1.16.2007
1.12.2007
1.09.2007
Coming Soon
The Starting Five will be back in action tomorrow, January 10th. For now, go watch the trailer for Transformers.
12.17.2006
The NFL 2006: The Tortoise and the Hare
By Matt Bieler
The NFL regular season currently runs 16 games and 17 total weeks in length. That’s 1/10 of the regular season games the MLB plays, and 1/5 of the total NBA games. Contrary to popular belief the NFL regular season is not nearly as pressure packed as College Football. It is a marathon, not a sprint. And making a super bowl run is determined on when a team ‘peaks,’ not its regular season record or player statistics, history proves this, Steelers, Baltimore and the Pats 1st Super Bowl run to name a few. All these teams had one thing in common, they dropped it into 6th gear when it mattered most.
With that said….
Let’s take a look at where we stand right now in the powerhouse that is the NFL. With 2 weeks remaining in the NFL season one can make two observations. I should first note that these observations can be looked over by the average fan - but if you really utilize your league ‘sources’ and ‘contacts,’ and possess the business card that reads ‘NFL EXPERT’ on it – then you may be able to see what this writer took 15 weeks of crunching numbers and talking to John Clayton to figure out. My ‘expert’ NFL observations are….
1. The AFC is good.
2. The NFC is not that good.
I’m not sure if these two observations will get me my own talk show on ESPN anytime soon. But I am sure there is much to be said about the contrast in personalities of the NFL’s two competing conferences as we transition to the post season. Of course, breaking down the two major conferences is not nearly as interesting as analyzing Eli Manning’s body language after games, or Tony Romo’s sex life, but I’ll leave that analysis to the paid ‘experts’ in the media. So…here we go, in the race for the Lombardi Trophy I introduce to you the Tortoise (NFC) and the Hare (AFC). Let the games begin.
When the race began back in September one thing was for certain – the Carolina Panthers were going to be the tortoise that represents the NFC in the big game. Every single media outlet on the planet had already crowned them NFC champions – that is, until they met the Falcons in week one. After what felt like eight thousand rushing yards and 12 John Abraham sacks – Carolina came out the gates slumping in prime tortoise fashion, being completely dominated at home by the dirty birds of the south. Followed by an overtime loss at Minnesota and you have the media pre-season darlings of the NFC rounding the first turn with a pulled hamstring and cracked knee caps – or a better term to go along with the focus of this piece – Carolina was moving at a turtles pace.
As Carolina began to fold into a napkin of mediocrity, our beloved media jumped wagons onto the next anointed super bowl representatives…hello Chicago Bears and hello MVP candidate Rex Grossman. Fast forward to a quarterback rating just a tad higher than a Ted Kennedy sobriety test (1.3), and more bad decisions than David Caruso’s film career and you have Rex Grossman, now almost as unpopular in the windy city as Steve Bartman. Even though they stand 12-2 rounding the final turn -we all agree with a quarterback this erratic Chicago can’t represent for the turtles in the big game right…I’m glad we all agree. So, whom shall we anoint? Well, after their destruction of the Atlanta Falcons offensive line in week 6 the media was already scripting a Manning/Manning Super Bowl. Then the Giants went MTV Real World on themselves, turning Tom Coughlin into a real life version of Kurtz in Apocalypse Now, and what is left in the wake is an underachieving team of pro-bowlers one snap away from a total implosion. This brings up a thought. Does anyone think Eli Manning should change his last name to get out of the shadow of his father and brother. It worked for Emilio Estevez, not only did he star in Men at Work, he also directed a film this year (Bobby), that could possible be nominated for an Oscar (It has the Oscar buzz…or so I’ve been told). Charlie and Martin Sheen never pulled that off. I like Eli Estevez instead of Eli Manning…just a thought.
After the Giants continued to fizzle, the NFL welcomed this year’s Kurt Warner story with open arms, hello Tony Romo and hello Dallas going to the super bowl. I almost bought this sell until T.O. decided to go T.O. on the team and open his mouth on ESPN about why he was dropping passes (because the team has a ‘rat’), followed by his big Bday party week (which none of the Cowboys attended. Big Surprise), all capped off by Drew Brees going videogame on the Cowboys with 5 TD’s and New Orleans exposing Dallas on national television for the world to see…. How bout dem Cowboys? So where does this leave us? The NFC tortoise cannot seem to get out of its own way, we’ve had multiple picks to cross the finish line throughout the season (Carolina, NY, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas) all have obvious weaknesses, all are limping like a Steve DeBerg scramble, and all are watching the hare of the AFC fly by them at an alarming speed. And with that said….
Lets take a look at what the hare is up to.
The pre - season favorites come out the gates as they are supposed to, Indy being Indy and the Pats being…well…the Pats. Lets face it – after Fifteen weeks of the NFL season – aren’t the AFC teams exactly where they are supposed to be? The well-coached teams with explosive talent and huge stars are on the top of their divisions (Pats, Indy, San Diego, and Baltimore). And the race for the wild card is comprised of overachievers (Jets), underachievers (Broncos) and three teams that are more unpredictable than a night out with Paris Hilton (Bengals, Chiefs, Jags). Even with the chaos that has surrounded the Bengals off the field “activities” (seriously though, shouldn’t Marvin Louis spend an extra 60K to hire a full time designated driver for these clowns, just a thought), and the black cloud Steelers (Martin Short in Pure Luck had a better year than Big Ben has had) – the AFC is strong and…at this point…. not surprising. Even when the AFC has been inconsistent it is still…well…. consistent. Was anyone really that surprised when the Jaguars ran the colts off the field in a week 14? No, it was the AFC’s worst rushing defensive against one of the AFC’s top rushing offenses. The Jaguars stuck to the script and walked away victorious. And we will not be surprised when Marty Shotenheimer over thinks another playoff gameplan causing the Charger fans to wonder “How?” And we will also not be surprised when Peyton Marino finds himself auditioning for more American Express commercials in January while looking back at another disappointing post season exit wondering “How?”
The AFC have rounded every corner faster than the NFC, they are talented, well coached and rarely surprising. This is exactly why the AFC should be worried rounding the final turn in the playoffs.
