Colts
I agree completely with Michael Irvin. If you have a chance to go undefeated and be recognized as the greatest team of all-time, you go for it. The Colts are within striking range of that feat. To begin resting players is simply playing it safe and there is no guarantee those same players can turn the switch back on come playoff time.
This is history that’s being fooled with. That’s a serious thing. If you are banged up, you sit. If you get a nice lead, you can sit. Otherwise, go make history. Besides, this is mostly about one player anyway - Peyton Manning.
Steelers
Experts are lamenting the fact the Steelers are struggling. Some have even gone to the “They need to get back to running the football like the old Steelers did” card. Right.
They won the Super Bowl last season by having BR throwing the football to their talented receivers and by playing solid defense. They are struggling in 2009 mainly due to two factors - their talented quarterback is banged up, having taken a ton of hits again this fall, including suffering a recent concussion, and they lost arguably the league’s best defensive players to injury in Troy Paluamalu.
The close games the Steelers were winning in the past are losses this season. It happens.
No, an overhaul isn’t needed. I would be stunned to see what some are predicting at the end of the year – the firing of the special teams coach and offensive coordinator. That’s not what the Steelers do. They are the most patient franchise in sports. That’s a good thing. Look at their brand and winning percentage if you want proof.
Drew Brees
I recently watched the best free agent pickup of all-time in sports play and lose his first game this year.
Drew Brees is that man and he plays for the 13-1 Saints. We loved Brees coming out of college and wanted the Browns to chase him down when the Chargers soured on him. But that’s ancient history.
Draft
If I’m the Browns and Nebraska’s Ndamukong Su is on the board, I don’t hesitate. Add him to that defense, and the Browns will have their best defensive front since their return in 1999 - which isn't saying that much when you see where they've ranked every year in rush defense.
Two other guys I like coming out of the draft – Notre Dame’s Golden Tate and Stanford’s Toby Gerhart.
I can hear the draft experts already – Tate is too small and Gerhart is to slow. Right. Neither one will be a “Combine Freak.” So what? They were the best football players on the field just about every time they played this fall. That’s enough for me. They'll be good pros.
Are you sure Washington quarterback Jake Locker didn’t suffer a concussion this season? This guy needs his head examined. I’m told he’s a likely top-5 pick in April yet he decided to go back to college so he can play in a Bowl game in 2010.
First, his stock can’t get much higher. In fact, it can only get worse. Secondly, he could go down and lose millions (see Oklahoma QB). And third, no one is sure what the collective bargaining agreement will look like a year from now.
A rookie cap is coming fact. The NFL players have finally figured out NFL players who get the best deals are those who haven’t even paid their first union dues yet. Why the NFLPA hasn’t used that chip in the past to get better deals for its veterans is beyond me.
One more time – you attend college so you can make a good living once your college career ends. If you have an opportunity to win the lottery 32 credits shy of graduating, you go. Period.
Besides, when you move mom out of Gary, Indiana and buy her that condo on the beach in sunny Florida with a small portion of your signing bonus, she won’t be complaining you left early.
Browns
The Browns have won back to back games. That’s the good news. At least they have stopped embarrassing themselves. But let’s not get too excited. Two of their three wins are over the Bills and Chiefs where their quarterbacks completed a handful of passes each. That’s not impressive to this observer.
We did finally find a receiving group on par with the Browns. The Chiefs’ wideouts are horrible. Check that - at least they get open occasionally. But their hands, as a group, rivals Cleveland’s hapless bunch. The Browns’ receivers don’t get open, they run routes short of the sticks and they have trouble holding on to the ball.
Again, Eric Mangini won’t be back if the “Walrus” comes to town. I’ve had several semi-smart people tell me otherwise. I didn’t bother discussing it with them. It wasn’t worth it. They are wrong.
Who is stupid enough to take over an army and not put his own generals in charge of the troops?
