Finally

Last night, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 to win the World Series in five games (4-1). This is the second World Championship for the Phils…they previously won in 1980…28 years ago. This will be remembered as one of the weirdest finishes in a Series with an unprecedented suspension of a game due to inclement weather. The game was concluded 48 hours later…in hindsight…it was worth the wait!

Philadelphia has been starving for a Championship for 25 years…Bon appetite! The city of “Brotherly Love” often gets criticized in the media about their fans…they booed Santa Clause for God’s sake! Some of it is warranted, for sure…but their passion is next to none. Trust me…I know! As a Cowboys fan, I don’t dare go into the Linc sporting my Dallas jersey. I get a lot of abuse from the Eagles fans all the time.

I am a casual fan of baseball in general and I don’t really have an allegiance to any team in particular. So I guess I can be a “homer” when it comes to the Phillies? If there is room for one more on the Phillies bandwagon…I’d like to jump aboard!

In 1980, when the Phils won the World Series, I was only 11 years old. I remember, as a 6th grader, how “pumped up” people were; how a city bonded together. I wasn’t allowed to go to the parade as my parents thought I was too young to go. I’m not making that mistake again…I’ll see you at the parade…somewhere on Broad Street…finally!


Short Shots:


The Philllies won the World Series in dramatic fashion…the curse of William Penn has been lifted!

The Chargers fired DC Ted Cottrell and they have promoted Ron Rivera (LB coach). There has been multiple mid-season firings this year…is this the new trend?

T.J. Houshmandzadeh (WR) has guaranteed that the Cincinnati Bengals will win 2 games this year. Geez…there’s going out on a limb, T.J.! At-least Jon Kitna had the nerve to say that the Lions would win 10 games and make the play-offs last year…now that’s a leap of faith!

It appears that the KC Chiefs will deactivate Larry Johnson again this week. He is still waiting to hear from Sheriff Goodell. Rumor has it that L.J. could be done for the year. What’s the difference…the Chiefs are horrific!

Week 8 Review

The newly acquired crystal ball went 3-1 in its debut week, which leaves me 4 games under .500…we’re getting there! That’s an impressive start for a young and naïve crystal ball. It performed well in its new role…many people are relying on it…that’s a lot of pressure! It clearly has better prognosticating skills than its predecessor. Maybe the new mahogany base it sits on, gave it a sense of prestige. Well, for whatever reason…I’ll take it! Now let’s review what happened this past week:

Last Week: 3-1

Overall: 10-14

Tampa Bay @ Dallas: The Cowboys needed this game in a big way, especially since the rest of the NFC East teams won as well. The Cowboys defense came to play with a more hands on approach by Wade Phillips…maybe he really is a Mr. Fix-it (read more here)? It wasn’t pretty…ugly…you might say! Brad Johnson was awful…but they got the job done (read more here). Next weeks showdown with the G-Men is huge…we shall see!

Atlanta @ Philadelphia: The Falcons tried to make a game of it late but they were no match for the high-powered offense of the Eagles. The Birds were helped out late in the game when the officials blew a game-changing call. The Falcons were out of time-outs and couldn’t challenge the play. With the return of Westbrook, the offense was once again running on all cylinders. This teams dynamics change considerably when Westbrook is healthy. At 4-3, they are still a team to be reckoned with in the second half of the season!

New York Giants @ Pittsburgh: The Steelers out-played the G-men for most of the game. They had the lead, but then…Big Ben got picked and the game changed course. The Giants took advantage of the situation and stole this game on the road from the Steelers! Even though the Steelers lost, their defense showed how dominant it could be by stuffing Jacobs at the goal line on several occasions! The G-Men have a big one coming up against the Cowboys…stay tuned!

Buffalo @ Miami: With the Dolphins poaching half of the Cowboys staff and roster, Parcells and company has something good going on in South Florida! Ted Ginn decided to start living up to his high draft status by exploding with 7 receptions and 175 yards. Chad Pennington showed, that even though he doesn’t have a cannon, he could still manage a game. He threw for 314 yards and a TD…but most importantly…no picks!


Short Shots:

The World Series is on ice…well…rain, that is! Game 5 was called in the 6th Inning with the score tied at 2. The Philadelphia fans, as well as the Phillies, have been waiting since 1983 for a championship…now they will need for “mother nature” to cooperate! I guess a retractable roof would have been nice? Patience…my child…patience!

The Cowboys won despite Brad Johnson’s “noodle arm”. Can they hold down the fort for another week while many of their stars heal? The Cowboys face the division leading G-Men this week…a win would go a long way to achieving their goals (read more here).

Larry Johnson is to meet with Sheriff Goodell today for his many infractions…Good luck! He may need to wear those diapers that Dick Vermeil told him to take off a few years back!

What is going on with the Colts? Their offense is out of sync and the defense isn’t fairing much better. Peyton and company need to step it up or their "goose" may be cooked before Thanksgiving!

There Are No Style Points In The NFL

Yesterday, the Cowboys defeated Tampa Bay 13-9. The Cowboys were under a lot of pressure the past few weeks. On and off the field issues fueled the fire. Every news media outlet is looking through a microscope to see if and when the Cowboys will combust! Sorry…ESPN…not this week! We all know that you need the ratings and the material. How else would you fill your pre and post-game shows? Look elsewhere; there are 31 other teams with storylines.

Wade Phillips said he was going to be more involved in the defense…whatever he did…do it again! That was the best defensive effort I have seen from the ‘Boys in a long time. The defense played with emotion and a purpose. Maybe the insertion of young athletic players in the secondary was a breath of fresh air? Maybe the veteran players knew they needed to step up their game to compensate for the missing players? Whatever it was, it worked…defensively anyway!

The offense was out of sync all day. Owens was more involved than he has been lately, while Roy Williams caught his first TD as a Cowboy. Barber gutted out some tough yards as well. When Witten was injured (ribs)…doom was near. Surely the efforts on defense would go to waste. The offense was sputtering with no imagination on the horizon. The defense was playing lights out…holding the Bucs to field goals…bend but don’t break!

In the end, the Cowboys won despite the play of a Brad Johnson led offense. It wasn’t very pretty offensively…downright ugly even! The Cowboys managed a measly 172 yards of offense…are you kidding me? With all that talent on offense…all those Pro-Bowlers…pathetic! But Wade and company did what they needed to do…win the ball game, period! It doesn’t matter how you win. It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t pretty. It doesn’t matter if it was ugly…because…there are no style points in the NFL!



Short Shots:


The Philadelphia Phillies smoked the Tampa Bay Rays 10-2 last night to take a commanding lead in the World Series. The Phils lead the Series 3-1. If they can win tonight, the Phillies will close out the Series at home and the celebrations can begin! Philadelphia has been craving a championship for decades and the Phils are on the verge of delivering! Let’s go Phillies! The parade down Broad Street is within reach!

