Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen was on the wrong side of a taser today -- after the NFLer allegedly assaulted a cop in L.A. -- and it's his second arrest in three days ... TMZ has learned.
Law enforcement sources tell us LAPD pulled over Griffen -- a USC grad -- around 4 PM Monday near the Trojan campus ... and he failed to produce ID.
That's when we're told the 6'3", 275-pounder tried to take off on foot -- and allegedly assaulted an officer in the process.
Sources say cops were forced to take Griffen down with a taser -- and then arrested him on one count of felony battery.
TMZ has learned Griffen was also arrested just this past Friday night in Hollywood ... and booked for being drunk in public. He was released on Saturday.
Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Michael Vick: The Example The Eagles Quarterback Provides To The NFL
Sources are saying that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick will be franchised in 2011, meaning Vick will be secured and tied to an Eagles roster spot for the upcoming season.
Vick will receive nearly a four-hundred percent increase in pay from last year's $5.25 million salary (though he has a lot of it to pay to creditors), and will essentially be taking the job from quarterback Kevin Kolb, who's now become a valuable trade piece at the Eagle's disposal.
Of course, news of Vick's continued climb back to the top of the NFL, highlighted by his start in yesterday's NFL Pro Bowl, comes at the disgust of many sports fans around the world who never believed Vick deserved a second chance.
Some say Vick's return to the NFL provides the average American with a look into the skewed and unfair processes that comes from a society that has the concept of capital gain as a back bone.
The theme of instant reward to the undeserving has become a prominent one, which shows it's face countless times in the form of disgraceful incidents in the world of sports, usually by professional athletes.
Michael Vick's dog fighting scandal of 2007 is the highlight of them all, displaying a cruel nature and immaturity within the soul of one of America's most dominating icons.
His fall from grace was one of the most dramatic sports stories in history, and many doubted Vick would ever see the field again. Many doubted Vick would ever be able to redeem himself the right to earn a yearly salary ever again, let a lone a multi-million dollar salary.
I, a life long Falcons fan who coveted Vick's presence in Atlanta, was one of those people. I always felt like there would be a disconnect between me and my idols. I was wrong.
The Vick incident left me feeling betrayed. It was literally a heart wrenching experience. It filled me with anger. Believe it, or not, there is a certain degree of emotional investment that ties into being a sports fan.
It's something certain women who hate sports, like my mother, will never understand. Why am I in a bad mood when my team lost? Why do I feel like giving everyone hugs when my team wins?
Why was I distraught when Michael Vick went to prison?
I felt a let down. It was real. And, the saddest part was the entire city of Atlanta felt it. Vick was on billboards, and commercials and radio spots. He was the most popular man in the city. He brought a city together. He changed the lifestyle of a city.
Then it all went for the worse. In the wake of the Vick incident, fans in Atlanta were torn. Vick haters received tons of criticism, while Vick backers unknowingly fueled an ignorant argument of racist feuds between the divided fan base.
People were left feeling disappointment, but even more, they began to question the integrity of professional sports.
Vick's debacle was only one example of professional athletes seemingly taking their way of life for granted.
Adam "PacMan" Jones' repeated off field incidents showed an astonishing and unfathomable disconnect from his priviledges.
Other incidents like Albert Haynesworth's stomp and countless off field fights between NFL players began to draw a picture of immaturity amongst America's wealthiest and luckiest.
Vick's dog fighting incident simply topped it all off. Ever since 2007, I've had a drastically different view about professional sports and the players involved. I'd always hesitate to idolize an athlete.
When Matt Ryan entered the scene, I saw the other side. I saw a guy who worked hard, brought a blue collar attitude into the city, and wore a humble attitude to every press conference.
I instantly became a Matt Ryan fan. Others in the city of Atlanta took more time to back him. Vick was still some fan's quarterback.
At this point in time, in 2008, it was pretty clear that either people were Vick haters and Ryan lovers, or vice versa.
Even in the 2008 season, the 11-5 year for the Falcons seemed to be accompanied by an overshadowing unrest within the fan base.
In 2009, when Vick returned to Atlanta, a lot of Falcons fans in black or red number seven jerseys were cheering for the team in midnight green.
I couldn't understand this phenomenon. Why in the world was anyone in this city actually cheering for this criminal? To me, it was one or the other. I either liked Vick, or I liked Ryan.
However, in Vick's return, more and more video documentations of Michael Vick have aired on television. I've watched more and more, and slowly gained a newfound respect for the quarterback I once hated.
As Vick started to describe his experience in prison, as well as his mental transformation, I began to see a genuine change in his attitude.
One thing that Vick made clear to us in his return is that he takes his place in society as a blessing. He's seen the low, the high, and then the low again and then the high once more.
Some say Vick doesn't deserve to be in the spot he's in, making the money he is. I am not one of those people anymore.
Vick has shown work ethic on the mental and physical fields. He hasn't kept any secrets. He admitted every single spot where he was wrong in his life.
But, the thing with Vick is, he's backing up his talk of redemption. He's showing us he means change. So many NFL players have epitomized the definition of insane, doing stupid things over and over and expecting different results.
Once Vick came to the conclusion of his wrong doings, he immediately turned things around. He uses himself as an example of how to assert yourself correctly and can cite his own wrong doings as examples of a lack of respect for one's own life.
And the truth is, Vick's money won't be for him to throw around in a club, Pac Man style. Vick's intake will humbly be distributed to creditors and other debts he compiled over the past three years. The man is working because he appreciates his place in society, more than ever.
Basically, he's become one of the more powerful ambassadors of professional sports. That's something I never thought I would be able to claim with a straight face.
Sure, maybe walking straight out of a jail and into a Philadelphia Eagles uniform illustrates a kink in the chain of capitalistic success. Isn't this country supposed to be about doing things right and working hard?
Maybe it's not. But, this country is about counting blessings and being grateful.
If something amazing is handed to you, it's a slap in the face of society to take it for granted. That's what the NFL is all about.
While more and more NFL players have continued to show immaturity and ignorance towards their own place in society, Vick's return to the NFL has come with a giant sign on his forehead that preaches cherishing the moment.
That's all he's been about for the past few years, and his Pro Bowl spot and franchise tag are a testament to that more than anything else.
Professional athletes need to realize that with great power comes great responsibility, not recklessness (sorry for using the super hero quote).
Our country thrives off the famous and media presentation. People in the media and in the spotlight are expected to create a positive image.
On the other hand, the media thrives off the news worthiness of drama, which just so happens to include all of the hoopla created by these off field catastrophes in the celebrity world, which includes sports.
Now that Michael Vick's redeeming story has hit a peak, it's pretty evident he's out to prove doing things right can be just as rewarding and just as entertaining for us to write about.
I sure do find his story pretty remarkable, but the only thing that makes it remarkable to me is his change in character.
Even as a Falcons fan, and a Matt Ryan fan, I think I'm also a pretty big Vick fan again.
If more players could take on the responsibility Vick exerts now, and avoid the poor judgement he showed in the past, the NFL would be a seemingly more accommodating entity.
And to me, I think that factual exposure is worthy of a pay raise, or better yet, a chance at getting to the top.
Vick will receive nearly a four-hundred percent increase in pay from last year's $5.25 million salary (though he has a lot of it to pay to creditors), and will essentially be taking the job from quarterback Kevin Kolb, who's now become a valuable trade piece at the Eagle's disposal.
Of course, news of Vick's continued climb back to the top of the NFL, highlighted by his start in yesterday's NFL Pro Bowl, comes at the disgust of many sports fans around the world who never believed Vick deserved a second chance.
Some say Vick's return to the NFL provides the average American with a look into the skewed and unfair processes that comes from a society that has the concept of capital gain as a back bone.
The theme of instant reward to the undeserving has become a prominent one, which shows it's face countless times in the form of disgraceful incidents in the world of sports, usually by professional athletes.
Michael Vick's dog fighting scandal of 2007 is the highlight of them all, displaying a cruel nature and immaturity within the soul of one of America's most dominating icons.