The NFC is so inconsistent that no one really knows what will come from the teams week to week. In turn, the NFC has the symptom signs of going Cole Trickle on the AFC - with one last memorable move on the final turn to shock everyone and walk off Super Bowl champs at the end of January. It may sound crazy now, but in a NFL year cloaked in parody, and nothing making sense from week one to now…isn’t making a stupid prediction the smartest prediction to make at this time? With that said, my ridiculously brilliant prediction is this - the Tortoise will walk off the field hoisting the Lombardi trophy, leaving the countries football fans saying the same word we say at the end of every Sunday night when we check the scores of the day….. “WHAT!???”
Oh yea…. I should probably pick some teams to play in the big game. Hmmmm….so many decisions. Well, in a year of parody, inconsistency and consistent inconsistency. There are two obvious picks for the Super Bowl this year. They are: The Arizona Cardinals and the Tennessee Titans, with Matt Leinart getting the better of Vince Young this time around.
The NFL regular season currently runs 16 games and 17 total weeks in length. That’s 1/10 of the regular season games the MLB plays, and 1/5 of the total NBA games. Contrary to popular belief the NFL regular season is not nearly as pressure packed as College Football. It is a marathon, not a sprint. And making a super bowl run is determined on when a team ‘peaks,’ not its regular season record or player statistics, history proves this, Steelers, Baltimore and the Pats 1st Super Bowl run to name a few. All these teams had one thing in common, they dropped it into 6th gear when it mattered most.
With that said….
Let’s take a look at where we stand right now in the powerhouse that is the NFL. With 2 weeks remaining in the NFL season one can make two observations. I should first note that these observations can be looked over by the average fan - but if you really utilize your league ‘sources’ and ‘contacts,’ and possess the business card that reads ‘NFL EXPERT’ on it – then you may be able to see what this writer took 15 weeks of crunching numbers and talking to John Clayton to figure out. My ‘expert’ NFL observations are….
1. The AFC is good.
2. The NFC is not that good.
I’m not sure if these two observations will get me my own talk show on ESPN anytime soon. But I am sure there is much to be said about the contrast in personalities of the NFL’s two competing conferences as we transition to the post season. Of course, breaking down the two major conferences is not nearly as interesting as analyzing Eli Manning’s body language after games, or Tony Romo’s sex life, but I’ll leave that analysis to the paid ‘experts’ in the media. So…here we go, in the race for the Lombardi Trophy I introduce to you the Tortoise (NFC) and the Hare (AFC). Let the games begin.
When the race began back in September one thing was for certain – the Carolina Panthers were going to be the tortoise that represents the NFC in the big game. Every single media outlet on the planet had already crowned them NFC champions – that is, until they met the Falcons in week one. After what felt like eight thousand rushing yards and 12 John Abraham sacks – Carolina came out the gates slumping in prime tortoise fashion, being completely dominated at home by the dirty birds of the south. Followed by an overtime loss at Minnesota and you have the media pre-season darlings of the NFC rounding the first turn with a pulled hamstring and cracked knee caps – or a better term to go along with the focus of this piece – Carolina was moving at a turtles pace.
As Carolina began to fold into a napkin of mediocrity, our beloved media jumped wagons onto the next anointed super bowl representatives…hello Chicago Bears and hello MVP candidate Rex Grossman. Fast forward to a quarterback rating just a tad higher than a Ted Kennedy sobriety test (1.3), and more bad decisions than David Caruso’s film career and you have Rex Grossman, now almost as unpopular in the windy city as Steve Bartman. Even though they stand 12-2 rounding the final turn -we all agree with a quarterback this erratic Chicago can’t represent for the turtles in the big game right…I’m glad we all agree. So, whom shall we anoint? Well, after their destruction of the Atlanta Falcons offensive line in week 6 the media was already scripting a Manning/Manning Super Bowl. Then the Giants went MTV Real World on themselves, turning Tom Coughlin into a real life version of Kurtz in Apocalypse Now, and what is left in the wake is an underachieving team of pro-bowlers one snap away from a total implosion. This brings up a thought. Does anyone think Eli Manning should change his last name to get out of the shadow of his father and brother. It worked for Emilio Estevez, not only did he star in Men at Work, he also directed a film this year (Bobby), that could possible be nominated for an Oscar (It has the Oscar buzz…or so I’ve been told). Charlie and Martin Sheen never pulled that off. I like Eli Estevez instead of Eli Manning…just a thought.
After the Giants continued to fizzle, the NFL welcomed this year’s Kurt Warner story with open arms, hello Tony Romo and hello Dallas going to the super bowl. I almost bought this sell until T.O. decided to go T.O. on the team and open his mouth on ESPN about why he was dropping passes (because the team has a ‘rat’), followed by his big Bday party week (which none of the Cowboys attended. Big Surprise), all capped off by Drew Brees going videogame on the Cowboys with 5 TD’s and New Orleans exposing Dallas on national television for the world to see…. How bout dem Cowboys? So where does this leave us? The NFC tortoise cannot seem to get out of its own way, we’ve had multiple picks to cross the finish line throughout the season (Carolina, NY, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas) all have obvious weaknesses, all are limping like a Steve DeBerg scramble, and all are watching the hare of the AFC fly by them at an alarming speed. And with that said….
Lets take a look at what the hare is up to.
The pre - season favorites come out the gates as they are supposed to, Indy being Indy and the Pats being…well…the Pats. Lets face it – after Fifteen weeks of the NFL season – aren’t the AFC teams exactly where they are supposed to be? The well-coached teams with explosive talent and huge stars are on the top of their divisions (Pats, Indy, San Diego, and Baltimore). And the race for the wild card is comprised of overachievers (Jets), underachievers (Broncos) and three teams that are more unpredictable than a night out with Paris Hilton (Bengals, Chiefs, Jags). Even with the chaos that has surrounded the Bengals off the field “activities” (seriously though, shouldn’t Marvin Louis spend an extra 60K to hire a full time designated driver for these clowns, just a thought), and the black cloud Steelers (Martin Short in Pure Luck had a better year than Big Ben has had) – the AFC is strong and…at this point…. not surprising. Even when the AFC has been inconsistent it is still…well…. consistent. Was anyone really that surprised when the Jaguars ran the colts off the field in a week 14? No, it was the AFC’s worst rushing defensive against one of the AFC’s top rushing offenses. The Jaguars stuck to the script and walked away victorious. And we will not be surprised when Marty Shotenheimer over thinks another playoff gameplan causing the Charger fans to wonder “How?” And we will also not be surprised when Peyton Marino finds himself auditioning for more American Express commercials in January while looking back at another disappointing post season exit wondering “How?”
