Christmas Is Over: Super Bowl Contenders Need New Year’s “Solutions”

The NFL Playoffs are starting in two weeks. As the New Year approaches, teams need to focus on “Solutions” instead of “Resolutions”.

The New Orleans Saints were on a mission for the better part of the season. They had been dominant in most of their games and looked unbeatable.

Reality sucks sometimes.

When Superman first realized he had a weakness to that stupid little green rock, it must have been quite a shock. Bullets, speeding locomotives, tall buildings, even time, can be overcome by the Man of Steel, but a little piece of Kryptonite was all it took to bring him down.

The Saints’ loss to the Cowboys is acceptable, since they are one of the most talented teams in the NFC, but to the Tampa Bay Bucaneers?

Wow.

The Saints’ Christmas stockings must have been filled with little green rocks instead of little black lumps of coal. Yes, bad little boys.

The knowledge of being immortal is a dangerous piece of information.

Like Superman, the Saints got a wake up call. It’s time for them to shed the Kryptonite chained around their necks and save the world, or at least their fans’ season.

The New Year brings new hope, new aspirations, new beginnings, and new resolve. The Saints need to re-solve their winning attitude; overcome the injuries, focus on the defense and the running game, and strike often with the big play.

Speaking of Superman, Brett Favre is a pro-bowler at 40 years old.

The Vikings also need re-solutions to get back to their winning ways. They have lost three of their last four games.

The Vikings are talented enough to do some damage in the playoffs, but they are not mentally focused on the overall goal. There is too much focus on the Childress-Favre incident, the Favre-player personel on the field issue, the injuries, and the Adrian Peterson averaging-three-yards-per-carry issue.

The Packers, Cowboys, Cardinals, and Eagles suddenly look better than the two teams in the NFC that have been dominant all season. The Vikings and Saints need to find solutions instead of making resolutions for the new year.

The rest of the teams hope to have a pocket full of Kryptonite.

In the AFC, the Colts are no longer undefeated, thanks to an idiotic coaching decision to rest the entire team midway through the third quarter in last week’s loss to the Jets.

The Chargers are looking electric.

The Jets received a nice Christmas gift, getting the Colts after they had clinched home field.

The Patriots are sporadic.

The Bengals look flat.

The Ravens’ defense in now offensive.

The Steelers, Broncos, Dolphins and Texans are pretty much living on a prayer thanks to the Colts’ tank job.

It starts in two weeks and in the immortal words of Jim Mora; “Playoffs? You’re talking about the playoffs?”

Yes, the playoffs. They are right around the corner, and here is a New Year’s “Solution” for each of the potential invitees that could get them to the title game.

 

1) Indianapolis Colts

Play your starters. If Peyton Manning is on the field for the whole 60 minutes each game they should be favored to win it all.

 

2) New Orleans Saints

The Best Show on Turf, Part II. Air it out, damnit.  You have Brees and Colston and Meacham and Bush and Henderson and Moore and Bell and…

Odds of winning it all; 70/30, since all roads in the NFC run through Louisiana.

 

3) San Diego Chargers

Keep letting opponents think LT is still the LT of Auld Lang Syne and let Rivers, Gates, Jackson and Sproles do their thing. They may be the most dangerous team in the playoffs and have just as good a chance to win the big one as any team.

 

4) Minnesota Vikings

The “Jim Zorn” treatment needs to be layed down on Brad Childress.  If he was such a great coach, why did he need to recruit Favre out of retirement? 

Take away his play calling as it’s evident; Favre has a better idea of how to make the team successful than Childress does. Childress saved his job by getting Favre to lead the team, but still thinks he’s the maniacal genius. His coaching worked so well without Favre last year.

Brad, check your ego at the door and let the Legend lead your team in the playoffs. Oh yeah, and run Peterson outside the tackles. 

Odds of winning it all: slightly better than even.

 

5) Philadelphia Eagles

Stop TRYING to win the Super Bowl and just do it!

How many times have they made it to the NFC Championship?

