Next weekend is probably the best time of year for hard-core NFL fans. The herd has been culled and only the cream of the crop remains (with one exception -- I'll get back to that). Further, there's two games on Saturday and another two on Sunday. A couch tater's paradise. Stock up on the brewskis and put the local pizza joint on notice. It's time for some serious football. Here's a look at the NFL's version of the Elite Eight.
Indianapolis @ Denver. Colts' QB Andrew Luck is a superb talent and his time might come. But it won't be this year against the guy he replaced. The old Omaha chicken neck, he of the bazillion stupid commercials, isn't done just yet. Plus the Broncos, especially at home, have a defense that gets after people. Methinks Andrew's luck runs out in mile high land, maybe in a rout. Not quite a no-brainer, but Denver's the obvious pick.
Baltimore @ New England. Though the Pats are a touchdown favorite, be careful with this one. Yes, Brady, Bellichick and company are still up to their old magic and are tough at home. For that matter, Brady is #1 in all-time home playoff victories. But the Ravens are tied for #1 all-time in ROAD playoff victories. Remember, not long ago they were only a wild card team with some no-name QB named Joe Flacco, but rode it all the way to a Super Bowl victory. Flacco's still there, and he's gotten better with experience. If there's one team built to knock off the Patriots in their backyard -- it's the Ravens. And they've done it 2 out of the last 3 times they met. Bellichick may remain the mad genius and Brady the coolest under pressure cerebral QB in the game that can make something out of nothing with an underwhelming supporting cast, but John Harbaugh's Ravens are the classic example of a hard-nosed blue collar team that finds a way to get the job done, especially when the pressure is on. I always did like Tom Brady and think he's been a class act his entire career. But I'm taking the Ravens in an upset.
Carolina @ Seattle. In most years a team like Carolina wouldn't have even MADE the playoffs. And it somehow seemed unfair the Arizona Cardinals (11-5) only wound up a wild card in the super tough NFC West, so had to go on the road to face Carolina (7-8-1) in the wild card game merely because the Panthers wound up on top of the otherwise pitiful NFC South. But that's the way the system works and the Cards got eliminated, while having to play a back-up, back-up, back-up QB due to injuries over the year. Regardless, the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks have it all going for them right now. They're basically healthy, had a week off to heal up the usual assortment of bumps and bruises, and are playing at home, arguably the most daunting venue for a visiting team to cope with. Plus, they've been on a roll in recent weeks. Pete Carroll's bunch looks to have finally rounded back into the take-no-prisoners playoff mentality they displayed last year. The one thing interesting about this game will be the over/under number from the wise guys in Vegas. (I haven't seen it yet). Considering both teams' defenses are as tough as they come, that number could be an all-time low. Regardless, Cam Newton and crew will find out the 'Hawks are a whole different animal than the Cards were. I smell a blow out.
Dallas @ Green Bay. This game is even more interesting than the above mentioned Balt/NE matchup. For the first time in NFL history, a team with a perfect home record (Green Bay, 8-0), will host a team with a perfect road record (Dallas, 8-0) in the playoffs. Something's gotta give.
Idle trivia question. Statistically, who was the top-rated QB for the regular season? Aaron Rodgers? Brady? Peyton? Brees? Luck? Stafford? Wilson?
Trivia answer. None of the above. It was Tony Romo.
Yes, Romo has been known in the past for, shall we say, less than stellar play when the pressure ratchets up late in the season. I suppose one could be refer to it as other things -- like brain-freeze or choking. Has he finally matured past that stage? Answer unknown. We'll find out in Green Bay. And it's not like the Packers have been unbeatable at Lambeau during the playoffs in recent times. In fact, they were eliminated in their beloved Cheeserland just last year by the San Fran 49ers, and two years before by the NY Giants. But that was then, and this is now, so it doesn't matter.
Idle remark overheard. Cowboys' head coach Jason Garrett said he had a "sense" the weather might be a little colder for Da Boys next playoff game after playing the first one inside Jerry Jones' palace down in Big D. Great call, JG. It's January -- in Green Bay. I'm pretty sure your crew need not pack their suntan oil and thongs in their carry-ons for a trip to the beach after practice.
But like Seattle, by nature of a bye, Green Bay had a week off as well. That was the greatest thing that could happen for Aaron Rodgers to finally be able to rest his lingering calf injury. He should be at full tilt. Both teams have capable QBs (assuming a certain choke factor doesn't rear it's ugly head again) and a variety of offensive weapons. The Cowboys have the league's leading rusher in Demarco Murray. The Pack has an equalizer in the punishing running game Eddie Lacy brings every week. Dez Bryant here and Randall Cobb there. For every Jason Witton there's a Jordy Nelson.
Defensively, both teams can be stone walls in one game (or even a half) and porous the next week (or the other half of any given contest). The chess game between the coodinators for both teams will definitely be afoot.
Ignoring the possibility of key injuries happening within the game (if either starting QB goes down early their team is in trouble), and assuming all other factors semi-balance out throughout (penalties, turnovers, etc.), I'm conditionally picking the Packers for one reason only -- and it's not home field advantage.
Remember in the wild card game against the Lions, New Jersey governor Chris Christie was up in Jerry Jones' owner's suite. That was all well and good because A.T. & T stadium is a relatively new building incorporating the latest engineering technology.
Conversely, Lambeau Field is quite old. Yes, it's undergone renovations in recent years, but the old steel beams and girders that support the structure remain the same as they were back when it was originally built in 1957. They weren't designed to support that much weight.
If Christie shows up again (and you just know as a politician he'll want to -- getting to see a game for free on somebody's else's dime in the lap of luxury with national photo-ops to boot -- are you kidding?) to hang out with his pal Jerry in the visitor's suite, the whole damn thing could come tumbling down. That would result in about 80,000 very pissed off Cheeseheads, not to mention firing up their team.
However, if the round mound of spinsound is denied access by JJ and has to go back to Jersey, thereby averting possible catastrophe and making this just another normal playoff game, I'd hedge my bet.
Got a coin?
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Monday, January 5, 2015
Detroit Lions and their free agents. Now what?
Another season has come and gone for the Lions, and pretty quick their front office is going to have to make a few decisions regarding the personnel. All told, the Lions have well over 20 players that will become free agents. Some are noteworthy, others not so much. Let's look at a few, their positions, most recent salaries, ages, and how vital they are.
