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ProspectIn the summer of 1977 my babysitter was a seat in the movie theater. Paying homage to a great SNL bit, "in my day" megaplex theaters with 52 screens on six levels did not exist. My small one stop sign town had one screen playing Star Wars and I wanted to see it from the first showing to the last. Based on the nearly $800 billion in theater gross, not counting those who bought or rented it in some form, you have seen it. If not, it might be available on the yet to be invented pinkie nail screen by Christmas 2007 the way technology is going.
C-3PO vs. CHEWBACCA
The last time I saw Chewbacca lose at the Star Wars version of chess something struck me. Most of you remember how it works. There are hologram figures on the board. When moved, they physically fight the piece that previously occupied that space, pretty much killing them in the process. From that carnage I had a deep thought. With all of the coaching going on in the NFL is that what the game of football has evolved into? Are the staffs getting together during the week preparing to put their chess pieces in the correct positions for battle? There might not be an organized sport in the world with more coaching influence than professional football, although I am certain enthusiasts of baseball will share their opinions with me.
BRILLIANT!
Bill Walsh earned the title of genius by engineering titles for the San Francisco 49ers. Bill Belichick has garnered praise after leading his New England Patriots to three championships in spite of injuries and the salary cap environment depleting his roster. These men certainly did not accomplish these feats on their own, but as head of the coaching staff are singled out for praise. My question is how much influence the game plan and its execution really determines the weekly outcome in the NFL.
RUN A POST TO THE MAILBOX
All of us have at some point likely played football on the street. In 1969, according to Hasbro's website a "four-inch polyurethane foam ball" was created. Three years later this led to the NERF football coming into existence. This invention revolutionized pick-up games of football. Light posts across the nation became end zone lines and younger brothers everywhere were designated as "lookouts" for crossing traffic that might interfere with the action. The game plans consisted of running deep past the fire hydrant or cutting left at whatever car might be parked on the "field". They were of course constructed by players participating in the game, not onlookers being paid to help their team succeed.
DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO
What if NFL games took place isolated from any outside influence or coaching? No more old men conjuring up schemes to shut down an athlete who is probably younger than his grandchildren. No more young freaks of nature spending every waking hour devising plays to attack the weakness of an opponent. This might be perceived as arguing for the elimination of all coaching staffs. Not a chance. As a fany myself, I would just like to see what the players might do if they had to fend for themselves.
SIMPLY THE BEST
I want to see the best linebackers and quarterbacks matching wits without anyone whispering in their ear, uh helmet. Would Michael Vick's athleticism simply take over a game if he truly made his own decisions directing the Atlanta offense? Which defensive leader might adjust his teammates during halftime to thwart an opposing attack? Brian Urlacher? Ray Lewis? Tedy Bruschi? These are just the obvious candidates and I am certain the entire state of Indiana is adamant that Peyton Manning would be the best signal caller in such a situation. Perhaps few would argue the value of a guy like Tom Brady and those who do need to come clean about their disdain for the Patriots.
CHIME IN ANY TIME
This is where you make your opinion known. I understand these street ball games are purely for the imagination of fans. I simply hope that the future of the NFL leads in the direction of allowing players to determine the outcome of the game a little more than the coaching staff. Perhaps then we would not have a never ending discussion about which coach should get fired, marched against, hired because he is a deserving overlooked minority or why they punted on 4th and 2. That would be nice.