OK, listen up people: The prohibitive favorite to win the NFL MVP plays for the New England Patriots.
His name should be Randy Moss.
Yes, Randy Moss.
Yes, I know, I know. Tom Brady is allegedly playing at an “elevated level” (love those cliché’s that seems to proliferate among announcers). Brady is on a pace to shatter the NFL record for completion percentage (74%), rating (134.0!), and touchdown passes. In fact, if Brady maintains his pace of 60 TD passes, it will rank with the home run record or Wilt's 50 pomts a game - stupefying and next to unbreakable.
Toss in the relentless John Madden man-crush on Tom Terrific (transferred from Brett Favre) that has been copied by every damn announcer (and you thought Favregasms were bad), and Brady looks like a lock.
Except that it would be wrong.
Go beyond the raw numbers, as impressive as they are for Randy: 66 catches for 1,052 yards and 16 touchdowns, a pace that will threaten the single season yardage record, and obliterate Jerry Rice’s TD record of 22 TD catches in a season. It is even beyond the freakish combination of 4.3 speed, the greatest ball skills in NFL history, and his superb hands that have terrorized every secondary he has faced.
"Teams might be in a two-deep [zone, with safeties splitting the back
half of the field] but I always said Randy would run through the
two-deep. To stop Randy Moss, you needed a deep two-deep."
The normal rules don’t apply to Randy Moss, because even when he’s covered, he’s dangerous, and a bad ball is still catchable.
Not since Bob Hayes frightened the NFL into developing zone defenses has any receiver impacted the league to this magnitude. And the lengths defenses go to contain him open the field for the entire Pats offense.
I know, you still want the MVP to go to Brady. After all, if Troy Aikman says it, it must be true, right? And a receiver is only as good as his quarterback after all.
Exhibit B: Pats v. Colts. Colts lead 20-10, Brady is struggling. Brady tosses one deep, Moss beats the Cover Two for a momentum-changing 55 yard play. Pats score soon after to cut it to three, and then score again to preserve their undefeated season.
Exhibit C: These numbers: 92.6, 63.8, and 7.9.
Those are Tom Brady’s previous career highs in passer rating, completion percentage and yards per attempt.
This year those numbers are 134.0, 74.0, and 9.1
Coincidence?
The Pats are on a pace to destroy the season record for points set by the 1998 Vikings led by… Randy Moss.
More coincidence? Come on; say it is, I dare you.
Yes, Brady has Wes Welker, who is having a career season of his own. But Brady has had a Welker in the past – Troy Brown. Nice receiver, but neither he nor Donte Stallworth (2007’s Deion Branch) give cornerbacks and defensive coordinators night sweats.
And Tom Terrific has never had a year like this with Brown and Branch.
As to why Moss is not getting enough love from the press, well, he isn’t loved. Some of that he’s brought on himself. He didn’t cover himself in glory last year in Oakland, but frankly, that was not a professionally run franchise last year. Sorry, but I can’t drop all of the blame at Moss’ feet.
Besides that, many of the same people voting for the MVP love Brady and trashed the trade (including Pats Cheerleader Peter King). It may be too much to ask humbled Moss critics to see the light.
First, they’d have to wipe the egg off their faces.
1. I believe that I will spend the rest of my natural life kicking myself for not drafting Adrian Peterson in the 2nd round like I considered. Me, the Super Genius, like Wile E. Coyote figured that Ned Flanders, uh I mean head coach Brad Childress would be married to the dreaded Chester Taylor/Peterson time-share, and I chose the legendary Tatum Bell instead.
(Insert the Florida Evans, "Damn! Damn! Damn!" right here.) Mind you, this was AFTER I told everyone that A-Pete had Canton potential.
2. While I’m on the subject, I also believe that A-Pete just moved into the Top 3for MVP consideration.
3. I believe that Randy Moss should be ranked higher in the MVP voting than Tom Brady. Yeah, I said it.
Two plays sum it up for me – those two ridiculous TDs against the Dolphins. Don't listen to Ron Jaworski's babble about Brady's placement of the ball - he threw it up into double coverage, and Moss hauls it in. No other human being can make that catch. Randy Moss did it twice. Then on Sunday Moss beats Indy's vaunted Cover Two (designed to stop the deep ball) for a momentum-changing 55 yard pass.
4. I believe I found common ground with Jason Whitlock. Randy Moss is the most physically gifted wideout - EVER. Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, and Fred Bilitenkoff had better hands. Bob Hayes may be faster. Steve Largent ran beautiful routes. But none of them combined 4.28 speed, the 6-4 height, the vertical and the ability to adjust to the pass in midflight.
5. I believe that Jason Whitlock needs to end the Chad Johnson madness. Chad’s endzone celebrations have nothing to do with the Bengals inability to stop the run. Ocho Cinco’s Hall Of Fame jackets have nothing to do with Odell Thurman’s unwillingness to obey the law.
I had a huge problem with the silly gold teeth (since removed), to all but call Chad an Uncle Tom (“Mr. Bojangles”? Come on Jason…) is hitting low. Yeah, I know that being The Black Scold is good business – especially with an organization as conservative as Fox, and it is sometimes necessary. But I despise hypocricy, and Keyshawn Johnson attempting to condemn The Chad – well, Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle. It is NOT ok because Keyshawn is in the media. Shame on you Jason.
6. I believe that no good quarterback has every possesed the hideous body language that Peyton Manning displays in clutch siutations.