Offensive guard Rob Sims. $3.7 million. Age 31. Steady O-linemen typically go underappreciated, but are an extremely valuable commodity. Without them, the running game is stuffed and the QB will be running for his life on passing plays. Sims has been a stalwart for the Lions through thick and mostly thin. Would another team pick him up? Absolutely. The Lions would be wise to resign him even if it costs them a few more bucks.
Defensive tackle Nick Fairley. $3.1 million. Age 26. Fairley can be an outstanding player one minute and turn into a total bonehead the next. It seems for every great play he makes comes a distraction. Plus lately he hasn't been able to stay healthy. Let him go. His future upsides and downsides are maybe 50-50 at best, and that's not good enough odds to shell out big bucks to keep him. The Lions have done well in his absence.
Right offensive tackle Corey Hilliard. $1.9 million. Age 29. Hilliard's had health issues as well and has never been much more than a journeyman player. If he'll take a pay cut, fine, let him come back. If not, let him test the market. Either way, Hilliard is hardly indispensable.
Outside linebacker Ashlee Palmer. $1.6 million. Age 28. Palmer can be pretty good as well at times, but he's been dinged up where he can't play. Bring him back, but don't pay over $2 million.
Backup QB Dan Orlovsky. $635,000. Age 31. The Lions were fortunate this year that former "china doll" starting QB Matthew Stafford was able to hold up for the entire season. But on any given play, disaster can happen to quarterbacks. Ask the Arizona Cardinals. A worthy backup that can step in is absolutely necessary. The Lions had him on the cheap this year at 635K, even if he didn't play much. They should not only keep him but offer him a raise -- just in case his services are necessary. A million a year sounds about right.
Third string QB Kellen Moore. $575,000. Age 25. Granted, third stringers can go through the whole season doing nothing more than holding a clip board or an iPad, and Moore's chances of moving up the depth chart on another team likely aren't so good. But until and unless the Lions draft or trade for someone to take his place -- somebody's got to do it. And if I'm Kellen Moore, 575K a year for doing basically nothing sounds pretty good. He'd likely re-up in a heartbeat for the same dough.
Long snapper Don Muhlbach. $635,000. Age 33. Muhlbach fills a very unique, though vital position for the Lions. He's the guy that snaps those perfect spirals to a punter or field goal holder. Think that's easy? Go out in your yard, bend over, and try to throw a football 45 feet backwards between your legs, let alone a fastball in the strike zone time after time. Then imagine a 300 pound brute is lined up an inch away from your head, and will crash into you the second you move the ball. Sure, Muhlbach isn't an every down center, but neither are punters and place-kickers every down players. They're specialists, and neither of the latter could function without a guy like Muhlbach first snapping the ball. The Lions should absolutely resign him, even if it costs them a few bucks more. Reliable long-snappers seldom get recognition, but are invaluable to any team.
Speaking of centers -- Dominic Raiola. $1.5 million. Age 36. Dom's a grizzled old veteran and has not only been highly praised by his teammates and local media for being a team leader over the years, but has long been a team "spokesman". In other words, he flaps his gums a lot to the above mentioned media and anybody else that will listen. But Raiola's a few other things too. Besides likely being the losingest player in the history of the NFL during his long tenure with the sad sack Lions, he's also been a loose cannon over the years as well. And also besides an occasional stomp and a variety of other cheap shots attempting to seriously injure an opponent over the years, the ever-loveable Dom has even trashed talked and flipped off Lions' fans in their own stadium. What should the Lions do? Ignore him. He's a career loser in many ways and instead of maturing, seemed to be getting more erratic and unpredictable every year. To boot, the Lions have revamped their O-line with younger guys and Dom is quite expendable. If he wants to test the waters elsewhere -- may the dark side be with him and good luck. Yet who would shell out big bucks for a 36 year old center with his track record?
Last, but not least, is the proverbial gorilla in the salary cap room. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. $22.5 million. Age 28. By most accounts, Suh is a very good defensive lineman. He even got voted in as a starter for this year's Pro Bowl. He has been called a "disruptive force". Truer words have never been spoken. Suh disrupts a lot of things, from an opponent's running game to sacking their QB on occasion. But though they're loathe to admit it, he also disrupts the continuity of his teammates with some of his own not-so-good antics. Suh can be a perfect gentleman on certain occasions, but at other times run completely amok with a wanton disregard for the well-being of others. Kind of like Lon Chaney as the Wolfman when a full moon came out. Playing hard is one thing, but savagery is quite another. At least the Wolfman was predictable. When a full moon drew nigh, people could take cover to protect themselves. With Suh, it's not so simple. One never knows when he might go off again to wreak havoc -- on or off the field.
Adding to the nefarious plot are reports that Suh isn't satisfied with $22.5M. He wants more. Much more. Some say as much as $27 million per year with a long term deal. That would make him, by far, the highest paid player in the NFL, dwarfing the salaries of such guys like Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, etc.
Would any team be crazy enough to pony up that sort of dough? Maybe. Certainly lots of franchises would be interested in his services. But at that price, they'd have shot themselves in the foot in their ability to sign enough other good players to be contenders. One disruptive defensive lineman does not a Super Bowl contender make. Ask J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans, who might well be the MVP this year for his incredible play. And Watt's a good guy, both on and off the field. Given the salary cap, there's only so much money to go around.
What should the Lions do with Suh? He's 28, and if he stays healthy, never a given, likely has 4-5 more productive years left before Father Time starts to drag him down. So give him the benefit of the doubt and offer him a 5 year deal at a flat $20M per season. No huge signing bonus or other money up front. But also include clauses in the contract that stipulate the club can terminate his services at any time, without any future guaranteed pay, if Suh goes off the deep end. He has to earn it and keep his nose clean. Play hard, but the occasional full moon thing will not be tolerated any longer. Would his agents recommend and would Suh sign such an offer? Probably not.
So let him walk. Are we to believe Suh is worth more than Sims, Fairley, Hilliard, Palmer, Mosely, Raiola, Orlovsky, Muhlbach, Moore, and other notables like Glover Quin, Reggie Bush and Golden Tate COMBINED? More valuable to the team than Matthew Stafford?
