First I would like to say that I was surprised by the overwhelming support and love from the entire NFL community in my last post. Each comment, for the most part, was consumed with grief, love and understanding for Sean and the entire Taylor family.  

 

 

I want you all to know that your condolences and love for the Redskins Nation where cathartic and a step towards healing.Thank each and everyone of you! I will continue to pray that you will never know this pain...  

I have been so overcome with sadness and grief since Tuesday and many people within my world, outside of family and friends, just could not wrap their minds around why I would feel this loss so personally. At first it was tolerable, but for those who do not understand and believe it to be silly, I truly have come to feel sorry for.  

 

I have been a very lucky girl to have loved a team that is very geared towards their fans. Most teams around the league put their fans last and I think that is a shame. The Washington Redskins have always made sure that their fans are placed at the top, as they know how much we love our 'Skins!   It does not matter what team is yours. All I am saying is that once you take a team into your heart they become your family and you truly bleed their colors. You protect and cherish your true family, be it blood related or blood brothers. When one goes down, we all go down.

  

 

I would like to address the fact that Sean Taylor has been raked over the coals since this tragedy, and I sick of it. Instead of focusing on a young man, who yes made mistakes in his youth as we all have, should have been respected as he had changed his life for the better over the past year and a half since his daughter was born.  

Now I know there are you out there that disagree with what I am saying, but is life not about learning from your mistakes and moving forward? How many of you changed your ways once your children were born? I would be willing to say a good percentage of you did. I can assure you I did.  

So for now I would like for the media, people who are intolerant, and simply those who feel the need to hop on the blogs and put up shock comments to upset people, to step back and look back over your own life and come to me and say you have been perfect. Because of my faith I know that not one single person on the face of this earth can make that claim.  

Let Sean rest in peace and know while he is looking down on his child, that he was remembered for what he did for his daughter, and for his outstanding performances on the field, be it at the U, or with the Redskins...  

For those of you who do not have a good source of access to the Washington Redskins there are a few things that are being overlooked. I know that the media has played short clips of players, coaches and fans grieving, but for those of us who are able to have access to more info with the team we have seen much more grieving from within the Redskins organization.  

I briefly want to touch on those who are most devastated by the loss of this great safety. Clinton Portis was the closest to this quiet and reserved young man, and has not been able to enter the locker room due to the fact that his locker is right next to Sean's. Sean's locker has been sealed with Plexiglas to be forever left exactly as it was the last time he was in it.  

Santana Moss, as well, is having difficulties, but he has come out and said that he knows that Sean himself would have mourned had it happened to another player, but come game time he would have laced up and played hard for his lost teammate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both Portis and Moss played at the U with Sean, and though they are both on the opposite side of the ball, they were very close with Sean and proud of the changes he made in his life. Coach Gregg Williams who had a close relationship with Sean seems to be crushed.  

The Taylor family made an emotional trip up to FedEx Field and behind closed doors, without any media, Sean's Dad addressed the entire staff, players and ALL who worked with Sean. He told them that Sean would not have wanted them to cancel any game. Instead he would want his teammates to take that field and play.  

After that they made a heart wrenching trip to Sean's home in Northern Virginia, and from there they flew back to Florida. My heart goes out to them, as I know how it feels to walk into the home of a loved one and see that the home seems to be waiting for your loved ones to come back through the door.    

Sean was a Father, Son, Grandson, Friend, Teammate and a Washington Redskins Safety who was one of the best in the league. He has now gone home to be with Christ. I know he is the better for it, though we will always be left with the thought of what could have been....

  

It has been a policy of the Redskins to never retire a jersey. Instead they have the ring of honor. Well to those who make the decisions on what to do with number 21, I would like to issue this plea....  

We have lost the heart of our defense and in order too never forget Sean, please break the rules this once, and retire # 21. Let us honor Sean's memory in a way that our team never has done before.

