I Swear I’m Not Gloating

For those not aware, I’m a southern California native stuck in the frigid confines of the Hoosier State. For the past six years I’ve had to hear from everyone how great the Colts are. Every season it’s the same thing. Some choice quotes I hear every year: “Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in NFL history, he deserves the MVP,” “No one can beat the Colts this year, they should start engraving the Lombardi Trophy now,” “Tony Dungy is the best coach in NFL history,” “GO HORSE!” “Giddy-up!” “Show your horseshoe!”

Needless to say it took me about three months of Indiana residency to tire of the endless myopia that consumes this state’s football fandom. As a Chargers fan I get it worse than most people because the Bolts have actually beaten the Colts almost every time the two teams play since I’ve been here. And after every game, without fail, I’ve had to hear endlessly about how the officials stole the game from the Colts.

So forgive me if I was laughing last night when Mr. Perfect Peyton Manning screwed the pooch and the Colts blew a 10-0 lead to get beaten by the Saints 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV.

As Manning’s errant pass flew into the arms of former Indiana University cornerback Tracy Porter, I suddenly jumped up from my couch and started yelling. I had been largely unmoved all game because I expected another Colts win and more un-ending verbal garbage from this state’s citizenry. When Porter stepped in front of Reggie Wayne, I instantly became jubilant. Here is a transcript of exactly what came out of my mouth: “Holy sh*t! No f-ing way! Run you stupid son of a b*tch, run! Holy crap. Haha, nice toss Peyton, your horse-toothed jackass!”

Bear in mind, there was no one else in my apartment. I eschewed going to a Super Bowl party because I didn’t want to see all those Colts fans so ridiculously happy. Call me bitter (because I am) about my own team’s failings, but I couldn’t stomach another year of hear about how infallible the Colts franchise is.

There are also some things that drive me nuts about the way people in this state refer to the team. News reporters aren’t supposed to say “We” when referring to a team they’re covering. Apparently journalistic, integrity and objective are three, mutually exclusive words in Indianapolis.

Here are the facts:
1. Drew Brees deserved the NFL’s MVP Award this season. There is not one valid argument that can be made in Peyton Manning’s favor. I’m right, I know I’m right and the statistics back me up. Brees had a higher completion percentage, more touchdowns, fewer interceptions and higher quarterback rating and just over 100 fewer yards. What Brees did last night only re-enforces that fact. He was the better quarterback all season and last night was no different.

2. The Saints deserved it. After the first quarter they completely outplayed the Colts in all three phases of the game. Yes, the Colts played well and they can hang their helmets on that, but they were not the better team in the stadium last night.

3. The excuses have already started but I’m shutting them down right now Colts fans, Dwight Freeney’s injury didn’t change anything. Yes, he was hurt and not at 100 percent, but guess what? That’s why you have other guys on the roster, they’re supposed to pick those guys up and fill in.

4. It’s fitting that it was Porter whose interception sealed things. The guy disappointed Hoosier fans so many times with awful blown coverages to kill Indiana’s football team time and time again. He’d make spectacular plays on occasion, but then he’d follow them up with two or three horrible decisions. He disappointed fans in this state again last night, but this time with a phenomenal play.

5. Peyton Manning is not the best quarterback in the history of the NFL. He may well be regarded as such by the time he’s done playing, but frankly I’d take Joe Montana or Tom Brady’s abilities in the clutch over him any day of the week. It’s not a cut and dry selection like Colts fans would like to believe. He may be the best “passer” of all-time, but that doesn’t make him the best quarterback.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Indianapolis Colts, NFL, Super Bowl XLIV | 3 Comments »

Lakers Unlikely To Deal Before Deadline

The Los Angeles Lakers currently have the highest payroll in the NBA and there has been much chatter recently surrounding a possible deal for the Bulls’ Kirk Hinrich. Reportedly, the proposed deal would have sent Hinrich to the Lakers, with Sasha Vujacic and Adam Morrison (and his expiring $5.2 million contract) headed to Chicago. That deal now appears to be off according to Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak.

“There is no compelling reason to dramatically change this team, in particular its core,” Kupchak told the Los Angeles Times.

And, frankly, he’s right. If they stay healthy, the Lakers are still the odds-on favorites to win their second NBA title in a row.