John Gruden might be a good fit on the sidelines since he worked with the “Walrus” once. Gruden has a huge ego, but he can coach. We thought he was also a good fit for Notre Dame. If I’m Brady Quinn, I’m nervous if that happens. Gruden changes quarterbacks like most of us change underwear.
Speaking of my boy Quinn - he looked like DA yesterday against the Chiefs. That’s not a good thing. He sailed one pick and threw into double coverage on another. I do like the fact they finally used his athleticism in short yardage by having him play fake and keep it around the edge. That's a start. Now moving him out of the pocket in the red zone would be a nice next step.
We still believe BQ will be a very good quarterback. Like the Steelers, we are patient. As we stated earlier this season, it’s next to impossible to judge a Browns’ quarterback with this talent level at the skilled positions.
On a positive note, we like the no huddle and we like the fact Jerome Harrison is finally getting 20-25 touches a game (more on that later). Next is the dire need for wide receivers that can actually get open and catch the ball.
Case in point, on Quinn’s second pick Sunday, MM made a horrible adjustment on that deep ball. Quinn made a terrible decision in throwing the ball, but his receiver has to give him some help. MM has, on more than one occasion this fall, looked lost on deep balls. He did it to Anderson and now he’s doing it to Quinn. That’s not good. Yes, he’s a rookie, but it’s like trying to learn to bunt at the Major League level – you either know how to do it, or you don’t.
Sports Morons
Okay, I heard this one on the radio yesterday. One moron fan told a talk show host the Browns’ defensive is better without its best player, Shaun Rogers, on the field. It got worse. The host agreed. They figured Rogers shoots the gap too much, thus getting too much penetration, and not maintaining his “gap integrity.” Nice us of football jargon there.
That sounds good, until you ask NFL guards and centers who they would rather go up against – Rogers or Ahtyba Rubin. Look, I like Rubin. The second-year player has performed well when given the opportunity. But for anyone to think this defense is better with its only playmaker on the sideline in street clothes borders on the ridiculous. The scary part is that much of that listening audience probably agreed when the term "gap integrity" was used.
I quickly turned my radio back to Dave Ramsey – the dude who gives you advice on handling money. He knew what he was talking about.
Jerome
Congratulations to Jerome Harrison for setting the Browns’ team record for yards rushing in a game. Now, he needs to finish strong in the final two weeks and continue to establish himself as an every down back. We’ve always liked Harrison – especially in a no huddle system. He seems to be able to make the first guy miss on occasion – which is what you need to do when you aren’t 6-2/225. He has more drops than I’d like to see, but that's for another day.
Lessons Leared
One personal note - I am teaching my sports PR course after a two-year layoff this spring. Yes, I am looking forward to it. I’ll be able to influence 15-20 college kids this spring who either are going into the business or who love watching this stuff. My skills are limited, but this is one thing I do relatively well.
Get the Fruity Drinks Ready
I’ll see some of you tomorrow (22nd) at Olive Garden.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Health Care & More
Health Care
As promised.
Approximately 75% of the country is relatively satisfied with its health care – both the system and the delivery of care. That means the proponents of health care overhaul are trying to swim upstream with a 40 pound weight on their backs.
Many in favor of a health care overhaul are well intentioned – helping those in need. Some are semi-socialists - wanting as much central government control and influence as possible in as many areas of life as possible. And some are just born followers or decision making-challenged, who do what they are told by their party leaders.
Regardless, the math is the math. It’s next to impossible to add 30+ million people to doctors’ waiting rooms across the country without it affecting the timeliness and quality of care.
It’s also hard to believe the federal government can provide a delivery system that’s on budget. History indicates otherwise.
What does this all mean?
If anything does get passed, it will be likely by watered down and relatively harmless to those who already have decent to excellent heath insurance/coverage – the 75% we mentioned earlier.
However, whatever passes will still allow its proponents to claim victory and move on to the likely next battleground – illegal immigration.
Either way, the party in power (democrats) seems to be taking a serious political hit for pushing something the majority of Americans don’t want. I guess we’ll find out if the polling is accurate come next November – in the mid-term election.
