Monday Morning Longsnapper

Not Every Story Has A Happy Ending Edition

In this last edition of the Monday Morning Longsnapper, I'm not going to break down the game at all.  You guys all watched it, and you at least (if only accidentally) heard a bit someone far more qualified than me analyze the hell out of this game.  What I will say is, I picked the Steelers to win, and even I wanted the Cards to pull it out.  They were the team to root for, no doubt.  Unless you're a Steelers fan or truly hate Jesus-freaks to the point of obsession (in which case you have larger issues than Kurt Warner), the Cardinals were the feel-good story. 

I'm not saying anything new, I know that.  The Cardinals, what with their Cub-esque championship drought and rediscovered journeyman quarterback and lovable long haired wideout, were easy to root for.  Unfortunately for them, the storybook season came to a more realistic (albeit uninteresting) conclusion.

I think it's also worth mentioning in this space that this marks the second game in as many years where you really couldn't ask for much more in the way of entertainment value in the final quarter of a football game.  Now, most people will look back on this and last year's Super Bowls and say that the entire game of each was great.  That just isn't true.  And, that's ok.  The last quarter of both games had enough intrigue to pack a full game.  

What does everyone say regarding the Super Bowl that isn't rooting for one of the teams or have a ton of money on it?  They always say, "I just want a good game."  Well, "they" got what "they" asked for.  Twice in a row now.  So, I say, good deal.  I couldn't really ask for too much more.

• Because I haven't mentioned it in this space prior, wow to Brenda Warner.  She went from looking like a 55 year old man to a 45 year old woman in just a short move from St. Louis to Arizona.  Not bad.
• Both Jordan and I have already slobbered over Larry Fitzgerald, but I'll do it one last time this season.  Not only is the guy a great player (do you ever see him out of position on a catch?) but he has not a trace of an attitude.  Catch, run, toss ball to nearest official, back to huddle.  That's it.  How rare?  A great athlete and a modest personality.  Wow.
• Favorite Commercial?  I'd say, toss up between Pepsuber and this Career Builder spot.
• As you may or may not know, I work at Sirius Radio.  Last night, I worked the BBC feed of the Super Bowl, and I feel it's an absolute necessity to share some of the things I heard during the broadcast.  First, to start the game, one of the opening lines from the PBP announcer:  "Well folks, there's an offense, a defense, and a special teams, so that is a start."  Second, Santonio Holmes repeatedly referred to as San Antonio Holmes.  Finally, they were reading e-mails from local listeners back in the UK, and one asked, "At the end of halftime, why was the crowd booing Bruce Springsteen?"  "No, ma'am, they weren't booing, they were chanting Bruuuuuuuce."  And we're supposed to be the ignorant ones...
• Interested to see what the Cardinals do after this year, with Boldin and Edge both supposedly wanting out and Warner needing a new contract.  Wouldn't be the worst idea to bring back Warner at some rate/amount of time, but shoring up the defense wouldn't be a terrible thought either.  Strange as it seems, this Super Bowl team could and should get way better for next year.

Since You've Already Been Inundated With Super Bowl Coverage...

I won't be putting a full-blown preview of the game up here.  No point.  If you haven't already heard two hundred analysts and hosts discuss this game over the last two weeks, the only thing I could conclude is that you're on the Island in ABC's Lost.

Assuming you're not there, and you haven't been speared by John Locke, you probably have seen the wall-to-wall coverage on ESPN, or any of the other sports networks previewing the game.  So instead of giving the whole rundown, here's what I'm excited for in tonight's Super Bowl: (and by the way, the Steelers are favored by 7 points, for those of you who haven't yet wagered on the game)

• I'm excited to watch the teams come out of the tunnel before the game.  Doesn't even matter which team it is.  It gives me goose bumps because I feel their excitement sitting in front of the TV.
• I'm excited to watch Larry Fitzgerald leap for a couple of big catches.  He's great.  I'm also excited to hear how many references to his father covering the game there will be.
• I'm excited to see Hines Ward play, and interested to see how truly healthy both he and his quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, are.  I like Ward.  He's a consummate professional.  So is Big Ben, so long as he's not near a motorcycle.
• I'm excited to watch Kurt Warner in another Super Bowl.  I've always liked the guy, even though he's a little too religious for my taste.  He's a stand-up guy, he's got great belief in himself and his teammates, and he's a born leader.
• I'm excited to watch Bruce Springsteen as the half-time show.  Honestly, of all things, I'm most excited for that.  He's definitely going to play some hits, like Born to Run and Glory Days, but I'm hoping for a Rosalita, Lonesome Day, Radio Nowhere.  Eh, screw the game.  Just let him play a couple hours.
• I'm excited to see how many references to Ken Whisenhunt's former job with the Steelers are mentioned.
• I'm excited to see if the team that loses almost as often as my Cubs, the Cardinals, can finally hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
• I'm excited to see how many athletes ESPN personalities kiss up to after the game.
• I'm excited to hear how many references to the "Terrible Towels" there are.
• I'm excited that football season is over.  It's time to get ready for March Madness and Major League Baseball.