The Lakers have the second-best record in the league, despite suffering though stretches with injuries to Pau Gasol and Ron Artest, and dealing with Kobe Bryant’s numerous lingering maladies. That’s pretty good considering.

While it’s true that quick point guards can give the Lakers fits at times, the defense as a whole is very good. Probably better this year than it was during the 2009 championship run. Adding Hinrich wouldn’t give the team enough of a boost to really change anything and the loss of Morrison’s contract in the offseason will help with payroll flexibility.

While Vujacic hasn’t played well this year (or last year for that matter), he’s still a 6′6 guard who is really quick and plays tough defense. He’s annoying. really annoying. Sometimes that’s a great quality to have when playing defense in high pressure situations. I’m not saying he’s a guy the Lakers have to keep around, but he’s not a complete waste of roster space either.

Barring an injury I’d be shocked if the Lakers make a move before the deadline.

Posted in NBA, NBA Rumors, Rumors | 1 Comment »

WiseGuyAction’s Thursday Roundball

After a rough Day Uno here at Rumors and Rants, I’m summoning the ghost of Jimmy The Greek to help a fellow degenerate like myself get into the win column.  It’s going to take a few weeks of course to either trust or hysterically laugh at my college basketball capping abilities; anything less than a few weeks is simply too small a sample size.  Having said that (Larry David voice), there’s a ton of good value on the board for Thursday…

Posted in General | No Comments »

Jamaican Bobsled Team Won’t Be In Vancouver

Sadly, one of the best stories in Olympic history won’t have another chapter written this winter. The Jamaican bobsled team has failed to qualify for this month’s Olympics.

For the last few weeks, the Jamaicans had been hoping that a spot would open in the field. But the list of nations who qualified and entered the bobsled events at the Vancouver Games was obtained by The Associated Press did not include Jamaica. There still is a slim chance the Jamaicans could make it but for that to happen another sled would have to drop out. Team Jamaica is now saying they’re no longer waiting for that to happen.

“I am told there are no other options at this point,” team spokesman Stephen Samuels said.

Without adequate funding or equipment that’s up to the standards of their competition, the Jamaicans actually cracked the world top 50 rankings in the four-man event. By the way, the team’s driver is named Hannukkah Wallace. How awesome is that? Wallace has said he’s not sure if he’ll stick with bobsledding or return to his track roots. He could actually do both if he really wanted.

The Jamaican team debuted at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, then again made the ‘92 and ‘94 games. They failed to qualify for the 2006 Olympics in Turin.

The team will stay in Whistler for the Olympics just to get the full Olympic experience.

As for any shot at 2014, the Jamaicans say they are hoping to add more sleds and drivers. They also plan to offer the country’s coaching job to former U.S. bobsled driver Todd Hays, whose career ended after crashing earlier this season. Before retiring, Hays often gave equipment and expertise to the Jamaican federation.

An American coaching the Jamaicans? That sounds … vaguely familiar.

Posted in Jamaica, Jamaican Bobsled Team, Olympic Sports, Vancouver 2010, Vancouver Olympics | No Comments »

Groundhog Day

Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties ’cause it’s cooooold out there today.
-It’s coooold out there every day. What is this, Miami Beach?
Not hardly. And you know, you can expect hazardous travel later today with that, you know, that, uh, that blizzard thing.
-That blizzard - thing. That blizzard - thing. Oh, well, here’s the report! The National Weather Service is calling for a “big blizzard thing!”
Yessss, they are. But you know, there’s another reason why today is especially exciting.
- Especially cold!
Especially cold, okay, but the big question on everybody’s lips…
- On their chapped lips…
On their chapped lips, right: Do ya think Phil is gonna come out and see his shadow?
-Punxsutawney Phil!
Thats right, woodchuck-chuckers - it’s
[in unison]
GROUNDHOG DAY!

You’re playing yesterday’s tape, guys… oh, hey, loyal readers. You caught me in the middle of something there. Anyway, as we all know, in the 1993 classic Groundhog Day, Bill Murray is left living Feb. 2 over and over… and over. Great stuff.

Which got me thinking — if there was one day in my sporting life that I had to relive again and again, what would it be? You know, kind of like the day Phil Connors is talking about when he says “I was in the Virgin Islands once. I met a girl. We ate lobster, drank piña coladas. At sunset, we made love like sea otters.”  And on the flip side, there is the nightmare of a day you never want to live again.

