If your name is Peyton or Payton, this past week has been one of great excitement, great shock and great sadness.
At the beginning of the week, quarterback Peyton Manning chose to bring his talents to Colorado when he agreed to sign with the Denver Broncos. This decision put to rest weeks of speculation as well as a year of whether Peyton would play football again. He will play football again, but not in Indy. Now the only thing left to speculate is whether he can return to his old form. We will need a few months before we will know the answer.
And just when we thought NFL news couldn’t get any bigger than Peyton Manning choosing a team, NFL fans received a real surprise by midweek. Commissioner Roger Goodell handed out punishment in the so-called “bounty” scandal. Effective April 1, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton will be suspended for one year because of his involvement in and knowledge of the scandal. Sheriff Goodell didn’t stop there. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for eight games, and Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt was suspended for six games—all suspensions are without pay. Gregg Williams, the alleged mastermind behind the scandal, was suspended indefinitely. Williams was the Saints’ defensive coordinator from 2009 to 2011 and now holds the same position with the St. Louis Rams.
These suspensions now leave the Saints in upheaval. Before this scandal hit, the big off-season news out of New Orleans was the fact that the team was struggling to ink a deal with quarterback Drew Brees. Although the news of signing Brees becomes back-burner in comparison, the urgency of signing him is even more important if the Saints want to salvage any type of competitive season.
Finally, in a third story pertaining to Payton, the legal community lost a legend last week when lawyer John Payton, president and director–counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, died on March 22 after a brief illness. Payton was a fierce advocate for civil rights and a leader in the legal community, working on such high-profile items as the University of Michigan’s admissions case.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
RGIII: Talk About Real QB Pressure
Full disclosure: I am a lifelong Washington Redskins fan. I’ve supported the team in good times and bad, with the latter being the most recent and most daunting, and I will continue to support this team.
Still, I was a little hesitant when team owner Dan Snyder and the Redskins made a deal with St. Louis last week to move up in the draft, trading three first-round and a second-round pick to the Rams to get a shot at drafting Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick.
Much of the talk on local sports radio has been “RGIII had better pan out or else,” or “Look at all the Redskins gave up for him, he’d better be a stud right away.” In other words, the pressure is on RGIII to perform immediately.
I took another tact. My immediate thoughts were: “That poor kid. We’re going to ruin him!” (For that very same reason, I am equally happy that we didn’t get a chance to tarnish Peyton Manning.)
Naturally, it makes more sense to build through the draft instead of chasing after other teams’ discards. In recent years, the Redskins have done a lot of the latter, without a lot of success to show for it.
Washington of late is where football careers come to die. Furthermore, from a PR point of view, the Redskins have not been the most prudent or honest organization in recent years.
Just ask Donovan McNabb who went from starter to second string to third string to gone in the span of a very bizarre year, which included an inexplicable benching for Rex Grossman that later turned into a PR nightmare when head coach Mike Shanahan tried to explain his decision. Depending on which reason you believe, both of which were put forth by Shanahan, Donovan either did not understand the mechanics of the offense or was too out of shape to run the offense.
You also can ask quarterback Jason Campbell who was bashed for being inconsistent even though he played under two coaches and two offensive systems in four years with the Redskins. He’s now a Raider.
Or ask Rex Grossman and John Beck who handled the under center follies this past season. According to one veteran NFL scout, neither QB is qualified to start in the league—nor should Beck be playing at this level at all.
I know it’s easy to dismiss a former player’s unkind words as bitterness, but some of the stories we’ve heard from former Redskins have been echoed in this community for years. Cornerback Carlos Rogers, who spent his first six seasons with the Redskins before landing with the 49ers, didn’t mince words during a Sirius XM NFL Radio show in November. In discussing the Redskins’ dysfunction, Rogers said, “There’s so much drama, so much outside stuff. You give up a play, you give up a touchdown, you’ve got to worry about whether you’re starting this week or if it’s the next corner up. It’s things like that.”
In that same interview, Rogers also said that instead of building through the draft and taking care of their own, the Redskins would seek out high-priced free agents, many of whom never worked out.
“They brought in so many guys and gave them all the money and lifted them up and let guys go that they drafted and had been there…. Of course, you’re going to need free agents and some spots you need to fill. But you need to take care of your guys. Take care of home and not let them go. That’s how you build,” Rogers said.
