Eli Manning Proves You Don’t Need to Be the Best to Get Paid Most

The New York Giants had to sign Eli Manning to a contract extension. They either had to sign him this offseason or next season as free agency loomed.

But did they have to make him the highest paid player in the NFL?

Eli wants to stay with the Giants. He demanded a trade to New York at the 2004 draft, so I think it’s safe to say he would work with the Giants to get a deal done. The Giants could have even placed the franchise tag on him at the end of this season, which is when he was scheduled to become a free agent.

Why not see what kind of quarterback Eli is this year without Plaxico Burress and then decide about his future with your organization?

I think football fans are outraged that someone who really isn’t that good is now the highest paid player in the NFL.

Giants fans will say he won a Super Bowl and that is the only thing that matters. I would like to know if those same Giants fans think Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson should have been the highest paid quarterback after they lead their respective teams to Super Bowl titles.

Face it Giants fans: Eli got lucky for one season.

Consider this. In the other three years he led the Giants to the playoffs he was one and done each time out. Two of those game occurred at home and two were losses to division rival, Philadelphia.

Stop me when it sounds like I am talking about a player who deserves to be the highest paid player in the NFL.

In those three playoff losses he led the Giants to 31 points, which included a shutout at home to the Carolina Panthers. Yes, the highest paid player in the NFL was shutout at home in a playoff game. No points, but he did throw three picks.

They guy has never won a home playoff game, and yet somehow he rips off three in a row on the road to get to the Super Bowl where David Tyree made the luckiest play in Super Bowl history.

The 2007 Super Bowl run was nothing short of a miracle.

Eli played in sunny Tampa for the first game and then actually played well in Dallas the next game.

In the NFC Championship he played in frigid conditions and looked lost out there. He did not throw any touchdowns and won because Brett Favre gift-wrapped a pick in overtime. Young Eli trotted off the bench, handed it off twice and threw an incomplete pass only to get bailed out by a 47-yard field goal from Lawrence Tynes.

But I guess that’s what the highest paid player in the NFL does.

Outside of the magical run he had in 2007 when everything went his way, Eli has been nothing short of ordinary. He screams mediocrity.

Eli has played five seasons in the NFL and spent the last four as the Giants’ starting quarterback.

Throughout his career he had one year in which he completed 60 percent of his passes. He has never thrown for 4,000 yards or 25 touchdowns in a season.

He has not protected the ball well either. He has thrown only 98 touchdowns against 74 interceptions, which means he is throwing 1.3 touchdowns for every one pick. I’m sorry, but the highest player in the NFL should never have numbers like this.

Even more glaring is his career quarterback rating, which is 76.1. That number included his career-high rating from last year, which was 86.4. And how mediocre is that rating? Well let’s just say it put him behind Shaun Hill and Seneca Wallace.

That doesn’t scream, “Show me the money!”

I really do understand why the Giants felt compelled to sign the lesser of the two Manning’s. But like the rest of the football world, I do not understand why the Giants shelled out this much money and made him the highest paid player in the NFL.

I guess this can be considered the second miracle in Eli’s career.

 

 

 

 

Stewart Bradley’s Injury: Philadelphia Eagles Fans Shouldn’t Panic

Cancel the Super Bowl parade and the season for that matter.

When Stewart Bradley went down Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field, so did the Eagles’ chances of winning any games this year.

Yes, Eagles fans, the sky is falling.

But instead of panicking, Eagles fans and media members just need to relax.

This loss is not devastating.

I actually heard a host on a Philadelphia talk show say something along the lines of “There is nothing more devastating than losing a player during training camp.”

Are you kidding me? Really?

I would rather have a guy go down in the first week of training camp than in the heat of a division title race or in the midst of the playoffs.

If a player goes down now, time is on your side.

Players have the opportunity to learn a new role on the team. Backups learn what it takes to become a starter or other position players learn how to play a new position.

Imagine if Brian Westbrook suffered an injury before the Eagles began the playoffs. The offense would struggle. In 2003, Westbrook was sidelined with a torn triceps tendon and the Eagles were bounced by the Carolina Panthers.