Here’s what me and a couple of my colleagues came up with for our respective Groundhog Days. Feel free to add your own at the bottom. Because, ya know, this is supposed to be an interactive activity. It’s why they invented the internets.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in General | 9 Comments »

WiseGuyAction’s Tuesday College Hoops Play

It’s tough out there economically these days, so we here at Rumors and Rants often have to search for alternative ways to generate private revenue.

Luckily for us, knowledge of sports can sometimes translate into cash. And doubly lucky for us, we’ve found a guy who has proven to successfully use that knowledge profitably.

We call him WiseGuyAction. And he wants to help.

All plays on favorites are to win the stated number of units and all plays on dogs are risking the stated number of units.

YTD Record: 0-0-0, +0.00 units

St. John’s at Rutgers
Under 134 (-110, 2 units)

If you like watching poorly executed half court sets and tons of missed jumpers then this might be your game of the night.  This St. John’s team is extremely scrappy this year; they can flat out get it done on defense, especially against inferior opposition.  On the offensive end, they are still a work in progress.  As of matter of fact, both of these teams are very raw and unpolished offensively.  Rutgers has standout sophomore guard Dante Rosario, but outside of him they are extremely thin and have no true inside scoring presence.  6’11” center Hamady Ndiaye from Senegal was supposed to be a trustworthy cog in the middle for the Scarlet Knights, but after watching him numerous times last year and a few times this year, he’s quite simply a huge stiff that never really developed.  Both of these teams leave a lot to be desired in terms of offensive prowess.  Look for this to be a very slow and ugly game with lots of turnovers and missed shots.  This total probably should’ve been set somewhere in the mid to upper 120’s, so at 134 playing this under is a no-brainer.

Kansas St. at Nebraska
Kansas St. -3 (-110, 1 unit)

It’s not often that I play small chalk on the road, but in this case I think Kansas St. is by far the better team.  Nebraska is about as Plain Jane as they come.  They only have one player averaging in double figures, and that is senior guard Ryan Anderson who averages a whopping 10.7 per contest.  The Cornhuskers just don’t have the talent to hang with the Wildcats tonight, who should be hungry and motivated after losing 2 of their last 3 games.  I think Kansas State comes out and makes a statement tonight by rolling the Cornhuskers in impressive fashion.

TCU at BYU
TCU +19.5 (-110, 1 unit)

Early in the season I had some success backing this TCU team, but in the last 2 months the Horned Frogs have become the epitome of mediocre.  They’ve lost 3 in a row and seem to have lost their identity of late.  They have 2 guards that average in double figures, Moss and Ruzgas, plus a capable Croatian big man in the paint, 6’9” senior forward Zvonko Buljan, who is averaging a respectable 13 and 9.  This TCU team lacks flair, but has enough size and talent to hang with BYU tonight.  BYU is clearly the more complete squad, but I like TCU in this spot as a huge road dog coming off 3 straight disappointing losses.  I don’t see any reason why the Horned Frogs can’t keep the game within 15 or 16 points tonight.

Posted in College Basketball, NCAA Basketball, WIseGuyAction's Plays, betting, handicapping, sportsbook | No Comments »

A Rumors and Rants History Lesson: The Playoff Bowl

Man, did you catch that Pro Bowl on Sunday night?

Oh. Neither did I.

Knowing that the week before the Super Bowl is an awkward, football-less void that leaves us all wanting more, the league decided that this year it would move the Pro Bowl to Miami and have it take up that spot on the schedule.

But did you know that this idea has been tried before? And that it was a game even lamer than the Pro Bowl? And ironically, it was still in Miami.

From 1960-69, a game known as the “Playoff Bowl” was employed by the NFL to pit those teams that weren’t quite good enough to get to the big one.

In the pre-Super Bowl days, the game was played the week after the NFL Championship Game between the two teams that finished in second place in the league’s two divisions. The thing that apparently made this somewhat decent to stomach for players was that unlike the NFL Championship Game, which was played on the field of the team with the best record, the Playoff Bowl was always held at the Orange Bowl in sunny Miami. And back when players didn’t earn nearly as much and held offseason jobs, playing an extra game probably was seen as a bonus no matter how lame the circumstances.

Predictably, the Super Bowl led to the ultimate demise of the Playoff Bowl. The final four Playoff Bowls were held the week prior to the Super Bowl, featuring the two teams that lost in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. Though there was some talk of keeping the game around as a showcase for the losers of the conference championship games after the AFL-NFL merger, people realized how ridiculous this game really was and it died off.

