Week 7 Tuesday Afternoon Punter

There's always a backlash against anything that's popular. It happens with almost any great athlete. celebrity, or organization. The United States is the most criticized country worldwide, yet everyone wants to live here. How much ripping does ESPN take? But nobody would want to live without it. That goes for this World Series, as well. Most everyone who wasn't a Yankee or Philly fan wanted to see the Giants and Rangers in the Series. They justified this by saying things like "I want to see new blood win it", which would be fine if it were true. In reality, these people just didn't like the Yanks and/or the Phills. As a result, all these people who wanted to see new blood will not be watching.

They would if it were the other two teams.

Hey, I'm no different. If in the NBA conference finals you had the Lakers against he Jazz and the Celtics against the Bulls, I'd be pulling hard for the Bulls and Jazz. I'd be happy if they won, but I wouldn't watch the Finals. Or at least not as much as if it were the Lakers and Celtics.

Now before I get to my next point I want to say, the Rangers would have beaten the Yankees without Cliff Lee. They were the better team. Their starters outpitched Yankee starters, their bullpen was overall superior to the Yankee bullpen, their hitting, fielding, baserunning, and managing were all better.

With that said, I've always been fascinated with the events of July 9, 2010. That was the pleasant Friday that sports fans woke up to find out that Cliff Lee was headed to the Yankees. It was a done deal, according to everybody who covered the sport. There were a formality or two to be taken care of but both teams had agreed and it was over. The hours passed and still, Lee was definately headed to the Yankees, though neither team had made it official. Then there came some whispers that the deal was no longer as done as first reported. Seattle, reportedly was having cold feet. Still time passed. Then, suddenly, WHAM! News breaks that Lee had been dealt to the Rangers.

Now let's all recall the climate in baseball on that ay. The Yankees were rolling. They seemed to be clearly the best team in baseball. Adding Lee to a rotation that already boasted ace Sabathia, Hughes, who was still rolling, and Pettite having a terrific season. It was almost laughable. The Lee story became such a forgone conclusion that discussions had already begun as to whom the Yankees would leave off of their three man rotation in the ALDS. The rest of the season was a formality, start preparations for the parade.

Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers were floundering. They were the best team in the AL West, but that was more to do with a lack of competition than anything great the Rangers were doing. Moreover, Texas was being run by Major League Baseball, Tom Hicks having gotten in to financial issues. Therefore, the Rangers were in transition and couldn't take on any more money until they were officially sold. They were in negotiations to try to land Lee, but were not willing to offer what the Mariners wanted. Seattle, allegedly, reaches a deal with the Yankees. This, let's face it, would have been bad for Major League Baseball. The rich getting richer, buying championships, competitive imbalance and all that garbage would be all anyone talke about as the Yankees routed their way to a 29th title. Now, Seattle doesn't pull the trigger with the Yankees and gets what they want from Texas, at the same time defusing the chance that the Yankees would walk to a title and raising the value of the team being run by Major League Baseball. I'm not saying anything, I'm just saying.

Look, when trades are being negotiated, this all I assume, the party with the player everyone wants, tries to raise the asking price by claiming they're getting better offers elsewhere. It's up to the other teams to decide whether or not to believe them. Sometimes a story may even be leaked to the press to sway negotiations. The only people that might know whether or not a deal is agreed upon are the two teams and MLB. The problem here is that MLB happens to be one of the teams that want the player in question. When they find out what deal is agreed upon, they can offer a slightly better deal. Which isn't exactly a level field.

It's like in a fantasy league. Where two teams agree on a trade. The commissioner contact one of the managers and says "You accepted that?! Here' I'll offer you something better, then vetoes the original trade and gets his push through. I know this sounds far fetched, but there are three things in sports you'll never convince me of:

1.) LeBron made his decision the morning of "The Decision" or even that summer.

2.) That was actual blood on that sock.

3.) The events on July 9, 2010 regarding the Cliff Lee trade were totally Halal.

