lines respectively were the main reason the Titans did not make the playoffs last year. We were also the only team with a winning record last year that did not make the playoffs. So it's reasonable to assume that any improvement from these two units should have us in the race in December. On the offensive side, keep a close eye on center Fernando Velasco. He's taking over for veteran Eugene Amano, who is out for the season with a triceps injury. It may not matter who's the starting qb if Velasco is not up to the challenge. Newly acquired guard Steve Hutchinson looks to help the Titans run game....a run game that struggled mightily last year. Hutchinson was the pro bowl cog in Shaun Alexander and Adrian Peterson's monster seasons.
On the defensive side, keep an eye on rookie third round pick Mike Martin out of Michigan. I watched every one of his collegiate starts, and the Titans got a steal. He has a non stop motor, great leverage (former wrestling star), and he is the fiercest of competitors. For a defensive line that finished second to last in sacks last year, don't be surprised if Martin snags a week one start from one of the incumbent defensive tackles. And Derrick Morgan...it's put up or shut up time for you bruh.
Wide Receivers: This unit is an absolute mystery. The only thing we know about Kenny Britt is that we don't know. Nate Washington is solid, but if he's your number one, then you're lacking talent. Can rookie first rounder Kendall Wright make an impact? He'll most certainly have to...there aren't many other options. Tight end Jared Cook looked great to close the season. Will this be the year he finally lives up to his lofty potential?
I'm ready for some football. Go Titans! follow @plcolter
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Ryan can only blame himself
The New York Jets followed yesterday's melee with more skirmishes today. At least three altercations broke out, two following "dirty" plays. Head coach Rex Ryan stopped practice and ripped his team, calling for unity. If teams truly take on the identity of their coaches, then Ryan has no one to blame but himself.
Rex Ryan says what he wants...when he wants. He's brutally honest and mostly unapologetic about it. I get that. Everyone has their own style. But you can't be shocked if your players start to emulate that. If my coach is giving a middle finger to the world, it won't be long before mine follows suit. Especially when you're winning games.....but that's when you're winning.
The Jets started losing the end of last year, and the players were brutally honest and mostly unapologetic about it. Now there's problems in the locker room, and players feel free to say what they want...when they want. Now things are leaking to the press that you would rather keep in house. Now the verbal sparring between players is spilling over to the field. Now it looks like you're losing control of your team. You get the idea.
It's way to early to suggest that things are unraveling for Ryan and his New York Jets. I would suggest that if he wants his team to keep their mouth shut and play, maybe he should lead by example. follow @plcolter
Rex Ryan says what he wants...when he wants. He's brutally honest and mostly unapologetic about it. I get that. Everyone has their own style. But you can't be shocked if your players start to emulate that. If my coach is giving a middle finger to the world, it won't be long before mine follows suit. Especially when you're winning games.....but that's when you're winning.
The Jets started losing the end of last year, and the players were brutally honest and mostly unapologetic about it. Now there's problems in the locker room, and players feel free to say what they want...when they want. Now things are leaking to the press that you would rather keep in house. Now the verbal sparring between players is spilling over to the field. Now it looks like you're losing control of your team. You get the idea.
It's way to early to suggest that things are unraveling for Ryan and his New York Jets. I would suggest that if he wants his team to keep their mouth shut and play, maybe he should lead by example. follow @plcolter
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Titans can't catch a break
Is it me or do the Tennessee Titans have the worst luck when it comes to wide receivers? Since our team came to Nashville, I can't think of a single move at that position that ultimately panned out. Derrick Mason was solid, but he doesn't count. Mason overachieved. I'm talking about the "splash" moves, first round picks, and free agency success....or lack thereof.
It started when we were still the Tennessee Oilers. Remember Yancy Thigpin and Carl Pickens? Both were washed up and way past their prime when we signed them. And the Oilers most egregious offense was drafting one yard short Kevin Dyson over some dude name Randy Moss. Well, let me take that back. We did pick up Moss...12 years later off waivers. We were the only team to put in a claim and it was immediately clear why. Moss looked old and uninspired and it was just embarrassing. That may have been the straw that broke (head coach) Jeff Fisher's back...but I digress. We mostly overlooked it because having an NFL team was so new to us. We were just happy to have professional football. And besides, we won a lot more games than we lost.
The Titans have fared no better than the Oilers. In fact, their eye for wide receivers should have a patch on it. Since coming to Tennessee in 1997, the Oilers / Titans drafted 20 wide receivers. Only two made pro bowl appearances (Derrick Mason and Marc Mariani). And those appearances were as return men, not receivers. It's not like we're not trying...we just cant get it right.
Kenny Britt was supposed to change all of that. He has the talent...but um...yeah. He's practically missed the past two seasons and will certainly not play any time soon this year. Now it's up to our 21st wide receiver draftee Kendall Wright to break the curse. But wait, he's not in camp because of a contract dispute. Here we go again. follow @plcolter
It started when we were still the Tennessee Oilers. Remember Yancy Thigpin and Carl Pickens? Both were washed up and way past their prime when we signed them. And the Oilers most egregious offense was drafting one yard short Kevin Dyson over some dude name Randy Moss. Well, let me take that back. We did pick up Moss...12 years later off waivers. We were the only team to put in a claim and it was immediately clear why. Moss looked old and uninspired and it was just embarrassing. That may have been the straw that broke (head coach) Jeff Fisher's back...but I digress. We mostly overlooked it because having an NFL team was so new to us. We were just happy to have professional football. And besides, we won a lot more games than we lost.
The Titans have fared no better than the Oilers. In fact, their eye for wide receivers should have a patch on it. Since coming to Tennessee in 1997, the Oilers / Titans drafted 20 wide receivers. Only two made pro bowl appearances (Derrick Mason and Marc Mariani). And those appearances were as return men, not receivers. It's not like we're not trying...we just cant get it right.