Don’t believe me? Ask Vince Lombardi.

He referred to the game as the “Shit Bowl” and once said it was “a rinky-dink football game, held in a rinky-dink town, played by rinky-dink players. That’s all second place is—rinky dink.”

Mind you, he was in Green Bay when he said all of this, so that just shows you how lame of a town Miami must have been before the cocaine trade picked up and forced television dramas starring Don Johnson and David Caruso into action. But it also proves that no matter what, there appears to be no fix for that football-less Sunday.

(Fun Bonus Trivia: Did you know the greatest team in the history of the Playoff Bowl is the Detroit Lions? Sure, the Lions have never made it to the Super Bowl, but their all-time mark of 3-0 in the Playoff Bowl will never be topped. Even more amusing is the fact that the Cleveland Browns have an all-time 0-3 record in the game, proving that Cleveland truly can’t win at anything).

Posted in NFL, Stuff Only I Care About | 1 Comment »

Todd McShay Tries To Find Something Nice To Say About Tim Tebow

No matter which source you consult it’s widely recognized that Tim Tebow did nothing to help his rapidly descending stock at the Senior Bowl. He fumbled snaps, looked awkward on his drop-backs, floated deep passes and took far too long to release his throws.

I’m sure Todd McShay didn’t meant to pile on to Tebow’s obviously awful week, but the Scouts Inc. draft guru (also known as Diet Mel Kiper) gave the Florida quarterback a D+ rating for his week-long descent into Andre Woodson range.

Though Tebow probably isn’t familiar with the A through F grading system used by most schools - I mean he was home-schooled then went to the University of Florida, not exactly bastions of higher learning - I’m sure he’ll get the gist of what McShay meant by the letter/symbol combo if he reads the full report.

An excerpt:

“Tebow came to Mobile, Ala., with a chance to prove he can be an effective NFL quarterback, but if he could go back in time, he likely would choose not to come to the Senior Bowl.”

Ouch.

McShay goes on to say that while Tebow showed good arm strength, handled the media frenzy and even played through a case of strep throat, he also showed all the weaknesses that everyone feared he had. The setting of the Senior Bowl only further magnified those problems and put them out there for everyone to see.

In a group of average quarterbacks, Tebow ranked towards the bottom. Further, most observers walked away from the week almost sure that Tebow would never be an NFL quarterback. McShay added that if Tebow were to become a legit quarterback in the NFL he’d have to be torn down and rebuilt from the ground up. And there are no examples available of an NFL quarterback who had to remake his entire game before finding success at that level. Anyone who was considering taking Tebow in the opening two rounds of the draft has likely scrapped any plans to do so.

Not one talent evaluator believes Tebow can develop into the kind of quarterback Mark Sanchez, Matt Stafford or Joe Flacco is currently.

Scouts Inc., try and the might, couldn’t find any possible way to give Tebow anything above a third-round grade. And if taken there it is as nothing more than a wildcat quarterback who could move to H-back.

Yeah, so the Senior Bowl didn’t exactly go well for everyone’s favorite virgin performer of Filipino circumcisions.

Posted in 2010 NFL Draft, NFL, NFL Draft, Tim Tebow, Todd McShay | 2 Comments »

A Saints Party Recap

A lot of people around the country probably wondered, “How crazy was the party in New Orleans after the Saints won last Sunday night?”

So crazy that it took me a week to effectively recover and talk about it in full detail.

Not that this comes as any surprise. New Orleans has always been known for its ability to excessively throw down, and its Saints have always been known for their inability to do much of anything that wasn’t totally inept. The possibility of a Saints making it to the Super Bowl for the first time made a Sunday jaunt into the heart of the French Quarter impossible to resist.

Before we get any further, let us first clear up a misconception that’s been thrown around by the national media all season and will be hit even harder in the time leading up to the game in Miami. Yes, Saints fans suffered because of Katrina. But you know what? They’re over it. If nothing else, people in Louisiana are pretty resilient. The rebuilding process isn’t over, but New Orleans is still in better shape than Detroit right now. (Sorry, D-Town, but it’s true).

