Okay I get it...most of you don't like O.J. Simpson.
To many of you, Orenthal James Simpson is a murderer and a thug who breaks the law like the Seahawks drop playoff passes.
Anyone who is under the age of 25 has seen photos of him in handcuffs or a courtroom more than in any other pose.
But for those of us with just a few more years under our belt, we remember when O.J. was magic on Sunday and one of the most prominent faces of the
NFL in the 1970's. The man running through the airport jumping rows of seats in the Hertz commercials. The man every one of us wished we had
on our team. The best Buffalo Bill player to EVER take the field.
Some of you will come at me with Bruce Smith. He IS the career sack leader in the NFL with 200 (two more than the legendary Reggie White, but Reggie did it playing 47 fewer games).
He is an 11-time probowler and 8-time All-Pro; and was also a first pick by the Bills in 1985. But his was more of a career of being consistent for a long time time than being spectacular.
His 19-year career was extremely long for NFL standards (279 games). He amassed the numbers he did because of the sheer
number of games that he played. He never led the league in sacks averaged 10 1/2 sacks per season for his career. He was a great guy off the field too...but not the best to ever don the Bills uniform.
Jim Kelly, some of you will say, is the greatest Bill ever. After all, this H.O.F. QB did lead the Bills to four consecutive (albeit losing) SuperBowls and ranks 14th all-time in passing yards and 18th in TD's thrown.
He went to the Pro Bowl 4 times and was 1st-team All-Pro once. But, he also never led the league for passing yards for any season, led the league only one season for most TD's (31 in 1991) and then followed that year up with a season in which he led the league with 19 interceptions thrown.
Is known as a great guy off the field, role model, father, friend, better than average sportscaster and all around good guy - bust not the best to lace em up for the Bills.
Some will throw Thurman Thomas at me. His career rushing numbers were better than Simpson (12,704) and he ranks 12th all time in career rushing yards and also has 12 more touchdowns than O.J. and only trails Orenthal by one Pro-Bowl appearance. He is also now (2007 class) a Hall of Famer.
But you have to compare him to his contemporaries at the time that he played. He never led the league in rushing yards or TD's in any season during his career and was only 1st-team All-Pro once.
Maybe your favorite is Andre Reed; the 7-time Pro-Bowl wide receiver. He ranks 8th in career receiving yards and 5th in career receptions.
However, he was also never selected to be a 1st-team All-Pro during his career and never led the league in receiving yards or touchdowns in any season.
Great guy with a great career - but not the greatest to play for Bufallo.
Now, let me make my case for the greatest Bufallo Bill of all; one, Orenthal James Simpson:
In only 2 years at USC, he rushed for 3,423 yards, scored 36 TD's andled the Trojans to a 19-2-1 record.
USC won the National Title behind him in 1967 and he won the Heisman Trophy with the highest vote total (2,853)ever after finishing a close 2nd the year before.
He was then drafted as the first pick by the Bills in 1969 and went on to becaome a 6-time Pro Bowler & 5-time 1st-team All-Pro.
He led the league in rushing four times and touchdowns twice in his 9 years with the Bills.
In 1973, he broke Jim Brown's seemingly unbreakable record of 1,853 yards in a season with 2,003 of his own.
When he retired, that ranked as first all time and now still ranks as 5th.
He was selected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1985; his first year of eligibility.
When he left the league, he was the 2nd leading rusher of all time behind only Jim Brown. He now ranks as 14th.
His contemporaries at the time are mostly all hall of famers which makes his records even more improbable and impressive;
Gale Sayers, Earl Campbell, Walter Payton, Tony Dorsett, Franco Harris, John Riggins and Larry Csonka all played during Simpson's NFL tenure.
Each of these are on the short list of the best that have ever played and O.J. bested them all.
The facts in this post don't mean that I like him or would like to play golf with him, but, based on his place in the recordbooks and performance against
his contemporaries, I believe O.J. to be the greatest player ever to put on the Bills uni.
How did your wildcard picks hold up? In a week where Eli Manning became the man in New York and the Redskins went down with nary a whimper, I am 3-1. That has changed the matchups a bit because now the Giants, being the lowest remaining seed in the NFC, will face the Cowboys for the third time this year instead of the Packers.
Let me know how your picks did and register your picks for the next round. Remember, you can't say "I told you so", unless you told us to begin with. Two of my pre-season picks in the NFC are still in it, the Giants and the Cowboys. Three of my pre-season picks for the AFC are still in it. That's my best year ever so far.
The following 3 brackets are my pre-season picks and my picks just before Week 12 and my final picks. My week 12 picks were pretty close to the final match-ups. ;)
Week 1 Results and Week 2 Match-Ups:
Wildcard: My record in this round is 3-1. How did you do?