Some top democratic strategists are pushing the theory that if health care does not get passed, the base of the party (democrats) will be so disillusioned that it will fail to turn out to vote in 2010 – guaranteeing a huge republican victory.
That logic seems somewhat flawed to this observer who believes if health care does pass, that will only anger the opposition even more – creating a huge turnout to offset any base democratic turnout in 2010.
Again, we’ll have the answer in early November of 2010. Besides, a lot can happen between now and then. One year is an eternity in politics.
The bottom line is this has been a center right country for a long, long time. The 2008 election was not a monumental shift in the American political landscape as some tried to sell (see NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, Time, Newsweek, etc.).
The election of Mr. Obama was part cult of personality, part repudiation of republican control, part John McCain is a nice man but simply looks too old to do this difficult job, part the economy went to total hell less than two months before the election took place and part there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
It was as we have described in the past as "the perfect storm."
Today, it looks like some are having buyers’ remorse. Polls indicate Americans are most concerned about jobs and the deficit – that’s a good thing. Since when has our “spend-first and pay later society” truly felt concerned about putting everything on credit?
I would argue however if unemployment were at 8% right now – which is high but not staggering – Mr. Obama would be in much better shape politically, his health care proposal would have a real chance of passing, concern about the national debt would not be so high on the list of American concerns, and democrats would not be looking at a potential Waterloo next November.
Short of another 9-11 occurrence, it’s all about jobs – always has been and always will be.
As long as unemployment hangs around 10%, it looks to the American people as though Obama and company are in over their heads. You don’t need daily polling or a political science degree from Brown University to figure that one out.
Things could be worse Mr. President – gas could be at $4.00 a gallon – then you’d really be in trouble.
See, now you can carry on a conversation on the issue if it comes up at your upcoming X-mas work party as you munch on shrimp.
The Irish
According to the Notre Dame AD, Charlie Weiss sealed his fate with late November losses. What?
Does that mean if he beat Navy, he would have kept his job? Ridiculous.
How about analyzing his body of work instead? For $10 million a year, you expect more, much more. It’s that simple. Don’t give me any garbage about a win over Connecticut would have helped Weiss’ cause. You insult my intelligence when you go there.
No one has asked me, but John Gruden is the guy I would go after if I ran Notre Dame’s athletic department.
Chucky can coach, is the right age and has the right approach in dealing with recruiting 18 year olds.
He has the energy, disposition, personality and communication skills to deal with the media attention that comes with coaching at Notre Dame. Finally, Gruden has Notre Dame ties – his old man coached there.
Look, we all know the Notre Dame “Brand” isn’t what it once was. However, the Irish is still the most loved and most hated college sports program in the nation. That means the “Brand” still has some life.
And with the right person is in charge, it can become a gold mine once again – even in 2010.
Cavaliers
I don’t like the way they are winning – beating teams late with talent instead of with suffocating defense. But it’s early.
Indians
My boy Kelly Shoppach got dealt. I still like his bat – although is .214 average in 2009 hurt his case. Regardless, I don’t worry much about average from that position if you can call a game, throw out 30% of runners trying to steal and hit for power. We’ll see what he does in Tampa.
Besides, the Indians claim they have three catchers in waiting who can do much better. We’ll see. One thing is for certain, if a couple of these guys are for real, I suggest you deal one of them for some pitching sooner rather than later.
I’ll say it over and over again – this starting staff on paper stinks. That’s what happens when you deal two Cy Young winners, your #2 falls off the face of the earth (Carmona), your #3 goes down (Westbrook) and your much-heralded farm system can only deliver one soft-tossing mediocre lefty after another.
And since pitching is 70% of this game, the Indians head into 2010 with Trent Dilfer as their quarterback.
Browns
Not much this week. You see the same thing I see.
I have come to one conclusion however – this is the worse offensive talent in terms of playmakers I have ever seen on one team at the professional level – that’s after 40 years of watching folks.
We begged the Browns to draft some “playmakers” in the 2009 draft. They decided to continually trade down, accumulate picks and take a center #1.