I’m sorry, but when the pressure is on, he looks like Rex Grossman on caffine overload looking for a fix. No one who is so allegedly cerebral as Manning should be as frenetic. When the Colts started that last drive, and Manning dropped back, his body language screamed “Gottathrowitfast gottathrowitfast”…and those two fumbles while being sacked? Grossman-esque.
7. I believe that we can expect more media heads to experience multiple Farvegams in the second half of the season. Brett Favre is experiencing a renaissance because he’s shown consistently better judgement than I have seen from him in a few years.
Simply put, for the first time in years, coach Mike McCarthy has gotten Brett to limit his boneheaded throws that are always ALWAYS glossed over by the media (i.e. “Favre-gasms”) with “Brett is a gunslinger”, “Brett sure is having fun…”
By the way, why wasn’t the game stopped when Brett threw his record-breaking 277th pick?
8. I believe that the San Diego Chargers lost their first November game in four years on Sunday, and it won't be the last. Marty has got to chuckling.
9. I believe that Hines Ward is a man's man. He blew up Ed Reed and Tom Scott in the SAME GAME? Tell me the last time you saw a 190 pound receiver drop a couple of All-Pro head-hunters in the same CAREER, much less the same game?
10. I believe that Brian Billick has lived off his offensive genius rep for at least five years too long. Blame Randy Moss. Remember, Billick was the offensive coordinator for the record-setting Vikings with the rookie Randy Moss catching 17 TDs, and the team scoring a record 556 points, which may go down in flames to this year's Pats squad.
Since The Offensive Guru moved to B-more, the Ravens have ranked 26th, 21st, 31st, and 24th in yardage the last four seasons. They've never been higher than 14th in the Billick era in any offensive category except once.
Bonus belief:Sebastian Janikowskijust missed a would be NFL record 64 yard FG, hitting the upright on a bomb that would have been good from at least 70 yards. And unlike Jason Elam's kick, the stadium in Oakland actually sits BELOW sea level.
Yet, when or if the record gets broken, I believe there is something about Tom Demsey’s record-setting kick in 1970 – perhaps it was the posts on the goal line (which meant that Dempsey launched it from his own 37 yard line), the old-school kicking style, or the NFL Films shot from the side…it will always be number one in my book.
A guy who went to Canada to play quarterback for six years because one look at his skin made teams think “defensive back”.
Toss in a running back that had a chip on his shoulder because he was picked number 40 in the draft, an offensive lineman who was cut by two different teams before finding his All-Pro niche in Miami. A converted center who went on to be a dominating guard.
The roads to the Hall of Fame are many, and later today the NFL will announce their Hall Of Fame selections. 15 finalists. Anywhere from four to seven players and contributors will be selected. For some unknown reason, no one from the NFL called me and asked to submit a ballot. The nerve of some people.
So here is my look at the following finalists: Reggie White, Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Thurman Thomas, Derrick Thomas, Harry Carson, L.C. Greenwood, Claude Humphrey, Russ Grimm, Bob Kuechenberg, Michael Irvin, Art Monk, Gary Zimmerman, John Madden, and Rayfield Wright. The last two are special selections from the Veteran’s Committee.
The 15 finalists all make a great case for enshrinement. Some of this group is stone cold locks. Others make a very strong case, but perhaps not this year. Here are my picks:
The Locks
Reggie White – The late, great Minster of Defense might have been the best two-way lineman who ever played the game. An absolute beast against the run, also racked up 190 sacks in his career, as I pointed out in an earlier article. Had 21 sacks in 12 games in 1987, a record average of 1.75 sacks a game for the season. 124 of his sacks came in his 121 games with the Eagles. Had 10+ sacks in nine consecutive seasons, another NFL record. Whether lining up at tackle or defensive end, Reggie ruled. 13-time All-Pro, and 13 Pro Bowls as well. Added intangible: Reggie's signing with Green Bay was a huge turning point for that franchiese in the free agency era. The conventional wisdom held that premiere black players would never go to Green Bay, which previously had all of the appeal of Siberia in January.
Why he is a lock: You are kidding aren’t you? His bust was cast sometime during the early 1990s while he was still active. The only real regret is that this is a posthumous honor.
Troy Aikman – Won three Super Bowls with the Cowboys, which will get you in the Hall even if you ran the wishbone. As it happened Troy could throw pretty well too. Six Pro Bowls and 3 All-Pro selections attest to that. This was an offense that really centered on Emmitt Smith (in my opinion the true heart and soul of those Cowboy teams), but when the Cowboys put it up, Aikman was as accurate as they came. Career 61.7 percent passer. Try this stat: 41 times, Aikman completed 70 percent of his passes (minimum of 20 attempts) in a game.
I’ll be honest, his career numbers pale compared to many of his contemporaries, and I feel that when the Cowboys were no longer able to dominate on the ground, Aikman wasn’t a player would could put the 'Boys on his back and carry them.
Nevertheless, he was the trigger man on the winningest team of the 1990s (Aikman had a record 90 wins in the decade).
Why he is a lock: Which part of “Three Time Super Bowl Champion” didn’t you get? The man is a lock. Just don’t ask me to rate him in the top-15 of all time quarterbacks.
Thurman Thomas – I have a soft spot for Houston football players, especially ones I saw play in high school. “Thermal” was the key to the Bills K-Gun offense along with QB Jim Kelly. Led the NFL in total offense a record four consecutive seasons. Ran for more yardage in the 1990s than anyone not named Emmitt Smith or Barry Sanders. Five consecutive All-Pro selections, and should have been named MVP of Super Bowl XXV. Who cares that he was on the losing team of the closest Super Bowl ever? With career totals of 12,074 yards rushing and over 400 receptions. Besides Thomas, only Marcus Allen and Walter Payton are members of the 10,000 yard/400 catch club. Played in four Super Bowls, and is the all-time playoff record holder for touchdowns and points. He was drafted in the second round after a stellar college career at Oklahoma State (Barry Sanders sat behind him for two years), and used that snub as fuel. Sometimes, he seemed to never get over it, but can you argue with performance?
