Browns’ Dawson: The Only Viable Offense?

 With only two touchdowns on the year, where do you go with your offense? Obviously, your passing and rushing threat wouldn’t scare a child, let alone an NFL-caliber defense.

At least when you are the Cleveland Browns anemic offense, you can count on Phil Dawson.

You’re probably saying to yourself, “What? A kicker?”

Think about it.

When most running backs gained more yards last week than you have gained all year, there may be a problem.

Jamal Lewis is hurt again. He will be out for Sunday’s game against the Raven’s with a hamstring injury that Mangenius will no doubt try to disguise as God knows what.

And most defenses will not be worried when you are throwing James Harrison out as your backup, blowing away the opposing defensive lines with a blazing 2.7 yards per rush.

Then you look at the receivers and, needless to say, opponents will again not be trembling.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a Browns fan through and through. I remember sitting in old Cleveland Municipal Stadium, freezing my butt off, cheering on my home team.

But when your leading receiver has only seven receptions for 104 yards, you have to worry a little. Then again, at least Braylon Edwards has been able to hold on to the ball so far.

At least we can take comfort in the fact that our Pro Bowl return man, Josh Cribbs, is tied for the team lead in receptions.

But let’s put our focus back to Dawson, who has been the only bright spot on this offense so far. Dawson’s 47-yard field goal in the first quarter of Sunday’s game at Denver put him in a tie with Don Cockroft for second place on the teams all-time field goal list.

With 216 field goals as a member of the Browns, Dawson is only 18 away from tying Hall of Famer Lou Groza for first all-time.

The downside to this historic moment for Dawson is that after his second field goal of the day, it makes him the team’s leading scorer on the season.

Dawson, who is perfect on the year, may just lead this team in scoring the entire season unless the offense can get off its butt and get in gear.

In the Week one loss to the Vikings, Dawson became only the third Browns player to reach 900 career points with the team. The kicker now has 914 points, putting him behind only Cockroft with 1,080 and Groza with 1,608.

So please give Phil Dawson a hand. We should be extremely proud of his accomplishments with our beloved franchise.

At least we have someone who can score on a consistent basis.

Thanks Phil.

 

 

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Top 10 Most Disappointing Moments in Cleveland Browns History

You know where this is going, and it won’t end well.

Being a Cleveland Browns fan since 1965 means you are a glutton for punishment and you enjoy having your hopes and dreams crushed into ashes.

No Cleveland Browns team has won a championship since 1964, and the franchise remains one of only five teams to never have appeared in a Super Bowl.

(The other four are the Texans, Jaguars, Lions, and Saints)

The complete disintegration of the team this past Sunday in Denver brought to mind some spectacular failures againt the Broncos in the past, which in turn raised more bad memories of the entire franchise.

Looking back on the history of the Browns, it’s frustrating to realize the Dwayne Rudd Helmet Toss, the 49-0 beatdown from the Steelers in 1999 and the entire 2008 season don’t even make the Top 10.

Even Jim Brown retiring a few years earlier than he should have doesn’t make this list of failures, disappointments and embarassments.

To be a Cleveland fan in the 21st Century is an exercise in patience and the sports fan equivalent of the Bataan Death March.

The Browns currently are undergoing their fourth rebuild since they returned to the league in 1999. That’s a lot of bad football. Considering the Browns were the New York Yankees of football until Art Modell purchased them, it should be no surprise no dates prior to 1961 appear on this list.

While it’s never fun for a Cleveland fan, enjoy this trip down memory lane.

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Chargers Lose Veteran Center Nick Hardwick for at Least Eight Weeks

A lot of good starting the season healthy did.

In the matter of a week, the San Diego Chargers have suffered debilitating injuries on both sides of the ball. First, it was Pro-Bowl nose tackle Jamal Williams going down for the year. Now, a Chargers press release confirms veteran center Nick Hardwick has undergone surgery on his injured left ankle, sidelining him for at least eight weeks and possibly the season. 