Week 7 Thoughts I Think I Thought About Thinking

1.) The league can't stay away from controversy. I mean, this week there were no illegal hits, no helmat to helmet anything. Hell, even Monday Night Football took the graphic of the two helmets colliding out, but now we got to talk about replay and it's shortcomings. Ben gets stripped going in to the endzone, dogpile ensues, refs rule TD. Miami comes out with the ball, but since that's not obvious in the replay and the refs unloaded the ogpile by signalling T, the Steelers players can argue they just let go, the refs can't give Miami the ball just take the TD away. Why don't refs get encourage to let a play finish before making a ruling? Let them fight for the ball, see who comes out with it, then tell everyone that the ruling is a TD. That way, all your bases are covered.

2.) Wade Phillips doesn't get it. In the fourth quarter, Giants were up by 18 with around 7 minutes left. Dallas had a fourth an goal and they go for it. Look, if you want to make a comeback, you'll probably need a FG anyway, so why not take it there? I know you want TDs, but a FG is needed and basically guaranteed there while a TD is at best a 50-50 proposition. The problem is, it doesn't look that good. Going for three down 18, but that's the call.

3.) Great challenge by Coughlin on a Dallas punt that was owned at the one. Someone in the Giants noticed that the guy who kept it from going in to the endzone stepped out of bounds and was the first to touch the ball. The guys in the booth never saw that. Touchback.

4.) I figured out why Collinsworth is considered to be the best color guy.He's good, that's not a doubt, and he does avoid cliches which helps, but the biggest thing, and he said this before, is that he doesn't follow the ball. He's said before he watches the line live and the play on replay. That's ridiculously smart. Most fans know enough to know what they just saw happen with the ball. So explaining that just seems obvious most of the time, but we rarely watch the lines. So when, right when the play ends, Collinsworth starts talking about something he saw in the line or a trend he's noticed he seems really informed because we only see it on the replay. Good tactic, don't know why more guys don't use it.

5.) Favre's hurt. Obviously. He limpe after every pick an after the game which obviously means that he's obviously hurt. Never mind that he ran around like a kid out there when he thought he threw a TD to Harvin.

6.) Spent all of Sunday in the car so missed all the games, which made some of the scores (Saints/Chiefs, Raiders/Broncos) all the more shocking. Well, since I didn't get to see much football, I didn't have many thoughts I think I thought about thinking. I think.

Week 7 Limerick of the Week

The Giants needed no extra reason

To put an end to Dallas's football season

But Texas beat the Yanks

So I advance a thanks

To the Giants for ending Texas's baseball season.

Peace

Week 6 Tuesday Afternoon Punter

Thoughts I Think I Thought About Thinking

1.) A lot's being made about the big hits in the league and how to protect the players. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but the best way to protect the players is to give them less protection. The penalties on hitting defenseless receivers are hard to avoid. Safeties are taught to seperate the player from the ball. You can't ask them to judfe whether or not the player is defenseless or not. It's a split second's decision and a split second is the difference between a receiver being defenseless and a receiver side stepping the hit and escaping for a 72 yard touchdown. I hear people rationalizing that the reason there are more head injuries now then there used to be is that doctors are better equipped at diagnosing them. While that might be a part of the reason, I'm not sold that it's that simple. The equipment players wear now is so much more advancedthan what they use to. They're lighter, more comfortable, and safer.This, I think, gives the players sense of immortality that previous generations lacked allowing defenders to launch themselves at the opposition with no fear of what injury might befall themselves. I mean, what is the purpose of shoulder pads? Sure they protect you, but mostly they allow you to hit others without fearing of hurting your shoulder. It's like, if you took the gloves off of boxers, there would probably be less head injuries because a boxer's hands would usually be too sore before they reach the point of doing any serious damage. Or maybe not, I'm just guessing here.