Hump Day Headlines

In this week's Hump Day Headlines, we discuss power crazy football executives, home court perfection, Kelvin Sampson, and Super Sunday...

• Good for LaDainian Tomlinson. He wants to return to San Diego despite the fact his General Manager is one of the biggest blowhards in sports. This he said in an interview in Tampa on ESPN's "Jim Rome is Burning". Chargers GM A.J. Smith mocked Tomlinson publicly this week when the All-Pro running back was quoted on his blog reiterating to media that he had no intentions of leaving the Chargers. Tomlinson then had to read that his GM made almost an identical quote regarding LaDainian's status to the San Diego Union Tribune. That had Tomlinson publicly confused and it lead linebacker Shawne Merriman to lash out at Smith, saying "That [stuff] doesn't help bring a Super Bowl to San Diego...and that [stuff] needs to stop, period. It needs to stop now." Smith has since responded by apologizing to L.T., telling the Chargers team website that it was important to him that Tomlinson knew "exactly what happened." So let me get this straight, A.J. You mocked your star player publicly, because you're an arrogant, power-crazed jerk, and now you're trying to save face? Good for L.T. that he wants to remain loyal to the Charger fans that adore him. But if that were me? I'd demand a trade.
• The Cleveland Cavaliers are unbeatable at home. That's not an opinion. That's a fact. With last night's win over the miserable Kings, the fighting Bron-Brons are now 21-0 at the Quicken Loans Arena. That is pretty remarkable. The next best home records in the NBA this year are the only two teams with comparable records to the Cavs overall. Boston is 22-2 at the TD Bank North Garden, and the Lakers are 23-3 at the Staples Center. The best home record in NBA History is 40-1, accomplished by the 67-15 Celtics at the old Boston Garden between 1985-1986. (The 95-96 Bulls that went 72-10, the best overall record in NBA regular season history, went 39-2 at the United Center.) If the Cavaliers keep up this torrid pace, they could be the most dangerous team in the playoffs this year. If you knew the team never lost at home, would you want to play there in a playoff series? I don't think so.
• Kelvin Sampson is appealing his five year ban from college basketball coaching, as reported by the Indianapolis Star. The former Indiana basketball coach was give then "show cause penalty", meaning that he can't get hired by another school unless that school convinces the powers that be that he should be allowed back. I guess assistant coaching the Eastern Conference's eight-seeded Bucks isn't doing it for Mr. Sampson. Sampson was pink-slipped in the first place because he and his assistants made more than 100 illegal phone calls to recruits. Apparently these recuits he racked up the phone bill trying to land aren't so great after all, considering IU basketball is the worst in the Big Ten this year. At 5-13 overall and as the only team winless in the conference (0-6), new coach Tom Crean will have some work to do. The program seems to be in good hands though, considering how well Crean's former club Marquette is doing this year.
• Oh yeah, I should probably mention something about the Super Bowl here since that is a recurring headline this week in sports. Yesterday we had the Media Day, which really wasn't all that great, but as Scott chronicled Tuesday, it can at least be entertaining. Here are the storylines I think you'll hear about most as we head towards Super Sunday: Larry Fitzgerald's father is a sportswriter who is covering his son at the game. The star wideout also attended college at Pittsburgh. Is Kurt Warner a Hall of Famer if he wins the Super Bowl? Mike Tomlin is the 3rd African-American coach to lead his team to the Super Bowl. Ken Whisenhunt is the former Steelers offensive coordinator. What ever happened to Matt Leinart? Are Anquan Boldin and offensive coordinator Todd Haley still fighting? The Cardinals are the sports team with the longest championship drought of any sports franchise other than my Chicago Cubs. (A tear just rolled down my face) Can the Cardinals cover the seven point spread? Get ready for Super Sunday...

Media Day, My Way

The week before each Super Bowl, the players from each team are trotted out and are met by masses of media members.  Some real, some not.  Some serious, some definitely not.  Some funny, some clearly not.

As something of a jokester myself, some of the media day questions I've enjoyed most have been the craziest, the funniest, the silliest questions.  There's only been one guy I've seen that's truly captured the essence of what media day should be (see below).  

