Down by 10, with a few minutes to go in the most critical game of their season, The Falcons QB decided that the breathtaking pain of a pulled hamstring was too much to bear, and took his spot on the sidelines. Isn't it just like Vick to make sure that Schaub wouldn't see (for a real drive) the field until the game was essentially decided. Even though the great Ron Mexico later said he felt the pull in the 3rd quarter. Of course ATL was still in the game then.
This is yet another in the serious of exceedingly classless acts by the "most exciting player in the game", Mike Chick. I thought he had peaked with the Olympian style "double handed flip-off", but that almost pales in comparison to a QB quitting on his team because it doesn't believe he can pull the game out.
The stats will say Chick had another great game (another great loss), in large part due to ATL's ability to capitalize on the Boys' miscues. What the stats won't show is that a host of former greats questioned Vick's sitdown aloud, even Deion (I never met a black QB I didn't root for) Sanders. Just shows that given enough time and enough rope, every #### will hang himself .
Is it me, or does it look like the Saints are beginning to play up or down to the level of their competition? One week they lose to a Steelers crew on life support, next they lose to a Cincy team that should change it's colors to white with black pinstripes, then they crush ATL, SF and Dallas, and then get handled by the Redskins. Trap game? The trap was made out of the Redskins. Great teams beat the teams they're supposed to beat. I don't see NO going deep into January, unless they get a first round bye. A bye should get them one PO win by accident.
In Pittsburgh, where missing the playoffs one out of every three years is becoming commonplace, the team and FO refuses to admit the HC's status is an issue. It's an issue, a huge one at that. Right now, part time -players and Cowher's trusted vets like Joey Porter must be messing their drawers thinking about a new HC next year. Why?. For the same reason #### LeBeau's face masker on Anthony Clark, after a ridiculous showboat this sunday, was long overdue. Cowher runs his team like a country club administrator, but for the occasional scapegoat assistant or player (see "Taylor, Ike") Cowher is probably the least demanding coach in the NFL. How many other coaches would keep playing a KR/PR who fumbled more than half out ten consecutive chances? How many other coaches would keep starting huff and puff disappearing acts like Joey Porter every week? Is is an issue? Cowher's trusted vets are terrified.
Besides, Cowher has his trophy. As hard as he tried to go home without the Lombardi last year, (by turtling his offense, playing prevent against one of the NFL's best offenses for the 2nd half, and then plunging choke-dog Bettis into the line for a career typifying fumble, Big Ben simply wouldn't go home empty handed). So Cowher has his trophy. And he rewarded the franchise with the least ready to perform, least disciplined, least motivated Steeler team I have ever seen. After watching his team sleepwalk through weeks 1-12, even he must know he doesn't have it, never had it, and never will have it.
That in mind, here are the top ten reasons the Steelers will probably (I'm a sap, I know) not repeat:
10. OL is older, weaker and slower than ever. A diabetic guard and a one-legged center equals a jail break every week.
9. Any legitimate NFL QB can put up big numbers on Cowher's Okie ZB defense. The middle is always open. If you've just met your TE during the National anthem, you''ll still drop 330 and three TD's on him.
8. Fundamentals, schmundamentals! 14 games in, the #1 pick and PR/KR still only fields 50% of his chances witout a turnover. Sadly, the kid is a huge talent, but don;t they have anyone to show him how o field a kick?
7. The Old Gray LB's just ain't what they used to be . . . . . James Farrior has lost a step, Joey Porter is too used to half-steppin' and having the occasional big game against a doormat, Clark Haggans just can't beat anyone with technique or size, and I still can't figure how Larry Foote is doing anything but washing LeBeau's car.
6. Steve McNair in the AFCN means another 1-2 divisional losses per year. McNair owns the Steelers. Probably because he loves throwing to his TE.
5. We missed the Bus. Just kidding. Losing Bettis happened four years ago. The guy hadn't managed a full season in God knows how long, and his playoff performances against NE were the stuff that nightmares were made of. The problem is that the fat, lazy Steeler OL is used to blocking for a one and done slob like Bettis. They still aren't/can't hold their blocks long enough for Parker. Still Parker does well, but I can't help but wonder what he'd do in a stretch style scheme.
4. Our best WR is older and slower and wasn't that great in the first place. Sure the faithful celebrate Ward because he's a lunchpail guy, but there's a reason he averages about 25% fewer yards per catch than stud wideouts. When your #1 is actually just a good #2, you have problems.
3. 15 years and not a damn play changed . . . . It's true, but for a few adjustments, they do the same stuff now that they did in 1992. It gets embarassing when mushheads like Dan Dierdorf can see a formation and say, "they like to go to Ward over the middle on this one". Then they go to ward over the middle or the DB who also knows the play for a takeback.
2. Roethlisberger began to recover his trength, timing and football sense around week 10. Which would have been okay if he hadn't been starting in week 2.
1. Cowher simply thought the "bullseye rule" didn't apply to his Champions. Before he even noticed, the season was over.
In Chicago, they're 12-2 and playing in Chicago this January. For those of you who didn't anticipate Grossman snapping out of his slump; shame on you. A healthy Grossman means a healthy Bears team for a good long time, and Chicago is going to have little in the way of NFCN competition for a while, unless GB, Minnesota or Detroit signs Matt Schaub. As much as I'm amazed at the press's ability to forget that Grossman almost carried the team through its first 10 games, I'm amazed at their inability to remember the many failings of Ron Mexico.
But that's the press for you. They hate to admit when they're wrong, unless they think someone might notice.
Oh and Terrell Owens spit on D'Angelo Hall. Who cares? Have you ever seen two more classless individuals?
