Why Tom Brady Is the Most Overrated Quarterback of All Time

As Peter Griffin would say, “You know what really grinds my gears?”

Tom Brady. 

I make no bones about that, but that does not necessarily mean that the facts don’t support my conclusion. The facts, in fact, support the actuality of that as fact.

I have stated many times that I love to, “stick it” to Patriot fans, like any real rock musician loves to stick it to the man.

I respect Brady, only in that I believe his legacy is a question that I must answer.

Here though, is the case for why Tom Brady of the New England Patriots is the most overrated quarterback of all time.

The modern era of the NFL has been easier on quarterbacks. The NFL has intentionally created rules to inflate the stats of quarterbacks: Mel Blount rule, Neil Smith rule, Tuck Rule, Ty Law rule, Tom Brady rule, etc.

Like steroids in baseball, the validity of passing stats are now highly suspect. Difference is that the inflation of passing stats is codified. What though do they mean anymore, when so many quarterbacks have similar stats?

Even quarterbacks with bad backs can throw touchdowns, or have little college or NFL experience and yet waltz in from the practice squad, Arena Leagues, or thanks to Matt Cassel, high school.

The farce that has been imposed on NFL fans is that penalty yards from pass-interference can easily lead to touchdowns.  The receiver doesn’t need to catch the ball, just run into the defender.

And that is why NFL rules inflate passing-stats.

The myth about quarterbacks has been eviscerated since 1999. An NFL team does need an exceptionally talented player to be quarterback, because the NFL will make sure to create rules to give that player every chance they can to ensure that he can succeed.

As much as I dislike the Cult of Dan Marino, at least, Marino had a uniquely quick release that enabled him to make plays regardless of pass protection.  I have made points against the greatness of Marino, but mainly because I think he’s in the Hall of Fame to the detriment of more deserving quarterbacks.

If Marino is in, they should be too.

Point being that, Brady has no unique skills.  He’s the beneficiary of a well-built team by Bill Belichik and Robert Kraft.  He’s the beneficiary of gutsy calls, cheating, and game-management by Belichik.  Brady’s the beneficiary of NFL rules to protect the passer that inflate stats, which cannot be denied.

Brady has also been the benficiery of kicks made by Adam Vinatieri.  If not for Vinatieri, the Patriots would have lost the Tuck Rule Game, and the Super Bowls against the Rams, Panthers, and Eagles.  Vinatieri kicked the game-winning field goals against the Rams and Panthers, and kicked the go-ahead FG against the Eagles.

All that anyone has ever said in Brady’s defense is he’s “cool,” in crunch time. Frankly, I must wonder, how hard is it to stay cool when you know that you’re cheating? 

‘Stay cool. We can’t lose. We’re cheating.’

Ever since Spygate was exposed, Brady has lacked many of those “magical” drives that defined his early career, which would explain the Super Bowl debacle against the Giants in 2008.

There are even clips of Brady saying, “Always cheat.”

Before Spygate, Brady was a cheater. After Spygate, he had the fortune of throwing to Randy Moss, whom has been involved in record setting offenses of the 1999 Vikings and the 2007 Patriots.

Moreover, Moss also made Daunte Culpepper a star, whom challenged the single-season TD record in 2004, only for it to be taken by Peyton Manning.

Difference being that the Patriots have no class. They ran up the score in 2007, many times.

Stunningly, in 2004, Manning could have broken the record for TDs in a season against the Ravens, after Baltimore turned-over the ball in its red zone. Yet, Manning took a knee to end the game because the Colts did not need the points.  After the game, Ray Lewis thanked Manning for not running-up the score.

In 2009, we have seen Brady for what he really is; a classless shrew that laughed in the face of Lewis, because Brady knows that the NFL will protect his sorry butt to the detriment of other players.

As well, you can’t judge Brady by his Super Bowl rings in the argument for the Hall of Fame. The Hall has made a precedent of excluding players with multiple rings (Jim Plunkett, Terrell Davis, etc.) that don’t have the stats they love, or who seem to be the product of a system or other forces.

Brady has certainly benefited from forces other than his questionable abilities. You can’t point to Brady’s stats since 2007 without considering the impact of Randy Moss.

And you can’t look to Brady’s stats before 2007 without considering the influence of Spygate and NFL rules that have inflated passing stats.  You also can’t look to Brady’s Super Bowl “heroics” without considering Vinatieri and Spygate.