Why he is a lock: Thomas was a rare talent as double-threat runner/receiver with a high level of production.
Got to put them in…
Harry Carson – In an earlier article, I noted that Harry Carson was one of the greatest players not to be in a Hall Of Fame in his sport. The heart and soul of those great Giant defenses, the signal-caller for the best linebacking corps of the decade, Carson made 9 Pro Bowls, and six times made the All-NFL first or second team. Respected football analyst Paul Zimmerman calls Carson, “The best short yardage and goal line linebacker who ever played.” As solid in pass coverage as he was against the run, Carson maintained a high level for his entire 13 year career. Stirred a controversy last year when he told the Hall Of Fame to take him off the ballot and leave him alone. I love his style.
Chances – I think he probably helped himself last year with his comments. Harry should have been in years ago, and is probably wondering, “What in the hell happened to that advantage I was supposed to get from playing in New York?” He’s on Dr. Midnight’s ballot, and I give him a 75-25 chance of being in this year.
Warren Moon – He didn’t throw his first NFL pass until he was almost 28 years old. Coming out of U-Dub, scouts saw the strong arm, the mobility, and thought, "There goes a safety...". So off Moon went to the Edmonton Eskimos, where he won five titles in six seasons. Moon reminds me of the great black baseball players of the 1930's and 40's who spent their best years in the Negro Leagues, then got a late start in the so-called majors and dominated.
Even now, some scouts from the late 1970s will say that he would have been drafted as a quarterback. Sure you did. Moon and Steve Young are the two most underrated quarterbacks in NFL history.
Consider that despite the late start, he finished his career third all-time in attempts, completions, and yardage, and fourth in touchdown passes. If he had had those six years in the NFL instead of Canada, Dan Marino (and everyone else) would be chasing Moon in the record books.
As it happens, over his 23 seasons in two leagues, Moon threw for 70,325 yards and 425 touchdowns. But let’s just stick to the NFL numbers no? His 527 yards in a 1990 game versus Kansas City is second in NFL history, and the most since the AFL-NFL merger. A record eight straight Pro Bowls, and nine total (the last appearance an MVP one at 40!). 49 300-yard games in his career, only behind Marino and Dan Fouts. Nearly 50,000 NFL passing yards and 292 touchdown passes. Strictly on an aesthetic level, Moon threw the prettiest, most effortless ball ever.
Chances – I say he is a lock. However some critics have tried to diminish his numbers as a product of his offense (overrated nonsense), and the fact that his teams never went to a Super Bowl (didn’t stop Dan Fouts and Sonny Jurgensen to name two) will hurt him in the eyes of some. Rate him as an 85% chance of induction this year.
Claude Humphrey – I’m always on the lookout for guys who were overlooked by the general public. Humphrey is already forgotten by many, but this was one of the great pass rushers of all-time. In an earlier blog on great pass rushers, I left him off my list as well. Shame on me.
Part of the problem is that most of his best years were on some bad – really bad – Atlanta Falcon teams. Yet he still had 122 career sacks in 14 seasons, and he missed all of one season due to an injury. In his second-to-last season, he had 14.5 sacks for the Eagles, helping them reach the Super Bowl. Seven times he was selected to the All-Pro team, all while with Atlanta. In the 13 seasons he played, he led his team in sacks nine of those seasons.
Chances – Playing on mostly mediocre teams, where opponents could scheme him out o####ame plan without penalty, he still averaged nearly 9.5 sacks a season. L.C. Greenwood played in the same era and did not approach his pass rushing numbers (although Atlanta was usually bad enough where Humphrey probably got considerably more snaps to sack a passer). Humphrey gets my vote, but I think his chances are 30% of getting in this year.
John Madden – I have more on Big John in my earlier column on the Top 10 players/coaches not in the Hall Of Fame. Madden has the highest winning percentage (an incredible .739) in NFL history for coaches with 100+ wins. I can’t ignore a raw number that impressive, and let us not forget that the Raiders played in seven conference championship games during his tenure. Six times, the Raiders fell to the eventual Super Bowl champions, including twice each to the great Steeler and Dolphin dynasties.
Chances – Being a Senior’s selection is a great booster. Big John is in on my ballot. My regret is that I have to sacrifice a spot for a player, and an offensive lineman paid for that. Another factoid I heard driving yesterday:
Madden's record against 10 other Hall Of Fame coaches? 33-12-1. Not bad at all...
In case you haven’t noticed by now. I’ve got seven on my ballot: Aikman, T. Thomas, White, Moon, Madden, Humphries, and Carson. The dance card is full.
With deep regrets, here are the guys who have to "Wait ‘til Next Year:
Michael Irvin – Ironic that his nickname “The Playmaker”, while being accurate, also eerily recalls the short-lived and controversial TV show on that Other Sports Network. Irvin certainly was a magnet for off the field drama, but on the field, he was a beast. Specialized in pushing off and shielding defenders from the ball. Worked the deep routes, short routes and everything in between. Averaged an outstanding 15.9 yards a catch in his career.