The AFC have rounded every corner faster than the NFC, they are talented, well coached and rarely surprising. This is exactly why the AFC should be worried rounding the final turn in the playoffs.
The NFC is so inconsistent that no one really knows what will come from the teams week to week. In turn, the NFC has the symptom signs of going Cole Trickle on the AFC - with one last memorable move on the final turn to shock everyone and walk off Super Bowl champs at the end of January. It may sound crazy now, but in a NFL year cloaked in parody, and nothing making sense from week one to now…isn’t making a stupid prediction the smartest prediction to make at this time? With that said, my ridiculously brilliant prediction is this - the Tortoise will walk off the field hoisting the Lombardi trophy, leaving the countries football fans saying the same word we say at the end of every Sunday night when we check the scores of the day….. “WHAT!???”
Oh yea…. I should probably pick some teams to play in the big game. Hmmmm….so many decisions. Well, in a year of parody, inconsistency and consistent inconsistency. There are two obvious picks for the Super Bowl this year. They are: The Arizona Cardinals and the Tennessee Titans, with Matt Leinart getting the better of Vince Young this time around.
12.16.2006
Your Football Picks for December 17
Thanks to the New York Jets laying an egg against the Bills, I went 3-1 last week. I don’t really have a whole lot to say, except the Jets aren’t who I thought they were. They’re just another underachieving team in the AFC East. Remember those Super Bowl Champ Dolphins? Yeah, that was a good one. I even thought it was a possibility. Oh well, huh? Anyway, here are your picks for Sunday. As always, the line may go up and down by tomorrow morning and you can thank Caesar’s Palace later.
Minnesota -3.5 vs. New York Jets – I didn’t want this to sound like my revenge game, but the Jets become one-dimensional this weekend. Facing a run defense that gives up less than 60 yards a game, I see Chad Pennington throwing a whole lot. That was the game plan of the Lions and Cardinals, and they both lost to the monsters of Minnesota, who are still 6-7 despite their defensive success. Is Kevan Barlow the featured back in Jersey? No? It’s Cedric? No, wait, it’s got to be Leon Washington, right? Well, whoever it is, none of it really matters. Brad Johnson is somewhere in his late 30’s and about to hand the ball over to Tarvaris Jackson next year (maybe this year if Johnson continues to stand around like a statue like Mr. Bledsoe). This game is going to last about 5 hours, so make plans to change the channel on your Direct TV very often. It’s going to be a boring one, but not the worst. That would be Chicago destroying those Bucs, and I’d pick the Bears to cover except you can’t trust ole’ Rex.
New Orleans -9.5 vs. Washington – How does a team with Sean Taylor, Troy Vincent, Carlos
Rogers, and Shawn Springs get ranked 24th in the league? Easy. They’re coached by a man who’s been out of the league over 10 years and his defensive assistant has been exposed. Of course, that’s a little harsh when injuries have been hampering the Skins all year. However, they shouldn’t be this bad, and they’re about to face the NFC offensive juggernaut known as the Saints. That’s right, everybody. This is the year 2006, not 1996. The Saints are an amazing team to watch, and that’s coming from a Bucs fan. And it wasn’t even Reggie Bush that saved New Orleans from another disastrous season. Drew Brees was sent packing by the Chargers, and the Dolphins were fixated on Daunte. But it is Brees that has emerged as the only good quarterback in the entire NFC. Sorry, Tony Romo, but what Brees did this year should be commended, as an example that you can come back from a dead shoulder and throw bombs all day long. That’s what’s going to happen here, folks, and I expect about 3 or 4 passing touchdowns by Brees before the end of the day. If they can destroy the media darling Cowboys, they’re going to royally screw up the Redskins.
Green Bay -5.5 vs. Detroit – Why? Because it’s the Lions.
St. Louis +3 at Oakland – So here is the best game of the weekend. One team can’t score, and the other is going back to basics. Those basics are being the Rams of yesteryear, as in not winning every weekend when they were in Anaheim. Oakland’s defense should get an ESPY for dealing with so much crap all season, but it’s hard to sympathize when they never traded Jerry Porter or picked up Matt Leinart in the draft. Michael Huff has done well, but the depth on Oakland’s D would have allowed for some offensive improvement. And I don’t know what’s the problem with the Rams. They’re a lot like the underachievers in the AFC East, except they’re a good team. Losing on a consistent basis seems to be their MO. Oh wait, it’s the defense that sucks. There we go. It sounds like I’m picking Oakland, but this is one of those their rare times where a good defense isn’t going to beat a good offense. Brady Quinn is watching and waiting.