If the Lions are dumb enough to cough up that much money for Suh, then I have a suggestion for them. Pay Bob Seger a couple million bucks a game to sing the national anthem and put on a half time show. This is a win-win-win. Seger gets a sweet gig in his own backyard, the Motown fans would love it and, after all, he'd come with the Silver Bullet Band, right?
And having them in the house could prove beneficial someday. After all, silver bullets are the only thing that can dispatch a Wolfman. If Suh reverts back into full moon mode, they'll be prepared.
Just a thought....
Offensive guard Rob Sims. $3.7 million. Age 31. Steady O-linemen typically go underappreciated, but are an extremely valuable commodity. Without them, the running game is stuffed and the QB will be running for his life on passing plays. Sims has been a stalwart for the Lions through thick and mostly thin. Would another team pick him up? Absolutely. The Lions would be wise to resign him even if it costs them a few more bucks.
Defensive tackle Nick Fairley. $3.1 million. Age 26. Fairley can be an outstanding player one minute and turn into a total bonehead the next. It seems for every great play he makes comes a distraction. Plus lately he hasn't been able to stay healthy. Let him go. His future upsides and downsides are maybe 50-50 at best, and that's not good enough odds to shell out big bucks to keep him. The Lions have done well in his absence.
Right offensive tackle Corey Hilliard. $1.9 million. Age 29. Hilliard's had health issues as well and has never been much more than a journeyman player. If he'll take a pay cut, fine, let him come back. If not, let him test the market. Either way, Hilliard is hardly indispensable.
Outside linebacker Ashlee Palmer. $1.6 million. Age 28. Palmer can be pretty good as well at times, but he's been dinged up where he can't play. Bring him back, but don't pay over $2 million.
Backup QB Dan Orlovsky. $635,000. Age 31. The Lions were fortunate this year that former "china doll" starting QB Matthew Stafford was able to hold up for the entire season. But on any given play, disaster can happen to quarterbacks. Ask the Arizona Cardinals. A worthy backup that can step in is absolutely necessary. The Lions had him on the cheap this year at 635K, even if he didn't play much. They should not only keep him but offer him a raise -- just in case his services are necessary. A million a year sounds about right.
Third string QB Kellen Moore. $575,000. Age 25. Granted, third stringers can go through the whole season doing nothing more than holding a clip board or an iPad, and Moore's chances of moving up the depth chart on another team likely aren't so good. But until and unless the Lions draft or trade for someone to take his place -- somebody's got to do it. And if I'm Kellen Moore, 575K a year for doing basically nothing sounds pretty good. He'd likely re-up in a heartbeat for the same dough.
Long snapper Don Muhlbach. $635,000. Age 33. Muhlbach fills a very unique, though vital position for the Lions. He's the guy that snaps those perfect spirals to a punter or field goal holder. Think that's easy? Go out in your yard, bend over, and try to throw a football 45 feet backwards between your legs, let alone a fastball in the strike zone time after time. Then imagine a 300 pound brute is lined up an inch away from your head, and will crash into you the second you move the ball. Sure, Muhlbach isn't an every down center, but neither are punters and place-kickers every down players. They're specialists, and neither of the latter could function without a guy like Muhlbach first snapping the ball. The Lions should absolutely resign him, even if it costs them a few bucks more. Reliable long-snappers seldom get recognition, but are invaluable to any team.
Speaking of centers -- Dominic Raiola. $1.5 million. Age 36. Dom's a grizzled old veteran and has not only been highly praised by his teammates and local media for being a team leader over the years, but has long been a team "spokesman". In other words, he flaps his gums a lot to the above mentioned media and anybody else that will listen. But Raiola's a few other things too. Besides likely being the losingest player in the history of the NFL during his long tenure with the sad sack Lions, he's also been a loose cannon over the years as well. And also besides an occasional stomp and a variety of other cheap shots attempting to seriously injure an opponent over the years, the ever-loveable Dom has even trashed talked and flipped off Lions' fans in their own stadium. What should the Lions do? Ignore him. He's a career loser in many ways and instead of maturing, seemed to be getting more erratic and unpredictable every year. To boot, the Lions have revamped their O-line with younger guys and Dom is quite expendable. If he wants to test the waters elsewhere -- may the dark side be with him and good luck. Yet who would shell out big bucks for a 36 year old center with his track record?
Last, but not least, is the proverbial gorilla in the salary cap room. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. $22.5 million. Age 28. By most accounts, Suh is a very good defensive lineman. He even got voted in as a starter for this year's Pro Bowl. He has been called a "disruptive force". Truer words have never been spoken. Suh disrupts a lot of things, from an opponent's running game to sacking their QB on occasion. But though they're loathe to admit it, he also disrupts the continuity of his teammates with some of his own not-so-good antics. Suh can be a perfect gentleman on certain occasions, but at other times run completely amok with a wanton disregard for the well-being of others. Kind of like Lon Chaney as the Wolfman when a full moon came out. Playing hard is one thing, but savagery is quite another. At least the Wolfman was predictable. When a full moon drew nigh, people could take cover to protect themselves. With Suh, it's not so simple. One never knows when he might go off again to wreak havoc -- on or off the field.
Adding to the nefarious plot are reports that Suh isn't satisfied with $22.5M. He wants more. Much more. Some say as much as $27 million per year with a long term deal. That would make him, by far, the highest paid player in the NFL, dwarfing the salaries of such guys like Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, etc.
Would any team be crazy enough to pony up that sort of dough? Maybe. Certainly lots of franchises would be interested in his services. But at that price, they'd have shot themselves in the foot in their ability to sign enough other good players to be contenders. One disruptive defensive lineman does not a Super Bowl contender make. Ask J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans, who might well be the MVP this year for his incredible play. And Watt's a good guy, both on and off the field. Given the salary cap, there's only so much money to go around.
What should the Lions do with Suh? He's 28, and if he stays healthy, never a given, likely has 4-5 more productive years left before Father Time starts to drag him down. So give him the benefit of the doubt and offer him a 5 year deal at a flat $20M per season. No huge signing bonus or other money up front. But also include clauses in the contract that stipulate the club can terminate his services at any time, without any future guaranteed pay, if Suh goes off the deep end. He has to earn it and keep his nose clean. Play hard, but the occasional full moon thing will not be tolerated any longer. Would his agents recommend and would Suh sign such an offer? Probably not.