And I haven’t even gotten to former Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and his alleged “pay’em to slay’em” system.
Need further proof of the craziness that is the Redskins? To read an A to Z guide on the Redskins and some of their not-so-fabulous moves, check out Dave McKenna’s 2010 City Paper article The Cranky Redskins Fan’s Guide to Dan Snyder. From a PR point of view, the Redskins are still trying to live down this story.
What’s challenging for RGIII is the fact that he is coming into a quarterback situation that has been unsettled since the early 1990s and the days of Mark Rypien, the Redskins’ last Super Bowl quarterback. There has been a steady rotation of quarterbacks since then, including the likes of Mark Brunell, Shane Matthews, Heath Shuler, Gus Frerotte, Brad Johnson and a handful of others I can’t remember. In other words, Redskins fans are thirsty and we need relief now.
RGIII appears to be a good kid with a good head on his shoulders. If for some reason he doesn’t reach his full potential in Washington, I wouldn’t be so quick to blame it on a lack of arm strength, accuracy or skill at playing the position. I believe it would require deeper investigation, starting with the Redskins organization itself.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
No Longer A Slam Dunk
The NBA Slam Dunk contest has seen better days. It is an event desperately seeking an all-star. As someone who previously has covered the All-Star Weekend, I know from experience—and, of course, common sense—that the entire event is built around big-name NBA stars. Believe me, they are falling from the rafters. You can’t walk three feet without tripping over one.
Yet, on Saturday night, a remarkable happened. Everyone who is anyone in the NBA had descended upon Orlando, but for some reason, there was not a star in sight when it came time to put on the Slam Dunk contest. In fact, the winner wasn’t Superman or King James or the Black Mamba. This year’s Slam Dunk contest winner was the Human Pogo Stick, aka Utah’s Jeremy Evans.
Don’t get me wrong, there were NBA stars everywhere, from all generations. Dwight Howard had a front-row seat, Cedric Ceballos gave dunking lessons to one of the contestants and Dominique Wilkins could be seen smiling and laughing on the sidelines. Big-name stars were on the sidelines, granting interviews and even conducting interviews, but when it mattered most, on the court and above the rim, they were nowhere to be found.
The best the NBA could put forth was Houston’s Chase Budinger, Indiana’s Paul George, Minnesota’s Derrick Williams and Utah’s Evans.
Last year, fans witnessed the likes of Blake Griffin jumping over a car; this year, fans were given Williams jumping over a motorcycle. Some might say this is a huge leap backward for the NBA (although, dunking over a motorcycle is quite impressive in my book). But even Griffin was pitted against another ho-hum list of competitors in Washington’s JaVale McGee, Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka.
So, has the NBA Slam Dunk contest become obsolete?
Has it gone the way of the NFL’s Pro Bowl, now considered an afterthought that many of its stars avoid like the plague?
Or has it gone the way of Major League Baseball before the All-Star break?
How about Game 1 of any series—MLB, NBA or NHL?
Or my personal favorite (read: least favorite), preseason football.
On Saturday night, as I sat watching the contest, I couldn’t help but wonder: Who are these guys? And I wasn’t the only one. TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley jokingly commented several times throughout the broadcast: “You need to keep putting up those photos and those names so America will know who they are voting for.”
To be honest, the contest was pretty entertaining, even without the big names. There were dunks over the heads of NBA players (Dahntay Jones and Roy Hibbert) and hip-hop moguls (P. Diddy). There were two-ball dunks (Evans), dunks over motorcycles (Williams), blind-folded dunks (Budinger) and glow-in-the-dark dunks (George). There were even dunks paying tribute to NBA greats Larry Bird and Karl Malone.
While the diehard fans will probably continue to tune in, the casual fans may need more of a draw. And we all know that the All-Star Weekend is about casting the widest of nets. It’s not too late for the NBA to fix the slam dunk contest. The league only needs to look as far as the front row on All-Star Saturday night for a solution.
Yet, on Saturday night, a remarkable happened. Everyone who is anyone in the NBA had descended upon Orlando, but for some reason, there was not a star in sight when it came time to put on the Slam Dunk contest. In fact, the winner wasn’t Superman or King James or the Black Mamba. This year’s Slam Dunk contest winner was the Human Pogo Stick, aka Utah’s Jeremy Evans.
