End Zone (Off Season)

1. Rams have hired Jeff Fisher, who has coached Albert Haynesworth and Randy Moss, see them coming to St. Louis?

KDC: That's a great question, because what eventually occurs will either confirm or change a trend. It appears almost every high maintenance skills player (Terrell Owens, Tiki Barber, etc) that is available is not being pursued because of their past behavior. As if the NFL sent out a memo warning teams away - or maybe everyone finally got smart & realized no talent is above their team. All that said, I can see Moss getting passed over (he barely tried in TN & had nothing to show for it), but if Fisher felt like he could get back into Haynesworth's head correctly, I could see that as a go.
Momo: Fisher said some nice things about Moss, BUT he also saw Moss just tank those last few games in Tennessee. I don't think he will give him a look even though the Rams have a glaring need at receiver. Haynesworth has more of a chance just because Fisher drafted him and also has seen Albert at his best. The biggest problem with Haynesworth is keeping him motivated and I don't know if you want that type of attitude around a young team. Haynesworth is more likely than Moss but if you ask me, the better risk is Randy Moss because he is easily replaceable.

2. Who would you rather have Eli Manning or Aaron Rodgers if you are starting you are starting your franchise?
KDC: Great question. You can't go wrong with either guy, as they're both team-oriented leaders who know how to win. That said, I'd go w/Rodgers for a couple reasons - 1) He's 2 years younger than Eli, so he should have more opportunities; 2) Rodgers, at least in the last 2 years, doesn't have the huge ups and downs that Manning always seems to have. Eli always seems to have a couple games each season where he's absolutely awful. But really, I'm ready to start my team with either....
Momo: These two young guns are at the top of their games right now. You can't go wrong with either guy but I may lean a little more toward Eli because of his toughness. That's not saying the Rodgers isn't tough but Eli stands in the pocket and takes a lickin and keeps getting up. When other players on the Giants see his resilience, it inspires them to play harder. Rodgers is clearly more mobile than Eli by a long shot. The other thing I like about Eli is in the 4th quarter he is money. Manning led the league in 4th efficiency and Touchdown passes. Eli stepped up win it mattered most. Again, you can't go wrong with either guy but Eli to make just beats Rodgers.

3. Is Linsanity bigger/better/more deserved than Tebowmania?
KDC: A lot of people have taken late shots at Tim Tebow because Jeremy Lin is a more accomplished point guard than Tebow was a QB. Maybe so, but QB is the hardest position to learn in any sport, the NFL is the largest sporting stage in North America, and no one --no one!-- had Denver winning a home playoff game this season. So let's not diminish Tebowmania because its reception was waaaaay over the top, because there was a reason for the way it started and continued. If the Knicks make a run through the playoffs, then we can talk comparisons. That said, why can't we enjoy both? They're both outspoken Christians who pursue excellence in their position & somehow their stories have stayed major news.
Momo: This Jeremy Lin story is getting out hand. Here's the deal with both guys: the sample of games is too small to actually determine how good they can or will be. In Lin's case, if you actually analyze the teams the Knicks have played one or two may have been over .500. What Lin has done is historic but I want to see him against tougher competition over the long haul, and the same can be said with Tebow. Tebow has never had an offseason of NFL workouts, camps, or instruction. Each guy has been thrown into their teams system without fulling having an offseason to get integrated on what to do an improve in areas where they are weak. The stories are great but I think we are quick to rush to judgement, instead of letting these guys grow into what they could be.

Josh Hamilton Interview

Josh Hamilton story has been told for the last few years. If you are not familiar with it, its a story of great heights, and a tragic fall, and now a man who is battling with the demons of his past. This past week, Hamilton sat down with his pastor, James Robinson, to discuss his recent alcohol relapse. Josh speaks very candidly about the demons that have been haunting him for years, his struggles trying to be a father and husband. Its one of those interviews that is really intimate and eye-opening. I commend Josh for opening up like this and exposing himself for the world to see. He is one the guys I root for not just for the great comeback story, but because he is real and is allowing the world to see his struggle. Most athletes hide behind the curtain and let very few people see who they are. Hamilton is trying to be different b allowing the rest of the world see his faults as well as his goodness. Hopefully Josh leaves behind a message of redemption and triumph that inspires others to get off the roller coaster of drugs and start to live a productive and peaceful life. I hope you enjoy the interview: Hamilton interview

Like Father, Like Son?