Just ride Jackson and McNabb to the title and hope the return of Westbrook ignites a spark similar to fireworks going off at midnight on December 31st.

Odds of winning it all: pretty good if they can just win the NFC Championship game.

 

6) New England Patriots

Here’s the story of man named Brady. Re-solve your Super Bowl woes by riding the chosen one to a final Swan Song of the decade. Sure, Moss and Welker are instrumental, but Tom carries the magic that makes the machine go “Click, Click, Boom”.

Odds of winning it all: pretty good considering all the focus is on the Chargers and Colts.  When least expected, they could surprise.

 

7) Cincinatti Bengals

Stop thinking about Chris Henry. The team’s solution and salvation is to keep the “us against the world” attitude that got them where they are. Henry wasn’t going to help with a broken arm and he can’t help now. Keep him in memory and let Benson and Ochenta y Cinco take you all the way.

Odds of winning it all: IMPOSSIBLE! (see how that works well with the “us-against-the-world” analogy?)

 

8) Dallas Cowboys

A quick and easy solution is to win a game in the playoffs. Talk about Kryptonite. Shed the moniker of not winning in the post season and ride the momentum to the promised land.

Odds of winning it all: the same as winning one game in the playoffs.

 

9) Arizona Cardinals

Re-activate the magic from last year’s playoff run to take a shot at another Super Bowl appearance. The solution is as easy as Larry Fitzgerald making the big plays he did last year. That will open it up for Boldin and Beanie and Hightower. Look for Warner to retire soon, so this might be his last chance at a Super New Year’s Resolution.

Odds of winning it all: pretty good as long as they’re an underdog the whole way.

 

10) Green Bay Packers

Motley Crue may have summed it up best when they crooned; “Don’t go away mad, just go away.” Favre did and they found their New Year’s Solution for the next decade or two in Aaron Rogers. He’s a stud, and the Pack doesn’t even remember Favre, right?

Just keep “Buck Rodgers”, Jennings, Driver, and Grant on the downhill slope and nobody will want to face them.

Odds of winning it all: not good since few have ridden the Inter-Galactic Wild Card to the Super Bowl.

 

11) New York Jets

Re-solve to find a way to get their playoff opponents to rest their starters for one and half quarters and they have a chance. The Jets shouldn’t be in the playoffs, but they might make it regardless of a tough schedule and a rookie quarterback.

Odds of winning it all: the same as teams resting their starters in the playoffs—Zero!

 

12) Denver Broncos

Maybe their solution would be to not go 6-0 to start the season. They may be the only team to not make the playoffs when performing such a feat. Their real solution is to add another threat to their offense besides Brandon Marshall. Where is Eddie Money when you need him? Oops, I meant Eddie Royal. He’s probably where his season has been; on the “Royal” throne.

Odds of winning it all: less likely than their odds of making it to the playoffs!

 

13) Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins

Resolution, Schmesolutions!

If getting to the playoffs is a monumental struggle, getting through the playoffs is like challenging a Sicilian when death is on the line; inconceivable (reference to “The Princess Bride)! Sorry, guys, no cake can be baked starting the process without flour and eggs.

Odds of… never mind.

 

The solutions are there. Resolutions are for us normal folk who work real jobs. However, they are both about as realistic. We all like to imagine the improbable, but few actually take the steps to achieve it.

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Washington Redskins: Someday Never Comes

First thing I remember was askin’ papa, “Why?”
For there were many things I didn’t know.
And Daddy always smiled; took me by the hand
Sayin’, “Someday you’ll understand.”

After another second-rate season of Washington Redskins football, I have been feeling less and less emotionally attached to the football team I love so much. 

I feel like the season is already over, and we are further from being a championship contender than we have been in many years. It seems like the day will never come when the franchise is back to being respected in the NFL. I find myself trying to understand.

Passing up tickets to a Dallas–Washington game in December seemed like blasphemy in September.

I am glad I didn’t go; there was not much to see. Unless, of course, you enjoy seeing your team get crushed by its archrivals.