What they’ve really had to suffer through is watching the Saints for the past 42 years. We’re talking about the fanbase that literally invented the tradition of showing up to games with bags on their heads. A team that traded its whole draft for Ricky Williams. A team that once scored an 75-yard touchdown as time expired, then missed the extra point that would have sent the game into overtime.

What’s some wind and rain damage got on all of that?

So without further adieu, here is the NFC Championship Hangover-style photo gallery/diary thing that I’ve compiled. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in NFL, New Orleans Saints | 1 Comment »

John Wall Isn’t Having Fun At Kentucky

After Kentucky’s loss at South Carolina head coach John Calipari reportedly called out star point guard John Wall, saying the freshman had “played awful.” Wall, told this much to a reporter from Lex18.com.

The probable No. 1 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft then went on to say he wasn’t hadn’t been having fun over the past two weeks and that he was currently “frustrated with everything.”

Aww poor baby isn’t having fun at college.

While I hate to disparage a young kid, seriously John, did you think this was going to be a carriage ride in the park? You’re playing for the Kentucky Wildcats, one of the most storied programs in college basketball and you’ve got a coach in his first year there who’s incredibly demanding. On top of that, you’re expected to lead your team has a ridiculous level of young talent and anything less than a national title will be a complete disappointment. What part of your one-year college tour did you think would be a cake-walk?

Your team has one loss and you’re the envy of all of college basketball and you’re not having fun? You’re currently at the absolute pinnacle of the college game and may never have it this good ever again. You’re the most famous guy on a college campus littered with attractive coeds. Hell, LeBron James even made a trip down to watch you ball it up. There are players who would give their left eye to be where you are for one day and you’re complaining.

What the hell is wrong with you?

Sure, life would be nicer if you were being paid to play at the next level, but you should probably just get through this year before you start whining about life being hard.

Wall had another tough game Saturday night against Vanderbilt, losing seven turnovers, though he did notch nine assists. He’s 15-for-40 from the field over his last three games (37.5 percent) and has 20 turnovers (against 22 assists) in his last four.

I mean he’s hit a bit of the “freshman wall” but it’s not like he’s absolutely lost it.

Suck it up kid, more is expected of you than this, not just from your coach but from those NBA scouts sitting in the stands.

Posted in College Basketball, John Wall, Kentucky Wildcats | 8 Comments »

Fast Willie Might Be Old, But Still Fast Enough For Plodding Bears

On Tuesday, I expounded on the Chicago Bears’ inability to land an offensive coordinator for next season. 

Reasons range from Lovie Smith’s job security (or lack thereof) to a petulant quarterback behind an aged offensive line. But could one possible reason for candidates jolting the Bears be the fact that Chicago has no No. 1 (or No. 2 for that matter) wide receiver?

And while the names Anquan Boldin and Terrell Owens have been discussed by Bears fans and media, there’s another name out there worth considering. And as a former Bear himself, I think convincing him to re-up with the Monsters of the Midway wouldn’t prove too difficult.

He’s already played for the Bears in a Super Bowl. No, not Super Bowl XLI. I’m talking Super Bowl XX. Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you Willie Gault.

On Friday, Gault is competing with former Super Bowl participants in a race during the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden. David Tyree, Tim Dwight, Anthony Dorsett Jr., Ryan LaCasse and Phillip Buchanon will race against the member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team (an American boycott prevented Gault from winning Olympic gold).

So what if Gault is 49. If Herschel Walker can talk himself into mixed martial arts, then why can’t Gault still play? Both were 1980s athletic genetic freaks. 

Gault, once considered the fastest football player ever, can still fly. In 2006, he set world records in the 100 and 200 meters for athletes 45-49. He posted a 100-meter time of 10.72 seconds, and 200-meter clip of 21.80 seconds.

OK, so he’s a fast near-50-year old, and those records were set four years ago. But you can’t teach speed.

Gault finished in the top-five in yards per reception four times during his 11-year career and with his speed and actual knowledge of route running (something Chicago’s receivers aren’t exactly in tune with), Gault could be exactly what Jay Cutler and the Bears’ offense needs.

And he seriously thinks he can do it.

“Yep, I’m ready,” Gault said. “I’m serious. I am not kidding. I will come out for two years. I know I can do it. I believe it.”

If the Bears and Gault make this happen, he would become the oldest player to lace ‘em up in NFL history (The Ageless Wonder, George Blanda played until he was 48 before finishing his career in 1975 with the Raiders).

