What did I learn last week? Just kidding, I refuse to learn anything, and I never admit wrongdoing, but let's review.
AFC- Very wrong. Extraordinarily wrong. Not only did the teams I picked lose, they refused to show up. I assumed the Patriot passing advantage and poise would carry them through the day, but then they poised their pants and lost to a quarterback who completed four passes. I won't lie, it was pretty fun to watch. I will lie, I saw it coming.
Meanwhile, never pick the Bengals to win a playoff game. You hurt the ones you love in doing so. I can risk that because I don't love anyone. Wow, I am really opening up in this post! Mark Sanchez is officially management material with a line of 12-15 for 182 and a TD.
NFC- Ah, much better. I cannot WAIT for another offseason of Philadelphia coach/QB/fan/mascot turmoil that will eventually result in the status quo for the team: an often promising season derailed by an early playoff exit. Set your clocks.
The Packers and Cardinals played a game that would give Rex Ryan a heart attack. The Cards averaged a funlicious (TM) 9.3 yards per play, or three times that of New England. Oops, pot shot. Slipped.
Here's a fake piece of hate mail someone sent me for picking all home teams:
Hey bud, what's the deal? Men don't pick all home teams. If you do it again I'm going to send extra hate through the internet. Did you know home teams are 7-9 in the divisional round since 2005? DID YOU KNOW THAT? Urge to type in all caps RISING!!!!!!!
-Mom
Thanks for that. Yes, I picked all home teams because I am a master of cop outs. It allows me the satisfaction of besting Ron Jaworski. It also guarantees an average performance, which is what I'm all about. With LOTS OF ADO, I'm going to pick the home teams again...
Baltimore @ Indianapolis (-6.5)
Last week, the Ravens got to rest Joe Flacco......wait he played? Oh sorry.
What's a little scary is how statistically even the two offenses are, despite different aims. 26.0 PPG for the Colts, 24.4 for the Ravens. 363 YPG for the Colts, 351 for the Ravens, etc. The big difference is third down conversions, where the Colts post a league best 49.2%, while the Ravens stand at 41.6%. This is the stat I will hitch my wagon to. The Colts offense stays on the field: 1st in first downs per play, 3rd in first downs per game, 1st in passing first downs per game. The problem is the defense allows teams to do the same: 24th in rushing yards allowed, 28th in first downs per game allowed. What do all these numbers mean?
Nothing. Peyton Manning.
Indianapolis 27, Baltimore 14
(Remember, I'm the master of cop outs, but find a Colts pick on the internet that has nothing to do with Peyton Manning, and I will send you a prize pack. Prizes subject to not exist.)
NY Jets @ San Diego (-7)
Usually a 9-7 team that recorded their eighth and ninth wins in dubious fashion would be pick poison. Not the Jets. This should be an intense battle of strength versus strength, with some weakness thrown in there to make it fair. San Diego averages a league best 8.4 yards per passing attempt, but the Jets counter with a 4.8 opposing yards per attempt.
It's just. I mean. San Diego has won 11 in a row and momentum and all that fun stuff!
San Diego is good. Sure, their defense applies token pressure, they give up a decent chunk of yards, and they can't run to save their life or our lives by 2012. But they are good enough to hold off the Jets because they NEVER turn the ball over (17 total, good for 2nd). The Jets need turnovers to score, yes? BTW, I belong to a band called Stat Power, but I'm really picking the Bolts because Rex Ryan cried that one time.
San Diego 23, NY Jets 17
Arizona @ New Orleans (-7)
Oh BOY! The first and seventh best teams in points per play. IT'S ABOUT TO GET CRAAAAAAZY UP IN HERE.
Arizona didn't really tackle last week, and they were one overthrown pass away from blowing a 31-10 lead in a loss. Here's some fun: At home, every two plays is worth one point for the Saints. Arizona allows 63.9 plays per game on the road. Can Arizona win if the Saints score 32 offensive points? Throw in the possibility for return TDs, and you have an O/U that should be 35.
And Kurt Warner needs to retire in the land of the Saints, because he is one *cue choir*.