His fall from grace was one of the most dramatic sports stories in history, and many doubted Vick would ever see the field again. Many doubted Vick would ever be able to redeem himself the right to earn a yearly salary ever again, let a lone a multi-million dollar salary.
I, a life long Falcons fan who coveted Vick's presence in Atlanta, was one of those people. I always felt like there would be a disconnect between me and my idols. I was wrong.
The Vick incident left me feeling betrayed. It was literally a heart wrenching experience. It filled me with anger. Believe it, or not, there is a certain degree of emotional investment that ties into being a sports fan.
It's something certain women who hate sports, like my mother, will never understand. Why am I in a bad mood when my team lost? Why do I feel like giving everyone hugs when my team wins?
Why was I distraught when Michael Vick went to prison?
I felt a let down. It was real. And, the saddest part was the entire city of Atlanta felt it. Vick was on billboards, and commercials and radio spots. He was the most popular man in the city. He brought a city together. He changed the lifestyle of a city.
Then it all went for the worse. In the wake of the Vick incident, fans in Atlanta were torn. Vick haters received tons of criticism, while Vick backers unknowingly fueled an ignorant argument of racist feuds between the divided fan base.
People were left feeling disappointment, but even more, they began to question the integrity of professional sports.
Vick's debacle was only one example of professional athletes seemingly taking their way of life for granted.
Adam "PacMan" Jones' repeated off field incidents showed an astonishing and unfathomable disconnect from his priviledges.
Other incidents like Albert Haynesworth's stomp and countless off field fights between NFL players began to draw a picture of immaturity amongst America's wealthiest and luckiest.
Vick's dog fighting incident simply topped it all off. Ever since 2007, I've had a drastically different view about professional sports and the players involved. I'd always hesitate to idolize an athlete.
When Matt Ryan entered the scene, I saw the other side. I saw a guy who worked hard, brought a blue collar attitude into the city, and wore a humble attitude to every press conference.
I instantly became a Matt Ryan fan. Others in the city of Atlanta took more time to back him. Vick was still some fan's quarterback.
At this point in time, in 2008, it was pretty clear that either people were Vick haters and Ryan lovers, or vice versa.
Even in the 2008 season, the 11-5 year for the Falcons seemed to be accompanied by an overshadowing unrest within the fan base.
In 2009, when Vick returned to Atlanta, a lot of Falcons fans in black or red number seven jerseys were cheering for the team in midnight green.
I couldn't understand this phenomenon. Why in the world was anyone in this city actually cheering for this criminal? To me, it was one or the other. I either liked Vick, or I liked Ryan.
However, in Vick's return, more and more video documentations of Michael Vick have aired on television. I've watched more and more, and slowly gained a newfound respect for the quarterback I once hated.
As Vick started to describe his experience in prison, as well as his mental transformation, I began to see a genuine change in his attitude.
One thing that Vick made clear to us in his return is that he takes his place in society as a blessing. He's seen the low, the high, and then the low again and then the high once more.
Some say Vick doesn't deserve to be in the spot he's in, making the money he is. I am not one of those people anymore.
Vick has shown work ethic on the mental and physical fields. He hasn't kept any secrets. He admitted every single spot where he was wrong in his life.
But, the thing with Vick is, he's backing up his talk of redemption. He's showing us he means change. So many NFL players have epitomized the definition of insane, doing stupid things over and over and expecting different results.
Once Vick came to the conclusion of his wrong doings, he immediately turned things around. He uses himself as an example of how to assert yourself correctly and can cite his own wrong doings as examples of a lack of respect for one's own life.
And the truth is, Vick's money won't be for him to throw around in a club, Pac Man style. Vick's intake will humbly be distributed to creditors and other debts he compiled over the past three years. The man is working because he appreciates his place in society, more than ever.
Basically, he's become one of the more powerful ambassadors of professional sports. That's something I never thought I would be able to claim with a straight face.
Sure, maybe walking straight out of a jail and into a Philadelphia Eagles uniform illustrates a kink in the chain of capitalistic success. Isn't this country supposed to be about doing things right and working hard?
Maybe it's not. But, this country is about counting blessings and being grateful.
If something amazing is handed to you, it's a slap in the face of society to take it for granted. That's what the NFL is all about.
While more and more NFL players have continued to show immaturity and ignorance towards their own place in society, Vick's return to the NFL has come with a giant sign on his forehead that preaches cherishing the moment.
That's all he's been about for the past few years, and his Pro Bowl spot and franchise tag are a testament to that more than anything else.
Professional athletes need to realize that with great power comes great responsibility, not recklessness (sorry for using the super hero quote).
Our country thrives off the famous and media presentation. People in the media and in the spotlight are expected to create a positive image.
On the other hand, the media thrives off the news worthiness of drama, which just so happens to include all of the hoopla created by these off field catastrophes in the celebrity world, which includes sports.
Now that Michael Vick's redeeming story has hit a peak, it's pretty evident he's out to prove doing things right can be just as rewarding and just as entertaining for us to write about.
I sure do find his story pretty remarkable, but the only thing that makes it remarkable to me is his change in character.
Even as a Falcons fan, and a Matt Ryan fan, I think I'm also a pretty big Vick fan again.
If more players could take on the responsibility Vick exerts now, and avoid the poor judgement he showed in the past, the NFL would be a seemingly more accommodating entity.
And to me, I think that factual exposure is worthy of a pay raise, or better yet, a chance at getting to the top.
NFL Pro Bowl: With So Many People Watching, Couldn't the NFL Do Better?
NFL Pro Bowl was yesterday and surprisingly, people cared.
On a day where there were two marquee basketball games and the NHL All-Star Game aired on national television, 13.4 million people tuned in to watch a 55-41 NFC victory. That total is the most for any All-Star game in any sport since 1999.
That just might be the saddest thing I’ve ever heard as a sports fan.
The Pro Bowl is the worst of the All-Star games among the four major sports, and it’s not even close. Name one redeeming quality about this game. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.
Quite frankly, the game is a joke. Players can’t blitz and must use a 4-3 defense, there is no motion or shifting by the offense, you must use a tight end and the rules get more ridiculous as we go along.
You can only play press coverage inside the 5-yard line, you can’t try to block a punt, field goal or extra point and of course, my favorite rule—intentional grounding is legal.
What takes place in the Pro Bowl isn’t football. It’s a watered down joke masquerading as a football game. The fact that 13.4 million people tuned in to watch garbage just proves the NFL’s popularity.
That rating is equivalent to some World Series games and BCS bowl matchups. Yet, year after year after mediocre year, the NFL throws out this crappy game that now, thanks to a scheduling change, doesn’t even feature the players from the teams playing in the Super Bowl.
Not only that, but the game falls at the end of the year, when players are so banged up they can’t even play in the game. Thanks to that lovely system, Vince Young has played in two Pro Bowls.
That is the most damning case against the Pro Bowl I can possibly imagine. Sure, every All-Star game in sports is a popularity contest. At least for the most part, fans get to see their stars in these games.
On top of that, at least there’s some redeeming quality about these games that makes them watchable.
The NBA has all of the dunks and the alley-oops and things that make basketball great. We’re used to a lack of defense in basketball, so it’s just offense on steroids. Baseball, for all of its faults, at least gives the game meaning by having the winner receive home-field advantage in the World Series.
But the one that trumps them all is the NHL, with this year’s All-Star game. Instead of just splitting up the teams between conferences, hockey decided it was time to stop rolling out the same stagnant product and actually thought outside of the box.
I know that’s probably a novel idea for some of these executives at the NFL, but maybe they should give it a shot.
The NHL named captains for both teams and then had those players pick from the pool of All-Stars to make up their teams. The fantasy draft was compelling television and made the game fun to watch.
Sure, no one knows that, because 13.4 million people were watching people not pressure the quarterback, but trust me. It happened.
Hockey may not be the most popular sport in America, but it might be the most innovative. At least they’re trying to think of ways to make things fresh for their fans instead of running out this hackneyed product every year.
The NFL prides itself on being the most successful sports league in America, and maybe it’s time it acts like it.