Mike Singletary called out TE Vernon Davis on the sideline. He then sent him to the showers while the game was still going on. He later blasted him in the post-game press conference. I don’t know how good or bad Singletary will be as a head coach in the NFL…but I guess we all know who is in charge!

The Cowboys need to address the back-up QB position in the off-season. Can Brooks Bollinger be the answer next year? I don’t know! But I do know that this team has too much talent to waste on a 40-year old has-been (Brad Johnson)!

The Bengals and the Lions remain winless thus far this season. Both coaches (Marv Lewis and Rod Marinelli) are on the proverbial hot seat! I hope they are getting their resumes ready!

Super Bowl Or Bust

The Cowboys are sitting at 4-3, having lost three out of their last four games after a 3-0 start. This is not how Jerry Jones had envisioned this season unfolding. The Cowboys had 13 Pro-Bowlers last year. They had 22 of 24 starters returning (Marion Barber replaced Julius Jones and Zach Thomas replaced Akin Ayodele). Jerry had good reason for optimism. The Cowboys had a decent draft by selecting Felix Jones and bolstering their cornerback depth. They also acquired Adam Jones on a draft day trade. The Cowboys were 13-3 last year; a Super Bowl would surely be in their grasp this year?

The expectations were high this year, but that’s nothing new in Dallas. As a 5-time Super Bowl champion, anything less is unacceptable. Some teams aspire to make the play-offs or win their division…oh no…not in Dallas! If the Cowboys go 13-3 (as they did last year) and don’t win the big game…the season is considered a failure! Last year was a failure…a big failure…they did not win the Super Bowl…nothing else matters in Big D!

An NFL season is filled with highs and lows…obviously the Cowboys have hit a big low. Can the Cowboys bounce back? Can they make the play-offs? Can they win the Super Bowl? Yes, yes, and yes they can! Here are 5 reasons why:

1. If the Cowboys can split the next two games, they will be 5-4 going into the bye week. Romo and Felix Jones should be ready to come back following the bye. The Cowboys would need to go 6-1 or 5-2 in the remaining seven games to finish at 11-5 or 10-6; which should qualify them for the playoffs!


2. Mr. Fix-it, Wade Phillips, (read more here) will fix the defense. Terence Newman should be back shortly after the bye week and be available for the stretch run. Pacman Jones may be reinstated as well. This will improve the defense significantly and at the right time!


3. Newly acquired WR Roy Williams will be more acquainted with the playbook as the season goes forward. Williams will be explosive in this offense once he learns the system and Romo returns to action!


4. Defenses have been shutting Terrell Owens down thus far this year. Do you really think this will continue all season? At some point Owens will explode and start putting up great numbers. He is still a premier WR and he can’t be shut down for long…especially with the addition of Roy Williams!


5. The final and most important reason of them all…my crystal ball said so! That’s right…mark it down…you heard it right here. The Cowboys will not only make the play-offs…they will win the Super Bowl!

So, you must be wondering…is this guy crazy? Is this wishful thinking? Is this a biased opinion of a Dallas fan? Yes, yes, and of course, yes! But it boils down to this for Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys…its…Super Bowl or bust!

Predictions Week 8

Each week, on Friday, I will look into my (never wrong, just misinformed) crystal ball and give my predictions for that weekend games. I will always prognosticate on the Eagles and Cowboys games and then pick two more games of interest (to me, that is, not necessarily to you). Keep in mind, that this is for entertainment purposes only, and that I do not endorse any sort of legal or illegal gambling. That being said…let’s see what’s in my crystal ball!

Last week’s performance was an awful one at 1-3. I warned the crystal ball for the last few weeks about its performance. I told it that there would be repercussions and consequences…no more excuses…it has been fired! I purchased a new (well, actually slightly used) crystal ball at a local thrift shopppe earlier today. It seems happy in its new home…I put it up on a mahogany base on top of the mantel. I also gave it a good polishing…so it should be ready to go!

Last Week: 1-3

Overall: 7-13

Tampa Bay @ Dallas: The Cowboys are playing for pride and self respect these days. Play-offs…play-offs…we’re talking about winning one game! The Bucs come in with a rejuvenated Jeff Garcia. WR Antonio Bryant (a former Cowboy who threw a towel in Parcells face) is looking to make a splash in Big D with a big…“I told you so!”. Brad Johnson will make his second start of the season and Roy Williams looks to make his first reception as a Cowboy. Dallas needs this game more…it’s put up or shut up time! Dallas 23, Tampa Bay 19.

Atlanta @ Philadelphia: The Birds are coming off a bye week and they are looking to get back in the NFC East race. Westbrook looks like he should be ready to go, so the Eagles will use a more balanced attack against the Falcons. Are the Atlanta Falcons for real, or is this just smoke and mirrors? We shall see! The crystal ball looks cloudy…so that must mean smoke! Philadelphia 34, Atlanta 13.

New York Giants @ Pittsburgh: The G-Men are riding high as they are in first place of the NFC East. The Pittsburgh defense is stingy and they will hold Brandon Jacobs in check. Look for Eli to be confused by the blitz packages of the Steelers. Troy Polamalu will put a hurting on Peyton’s little bro (hopefully Goodell will be lenient on him)! Pittsburgh 27, New York Giants 13.

Buffalo @ Miami: Buffalo is the surprise team of the AFC, IMO. They have been flying under the radar and find themselves in first place of their division. Who would’ve thunk it? Not me, for sure! The Dolphins will look to use the "wildcat" formation to confuse the Bills defense. Ronnie Brown will have a bounce back game as he was shut down last week. Sparano gave his players an offer they can’t refuse…win! Miami 23, Buffalo 17.


Short Shots:


The Philadelphia Phillies lost Game 2 of the World Series last night. The Series is tied at 1-1. The Rays will now travel to Philadelphia for Games 3-5. Let’s not head back to Tampa…let’s win it at home! Let's go Phils! Parade down Broad Street to follow!

Deuce McAllister and several other players have tested positive for taking water pills to lose weight. This is a violation of the NFL’s steroid policy and these players face a four-game suspension…will these players ever learn…cheaters never prosper!

Kellen Winslow II is getting the royal NFL shaft. The NFL won’t hear his appeal until next Tuesday, which will be too late to let him play this weekend. If he wins his appeal then he will get his weeks pay…sounds like they are treating Kellen like a “piece of meat”!

The New Orleans will “host” the San Diego Chargers in London this Sunday. The game will be played at the historic Wembley Stadium. It’s great that the NFL wants to expand its audience, but the Saints are getting screwed a home game!

Mr. Fix-it

When Bill Parcells resigned as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones did an extensive search to find his replacement. It was believed, at the time, that Norv Turner was the front-runner. The new head coach was going to inherit Jason Garrett, as Mr. Jones had already hired Garrett as the OC. In the end, Jones decided on Wade Phillips. The reasoning was that the Cowboys defense needed a proven “3-4 guy” to take what Parcells started to the next level.