According to my calculations:
New Orleans 102, Arizona 4
Dallas @ Minnesota (-3)
Here's the game I stuggled the most with taking the easy way out. Home.Home.Home!!!!
Tony Romo versus Brett Favre. The sportswriters will need moments alone to "collect their thoughts" if you catch my drift. Some of that drift is hot dog gas! Right, football.
I think Minnesota is the ideal team to cause Dallas discomfort. At home, they allow 3.6 yards per carry, average an 8.7% sack percentage, and maintain a .3475 Favre quotient. A Favre quotient of .3212 is sufficient enough, throw in .263 of extra Favre, and teams won't know what hit them, because the statistic is nonexistant. Meanwhile, Dallas waltzs in with a .128 Favre quotient, which is garbage and worthy of calling a sports talk show and yelling about it. Dallas has a very good rush defense, but Brad Childress hates Adrian Peterson. Both QBs have been sacked 34 times, so consider Jared Allen and DeMarcus Ware a tradeoff.
Prediction: Brett Favre gets benched and Dallas gets TARVARIS'd
Minnesota 30, Dallas 23
All.Home.Teams.EAT.IT.
Update: I'm 6-2 against the points. Alert the press.
For your boredom pleasure, here are the QB ratings for opposing quarterbacks playing the Jets:
Matt Schaub 55.9, Tom Brady 53.1, Kerry Collins 41.5, Drew Brees 78.9, Chad Henne 130.4 (lolwut), Ryan Fitzpatrick 51.4 relieved by Trent Edwards who went 5-for-5 and had a bullcrap 102.5 rating, Bruce Gradkowski 67.2 and JaMarcus Russell 31.1 (a good day), Chad Henne 87.8, David Garrard 101.6, Tom Brady 98.6, Jake Delhomme....*drumroll*.....12.7, Ryan Fitzpatrick 34.3, Josh Freeman 12.1, Matt Ryan 69.7, Peyton Manning 95.7 relieved by the Talented Curtis Painter 11.2, Carson Palmer 1.7 with J.T. O'Sullivan 49.5
(The opponent's effort on display in the last two games was.....not on display.)
Am I picking the Jets? No. I am sooooooo on the fence with the Jets. I feel like I need to Mark Sanchez's QB play or get off the pot. See what I did there? I am going to talk my way through this with some stream of consciousness.
So the Jets, right, they have what I call WTF losses. The worry is the great defense will be summarily and vomitously negated by the play of Mark Sanchez. His play cost them against the Falcons, Bills and Saints. Other WTF losses include the Dolphins game in which Ted Ginn had two return touchdowns to offset 104 total yards and the Jaguars game in which the Jaguars beat a decent team, thus WTF.
But then, I think to myself, the Bengals had the ultimate WTF loss in Week One when Brandon Stokley caught a miracle hail mary and scored a miracle touchdown. The events made Gus Johnson raise his voice. The Bengals also lost to the Raiders on a late fumble and the Chargers in a close contest.
When analyzing the Jets, I'm going to ignore the last two games. Yes, they count, but would you draw any conclusions from individual player performance from either of those games? I sure as hell would not, and you cannot get more sure than the pits of hell. Of the remaining games, Sanchez started 13, and in those 13 games the opposing QB had what I would call a "good game" exactly three times. Despite that, Sanchez was basically a coin flip, statistically outperforming the opposing QBs in seven of the thirteen games.
Turnover fest, you ask? Probably. But you wonder if that advantage exists when the Jets are +1 and the Bengals are 0 in turnover differential. I was +10 with my grandmother's apple turnover differential over the holidays. You can read all about it in my new book: "Forced Jokes." We have two teams that rely heavily on stifling defense and extremely boring offense. The only confident advantage I'm feeling in my gut and gullet is the home field and Carson Palmer. Sure, the Jets have only allowed eight touchdown passes, but this is a game where 17 points could win it. All you need is one. *doo doo, doo doo doo*
That's it. I typed all that and here we are. You and me. You got a better idea who'll win? Do ya?
