Going to the Game

I am happy for those fans who enjoy attending NFL games, but don't expect me to join the club.

As a "television-only" game viewer, I:

--Don't worry about how much money I spent on tickets, gas, food, parking, etc.

--Stock my fridge with my choice of food and beverage;

--Don't have to stand in line to for concessions or to visit the bathroom;

--Always have a reserved parking place that is a stone's throw--my garage to the comfortable recliner or couch;

--Enjoy the game in a temperature-controlled climate--no sitting in an icy wind for me; and,

--The family can cheer for whatever team without the opportunity to learn any "new driving words" like was this family's experience (this is the text of a letter he wrote to the editor of the popular SF newspaper):

Ugly side of 49ers’ big game, Letters to the editor, Jan. 17

I’ve lived in the Bay Area for 25 years but have remained a staunch Saints fan with close ties to New Orleans. My family still lives in New Orleans and has held our season tickets since 1967.

I “get” the emotion of the game, the moment and the enthusiasm of the 49er fans.Despite the extraordinary setting at the ’Stick, we were shocked by the hostility, vulgarity and intimidation that rained down on me and my two teenage daughters from the moment we stepped into the parking lots.

Yes, we were proudly wearing our Saints colors; that’s what loyal fans do. And yes, we expected some good-natured jeering.

We had vulgarities screamed at us repeatedly in the parking lots and literally nonstop by the hooligans around us in the stands. While walking through the lots we had footballs thrown at us, guys screaming curses in our faces...

We finally took to shadowing two cops that were strolling through the lots until we dashed for what we thought would be the relative sanity of the stadium.

The stadium was no better. Every other word from dozens of fans around us was an f-bomb shouted at the top of their lungs. There were seven or eight large 30- to 35-year-old guys directly behind us who cursed and threatened us the entire game.

After one string of profanities I turned around to look at them and the most obnoxious and combative of the bunch yelled, “Do not turn around again! Do not ever turn around again” and punctuated it with a profanity.

They used gay slurs repeatedly at the husband of a middle-aged couple in front of us, the only other Saints fan in our area, and called his wife a bitch.

One of my daughters asked me, “Why don’t you do something, Daddy?”

Do what? Fight 10 guys, call/text security when all those guys behind me would know who would have fingered them?
Leave early? We almost did.

The hostility and threats of violence were a constant throughout our experience.

It appeared to be ingrained in the fans’ culture, similar to the hooliganism that destroyed the reputation of English soccer. The long wait for the playoffs, the excitement of a big game? No excuse.

I’ve been to big games in venues around the world and believe me, I’ve been a Saints fan my whole life so I certainly know about long playoff waits.

The Vikings fans in the tailgate parties before the NFC championship game were eating crayfish and dancing along with the Saints fans — they weren’t threatened, they were having a great time.

Every 49ers fan, the team and it’s owners should be ashamed and embarrassed to wear the red and gold today. They won the game but are losers in every other way.

But the best part is that if the game is a blowout, we can easily transition into another activity--our youngest can have Blues Clues going on the DVD player in 30 seconds or less.

Three Cheers for the Niners

No way I would have guessed that Alex Smith and Eli Manning would join Tom Brady as the best QBs this weekend.

Though I was for the Saints, I had to applaud the winning pass from Smith to TE Davis in the end zone.  He courageously zipped the ball in traffic before Davis broke--a play that could have easily been tipped and intercepted if the pass was not in that small completion window.

Congrats to the 49ers.

And, though I appreciate that Hakeem Nicks has supported my argument in that he has the potential to be a dominant fantasy receiver with his outstanding playoff performance (over 250 yards and 4 TDs receiving), I keep thinking: why could you not score like this consistently during the regular season? 

I mean being the #11 overall receiver is good, but my fantasy team sure could have used that production.

Oh well. 

Underdogs

Looking at the games for this week's Wildcard Weekend, I think that each underdog could reaonably pull the upset.

Lions
Remember how the heavily favored Saints bumbled and stumbled against the Seahawks last year in the playoffs?  The Lions have much better talent on offense (ok, outside of Marshawn Lynch), and I think their speed defense plays well in domes; especially their d-line.