NFC: N.Y. Giants vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Bucs have been surviving by the sheer will of their defense since Garcia's injury. The Giants played with a new intensity against the Patriots and they have lost only one road game all year. This will be a low scoring game and I think the Giants win a close one
GIANTS 24-14 - I picked this one.
NFC: Seattle Seahawks vs. Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins have a quarterback who has been on fire the last four weeks and the Seahawks have seemingly removed all of the running plays from their playbook. This one won't be a war of attrition, rather an air show. The Redskins win in a high scoring contest.
SEAHAWKS 35-14 - This one went nothing like I envisioned.
**Dwindy, fridayharborgal, DezzNutz, onesouthernlion, harebear, racer256 - It is duly noted that you got this pick right. I am having my crow with some fava beans and a nice chianti.**
AFC: Pittsburg Steelers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars are the best team that has been flying under the radar all year. No one has wanted to meet this Jags team in the Playoffs. The Steelers have key injuries and don't look to get healthy before next week. Big Ben has a good game but succumbs to the Jacksonville defense by at least a touchdown.
JAGUARS 31-29 - Pittsburg put up more of I fight than I expected. Close game, but I got the outcome right.
AFC: San Diego Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans The Titans squeaked into the playoffs against the Colts in a game that Peyton Manning only played one quarter and Marvin Harrison stayed on the bench to heal a little more before coming back. With a healthy Albert Haynesworth they might be able to stuff the running game of the Chargers. With Haynesworth operating as he is now, at about half capacity; they are no match for LaDanian Tomlinson and the Chargers. Chargers, quite literally, run away with this one.
GIANTS 24-14 - I picked this one.
2nd Round:
NFC: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys Eli is having his coming out party in the last two weeks. He is finally delivering what those in the Giants organization thought he could when they traded the farm to San Diego for him a few years ago. The Giants are playing inspired football in the last two weeks since their close loss to New England. After losing twice to Dallas this year, New York will key on the receivers that have been the source of their demise in the past two against Dallas. This will open up Barber for a huge rushing game. Romo has matured a lot as a football player since last years playoff goof-ups. Where he cracked under pressure last year, this year that is when he is at his best. Dallas by 10.
NFC: Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers Which Seahawk team will show up. In a year where they have been notoriously inconsistent, that will be the determining factor to how close this game gets at the end. Green bay will be be able to key on the passing game, because the Seahawks have no running game to speak of. They do, however, have a decent secondary. Green Bay will run the ball well in this game and that will make the linebackers have to cheat up a bit, opening up the middle for some big pass plays. Brett Favre is his best in the playoffs and I don't see this game as an exception. Packers by 7.
AFC: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots Indianapolis, Philadelphia and New York showed that you can almost beat this Patriot team. Jacksonville will be the one to close the deal. When most teams come after Tom Brady, he has the quick outlets to Faulk and Moss coming back to bail him out. Jacksonville has the speed in their defensive ends and line-backing corp to take away these outlets and make Brady have to move out of the pocket. Jacksonville also has the power running game with Fred Taylor to keep the Patriots secondary honest and allow Garrard to throw the short routes he has been so successful with all year. In a shocker, Jacksonville by 3.
AFC: San Diego Chargers vs. Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis' defense that was absent for most of last year until the playoffs is alive and well in 2007. The defensive line of the Colts will stuff the run and force Phillip Rivers to beat a secondary which features one of the best DB's in the league in Sanders. Peyton Manning will have a big game against the Chargers. Indianapolis by 14.
Conference Finals:
NFC: Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys If you saw the game between them earlier in the season, I think this game will be more of the same. The Packers can't rely on the home-field advantage of their frozen wasteland of a field and they have a horrendous record in Dallas; in fact, Favre has never won there. Look for T.O. to burn the Green Bay secondary yet again and Jason Witten to have a big second half when the Packers make adjustments to keep T.O. from beating them during halftime. Favre and his mini-me Romo will both have good games, but I think Dallas' receiving corp will prove to be better. Cowboys by a touchdown.
AFC: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts This is going to be a tough game. The Jaguars will just be coming off of a week in which they ended the Patriot's hope for an undefeated season, but will have no trouble with a let down for this game since it decides who plays Dallas in the Super Bowl. Indianapolis will be trying to earn their second consecutive trip to the SB behind the arm of Peyton Manning. Jacksonville will apply pressure to Manning, but I think Manning will have prepared for it. Jacksonville WILL be able to run on Indianapolis and will methodically work the ball down the field. I think Indy will go up early, but Jacksonville will make it close in the second half as their offense wears down the Indianapolis defense. There won't be many punts in this game. I almost had to flip a coin on this one. Indianapolis wins this one by 7.