How’s that working out?
We said the same thing when DA was at the helm earlier this season – it’s hard for any quarterback to get judged with this garbage around him. One could argue Brady Quinn had more offensive talent around him at Notre Dame. At least he actually had a pro tight end – who decided to go for the 60 feet, 6 inch gig instead of getting hit on every play. He also had an experienced “O” coordinator Charlie Weiss.
Regardless, it is what it is, and Quinn needs to show some improvement and consistency this month if he wants his stock to rise for 2010.
Life's not fair, but if you're BQ, when you begin to feel sorry for yourself, you need to realize it could be much worse - you could be digging ditches for a living instead of getting paid to play a game.
One more time – I would like to see Jerome Harrison get a full look in December. But then again, this offense not only lacks talent, but has absolutely no direction.
Harrison rushed for over 100 yards against the Bengals the first time around, and is hardly used the second time out against Cincy. What is the logic behind that decision?
We have complained over and over again the past 10 years that this team has absolutely no identity. As we speak, it’s like an amber alert is needed. It’s worse than no identity – you can’t even find the body.
Finally, answer me this question. In short yardgae situations, why don't the Browns consistently run over their left side - where they have spend a fortune recently on a guard in free agency, a tackle in the draft and a first round pick at center in 2009?
It seems to me if you can't consistently run behind those guys when you need it most, they ain't as good as advertised.
Let's at least find out one way or the other.
As promised.
Approximately 75% of the country is relatively satisfied with its health care – both the system and the delivery of care. That means the proponents of health care overhaul are trying to swim upstream with a 40 pound weight on their backs.
Many in favor of a health care overhaul are well intentioned – helping those in need. Some are semi-socialists - wanting as much central government control and influence as possible in as many areas of life as possible. And some are just born followers or decision making-challenged, who do what they are told by their party leaders.
Regardless, the math is the math. It’s next to impossible to add 30+ million people to doctors’ waiting rooms across the country without it affecting the timeliness and quality of care.
It’s also hard to believe the federal government can provide a delivery system that’s on budget. History indicates otherwise.
What does this all mean?
If anything does get passed, it will be likely by watered down and relatively harmless to those who already have decent to excellent heath insurance/coverage – the 75% we mentioned earlier.
However, whatever passes will still allow its proponents to claim victory and move on to the likely next battleground – illegal immigration.
Either way, the party in power (democrats) seems to be taking a serious political hit for pushing something the majority of Americans don’t want. I guess we’ll find out if the polling is accurate come next November – in the mid-term election.
Some top democratic strategists are pushing the theory that if health care does not get passed, the base of the party (democrats) will be so disillusioned that it will fail to turn out to vote in 2010 – guaranteeing a huge republican victory.
That logic seems somewhat flawed to this observer who believes if health care does pass, that will only anger the opposition even more – creating a huge turnout to offset any base democratic turnout in 2010.
Again, we’ll have the answer in early November of 2010. Besides, a lot can happen between now and then. One year is an eternity in politics.
The bottom line is this has been a center right country for a long, long time. The 2008 election was not a monumental shift in the American political landscape as some tried to sell (see NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, Time, Newsweek, etc.).
The election of Mr. Obama was part cult of personality, part repudiation of republican control, part John McCain is a nice man but simply looks too old to do this difficult job, part the economy went to total hell less than two months before the election took place and part there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
It was as we have described in the past as "the perfect storm."
Today, it looks like some are having buyers’ remorse. Polls indicate Americans are most concerned about jobs and the deficit – that’s a good thing. Since when has our “spend-first and pay later society” truly felt concerned about putting everything on credit?
I would argue however if unemployment were at 8% right now – which is high but not staggering – Mr. Obama would be in much better shape politically, his health care proposal would have a real chance of passing, concern about the national debt would not be so high on the list of American concerns, and democrats would not be looking at a potential Waterloo next November.
Short of another 9-11 occurrence, it’s all about jobs – always has been and always will be.