Last year, Wade Phillips referred to himself as a “Mr. Fix-it” when it comes to the 3-4 defenses. He referred to his defense as the “Phillips 3-4”…which his father, Bum Phillips, created. Wade has all the credentials needed as a DC…everywhere he has been the DC, the defense has flourished! Wade also had previous head coaching experience as well. Phillips is a happy-go-lucky kind of guy…just the right guy to lead the ‘Boys after “Dictator Parcells” departed. Jerry had found his man!

Some people say that Jones hired Phillips to be a puppet…hogwash! Wade Phillips has been a coach for a long time. To be the HC of the Dallas Cowboys is his dream job. He has Texas roots and a Cowboy at heart. Don’t let his “awe shucks” demeanor fool you…he is well qualified for the job. He can be stern with his players if need be, but he prefers to treat them as adults and professionals. He believes that the team is a family…and family sticks together through thick and thin.

The Cowboys have spent a boatload of money on the defensive side of the ball. There are many high draft picks on defense as well. Defense is Wade’s specialty…so why is the defense getting shredded like mozzarella cheese? With several injuries and a suspension, the ‘Boys defense is a little thin in the secondary…but that’s no excuse! Although Jerry won’t fire Phillips in mid-season (that’s not Jerry’s style), he is on the hot seat. This was supposed to be a Super Bowl season for the Cowboys…now; they are hanging on by a thread! If Wade wants to be around to see next season as the Cowboys head coach…he better come through on being…Mr. Fix-it!


Short Shots:


Rumor has it that Mike Holmgren will be the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers next season. The 49ers should stay clear, as Holmgren hasn’t delivered on his promise of a Super Bowl in Seattle!

There is talk (and the NFL is currently looking into it) that the Ravens had a bounty out on Rashard Mendenhall and Hines Ward of the Steelers. What’s wrong with that? Doesn’t anybody remember the Bounty Bowls?

Larry Johnson is in trouble again. Apparently, Johnson has been accused of spitting alcohol at a woman during the Kansas City’s bye week at a nightclub. Attention…attention…paging…Sheriff Goodell!

“Pinkie Gate” continues in Big D. Will Romo play…will he be the back-up…will he be inactive on game day, when will he be ready? If Romo was anything like his childhood idol (Brett Favre), the answer would be…he’s ready and will be starting this coming Sunday!

Tom Brady apparently has had several “clean-up” surgeries (for infections) following his ACL surgery. If the infections can’t be eliminated, he may need to have his knee re-repaired and that could potentially put next season in jeopardy for Brady. I guess the football gods do have a way of evening things out? Remember…cheaters never prosper (not for long anyway)!

Kellen Winslow II has appealed his suspension. Hopefully the NFL will see that Mr. Winslow isn’t just a “piece of meat” and lift his suspension!

The Philadelphia Phillies won Game 1 of the World Series…way to go Phils! Got Parade?

Week 7 Review

The crystal ball was one up and three down for the week. That puts me 6 games under .500 for the season…not good…more like awful! The crystal ball was told it was going to be on a short leash…now it’s getting the hook. Hey…if head coaches can be fired in mid-season…well…so can the crystal ball! I will have a new crystal ball for next week…we’ll see if it can do a better job prognosticating than its predecessor? Let’s take a look back and see what happened this past week:

Last Week: 1-3

Overall: 7-13

Dallas @ St. Louis: The Cowboys came up lame in a game they needed badly. With Romo sidelined, the “Geriatric Kid” (Brad Johnson) was awful in his first start in two years. Johnson is a great back-up…as long as he doesn’t have to play! The Rams took it to the 'Boys…a good ole fashion Texas whooping! Jackson ran wild and Bulger picked apart the depleted Cowboys secondary. Rumor has it that Jerry is getting the life preservers ready!

Cleveland @ Washington: The ‘Skins let the Browns hang around way to long in this contest. With Portis gaining 175 yards rushing, this should have been a blowout for Washington. Cleveland made a game of it late, but they were not able to seal the deal. At-least Romeo Crennel hasn’t lost his team…they are fighting to the bitter end for him!

Indianapolis @ Green Bay: Okay…this is getting out of hand. Peyton Manning seems to have lost his "mojo" and is a mere mortal these days. How can the best QB of all-time throw 2 INTs that are returned for TDs? The Indy offense is out of sync…and the Colts may be running out of time? Give Green Bay credit, they did their part and Aaron Rogers is starting to get the Packer Backers to forget about Favre…Brett who?

San Diego @ Buffalo: The Bolts fell flat on their faces against the Bills. I am not sure that Buffalo is for real…but they are 5-1 now! They are atop of their division and should stay there…I must give them their due! Let’s go, Buff-a-lo…let’s go, Buff-a-lo!


Short Shots:


The Cowboys have already declared Romo out for the upcoming game this week. Brad Johnson gets another start…oh boy, this could get ugly!

The Browns have suspended Kellen Winslow II for one week without pay for comments detrimental to the team. I guess if you get sick (staph infection) and tell people why…somehow that reflects negatively on your team? This has appeal written all over it!

Matt Jones, of the Jacksonville Jaguars, was suspended by the NFL for three games. His suspension was for violating the “NFL conduct policy”. He was arrested this summer for cocaine possession. Some how, in the eyes of the NFL, this merits one less game than Pacman Jones’ suspension for his scuffle with his own bodyguard?

The San Francisco 49ers fired Mike Nolan this week and have replaced him with Mike Singletary (Assistant Head Coach). Mike Nolan is one of a few coaches who wears a suit on the sideline…he does this as a tribute to his father, Dick Nolan. The elder Nolan was an NFL player for 9 seasons, an assistant coach under Tom Landry for 6 seasons, head coach of the 49ers from 1968-1975, and head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 1978-1980. He passed away on November 11, 2007 in Texas. It was nice to see someone honor the tradition of the game and his father at the same time. I’m not a fan of seeing coaches in cut-off sweatshirts on the sideline (and yes, that was a shot at Beli-cheat)!

The Philadelphia Phillies play in Game 1 of the World Series tonight in Tampa tonight. Let’s go Phils!

Getting The Life Preservers Ready

Yesterday the Cowboys went to St. Louis and decided to play their worst game of the year. What had already been a tumultuous week for the Cowboys only got worse by the humiliation the Rams put on the 'Boys. Everyone (okay, maybe not everyone) is calling for Wade Phillips to be fired! That’s not going to happen…not this week…not next week, not during the bye week! There is too much at stake to do that!

Last week the Cowboys had a rough week on and off the field. With all the injuries and the Pacman Jones suspension…Jerry had to do something! He did…he acquired WR Roy Williams from the Detroit Lions (read more here). Roy’s first game with his new team is one he would sure like to forget! But how much of the offense could he learn in a couple of days? Apparently, not enough! He was held in check with no receptions. Owens didn’t fair much better as he had two catches and he’s been with the team for three years!