So let him walk. Are we to believe Suh is worth more than Sims, Fairley, Hilliard, Palmer, Mosely, Raiola, Orlovsky, Muhlbach, Moore, and other notables like Glover Quin, Reggie Bush and Golden Tate COMBINED? More valuable to the team than Matthew Stafford?
If the Lions are dumb enough to cough up that much money for Suh, then I have a suggestion for them. Pay Bob Seger a couple million bucks a game to sing the national anthem and put on a half time show. This is a win-win-win. Seger gets a sweet gig in his own backyard, the Motown fans would love it and, after all, he'd come with the Silver Bullet Band, right?
And having them in the house could prove beneficial someday. After all, silver bullets are the only thing that can dispatch a Wolfman. If Suh reverts back into full moon mode, they'll be prepared.
Just a thought....
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Detroit Lions. Another year
And so it ends. After all the hype, feel good stories, expectations, improbable come-backs, and even a stomp or three along the way, the Lions have finally bit the dust. Again. The Honolulu blue and silver will remain the only non-expansion team (there's only 4 overall) to never have reached a Super Bowl, let alone win it. Just another year.
It appeared the Dallas Cowboys were sure trying to lose it -- especially in the first half. They ran into the Lions' punter in his own end zone which eventually resulted in a Detroit touchdown. They blew defensive coverages. Tony Romo looked to be pulling another one of his playoff swoons missing wide open receivers and hanging on to the ball far too long, resulting in sacks. Their usually reliable place kicker missed a very makeable field goal.
The Lions jumped out to a 14-0 lead while Da Boys looked to be in a state of disarray -- on both sides of the ball.
But somewhere the ghost of the SOL (Same Old Lions) lurked and waited for his chance to rain on their parade. Again.
And so it came to pass. The Lions, despite their so-called high octane offense with "weapons" every which way, would only score two measly field goals for the rest of the entire game. After taking the 14-0 lead, they were out-scored 24-6. The Cowboys move on to face the Packers. The Lions go home. Again.
It really should have come as no great surprise. After all the Cowboys were favored by about a touchdown going in, and Lions' QB Matthew Stafford had yet to win a road game in his entire career against a team with a winning record. He is now a very telling 0-18 in such contests. Eighteen chances coming away with zero wins goes far beyond coincidence, bad breaks, bad calls, or whatever. If anything, it seems an aberration he hasn't been able to win at least ONE. (Good grief, even the Washington Generals once beat the Harlem Globetrotters). Thing is, Stafford is writing his legacy and it doesn't read well to date. Sure, he's racked up all kinds of individual passing stats in recent years, but the playoff albatross around his neck is gaining weight every year.
Let's get real. Fairly or not, when a team succeeds the QB is glorified. When they lose, he'll shoulder most of the blame. It's just the way it is.
All year long we heard about how the Lions had acquired free agent Golden Tate to compliment Megatron Calvin Johnson, and picked up a hot-shot tight end (Eric Ephron) with their first round draft pick. They had shored up a glaring weakness in their secondary by signing a couple other free agents. In that respect, the Lions, at least statistically, featured one of the best defenses in the entire NFL. Their offensive line had gelled and they finally found a semi-reliable place kicker. And forget the whining about injuries. They happen to all teams. If anything, the Lions were blessed this year in that department compared to what other franchises had to suffer through. Besides, it's called "depth". Next man up and let's roll.
Throughout the year, starting with the weak schedule, the Lions had caught one break after another. Throw in the new coach (Jim Caldwell) with a long resume of playoff and even Super Bowl experience. Combine it with all the offensive weapons. Stir in a league-leading defense -- and what could go wrong?
Simple. It's the Lions, remember? Shouldn't fifty seven years in a row of ultimate futility ring a bell? HELLO?
They'll find a way.
And they did in Dallas. Again.
No biggie. It's just another year.
Besides, the Generals haven't beaten the Trotters again since 1971. That's almost twice as long as the Lions' have gone since their one and only playoff victory.
And then there's the long-suffering northsiders of Chitown. Their beloved Cubbies have gone over a CENTURY since they won a World Series. Some of those "die-hard" fans must be REALLY old by now.
Thing is, unlike the Honolulu blue and silver koolaiders, Cubs' fans (and their media) don't get their hopes up every year desperately grasping at a brass ring that is obviously destined to stay beyond their reach. They don't have unrealistic expectations, so are not disappointed when their team goes down again year after year. Lions' die-harders have yet to come to grips with reality and accept their pre-ordained cosmic fate. A difference.
But guess what's likely going to happen? Having made the playoffs, don't be surprised if the Lions bump their tickets prices next year. When the draft rolls around in a few months, their fans (whipped into yet another frenzy by their local media) will scream in jubilation over the new infusion of unbelievable talent their beloved puddy-tats were able to obtain. However -- having made the playoffs the year before, it's likely the Lions schedule will get toughed up some in 2015.
Fast forward to the pre-season games and assume a few wins. Maybe even start (or finish) the regular season on a "roll".
And the fever will be back in Motown.
Sigh. You'd think they'd learn.....
As always, in the end, they remain doomed to SOL status, in more ways than one.
It appeared the Dallas Cowboys were sure trying to lose it -- especially in the first half. They ran into the Lions' punter in his own end zone which eventually resulted in a Detroit touchdown. They blew defensive coverages. Tony Romo looked to be pulling another one of his playoff swoons missing wide open receivers and hanging on to the ball far too long, resulting in sacks. Their usually reliable place kicker missed a very makeable field goal.
The Lions jumped out to a 14-0 lead while Da Boys looked to be in a state of disarray -- on both sides of the ball.
But somewhere the ghost of the SOL (Same Old Lions) lurked and waited for his chance to rain on their parade. Again.
And so it came to pass. The Lions, despite their so-called high octane offense with "weapons" every which way, would only score two measly field goals for the rest of the entire game. After taking the 14-0 lead, they were out-scored 24-6. The Cowboys move on to face the Packers. The Lions go home. Again.
It really should have come as no great surprise. After all the Cowboys were favored by about a touchdown going in, and Lions' QB Matthew Stafford had yet to win a road game in his entire career against a team with a winning record. He is now a very telling 0-18 in such contests. Eighteen chances coming away with zero wins goes far beyond coincidence, bad breaks, bad calls, or whatever. If anything, it seems an aberration he hasn't been able to win at least ONE. (Good grief, even the Washington Generals once beat the Harlem Globetrotters). Thing is, Stafford is writing his legacy and it doesn't read well to date. Sure, he's racked up all kinds of individual passing stats in recent years, but the playoff albatross around his neck is gaining weight every year.