Some might say that Moss stunk in Oakland, which is partly true, but it clearly resulted from a lack of desire. Moss submitted to the muckraking by Raider haters, and thus tuned out until he was traded.

Personally, I think that the only quarterbacks from this era that belong in the Hall of Fame are Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb, and maybe Kurt Warner.  Maybe.

The only Patriots that belong in the Hall of Fame are Robert Kraft, Bill Belichik, Adam Vinatieri, Corey Dillon, Willie McGinest, Richard Seymour, and Randy Moss.

And that is why Tom Brady is clearly the most overrated quarterback of all time.  Brady is the greatest quarterback, not by a mile. 

To believe such, is just delusion.

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Fire Gary Kubiak Before Another Season Is Wasted

The Houston Texans played almost a flawless first half and jumped out to a 20-7 lead at halftime.  Sure, some points were left on the field and there were a few mistakes, but leading the Colts by 13 at the half is pretty good.  At one point the Texans were up 17-0. 

(Photo caption: Gary Kubiak looking away from another Houston field goal attempt)

Then the second half started.  Something snapped.  The wheels came off the bus.  The Texans took their foot off the gas and scored exactly ZERO meaningful points while the Colts went up and down the field and scored four unanswered touchdowns to take a 35-27 victory.  Jacoby Jones’ touchdown with 18 seconds left might have made the onside kick meaningful, but it did little to change the game.

What happened in the second half?  Where was the leadership?  Matt Schaub certainly made some mistakes and threw two back breaking interceptions.  Let’s break these down a bit further.

On the first pick, there was some sort of breakdown.  Andre Johnson ran one route and Schaub threw to a second route.  The only problem was that two Colt defenders were there to pick off the errant pass.  It was like fielding a punt the throw was so offline. 

At this moment, there was some sense or feeling that things were going to get worse.

And worse they got.  Schaub threw another horrible interception that was returned for a touchdown by linebacker Clint Session.  Schaub just made a poor decision and made a bad pass to James Casey.  Apparently, he didn’t see Session undercutting the route.

Schaub also held onto the ball too long and was stripped by Robert Mathis when the outcome of the game was still in the air. Chad Simpson scampered into the end zone moments later and the game was effectively over.

But this loss does not fall onto Schaub’s shoulders.

Why did the Texans take their foot off the gas?  You can’t let a great team like the Colts hang around.  The Texans must learn how to finish games.  Houston’s lack of killer instinct came back to haunt them again.

What is the problem?  Is it the talent?  I don’t think so.  The offense is loaded with play makers even without injured Owen Daniels.  Andre Johnson is flat out amazing.  He routinely makes incredible catches. James Casey looks promising in his rookie year.  The offensive line is playing well.  Steve Slaton is (hopefully) over his fumbling issues.  Kevin Walter is a very effective second receiver.

On the other side of the ball, the defense has come around.  Mario Williams pressured Peyton Manning all day.  Brian Cushing and Demeco Ryans are good linebackers.  Bernard Pollard and Glover Quin have made the secondary better.

One quick note.  There is a major problem with Dunta Robinson, however.  He cannot cover anyone anymore.  Granted, Reggie Wayne is a great receiver, but Robinson couldn’t get near him without interfering.  Was there a bigger off season blunder bigger than Robinson’s leaving $23 million guaranteed on the table?  He’s not going to get anything close to that in the future. 

My point is, the talent is there.  That’s not the problem.  Again, I urge you examine Gary Kubiak’s role in another loss. 

Who made the decision to take the foot off the gas?  Who is the leader of the team?  Who made minimal at best half time adjustments?

Kubiak.  Kubiak.  Kubiak.

There is almost a sense of panic in the way that Kubiak coaches.  When the Colts got a little momentum, Kubiak went for a big play down field.  Never mind that the running backs had just picked up 15 yards on two plays to move the chains.  That seems like a great time to go for a home run. 

Now, I’m all for being aggressive.  This is football, not soccer.  But being aggressive just for the sake of it?  Insane. Can Antonio Smith’s three personal fouls in the past 6 days be indicative of the panic coming from the head coach?  Is Smith’s lack of composure a reflection of Kubiak’s?

Kubiak seemingly panics whenever adversity shows up.  It’s permeating the entire team.  People always say that a team takes on the personality of the head coach.  Well, the Texans seemed to panic and were unable to finish the game.  Sound familiar?

There is too much talent on this team being wasted by an inept and ineffective coach.  As a offensive coordinator under a strong willed head coach in Denver, Kubiak was successful.  Let’s pause to mention Mike Shanahan and John Elway.  But, note the strong head coach.