Don’t get me wrong, there were NBA stars everywhere, from all generations. Dwight Howard had a front-row seat, Cedric Ceballos gave dunking lessons to one of the contestants and Dominique Wilkins could be seen smiling and laughing on the sidelines. Big-name stars were on the sidelines, granting interviews and even conducting interviews, but when it mattered most, on the court and above the rim, they were nowhere to be found.
The best the NBA could put forth was Houston’s Chase Budinger, Indiana’s Paul George, Minnesota’s Derrick Williams and Utah’s Evans.
Last year, fans witnessed the likes of Blake Griffin jumping over a car; this year, fans were given Williams jumping over a motorcycle. Some might say this is a huge leap backward for the NBA (although, dunking over a motorcycle is quite impressive in my book). But even Griffin was pitted against another ho-hum list of competitors in Washington’s JaVale McGee, Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka.
So, has the NBA Slam Dunk contest become obsolete?
Has it gone the way of the NFL’s Pro Bowl, now considered an afterthought that many of its stars avoid like the plague?
Or has it gone the way of Major League Baseball before the All-Star break?
How about Game 1 of any series—MLB, NBA or NHL?
Or my personal favorite (read: least favorite), preseason football.
On Saturday night, as I sat watching the contest, I couldn’t help but wonder: Who are these guys? And I wasn’t the only one. TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley jokingly commented several times throughout the broadcast: “You need to keep putting up those photos and those names so America will know who they are voting for.”
To be honest, the contest was pretty entertaining, even without the big names. There were dunks over the heads of NBA players (Dahntay Jones and Roy Hibbert) and hip-hop moguls (P. Diddy). There were two-ball dunks (Evans), dunks over motorcycles (Williams), blind-folded dunks (Budinger) and glow-in-the-dark dunks (George). There were even dunks paying tribute to NBA greats Larry Bird and Karl Malone.
While the diehard fans will probably continue to tune in, the casual fans may need more of a draw. And we all know that the All-Star Weekend is about casting the widest of nets. It’s not too late for the NBA to fix the slam dunk contest. The league only needs to look as far as the front row on All-Star Saturday night for a solution.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Whitney and Ali
Couldn’t we all use a do-over sometimes?
You know those dreaded, inappropriate first words you said to your future in-laws? Don’t you wish you could take them back?
Or, how about that time you inexplicably put on your “comedic” hat at your wife’s law firm holiday party where you proceeded to launch one unfortunate lawyer joke after another. And, by the way, your wife was up for partner at the time—emphasis on was.
Or, maybe it was simply the Mohawk hairdo you sported for senior picture day in high school, in defiance of your parents. The topper, of course, was that you sprayed it half blue and half green.
I’m sure these folks would give anything for a do-over.
On Saturday, two icons were celebrated for their life and legacy. One has benefited from a do-over; unfortunately, time ran out on the other one before she got a chance to fully redeem herself.
On Saturday, more than 2,000 friends, celebrities and loved ones descended upon Las Vegas to celebrate Muhammad Ali’s 70th birthday. Ali turned 70 on January 17.
Across the country, in an environment that was equally jovial at times, more than 1,500 friends, celebrities and loved ones filled the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, to pay their respects to Whitney Houston. Whitney was honored during a “homegoing” celebration, which was televised and streamed online for millions of viewers.
What’s more, one of Whitney’s biggest hits “The Greatest Love of All,” was a do-over of a George Benson song for the Ali biopic, “The Greatest.” (Benson’s song also was a do-over of the original song performed by folk and cabaret singer Jane Olivor). Whitney performed the song at Ali’s 50th birthday party. Unfortunately, she would not live to perform it 20 years later.
Both Whitney and Ali had celebrated careers, and both had careers tainted by controversy. On Saturday, whether you believe rightly or wrongly, they were each celebrated for their contributions—their peak performances.
If you ever find yourself in a position to have a do-over—and consider yourself lucky if you do—hopefully, you’ll make the most of it. After all, as the events of the past week have shown us, do-overs aren’t always guaranteed.
You know those dreaded, inappropriate first words you said to your future in-laws? Don’t you wish you could take them back?
Or, how about that time you inexplicably put on your “comedic” hat at your wife’s law firm holiday party where you proceeded to launch one unfortunate lawyer joke after another. And, by the way, your wife was up for partner at the time—emphasis on was.