As long as unemployment hangs around 10%, it looks to the American people as though Obama and company are in over their heads. You don’t need daily polling or a political science degree from Brown University to figure that one out.
Things could be worse Mr. President – gas could be at $4.00 a gallon – then you’d really be in trouble.
See, now you can carry on a conversation on the issue if it comes up at your upcoming X-mas work party as you munch on shrimp.
The Irish
According to the Notre Dame AD, Charlie Weiss sealed his fate with late November losses. What?
Does that mean if he beat Navy, he would have kept his job? Ridiculous.
How about analyzing his body of work instead? For $10 million a year, you expect more, much more. It’s that simple. Don’t give me any garbage about a win over Connecticut would have helped Weiss’ cause. You insult my intelligence when you go there.
No one has asked me, but John Gruden is the guy I would go after if I ran Notre Dame’s athletic department.
Chucky can coach, is the right age and has the right approach in dealing with recruiting 18 year olds.
He has the energy, disposition, personality and communication skills to deal with the media attention that comes with coaching at Notre Dame. Finally, Gruden has Notre Dame ties – his old man coached there.
Look, we all know the Notre Dame “Brand” isn’t what it once was. However, the Irish is still the most loved and most hated college sports program in the nation. That means the “Brand” still has some life.
And with the right person is in charge, it can become a gold mine once again – even in 2010.
Cavaliers
I don’t like the way they are winning – beating teams late with talent instead of with suffocating defense. But it’s early.
Indians
My boy Kelly Shoppach got dealt. I still like his bat – although is .214 average in 2009 hurt his case. Regardless, I don’t worry much about average from that position if you can call a game, throw out 30% of runners trying to steal and hit for power. We’ll see what he does in Tampa.
Besides, the Indians claim they have three catchers in waiting who can do much better. We’ll see. One thing is for certain, if a couple of these guys are for real, I suggest you deal one of them for some pitching sooner rather than later.
I’ll say it over and over again – this starting staff on paper stinks. That’s what happens when you deal two Cy Young winners, your #2 falls off the face of the earth (Carmona), your #3 goes down (Westbrook) and your much-heralded farm system can only deliver one soft-tossing mediocre lefty after another.
And since pitching is 70% of this game, the Indians head into 2010 with Trent Dilfer as their quarterback.
Browns
Not much this week. You see the same thing I see.
I have come to one conclusion however – this is the worse offensive talent in terms of playmakers I have ever seen on one team at the professional level – that’s after 40 years of watching folks.
We begged the Browns to draft some “playmakers” in the 2009 draft. They decided to continually trade down, accumulate picks and take a center #1.
How’s that working out?
We said the same thing when DA was at the helm earlier this season – it’s hard for any quarterback to get judged with this garbage around him. One could argue Brady Quinn had more offensive talent around him at Notre Dame. At least he actually had a pro tight end – who decided to go for the 60 feet, 6 inch gig instead of getting hit on every play. He also had an experienced “O” coordinator Charlie Weiss.
Regardless, it is what it is, and Quinn needs to show some improvement and consistency this month if he wants his stock to rise for 2010.
Life's not fair, but if you're BQ, when you begin to feel sorry for yourself, you need to realize it could be much worse - you could be digging ditches for a living instead of getting paid to play a game.
One more time – I would like to see Jerome Harrison get a full look in December. But then again, this offense not only lacks talent, but has absolutely no direction.
Harrison rushed for over 100 yards against the Bengals the first time around, and is hardly used the second time out against Cincy. What is the logic behind that decision?
We have complained over and over again the past 10 years that this team has absolutely no identity. As we speak, it’s like an amber alert is needed. It’s worse than no identity – you can’t even find the body.
Finally, answer me this question. In short yardgae situations, why don't the Browns consistently run over their left side - where they have spend a fortune recently on a guard in free agency, a tackle in the draft and a first round pick at center in 2009?
It seems to me if you can't consistently run behind those guys when you need it most, they ain't as good as advertised.
Let's at least find out one way or the other.
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