The Cowboys now sit at 4-3, having already lost as many games as they did all last year, and their play-off chances are starting to slip away. Some teams would love to be 4-3, but that doesn’t cut it in Dallas…not with Super Bowl aspirations…and not to mention how much money Jerry has shelled out this year. Mr. Jones rubs some people the wrong way, but he doesn’t mind! He paid $130 million for the Cowboys in 1989, and people thought he was insane…the Cowboys are now valued at over $1 Billion! If that’s insane…sign me up!

Jerry likes a gamble and that’s why he is willing to go “all-in” and sign players with checkered pasts. He takes chances…sometimes they work…sometimes they don’t…but at-least he tries! Jerry is maligned in the media as a meddling owner, that he is too hands on…but he is like a captain of a ship. When he sees that the ship might be sinking, he doesn’t bail on his team…he fights to the bitter end for his ship (team). The ship isn’t sinking just yet, but good ole Jerry is getting the life preserves ready!


Short Shots:


Reggie Bush injured his knee yesterday, and could be out 3-4 weeks…a tough loss for the Saints!

What the heck is going on with Peyton Manning and the Colts? This is starting to look like an episode of The Twilight Zone!

Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 57-yard field goal in OT to beat the Jets…talk about clutch, baby!

Clinton Portis ran for 175 yards and a TD yesterday against the Cleveland Browns. At some point you would think that the Browns would have put an 8th, 9th, or 10th man in the box!

Safety Roy Williams of the Cowboys re-injured his forearm (which he broke against the Eagles in Week 2) and may be out for the season. The Cowboys have now lost 4 DB’s in the last two weeks. Rumor has it that (inspired by the movie Invincible) Jerry is holding open try-outs at the Ranch this week. Darn…and I just committed to being a “tree” in my 4-year old daughter’s Halloween play…just my luck!

Predictions Week 7

Each week, on Friday, I will look into my (never wrong, just misinformed) crystal ball and give my predictions for that weekend games. I will always prognosticate on the Eagles and Cowboys games and then pick two more games of interest (to me, that is, not necessarily to you). Keep in mind, that this is for entertainment purposes only, and that I do not endorse any sort of legal or illegal gambling. That being said…let’s see what’s in my crystal ball!

Last week’s performance was another mediocre week at 2-2. I guess the pep talk didn’t do much good after all? I still believe in this crystal ball, though it will be on a short leash this week. I’ve been scouting a replacement crystal ball at a local thrift shoppe…so it better shape up or the hook is coming! Let’s see what’s in store for us this week? (Since the Eagles are on a bye week, I will prognosticate on division rival Washington in their place.)

Last Week: 2-2

Overall: 6-10

Dallas @ St. Louis: The Rams finally had something to cheer about after beating the ‘Skins last week. Dallas has had an eventful week…to say the least. The addition of Roy Williams should bolster the offense. Will Romo play? Who knows? It doesn’t matter as the ‘Boys, in a statement game, will put a hurting on the Rams. Look for Roy Williams early in the game on a deep post for a TD! Dallas 31, St. Louis 16.

Cleveland @ Washington: Cleveland schooled the G-Men on MNF last week, and Washington was in disbelief after they lost to the Rams. Will Cleveland be able to do the same to the ‘Skins? No! The Redskins should be able to manhandle the Browns by pounding the rock with Portis and the newly acquired Shaun Alexander. Look for Chris Cooley in the red zone, as he is due for a monster game. Washington 27, Cleveland 9.

Indianapolis @ Green Bay: Indy finally broke out of its slump and put a hurting on the Ravens last week. Peyton Manning finally got into a groove and had his best game of the year. The bad news for the Colts is that Addai is out for a few weeks, but Rhoades should be more than capable of holding down the fort! Green Bay will give their fans something to cheer about early in the game…but Peyton Manning will prove to be a crowd silencer as the Colts upend the Packers. Indianapolis 37, Green Bay 23.

San Diego @ Buffalo: San Diego dug themselves a hole early in the season, but they are a much-improved team as of late. Rivers is playing well and LT looks like he isn’t finished after all! Buffalo has been somewhat of a surprise this year, but their luck has run out. The Bolts O-line will open up huge holes for LT. The Bolts will steal a victory in dramatic fashion (come on…the football gods owe Norv one) as time expires! San Diego 24, Buffalo 23.

Short Shots:

The Phillies are headed to the World Series. Go Phils! I smell a parade down Broad Street!

Tony Romo may try to play with his fractured pinkie on Sunday…I’m not sure that’s a good idea? IMO, he should rest and let Brad Johnson lead the team against the Rams. If the ‘Boys can’t beat the Rams with their back-up QB, then they don’t deserve to be in the play-offs!

Larry Johnson will be deactivated by Head Coach Herm Edwards for this weeks contest for breaking team rules…but not suspended…he still gets paid! Sheriff Goodell has not mentioned anything about a suspension on a non-related arrest for Johnson earlier in the week…somewhere (possibly at a rehab facility) in Texas, Pacman is beside himself!

The Dallas Cowboys are now being fined, by the NFL, because of the suspension of Pacman Jones…about $20,000 for each game Pacman misses…wow…good thing Jerry is loaded!

Rumor has it that ESPN will debut a new channel starting next week (as long as it’s okay with Comcast Cable)…ESPNCowboys! This in turn should free up ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, and ESPN News to continue with their regular broadcasting schedule! (Just a joke…I think?)

The Real Roy Williams

A few minutes before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday afternoon, Jerry Jones pulled off a blockbuster deal for WR Roy Williams of the Detroit Lions. Yes, I said “blockbuster”! Keep in mind that trades are very rare in the NFL…especially at the trade deadline! The Cowboys gave Detroit a 1st, a 3rd, and a 6th round draft choice. In return the Cowboys received Roy Williams and Detroit’s 7th rounder. Did Jerry overpay? Did Jerry panic? That would be NO and NO!

Jerry didn’t over spend or panic…because…he got his man! He has been trying to pry Williams from the Lions for two years…and now he did. Everyone wanted Dallas to use a 1st round pick for a WR anyway…but Roy is a proven Pro-Bowl quality receiver. The extra picks…not a big deal! Williams is still young enough to produce for many years, even after Owens has moved on! If the Cowboys had used that 1st round pick on a WR…who knows…maybe a bust…maybe a Pro-Bowler. This way they know what they have in Roy Williams! He will wear #11 for the Cowboys as he did for the Lions.

In my opinion, this was a brilliant move by Mr. Jones. The team needed a spark after all the bad publicity as of late…Roy Williams gives the Cowboys that much needed spark! Hours earlier, Jerry found out about Pacman’s suspension (read more here), he knew that he now had extra picks from Tennessee because of the suspension. Like a shrewd businessman, he knew he could now make the deal with Detroit…Jerry had the ammo…and Detroit had his man…Jerry’s got him now!