This is major blow to the Chargers’ offensive line and locker room. Both Hardwick and Williams were team leaders and the core of their respective offensive and defensive units. The leadership roles on this team will now be solidly placed on players such as Philip Rivers and Stephen Cooper, who are ready for the responsibility

The injury to Hardwick, as well as Williams, occurred in the Monday night’s hard fought win in Oakland. Neither injury was initially considered all that serious. That has obviously changed now.

The veteran center, Hardwick had played in 69 games, starting all of them, over six seasons. He’s never missed more than four games in a season and only nine in his career. It will be difficult, particularly in the running game, for the Chargers to replace him long term.

Expect GM A.J. Smith, who has been busy filling Williams’s vacancy, to be looking for another offensive lineman. Rookie backup Tyronne Green has some experience at center but more depth is needed.

Going forward, Scott “Mooch” Mruczkowski will be the man in the middle for the ‘Bolts. The 6’5″, 325 pound Mooch got his first NFL start at center this past weekend against the vaunted Baltimore defense and performed well. Now that the job is his for the foreseeable future, I’m sure he’ll be spending a lot more time in the film room—especially with blitz happy Miami and Pittsburgh up next. 

Mooch has been with the Chargers for five seasons, and that will certainly help him become the full-time starter. Calling out the protections, recognizing defenses, and knowing everything that has to happen on any given play are just of the few things that makes center such a demanding position. 

On a line that had already lost longtime right guard Mike Goff to free agency, it will now be all the more important for veterans Marcus McNeill, Kris Dielman, and Jeromey Clary to step up.

The next two weeks before the bye will be very telling. How the Chargers handle the adversity of losing stalwarts on both sides of the ball will give everyone a very good idea of how mentally tough this team is and how far they might go this year.

Every team suffers big injuries, but it’s the teams that persevere and find a way to win despite it all that end up going places in January. 

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Lions Must Make More Changes to The Depth Chart

Last week, the Detroit Lions made some changes to their depth chart, and the changes helped. But more changes are needed this week for what is quickly becoming thought of as a “must win” game against Washington.

Among the new starters for Detroit last week were Manny Ramirez, Brandon Pettigrew, and Phillip Buchanon. Defensive end Jason Hunter and wide receiver Dennis Northcutt also saw increased time. But the end result was the same as it has been for the past 19 regular season Sundays: another Lions’ loss.

I think the depth chart adjustments made last week by Jim Schwartz were helpful, but not nearly enough. Only two roster clarifications have been made official by the Lions this week: Matthew Stafford will remain the starting quarterback, and Ernie Sims will be out with an injury.

Keeping Stafford under center is the right move for now, and Sims will likely be replaced by the tandem of Darnell Bing and Jordan Dizon.

But what else can be done to give Detroit a chance at snapping its current 19-game losing streak?

First things first, Marquand Manuel and Grady Jackson need to sit down, or be used sparingly.

Manuel was the go-to or go-at defender for Drew Brees in the season opener, and he showed no improvement against Minnesota last Sunday. It’s time Ko Simpson gets a chance to show what he can do on the field. Simpson may still be playing catchup with Gunther Cunningham’s defensive schemes, as he was picked up after the preseason ended; but he should have a grasp of how Detroit’s defense works by the third week.

There was a time when Jackson was one of the premiere run stoppers in the league. He clogged running lanes and pushed around offensive lines with the best of them. That time has passed. Now, in his later years and perhaps his last season, he is a step behind every play. Granted, the Lions don’t have many desirable options behind him, but Landon Cohen and Andre Fluellen should be able to at least keep up with the speed of the game.

Offensively, the Lions need to finally admit their largest inconvenient truth: Jeff Backus is not good. He was a high draft pick in 2001 and showed some brief promise early in his career. Now, he is a below average starting offensive tackle in this league. I’ll go as far to say he is a bad starting offensive tackle. The Lions’ organization has protected him and excused him for far too long.

Detroit should start Jon Jansen. Jansen is by no means a guaranteed improvement, but he was an effective player in the NFL before injury problems took his career off track.