Broncos
This isn't so much about the Broncos, which is good since they are playing poorly, but more about the Steelers.  Pittsburgh is on the road in the thin air of Denver.  They will be without three important starters including their fantastic C Maurkice Pouncey.   QB Big Ben is banged up, not moving well, and the Steelers' running game has struggled all season--making them a throwing team.  All this could help the Broncos defense generate several much-needed turnovers.  Turnovers that have been missing during their losing streak.

Falcons
I did not see the Packers lose to the Chiefs, but I did see the Falcons confuse and bother Aaron Rodgers for a half earlier this year.  They could do the same to Eli Manning.  The defense was good in 2010-2011, but has yet to live up to potential this season.  There is nothing wrong with the high-powered Falcons offense, and there is no snow in the New York forecast to slow the game down.  Will the Giants' defensive line continue to play well?  If they don't the Falcons could score 30.

Bengals
Despite battling the flu this week, QB Andy Dalton will be well rested for this week's game.  They could have beaten a very good Ravens team last week, they just unraveled late in the game.  A.J. Green seems to always be open, and the presence of Cedric Benson gives the team a consistent running game.  And did you see who the Texans' QB is?  The team with a good defense but zero playoff experience will be starting former third-stringer and fifth round draft pick T.J Yates--and he'll be playing with a bad shoulder.

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So pick all of these teams to win this weekend.

Just joking--don't.

Favorites are favorites for a reason.

If I had to pick one, contingent upon Dalton feeling better, I'd go with Cincinnati upsetting the Texans.

Fundamentals

Whether you played football at the collegiate level or just on a little league team, one issue that you'll have with professional football players is that they don't have good fundamentals. 

The tackling in the NFL is, in general, lousy.  For some reason, defenders often forget they have arms and just bounce off ball carriers barely slowing them down.

Also, players don't apply basic skills properly like recovering a fumble.

Cowboys defensive back Alan Ball demonstrated my point on Sunday night. 

While covering a punt on special teams, the Giants return man fumbled, and Ball muffed a chance to easily recover the ball. 

Instead of slowing, grasping the loose ball with his hands and then lying down to cradle it with his body, he tries the full-speed scoop that quickly transforms into the oops "I overran the ball and now I am rolling with it". 

The correct technique is something that should have been second nature for a pro like Ball.  Supported by a drill that every coach from little league on up uses--tossing footballs on the ground and having players recover and protect the ball correctly.

Instead, Ball missed the chance, the Giants retained possession and went on to win easily.

Now, the Cowboys and their fans have a whole off-season to think about fundamentals and the "what-could have-beens."

And, as a lowly Buccaneer fan, I can relate. 

You can see Ball's missed fumble recovery, by going here (it starts around the 53 second mark of the video).

More Fun at the Expense of Broncos Management

I am not a Denver Bronco fan or hater.

But for some reason, I have had lots to post about on the Broncos.

And with my last 2011 post, why not offer another thought on the team formerly known as the Orange Crush:

Wouldn't it be ironic tomorrow if Kyle Orton leads the Chiefs past Denver, the Raiders win, and the Broncos do not make the playoffs?


This would be a final punch in the stomach for Broncos management that has seemingly fumbled through the 2011-12 season.

I refer to decisions like these:

--Tout Tim Tebow as the starter prior to the season and generate excitement around ticket sales.  Yet he ends camp as the third-stringer.

--Put Kyle Orton on the trading block and then can't quite reach a deal with at least the Miami Dolphins that would have brought a good draft pick or two.

--Apologize to and then hold onto Kyle Orton, he wins the starting job, and then is benched after losing 4 of the 5 games that he leads the team.

--Unable to move the former starter before the trade deadline and then cannot get anything for him this season, Orton watches games from the sidelines.

--Once Tebow's winning streak is in full swing, Orton requests to be released.  The team does not have to grant his wish; especially since he could be signed by someone that they may play later.  Someone in their division.  Someone who can end their season.  You know, like the Chiefs in Week 17.