It’s time to either retool the Pro Bowl or get rid of it completely, because it’s time to either reward fans that watch the game or stop insulting them by putting this product on the field.
For all of the people who watched this game yesterday, make sure you check the channel guide first next time. You missed some great sports action.
I hope getting to watch Peyton Manning throw five more passes was worth it.
On a day where there were two marquee basketball games and the NHL All-Star Game aired on national television, 13.4 million people tuned in to watch a 55-41 NFC victory. That total is the most for any All-Star game in any sport since 1999.
That just might be the saddest thing I’ve ever heard as a sports fan.
The Pro Bowl is the worst of the All-Star games among the four major sports, and it’s not even close. Name one redeeming quality about this game. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.
Quite frankly, the game is a joke. Players can’t blitz and must use a 4-3 defense, there is no motion or shifting by the offense, you must use a tight end and the rules get more ridiculous as we go along.
You can only play press coverage inside the 5-yard line, you can’t try to block a punt, field goal or extra point and of course, my favorite rule—intentional grounding is legal.
What takes place in the Pro Bowl isn’t football. It’s a watered down joke masquerading as a football game. The fact that 13.4 million people tuned in to watch garbage just proves the NFL’s popularity.
That rating is equivalent to some World Series games and BCS bowl matchups. Yet, year after year after mediocre year, the NFL throws out this crappy game that now, thanks to a scheduling change, doesn’t even feature the players from the teams playing in the Super Bowl.
Not only that, but the game falls at the end of the year, when players are so banged up they can’t even play in the game. Thanks to that lovely system, Vince Young has played in two Pro Bowls.
That is the most damning case against the Pro Bowl I can possibly imagine. Sure, every All-Star game in sports is a popularity contest. At least for the most part, fans get to see their stars in these games.
On top of that, at least there’s some redeeming quality about these games that makes them watchable.
The NBA has all of the dunks and the alley-oops and things that make basketball great. We’re used to a lack of defense in basketball, so it’s just offense on steroids. Baseball, for all of its faults, at least gives the game meaning by having the winner receive home-field advantage in the World Series.
But the one that trumps them all is the NHL, with this year’s All-Star game. Instead of just splitting up the teams between conferences, hockey decided it was time to stop rolling out the same stagnant product and actually thought outside of the box.
I know that’s probably a novel idea for some of these executives at the NFL, but maybe they should give it a shot.
The NHL named captains for both teams and then had those players pick from the pool of All-Stars to make up their teams. The fantasy draft was compelling television and made the game fun to watch.
Sure, no one knows that, because 13.4 million people were watching people not pressure the quarterback, but trust me. It happened.
Hockey may not be the most popular sport in America, but it might be the most innovative. At least they’re trying to think of ways to make things fresh for their fans instead of running out this hackneyed product every year.
The NFL prides itself on being the most successful sports league in America, and maybe it’s time it acts like it.
It’s time to either retool the Pro Bowl or get rid of it completely, because it’s time to either reward fans that watch the game or stop insulting them by putting this product on the field.
For all of the people who watched this game yesterday, make sure you check the channel guide first next time. You missed some great sports action.
I hope getting to watch Peyton Manning throw five more passes was worth it.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Antonio Cromartie rips NFL, union
First it was Tom Brady. Now Antonio Cromartie has some choice words for the NFL and the players' union regarding negotiations of a new collective bargaining agreement.
"To me, you need to stop bitching about it," the New York Jets cornerback said. "And if you wanna say you're gonna get into a room and meet and greet, and say you're gonna do what you need to do, then do it. Don't just talk about it."
Cromartie is a free agent this season, but rather than begin negotiations with the team, his managerial group is on hold due to the uncertain future of the CBA.
There was little optimism in the Jets' locker room that the union and the NFL would avert a course that seems to be headed for disaster. The CBA will officially expire on March 4 when the owners can opt to lock out the players.
"Especially when you don't get no information about nothing from the union or the owners," Cromartie said. "So to tell you the truth they need to get their damn minds together and get this [expletive] done. Stop bitching about money. Money ain't nothing. Money can be here and gone. Us players, we want to go out and play football. It's something we've been doing and we love it and enjoy it. It's our livelihood."
Jets safety Eric Smith, whose contract will expire this season, wants to return but said the labor uncertainty is weighing on him.
"It definitely does because normally you know, March 3, free agency and then you start talking to teams," Smith said. "But now we'll have no contact if we're locked out. It's kind of a waiting game. You have no idea how long it's going to last."
Kicker Nick Folk packed his cleats and said he would start working out with a target date of August in mind.
"Just in case there is training camp," Folk said.
Jets coach Rex Ryan said the potential lockout will get in the way of coaching the team as it attempts to rebound from a second straight loss in the AFC Championship Game.
"It's some scary times, you know," Ryan said. "As a coach, you want to know, you want to get your guys back as fast as you can. Let's get on to the new season. But it really is uncertain times."
Ryan challenged the players to hold each other accountable in the offseason, checking in to make sure they were working out. Lance Laury said that some of the players were making tentative plans to have group workouts, depending on where they live.
"It's not like we're just now finding out about this," Laury said. "We know what it takes to stay in shape and get ready for a season."
Linebacker Bart Scott pointed out that last spring the Jets had 100 percent attendance for the offseason workouts.
"In this locker room we have a lot of professionals and a professional is not going to let his craft slip," Scott said. "... Just because we don't have a CBA doesn't mean we're going to stop our commitment to ourselves. We know we've been knocking on that door, and were going to keep knocking until we break it open."
But preparations can't formally begin anew until players are signed, and no one was as frank in their criticism of that impasse as Cromartie.
"I mean, that's how I feel," Cromartie said. "Honestly, I don't give a damn if they get mad at me or not, but it's getting to a point where it's getting ridiculous when everything is always dealing with money. You're basically dealing with people's livelihoods. That this is what we do for our careers, and you're dealing with hundreds of thousands of other people that's in this workplace also, from the venues to everyone else.
"... I mean, you've got our head union reps acting like a [expletive]," Cromartie said. "And they've got their guys acting like them [expletive], so they just need to get their [expletive] together and get it done."
"To me, you need to stop bitching about it," the New York Jets cornerback said. "And if you wanna say you're gonna get into a room and meet and greet, and say you're gonna do what you need to do, then do it. Don't just talk about it."
Cromartie is a free agent this season, but rather than begin negotiations with the team, his managerial group is on hold due to the uncertain future of the CBA.
There was little optimism in the Jets' locker room that the union and the NFL would avert a course that seems to be headed for disaster. The CBA will officially expire on March 4 when the owners can opt to lock out the players.
"Especially when you don't get no information about nothing from the union or the owners," Cromartie said. "So to tell you the truth they need to get their damn minds together and get this [expletive] done. Stop bitching about money. Money ain't nothing. Money can be here and gone. Us players, we want to go out and play football. It's something we've been doing and we love it and enjoy it. It's our livelihood."
Jets safety Eric Smith, whose contract will expire this season, wants to return but said the labor uncertainty is weighing on him.
"It definitely does because normally you know, March 3, free agency and then you start talking to teams," Smith said. "But now we'll have no contact if we're locked out. It's kind of a waiting game. You have no idea how long it's going to last."
Kicker Nick Folk packed his cleats and said he would start working out with a target date of August in mind.
"Just in case there is training camp," Folk said.
Jets coach Rex Ryan said the potential lockout will get in the way of coaching the team as it attempts to rebound from a second straight loss in the AFC Championship Game.
"It's some scary times, you know," Ryan said. "As a coach, you want to know, you want to get your guys back as fast as you can. Let's get on to the new season. But it really is uncertain times."
Ryan challenged the players to hold each other accountable in the offseason, checking in to make sure they were working out. Lance Laury said that some of the players were making tentative plans to have group workouts, depending on where they live.
"It's not like we're just now finding out about this," Laury said. "We know what it takes to stay in shape and get ready for a season."
Linebacker Bart Scott pointed out that last spring the Jets had 100 percent attendance for the offseason workouts.
