Looking back at the games of the weekend... give props to the the Bengals for clinching their first division title since 1990 by spanking the Lions. Marvin Lewis takes another step towards Coach Of The Year. Carson Palmer breaks Ken Anderson's team record for TD passes. And I thought he was a system QB at USC....I stand corrected.
I was of the belief that if Tony Dungy went 16-0, he should automatically win Coach of the Year. Even if the Colts finish 15-1 or 14-2, he still should be one of the top two candidates.
However, when you look at how far the Bengals have come, from league (bad) joke - a franchise that players either saw their careers ruined (see David Klinger), or couldn't wait to leave (see: any number of players over the last 15 years), to a serious threat to either Indy or New England, Marvin is the man.
And he did it in less than three years.
In a related note, you can't help but notice how the fans in Detroit have turned on the team and Matt Millen. Millen could have had Marvin Lewis. He went for Marty Mornhinweg. After that predictably proved disasterous, he skipped the interview process and then picked up Steve Mariucci. Can't say I totally blamed him for the latter move. After all Mooch had some success in SF, and he was a hot prospect.
Yet, you just know Lewis was a good coach just waiting for a chance. As was John Fox, Charlie Weis, Lovie Smith and Romeo Crennel. And the best revenge is living well indeed.
Coach of the Year is an abstract term. Like MVP. Or Love. How do you define it? One person's idea is vastly different than his neighbor's.
I personally like Mike Tice as the coach of the year. (That's a joke). I'm a big Vikings fan, but Tice isn't a great coach. He seems like a nice enough guy, and I want the Vikes to keep him, but their 6-game winning streak wasn't his doing.
Tony Dungy will be the sentimental favorite now. And I'd bet a couple dollars that he'll win it. If I had a vote, it'd be for him. Even if the vote was held 5 minutes after the loss to the Chargers (which is before the terrible incident which has made him the sentimental favorite).
Ummmm Hi. Little shout here from a tiny little brg we call Chicago. We have tall buildings, a really good baseball team, a really bad one and a football team called the Bears. They are 10-4 after being picked to 3-13 by most experts. They have the #1 defense, statistically - ever through this many games and have been spoken of in the same breath as the Super Bowl. This team has a coach, his name is Lovie Smith.
I agree with Northside fan, but hey we're biased since we're Chicagoans. I'd vote Marvin 2nd behind Lovie based on what Lovie has done with a 4th round rookie quarterback. Not even Brain Billick (who won a super bowl with dilfer and the #1 Defense) could keep the Bears winning with just Orton.
G.H. Brooks (aka "Dr. Midnight" to his loyal fan base) is a 2-time Next Great Sportswriter (NGS) Finalist. One would think that bringing game like that would net me *something* - a cool icon to mark my site, some love from Fox Sports, cash, but noooo... :-)
I'm broadcasting live from New York City after a hiatus from the blogging scene, takes on life, sports, and whatever passing thoughts are shooting through my head. The good and bad ..passionate, logical, and on point.
It's a G Thing.... you can look me up at newjack1@eart hlink.net