In Houston, Kubiak has hired baby-faced Shanahan Junior and a first time defensive coordinator in Frank Bush.  Where is the strong personality leading the team?  Who is the one in charge?  Is is the coach who doesn’t even look at field goal attempts?  I say, emphatically, no!

The Texans were 5-3 and are currently riding a three game losing streak.  Every game has been close, minus the season opener.  Couldn’t some better coaching help this team win even one of those games?

Blown challenges, poor clock management, poor leadership.  Minus the success and 200 pounds, Kubiak does a pretty good Andy Reid impression. 

Could the Texans win out and make the playoffs?  Yes, it’s not entirely out of the question but it seems unlikely. 

But isn’t four years enough time to determine what kind of coach Kubiak is? 

I say, again, yes.  It’s been enough time.  We’ve seen what Kubes can do.  It’s time for a real coach. 

Before another season is wasted.

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Some NFL MVP Dark Horses

While I won’t argue any of these players will be able to slide past the big three (Brees/Favre/Manning) for the MVP, I think these are some players who are in a good place to put together runs that could breach them into the top four or five beyond expectation.

Phillip Rivers: This will probably take a bit of flak as my ‘homer’ pick, and the better the Chargers are looking the more this is actually hurting his vote, as they aren’t relying on 300 yard games.  But show me a team that stayed alive more purely on the power of their quarterback’s arm earlier in the season. 

With a somewhat friendly final stretch of games, this team could easily earn a 12-4 record with increased relevance after being an afterthought the first half of the year.  He began the year putting up big touchdowns, nice yardage, and an average completion percentage. 

He lost some of the gaudy stats now that they have something resembling a running game, but has seen his completion percentage skyrocket.  To go with his 63.5 percent completion rate, he also has a 17:6 touchdown to interception ratio, doing a great job of protecting the ball.

Why he can’t win: His value to the team is great, but he won’t put up gaudy enough numbers and the team is growing more balanced. 

 

Kurt Warner: Continues to put up yards and TDs.  Whenever Leinart is asked to come in the game it becomes apparent that a good system and wideouts alone are not making the numbers.  With a weak running game and a hot-cold defense, Warner is (one game aside) the team’s most consistent force and leader.

The Cardinals looked shaky to start the year, but with the benefit of a friendly division, they have charged to a 7-3 record, no longer looking to be only an 8-8/9-7 squeak in on the power of their division alone.  The legitimizing of the team helps to legitimize Warner.

Why he can’t win: Missing at least one game won’t help.  He has good yardage and rating, but not top five in either.  He also ranks sixth with 11 interceptions, albeit it some consideration must be given to half coming in one miserable game.

 

Chris Johnson: He floats somewhere between candidate and dark horse, and probably has one of the better chances at an actual top three look, yet certain factors will force him from frontrunner to this page.  He is on pace for just shy of 2,000 yards ( 1,976) and is a primary reason for the Titans hurtling the cellar at present.

Why he can’t win: Despite a great pace, he is hit with two detraction’s.  One is the quarterback favor of voters.  A running back has the second best chance of winning, but that still is far lower.  More importantly will be his team’s record.  Despite a great run I see them landing at 8-8.  With over 5,000 yards last year Brees’ 8-8 record cost him the MVP, I think this will be the same case.

 

Elvis Dumervil: With all the attention on Jared Allen as the pass rushing monster, this guy is the league sack leader with 14 at present, a pace that could easily land him over 20.  The Broncos have exceeded all expectations especially with an array of new names on a defense not expected to do anything this year.  If the Broncos outpace San Diego for the division and Elvis can top 20 sacks, he could see his MVP stock take a sizeable boost.

Why he can’t win: It takes a miracle for a defensive player to win this award.  He is not a big media-grabber that would be a sexy sell (Jared Allen with 20 sacks on this Vikes team would probably have near double the chances).  Denver still has to work to avoid a collapse with only one win in the last five games.

 

Aaron Rodgers: He still holds the ball too long and several of the many sacks he’s eaten are his own fault.  Yet he is the third highest rated quarterback, with a great pace for yardage and TD’s, he looks to be top five in virtually every positive category while still protecting the ball (only five picks).  This team lacks the talent and run-support of other teams, and are now making themselves relevant again with a 7-2 record against teams not wearing purple.

Why he can’t win: Still don’t think the media Is really taking the Packers seriously yet.  Rodgers is responsible for a good portion of his interceptions, and his across the board statistical quality is just outpaced by the big three. 

