I can't believe we've reached the end of 2012 already. It seems like just yesterday that we were watching the Giants beat the Patriots in another classic Super Bowl. Or LeBron's coming out party. Or London's brilliant and glorious Olympic Games. New stars emerged in 2012. From Gabby Douglas to Missy Franklin to Andy Murray to Mike Trout to Robert Griffin III. We had a Triple Crown in baseball and a near-Triple Crown in horse racing. We had three perfect games in the Majors for the first time ever, yet none of them made my list of the top games of the year. So, in true Joe Brackets tradition, my final post of the year is dedicated to those contests that were the most memorable. The annual Joe Brackets "Top Games of the Year." And since 2012 just ended, the countdown starts at No. 12.
12. Preakness Stakes-May 19, Baltimore
It's been 34 years, but I'll Have Another horse win the Triple Crown at some point. I'm sure of it. In 2012, we almost had one. I'll Have Another won the Kentucky Derby two weeks earlier from post 19, but went into the Preakness as the second choice behind Derby runner-up Bodemeister. Bodemeister moved into the lead and I'll Have Another sat fourth before making his move on the stretch run. I'll Have Another moved past Creative Cause, then caught Bodemeister in the final strides to win by a neck and keep the Triple Crown hopes alive. Unfortunately, there wasn't even an attempt at horse racing's Holy Grail, as an injury kept I'll Have Another out of the Belmont Stakes, and the Triple Crown drought continued. (Although, Miguel Cabrera ended a Triple Crown drought of another kind later in the year.)
11. Rangers 3, Capitals 2 (OT) (Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 5)-May 7, New York
Remember hockey? It's that sport played on ice by Canadians. Anyway, this is my choice from a Stanley Cup Playoffs that had so many overtime games, it could've produced a Top 10 list all its own. It's not just my favorite because the Rangers won. It's my favorite becuase of how they won. With the series tied 2-2, Washington had a 2-1 lead with 21.3 seconds left in Game 5. Then the Capitals' Joel Ward received a double-minor. The Rangers' Brad Richards tied the game with 6.6 remaining in regulation, then, with the Rangers still on the power play, Marc Staal scored 1:35 into OT to cap the amazing comeback.
10. Norfolk State 86, Missouri 84 (NCAA Tournament "Second" Round)-March 16, Omaha, NE
One of the best things about the NCAA Tournament is that you can always count on there being an upset or two. This one ranks as one of the all-time biggest. Missouri had won the Big 12 Tournament and was tabbed as a potential Final Four team. Norfolk State was a No. 15 seed. But that didn't matter. It was tied at 81-81 until Kyle O'Quinn's three-point play with 34 seconds left. It was 86-84 when O'Quinn missed two free throws at the eight-second mark, giving Missouri one last chance, but the Tigers missed a three-pointer at the buzzer, completing the upset. It was just the fifth win by a No. 15 seed over a No. 2 ever. Later that day, Lehigh would upset Duke to become the sixth 15-seed to beat a 2.
9. Cardinals 9, Nationals 7 (NL Division Series, Game 5)-October 12, Washington
A year after their remarkable run from wild card to World Series Champions, the Cardinals were back in the playoffs thanks to the new second wild card. They proceeded to beat the Braves in the inaugural NL Wild Card Game before drawing the Nationals, the team with Baseball's best record, in the Division Series. St. Louis went up 2-1 in games before Jayson Werth's dramatic home run in the bottom of the ninth in Game 4 tied the series. Game 5 wasn't the Cardinals' epic win over the Rangers in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series, but it was close. Washington jumped out to a 6-0 lead affter three innings before the Cardinals started clawing back. St. Louis pulled within 6-5 in the top of the eighth, but the Nationals picked up an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning. Washington was one out away from the NLCS in the top of the ninth when Daniel Descalso's two-run single tied the game. The next batter, Pete Kozma, roped another two-run single to make it 9-7 Cardinals, and St. Louis retired the stunned Nationals in order in the bottom of the ninth.
8. Alabama 32, Georgia 28 (SEC Championship Game)-December 1, Atlanta
Since my knowledge in this area is limited, I left this one up to the college football experts. Alabama and Georgia came into the game ranked No. 2 and 3, so this was a de facto play-in game to determine who would play No. 1 Notre Dame in the BCS Championship Game. Alabama trailed by 11 points in the third quarter, but drove down to take the lead midway through the fourth. After the Crimson Tide's apparent game-clinching interception was overturned, Georgia got the ball on the Alabama 8 with nine seconds to go. However, the Bulldogs, who were out of timeouts, ran out of time, and Alabama advanced to play Notre Dame.
7. Heat 104, Thunder 98 (NBA Finals, Game 4)-June 19, Miami
I always end up lumping the college football and NBA games together. 2012 will always be the year LeBron James finally won his first NBA title. That became apparent in Game 4 of the Finals. Oklahoma City led 33-19 after the first quarter, but Miami trimmed its deficit to three, 49-46, at halftime. The Heat took the lead in the third, and it was neck-and-neck for much of the fourth. Russell Westbrook had 43 points for the Thunder, but LeBron ended up just shy of a triple-double for Miami. His three-pointer put the Heat ahead for good, as they took a 3-1 lead in the series.
6. Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Manny Pacquiao-December 8, Las Vegas
This is the second straight year a Pacquiao-Marquez fight made my list. The fourth incarnation of their rivalry has been dubbed "Fight of the Year" by numerous boxing publications/organizations, as well as earning a few "Knockout of the Year" awards. It was mostly even through five rounds. In the sixth, Pacquiao went on the offensive, but, just before the round ended, Marquez landed a powerful right hook, sending Pacquiao to the canvas. After three Pacquiao victories by decision, the Marquez knockout left no doubt who won this time.
5. Indianapolis 500-May 27, Indianapolis
Just when I thought I wouldn't see an Indy 500 that could top 2011, the 2012 race might've been a little better. There were a record 34 lead changes between 10 different drivers, including one in the opening moments of the race. Dario Franchitti moved into the lead on lap 199, followed closely by Scott Dixon and Takuma Sato. Sato tried to pass on the first turn of the final lap, but spun out and hit the Turn 1 wall, bringing out the caution flag and giving Franchitti his third Indianapolis 500 victory. He dedicated the win to his late friend Dan Wheldon, the 2011 Indy 500 champion.
4. Goodletsville, TN 24, Petaluma, CA 16 (7 innings) (Little League World Series, U.S. Championship Game)-August 25, Williamsport, PA
I'm breaking my "no two per sport rule" because this game was just crazy. Tennessee led 15-5 going into the bottom of the sixth, which is the last inning in Little League (if it was any inning earlier, they would've won by mercy rule). Remarkably, California climbed all the way back, scoring 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth to send the game into extra innings. Unfazed, Tennessee put up a nine-spot in the top of the seventh. This time, the kids from Tennessee held on to advace to the Championship Game. Lorenzo Butler, a kid on the Tennessee team, had three home runs and nine RBIs in the game.
3. Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 (Australian Open Men's Final)-January 29-30, Melbourne, Australia
There were a number of classic tennis matches in 2012 from which to choose, but the epic Australian Open men's final stands a cut above the rest. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic, the defending champion, was looking for his third straight Grand Slam title against the same man he'd beaten in each of the previous two Grand Slam finals--second-seeded Rafael Nadal. And the two best players in the world hooked up for one of the all-time great Grand Slam finals. They battled for nearly six hours in the longest match in Australian Open history and the longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era. Finally, at 12:53 in the morning, Djokovic broke Nadal's serve to end what many experts consider one of the greatest matches ever.
2. United States 4, Canada 3 (OT) (Olympic Women's Soccer Semifinals)-August 6, Manchester, England
I easily could've picked the Top 12 Games/Events of the London Olympics, but if I had to pick only one to put on the list, this is clearly the winner. The USA and Canada on hallowed ground--Old Trafford, home of Manchester United. And the rivals did the place proud. Three times Canada took the lead. In the 80th minute, the Canadian goalie got a questionable yellow card for stalling, and Abby Wambach scored on the ensuing penalty kick to tie the game at 3-3. It looked like they were headed to a penalty kick shootout until, in the waning seconds of injury time in overtime, Alex Morgan took Heather O'Reilly's cross and perfectly placed a header into the back of the Canadian net, giving the Americans a 4-3 victory.
1. Giants 21, Patriots 17 (Super Bowl XLVI)-February 5, Indianapolis
Every four years, we can count on the Giants and Patriots to play a classic Super Bowl. Super Bowl XLII may never be equaled, but Super Bowl XLVI sure came close. The Giants led 9-0 after one quarter, but the Patriots drove 96 yards at the end of the first half to take a 10-9 halftime lead. New England then received the second half kickoff and proceeded to drive 79 yards for another touchdown and a 17-9 advantage. The Giants kicked two field goals later in the corner to make it 17-15 after three. Still trailing 17-15, the Giants got the ball on their own 12-yard line with 3:46 remaining. Just like Super Bowl XLII was defined by David Tyree's miracle helmet catch, Super Bowl XLVI would be defined by the first play of this drive. Eli Manning floated the perfect pass to Mario Manningham, who hauled in a 38-yard completion to midfield just inbounds along the New England sideline (right in front of Bill Belichick). Belichick asked for a review, but the catch was good. The Giants had second-and-goal on the Patriots six with 1:03 left when New England decided to intentionally let the Giants score so they could get the ball back. Ahmad Bradshaw realized this and tried to stop, but his momentum carried him into the end zone, giving the Giants a 21-17 lead. New England had 57 seconds to try and score a winning touchdown, and the Patriots drove to their own 49 with nine seconds left. Tom Brady heaved a Hail Mary towards the end zone which was batted around by a couple Giants defenders before hitting the ground just past Rob Gronkowski's outstretched hands. And with that, the Giants were Super Bowl champions.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
NFL Week 17 Picks
Well kids, we've reached the final week of the 2012 NFL season. As Week 17 dawns, 10 of the 12 playoff spots are clinched, as are six of the eight divisions. But that doesn't mean we've got a boring slate of games in store for Sunday. Just the opposite, actually. We've got Cowboys-Redskins for the NFC East title on Sunday night, among others. Of course, we've got some meaningless duds like Jaguars-Texans, too. That's why I'm breaking this week's picks into three categories: Games That Really Matter, Games That Somewhat Matter, and Games That Don't Matter.
GAMES THAT REALLY MATTER
Bears (9-6) at Lions (4-11): Chicago-The Bears' road to the playoffs isn't as long as it might seem. Beat the last-place Lions, hope the Vikings lose, and they're in. Although, it must be an incredibly awkward position for Chicago to have to rely on a victory by bitter archrival Green Bay. I said way back early in the season when they were still one of the best teams in football that the Bears were all but a lock for the playoffs. They've taken a very roundabout route, but the Bears are still set up to get in. They'll take care of their part by beating Detroit.
Texans (12-3) at Colts (10-5): Houston-Because they laid an egg last week against Minnesota, the Texans haven't locked up AFC home field yet. That means they've actually got something to play for this week in Indianapolis, somewhere they've never won. The Colts, meanwhile, don't have anything to play for. They're locked into the No. 5 seed. With everything at stake, the Texans will come to play. Houston's been the best team in the AFC all year. They could end up dropping to the No. 3 seed with a loss. The Texans are too good to let that happen.