The # 21 should become the eternal "Twelfth Man" so that he can still lace up and take the field, though we may not see him, let us hear him through every Redskins fans cheers...

  

On Sunday I will stand with my blood brothers as they take the field with a heavy heart and tears running down my face. What I am sure of is that Sean WILL be there in spirit as the Washington Redskins take the field for their first time at home in three weeks. I send them great love and prayers for inner peace when they play the Bills. Sean will be there beside each one of you!  

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS... HAIL VICTORY... BRAVES ON THE WARPATH... RETIRE 21 FOR OUR BELOVED SAFETY!  

God bless each of you. Please remember to never take a loved one for granted, because this year has taught me far too many times that saying I love you later is not guaranteed.

 

 

 RIP SEAN... 21 FOREVER! You may be gone, but you will never be forgotten...  

 ~Ang

I have always been an admirer of how football players adapt and make adjustments in how they play due to the elements. Man vs. Man vs. Nature. Can any one of us deny that games such as The Ice Bowl and others like it add purity to the game itself? I know that my favorite images of this game are men down on the line where their breath gives away the intensity of their emotions. So with this being said, who had the bright idea to dome the game? 

 

  I have always groaned at the notion of having to watch a game played in any dome. I think  that it robs so much from the players and the fans. Around the league there is a total of nine domes, two of them being retractable. Now I am sure that they were thought of by someone who thought more tickets could be sold if fans were not huddled up together freezing to death. Wrong! Give me an emotionally charged, close game and I will be nice and toasty! Ever since I can remember I have always enjoyed football from Peewee to High School, College and Pro Football more when the temp dips below forty degrees. A hot cup of coffee, or cocoa along with the smell of hot roasted peanuts all add to the atmosphere of the game.  

 As bad as domes are there is a worse danger lurking inside. That's right Artificial Turf can be a players worst nightmare. This freak of nature has been blamed for numerous injuries that could have been avoidable. I know for myself that "Turf Toe" sounds ridiculous, but is actually a painful injury that can sideline a player for up to three weeks or longer.   So why is this acceptable for a fourth of the stadiums in the league?

Only nine out of thirty-two teams play inside. I would think that teams who play in a Stadium as opposed to a Dome would have the advantage. Now sure you can bring up the Colts, but Payton Manning is the answer to your question. Do me a favor and think about this. . . out of all the domed teams, only Minnesota and Detroit can really say their winter weather is bad. On the other hand, winter months for teams like Green Bay, Buffalo, New England, Denver and Chicago are brutal and all played outside.  

 

In my opinion the only team that truly deserves a dome is the Cardinals, and man what a dome they have!  Not only do they have a retractable roof, but a retractable field allowing them to have real grass instead of turf. Dallas is also a team that allows the elements to affect their game, while letting their fans stay dry. Well at least until 2009 when their new stadium will open.  

 

 

 Look bottom line here is this. . . take a football, add some real men along with the unpredictability of the elements, mix them all together and you will achieve perfection!

  I have long since thought in order to find the answer to what exactly is wrong within the NFL today you are going to have to look at the bigger picture. And in looking at the bigger picture time and time again I keep coming back to one thing...The Sports Agents. Today’s Sports Agent represents not only his client on the field, but the clients image as a whole. Today athletes images are now Multi Million Dollar Corporations. And one of the largest Corporations out there belongs to Donovan McNabb.

 In looking at McNabbs entire career I have been trying to figure out just when and where things started to go down hill. Other than the Eagle Nation booing him in the draft after being disappointed by the team not picking up Ricky Williams (boy did they dodge one there) I came upon one thing that stood out to me...Sports Agent Fletcher Smith. I have to say that I was surprised to learn that when Smith was trying to negociate McNabbs initial contract back in 1999, the process was not moving quickly enough to for him. So what did he do to speed up the process? He went to the media and dropped a comment that would become a theme through out the career of Donovan McNabb...