Minnesota -3.5 vs. New York Jets – I didn’t want this to sound like my revenge game, but the Jets become one-dimensional this weekend. Facing a run defense that gives up less than 60 yards a game, I see Chad Pennington throwing a whole lot. That was the game plan of the Lions and Cardinals, and they both lost to the monsters of Minnesota, who are still 6-7 despite their defensive success. Is Kevan Barlow the featured back in Jersey? No? It’s Cedric? No, wait, it’s got to be Leon Washington, right? Well, whoever it is, none of it really matters. Brad Johnson is somewhere in his late 30’s and about to hand the ball over to Tarvaris Jackson next year (maybe this year if Johnson continues to stand around like a statue like Mr. Bledsoe). This game is going to last about 5 hours, so make plans to change the channel on your Direct TV very often. It’s going to be a boring one, but not the worst. That would be Chicago destroying those Bucs, and I’d pick the Bears to cover except you can’t trust ole’ Rex.New Orleans -9.5 vs. Washington – How does a team with Sean Taylor, Troy Vincent, Carlos
Rogers, and Shawn Springs get ranked 24th in the league? Easy. They’re coached by a man who’s been out of the league over 10 years and his defensive assistant has been exposed. Of course, that’s a little harsh when injuries have been hampering the Skins all year. However, they shouldn’t be this bad, and they’re about to face the NFC offensive juggernaut known as the Saints. That’s right, everybody. This is the year 2006, not 1996. The Saints are an amazing team to watch, and that’s coming from a Bucs fan. And it wasn’t even Reggie Bush that saved New Orleans from another disastrous season. Drew Brees was sent packing by the Chargers, and the Dolphins were fixated on Daunte. But it is Brees that has emerged as the only good quarterback in the entire NFC. Sorry, Tony Romo, but what Brees did this year should be commended, as an example that you can come back from a dead shoulder and throw bombs all day long. That’s what’s going to happen here, folks, and I expect about 3 or 4 passing touchdowns by Brees before the end of the day. If they can destroy the media darling Cowboys, they’re going to royally screw up the Redskins.Green Bay -5.5 vs. Detroit – Why? Because it’s the Lions.
St. Louis +3 at Oakland – So here is the best game of the weekend. One team can’t score, and the other is going back to basics. Those basics are being the Rams of yesteryear, as in not winning every weekend when they were in Anaheim. Oakland’s defense should get an ESPY for dealing with so much crap all season, but it’s hard to sympathize when they never traded Jerry Porter or picked up Matt Leinart in the draft. Michael Huff has done well, but the depth on Oakland’s D would have allowed for some offensive improvement. And I don’t know what’s the problem with the Rams. They’re a lot like the underachievers in the AFC East, except they’re a good team. Losing on a consistent basis seems to be their MO. Oh wait, it’s the defense that sucks. There we go. It sounds like I’m picking Oakland, but this is one of those their rare times where a good defense isn’t going to beat a good offense. Brady Quinn is watching and waiting.
Last week: 3-1
Overall: 3-1
12.14.2006
D-MAT, DICE-K, or SUKE-ZAKA?!?
Let the long awaited Matsuzaka-mania begin in New England!
Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a 6-year $52 million dollar contract on Wednesday night, mere hours before the negotiating window for getting a deal done and passing a physical would have expired. The Red Sox will now call the pride of Yokahama High their own - a very talented and highly touted Japanese right-hander who should instantly make an impact on the Boston starting rotation. Theo Epstein's grin can even grow wider knowing that he kept arguably the best talent available in the offseason away from his arch-nemesis, the Yankees.
Matsuzaka brings a lot of hype, a lot of expectations, and a lot of questions to a city that is desperately in love with their baseball team. The light that shines on Boston as a sports town is considered by many to be second brightest only to that of New York, and the question of whether or not a player can adapt to a new lifestyle, the media frenzy, and the pressure that comes with playing in Beantown is always on the lips of every baseball analyst, writer, pundit, and fan when a new acquisition comes to town.You only need to look as far back as 2005 and Edgar Renteria to see what happens when a player doesn't have the makeup to adapt to his new surroundings.
It has to be stated that the Red Sox got an incredible deal here. Theo Epstein, Larry Lucchino, and Tom Werner have to be commended for not only getting the deal done in time but doing so without caving into the demands of ultra-super-mega agent Scott Boras. They signed him for an average annual value (AAV) of $8.7 million - which in today's market has to be seen as a steal. The deal calls for a $2 million dollar signing bonus (go put a down payment on a house D-Mat) with a $6 million salary in '07, $8 million a season for the next 3 years and $10 million in the final 2 years. When you take into account the enormous $51.1 million posting fee that Boston is paying directly to the Seibu Lion's (which incidentally is 3 times their annual payroll) then their AAV investment in Matsuzaka totals $17.2 million - Jason Schmidt/Barry Zito money. Fortunately for the Sox, only the $52 million is accounted against the salary cap so they are saving tens of millions of dollars right there alone.
Peter Gammons is calling this the remarkable deal of the season.
Keith Law of ESPN writes that the Res Sox have positioned themselves even further in front of the teams chasing them.
Eric Wilbur of The Boston Glove wonders if Boston can handle the influx of invading Japanese reporters.
David Picker of the New York Times writes that Matsuzaka's blood type is Type-O which makes him a warrior, following a long line of successful Japanese professional baseball players with the same blood type.
Boston's NESN has wall-to-wall coverage of all things Matsuzaka.
In other baseball news, Toronto has made a good-faith offer to Vernon Wells to stay with the Jays, offering him a seven year $126 million dollar extension. This extension, should he accept it, would make him the 6th richest player in baseball. Wells is set to become a free-agent after the season, however, and some think he'll hold out and test the waters of free-agency, where he may be able to command closer to the $200 million mark depending on what the market is doing then. Another possibility that still remains is the Jays trading him for as much as they can get sometime either before the start of the season or during. The Dodger's are still looking for a big bat and have pitchers to trade...
On a more somber note, Eric Gagne signed with the Texas Rangers, turning down a similar contract offer from the Dodgers and choosing instead to make $1 million more. This was no surprise as indications were that this was going to happen. What confused Dodger's GM Ned Colletti was why Gagne told him in the off-season that he was willing to accept a home town discount if he didn't actually do it. As a Gagne fan who spent many top-of-the-9ths cheering for the lights out closer in '02 and '03, my disappointment of him leaving the team is supplanted by my hope that he'll actually figure out a way to revive his once great career and be at the very least a reliable major league pitching option again. After seeing him throw some 15 innings the last 2 years, I just don't see how that is going to happen. If the steroid rumors about Gagne are true, then there seems to be a very small chance that he'll be able to pull a Jason Giambi and somehow find his game while staying healthy. That still remains my hope however... and since he's in Texas the Dodgers fortunately don't have to worry about him closing many games against them.
Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a 6-year $52 million dollar contract on Wednesday night, mere hours before the negotiating window for getting a deal done and passing a physical would have expired. The Red Sox will now call the pride of Yokahama High their own - a very talented and highly touted Japanese right-hander who should instantly make an impact on the Boston starting rotation. Theo Epstein's grin can even grow wider knowing that he kept arguably the best talent available in the offseason away from his arch-nemesis, the Yankees.
Matsuzaka brings a lot of hype, a lot of expectations, and a lot of questions to a city that is desperately in love with their baseball team. The light that shines on Boston as a sports town is considered by many to be second brightest only to that of New York, and the question of whether or not a player can adapt to a new lifestyle, the media frenzy, and the pressure that comes with playing in Beantown is always on the lips of every baseball analyst, writer, pundit, and fan when a new acquisition comes to town.You only need to look as far back as 2005 and Edgar Renteria to see what happens when a player doesn't have the makeup to adapt to his new surroundings.
It has to be stated that the Red Sox got an incredible deal here. Theo Epstein, Larry Lucchino, and Tom Werner have to be commended for not only getting the deal done in time but doing so without caving into the demands of ultra-super-mega agent Scott Boras. They signed him for an average annual value (AAV) of $8.7 million - which in today's market has to be seen as a steal. The deal calls for a $2 million dollar signing bonus (go put a down payment on a house D-Mat) with a $6 million salary in '07, $8 million a season for the next 3 years and $10 million in the final 2 years. When you take into account the enormous $51.1 million posting fee that Boston is paying directly to the Seibu Lion's (which incidentally is 3 times their annual payroll) then their AAV investment in Matsuzaka totals $17.2 million - Jason Schmidt/Barry Zito money. Fortunately for the Sox, only the $52 million is accounted against the salary cap so they are saving tens of millions of dollars right there alone.
Peter Gammons is calling this the remarkable deal of the season.
Keith Law of ESPN writes that the Res Sox have positioned themselves even further in front of the teams chasing them.
Eric Wilbur of The Boston Glove wonders if Boston can handle the influx of invading Japanese reporters.
David Picker of the New York Times writes that Matsuzaka's blood type is Type-O which makes him a warrior, following a long line of successful Japanese professional baseball players with the same blood type.
Boston's NESN has wall-to-wall coverage of all things Matsuzaka.
In other baseball news, Toronto has made a good-faith offer to Vernon Wells to stay with the Jays, offering him a seven year $126 million dollar extension. This extension, should he accept it, would make him the 6th richest player in baseball. Wells is set to become a free-agent after the season, however, and some think he'll hold out and test the waters of free-agency, where he may be able to command closer to the $200 million mark depending on what the market is doing then. Another possibility that still remains is the Jays trading him for as much as they can get sometime either before the start of the season or during. The Dodger's are still looking for a big bat and have pitchers to trade...
On a more somber note, Eric Gagne signed with the Texas Rangers, turning down a similar contract offer from the Dodgers and choosing instead to make $1 million more. This was no surprise as indications were that this was going to happen. What confused Dodger's GM Ned Colletti was why Gagne told him in the off-season that he was willing to accept a home town discount if he didn't actually do it. As a Gagne fan who spent many top-of-the-9ths cheering for the lights out closer in '02 and '03, my disappointment of him leaving the team is supplanted by my hope that he'll actually figure out a way to revive his once great career and be at the very least a reliable major league pitching option again. After seeing him throw some 15 innings the last 2 years, I just don't see how that is going to happen. If the steroid rumors about Gagne are true, then there seems to be a very small chance that he'll be able to pull a Jason Giambi and somehow find his game while staying healthy. That still remains my hope however... and since he's in Texas the Dodgers fortunately don't have to worry about him closing many games against them.
A Lesson in U.S. History
By Clint P
The war between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers is one of epic proportions. Similar to the United States Civil War, it started as a split in ideology (Mike Holmgrem being to the first to branch out of SF with the west coast offense) and the winner was decided after victories in key battles over a period of time. Like the old south, the 49ers represented a once well-oiled machine that yielded high levels of production. It thrived yes, but it was built on false principals, principals that were destined by the power of good to be broken. Enter the Green Bay Packers, the majestic North. Thus continued epic battles that would ultimately decide the inevitable. Antetiam, Bull Run, Battle of Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, the Second Bull Run and of course Gettysburg which we witnessed first hand. Throughout the war the south found themselves overmatched. The North was better equipped, had stronger leaders, and better personnel, The South just couldn’t compete. If not for one lucky victory the war was a unanimous slaughter. Below I have provided you a timeline, which accurately displays in chronological order, the sequence of events.
Warning: 49er fans what you are about to see is a historical reenactment and may be deemed too graphic to watch for those who suffered during the Steve Young/Steve Mariucci era.
1995 Divisional Playoff Green Bay 27 at San Francisco 17 (Antietam)
1996 Week 7 Monday Night San Francisco 20 at Green Bay 23
1996 Divisional Playoff San Francisco 14 at Green Bay 35 (Bull Run)
1997 NFC Championship Game Green Bay 23 at San Francisco 10 (Fredricksburg)
1998 Week 9 San Francisco 22 at Green Bay 36
1998 Wild Card Playoff Green Bay 27 at San Francisco 30 (Vicksburg)
1999 Week 12 Green Bay 20 at San Francisco 3
2000 Week 7 San Francisco 28 at Green Bay 31
2001 Wild Card Playoff San Francisco 15 at Green Bay 25 (Bull Run II)
2002 Week 15 Green Bay 20 at San Francisco 14 (Gettysburg)
2006 Week 14 What has history taught us!!!!!
Let Dec 10th be a reminder to us all. In terms of our discussion, it will represent nothing more that a skirmish between a few drunks from two boarder states 10 years after the Civil War had ended. It means nothing, or at least nothing to Packer fans, but sadly, apparently everything to 49er fans.