 

Ben Roethlisberger: Despite the Steelers reputation as a defensive powerhouse that runs the football, they have relied more and more on big ben’s arm to put wins on the board.  He is top ten in every major category and has kept the team going with significant injuries and a declining running game. 

He has evolved from a ‘game manager’ who comes up at the right time to a bonafide pro bowl quarterback.  With his improvisational skills and ability to extend plays, he is the guy Cowboys fans hope Romo can evolve into.

Why he can’t win: The Bengals domination of the Steelers is a passing of the guard at least for this season.  With the Oakland upset now the Steelers are worrying more about making sure they hang onto the wildcard rather than what they can do with it.

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Buffalo Bills’ Resurgence Will be Built on Superbowl Winners, No Excuses, No Exceptions

Bill Polian is responsible for assembling the best NFL teams of the past two decades. As General Manager of the Indianapolis Colts, Polian created the alchemy of team chemistry and individual talent involving players and coaches that resulted in the Colts two 10-0 starts in the 00’s, and culminated in their ’07 Superbowl victory.

No doubt Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning had a lot to do with the team’s overall win percentage and their crowning moment, but the man who hired them is perhaps the one who deserves the lion’s share of the credit.

While the Buffalo Bills of the ’90’s never won a Superbowl, their unprecedented 4 consecutive Conference championships and complete dominance of their opponents throughout those four years (90-93) could be argued to exceed any other cumulative achievement, even though they barely missed the ultimate achievement on their first attempt, and seemed to go downhill from there in subsequent Superbowl appearances.

Just as Marv Levy and the Hall of Fame quality talent on both sides of the ball during those years get their share of credit for Buffalo’s achievements, again, one must give the lion’s share to the man who hired the talent and who understood the intangibles that were necessary to cause the kind of chemical reaction to make the sum equal even more than the very impressive total of the parts.

Therefore, with all the talk about getting one of the many A-List (meaning Superbowl winning) former head coaches currently available, perhaps the conversation should begin with the General Manager’s position.

Given that Polian left Buffalo under less than happy circumstances, largely due to (Hall of Fame) owner, Ralph Wilson’s shortsightedness, it might seem beyond ludicrous to propose that the two of them kiss and make up but I am going to propose just that. Polian has already done his job in Indianapolis. I think a sincere apology and a significant raise, all guaranteed, plus the opportunity to return to Buffalo and finish the job he came so close to finishing the last time could be enough to lure Polian back.

With Polian back in the front office, most fans would finally let out a huge sigh of relief and wouldn’t care who Polian hires as Head Coach, trusting him fully to find the right person. But in case Polian doesn’t come back, fans need to know that when Mr. Wilson says he is determined to get top level talent in all aspects of Bills leadership, he truly means it. Other than Polian there are several other great football minds that have won Superbowls from the front office. And as we know, there are even more former Head Coaches with the same credentials.

But, Mr. Wilson, we as Buffalonians, as Bills Nation around the world, expect you to do whatever is necessary to have Polian or his equivalent back in the Front Office. Saying you tried but you were rejected, is not acceptable. Everyone has their price. Everyone has their terms. Find out what that price, what those terms are, and get us a General Manager and Head Coach who have climbed the mountain and come down with the tablets.

We do not have time, nor do you, Mr. Wilson, have time for experimentation. We need and we expect you to get it right with these two key hires, and have them in place before the end of the season in order not to lose them to other competitors.

As for the coaching position, there are at least ten former Head Coaches who have won at least one Lombardi trophy. The Buffalo search MUST be limited to these ten people.

It should be noted that one who has publically indicated his interest in the position does not qualify. Mike Martz took St. Louis to a Superbowl victory as offensive coordinator, and to a loss as head coach. The failure to win as head coach is operative here. He should not be contacted.

Apparently the Bills have also contacted former Bill Jim Haslett. Haslett has not come close to winning a Superbowl. Sentiment must be put aside here. He does not qualify. Listen, Mr. Wilson. The qualifications must, MUST be absolute. Superbowl champions only need apply.

Now that we’ve set the bar and eliminated the unqualified, who should be considered?

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Steelers Historical Strong Defense: White, Green, Holmes, Greenwood

During the same years the Pittsburgh Steelers were building “The Steel Curtain,” America was building a defense for dropouts and push-outs in urban schools.

Those years saw the high school dropout rate for African-American males climb to an alarming high. There was a crisis because of a lack of presence of role models. Organizations like the National Urban League got involved in education, mainly to help reduce the dropout rate in urban communities.