There is a temptation to compare Irvin to Art Monk because of their size, but Irvin was faster and more explosive, and an equally tenacious blocker. Despite playing in a run-oriented offense, and having his career end early due to a neck injury, Irvin still put up impressive numbers with 750 catches in 12 seasons, despite losing most of two seasons to injury. Five Pro Bowls, three Super Bowl rings as part of the “The Trinity” (Irvin, Aikman, and Smith), and 47 100 yard receiving games.
Chances – Most years, an absolute lock. But given his occasional off-field issues, including the incident that got him in hot water a month ago, he may get bumped for a year especially given the depth of the candidates this year. He gets in next year on my ballot, but only because I have no room for him this year. I think Da Hall selects him this year at the expense of Moon and Grimm.
Derrick Thomas – I suggest you read my Great Pass Rushers blog for more stats on Derrick. Another nominee that will sadly be a posthumous one, Derrick was a devastating edge rusher who still had some good football left in him when an auto accident paralyzed him and eventually ended his life far too early. Based on his body of work, while impressive, I can’t put him in ahead of someone as deserving (and long-suffering) as Harry Carson, who was a steadier player who was a shutdown defender against the run, an area while DT was sometimes indifferent to.
Bob Kuechenberg – It pains me to say nice things about anyone who went to Notre Dame. But how can I not sing the praises about a player who got cut twice, played semipro ball for seven games (and only got paid for two of them) before getting signed by the team where he found fame? Miami signed a free agent salesman. They got a six-time Pro Bowler who was durable, tough, and versatile enough to be named an All-Pro at two different positions in the same season. In 1978 he spilt the season between guard and tackle. He made the Pro Bowl at guard and was named All-AFC at tackle. Was a key part of the Dolphins’ offensive line that set an NFL record for rushing yardage in 1972, and made three straight Super Bowl appearances.
Chances – Great story, great player. Not enough offensive linemen get in as far as I’m concerned. But, the competition is a bit too stiff this year. I count three locks (White, Aikman, and T. Thomas), and at least one of the senior’s selections will make it. The Hall Of Fame almost never takes more than four to five selections, and even with me maxing out my seven slots, I can’t fit him in. This year.
Art Monk – Like Chris Noth on “Sex in the City”, “Big” is usually the adjective that is used to describe Art Monk. And in his case, no Hollywood embellishment is needed. 6-3 and a solid 210 pounds, Monk was the prototype of a trend away from small, quick receivers to the type of player who could muscle through jam coverage and go across the middle and operate between the hashmarks. Caught an NFL record 940 passes at the time of his retirement. Set a single season record of 106 catches, both marks have been surpassed since. As tough blocking as he was going over the middle. As devoid of ego as they come. Twice made All-Pro, and selected to three Pro Bowls.
Chances – Not all that good. I know, I rated him as highly deserving previously, but when going into the “Upon Further Review” mode, Art Monk has some flaws that put him behind some of his peers. While he has three Super Bowl rings, which should count for something, his lack of a downfield game and only three Pro Bowls in a long career will hurt him. Career average of just 13.5 yards a catch (Irvin averaged 15.9 by comparison), and never scored in double figures in touchdowns. My feeling is that Art will need some help from the Senior's Committee down the road if he doesn’t get voted in within the next 3-5 years.
Russ Grimm – Oink oink baby. The last thing a hapless defender often saw in the 1980’s was number 66 pulling on the famed Washington “Counter Gap”. Russ Grimm and Joe Jacoby were the Gene Upshaw and Art Shell of the 1980’s – in other words, a utterly devastating left side on offense. Grimm was a charter member of “The Hogs”, the premiere offensive line of the 1980’s. When the Hogs ran left it was behind Grimm and Jacoby. In the clutch, Washington went left, and usually they got the job done. Grimm‘s excellence was rewarded with four straight Pro Bowls and All-Pro selections. He topped it off by being voted to the All-Decade Team of the 1980s.
Chances – Grimm is worthy. But more worthy than Gary Zimmerman, who was first or second team All-NFL eight times? You can’t beat the marketing edge that being A Hog gives you. But fairness says that Russ waits another year or two.
Rayfield Wright - My earlier version of this post did not have my views on Rayfield. My apologies, because the "Big Cat" was hard to miss. An anchor of the Cowboys offensive line for fourteen years, he was the only Cowboy to have played in the Ice Bowl and also play on all five Super Bowl teams of the 1970s. Six straight All-Pro selections, six Pro Bowls, and he made the All-Decade Team of the 1970s.
Chances - In my mind, if you make an All-Decade team, you should be in the Hall. That denotes a high level of play for an extended period of time. The Senior's tag certainly helps. And he clearly has been overlooked. I do NOT believe in this silly "anti-Cowboy bias" talk that has been going around - and note that Wright just entered the Cowboys Ring Of Honor two years ago. Clearly, he hadn't been getting the love for a while. Having said all of that, Wright should get in. The question is, will there been enough room in this year's very impressive class?
L.C. Greenwood – I don’t what it is, but “L.C.” just sounds like a bad-#### football name. I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I'm running FAR away from a 6’6” man named L.C. you know? And for 13 seasons, many NFL offenses tried. Most of them didn’t make out too well. Ask Fran Tarkenton!
Few defensive lines in NFL history could approach the tandem of Greenwood and Joe Greene. Only 74.5 sacks in his career, but he had to share with teammates on probably the greatest defense in NFL history. Tremendous big game performer with two sacks, three batted down passes and a safety in SB IX, and three sacks in SB X. Twice an All-Pro, five times an All-AFC performer.
Chances - Strong performer, but not quite in a class with some of his peers. We’ve also seen darn near every teammate and ballboy of his on the Steelers teams of the 70's inducted already. That tends to work against you after a while.