Or, maybe it was simply the Mohawk hairdo you sported for senior picture day in high school, in defiance of your parents. The topper, of course, was that you sprayed it half blue and half green.
I’m sure these folks would give anything for a do-over.
On Saturday, two icons were celebrated for their life and legacy. One has benefited from a do-over; unfortunately, time ran out on the other one before she got a chance to fully redeem herself.
On Saturday, more than 2,000 friends, celebrities and loved ones descended upon Las Vegas to celebrate Muhammad Ali’s 70th birthday. Ali turned 70 on January 17.
Across the country, in an environment that was equally jovial at times, more than 1,500 friends, celebrities and loved ones filled the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, to pay their respects to Whitney Houston. Whitney was honored during a “homegoing” celebration, which was televised and streamed online for millions of viewers.
What’s more, one of Whitney’s biggest hits “The Greatest Love of All,” was a do-over of a George Benson song for the Ali biopic, “The Greatest.” (Benson’s song also was a do-over of the original song performed by folk and cabaret singer Jane Olivor). Whitney performed the song at Ali’s 50th birthday party. Unfortunately, she would not live to perform it 20 years later.
Both Whitney and Ali had celebrated careers, and both had careers tainted by controversy. On Saturday, whether you believe rightly or wrongly, they were each celebrated for their contributions—their peak performances.
If you ever find yourself in a position to have a do-over—and consider yourself lucky if you do—hopefully, you’ll make the most of it. After all, as the events of the past week have shown us, do-overs aren’t always guaranteed.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
At Least Gisele’s Not Married to a Ref
So, you think it’s great to be Gisele Bundchen?
You want to be a sexy supermodel? You want to be married to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady who some might say is equally sexy? You want to be rich and famous? Well, all of that comes with a price.
For starters, you have to have a thick skin. So thick that you need to be able to set aside your feelings and opinions when you are confronted by exuberant Giants fans immediately after your husband’s team loses in the Super Bowl.
And because she is rich and famous and married to Brady, Bundchen’s comments were captured on video by the gossip Web site, theinsider.com. She was heard saying: “My husband cannot f------ throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time,” Bundchen said. “I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times.”
Believe me, it’s hard to bite your tongue, to stay composed. I know. I’ve been there. No, my husband and his teammates didn’t just lose a big game, much less a Super Bowl. However, my husband has officiated basketball games for several years, at various levels. And if you think that Tom Brady suffered a verbal pummeling with every errant throw, just imagine the beating the officiating team takes.
I sat in witness, listening to comments, some directed specifically at my husband, and others directed at the refs in general. I’ve heard all types of comments ranging from how bad the officiating team’s eyesight is to cruel taunts about the best way the officials should meet their demise. Win or lose, despite dropped balls or overthrown passes, hundreds of fans still show up the next Sunday decked out in “12” or “83” or “insert your favorite player” jerseys.
However, most fans have a negative view on officiating—and they all think they can do a better job than the officials on the floor. And what’s more, except for a handful of officiating “geeks,”—and believe me, they exist—very few people show up to games rocking the black-and-white stripes of the officiating crew.
I’m not rich or famous or married to Tom Brady, but I do benefit on so many levels. For one, I’m not easily recognized. In fact, unless my husband comes over to chat with me during a break or before the game, very few people are aware of our relationship. And even if they were—and some have been, and I’ve heard about it—I wouldn’t respond to their comments. I know, as an official’s wife, that it comes with the territory.
After several days of unflattering media coverage and comments, including an unfortunate choice of words from Giants running back Brandon Jacobs who said that Bundchen “needs to continue to stay cute and shut up,” (he has since apologized), I suspect that Bundchen truly appreciates that taking the high road might benefit her greatly the next time she finds herself in this situation. And believe, now that people are aware of how easy it is to mock her, fans will try to test her.
Let’s just hopes she passes the next time around.
You want to be a sexy supermodel? You want to be married to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady who some might say is equally sexy? You want to be rich and famous? Well, all of that comes with a price.
For starters, you have to have a thick skin. So thick that you need to be able to set aside your feelings and opinions when you are confronted by exuberant Giants fans immediately after your husband’s team loses in the Super Bowl.
And because she is rich and famous and married to Brady, Bundchen’s comments were captured on video by the gossip Web site, theinsider.com. She was heard saying: “My husband cannot f------ throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time,” Bundchen said. “I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times.”