"In this locker room we have a lot of professionals and a professional is not going to let his craft slip," Scott said. "... Just because we don't have a CBA doesn't mean we're going to stop our commitment to ourselves. We know we've been knocking on that door, and were going to keep knocking until we break it open."
But preparations can't formally begin anew until players are signed, and no one was as frank in their criticism of that impasse as Cromartie.
"I mean, that's how I feel," Cromartie said. "Honestly, I don't give a damn if they get mad at me or not, but it's getting to a point where it's getting ridiculous when everything is always dealing with money. You're basically dealing with people's livelihoods. That this is what we do for our careers, and you're dealing with hundreds of thousands of other people that's in this workplace also, from the venues to everyone else.
"... I mean, you've got our head union reps acting like a [expletive]," Cromartie said. "And they've got their guys acting like them [expletive], so they just need to get their [expletive] together and get it done."
Monday, January 24, 2011
NFL Playoffs Schedule: Jets Vs. Steelers Game Time, TV Schedule And Information
Here's everything you need to know about today's AFC Championship Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets, from game time to odds.
Game Time: The AFC Championship Game should have a kickoff right around 6:30 p.m. Eastern from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
TV Schedule: CBS will broadcast the AFC Championship Game. Its pregame show starts at 6 p.m. Eastern.
Weather: Pittsburgh won't be in the single digits, but it will be in the teens.
Field Condition: Who knows? Heinz Field is notoriously poor, but the Steelers have been the only team using the field for almost a month, and the field didn't look so bad when the Steelers defeated the Ravens last week.
Performances: Country star Martina McBride gets national anthem duties, and will be followed by another country "star," Joe Nicols, at halftime. Hank Williams Jr., originally scheduled for halftime, had to cancel.
Odds: The Steelers are currently favored by four points at home.
As we near kickoff at 6:30 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates. And for further reading, be sure to check out our Steelers blog, Behind The Steel Curtain, and our Jets blog, Gang Green Nation.
Game Time: The AFC Championship Game should have a kickoff right around 6:30 p.m. Eastern from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
TV Schedule: CBS will broadcast the AFC Championship Game. Its pregame show starts at 6 p.m. Eastern.
Weather: Pittsburgh won't be in the single digits, but it will be in the teens.
Field Condition: Who knows? Heinz Field is notoriously poor, but the Steelers have been the only team using the field for almost a month, and the field didn't look so bad when the Steelers defeated the Ravens last week.
Performances: Country star Martina McBride gets national anthem duties, and will be followed by another country "star," Joe Nicols, at halftime. Hank Williams Jr., originally scheduled for halftime, had to cancel.
Odds: The Steelers are currently favored by four points at home.
As we near kickoff at 6:30 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates. And for further reading, be sure to check out our Steelers blog, Behind The Steel Curtain, and our Jets blog, Gang Green Nation.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Why Blaine Gabbert Has Risen to the Top of NFL Draft Boards
While reporting from the East-West Shrine Game in Orlando, Florida, NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay remarked that there was an outside chance the Carolina Panthers could select Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert with the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
This is astonishing, considering just one month ago, Gabbert’s meager draft buzz was being overshadowed by fellow quarterbacks Andrew Luck, Jake Locker, Ryan Mallet and Cam Newton.
Now, obviously Andrew Luck’s decision to return to Stanford for his junior season benefited Gabbert, but what can be attributed to the Missouri quarterbacks sudden climb up NFL executive’s draft boards?
Let’s analyze why many NFL teams are buying stock in Blaine Gabbert:
NFL Size:
At 6'5", 240 lb, Gabbert has the type of height and weight that scouts love to see at the next level. His 6'5" build throws out any worries or speculation that the quarterback might have trouble scanning the field or seeing over NFL defenders. You might remember Gabbert’s predecessor Chase Daniel also had a storied career under center with Missouri that ended with Daniel throwing 39 touchdown passes as a senior.
Ultimately though, Chase Daniel’s small 6'0", 225 lb-build scared off many scouts, and as a result, he was not selected in the 2009 NFL Draft. Gabbert is obviously not dealing with the same issue; in fact, Blaine Gabbert’s prototypical NFL size has become one of his selling points.
Mobility:
If you look at the statistics from some of Blaine Gabbert’s games last season at Missouri, you will find he is not a “statue” in the pocket. Blaine had 89 rushing yards against Kansas State, 74 rushing yards against Nebraska and finished the season with four rushing touchdowns. Now, of course, those statistics are modest in comparison to the rushing yards draft prospects such as Cam Newton and Tyrod Taylor put up. Those numbers do show you he can keep defenses honest with his legs, and if the play breaks down, he has the ability to improvise.
This is another aspect that bodes well for Blaine in terms of his draft prospects. Blaine Gabbert won’t be Tim Tebow bull rushing head first on the goal line, and he won’t break off 60-yard rushes from the shotgun a la Mike Vick, but he has just enough mobility and quickness to take off and go when needed.
High Character
One aspect of the drafting process NFL executives heavily scrutinize is a prospect's character and off-the-field history. Obviously, Cam Newton is going to get absolutely grilled in the interviews by executives in regard to his father trying to arrange money for his signature and for allegations he cheated on tests as a student at Florida.
Ryan Mallet has also admitted he got too emotional during games two years ago. Now, Mallet has since said he has worked on the problem and is more composed. Ryan will surely be fielding questions about his composure and calmness on the field though.
Blaine Gabbert meanwhile has never been arrested and has no serious “character flags” against him to speak of. It can’t be understated how much NFL scouts, executives and coaches love kids with high character—especially at the quarterback position.
If there is one thing that has NFL teams nervous about Blaine Gabbert, it’s the offensive scheme he played in while at Missouri. Gabbert spent the majority of his college career in the shotgun with multiple wide receivers lined up on both sides of him. He almost played in a system that was comparable to what Mike Leach ran at Texas Tech where they would spread you out with that same sort of shotgun look.
That system is not used in the NFL at any level; in fact, the Panthers rely heavily on running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Under head coach John Fox, they ran a lot of their offense out of the I formation though it’s unclear if there will be a philosophy change under new coach Ron Rivera. So NFL teams in general and the Panthers in particular are nervous about Gabbert making the transition from sort of a “gimmick” college offense to a pro style NFL offense.
Going back to what Todd McShay said earlier about Gabbert possibly being selected with the first overall pick by Carolina, as farfetched as it may sound, it’s still possible this scenario could occur. Remember, Carolina was almost certainly going to take Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick had he remained in the draft so you know they are not certain about their quarterback prospects.
Yes, Carolina did draft Jimmy Clausen in the second round last season, but Clausen’s four-year deal is only worth $6.3 million max. This is not a case of Al Davis and the Raiders paying JaMarcus Russell a ridiculously high rookie salary and then being determined to get a return on their investment. If you also throw in the fact that Clausen battled injuries and only threw three touchdowns and nine interceptions last season, then you can see why they are not exactly sold on him just yet.
Now with all this talk about quarterbacks, I should also mention Carolina allowed opponents to rush for 123.8 yards per game last season. They really had trouble stopping the run, and they want to upgrade their talent on the defensive line. That is why they are so interested in defensive tackle Nick Fairley out of Auburn and defensive end Da'Quan Bowers out of Clemson. Right now, I would guess Fairley in particular and possibly even Bowers are higher on the Panthers draft board than Gabbert.
The one thing that could change the wheel back in Blaine Gabbert’s favor is the fact that he is most likely going to get a workout with the Carolina Panthers. Gabbert would have to absolutely wow new Panthers head coach Ron Rivera and Carolina executives to have any chance of leapfrogging Fairley and Bowers for the top spot though.
This is astonishing, considering just one month ago, Gabbert’s meager draft buzz was being overshadowed by fellow quarterbacks Andrew Luck, Jake Locker, Ryan Mallet and Cam Newton.
Now, obviously Andrew Luck’s decision to return to Stanford for his junior season benefited Gabbert, but what can be attributed to the Missouri quarterbacks sudden climb up NFL executive’s draft boards?