If the Lions do not improve their pass protection this season, Stafford will end up being the next David Carr. Benching Backus for Jansen is the only option Detroit has right now. The other tackle, Gosder Cherlius, is in a development stage just like Stafford, and benching him at this point would be counter productive.

On a side note, Detroit should also look to replace Dominic Raiola in either next year’s draft or free agent market. Like Backus, he too is overrated and over-protected by the organization.

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New York Jets: Immediate Championship Contenders

The New York Jets bruised and bullied the New England Patriots to earn a 16-9 victory Sunday at the Meadowlands, maintaining New York’s standing atop the AFC East.

The Jets (2-0), who have not surrendered an offensive touchdown to date, are slated to host the Tennessee Titans (0-2) on Sunday afternoon.

“This is where we expected to be,” wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery said after Sunday’s game. “The entire off-season we were working hard to be 2-0 at this point.”

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (23-47, 216 yards passing) struggled all afternoon against the Jets’ savage and ferocious pass rush.

“Our defense is just filled with studs,” Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez remarked. “I felt for Tom.”

Brady failed to complete at least half of his pass attempts for only the second time since 2006.

He also threw a critical interception that diminished New England’s chance for a come-from-behind victory.

“It’s definitely exciting when you know that you can rattle arguably the No. 1 quarterback,” nickel back Donald Strickland said. “He didn’t make the clutch throws that he usually makes.”

In stark contrast to Brady, Sanchez (14-22, 163 yards passing) was again steady and he made plays when the Jets needed them most.

“This guy’s not a rookie,” said Leon Washington, who led New York with 58 rushing yards.

Current Jets tackle, and former Patriot, Damien Woody agreed with Washington’s assessment of Sanchez, who is just 22.

Woody believes that the fifth overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft is “more advanced” than Brady was at the same age.

“When you have a really good quarterback on the team, it gives your football team so much confidence because you know you’ve got a guy at the helm that can make things happen and always gives you a chance to win,” Woody gushed about Sanchez.

“That’s how I felt when I was in New England. We had Brady and we always had a chance to win. Sanchez is only going to get better.”

Jets fans have often thought their team “had a chance to win.”

Unfortunately, a championship celebration has evaded supporters of Gang Green ever since Joe Namath led New York to its last championship in 1969.

Just last season, the Jets were 8-3 before they crashed and burned in the Jersey swamps.

“The past is the past,” said linebacker Bart Scott, who followed Head Coach Rex Ryan to Gotham from the Baltimore Ravens. “It’s a new day. It’s a new team. It’s not the same old Jets people are used to.”

“I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings,” Ryan said about New England’s three-time Super Bowl champion coach in an off-season radio interview.

Jets fans deserve to feel optimistic about Ryan and the attitude that he has brought to town with him.

Sooner or later, Ryan’s peers will be kissing the championship rings on his hand.

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Flozell Adams: The 34 Year Old Kindergartner

What more is there to say about Flozell Adams’ “bush league” tripping penalty that injured Justin Tuck?

…I better choose my words carefully.

The play, in which Adams tripped Justin Tuck after he had been beaten by him, is symbolic of Adams as a player.

Not only is he dirty, he’s overrated too.

But how can an offensive lineman be among the league leaders in penalties year in and year out and still make the pro bowl five times?

He made ESPN’s “All Flag Team” in 2007, and is constantly considered by many to be one of the most overrated players in the NFL. When you type “Flozell Adams” into Google, one of the suggestions is “Flozell Adams Penalties.” Even Cowboys fans are tired of him.

And this isn’t the first time he’s attempted to trip a defender.

Via ESPN:

Tuck said it’s not the first time Adams has resorted to tripping, and he hopes the league will take a look at the play.

In fact, Adams was fined $12,500 for tripping Tuck, and for kicking Osi Umenyiora in the fourth quarter.

Sure, he’s talented. But part of the reason he’s getting these penalties, usually holding or false starts, is because his man is beating him or because he is so worried that his man is going to beat him that he jumps early.