Ladies and Gentlemen Fletcher Smith(1999)... In an interview with Philadelphia’s Comcast Sportnet Smith raised the possibility that the Eagles were reluctant to give McNabb a contract without voidable years because he is black. "There’s not much history with Black quarterbacks, but you defiantly don’t see Tim Couch, Payton Manning, Ryan Leaf, Kerry Collins get the kind of deals they got and it was no issue. We’ll pay these guys." Smith said in a cable TV Interview. "Why pull the plug now when for the past couple of years you’ve been constantly doing it for White QB’s?"

 In what must have caused some contention between the Eagles and his client over the above comments, Smith told the AP on Tuesday night that " the issue of race has never come up in his negotiations with Joe Banner, the Eagles Executive VP." Smith backtracked again by saying later in the week, "I have not brought up race with them (Eagles)." Smith said, "I have always negotiated based on Donovan McNabbs talents, not the color of his skin."

On July 28, 1999 McNabb also on Comcast said that the issue "had been blown way out of proportion." "It’s really on the verge of making me look bad, and I haven’t set a foot on the field." McNabb said. " This is not a racial issue and we don’t want anyone to think that. . .We want to continue to work with this contract deal, get over it."

 Smith after about 60% of the deal with the Eagles being done went on to say... "I had no reason to believe race was the reason the Eagles opposed such a deal. "I really don’t think race is an issue in this contract negotiation. Voidable years was an issue they didn’t care to deal with. And knowing Andy Reid’s history, Brett Farve didn’t have a voidable deal. I just think they truly feel it’s not in the best interest of the player."

That was how Fletcher Smith decided to start off his clients career. But you can see that at first Smiths comments embarrass Donovan. He was experiencing his first racial media controversy in which he was apparently uncomfortable. Unfortunately it would not be the last time in his career he would face a media circus over racial comments.

I would like to add that it is well known that back in 2002, Fletcher Smith was able to get McNabb signed to the largest contract in the history of the NFL. McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to a twelve year contract that could be worth a then record $115 million dollars. Keeping McNabb securely in Philadelphia until 2013. At the time here is the comment from a seemly happy Donovan after the deal was signed,"

 

See what can change in just a year? Ladies and Gentlemen entering Stage "Right" Rush Limbaugh.

 Rush who is the host of "The Rush Limbaugh Show" was hired by ESPN back in the summer of 2003 to be the controversial voice of "Sunday NFL countdown pre-game show". He was hired to boost low ratings due to strong competition from "The NFL on FOX". In a way it seems that ESPN was not prepared for just how controversial Rush could be. But, then again there has been rumors that this was exactly what they were looking for. On Sunday September 28, 2003 Rush gave his opinion in regards to Philadelphia Eagle QB Donovan McNabb. It would turn into one of sports biggest faux pas. That is putting it mildly!

 "Donovan McNabb is overrated." Said Limbaugh, "I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous of a Black Quarterback to do well. The sports media, being liberals just like the media is elsewhere, have a desire that the Black Quarterback excel and do very well so that their claims that blacks are being denied opportunity can be validated. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for his performance of this team that he didn’t deserve. The defense carried this team."

 Rush Limbaugh resigned his position at ESPN a few days after those comments were made. After turning it in Rush said, "My comments this past Sunday were directed at the Media and were not racially motivated. I offered an opinion. This opinion has caused discomfort to the crew, which I regret."

Immediate reaction from McNabb was not forthcoming. It took until the following Tuesday for McNabb to comment. In an interview with the Philadelphia Daily News he stated, "It is sad that you’ve got to go to skin color. I thought we were through with that whole deal."

On the following Wednesday McNabb provided more reaction, "It’s somewhat shocking to hear that on National Television from him. It is not something that I can sit here and say wont bother me."

Earlier in the day on the Rush Limbaugh show he refused to back down from the media. "All this has become a tempest that it is because I must have been right about something. If I was not right there would not be this cacophony of outrage that has sprung up in the sports writer community!"