Bengals (-2.5) 17 Jets 13
Baltmore Ravens @ New England Patriots
Interesting facts about the Patriots:
-They lead the league in time of possession. They average a ridiculous 35:47 at home. That's WITHOUT running a wildcat. Magnificent.
-They average 28.2 penalty yards per game at home, fewest in the league. Conversely, the Ravens average 74.9 penalty yards on the road, most in the league. Trend city.
-The Patriots ran the ball 466 times this year. The Ravens ran the ball 468 times this year. I thought the Ravens ran the ball WAY more.
Okay sure, the Patriots aren't running the ball on the Ravens, I get it. They averaged 4.1 yards per carry in '09, so it's not like they need to run to win anyway. When these two mediocre teams played each other in October, the Pats won passing YPP (6.7 to 5.0) and penalties (85 to 41). That's right, I'm figuring penalties into my pick. BEHOLD THE EVOLUTION OF PICKS. Two of the Pats TD drives in October continued with the help of costly Raven penalties. I don't expect the Ravens to get discipline out of nowhere.
[Editor's Note: There is no editor. I just realized one of those penalties occurred on that infamous play when Brady was barely touched, and he cried to his mother. Worth mentioning.]
Of course, dear reader, you are countering with "well they averaged 2.8 YPC against the mighty Ravens and the old warrior Ray Lewis." Who cares? Ray Lewis has the lateral quickness of a saint bernard, although most saint bernards can be taught the electric slide. The Pats will throw it to the runningbacks again, as they did in October with eight RB receptions, five of which resulted in first downs. I shut you down, dear reader. For good.
Thesis Statement: Too much home cooking in a close game.
Dr. Ward: Good morning folks. How are you this morning?
Mrs. Smith: I'm doing well, Doctor Ward. Unfortunately, my daughter Suzy had a bit of a tumble at gymnastics practice and we're afraid she sprained her ankle.
Dr. Ward: .................and?
Suzy: It hurts. I twisted it bad.
Dr. Ward: ......I'm sorry. I am a little lost. Did you bring her to a doctor's office because she sprained her ankle?
Mrs. Smith: Well, I...yeah? Her coach even held her out of practice after it happened.
Dr. Ward: You don't always listen to the coaches, training staff, professionals, or even your own body. Amateur gymnastics, despite meaning nothing, should be at the top of her priorities. Here, let's see if she can walk.
Suzy: OW! STOP PUSHING ME!
Dr. Ward: Stop making me.
Mrs. Smith: Doctor Ward! She's just a ten-year-old girl!
Dr. Ward: When I was ten I stayed away from gangs and drugs and did my homework. My mother used to say "If you sprain your ankle I will give you spanking. Also, no dinner, video games or Ed Sullivan". Suzy here is obviously faking it so she can go out and join a gang and do drugs.
Mrs. Smith: We are leaving. Come on, Suzy.
Dr. Ward: Your daughter needs to put a jersey on, miss. Have a good day.
1:00 PM
Dr. Ward: Good afternoon folks. How are you doing this afternoon?
Mr. Gilroy: Well, bad news Doc! Looks like Bobby done broke his clavicle again!
Dr. Ward: Oh no, not again! Let me check and see who your doctor was the last time.....ah, I see, it was Doctor Vidal Sassoon. Probably wearing his pleated skirt and tube top no doubt, huh?
Mr. Gilroy: I'm sorry?
Dr. Ward: I spoke to your coach, Bobby. He says you were at practice all week. Is this true?
Bobby: Yessir
Dr. Ward: Case closed. My diagnosis is that he's faking. Thought you could get one over on me, your father, and God, did you Bobby? I became a doctor to protect the human race from the contamination of frail weaklings such as yourself. On your way out, if you could grab one of our complimentary jerseys and put it on, that would be great.
Mr. Gilroy: DOCTOR WARD! You're not even going to run any tests?
Dr. Ward: Oh sure. Bobby, could you tell me if this hurts?
Bobby: ...Okay?