Oh and the gold shoes? “#### Eye for the All-Pro” can’t be far away...
Gary Zimmerman – Eight Pro Bowl selections for an outstanding offensive guard who made All-Pro with Minnesota and Denver. Even by offensive line standards, he flew under the radar. This is one reason why he will not make it in this year. I rate him as a lock within five years. It should be sooner, but Russ Grimm and Bruce Matthews (when eligible) will get press ahead of Gary.
Perusing the news on the NFL coaching firings (which felt a bit like a coaching obituary) gave me flashbacks to the climatic scene in “The Godfather” where Michael Corleone decides to handle his business and liquidate the competition.
Oh come on, dig if you will the picture... of Paul Tagliabue and the owners of the Texans, Vikings, Rams, Chiefs, Raiders, etc at a christening ceremony while Tice, Capers, Sherman, et al get whacked.
“Al Davis, do you renounce Satan?”
(Tice gets Donald Trump-ed on a cruise boat, Super Bowl tickets falling from his hand…)
(Mike Sherman on a rubbing table, redeeming a spa coupon from his friend Brett Favre – BLAM! In the eye!)
“I do.”
(Norv Turner gets it between some revolving doors, while Al Davis smiles grimly from across the street)
(Jim Haslett is ambushed in San Antonio, wandering lost as he forgot for the 923rd time that he wasn’t in 'Nawlins anymore.)
(Dom Capers gets it while getting a parking ticket from a uniformed cop who looks a lot like Charlie Casserly…)
The only thing missing from this sequence is much-beloved (heh heh heh) Brian Billick as the treacherous Carlo Rizzi. Imagine…
Ozzie Newsome and Steve Biscotti strolls into Billick’s office, while Billick is frantically dialing on the phone, getting "Your number has been disconnected or is no longer in service" when calling Norv Turner
Ozzie: ”Brian, you still have Santino, uh I mean Kyle Boller to answer for…”
BB: (pale, sweating, whispering) “Noooo…I’m Brian Billick…”
Ozzie: You think you could fool a real football mind with that farce from Cal? Come on now…
BB: “I swear to you Ozzie, I thought he’d be the next Randall Cunningham…”
Ozzie: “Please Brian. Don’t tell me you’re innocent. It just insults my intelligence, and makes me very angry. I played with Bernie Kosar, remember?” Now tell me the truth, who pushed you to take Boller? Was it Barzini?
BB: Huh?
Biscotti: Who was it? Modell or Fassell?
Billick: Actually sir, you OK'ed it.
Ozzie: Don’t remind me. That will be fixed…now, get out of my sight…”
Billick rushes gratefully into the car.
Lurking in the back of the Ravens-purple Escalade…Rick Neuheisel.
Just then, Rick gets text messaged from Ozzie. “Nevermind. He’s gets another year. Why I have no idea.”
Rick: "Are you sure this is the guy anyway?"
Ozzie: Why do you ask?
Rick: He looks like our Brian, but I dunno... he looks weird... sort of ...humble...
Ozzie: "It's a start..."
---------------
OK, that was fun. But that is the thing about mass layoffs in any line of work, and I've been through a couple; You knew it would happen. It still doesn’t prepare you for the impact.
Monday, five coaches were fired, and #### Vermeil retired. Today, Norv Turner went down in flames. The bloodletting hasn’t ended either, as #### Jauron is an interim coach facing the likely axe.
Fact is, the NFL usually tends to be the most brutal of meritocracies. Turner couldn’t develop a consistent offense with Randy Moss, Lamont Jordan, and Jerry Porter.
See ya.
Jim Haslett might have gotten the rawest deal of all, given Hurricane Katrina, a wacky owner and the non-support of the NFL. However, the (S)aints have been chronic underachievers for the past few years.
Bye Jim.
Given four years to run the show in Houston, Dom Capers couldn’t keep David Carr from looking like a Crip crashing a Bloods picnic.
In the immortal words of the late commedian Robin Harris, “gotta go gotta go”!
For all of the offensive brilliance of Mike Martz, he constantly forgot that Steven Jackson and future Hall Of Famer Marshall Faulk were allowed to run the ball on consecutive plays - and we won’t even get into the political drama. The Rams may want to hire #### Cheney or Karl Rove for the front office if it gets any worse.
Mike Sherman had the backing of Brett Favre, but I’m not sure that is an endorsement you want. I mean, Brett led the NFL in interceptions, and is good for at least three really silly throws in a game. Clearly new leadership is needed on the frozen tundra.
Now we move to the next phase. The wooing and hiring.
Every so often, somebody just has to tick me off over something. And people ought to know better by now...
A few weeks back, FOX Sports resident Know-It-All Elliot Kalb wrote a piece proclaiming the late, great, Reggie White as the greatest sacker ever, and he went on to give his top 10 pass rushers ever.
Now, I don't have beef with that per se. It's his opinion, and you can add all of the standard disclaimers. Where Elliott dropped the ball is where he gave short shrift he gave to anyone who played before 1982, when sacks became an official stat.
As Deacon Jones, the Godfather Of The Sack said, "Since when does ‘all-time’ begin in 1982?"
You see, QB sacks are kind of like blocked shots in the NBA. No one who knows sports disputes that Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain blocked more shots than anyone else in NBA history. In fact, like their rebounding totals, I seriously doubt that it is even close. NBA ref Earl Strom believed that Wilt and Russell averaged at least 8 blocks a game in their primes.