Super Bowl:
Dallas Cowboys vs. Indianapolis Colts These two teams are more evenly matched, I think, than people have previously thought. Manning, of course, is the better quarterback. He has all of the same intangibles as Romo, but with a better arm and better mind for the game. Dallas defense is stronger than Indianapolis, with the exception of the secondary. Dallas does have a receiver that can outrun the Colts DB Sanders in the cover two - Terrell Owens. I think this game will go down to the wire and, once again, Indianapolis will be beaten in a big game by a kicker. Dallas by a field goal.
Well, THERE ARE MY PICKS!
***I hate to have to add this, but considering the kind of stuff that has been showing up lately: Please keep your comments above board and intelligent. Remember that the season is not over, so everything at this point is simply yours or someone else's opinion. Respect the opinions of others and yours will also be respected. Incindiery, vulgar or crassly offensive comments have been and will be deleted.***
What a season so far. How have your picks held up? Who would have forseen the total implosions of Philadelphia and New Orleans in the NFC and the disappearance of the Jets and Ravens in the AFC. The rising of Green Bay into the winners bracket on the NFC side and the late resurgence of the Redskins to make the playoffs have also been quite unexpected. And, who would have guessed that Peyton Manning's touchdown pass and Jerry Rice's touchdown reception records would fall so soon?
The following 3 brackets are my pre-season picks and my picks just before Week 12 and my final picks. My week 12 picks were pretty close to the final match-ups. ;)
If you have your preseason picks, let me know what they were. It's fun to see just how much things change in one season.
2007 Official NFL Playoff Match-ups:
Wildcard:
NFC: N.Y. Giants vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Bucs have been surviving by the sheer will of their defense since Garcia's injury. The Giants played with a new intensity against the Patriots and they have lost only one road game all year. This will be a low scoring game and I think the Giants win a close one
NFC: Seattle Seahawks vs. Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins have a quarterback who has been on fire the last four weeks and the Seahawks have seemingly removed all of the running plays from their playbook. This one won't be a war of attrition, rather an air show. The Redskins win in a high scoring contest.
AFC: Pittsburg Steelers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars are the best team that has been flying under the radar all year. No one has wanted to meet this Jags team in the Playoffs. The Steelers have key injuries and don't look to get healthy before next week. Big Ben has a good game but succumbs to the Jacksonville defense by at least a touchdown.
AFC: San Diego Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans The Titans squeaked into the playoffs against the Colts in a game that Peyton Manning only played one quarter and Marvin Harrison stayed on the bench to heal a little more before coming back. With a healthy Albert Haynesworth they might be able to stuff the running game of the Chargers. With Haynesworth operating as he is now, at about half capacity; they are no match for LaDanian Tomlinson and the Chargers. Chargers, quite literally, run away with this one.
2nd Round:
NFC: Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys The Redskins have been hot lately and are throwing the ball exceptionally well, but they beat a Dallas team on the last day of the regular season that was resting it's players for the playoffs. The story will be much different with a healthy and rested starting lineup in there. Romo has matured a lot as a football player since last years playoff goof-ups. Where he cracked under pressure last year, this year that is when he is at his best. Dallas will be sending everyone but the cheerleaders at the Washington QB and will try to force the Redskins to beat them on the ground. Washington will key on T.O., so Jason Witten will have a monster game. Dallas by 10.
NFC: New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers Brett Favre is his best in the playoffs and I don't see this game as an exception. Eli has a great arm and Green Bay has a suspect backfield, so this one promises to be a high scoring contest. Eli, however, seems to make his worst decisions when the pressure is on and costs his team with his mistakes. The Giants as a team also have a tendancy to lose their composure when the game is on the line and get silly, costly penalties. Packers take this one by 14.
AFC: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots Indianapolis, Philadelphia and New York showed that you can almost beat this Patriot team. Jacksonville will be the one to close the deal. When most teams come after Tom Brady, he has the quick outlets to Faulk and Moss coming back to bail him out. Jacksonville has the speed in their defensive ends and line-backing corp to take away these outlets and make Brady have to move out of the pocket. Jacksonville also has the power running game with Fred Taylor to keep the Patriots secondary honest and allow Garrard to throw the short routes he has been so successful with all year. In a shocker, Jacksonville by 3.
AFC: San Diego Chargers vs. Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis' defense that was absent for most of last year until the playoffs is alive and well in 2007. The defensive line of the Colts will stuff the run and force Phillip Rivers to beat a secondary which features one of the best DB's in the league in Sanders. Peyton Manning will have a big game against the Chargers. Indianapolis by 14.