Chiefs (2-13) at Broncos (12-3): Denver-How does Kansas City have five Pro Bowlers? I still can't get over that. The NFL should be embarrassed by it. Anyway, a Broncos win locks up at least the No. 2 seed, and with Houston playing an early game, they'll know pretty early on if they still have a shot at home field. (Regardless, they'll have to keep the starters in the whole time, since New England plays at the same time.) Uh, yeah. The Broncos clinch a first-round bye and take an 11-game winning streak into the playoffs, while the Chiefs wrap up the top pick in April.
Packers ("11-4") at Vikings (9-6): Green Bay-Somebody clinches something. Either Green Bay secures a first-round bye or Minnesota claims a surprise playoff berth. Then there's Adrian Peterson's pursuit of Eric Dickerson's all-time rushing record. There's more at stake than there should be, though. That Seahawks "win" over the Packers courtesy of the replacement refs is hanging over the entire NFC playoff picture. If not for that game, Green Bay's bye would already be locked up. The Packers take care of business and get to sit and watch the wild card games, which, thanks to them, Minnesota won't be playing in.
Dolphins (7-8) at Patriots (11-4): New England-New England can end up seeded anywhere from No. 1 to No. 4 in the AFC. The Patriots need a win and losses by both the Texans and Broncos (which doesn't seem likely) to clinch home field, while a win and a loss by either Houston or Denver means they get a first-round bye. Meanwhile, a loss and a Baltimore win drops New England to the No. 4 seed. Needless to say, they've got every reason to go out and play hard against a Dolphins team that traditionally doesn't fare well in December division road games. The Dolphins are usually the one AFC East team capable of giving New England trouble, but not this time. New England wins, which is all it can do, then hopes either the Broncos or Texans lose.
Cardinals (5-10) at 49ers (10-4-1): San Francisco-I think we can all agree the 49ers have been Jekyll and Hyde during the last two weeks. For most of the game against the Patriots, they looked like a legitimate contender to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Then last week in Seattle, they just let the Seahawks run all over them. As a result, the 49ers not only dropped out of the No. 2 seed, they still haven't clinched the NFC West yet. They'll take care of that by beating the Cardinals while also doing some scoreboard-watching. If they win and the Vikings also beat the Packers, San Francisco gets next week off. If not, the 49ers are stuck playing next week, potentially on the road. They won't let that happen.
Cowboys (8-7) at Redskins (9-6): Washington-The game of the week is also the final game of the 2012 regular season. Archrivals Dallas and Washington square off with the NFC East title on the line. The winner's in as the NFC's No. 4 seed. The Redskins can also get in as a wild card if Minnesota and Chicago both lose, while Dallas is out with a loss. Washington's remarkable run was started with a win in Dallas on Thanksgiving, and we've since all become believers in Robert Griffin III and Co. The Redskins' first division title since 1999 is there for the taking, and you know their fans will be into it from the start. Look at what happened with Seattle and San Francisco last week. Washington looks like a playoff team. Dallas doesn't. Hail to the Redskins.
GAMES THAT SOMEWHAT MATTER
Ravens (10-5) at Bengals (9-6): Baltimore-I wonder how much the starters are going to play in this one. Both teams are headed to the playoffs, Cincinnati's locked into the No. 6 seed, and Baltimore needs a win and a lot of help to move up to the No. 3 seed. In other words, I'm not sure the Ravens go out of their way to win this one. They know they're playing next week no matter what, and do they really want to play back-to-back games against a division opponent? A Cincinnati win wouldn't be a surprise, but I'll need to actually see the Bengals beat the Steelers and Ravens in consecutive weeks before I officially predit it.
Eagles (4-11) at Giants (8-7): Giants-Thanks to consecutive duds in Atlanta and Baltimore, the Giants' playoff chances are on life support. Even if they win this week. They're not going to get in. They will, however, win in what's likely Andy Reid's final game as Eagles head coach. Will it also be Michael Vick's final game as an Eagle? I love it that Donovan McNabb called out Philly fans this week pointing out (what was obvious to fans of all other teams) that they didn't know how good they had it when the Eagles were losing the NFC Championship Game every year. It's sad that Andy Reid's going to go out like this.
Rams (7-7-1) at Seahawks ("10-5"): Seattle-I'm putting this one down as "somewhat matters" because the Seahawks don't control their own destiny. Yes, Seattle knows they're in the playoffs, but they need a win and help to move up from No. 5 to No. 3. They can even get a first-round bye thanks to the replacement refs. Two years ago, these two met in Seattle in the season finale, and the Seahawks won to clinch the division at 7-9. This year, there's no questioning the legitimacy of Seattle's playoff berth. They've won four straight and, along with Denver and Washington, are one of the hottest teams in football. And they're the team no one in the NFC wants to see in the playoffs. Fortunately for whoever wins the NFC East, they'll get to host Seattle. Because the Seahawks will take care of their business, but not get the help they need to win the NFC West.
GAMES THAT DON'T MATTER
Buccaneers (6-9) at Falcons (13-2): Atlanta-This game falls into the "doesn't matter" category because the Falcons have already locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC and will likely keep their starters on the bench for most of the game. The Bucs showed so much promise when they were 6-4, but they've lost five straight heading into the finale, and need to win to avoid last place (which might happen anyway). The Falcons' only two losses this season were division road games at New Orleans and Carolina. I'm not sure it matters if Atlanta's starters play or not. The Falcons equal their franchise-best record by going 14-2.
Jets (6-9) at Bills (5-10): Buffalo-Greg McElroy suffered a concussion last week, so Mark Sanchez is once again the Jets' starting quarterback. And the New York media only has a couple more days to make a big deal about Tim Tebow before he gets cut/traded/whatever. The Jets circus mercifully concludes its 2012 season the way it began--with a matchup against the Bills. The Jets won the opener, but both of these teams are incredibly different now. Since the Bills are less of a mess, they're the pick.
Jaguars (2-13) at Titans (5-10): Tennessee-Right up there with Jets-Bills as the most irrelevant games of the day. The only thing at stake is the No. 1 pick, which Jacksonville can clinch with a loss and a Chiefs win in Denver. The Jaguars picked up one of their two wins the first time they played the Titans, but since the game's in Nashville, I'll say Tennessee takes this one to earn a season split.
Panthers (6-9) at Sinners (7-8): New Orleans-I give New Orleans a lot of credit. They really got things turned around after that 0-4 start. Very few people thought they'd actually have a .500 record at stake in their last game, but that's exactly the position they've put themselves in thanks to that overtime victory in Dallas last week. With Sean Payton locked up for next season, they'll use a very respectable 8-8 finish as a springboard for 2013.
Browns (5-10) at Steelers (7-8): Pittsburgh-Did you ever think the Browns-Steelers game would fall into the "irrelevant" category because both teams were out of playoff contention? It's unbelievable to think we won't see the Steelers again until September. Or that they need to win a meaningless game against Cleveland just to finish .500. The Steelers have too much pride to settle for 7-9. Or to get swept by the Browns. In fact, it was that loss in Cleveland that started Pittsburgh on the path that knocked them out of the postseason.
Raiders (4-11) at Chargers (6-9): San Diego-The final game of the Norv Turner Era in San Diego. I give the Chargers credit, though. They're having their customary solid December, picking up road wins against the Steelers and Jets, with last week's victory coming in a 1:00 game. Back on the West Coast to take on the division rival Raiders, who'll be starting Terrelle Pryor, in the finale, San Diego sends Norv Turner out a winner.
NFC Teams Clinching Playoff Spots: Washington, Chicago
Playoff Seeds: AFC-(1) Houston, (2) Denver, (3) New England, (4) Baltimore, (5) Indianapolis, (6) Cincinnati; NFC-(1) Atlanta, (2) Green Bay, (3) San Francisco, (4) Washington, (5) Seattle, (6) Chicago
Last Week: 9-7
Season: 159-80-1
GAMES THAT REALLY MATTER
Bears (9-6) at Lions (4-11): Chicago-The Bears' road to the playoffs isn't as long as it might seem. Beat the last-place Lions, hope the Vikings lose, and they're in. Although, it must be an incredibly awkward position for Chicago to have to rely on a victory by bitter archrival Green Bay. I said way back early in the season when they were still one of the best teams in football that the Bears were all but a lock for the playoffs. They've taken a very roundabout route, but the Bears are still set up to get in. They'll take care of their part by beating Detroit.
Texans (12-3) at Colts (10-5): Houston-Because they laid an egg last week against Minnesota, the Texans haven't locked up AFC home field yet. That means they've actually got something to play for this week in Indianapolis, somewhere they've never won. The Colts, meanwhile, don't have anything to play for. They're locked into the No. 5 seed. With everything at stake, the Texans will come to play. Houston's been the best team in the AFC all year. They could end up dropping to the No. 3 seed with a loss. The Texans are too good to let that happen.
Chiefs (2-13) at Broncos (12-3): Denver-How does Kansas City have five Pro Bowlers? I still can't get over that. The NFL should be embarrassed by it. Anyway, a Broncos win locks up at least the No. 2 seed, and with Houston playing an early game, they'll know pretty early on if they still have a shot at home field. (Regardless, they'll have to keep the starters in the whole time, since New England plays at the same time.) Uh, yeah. The Broncos clinch a first-round bye and take an 11-game winning streak into the playoffs, while the Chiefs wrap up the top pick in April.
Packers ("11-4") at Vikings (9-6): Green Bay-Somebody clinches something. Either Green Bay secures a first-round bye or Minnesota claims a surprise playoff berth. Then there's Adrian Peterson's pursuit of Eric Dickerson's all-time rushing record. There's more at stake than there should be, though. That Seahawks "win" over the Packers courtesy of the replacement refs is hanging over the entire NFC playoff picture. If not for that game, Green Bay's bye would already be locked up. The Packers take care of business and get to sit and watch the wild card games, which, thanks to them, Minnesota won't be playing in.
Dolphins (7-8) at Patriots (11-4): New England-New England can end up seeded anywhere from No. 1 to No. 4 in the AFC. The Patriots need a win and losses by both the Texans and Broncos (which doesn't seem likely) to clinch home field, while a win and a loss by either Houston or Denver means they get a first-round bye. Meanwhile, a loss and a Baltimore win drops New England to the No. 4 seed. Needless to say, they've got every reason to go out and play hard against a Dolphins team that traditionally doesn't fare well in December division road games. The Dolphins are usually the one AFC East team capable of giving New England trouble, but not this time. New England wins, which is all it can do, then hopes either the Broncos or Texans lose.
Cardinals (5-10) at 49ers (10-4-1): San Francisco-I think we can all agree the 49ers have been Jekyll and Hyde during the last two weeks. For most of the game against the Patriots, they looked like a legitimate contender to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Then last week in Seattle, they just let the Seahawks run all over them. As a result, the 49ers not only dropped out of the No. 2 seed, they still haven't clinched the NFC West yet. They'll take care of that by beating the Cardinals while also doing some scoreboard-watching. If they win and the Vikings also beat the Packers, San Francisco gets next week off. If not, the 49ers are stuck playing next week, potentially on the road. They won't let that happen.