Roy Williams will prosper in the Cowboys offense. In Detroit, he was doomed playing for a franchise that has a dark cloud over it! Roy wanted to come to Dallas because he is a Texas native and starred at the University of Texas. He knew that he needed a different venue to showcase his talents…now he has the biggest stage of all…He’s a Cowboy! Roy saw what a difference being a Cowboy could do for his career…all he had to do was look at Leonard Davis.

Before coming to Dallas, Bigg (as Leonard is often called) played for Arizona…you know…another one of those franchises with that dark cloud lurking over them. Davis is prospering in Dallas…and so will Roy Williams! Detroit thinks it fleeced the Cowboys…I beg to differ…because now we will all be able to see…the real Roy Williams!


Short Shots:


The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Dodgers to win the National League Pennant and are headed to the World Series! Congratulations to the Phils…and let’s start making plans for that parade!

Apparently, Adam Jones has checked himself into a rehab facility. The NFL required him to do so as part of his process to be reinstated into the league.

The Cowboys now have two players with the name Roy Williams. The first Roy, recently changed his number from 31 to 38. Jerry should have insisted that the new Roy Williams take the number 31 and not 11…that way he could sell all those 31 jerseys laying around the Ranch!

After being officially traded to the Cowboys, the first telephone call that Roy Williams received was from Terrell Owens…to welcome him as new teammate! And possibly...to let him know the WR pecking order in Dallas?

Holier Than Thou

Roger Goodell, in a rush to judgment, suspended Adam “Pacman” Jones of the Dallas Cowboys indefinitely yesterday afternoon (read more here). Go ahead, say it…I told you so! Go ahead…laugh…snicker! Sheriff Goodell will review Adam’s suspension after the Washington game (Week 11). The Cowboys have a bye Week 10, so it ends up being a 4-game, 5-week suspension to start. Goodell will then revisit the situation and may or may not let Pacman play again. Many “experts” believe that Mr. Jones in done…finished…no more football for you, Pacman!

I will be the first to say that what Adam Jones has done in the past is ridiculous, foolish, childish, unlawful…insert your favorite adjective here! The NFL (Goodell and Jerry Jones, more specifically) gave Adam a second chance…but did they? Well, Jerry sure did! He gave him a contract laced with incentives. He gave him a security team to watch his every move. He gave him a support group consisting of former Cowboy Deion Sanders and others…not enough, was it? Jerry Jones did everything for Adam…but did Sheriff Goodell?

Commissioner Goodell put Adam in a no win situation. I know…Pacman has a rap sheet as long as a child’s Christmas list! I get it! Adam screwed up in the past and put himself in this position. But to me, when you (Goodell) give the guy a second chance…give him a real second chance! So, the police were called…no arrest was made…because no crime was committed…suspension anyway! Now I know how to get my co-workers fired…just call 9-1-1 and ask for the police to come out…it doesn’t matter if a crime was committed or not…using Goodell’s logic…fired…fired…fired! What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

Goodell, and I applaud his efforts to clean up the League, has gone too far! He has become a one-man dictatorship…his way or the highway! I sure hope that he doesn’t treat everyone else who has a transgression the same way he has treated Jones. Look out, Larry Johnson! Look out, Matt Jones! Look out, Plaxico Burress! Goodell is taking all prisoners. I just hope Mr. Goodell doesn’t have any skeletons in his closet…of course he doesn’t, because he is…holier than thou!


Short Shots:

The Dallas Cowboys acquired WR Roy Williams from the Lions for a 1st and a 3rd round draft choice. The Lions will also get the Cowboys 6th rounder and the Cowboys will get Detroit’s 7th rounder. Jerry Jones…you risk taker you!

The Washington Redskins signed former MVP Shaun Alexander. I can’t believe it took this long for Alexander to latch on to a team. I know he has lost a step, but some of the RBs that are playing never had the step to lose!

The Eagles failed in their bid to get Tony Gonzales from the Chiefs…anyway, at least they tried? Not!

The Phillies can clinch the National League Pennant with a win tonight against the Dodgers…Go Phillies!

Week 6 Review

The crystal ball was two up and two down for the 2nd week in a row. That puts me 4 games under .500 for the season…not good! The crystal ball will be on a short leash this week…it better start looking over its shoulder! Let’s take a look back and see what happened:

Last Week: 2-2

Overall: 6-10

Dallas @ Arizona: This was a bizarre game from the start with the Cards taking the opening kick-off all the way for a TD! The Cowboys had a late game rally to put the game in OT, but then disaster struck…the game ended on a blocked punt returned for a TD! In the end…the special teams for the Cowboys were not so special!

Philadelphia @ San Francisco: The Eagles got off to an early lead and it looked like it was going to be a cakewalk…guess again! Andy Reid tried for a long FG by the struggling David Ackers…that sure backfired, didn’t it! The 49ers blocked the FG and ran it back for a TD…now we got a ball game! The Birds were able to rally and win the game. It wasn’t pretty…but there are no “style points” in the NFL! A win is a win…especially on the road!

Miami @ Houston: Wow! This was an exciting game wire to wire. The ‘Fins are an exciting team to watch. The wildcat offense is fun to see in action…each week they have a new wrinkle. Pennington came from the WR position to throw a flea-flicker pass for a long TD…good stuff, I tell ya! On 4th and goal, on QB keeper in shotgun formation, Schaub took it in for the game clinching TD…with only seconds remaining on the clock…what a finish!

New England @ San Diego: The Patriots (CHEATERS) proved to be no match against Norv and his Bolts. Rivers shredded the Pat’s defense all night long! Cassel…well…he’s just not an NFL quality QB! How could he be? Prior to this season, he hasn’t started a game since High School! He was the back-up QB on his college team…Belichick is a fool to think that he could turn Cassel into a legitimate QB in the NFL! Maybe arrogant too!


Short Shots:


The Cowboys lost to the Cards in the desert…but add insult to injury…the ‘Boys lost Tony Romo, Felix Jones, Sam Hurd, and their punter to serious injuries…I guess it should be injury to insult!

The Eagles, Cowboys, and Redskins need to send fruit baskets to Romeo Crennel, in Cleveland, to thank him for beating the G-Men last night! And from the looks of Romeo’s waistline…the fruit should do him some good!

Eli Manning was horrible in last nights game against the Browns…Eli threw 3 INT’s. His older bro, Peyton, threw for 3 TD passes on Sunday afternoon…now that’s more like it…all is well in the Manning Universe!

Today is the NFL trade deadline and Tony Gonzales of the Chiefs wants to be traded! Do you blame him? If you were a 1st ballot Hall-Of-Famer to be…would you want Brodie Croyle throwing you the ball?