Packers 30 at San Francisco 19
The war between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers is one of epic proportions. Similar to the United States Civil War, it started as a split in ideology (Mike Holmgrem being to the first to branch out of SF with the west coast offense) and the winner was decided after victories in key battles over a period of time. Like the old south, the 49ers represented a once well-oiled machine that yielded high levels of production. It thrived yes, but it was built on false principals, principals that were destined by the power of good to be broken. Enter the Green Bay Packers, the majestic North. Thus continued epic battles that would ultimately decide the inevitable. Antetiam, Bull Run, Battle of Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, the Second Bull Run and of course Gettysburg which we witnessed first hand. Throughout the war the south found themselves overmatched. The North was better equipped, had stronger leaders, and better personnel, The South just couldn’t compete. If not for one lucky victory the war was a unanimous slaughter. Below I have provided you a timeline, which accurately displays in chronological order, the sequence of events.
Warning: 49er fans what you are about to see is a historical reenactment and may be deemed too graphic to watch for those who suffered during the Steve Young/Steve Mariucci era.
1995 Divisional Playoff Green Bay 27 at San Francisco 17 (Antietam)
1996 Week 7 Monday Night San Francisco 20 at Green Bay 23
1996 Divisional Playoff San Francisco 14 at Green Bay 35 (Bull Run)
1997 NFC Championship Game Green Bay 23 at San Francisco 10 (Fredricksburg)
1998 Week 9 San Francisco 22 at Green Bay 36
1998 Wild Card Playoff Green Bay 27 at San Francisco 30 (Vicksburg)
1999 Week 12 Green Bay 20 at San Francisco 3
2000 Week 7 San Francisco 28 at Green Bay 31
2001 Wild Card Playoff San Francisco 15 at Green Bay 25 (Bull Run II)
2002 Week 15 Green Bay 20 at San Francisco 14 (Gettysburg)
2006 Week 14 What has history taught us!!!!!
Let Dec 10th be a reminder to us all. In terms of our discussion, it will represent nothing more that a skirmish between a few drunks from two boarder states 10 years after the Civil War had ended. It means nothing, or at least nothing to Packer fans, but sadly, apparently everything to 49er fans.
Packers 30 at San Francisco 19
12.11.2006
The Look
by Eisen
I remember watching the Chargers/Bengals game earlier this year. The Chargers were down three touchdowns by the half. Cut to a shot of the San Diego sideline, there was Philip Rivers standing next to LT with a huge grin on his face. Early in the third quarter, a shot of the San Diego huddle, Rivers has this confident, determined look on his face. He has complete command of that huddle. Not anxious, not overly pensive, as if he knew what was going to happen. The Chargers won the game 49 - 41. This was just his ninth NFL start.
I had this same discussion a handful of times with several different people during the course of this NFL season, all starting with "That guy at QB has the look." It is that indisputable look on the man's face where the other ten guys in the huddle know that we are going to be all right. Montana had the look. Brady has the look. Marino's look is best suited for driving around KIT, running on the beach, or singing to the Germans. This is not to trivialize anyone’s abilities or accomplishments attributing their success solely to a facial expression, far from it. In a league where talent is abundant, I believe it’s the little things that separate the good from the great and the great from the winners.
John Taylor of the San Francisco 49ers remembers being down by a field goal with just over three minutes left in the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals. Montana enters the huddle. Before calling a play, Montana makes a whimsical, out of place remark to loosen up his teammates before they were to start their 92-yard game winner touchdown drive. John Taylor remembers looking into Montana's eyes and knowing that they were to walk away the victors.
Peyton Manning might end up a top the all the passing records when all is said and done but I don't believe that he will ever end up leading his team in Super Bowl and hoisting the Lombardi trophy. He does not possess the look. Remember, deep into their run of 15 straight wins, when Reggie Wayne shoves Manning while in the huddle during a close game. Or that time when Vanderjagt was taking shots at Manning in the media, the kicker of all people, taking shots at your franchise QB. That does not happen to that guy at QB who has the complete trust of his teammates. Troy Brown isn’t going to compare vocal projection capabilities with Brady on the sideline. Roger Craig is not going to question Montana’s bishop-to-rook-pawn-two counter move in a post-game interview.
The Look gives you an edge over your opponent. The Look gives your teammates that confidence in you, that you are more than capable of coming through when needed. The Look makes the defense feel unease about their two-touchdown lead. The Look makes the fans stay in their seat till the clock shows all zeros.
Because it is virtually impossible to verbally depict The Look, here is a visual summary on The Look.
I remember watching the Chargers/Bengals game earlier this year. The Chargers were down three touchdowns by the half. Cut to a shot of the San Diego sideline, there was Philip Rivers standing next to LT with a huge grin on his face. Early in the third quarter, a shot of the San Diego huddle, Rivers has this confident, determined look on his face. He has complete command of that huddle. Not anxious, not overly pensive, as if he knew what was going to happen. The Chargers won the game 49 - 41. This was just his ninth NFL start.
I had this same discussion a handful of times with several different people during the course of this NFL season, all starting with "That guy at QB has the look." It is that indisputable look on the man's face where the other ten guys in the huddle know that we are going to be all right. Montana had the look. Brady has the look. Marino's look is best suited for driving around KIT, running on the beach, or singing to the Germans. This is not to trivialize anyone’s abilities or accomplishments attributing their success solely to a facial expression, far from it. In a league where talent is abundant, I believe it’s the little things that separate the good from the great and the great from the winners.
John Taylor of the San Francisco 49ers remembers being down by a field goal with just over three minutes left in the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals. Montana enters the huddle. Before calling a play, Montana makes a whimsical, out of place remark to loosen up his teammates before they were to start their 92-yard game winner touchdown drive. John Taylor remembers looking into Montana's eyes and knowing that they were to walk away the victors.
Peyton Manning might end up a top the all the passing records when all is said and done but I don't believe that he will ever end up leading his team in Super Bowl and hoisting the Lombardi trophy. He does not possess the look. Remember, deep into their run of 15 straight wins, when Reggie Wayne shoves Manning while in the huddle during a close game. Or that time when Vanderjagt was taking shots at Manning in the media, the kicker of all people, taking shots at your franchise QB. That does not happen to that guy at QB who has the complete trust of his teammates. Troy Brown isn’t going to compare vocal projection capabilities with Brady on the sideline. Roger Craig is not going to question Montana’s bishop-to-rook-pawn-two counter move in a post-game interview.
