The Sports Rumors

NFL Power Rankings Week 9

I wanted to write about a number of things that I noticed over the NFL weekend but working 12 hour days at the office kind of takes away time to do so. Now we’re at the midpoint of the week and it’s somewhat irrelevant to go back into what happened over the weekend, especially when we have an enormous matchup approaching with the Pats visiting Indianapolis to settle who’s the real #1 team in the NFL. But before I dive into that matchup with tomorrow’s article, I want to bring up something that really rubbed me the wrong way.

Bill Belichick and the Patriots Have No Class

I’m a diehard Washington Redskins fan; have been, always will be. When I am watching the games, I am like any other fan and am fairly biased. However, there are certain things that I can look back on, with my Redskins jersey and hat off, and view from a neutral standpoint. One of those things being the manner in which Bill Belichick stuck it to the Redskins at the end of the game.

If you have not heard by now, the Patriots were up 38-0 with less than ten minutes to go in the ballgame. They were once again driving down the field, much as they had done all game. The ball was somewhere inside the 10 yard line and they were facing a 4^th down and 1. Again, the score was 38-0. They opted to go for it rather than take the 3 points and kick the field goal. I can understand this. Somewhat of a mercy rule, an unsaid thing in sports. I was anticipating a rushing attempt, and if they pick up the first down, they would continue to just run the ball. The Redskins would know that they are going to continue to run the ball and hopefully stop them, causing a turnover on downs. That’s how things usually work. Rewind a couple of weeks back when the Patriots were at Dallas and the week was highlighted by Wade Phillips popping off about how Belichick’s titles are now tainted and how TO was talking about being the “original 81” and so forth. In THAT particular situation, though unclassy, I can understand the Pats running up the score to send a message to Phillips and other coaches around the league; “If you’re going to verbally take shots at us, be ready to get beat up mercilessly come Sunday.”

I understand that. I don’t mind that.

Back to the Redskins-Pats game. 4^th down and 1 yard to go. On the other sideline is one of the most respected, well-liked, hall of fame coaches in Joe Gibbs. Bill Belichick picks up the first down. That’s fine. 1^st and goal, Bill Belichick goes shotgun. Not fine. Second down, they pass again and get a touchdown. Gibbs looks stunned. Troy Aikman points out, “I don’t know how Joe is going to take this.” Now it should be pointed out that later in the game, with the substitutes in, the Pats again went for fourth down and scored another touchdown making the score 52-0, but I don’t care as much about the second touchdown as I do the first, because the first one was with the starters in and the game without a doubt over.

I don’t understand the reasoning or the mindset that Belichick has to unnecessarily rub Joe Gibbs’ nose in the dirt. People have been saying, “Oh, well if you don’t want them to score more, stop them.” That’s not the point. The point is the game was over and they could have shown some class and respect towards a legendary coach who has done nothing controversial in all his years in the business.

Furthermore, I really wish that Sean Taylor had gone after Tom Brady in retaliation for Belichick’s games and driven the pretty boy quarterback into the dirt and banged him up. I don’t care if he gets the 15 yard penalty or even a 1 game suspension. This is how things were settled in the old days; not through the media. I would have LOVED to see Belichick’s reaction as Brady rolled around in pain because of his coach’s decision to be a hotshot badass. And why did I choose Brady and not Moss or someone else? Because Brady is to blame in this situation as well. He HAS the power to say “No” to Belichick and switch to a run play if he deems appropriate. He has the authority because he is just as valuable to the team’s success and reputation as Belichick is.

The Redskins aren’t going to see the Patriots again and Belichick will continue his classless style in the future. I really hope that it comes back to haunt him later, just like his legacy is already tarnished courtesy of Spygate. I will never write a respectful column or piece about the coach of the Patriots and won’t even refer to him by his name from this point forward. He is below the game of football and he is a disrespectful, arrogant cheater. Go Colts.

NFL Power Rankings Week 7

I think it is safe to say that we learned quite a few things this past NFL weekend, starting with the Patriots.

Rule #1: Do not talk trash, direct or indirect, to Bill Belichick. He will bring you down, bring you down to Chinatown.

Just ask Dallas head coach Wade Phillips. Phillips thought it’d be a good idea and mouth off, saying that he feels the Patriots championships are tainted because of Spygate. Come Sunday, what did Belichick do with less than 30 seconds left in a 14 point game, 4^th and goal from the Dallas one yard line?

a) Kneel and end the game

b) Throw the ball out of the endzone to get a turnover on downs, and end the game

c) Send in a different package of players, call a running play, score another touchdown and make it a 48-27 game instead of 41-27 and teach Wade Phillips not to talk about your superiors.