The Phillies came back in dramatic fashion to beat the Dodgers last night! The Phillies take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Go Phil’s…that parade on Broad street looks like a real possibility now!

Not So Special

Yesterday, the Cowboys went to the University of Phoenix Stadium to take on the Cardinals. The ‘Boys got lassoed by the Cards 30-24 in over-time. It was a great finish to a rather lackluster game. Sure Romo had 321 yards passing; Barber had 178 total yards from scrimmage, and even Patrick Crayton got in on the action with a 55-yard TD catch. Owens had a humble 4 receptions for 36 yards and Witten contributed 4 catches for 55 yards. But until the last 3 minutes and 17 seconds it was a boring game…but that’s why they play the full 60 minutes!

With 3:17 left in the game, the Cowboys got lucky on a little check down play that Barber took 70 yards to the house and giving Dallas a glimmer of hope. After a quick three and out by the Cards, the Cowboys got the ball back with 50 seconds on the clock and trailing by 3. Romo got them in field goal range and Nick Folk connected on a 52 yard FG as time expired…to OT we go!

In OT, the Cowboys got the ball first and did squat with it. What appeared to be a simple three and out to be followed by a punt…turned into a disaster! The punt was blocked and scooped up by the Cards in the end zone for a “walk-off” TD! What a way to lose a game! Odd, don’t you think? Of course it’s odd…it was the first time in NFL history that a game ended in OT with a blocked punt for a TD! For the Cowboys…at least they made “history” yesterday!

The game ended, just as it started…with a key special teams blunder by the ‘Boys in blue. On the opening kick-off the Cards took it all the way for a TD and Dallas didn’t know what hit them! On the last play of the game, the Cards struck again with a blocked punt for a TD…again, the Cowboys didn’t know what hit them…game over! Well…I’ll tell you what hit them…their Special Teams…which are…well…not so special!

Short Shots:

The NFC East got a lot tighter with the ‘Skins and Cowboys losing, while the Eagles got a win. Tonight the 4-0 G-Men face the Browns…let’s go Browns!

Peyton Manning finally woke up and shredded the vaunted Ravens defense…good…now, which Manning is better question, is finally put to rest? (P.S. It was really never in question, was it?)

The Atlanta Falcons are 4-2 (yep, that’s right…it’s not a typo!) and tied for 1st place in their division. I guess addition by subtraction does work! Michael Vick, Matt Schaub, Bobby Petrino, and DeAngelo Hall…don’t let the door hit you in the (you know what!).

The Phillies lost last night but still lead the series 2-1 over the L.A. Dodgers…come on Phils, we need a parade down Broad Street!

Predictions Week 6

Each week, on Friday, I will look into my (never wrong, just misinformed) crystal ball and give my predictions for that weekend games. I will always prognosticate on the Eagles and Cowboys games and then pick two more games of interest (to me, that is, not necessarily to you). Keep in mind, that this is for entertainment purposes only, and that I do not endorse any sort of legal or illegal gambling. That being said…let’s see what’s in my crystal ball!

Last week’s performance was a little better, but not good enough. As long as I see the willingness to improve, I will stick with my crystal ball. I don’t take the ownership of a crystal ball lightly, so I gave it a pep talk this week (with the aid of a colleague), and all seems well. Now, let’s see what this “pumped up” crystal ball has to say (or see)?

Last Week: 2-2

Overall: 4-8

Dallas @ Arizona: The Cards are in first place atop the NFC West at 3-2. Warner has had his ups and downs, but he (at a geriatric age) is still better than Matt Lienart. Boldin’s return for this week is doubtful, so that should bode well for the Cowboys. The Dallas secondary is in disarray with T-New out and Pac-man making headlines for the wrong reason. Even though this is an away game for the ‘Boys, they should feel at home since there will be more silver and blue in the stands than Cardinal Red. The Cowboys will need to play better than last week to get by the Cards. Dallas 34, Arizona 19.

Philadelphia @ San Francisco: This week is a do or die game for the Birds. They are in last place in the NFC East (not a great place to be)! Mike Martz in his "madness" will throw everything (including the kitchen sink) at Andy (please don’t fire me) Reid’s Eagles. That’s okay because Big Red (Andy) is a “mad bomber” in his own right! This will be an aerial attack for the ages (especially if Westbrook is nursing his fractured ribs)! The Eagles season and Reid’s future is on the line. Philadelphia 31, San Francisco 24.

Miami @ Houston: Houston is hurting after Sage and his “fumble-itous” cost them a victory against the Colts last week. Sparano and his “goons” will bring the wildcat formation to new levels this week…look for Pennington to catch a TD pass! Miami’s new look offense with mastermind Ronnie Brown in wingback formation will prove too much for the Texans…Kubiak…get the old resume ready! Miami 22, Houston 9.

New England @ San Diego: This has become a heated rivalry over the past few years. There is no love lost between LT and Bill (if I’m not cheating, I’m not trying) Belichick. LT says Big Bill has no class…I tend to agree! LT is waiting for a break out game this year…what a better time for it than primetime SNF! Cassel is no Tom Brady and will struggle against the Bolts defense. San Diego 27, New England 16.

Short Shots:

This week in Philly, they were calling for Andy Reid’s head (read more here). I guess the Eagles fans don’t know a good coach when they have one! For example: Ritchie Kotite, Marion Campbell, Ray Rhoades…should I go on? Come on Philly…he’s the best you’ve ever had and you want to throw him under the bus? For who? For What?

Adam (don’t call me Pac-man) Jones made the headlines again (read more here). Though I think the media has overblown the situation, he has to stay clear of these kinds of situations. The irony of it all is that he got into it with his bodyguard (security) while having dinner with his girlfriend…go figure? The poor guy can’t even romance his woman without trouble finding him? Next time…order in!

The NFL trade deadline is approaching…you think Cincy isn’t second guessing themselves for not taking a 1st round pick for Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson? The same could be said for Roy Williams and the Lions? Trades in midseason are rare in the NFL…we shall see!

How about that Wildcat offense Ronnie Brown and the Dolphins are sporting? Glad to see some creative minds at work! It’s fun to watch and you know what…it’s actually working! Who said Bill Parcells was a “fuddy duddy”?

Rush To Judgment

Once again, Adam don’t call me “Pac-man” Jones has made the headlines. And when Mr. Jones makes the headlines, it usually isn’t good news! Early Wednesday morning, Pac-man allegedly got into a “scuffle” with one of his security guards at a hotel in Dallas (read more here). The police were called, but no charges were filed. Is this much ado about nothing…or is Adam facing a possible suspension!

Sheriff Goddell was scheduled for a visit to see Mr. Jones on Wednesday prior to this report…we will have to wait and see if this results in any disciplinary action by the NFL. The shame of it all is that Jones has been playing fairly well for the Cowboys thus far. He got off to a slow start, which was expected since his 1-year suspension of a year ago, but he was coming on strong as of late.