 Most were upset over the Limbaugh statements. It not only was a controversial issue, but in truth it managed to put McNabb further out into the media spotlight. Making Donovan McNabb a sports agents dream! And Fletcher Smith rode it all the way to the bank! From Campbell Soup to the Cover of Madden. Rush’s insensitive remarks became a financial windfall for the talented QB and his agent!

Now let’s skip a head to 2006. If not T.O. would take up fifteen more pages... People let face facts here...Philadelphia has never been a city loyal to its players. The higher the profile, the harder they fall in this city of supposed "Brotherly Love". If you do not believe me let’s take a look at last season. Backup QB Jeff Garcia stepped into very big shoes due to an injured McNabb. But instead of loyalty to a man who took their beloved team from the dredges of their division into the playoffs, the Eagles let Garcia go. Garcia knew it was coming, but he did hope that he would have at least have a chance at the ‘07 season. It was just not meant to be. What should have been a relief to Donovan, was very, very short lived.

To add insult to injury, the Eagles traded out of the first round of the draft, and then with the thirty-sixth pick brought in young strong rookie quarterback Kevin Kolb. To say that this move makes McNabb and his agent uneasy is an understatement! And to top that, just two weeks into regular season Donovan and his Eagles are now 0-2 , with some fans already calling Kolbs name.

Over the weekend a new controversy starring Donovan McNabb started circulating throughout the sporting world...In an interview on HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" broadcasted Tuesday, McNabb said black quarterbacks "have to do a little bit extra" because there are relatively few of them, adding "people didn't want us to play this position."

McNabb said if he passes for 300 yards and his team wins by a touchdown, critics will say, "Oh, he could have made this throw here. We would have scored more points if he would have done this."

Now I have no problem with the statements that McNabb made on Real Sports. If that is the way the man truly feels then who am I to question it? I mean Philly is the toughest sports town in the country, and so much pressure can have devastating effects. Even still, I absolutely believe there is more to this than meets the eye. If we look at the statements Fletcher Smith made at the start of McNabbs career we may get a peak at the man behind the curtain who is trying to find the next step for his client. In my opinion Donovan McNabb is one of the most talented QB’s in the National Football League. He has been hated and feared by many. But he has also been respected by just as many. Now unfortunately McNabb is having issues inside the Eagles organization, as well as with his once loyal Eagle Nation slowly turning on him. This man is going down, and the only way his agent knows how to save him is by putting Donovan back out into the glare of the media. But this time the majority of the media does not seem to be in his corner. From his own prior statements McNabb has been upset by the mention of race along with his name. Now it is him that is associating the two. We will not know what lasting effects, if any, that this will have on Donovan, but it apparently is a bet his Agent Fletcher Smith is willing to take.

 

Welcome my friends to what I like to call Ang's NFC East weekend in review. Yes I know it is Friday, but I have been sick all week. So if I tend to ramble, blame the fever! So in the future, barring any unforseen illnesses, I will have this report out by the beginning of the week. Also, my next two post will be up here in a few min. for the Eagles and the Cowboys! So sit back , enjoy and after you are done let me know how you feel ...

WASHINGTON vs. MIAMI

 

 

Now I bet you are sitting there thinking that this is going to be a puff piece, right? Being I am a Washington Redskins fanatic, you have every right to think that. Well you would be wrong my friend! If anything I will be tougher on my team because I know them inside and out, and more importantly I want them to succeed. To sit back blindly and just automatically assume we will be the best is infinitely wrong! So just as I have done with all three division rivals I will also do for the Redskins...

1st HALF

The first possession for Jason Campbell was one that made all Skins fans cringe! Jasons intended target was Chris Cooley who was not open.But he went a head and forced a pass that ended up being an interception. With the Dolphins taking possession of the ball they had no luck against the Redskins defense. Which would be a trend for the Dolphins all day.