Causing penalties is not so good. Getting beaten by your man is not so good.

Not so good = no pro bowl.

Please don’t allow this 340 pound fraud to be honored with another free trip to Hawaii (or Miami this year), in place of someone more deserving, so that he can inhale an entire roasted pig (except for the apple in its mouth) and drink virgin pina coladas on the beach out of a hollowed out coconut.

The $12,500 fine is chump change for a man making $55-million, and it won’t stop him from pulling another classless move like this in the future.

As if his actions aren’t bad enough, Adams is too stubborn to apologize, and too dumb to know he’s being criticized. Via the San Antonio Express-News:

Flozell Adams says his leg whip wasn’t the reason Giants DL Justin Tuck injured his shoulder during the second quarter of Sunday night’s game.

“He said he hurt his shoulder. I’m like, well, stay up,” Adams said. “That’s all I know. He fell down. Stay up.”

Seriously? “He fell down? ” So, like a child, you’re going to deny that you even tripped him?

Via ESPN:

“I didn’t see nothing,” Adams said late Sunday. “Did you see something?”

I guess that answers my question. Video evidence is inconsequential to a 34 year old kindergartner.

Be a man, accept the penalty, apologize, and move on to next week’s game, where you will, no doubt, incur more false starts and holding penalties.

It takes a big man to take responsibility for his actions, and you’re as big as they come. You didn’t get the nickname “The Hotel” for being kind and accommodating.

Via the San Antonio Express-News:

Told that Tuck said the trip was “bush league,” Adams said, “Bush? What does that mean. I’ve never ever heard that term.”

(If you were wondering, Adams got his “education” at Michigan State.)

Hey Flo, do you understand what this means: your penalty cost your team a 36 yard gain. Three plays later, your quarterback threw an interception, which eventually led to a Giants touchdown.

If only you had done your job and blocked your man like a five-time pro-bowler should, you would have won the game.

You cost your team the game. Have you ever heard of that term?

There, I restrained myself.

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Adrian Peterson Should Sit Out Your Fantasy Game; Will Detroit Lions Get a Win?

Welcome to Week Three, one of the most trying times of the season in fantasy football. The league is in disarray, nobody has a real clear-cut view of who is going to do what, and yes, the 49ers are 2-0.

What we’ll do here today is break down who to start and who to sit in a game-by-game manner. This will serve as a great reference point for all of you managers looking to get some answers to a great deal of heavy questions.

 

Atlanta @ New England: Brady has not lost his step and Welker is going to be available for this matchup (shhh…you didn’t hear it from me), but I wouldn’t start Welker. Brady has to get a bit more accurate on his passes, but I still like his chances against Atlanta’s passing D.

Atlanta is very dangerous, but I don’t see them having too much success against the Pats in New England outside of possibly Gonzalez.

Start: Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Tony Gonzalez, and John Abraham for IDP leaguers.
Sit: Matt Ryan, Brian Finneran

 

Tennessee @ New York Jets: I am not sold on the fact that the Jets are that good, nor am I sold on the fact that the Titans are that bad. The Jets will not have the same success they had stopping the run last week against the Pats, making Johnson’s stock rise considerably.

The Jets have very little to offer in this game, and I don’t see the Titans giving any room to move. Sanchez will get his first loss of the season.

Start: Chris Johnson, Michael Griffin for IDP leaguers (he may even return kicks this week)
Sit: Mark Sanchez, Thomas Jones

 

Cleveland @ Baltimore: The title says enough, and the Browns aren’t going to do squat in this game. It is safe to start any Ravens player you have this week, and it is also safe to sit any Cleveland player you have this week. Trust me.

 

Washington @ Detroit: I like the Lions to pull the upset this week as well as Johnson and Smith to have a good day. Ernie Simms is out at WLB for the Lions, leaving two rookies to fill in. Can someone say Clinton Portis?