Pac-man has been replacing Terrence Newman in the starting line-up because of Newman’s groin/abdomen injury. Newman may require surgery and miss up to six weeks. This situation was a good opportunity for Pac-man to show off his talents as a starter and prove he had changed his ways. Prior to this alleged incident, Jones has been a model teammate and has been under the tutelage of Deion Sanders.

Unfortunately, this alleged “scuffle” could be his undoing altogether. Goddell had told Mr. Jones previously, that he had a zero tolerance policy…we shall see what happens. I just hope Mr. Goddell researches all the facts before making his decision. After all, Adam Jones’ career is in jeopardy. Sheriff…we don’t need a rush to judgment!

Philly Is Still A Football Town

With the Phillies winning their NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers, it got me thinking whether Philadelphia is a Football town or a Baseball town? On Thursday evening on Fox, the Phillies will host the L.A. Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLCS. I’m not a big fan of baseball, but I do like the Phillies (Mets, and Yankees as well). I watch about a handful of games a year including the playoffs. I was never really into baseball…I just don’t get the fascination? I find it slow, dull, and extremely boring…unless you’re at the ballpark…then it’s a whole different story! When you’re actually at the game, it’s exciting and much more “family friendly” than football.

So, I came to wonder, with all the success the Phillies are having while the Eagles are struggling…who is winning out? Last Sunday afternoon the Eagles were playing the Redskins while the Phillies were playing the Brewers…at the same time. I figure this should be a fair comparison on the matter. So I checked the ratings to see who was winning the fans…the Eagles or the Phillies?

According to the New York Times, the Redskins-Eagles game had a local rating of 22.7, and the Phillies-Brewers game had a 13.2 local rating. So the NFL (Eagles) won out by a considerable margin against MLB (the Phillies). Now, I’m the first to admit that (to me, anyway)…that was a no brainer…the NFL should always beat out MLB! But what did catch me by surprise is that this was just a regular season game for the Birds, while it was Game 4 of the NLDS for the Phillies!

It’s amazing to me that MLB claims to be America’s Past-time, but a playoff game can’t beat out a regular season NFL game? Many of my friends and family tell me how great baseball is…if that were true, then why aren’t they watching? I do hope the Phillies can make it to the World Series and win…as I said before…I like a good parade just as much as the next guy! But in the end, it just goes to show… Philly Is Still A Football Town!

Week 5 Review

The crystal ball was two up and two down for the week. Even though that is an improvement, it still doesn’t cut it! Good thing this is for entertainment purposes only…or I would be in the poor house! Let’s take a look back and see what happened:

Last Week: 2-2

Overall: 4-8

Cincinnati @ Dallas: This game went pretty much as I expected. Dallas led early, but then let Cincy make a game of it…a failed 2-point conversion from being a tie late in the game! Dallas then pulled away with a lucky TD pass going through Austin’s hands and deflecting right into Crayton’s…better to be lucky than good sometimes? Dallas holds on for a much needed victory to keep pace in such a highly contested division.

Washington @ Philadelphia: The Eagles got off to a great start leading 14-0 early in the contest. The zebras gave the Birds a gift TD on a DeSean “Fraction” Jackson punt return and Philadelphia was ready to give the KO punch to the ‘Skins. Washington stuck around with some field goals and took the lead with some nifty running by Portis… and they never looked back! They ran the ball at will against the Birds and ran out the clock!

Seattle @ N.Y. Giants: Wow! I expected a lot more from a Mike Holmgren team than that stinker! I guess (as much as it pains me) that I must break down and give the G-Men their due! They are a lot better than I expected, even with the loss of some key players. The Giants are now 4-0 and have half-game leads on Washington and Dallas. This division is shaping up nicely…it’s going to be a wild finish for those coveted play-off spots!

Indianapolis @ Houston: I thought that Indy would destroy the Texans in a laugher…well it was a laugher…almost for Houston. The Texans had a big lead all day long and had the Colts pinned in the corner. Sage…say it ain’t so…hold on to the damn ball! Peyton Manning and his posse came from behind with a miracle win! Indy escapes disaster and maybe they can salvage their season?


Short Shots:

The Eagles once again failed to score a TD inside the 5-yard line. They tried to pound it in with Westbrook and that failed. Reid…let McNabb throw the damn ball! The fans want Reid’s head on a platter! Read more here.

O.J. Simpson was found guilty in his Las Vegas “sting operation” trial earlier this week…actually on the 13th anniversary of his acquittal of his murder trial…I hope the jury wasn’t thinking…two wrongs make a right!

Marv Lewis and his Bengals are now 0-5…he is officially on the hot seat. Chad Johnson was seen giving his coach a kiss on the cheek during the Dallas game. For Marv’s sake…let’s hope it wasn’t the kiss of death!

Plaxico Burress decided to miss a mandatory meeting to drop off his son at nursery school. Now, I applaud him on being a good parent…but…that was one very expensive session of daycare (one game suspension and a $117,500 fine levied by the Giants)!

Bridges

Yesterday, the Eagles lost another heartbreaker to a division foe, the Washington Redskins, 23-17. The Eagles stand at 2-3 and in 4th (last) place in their division. They have now lost two division (3 conference) games…and that does not bode well for play-off considerations. Though it’s still early in the season…the sky may be falling!

Earlier this morning, as I was dropping off the kids at pre-school, I was listening to WIP (local sports talk radio), and the “Morning Crew” was up in arms over the Eagles. They were calling for Reid’s head. The callers were in complete agreement, and also want Reid fired! Now, if the Eagles continue down this losing path, then perhaps at the end of the season, it may be something to consider. I’m not a big fan of terminating a coach in mid-season…who would take over…Marty Morningwig? Eagles fans…be careful what you wish for!

As everyone knows that I am a Cowboys fan, I try and look at things objectively. Reid may be the best coach the Eagles have ever had. His record speaks for itself. The Eagles have enjoyed great success under Reid’s leadership. He has won many division titles and led them to a Super Bowl. Is he perfect? No! Is he stubborn? Yes! Should he be fired? Absolutely not!

Reid sometimes is stubborn to a fault…that I grant you, Eagles fans! Once again, the Eagles found themselves near the goal line (as the Bears game) and chose to run it two straight times to Westbrook. Now, I like Westy, but he was a little gimpy yesterday. Reid forced two runs, back to back with him to no avail. Again, why not let McNabb roll out and try to create something? The Eagles are not a power running team…I just don’t get it?

For all of his shortcomings, Reid (in my opinion) is the best coach the Birds have ever had…and they should be glad to have him! Reid has spent 10 years with the Eagles and has earned to be treated better than this! Why do Eagles fans turn their backs so quickly? I know things look bleak, Eagles fans, but the sky is not falling…it’s just a little cloudy. I beg and plead to all the Eagles fans…please, please stay away from…bridges!