Back on the field Jason Campbell seemed more composed and was able to get a drive started for Washington. Randle El had a nice reception for a gain of thirty five yards. Ladell Betts picked up a sixteen yard gain. But on third and five a Dolphin jumped offside, though the penalty ended up being on Washington, Jon Jansen ended up having his right ankle dislocate. The camera panned down on Jansen’s face and the agony of his painful injury was there for all to see. Once he was placed on the medi cart he gave a thumbs up to the fans. It was at that moment I knew Jon would not be back on the field this season.

After Jon was removed from the field, the Field Goal Unit came out. Suisham kicked a thirty one yarder.

SCORE 3-0.

The Redskins Defense came ready to play that day! With the exception of Taylor and Landry being far too quiet, the Skins D was able to shut the Dolphins down until the last few seconds of the first half. Trent Green connected with WR Chambers on two consecutive plays for a total of thirty seven yards, placing them in Redskins territory. Now it is here that I found respect for Dolphins Head Coach Cameron. With only four seconds left in the half most coaches would have went for the safe Field Goal, but not Cameron! No he sent his offense back out on the field where Green connected with Peele for a TD! As for the Redskins Defense not doing their job...well in truth the Dolphins #### with their mind by not going for the FG!

Score 7-3

2nd HALF

Redskins receive the ball at the beginning of the second half. Randle El ends up in man to man coverage with Dolphins Daniels, where he is able to make a diving catch for a 49 yard gain. The Skins are now on the Dolphins twenty four yard line. One play later Portis went nineteen yards breaking into the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point was good!

Score-7-10

The Dolphins struggled to make it back down field due to a good Washington Defense. But late in the third quarter Jay Feely was finally able to put another three points up on the board. In fact both teams seemed to have issues with their offense all day involving too many dropped passes with their receivers . For instance, Santana Moss, a top receiver, dropped all passes thrown to him during the game. Some might call that a bad day, but in my opinion no one can afford to have a "Bad Day" in the NFL! Work it out Santana!

SCORE-10-10

In the Fourth Quarter Portis and Betts worked as a combo gaining thirty yards. Down on the Dolphins twenty one yard line Yoder went into motion causing a Dolphins player to jump the line. The penalty went against the Redskins, which caused Joe Gibbs and company to erupt in anger from the sideline. But due to the penalty the Skins Suisham had to kick of a Forty Four yard FG which was good!

SCORE-13-10

The Dolphins had a pretty good drive going at the end of the Fourth Quarter. It looked as if the Dolphins may possibly put another seven points on the board. Especially after Redskins Carlos Rodgers was called for pass interference. That little penalty put the Dolphins on the Redskins eight! But due to holding calls and Trent Green getting called for intentional grounding, Feely could only come in and tie the game with a FG.

SCORE-13-13

The Redskins came out twice and were unsuccessful in both attempts. Trent Green had another chance at a TD but on three and six threw an interception. Fred Smoot thankfully happened to be at the right place! With the final seconds ticking down on the clock Redskins Jason Campbell threw up a beautiful "Hail Mary" pass. It sailed down the field into the end zone where a Dolphin player batted it back out! And to his surprise ,I am sure, batted it right into the arms of Randle El! Unfortunately Randle El choose to go to the right and just barely missed the goal line.

Time runs out and we go into Overtime!

Redskins win the coin toss. It was a short and sweet (for all Skins fans) overtime . Portis and Betts get a combined total of Forty Seven yards. Jason Campbell connects with Chris Cooley, who picks up another first down. And finally Suisham comes out on the field, kicks a Thirty Nine yard FG. SKINS WIN IN O.T.!

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

I want to tell you as a die hard Skins fan that I was quite happy for the win. But after going over the stats I still see there is a lot of room for improvement! Looking at the Offensive Stats are the ones that hurt the most. While we did have a total of nineteen 1st downs, we had no 4th down conversions. Campbell went 12/21 for 222 yards, but there was two interceptions thrown in there as well. Campbell’s longest pass was for fifty four yards. I am praying for improvement in the passing game, but I think the ground game seems solid! Portis and Betts compliment each other very well!