Start: Clinton Ports, Kevin Smith, Calvin Johnson, and Louis Delmas for IDP leaguers.
Sit: Santana Moss, Jason Campbell

 

Green Bay @ St. Louis: Rodgers will face a Rams team that offers a significantly worse pass rush than the previous two competitors, and that should bode well for him, Driver, and Jennings. The Rams may have to rely heavily on Steven Jackson since Bulger is mentally MIA.

Start: Rodgers, Driver, Jennings, Jackson, and Woodson for IDP leaguers.
Sit: Bulger, Finley

 

Kansas City @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia will not have anywhere near the type of defensive collapse they had against New Orleans when KC comes to town, and it is safe to sit nearly everyone on the KC side of the ball.

Start: Westbrook, Kolb, McCoy, Jackson, and Celek
Sit: The entire KC team, unless Brandon Flowers gets the nod for IDP leaguers.

 

NYG @ Tampa Bay: Manning-to-Manningham was Week Two’s newest combo taking a place next to Manning-to-Wayne. The day will be focused, however, on Brandon Jacobs.

Tampa offers some fantasy relevance, too, with Winslow, and use Leftwich if you are stuck in a spot. Other than that, the Giants will be too much.

Start: Jacobs, Smith, Manningham, and the Caddy
Sit: Leftwich, Stovall, Clayton

 

San Francisco @ Minnesota: These two teams love to run the ball, with two QBs who are ancillary, but that’s not the only consideration here. Peterson is reported as having a back injury and was held out of practice today (Wed.), while the Vikings D has some issues with the run. I like Gore over Peterson, as taboo as it sounds.

I also like Favre, despite the fact that he hasn’t gone downfield yet. This could be the game Favre makes his true “return.” Percy Harvin has yet to NOT have a TD.

Start: Favre, Gore, Harvin
Sit: Peterson, and the San Fran receivers

 

Jacksonville @ Houston: Arizona opened up a can of passing whoop-ass on the Jags, but Schaub is not Warner—don’t be fooled by his one-game performance until he starts showing some consistency. The Jags are without playmakers, but they can run on the Texans.

Start: Jones-Drew, Johnson
Sit: Schaub, Slaton

 

Chicago @ Seattle: Housh is hurt and Hasselback is, in fact, out, making Seattle the risky play team of the week. Stay away from them entirely. But for Chicago, Cutler should have a break-out game, and the Bears are primed to have a huge day.

Start: Cutler, Knox, Bennett, Forte, Patrick Kearney, and Tommy Harris for IDP leaguers.
Sit: All Seahawks players on offense

 

New Orleans @ Buffalo: If there was one thing we learned last week about the Saints and Brees, it’s that the only time to sit Brees is when he has a bye week. But the Bills are about as aggressive as they come on offense, and this game may be a nail-biter.

Start: Owens, Brees, Colston, Taylor, and Edwards
Sit: Evans

 

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati: Big Ben is 11-0 in the state—the state—of Ohio, and 6-0 vs. the Bengals. Since the Steelers’ running game is less than spectacular, expect a big day from both QBs in this one.

Keep in mind that Antwan Odom is leading the league in sacks and has been the brightest spot on the Bengals D this year.

Start: Big Ben, Ward, Palmer, Coles, and Odon for IDP leaguers
Sit: Parker, Benson

 

Miami @ San Diego: The Chargers don’t need to win to post huge fantasy numbers, and you don’t need them to win either. Although Miami plays sound defense, it just doesn’t seem to matter who Rivers goes up against. I don’t like L.T. or Sproles in this matchup, as the Miami D should contain them rather well.

Start: Rivers, Jackson, Gates, and Porter for IDP leaguers
Sit: Pennington, Williams

 

Denver @ Oakland: The surprising Broncos have been turning heads since Week One, and they should continue to do the same against the Raiders in Week Three. I just can’t fathom why Russell is still considered an option for the Raiders, I really can’t.

Oakland’s one bright spot will be McFadden.