Believe me, it’s hard to bite your tongue, to stay composed. I know. I’ve been there. No, my husband and his teammates didn’t just lose a big game, much less a Super Bowl. However, my husband has officiated basketball games for several years, at various levels. And if you think that Tom Brady suffered a verbal pummeling with every errant throw, just imagine the beating the officiating team takes.
I sat in witness, listening to comments, some directed specifically at my husband, and others directed at the refs in general. I’ve heard all types of comments ranging from how bad the officiating team’s eyesight is to cruel taunts about the best way the officials should meet their demise. Win or lose, despite dropped balls or overthrown passes, hundreds of fans still show up the next Sunday decked out in “12” or “83” or “insert your favorite player” jerseys.
However, most fans have a negative view on officiating—and they all think they can do a better job than the officials on the floor. And what’s more, except for a handful of officiating “geeks,”—and believe me, they exist—very few people show up to games rocking the black-and-white stripes of the officiating crew.
I’m not rich or famous or married to Tom Brady, but I do benefit on so many levels. For one, I’m not easily recognized. In fact, unless my husband comes over to chat with me during a break or before the game, very few people are aware of our relationship. And even if they were—and some have been, and I’ve heard about it—I wouldn’t respond to their comments. I know, as an official’s wife, that it comes with the territory.
After several days of unflattering media coverage and comments, including an unfortunate choice of words from Giants running back Brandon Jacobs who said that Bundchen “needs to continue to stay cute and shut up,” (he has since apologized), I suspect that Bundchen truly appreciates that taking the high road might benefit her greatly the next time she finds herself in this situation. And believe, now that people are aware of how easy it is to mock her, fans will try to test her.
Let’s just hopes she passes the next time around.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Now What?
If you think it’s tough winning NFL games with only one durable, accurate and reliable quarterback, trying doing it with none.
The Washington Redskins started Rex Grossman at quarterback to begin the season. His play was unremarkable and uneven, the final straw being a four-interception effort in a 20-13 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6.
Enter John Beck, he of the Tim Tebow school of work ethic. He promised to work hard and play even harder. Fans were excited, for about a quarter. Beck’s play wasn’t just uneven, it was plain awful. In his second start, a 23-0 loss against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8 in Toronto, he was sacked 10 times. Not even Tom Brady can lead a team to victory lying on his back most of the game. Some attributed that beating, both physically and literally, to the banged-up offensive line, which is missing starting center Kory Lichtensteiger who is out for the season. Others say that Beck holds the ball too long. It was the only time Redskins coach Mike Shanahan had been shutout in his career. The Skins are officially awful in two countries.
Even when Beck stays upright or plays on U.S. soil, the Redskins still can’t move the ball, with Beck missing open receivers and the running game continuing to struggle. Driving the team across midfield has been an enormous challenge for both quarterbacks. Getting into the red zone has been nearly impossible. And what about the end zone? Fuggetaboutit. The final tally on Beck: Two touchdowns and four picks in three games this season. He has yet to win an NFL game in five years in the league.
So, re-enter Rex, a so-called safe move considering the Redskins traveled to South Florida for a game against the one-win Miami Dolphins on Sunday before heading home for a tough battle against division rival Dallas. On Saturday morning, Shanahan informed Rex that he would start against the Dolphins. When Redskins fans woke up to the news on Sunday morning, those who weren’t left scratching their heads, praised the return of Rex, a move many hoped—prayed—would ignite a Redskins team that started the season 3-1 before hitting a wall. Was this a do-over for both Rex and the Redskins?
Well, Rex showed glimpses of quality play—much better play than Beck—moving the ball the length of the field and sustaining multiple drives. Unfortunately, he also showed glimpses of early-season Rex, including two interceptions, among them a gut-wrenching and drive-killing pick in the red zone. He had no touchdowns. On the season, he has six touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
So, now what? After losing five consecutive games, what is the Redskins’ next move? There’s no shortage of finger pointing, a common occurrence when losses pile up and frustration overflows. A heaping helping of blame has been placed on offensive coordinator—and son of coach—Kyle Shanahan, especially after the shutout against the Bills. And that very same finger is also pointed, by extension, to Mike Shanahan. When an offense stalls, the coach and offensive coordinator should come under fire, or at least be scrutinized. (Count me among those who believe that it really starts at the top, in the owner’s suite.)