Alas the NBA didn't even keep blocked shots as an official stat until 1974, the year after Chamberlain hung it up. This means that that record will always have an unspoken asterisk behind it. After all, how would it sound if home runs wasn't kept as a stat until 1970, and Barry Bonds hits 800?
Now the NFL doesn't have to have that problem. An amazing guy named John Turney decided to find out if Bruce Smith really held the all-time sack record when he "broke" LT's "mark". He went through years of film, game charts, play-by-play descriptions since 1960. Eight years he worked on this project (I think we should also give even more props to his spouse/S.O.) and he came up with a list we can enjoy. Be aware though, that it may get modified a bit, and only goes through the 1999 season.
Bottom line: Stats only take you so far. Context is even more important.
First: Any great player, be it Deacon Jones, Jack Youngblood, whomever - if they played prior to 1978 season, they had 14 games to hunt QBs. Prior to 1961, the schedule was 12 games. Second: Defensive linemen probably were able to get away with more in the past. Offensive linemen could not extend their arms to pass block before the mid-1970s. The headslap (pioneered with devastating effect by Jones and Rich "Tombstone" Jackson) was legal until 1977. On the other hand, there are considerably more chances to sack QBs today with increased passing, and offensive blocking techniques and pass protection schemes are more advanced. So it might be a wash, but the longer schedule certainly favors the D-linemen of today, as well as the now-common practice of moving a great lineman around the field to take advantage of mismatch. Paul "Dr. Z" Zimmerman of SI (who's forgotten more football than I have ever seen) has a great list. Here is mine:
1. Reggie White - The Minister of Defense was one of the first linemen I remember who was moved around constantly so that he could pick on an offensive weak link. Reggie was fast enough to play end, and possibly the strongest lineman ever, and could destroy any and all blocking schemes as a tackle. Dr Z. points out that if Reggie had had the headslap in his arsenal, his numbers would be totally sick. I have to agree.
Trivia for you: Reggie had a 21 sack season for the Eagles. In 12 games. Yes, a 12 game season because of the NFL strike, he got 21 sacks. Damn.
Trivia Point 2: Not too many people get rules passed because of them. Larry Allen so frustrated Reggie with a "jam" move to the face, especially in playoff games against the Packers, that the NFL finally banned that move.
2. David "Deacon" Jones - The man who did the most to market the sack was also one of the best. Maybe THE best, as he had 173.5 sacks in 14 seasons. The cornerstone of the Fearsome Foursome had consecutive seasons with 21 and 22 sacks (in a 14 game schedule), and I'm fairly sure that Bart Starr didn't lie down and give him any free ones either. Once beat Hall Of Famer Forrest Gregg for four sacks in one game. Lombardi double-teamed him regularly after that. And watching his footage and listening to him, I am convinced that the man was slightly crazy and took great pride in that.
3. Lawrence Taylor - I'm putting LT here simply because he was a revolutionary. 142 career sacks in 12 seasons, including at least one 20+ sack season (16 games). He did it from the right outside LB spot, although the Giants would move him around as well. Too strong for running backs, and most tight ends. Too fast for linemen. Too crazy for anyone other than Bill Parcells. When he talked about hitting somebody so hard that "snot bubbles" came out, he was serious. And you knew it. Some say he made the left offensive tackle position a glamour one because you needed one to handle him and the LT clones that every team sought.
4. Jack Youngblood - We all know he played a Super Bowl (and well) with a broken leg. Take that T.O. What most people don't know is that he racked up 151 sacks (mostly in the 14-game season era) as the strong side end (it was Fred "Hunter" Dryer on the other side). Youngblood got tagged by TEs as well as O-linemen most plays, so that makes his numbers especially impressive. The man was a bad-####, okay?
5. Bruce Smith - 200 career sacks, and 14.5 more in the playoffs according to Kalb. He probably hung around a bit too long (19 seasons), but if they are going to pay you, I quote Tupac; I ain't mad at cha. Incredibly quick, a conditioning freak, and relentless. Some would say he wasn't as complete as the men ahead of him on the list, but Smith actually got tougher against the run as he got older. I still can't believe the Oilers passed on him.
6. Gino Marchetti - Dr. Z. and I believe in rating this Old School destroyer this high. He was voted one of the best ends in NFL history at the league's 50th anniversary. Gino was another revolutionary who used incredible speed to nail at least one 20 sack season. Also pioneered the "grab and throw" move that is commonplace today.
7. Alan Page - Yes, I'm a Vikings fan. But hear me out: 15 seasons, he racked up 148.5 sacks, most of those in a 14-game season.
As a defensive tackle.
As a 245 pound defensive tackle. In fact, he played effectively late in his career at 228. And in case you are wondering, yes, that was really light even then. He also was the first defensive player to win a League MVP in 1971. Extremely intelligent, His Honor (he's currently a State Supreme Court Justice in Minnesota) also added superhuman quickness to take down enemy QBs. No other full-time DT is close to his totals. Given how seldom DTs turn in double-figure sack seasons, this record may stay a good long time.
8. Willie Davis - He was the best pass rusher on probably the best defense of his decade, the 1960's. The Packers had at least five Hall Of Fame starters on defense, Davis was one of them. Unofficially had at least two seasons with 20+ sacks. Can't wait to see the ultimate numbers, but he has to be on this list.