While some blame the 2003 NFC Championship failure on the Eagle receivers, Westbrook would have covered up the weak Eagle receiving corps.  The Birds could have won that game with Westbrook in the lineup.    

Enough with the comment from the sports talk host. Let’s move on to the fans.

Eagles fans are the best for many different reasons.

They have passion, dedication, and an uncanny ability to get too high on the highs and too low on the lows. They lack a middle ground and the ability to think things through.

Fans were genuinely distraught because of Bradley’s injury.

I know Bradley is a good player, but he is not the kind of player that makes or breaks a season.

While he played well in 2008 as the starting middle linebacker, the Eagles didn’t lose Dick Butkus out there Sunday night.

They lost a guy in his third year in the NFL who has a ton of potential.

His injury is disappointing — not devastating.

Yet Eagles fans will make you think the injury is catastrophic to their Super Bowl chances.

These are the same fans who mourned Jeremiah Trotter’s departure from Philly. These are the same fans that cried foul when the Eagles cut Takeo Spikes.

They thought the Eagles were toast without Trot playing linebacker. Without Trotter, the Eagles did not miss a beat.

Eagles fans should have confidence in whomever fills Bradley’s shoes.

If you look at the Eagles philosophy, the linebacker position is not the most critical position on the defense.

The Eagles want to come out, score quickly, and force the other team to play catch-up.

Once the team falls behind, the Eagles want you to pass so they can send their small, but fast defensive ends toward the quarterback and let their exceptional secondary shut down the opposition’s receivers.

So the two most important positions on the defensive side of the ball are the ends and the cornerbacks.

Just look at the Eagles’ biggest free agent signings over the past couple of years and you will realize that most, but not all, of the big-name free agents played either defensive end or cornerback.

Bradley will be missed during the preseason, I won’t deny that for a second. But as soon as the Eagles play the Panthers in Week One, the team will have moved on.

That’s a fact.

The only people who won’t move on are the fans and media.

If the Eagles lose in Carolina against a formidable opponent, everyone will say it is because of Bradley’s injury.

The media will get the fans going and the fans will let the anger fester for an entire week before the Eagles take out their vengeance on the Saints in Week Two.

This is the nature of the beast.

Eagles fans need to realize there are more important things to worry about with this team.

They need to be concerned about the offensive line playing well together and the defensive line applying pressure on the quarterback without blitzing.

They need to worry about Sheldon Brown getting enough playing time and Jeremy Maclin signing a contract.

They need to worry about Donovan McNabb playing like an All-Pro and Andy Reid utilizing the run more than he has in years past.

Bradley is done. Get over it.

The NFL is not going to cancel the season, and Vegas won’t change its odds. 

With the season less than a month away, the debate should focus on who Bradley’s replacement will be—Omar Gaither or Joe Mays?

Right now, I go with Mays.

NFL Gambling: Week One Preview

Let’s be honest with each other for a moment. We love the NFL because of the atmosphere at the games, the rivalries, the action on the field, and yes, the action we have on the game.

I am talking about sports betting.

You can do it legally in Vegas, and potentially Delaware. You can also cheat Uncle Sam if you go through your local “guy” or you can even resort to the safe haven of the Internet.

It does not matter how you get the bet in as long as you get paid for winning.

Most degenerates will bet year round. There is action found around every corner. You can bet on prop bets in baseball to Academy Awards. It’s sickening the things you can do, but it’s there.

And if the books are going to dangle these enticing offers in front of our faces you better believe we are going to take it.

So I think it is appropriate to dangle the bait in front of you now more than a month away from the first game. I will highlight the games I like and then list the remaining games. The lines are based on an Internet site I use frequently.

Once the NFL season is upon us I will give out official picks. It can be risky to take a game right now because an injury could hurt you big time.

