After seing all of the crazy sports news which has gone on in the last few days, I just couldn't resist putting this edition of the Random #### Rant on the presses.
Let me just start by saying this last weeks Monday Night Football game was just insane. My god, the Bears, who looked unstoppable to this point, were being absolutely flattened offensively by a weak Cardinals defense. The Cardinals lead 23-3 heading to the end of the 3rd Quarter, a score that no one imagined, and I went to sleep figuring the Bears had no chance of putting any offense together to make a comeback.
I was right.
The offense continued to suck, Grossman did so bad that I ended up winning a fantasy game against someone who was AHEAD of me. Grossman's game was Leaf-esque, and they couldn't run to boot. But right at the end of the 3rd quarter, the Bears D got a fumble for a TD. Then late in the 4th, they got another defensive touchdown. Even then, the Bears were still down by 6 points...but they get a punt return TD? My God. Then Neil Rackers, who was perfect last year, missed a game winning 40 yd FG?
I have no idea what to think anymore about this NFL season...
The Cardinals choked this game away. They've never had a lead like this, and they sat on the ball. This team has a horrible offensive line, Edge James couldn't gain a yard to save his life. And how about the Dennis Green rant?
But look at all of the teams in the NFL, and can you find a "flawless" team? The Colts have a horrible defense, the Broncos and Ravens have terrible offenses, and the Bears looked like total #### last night. Maybe the Chargers are the best team in football, but this last week was crazy. The Redskins lost...to The TITANS! Cinci lost to the Bucs, the Chiefs got mauled by Pittsburgh, and the Saints beat the Eagles.
Once again, it proves that ANYTHING can happen in the NFL.
YOU'RE FIRED Lots of people fired the last few days. Sticking with the Cardinals, they fired offensive cooridinator Keith Rowen. Maybe he is the reason for that terrible offensive line. Another season and the Cardinals are disapointing...and the coaches are always the scapegoats.
Sticking with the Fired theme, the Ravens fired offensive coordinator Jim Fassel. Now Fassel is a talented coach, but once again, when a unit struggles, the coach is to blame. But it isn't Fassel's fault they are bad. They have a offensive line that only has one player that is good, and they have a burnout back in Jamal Lewis. Mike Anderson is also a guy who was really only successful because he was in the Denver system. If the Ravens want an offense, they need to aquire a talented running back.
But wait, more people are fired. Steve Lyons, an announcer for Fox got fired for "Racist remarks." or something. Alrighty then.
But it continues, Ken Macha was fired from his managers job. After he took his team TO THE ALCS! Makes me wonder how high the expectations had to be, last time I checked, getting to the ALCS is pretty good.
THE CUBS....
So now Lou Pinella is the Cubs news manager. I have no problem with this, and I think a smart veteran manager like that could do this team some good.
But some of the rumors about getting A-Rod concern me. Not that I have any problem with the Cubs getting A-Rod, but the rumors are that they would trade Carlos Zambrano.
Now for those of you who aren't Cubs fans, here's the story of Zambrano. He plays for a team with underachieving batters, and constantly hurt pitchers. With all of this, Zambrano each week would pitch great, and he's the guy they would get rid of? Hey Cubs, Pitching wins championships remember? Getting rid of your one good pitcher would be about the stupidest thing you could actually do.
But being a Cubs fan...everything that can go wrong....will go wrong...
JERRY! JERRY!
Jerry Springer reference, back when the show always featured fights. I was saddened to see the Miami/FIU brawl that I am sure you have all seen by now. It is the one of the most pathetic things I have seen, right up there with Haynesworth's stomp, and the Malace at the Palace.
I personally think, the punishment should be that both programs forfeit their remaining games. Not all of the players participated, but the ones that didn't should have tryed to stop this madness, and I don't think many did. Stomping on downed players, and using helmets as weapons is just pathetic and cowardly. NCAA, do the right thing...
And Finally, will they ever actually finish that Mets/Cardinals series? How many times is it going to rain? At this rate, that series will last to November.
Bears-Cardinals was like watching the Cubs come back from 9 down in the bottom of the ninth. It was great. I feel bad for Leinart and the Cards. They deserved a win, but the offensive play calling became abysmal after the 20-point lead.
I really don't care about Fassel.
As for the Zambrano & A-Rod talk, we'll give the Yanks Prior, Wood, and a handful of ivy. That's it!
Oh, and we'll give 'em some advice too: "Hire a masseuse because both Prior and Wood will rest far more than they pitch."
MeanD, When I woke up to see the score...my reaction was "WHAAAA?" They couldn't run to save their lives, and when that is happening, you can't finish games.
They can have Prior and Wood, those guys combine for about half a starting pitcher. They are both wimps who...
BREAKING NEWS, KERRY WOOD HAS JUST TORE HIS ARM WHILE BARBEQUEING CHEESEBURGERS!
That's what the blog is missing, a good random #### rant.