When all the preseason experts picked Washington to finish in last place in the NFC East, I thought they were crazy. I just did not understand.  

“Someday you will see,” I said to an older fellow across the bar. “Someday when we do win again, all this misery and losing will make it that much sweeter.” His answer? “Someday never comes.”  

It was funny, because I had recently found out about a song with that title by Creedence Clearwater Revival. After listening several times, I found the lyrics fit my recent mood about the team perfectly. 

Fans over the age of 30 remember the good times, the parades through downtown, RFK bouncing like a Slinky, 70 chip, the Hogs, Riggo, and the original version of Joe Gibbs.  They all understand what those days meant.

The youth of Redskins Nation doesn’t have so much, nary a Hall of Famer, despite the end of Darrell Green’s career. The best moment I can remember was probably watching Art Monk’s enshrinement into Canton.  

Hanging onto the Redskins’ past is all we have. It has sunk that low for our generation.

Our greatest player from this decade was murdered in his own home. Every other great player we thought we were getting turned out to be a fraud (except London Fletcher).  

Next August will bring the same excitement into D.C. that every training camp brings. Surely a few new sexy free agents will come along for the ride.

Maybe the long snapper will walk upstairs to the owner, right past the head coach, and executive vice president demanding a raise, much like our fullback did this past preseason. Odds are, he will probably convince the owner he deserves it, and will reward us with his worst season in years.

I will still be there, despite a dysfunctional front office, subpar game planning, atrocious draft history, and scoring less than 30 points almost every week.  

I’m always thinking: When will the team stabilize a roster of good character guys who play together as a team?

“This day may never come,” is the answer many of us have come to grips with.  When will we develop our own perennial Pro Bowlers, instead of taking aging former Pro Bowlers and giving them one last big contract?

Someday never comes, it seems.  

But I believe, someday, it will come.

I understand that some fans have had enough and are jumping ship. I, for one, do not think that is the answer.

One year, when all the strangely assembled pieces come together and the Skins recapture the heart of the city—that is the day I will finally understand.

Someday Never Comes

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My Rookie Year In Fantasy Football

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NFL: NFC Playoff Preview

The NFL Postseason is just one week away. The NFC participants are all in place, jockeying for last minute positions.

The big question is who is going to represent the NFC in the big game in February?

From the beginning of the season I have maintained that the NFC Champ would come out of the NFC East. Dallas or Philadelphia, who meet in week 17 may be a crucial matchup. The winner of that division may very well be poised to be the NFC Champion as well.

Time will tell. Let’s look at the contenders…

Begin Slideshow

The Jets Should Beat the Bengals for Two Consecutive Weeks

The New York Jets defeated the Indianapolis Colts 29-15 Sunday night at Lucas Oil Stadium to incredibly regain control of their own playoff fate.

 

Many critics have placed an asterisk next to the Jets (8-7) upset victory because Colts (14-1) Head Coach Jim Caldwell removed quarterback Peyton Manning from the game with approximately six minutes remaining in the third quarter.

 

When Manning was relieved from action, the Jets were narrowly behind 15-10.

 

After Manning was benched, the Jets defense thoroughly dominated and Gang Green ultimately outscored the Colts 26-3 after the conclusion of halftime.

 

It is impossible to say with any certainty whether or not the Jets would have emerged victorious had Manning not been replaced by rookie signal-caller Curtis Painter.

 

Nevertheless, the Jets prevailed when they needed to, and thanks to the plethora of help they received from other teams, if they simply trump the Cincinnati Bengals (10-5) this weekend, they will secure a postseason berth.

 

“You know, there’s very little credit that our football team is given, and that’s unfortunate,” Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan said.

 

“It bothers me a little bit. You have to earn everything you get in this league, whether you’re playing against a starter or backup. We make no excuses and no apologies for getting our job done.”

 

Ryan is absolutely correct.

 

The Jets have been a morbid franchise that has continuously disappointed their fan base ever since Willie Joe Namath uttered his famous guarantee in 1969.