But the biggest issue... only one TD! It was a rushing TD by Portis! That has to change! Also I would love to see Mike Sellers used more short yardage situations.

Now I want to give credit to the Redskins Defense. They were tough and steady all day long. I am a bit puzzled by Taylor and Landry being so quiet. Landry is so effective on the Blitz and the Skins need to exploit that! But whatever they are doing it is working!

We need to force more turnovers, and stop almost getting interceptions. These are some tweaks that I feel if we get correct, will make the biggest difference!

You know I have to say it!

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!

 EAGLES vs. PACKERS

 

I have to say that the NFC East offered up a lot of surprises in week one. In my opinion the biggest surprise of all was the Eagles loss to the Packers. I try not to buy into the hype that is spoon fed to fans through preseason, but if there was one that I thought they had got correct, I figured it was Philadelphia!

Now you cannot tell me that the whole "McNabb is Healthy" statement that was going around , which by the way, got around faster than Mono in a small town, you too did not by into it. So when the scores scrolled across my screen on Sunday afternoon, my exact words were, "OH MY GOD, THE PACK BEAT PHILLY!" Seriously that was exactly how it went! I would be willing to bet a lot of you had the same reaction! Except for Packer fans...

Anyway, I am going to run down the list of just why the Eagles did loose to the Pack.. Just in case you missed it. . .

1- Special Teams! They should be thrown to the fans in Philadelphia! If Lewis and Reed are not standing in the Unemployment line this week, then someone needs to remind Andy Reid it is football season! We all know he has been preoccupied lately.

2-I understand that Q.B.’s sometimes make mistakes, but when a Q.B. makes a rookie mistake like oh say...Intentional Grounding, and I don’t mean right off the snap either. I mean when you hand off the ball to Westbrook, he pitches it right back to you, while you are still in the pocket, and you think it is okay for you to throw it out of bounds. There is a problem! See Pee Wee Football handbook...

3-Your "healthy" Q.B. who has always torn the field up when nobody is open, throws a blatant interception! Which BTW results in a Packer 53 yard Field Goal...

4- Your seasoned WR drops pass after pass throughout the game. I do not need to say his name. He knows who he is!

5-I know I am repeating myself but, SPECIAL TEAMS, SPECIAL TEAMS, SPECIAL TEAMS!

6-Your Q.B. is seeing things, no not like the weird kid in the Sixth Sense, but seeing people being open in the end zone when they are not!

7-Your Defense plays like they are being paid by the opposing team. Just kidding. Or am I?

8- Back to the Defense...they cause Farve to fumble. They even recover it at the Packers thirty eight! And then your Offense goes three and out with NO SCORE....Wait! Maybe the Offense is being paid off???

9-Too many three and out possessions!

10-Another Special Teams player muffs the punt return! Which results in Packers recovering the ball. Farve taking a knee. Send in Field Goal Unit to make it an extra three....Well the game is over!

Now before you Eagle fans start throwing rotten vegetables at me, which would only mess up your computer screen, there were a few good things to come out of that game. "What" you ask? Let me elaborate for you...

Really your Defense was not as terrible as I made them out to be up there. They did have four sacks on the day and two forced fumbles. They kept the Packers score low and that is saying something because look at the lack of defense for both the Cowboys and Giants. The combined score for their defenses is 80 points! So don’t give up just yet. Let’s see how it pans out for you against your next opponent...WAIT that’s the REDSKINS! Okay the pleasantries stop here, LOL!

 

 

 

 

          DALLAS COWBOYS vs. NEW YORK GIANTS

                                or as I like to call it

                 

"Showdown @ the Defenseless Corral "

I have reviewed this game from top to bottom, and front to back,I even double checked to make sure I wasn't watching an College Football game(80 points!) . When I finally realized it was indeed an NFL game, there was no getting around this one reoccurring fact . Lack of Defense! It appears only the Offense of both teams showed up to play Sunday night!