"I just want to be like you. Walk like, talk like, even think like you. I just gotta be like you"-Lecrae (Christian rapper)

Little Boys want to be like their dads. They think their dads are the greatest in the world at everything. Dad is the strongest, funniest and smartest guys in the world. All you want as a son is to have the approval of your father. That approval means everything to the son and in some cases can even validate their lives. So it's interesting that in football there are four franchises that are now being ran by sons and three of those franchises have seen the sons make some interesting moves. Some moves that maybe their fathers wouldn't have approved of. I'll analyze the three sons and their moves:

Mark Davis and the Oakland Raiders

When Al Davis passed away last year, the Raiders lost their face of the franchise. Davis was a football guy. He was an innovator in the AFL as well in the NFL. Although he made some mistakes over the last few years, no one could dispute the impact and legacy he left on the Raiders franchise or professional football for that matter. Controlling interest to the Raiders was left to his son Mark. From all accounts over the past few months Mark is in over his head(read here). Michael Silver does a great job of profiling him in this piece written in January. It started with the firing of Hue Jackson, who became the face of the franchise when Davis passed away. Jackson was the one who pulled the trigger on the Carson Palmer deal. Jackson was the one who rallied the players and got them to play hard and play for Al. I believe that Mark wanted to put his own stamp on the team and try to become the new "Don" in Oakland and that is why he fired Jackson. It doesn't make sense for them to rid the franchise of the first coach who got the team close to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Mark Davis wants to bring in his own people loyal to him and thinks he knows a lot about football because he was around his dad. We will see if this pays off for him.

Art Rooney II
Realistically the Steelers could have been in the Super Bowl if they would have believed that Tim Tebow could pass the football. But they doubted it and got burned big time. This team has been to two Super Bowls in the last four years. They have a quarterback in Ben Roethleisberger that is an All-Pro and it can be argued a top five passer in the league. However, Art Rooney wants a team and offense that mirrors the blue-collar Steelers in the 70's. What!?!?!? So even though Mike Tomlin said that former Bruce Arians would be back, Rooney II overruled that and Arians was out and in come former Chiefs coach Todd Haley. Rooney likes to brag about his football knowledge coming from his time he spent lifting weights with the older Steelers teams. If that's the case my knowledge came from working out with NAIA players over the summer , so now I'm qualified on how to tell a team what's best for their offense too. If I remember correctly, the problem with the Steelers was not their offense but it was with their defense. They had a ton of injuries and still managed to get to the playoffs. Ben's comfortable with the offense they had, as well as all of their starters on that side of the ball. It will be interesting to see if this dynamic works out. Art Sr. and Dan never meddled in the decisions of the coaches and players. It just wasn't their way and it wasn't the Steelers way. Looks like times have changed.

Jim Irsay
Now Irsay has won a Super Bowl and up until recently you never heard from him. But he is a guy who is starting to seem more like Jerry Jones or Mark Cuban. He has been using Twitter to interact more with fans and media alike. Issuing statements about the team and more important about Peyton Manning. What Irsay did do to turn the franchise around is hire Bill Polian, who then drafted Manning. But instead of rebuilding again with Polian (you can watch an interview with Polian), Irsay turned around and fired him, while Polian was in a meeting with Manning. Also, if he fired Polian and his son, Irsay should have fired the entire coaching staff. Instead he brought in a new GM and that guy fired the coaching staff. Of course Peyton Manning would feel uneasy by seeing all the change and disruption that was occurring around him. Ill give Irsay credit he didn't move the team out of town like his father did, but the rest of his moves lately have been really odd.

All of these gentlemen could totally prove me and the rest of the world wrong with their moves. They are starting legacies for their teams and franchises. Taking different paths than the ones blazed by their father's.

Super Bowl Recap

1. The game was dull until the last few minutes. Of course the NY media will say it was a great game. From kdc:It's intriguing that the huge market NY vs Boston Super Bowl drew smaller ratings overnight (but not by much) than last year's record Super Bowl between 2 great traditions (but miniscule markets)

Obviously, big markets can only deliver so much success that can be nullified by other factors (if you're just going for the record). After all, is there any juicier storyline than a rematch? (Actually yes, the battle between 2 great traditions.)

Game pulls 47.8 rating [vs 47.9 last year] in overnights... Madonna halftime show drew a 48.3; Final 15 mins of game pulled52.8... Boston 56.7 rating blowout; NYC reached 49.7...

2. Eli Manning has Brady and Belichick's number, after they have tormented Peyton for years.

3. If Gronlowski has a good ankle does he catch that tip ball at the end?

4. Hakeem Nicks easily could have been the MVP. 10 catches and 109 yards is spectacular. Sometimes it easier to give the award to the quarterback and not look at other players who contribute.

5. Belichick screwed over NBC by not coming out on time for the coaches end of game press conference. He did this four years ago when he lost to the Giants and sent Brady out to face the media. To be acknowledged as such a great coach, he truly acts classless and like the biggest sore losers when things don't go his way. Too bad no one in the media calls him out on it. He did show up 45 minutes later and did a quick session that I found on NFL Network. Still he has an obligation to NBC and the larger audience to speak to them. Ask every other losing coach in a championship game.

6. Love Cris Collinsworth as an analyst. As kdc says" He's fearless." And that's what I look for when you hear these guys call a game. Don't be afraid to give your opinion and call people out when they do some things. Like when the officials miss an obvious pass interference call. Collinsworth wasn't afraid to point it out. Also the analysis on Manningham having to "Hold the Line" as receiver was excellent and right on point.

7. The Patriots have still not won a Super Bowl since "Spygate". Karma? I think not. This shows me clearly that Belichick had an unfair advantage when he played those teams. This is how you know it was bad, the NFL destroyed the tape and did not make it public. That cheating image still hangs around the Patriots and it may have benefited them in the short term but nationally it hurts people's view of them. Here is another thing to keep in mind, all of the coaches that were on the team when "Spygate" happened (Crennel, Weis, McDaniels and Mangini) have had good coaching stints in the NFL or college.

