Just What Is a Fan Entitled To?

Two incidents happened in the last week involving angry fans. 

The first came when the Indianapolis Colts elected to rest their core starters with roughly 20 minutes left in the game and a five-point advantage. 

The second was immediately following a Los Angeles Lakers defeat when they fell flat against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Colts fans have actually drafted a lawsuit asking for their money back as the Indianapolis Colts not only lost the game, but a bid at the first 19-0 season in the process. 

Lakers fans did not wait until the morning after. They rained foam fingers (from a promotional giveaway) down onto the court to express their distaste for what was perceived as a weak effort.

Lakers fans feel justified in throwing objects because of an inferior performance.  Colts fans feel justified in asking for their money back when a superior product was pulled. 

But what is a fan truly entitled to when they attend (or even simply watch on television)?

The most bare-bones answer would be that a fan attending a game is guaranteed the game will not be cancelled and that they are not put in harm’s way by attending the game. With this answer, all that is needed is a team on the field and a competent security detail.

It should be argued, however, that at minimum the team placed on the field that day/night puts a reasonable effort into playing, and an owner makes a reasonable attempt at trying to piece together a team capable of competing every night.

Both are reasonable assertions, and both weigh true in most leagues (I would contend that baseball owners of many teams don’t put a concerted effort into the second concept, especially with trade-deadline sell-offs).  Both of these fall short of what was expected by fans in Los Angeles and Indianapolis.

So where does the line fall? 

Laker fans don’t have much of a case. They are upset by the loss of course, and expressing displeasure is natural. That the team generally looks flat when it loses and seems to often lack interest doubles that. 

But a championship team blowing one-eighty-second of the regular season is ultimately trivial. The team fielded its starters, who put a reasonable effort (they were flat, but no one plays to lose) and came away empty-handed. 

That is not enough to justify an act somewhere between litter and vandalism (a bit sensational but not as big of a hyperbole as one might think).

The situation in Indianapolis is a bit trickier. Of course legally the fans suing for their tickets to be refunded have no grounds, and it would be a surprise if the case isn’t thrown out of court. But morally do they have some footing?

Fans, be it supporting in merchandise or ticket sales, have an interesting mandate.  They are paying for an entertainment product, and thus have some right to expect proper entertainment value. 

If Indianapolis were to win a Super Bowl, this would be irrelevant… mostly.  The question of 19-0 still presents itself. Could the team have made history?

On his radio show, Bill Polian contended that, “If fans were told at the start of the year that the team would be 14-1 they would be ecstatic.” 

That is a bit disingenuous. His assertion that this is what the fans want because it gives them the best chance at success runs contrary to a Colts fanbase that compelled Polian to end his radio show early because he grew tired of irate fans calling in.

To contend that “it was a decision because the team felt it was the best chance for success” is fine.  But when he attempted to speak for the fans, that was a mistake.  To state that 16-0 was never important tells that internal team priorities outweigh the wants of fans. That is a mistake. 

It all returns to the great lesson celebrities in all venues forget—you can think anything you want, just so long as you don’t say it. 

Polian can feel that way, but especially when history is not entirely in favor of his strategy (the Colts hold a 1-4 record in the playoffs when Jim Sorgi closes the regular season), don’t speak down to ticketholders about it.

So there lies the gray area. The debate over the actual strategy is a concept for another piece. The question over how justified fans are for being quite demonstrative in their displeasure is a tougher one to answer in some ways. 

Legally, Indianapolis is only obliged to ensure safety and make sure a game is actually played. Outside the bounds of legal rule, the Colts organization will have much to answer for if they are eliminated in the playoffs. 

Either way, barring the Lombardi Trophy, there will be questions, but a 17-2 Colts team will have far more than an 18-1 would have. 

Did the Colts do the right thing for the team? Perhaps. Did they do the right thing for their fans? Probably not.

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Payback Time: Facing Vikings Best for Packers in Wild Card

Packer fans, start your drooling.

Only two weeks ago, it seemed like the only way the Green Bay Packers would get a third shot at the Minnesota Vikings would be in the divisional round of the playoffs and that assumed the Packers would win a wild card game first.

A hot Packers team and a slumping Vikings team have now made such a meeting possible in the wild-card round. 

Thanks to the Vikings losing 36-30 in overtime to the Chicago Bears on Monday, it’s possible for the Vikings to lose the No. 2 spot in the NFC that they have held practically all season. 