*Doctor Ward turns to Mr. Gilroy and punches him square in the face*
Mr. Gilroy: We are leaving, come on Bobby.
4:00 PM
Dr. Ward: Good evening folks. How are you doing this evening?
Mr. Hargis: Good evening, Doctor Ward. My HMO says I can get this cast off, and boy howdy I cannot wait to get it off.
Dr. Ward: Actually, Mr. Hargis, there's been a change of plans.....I'm recommending amputation of the leg.
Mr. Hargis: BUT WA-WA-WA-WHY? IT DONE HEALED!
Dr. Ward: In my clinical opinion, you are wussing out, and 86 years old or not, I don't have patience for wussity wussbags. I have doctored with a broken leg, and you'd never see me running to another doctor crying like a fetus. And you're lucky I was convinced to spare the other leg. Those are two usable legs you have there, and if you don't want them, I have plenty of uses for them, like berating practice.
Mr. Hargis: We are leaving, come on cast.
8:00 PM
Dr. Johnson: Doctor Ward, what do you make of Mr. Hargis' blood work? I see some significant abnormalities. The MCH is way out of range.
Dr. Ward: Yeah, I saw that. Look closer. He has an elevated eosinophil percentage, which definitely means he eats full baby diapers for breakfast. Also, his DNA is actually that of a woman, a woman who watches General Hospital and crochets until she gets blisters. These blisters cause Mr./Mrs. Hargis to cry uncontrollably and unforgivably.
Dr. Johnson: ....Uh huh...say Dr. Ward, what medical school did you attend?
Dr. Ward: The School of HARD KNOCKS BOYEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
QB - DEN Kyle Orton: Kyle Orton is very, extremely very even, thankful to still have his spleen. Sure, it's enlarged.
Remember the day? September 24th, 2006: Football is being played by grown men. After several hits from the Carolina Panthers, Chris Simms' spleen just about splodes, requiring emergency surgery to keep him alive. Upon gaining wind of this, now teammate Kyle Orton posted this under the alias OoH SoO RaD.
Honorable Mention: Someone call Guinness Records, OAK QB Jamarcus Russell on turkey and its sleepy sauce may make for history's laziest human being. For which....he is thankful...I suppose.
RB - NYG Ahmad Bradshaw: Ahmad Bradshaw is thankful for the Playstation 2 Lego Batman Bundle. Feel free to do the research required to get that joke.
Honorable Mention: GB QB Aaron Rodgers? Yes. Because he is the best runningback on his team. Okay, this may be for giggles, but A-Rod has 44 carries for 242 yards and a 5.5 YPC clip. Meanwhile, Ryan Grant, who I stupidly traded Ricky Williams to acquire two weeks ago, averages 4.4 YPC. This is called cherrypicking. Cherrypicking with hate.
Aaron will eventually be thankful for crutches.
WR - DAL Roy Williams: Wide receiver Roy Williams is thankful for himself, for he is awesome. He is number one. What? What do you mean his numbers mirror Patrick Crayton's? OF VERY LITTLE IMPORTANCE, SIR.
Roy Williams is also thankful for the sidelines because, by definition, the sidelines are not the middle of the field. The middle of the field is a dark, mysterious place full of monsters and physics. That is not for Prince Roy.
Honorable Mention: I refuse to stress this enough. Dallas Cowboy wide receiver Roy Williams is thankful to not be anyone else but Dallas Cowboy wide receiver Roy Williams. He has a permanent seat at the Pro Bowl. In the stands. (oh snap + burn)
TE - OAK Zach Miller: Who would've imagined when analyzing six random teams the best player at a given skill position is on the Raiders! Huh? Huh? You imagine?
Do not argue Jason Witten with me. Miller has 20 less receptions than Witten but three more yards and one more touchdown. Why doesn't Jason Witten catch any crap? Because it's Thanksgiving? That's no excuse. This holiday is for smallpox enthusiasts.