Now before you Cowboy and Giants fans go getting your knickers in a twist, let me reassure you that sitting in front of me is my "Handy Dandy Notebook" filled with play by plays, stats, penalties and injuries. I have reviewed it like the "Holy Grail" and there is just no getting around it. When it came to both Defenses... they were completely ineffective. Let's take a summarized look ...

                        *1st HALF/GIANTS* *

First let me start off by saying Congratulations to the Giants, who broke a team record on their initial drive of the game. After scoring a sixty yard Touchdown pass within the first 1:29 of the game, and after only three plays, the Giants broke a long standing team record. The last time the Giants were so quick out of the gate was back on September 2, 1978. Unfortunately, in the Giants excitement over breaking said record, they must have been forgotten how to kick the extra point!

Though the Giants were able to move the ball down the field during the first half sacks, penalties, incomplete passes, injuries, and an interception, kept their score at a measly six points. It was not until the clock had ticked down to 3:59 that the Giants were able to drive down into Dallas territory. After the two minute warning sounded, plus three Giant timeouts, Manning threw a short pass to Plexico Burress in the end zone! This time the extra point was good! And by a stroke of luck on the kickoff to Dallas, the ball came loose and the Giants recover it on the Dallas twenty six yard line. After one incomplete pass, NY’s Field Goal Unit came out and scored the G-Men another three points.

                   *1st HALF/ DALLAS*

 The Cowboys did not come out and break any records that I know of on their first possession, but they were able to put three points up on the board in response to the Giants six. Still they too were plagued by incomplete passes ,penalties, a key injury and a fumble all within the first half of the game.

Overcoming those odds, Romo was able to connects with a short pass to Witten for an ten yard gain, which set Barber up for a rushing eighteen yard Touchdown! Lady Luck would also smile on the Cowboys, because when Manning threw a pass intended for Burress, the Cowboys Reeves was able to step in and intercept the ball! Returning it to the Giants twenty-three. On third and eleven , in shotgun formation, Romo throws a twelve yard pass to Witten. The Cowboys have scored their first touchdown of the half! Once more before the end of the half Tony Romo, meeting no opposition by the Giants Defense, was able to connect with Owens in the end zone.

How bad is your defense if a team can drop balls, throw incomplete passes, get penalties and still be able to get it into the end zone numorous times? Why don’t we ask the Giants? Actually I think that question can be asked to both defenses!

SCORE : 17-9

                     

                          * 2nd HALF/DALLAS*

The second half seemed as if it was going to start out the same way for Dallas. Romo first pass was an incomplete pass. Still  he seemed to shake it off quickly by throwing two deep passes to Owens, for a combined total of forty yards, resulting in their first touchdown in the second half.

 In what would be a total of seven possessions for the Cowboys, four of them would result in touchdowns. Sharing seemed to be the order of the evening for the Cowboys, as Owens scored two, while Romo and Hurd each scored one. But all the news was not welcoming during the second half. Romo was sacked once and threw an interception caught by NY’s Wilson on another.

Throughout the second half the Cowboys Offenses capitalized on the Giants wide open middle "Field of Dreams" (for the Cowboys) defense. Romo probably felt like he struck gold when it became apparent the Giants Defense was rolling out the red carpet strait down the middle into the end zone! Don't believe me? Look up the play by play and tell me how many TD's went strait down the middle!

                         * 2nd HALF/GIANTS*

I have to give it to the Giants, because they did try to mount a serious comeback. I believe that if Eli did not have to come out of the game due to his bruised, sprained or separated shoulder(depends on who you ask), it may have been a very likely possibility. Let’s look at how Eli managed to score twenty six points just in the second half. If you average out the time it took for those scores, then add the fact that there was plenty of time left with 3:03 still on the clock! All in all the Giants held up well in the second half. Simply, for the same reason the Cowboys did... No Defense!