--They release Orton anyway, and he is signed by those Chiefs.

Whatever happens Sunday, Broncos management should be criticized for providing the Chiefs with a capable NFL quarterback that could result in a defeat and no playoffs for Denver.

A game that might have looked quite different if Orton were still holding a clipboard on Denver's sideline--as in facing Ricky Stanzi (a rookie who has never started an NFL game) or undrafted journeyman Tyler Palko (who has a less than 60 quarterback rating this year).

On Karen Kornacki

At the Chiefs news conference on the firing of head coach Todd Haley, KMBC reporter Karen Kornacki questioned management as to why the move was made so close to Christmas. 

She then suggested that firing the coach could have waited until the end of the year; as it would have benefited Haley's family.

Well, Kornacki is taking a load of ribbing online.

In contrast to Kornacki's belief, I think former coach Haley's family may be the happiest group ever to welcome home a newly unemployed dad during the holidays.

Instead of barely seeing the guy this Christmas, Haley's family will now have lots of time to spend with him--and the sizable payout he'll receive due to the contract being terminated will bring even more smiles.

This is a coach who has been paid millions, and will likely have little problem finding a new job in the off-season.

He will be just fine.

And, Kornacki is tough and will weather this storm.

At least this controversy did not involve her being shot in the face with a pellet gun by Kansas City Royals outfielder Emil Brown again as she was interviewing another player.       

On Beating the Packers

I have grown weary listening to football experts discuss whether the Saints are built to beat the Packers in the playoffs.

The pontificators always answer "No" to this type of question, and argue that the Saints are a dome team dependent on an impressive and complex passing game for lots of points--a strategy that typically does not translate well for a visiting team challenging those "cheese-heads" on a frigid Wisconsin Sunday. 

They also list the Saints defense as questionable with their 18th NFL ranking in "Points Allowed Per Game."

So what is wrong with this explanation?

It fails to address that the Packers are not built like a team that wins in cold weather either. 

Every liability that New Orleans has, could be characterized as a weakness for Green Bay as well.

The Packers are a high-octane passing team with a superstar QB and fantastic receivers.

Both teams depend on throwing to their TEs to create match-up problems.

Neither team runs the ball exceptionally well--I think the Saints have the advantage here with the four good backs.

And what about defense? 

The Packers are only ranked 14th in the league in points allowed.

In "Total Yards Per Game," twenty-nine other team defenses are better than the Packers (the Saints are ranked 25th overall).

In sum, neither team has a great defense, running the ball is not a strength for either, and both would likely prefer to play in a comfy dome somewhere where they can score 70 points by passing. 

So, the next time you hear "the Saints are not built to defeat the Packers in the cold weather", I say flip the argument on them and have them explain how the Packers are constructed to win in January.

What Were the Players Thinking?

What were NFL players thinking in not insisting that port-a-potties be installed on the sideline and available for use during games?

I mean that could have easily been added to the last agreement after this summer's lockout.

It sure would have saved Chargers K Nick Novak from his most embarrassing moment--a clip that will continue playing for years and years thanks to the Internet.

You can go here to see poor Nick.

Know When to Hold

It has been a difficult year for Denver Broncos' management.

They are starting Tim Tebow at quarterback--not something that team executive John Elway or Head Coach John Fox wanted to do.

And today, they released opening day starting quarterback Kyle Orton. 

This is the same Orton that the Broncos were shopping at the start of the season for a high draft pick to at least the Dolphins and the Colts.

But, Denver management failed to complete a deal involving Orton, and so months later, they release him and get nothing in return.

Evidently, Orton had requested the move in hopes of getting a fresh start elsewhere (thinking the Bears). 

Obviously, Orton was still desirable to other teams--as the Chiefs, Bears, and Cowboys tried to claim him via waivers.

The Chiefs had the higher priority, and expect Orton to be their starting signal-caller in a week or two.

Wouldn't it be funny if Orton leads the Chiefs in winning the AFC West over his old team the Broncos?