Cowboys (8-7) at Redskins (9-6): Washington-The game of the week is also the final game of the 2012 regular season. Archrivals Dallas and Washington square off with the NFC East title on the line. The winner's in as the NFC's No. 4 seed. The Redskins can also get in as a wild card if Minnesota and Chicago both lose, while Dallas is out with a loss. Washington's remarkable run was started with a win in Dallas on Thanksgiving, and we've since all become believers in Robert Griffin III and Co. The Redskins' first division title since 1999 is there for the taking, and you know their fans will be into it from the start. Look at what happened with Seattle and San Francisco last week. Washington looks like a playoff team. Dallas doesn't. Hail to the Redskins.
GAMES THAT SOMEWHAT MATTER
Ravens (10-5) at Bengals (9-6): Baltimore-I wonder how much the starters are going to play in this one. Both teams are headed to the playoffs, Cincinnati's locked into the No. 6 seed, and Baltimore needs a win and a lot of help to move up to the No. 3 seed. In other words, I'm not sure the Ravens go out of their way to win this one. They know they're playing next week no matter what, and do they really want to play back-to-back games against a division opponent? A Cincinnati win wouldn't be a surprise, but I'll need to actually see the Bengals beat the Steelers and Ravens in consecutive weeks before I officially predit it.
Eagles (4-11) at Giants (8-7): Giants-Thanks to consecutive duds in Atlanta and Baltimore, the Giants' playoff chances are on life support. Even if they win this week. They're not going to get in. They will, however, win in what's likely Andy Reid's final game as Eagles head coach. Will it also be Michael Vick's final game as an Eagle? I love it that Donovan McNabb called out Philly fans this week pointing out (what was obvious to fans of all other teams) that they didn't know how good they had it when the Eagles were losing the NFC Championship Game every year. It's sad that Andy Reid's going to go out like this.
Rams (7-7-1) at Seahawks ("10-5"): Seattle-I'm putting this one down as "somewhat matters" because the Seahawks don't control their own destiny. Yes, Seattle knows they're in the playoffs, but they need a win and help to move up from No. 5 to No. 3. They can even get a first-round bye thanks to the replacement refs. Two years ago, these two met in Seattle in the season finale, and the Seahawks won to clinch the division at 7-9. This year, there's no questioning the legitimacy of Seattle's playoff berth. They've won four straight and, along with Denver and Washington, are one of the hottest teams in football. And they're the team no one in the NFC wants to see in the playoffs. Fortunately for whoever wins the NFC East, they'll get to host Seattle. Because the Seahawks will take care of their business, but not get the help they need to win the NFC West.
GAMES THAT DON'T MATTER
Buccaneers (6-9) at Falcons (13-2): Atlanta-This game falls into the "doesn't matter" category because the Falcons have already locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC and will likely keep their starters on the bench for most of the game. The Bucs showed so much promise when they were 6-4, but they've lost five straight heading into the finale, and need to win to avoid last place (which might happen anyway). The Falcons' only two losses this season were division road games at New Orleans and Carolina. I'm not sure it matters if Atlanta's starters play or not. The Falcons equal their franchise-best record by going 14-2.
Jets (6-9) at Bills (5-10): Buffalo-Greg McElroy suffered a concussion last week, so Mark Sanchez is once again the Jets' starting quarterback. And the New York media only has a couple more days to make a big deal about Tim Tebow before he gets cut/traded/whatever. The Jets circus mercifully concludes its 2012 season the way it began--with a matchup against the Bills. The Jets won the opener, but both of these teams are incredibly different now. Since the Bills are less of a mess, they're the pick.
Jaguars (2-13) at Titans (5-10): Tennessee-Right up there with Jets-Bills as the most irrelevant games of the day. The only thing at stake is the No. 1 pick, which Jacksonville can clinch with a loss and a Chiefs win in Denver. The Jaguars picked up one of their two wins the first time they played the Titans, but since the game's in Nashville, I'll say Tennessee takes this one to earn a season split.
Panthers (6-9) at Sinners (7-8): New Orleans-I give New Orleans a lot of credit. They really got things turned around after that 0-4 start. Very few people thought they'd actually have a .500 record at stake in their last game, but that's exactly the position they've put themselves in thanks to that overtime victory in Dallas last week. With Sean Payton locked up for next season, they'll use a very respectable 8-8 finish as a springboard for 2013.
Browns (5-10) at Steelers (7-8): Pittsburgh-Did you ever think the Browns-Steelers game would fall into the "irrelevant" category because both teams were out of playoff contention? It's unbelievable to think we won't see the Steelers again until September. Or that they need to win a meaningless game against Cleveland just to finish .500. The Steelers have too much pride to settle for 7-9. Or to get swept by the Browns. In fact, it was that loss in Cleveland that started Pittsburgh on the path that knocked them out of the postseason.
Raiders (4-11) at Chargers (6-9): San Diego-The final game of the Norv Turner Era in San Diego. I give the Chargers credit, though. They're having their customary solid December, picking up road wins against the Steelers and Jets, with last week's victory coming in a 1:00 game. Back on the West Coast to take on the division rival Raiders, who'll be starting Terrelle Pryor, in the finale, San Diego sends Norv Turner out a winner.
NFC Teams Clinching Playoff Spots: Washington, Chicago
Playoff Seeds: AFC-(1) Houston, (2) Denver, (3) New England, (4) Baltimore, (5) Indianapolis, (6) Cincinnati; NFC-(1) Atlanta, (2) Green Bay, (3) San Francisco, (4) Washington, (5) Seattle, (6) Chicago
Last Week: 9-7
Season: 159-80-1
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Five Chiefs and Three Falcons?
I should've probably done this blog yesterday, but I didn't realize the Pro Bowl selections were being announced until I was already set on that greatest active players thing. So, we're going a day late with this one. But that's OK, since I've had plenty of time to digest the choices and make some observations.
For starters, how did the Kansas City Chiefs, who will likely end up with the No. 1 pick, end up with five Pro Bowlers, while the Atlanta Falcons, the No. 1 seed in the NFC, have only three? The "experts" can make any excuse/explanation they want as to why the worst team in the league has two more Pro Bowlers than the best team in the league. None of them are going to matter. It's a complete joke, and the NFL should be utterly embarrassed about it. One Chief, maybe two, fine. But five? And you can't blame this on Chiefs fans stuffing the ballot box. The fan vote only accounts for one-third of the final total, and no Chiefs won the fan vote. The players and coaches are the ones who screwed up that one. And they're the ones who should be ashamed of themselves. Five deserving AFC players aren't going to Hawaii, while five members of the 2-13 Kansas City Chiefs are "all-stars."
Don't get me wrong about the Falcons, though. I'm not saying Atlanta should've had more than three. You maybe could've taken Roddy White, but otherwise, I don't think you could really call any of the Falcons a snub. It's just incredibly glaring that Kansas City had that inexplicably high number. And, of course, thanks to Mr. Brilliant Commissioner's wonderful plan to have the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl, there might be NO Falcons in Hawaii. And it's not unrealistic to think Atlanta will end up in New Orleans.
Leading the way with the most selections were San Francisco (9), Houston (8), New England (7) and Baltimore (6). I have no argument with any of those numbers. All four are (likely) division champions and, along with Denver and Atlanta, perhaps the most leigitmate Super Bowl contenders. Besides, of the Pro Bowlers on those four rosters, who would you take off? Six of the 49ers are members of that dominant defense. The Patriots include Brady and two of his friends (Gronkowski, Welker), as well as one of their linemen (Logan Mankins). Baltimore, surprisingly, ended up with only six. It likely would've been higher if their defense hadn't been so beset by injuries this season. From the Texans, you have the three-headed monster (Matt Schaub, Arian Foster and Andre Johnson) plus three offensive linemen, cornerback Johnathan Joseph and, of course, J.J. Watt. Who you taking off? Unlike the best team in the NFC, the best team in the AFC all year has proper representation.
I've also heard a lot of grief about the selection of Robert Griffin III, the first rookie quarterback named to the initial Pro Bowl roster (not one who ended up going as the third alternate after everyone dropped out) since Dan Marino in 1983. I love the selection. Griffin would get my vote for Rookie of the Year. He's dynamic, his play has been sensational, and he's the primary reason the Redskins are poised to win their first division title since 1999. Critics like to point to the fact that Griffin was selected over the likes of Drew Brees and Tony Romo. So what? I'm not denying that Brees put up his customary big numbers, and Romo had a solid year, as well, but you can't tell me either of their years has been so much better than Robert Griffin III's that you can say they were "slighted" by not being selected.
An argument could've been made for all three of the rookie quarterbacks that took their teams to the playoffs, but Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson weren't selected. Luck's time will come, but he wasn't going to crack that Manning-Brady-Schaub triumverate. Not this year. Same thing in the NFC. If you're one of those people who's upset Robert Griffin III made it over Brees and Romo, there's no way you can make a case for Russell Wilson to be on the team.
Then there are the gys who are named to the Pro Bowl and you simply wonder "How?" And I'm not just talking about the five Chiefs. I'm talking about Packers center Jeff Saturday, who might've been picked more on reputation than anything else. (And with offensive linemen, it's so hard to tell the difference sometimes that reputation almost has to come into play. That's why so many offensive linemen go to the Pro Bowl year after year after year.) The same argument is being made about Ravens safety Ed Reed, too, but Reed is a legend so even in a "down" year he's the cream of the crop among AFC safeties.
As for guys who were snubbed, you've got to start with Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman. We saw on Sunday night what kind of a season this guy's had. But he also had a very public four-game drug suspension that was overturned today. Did that come into play? Chargers safety Eric Weddle should be there, too. I don't even know who this guy on the Chiefs is, but he's one of the five undeserving Kansas City players who made it over somebody on a better team. Wide receivers Dez Bryant of Dallas, Marques Colston of New Orleans and Roddy White of Atlanta arguably had Pro Bowl seasons, as well. They could be considered "snubs," but I'm not sure which NFC wide receiver I'd take off to put one of them on. It was a very deep position this year.
The ridiculously small size of the Pro Bowl rosters is a problem, too. Every NFL team is allowed to dress 53 players for a regular season game. Yet the Pro Bowl rosters consist of only 45 players per conference. Why? The roster should be at least the same size as it would be for a regular game. A grand total of 17 defensive players per conference are named to the Pro Bowl. Safety is split into two positions, yet there are only three total on each roster, meaning there's no backup at either strong safety or free safety. Each team has a designated kick returner and one designated special teamer, plus a long snapper that's picked by the head coach. That means you've got to find at least seven guys to volunteer for special teams duty.
In real games, the third quarterback is inactive, yet three quarterbacks are named to the Pro Bowl (I don't have a problem with this, I'm just pointing it out). And in the Pro Bowl, they have all these rules designating the specific types of offense that you're allowed to play (for example, you have to have a tight end in the game on every play), but you're limited to just two tight ends and one fullback on the roster.
Pick an extra guy at each of the skill positions (other than quarterback) and let them play whatever formation they want. Three wide receivers? Sure. A 3-4 defense instead of a 4-3? Why not? Nickel or dime defense? Absolutely. If they play these formations in the regular season, there's no reason why they should be limited in what they can do in the Pro Bowl.