9. Al "Bubba" Baker - This list isn't about complete linemen, okay? I want to know how many heads you can collect when it's a passing situation. And for the first six years or so of his career, Bubba Baker was a wrecking crew. They used to keep a stat on how many sacks he racked up vs. games played. Understandable. He had 22-26 his rookie year, depending on whose numbers you used. Had 84.5 through his first 84 games. Finished with 128.5
10. Michael Strahan - I finally woke up to my fellow TSU (Texas Southern University) alumni in the 2000 NFC Title game. He absolutely embarrassed the late Korey Stringer; the Vikes Pro Bowl left tackle. I was ready to trash Korey, shame on me. Strahan is that good. I still don't like calling him the record holder. Can you imagine the uproar if Barry Bonds deliberately struck out to give Randy Johnson a strikeout record?
11. Derrick Thomas - Another great pass-rushing LB, who came closest to matching LT's pass rushing fury. Great first step and overall speed. When the Chiefs beat Houston 28-20 in a key 1994 playoff game behind Joe Montana, the real star was Derrick, who had 4 sacks of Warren Moon (the team had 9) as he just destroyed rookie (and future Pro Bowler) Brad Hopkins. In 12 seasons, he got 126 sacks, and holds the single game record of 7.
Trivia point: DT had those 7 sacks against Dave Krieg, but missed an 8th. Pity too. Krieg ducked under the sack attempt and fired the game winning TD on the final play of the game. Ouch.
12. Mark Gastineau - Part of me wants to add him just to get people riled. That is fitting, since he riled a lot of people in his day. Again, I'm rating pass rushers, not the amount of class you showed doing it. Mark got a lot of chances to stir the pot too. According to Dr. Z, he averaged over 20 sacks over three full seasons, between 1981-84 (1982 was the strike year, and he won the Defensive MVP).1984 was the year he set the "official" sack record with 22. Gastineau did it with sub 4.6 speed (!) and great use of his hands. In fact, some people think it was Mark's sacks and dances that made the Jets push the NFL to make sack totals official.
I'll add a few more names to my list, Mean Joe Greene, some call him the greatest tackle ever, but I was surprised that his sack totals were so relatively low; Randy White, the "Manster" (1/2 man, 1/2 monster). 111 sacks in his long career and the total package at tackle. Only Page had more; Fred Dean, possibly the fastest pass rusher ever. Perhaps too light to be a great run defender, but was unstoppable when turned loose on the passer; Richard Dent, a Super Bowl MVP at DE for those great Bears defenses of the 1980s; Coy Bacon, who had 130 sacks in 14 seasons, all after the age of 26! Also had 21.5 sacks one season; Chris Doleman, who had 151 sacks splitting time between DE and OLB; L.C. Greenwood, a Hall Of Fame pocket crusher for the Steel Curtain, who probably lost sacks to some of his Hall Of Fame teammates; Kevin Greene, the all-time sack-holder for linebackers (160 in 15 seasons), although he spent some time at DE; Carl Eller, who had 133.5 in 15 seasons, most as Page's teammate; and Bob Lilly, the all-time great Cowboy DT.
“Son, you be prepared to work twice as hard for half the chance.”
- Advice given by my parents to me, circa 1972. Repeated on a regular basis ever since.
It was always about The Chance.
When you grow up black in this country, you recognize that race will always Be There. The Pink Elephant in the room that is America. If you don’t subscribe to being a victim, you also know that you have to you had to acknowledge it.
Then ignore it and work twice as hard. Or else the elephant tramples you.
For too many years in the NFL, the relevant pink elephant was whether blacks could be the acknowledged leaders of their teams. That is why centers, middle linebackers and quarterbacks who were black were such rarities. Centers make the line calls. Middle linebackers were the defensive signal callers, and there is no need to explain the quarterback position. First position to fall was the middle linebacker spot, with Willie Lanier leading a vaunted Kansas City defense in the 1960’s and 70’s. Eventually we have now got to the point where no one seriously thinks about switching a Vince Young to receiver. And that is real progress. You forget a future Hall Of famer like Warren Moon threw his first NFL pass at age 28.
2005. The elephant is not as pink as before. Smaller too. And maybe the elephant is gone from this corner of society for good. Because only the head coaching spot remains.
It is great to see the success of the Big Game Hunters Marvin Lewis, Lovie Smith, and Tony Dungy. It is easy to forget how hard the road was for each man to travel. For example, Dungy was the youngest defensive coordinator in NFL history at 29 with the Steelers. In his stints with Pittsburgh, Kansas City, and Minnesota, Dungy's defenses were always among the NFL's best and most opportunistic. Yet, it took 10 years to get his shot. I mean how can anyone explain that? How in the hell did David Shula – David Freakin Shula - get a five year run in Cincy ahead of Dungy? And when he got his chance, it was with the pathetic Tampa Bay Bucs, the worst franchise in NFL history up to that point. All he did was turn them into a perennial contender.
In two years.
Half a chance.
Twice as good.
In fact, with the exception of Marvin Lewis, everyblackcoach in NFL history to date has gotten his team to the playoffs within two seasons. Art Shell, Ray Rhodes, Dennis Green, Dungy, Herman Edwards, Lovie Smith all did it in their 1st or 2nd season with their first teams. Only Edwards can be said to have walked into a situation that was not marked “Total Disaster”. Half a chance.
Cleveland Browns fans should be inspired.
I’m sure someone will read this and accuse me of bringing up the so-called “Race Card”, as if life is some game of BizzaroWorld game of Texas Hold ‘Em that I can win playing it at any time.
Please.
Don’t be upset with me. If you’re a Lions fan, be upset with Matt Millen because Crennell, Edwards, Smith and Lewis were available, and you got stuck with Marty Morningwheg and Steve Mariucci.
Bills fans, you must be happy with Gregg Williams and Mike Mularkey right now. And Bears fans? Oh yeah, the front office got wise and got Lovie.