8. Peyton passed a lot of knowledge to his little brother about what the Patriots like to do on defense. I think the Peyton has an obsession with beating the Pats and he breaks down their tape better than most coordinators. I know Eli took great notes and used that to his advantage.

9. M.I.A. flipping people off is the reason no real and relevant acts can perform at the Super Bowl. These mid-level artist just don't get it. The show is not about them. Just perform and keep your selfish and obscene gestures to your own concerts where YOUR fans actually PAY to see you.

10. Think Eli win doesn't motivate Peyton? If you don't you are dead wrong. His brother just won his second Super Bowl and can been seen pushing him to the background. He was medically cleared to play and with that I know he is done in Indianapolis. If you want to see the teams that will pursue him read "Peyton's New Place".

End Zone (Super Bowl)

1. The media is talking about how vulnerable Tom Brady is, you buying that?
KDC: So the media, as a rule always overplays certain storylines to death & this is one of them. Strangely, the media has been almost completely right this year about the playoffs, the Giants amazing repeat-run, the prolific Pats, the no-D Packers & so on. So yea, he’s vulnerable. The Giants made Brady look bad last Super Bowl & they’ll do it again.
Momo: This totally fires Brady up and we will see his wrath on Sunday. The same things were said about him when he faced Tebow and he torched him both times. What people forget about Tom is that he is the ultimate competitor. That part of his game is rarely mentioned. By the NY press totally playing up how he was man-handled the last two times he's faced the Giants will only make him raise his game a little more. Don't tug on Superman's cape.

2. With a win on Sunday is Belichick the greatest coach ever?
KDC: What?!?That would be 4 Super Bowl wins in 5 visits (& remember all the wins were only by 3 points). An old-timer named…what was his name? Oh yeah, Vince Lombardi! He won 5 NFL championships in 7 years(and lost another the year before the streak). It’s not his fault the Super Bowl wasn’t invented until the end of his tenure, but both of his Super Bowl wins were blowouts in a period of run-first offense.

Let’s give Belichick his due though, he is easily the best of his generation and probably in the Top 5 (3?) of all time. He’s a serious student of the game that everyone can learn from. To me, he’d have to win 2 more Super Bowls to be considered the greatest ever.
Momo: The one thing that will always haunt Belichick is the "Spygate" from earlier in this decade. He needs this win to try and validate his legacy. Belichick is a great coach but won't be one of the greatest of all time because of the cheating scandal. Did you know that since the "Spygate" story was broken that the Patriots are just 2-4 in the playoffs and have lost a Super Bowl? Belichick needs this win to validate him as a genius. Lombardi, Walsh, and Chuck Noll (who is always overlooked) are better coaches.

3. X-factor for the Giants is...
KDC: Can the secondary hold those tight ends & Wes Welker down. Those guys are tricky and the Giants Achilles Heel is their secondary.
Momo: It begins and ends with how much the Giants front seven can pressure Tom Brady. If they make Brady uncomfortable then the Giants will probably win the game. Also,if Belichick runs Julian Edelman out a defensive back and Eli picks him apart that will also be key. Eli is more seasoned than Flacco and will look to exploit this mismatch.

4. X-factor for the Patriots is...
KDC: Can they handle the line pressure consistently? If I’m the Giants, I’m blitzing some linebackers early to get Brady looking everywhere on every play.
Momo: Can their defense give up less than 24 points? If this game is a shootout that means that the Patriots defense has comeback to earth. Vince Wilfork is the biggest key, he has to get pressure on Eli and make his life miserable.

5. Your winner is...
KDC: Cough!Cough! I’ve been hating this Super Bowl for almost 2 weeks now. I always root against NY teams (being a loyal Midwesterner), but there’s no one I want to lose more than the NE Patriots, so that means I end up rooting for the Giants. ARGH.
At least the commercials should be funny.

Momo: I'm not a fan of either team but early in the week I said the Giants would win. But it all changed after Tuesday when you started hearing the Giants talking about how they can get to Brady anytime they want to. That was the wrong thing to say. Brady and the Pats squeak one out based on pride and the fact its difficult to beat a team twice in one NFL season.

Bonus question:
KDC: Madonna at the Super Bowl probably means there is few other "name" performers that are worth touting at the Super Bowl. So that probably means the Rolling Stones and Green Day are left..? What are they going to do in 3 years? The hardest part, of course, is translating a show into a stadium show. Michael Jackson did it & U2 was used to is. We'll see how the Material Grandma does it...
Momo: You stole part of my answer. I understand the wardrobe malfunction happened and you want to get safe performers but 25 years ago would Madonna be a "safe" pick? I think not. I guess Run DMC and Aerosmith will be up next. Again I say the league is missing who their target audience is. Someone like Jay-Z, Kayne West are safe performers who could put on a good show. I'm not going to watch it because she used to have a fake English accent and no one called her out on it. Plus, she's not interesting to me.