 

Provided the Jets beat the Bengals, they will qualify for the playoffs for only the fifth time this decade.

 

Jets fans won’t give a bucket of piss how Gang Green extended their season.

 

All Jets fans want is additional games and the team is in a position to give their supporters just that.

 

The Bengals will likely rest many of their key starters Sunday as well.

 

Hence, the Jets are currently eight-point favorites to beat the Bengals.

 

If any NFL team is capable of banging the pooch and blowing such an ideal scenario, it’s the New York Jets.

 

Even if the Bungles played at full-strength, they are simply not a more talented team than the Jets are.

 

The Bengals winning campaign in 2009 has been predicated off of their ground game and solid defense.

 

The Jets have both the best rushing attack and defense in the entire league.

 

Granted, Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez has displayed a propensity to throw maddening interceptions that have cost New York a few games this season.

 

However, it’s hard to envision that Sanchez will destroy the Jets season against the sleeping Bengals in what will likely be the final game ever played at the Meadowlands.

 

Presuming the Jets play to their potential and brutalize the Bengals, they probably encounter Cincinnati again the following weekend in a Wild Card matchup at Paul Brown Stadium.

 

Whether they play in the swamps of Jersey or on a gridiron in “The Queen City,” the Jets should throttle the Bengals on consecutive weekends.

 

If they don’t, the Jets will again demand “very little credit” and they will deservedly remain the NFL’s version of red-headed step-children.

 

 

 

http://www.newyorkyankeesnews.com/colin815/weblog/8951/is-jay-cutler-destined-to-become.html

 

 

Boston’s Dana White says “boxing has fizzled out”

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23631-Boston-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m12d30-Bostons-Dana-White-says-boxing-has-fizzled-out

 

 

Roy Jones, Jr. is “a bloody” joke

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23631-Boston-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m12d29-Roy-Jones-Jr-is-a-bloody-joke

 

 

Manny Pacquiao Could Become Boxing’s Answer to Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23631-Boston-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m12d25-Manny-Pacquiao-Could-Become-Boxings-Answer-to-Barry-Bonds-and-Mark-McGwire

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Chad Ochocinco Swipes at Darrelle Revis: A War Of Words Begins

It seems to be the day for talking. 

First, we had LaMarr Woodley chatting to the press about how the Steelers are going to be cheated out of the postseason by the Patriots and Bengals. That has faded out.

Now we’ve got another problem. 

Yep, Chad Ochocinco has opened his mouth once again, and of course, has criticised another player. This time it happens to be Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis.

In a lengthy and entertaining press conference for the New York media, Chad had this to say.

“Darrelle Revis couldn’t cover me in a brown paper bag on a corner of a Manhattan street inside a phone booth,” Ochocinco said after asking if everyone had their recorders on. “It’s impossible.”

Revis replied with a very sensible statement later on.

“I doubt that, I like him, like the way he plays and all that. Hope he doesn’t play this week, but anytime we play him, he’s always got comments. I think it’s good, good for the game.”

Although this banter is typical of Chad, the two men claim that they are friends.

“Look here, me and Revis is better than Pacquiao-Mayweather, period, case closed. I don’t care what anybody is doing Sunday night. If you don’t tune into the game Sunday, you have no life. You have no life. You have never seen a matchup like this ever before.” Chad said later on in the interview.

If this is true, Chad, then maybe it’s time to start playing like a top caliber athlete. We all know he has promised these highly entertaining results, and failed to deliver. Making a statement about another player is fine in sports; Muhammad Ali did it, but he could back it up.

Promising a blockbuster game is one thing, but for your sake Chad, please back it up. A loss to New York and a poor performance by you could take the motivation and sting right out of the Bengals at this point in the season.

Chad’s numbers on the season are of quality. 72 catches for 1047 yards and nine touchdowns is enough to give him the right to talk. 