The Look gives you an edge over your opponent. The Look gives your teammates that confidence in you, that you are more than capable of coming through when needed. The Look makes the defense feel unease about their two-touchdown lead. The Look makes the fans stay in their seat till the clock shows all zeros.
Because it is virtually impossible to verbally depict The Look, here is a visual summary on The Look.
Denver Omellete with a Side of Texas Fried Chicken
By Dave Paniagua
PART ONE
There was a moment during the Chargers-Broncos game where the camera pointed at Jay Cutler’s mom and dad. They were sitting in what looked like the bottom level, perhaps even on the 50 yard line. After that, the whole thing turned into a Wes Anderson movie, as the camera panned out fast and showed them all the way up in the highest of bleacher seats.
This little moment pretty much summed up how Denver played yesterday afternoon. Sporting a record of 7-2, the Donkeys were well on their way to winning another division title. Then, they had to play San Diego in week 11 and that’s about when things went to hell.
I’m watching the “Girl Next Door” as I write this, so I apologize if I’m a little distracted. Basically, Denver has been a very distant team. They play like they’re Cutler’s parents in the bleachers. Maybe they just don’t care anymore. I really don’t know, but the answer may lie in Mike Shanahan’s future. As it stands, we got a few possible openings for the 2007 season. If you’re a head coach in college, assistant in the pros, or even somebody that coaches for Oaks Christian, chances are that you might get a call from one of these cities:
Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Detroit, Oakland, Arizona, and Denver.
Yes, folks, Shanahan’s time in the Mile High City is looking bleak. How this man has kept his job
for so long is probably John Elway’s fault. Whatever the case, running the ball and employing shaky quarterbacks have been a staple of Shanahan’s career. This all started after Big John’s departure, and the year after the Super Bowl was the beginning of pure misery. The team went 6-10, and the city wanted to see Brian Griese fall down some more stairs and maybe break a leg.
The situation for the Broncos isn’t all on Mike, but he’s still the man in charge. After all, this is the guy who has full control of every move the organization makes (sans the owner). When Elway paved the way for two Super Bowl victories, things couldn’t go wrong. The city known for having no air was high as a kite and didn’t care if all the oxygen was gone. Now, they remain a shell of a team that overachieves year after year. Mediocrity is the best word I can find to describe Denver’s success, or rather the lack thereof.
I haven’t gotten to Jake the Snake, but maybe it’s because Jay Cutler is supposedly the best quarterback taken in last April’s draft (so says the U’s Jimmy Johnson). After two “OK” performances, Cutler has a lot to learn and is better off giving the ball off to Denver’s twenty running backs. By the end of the season, Shanahan’s job security is, at best, halfway probable for one last ride in the 2007 season. Anything resembling a contract extension would be a disaster (unless it already happened).
There was a moment during the Chargers-Broncos game where the camera pointed at Jay Cutler’s mom and dad. They were sitting in what looked like the bottom level, perhaps even on the 50 yard line. After that, the whole thing turned into a Wes Anderson movie, as the camera panned out fast and showed them all the way up in the highest of bleacher seats.This little moment pretty much summed up how Denver played yesterday afternoon. Sporting a record of 7-2, the Donkeys were well on their way to winning another division title. Then, they had to play San Diego in week 11 and that’s about when things went to hell.
I’m watching the “Girl Next Door” as I write this, so I apologize if I’m a little distracted. Basically, Denver has been a very distant team. They play like they’re Cutler’s parents in the bleachers. Maybe they just don’t care anymore. I really don’t know, but the answer may lie in Mike Shanahan’s future. As it stands, we got a few possible openings for the 2007 season. If you’re a head coach in college, assistant in the pros, or even somebody that coaches for Oaks Christian, chances are that you might get a call from one of these cities:
Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Detroit, Oakland, Arizona, and Denver.
Yes, folks, Shanahan’s time in the Mile High City is looking bleak. How this man has kept his job
for so long is probably John Elway’s fault. Whatever the case, running the ball and employing shaky quarterbacks have been a staple of Shanahan’s career. This all started after Big John’s departure, and the year after the Super Bowl was the beginning of pure misery. The team went 6-10, and the city wanted to see Brian Griese fall down some more stairs and maybe break a leg.The situation for the Broncos isn’t all on Mike, but he’s still the man in charge. After all, this is the guy who has full control of every move the organization makes (sans the owner). When Elway paved the way for two Super Bowl victories, things couldn’t go wrong. The city known for having no air was high as a kite and didn’t care if all the oxygen was gone. Now, they remain a shell of a team that overachieves year after year. Mediocrity is the best word I can find to describe Denver’s success, or rather the lack thereof.
I haven’t gotten to Jake the Snake, but maybe it’s because Jay Cutler is supposedly the best quarterback taken in last April’s draft (so says the U’s Jimmy Johnson). After two “OK” performances, Cutler has a lot to learn and is better off giving the ball off to Denver’s twenty running backs. By the end of the season, Shanahan’s job security is, at best, halfway probable for one last ride in the 2007 season. Anything resembling a contract extension would be a disaster (unless it already happened).
The other big news in the NFL is how the state of Texas looked incredibly ridiculous, with the Texans and Cowboys embarrassed all day long. Spurned by Houston, Vince Young was taken 3rd by the Titans, in what many people (including ESPN Super Analyst Merril Hoge) considered to be the worst pick since Tony Mandarich was swooped up by the Packers. When the Titans mishandled Steve McNair, kicked Billy Volek out of town, and thought Kerry “30 Pack” Collins was the answer, the team started off 0-5. As an admitted Vince Young supporter, I pretty much gave up the notion that he was a good pick. VY was about two years away from being a decent quarterback.
What you have to love about sports is the ability to admit you were stupidly wrong. And that’s what is happening, right now. Vince Young has carried the team on its back, and if you saw my NFL picks you’d know that they were very close to having a winning record. Having ole’ Pac Man Jones on your team might do something to your brain, but the Titans are looking great for 2007. Jeff Fisher even believes in a bright future, with talks of him getting an extension on his contract.