2.) The Giants are worst in the league at converting third and three or less. That's of no real surprise. They're playing on Monday night this week, watch them. Anytime they're in third and short away from the goal line, Manning's in the shotgun. I can't emphasize enough how meticulous this is. I mean, at least have the threat of the run. That isn't to say that they don't run from th gun in these situations, but that's the point. A run from the shotgun is effective when the defense is sure you're passing and, therefore, not really holding the line. If you're in the gun in short yardage, the defense will be weary towards the run and inside hand offs aren't nearly as effective when the defense is looking for them. They've converted a few of these, but mostly because Bradshaw made three people miss and just passe the chains.

3.) By the way, I nominate "Playing ahead of the chains" as the next football cliche that will be run into the ground mercilessly.

4.) That was absolutely a pass interference on Denver at the end of the Jets game. It had to be called. It's just a shame that a team could do everything wrong at the end of the game and be rewared so handsomely. I think defensive penalties in general are ridiculously harsh. Offensive holding is a ten yard penalty and a repeat of the down. Defensive holding is a five yard penalty and automatic first down. That hardly seems fair. Defensive holding should be a ten yard penalty and if the offense passes the marker it's a first down. I've seen too many times a team fail on third and 15 plus and be rewarded with an automatic first down because of a five yard penalty. Offensive pass interference is the same as offensive holding while defensive pass interference is a spot foul and automatic first down. I don't think defensive PI should be changed, but I think offensive PI should be changed and enforced strongly. An offensive PI should be however many yards ownfield from the line of scrimmage the penalty occurred and a loss of down. It's not fair that a defense could get a fifty yard penalty but offenses can't. Morewover, offensive PU needs to be called more, just look at the Texans Chiefs game. Andre Johnson blatantly pushed the defender away from the ball and the refs called defensive PI solely because there was contact. Maybe PI should be challangeable.....

5.) Why do the Packers get such a free pass? I see no real difference between the Packers and the Cowboys: Both teams have bad coaches who tend to mess up the ends of games, both teams have high powered offenses, both teams feature great regular season QBs who fold in big spots. I don't get it.

6.) When Vick gets healthy, it's time for Reid to make a call on the future of the team. If he thinks the future is with Kolb, then he's the starter. If not, you go with Vick.

7.) LDT is such a jerk. He was asked if he enjoyed the Charger's struggles, he grinned and said no comment is needed, the smile says it all. Moreover, he got a Jets tattoo and said that his years in San Diego are dead. Why spit in the face of those fans that cheered you for your whole career because you don't like the way the organization treated you? That hurts the fans. Plus, what did the Chargers do to him that was so terrible? After three paltry seasons they decide he was no longer a starting HB? Here's a newsflash for Tomlinson: The Jets thought the same thing! They brought you in to be Green's backup. If you were so confident in your abilities during the off season, why didn't you sign an incentive laden contract with San Diego and agree to compete for the starting job?I dislike the Chargers and hate their front office, but I don't blame them for this oe.

8.) I don't buy that Revis is so hurt. There's no way he can cover so well if his hamstring's as bad as the Jet PR is making it out to be. He didn't get toasted on any play last week, he was always steo for step with the WR, but Orton put the ball where it needed to be to be caught. No DB can cover a perfect throw. Revis's problem is that people think he's hurt and Cromartie's playing so well so offenses will go after Revis. If the Jets want to help him, stop making excuses and put it out there that he's a hundred percent and looks great in practice and put him on the other team's number one WR and let his reputation work for him. He's playing just as good as last year but teams think it's okay to go after him, so they are.

Limerick of the Week

Yankee fans are beginning to sweat

We can't help but bite our nails and fret

He can't get an out

Against hitters so stout

There's never been a pitcher in history worse than A.J. Burnett

Week 5 Tuesday Afternoon Punter

With the MLB post season going strong, well going anyway, the media focus has turned to replay, or lack thereof, in baseball. I enjoy how every controversial call has to be analyze through the prism of what would have happened had replay been used, like there haven't been enough instances already. Look, if there are people who are still against replay, I on't know what it'd take to change their mind, but clearly a play in Game 2 of the NLDS won't do it.