Let's get real. Fairly or not, when a team succeeds the QB is glorified. When they lose, he'll shoulder most of the blame. It's just the way it is.
All year long we heard about how the Lions had acquired free agent Golden Tate to compliment Megatron Calvin Johnson, and picked up a hot-shot tight end (Eric Ephron) with their first round draft pick. They had shored up a glaring weakness in their secondary by signing a couple other free agents. In that respect, the Lions, at least statistically, featured one of the best defenses in the entire NFL. Their offensive line had gelled and they finally found a semi-reliable place kicker. And forget the whining about injuries. They happen to all teams. If anything, the Lions were blessed this year in that department compared to what other franchises had to suffer through. Besides, it's called "depth". Next man up and let's roll.
Throughout the year, starting with the weak schedule, the Lions had caught one break after another. Throw in the new coach (Jim Caldwell) with a long resume of playoff and even Super Bowl experience. Combine it with all the offensive weapons. Stir in a league-leading defense -- and what could go wrong?
Simple. It's the Lions, remember? Shouldn't fifty seven years in a row of ultimate futility ring a bell? HELLO?
They'll find a way.
And they did in Dallas. Again.
No biggie. It's just another year.
Besides, the Generals haven't beaten the Trotters again since 1971. That's almost twice as long as the Lions' have gone since their one and only playoff victory.
And then there's the long-suffering northsiders of Chitown. Their beloved Cubbies have gone over a CENTURY since they won a World Series. Some of those "die-hard" fans must be REALLY old by now.
Thing is, unlike the Honolulu blue and silver koolaiders, Cubs' fans (and their media) don't get their hopes up every year desperately grasping at a brass ring that is obviously destined to stay beyond their reach. They don't have unrealistic expectations, so are not disappointed when their team goes down again year after year. Lions' die-harders have yet to come to grips with reality and accept their pre-ordained cosmic fate. A difference.
But guess what's likely going to happen? Having made the playoffs, don't be surprised if the Lions bump their tickets prices next year. When the draft rolls around in a few months, their fans (whipped into yet another frenzy by their local media) will scream in jubilation over the new infusion of unbelievable talent their beloved puddy-tats were able to obtain. However -- having made the playoffs the year before, it's likely the Lions schedule will get toughed up some in 2015.
Fast forward to the pre-season games and assume a few wins. Maybe even start (or finish) the regular season on a "roll".
And the fever will be back in Motown.
Sigh. You'd think they'd learn.....
As always, in the end, they remain doomed to SOL status, in more ways than one.
NFL playoffs. Looking ahead
It seemed weird that the Arizona Cardinals (11-5) would be underdogs against the Carolina Panthers (7-8-1). But through injuries the Cards were down to their back-up, back up, back-up quarterback and the Panthers had reeled off 4 wins in a row after starting a horrible 3-8-1. (Who would have guessed they'd ever make the playoffs?). As we all now know, Arizona be gone and Carolina moves on.
In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens marched into Pittsburgh and dispatched the Steelers. Really no big surprise there. Pittsburgh gets a lot of hype for various reasons but, come playoff time, we should all know better than to underestimate the Ravens. They've been there, done that too, especially on the road. John Harbaugh's bunch might not have a lot of flash, but they play good old-fashioned hard-nosed football, make few mistakes, and wait for the other team to blink. The Steelers did.
Now the Ravens take their road show to New England, where Tom Brady and company await. Though the Patriots will be favored, don't sleep on Baltimore. They could well pull off another upset. The Pats are pretty good, but hardly unbeatable these days. A team with a road-warrior focus like Baltimore could be a problem.
Indy vs Cincinnati? Merely culling the herd. A formaltiy. Neither will get past Denver playing at home next week.
A very interesting game pits the Detroit Lions taking on the Dallas Cowboys. At last look, Da Boys were a 6-7 point favorite at home, and that sounds about right. But the Lions are quite capable of winning this game. Oddly enough, Dallas was a perfect 8-0 away from home this year. Talk about road warriors.... But in Jerry Jones' palace they were a modest 4-4.
Much has been said about QB Tony Romo playing the best football of his life of late. And Dallas not only has the best offensive line in football, but the league's best running back in DeMarco Murray. Throw in Dez Bryant, Jason Witton, etc., and these guys are going to score some points. Conversely, the Lions have a fairly stout defense as well, one of the best in the league, and their own QB Matthew Stafford is no slouch when it comes to racking up big-time passing yards to Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, etc. They're going to score some points as well. Who will blink? Hard to say. It should be noted that both are also quite capable of occasional bone-headed stunts. Here's hoping Ndamukong Suh doesn't tase Romo right in the heart if he and his Lions find themselves behind. Stomps are one thing, but that would definitely be over the top -- ya know?
[For the record, all the people that keep bringing up the fact the Lions beat the Cowboys 23 years ago for their only playoff victory in the Super Bowl era need to shut up. It's totally irrelevant. That was then, and this is now. There are ZERO comparisons to be drawn.]
So let's look into the future regarding this matchup. If my crystal ball is correct -- a Cowboys victory would send them off to Green Bay next weekend. That would be interesting. During the regular season, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have been absolutely dominant at home. But recent history suggests they're vulnerable at Lambeau come playoff time. And remember the Da Boys are unbeaten on the road so far this year.
On the other hand, if the Lions win, they'll shufflle off to the great northwest for a date with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. After a mediocre start this year, the SS storm troopers have rounded back into form and appear to be formidable.
The Detroit Lions facing the Seattle Seahawks in the latter's raucous stadium can be summed up in three words....
It ends there. Or perhaps three different words on their chances of actually winning....
Not a chance.
But hey, all in all, not a bad year for the Lions. Let's just not get carried away -- OK?
In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens marched into Pittsburgh and dispatched the Steelers. Really no big surprise there. Pittsburgh gets a lot of hype for various reasons but, come playoff time, we should all know better than to underestimate the Ravens. They've been there, done that too, especially on the road. John Harbaugh's bunch might not have a lot of flash, but they play good old-fashioned hard-nosed football, make few mistakes, and wait for the other team to blink. The Steelers did.