Going into Houston was a dream come true. Here was the hometown hero playing for the other team, and finding a way to win another game. This time, it was a 39 yard run into the end zone during overtime. As he scored the winning touchdown, Vince’s reaction said it all. I’ll let the Associated Press describe it:
“He dashed into the end zone virtually untouched and then jumped into the stands to the open arms of a throng of burnt orange-clad fans. He then blew kisses and waved to a crowd that had cheered the Texans most of the game, but went wild when he scored.”
I can only imagine what Houston is going to do when the Saints eventually play them in Texas. The scene might be reminiscent of a mass suicide the likes of which we haven’t seen since Jonestown. I’m not knocking on Mario Williams, but trying to shore up the defense on a team without an o-line is like saying “Super Mario Bros.” was a good adaptation of the video game. Dennis Hopper as King Koopa? Words do not come to mind at that choice, or the Texans organization for being too scared to pick up on Vince or Southern Cal Superstar Reggie Bush.
Finally, let’s look back at NBC’s sudden emergence as a perennial sports entertainment powerhouse.
Okay, that isn’t happening anytime soon, but the network is back on track, picking up the broadcast rights for Sunday Night Football. A lot of work has gone into this production, putting the money into the salaries of John Madden, Al Michaels (nabbed by the Peacock Network in a “trade” with Disney’s ABC), and Bob Costas. There seems to be a cast of dozens on the broadcast, but suffice it to say that this “flex scheduling” has only given us one bad game (last week with Philly and Indy). All the other games have been great; because it has taken away the concept of seeing two underwhelming teams play for draft positions late in the season. This is the inherent problem with ESPN’s Monday Night Football. I doubt that they’re going to fix that scheduling, unless they get a clue.
The other Texas-sized disaster just so happened to be on NBC..jpg)
Dallas was hosting the Saints, and it looked like the national media was in love with some dude named Tony Romo. What a name, huh? It reminds me of a rejected name for one of Vincent Chase’s relatives on “Entourage.” I’d love to see Terrell Owens get a guest spot on that show, hopefully run over by a steamroller on the set of “Queens Boulevard 2” or something.
Anyway, Dallas got annihilated, to the score of 42-17. Drew Brees tore apart the secondary, in what has become one of the best years ever for a discarded (see below) San Diego quarterback. Reggie Bush got in on the action, totaling 162 yards of offense and a touchdown.
We can talk all we want about what happened to New Orleans the city, but what happened today was a sign that their team is not the disappointment that we’ve come to expect. They have the best overall offense in the game, and their defense ain’t too bad, letting opposing teams get a chance but unable to keep up with Brees and company. The Saints haven’t been too good against AFC opponents, but that part of their schedule is over and they should be able to beat Carolina at the end of the year.
Come back on Tuesday for part 2, as we look at the potential head coaching vacancies and why Larry Johnson needs a hug.
What you have to love about sports is the ability to admit you were stupidly wrong. And that’s what is happening, right now. Vince Young has carried the team on its back, and if you saw my NFL picks you’d know that they were very close to having a winning record. Having ole’ Pac Man Jones on your team might do something to your brain, but the Titans are looking great for 2007. Jeff Fisher even believes in a bright future, with talks of him getting an extension on his contract.
Going into Houston was a dream come true. Here was the hometown hero playing for the other team, and finding a way to win another game. This time, it was a 39 yard run into the end zone during overtime. As he scored the winning touchdown, Vince’s reaction said it all. I’ll let the Associated Press describe it:
“He dashed into the end zone virtually untouched and then jumped into the stands to the open arms of a throng of burnt orange-clad fans. He then blew kisses and waved to a crowd that had cheered the Texans most of the game, but went wild when he scored.”
I can only imagine what Houston is going to do when the Saints eventually play them in Texas. The scene might be reminiscent of a mass suicide the likes of which we haven’t seen since Jonestown. I’m not knocking on Mario Williams, but trying to shore up the defense on a team without an o-line is like saying “Super Mario Bros.” was a good adaptation of the video game. Dennis Hopper as King Koopa? Words do not come to mind at that choice, or the Texans organization for being too scared to pick up on Vince or Southern Cal Superstar Reggie Bush.Finally, let’s look back at NBC’s sudden emergence as a perennial sports entertainment powerhouse.
Okay, that isn’t happening anytime soon, but the network is back on track, picking up the broadcast rights for Sunday Night Football. A lot of work has gone into this production, putting the money into the salaries of John Madden, Al Michaels (nabbed by the Peacock Network in a “trade” with Disney’s ABC), and Bob Costas. There seems to be a cast of dozens on the broadcast, but suffice it to say that this “flex scheduling” has only given us one bad game (last week with Philly and Indy). All the other games have been great; because it has taken away the concept of seeing two underwhelming teams play for draft positions late in the season. This is the inherent problem with ESPN’s Monday Night Football. I doubt that they’re going to fix that scheduling, unless they get a clue.
The other Texas-sized disaster just so happened to be on NBC.
.jpg)
Dallas was hosting the Saints, and it looked like the national media was in love with some dude named Tony Romo. What a name, huh? It reminds me of a rejected name for one of Vincent Chase’s relatives on “Entourage.” I’d love to see Terrell Owens get a guest spot on that show, hopefully run over by a steamroller on the set of “Queens Boulevard 2” or something.
Anyway, Dallas got annihilated, to the score of 42-17. Drew Brees tore apart the secondary, in what has become one of the best years ever for a discarded (see below) San Diego quarterback. Reggie Bush got in on the action, totaling 162 yards of offense and a touchdown.
We can talk all we want about what happened to New Orleans the city, but what happened today was a sign that their team is not the disappointment that we’ve come to expect. They have the best overall offense in the game, and their defense ain’t too bad, letting opposing teams get a chance but unable to keep up with Brees and company. The Saints haven’t been too good against AFC opponents, but that part of their schedule is over and they should be able to beat Carolina at the end of the year.
Come back on Tuesday for part 2, as we look at the potential head coaching vacancies and why Larry Johnson needs a hug.
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