I also missed the last quarter of the MNF game. Who woulda thunk it?
I have no idea what good it does to fire an NFL coach during the season. Sure, blame the coach all you want. But how does someone new come in and make a difference with the season already underway? Eh, maybe I'm wrong.
I'm hoping they fired Macha for some other reason. Because if they were disappointed by reaching the ALCS...then they are terribly unrealistic.
A-Rod...ehh, I dunno. If the Cubs get him, he will be their entire team...just like in Texas. Depends if they just want to sell tickets, or do they want to contend?
here's another crazy cubs trade offer for a-rod...derek lee and matt murton, plus a top pitching prospect (and that handful of ivy) for a-rod and $13 million of his salary per year over the remainder of his deal.
and another thing....maybe if a-rod played for a team whose postseason series games continued to get ppd due to rain, and the games all ended up being played in november, he could become a good playoff hitter again....or maybe not.
Shooter, I'm not sure what the firing accomplishes either. I'd think midseason ones would cause more confusion than anything. Macha going still confuses me.
MeanD, Prior just got hurt laying on his couch, report it is went up to grab the remote, and blew out his knee.
Chorizo, It's a shame I missed an insane ending.
Cuz, that handful of ivy seems like a big part of the deal, maybe we can make it poison ivy and damage the Yanks forever or something. Personally, I don't think A-Rod will be playing anywhere other than New York.
Another excellent rant MrNFL. Glad you're still around. I watched the whole game, couldn't believe how badly the Bears were losing, and then......... For sure it was a team sport Monday/Bears defense never let up and I don't know how Brian U kept going and going, like the energizer bunny.
Hey little brother. Nice to see you back at it. You made my day. Another good read. I think A-Rod to the Cubs would do both of them some good. Face it...the Cubs CHEER for their players and what ARod needs is some love. He will not get that in the Bronx. Yankee fans have booed Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Santa Clause.
Great post, it covered so many interesting topics. I can't quite figure the Fassel dismissal. Maybe the Ravens coach is moving anyone off the staff who might be his replacement.
Mr. N, my fellow teen blogger. Beuatiful work as always. I saw the FIU-UM brawl on youtube, brought to mind many memories of home. Of course my home is full of drunken #### who like to punch trees and hit each other with cars for fun. Enough said.
Good to see ya back, MrNFL. Nice post. That Cards-Bears game was crazy. But, to be honest, it didn't surprise me very much. The same thing happened to them the week before against Atlanta. They had a big lead, and choked it away. There's definitely a problem there.
Speaking of the Miami-FIU brawl, the worst part is the comments of one of the announcers. He basically said FIU deserved to get beat up. He also said that he almost went down on the field to join the fighting. That's ridiculous. Of course, he was subsequently fired.
Like your posts...I followed upon your old post "Why QBs are Overrated". Good stuff. We seem to be on the samepage when it comes to player evaluation. Hey, maybe the Raiders should hire us! Keep up the good work.
Let me just start by saying this last weeks Monday Night Football game was just insane. My god, the Bears, who looked unstoppable to this point, were being absolutely flattened offensively by a weak Cardinals defense. The Cardinals lead 23-3 heading to the end of the 3rd Quarter, a score that no one imagined, and I went to sleep figuring the Bears had no chance of putting any offense together to make a comeback.
The offense continued to suck, Grossman did so bad that I ended up winning a fantasy game against someone who was AHEAD of me. Grossman's game was Leaf-esque, and they couldn't run to boot. But right at the end of the 3rd quarter, the Bears D got a fumble for a TD. Then late in the 4th, they got another defensive touchdown. Even then, the Bears were still down by 6 points...but they get a punt return TD? My God. Then Neil Rackers, who was perfect last year, missed a game winning 40 yd FG? 
Sticking with the Fired theme, the Ravens fired offensive coordinator Jim Fassel. Now Fassel is a talented coach, but once again, when a unit struggles, the coach is to blame. But it isn't Fassel's fault they are bad. They have a offensive line that only has one player that is good, and they have a burnout back in Jamal Lewis. Mike Anderson is also a guy who was really only successful because he was in the Denver system. If the Ravens want an offense, they need to aquire a talented running back.
But it continues, Ken Macha was fired from his managers job. After he took his team TO THE ALCS! Makes me wonder how high the expectations had to be, last time I checked, getting to the ALCS is pretty good. 
Now for those of you who aren't Cubs fans, here's the story of Zambrano. He plays for a team with underachieving batters, and constantly hurt pitchers. With all of this, Zambrano each week would pitch great, and he's the guy they would get rid of? Hey Cubs, Pitching wins championships remember? Getting rid of your one good pitcher would be about the stupidest thing you could actually do.
I personally think, the punishment should be that both programs forfeit their remaining games. Not all of the players participated, but the ones that didn't should have tryed to stop this madness, and I don't think many did. Stomping on downed players, and using helmets as weapons is just pathetic and cowardly. NCAA, do the right thing...