I'd add eight guys to the roster (1 running back, 1 wide receiver, 1 tight end, 1 offensive lineman, 1 defensive end, 1 linebacker, 1 cornerback, 1 safety) to make the squad limit the same as a regular season game, and get rid of those restrictive personnel rules. Then you've got eight more Pro Bowl spots to hand out and a lot fewer guys who were "snubbed" because they ended up as alternates. The Pro Bowl will never be great. But these changes would be a start.
For starters, how did the Kansas City Chiefs, who will likely end up with the No. 1 pick, end up with five Pro Bowlers, while the Atlanta Falcons, the No. 1 seed in the NFC, have only three? The "experts" can make any excuse/explanation they want as to why the worst team in the league has two more Pro Bowlers than the best team in the league. None of them are going to matter. It's a complete joke, and the NFL should be utterly embarrassed about it. One Chief, maybe two, fine. But five? And you can't blame this on Chiefs fans stuffing the ballot box. The fan vote only accounts for one-third of the final total, and no Chiefs won the fan vote. The players and coaches are the ones who screwed up that one. And they're the ones who should be ashamed of themselves. Five deserving AFC players aren't going to Hawaii, while five members of the 2-13 Kansas City Chiefs are "all-stars."
Don't get me wrong about the Falcons, though. I'm not saying Atlanta should've had more than three. You maybe could've taken Roddy White, but otherwise, I don't think you could really call any of the Falcons a snub. It's just incredibly glaring that Kansas City had that inexplicably high number. And, of course, thanks to Mr. Brilliant Commissioner's wonderful plan to have the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl, there might be NO Falcons in Hawaii. And it's not unrealistic to think Atlanta will end up in New Orleans.
Leading the way with the most selections were San Francisco (9), Houston (8), New England (7) and Baltimore (6). I have no argument with any of those numbers. All four are (likely) division champions and, along with Denver and Atlanta, perhaps the most leigitmate Super Bowl contenders. Besides, of the Pro Bowlers on those four rosters, who would you take off? Six of the 49ers are members of that dominant defense. The Patriots include Brady and two of his friends (Gronkowski, Welker), as well as one of their linemen (Logan Mankins). Baltimore, surprisingly, ended up with only six. It likely would've been higher if their defense hadn't been so beset by injuries this season. From the Texans, you have the three-headed monster (Matt Schaub, Arian Foster and Andre Johnson) plus three offensive linemen, cornerback Johnathan Joseph and, of course, J.J. Watt. Who you taking off? Unlike the best team in the NFC, the best team in the AFC all year has proper representation.
I've also heard a lot of grief about the selection of Robert Griffin III, the first rookie quarterback named to the initial Pro Bowl roster (not one who ended up going as the third alternate after everyone dropped out) since Dan Marino in 1983. I love the selection. Griffin would get my vote for Rookie of the Year. He's dynamic, his play has been sensational, and he's the primary reason the Redskins are poised to win their first division title since 1999. Critics like to point to the fact that Griffin was selected over the likes of Drew Brees and Tony Romo. So what? I'm not denying that Brees put up his customary big numbers, and Romo had a solid year, as well, but you can't tell me either of their years has been so much better than Robert Griffin III's that you can say they were "slighted" by not being selected.
An argument could've been made for all three of the rookie quarterbacks that took their teams to the playoffs, but Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson weren't selected. Luck's time will come, but he wasn't going to crack that Manning-Brady-Schaub triumverate. Not this year. Same thing in the NFC. If you're one of those people who's upset Robert Griffin III made it over Brees and Romo, there's no way you can make a case for Russell Wilson to be on the team.
Then there are the gys who are named to the Pro Bowl and you simply wonder "How?" And I'm not just talking about the five Chiefs. I'm talking about Packers center Jeff Saturday, who might've been picked more on reputation than anything else. (And with offensive linemen, it's so hard to tell the difference sometimes that reputation almost has to come into play. That's why so many offensive linemen go to the Pro Bowl year after year after year.) The same argument is being made about Ravens safety Ed Reed, too, but Reed is a legend so even in a "down" year he's the cream of the crop among AFC safeties.
As for guys who were snubbed, you've got to start with Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman. We saw on Sunday night what kind of a season this guy's had. But he also had a very public four-game drug suspension that was overturned today. Did that come into play? Chargers safety Eric Weddle should be there, too. I don't even know who this guy on the Chiefs is, but he's one of the five undeserving Kansas City players who made it over somebody on a better team. Wide receivers Dez Bryant of Dallas, Marques Colston of New Orleans and Roddy White of Atlanta arguably had Pro Bowl seasons, as well. They could be considered "snubs," but I'm not sure which NFC wide receiver I'd take off to put one of them on. It was a very deep position this year.
The ridiculously small size of the Pro Bowl rosters is a problem, too. Every NFL team is allowed to dress 53 players for a regular season game. Yet the Pro Bowl rosters consist of only 45 players per conference. Why? The roster should be at least the same size as it would be for a regular game. A grand total of 17 defensive players per conference are named to the Pro Bowl. Safety is split into two positions, yet there are only three total on each roster, meaning there's no backup at either strong safety or free safety. Each team has a designated kick returner and one designated special teamer, plus a long snapper that's picked by the head coach. That means you've got to find at least seven guys to volunteer for special teams duty.
In real games, the third quarterback is inactive, yet three quarterbacks are named to the Pro Bowl (I don't have a problem with this, I'm just pointing it out). And in the Pro Bowl, they have all these rules designating the specific types of offense that you're allowed to play (for example, you have to have a tight end in the game on every play), but you're limited to just two tight ends and one fullback on the roster.
Pick an extra guy at each of the skill positions (other than quarterback) and let them play whatever formation they want. Three wide receivers? Sure. A 3-4 defense instead of a 4-3? Why not? Nickel or dime defense? Absolutely. If they play these formations in the regular season, there's no reason why they should be limited in what they can do in the Pro Bowl.
I'd add eight guys to the roster (1 running back, 1 wide receiver, 1 tight end, 1 offensive lineman, 1 defensive end, 1 linebacker, 1 cornerback, 1 safety) to make the squad limit the same as a regular season game, and get rid of those restrictive personnel rules. Then you've got eight more Pro Bowl spots to hand out and a lot fewer guys who were "snubbed" because they ended up as alternates. The Pro Bowl will never be great. But these changes would be a start.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
The NFL's Best
Among the things I received for Christmas this year was the new Sports Illustrated book "Football's Greatest." It had a bunch of Top 10 lists ranking all kids of football-related things, from the best uniforms and games to coaches and rivalries. The book also featured the panel's Top 10 list of all-time bests at each position. Along with the obvious Hall of Famers, there were a bunch of active players included as well. And that got me thinking: Who are the greatest players in the NFL right now?
So, I'm gonna give it a shot. (The timing of today's Pro Bowl roster announcement also corresponds nicely with this post.) Here are the players that I rate as the best at their position in the NFL today.
Quarterback: Tom Brady, Patriots-This was obviously the hardest one, with the Brothers Manning, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers all in the conversation. But I think the Brady body of work gives him the slight edge over Peyton. Since he took over as New England's starter in 2001, the Patriots have won three Super Bowls and been two others. And let's not forget all of Brady's ridiculous passing numbers during that time, either. It's close, but the Patriots' sustained success, for which Tom Brady is most responsible, makes him, in my opinion, the NFL's top active quarterback (I still like Peyton better, though).
Running Back: Adrian Peterson, Vikings-We all know the ridiculous numbers he's putting up this season. The MVP and Comeback Player of the Year talk is completely unwarranted, but there's no question that Peterson is far-and-away the best running back in football. The fact that he's threatening the all-time rushing record is remarkable in its own right. The fact that he tore his ACL last Christmas, yet played in the season opener, then had this type of season, is truly exceptional.
Fullback: Vonta Leach, Ravens-Picking the best fullback in the NFL became a little more difficult when Mike Alstott and Lorenzo Neal retired, but I think Vonta Leach is the cream of the current crop. He paves the way for Ray Rice to do his thing and has been to the last three Pro Bowls.
Wide Receiver: Calvin Johnson, Lions-What can't Megatron do? It's so fun to watch him play. My favorite thing about Calvin Johnson, though, is that he's able to put up these kind of receiving numbers without getting much help. The Lions' offense consists of Matthew Stafford throwing the ball to Calvin Johnson. Everybody knows this. That's why he's always double-covered. Yet he's still virtually impossible to stop.
Tight End: Tony Gonzalez, Falcons-Tony Gonzalez is planning on retiring after this season. I don't know why. Because even at 36, he's the best tight end in the game. In fact, I'd be willing to argue that Gonzalez is the best receiving tight end in history.
Tackle: Joe Thomas, Browns-It's hard to quantify what makes a good offensive lineman, mainly because they don't have stats. You just know one when you see one. Like Anthony Munoz and Larry Allen. Joe Thomas is one of those. All you need to know he's great is to watch him play. The fact that he does so in Cleveland doesn't help. But, Thomas was the No. 3 pick in the 2007 Draft, has never missed a start in his career, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl every year.
Guard: Logan Mankins, Patriots-Guard is a tough position. There aren't many "standouts" who immediately come to mind. But I think the best of the best is probably New England's Logan Mankins. He's a five-time Pro Bowler who the Patriots clearly think is cream of the crop, too. Mankins is the second-highest-paid guard in the NFL.
Center: Jeff Saturday, Packers-He's lost a step, and it's still weird to see him wearing a Packers uniform, but I still think Jeff Saturday is the elite center in the NFL. It's not a coincidence that the Colts' incredible run of success started when Peyton Manning started taking snaps from Jeff Saturday. Of course, they've since both moved on, but the Saturday-Aaron Rodgers combination in Green Bay has worked out just as nicely.
Defensive End: J.J. Watt, Texans-There are so many great young pass rushers in the league that defensive end has become one of the NFL's marquee positions. There's Jared Allen and Jason Pierre-Paul and Julius Peppers and Cameron Wake and Elvis Dumervil, among others. But I'm giving the nod to the likely Defensive Player of the Year, Houston's J.J. Watt. Watt's just 23 and in his second year, but his 2012 season is borderline historic. Michael Strahan's NFL-record 22.5 sacks is in jeopardy, and the Texans are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Defensive Tackle: Justin Smith, 49ers-This was another tough one. The interior linemen are becoming just as effecive on the pass rush as the defensive ends. Although, in fairness, Justin Smith used to be a defensive end. The 49ers moved him inside midway through last season, and he was named All-Pro at both positions. Guys like Haloti Ngata and Vince Wilfork are tremendous at the traditional stuff the gaps, stop the run stuff you're used to seeing from interior linemen, but they're not the dual-threat Justin Smith is.
Outside Linebacker: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys-If we're talking great pass rushers, DeMarcus Ware has to be in the discussion. He's the best 3-4 outside linebacker there is. ESPN has called him the "most dynamic defender in the league," and he's been ranked among the top five overall players in the league by various networks/publications. When healthy, Ware can do it all, and he's virtually unstoppable. He also ranks as one of the scariest players in the league.
Inside Linebacker: Patrick Willis, 49ers-Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis have been the gold standard at middle/inside linebacker for so long that it seems wrong not to have put either one of their names in italics, but for various reasons, I think Patrick Willis has overtaken them both. Sometimes one difference-maker is all it takes for a team to get over the top. That was certainly the case with Patrick Willis and the 49ers' defense. San Francisco returned to prominence because of that defense. The best player on that defense? Patrick Willis.