If that were to occur, the NFC North champion Vikings would host a wild card game with the Packers as a possible opponent.

Now, it’s unlikely on paper that this will occur. 

The Giants would have to beat the Vikings, the Cardinals would have to beat the Packers, and then the Eagles would have to beat the Cowboys.  A lot has to happen, but this is the National Football League. As many coaches say, “stranger things have happened.”

Cheeseheads still fuming after the Vikings beat the Packers at Lambeau are foaming at the mouth at getting another chance at the Vikings. 

Who can blame them? For one, it is very difficult to beat one team three times in a single season. History works against the Vikings here. 

Second, the two teams are suddenly going in opposite directions. 

The Packers are 6-1 in their last seven, and the Vikings have lost two straight to inferior opponents. 

Taking into account the Packers’ lone loss (to the Steelers) came on a last-minute miracle throw by Ben Roethlisberger, as of right now the Packers are actually the better team.

Fans also should not underestimate how bad the Packers want to beat Minnesota. 

Given the Vikings’ recent struggles, there is no doubt that by losing the two games to Minnesota this year that the Packers blew a prime opportunity to win the NFC North this year. 

Mike McCarthy won’t need to fire up the troops for this one. They will be motivating themselves.

Take a look at what caused the Packers to drop the two games to the Vikings this year. 

One was horrid play by the Packer offensive line that kept getting Aaron Rodgers pummeled. That’s been corrected. 

Along the same line is the Vikings’ pass rush, led by Jared Allen. Any Packer coach watching tape of the Vikings’ two most recent games should be able to develop a plan to contain Allen and keep him out of the game.

The Packers’ defense has risen to the occasion since then, as well. 

Dom Capers’ squad has turned into one of the elite units in the league stopping the run and having potential defensive MVP Charles Woodson in the secondary doesn’t hurt either. 

With Percy Harvin fighting migraines and Brett Favre fighting his own head coach, things certainly look more favorable for the Packers in round three.

Speaking of Favre, his penchant for blowing it in the playoffs looms large for the Packers.  Many members of the Packers were around in 2007 when Favre’s final pass as a Packer was intercepted in overtime, setting up the game-winning field goal that would cost the Packers the NFC title. 

Take that into account along with the reports that Favre has hijacked the offense and the franchise, and the Packers defense is licking its chops at finally laying the smackdown on ole No. 4.

Now, a lot of people are asking why the Vikings are the best matchup for the Packers and not the Cardinals or Cowboys, whom the Packers beat earlier this season. It’s easy to reason why these two teams would give the Packers a better chance at advancing, but let’s look a little deeper.

First, Arizona’s offense is very explosive. Just when you think they are struggling and you go for the KO, BOOM! Larry Fitzgerald catches a 70-yard laser for six points. 

Arizona’s receivers are big and tall and could easily overpower the Packers’ speedy secondary at any time. 

Sometimes the Packers can muscle the Cardinals’ wideouts, but even they can’t magically grow a couple inches taller.

As for the Cowboys, the Packers recently have struggled in Dallas. Though they haven’t played in the gargantuan Cowboys Stadium yet, it’s a ghost that will still haunt these Packers.

Combine that with a suddenly-hot-in-December Tony Romo and the Cowboys will be a much more potent force to be reckoned with the second go-round. Home field advantage can play a huge role, especially in the playoffs.

McCarthy said earlier in the season that “it’s not who you play, but when you play them.”

This never rings more true than during the NFL playoffs. The Vikings likely won’t be shaking in their boots about facing the Packers for a third time—and at home to boot. Any real professional team wouldn’t be scared.

If the Packers keep playing the way they have been, though, they could get what would be one the greatest victories in the history of a franchise that already has a ton of memorable victories.

Revenge is a dish best served cold, and the Packers are ready to feast in the Metrodome.

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The Oakland Raiders Have Three Options With Tom Cable

One big question the Raiders need to ask themselves this off-season. Is it time for the Raiders to go another direction with the coaching staff? Or is Tom Cable a good option, maybe even whats best for the Raiders.

There is actually strong support for retaining Tom Cable from fans and I would classify his supporters into four groups:

First, there are those who blindly support him for whatever reason and believe he is actually doing a good job. Who knows why: Maybe simply because he is part of the Raiders, or maybe they can relate to him because they’re also over-weight “mouth-breathers” or some other reason. These guys aren’t even worth trying to talk to you might as well argue with your dog.