The real flaw displayed by the Shanahans is in thinking that either Grossman or Beck was the best choice. In recent weeks, a longtime NFL scout familiar with the play of both quarterbacks has said just that. Neither should start for an NFL team, according to the scout, and Beck shouldn’t play quarterback for an NFL team—at all. He’s just incapable of reading defenses and keeping up with the speed of the game, the scout added.
With little hope for turning around the season, the Redskins should begin setting their sights on their younger players. Maybe it’s time to see what Jonathan Crompton, a quarterback out of Tennessee who is on the Redskins’ practice squad, can do.
That’s the predicament the Redskins find themselves in. And there’s still lots of football left this season.
The Washington Redskins started Rex Grossman at quarterback to begin the season. His play was unremarkable and uneven, the final straw being a four-interception effort in a 20-13 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6.
Enter John Beck, he of the Tim Tebow school of work ethic. He promised to work hard and play even harder. Fans were excited, for about a quarter. Beck’s play wasn’t just uneven, it was plain awful. In his second start, a 23-0 loss against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8 in Toronto, he was sacked 10 times. Not even Tom Brady can lead a team to victory lying on his back most of the game. Some attributed that beating, both physically and literally, to the banged-up offensive line, which is missing starting center Kory Lichtensteiger who is out for the season. Others say that Beck holds the ball too long. It was the only time Redskins coach Mike Shanahan had been shutout in his career. The Skins are officially awful in two countries.
Even when Beck stays upright or plays on U.S. soil, the Redskins still can’t move the ball, with Beck missing open receivers and the running game continuing to struggle. Driving the team across midfield has been an enormous challenge for both quarterbacks. Getting into the red zone has been nearly impossible. And what about the end zone? Fuggetaboutit. The final tally on Beck: Two touchdowns and four picks in three games this season. He has yet to win an NFL game in five years in the league.
So, re-enter Rex, a so-called safe move considering the Redskins traveled to South Florida for a game against the one-win Miami Dolphins on Sunday before heading home for a tough battle against division rival Dallas. On Saturday morning, Shanahan informed Rex that he would start against the Dolphins. When Redskins fans woke up to the news on Sunday morning, those who weren’t left scratching their heads, praised the return of Rex, a move many hoped—prayed—would ignite a Redskins team that started the season 3-1 before hitting a wall. Was this a do-over for both Rex and the Redskins?
Well, Rex showed glimpses of quality play—much better play than Beck—moving the ball the length of the field and sustaining multiple drives. Unfortunately, he also showed glimpses of early-season Rex, including two interceptions, among them a gut-wrenching and drive-killing pick in the red zone. He had no touchdowns. On the season, he has six touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
So, now what? After losing five consecutive games, what is the Redskins’ next move? There’s no shortage of finger pointing, a common occurrence when losses pile up and frustration overflows. A heaping helping of blame has been placed on offensive coordinator—and son of coach—Kyle Shanahan, especially after the shutout against the Bills. And that very same finger is also pointed, by extension, to Mike Shanahan. When an offense stalls, the coach and offensive coordinator should come under fire, or at least be scrutinized. (Count me among those who believe that it really starts at the top, in the owner’s suite.)
The real flaw displayed by the Shanahans is in thinking that either Grossman or Beck was the best choice. In recent weeks, a longtime NFL scout familiar with the play of both quarterbacks has said just that. Neither should start for an NFL team, according to the scout, and Beck shouldn’t play quarterback for an NFL team—at all. He’s just incapable of reading defenses and keeping up with the speed of the game, the scout added.
With little hope for turning around the season, the Redskins should begin setting their sights on their younger players. Maybe it’s time to see what Jonathan Crompton, a quarterback out of Tennessee who is on the Redskins’ practice squad, can do.
That’s the predicament the Redskins find themselves in. And there’s still lots of football left this season.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Missing Sidney
October is coming to a close and the sports world keeps asking the same question: Will he or won’t he play this season—or ever again?
That question is often posed in connection with Peyton Manning, the quarterback for the 0-7 Indianapolis Colts who has missed the entire season with a neck injury. However, it should be asked about Sidney Crosby, all-star center for the Pittsburgh Penguins who hasn’t played since January after suffering a concussion.