Now the Ravens take their road show to New England, where Tom Brady and company await. Though the Patriots will be favored, don't sleep on Baltimore. They could well pull off another upset. The Pats are pretty good, but hardly unbeatable these days. A team with a road-warrior focus like Baltimore could be a problem.
Indy vs Cincinnati? Merely culling the herd. A formaltiy. Neither will get past Denver playing at home next week.
A very interesting game pits the Detroit Lions taking on the Dallas Cowboys. At last look, Da Boys were a 6-7 point favorite at home, and that sounds about right. But the Lions are quite capable of winning this game. Oddly enough, Dallas was a perfect 8-0 away from home this year. Talk about road warriors.... But in Jerry Jones' palace they were a modest 4-4.
Much has been said about QB Tony Romo playing the best football of his life of late. And Dallas not only has the best offensive line in football, but the league's best running back in DeMarco Murray. Throw in Dez Bryant, Jason Witton, etc., and these guys are going to score some points. Conversely, the Lions have a fairly stout defense as well, one of the best in the league, and their own QB Matthew Stafford is no slouch when it comes to racking up big-time passing yards to Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, etc. They're going to score some points as well. Who will blink? Hard to say. It should be noted that both are also quite capable of occasional bone-headed stunts. Here's hoping Ndamukong Suh doesn't tase Romo right in the heart if he and his Lions find themselves behind. Stomps are one thing, but that would definitely be over the top -- ya know?
[For the record, all the people that keep bringing up the fact the Lions beat the Cowboys 23 years ago for their only playoff victory in the Super Bowl era need to shut up. It's totally irrelevant. That was then, and this is now. There are ZERO comparisons to be drawn.]
So let's look into the future regarding this matchup. If my crystal ball is correct -- a Cowboys victory would send them off to Green Bay next weekend. That would be interesting. During the regular season, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have been absolutely dominant at home. But recent history suggests they're vulnerable at Lambeau come playoff time. And remember the Da Boys are unbeaten on the road so far this year.
On the other hand, if the Lions win, they'll shufflle off to the great northwest for a date with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. After a mediocre start this year, the SS storm troopers have rounded back into form and appear to be formidable.
The Detroit Lions facing the Seattle Seahawks in the latter's raucous stadium can be summed up in three words....
It ends there. Or perhaps three different words on their chances of actually winning....
Not a chance.
But hey, all in all, not a bad year for the Lions. Let's just not get carried away -- OK?
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Michigan State football. Elite?
There's two ways of looking at this. Certainly head coach Mark Dantonio has transformed the Spartans from "little brothers" in their own state into a perennially nationally ranked team -- typically among the Top 10. You name a Top Ten -- whether it be college football or basketball, pro golf or tennis, and whoever's in it year after year is pretty damn good. In that respect, Michigan State could be considered elite.
But wait a minute. What truly defines "elite"? Lots of teams and individuals have been recognized as being top contenders over the years, but were never good enough to win the "big one". Consider the Minnesota Vikings or Buffalo Bills when it comes to Super Bowls. Ask Dan Marino. And it's not just sports. Every four years a politician claws his way to the top of their party to run for President -- and loses the election in November. Sometimes by a landslide. Ouch. Good, but not good enough to finish when it counts the most.
That would seem to be the case of MSU football. Under Dantonio, they're typically "in the hunt" but never good enough to play for a national championship, let alone win it. One way or the other, year after year, the Spartans will take a misstep or two, and that's all it takes, to knock themselves out of title contention. In that respect, perhaps the Spartans are not so elite.
Let's get real. This year the Spartans played both Oregon and Ohio State, who will face off for the national championship. They hung with the Ducks for a while, but eventually got blistered 46-27. At home, against the Buckeyes, they would surrender a whopping 49 points and go down 49-37.
So when given the opportunity to play against cream of the crop teams -- the Spartans crashed and burned. Sure, they've won conference championships here and bowl games there, and that's all well and good. But it doesn't make them "elite". That will only come if and when they're capable of getting to the next level. Maybe it will happen. Maybe it won't. Given the turnover rate through graduation, eligibility, early jumps to the NFL, and incoming new players every year, every college football program will forever be a work in progress. MSU may be better -- or worse -- next year.
On a related note, yours truly chuckled when he read a scribe's account of the Spartans game against Baylor in the Cotton Bowl, and the imminent departure of defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi to take over the reins at Pittsburgh.
Granted, the Spartans overcame a huge deficit to squeak out an unlikely 42-41 victory over the Bears. Kudos to the Green. But the Baylor coaching staff completely blew it. They'd been marching up and down the field all day against the porous Spartan defense, but sent in the scrubs thinking the game was in the bag. Bad move.The tide quickly turned, and with the help of a couple crucial penalties, the Spartans gained momentum and Baylor was never able to recapture it. The Spartans didn't win this game nearly as much as the Bears lost it. But that's the way it goes sometimes. MSU returns home kings of the cotton and will likely have a final ranking of #6 or 7. (They were #8 going in.) Just outside the inner circle. Close but no cigar.
The yuk came when I read of the timing being just perfect for Narduzzi to "move on" to greener pastures, no pun intended. This was a guy who's so-called vaunted defense gave up an incredible 600 yards passing to Baylor. Yet this was refered to as merely a scratch in the whole scheme of things.
Scratch? Hell, it was a gaping hatchet wound that was hemorrhaging yardage all day. A screen door on a submarine. 600 yards passing in a single game? That's TWO really good games for guys like Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers.
Similarly, against Oregon and a second-string Ohio State QB at the time, the Spartans were gashed for major yardage as well. Narduzzi's defense was stout -- when it came to playing the patsies. But it was exposed by good teams and shredded by the elite ones. Perhaps it's time for him to move on indeed. Good luck at Pitt. A hefty pay raise and he be da man. But he won't sniff a title there either.
MSU being called a "national power" is absolutely correct. At least in as much as there's 25 of them every week throughout the college football season. It's called the polls. They're ALL allegedly national powers.
But right now there's only two. The Ducks and Buckeyes. The 'Noles and Tide were kicked to the curb. Do you really think the Spartans could have beaten either of the latter this year? Not me.
In the end, MSU is a very good program, kings of their state, and have a pretty fair bowl record against other almost, but not quite good enough teams to make it to truly elite status either.