Defenses needed to be built in American education. Young men needed to be herded off the streets and back into the classrooms. The legislation that would fund the dropout prevention programs, which was America’s defense for an emerging problem, was called the Emergency School Aid Act (ESAA).

As the project director of a Houston Area Urban League ESAA project, I was told to hire four strong men who could help find the dropouts and encourage them to return to high school, and to identify those who were potential dropouts.

I found four good men to implement the project. One of them, I distinctly remember, was a relative of Dwight White, a defensive player with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The name of Dwight White’s relative was Bob White, and he had been a probation officer. He was perfectly suited for the job.

The other man I hired was an ex-U. S. Marine who wanted to help young people.

Mr. White constantly talked about his relative Dwight. I was curious and Mr. White would share with us, the experiences of Dwight White, “Mean” Joe Greene, Ernie Holmes and L. C. Greenwood.

Each NFL player stands out in my mind for a different reason.

Dwight White stood out because he was the relative to a man who worked as a counselor in the program I directed.

“Mean” Joe Greene stood out because of his performance on the football field and his name.

Ernie Holmes stood out because he attended Texas Southern University, and he was known for his intensity on the playing field. His name stands out in my mind even more now because he fathered one of the promising young mathematicians in the United States, Dr. Rod Holmes.

There were really four outstanding defense players with the Pittsburgh Steelers at that time. I made no connection with the fourth player.

Here is what an interesting chapter in history looks like in 2009. Ernie Holmes who passed away, at 59 years old, in a car accident somewhere between Houston, Texas and Beaumont, Texas is the father of a young mathematician who has made history.

I work with Ernie Holmes’ son.

Dr. Rod Holmes, the second African-American man to receive a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Houston, must have put up a powerful defense to negotiate his way to the end of a historical accomplishment.

He was mentored by Dr. Willie Taylor, the first African-American man to receive his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Houston.

Is it possible that the wisdom of his father, the great defensive player with “The Steel Curtain” rubbed off on the son, Dr. Rob Holmes?

The determination, persistence, and passion you need for football is also needed in intellectual endeavors. Perhaps the powerful attributes of the father were passed on to the son, giving him the coping skills to wedge forth and get a Ph.D. in one of the most challenging areas in mathematics, functional analysis? I think so.

Does the tradition of building and having a powerful defensive team continue in the current Pittsburgh Steelers team?  Probably so.

Traces of genius stood out in the career of Ernie Holmes. In one quote we see:

“Holmes, drafted out of Texas Southern, was part of a defense that held Minnesota to 17 yards rushing and 119 total yards in the 1975 Super Bowl. The Steelers won their first title, 16-10. They were back a year later, beating Dallas 21-17 for the championship.

“The 1976 Steelers defense was one of the best in NFL history, shutting out five opponents — three in a row — during a nine-game, season-ending winning streak. The Steelers allowed only 28 points during those nine games, an average of slightly more than a field goal per game.

“He was devastating and would just destroy the opponent across from him,” Russell said. “Sometimes I had to remind him to tackle the guy with the pigskin. He was a brilliant player. He played all with his heart.”

“He used his head, too. Besides “Fats,” he was also known as “Arrowhead” because in 1974 he shaved his head, leaving only an arrow-shaped pattern of hair on his skull.

“I asked him, ‘What the hell did you do that for?'” longtime Steelers director of communications Joe Gordon said. “We were getting ready to play the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium. He said, ‘That’s to point me to the quarterback.'”

What stands out is the comment “He used his head” and “he was a brilliant player.”

So, the four men who often bragged about the brilliance of L. C. Greenwood, Joe Green, Dwight White and Ernie Holmes were good role models. Perhaps they saw the merit and power of a good defense.

And, the four men who took part in “The Steel Curtain” set a model in place for those times by being one of the best NFL defense squads in NFL history.

Out of that pool of talent was birthed one of America’s promising mathematicians. It looks like Dr. Rod Holmes inherited the brilliance and heart of his father. It is no small feat to be one of the few African-American men to get a Ph.D. in functional analysis.

Brilliance can be in the genes, however, it may manifest itself in different ways. Ernie Holmes showed his on the playing field while his son shows his in intellectual pursuits.

Now there is a story telling about what Ernie Holmes did, and how he approached Gene Upshaw of the Oakland Raiders. Holmes forewarned Upshaw that the Steelers defense was, let’s say, stronger and more fierce than the Raiders.