After Broncos management listened to their back-up quarterback and granted the release instead of just holding him so that no other potential competitors had his valuable services?

This has the potential to be a move that Denver fans will have difficulty forgetting.

You gotta know when to hold 'em.

Philip Rivers Can Reduce Crime

Suffering through a Chargers game a few weeks ago, I thought of an innovative crime reduction strategy related to football.

What if those convicted of petty crimes (minor shoplifting, vandalism, etc.) had their sentence based on how many turnovers that Chargers QB Philip Rivers makes during a game?

If he has one turnover or less, then the offender receives just a warning.

But, if Philip has more than one fumble/interception, then the offender is mandated to up to four weekend litter clean-up details on area roads?

I firmly believe that the stress of watching a full Chargers game with QB Rivers take each snap from center, covering your eyes, and then screaming "I just know this play is going to be another turnover", would be torture enough to keep people from wanting to commit future crimes.

Plus, no one would get off with a warning--Philip consistently deliver those weekly turnovers.

Ok, yes I do have Philip Rivers on my fantasy team this year (used my third pick), and dread watching him implode each week with the horrible interceptions and fumbles.   

So, despite not being a criminal, that'll be me every game weekend, with eyes covered and muttering choice words that end in "...Rivers."

Sideline Reporting

Who said that football sideline reporters never get any good scoops?

Michelle TaFoya did during last night's Patriots thumping the Jets:

Rex Ryan knew it was a mistake right away.

When Mark Sanchez took a time out with 1:24 left in the first half, Ryan was angry, already thinking about the Patriots next possession.

Ryan told NBC’s Michele TaFoya that the timeout was the “stupidest play in NFL history.”...

So, instead of the usual "coach talk" when confronted with a microphone, I offer this solution: Have the sideline reported just hang out with Rex Ryan and get his input on every Sunday night game.

They could pay him to watch the first half, he could assume his effective portrayal of a comedian, and the audience could just laugh and shake their heads.

It would be much better than the usual blah, blah, blah.

Rex, you won't coach forever, but I think you have a bright future as television court jester.

Thursday Night Games and My Fav Hit

These Thursday night games are tough for Fantasy Footballers.

Instead of waiting until Sunday morning for all the information to develop, you have to make decisions much earlier--some based on your best guess.

I am wrestling with: should I start Raiders RB Bush or go with Chiefs RB Battle?

With no McFadden, Bush will get almost all the RB touches this week, and he posted over 18 points last week.

He does play a good Chargers defense (despite what they showed against the Packers last Sunday), but Battle goes against a bad Broncos run defense and, outside of last week, has looked promising.

Battle does compete with two other backs for touches though.

So tomorrow night, I'll be biting my fingernails and making a call that will likely win or lose my fantasy game this week.

Anyway...

I'll leave you with my favorite Tampa Bay Buccaneers hit of all time--not legal by current rules, but whoa, was it a dinger back in the day.

Note: Eric Hipple was not seriously injured on the play, and remembering how bad my Bucs were back then, he probably returned and led the Lions to a two touchdown victory.

Coach Fox and Tim Tebow

After listening to the Tim Tebow supporters and detractors, I have not heard one relevant question about his performance from last Sunday discussed:

After completing four of fourteen passes for a paltry forty-plus yards in over three quarters of playing time but with the game still close at 15-0, why did Coach John Fox not bench Tebow for Kyle Orton or Brady Quinn?

Orton is considered an NFL starter, and by some accounts, Quinn outplayed Tebow in training camp and the preseason, and was considered the team's backup quarterback.

So, why stay with Tebow in that game?

Here are two possibilities:

1) Loyalty

Coach Fox was loyal to Tebow and wanted him to start what he finished.  He and organization executives needed to evaluate Tebow on a full-game of work, and pulling him in the second half would not have allowed it. 

When Coach Fox called the shots for the Carolina Panthers, he stuck with embattled signal-caller Jake Delhomme longer than most everyone would have.

Fox had named Tebow the starter, and he was going to give him a full game to show his talents.

Or...