Predictions Week 5

Each week, on Friday, I will look into my (never wrong, just misinformed) crystal ball and give my predictions for that weekend games. I will always prognosticate on the Eagles and Cowboys games and then pick two more games of interest (to me, that is, not necessarily to you). Keep in mind, that this is for entertainment purposes only, and that I do not endorse any sort of legal or illegal gambling. That being said…let’s see what’s in my crystal ball!

Last week was another shameful performance by yours truly. Though I truly believe my crystal ball is trying to make me look bad in front of my mass readership. Okay now, the crystal ball is all shined up. It has promised me good results for this week. No excuses, it’s put up or shut up time for this crystal ball! Now, let’s see what this newly energized crystal ball has in store for us.

Last Week: 1-3

Overall: 2-6

Cincinnati @ Dallas: This should be a cakewalk for the Cowboys, right? One would think so, but I see a much closer contest. The Cowboys will let Cincy stick around for a while. The Cowboys will struggle early, as they are still stunned by the loss to the ‘Skins. Chad Ocho Cinco will have a good day (about time!), but in the end the ‘Boys will prevail. Look for Patrick Crayton and Felix Jones to be key contributors. Dallas will pull away late in the ball game. Dallas 37, Cincinnati 20.

Washington @ Philadelphia: This is a huge contest for both teams. The ‘skins are riding high (hip-hip-hooray!) after their big win at Dallas. The Eagles are licking their wounds after a big loss against Da Bears. The Eagles should have won last week, but a yard (and 11 defenders) stood between them and a win…too bad! I believe the Birds need this game more, so in a toss up contest, I’m going with the Eagles in a defensive struggle. Philadelphia 16, Washington 13.

Seattle @ New York Giants: Both teams should be well rested as they come off their bye week. Burress is out for a 1 game suspension (team enforced). Seattle is hurting at WR, as they’ve had man after man go down…it’s an epidemic out there (maybe it’s something in the water?)! This will be a come from behind victory for the ‘Hawks. After trailing for most of the game, Hasselbeck will lead his team with two 4th quarter TD’s to steal a victory from the G-Men! Seattle 34, N.Y. Giants 33.

Indianapolis @ Houston: Indy is really hurting this year. Peyton Manning is struggling. Tony Dungy is a “lame duck” coach (retiring). Maybe it’s the end of their run…the door is shutting…the window of opportunity is closing…I think not! Houston is awful. This will be Manning’s coming out party for this year. In a laugher, Indy will win big! Indianapolis 35, Houston 12.

Short Shots:

This week, Al Davis fired Lane Kiffin. Al Davis is the “Village Idiot”!

Al Davis accused Bill Belichick and the Patriots of “tampering” with Randy Moss prior to their trade for a 4th round pick last year. Davis is still the “Village Idiot” and the Patriots and Belichick are still CHEATERS!

Travis Henry was arrested on a cocaine bust…what a waste of talent! He was a multiple 1000-yard rusher and was currently on a 1-year suspension from the NFL. He has allegedly fathered 9 children, by 9 different mothers (busy dude!). Now…his playing days are surely over…but that’s the least of his problems now!

ESPN has become the King Of Sensational Sports News Reporting…solely for ratings. Every Sports Center and Pre-game show this week had at least one story about Terrell Owens. ESPN…why do you stoop so low? ESPN…what a shame…you don’t need to do it…we will still tune in!

Keyshawn Johnson (whom I’ve always liked as a player)…shut up already! He was blasting Terrell Owens about his comments on not getting the ball enough. Key…did you not write a book about the same subject (as a Rookie no less)…Just Give Me The Damn Ball!

...Then It's Probably A Duck!

Bill Belichick, Head Coach of the New England Patriots, was accused by Al Davis of “tampering” with Randy Moss prior to their trade a year ago. The Raiders received a 4th round pick as compensation in the deal. Davis alleges that the Patriots had a secret workout with Moss prior to the negotiations, which would violate NFL rules. Bill (here’s a surprise) denies the accusation.

Now this is a tuff call. On one hand, you have a notorious cheater (yeah, that would be Belichick), and on the other, you have a notorious idiot (you guessed correctly…big Al Davis). It becomes very difficult to figure out…who's not telling the truth here? If I go with my gut…it’s Bill Belichick…all the way. He has repeatedly cheated…Spy Gate…anyone? If any other team, besides the Raiders, had made the accusation…done deal…Pat’s guilty as charged. But, Al Davis has gone “loco” on us lately, so I am at a loss. So, it boils down to credibility.

I need to solve this case…what should I do? I could flip a coin? Or do rock, paper, scissors? How about, one potato, two potatoes? But in the end I choose (drum roll, please)…Bill Belichick as the culprit! How did I finally reach my conclusion? Simple…I used a fail-safe system…if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck…then it’s probably a duck!

Much Ado About Nothing

Much has been said and written about Terrell Eldorado Owens…so why should this week be any different? It shouldn’t! Mr. Owens had some comments that he made after the Cowboys lost to the Redskins. He wants the ball more…gee, that’s a surprise? He wants the offense to go through him…again, I was shocked? He wants to be involved early and often…okay, now I am just down right astonished?

If you look at the stat sheet (no need, I’ll do it for you), Owens had 7 receptions for 71 yards and scored a TD. He also contributed 11 yards to the ground attack on 2 carries. Not spectacular…nothing amazing…but a good days work…but not for Terrell. You see, Eldog (short for his middle name) needs to be the center of attention. He needs to be the focal point. He needs the drama. He needs the world to see his accomplishments. Mediocrity is not his M.O., perfection is! He trains harder than any other WR (maybe all players) in the NFL. He attributes his work ethic to Jerry Rice and to his grandmother who raised him as a child.

Terrell has this “me against the world” mentality. Why shouldn’t he? His father abandoned him as a child and his mother wasn’t capable of raising him…so his grandmother did. From his perspective…he was alone…nobody wanted him. Football was his salvation…his way to prove people wrong! So, to Terrell, winning is everything. Being a shining star for everyone to see is the ultimate prize. Losing is unacceptable…he wants to win…and be the reason for it!

Is he disturbed? Hardly! He knows exactly what he is doing. He wants, needs, and demands our attention…and we all give it to him! The boy who grew up in poverty is worth millions playing a game…and playing it on his terms. Many people took offense to his comments…I admire him for it. He says what’s on his mind…how many of us can say that? Terrell takes his “Freedom Of Expression” rights literally…good for him!

All Terrell wants is to win, be a star, and be loved…is that all that terrible? I think not! Owens does a lot of charity work that goes unnoticed…but he doesn’t mind. His grandmother suffers from Alzheimer’s. Mr. Owens has spent much time (and money) for the cause…but nobody talks about that! No, they would rather tear him down, than to boast his good deeds. Let’s face it…it makes better copy…better ratings! In the end, his comments are much ado about nothing…maybe we should just leave the man alone!