Then there are those who just want a sense of continuity. They can’t stand the constant coaching changes and would rather see us fail under Cable again then switch coaches again.

They need to be absolutely sure Cable isn’t the answer. And though they have good reasoning to back up there opinion they are still usually stubborn.

Then there are those who think that Cable just needs some help. They site his abilities as a motivator. They would like to see Cable retained as head coach but striped of his play call responsibility.

They would also like to see an offensive coordinator and maybe an assistant head coach and better positional coaches in to take some pressure off of Cable.

Lastly there are those that believe Tom Cable is our only viable option. Not necessarily because he is the answer to the Raiders struggles. But because neither Jon Gruden or any other playoff caliber coach in there right mind would want to coach in Oakland.

Right now there are three things the Raider can do with the coaching staff.

The first and easiest option is to do nothing. Some people believe that the team will just get better through continuity and the constant coaching changes have hurt the Raiders more than anything over the last seven years.

With players becoming more familiar with the schemes and each other they will be able to gel and actually become a team.

I think that is the most absurd option and would be a huge mistake.

The second option is to get Tom Cable some help. A lot of the players are behind Cable and he is a great motivator. Problem is motivation will only get you so far.

Tom Cable is a horrible play-caller. But if the Raiders were to hire an offensive coordinator and strip Cable of that duty, we would be able to retain his motivational skills and do away with the bone-headed plays he calls.

Some people think that Tom Cable isn’t qualified for the stress and responsibility being asked of him as an NFL head coach. But this also could be helped with the addition of an assistant head coach and maybe better positional coaches and a GM.

Then the last option is to do what Rich Gannon said to do.”Just blow up the building and start over.” New coaches, new players, new everything. Much like the Broncos did last off-season.

The only problem with that is there is risk. If a real head coach isn’t willing to come to Oakland and coach under Al Davis, then the Raiders would have to Gamble and hope to strike gold again like they did with Gruden.

It would also mean new schemes and the departure of quality coaches like John Marshall and Lionel Washington.

Lets take a look  some of the arguments for and against Cable. First the positive.

A lot of players are fully behind Cable and believe in him. Robert Gallery said he would go to war with him.Also the Raiders are desperately in need of some kind of stability and the constant coaching carousel has done nothing but hurt the team.

Then there’s the fact that no one wants to coach this train wreck called the Oakland Raiders. At least not any qualified or sane head coach anyway. So essentially many believe we are stuck with Cable.

Then the negatives.

First, Tom Cable is a horrible play-caller and not qualified to be a head coach. But if the Raiders were to higher an offensive coordinator and an assistant head coach, that issue could be disregarded as a huge workload would be taken off of Cables shoulders.

Then theirs his anger and character problems which he obviously has. Its said that teams are a reflection of coaching and if you think the Raiders mental breakdown against the Browns wasn’t a clear reflection of Tom Cable, then you are blind.

Then there’s the thought that Cable really doesn’t have his team behind him. Sure he has some of the players but not all. Mario Henderson and Justin Fargas both started criticizing Cables play-calling after the Houston game.

Nnamdi criticized the defense for being so simple and Sam Williams said, “Tom Cable is a joke to half the team and everyone outside the Raiders locker room.” Sure that last comment may be taken a little out of context as it was said regarding the Hanson situation but it was still said.

Does Tom Cable really have the players behind him or is that just a myth? Honestly I couldn’t tell you, no one knows accept for the players on the team.

As far as us fans go its just a matter of perception. I think he lost the team weeks ago while others believe all the players are willing to go to war with him.

One things for sure, Bill Romonowski thinks Cable is gone as he had this to say on “The Chronicle Live ” following the game

 “When you only win six games in the NFL your job is on the line.”

“I would be surprised if Tom Cable returned as the Raiders head coach.”

So what should the Raiders do with Cable: Let him be, so the team can build continuity, gel, and hopefully become better. Keep him as head coach, but get him some help or just fire him and start over once again.

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Odd One Out: Cincinnati Bengals Players Dont Make Pro Bowl

Out of the 32 teams in the league, you’d think they’d give at least one team one player in the Pro Bowl right?  Wrong.

The Bengals, today, became one of the teams not to feature a player in this years Pro Bowl, which will be held at the end of the postseason. 