Cornerback: Darrelle Revis, Jets-The Jets would've been a mess this year whether or not Darrelle Revis played, but you can't deny that losing him for the season was likely the final straw that eliminated any chance they would've had at being competitive. Quarterbacks stay away from "Revis Island" for good reason. He's by far the best shutdown cover corner in the league. I'm not even sure there's a close second. When the Jets were at their best, it's because Revis was taking some of the best wide receivers in the league and making them complete non-factors.
Strong Safety: Troy Polamalu, Steelers-Want to know why the Steelers didn't make the playoffs this year? Start with who wasn't on the field. More specifically, start in the secondary. Troy Polamalu's importance has been on full display this season. And his dominance has never been questioned. Then there's the hair. I'm not sure how they'll handle the hair on Polamalu's bust in Canton.
Free Safety: Ed Reed, Ravens-Ed Reed isn't just the best active free safety in football. With all due respect to Ronnie Lott, he might be the best one ever. Reed's level of play is the same today at age 34 as it was when he was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2004. His durability has also been remarkable (he's only missed 16 games combined in his 11-year career). Not only that, but Reed is an interception machine. He's gotten a reputation as a "dirty player" because of his repeated fines for hits to the head, but I say it's just because he plays hard on every down.
Kicker: Adam Vinatieri, Colts-The NFL's "best" kicker is perhaps the most arbitrary of all designations. The kickers on the good teams always end up leading the league in scoring because of the amount of opportunities they get, but some of the better kickers are usually the ones on the bad teams. And they end up scoring a lot of points, too, because their teams always end up settling for field goals. But my selection is the guy who's proven his value over and over again. Adam Viantieri is perhaps the greatest clutch kicker in NFL history. He kicked the winning field goal on the final play of the Super Bowl twice, as well as the snow field goal that ended the infamous "Tuck Rule" game. If the Hall of Fame voters ever actually acknowledge the fact that kicker is a position, Adam Vinatieri could be a candidate for a bust in Canton.
Punter: Shane Lechler, Raiders-The best punter in history, Ray Guy, played for the Raiders. And the best punter currently playing in the NFL is also a Raider--Shane Lechler. Lechler's a nine-time All-Pro, the NFL's all-time leader in punting average, and he didn't have a punt blocked until Week 1 of this season, the 13th of his career. Along with Sebastian Janikowski, Lechler is half of the best kicker-punter combo in the NFL.
Kick Returner: Devin Hester, Bears-Again, kick returner is a tough one. Once a guy becomes good enough to make an impact as a return man, opposing teams simply start keeping the ball away from him. That's certainly the case with Devin Hester, who's arguably one of the greatest of all-time. In fact, Hester is the all-time NFL leader with 18 return touchdowns, including a record 13 returning punts. He's so dangerous that they don't kick to him anymore. Although, the Bears only use him on kick returns now, since he's one of their starting wide receivers.
Coach: Bill Belichick, Patriots-Not much thought went into this one. As annoying as he is to non-Patriots fans, there's no doubting Bill Belichick's genius. Since taking over as head coach of the Patriots, he's led them to three Super Bowl titles, five AFC Championships, 10 division crowns and 150 regular season wins, inclduing that unforgettable 16-0 campaign in 2007 (and an NFL-record 21 consecutive wins in 2003-04). He's also won Coach of the Year honors five times. A disciple of Bill Parcells, Belichick has developed an impressive coaching tree of his own, featuring the likes of Nick Saban, Charlie Weis, Bill O'Brien, Romeo Crennel and Jim Schwartz.
So, I'm gonna give it a shot. (The timing of today's Pro Bowl roster announcement also corresponds nicely with this post.) Here are the players that I rate as the best at their position in the NFL today.
Quarterback: Tom Brady, Patriots-This was obviously the hardest one, with the Brothers Manning, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers all in the conversation. But I think the Brady body of work gives him the slight edge over Peyton. Since he took over as New England's starter in 2001, the Patriots have won three Super Bowls and been two others. And let's not forget all of Brady's ridiculous passing numbers during that time, either. It's close, but the Patriots' sustained success, for which Tom Brady is most responsible, makes him, in my opinion, the NFL's top active quarterback (I still like Peyton better, though).
Running Back: Adrian Peterson, Vikings-We all know the ridiculous numbers he's putting up this season. The MVP and Comeback Player of the Year talk is completely unwarranted, but there's no question that Peterson is far-and-away the best running back in football. The fact that he's threatening the all-time rushing record is remarkable in its own right. The fact that he tore his ACL last Christmas, yet played in the season opener, then had this type of season, is truly exceptional.
Fullback: Vonta Leach, Ravens-Picking the best fullback in the NFL became a little more difficult when Mike Alstott and Lorenzo Neal retired, but I think Vonta Leach is the cream of the current crop. He paves the way for Ray Rice to do his thing and has been to the last three Pro Bowls.
Wide Receiver: Calvin Johnson, Lions-What can't Megatron do? It's so fun to watch him play. My favorite thing about Calvin Johnson, though, is that he's able to put up these kind of receiving numbers without getting much help. The Lions' offense consists of Matthew Stafford throwing the ball to Calvin Johnson. Everybody knows this. That's why he's always double-covered. Yet he's still virtually impossible to stop.
Tight End: Tony Gonzalez, Falcons-Tony Gonzalez is planning on retiring after this season. I don't know why. Because even at 36, he's the best tight end in the game. In fact, I'd be willing to argue that Gonzalez is the best receiving tight end in history.
Tackle: Joe Thomas, Browns-It's hard to quantify what makes a good offensive lineman, mainly because they don't have stats. You just know one when you see one. Like Anthony Munoz and Larry Allen. Joe Thomas is one of those. All you need to know he's great is to watch him play. The fact that he does so in Cleveland doesn't help. But, Thomas was the No. 3 pick in the 2007 Draft, has never missed a start in his career, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl every year.
Guard: Logan Mankins, Patriots-Guard is a tough position. There aren't many "standouts" who immediately come to mind. But I think the best of the best is probably New England's Logan Mankins. He's a five-time Pro Bowler who the Patriots clearly think is cream of the crop, too. Mankins is the second-highest-paid guard in the NFL.
Center: Jeff Saturday, Packers-He's lost a step, and it's still weird to see him wearing a Packers uniform, but I still think Jeff Saturday is the elite center in the NFL. It's not a coincidence that the Colts' incredible run of success started when Peyton Manning started taking snaps from Jeff Saturday. Of course, they've since both moved on, but the Saturday-Aaron Rodgers combination in Green Bay has worked out just as nicely.
Defensive End: J.J. Watt, Texans-There are so many great young pass rushers in the league that defensive end has become one of the NFL's marquee positions. There's Jared Allen and Jason Pierre-Paul and Julius Peppers and Cameron Wake and Elvis Dumervil, among others. But I'm giving the nod to the likely Defensive Player of the Year, Houston's J.J. Watt. Watt's just 23 and in his second year, but his 2012 season is borderline historic. Michael Strahan's NFL-record 22.5 sacks is in jeopardy, and the Texans are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Defensive Tackle: Justin Smith, 49ers-This was another tough one. The interior linemen are becoming just as effecive on the pass rush as the defensive ends. Although, in fairness, Justin Smith used to be a defensive end. The 49ers moved him inside midway through last season, and he was named All-Pro at both positions. Guys like Haloti Ngata and Vince Wilfork are tremendous at the traditional stuff the gaps, stop the run stuff you're used to seeing from interior linemen, but they're not the dual-threat Justin Smith is.
Outside Linebacker: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys-If we're talking great pass rushers, DeMarcus Ware has to be in the discussion. He's the best 3-4 outside linebacker there is. ESPN has called him the "most dynamic defender in the league," and he's been ranked among the top five overall players in the league by various networks/publications. When healthy, Ware can do it all, and he's virtually unstoppable. He also ranks as one of the scariest players in the league.
Inside Linebacker: Patrick Willis, 49ers-Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis have been the gold standard at middle/inside linebacker for so long that it seems wrong not to have put either one of their names in italics, but for various reasons, I think Patrick Willis has overtaken them both. Sometimes one difference-maker is all it takes for a team to get over the top. That was certainly the case with Patrick Willis and the 49ers' defense. San Francisco returned to prominence because of that defense. The best player on that defense? Patrick Willis.
Cornerback: Darrelle Revis, Jets-The Jets would've been a mess this year whether or not Darrelle Revis played, but you can't deny that losing him for the season was likely the final straw that eliminated any chance they would've had at being competitive. Quarterbacks stay away from "Revis Island" for good reason. He's by far the best shutdown cover corner in the league. I'm not even sure there's a close second. When the Jets were at their best, it's because Revis was taking some of the best wide receivers in the league and making them complete non-factors.
Strong Safety: Troy Polamalu, Steelers-Want to know why the Steelers didn't make the playoffs this year? Start with who wasn't on the field. More specifically, start in the secondary. Troy Polamalu's importance has been on full display this season. And his dominance has never been questioned. Then there's the hair. I'm not sure how they'll handle the hair on Polamalu's bust in Canton.
Free Safety: Ed Reed, Ravens-Ed Reed isn't just the best active free safety in football. With all due respect to Ronnie Lott, he might be the best one ever. Reed's level of play is the same today at age 34 as it was when he was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2004. His durability has also been remarkable (he's only missed 16 games combined in his 11-year career). Not only that, but Reed is an interception machine. He's gotten a reputation as a "dirty player" because of his repeated fines for hits to the head, but I say it's just because he plays hard on every down.
Kicker: Adam Vinatieri, Colts-The NFL's "best" kicker is perhaps the most arbitrary of all designations. The kickers on the good teams always end up leading the league in scoring because of the amount of opportunities they get, but some of the better kickers are usually the ones on the bad teams. And they end up scoring a lot of points, too, because their teams always end up settling for field goals. But my selection is the guy who's proven his value over and over again. Adam Viantieri is perhaps the greatest clutch kicker in NFL history. He kicked the winning field goal on the final play of the Super Bowl twice, as well as the snow field goal that ended the infamous "Tuck Rule" game. If the Hall of Fame voters ever actually acknowledge the fact that kicker is a position, Adam Vinatieri could be a candidate for a bust in Canton.
Punter: Shane Lechler, Raiders-The best punter in history, Ray Guy, played for the Raiders. And the best punter currently playing in the NFL is also a Raider--Shane Lechler. Lechler's a nine-time All-Pro, the NFL's all-time leader in punting average, and he didn't have a punt blocked until Week 1 of this season, the 13th of his career. Along with Sebastian Janikowski, Lechler is half of the best kicker-punter combo in the NFL.
Kick Returner: Devin Hester, Bears-Again, kick returner is a tough one. Once a guy becomes good enough to make an impact as a return man, opposing teams simply start keeping the ball away from him. That's certainly the case with Devin Hester, who's arguably one of the greatest of all-time. In fact, Hester is the all-time NFL leader with 18 return touchdowns, including a record 13 returning punts. He's so dangerous that they don't kick to him anymore. Although, the Bears only use him on kick returns now, since he's one of their starting wide receivers.