Let’s analyze why many NFL teams are buying stock in Blaine Gabbert:
NFL Size:
At 6'5", 240 lb, Gabbert has the type of height and weight that scouts love to see at the next level. His 6'5" build throws out any worries or speculation that the quarterback might have trouble scanning the field or seeing over NFL defenders. You might remember Gabbert’s predecessor Chase Daniel also had a storied career under center with Missouri that ended with Daniel throwing 39 touchdown passes as a senior.
Ultimately though, Chase Daniel’s small 6'0", 225 lb-build scared off many scouts, and as a result, he was not selected in the 2009 NFL Draft. Gabbert is obviously not dealing with the same issue; in fact, Blaine Gabbert’s prototypical NFL size has become one of his selling points.
Mobility:
If you look at the statistics from some of Blaine Gabbert’s games last season at Missouri, you will find he is not a “statue” in the pocket. Blaine had 89 rushing yards against Kansas State, 74 rushing yards against Nebraska and finished the season with four rushing touchdowns. Now, of course, those statistics are modest in comparison to the rushing yards draft prospects such as Cam Newton and Tyrod Taylor put up. Those numbers do show you he can keep defenses honest with his legs, and if the play breaks down, he has the ability to improvise.
This is another aspect that bodes well for Blaine in terms of his draft prospects. Blaine Gabbert won’t be Tim Tebow bull rushing head first on the goal line, and he won’t break off 60-yard rushes from the shotgun a la Mike Vick, but he has just enough mobility and quickness to take off and go when needed.
High Character
One aspect of the drafting process NFL executives heavily scrutinize is a prospect's character and off-the-field history. Obviously, Cam Newton is going to get absolutely grilled in the interviews by executives in regard to his father trying to arrange money for his signature and for allegations he cheated on tests as a student at Florida.
Ryan Mallet has also admitted he got too emotional during games two years ago. Now, Mallet has since said he has worked on the problem and is more composed. Ryan will surely be fielding questions about his composure and calmness on the field though.
Blaine Gabbert meanwhile has never been arrested and has no serious “character flags” against him to speak of. It can’t be understated how much NFL scouts, executives and coaches love kids with high character—especially at the quarterback position.
If there is one thing that has NFL teams nervous about Blaine Gabbert, it’s the offensive scheme he played in while at Missouri. Gabbert spent the majority of his college career in the shotgun with multiple wide receivers lined up on both sides of him. He almost played in a system that was comparable to what Mike Leach ran at Texas Tech where they would spread you out with that same sort of shotgun look.
That system is not used in the NFL at any level; in fact, the Panthers rely heavily on running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Under head coach John Fox, they ran a lot of their offense out of the I formation though it’s unclear if there will be a philosophy change under new coach Ron Rivera. So NFL teams in general and the Panthers in particular are nervous about Gabbert making the transition from sort of a “gimmick” college offense to a pro style NFL offense.
Going back to what Todd McShay said earlier about Gabbert possibly being selected with the first overall pick by Carolina, as farfetched as it may sound, it’s still possible this scenario could occur. Remember, Carolina was almost certainly going to take Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick had he remained in the draft so you know they are not certain about their quarterback prospects.
Yes, Carolina did draft Jimmy Clausen in the second round last season, but Clausen’s four-year deal is only worth $6.3 million max. This is not a case of Al Davis and the Raiders paying JaMarcus Russell a ridiculously high rookie salary and then being determined to get a return on their investment. If you also throw in the fact that Clausen battled injuries and only threw three touchdowns and nine interceptions last season, then you can see why they are not exactly sold on him just yet.
Now with all this talk about quarterbacks, I should also mention Carolina allowed opponents to rush for 123.8 yards per game last season. They really had trouble stopping the run, and they want to upgrade their talent on the defensive line. That is why they are so interested in defensive tackle Nick Fairley out of Auburn and defensive end Da'Quan Bowers out of Clemson. Right now, I would guess Fairley in particular and possibly even Bowers are higher on the Panthers draft board than Gabbert.
The one thing that could change the wheel back in Blaine Gabbert’s favor is the fact that he is most likely going to get a workout with the Carolina Panthers. Gabbert would have to absolutely wow new Panthers head coach Ron Rivera and Carolina executives to have any chance of leapfrogging Fairley and Bowers for the top spot though.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
NFL: 'We've Never Done this Before'
If you want to attend Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium but can't get a ticket, the league is giving some fans a chance.
The NFL will sell a $200 ticket to the game, but it comes with a catch. Fans will have to sit on the grass on the East Side of the stadium and watch the game on the huge outside HD TV screens.
"We've never done this before," Brian McCarthy, the NFL's vice president of corporate communications, said Wednesday.
The offer has been extended to Cowboys Club Seat season ticket holders, and must be purchased in blocks of four. Those who purchase the block of tickets receive a free parking pass, four Super Bowl programs and four scarves.
Tickets to get inside the stadium start at $600 and range all the way to $1,900 for the lower level. Ticket brokers' prices are considerably higher.
Capacity for the game is still being determined, McCarthy said. The outside party plaza tickets will count toward the official attendance.
An estimated 93,000 fans will be inside the stadium. The last Super Bowl with more than 100,000 fans was in 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The record of 103,985 was set in 1980, also at the Rose Bowl.
When the Cowboys play home games at Cowboys Stadium, they sell standing room only party plaza tickets -- located in each end zone -- on a first-come, first-served basis. Those tickets were counted among the team's official attendance.
Party plaza tickets for the Super Bowl will not have inside access to the stadium because the NFL is erecting temporary bleacher seating in the party pass areas.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made no secret of his desire to set a Super Bowl record when the stadium opened a year and a half ago, although the issue was out of his hands since the NFL makes all decisions regarding game operations.
Since then, the Cowboys set the NFL record for a regular season game when 105,121 watched the visiting New York Giants play Dallas. A year ago, the NBA All-Star game drew 108,713, the most ever for a basketball game.
The NFL will sell a $200 ticket to the game, but it comes with a catch. Fans will have to sit on the grass on the East Side of the stadium and watch the game on the huge outside HD TV screens.
"We've never done this before," Brian McCarthy, the NFL's vice president of corporate communications, said Wednesday.
The offer has been extended to Cowboys Club Seat season ticket holders, and must be purchased in blocks of four. Those who purchase the block of tickets receive a free parking pass, four Super Bowl programs and four scarves.
Tickets to get inside the stadium start at $600 and range all the way to $1,900 for the lower level. Ticket brokers' prices are considerably higher.
Capacity for the game is still being determined, McCarthy said. The outside party plaza tickets will count toward the official attendance.
An estimated 93,000 fans will be inside the stadium. The last Super Bowl with more than 100,000 fans was in 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The record of 103,985 was set in 1980, also at the Rose Bowl.
When the Cowboys play home games at Cowboys Stadium, they sell standing room only party plaza tickets -- located in each end zone -- on a first-come, first-served basis. Those tickets were counted among the team's official attendance.
Party plaza tickets for the Super Bowl will not have inside access to the stadium because the NFL is erecting temporary bleacher seating in the party pass areas.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made no secret of his desire to set a Super Bowl record when the stadium opened a year and a half ago, although the issue was out of his hands since the NFL makes all decisions regarding game operations.
Since then, the Cowboys set the NFL record for a regular season game when 105,121 watched the visiting New York Giants play Dallas. A year ago, the NBA All-Star game drew 108,713, the most ever for a basketball game.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Jets-Patriots Beats Cowboys-Panthers In '97 As Most Watched NFL Divisional Playoff Game
What happens when you combine one of the NFL's most popular teams and the largest market in the country?
Record-breaking TV ratings.
The New York Jets upset defeat of the New England Patriots netted 43.5 million viewers according to an NFL spokesman. That puts them as the most watched divisional playoff game in NFL history.
They pass the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers 1997 divisional playoff game who previously held the record with 42.7 million viewers.
Now in third place is Joe Montana's Chiefs against Warren Moon's Oilers in 1994 (which is also the last time the Chiefs won a playoff game).