Honorable Mention: Denver's Daniel Graham is thankful for making $3.2 million in 2009. His blocking skills are unparalleled. You know who else can block? Kevin Boss of the New York football Giants of the National Football League. He also has the ability to clasp the ball when it's headed in his direction. That's multitasking. He is thankful for making $460,000 in 2009. I wonder whose name will be called more Thursday night? You guessed it, Frank Stallone.
K - DET Jason Hanson: Welcome to Jason Hanson's 18th season on the Detroit Lions. That's the span of:
-Three World War Twos (World Wars Two?)
-Eighteen Schmalkadic Wars
-3/4 Moldavian Magnate Wars
-3.6 Vellore Mutinies
You get the point. Or do you?
-2.25 Mau Mau Uprisings
-1.2857142857 repeating Angolan Wars of Independence
Jason Hanson is thankful for job security and getting to go home when the NFL season ends. (Sometimes before it even ends, depending on the opposing defense.)
Honorable Mention: Kickers aren't worth an honorable mention.
Team - Detroit Lions: Over the last five Thanksgiving games, the Detroit Lions have been outscored 179-62. HAPPY THANKSGIVING, RATINGS.
Coach Mike McCarthy: Alright guys, let's pick this up on Tuesday. Have a good day off tomorrow. Forget this one for a day, at least.
*Coach McCarthy leaves. The O-line decides to hold a totally inconspicuous meeting of its own.*
Mark Tauscher: What a rough game back. Jeez, I feel like we let everyone down.
Chad Clifton: ......What are you talking about?!?! WE DID GREAT!!
Jason Spitz: We WERE AWESOME. Look at these numbers. We allowed six total sacks. Six sacks, in one game, against a team that had 11 total in the past seven games! That's 37 total against the green menace.
Mark Tauscher: The green menace?
Chad Clifton: Okay Mark. We have to come clean. This offensive line is on a mission from Football God: To humble the mustachioed Beelzebub.
Mark Tauscher: .......Cool, whatever. I'm tired of being insulted by Chris Mortensen's twitter anyway.
Josh Sitton: Fellahs
Chad Clifton: Fellahs?
Josh Sitton: Fellahs, check this out. They are already blaming Cal's Mephistopheles.
Daryn Colledge: RARRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Josh Sitton: First on the agenda, a sacrifice.
*The boys set the remaining postgame spread aflame. They then disrobe.*
Mark Tauscher: I was wondering how Ryan Sims got a sack and Chris Hovan got half of one, surely deliberate on our part. Man, those guys really put Aaron on his back.
Chad Clifton: DO NOT SAY HIS NAME! HERE OR ANYWHERE! SAYING THE NAME GIVES BABIES CLUB FEET!
Mark Tauscher: Okay, Jeez, sawwww-ry.
Jason Spitz: Next week, Jay Ratliff and DeMarcus Ware. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Our work just got easier. The archfiend shall most definitely face injury. THEN FACE PERSECUTION.
Josh Sitton: BURN THE WITCH!
Mark Tauscher: Yeah, sure. Maybe you guys have a point. I mean, he is 8-12 since becoming the starter...
Chad Clifton: It.
Mark Tauscher: Excuse me?
Chad Clifton: It not he. Imps don't have genitals.
Mark Tauscher: You guys are nuts. I'm outta here.
Daryn Colledge: Not a word of this to anyone. HEED MY WORDS. I can pay Hawk to take a swan dive into your knee. All's fair in love and the resurrection of football's mecca, usurping it from the dastardly diablo.
Mark Tauscher: See you Tuesday, freeks. (Jeez)
*Mark Tauscher leaves. In fifteen seconds you can overhear him starting his car.*
Chad Clifton: Forget him, I say
All: FORGET HIM!
Jason Spitz: Forget him! Shall we close?
Chad Clifton: OH BRETTSIAH! WE WILL BE ONE WITH YOU AGAIN! In the words of follower Jason Whitlock:
"Favre has made assclowns of everybody, particularly Ted Thompson."