Replay is simple when it comes to baseball: Have an ump in the booth watching the game and he could signal down if a call nees to be overturned. Most every baseball fan can tell what a call should be, so it'd be no problem for an ump. Use it for everything. Everything. Safe or out, fair or foul, everything. If it's really close then the call on the field stands. I don't understand why people, even those who are staunch supporters of replay, get uncomfortable when it comes to calling balls and strikes. I hate that every ump has a different strike zones, and even those vary throughout the games. Use a questech- like device to determine balls an strikes. Get them right.

I hear three arguments against replay:

1.) It'll slow down the game. That's crap. In fact, it'll slightly speed up the game. Any fan can figure out if a call's been blown within watching two replays. That's a hell of a lot shorter then the mandatory arguments by players and managers. If a blown call can't be recognized that quickly, it's not worth overturning.

2.) Smaller market games ten to have less cameras and, therefore, less available replays than bigger market games. If you're in a small market an the game's not televised, nobody cares about your game anyway. Just kidding, kind of. Look, unless the game's being recored by drunk with his camera phone, there will always be enough cameras.

3.) I like the human element. Human element is great, agreed. I mean, marriages without human elements would probably suck, but we don't need human elements in our officiating. It'd better for umpires to be right then human.

On to the TAP

Week 5 Thoughts I Think I Thought About Thinking

1.) The Giants have looked impressive ever since Tiki Barber questioned Coughlin's control over the team. If they continue to impress, we may have to rethink Barber's role in the 2--7 season. Might have to send him a ring.

2.) If Jenn Sterger doesn't put in a complaint against Favre, I on't see why he should be suspended. If you read the original story that came out about this months ago, she din't consider it harrasment, she use to laugh at him. That might be a shot to his pride, but definately not grounds for suspension.

3.) I do love how ESPN celebrated Favre getting TD and yards milestones, while downplaying the fact the he also broke the recor for most fumbles. Is Favre a notorious fumbler? No, but when you compile stats, you tend to compile the negative ones too.

4.) In baseball we just had the year of the pitcher, through five weeks in the NFL this is the year of the defense. That's what's causing all this unpredictability so far. Name a powerhouse offense this year. You can't. You can name offenses that should be great. When's the last time that's happened? Accepting this, it's no wonder that the three most impressive so far (Baltimore, Pittm NYJ) are the three best defenses.

5.) Okay refs, I was with you with the Calvin Johnson incompletion, but now you've lost me with calling Michael Spurlock's catch good. He caught the ball, went down out of bound where the ball was knocked loose. How is that completing the process? How is that any ifferent than Johnson? My only guess is that the NFL, after the Johnson play, decided it's going to change the rule an told the refs to be a little leniant on those plays. Remember this if they change the rule after the season.... [I swear I wrote this paragraph before seeing this. I just finished my 10 and went to PFT to make sure I didn't miss anything and this is the top story.]

6.) I know the Charger's struggles have little if anything to do with their offense. Still, it looks real bad when you're struggling and you have a Pro Bowl WR waiting to be paid. Also, how is this not a bigger eal? Here's an elite WR, in his prime, who's on his way to missing an entire season ue to contract issues. Has this ever happened?

7.) How have the Browns not turned to Colt McCoy yet? I mean, elhomme's not the answer and Wallace isn't the future and the Browns aren't the present.

8.) I think it's time to say that the Chiefs and Bucs are pretty good. Not great, but good enough to beat any team that sleeps on them.

9.) It's great when there are two games on and they sync up perfectly so as a play ends in one game, another's about to be snapped in the other. Though Peyton Manning messes that up every time. You flip to the Colts game and they're line up, but Manning takes forever to snap it so that you end up missing a play in the other game.

10.) If Revis knew he wasn't going to be covering Moss, and I have to figure he did, then he shouldn't have spent the week talking trash about him. That's weak.

Limerick of the Week

There'es problems every now and then

Over at ESPN

A former football croney

Says Kiper is a phoney

And we may never see his hair again.