Now you can yell and scream at me all you want, but the numbers do not lie. The Giants put up twenty six points in the second half. They overcame a fourteen point deficit. If there was a defense out there for the Cowboys, then they must have been out playing "hide and seek " with the Giants D!

In all seriousness the Giants had six possessions in the second half of the game, and only one without Eli. Actually only two were not scoring possessions. The first one was due to a sack on Manning, and the other because Backup Q.B. Lorenzen could not squeeze out one more yard on his Q.B. sneak. I am sure that this was a tough pill to #### for all Giants fans. To stay neck and neck with the Cowboys the whole second half begs a lot of questions to be answered about what was or still is really wrong with Eli.

After all the negative press Tiki has been giving them lately this win would have been extra sweet for Giants fans!

FINAL SCORE FOR THE GIANTS: Dallas 45, Giants 35

* MY THOUGHTS*

I have a bad habit of going over stats until my eyes cross to see who, what, when or where things went wrong. But the truth is plain to see here. There was really no reason for the stats, but I still went over them, and I have to tell both teams that I have never seen so many zeros on defensive stats! So in truth neither team can say that their Offense is that good! Nor can they say their Defense is good. I don’t think the can even say they have a defense.

Here are a few questions I have myself... One team has a new Head Coach, and the other team has a hated Head Coach. Did any of that factor in?

Why are both Romo and Manning still making rookie mistakes? It is time for Eli to stop trying to live up to Payton. Just like it is also time for Romo to forget about last seasons mishap!

In closing I would like for you to read a quote I ran across a from Giants LB Antonio Pierce. I wanted to share it with you because I think he sums it up best...

"We gave up too man BIG plays, and our tackling was horrible! Guys have to STEP UP! Our Offense did a GREAT job, but we couldn’t come up with that key third down stop."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am really curious to see if fans of other teams agree with the title of this blog. Here is my reasoning for this...

Today I logged onto Fox Sports to catch up on the news from around the league, and anything concerning my Skins. When low and behold I see that I have a new email waiting for me. The title of this email..."Redskins SUCK". Now I am very well aware of the biggest rivalry in the NFL. I have been defending the Redskins for 20+ years against the, think they "Know it All" Cowgirl fans. But, that is what makes being a fan of any team great. The trash talking! Whether it is at a game, work, a local grocery store, and my favorite...in your car at a stop light. Just think what the NFL would be like if everyone just had nice things to say.... It would be a very boring sport.

Yet, it has been my experience that Cowgirl fans take it way past extreme trash talking. Just look at any message board. And I do mean any. They are like termites that come out of the woodwork to spew all kinds of nastiness. But I think the most common is, " your team sucks", or all nasty kinds of expletiveness. But if you decide to go and comment on their board, they constantly tell you to stay off the board. And as I found out today, from my email, just saying it on the board is not good enough. I was told I "BETTER" stay away from the cowgirls! I was called a ####, and told I could not speak until my team had won some games! To which I responded to JRO (and I am the ####???) that this FOX Sports, and that if he remembered clearly... we did beat them the past 3 out 4 times we have met. Hello!!!!

Anyway, after I responded, I strolled around reading all of today’s headlines and rumors. But here is the thing, on the rumor board, which had many article for several teams, was commented primarily on by....you guessed it, the cowgirls. Fourteen pages of their fans running off anybody who had something to say. I suppose that we are all supposed to just let them dish it out, but not take it. Nah, I don’t think so!

So I am here to do this experiment. How many of you have had too many run ins with these termites? Let me know by comments and I am also sure the termites will have their say as well, but I could care less. As a matter of fact, if you think that I will be silenced...you better think again! I am a Washington Redskins fan, and I have two favorite teams...The Washington Redskins, and ANYBODY who is playing the cowgirls!

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!