The Jets will now travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers, who have a wide-ranging fanbase. If anyone's going to continue breaking ratings records, it'll be the Jets.
Record-breaking TV ratings.
The New York Jets upset defeat of the New England Patriots netted 43.5 million viewers according to an NFL spokesman. That puts them as the most watched divisional playoff game in NFL history.
They pass the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers 1997 divisional playoff game who previously held the record with 42.7 million viewers.
Now in third place is Joe Montana's Chiefs against Warren Moon's Oilers in 1994 (which is also the last time the Chiefs won a playoff game).
The Jets will now travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers, who have a wide-ranging fanbase. If anyone's going to continue breaking ratings records, it'll be the Jets.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Heisman Winner Cam Newton Running to the NFL
Cam Newton is no dummy -- the controversial and amazingly talented QB is done at Auburn University ... and says he's going to the NFL next year.
The Heisman Trophy winner -- who was in the middle of a recruiting scandal all season -- announced Thursday that he will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
Monday night Newton lead the Auburn Tigers to a national championship victory over Oregon that went right down to the wire.
An NCAA investigation found that Newton's father attempted to sell his son's football services to Mississippi State ... although he eventually decided to play ball at Auburn instead.
The Heisman Trophy winner -- who was in the middle of a recruiting scandal all season -- announced Thursday that he will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
Monday night Newton lead the Auburn Tigers to a national championship victory over Oregon that went right down to the wire.
An NCAA investigation found that Newton's father attempted to sell his son's football services to Mississippi State ... although he eventually decided to play ball at Auburn instead.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Vicodin Charges Against NFL Player -- Dismissed
Former San Diego Chargers safety Kevin Ellison is all ready to return to the NFL -- after officials dismissed all charges stemming from a Vicodin arrest back in May.
Ellison -- who started 9 games for the Chargers as a rookie in 2009 -- had been popped in Redondo Beach, CA for possessing 100 Vicodin pills without a prescription ... and was cut from the team in the wake of his arrest.
Kevin was later picked up by the Seattle Seahawks ... but they also let him go due to the pending charges.
However, Ellison has since completed the NFL Substance Abuse Program -- and the District Attorney's Office has agreed to throw out the case.
And with his legal issues officially behind him -- we're guessing it's only a matter of time before he turns up on a new squad.
Ellison -- who started 9 games for the Chargers as a rookie in 2009 -- had been popped in Redondo Beach, CA for possessing 100 Vicodin pills without a prescription ... and was cut from the team in the wake of his arrest.
Kevin was later picked up by the Seattle Seahawks ... but they also let him go due to the pending charges.
However, Ellison has since completed the NFL Substance Abuse Program -- and the District Attorney's Office has agreed to throw out the case.
And with his legal issues officially behind him -- we're guessing it's only a matter of time before he turns up on a new squad.
The Rooney Rule: Why It's Outdated and Unnecessary in Today's NFL
For every Mike Tomlin or Tony Dungy, there's a Romeo Crennel, Mike Singletary or Art Schell.
As I really sit back and think about the Rooney Rule and what it does, I can’t help but think it’s the very reason that we as a country are still not solidified as one and why racism is still a real problem in America. The bottom line here is that the Rooney Rule itself uses race as a tool and uses the color of one's skin as a determinant. How is that just?
Let me give you a quick history lesson here. The Rooney Rule was enacted by the NFL in 2003 and essentially what it does is require NFL teams with a head coaching vacancy to interview a "minority candidate," basically requiring teams to operate within the affirmative action hiring guidelines set forth years ago.
The rule itself was drafted by and named after Dan Rooney, the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and chairman of the NFL’s Diversity Committee. Since the inception of the rule, the NFL’s head coaching numbers have swayed slightly.
Currently, 37 percent of the coaches in the NFL are of minority decent, up from six percent prior to the rule change. Simply put, more black and minority coaches are being given head coaching jobs and I’m all for that and think it's long overdue.
I’m in support of equality and seeing beyond the color of one man’s skin.
That being said, I think the rule is a pointless measure enacted by the NFL. The numbers don’t lie, as I mentioned earlier; however it’s forcing NFL owners and GMs to interview people that, for whatever reason, may or may not be qualified as deemed so by private organizations (NFL franchises).
How is that fair?
Seriously ask yourself, how is that fair to any party involved? How is fair to the owners, GMs or the candidates whom they’re being forced to interview?
The short answer is, it's not. The league has some pretty stiff fines when it comes to not interviewing a minority candidate. In 2003, the league fined the Detroit Lions $200,000 for not interviewing any minority candidates and immediately hiring Steve Mariucci.
Per the rule, the fine was right thing to do; however, was the fine necessary if the Lions already knew who they wanted to coach the team? The cut and dry is that this rule is giving "opportunities" for head coaching and senior football operations positions to people that maybe don’t deserve to have the opportunity for various reasons and, rankly, that’s not right.
Now, inevitably, some of you will read this and your perception will be that I’m a racist and,for those of who that think that, I'd just like to ask you to leave now. For those of you still here, let me elaborate further…
As most of you know, unless you’ve been in some remote jungle in South America, Eric Mangini, John Fox and Josh McDaniels were all recently fired fired. Most of those changes were not a surprise, as all of those coaches, well, most, weren't who the franchise was looking for.
What that means is that the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers and their owners and GMs have to find a coach moving into the 2011-12 season. Anyway, one of the first candidates that has been interviewed is Perry Fewell, who is currently the New York Giants' defensive coordinator.
Now, while he’s been at the right hand of a man that is clearly a very good coach in Tom Coughlin and created a very solid, albeit sometimes unmotivated defense, the fact is, if I were looking, I don't know that he'd rise to that level of a true candidate.
Another alarming factor is that he’s never been “the guy” at any level. Not at the high school level, not at the college level and not at the NFL level either; however, he did serve as the interim head coach in Buffalo after Dick Jauron was fired and then he himself was fired at the close of the season.
Fewell is the hot minority name being thrown around right now. And, he’s gotten the chance to interview for the head coaching vacancies in Denver and Cleveland and my question is this, why?
Is Fewell being interviewed by Pat Bowlen and Mike Holmgren because he’s genuinely qualified or is it because of the color of his skin and the fact that the Rooney Rule requires it?
Looking at what his defenses did in Buffalo, and the fact that the G-Men let some sure wins slip away this season, I think it may be the latter.
It looks like it's being done because it’s a formality and a requirement that teams are required to meet, not because he's genuinely revered or a serious candidate. Honestly, I don’t think it’s fair for Fewell to be thrust into this position because he’s the de facto “Mr. Popular Minority Head Coaching Candidate for 2010.″
Perhaps I'm wrong and maybe he'll be a great head coach, but until that's proven and in the meantime, it just shows how painfully skewed, racist and out of touch the NFL’s views really are.
Forcing this rule into effect shows that the NFL and Rooney are out of touch with the reality of the coaching world. The bottom line is this—no matter what the color of a man’s skin is, his accomplishments, experience and coaching knowledge generally are the basis by which he’s evaluated as a coach, not the color of his skin.
Honestly, if I’m an owner, looking at potential candidates, I don’t care if the guy is green with purple eyes. If he’s a winner and he’s got the experience that I seek for my club, then he’s my guy.
While I’m sure that every owner in the league would love to have a guy like Dungy, Tomlin, Lovie Smith or Herm Edwards at the helm of their organization, the fact, is forcing owners to interview minority candidates that are potentially unqualified, underqualified or that don't fit from a philosophical standpoint won’t promote finding those type of coaches.
To fix this, the best thing to do is to remove the rule and force a man (of any color) to stand on his own merits and earn what may come his way, not to give it to him. I was always taught that if you didn’t earn it, then it wasn’t yours to keep.
Tony Dungy, Tomlin, Edwards and even Crennel have earned their shot at the head coach position, it wasn’t given to them.