Both losses are devastating, but for different reasons. True, the Colts have struggled all season, and circumstances were made even worse by Sunday night’s 62-7 drubbing by the New Orleans Saints. But while Peyton’s loss is felt in Indy and throughout the league, Sidney’s loss delivers a more crushing blow.
Without Peyton, the economically lush and wildly popular NFL still has plenty of superstars on which to lean: Brady, Rogers, Vick, and that’s just at the QB position. Throw in great runners such as AP and Arian, and dominant defenders like Ray Ray, Clay and Suh, and you have a group of players that would make any GM salivate.
Sure, there are lots of exceptional players in the NHL. Maple Leafs winger Phil Kessel, who leads the league in points right now, immediately comes to mind. So do Canucks winger Daniel Sedin, Tampa winger Martin St. Louis and Penguins center—and Crosby teammate—Evgeni Malkin who has seen limited action recently because of a knee injury. But when it comes to superstars, names that leap off the pages of sports sections, Webzines and blogs, the list is a lot shorter, and many would argue that it starts and ends with Sidney Crosby and the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin. And when one of those players is absent, that leaves the NHL in a real bind, both emotionally and economically.
There is no timetable for Crosby’s return, although recent reports are promising: He has been cleared for contact but not for games. Hockey enthusiasts will say that this league is bigger than its stars—no overhyped, showboating prima donnas here, they say. It’s about hard-working, often blue-collar players who can walk into most sports bar in America and go unrecognized, and that’s OK with them. Coincidentally, that’s also what they say about Major League Baseball players, too. But while many baseball players are rooted in the humble beginnings of minor league ball or proud Latin American communities, baseball can also boast a list of star players--Pujols, Howard, Sabathia, Prince—that propels it to another level, not to mention an exciting World Series between St. Louis and Texas that went seven games.
And that’s why Sidney’s loss is so important, much more important than Peyton’s. The NHL, where the wallets are thinner and the popularity is waning, would benefit from having Crosby back on the ice. And I’m sure the Penguins and hockey fans everywhere would be equally elated.
That question is often posed in connection with Peyton Manning, the quarterback for the 0-7 Indianapolis Colts who has missed the entire season with a neck injury. However, it should be asked about Sidney Crosby, all-star center for the Pittsburgh Penguins who hasn’t played since January after suffering a concussion.
Both losses are devastating, but for different reasons. True, the Colts have struggled all season, and circumstances were made even worse by Sunday night’s 62-7 drubbing by the New Orleans Saints. But while Peyton’s loss is felt in Indy and throughout the league, Sidney’s loss delivers a more crushing blow.
Without Peyton, the economically lush and wildly popular NFL still has plenty of superstars on which to lean: Brady, Rogers, Vick, and that’s just at the QB position. Throw in great runners such as AP and Arian, and dominant defenders like Ray Ray, Clay and Suh, and you have a group of players that would make any GM salivate.
Sure, there are lots of exceptional players in the NHL. Maple Leafs winger Phil Kessel, who leads the league in points right now, immediately comes to mind. So do Canucks winger Daniel Sedin, Tampa winger Martin St. Louis and Penguins center—and Crosby teammate—Evgeni Malkin who has seen limited action recently because of a knee injury. But when it comes to superstars, names that leap off the pages of sports sections, Webzines and blogs, the list is a lot shorter, and many would argue that it starts and ends with Sidney Crosby and the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin. And when one of those players is absent, that leaves the NHL in a real bind, both emotionally and economically.
There is no timetable for Crosby’s return, although recent reports are promising: He has been cleared for contact but not for games. Hockey enthusiasts will say that this league is bigger than its stars—no overhyped, showboating prima donnas here, they say. It’s about hard-working, often blue-collar players who can walk into most sports bar in America and go unrecognized, and that’s OK with them. Coincidentally, that’s also what they say about Major League Baseball players, too. But while many baseball players are rooted in the humble beginnings of minor league ball or proud Latin American communities, baseball can also boast a list of star players--Pujols, Howard, Sabathia, Prince—that propels it to another level, not to mention an exciting World Series between St. Louis and Texas that went seven games.
And that’s why Sidney’s loss is so important, much more important than Peyton’s. The NHL, where the wallets are thinner and the popularity is waning, would benefit from having Crosby back on the ice. And I’m sure the Penguins and hockey fans everywhere would be equally elated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)