Remember that kid that used to always get left out during a school yard football game during recess?  Yeah, that’s how Carson Palmer must feel.  The sad thing is this time, has Cincinnati really done anything wrong not to earn at least one player in the big game?

A shoe in for the playoffs at this point with a 10-5 record and a game in hand against the Jets, Cincinnati’s play has been arguably good and balanced all season.  After falling down to a crushing injury last season, to bouncing back and leading his team to an above .500 record this year, is a remarkable feat that only a true great quarterback could achieve.

21 Touchdowns on the year and 3094 passing yards so far, surely that’s enough.

But no Pro Bowl vote?

Maybe Carson Palmer doesn’t float the voters boat. 

Well how about Chad Ochocinco?  By the time he gets there, his name will have changed twice, but his stats don’t lie either.  72 receptions, 1047 yards, and nine touchdowns are solid figures.  Even Chad himself thought he would be visiting Miami come January, he obviously jinxed himself.

For a team that has won the AFC North, to not receive at least one player is a joke on the system and on the voters behalf.  Most of us can understand why players from below .500 teams such as Detroit and Tampa Bay did not make it, but for former Pro Bowl players like Carson Palmer to be overshadowed and basically overlooked, gives Bengals fans a sour treat to suck on as the end of the season draws near.

Not to worry though.  Often, the Pro Bowl is overrated and Bengals fans and players will more than likely agree that the playoffs is more important.  As long as they remain focused and don’t get distracted on this issue, they still have a good shot at the AFC Championship.

 

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Rex Ryan, Stop Talking About the Colts Game and Prepare for the Bengals!

As former Jet Head Coach Herm Edwards used to say, “you play the game to win.”

That’s what the Jets did on Sunday.

That’s what the Colts didn’t do.

That’s not the concern or business of the New York Jets, so please stop talking, Coach Ryan!

With a 15-10 lead on Sunday the Indianapolis Colts made a strategic decision to abandon a quest for perfection vs. resting players and getting prepared for the greater goal of winning a second Super Bowl in the Peyton Manning era.

Whether this was the right or wrong thing to do will be decided by how far the Colts travel in the AFC tournament and ultimately a trip and win in the Super Bowl.

While Colt fans scream forfeit and veteran sports talk radio personalities like Mike Francesa slam Coach Ryan for even slightly suggesting the Jets deserve some credit for beating an undefeated team, it’s time Ryan just shut up and prepared for Week 17 and the Cincinnati Bengals!

For just a week prior, Jet fans like myself were trying to explain how the team didn’t show up at home in a miserable 10-7 defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons, who were eliminated the day before from playoff contention?

Just a week later, elation seems to hit the team as Miami and Baltimore along with Denver lose to slide the Jets back into contention with the defeat of the Colts, 29-15.

From a spin perspective, the best spin is no spin at all.

The Jets didn’t beat an undefeated squad, they beat an undefeated squad that decided being undefeated doesn’t really matter.

This is not the fault of the Jets, but simply the reality of what occurred.

Yes, the Jets did play well.

They did have a great special teams return with Brad Smith and the defense held Manning in check somewhat in the first half.

But we’ll never fully know what would have occurred had Manning remained in the game.

Based on past history, it’s safe to say the Jets would be 7-8 vs. 8-7!

For this can all change again in the final week of the season should the Jets once again play Mr. Hyde and decide not to show up for this final contest that they must win, unless all the same teams that lost last week once again choke, leaving an 8-8 Jet squad clinching a spot in the post season.

While personalities like Francesa are correct in assuming the Jets in all probability would have lost if Manning played the entire game, I don’t know of a crystal ball that Mike reads from his perch at The Fan studios in New York!

It seems to me Mike Francesa would rather slam Coach Ryan than evaluate the terrible performance by the New York Giants against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, where they embarrassed the memory of Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands by forgetting to show up.

This is far more inexplicable than the Colts sitting starters in a game that meant nothing to their objective of winning another Super Bowl.

Let’s not forget Mike Francesa is a Giant fan at heart.

Beating up the Jets for winning vs. slamming Tom Coughlin and the 3-7 collapse of Big Blue is far more painful when it’s obvious where his allegiances lie.

While others make the case that every fan knows that the only undefeated team is the Dolphins and thus the opportunity to seize perfection must be chased?