Possibly even more disturbing is that forcing this action into effect oftentimes may take the intention out of the interview and, in my mind, makes it simply a formality, nothing more. And frankly, I can’t think of anything that would be more insulting or racist than being interviewed simply because a club had to interview the “minority” and I was it.
Leslie Frazier spared himself from being interviewed because he's the "Hot Minority Candidate" and Fewell has mentioned several times that he's been skeptical at times during this process because of this rule. Current Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris has echoed this before too.
So, I guess another question would be this: when minority head coach candidates are speaking out about how the rule has adversely effected them, isn't it time to maybe make a change?
If the league wants to promote minority hirings, then they must do it equally, paying as much attention to black men, as they do to any other minority candidate, whether he’s black, Hispanic, Asian or any other minority race.
Therein lies the problem with the rule. We all know now after the history lesson I gave you earlier that it requires them to interview at least one “minority candidate,” but we all know that really means they have to interview one black candidate.
There’s still not an Asian head coach and finally, for the first time in a long time, there's a Hispanic head coach in the NFL right now, so can anyone really say the rule is benefiting anyone other than the black coach?
When was the last time you saw Norm Chow, Lloyd Lee or a Hispanic coach interviewed for the head coaching position with an NFL team, aside of Ron Rivera who was just recently hired in Carolina?
If I asked right now who the first minority coach to win a Super Bowl was, most of you would answer Dungy. However, that’s incorrect. The first minority coach to win a Super Bowl was Tom Flores with the Oakland Raiders and he won not one, but two Super Bowls. Those being Super Bowl XV and XVIII.
Yet most of you, even Raider fans, probably don’t realize that and most don’t recognize that groundbreaking achievement, which is as good as any other minority candidate's Super Bowl win. Why is that?
The Rooney Rule is outdated and pointless, proof of that is Flores who was winning Super Bowls as a minority candidate long before—25 years before to be exact—the “Rooney Rule" was enacted.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m all for someone being given an opportunity to better themselves and reach above. Really. That’s how I genuinely feel. I’m not for awarding anything to anyone, be it black, white, yellow or green simply because of the color of their skin.
I read somewhere recently that some race groups were upset at the firing of Crennel in Cleveland a couple of years ago. To that, I say this: open your eyes, and really look at the situation through a lens that’s not askew and tell me how the Browns were wrong in that decision? Going 24-40 in his time at the helm, one winning season and three seasons with 10 or more losses? An NFL record zero touchdowns in four consecutive games?
That warrants a firing, not a second chance.
Recently, Michael Wilbon of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” recently said, “Don’t spit in my face and tell me it’s raining. Progress will be when 65 percent of coaches are African-American, not 20 percent.”
He went on to say: ”The fact this shameful disparity is not discussed openly is part of the problem, not a sign that we are in a post-racist moment. Right now, as the coaching vacancies pile up, it is precisely the time to talk about it.”
Really Michael? Sixty-five percent African American? What about Chow or Lee? Use of the Rooney Rule in this fashion does nothing more than create an unfair playing field and creates even more racist ideals in my mind. Honestly folks, correct me if I'm wrong, but those numbers sound less like equality and more like dominance.
The fact is, almost 37 percent of NFL coaches are black and that number is continually on the rise, as the natural progression for a lot of former NFL players is to go into the coaching ranks.
As I write this and you read it, I know that somewhere the next Dungy or Tomlin is being groomed by a knowledgeable and strong coach and, really, I can’t wait to see who he his.
Is it Fewell? Is it Ted Cottrell? Is it Chow? Is it Jimmy Raye? I don’t know, but I do know this—we’ll never know until someone gives them a shot, however, that’s a shot that must be earned, not given.
As I really sit back and think about the Rooney Rule and what it does, I can’t help but think it’s the very reason that we as a country are still not solidified as one and why racism is still a real problem in America. The bottom line here is that the Rooney Rule itself uses race as a tool and uses the color of one's skin as a determinant. How is that just?
Let me give you a quick history lesson here. The Rooney Rule was enacted by the NFL in 2003 and essentially what it does is require NFL teams with a head coaching vacancy to interview a "minority candidate," basically requiring teams to operate within the affirmative action hiring guidelines set forth years ago.
The rule itself was drafted by and named after Dan Rooney, the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and chairman of the NFL’s Diversity Committee. Since the inception of the rule, the NFL’s head coaching numbers have swayed slightly.
Currently, 37 percent of the coaches in the NFL are of minority decent, up from six percent prior to the rule change. Simply put, more black and minority coaches are being given head coaching jobs and I’m all for that and think it's long overdue.
I’m in support of equality and seeing beyond the color of one man’s skin.
That being said, I think the rule is a pointless measure enacted by the NFL. The numbers don’t lie, as I mentioned earlier; however it’s forcing NFL owners and GMs to interview people that, for whatever reason, may or may not be qualified as deemed so by private organizations (NFL franchises).
How is that fair?
Seriously ask yourself, how is that fair to any party involved? How is fair to the owners, GMs or the candidates whom they’re being forced to interview?
The short answer is, it's not. The league has some pretty stiff fines when it comes to not interviewing a minority candidate. In 2003, the league fined the Detroit Lions $200,000 for not interviewing any minority candidates and immediately hiring Steve Mariucci.
Per the rule, the fine was right thing to do; however, was the fine necessary if the Lions already knew who they wanted to coach the team? The cut and dry is that this rule is giving "opportunities" for head coaching and senior football operations positions to people that maybe don’t deserve to have the opportunity for various reasons and, rankly, that’s not right.
Now, inevitably, some of you will read this and your perception will be that I’m a racist and,for those of who that think that, I'd just like to ask you to leave now. For those of you still here, let me elaborate further…
As most of you know, unless you’ve been in some remote jungle in South America, Eric Mangini, John Fox and Josh McDaniels were all recently fired fired. Most of those changes were not a surprise, as all of those coaches, well, most, weren't who the franchise was looking for.
What that means is that the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers and their owners and GMs have to find a coach moving into the 2011-12 season. Anyway, one of the first candidates that has been interviewed is Perry Fewell, who is currently the New York Giants' defensive coordinator.
Now, while he’s been at the right hand of a man that is clearly a very good coach in Tom Coughlin and created a very solid, albeit sometimes unmotivated defense, the fact is, if I were looking, I don't know that he'd rise to that level of a true candidate.
Another alarming factor is that he’s never been “the guy” at any level. Not at the high school level, not at the college level and not at the NFL level either; however, he did serve as the interim head coach in Buffalo after Dick Jauron was fired and then he himself was fired at the close of the season.
Fewell is the hot minority name being thrown around right now. And, he’s gotten the chance to interview for the head coaching vacancies in Denver and Cleveland and my question is this, why?
Is Fewell being interviewed by Pat Bowlen and Mike Holmgren because he’s genuinely qualified or is it because of the color of his skin and the fact that the Rooney Rule requires it?
Looking at what his defenses did in Buffalo, and the fact that the G-Men let some sure wins slip away this season, I think it may be the latter.
It looks like it's being done because it’s a formality and a requirement that teams are required to meet, not because he's genuinely revered or a serious candidate. Honestly, I don’t think it’s fair for Fewell to be thrust into this position because he’s the de facto “Mr. Popular Minority Head Coaching Candidate for 2010.″
Perhaps I'm wrong and maybe he'll be a great head coach, but until that's proven and in the meantime, it just shows how painfully skewed, racist and out of touch the NFL’s views really are.
Forcing this rule into effect shows that the NFL and Rooney are out of touch with the reality of the coaching world. The bottom line is this—no matter what the color of a man’s skin is, his accomplishments, experience and coaching knowledge generally are the basis by which he’s evaluated as a coach, not the color of his skin.
Honestly, if I’m an owner, looking at potential candidates, I don’t care if the guy is green with purple eyes. If he’s a winner and he’s got the experience that I seek for my club, then he’s my guy.
While I’m sure that every owner in the league would love to have a guy like Dungy, Tomlin, Lovie Smith or Herm Edwards at the helm of their organization, the fact, is forcing owners to interview minority candidates that are potentially unqualified, underqualified or that don't fit from a philosophical standpoint won’t promote finding those type of coaches.