The fact is that these two teams could once again meet up in the first round of the postseason. If Chad under performs next week, it could really do some damage. Giving the upper hand to a cornerback like Revis is one thing, but lowering your team’s confidence for the sake of entertainment is another.

For the Jets, a win over the Bengals this week gets them into the postseason. Not only is this going to be a physical game, it is also set to be a mentally challenging one as Chad’s head games have already begun. Talk is cheap; the Jets need to keep their heads in this heated but quirky situation.

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Detroit Lions 2010 NFL Draft and Free Agency Picks

Matt Millen left both the offensive and defensive lines decimated in the 10 years he was with the Lions.  Granted, his first draft teased the Lion fan base in 2001 when two offensive line players were taken, left tackle Jeff Backus and center Dominic Raiola, in the first two rounds.  With the second pick in round two, defensive tackle Shaun Rogers was taken.

Millen’s first draft gave Lions fans hope that finally, finally, there was a GM within the Lions front office that was going to build the Lions right and start in the trenches.

Little did we know just how much of a farce that Millen was and just how much of a farce he made the Detroit Lions.  His failure in subsequent drafts and free agency exposed his lack of judgment in evaluating talent.  He went after players that didn’t quite fit team needs.

I cannot stress enough of how critical the 2010 draft is going to be for Martin Mayhew and the Detroit Lions.

So I give you my first attempt at how the Lions should draft in 2010 and some possible free agents to go after with the caveat that things can change with trades.  I hope that I just might surprise some people with my picks.

Round One – Defensive Tackle

Option A:  Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska

Could be the “Barry Sanders” pick for the Lions defense.  Opposing teams will have to account for Suh at all times as he could be a game changer for the Lions.

Option B:  Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma

If the Rams don’t draft Jimmy Clausen out of Notre Dame to satisfy their quarterback need, they will take Suh.  McCoy won’t be the monster on defense that Suh will be but he would be a huge upgrade to what the Lions have now.

Round Two – Cornerback

Option A:  Ras-I Dowling, Virginia

Not many wide receivers are going to run away from Dowling on deep patterns with his 4.50 speed.  He’s comparable to Pittsburgh Steelers corner Ike Taylor in that both have size, athleticism and competitive attitude both coaches and fans love to see.  Would be a great complement to safety Louis Delmas.

Option B:  Crezdon Butler, Clemson

While not as physical as Dowling is, Butler is a burner with 4.39 speed.  He is considered one of the best corners in the nation with 43 tackles, four picks and five passes broken up.

Round Three – Defensive End

Option A:  Corey Wootton, Northwestern

Tall (6-7), fast (4.83 40 time) and big (280 lbs), Wootton should be able to take on most tackles to get to the QB.  And if he can’t he can get those long arms up to bat down passes.  He can disappear during stretches which is why he can be had in the third round.

Option B:  Austen Lane, Murray State

I got no idea where Murray State and I don’t care.  Lane is 6-6 and 258 pounds and can run a 4.68 40.  As with Wootton, he can get around those tackles and get the arms up to bat down passes.  He had 14 sacks for Division 1-AA Murray State.

Round Four – Offensive Guard

Option A:  Sergio Render, Virginia Tech

This guy can bench press more than 425 lbs.  At 6-4 and 324 pounds, he can open a lot of large holes in the defensive line as well as stifle any pass rush up the middle.  Stick him next to Backus and maybe Backus won’t look so bad.

Option A:  Rodney Hudson, Florida State

He’s been Florida State’s top lineman for the past two years and was voted to the All-ACC First Team.  If he declares, he would be an upgrade in talent to the Lions guards.

Round Five – Cornerback

Option A:  Patrick Robinson, Florida State

In 2008, Robinson started only five games but picked off six passes and broke up another six.  He’s available in round five because of his involvement in Florida State’s 2007 cheating scandal.  But he’s kept his nose clean since then and might be a good risk to take here.  He’s listed at 5-11 and 190 lbs. with 4.43 speed so he should be able to handle most slot receivers.