And that's all they are.....
But wait a minute. What truly defines "elite"? Lots of teams and individuals have been recognized as being top contenders over the years, but were never good enough to win the "big one". Consider the Minnesota Vikings or Buffalo Bills when it comes to Super Bowls. Ask Dan Marino. And it's not just sports. Every four years a politician claws his way to the top of their party to run for President -- and loses the election in November. Sometimes by a landslide. Ouch. Good, but not good enough to finish when it counts the most.
That would seem to be the case of MSU football. Under Dantonio, they're typically "in the hunt" but never good enough to play for a national championship, let alone win it. One way or the other, year after year, the Spartans will take a misstep or two, and that's all it takes, to knock themselves out of title contention. In that respect, perhaps the Spartans are not so elite.
Let's get real. This year the Spartans played both Oregon and Ohio State, who will face off for the national championship. They hung with the Ducks for a while, but eventually got blistered 46-27. At home, against the Buckeyes, they would surrender a whopping 49 points and go down 49-37.
So when given the opportunity to play against cream of the crop teams -- the Spartans crashed and burned. Sure, they've won conference championships here and bowl games there, and that's all well and good. But it doesn't make them "elite". That will only come if and when they're capable of getting to the next level. Maybe it will happen. Maybe it won't. Given the turnover rate through graduation, eligibility, early jumps to the NFL, and incoming new players every year, every college football program will forever be a work in progress. MSU may be better -- or worse -- next year.
On a related note, yours truly chuckled when he read a scribe's account of the Spartans game against Baylor in the Cotton Bowl, and the imminent departure of defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi to take over the reins at Pittsburgh.
Granted, the Spartans overcame a huge deficit to squeak out an unlikely 42-41 victory over the Bears. Kudos to the Green. But the Baylor coaching staff completely blew it. They'd been marching up and down the field all day against the porous Spartan defense, but sent in the scrubs thinking the game was in the bag. Bad move.The tide quickly turned, and with the help of a couple crucial penalties, the Spartans gained momentum and Baylor was never able to recapture it. The Spartans didn't win this game nearly as much as the Bears lost it. But that's the way it goes sometimes. MSU returns home kings of the cotton and will likely have a final ranking of #6 or 7. (They were #8 going in.) Just outside the inner circle. Close but no cigar.
The yuk came when I read of the timing being just perfect for Narduzzi to "move on" to greener pastures, no pun intended. This was a guy who's so-called vaunted defense gave up an incredible 600 yards passing to Baylor. Yet this was refered to as merely a scratch in the whole scheme of things.
Scratch? Hell, it was a gaping hatchet wound that was hemorrhaging yardage all day. A screen door on a submarine. 600 yards passing in a single game? That's TWO really good games for guys like Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers.
Similarly, against Oregon and a second-string Ohio State QB at the time, the Spartans were gashed for major yardage as well. Narduzzi's defense was stout -- when it came to playing the patsies. But it was exposed by good teams and shredded by the elite ones. Perhaps it's time for him to move on indeed. Good luck at Pitt. A hefty pay raise and he be da man. But he won't sniff a title there either.
MSU being called a "national power" is absolutely correct. At least in as much as there's 25 of them every week throughout the college football season. It's called the polls. They're ALL allegedly national powers.
But right now there's only two. The Ducks and Buckeyes. The 'Noles and Tide were kicked to the curb. Do you really think the Spartans could have beaten either of the latter this year? Not me.
In the end, MSU is a very good program, kings of their state, and have a pretty fair bowl record against other almost, but not quite good enough teams to make it to truly elite status either.
And that's all they are.....
Friday, January 2, 2015
Cardale Jones and his mysterious helmet
"Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play football? We ain't come to play school, classes are pointless".
Cardale Jones 10/5/12.
And so it was a couple years ago. Kind of gets you right -- urp -- there -- ya know?
But a lot of things can change in 2 years. Look at Congress and gas prices.
Nevertheless, Cardale Jones be da man for the Ohio State Buckeyes right 'bout now. They be gun for champeens agin Oregon. But sumpin be wrong.
His helmet. As college football fans know, OSU has this thing about putting what look like asterisks on the helmets of players. Presumably they get one for every great play they make. Over the course of the year, many players' helmets are crawling with them on both sides -- little buckeyes every which way. They must have made a lot of good plays. Funny though, how they never seem to erase one when a player pulls a bonehead -- though in fairness they should. Once there, they stay. Kind of like US foreign policy. Ahem.
But yours truly started jonesing when I saw Cardale's helmet in the game against Alabama. Consider:
He entered the season as a red-shirt sophomore. Number three on the Buckeyes' QB depth chart. Third string QBs don't many reps in practice and see ZERO game time.
After injuries to #1 Braxton Miller, and #2 J.T. Barrett, Jones got his first start against Wisconsin in the Big Ten conference championship game. Granted, the Buckeyes would demolish the Badgers 59-0 and Aire, excuse, Cardale played very well.
Yet somehow when he showed up for the Sugar Bowl, his helmet was plastered up and down, front to back, and right to left with those pesky asterisks for outstanding plays. How could this be after only playing one game?
Did they give him a buckeye every time he didn't fumble a snap from center? Two for every pass he completed? Perhaps they gave him a couple bonus stars every time he attended a class (see his own words at the top of this article).
OSU vs Bama was a great game to watch. But no way a third string QB starting only his second game should have "fruit salad" on his helmet like a four-star general.
Something was very wrong with this picture.
Cardale Jones 10/5/12.
And so it was a couple years ago. Kind of gets you right -- urp -- there -- ya know?
But a lot of things can change in 2 years. Look at Congress and gas prices.
Nevertheless, Cardale Jones be da man for the Ohio State Buckeyes right 'bout now. They be gun for champeens agin Oregon. But sumpin be wrong.
His helmet. As college football fans know, OSU has this thing about putting what look like asterisks on the helmets of players. Presumably they get one for every great play they make. Over the course of the year, many players' helmets are crawling with them on both sides -- little buckeyes every which way. They must have made a lot of good plays. Funny though, how they never seem to erase one when a player pulls a bonehead -- though in fairness they should. Once there, they stay. Kind of like US foreign policy. Ahem.