Well, a game is coming up on Dec. 6. Is there a “Ernie Holmes” making his way to a “Gene Upshaw”? Is the Oakland Raiders team being forewarned about the tactics and strength of the Pittsburgh Steelers?

A historical encounter is captured in this quote:

“To motivate his teammates, Holmes purposefully strayed into the Raiders’ warm ups to tell star lineman Gene Upshaw before the January 1976 AFC Championship Game what the Steelers would do to him and Oakland.

“The Steelers went on to win 24-13. But at a team Christmas party, Holmes surprised everyone by dressing up like Santa Claus and handing out toys.”

It’s 33 years later. In 2009 is there a Steelers defensive player who will “stray into the Raiders’ warm ups” and tell the Raiders’ star lineman what the Steelers will do to him and Oakland on December 6?

I conclude by saying that out of the personal heritage of Ernie Holmes has come an outstanding young mathematician, Rod Holmes.

More broadly, then, we can say that out of the franchise heritage of both the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Oakland Raiders should come forth with a “Ernie Holmes” and a “Gene Upshaw.”

Who will win the game on Dec. 6, 2009? I will leave it up to you, the readers, to give predictions.

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Pittsburgh at Baltimore: Must-Win Situation for Ravens Sunday Night

The Ravens have found themselves in many close games this season. However, none of those games can compare to what’s on the line tonight in Baltimore, as the Ravens take on a Steelers team playing without two of their best players in “Big Ben” and Troy Polamalu.

Ben Roethlisberger will be sidelined with a concussion he sustained against Kansas City last week. It appeared Roethlisberger might suit up for the big Sunday night game, when reports were released mid-week that stated he had passed a battery of tests that measured his cognition. 

On Friday, Roethlisberger complained of headaches during physical exertion, which gave the starting role to third-string quarterback Dennis Dixon, a second year man out of Oregon.

Even with the big injuries to Pittsburgh, the Ravens will have their hands full with a solid Steelers’ defense – a defense that will be without their biggest playmaker in Troy Polamalu.

One thing the Ravens understand is the fact they must win this game in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. A win tonight for the Ravens will put them in second place in the AFC North at 6-4; either one or two games in back of Cincinnati, depending on how they fare against the Browns today. A loss might all but end any hopes for the Ravens’ playoff chances.

With the entire Ravens’ season at stake, Baltimore needs to take a more explosive approach to this game.

The Ravens have returned to a more balanced attack on offense in the past four games. This has lead to Ray Rice becoming one of the best all-around backs in the NFL.  He’s been a threat both running the ball, and catching passes out of the backfield.

With that said, Baltimore needs to do more than check the ball down to Rice in order to win this contest.

Cam Cameron must reopen the playbook to Joe Flacco. In games where Flacco was limited by Cameron, he struggled mightily, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns (1 TD and 3 INT’s in the last four games).

If Flacco is cut loose from the recent conservative approach on offense, he should be able to take advantage of a Steelers defense that has struggled without their top playmaker in Polamalu. In fact, the entire outcome of the game will rest on how mistake-free Flacco can play.

With the Ravens looking to get back on track, this will be the game in which they can accomplish that. Baltimore and Pittsburgh always play each other close, but the Ravens have the edge in this one, due to the Steelers’ misfortunes.

If Baltimore can strike early and quick, this might be a game where the Ravens never look back at their opponent.

 

Predictions for tonight’s game

Ray Rice should be a big factor, as usual, in both the running and passing game.  Look for him to rack up over 100 all-purpose yards, and a touchdown.

Joe Flacco will end his mid-season slump tonight, as Baltimore will come out of the gates on fire at home, knowing what’s on the line. Flacco should finish with 250 yards, two touchdown passes, and no interceptions.

 

Final score:  Pittsburgh 10, Baltimore 27

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What the NFL Can Learn from Other Leagues

Originally an article about all sports (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/296692-what-professional-sports-leagues-can-learn-from-one-another ), I had to cut two of the sections short for length; so I figured I might embellish upon the notion within the specific sports at hand.

The NFL is having success while other sports are taking popularity hits. But there’s still room to improve.

Parity in the NFL seems to be doing its job fairly well. Playoff turnover tends to be great (that is, the number of teams in the playoffs that were not so the year prior).

After a bumpy start to the year, the half-dozen league dregs have proven themselves more able than one would have guessed two to three weeks ago (not powerhouses but at least competitive).

So where does the NFL need to improve? Here we take a page from the NBA.