Option B:  Kurt Coleman, Ohio State

Being from Michigan, it’s really hard to say nice things about Ohio State players.  But they did give us Chris Speilman, perhaps one of the best linebackers the Lions ever had. 

Coleman plays safety at Ohio State but with his size and speed (5-11, 4.43), he’ll be better suited to play corner in the NFL.

Round Six – Offensive Guard

Option A:  Dan Doering, Iowa

Iowa always has produced talented NFL lineman and Doering should be no exception.  6-6 and 302 lbs, he’ll be a great run blocker as well being decent in pass protection.

Option B:  Jacques McClendon, Tennessee

This guys sounds more like a hockey player.  But at a massive 6-3 and 324 lbs, I doubt that he’d be graceful on skates.  In 2008, he was part of a unit that gave up only 4 sacks all year.  However, like all Tennessee players in 2009, McClendon’s value has dropped.  Could be a steal here in round 6 though.

Round Seven – Center

Option A:  Kenny Alfred, Washington State

Dominic Raiola, the Lions current center, has done yeoman service for the Lions.  However, he is undersized and can be overpowered at times.  Alfred is 6-2 and 302 lbs won’t be pushed around as easily.  Alfred can also play guard if needed so the round 6 pick could be used to address other needs.

Option B:  Josh McNeil, Tennessee

Despite playing on one of the worst offenses ever produced at Tennessee, McNeil is considered one of the best centers available in the draft.  At 6-4 and 289 lbs, McNeil won’t be as easily overpowered as Raiola can be.

As you can see, my picks focus on the Lions biggest needs.  The defensive line needs the most help and the offensive line can get by with current tackles Backus and Gosder if they can upgrade the guard positions.

Free Agency

Wide Receiver – Seattle Seahawk Nate Burleson will be an unrestricted free agent this year.  He was Seattle’s consolation prize when the Vikings snapped up offensive guard Steve Hutchinson.  He has good hands and also has excellent kick return capabilities. 

Could be the complement to Calvin Johnson the Lions have been looking for the past three years.  Antonio Bryant from Tampa and Greg Lewis from Minnesota will also be free agents.

Backup Quarterback – Daunte Culpepper has got to go.  Kyle Boller of the Rams has proved that he can play in this league.  While not performing consistently for the Rams, he can be a capable backup.  Charlie Batch is also available but I doubt he would want anything to do with the Lions. 

Chris Redman could also be avaialble but I suspect Atlanta will keep him to back up Matt Ryan.  This may be moot if the Lions decide that Drew Stanton is the backup.  If so, the Lions will seek a lesser talented QB for third string.

Running Back – Chester Taylor from the Vikings would be the most intriguing.  He was the man until Adrian Peterson came along.  Paired with Kevin Smith and Aaron Brown, the Lions running game would become a serious upgrade.  Also available are Chris Brown from the Texans and Willie Parker of the Steelers.

Granted, with my draft picks and free agent suggestions, there would be a serious need to spend some cash.  I’ve never claimed to be wise in the ways of contracts and salary caps. 

I do feel strongly that this direction, or one similar to it, will give the Lions the best chance to win.

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Sebastian Janikowski Kicks the Oakland Raiders to Victories

While struggling to understand a subject called topology, I encountered the theorems of a mathematician from Poland. His name was Kazimierz Kuratowski . His theorem says,

“Every partially ordered set in which every chain (i.e. totally ordered subset ) has an upper bound contains at least one maximal element .”

Well, the condition of the theorem may not apply, totally, to the situation with the Oakland Raiders, but one thing is certain: There is at least one maximal element on the Oakland Raiders team, a kicker, who has pulled us out of what could easily be a depressing year when you look at the numbers.

His name is Sebastian Janikowski, and this Polish “genius of a kicker” has saved the day in several of the 15 games the Oakland Raiders have played during the 2009 season.

Let’s look at the mathematics of Janikowski during this season:

I have researched sets of players, comparing them, and determining the impact they have made on this season’s data. Janikowski stands out. His 61 yard kick has made history.