Conference Finals:
NFC: Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys If you saw the game between them earlier in the season, I think this game will be more of the same. The Packers can't rely on the home-field advantage of their frozen wasteland of a field and they have a horrendous record in Dallas; in fact, Favre has never won there. Look for T.O. to burn the Green Bay secondary yet again and Jason Witten to have a big second half when the Packers make adjustments to keep T.O. from beating them during halftime. Favre and his mini-me Romo will both have good games, but I think Dallas' receiving corp will prove to be better. Cowboys by a touchdown.
AFC: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts This is going to be a tough game. The Jaguars will just be coming off of a week in which they ended the Patriot's hope for an undefeated season, but will have no trouble with a let down for this game since it decides who plays Dallas in the Super Bowl. Indianapolis will be trying to earn their second consecutive trip to the SB behind the arm of Peyton Manning. Jacksonville will apply pressure to Manning, but I think Manning will have prepared for it. Jacksonville WILL be able to run on Indianapolis and will methodically work the ball down the field. I think Indy will go up early, but Jacksonville will make it close in the second half as their offense wears down the Indianapolis defense. There won't be many punts in this game. I almost had to flip a coin on this one. Indianapolis wins this one by 7.
Super Bowl:
Dallas Cowboys vs. Indianapolis Colts These two teams are more evenly matched, I think, than people have previously thought. Manning, of course, is the better quarterback. He has all of the same intangibles as Romo, but with a better arm and better mind for the game. Dallas defense is stronger than Indianapolis, with the exception of the secondary. Dallas does have a receiver that can outrun the Colts DB Sanders in the cover two - Terrell Owens. I think this game will go down to the wire and, once again, Indianapolis will be beaten in a big game by a kicker. Dallas by a field goal.
Well, THERE ARE MY PICKS!
If you are gonna come on this site and gloat after the playoffs, then you'd better register your opinions now as to who you think will win each game. I don't want to hear from you afterwards if you don't have the onions to put your picks out there now.
***I hate to have to add this, but considering the kind of stuff that has been showing up lately: Please keep your comments above board and intelligent. Remember that the season is not over, so everything at this point is simply yours or someone else's opinion. Respect the opinions of others and yours will also be respected. Incindiery, vulgar or crassly offensive comments have been and will be deleted.***
Here are my prospective NFL Playoff matchups as picked from the beginning of Week 12. I still stand by my picks, only now I have different reasons for believing some of them.
NFC:
Bucs vs. Giants Cowboys vs. Giants I think the Bucs will be upset by the Giants. Now that I have seen the Giants play New England, I believe it even more. One and they're done though as I believe Dallas will throw over the top to Terrell Owens and keep them honest in their coverage with Jason Witten. Seahawks vs. Vikings** Vikings** vs. Packers The Vikings shock the Seahawks with their streaky running game (pronounced Adrian Peterson) and the Packers, normally porous run defense, step and stuff that same running game the following week to meet Dallas in the NFC Final. Packers vs. Cowboys It's off to the races and this proves to be anything but a defensive battle. Dallas beats the Packers in a high scoring game to advance to the Superbowl. AFC:
Jaguars vs. Titans** Patriots vs. Jaguars The Patriots have a perfect record because they played a Marvin Harrison-less Colts team and because they didn't have to play Jacksonville in the regular season. Jacksonville beats them by a touchdown. Steelers vs. Chargers Chargers vs. Colts Big Ben eats up the Chargers secondary only to meet the Colts and have Sanders return the favor. Colts advance to play the Jaguars in the AFC Final.
Colts vs. Jaguars Colts beat Jaguars in a very physical and low-scoring game in which Jacksonville manhandles the Colts receivers at the line forcing Addai to be the man to beat them.
SUPERBOWL:
Cowboys vs. Colts Once again Indianapolis gets beaten by a kicker in a big game with Dallas winning in the final minute with a long field goal.
**CAVEATS: It looks like two of my picks might not make it into the playoffs, so I'll make these adjustments.
If the Redskins beat the Cowboys tomorrow and make it into the playoffs. I believe that Seattle will beat them and lose to the Packers in the next round.
The Browns could make the playoffs instead of the Titans. In that instance, it doesn't change much. Either one of them is going to lose to Jacksonville in that game.
There's my picks. I'm pretty close so far. How are yours holding up?
