I know this is hard to believe, but to a lot of people, the NFL doesn't revolve around the Bengals. Can I get a Who Dey though? Hell Yeah! So, today, for those following along, you are lucky enough to get two blog posts. One for the new Center, Jeff Faine and now one for the news around the league. Hooray! I am going to cover a few topics here: Concussions, Officials, Hard Knocks, Cardinals, and the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets.
Let's start with the least exciting, shall we...The Cardinals. First of all, this team hasn't really been relevant, unless there is something I am forgetting, since their loss to the Steelers in the Super Bowl in 2009. Hell, they were barely relevant leading up to that game. Last year, everyone, including myself, thought that Kevin Kolb would lead them to the promise land. I mean, imagine what a QB could do for this team. They have one of the best WR ever in Larry Fitzgerald. Why can't someone just get him the ball. Leinart was just another USC bust and Warner was past his prime. So here comes this guy that was exciting and young that started the previous season as a QB with the Eagles, until he got hurt and Vick stole the show. Kevin Kolb seemed like an oasis in the Arizona desert. As he started taking over the team, though, everyone realized he was just that an Oasis. Still no relief. So this season, John Skelton steps up to challenge him. Now it is the last week of preseason and still no QB decision out of Arizona. I heard someone on ESPN say that this was good because now the other team couldn't prepare against one single quarterback. I would say that would be a relevant answer...if you had Tom Brady and Michael Vick you were picking between. Not Skelton and Kolb! They are both pocket passers and neither one have shown too many signs of greatness. I would say they are barely mediocre after watching them this preseason. Gimme a break, Arizona. If these are your cards (both literally and figuratively) just fold and let us all see what you have. If it isn't trickery and you are really undecided at this point because they both are as mediocre as the other, good luck this season.
Is anyone else watching Hard Knocks? I have to say, I have been really struck Philbin as coach this year in Miami. He seems like he genuinely cares about each person. Instead of phone calls for cuts, he has them all talk to Ireland and then he sits them down and gives them hope or answers. He also genuinely cares about winning, but wants to do it right. So, even though Chad "Head Butter" Johnson was they best WR he had, he still cut him. He knew it wasn't right and it was better to groom. He sat RB Thomas down to talk about being late and not being a good role model. His door is always open. Good for him, with an offseason in the NFL that has brought numerous player arrests for stupid stuff because they just can't seem to get themselves off of the streets. I mean Dez Bryant beat up his own Mom, which doesn't seem to be the first time the way she talked. Aside from Goodell's punishment and his new found 10 yr old boy curfew, he is going to go on like usual with the Cowboys. It takes a big man to take stand against these guys for real. So, I guess all I wanted to say here was Kudos Philbin for building a good, clean, program in Miami. While you are there, maybe you could help out the U. I heard their reputation is in the toilet, with the prostitutes and all.
The NFL has finally made it official. The replacement refs will start the regular season instead of the regular referees. If I were these regular referees, I would be getting a little nervous. First of all, under the old contract they were making good money and had NFL benefits, as well as retirement. They worked for about 4 hours for, including playoffs, about 24 days of the year. They made more than most Americans a year that work 365 days of the year for 8-10 hours a day. I know they see these guys out there running on the same field, making millions. But, tell me, do they get hit? Do they get injured? Do they have a high concussion rate? Do they risk their bodies or their lives? Do they bring in the revenue to this league? The answer to every one of those questions is: HELL NO!! So they need to shut up and get back out there because if they don't, they may be out completely. These replacement guys haven't been perfect and they are making mistakes. Some that really anger us as fans, but they are going to be good like the regular refs. We all struggle in the beginning of anything. Then no one is going to miss them anymore. Coaches can always challenge if it is too bad. Soon enough they may just another old schmuck like the rest of us if they don't get this deal done. So Regular Referees, get your shit together. This league is going to leave you behind.
Now on to concussions. This league has been dealing with concussion and brain injury backlash forever, but it seems to be really bad in the past few years. I just want to mention it because ESPN has been running a series on it and the new ways to combat this with better hitting, etc. Goodell has already implemented rules in hitting and the game to make is safer for players. This controversy and these new hitting rules, have people all over the place. I am right down the middle on this one. I always hear the argument, after Harrison puts another helmet to helmet hit on someone and is fined yet again, that it is just football and it is dangerous, you know that when you suit up. This, I sometimes agree with. It is football. You are expected to get hit and put your body out there. You knew what were signing up for and that is why you make all of that money. Then, you have all of these tough guys coming back, and suing the NFL. Years later after they played, they still have head injuries that are irreversible. Now, you even have high school students getting paralyzed and suffering. So, then you think, to protect the NFL and keep the sport going, more rules need to be in place. Do we watch this sport because we want to see guys get laid out or because we just want our team to win and make great plays? For me it is the great plays, the flips into the end zone, the one handed interceptions. I don't want to see anyone hurt. I would venture to say, though, that about 50% of America does not agree. They want to see those big hits, they want to curse Goodell. This is a catch 22 issue for the heads of the NFL, but what is right? Should we let them play or protect them and our sport from injury and law suits?
Of course, I saved the best for last. The Jets, ESPN's favorite team! I am not going to say much here. Coming from Patriots fan-dom, makes my skin crawl at the mention of their name and if you have been following this blog at all, you know how much I LOVE Timmy Boy! Speaking of Timmy Boy, the Chosen One...0 touchdowns this preseason. And his comrade, USC great Sanchez (please tell me you heard the sarcasm there)...0 touchdowns. Oh, hold on, whole Jets offense...0 touchdowns. Good job in the offseason Rex. You built a great one! Maybe you should stop looking at those shoe magazines and get your dick out of your hand and coach this team. No, wait, don't. Jesus will carry you and his Son to victory with no talent. Silly me! Let's all pray...Not too hard, though. I think God may be laughing at him too! On a happy note for all of us and Tebow...A new Tim Tebow documentary will be released on September 11, 2012! So save your money and mark your calendars! A day of sadness for the United States is now to be even sadder!
All I can do is close my eyes and shake my head...Is it over yet?
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