Granted it’s a stretch. But with no first or second round pick and slim pickings in free agency, I say leave no stone unturned. Perhaps Tom Waddle and Johnny Morris are still working out…

Posted in Chicago Bears, NFL, Willie Gault | 2 Comments »

Hot Tub Time Machine Brings Us Criminal QBs And Defeats

So I’m sitting in this hot tub with three other middle-aged dudes, getting drunk, having a blast and then BAM! all of the sudden the water starts spinning and the next thing I know we’re in 1986.

Sounds retarded, right?

Well ladies and gentlemen, I give you the premise for “Hot Tub Time Machine” due to hit theaters this March.

The movie stars John Cusack, Rob Corddry and Daryl from “The Office” (Craig Robinson). And I’m sure it will be funny in spots. But what should we expect 24 years ago to look like? It was so long ago.

So let’s take a quick 1986 refresher course.

Ferris Bueller took a day off. Sigourney Weaver blasted “Aliens,” Jimmy Chitwood became a legend, Goose made us cry and some Australian dude named Dundee swept to American box office gold.

The first PC virus spread, Challenger disintegrated and Bill Buckner booted a Mookie Wilson ground ball.

“The Love Boat” docked for good, Kit and The Hoff were canceled, a heavyset black woman went national on daytime TV, a cat-eating, puppeted alien life form appeared as did some weirdo named Pee-wee.

And in the NFL, the Indianapolis Colts went 3-13, turning to a future “Survivor” at quarterback while the New Orleans Saints finished 7-9 and had some 26-year old kicker named Morten Andersen.

I don’t think there were too many futures bets in Vegas on Colts-Saints in the 2010 Super Bowl. Unless you pulled a Marty McFly maneuver.

Indianapolis, in just its third season in the heartland, was led by Rod Dowhower, the man who succeeded Bill Walsh at Stanford in 1979. However, Dowhower didn’t finish the year. Indianapolis opened with 13 consecutive losses and he was fired. Ron Meyer replaced Dowhower and won the remaining three games of the ’86 season.

The Saints were in their 20th year and the franchise’s 20th straight year without a winning record (They broke that streak the following season).

New Orleans boasted an exciting Rookie of the Year-winning running back in Rueben Mayes and a first-year head coach, who would soon be dreaming of the “Playoffs!?”

While quarterback play is at an absolute platinum level for the Saints and Colts today, in 1986, it was more like low-grade tin. Both teams started former University of Illinois quarterbacks they would bench later in the season.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Gary Hogeboom, Hot Tub Time Machine, Indianapolis Colts, Jack Trudeau, Jim Mora, NFL, New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV | 2 Comments »

Your Official Ridiculous Colts’ Super Bowl XLIV E-Mail Thread

Every group has one. That one nut. A crazed fan who spouts off stats more than The Situation lifts his shirt.

I have a friend who qualifies. He is without a doubt the most ridiculous sports fan I’ve ever encountered. I swear, if this kid put half as much effort into real life issues as he does researching sports, he would have cured cancer five years ago.

He’s the guy that sends mass e-mails and three-page long text messages every Sunday regarding fantasy football updates or his beloved Indianapolis Colts. If you respond once, you’re fucked. An avalanche follows.

Last week my roommate told me to listen to the radio because my crazed fanatical friend was going to be on Melvin Bullitt and Marlin Jackson’s radio show.

I turned the radio on and waited. And waited. Forty-five minutes later, I finally hear my boy. And of course, he came with his uncanny knowledge that left Bullitt, Indy’s enforcer in the secondary, impressed. How could he not be? I’m telling you, my boy’s got skillz. 

Don’t believe me, see for yourself:

At 1:28 p.m. Tuesday, he e-mailed out a link to 12 recipients titled, “We rest everyone (at a random time in Week 16) then most of Week 17, yet two players (especially Freeney) get hurt in playoff games that are basically over (Freeney final mins of game). Kinda Ironic, Moreso SCARY.”

If you think the subject title is lengthy, just wait until you get to the e-mails.

In six hours, there were 26 responses, including the first response which read: 
“No offense to anyone but (Stat Boy)  - I’m just gonna say this right now - please don’t include me on any of your colts emails until after the super bowl. Thanks.”

Only seven on the e-mail list participated. I was among the lurkers.