Coach: Bill Belichick, Patriots-Not much thought went into this one. As annoying as he is to non-Patriots fans, there's no doubting Bill Belichick's genius. Since taking over as head coach of the Patriots, he's led them to three Super Bowl titles, five AFC Championships, 10 division crowns and 150 regular season wins, inclduing that unforgettable 16-0 campaign in 2007 (and an NFL-record 21 consecutive wins in 2003-04). He's also won Coach of the Year honors five times. A disciple of Bill Parcells, Belichick has developed an impressive coaching tree of his own, featuring the likes of Nick Saban, Charlie Weis, Bill O'Brien, Romeo Crennel and Jim Schwartz.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
NFL Week 16 Picks
It's weird to sit here on a Saturday night watching Monday Night Football, but I also have to say that it's nice to have the late-season Saturday night game back. The NFL always used to do that, and I didn't realize how much I missed it. Anyway, the reason there's a Saturday night game instead of a Monday night game this week is because Monday's Christmas Eve, and, as a part of the TV deal, the NFL agrees not to play a night game on Christmas Eve or during the day on Christmas. As a result, we got a special Saturday night treat. (There was no Thursday night game because they don't want to have two teams with extra rest in Week 17.)
With 15 games on the schedule, Sunday promises to provide us with some playoff clarity. In fact, we could have 10 of the 12 berths clinched before the day's out. We might even get that four-way tie for the second NFC wild card broken. It's not like last week's slate, where there were intriguing matchups all over the place (many of which turned out to be duds), but we've still got a bunch of good ones to look forward to.
Sinners (6-8) at Cowboys (8-6): Dallas-If the Cowboys win, it likely sets up a winner-take-all NFC East championship game next weekend in Washington. Dallas has been playing well over the last month, winning three straight since their Thanksgiving loss to the Redskins, including last week's crucial overtime victory against the Steelers. With New Orleans officially out of it, the Sinners are now thrust into the role of spoiler. I wouldn't be surprised to see them win this game, but Dallas is on a mission after missing the playoffs last year. Brees outplays Romo, but the Cowboys win.
Titans (5-9) at Packers ("10-4"): Green Bay-The Packers locked up the NFC North last week and still have a chance at the No. 2 seed (they'd lead the 49ers by a half-game if not for the Seattle game). That means Green Bay's not going to be mailing it in against the Titans. If Tennessee was buoyed at all by that win on Monday night, some of the excitement has got to be tempered by the fact they were playing the Jets. It's the Packers' last game at Lambeau before the playoffs. Them losing seems highly unlikely.
Colts (9-5) at Chiefs (2-12): Indianapolis-In order to clinch a playoff berth, all the Colts have to do is beat the worst team in the league. I've gotta admit, it's impressive to see Indy returning to the playoffs after just a one-year absence. Especially after all that upheaval during the offseason. Rumor has it Chuck Pagano may be ready to return, too. He should wait until the playoffs, though. Because even if they somehow lose to Kansas City, the Colts are in if the Bengals beat the Steelers.
Bills (5-9) at Dolphins (6-8): Miami-Miami's still mathematically alive for a playoff berth. I'm not exactly sure how. Anyway, the Dolphins lose those remote chances if they fall to the Bills at home. I don't see that happening. It's conceivable that the Dolphins will technically have something to play for next week.
Chargers (5-9) at Jets (6-8): San Diego-I'd like to congratulate the Chargers and Jets for being the only teams flexed out of Sunday night all season. Wise decision. This game's not at all relevant. Kind of like Tim Tebow. When they moved this game to 1:00, Jets fans got all giddy because the West Coast teams traditionally don't do well in early games on the East Coast. Yeah, well, the Jets played an early game against the 49ers in Week 4, and San Francisco won 34-0. And have I mentioned that they're a dysfunctional mess? In a matchup of two coaches who likely won't be back next season, Norv Turner gets the better of Rex Ryan.
Redskins (8-6) at Eagles (4-10): Philadelphia-The Redskins control their own playoff destiny. If Washington wins out, they win the NFC East. If the Redskins and Cowboys both win, next week's likely Sunday-night clash will be for the division title. But first they've gotta get by Philadelphia in Andy Reid's final home game as Eagles coach. Last season, the Eagles took great pleasure in ruining the Cowboys' season by beating them on Christmas Eve. Will they do the same thing to the Redskins this year? I'm not going to bet against them. Washington's winning streak comes to an end.
Bengals (8-6) at Steelers (7-7): Pittsburgh-This is perhaps the most intriguing game of the week. Cincinnati can clinch playoff berths for both themselves and the Colts with a win, while the Steelers can seize control of their own playoff fate if they win. Pittsburgh was in that same position two weeks ago, but losses to San Diego and Dallas have put the Steelers in a must-win situation against the Bengals. Cincinnati can really show something if they win this one, but Pittsburgh has the Bengals' number. The Steelers know what they have to do to get into the playoffs. It starts with beating the Bengals at home.
Rams (6-7-1) at Buccaneers (6-8): Tampa Bay-Tampa Bay was still hanging around until this current four-game losing streak, capped by last week's 41-0 embarrassment in New Orleans, eliminated all hope. The Rams are a team on the rise that'll be dangerous next season. This is a toss-up, but I'll go with the Bucs since they're the home team.
Raiders (4-10) at Panthers (5-9): Carolina-Oakland's losing streak on the East Coast, and not just in 1:00 games, is too long to count. I don't see that changing this week. Carolina's the better team. They beat Atlanta, then traveled cross-country and put a hurting on the Chargers in San Diego.
Patriots (10-4) at Jaguars (2-12): New England-After those back-to-back tough primetime games, the Patriots are effectively given a week off with a Week 16 trip to Jacksonville. That really is a Christmas present to New England from the NFL, especially since that loss to the 49ers means the Patriots are currently staring at the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs. They still have a chance at No. 2, so I see them going all-out, at least this week. The Patriots have so many injuries that no one's sure who's actually going to play. It doesn't matter. Jacksonville's in for a hurting.
Vikings (8-6) at Texans (12-2): Houston-Houston clinches home field in the AFC with a win over the Vikings, who currently own the NFC's final playoff spot by virtue of that wacky four-way tiebreaker. With the Texans and Packers as their final two opponents, the Vikings will certainly earn that wild card if they win out. I predict that Houston lets Adrian Peterson run all over the field, but completely shuts down the rest of the Minnesota offense. One day after the Falcons clinch home field in the NFC, the Texans wrap up the AFC's No. 1 seed.
Browns (5-9) at Broncos (11-3): Denver-It's safe to say that Denver's on a roll. Sure, the Broncos went into last week's game on an eight-game winning streak that was more the result of playing a bunch of really bad teams in a row than anything else. But they sure proved something by going to Baltimore and dominating the Ravens. Then they got a gift when the Patriots lost to the 49ers. Now Denver just needs to beat Cleveland and Kansas City at home to wrap up the No. 2 seed. Part I of that scenario shouldn't be a problem. The Peyton Manning-trademarked 12-win season gets transferred from Indy to Denver.
Bears (8-6) at Cardinals (5-9): Chicago-What has happened to my Chicago Bears? They were 7-1! Then they lost to Houston and it's been downhill ever since. Chicago's 1-5 in its last six games, and the Bears need two wins and help just to get the second wild card (and a potential trip to Green Bay). Speaking of winning, the Cardinals actually did that last week for the first time in two and a half months. I'm not sure what Bears team is going to show up. If they can do what they did early in the season and force a bad Cardinals offense to commit turnovers, they should be able to put themselves in a position where next week matters.
Giants (8-6) at Ravens (9-5): Giants-Here's where the five-way 8-6 NFC tie confuses me the most: the Giants are currently ninth, but will somehow leapfrog both Minnesota and Chicago and guarantee themselves at least a wild card if they win-out. They can theoretically still win the NFC East, too, although that's impossible if both the Redskins and Cowboys win. Or the Giants could be eliminated entirely with a loss and a couple other things. The Ravens lost to Denver last week, but backed into the playoffs when the Steelers lost. Baltimore's still in the driver's seat in the AFC North, though. How do the Giants rebound after last week's showing in Atlanta? I don't think it'll be a problem. They always seem to play their best with their backs against the wall, and that's certainly the case here. I just have a feeling the Giants are going to do it again. They win, and Baltimore's trip to Cincinnati next week suddenly takes on a lot more meaning.
49ers (10-3-1) at Seahawks ("9-5"): San Francisco-Somebody clinches something on Sunday night. Either the 49ers wrap up the NFC West or the Seahawks secure at least a wild card and put themselves in a position to potentially win the division. The 49ers' win in New England last week (which was correctly predicted here) showed me a lot. It wasn't that San Francisco won. It's how they won. They got out to that big lead, didn't flinch when the Patriots came all the way back, and, in fact, countered with their own game-winning drive immediately after New England tied the game. The 49ers have the look of a Super Bowl team. As for Seattle, I take back what I said about Pete Carroll not trying to run up the score against Arizona. You don't attempt a fake punt when you're up 30 in the fourth quarter! Their offense has obviously been clicking, but they're playing San Francisco this week, not Arizona or Buffalo. The Seahawks aren't going to score 50 points this week. That hostile crowd at Qwest Field will be amped up by the Sunday night atmosphere, but the 49ers have already won in Green Bay, on a Monday night in Chicago, and last Sunday night in New England. They won't be phased, and they clinch the division with a close win.
This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 10-6
Season: 151-73-1
With 15 games on the schedule, Sunday promises to provide us with some playoff clarity. In fact, we could have 10 of the 12 berths clinched before the day's out. We might even get that four-way tie for the second NFC wild card broken. It's not like last week's slate, where there were intriguing matchups all over the place (many of which turned out to be duds), but we've still got a bunch of good ones to look forward to.
Sinners (6-8) at Cowboys (8-6): Dallas-If the Cowboys win, it likely sets up a winner-take-all NFC East championship game next weekend in Washington. Dallas has been playing well over the last month, winning three straight since their Thanksgiving loss to the Redskins, including last week's crucial overtime victory against the Steelers. With New Orleans officially out of it, the Sinners are now thrust into the role of spoiler. I wouldn't be surprised to see them win this game, but Dallas is on a mission after missing the playoffs last year. Brees outplays Romo, but the Cowboys win.
Titans (5-9) at Packers ("10-4"): Green Bay-The Packers locked up the NFC North last week and still have a chance at the No. 2 seed (they'd lead the 49ers by a half-game if not for the Seattle game). That means Green Bay's not going to be mailing it in against the Titans. If Tennessee was buoyed at all by that win on Monday night, some of the excitement has got to be tempered by the fact they were playing the Jets. It's the Packers' last game at Lambeau before the playoffs. Them losing seems highly unlikely.
Colts (9-5) at Chiefs (2-12): Indianapolis-In order to clinch a playoff berth, all the Colts have to do is beat the worst team in the league. I've gotta admit, it's impressive to see Indy returning to the playoffs after just a one-year absence. Especially after all that upheaval during the offseason. Rumor has it Chuck Pagano may be ready to return, too. He should wait until the playoffs, though. Because even if they somehow lose to Kansas City, the Colts are in if the Bengals beat the Steelers.