Kenny Britt was supposed to change all of that. He has the talent...but um...yeah. He's practically missed the past two seasons and will certainly not play any time soon this year. Now it's up to our 21st wide receiver draftee Kendall Wright to break the curse. But wait, he's not in camp because of a contract dispute. Here we go again. follow @plcolter
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Message to Mavs...don't start Mayo
As a native Tennessean I have mixed feelings about O.J. Mayo joining the Mavericks. On one hand, I'm disappointed that Memphis could not find a way to keep him. Mayo was a solid sixth man and dangerous scoring option (when he was on the hot side of streaky). On the other hand, I'm glad that Mayo gets a fresh start in my new hometown...Dallas. I read today the Mavs have O.J. penciled in as a day one starter...um....please don't do that! I know that Mayo's career numbers suggest otherwise (17.7 pts per game as a starter / 11.5 pts per game as a reserve), but these numbers do not tell the whole story. Mayo was not benched because of a lack of production. Mayo had a lack of production because he was benched.....
Mayo entered his third season as the starter for Memphis. Early into the 2010-2011 season, things went left for O.J. He was first benched for being late to a game day shoot around in November. He followed that up with a fist fight with a teammate (yes...a fist fight) on a team flight (yes...a team flight). Not to be outdone by himself, O.J. followed the mile high melee up with a 10 game suspension for a banned substance. It's not even February y'all....of course he was benched!!!!
Mayo's numbers dipped as a reserve, but he was a much better player on the court the last year and a half. O.J. is a natural scorer, and a volume shooter. As the sixth man he could carry the offensive load, and often did. His three point and free throw shooting kept him on the floor late in games, and he was brilliant in Memphis' first round upset of top seeded San Antonio two years ago.
Dallas is getting a good player, and I know it has to be tempting to start Mayo right away. I see Mayo as a younger and more athletic Jason Terry. Dallas could start newly acquired defensive specialist Dahntay Jones alongside Dirk, maybe put Jones on the other team's best player...a la Memphis and Tony Allen. Mayo would be the offensive spark off the bench and closer. It worked really well for the Grizzlies as a team the last couple of years. I could for Dallas as well. follow @plcolter
Mayo entered his third season as the starter for Memphis. Early into the 2010-2011 season, things went left for O.J. He was first benched for being late to a game day shoot around in November. He followed that up with a fist fight with a teammate (yes...a fist fight) on a team flight (yes...a team flight). Not to be outdone by himself, O.J. followed the mile high melee up with a 10 game suspension for a banned substance. It's not even February y'all....of course he was benched!!!!
Mayo's numbers dipped as a reserve, but he was a much better player on the court the last year and a half. O.J. is a natural scorer, and a volume shooter. As the sixth man he could carry the offensive load, and often did. His three point and free throw shooting kept him on the floor late in games, and he was brilliant in Memphis' first round upset of top seeded San Antonio two years ago.
Dallas is getting a good player, and I know it has to be tempting to start Mayo right away. I see Mayo as a younger and more athletic Jason Terry. Dallas could start newly acquired defensive specialist Dahntay Jones alongside Dirk, maybe put Jones on the other team's best player...a la Memphis and Tony Allen. Mayo would be the offensive spark off the bench and closer. It worked really well for the Grizzlies as a team the last couple of years. I could for Dallas as well. follow @plcolter
Monday, July 9, 2012
Mavs fans: Give Cuban a pass
Dallas Mavericks fans are a sports lover's dream. They are two things...knowledgeable and passionate! Get two or three together and a SportsCenter segment is gonna break out. I absolutely love it, especially being a native Tennessean and Grizzlies fan. My beloved Grizzlies bring me to a point...a plea if you will to Mavs fans worldwide. Cut Mark Cuban some slack on this one. I know my homies at Ambit don't want to hear that. I probably wouldn't either, but the fact is...Cuban's plan almost worked.
If not for a last second Joe Johnson trade, DWill stated on record that he was about to sign with Dallas. If not for the Hawks being lucky enough to unload the worst contract in NBA history (and that's including Kwame Brown), then Mavericks fans would be making their plans for future title runs.
Lamar Odom did Cuban no favors either. Dallas would have finished a much higher seed if Odom would have put up his career numbers. The Mavericks would have also had a much more attractive roster in place when it came to competing with the Nets. It's like he put a black cloud over the organization this year. Mavs fan Rodrigo Alcaraz summed up Odom's stay in Dallas the best. "He was the gift that kept on taking." lol
And last but certainly not least...every team has to eventually rebuild again. Every team has to. Dallas fans enjoyed a championship, and over a decade of prosperity. It's time to rebuild. All great teams do. But at least you can say this about Cuban, he put you in the best possible position to get a top notch player. It just didn't work out. At least he tried. follow @plcolter
If not for a last second Joe Johnson trade, DWill stated on record that he was about to sign with Dallas. If not for the Hawks being lucky enough to unload the worst contract in NBA history (and that's including Kwame Brown), then Mavericks fans would be making their plans for future title runs.
Lamar Odom did Cuban no favors either. Dallas would have finished a much higher seed if Odom would have put up his career numbers. The Mavericks would have also had a much more attractive roster in place when it came to competing with the Nets. It's like he put a black cloud over the organization this year. Mavs fan Rodrigo Alcaraz summed up Odom's stay in Dallas the best. "He was the gift that kept on taking." lol
And last but certainly not least...every team has to eventually rebuild again. Every team has to. Dallas fans enjoyed a championship, and over a decade of prosperity. It's time to rebuild. All great teams do. But at least you can say this about Cuban, he put you in the best possible position to get a top notch player. It just didn't work out. At least he tried. follow @plcolter
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