1. Te'o No, No: This Mantei Te'o story is so bizarre that its nearly unbelievable. Here are a couple of thoughts:
A. If this young man was duped into a three year relationship with a girl he never met, then he is not smart enough to be attending Notre Dame. What he and the University of Notre Dame are trying to do is protect his image and character for his future employer, the NFL. Are their teams that take risk on guys with character issues? Sure, but now a lot of character guys are falling into the 2nd and 3rd round. After his awful Titile game performance, the last thing Te'o needs is someone questioning his play as well as his character. Owners and GM's will take risk on a guy once but if you pulled an elaborate hoax about faking a relationship with a girl and her tragic death, how will he be received in the locker room? How does a head coach believe him when he misses curfew or some other incident happens with him? Te'o's character is now in question and that is something that is not repairable in sit down interview.
B. ESPN, if they knew about this story before the National Championship game and sat on it shows their lack of journalistic standards. It doesn't matter who your partners are or who you have contracts with, the news is news and let the chips fall where they may. That is journalism 101. You can't let the money dictate how you cover a story, no matter who a partner is.
C. Notre Dame is taking a big risk by backing Te'o. If the story turns around and he knew this was a hoax, then Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame AD, and the university just lost all credibility with their student body as well as fans. I truly hope they know what damage this could do to the university if comes out that Te'o was involved.
D. Think Brian Kelly is wishing he would have met with the Eagles one more time?
2. Falcons-Niners: One of these two young QB's will be playing in their first Super Bowl. However, there is more pressure on Matt Ryan than there is on Colin Kaepernick. Ryan, who just won his first playoff game, has been in the league longer and the expectation's for him and his team are higher. Matt Ryan is still trying to exercise the demons of Michael Vick and lead the Falcons to their 2nd Super Bowl. Ryan still has not had a stellar playoff performance, even though he did lead the Falcons back in the final seconds to win the game. Pundits are done questioning Harbaugh's move to Kaepernick, the jury is still out on Matt Ryan being elite.
3. Ravens-Pats: This ride the Ravens have been on with Ray Lewis has been fun but the real fun starts on Sunday. Traveling back to Foxboro and trying to beat the team that knocked them out of the Super Bowl last year in a rematch. If the Ravens have learned anything from this season it should be these things:
A. Ray Rice should be relied on to try and control the Pats offense and leave them on the sidelines.
B. Get pressure up the middle on Brady and he will crack.
C. Go to Anquan Boldin early and often. Make the Pats double him.
4. Chip Kelly: Boy, did he picked a great week to dump Oregon and become the Eagles head coach. He better enjoy it while it last because the first 3 game losing streak, Eagle Fan will be packing Kelly's belongings and shipping them back to Eugene.I do believe Kelly will be successful and his success will be clearly on who his quarterback is. When the Ducks up tempo offense is properly run, it is impossible to stop because the pace is nothing a defense is used to. Defensive coaches fear that pace because you can not substitute.
5. Mile High Blunder: Don't know what John Fox is smoking but there is no way that taking a knee with 31 seconds left and a tired defense and your HOF QB with the ball is the right call. For goodness sake, a year ago he took a shot with Tebow, who didn't have a "Golden Arm" and they won the game on a pass. Fox knows he blew it and those are career defining moments for coaches. I know Tim Tebow is smiling.
Thanks for reading.....