Bills (5-9) at Dolphins (6-8): Miami-Miami's still mathematically alive for a playoff berth. I'm not exactly sure how. Anyway, the Dolphins lose those remote chances if they fall to the Bills at home. I don't see that happening. It's conceivable that the Dolphins will technically have something to play for next week.
Chargers (5-9) at Jets (6-8): San Diego-I'd like to congratulate the Chargers and Jets for being the only teams flexed out of Sunday night all season. Wise decision. This game's not at all relevant. Kind of like Tim Tebow. When they moved this game to 1:00, Jets fans got all giddy because the West Coast teams traditionally don't do well in early games on the East Coast. Yeah, well, the Jets played an early game against the 49ers in Week 4, and San Francisco won 34-0. And have I mentioned that they're a dysfunctional mess? In a matchup of two coaches who likely won't be back next season, Norv Turner gets the better of Rex Ryan.
Redskins (8-6) at Eagles (4-10): Philadelphia-The Redskins control their own playoff destiny. If Washington wins out, they win the NFC East. If the Redskins and Cowboys both win, next week's likely Sunday-night clash will be for the division title. But first they've gotta get by Philadelphia in Andy Reid's final home game as Eagles coach. Last season, the Eagles took great pleasure in ruining the Cowboys' season by beating them on Christmas Eve. Will they do the same thing to the Redskins this year? I'm not going to bet against them. Washington's winning streak comes to an end.
Bengals (8-6) at Steelers (7-7): Pittsburgh-This is perhaps the most intriguing game of the week. Cincinnati can clinch playoff berths for both themselves and the Colts with a win, while the Steelers can seize control of their own playoff fate if they win. Pittsburgh was in that same position two weeks ago, but losses to San Diego and Dallas have put the Steelers in a must-win situation against the Bengals. Cincinnati can really show something if they win this one, but Pittsburgh has the Bengals' number. The Steelers know what they have to do to get into the playoffs. It starts with beating the Bengals at home.
Rams (6-7-1) at Buccaneers (6-8): Tampa Bay-Tampa Bay was still hanging around until this current four-game losing streak, capped by last week's 41-0 embarrassment in New Orleans, eliminated all hope. The Rams are a team on the rise that'll be dangerous next season. This is a toss-up, but I'll go with the Bucs since they're the home team.
Raiders (4-10) at Panthers (5-9): Carolina-Oakland's losing streak on the East Coast, and not just in 1:00 games, is too long to count. I don't see that changing this week. Carolina's the better team. They beat Atlanta, then traveled cross-country and put a hurting on the Chargers in San Diego.
Patriots (10-4) at Jaguars (2-12): New England-After those back-to-back tough primetime games, the Patriots are effectively given a week off with a Week 16 trip to Jacksonville. That really is a Christmas present to New England from the NFL, especially since that loss to the 49ers means the Patriots are currently staring at the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs. They still have a chance at No. 2, so I see them going all-out, at least this week. The Patriots have so many injuries that no one's sure who's actually going to play. It doesn't matter. Jacksonville's in for a hurting.
Vikings (8-6) at Texans (12-2): Houston-Houston clinches home field in the AFC with a win over the Vikings, who currently own the NFC's final playoff spot by virtue of that wacky four-way tiebreaker. With the Texans and Packers as their final two opponents, the Vikings will certainly earn that wild card if they win out. I predict that Houston lets Adrian Peterson run all over the field, but completely shuts down the rest of the Minnesota offense. One day after the Falcons clinch home field in the NFC, the Texans wrap up the AFC's No. 1 seed.
Browns (5-9) at Broncos (11-3): Denver-It's safe to say that Denver's on a roll. Sure, the Broncos went into last week's game on an eight-game winning streak that was more the result of playing a bunch of really bad teams in a row than anything else. But they sure proved something by going to Baltimore and dominating the Ravens. Then they got a gift when the Patriots lost to the 49ers. Now Denver just needs to beat Cleveland and Kansas City at home to wrap up the No. 2 seed. Part I of that scenario shouldn't be a problem. The Peyton Manning-trademarked 12-win season gets transferred from Indy to Denver.
Bears (8-6) at Cardinals (5-9): Chicago-What has happened to my Chicago Bears? They were 7-1! Then they lost to Houston and it's been downhill ever since. Chicago's 1-5 in its last six games, and the Bears need two wins and help just to get the second wild card (and a potential trip to Green Bay). Speaking of winning, the Cardinals actually did that last week for the first time in two and a half months. I'm not sure what Bears team is going to show up. If they can do what they did early in the season and force a bad Cardinals offense to commit turnovers, they should be able to put themselves in a position where next week matters.
Giants (8-6) at Ravens (9-5): Giants-Here's where the five-way 8-6 NFC tie confuses me the most: the Giants are currently ninth, but will somehow leapfrog both Minnesota and Chicago and guarantee themselves at least a wild card if they win-out. They can theoretically still win the NFC East, too, although that's impossible if both the Redskins and Cowboys win. Or the Giants could be eliminated entirely with a loss and a couple other things. The Ravens lost to Denver last week, but backed into the playoffs when the Steelers lost. Baltimore's still in the driver's seat in the AFC North, though. How do the Giants rebound after last week's showing in Atlanta? I don't think it'll be a problem. They always seem to play their best with their backs against the wall, and that's certainly the case here. I just have a feeling the Giants are going to do it again. They win, and Baltimore's trip to Cincinnati next week suddenly takes on a lot more meaning.
49ers (10-3-1) at Seahawks ("9-5"): San Francisco-Somebody clinches something on Sunday night. Either the 49ers wrap up the NFC West or the Seahawks secure at least a wild card and put themselves in a position to potentially win the division. The 49ers' win in New England last week (which was correctly predicted here) showed me a lot. It wasn't that San Francisco won. It's how they won. They got out to that big lead, didn't flinch when the Patriots came all the way back, and, in fact, countered with their own game-winning drive immediately after New England tied the game. The 49ers have the look of a Super Bowl team. As for Seattle, I take back what I said about Pete Carroll not trying to run up the score against Arizona. You don't attempt a fake punt when you're up 30 in the fourth quarter! Their offense has obviously been clicking, but they're playing San Francisco this week, not Arizona or Buffalo. The Seahawks aren't going to score 50 points this week. That hostile crowd at Qwest Field will be amped up by the Sunday night atmosphere, but the 49ers have already won in Green Bay, on a Monday night in Chicago, and last Sunday night in New England. They won't be phased, and they clinch the division with a close win.
This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 10-6
Season: 151-73-1
Friday, December 21, 2012
Sports Story of the Year
The AP Sports Story of the Year was announced on Wednesday, and for the first time, the same story claimed the top spot for the second year in a row. Without question, the Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State was the biggest sports story of 2011. There wasn't even a close second. But the fallout continued into 2012, with Joe Paterno's death, Sandusky's trial and conviction, and the NCAA's unprecedented sactions against the Penn State football program. While it's nowhere near as much of a runaway as it was in 2011, I have no qualms about the Sandusky scandal being deemed the Sports Story of the Year for 2012, even though I personally would've picked either Lance Armstrong or Bountygate.
In fact, Armstrong's being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and never-ending Sinners bounty investigation were rated as the second- and third-biggest sports stories of the year. The rest of the Top 10 was: (4) concussions in football; (5) the London Olympics; (6) the college football playoffs; (7) the NFL's replacement officials; (8) the Giants' run to the Super Bowl title; (9) Pat Summitt's retirement; and (10) Peyton Manning's resurgence. These were all great stories that all deserve their place in the Top 10, but one of the great things about sports is that you could've easily come up with another Top 10 containing 10 completely different stories and you probably wouldn't have gotten an argument about any of them, either.
For example, here, in no particular order, are some other sports stories from 2012 that easily could've been selected:
In fact, Armstrong's being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and never-ending Sinners bounty investigation were rated as the second- and third-biggest sports stories of the year. The rest of the Top 10 was: (4) concussions in football; (5) the London Olympics; (6) the college football playoffs; (7) the NFL's replacement officials; (8) the Giants' run to the Super Bowl title; (9) Pat Summitt's retirement; and (10) Peyton Manning's resurgence. These were all great stories that all deserve their place in the Top 10, but one of the great things about sports is that you could've easily come up with another Top 10 containing 10 completely different stories and you probably wouldn't have gotten an argument about any of them, either.
For example, here, in no particular order, are some other sports stories from 2012 that easily could've been selected:
- Another NHL lockout: Tell me when this starts to sound familiar. The NHL's CBA expired, and the league's owners decided to lock out the players instead of negotiating a new deal. As the lockout extends into its fourth month with no end in sight, more than half of the season has already been cancelled, including all of the NHL's marquee events, and the clueless league is coming dangerously close to losing a second season due to a labor dispute in eight years.
- LeBron finally gets his ring: I'll give LeBron James credit. He had a hell of a year. Two years after "The Decision," he led Miami past Boston and Oklahoma City to finally win his first NBA title. Then, to cap off his incredible run, LeBron went to London and won his second straight Olympic gold medal with Team USA.
- Kentucky's freshmen win the national title, then all leave for the NBA: John Calipari's one-and-done experiment has drawn its share of criticism, but no one can argue with the success he's found using this model. In 2011-12, he lastest prized freshmen included Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Davis ended up earning National Player of the Year honors and Kentucky won its first national title in 14 years. They then made history by having four players from that team taken in the first round of the NBA Draft, including Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist going 1-2.
- Baylor completes the first 40-0 season in NCAA history: Brittany Griner is the most dominant player in women's basketball right now, and she led Baylor to a season for the ages in 2011-12. They were ranked No. 1 all season and cruised to the National Championship. With their win over Notre Dame in the title game, the Bears became the first team (men or women) in college basketball history to finish the season with a 40-0 record.
- More conference realignment: Just when we thought the ridiculous never-ending cycle of conference realignment in college athletics might finally cool down a bit, it turns out that wasn't the case at all. Notre Dame signed on to join the ACC in all sports except football, then Maryland and Rutgers announced they were moving to the Big Ten. Louisville replaced Maryland in the ACC, so the Big East went and grabbed Tulane from Conference USA. That was the final straw for the Big East basketball schools, who finally got fed up with football dictating their lives and decided to leave as a group and form their own conference. Believe it or not, 25 of the 32 existing Division I conferences have been impacted by this constant realignment.
- Notre Dame's return to prominence: The Fighting Irish are back. Notre Dame is once again relevant nationally, going 12-0 during the regular season and playing for its first national title since 1988. Critics point to their schedule, and they've certainly had a little "luck of the Irish" on their side. And there will always be the Notre Dame haters out there. But the fact remains. Notre Dame's undefeated and playing for the national title.
- R.A. Dickey's sensational season: R.A. Dickey's story is just as remarkable as his unbelievable 2012 season. The 37-year-old knuckleballer had a season for the ages, ranking among the National League leaders in every major pitching category, making his first All-Star team, and winning the Cy Young Award. All this by a guy who only turned to the knuckleball after his career as a conventional pitcher fizzled. Dickey's success in 2012 was one of the most uplifting stories of the year.
- Spain's soccer supremacy continues: It's safe to say that the Spanish national team's run over the last four years has been perhaps the most dominant in the history of international soccer. It started when they won the European Championship in 2008. Spain then won its first World Cup title in 2010, becoming the first reigning European champion to win the World Cup. Then they made it three major titles in a row by defending their European title. No nation had ever done that before.