***I hate to have to add this, but considering the kind of stuff that has been showing up lately: Please keep your comments above board and intelligent. Remember that the season is not over, so everything at this point is simply yours or someone else's opinion. Respect the opinions of others and yours will also be respected. Incindiery, vulgar or crassly offensive comments have been and will be deleted.***
It happens no matter what sport I watch, from NFL football to NCAA Division III Lacrosse. I sit down with a cold drink, snacks and remote control; take off my shoes and prop my feet up on the stool in front of the couch. I switch on the TV and hear some talking head start the pre-game show and talk ‘till they have nothing left to say. Then, they bring out their resident expert to tell what the determining factors are that might give one team an edge over the other. Now, instead of saying something that is even remotely intelligent, this #### will start talking about the “X” Factor. The X-Factor this and the X-factor that. Aaaaarrrgh!
What the hell is an X-Factor? Why do I care? Out of the thousands of things you could choose to say, why X-Factor? It’s gotta be the single most annoying, and overused phrase in recent memory. It’s usually the same guy that describes any team that has won more than 5 games consecutively as “developing a swagger”…another phrase I could do without hearing for the next 40 or 50 years.
Am I alone on this one, or can you sum up 80% of everything these guys say into a list of about 10 stupid phrases?
1 The X-Factor 2 Team is playing with a swagger (they make corrective shoes for that) 3 They’ve gotta dig deep if they are gonna have a chance today 4 At the end of the day, all that matters is blah blah blah blah 5 etc...
AAaaaaaargh! Chris Berman shut up! I’m watching Sports Center and Boomer just dropped two X-Factors on me. It’s been nice, but I have to scream now!
Forget all of the wrangling and foolishness that happened with Atlanta in the last few days. Forget all of the bickering between he and Terrell Owens. And, forget about his apparent dislike for the media and his abrupt answering of questions in press conferences. Bill Parcells is the right man in Miami and Dolphins owner, H. Wayne Huizenga, for once in his tenure as the Dolphins owner, got this hire right!
From an article written by Michael Lewis for the New York Times, “Bill Parcells is the only coach in N.F.L. history to take four different teams to the playoffs, but that only begins to set him apart. In 1983, in his first N.F.L. head coaching job, he took over a New York Giants team that had one winning season over the previous decade, turned it around on a dime and led it to Super Bowl titles in the 1986 and 1990 seasons. In 1993, he became head coach of the New England Patriots a year after they finished 2-14. Two seasons later they were 10-6 and in the playoffs for the first time in eight years; another two seasons later, they were in the Super Bowl. From there Parcells went to the Jets, who were coming off a 1-15 season, and coached them to a 9-7 record in his first year and a 12-4 record in his second. The Cowboys had finished 5-11 three seasons in a row before Parcells arrived in 2003. His first year they were 10-6 and reached the playoffs."
"No N.F.L. coach has ever proven himself so clearly to be a device for turning a losing team into a winning one. “
Parcells is a perfect fit for Miami. He is one who tolerates few equals and likes to do things his own way without interference. For all of his hiring and firing during the off-seasons, Huizenga is usually a hands-off guy during the season. That may have played into his hands for taking the hiring of Parcells away from Atlanta; Arthur Blanks, with no athletic background, still likes to meddle in the on-field stuff during the year.
Parcells is one of the best evaluators of NFL talent in the league; a skill that has been sorely missing in Miami. For a team who, since Huizenga took full ownership in 1993, has traded away 6 first round picks and drafted Jason Allen, Ronnie Brown, Ted Ginn, Vernon Carey OL, Jamar Fletcher, John Avery, Yatil Green, Daryl Gardener, Billy Milner and Tim Bowens with the rest (A list in which only Carey and Bowen have even gone on to be consistent starters); Parcells is a “God send.”
Concerning Parcells recent stint in Dallas, many will point out that Dallas is doing much better with Wade Phillips. Don’t forget, though, that Bill Parcells built the ship in which Phillips is sailing. The criticism that his coaching style and draconian manners are outdated in the era of today’s multi-million dollar players may hold merit. But Parcells will not be on the field and in the locker room in Miami, he will be manning a desk and pulling the strings above the stage.
For a person that has shown that he gains very little joy from the everyday rigors of dealing with locker-room personalities and constantly facing the media that being an NFL coach today requires; moving into the upper office may just be the best move to finally make Parcells happy also.
The very mentioning of Bill Parcells name in a group of people seems to spark a controversy with members of the group polarized on one side or the other. Still - love him or hate him, the simple fact is Parcells has always left an organization in much better shape that when he arrived – Miami is lucky to have him!
It all started in 2000, his rookie season. I don’t know if he had a chip on his shoulder because Cleveland passed on him and took Courtney Brown out of Penn State with the first pick in the draft. I don’t know if he liked the history of a town who named their team after Joe Lewis, the Brown Bomber, or he just liked the new-car smell in the freshly-christened Cleveland Browns Stadium. What I do know is the moment that Jamal Lewis stepped onto the field in that stadium rising from the banks of Lake Erie, something clicked.