This is an actual e-mail chain, initiated by one of the nation’s most ridiculous fans. But because of his insane adoration for sports, I think this might just be the most comprehensive breakdown of next week’s Super Bowl.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Indianapolis Colts, NFL, New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV | 1 Comment »

Vernon Gholston Is Doing Just Great

We’ve mentioned before that New York Jets linebacker Vernon Gholston is one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history, but now things are just getting better and better for Ohio State’s version of Mike Mamula.

Gholston was supposed to arrive in the NFL and have the same type of impact as San Diego’s Shawne Merriman, but hasn’t exactly lived up to that billing. Today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Jets have grown completely disenchanted with Gholston and that if 2010 ends up being an uncapped year (as many assume it will be) the team may end up releasing him and unloading his hefty salary.

Earlier this season starting linebacker Calvin Pace was suspended, leading many to believe that Gholston would finally break out and have an impact. That didn’t happen.

After becoming the No. 6 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Gholston has done absolutely nothing in the NFL. In two years and a total of 29 games, he’s racked up just 30 total tackles (17 solo), with no sacks, no forced fumbles and no plays of any significance whatsoever. Did I mention that  he signed a five-year deal with more than $21 million in guaranteed money shortly after the draft? Even if Gholston doesn’t reach performance incentives that could escalate the deal to the maximum $50 million he negotiated, his contract could still end up worth as much as $32.5 million.

So basically the Jets invested in a 6′3, 264-pound workout wonder who has never actually translated that ability to an NFL playing surface. Who did the Jets pass up to snag Gholston? Well, Ryan Clady, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Chris Johnson and Mike Jenkins have all made the Pro Bowl since their time in the league. And Sedrick Ellis, Keith Rivers and Jerod Mayo have also had an impact.

Despite all the great moves the Jets have made over the past few years to regain respectability, the drafting of Vernon Gholston could arguably be the biggest mistake in franchise history.

Posted in NFL, NFL Rumors, Rumors | 1 Comment »

No Offense Lovie, But I’d Rather Work For Al Davis

Since the conclusion of the regular season, the Chicago Bears have been in search of new offensive and defensive coordinators.

Chicago’s D has been a mess since Ron Rivera was allowed to walk following the Super Bowl run three years ago. While Lovie Smith decided to keep the other Ron (Turner) instead to continue running the offense.

After Chicago went out and got Jay Cutler in the offseason, expectations were extremely high for the Bears, especially with Matt Forte coming off his stellar rookie season. But Chicago finished 17th in passing and 29th in rushing.

Finally, Turner was sent packing.

Turner and Cutler were never really going to work out. Turner was used to working with guys like Kyle Orton, Erik Kramer and Jim Miller. Decent to moderately un-decent arms. Nothing like the erratic Cutler wing. It’s like giving a guy who is used to riding mules a wild stallion. You’re not really sure if you should ride it, and then when you do, you go hesitantly and slowly.

Plus, there were mistrust issues there dating back to Cutler’s senior year in high school when Turner, then the head coach at Illinois, pulled a scholarship offer, forcing Cutler to scramble and land at Vanderbilt. Turner says no official scholarship offer to Cutler ever came from him, and that up until the offseason trade, he hadn’t thought of the incident.

But Cutler certainly had. 

So Turner was fired on Jan. 5. Every two days since, the Chicago media reports on a new candidate for the offensive coordinator gig. I mean who wanted to guide an offense led by a gifted young quarterback and a solid young running back? Right?

There was USC offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, who had worked with Cutler as his quarterbacks coach in Denver. Bates never interviewed. Instead, following Pete Carroll to Seattle for a little more stable job security. Nothing wrong with that.

Chicago then shifted its focus to division rival Green Bay, asking permission to speak with Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements. Green Bay rebuffed their hated rivals. Understandable.

Next came Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese. Zampese was recommended to Smith by Smith’s former employer Mike Martz, who if I’m not mistaken is also available and has publicly lobbied for the chance to work with Cutler. So basically you wouldn’t trust Martz to call the plays for you, but you’d trust him to help choose the guy who will call the plays for you. Great… Well, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis allowed Zampese to interview as long as a decision was made in a timely fashion.

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Posted in Chicago Bears, Jay Cutler, Jeremy Bates, Ken Zampese, Lovie Smith, Mike Martz, NFL, Ron Turner, Tom Clements | 4 Comments »