Janikowski has a steady growth curve, indicating an upward trend in his progress as an Oakland Raider.

Here is a table that shows his progress.

Year       Total points        Long

1. 2000       112                   54
2. 2001       111                   52
3. 2002       128                   51
4. 2003       94                     55
5. 2004       106                   52
6. 2005       90                     49
7. 2006       70                     55
8. 2007       97                     54
9. 2008       97                     57
10. 2009       88                     61

Several observations can be made:

1. During weeks three, four and 16, Janikowski was the only Raider who made points during those games

2. During those weeks three, four and 16, Oakland would have had a shut out, if Janikowski had not performed effectively and efficiently.

3. Eight times Janikowski has scored more than 50 percent of the total points in a game, and three times, the only points made were made because of Janikowski’s kicks.

4. In the total of five games Oakland has won (to date), Janikowski scored 53 percent of the points in each of Week Two and Week Six. He scored 40 percent of the points in each of Week 11 and Week 15.

5. During the weeks the Oakland Raiders loss to their opponents, Janikowski succeeded in getting 54 percent of the total points obtained.

Janikowski’s passion to win was certainly demonstrated by the historic 61 yard kick in the game with the Cleveland Browns.

A reasonable conjecture would be that if all of the players executed their jobs with the efficiency and passion of the man born in Poland, Sebastian Janikowski, then the mathematics of the Oakland Raiders 2009 season would have a more “robust” result.

So, as I always do, let me stretch this analysis a bit and say,

“The Oakland Raiders have a maximal element and his name is Sebastian Janikowski.”

Thanks Sebastian Janikowski for being a team player and for giving us reason for believing that 2010 will be a better year.

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Dear LaMarr Woodley: Shut Up and Play!

As if the Bengals and Patriots needed another reason to despise the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers sit at 8-7 due to an inexcusable but ultimately damaging five-game losing streak this year, and must win against Miami this week to even have a shot at the playoffs.

But the scenario doesn’t end there: Pittsburgh must also get help from New England and Cincinnati if they plan on defending their title. In other words, they need the Patriots and the Bengals to play complete games and compete with each other for the No. 3 seed in the playoffs.

If New England or Cincinnati, either one, lose this weekend, odds are against the Steelers making it in; with Denver playing the 3-12 Chiefs, and the Ravens battling for their playoff lives against Oakland, losses by the Jets and the Texans are the Steelers best shot.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin understands this, but also appears to have a better grasp of both common sense and psychology than the erstwhile Woodley. Tomlin came out and adamantly stated that he had no intention of petitioning either team for their help; as far as he was concerned, the Steelers put themselves in this position, and it was up to them to do what was necessary to get out of it.

Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley grossly misinterpreted this action by coach Tomlin and went public with accusations that the two teams were likely to “lay down” just to keep Pittsburgh out of the playoffs.

Well, done, LaMarr; if the thought wasn’t in their minds before, it most certainly is now. In fact, it would not surprise me one iota to see one team or the other pull starters very early Sunday and let the chips fall where they may.

It would also not surprise me to hear Woodley’s remarks referenced in the post-game interview by whichever team loses Sunday.

Yet another shining example of the fact that the game of professional football may be played by adults, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to it being played by grown-ups.

Just shut up and play, Woodley; if you had done that at any point during the five-game slide, this wouldn’t even be an issue.

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Desperate for Money NFL Fines Fred Jackson $5,000; for Eye Black Strip

Enough is enough. The National Football League, or more commonly known as the NFL, will be referred to for the rest of this article as N o F ***ing L ogic. They’ve announced that they are fining Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson $5,000.00.

On the surface you say, no big deal, athletes are fined all the time. Until you realize that the reason for the fine is that Fred is guilty of wearing a strip of eye black that doesn’t measure up to No F***ing Logic standards.

Donte Whitner was also fined $7,500.00 this week, but his fine was for taunting. It turns out Whitner actually made a play on defense and felt it necessary to let the Falcons bench know that he did something right. But that is a whole different story.