The young man, drafted fifth overall from the University of Tennessee, who had managed just 215 yards on 44 carries up to that point in the season, torched the Browns for 86 yards rushing and caught a 7-yard pass to setup a score to seal the 12-0 shutout. In the same year, he rushed against them for 170 yards and 2 TDs while helping Baltimore dismantle Cleveland 44-7. Not since the original Browns were moved to Baltimore under the cover of darkness had the City of Cleveland hated Art Modell so much. They had passed on the very player that could have helped their newly re-formed team back into NFL prominence; and worse, Modell got him.
In 2003, Lewis became just of one of 5 backs in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season and fell just 39 yards shy of the all time record held by Eric Dickerson with 2,105. This was also the year that he would break Corey Dillon’s single game rushing mark of 279 by running for 295 yards and 2 touchdowns against …you guessed it…the Browns (a record broken this year by Adrian Peterson, 296). In week 16 of 2003, he again showed his dominance against the Browns, rushing for 205 yards and 2 TDs and catching 2 passes for 21 more yards. In his 12 career games against the Browns, Lewis has averaged 23 carries for 127 yards and a TD. He also has his career longest run (82 yds) and longest TD run (72 yds) against them.
Cleveland had once again squandered an immense opportunity, by overlooking a potential star and picking an also-ran. Then, the “Angel of Brown” stepped in and stirred the pot of fate. In 2006, the sound of Coach Brian Billick and Jamal Lewis bickering at each other through the press had to carry the melody of seraphim's singing to the Brown faithful. Might they actually get a chance to hire the player they spurned and who had been returning the favor to them for the last 6 seasons? And - would he be able to play at the same level in Cleveland Brown Stadium FOR the Browns as he had against them all these years?
The answer to both questions is a resounding yes. In just his second game with the Browns, he turned in one of the best performances of his career; rushing 216 yards against Cincinnati and helping his team win a close game between the inter-state rivals. In home games this season he has averaged 93 yards on 20 carries and a TD. Cleveland has also been able to twice defeat the Ravens this year with him registering 156 yards rushing yards, 30 receiving and 2 TDs against them. While he has not returned to his early career form, he is still on pace this season to rush for over 1,400 yards with 14 TD’s. Suddenly, the world seems alright again in the land of “Brown.”
So, am I surprised Jamal Lewis has done this well in Cleveland? NO. The way this guy delivers in brown, they should make him the poster-boy for UPS. I should file a claim with his agent; if he gets this endorsement, I want a cut.
Just what is a buckeye anyway? Do they have any redeeming qualities at all? Why can't we seem to get rid of them? What causes otherwise sensible people to like them so much?
According to Websters the buckeye is 1. "A tree (Aesculus glabra) that is a relative of the chestnut and horse-chestnut tree. 2. "The nut from said tree is the same rich, mellow warm-brown as a chestnut, but it is less readily edible, due to its high tannic acid content."
So it is a tree and a nut.
The OSU website states the actual nickname for the school, buckeye, is named after the buckeye tree. However, the mascot for the sports teams and the most recognizable symbol of the athletic teams seems to be the nut, also known as a buckeye, that comes from the buckeye tree.
Upon further investigation I also found the following on the Ohio State University website: "In general, the trees and their nuts are of little practical use: the wood does not burn well, the bark has an unpleasant odor, and the bitter nut meat is mildly toxic. Still, the tree has grit. It grows where others cannot, is difficult to kill, and adapts to its circumstances. The nuts, although inedible, are attractive and folk wisdom had it that carrying one in a pocket brings good luck and wards off rheumatism. Maybe that's why they play in a horseshoe - they think it brings them good luck?!?
So for the purpose of our discussion, we'll focus on the nut.
Are the buckeyes valuable? I found I found a bag of 175 of them for sale on eBay for only $4.99 - well that answers that question.
So, to sum it all up: A Buckeye is a worthless, bitter, lucky nut!
They say a picture says a thousand words. So, here are a few thousand words for you:
The Annual OSU Cheerleader "Cop-a-Feel" day. Even the cheer-guy on the right gets some of the action.
Jim Tressel's Christmas wish list.
The Incredible REVERSIBLE Ohio State Buckeye Fan - If this guy with the H had one on his back too; he could turn around and we wouldn't know the difference.
In a classy move...the Buckeye fans wish Lloyd Carr a happy retirement
Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6
Welcome to another episode of "Former OSU Stars - Where are they now?"
Ohio State's Homecoming is steeped with tradition - The Band, the Parade and the selection of the Homecoming King and Queen.
I didn't realize that Count von Count from Sesame Street followed College Football.