Chad Clifton: Okay....Football Lords! We commence this meeting, as we always do, in the name of our lost leader. Hark! In our singular mission, we are unified in goal and mind! Brett will return to us some day. His work is not complete, nor is ours, Football Lords! In servitude to his grace, the actions on the field of competition will render the sinners impotent. Those who question his greatness will meet his avenging and exacting hand when they are burning in hell. To Brett!
All: To Brett!
Chad Clifton: Jason! If you could give us a report on last week's progress.
Jason Spitz: Last week, the infidel Aaron Rodgers was sacked six times. Tally up three of those six to the blessed Jared Allen, who routinely likes to take the demon child to the ground with bone-grating precision. More importantly, the Brettsiah was not sacked once, thanks to some outstanding cooperation by our defensive line. Thus far, the sack total against the Vikings is as follows *goes to tally board*:
Scum Larva Rodgers 14
Brettsiah 0
Chad Clifton: Remember now, we do not plan to meet them again, as that would require a playoff berth, and we do not want to turn the malignant spirit into a winner.
Josh Sitton: Only one winner may lead this town. PRAISE HIS NAME!
All: PRAISE!
Jason Spitz: For the year, the succubus has been sacked 31 times, well ahead of last year's pace. He was only sacked 34 times in '08, but we sucked enough for others to publicly blame him for not being the Football Good Shepherd.
Allen Barbre: Ted Thompson shall pay!
All: PAY! WITH HIS SOUL!
Chad Clifton: Allen, any report on Matt Flynn?
Allen Barbre: I've been watching him warm up. Beatrice Arthur had a tighter spiral, sir, but not Betty White.
Chad Clifton: Get to work on that. If he QBs in this town, surely the unclean will clamor for their once and future king!
...I have been handed a note. Apparently, Aaron Rodgers has only four turnovers this year.
All: *AUDIBLE DISGUST*
Josh Sitton: I think I'm going to be sick.
Chad Clifton: The hellion goblin's greed knows no bounds. Our almighty would consistently share with all teams, making the spirit of competition all the more fair. Speaking of which, who do we play this week?
Allen Barbre: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
All: *LOUDER DISGUST*
Josh Sitton: I am currently sick.
Jason Spitz: Okay guys. We're going to have to work hard to lay down this week, and we've got to do it early. I've spoken to Ryan, and he told me he's going to continue to suck, so we won't be able to sit on a lead. That means pressure all day.
Josh Sitton: THE BUCCANEERS COULDN'T PRESSURE A BOWL OF JELLO!
All: *INAUDIBLE CHATTER*
Chad Clifton: SILENCE! .....Continue, Mister Spitz!
Jason Spitz: The Bucs are tied for 30th in sacks with eleven. We have to focus our efforts on defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson, who has half of the team's sacks by himself. As center, it will be my responsibility to point him out to you guys. Then, when Damien's claws are under me, I will misdirect him with a false blitz call. Chad and Daryn will then double team Ryan Sims, who is so bad he couldn't sack our QB if he was Steve DeBerg....of the present. This is the plan. I figure we have a quarter and a half window to try to vanquish the athletic satan.
*Enter Coach Mike McCarthy*
Mike McCarthy: Okay guys, let's get ready for practice. We need to really buckle down on protection this week.
Chad Clifton: Oh....we will.....coach......we......will.....
Mike McCarthy: .......yeah....okay well.......see you then, I guess
*Coach Mike McCarthy leaves hastily*
Daryn Colledge: BLASPHEMER.
Chad Clifton: He will be dealt with in due time. They will all face retribution. Okay, we have the plan set. Let us close.
All: Football Lords! HEAR US! Save us from the sin of the wispy-faced lucifer! We shall trip over our own legs when the defender swims! We shall fold and wilt at the sight of a well-executed stunt! We shall make wetpants at the prospect of a bull rush! The master of the National Football Holy Land will return! And we will be one in his glorious turnovers and jeans and graying facial hair and Vicodin.
One thing that really irks me as a young up and coming sports personality, is really old commentators who are a disservice to their networks and the fans who have to deal with them.
I understand they are established, recognizeable, and are very well accomplished, but the fact remains most commentators abilities dramatically begin to wane in the twilight of their careers.