It is bad enough already that No F***ing Logic had to create their own network, so that people that have not subscribed to it can’t watch Thursday night games from their homes without paying an extra charge. Or that they put fees on organizations that run fantasy football leagues, trading cards, apparel, video games, etc.

Every sponsor that has that little football logo on their advertisements to show that the league has endorsed their product, you know that they are paying a king’s ransom for that right. They are quite simply a greedy, money-hungry organization, no matter how you try to analyze it.

They now deem it necessary to penalize the least assuming player you could possibly imagine for something he has been already doing for the past 47 games. This is just plain illogical to me.

What is funny, is that for the longest time I thought Jackson was paying homage to the Bills defenders, as the black eye would eventually get smeared during the course of the game, and there would be a line running across the three III’s, so it resembled D-ttt (as in D-Fence).

Obviously, I was wrong, but the fact is that it was there for everyone to see, and the idiots at No F***ing Logic headquarters saw no problem with it for almost three solid years.

Fred Jackson, you see, is one of those rare NFL players that made it all the way to the pros from a tiny Division III school, Coe College. As a reminder of where Fred has come from, he writes a small D-III under his eye with the eye black players use to help shield their eyes from the sun.

Consider this as kind of an homage to the underdogs who have dreams that rarely get a chance to be fulfilled. Fred Jackson is an inspiration to the little guy.

This is something Fred has done since his first game with the Bills back in 2007. He has been doing this every week, every game, and not once has No F***ing Logic reached out to him and said that this is not up to code. Please stop the practice.

Instead, without any warning, they just decide to randomly fine him the five grand. Why now? Is it because he is getting close to a 1,000 yard season, and you want to nail him before he becomes a bigger star? Didn’t have enough loose cash in your coffers to give your secretaries a decent Christmas bonus?

If you think it sounds like I am bitter, or angry, then you are correct. The Bills have had another frustrating season and amidst all the injuries, the losses and fired personnel, the year couldn’t end fast enough.

There have been a few individuals that have stood out for me this year. Fred Jackson, Jairus Byrd, Aaron Schobel, Brian Moorman, Rian Lindell, Andy Levitre and Kyle Williams. Those are the players I will remember the most from this dismal season. But Fred Jackson is the one player that stands out the most – head and shoulders over the rest.

Most fines are typical protocol and don’t raise that many eyebrows. The one unusual fine that I agreed with was when Bud Adams, Tennessee Titans owner, was hit with a huge fine for flipping off the Bills team multiple times after the Titans beat us soundly back in week ten.

Bud thought he was clever and would wait until Roger Godell left the owner’s box after the third quarter before he decided to demonstrate his IQ. Bud, you are not exactly a class act either, so I will take advantage of this opportunity to remind everyone of your noble gestures.

It seems that Adams was trying to rid the organization of former demons haunting his club from prior losses they suffered at the hands of the Bills. As if the Nashville Miracle wasn’t enough…..

If No F***ing Logic had any decency, they would have sent Fred a letter in the offseason and said that we feel the symbol you wear under your eye is not according to code, so unless you stop the practice, we will start levying fines against you. That would have been a fair and reasonable way to go about it. But not for the No F***ing Logic, no way!

But to fine Fred Jackson, who is nothing but a first class act? Fred does what is asked of him. He doesn’t complain. He doesn’t seek a ton of publicity.

Jackson has a workman-like attitude that is appreciated by Bills fans. They can relate to him. He takes a pounding each week, but finds ways to grind out additional yards each carry when no hole is there, which seems to be the case most of the time.

I respect Fred Jackson as much as a fan can respect a player he doesn’t know in person. For No F***ing Logic to be so disrespectful to him, is something that just doesn’t sit well with me.

The league should be embarrassed by this incident, as it is something that smacks of no class, and of a greedy and sinister big-brother-is-watching-you kind of organization. Apologies to all I offended due to the language, but I am trying to make a point here.

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