- Hurricane Sandy's impact: Hurricane Sandy hit the New York area in late October and left a trail of devastation in her wake. As a result, the Nets' first game in their brand-new Brooklyn arena (which was supposed to be against the Knicks) was postponed, the Steelers left the morning of the game for their matchup with the Giants, and, after much debate and criticism, the New York City Marathon was cancelled for the first time in its history.
- Andy Murray arrives: A sleeping giant was awakened during the Wimbledon fortnight. But first let's rewind all the way to January, when he lost an epic five-set semifinal to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. Now on to London, where Murray finally reached the Wimbledon final, becoming the first British man to do so since 1938. He lost that final to Roger Federer, then met Roger on Centre Court again a month later in the Olympic gold medal match--and dominated. And he capped his incredible summer by beating Djokovic in a classic US Open final to, at long last, become a Grand Slam champion. I predict it'll be the first of many Grand Slam titles.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
See, Even Rex Ryan Thinks Tebow Sucks
I'm not a Jets fan. Anyone who knows me knows that. However, Woody Johnson is so in-your-face about his constant need for attention that it's hard to ignore them. And we can all agree that there was no bigger desperate plea for New York's attention than the Jets' trade for Tim Tebow in March.
Try and deny it all you want Woody, we know the truth. You know it too. You wanted to leverage Tebow's incredible popularity and turn it into ticket sales. And since the media is obsessed with Tim Tebow, you knew that, at the very least, the trade would get people talking about the Jets, if only for a little while. Never mind the fact that you already had a quarterback and really had no use for Tebow. Besides, who doesn't like a good quarterback controversy? As long as the Sanchez vs. Tebow debate raged on, that meant the New York Jets were the topic of discussion. We know you loved that.
Problem is, trading for Tim Tebow didn't make the Jets better. In fact, their season was doomed as soon as the trade was completed. Mark Sanchez was given a raise and vote of confidence after the Jets' unsuccessful courtship of Peyton Manning. Then they went and got one of the most popular players in the league to serve as his "backup." Some vote of confidence. Most NFL starting quarterbacks are given enough benefit of the doubt that they're allowed to throw an interception in the first quarter in September without the fan base immediately calling for them to be benched. Not so for Mark Sanchez. There was Team Sanchez and Team Tebow, and not just among Jets fans. The locker room was divided. That's where all the problems started.
Furthermore, Tebow proved to be nothing more than a distraction. They claimed to have this special package of plays for him. As it turns out, all of those plays were basically the same. When Tebow came in, the Jets were going to run. Once that became clear after about three games, the Jets offense became a lot easier to scout. Tebow wasn't this big "threat" that he was billed to be. And if anything, the constant switching quarterbacks on every other play seemed to mess with the Jets' offense more than the opposing defense. They could never get a rhythm going. You have an actual NFL quarterback in the game, start driving down the field, then here comes the glorified running back to completely mess with that momentum. But, yes, getting Tebow was a "football decision" that was going to "help the team."
I think all of that was Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum trying to appease their owner by finding some way to play with his new toy. They never wanted Tim Tebow. Woody Johnson did. I'm on the record as thinking Tim Tebow sucks. He was given waaaaaaaaaay too much credit for Denver's success last year. (Do you think it's just a coincidence that, Peyton Manning or not, the Broncos immediately jumped the second they had a chance to get rid of him?) His style may have worked in college, but he's simply not good enough to be an NFL quarterback. I'm not the only person who thinks that. And I have a feeling Ryan and Tannenbaum agree with me.
Now, I'll admit, I've been a member of Team Sanchez. Not only do I not get the whole Tebow obsession, I think Sanchez was unfairly set up to fail. How about giving the guy credit for taking them to two AFC Championship Games during his first two seasons as a pro by winning four consecutive road playoff games? How about acknowledging the fact he wasn't the reason the Jets lost their last three games to miss the playoffs last season? How about blaming the people actually responsible for making personnel decisions that there were no playmakers around him?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Mark Sanchez is completely blameless for the Jets' struggles, either. Way too many of his interceptions are his own fault, and he definitely fumbles too much. And more often than not, these turnovers come at crucial times and prove costly. But I do agree with Ryan's reasoning for sticking with Sanchez as his starter. He did give the Jets the best chance to win.
Of course, the key word in that last sentence is did. The first sign that Sanchez's days as the starter might be numbered came in that miserable "game" against Arizona when Tebow was inactive with broken ribs and Sanchez was pulled in favor of Greg McElroy, who drove the Jets down the field for the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of a 7-6 victory. That's when people started clamoring for Sanchez to be benched permanently. But cooler heads prevailed. Rex Ryan didn't get carried away, realized that all the Jets proved in that game is that they're slightly less bad than the Cardinals, and stuck with Sanchez as his starter the following week in Jacksonville.
Monday night's game was the last straw, though. Sanchez was bad, really bad, in a loss to the Titans that eliminated the Jets from the playoff race. He threw an interception deep in Titans territory while the Jets were driving towards a possible go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Then, after the Jets got the ball back in great field position after a terrible Tennessee punt, he fumbled the first snap and the Titans recovered to seal the game. (It should also be noted that on the one drive the Jets actually moved down the field in that game, they took Sanchez out and put Tebow in for an entire series in the middle of the drive, which ultimately stalled.)
So, Rex Ryan felt the time had finally come for Mark Sanchez to be replaced as the starter. By Greg McElroy. That should tell you all you need to know. Tebow never figured into Ryan's plans. If he had, Greg McElroy wouldn't be starting against the Chargers on Sunday. I'm sure everybody on the Tebow bandwagon will criticize the move left and right if McElroy doesn't perform, but Rex Ryan, who's probably coaching his second-to-last game with the New York Jets, thinks the man best equipped to replace his struggling former starter isn't the NFL's most talked-about backup. It's a third-stringer who's been inactive in every game other than that one against Arizona. Yet Ryan would rather have him under center than the human PR campaign.
Everyone knows Rex Ryan's days with the New York Jets are numbered. So are Mike Heimerdinger's. And, today it was made clear that Mark Sanchez's probably are, too. But, another thing was also made clear today. Tim Tebow's not the answer at quarterback. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he's not a member of the 2013 New York Jets, either.
Try and deny it all you want Woody, we know the truth. You know it too. You wanted to leverage Tebow's incredible popularity and turn it into ticket sales. And since the media is obsessed with Tim Tebow, you knew that, at the very least, the trade would get people talking about the Jets, if only for a little while. Never mind the fact that you already had a quarterback and really had no use for Tebow. Besides, who doesn't like a good quarterback controversy? As long as the Sanchez vs. Tebow debate raged on, that meant the New York Jets were the topic of discussion. We know you loved that.
Problem is, trading for Tim Tebow didn't make the Jets better. In fact, their season was doomed as soon as the trade was completed. Mark Sanchez was given a raise and vote of confidence after the Jets' unsuccessful courtship of Peyton Manning. Then they went and got one of the most popular players in the league to serve as his "backup." Some vote of confidence. Most NFL starting quarterbacks are given enough benefit of the doubt that they're allowed to throw an interception in the first quarter in September without the fan base immediately calling for them to be benched. Not so for Mark Sanchez. There was Team Sanchez and Team Tebow, and not just among Jets fans. The locker room was divided. That's where all the problems started.
Furthermore, Tebow proved to be nothing more than a distraction. They claimed to have this special package of plays for him. As it turns out, all of those plays were basically the same. When Tebow came in, the Jets were going to run. Once that became clear after about three games, the Jets offense became a lot easier to scout. Tebow wasn't this big "threat" that he was billed to be. And if anything, the constant switching quarterbacks on every other play seemed to mess with the Jets' offense more than the opposing defense. They could never get a rhythm going. You have an actual NFL quarterback in the game, start driving down the field, then here comes the glorified running back to completely mess with that momentum. But, yes, getting Tebow was a "football decision" that was going to "help the team."
I think all of that was Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum trying to appease their owner by finding some way to play with his new toy. They never wanted Tim Tebow. Woody Johnson did. I'm on the record as thinking Tim Tebow sucks. He was given waaaaaaaaaay too much credit for Denver's success last year. (Do you think it's just a coincidence that, Peyton Manning or not, the Broncos immediately jumped the second they had a chance to get rid of him?) His style may have worked in college, but he's simply not good enough to be an NFL quarterback. I'm not the only person who thinks that. And I have a feeling Ryan and Tannenbaum agree with me.
Now, I'll admit, I've been a member of Team Sanchez. Not only do I not get the whole Tebow obsession, I think Sanchez was unfairly set up to fail. How about giving the guy credit for taking them to two AFC Championship Games during his first two seasons as a pro by winning four consecutive road playoff games? How about acknowledging the fact he wasn't the reason the Jets lost their last three games to miss the playoffs last season? How about blaming the people actually responsible for making personnel decisions that there were no playmakers around him?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Mark Sanchez is completely blameless for the Jets' struggles, either. Way too many of his interceptions are his own fault, and he definitely fumbles too much. And more often than not, these turnovers come at crucial times and prove costly. But I do agree with Ryan's reasoning for sticking with Sanchez as his starter. He did give the Jets the best chance to win.
Of course, the key word in that last sentence is did. The first sign that Sanchez's days as the starter might be numbered came in that miserable "game" against Arizona when Tebow was inactive with broken ribs and Sanchez was pulled in favor of Greg McElroy, who drove the Jets down the field for the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of a 7-6 victory. That's when people started clamoring for Sanchez to be benched permanently. But cooler heads prevailed. Rex Ryan didn't get carried away, realized that all the Jets proved in that game is that they're slightly less bad than the Cardinals, and stuck with Sanchez as his starter the following week in Jacksonville.
Monday night's game was the last straw, though. Sanchez was bad, really bad, in a loss to the Titans that eliminated the Jets from the playoff race. He threw an interception deep in Titans territory while the Jets were driving towards a possible go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Then, after the Jets got the ball back in great field position after a terrible Tennessee punt, he fumbled the first snap and the Titans recovered to seal the game. (It should also be noted that on the one drive the Jets actually moved down the field in that game, they took Sanchez out and put Tebow in for an entire series in the middle of the drive, which ultimately stalled.)
So, Rex Ryan felt the time had finally come for Mark Sanchez to be replaced as the starter. By Greg McElroy. That should tell you all you need to know. Tebow never figured into Ryan's plans. If he had, Greg McElroy wouldn't be starting against the Chargers on Sunday. I'm sure everybody on the Tebow bandwagon will criticize the move left and right if McElroy doesn't perform, but Rex Ryan, who's probably coaching his second-to-last game with the New York Jets, thinks the man best equipped to replace his struggling former starter isn't the NFL's most talked-about backup. It's a third-stringer who's been inactive in every game other than that one against Arizona. Yet Ryan would rather have him under center than the human PR campaign.
Everyone knows Rex Ryan's days with the New York Jets are numbered. So are Mike Heimerdinger's. And, today it was made clear that Mark Sanchez's probably are, too. But, another thing was also made clear today. Tim Tebow's not the answer at quarterback. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he's not a member of the 2013 New York Jets, either.
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