A rookie wage scale would do wonders for a league where first round draft picks can command massive salaries that bog teams down for several years. If you whiff on a top three or four draft pick in the NFL, the hard salary cap means that team is unable to try to make itself competitive via the free agent market.

Unless a team has a specific player that they want without question, it is preferable to hold onto a fifth, sixth, or seventh round pick rather than one in the first three rounds.

This allows room for veterans to be signed, teams can pursue other options sooner if a player is not panning out, and teams do not feel burdened by a No. 1 pick. This means teams stuck in long term ruts (Raiders, Lions) are much better suited to turn things around and grow competitive.

A few underperforming veterans may gain some unwarranted salary bloat from this, but I would take that knock over $60 million for a guy to spend two years losing and two years riding the bench.

In addition to the idea of a rookie salary cap, I feel that taking some form of a minor league from MLB would be another good step. The practice squad is the closest thing right now football has.

Beyond this, once a player has finished college they either make the cut the first year or they have very little chance of ever making it into an NFL game. Should the UFL rise and grow more successful, it could have the potential to fill the void for ex-NFLers, guys who just missed the cut, and others.

It is hard to really picture a prop team maintaining a full 53+ man farm team but the UFL can make arrangements where perhaps they can be “loaned” practice squad players, in combination with their own means of acquiring players. This gives those players practical game experience, acts as a form of a minor/developmental league, and gives the UFL itself an extra source (albeit it prone to call-ups) of getting quality players to help foster a growing fan base.

This symbiosis seems the most practical variation of a minor league that would benefit both the NFL and the smaller league, as well as make it considerably less clunky than a true baseball-based farm system (something owners would never want to pump the required money into).

As a final afterthought, one that falls into the more personal wouldn’t-it-be-fun category more than a genuine way to improve the NFL, the notion of an NBA-esque draft lottery. The top ten picks are drawn at random with worst teams getting the best chance at the No. 1 overall pick.

Obviously, the odds have to favor the league’s worst team to get the No. 1 pick. Making it equal would be unfair to the teams at the lower end of the spectrum.

With this, however, things can move around and become fluid; a lucky draw with a team gaining three, four, even five spots could help spark interest from an apathetic fan base on a losing team. Instead of a team with, say, a No. 8 overall having to trade away a big chunk of draft picks or players to pick up just a few spots, watch them start out with a No. 4 and get who they actually want.

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Arizona Cardinals’ Road Test Just Got Tougher; Kurt Warner Out, Matt Leinart In

Cardinals’ quarterback Kurt Warner, who has been nothing short of spectacular ever since that five interception outing against Carolina a month ago, has been ruled out for today’s game against the Titans in Tennessee. Warner, it seems, woke up with blurred vision this morning, and was made inactive by head coach Ken Whizenhunt.

Warner took himself out of the Rams game last week after a face-plant gave him a slight concussion.

In his place will be back-up Matt Leinart. Ironically, Leinart was chosen just behind Titans resurgent QB Vince Young, who has lead Tennessee to four straight wins. I’m sure Leinart would like nothing better than to perform at his best. Not only for personal and team reasons, but to possibly silence the ever growing list of critics.

Well Matt, here’s your chance!

This will be the first time in the past 42 games that Kurt Warner didn’t start at QB for the Big Red. Cards WR’s Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston shouldn’t have any problems related to the southpaw, except that Warner took almost all the snaps in practice with the first team this week.

I/we, of course, wish Leinart the best in his quest to extend the Cards road winning streak to six!

GBR

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Oakland Raiders Need to Break the 80/20 Rule On Defense

Despite the one-sided score line, the Thanksgiving game in Dallas was not all bad news for Oakland. Yes, the Raiders were out-gained; yes, it wasn’t close; yes, it was another big loss following a victory, but there were certainly some plus points for this young Silver and Black team.

On offense, Bruce Gradkowski looked after the ball, with no turnovers. Darren McFadden had 10 touches for 66 yards and is beginning to show flashes of the play-making ability the Raiders so badly need. Even Darrius Heyward-Bey got in on the act, scoring his first NFL touchdown.

On Defense, Oakland showed some invention with Trevor Scott operating in the “Elephant” position, registering five solo tackles including two sacks.  However, the only “Elephant in the room” as far as this defense is concerned is big plays. On 82 percent of plays (46 out of 56) the Raiders were excellent, giving up just 22 percent of the yardage (110 out of 494 yards). This means that for 82 percent of plays (against an excellent Cowboys team) went for an average of just 2.39 yards per play.