Do you think the same fans also know the New England Patriots are the other team that went undefeated at 16-0, but also finished like a bride left at the altar at 18-1?

If you asked a Green Bay Packer fan who won Super Bowls l and ll, you think they know the answer?

How about if you ask a Jet fan who won Super Bowl lll?

This notion of perfection is noble, but does it guarantee greatness?

Does it signify you are without question the best?

Don Larsen was the best pitcher for one day. Does it make him a Hall of Famer?

Because Earl Morrall led the undefeated Dolphins, does that make him better than Tom Brady or Peyton Manning?

For the New York Jets, the object is to win the next game.

Why, who and how the Bengals approach the contest is irrelevant to what the Jets must do come kickoff.

If Carson Palmer plays or not, the New York Jets must win to qualify for the AFC tournament and that’s all that really matters at the end of the day!

So I ask Coach Rex Ryan to stop commenting about the game to the media.

No more interviews on Manning and other issues in which you have no control or say. What you do control is the preparation and mental state of your team to win on Sunday in the final NFL game in the Meadowlands.

That’s all that really matters, Coach Ryan, so let’s stop talking and start motivating this Jet squad to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals!

 

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Dear Colts Fans: Get Over Sunday’s Loss

It’s easy to see when a fan base has turned from dedicated, face painted, hoarse-throat diehards into a bunch of spoiled brats. For example, the fans of the Indianapolis Colts.

After numerous division titles, countless number of wins, and a Super Bowl ring, it’s clear the fans of the white and blue aren’t content just to win nearly 90% of their games, they must win every single one.

Thus you have the rabid backlash of Sunday in which Colts’ coach Jim Caldwell decided to pull Peyton Manning midway through the third quarter of a 15-10 game in which Indy was leading the New York Jets. The Colts ended up losing 29-15. 

The outrage extended far beyond Indianapolis, spilling into remarks of former players and NFL analysts. And I can partly see their point: Jim Caldwell owes it to fans and players to end the season with a perfect record, right? 

Wrong. Dead wrong.

The objective of any team in the NFL (and any other sport for that matter) is to win a championship. Yes, winning is a requirement to get there, but there’s no mandate to win every game you play in order to get into the championship game (unless you’re from the BCS). 

What Jim Caldwell did was smart. 

He gave his team the opportunity to win the game without unnecessarily risking potential injury to his star quarterback. The Colts had nothing to gain by winning Sunday, except to maintain a meaningless streak of wins that only does good as ink on an NFL record book page. After all, we remember what happened to the last team that ended the regular season undefeated.

Tony Dungy would go consecutive games at the end of seasons not playing starters.  Why? Because there was no point. No gain. What happens if Sunday in the fourth quarter Peyton Manning breaks his ankle? Colts fans complain, crucify Caldwell, and begin to look forward to the playoffs with Curtis Painter leading the charge.

Then there are the people calling for refunded tickets for the game Sunday, claiming they didn’t get their money’s worth once Manning was pulled. 

Are you kidding me? If I could get a refund for every time I went to a baseball game and a starter was scratched from the lineup for a day of rest, then I’d have a couple hundred extra bucks in my pocket. You paid for 60 minutes of football, and that’s what you got. 

Deal with it.

Reggie Wayne may be right: The Colts might just be the only 14-1 team in NFL history to be booed at home. And if they are, I hope they don’t pull the starters from the game, but rather the ignorant fans from the stands.

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Eagles Fans Flying High, at Least This Week

If you’ve ever ridden a roller coaster, then you can somewhat understand what it feels like to be an Eagles fan and trust me, this year’s team has taken its’ fans on yet another ride.   

It all started in the offseason, when the front office decided to not overpay for 13-year veteran safety Brian Dawkins—not only the heart and soul of the team’s defense, but also a huge fan favorite. Needless to say, this move did not sit well with the fanbase, many of whom pledged to not renew their season tickets. More on that in just a moment.

Now imagine someone cutting the electricity on your roller coaster ride, leaving you stuck upside down in the middle of the loop. It’s kind of how many Eagles fan felt the night of the Aug. 13, when the announcement was made in the middle of the preseason opener against New England, that the team had just signed former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick to a two-year contract.

Gee, I’m going to guess there are at least one or two Eagle fans who are dog lovers. As it turned out, team owner Jeff Lurie had put his two dogs to sleep over the past two years and was extremely sickened by the brutal acts of abuse Vick and his partners performed on Vick’s stable of fighting pit bulls. 