The tragedy is that the NFL had to mandate interviews just to get a qualified minority candidate in the front door – which met with some criticism. Not surprising, because doing The Right Thing isn’t easy, and seldom painless.
You know, whenever we talk about race in this country, and our efforts to atone – or at least redeem - for past sins, some people usually think it’s about getting even.
It’s never been about that. It’s about starting even. About the simple acknowledgment of The Elephant when it matters. Hell, anyone can acknowledge it 50 years later.
Perhaps acknowledging The Elephant will help Art Shell. The man is still waiting for a second chance - hell he's still waiting for a serious interview - despite a 54-38 (.587) record. You look for reasonable, rational reasons why when Dave Wannstedtgoes 82-86 in two tries, and Norv Turner gets two shots to go 58-80-1. Ask yourself why Sherman Lewis never got a chance. I don’t want to look in that dark corner, but when the rational explanations are exhausted, what are you left with? But now, just maybe, we’re seeing an end to an era. It’s why I root for a Colts-Bengals AFC Title Game.
So that when I see it, I can say it. Ding ####. The Elephant is dead. Here’s to The Chance.
Yo RedMan (not the rapper), er, Mr. Claus. Can I call you Brother Santa?
Relax, this isn't about me. I'm thinking of my fellow men and women, so here goes. Get that pen and pad ready. I was thinking that my friends in the the FOX Blog World could help me on this if they want.
Anyhow, here is my list:
David Stern - A FUBU jogging suit, just so he could abide by a better dress code when he sits courtside.
Larry Brown - The patience of Job while he works his magic on the Knicks. And a true point guard who can put up with Larry Brown.
Phil Jackson - A true number two scorer to pair with Kobe.
Marvin Lewis - An AFC Title Game matchup against the Colts.
Terrell Owens - A clue and some self-esteem. Yeah Santa, I said self-esteem. There is a real difference between loving yourself and being in love with yourself. If that's too tall an order, how about a series called, "The Surreal Life: Terrell and Donovan"?
Brett Favre - A coach who isn't awed by The Legend Of Brett Favre. You know a coach who will see one of those "What in the @#&*#$@ was he thinking!" throws that Brett is good for three times a game, and ask him, "WHAT IN THE @^(*@# ARE YOU THINKING!"
Jose Canseco - A chance to play in the World Baseball Classic. Not sure which planet he'll represent yet.
Ron Artest - See Terrell Owens. Oh and Santa, go extras on the Common Sense please?
Barry Bonds - Public drug tests. And a 100% pass rate.
The NHL - Can I get back to you on that one Santa?
The Chicago Bears - A playoff game in a foot of snow. I love snow Santa...
The Philadelphia Eagles Front Office - A visit from Jacob Marley. Hey, T.O. may have been a Wack-O, but you fight with every vet over money except for McNabb. It's caught up to you. Finally.
George Steinbrenner - Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens - The Boston Red Sox
Julio Franco - A chance to drive in Rickey Henderson after a single and steal of second.
Serena Williams - A year of good health. And another S.I. Swimsuit spread, please?
And a final wish, a serious one Santa,
To Tony Dungyand Family - Peace of mind from The Man, and all of the consolation that we can muster. I'm just one of many many sports fans and others who recognize your class exceeds your considerable coaching talent. Santa, make sure that Tony knows that, ok?
Hey peeps, It seemed like a good time to answer a few questions that people have asked me off-line, and in repsonse to blogs.. Coach Of The Year - Honestly, I focused on the AFC. Simple. In the NFC, the only candidates to me are Lovie Smith and Mike Holmgren. Jim Mora Jr. had a chance, but Atlanta can't stay consistent. And I will admit, the Sunday Night Smackdown applied by Da Bears had a big influence on my mythical vote. Seattle is on pace for a 13-3 record, but honestly, Holmgren had underachieved in seasons past. His Super Bowl past is the only reason why he kept his job to this date. I look at this performance as his team FINALLY playing to the level that many expected. And I still question how good his defense is, but when you have a hammer like Stephen Alexander, all things are possible. Which leaves Lovie Smith of Da Bears.
I don't care how weak the NFC North is, when you play as well as they have with Kyle Orton starting your first 12 games, and your 5th overall pick barely getting on the field, that is coaching. Pure and simple, Lovie Smith can coach defense. The Rams haven't been the same since he left. You look at Grossman's injury, a weak passing game, players breaking a teammate's jaw - nothing derail them. Now you can say that this looks a lot like the 2000 Bears team - that team went 13-3, but was clearly not as good as its record. That team also had a smashmouth running game with Anthony Thomas, a limited by careful QB in Jim Miller, and a nasty defense. Time will tell how this Bears team will go, after all, the Vikings still have a chance to steal the division. But there is no doubt that Lovie's bunch can win at least one playoff game in the NFC. All in all he gets my vote for NFC Coach of The Year. But if I had to pick one coach for the the *NFL* CoY, it will be Marvin Lewis. Not just because if the Bengals played the Bears, I think the Bengals would win in convincing fashion. It's because Lewis had to dig this team out of a deeper hole than Lovie Smith (and the Bears weren't exactly a favored destination). The Orange Tigers wasn't just a bad team - the Bengals were a bad organization, and had been for a long time. Cincy plays in a tougher conference and division. Lovie should win a deserving NFC Coach of the Year, but Marvin Lewis gets mine for the AFC/NFL coach. -------------------------------------------
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.
I know, you still want the MVP to go to Brady. After all, if Troy Aikman says it, it must be true, right? And a receiver is only as good as his quarterback after all.