To fix this, the best thing to do is to remove the rule and force a man (of any color) to stand on his own merits and earn what may come his way, not to give it to him. I was always taught that if you didn’t earn it, then it wasn’t yours to keep.
Tony Dungy, Tomlin, Edwards and even Crennel have earned their shot at the head coach position, it wasn’t given to them.
Possibly even more disturbing is that forcing this action into effect oftentimes may take the intention out of the interview and, in my mind, makes it simply a formality, nothing more. And frankly, I can’t think of anything that would be more insulting or racist than being interviewed simply because a club had to interview the “minority” and I was it.
Leslie Frazier spared himself from being interviewed because he's the "Hot Minority Candidate" and Fewell has mentioned several times that he's been skeptical at times during this process because of this rule. Current Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris has echoed this before too.
So, I guess another question would be this: when minority head coach candidates are speaking out about how the rule has adversely effected them, isn't it time to maybe make a change?
If the league wants to promote minority hirings, then they must do it equally, paying as much attention to black men, as they do to any other minority candidate, whether he’s black, Hispanic, Asian or any other minority race.
Therein lies the problem with the rule. We all know now after the history lesson I gave you earlier that it requires them to interview at least one “minority candidate,” but we all know that really means they have to interview one black candidate.
There’s still not an Asian head coach and finally, for the first time in a long time, there's a Hispanic head coach in the NFL right now, so can anyone really say the rule is benefiting anyone other than the black coach?
When was the last time you saw Norm Chow, Lloyd Lee or a Hispanic coach interviewed for the head coaching position with an NFL team, aside of Ron Rivera who was just recently hired in Carolina?
If I asked right now who the first minority coach to win a Super Bowl was, most of you would answer Dungy. However, that’s incorrect. The first minority coach to win a Super Bowl was Tom Flores with the Oakland Raiders and he won not one, but two Super Bowls. Those being Super Bowl XV and XVIII.
Yet most of you, even Raider fans, probably don’t realize that and most don’t recognize that groundbreaking achievement, which is as good as any other minority candidate's Super Bowl win. Why is that?
The Rooney Rule is outdated and pointless, proof of that is Flores who was winning Super Bowls as a minority candidate long before—25 years before to be exact—the “Rooney Rule" was enacted.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m all for someone being given an opportunity to better themselves and reach above. Really. That’s how I genuinely feel. I’m not for awarding anything to anyone, be it black, white, yellow or green simply because of the color of their skin.
I read somewhere recently that some race groups were upset at the firing of Crennel in Cleveland a couple of years ago. To that, I say this: open your eyes, and really look at the situation through a lens that’s not askew and tell me how the Browns were wrong in that decision? Going 24-40 in his time at the helm, one winning season and three seasons with 10 or more losses? An NFL record zero touchdowns in four consecutive games?
That warrants a firing, not a second chance.
Recently, Michael Wilbon of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” recently said, “Don’t spit in my face and tell me it’s raining. Progress will be when 65 percent of coaches are African-American, not 20 percent.”
He went on to say: ”The fact this shameful disparity is not discussed openly is part of the problem, not a sign that we are in a post-racist moment. Right now, as the coaching vacancies pile up, it is precisely the time to talk about it.”
Really Michael? Sixty-five percent African American? What about Chow or Lee? Use of the Rooney Rule in this fashion does nothing more than create an unfair playing field and creates even more racist ideals in my mind. Honestly folks, correct me if I'm wrong, but those numbers sound less like equality and more like dominance.
The fact is, almost 37 percent of NFL coaches are black and that number is continually on the rise, as the natural progression for a lot of former NFL players is to go into the coaching ranks.
As I write this and you read it, I know that somewhere the next Dungy or Tomlin is being groomed by a knowledgeable and strong coach and, really, I can’t wait to see who he his.
Is it Fewell? Is it Ted Cottrell? Is it Chow? Is it Jimmy Raye? I don’t know, but I do know this—we’ll never know until someone gives them a shot, however, that’s a shot that must be earned, not given.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
NFL Playoff Predictions: Picking Games Versus The Spread In The Divisional Round
With an exciting Wild-Card round behind us and the Divisional Round all set, it is time to start offering predictions on what will happen this weekend.
We are going to predict all four Divisional Games against the spread.
Picking games is an easy task. When you have to predict games against the spread, the job gets a little more difficult.
Every game this weekend could go either way. The beauty of the NFL is that all these teams are so evenly matched that anyone can win on any given day.
Personally, I have given up calling anyone a lock thanks to the Seahawks and how bad they made me look against New Orleans last Saturday.
No matter what the point spread says, any one of the eight teams playing this weekend can win and advance to their respective conference championship game.
So which teams will that be?
Who is going to keep their Super Bowl dream alive? Who will go home? Will their be an upset?
The answers to all those questions lie in the next four slides.
We are going to predict all four Divisional Games against the spread.
Picking games is an easy task. When you have to predict games against the spread, the job gets a little more difficult.
Every game this weekend could go either way. The beauty of the NFL is that all these teams are so evenly matched that anyone can win on any given day.
Personally, I have given up calling anyone a lock thanks to the Seahawks and how bad they made me look against New Orleans last Saturday.
No matter what the point spread says, any one of the eight teams playing this weekend can win and advance to their respective conference championship game.
So which teams will that be?
Who is going to keep their Super Bowl dream alive? Who will go home? Will their be an upset?
The answers to all those questions lie in the next four slides.
NFL Playoff Schedule: Ravens-Steelers, Packers-Falcons, Seahawks-Bears, Jets-Patriots
The NFL playoff schedule continues into the divisional round after an excellent round of games on wildcard weekend. The Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets advance in the AFC and the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks advance in the NFC. The Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears will host the games next weekend after their first round bye.
Here is the schedule for the divisional round of games next weekend:
Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:30 p.m. (ET), Saturday, CBS: This is a rematch as these two teams met twice in the regular season. This is always one of the best games of the year and we're treated to the playoff edition. The Steelers will likely be favored at home but, as Baltimore showed on Sunday, this is a heck of a road team.
Green Bay Packers vs. Atlanta Falcons, 8:00 p.m. (ET), Saturday, FOX: The Packers surprised the Eagles and they'll move onto the Falcons, who hold the top overall seed in the NFC. Matt Ryan has lost just twice at home in his career and the Packers have been competitive in every game they've played this year.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Chicago Bears, 1:00 p.m. (ET), Sunday, FOX: The Seahawks shocked the world by beating the New Orleans Saints last week and now they'll head to Chicago to play the Bears. I said last week the Seahawks didn't have a chance against the Saints. I won't make that mistake again here.
New York Jets vs New England Patriots, 4:30 p.m. (ET), CBS: Like the other AFC game, this is the third time these two teams will meet. The Jets won the first game and the Patriots slaughtered them in round two. Round three will be highly entertaining.
Here is the schedule for the divisional round of games next weekend:
Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:30 p.m. (ET), Saturday, CBS: This is a rematch as these two teams met twice in the regular season. This is always one of the best games of the year and we're treated to the playoff edition. The Steelers will likely be favored at home but, as Baltimore showed on Sunday, this is a heck of a road team.
Green Bay Packers vs. Atlanta Falcons, 8:00 p.m. (ET), Saturday, FOX: The Packers surprised the Eagles and they'll move onto the Falcons, who hold the top overall seed in the NFC. Matt Ryan has lost just twice at home in his career and the Packers have been competitive in every game they've played this year.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Chicago Bears, 1:00 p.m. (ET), Sunday, FOX: The Seahawks shocked the world by beating the New Orleans Saints last week and now they'll head to Chicago to play the Bears. I said last week the Seahawks didn't have a chance against the Saints. I won't make that mistake again here.
New York Jets vs New England Patriots, 4:30 p.m. (ET), CBS: Like the other AFC game, this is the third time these two teams will meet. The Jets won the first game and the Patriots slaughtered them in round two. Round three will be highly entertaining.
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