Peace

Week 4 Tuesday Afternoon Punter

Thoughts I Think I Thought About Thinking

1.) I don't really blame Nate Clements for his fumble while returning a potentially game icing pick. The guy was trying to make a play. Credit goes to Roddy White for chasing him down and stripping the ball away, but it wasn't the worst move I've ever seen a DB make. He never saw White. The only blame I pin on him is that he slowed down to direct his blockers, he should've realize that somebody would be able to catch him from behind. Would it have been all around better to just go down as soon as he caught it? Of course, but it's not like he was trying to break through tackles, White was the first guy to touch him. It was a far less egregious mistake than any DB intercepting a pass on the offense's last drive fourth down.

2.) Good job by Philly fans on treating McNabb the right way. I know it's weir to congratulate a fan base for cheering the greatest QB in their franchise's history who never wanted to leave andwas never in any serious controversy but this is Philly fans we're dealing with here.

3.) The Eagles' offensive line might be bad, but it's not as bad as it's made out to be. People point to the hits and sacks taken by Vick in his three games, but fail to remember that mobile QBs tend to get hit and sacked more than their less agile counterparts. I realize that this seems counterintuitive, but runners never believe a play is dead and hold on to the ball longer. They'll also try to break away from a closing defense, where most QBs would just throw it away. The point is, sorry stat guys, offensive lines cannot be judged by any statistical measurement I'm aware of, you actually have to watch.

4.) Take the Bears offensive line: they gave up 10 sacks against the Giants. That's bad, but not solely on the line. Cutler holds on to the ball a ridiculously long time. In the first half, the Giants had nine sacks, most of which were on straight four man, maybe five man, rushes. So they had 7 guys in coverage. Meaning what? Cutler had less people open and wait for a WR to break free. Cutler doesn't come out for the second half. The second half, where the Giants D smells blood and finally the offense starts scoring. They're going after the QB with abandon then. Yet they only got one sack. Did the O Line suddenly get better players? The Giants certainly didn't back off. Todd Collins made sure he'd get rid of the ball.

5.) What has Mike Martz done that gets him labeled an offensive genius? He was the coordinator for the greatest show on turf. A team he ha d nothing to do with putting together. So he led an offense that featured Kurt Warner (who it turned out could be an elite QB), Marshall Faulk, Issac Bruce, Tory Holt, among others. I'd say it take some sort of genius to keep that unit from being great. In Detroit and San Francisco he did nothing. So where's the genius? How come nobody runs the "Mike Martz Offense"? Because there's no such thing, It's an offense that sends most WRs to varying levels of deep and keeping one intermediate route and a check down HB. In short, it's the offense you'll see employed at Lincoln Park on weekends.

6.) I love analysts who are surprised at what Matt Schaubb is able to do. Or talk about Peyton Hillis as if they've never heard of him. This is why every analyst should be require to compete in fantasy football. There's just somethings you learn from there. Schaubb, for example, has put up empty numbers for a few years now. His numbers have competed with the best. So, media, don't be surprised at what he's doing and be less surprise if he disappears later.

7.) LDT killed my fantasy football season last year so this is the last I'll speak of him until he ever stinks again.

8.) Can't totally blame Jim Caldwell for trying to keep the Jags from playing for overtime at the end of their game. Starting from their own 20, they gave the ball to MJD who went for eight yards and Caldwell called time out. Now, I see what he was doing. He wanted to get the ball back rather than risk the Jags get the ball in OT, but after an eight yard run, it's tough to imagine you'd keep them from picking up at least the first. It could've worked. Gerrard threw an incompletion the next play so there's a TO saved and all you need is a third down stop. Had he succeeded no one'd say a word.

9.) If Darryl Johnston wasn't annying enough as a Cowboy homer and all around horrible analyst, he had to share that he's skinny because he has a hard time putting on weight.

10.) I hate Darryl Johnston.

Limerick of the Week

A great weekend, the Giants actually won

The clouds parted and revealed the sun

Tiki got booed

Jerry gettin sued

Damn, I really, really loath Darryl Johnston.

Peace