Start: Orton, Marshall, McFadden, and safety Michael Huff of the Raiders
Sit: Russell, Miller

 

Carolina @ Dallas: The Cowboys will get a chance to redeem themselves at home against the Panthers, but I don’t think it’s gonna happen. The Panthers are facing an 0-3 start for the first time in Fox’s tenure, and for the first time since ’98.

If Carolina can get pressure up front, Romo will have another bad day; something that seems very possible.

Start: Delhomme, Smith, Williams, Jones, and Ware for IDP leaguers.
Sit: Romo, Witten, and Barber with his strained quadriceps.

 

Arizona @ Indianapolis: The ONLY thing that would make this matchup better is if this game was in Arizona…’ya know, so we can all say “Showdown in the Wild West.”

Warner is coming off a career day for passing accuracy, while Manning proved last week he needs no more than a quarter of an hour to win games these days.

Indy is coming off a short week, and a long flight making them very vulnerable, so I don’t like the running game for the Colts here.

Start: Warner, Manning, Hightower, Fitzgerald, Boldin, Wayne, Clark
Sit: Brown

 

Good luck to everyone this week.

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Brett Favre Could Be The Key To a New Vikings Stadium In Minnesota

Hey ESPN, we know how you love all things Brett Favre. We know how you couldn’t get enough of his on-again-off-again “retirement” talk. Its good for ratings and fodder, so who could blame you. You’re only doing your jobs as the national sports hype machine.

And Brett Favre, we know how you crave the spotlight. We know how you can’t shake the itch to play, rather to just walk away when critics from all over the nation want to prove you wrong.

We assume there must not be a whole lot waiting for you in Kiln, Mississippi, after all, there is only so much land that can be plowed each year.

This, along with your fiercely competitive nature, one to which I cannot compare in recent memory concluded with the not-so-obvious confederation of you offering your services to your once No. 1 rival, the Minnesota Vikings who clearly wanted you when the Green Bay Packers did not.

Thank you for not only coming to the team, but also for giving it a shot no matter what the outcome. I know you’d have never forgave yourself if you didn’t try knowing you were that close to a deal only to back out on July 30 because you just couldn’t commit to the full season.

The Vikings, and even the most inept fans, knew they were but one manage-the-game Quarterback away from truly taking them to the next level and you obliged. The rest is history but one that can be special as I’ve outlined here.

But if you truly want to make your mark in Minnesota, as well as continue to soothe your ego that the media shamefully loves to exploit, have you considered being the face of an entire stadium drive?

Imagine this scenario: February 7, 2010 Minnesota just defeats ______ for their first NFL Championship in State history.

You will have done what sixteen men: Fran Tarkenton, Joe Knapp, Gary Cuozzo, Tommy Kramer, Wade Wison, Rich Gannon, Jim McMahon, Warren Moon, Brad Johnson, Randall Cunningham, Jeff George, Daunte Culpepper, Tarvaris Jackson, and Gus Freotte have all failed to do in the Vikings 48 years in Minnesota.

Take a long look at that list. How many of them are Hall of Famers, like yourself? How many of them made Pro Bowls, like yourself. You want to know why year-in-and year-out the Vikings are always a sleeper pick to go far in the playoffs, it starts with their incredible consistency and opportunity provided at quarterback.

The list reads like a Who’s Who. By comparison, the Chicago Bears, have had thirty-five men line up under center, and even this less-than-impressive bunch was able to muster 1 NFL Championship (1963) and Super Bowl (1986) in the years since the Vikings joined the league in 1961.

You will be treated a like a Rock Star. You will be treated like a God (relatively speaking of course). But most of all, you will get the attention you crave ten-fold once again on sports biggest stage as the leader of one of the league’s most revered and consistent teams.

Your legacy once thought tampered, will be restored as you prove the naysayers wrong and add to your lone trophy case. The only question will be whether the Vikings would dare put you in their Ring of Honor in the Vikings Hall of Fame or whether you’d dare were purple in your induction ceremony in Canton whenever that comes.

But most of all, you’d have the unique opportunity to be the face of an entire stadium campign that has been in neutral since 1997 after years of failed legislative attempts and proposals. Talk about exposure. Talk about media attention!