The problem is that the other 18 percent of plays (10 out of 56) went for 78 percent of the yardage (384 out of 494 yards). A team cannot be competitive whilst giving up this number of big plays.

The 82 percent of plays gives the Raiders hope they can emerge from their slump. The addition of some power in the middle of this defense (nose tackle and middle linebacker) during free-agency could turn this from a patchy defense into a dominant one.

Looking again at the roster, the Raiders now have 28 players who can form the backbone of a winning team:  

Offense: Bruce Gradkowski, Darren McFadden, Michael Bush,  Justin Fargas, Chaz Schilens, Louis Murphy, Zach Miller, Mario Henderson, Robert Gallery, Cooper Carlisle, Samson Satele, and Cornell Green.

Defense: Richard Seymour, Greg Ellis, Matt Shaughnessy, Gerard Warren, Tommy Kelly, Jay Richardson, Trevor Scott, Thomas Howard, Kirk Morrison, Nnamdi Asomugha, Chris Johnson, Tyvon Branch, and Michael Huff.

Special Teams: Shane Lechler, Sebastian Janikowski and Jon Condo.

The essential thing for Oakland is to not waste the last five games. The Raiders still need another 10 players, including Heyward-Bey, Mitchell, Russell and Myers to come to the party to enable them to finish the season with 38 “keepers” on the roster, which would be an excellent launch pad for 2010. Add five veterans through free agency, five rookies and five “projects” and there is no reason to believe the Raiders cannot be a winner next season.

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Let The Detroit Lions Keep Their Thanksgiving Game

Yes, this is another article begging NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to let the Detroit Lions keep their Thanksgiving game. I have heard several NFL Commentators talk about getting rid of Detroit on Thanksgiving.

Once again, I have to defend Detroit.

Yes, the Lions suck. They have two wins this season against two of the worst teams in the NFL.

No, maybe it is not that fun to watch the Lions on Thanksgiving. The Lions on Thanksgiving is as traditional as eating turkey. Here are a few reasons the Lions should keep the “Thanksgiving Classic.”

Reason Number One: Tradition

The Detroit Lions began the Thanksgiving game tradition in 1934. The Lions’ first owner, G.A. Richards, started the tradition as a way to get people to come to the games.

Since then, the Dallas Cowboys started the tradition in 1966. The two teams have hosted a Thanksgiving game ever since.

To please the fans, the NFL Network added a third game. This allows for a competition game as well as keeping the tradition alive.

Reason Number Two: Let Detroit Have Something to Celebrate

You do not truly understand how bad Detroit really is unless you live there. I moved away in May and came to visit in October. In the six months I was gone, Detroit had depleted so much more.

There are former CEO’s that have lost their houses, cars, and jobs. There are houses that have a rent payment of $99 per month gone vacant because even that is too expensive.

The unemployment rate in Detroit is 22%, almost three times the national average.

As for their sports teams, the Lions obviously suck. The Detroit Tigers only had to win a few games in September to get into the playoffs. Instead, they lost a play-in game.

The Detroit Pistons are struggling. The pride of Detroit, the Red Wings, lost the Stanley Cup last year and have started this hockey season 12-9-4.

The Thanksgiving game is something Detroit fans are truly proud of. They love tailgating and heading over to the game with their families who are in town. Then, they head home and have a nice dinner.

Leave Detroit alone. They have few things to be proud of right now. Do not take away their tradition.

Reason Number Three: It Is Only One Game

There are 17 weeks in the season. Each week has a nationally televised Sunday Night and Monday Night Football Game.

Starting in November, the NFL Network also broadcasts a nationally televised Thursday Night Football Game.

After college football ends in December, there are a few more nationally televised Saturday games.

Add the three Thanksgiving games and that is almost 50 nationally televised games.

Detroit is asking for one measly nationally televised game.

The Lions have not appeared on Monday Night Football since October 8, 2001 when they hosted the St. Louis Rams.

They have not appeared on Sunday Night Football since December 11, 2005 when they travelled to Green Bay to face the Packers.

Let Detroit have their one nationally televised game. There are flex games so we can watch great match-ups towards the end of the season.

Monday Night Football usually has great match-ups with playoff implications. Detroit having a Thanksgiving game is as traditional as Dallas having one and the New York Giants having their home Saturday game in December.

Roger Goodell, leave the Lions alone and let them have their one game. If you don’t want to watch it, plan to eat dinner at one.

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