The correct answer is “C”

Rule #2: Do not try to be funny and put up a sign referring to one of the most talented wide receivers ever as the “Other 81”.

You know that Tom Brady is his quarterback. You know that Tom Brady makes the big plays in big games. You know that Randy Moss has always SCORCHED the Cowboys. Why would you try to light any unnecessary fire under an already dominant team? Don’t tell me Terrell Owens was trying to add hype to the game like a boxer does. No. He wasn’t. Terrell Owens has an inferiority complex and thinks that Moss is better than him, which he is. He was trying to upstage him while the spotlight was on, and guess what. He got shut up. It was funny how Owens took a cue from his agent Drew Rosenhaus in the postgame interview by answering any Moss questions with “No Comment”. Wasn’t this supposed to be the time where he DID answer the “Other 81” questions?

Here’s a question for you Terrell Owens. What’s 6’4”, 210lbs, doesn’t drop balls that hits him in the hands, and has twice as many touchdowns as you? What.. what’s that? That’s right. It’s the best receiver in the game and his name is RANDY MOSS.

Rule #3: If you cannot win more than one out of your first five games with Chad Johnson, TJ Houshmanzadeh, Rudi Johnson, and Carson Palmer, you should be fired immediately and sent to Tajikistan to herd sheep and goats with a broken ruler.

Rule #4: If you lose to a 43 year old quarterback who was sitting on his couch until Tuesday evening, and practiced for the first time on Wednesday, you should be penalized a first round draft pick, one game, and part of your equipment (preferably your cup, because you obviously don’t need one)

Rule #5: Don’t disrespect the defending Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts by dismissing them while prematurely crowning the Patriots as the best team ever. We’re not even half way there yet and last I checked, the Colts haven’t lost a game either.

Never get tired of this pic.

Today’s Rundown 9/11

*The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Baltimore Ravens in a thrilling first game of a Monday Night doubleheader. Baltimore took a 20-19 lead  in the fourth quarter but turned the ball over on an interception, one of six turnovers. The Bengals scored quickly with a touchdown pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh and followed that with a successful two point conversion. Ravens’ Quarterback Steve McNair aggravated a groin injury and was unable to continue the rest of the game. Backup Kyle Boller went in and led the Ravens on a late drive, down inside the Bengals five yard line. The drive included converting on a fourth and three. However, the Bengals defense, which couldn’t stop a team who got inside their five from scoring a touchdown last year (0 for 18), held the Ravens off and took home their first victory of the season. The game was filled with big hits, lots of trash talking, and plenty of turnovers.

*Bill Belichick is one shady guy. The New England Patriots have been accused of stealing team’s signals by spying on them via use of cameras. ESPN.com reports:

The Patriots’ cameraman was suspected of aiming his camera at the Jets’ defensive coaches who were sending signals to their unit on the field, the sources said. The league also is investigating some radio frequency issues that occurred during the game.

The league’s competition committee could conduct a conference call about the incident, which violates NFL policy, and ultimately recommend a penalty that could cost the Patriots a future draft pick or picks if it verifies that the team was spying on the Jets.

I can understand doing this if you’re the Raiders or some lousy team. But the Patriots? Is that REALLY necessary? I mean, it’s not like you have a hall of fame quarterback, hall of fame receiver along with two other solid ones, a top notch young runningback, an experienced offensive line, and a talented defense or anything. At least this adds to the Jets-Pats rivalry though and gives me another reason to hate Boston area teams.

*The Raiders and first pick overall Jamarcus Russell have agreed to a contract that makes Russell the highest paid rookie in history, with over $30 million guaranteed over six years. Well it’s good to know that the Raiders are savvy with their negotiating. They really came out winners on this one. Speaking of rookie quarterbacks, the Browns are considering starting Brady Quinn next week. Okay, so holding him out of game one really did a lot for you huh? I don’t understand what the Browns accomplished by NOT playing Quinn in the first week. I’m sure he learned a lot watching Charlie Frye scorch the Steelers. There is a reason that stupid franchises keep ending up with top picks; because they are stupid franchises.

*I had a great opening weekend as far as picks are concerned, going 14 for 16 outright, and 4 for 5 versus the spread.  Hopefully I made you some money. 

(I’m just guessing but, I don’t think he had too many friends as a kid)