Imagine going up the steps of the State Capitol in St. Paul and lobbying alongside owner Zygi Wilf, Vice President of Legal Affairs and Stadium Development Lester Bagley, Rob Brzezinski VP of Football Operations, or Steve LaCroix VP of Sales and Marketing among other officials, decked in purple, serving as lead cheerleader in the newest wave of stadium proposals in the aftermath of the media hype off the Super Bowl Win!

How long do you think it would take the legislators to react favorably knowing the passion the team brings to the state, not to mention national swagger with their history of less than colorful characters not seen on other Minnesota sports teams?

How long do you think it would take for even the most pessimistic legislator to give approval knowing you just delivered on a lifelong goal that had been eluding an entire four state fan base all of their legislative lives and careers?

How long do you think it would take for those legislators, beaming with state pride, many of whom are likely Vikings season ticket holders and fans themselves to get caught up in the moment and agree to the funding that had been so evasive in the past?

I’d say about a week or so. If given the opportunity, the Vikings better strike while the iron is hot and use Brett Favre to his full contractual advantage while they got him and while he still is a media darling.

 

The House that Brett Favre Built

That’s the power only you and your mega celebrity status could bring to a region that was forced to “hate” you for sixteen years while you were in America’s Dairyland. How ironic and fairytalk fitting would it be if you helped your once arch rival achive the goals that have eluded them the most?

Before the made-for-TV soap opera ends, you could be a new state icon, forever enshrined as one of their own. More ME-dia attention! More self-satisfying legacy! You can’t put a price on that and you can’t make this stuff up.

Regardless of how the Brett Favre fairy tale ends, I remain confident all along that worst case scenario, at the eleventh hour, the state legislature will get something done before the 2011 Metrodome Lease expires.

You see, people like the Twins. After the threat of contraction in 2001, many people got back on that bandwagon (winning helped too). Having a bad team was certainly better than having no team. People like the Wild.

In a state that pride’s itself as the “State of Hockey” despite having never won and titles at its highest level of competition offered (NHL) its high schools and colleges are loaded each year with the nation’s top prospects and athletes vying for the draft.

But people absolutely love the Vikings.

Like I stated, they give the team the most national exposure in the nation’s most popular sport.

They give them team the most press and swagger with their longest slate of success (36/48 seasons of .500 or better ball), and they give the state the most varying storylines from Ontario Smith’s embarrassing Whizzanator incident, to the Randy Moss years which, like former Governor Jesse Ventura, exposed Minnesotans to the more Rock Star atmosphere more suited for big city New York or bustling L.A. than the passive, laid back Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Finally the 2005 “Sex Boat” controversy brought maybe the most banter from jocks all over.

Losing the Vikings to a market like L.A. for example, would all but seal the fate of any legislator who happened to vote against what would ultimately be deemed-a-last resort, all-or-nothing,moving-vans-are-a-coming bill. They have to know this, and this is why I doubt we’ll ever see that day.

In an evolving state that somehow got a new stadium for the backpage boys, the Minnesota Twins, one that I never thought I’d live to see having grown up a fan of the team and their small market epitome if their ever was one, to the brand new, about-damn-time TCF Bank Stadium for the perennial bottom feeding Golden Gophers, the truly ironic fact remains that the state’s most popular and successful team is going to be the last one to receive its stadium they covet.

At an average of 8-6 each season based on their 385 wins and 316 regular season loses, there is perhaps no more consistent team never to win the sport’s ultimate prize than the Men of Norway, the Minnesota Vikings.

Perhaps the fact that at likely $1 billion or more for all the bells and whistles rumored, to the probable development of land at its final location, the final stadium in the trio will also be the most expensive and thus, the delay. But for now at least we have a two or three year stop gap in TCF Bank stadium.

After legislation is passed in spring of 2011 and by the time they break ground that fall, to when the first game is played sometime around September of 2015, Brett Favre and the Vikings should just be entering their seventh year of marriage together with him being the 45 year old guy lined up under center, since we all know he’s never really going to retire…..