Some fans even enjoy watching older guys like a Lou Holtz, Pat Summerall, Keith Jackson, and Frank DeFord fall victim to somewhat senile commentary as their career winds down.
I just hate these guys because myself and a wave of other young broadcasters are foaming at the mouth to get our name out there.
That's why today I was particularly entertained by the latest slip up by the Over the Hill and Overpaid club.
During the second quarter of today's Ohio State game, Bob Griese let this somewhat comical yet to some off-putting comment fly from left field following a Nascar promotion.
It was a dumb comment and one that did not need to be made. It is somewhat racist but that's a pretty murky comment that was just really an old guy trying to hard to stretch out his career.
The thing about it is that people took notice. Many sports blogs ran with this story in the hours after the slip of tongue. Twitter blew up commenting on Tacogate.
I'm not sure how many people would have made a stink about the comment, but typical old announcer style, Griese butchered an apology for the comment as the game winded down almost 2 hours later.
Later in the game as Griese continued to just stink up the place, Spielman commented "You might not last the whole game, Bob". My ears would have liked that.
Obviously he didn't think his comment warranted an on air apology. If he did, he would have said something either right after he said it or maybe right after the break at halftime if someone mentioned that it was in bad taste.
Instead as the game winds down he is likely told by a producer that an apology is needed. Announcers who are usually quite chatty as a game winds down, thanking the crews and giving context to the importance of the win, but in this instance both announcers are silent.
They know that Griese has to make an apology and the sand in the hour glass is moving as the clock winds down. Finally Griese breaks the silence with a pretty piss poor apology. He opens with the word "Nascar" and then goes on to not really give context to what in the hell he is apologizing for. It makes made curious and many others who were completely in the dark to what Griese was talking about.
Only Larry David could have rivaled Griese for the botched apology. It was so bad in fact, that Griese had to re apologize in a later game, ESPN released a statement, and he personally called Montoya to apologize. Obviously damage control at its very best.
At halftime of ESPN's coverage of Florida-Mississippi State, Griese apologized again.
"Earlier today on our game I made an offensive comment regarding Juan Pablo Montoya as part of a NASCAR promo. It was regrettable and I should not have said it. I really enjoy NASCAR and I follow it closely and would like to take this opportunity to apologize to Juan, NASCAR and everyone else who heard my comment," he said.
In a statement, ESPN called the remark "inappropriate."
"ESPN has spoken to Bob and he understands that his comment was uncalled for," the statement said.
In the end there are 2 things to take away from all this:
- Announcers in their twilight should be on a very short leash as their ability to vocalize events and converse with others declines.
- A bad apology only makes things worse. Just ask Larry David
The football kicker. They are the NFL's closers, I guess. The rightful scapegoats. Fans of the hometown team often ask: "Could I beat him up in a bar? Would his teammates even care? Let's do this?"
I cannot tell you how many times a kicker has cost me the glory of a free fantasy football championship. It's probably less than three. Like that time I drafted Robbie Gould, and all he did was kick two extra points. Remember that? That sucked. Sure Steven Jackson was out for the season, but Robbie Gould CHOSE not to perform, as kickers often do. They are vessels of deserved rage. I once saw a kicker set a zoo on fire.
I am here to help you avoid the swift kick in the cornbeef hash, and set you straight with my placekicking primer.
Roll up for the Green Bay Packer Redemption Tour. NO SILLY, not Brett Favre's uberboring revenge orgy. I am waxing pointless for Detroit Lion defensive tackle Grady Jackson, number 90 on the field, number one in your hearts and/or stomachs. This ornery beastmaster is ready to smash his former employer, and unlike Brett Favre, he can exact physical revenge. CHECK IT, dude has seven tackles in five games. He plans on doubling that number Sunday. And I DON'T mean the number of games, WHAT!