So why sign the former felon? Again, the team lets all-around good guy Brian Dawkins walk but in turn signs a player, who at the height of his federal trial, was public enemy No 1. Talk about a publicity nightmare.

Then came more pledges of fans not only willing to forgo next year’s season tickets but also wanting to boycott the team this season.  Again, more on that in just a moment.

Then there was the 1-and-3 preseason record, which quickly prompted regular season predictions of the team finishing 6-10, 7-9, or 8-8.

The fact the Eagles gave up 120 points in those four exhibition games,only added to the rage of those fans already upset over the loss of Dawkins.

Hold on to the bar and please keep your arms inside the confines of the coaster car, because we are about to hit an incline.

The Birds win their season opener by crushing Carolina in Charlotte 38-10, as the defense converted seven Panther turnovers into 24 points. Unfortunately, in the win, Donovan McNabb suffered a pair of broken ribs.  So, here we go again, another injury for No. 5 and another season of uncertainty.

During Donovan’s two-game absence, third-year quarterback Kevin Kolb stepped in and threw for over 700 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. Unfortunately, some of those numbers came in the 48-22 loss to the previously unbeaten New Orleans Saints.

The season appeared headed for certain derailment on Oct. 18, when the 2-2 Birds jetted west for a showdown with the 1-3 Oakland Raiders, a game that should have produced Philadelphia’s third win of the season.

Instead a 13-9 loss to the Silver and Black had Eagle fans screaming for Donovan McNabb’s benching and the ouster of Andy Reid as head coach. Oh yeah, and more fans wanting to opt out of their season tickets, more on that in just a, well you know.

Now, when it comes to fall in Philadelphia there are two things most Eagles fans can count on: plenty of leaves to rake and a late-season run by their beloved Birds.

As a matter of fact, during Andy Reid’s 11-year tenure as head coach, his teams are 73-39-1 in games played from November on, including an impressive 31-11 mark in the month of December.  

This season the Eagles went 7-2 through November and December, 8-2 if you count the Redskins win on the last weekend in October.

Bottom line, the Birds are now in sole possession of first place atop the NFC East with a record of 11-4. A win this Sunday in Dallas would give them the outright division title, the second seed overall in the conference playoffs, a first-round playoff bye and a chance to advance to the team’s sixth conference title game in eight years. 

Yep, it’s been another typical football season in Philadelphia.

By the way, for all those Eagles fans who still want to vacate their season tickets, listen up. According to team president Joe Banner, the waiting list for season tickets is currently 60,000 names long.

Recently, 15 of those fans were given the chance to purchase tickets. At that rate, it would take 4,000 years for all 60,000 of those fans to get tickets.

 

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New York Jets: Colts Gift Last Week, NFL Gift This Week, Market Bias

New York has hope of for a playoff berth after the collapse of the Broncos and Ravens have faltered over the past few weeks. They were handed a win by the Indianapolis Colts last weekend when head coach Jim Caldwell pulled all of his starters in the second half. The NFL has also given them a gift this week by allowing NBC to make their game the Sunday night finale.

The Cincinnati Bengals are going to already know whether or not they need to play on Sunday night. If New England wins against Houston earlier in the day, the Patriots will be the No. 3 seed in the AFC. This automatically puts Cincinnati as the No. 4 seed. If this is the scenario that plays out, a New York Jets victory will mean that they will play the Bengals two weeks in a row.

The Bengals are not going to play any meaningful starters or show anything worth noting on offense. The game will be absolutely meaningless. The NFL knew this and let it happen.

The two games that should have been played at night are Baltimore at Oakland or New England at Houston. This way if New York beat Cincinnati earlier in the day, New England would have been forced to win to get the three seed. If they were to lose, it would affect so many playoff scenarios if the Jets or Ravens had lost earlier in the day.

I guess their is no perfect solution to the situation. The NFL would be better off putting a game without any seeding implications in the night position for that simple reason. All of the games should be moved to 4:15pm and played out simultaneously. That would be the best case scenario for all teams to play their starters as they scoreboard watch, but at least we would get to see an honest effort in all games.

Congratulations Jets fans, you faced the Colts in the perfect week, and will also get the Bengals in the perfect week.

It really is a joke because you are not the best 8-7 team in the AFC. Any of the other four teams are capable of doing more in the playoffs than the Jets.