Can you see any other logical ending?

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Jim Zorn Should Remain the Washington Redskins’ Coach: Top 10 Reasons Why

10. Jim Zorn’s initials are JZ which is the same as Jay-Z ,who is married to Beyonce’. This makes Zorn “Destiny’s Child.” That’s how you like it, people. You know you do.

9. Kanye West says Jim Zorn makes the best game tapes and deserves to stay.

8. When Sonny Jurgensen questions Zorn’s game calling ability, he’s lying.

7. Back in ’64, this town wanted to fire coach Abraham Lincoln. He would go on to win big.

6. PLEASE, not another reset to zero.

5. Obama says no we can’t. The country can’t stand more unemployment.

4. The Snyder Curse. Daniel Snyder hires the best people. Then he fires them. They go on to coach other teams that come back to beat the Redskins.

3. Zorn would go, but Cerrato would stay. Anyone have issues with that?

2. Dim-wits who pay $65 to $400 per seat to see a game should not be making coaching calls.

And reason No. 1

You really want Daniel Snyder to pick another head coach?

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The Big NFL Week Three Preview

The third week of the NFL Season is the first really important game. 

The 2-0 teams can go to 3-0.  The 1-1 teams can go above or below .500.  And the 0-2 teams are in must-win mode. 

Kansas City goes to Philadelphia in a must win game for both.  At 1-1, the Eagles need to beat a bad 0-2 KC squad.  Both teams are having QB issues due to injuries.  Philly has three Pro-Bowl QBs and Kevin Kolb.  KC has Matt Cassel and the 0-9 Brody Croyle. 

Philly wins by 10.

 

The Packers visit the Rams in another must-win game for both teams.  At 1-1, Green Bay is coming off a bad loss to the Bengals.  At 0-2, St. Louis has scored just seven points all season. 

Green Bay by 20.

 

Atlanta goes to New England in what should be a great game.  Matt Ryan should like his chances this time around against the defensive schemes of Bill Belichick. 

There is a big buzz about the Patriots and their “problems.”  They are a shaky 1-1 but with Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and a healthy Wes Welker they will be fine.  The running game with Fred Taylor and the defense will come together in time for another 12-win season. 

Patriots by 3.

 

Miami goes to San Diego in a must win-game for both.  Miami ran a perfect game plan on Monday night and still lost to Payton Manning and the Colts.  San Diego is one drive away from being 0-2.  Look for the Chargers’ defense to have their best game of the year.  The Dolphins wildcat offense is a lot of fun to watch. 

San Diego by 4.

 

The Steelers and Bengals are both 1-1 as they meet in Paul Brown Stadium.  Both teams should be 2-0, except for missed field goals and miraculous catches.  This is a chance for the Bengals to have a good season with a win at home against the Steelers…too bad they’re the Bengals.

Pittsburgh by 10.

 

The Colts go to Phoenix in what should be a great game against the Cardinals.  Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald look to be back on the same page, so the Colts’ defense could be on the field for three quarters again. 

Arizona by 3.

 

Carolina goes to Dallas for a Monday Night Game.  Two struggling QBs will meet under that gigantic scoreboard.  I look for both Tony Romo and Jake Delhomme to have good games and the Carolina punter to hit the scoreboard. 

Dallas by 5.

 

Teams in must-win mode:

Washington needs to beat Detroit so Jim Zorn can cool down his hot seat.  Detroit needs to beat Washington because they’ve lost 19 straight.

Detroit by 3.

 

The Titans need a win in the meadowlands against the Jets.  The Titans’ defense should dominate the Jets’ rookie QB.  I mean, Mark Sanchez is going to lose some day, right? 

Tennessee by 10.

 

Jay Cutler and the Bears need to win against the beat up Seahawks in Seattle.

Chicago by 6.

 

Other noble games:

San Francisco at Minnesota.

Look for the Viking to go 3-0.

 

New Orleans at Buffalo.

Look for the Saints to go 3-0.

 

 

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