A Note to the Ohio State Football Team- YOU $UCK
Ohio State YOU $UCK. The problem is you don't know you $uck. You played in the Big Ten which this year $uck$. All of the non-conference teams you played really $uck. Akron (4-8) is really $ucky even in the really $ucky MAC conference. The only team that really $ucks worse than Akron in the MAC is Kent State (3-9), another juggernaut on your schedule. Youngstown State (7-6) is even really $ucky in one of the $uckiest conferences in 1AA, but you still scheduled them. The only team that you played that just somewhat $ucked was Illinois (9-3), who beat you...thus proving that you Buckeyes do indeed $uck!
Buckeye fans will never forget ... The Official 2006 BCS Championship Game Logo and Crest
And, of course, you all recognize - The Ohio State vs. Any SEC Team in a Bowl Game "Postgame Ritual". ...sigh
**PLEASE NOTE** This is all in fun. A Buckeye fan asked me to "take my best shot" and post it for fun - so I did. Those commenting should keep this in mind. Obscene and/or vulgar comments will be deleted.
It isn’t because Greater Atlanta has close to 1.2 million black inhabitants.
It isn’t because the black community needs a role model to rally around and point their children to after the debacle with Michael Vick.
It isn’t because it would create a new ground-swell of support for the team and fill seats in the Georgia Dome.
It isn’t to try to lessen the disparity between the numbers of black and white head coaches in the NFL.
It isn’t because I think it would be politically correct to do so.
The reason that Atlanta needs a black head coach is because the best man for the job, Mike Singletary, just happens to be black.
I have several reasons to believe that he is the man for the job:
He is a man of integrity and character. After the scene Tuesday with Bobby Petrino running out of town like his hair is on fire, Atlanta needs someone trustworthy. He was considered for a position as the head coach at his alma mater Baylor, but he passed on it because it was November and they wanted him to leave his job as linebackers coach for San Francisco in the middle of the season to take the post – something he refused to do saying “I finish what I start and keep my commitments before moving on to something else.” How refreshing is that in light of what has just happened and what seems to happen in College Football each year?
He is a great teacher and leader. He was a fierce player, vocal team leader, Super Bowl winner and consensus HOF pick. Few people command as much respect by simply walking in the room and he knows how to communicate with professional football players; a skill that Petrino sorely lacked. He was the one who taught Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware and Adalius Thomas the ropes at Baltimore, sending them all to the Pro Bowl. He teaches with great passion and energy and is able to help his players reach their full potential.
He’ll attract top flight assistants; and we all know that a coach is only as good as his staff. It doesn’t take a genius to be a head coach. It does take someone that knows how to surround himself with competent people and manage their efforts effectively. When Halas hired Ditka in Chicago in 1982, people thought he has lost his mind. Mike Ditka was a fiery ex-player with no administrative or head coaching experience whatsoever. Mike retained great Defensive Coordinator and future NFL Head Coach Buddy Ryan and landed Offensive Coordinator Ed Hughes who patterned his offense after Tom Landry’s 70’s Dallas teams. Long story short…it worked out. The situation in Atlanta is just as sparse as it was in Chicago back then and I believe Mike Singletary is the man who may be able to pull off the same thing that Ditka did in Chicago , making the team a winner again.
He has been where the Atlanta players are right now. No, he hasn’t been on a team that lost its star quarterback to prison just before the start of the season and their head coach 13 games into his first season - nobody has. He has, however, been on a Chicago team that was in turmoil and wasn’t just being beaten by teams in 1981, but humiliated. It took an improbable three-game winning streak at the end of the ’81 season just to bring their record to 6-10. There’s no question that the Atlanta team is deflated and hurt. They are not going to respond well to another coach like Patrino who will try to intimidate and bully the players around. Singletary is the man that can help that healing process and lead by the virtue of the respect he commands for the career he has had and with his motivational talents he has honed speaking all over the country for corporate and civic organizations during the off-season.
I don’t discount the talents of Dallas Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett or former Washington Redskin and current assistant head coach at the University of Arizona Russ Grimm; both have been named as candidates for the job and both of which I think will eventually become good NFL head coaches. I just believe Mike Singletary to have the right background and skill sets to help repair a very damaged Falcons team.
The bottom is about to fall out in Atlanta and the SEC is about to become an even tougher conference.
After just 13 games, Bobby Petrino, who was brought to Atlanta as head coach because it was thought that he would be able to help Michael Vick raise the bar and truly realize his potential, resigned as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and took the vacant position as the head coach of Arkansas.
The Falcon players are livid because he did not and still has not addressed the Atlanta players of coaches directly. Most are calling it a classless move.