Enjoy your Wild Card loss to the Bengals or Patriots.

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Miami Dolphins’ Jake Long Selected to Second Straight Pro Bowl

The AFC and NFC Pro Bowl rosters were announced tonight, and the Miami Dolphins were barely represented.

In fact, just one player from the Dolphins made it on the team, as second-year offensive tackle Jake Long was voted to his second consecutive Pro Bowl.

Although Long has allowed 4.5 sacks through 16 games this season compared to just 2.5 as a rookie in 2008, he is certainly deserving based on his 2009 performance.

According to the NFL film analysis experts at ProFootballFocus.com, Long ranks as the 13th run-blocking offensive tackle in the NFL, second-best pass-blocking tackle and second overall tackle behind only Cleveland’s Joe Thomas.

Two glaring snubs

The 2009 Miami Dolphins have a player on each side of the ball that was clearly deserving of a Pro Bowl selection this season, and both were blatantly snubbed.

On offense, fullback Lousaka Polite has been a monster run-blocker since joining the team in 2008. He’s the main reason Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have combined for over 1,700 yards on the ground this season, despite Brown only playing in nine games due to injury.

According to PFF, Polite ranks as the second-best run-blocking fullback of 2009 behind only Atlanta’s Ovie Mughelli, and actually ranks first overall due to his positive plays in the running game.

Meanwhile, Dolphins defensive end Randy Starks was also a glaring omission from the AFC Pro Bowl roster.

A 4-3 defensive tackle from the Titans who joined the Dolphins on a five-year, $21-million contract prior to the 2008 season, Starks initially struggled with the scheme transition last season but really came on later in the year.

Starks’ transition seems to be complete based on his 2009 performance, as he has been a disruptive force against both the pass and the run.

PFF has Starks as the No. 1 run-stopping 3-4 end in the NFL this season, and second overall at the position behind the 49ers’ Justin Smith.

It’s worth noting that former Dolphins defensive end Vonnie Holliday, who struggled to find a job during the preseason before signing a one-year, $845,000 contract with the Denver Broncos on Sept. 4, ranks third among 3-4 ends this season.

Linebacker Jason Taylor, while probably not worthy of a Pro Bowl selection, was the Dolphins’ next closest thing to a snub, ranking as the fifth 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL and third against the run.

In addition to Miami’s snubs, there were a plethora of players snubbed across the league in the popularity contest known as Pro Bowl fan voting. (On the bright side, it’s given me a reason to use the word ‘plethora.’)

That’s why I’ll have my top 10 snubs from the 2010 Pro Bowl up tomorrow, so check back for that!

 

 

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Let ’em Play: Why The Patriots Starters Must Play Sunday

Some prominent sports journalists, including the Boston Globe‘s Chris Gasper, have suggested that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady sit out Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.

Have they lost their minds?

Let’s look at the facts here. The Pats have just put together their first complete game in a month, a game in which all facets of the team finally seemed to gel.

The game against the Jaguars showcased the team this Patriots squad should’ve been all along: a dominant passing game, a good running game, and a retooled defense. This is how the 2009 Patriots were supposed to look.

Instead, we frequently saw a directionless collection of individual parts that seemingly couldn’t help from shooting itself in the foot.

Last week, Tom Brady looked at ease and confident in the pocket. Randy Moss looked like, well, Randy Moss again.

The offense had rhythm, and the defense was stifling.

Now, these people would take this team—a team that hasn’t strung together two good games since October—and destroy any continuity it might have had? Madness!

History is replete with situations in which resting starters has come back to cause trouble, even ignoring the Indianapolis Colts’ recent PR backlash. (Note to Santa: thanks for that one.)

Just look at the Colts in the early part of the decade. In both 2004 and 2005, the Colts rested Payton Manning at the end of the season. Both seasons, the Colts failed to make the Super Bowl, despite a franchise record 14 wins in 2005.

They didn’t win the Super Bowl until 2006, a year that they, yes, played their starters in the final game of the season.

And who could forget the Giants of 2007? A mediocre team during the regular season, they played the 15-0 Patriots tough during their final (and meaningless) game of the season. That close game was widely credited with spurring the team to its Super Bowl victory.

Are these outcomes solely attributable to resting or playing starters? Probably not.

Still, is there any sense in getting an offense that has struggled with consistency all season off the field?

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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