But yours truly started jonesing when I saw Cardale's helmet in the game against Alabama. Consider:
He entered the season as a red-shirt sophomore. Number three on the Buckeyes' QB depth chart. Third string QBs don't many reps in practice and see ZERO game time.
After injuries to #1 Braxton Miller, and #2 J.T. Barrett, Jones got his first start against Wisconsin in the Big Ten conference championship game. Granted, the Buckeyes would demolish the Badgers 59-0 and Aire, excuse, Cardale played very well.
Yet somehow when he showed up for the Sugar Bowl, his helmet was plastered up and down, front to back, and right to left with those pesky asterisks for outstanding plays. How could this be after only playing one game?
Did they give him a buckeye every time he didn't fumble a snap from center? Two for every pass he completed? Perhaps they gave him a couple bonus stars every time he attended a class (see his own words at the top of this article).
OSU vs Bama was a great game to watch. But no way a third string QB starting only his second game should have "fruit salad" on his helmet like a four-star general.
Something was very wrong with this picture.
Football playoffs. Brutes go splat
So much for Florida State's reign as national champions and 29 game winning streak. The Oregon Ducks absolutely embarrassed them in the Rose Bowl semi-final. Though the final score was 59-20, it likely could have been even more lop-sided. Shortly after the fourth quarter began, the game was totally out of hand and both teams sent in their scrubs. Basically, it had become a "mercy" game at that point. Had the starters stayed out there, no telling how many more points the Ducks might have racked up. 70? 80?
To be fair, many of Oregon's points came after FSU turnovers. Though the Seminoles have flirted with danger a few times this year, only to rally in the second half to prevail, who would have thought they'd self-destruct the way they did in the 3rd quarter? There would be no comeback against the Ducks. In short, this game was a beat-down. The speedy guys had their way with the brutes.
[Idle thought: In likely his last college game, given his "character issues", how far might have Jameis Winston's NFL draft stock fallen with the not-so-good performance he turned in? Here's wishing him good luck at the pre-draft "combine" meat-market in Indy in a few months. He'll need it.]
In the other semi-final at the Sugar Bowl, weeny-man Urban (Oscar) Meyer's Ohio State Buckeyes came roaring back from a 21-6 deficit to defeat the mighty #1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide 42-35. After all the success -- and egomania -- Nick the dick Sabin has shown in the last few years -- it was good to see him taken down a peg. He got out-coached and his team was vastly out-played. The score should have been far more lop-sided than how it turned out. Let him slink back to Tuscaloosa and stew. But again, brains and speed had their way against brutes and brawn.
Now it will be Ohio State vs Oregon for all the marbles. Oregon rightly belonged in the playoffs to begin with. They were in the Top 4 all year long.
On the other hand, after an early season 2 touchdown loss to Virginia Tech (in Columbus), the Buckeyes snuck into the playoffs after demolishing Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big Ten conference championship game. An impressive showing indeed, but Texas Christian wound up getting screwed. The Horned Frogs' only loss was on 10/11 to then #5 Baylor -- at Baylor -- by a mere 3 points. Plus they had played 4 other ranked teams and defeated them all. And let it be noted TCU obliterated Ole Miss (once in the Top 2) in their bowl match-up to the tune of 42-3.
The "committee" could say this and say that, but in the end it was about money. Ohio State would attract far more fans, sponsors, and fetch higher TV ratings than TCU would have in such a highly touted game. But it doesn't necessarily make it right.
Nevertheless, on this New Year's day, the brutes have been dispatched, and besides the faithful in Tallahassee and Tuscaloosa, who doesn't like to see giants slain once in a while? Jack climbed his beanstalk and eventually pulled it off. Even in the good book, some dude named Sam told the tale of a skinny little wimp named Dave that felled a behemoth called Goliath by only slinging a rock at him. Hmm. Sam and Dave. If memory serves me correctly, they sang a few pretty cool tunes together back in the day as well. But I digress.
No matter. Ohio State vs Oregon should be one helluva game.
To be fair, many of Oregon's points came after FSU turnovers. Though the Seminoles have flirted with danger a few times this year, only to rally in the second half to prevail, who would have thought they'd self-destruct the way they did in the 3rd quarter? There would be no comeback against the Ducks. In short, this game was a beat-down. The speedy guys had their way with the brutes.
[Idle thought: In likely his last college game, given his "character issues", how far might have Jameis Winston's NFL draft stock fallen with the not-so-good performance he turned in? Here's wishing him good luck at the pre-draft "combine" meat-market in Indy in a few months. He'll need it.]
In the other semi-final at the Sugar Bowl, weeny-man Urban (Oscar) Meyer's Ohio State Buckeyes came roaring back from a 21-6 deficit to defeat the mighty #1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide 42-35. After all the success -- and egomania -- Nick the dick Sabin has shown in the last few years -- it was good to see him taken down a peg. He got out-coached and his team was vastly out-played. The score should have been far more lop-sided than how it turned out. Let him slink back to Tuscaloosa and stew. But again, brains and speed had their way against brutes and brawn.
Now it will be Ohio State vs Oregon for all the marbles. Oregon rightly belonged in the playoffs to begin with. They were in the Top 4 all year long.
On the other hand, after an early season 2 touchdown loss to Virginia Tech (in Columbus), the Buckeyes snuck into the playoffs after demolishing Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big Ten conference championship game. An impressive showing indeed, but Texas Christian wound up getting screwed. The Horned Frogs' only loss was on 10/11 to then #5 Baylor -- at Baylor -- by a mere 3 points. Plus they had played 4 other ranked teams and defeated them all. And let it be noted TCU obliterated Ole Miss (once in the Top 2) in their bowl match-up to the tune of 42-3.
The "committee" could say this and say that, but in the end it was about money. Ohio State would attract far more fans, sponsors, and fetch higher TV ratings than TCU would have in such a highly touted game. But it doesn't necessarily make it right.
Nevertheless, on this New Year's day, the brutes have been dispatched, and besides the faithful in Tallahassee and Tuscaloosa, who doesn't like to see giants slain once in a while? Jack climbed his beanstalk and eventually pulled it off. Even in the good book, some dude named Sam told the tale of a skinny little wimp named Dave that felled a behemoth called Goliath by only slinging a rock at him. Hmm. Sam and Dave. If memory serves me correctly, they sang a few pretty cool tunes together back in the day as well. But I digress.
No matter. Ohio State vs Oregon should be one helluva game.
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