The University of Arkansas is ecstatic because they just landed what is thought to be one of the brightest offensive minds in football.
There is no word yet on who will take over as Atlanta's head coach for the remainder of the season.
I don't know how to feel about this one. On one side I don't blame him "gettin' out while the gettin' is good"; on the other hand I think it showed a lack of class and respect for him to not address his team about his decision.
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{A loud announcer’s voice rings out on the public address system}
“Now presenting the MVP Award for the week 14 game between the San Diego Chargers and the Tennessee Titans, ESPN's Stuart Scott,”
{Crowd cheers} {Stuart Scott stands at the microphone}
“And the winner is… ELI MANNING!”
{Crowd turns and stares at each other, dumbfounded}
“Since Eli couldn’t be here in person to accept this award, San Diego Charger GM, A. J. Smith would like to say a few words in his honor.”
{A. J. Smith takes the podium and turns to face the left side of the audience}
“Eli, If it weren’t for your snubbing of us when we tried to draft you, we never would have gotten Nate Kaeding with New York’s third round selection in 2004. Nate was the one who first got us on the scoreboard in the third quarter with a field goal and added two extra points later in the game for us. His clutch PAT at the end of regulation is the one that sent us into overtime.”
{He then turns to address the other side of the audience}
“Eli, if it weren’t for you we would have never gotten Shawn Merriman with the Giant’s first round pick last year. He was a monster in the first half wasn’t he? He played less than two quarters and already had 5 tackles, 2 sacks and 3 QB hurries before he got hurt. He’s the reason Tennessee didn’t score any more than they did in the first half. He almost single-handedly kept us in the game even though we were floundering on offense. And boy didn’t he put a hurtin’ on Vince Young? Vince came back in the game, but I’m sure he was still feeling some of those hits in the 4th quarter when he was throwing all of those incompletions. Again, thanks for Shawn.”
{Now he faces center with his head slightly raised and a noticeable tear in his eye}
“And finally Eli; thanks for Philip Rivers. Without your disrespect for us, we would never have gotten to see what this kid was really made of. What a gritty performance it was too! He never could find a rhythm in the first half and was helped off the field with an injury. He came back in the second half on a patched up knee, though. He hobbled around and led his team down the field for four scores – one field goal and two TD passes in regulation and eventually the winning TD in overtime; grimacing in pain the whole time. Even when one of his fellow players disrespected him on the sideline, he still threw the ball to him 5 times for 27 yards and a TD and got the ball in his hands for 146 rushing yards including the winning TD in overtime.”
"That players name…" {He looks quizzically}, "oh yeah…LaDanian Tomlinson. We thought about giving the award to him, but decided that you really deserved it more. I’m sorry I can’t give you any credit for LT. We, as an organization, have to take the credit for him being here. It was, especially in retrospect, one of my better personnel moves when I passed over Michael Vick in the draft in order to pick Tomlinson. I'll have to remember to send Atlanta a thank you note."
{He raises his wine glass in a toast}
“So, here’s to you Eli Manning. I, on behalf of San Diego fans everywhere and the entire Charger organization, would like to congratulate you for winning this award and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your contributions to our team."
{Crowd cheers wildly}
{LaDanian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers now get up from their seats on opposite sides of the auditorium, hug in the hall, profess their affection for each other as teammates and try to convince Stuart "Carlton Banks" Scott that there was never a problem between them on the sidelines Sunday}
During the game between Baltimore and New England a flag was thrown and Rolle compained to official Phil McKinnely. "What the h-ll are you doing. You just throw a flag like its nothing at a time like this? Do you know what's at stake here? Who am I kidding, of course you don't, you've never played the game". To which the referee replied "Ma-a-a-a-an...you'd better shut up, boy, and go back to playing."
After the game Rolle said of the official. "You don't call a grown man with a wife and three kids 'boy.' ... If he put on a helmet, he wouldn't say that to me."
First, if Rolle isn't whining to the ref then the exchange never takes place.
Second, he slighted a referee who was an NFL player for 7 years and USFL for 2.
Third, Phil McKinnely is a fit 6'4" 250 lb black man who played OT & routinely ate people Samari's size for lunch when he played in the league. Now Samari insults him by insinuating that he doesn't understand what's at stake because he was never good enough to play professionally? Then this little 6'0" 175 lb man calls him out after the game and says he wouldn't be so mouthy if he had to face him on the field? Samari, if he put on a helmet today, at 53, I'd bet he would still knock your block off. (When writing this, I can picture a certain lady at my church bobbing her head in agreement saying "Little man - you'd better re-cog-nize!")
After the horrible calls I have seen this season, I can't believe I find myself defending the officials, but, I think the ref showed great restraint in how he reponded to Rolle.