2) To Prove a Point

Coach Fox did not draft Tim Tebow.  He watches him struggle with a traditional passing game.  He does not see him as an NFL starting quarterback. 

But, he has to listen to very vocal Broncos and national supporters holler for Tebow to start at quarterback.  With the team's season looking bad, and the starter (Orton) being ineffective, Fox decided to settle the Tebow issue once and for all.

He would start Tebow.  Then, his deficiencies would be visible to all.  Coach Fox would not consider removing Tebow, if he performed poorly.  If Tebow played the entire game and failed (including leading the Broncos at the end), the pro-Tebow supporters would have been silenced.

The coach and team could then move forward with Orton or Quinn.

But, then Tebow rallied the team for a win--and solved nothing for organization administrators.

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So which is it--did Coach Fox emphasize loyalty by giving Tebow a full game or did he expect the guy to fail so that they could move forward next season?

I tend to believe it was the latter.

Too Much

In the best-selling book MoneyBall, author Michael Lewis cites a telling quote from Oakland Athletics' General Manager Billy Beane (yes, for non-sport fans, as played by Brad Pitt in the movie-version):

"The day you say you have to do something, you're screwed.  Because you are going to make a bad deal.  You can always recover from the player you didn't sign.  You may never recover from the player that you signed at the wrong price."

I think Beane's observation accurately describes the Oakland Raiders this week.

With QB Jason Campbell injured and out indefinitely, Raiders management acquired QB Carson Palmer from the Bengals.

The asking price for the disgruntled Palmer before the apparently desperate Raiders contacted them was rumored to be a second round draft pick.

Quite a difference as compared to the first round draft pick, and another conditional draft pick (that could be a first-rounder as well)  the Raiders will lose in the trade.

So, acquiring Palmer may solidify a respectable Raiders team, and likely will send them into the playoffs.

But, would Oakland have been better off keeping those top picks and trading for unwanted game managers Kyle Orton or Donovan McNabb?    

Does trading so much of your future for a veteran QB who has never quite looked like the superstar he was prior to suffering that a serious knee injury a few years ago make long-term sense?

I say "no", but time will tell.

The Bengals' management is sure smiling though.

Who is Whining Louder?

Who is whining louder this morning: Redskins fans after a difficult loss to a reeling Eagles team or the saps that started Rex Grossman as a fill-in quarterback for the week's fantasy football games?

 I would argue it is me and the other fantasy players who watched Grossman star in one of the worst QB-performances of the season--resulting in an unreal -2 points for our teams.

I am thinking Grossman will be the most frequently cut player in fantasy football today and tomorrow as the Skins welcome the QB John Beck era.

On Tim Tebow

It was announced yesterday that Broncos John Fox named Tim Tebow as the starting quarterback for the team's next game.

Tebow goes from the best job in professional football--that of the "backup" quarterback who is beloved by fans based only on expectations--to perhaps the most difficult: the starting signal caller.

From an outsider's perspective, it seems that Broncos management did not want Tebow. 

He was a first round pick by the previous administration, and multiple reports had Tebow as the third string quarterback as the season started.

Scouts dislike his accuracy.

He is perceived as a more dangerous runner than thrower.

And, Tebow is simply not "their guy."

I consider it reasonable to believe that Broncos management, tired of Denver fans demanding to see Tebow, inserted the young QB into the second half of last week's game so that he could fail.

Behind by two scores, against a top-ranked defense, and starting from inside his own ten-yard line, management expected Tebow to finish the game completing something like 6 out of 18 passes for 55 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions.

But, instead Tebow injected energy into the Broncos.

He rallied them for two touchdown drives--throwing for one and running another across the goal line himself.

The crowd went wild. 

Tebow's teammates were pumped.

And even though Denver lost, the Broncos management now had no choice but to name Tebow the starter.

Though they seem less than excited about the prospect.

So in two weeks, Tebow gets his opportunity to lead the Broncos against the Dolphins from the start of the game.

And what is even better for Tebow--playing the Dolphins game is certainly winnable game.

Now, you may want to stash Tebow on your fantasy team and wait and see.