GJ is a Drew Rosenhaus larvae, and he felt slighted when the Green Bay Packers wouldn't re-sign him in 2005. Despite reporting for camp and playing the entire season without a new contract, Jackson was not given carte blanche at the postgame spread, I mean a new contract. Rosenhaus specifically demanded dark chocolate fondue after wins and Gouda cheese fondue after losses. Rosenhaus also requested *insert fat joke*. Jackson moved on, and in 2006 with the Falcons, he led the NFL in tackles for loss. The Packers realized the error of their ways, releasing a press release entitled "re: expansion of the postgame spread to include imported raw meats and cheeses, as well as caviar tacos." The Packer brass figured Jackson would be drawn to this like a fancy pig in expensive slop. He was not. They had burned that bridge with napalm, son.
So Jackson did what any ex-Packer would do, he signed with a team in the same division. On March 4th, 2009, Jackson proclaimed:
"Ok, you've had your fun. I'll give you one more chance, and if you don't clear out now, there'll be real trouble. I mean it, Ted Thompson."
Jackson then went on a tangential rant about Ted Thompson's hunger for fetal kitten.
Make damn sure you watch this game, states in blue. You could buy Sunday Ticket for it, or you could take that money and throw it up in the air during a hurricane. Your pick. For years, nigh decades, witnesses will speak of Grady Jackson's one tackle, one assist performance from hell. If you have Aaron Rodgers on your fantasy team, you may think about benching him, because the stadium will detonate when GJ goes Dragonball Z on everyone involved. A 345 pound ball of hate and aurora borealis.
Welcome to New York, Braylon. It's the city that never sleeps, so bring your five hour energy. Take copious shots and regale in its bull semen extract. You'll need 8333% of your daily Vitamn B12 intake to handle the pressure.
What's that you say? Well, the Knicks play professional basketball in these parts, but why is that important? Oh, you want to go hunting for posse. I'd be happy to suggest some targets.
Eddy Curry- Personally, I wouldn't touch it, even though he might invite you to do so. Get it? Because of the sexual harassment suit.
That happened to him.
You are right, Braylon, I should not make light of it. Please put down your fists.
Darko Milicic - His boys call him The Surly Serb, and it is case sensitive. I know, right? Anyway, his posse consists of fellow Serbian thugs carrying old school boomboxes blaring Trenerka Stil. Straight out of Zrenjanin, indeed.
Danilo Gallinari - Braylon, you are paying too much attention to the names. Going after a guy named Danilo may seem like easy potatoes, but trust me, it isn't. The potatoes are hard, I guess. He is 6'10" and 225 pounds. Accoring to Overlord Lebron James, you like 'em around 130 pounds.
For practice, you can punch a bull mastiff!
David Lee - Really?
"If one can handle the Feud, one may handle being manhood [sic]." -Confucius
Cuttino Mobley - Yeah, okay. He retired, but the Knicks still owe him a chunk of change. Cuttino can afford a posse. Actually, he prefers a cavalcade of well-dressed gents.
Say, you like to play dress up! Braylon, I've got a great plan!!!!1 You could join their posse in your custom suit. Then, when they're not looking, CAVE THEIR DAPPER LUNGS IN!! Sorry sorry, inside voice. Mansion echoes creep you out.
Nate Robinson - Now we are talking, you and I. Nate Dog is 5'9". Nate Dog is 180 pounds. There has to be someone in his posse who shares Kerri Strug's body type. Prepare your five hour fists, Braylon, I think I've found your nemesis.
Millions of people get the NFL Sunday Ticket package. Its awesome. Many of them also get the Red Zone Channel add-on which is hosted by Andrew Siciliano.
For 6.5 hours every Sunday, Andrew (this handsome lad above) narrates and navigates the drama of a NFL Sunday live with no commercials. He sacrifices eating, drinking, and pissing so you can see your stupid fantasy football team suck, lose a bet you shouldn't be making, or just following your team from a far.
Andrwew switches from game to game giving context, announcing, and doing highlights with smooth delievery, entertaining banter, and a chirpy attitude (great hair and stylish suit to boot!)He's awesome, yet sometimes kind of vanilla. He often insinuates funny things but doesn't say them. You can tell he wants to be more colorful.
This blog is where he will let out those thoughts.
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