So to satisfy the gambling itch we all have, let’s check out the spreads:

Steelers -4.5 vs. Titans: The Titans in a word: stink. Last year they overachieved and now this is their time to get exposed. Do not. I repeat, do not bet on this game if you think the Titans are winning this game for Steve McNair. You worked hard for your money, so don’t blow it with that kind of logic.

Take the better team, with the better players, playing at home with revenge in mind.

It was only last year when the Titans stomped on the Terrible Towels and mocked the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Revenge will be sweet on opening night for the ‘Burgh.

Steelers 27 – Titans 10

Falcons -4 vs. Dolphins: This is the other overachieving team. The Dolphins ran a cute little offense last year and gave it a cute nickname, “The Wildcat.”

You have to run that gimmicky stuff when Chad Pennington is your quarterback.

The Falcons may not have a great season this year, but they will look like world beaters after they are done with the Dolphins

Falcons 31 – Dolphins 17

Carolina -1.5 vs. Eagles: The books want you to remember Jake Delhomme’s last game. They really do. They want to reel you in and take your money.

Forget Delhomme for a moment and look at the downside to the Eagles here.

The Eagles have a new offensive line that might not be clicking on all cylinders. This is not the time to work out the kinks. They will be facing one of the best front sevens in football.

You also don’t know how Brian Westbrook will play after his surgery. And can Donovan McNabb rely on Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson immediately?

And how will the defense play without Jim Johnson? What are you going to get out of this unit?

Don’t forget that the Panthers have incredible playmakers in Steve Smith and DeAngelo Williams. The Panthers can put a ton of pressure on the Eagles defense with this combo.

Also, the Eagles are only 4-6 in opening games under Andy Reid and 5-5 on their first road game of the season. It’s probably not as good as you think for an Eagles team that has played well for nearly a decade now.

And this is coming from a die-hard Eagles fan who thinks they will go to the Super Bowl this year.

Panthers 24 – Eagles 20

Cowboys -3 vs. Buccaneers: Great Eagles fan huh? I pick against the Birds and then follow it up with Boys.

Well, it’s about winning so I have to.

This is more of a pick against the Bucs. They don’t have a true starting quarterback. Their running starting running back has never been a starter before. And the head coach has never been at the helm for an NFL game.

I think you have to roll with Tony Romo in the beginning of the year when you know he will put up good numbers. After that, jump ship.

Cowboys 26 – Buccaneers 13

I have no take on the remaining games, but I know everyone will want to see how the rest of the slate looks. So here it is with the home teams listed first:

Ravens -8.5 vs. Chiefs

Bengals -3 vs. Broncos

Browns +2.5 vs. Vikings

Texans -4.5 vs. Jets

Colts -6.5 vs. Jaguars

Saints -12 vs. Lions

Cardinals -6.5 vs. 49ers

Giants -5.5 vs. Redskins

Seahawks -7 vs. Rams

Packers -3 vs. Bears

Patriots -9.5 vs. Bills

Raiders +7 vs. Chargers

Jim Johnson Embodied Philadelphia

There are few athletes, coaches or owners who spend time in Philadelphia and leave an everlasting mark with some of the most critical fans in America.

Philadelphia fans are a rare bread. You are not always judged by wins and losses. You are judged by character, determination, fight, and resiliency. Some of the names that come to mind are Tug McGraw, Reggie White, and John Vukovich.

Now you can add Jim Johnson’s name to that list after he lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday night at the age of 68.

Similar to some, he did not win a championship in Philadelphia. But in all honesty, the fans of Philadelphia could care less if Jim Johnson was a part of parade down Broad Street.

He did not need to validate his career or prove anything to anybody. The fans knew he was tough. They knew if he lost he would get right back up look the opponent in the eye and say, “Okay, let me see you do it again.”

He was famous for implementing the bend-don’t-break defense. Sure, you could move the ball between the 20s every now and then against one of Johnson’s units, but you were not going to get into the endzone.

In 2001 the Eagles became the fourth team in NFL history to allow 21 points or less for the entire season.

Some of the stats are incredible, but the fans will remember more how the Eagles did it. There will be stories shared among friends, dads and sons, and fellow Eagles fans about the greatest defensive performances during Jim Johnson’s tenure.

Two stick out in my mind.

I will never forget the defensive effort from the Eagles defense against Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons in the 2004 NFC Championship Game. Everyone feared that Vick would get to the perimeter and burn the Eagles with his athletic ability.

Johnson was too smart for that. He allowed Vick to dance around in the pocket. He instilled discipline in an aggressive defense and it worked the entire game. Vick had nowhere to run and nowhere to pass. Johnson made it look easy.

Occasionally Johnson sprinkled in a blitz to remind Vick he did not go soft.

I will also never forget the performance the Eagles had against the Cowboys in the 2008 season finale which clinched a playoff berth for the Eagles. The Eagles defense forced four turnovers (special teams forced one as well).

Two of the turnovers were returned for touchdowns, which meant the Eagles outscored the entire Cowboys team 14-6.

It was nothing short of spectacular and it came against the city’s most hated rival.

The fans will also remember Johnson’s ability to get the most out of his players week to week and year to year.

Johnson arrived in South Philly in 1999 and he helped to produce 27 of the 49 Eagles Pro Bowlers during his tenure here.

Not only did he help develop players, but head coaches as well. Stave Spagnuolo and John Harbaugh learned under the tutelage of Johnson and are now head coaches in the NFL.

To the fans, Johnson was humble. He kept to himself and never wanted to be in the spotlight. He turned down coaching vacancies because he was intent on helping produce those great players and coaches.

The fans appreciated what he did here because they saw him as a man of character who was filled with determination, fight, and resiliency.

 

Roger Goodell: Get over Yourself

Let me start by saying that I do not respect Michael Vick as a person and I think his talents as a quarterback are incredibly overrated.

Conversely, I respect what Roger Goodell is trying to do with the NFL.

Goodell took over as the NFL Commissioner in 2006 and could have easily sat back and raked in all the money.  The NFL is nearly foolproof and is a guaranteed way to make tons of money through so many different avenues.

Surprisingly, money was not the motive for Goodell.  He saw a league that needed to clean up its act and become respectable in the eyes of the communities it was involved with and the fans who supported the league.

Sadly there have been instances where players thought they were above the law.  The Commish stepped in and brought some of the punks in the NFL back down to earth.

I applauded his efforts and his tough stance.  He was firm, but fair.  Rigid with rules, but forgiving.

I believe he handled the debacles in Cincinnati admirably, and the Adam “Pacman” Jones situation well.

Goodell was praised by the media, fans, players and owners.  That’s a lot of praise for one man, and it may have finally gone to his head.

Look, I can’t blame the guy for going on an ego trip.  He arguably runs the most successful sports league in the world, makes a ton of money, has a wonderful family and seems to make all of the right decisions.

Well that last point is now in serious question after the Vick fiasco.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it up to our judicial system to determine if a person is guilty or not guilty of a law.  Isn’t it up to that system to sentence a person for the crime committed and to then rehabilitate that person.

The NFL—and, even more importantly, Goodell—is not responsible for handing out additional punishments.

I’m not going to say if Vick served to much or to little time.  That is not my call, and it certainly isn’t Goodell’s call.  Someone in the legal system gave Vick a sentence for heinous crimes and Vick served his time.

He is a free man with the right to earn a living.

Now Goodell wants to step in and say, “Nah.  Not good enough for me Michael.  I think I’ll make you serve additional time under my watch.”

This makes no sense to me.  I am not trying to write a pity story for Vick.  He got himself into this mess.  My point is that Goodell should not hand out additional penalties once the legal system is done with a criminal.  It doesn’t make sense and reeks of a man who is getting a little too full of himself.

Do something proactive Goodell.  Don’t sit back and tell Vick he is suspended until week six of the NFL season.  Allow Vick to sign somewhere and then make him go out into his new community where he can provide some sort of public service.

Use your vision and power to try and make this a positive experience.  In the end, I really hope we have not gone from a league where players thought they were above the law to a league where the commissioner writes the law.

 

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