If I was running things, these are just a few of the questions I'd ask if given the opportunity at one of these carnivals.

To an offensive lineman:

• Does it bother you that there's probably only five people that live within 700 miles of your home stadium that can identify you without a helmet on?

OR

• How far along are you?  In the pregnancy, how many months in?

To Larry Fitzgerald:

• At what point did you decide that the look you wanted to go for was the Predator look?  Also, did you speak with him (or, it, I guess?) about just jacking his 'do?

To Kurt Warner:

• Some of us are a little confused, and have something of an office pool going on back East.  How important of a role would you say God has played in your life, we weren't sure.  Feel free to go on as long as you please.

To Edge James/Anquan Boldin:

• If it was socially acceptable, would you clone yourself, then marry yourself so you could never stop looking at how great you are?

To Hines Ward:

• If your knee isn't that bad, why are you treating it like a madman for two weeks straight, and waking up at all times in the middle of the night?

To Ken Whisenhunt:

• OK, honesty time, what were you honestly thinking when Big Ben got into his motorcycle accident?

To Byron Leftwich:

• Let's say Ben gets hurt, how low would you say your chances are for success?  If I poured water on you, would you just grow into the ground?

To any one:

• Have you been to or plan to go to one of Tampa Bay's 43 wild and crazy strip clubs? (as opposed to the serious, business-approach ones elsewhere in the country)
• Both are dead, but who would you rather see alive, 2 Pac or Biggie?  
• What player in the NFL do you want to see get wrecked in the most non-life threatening way possible on a football field?  That isn't a wide-receiver...
• Do you think Shaq could play offensive line in the NFL?  
• What's the deal with this economy? (no, seriously, how hysterical would it be to hear a bunch of millionaires try to make it seem like things are going terribly for them too)
• If Barack Obama played football, what position would he play?  Would he be any good?  Would you take a free shot at him if he was coming across the middle on you?

Those are the sorts of things I'd like to see asked at Media Day.  It's the only day a year where the questions are not only expected to be off the wall, but are basically encouraged to be.  So, reporters, heed my advice and take advantage of the once-a-year freedom and ask some real questions.  Enough of this, "if you were a tree, what type of tree would you be?" nonsense.  If you want a moving picture example of the best version I've seen of a reporter taking advantage of a media day opportunity, take a look at this clip.

Now, that's how it's done.

The Next T.O.?

What is it about wide receivers?

Add Anquan Boldin to the list of pass catchers who are bad apples. He can go right to the top of the group that includes Terrell Owens, Chad Ocho Cinco, (or Chad Johnson, depending on the year or jersey lettering), Randy Moss and others.

After Arizona's win yesterday over Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game, a win sending his Cardinals to their first Super Bowl in team history and their first title game in 61 years, Boldin did not celebrate with his teammates. Instead, he was seen ducking out of University of Phoenix Stadium early, evidently angry about his limited role in the Cardinals offense Sunday. This is the same Boldin whose status was uncertain for the game after he strained his hamstring in wild card weekend and didn't play in the Divisional Round.

For a guy looking to find his way out of Arizona at the end of the season, he's making a strong case to be traded after the Super Bowl.

Like the other bad apple wide receivers in the NFL, Boldin shares some common characteristics. He's selfish, he overrates his value to his team's success, and he makes it very difficult for other teams to want to put up with his antics.

He was seen yesterday yelling at Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley during the game. Boldin was apparently livid that he didn't have a bigger role in the Cardinals offense. (He had four receptions in the game for just 34 yards.) But Boldin wasn't the receiver with the hot hand, and Haley was using Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston more exclusively because unlike Boldin, both are healthy.

Both Haley and Boldin are downplaying the incident, saying that emotions were running high at the heat of the moment. And Boldin claims today that he's all about the team and wants whatever's best for the Cards' success. But when it's the heat of the moment, isn't that when the truth comes out?

And how do you defend deserting your teammates during the celebration for the biggest triumph for his football team in six decades?

Boldin is suffering from the same thing most big named wide receivers suffer from at some point in their careers. He's learning that he's not critical to his team succeeding on the offensive side of the ball. When he's used, he can be a great asset. But the Cardinals didn't need him to advance to the NFC Championship, and they didn't really need him to win it either. He's learned that he's easliy replaceable. While Boldin used to be the top option for the Arizona passing game, Larry Fitzgerald has stolen his thunder and has received all the accolades and headlines.

Sound appealing football fans? You want this guy on your team? Another big-egoed receiver with wounded pride?

The Cardinals are just the newest team to prove that having a big named wide receiver can help you (a.k.a. Larry Fitzgerald), but they're not always crucial to a team's success (Anquan Boldin).

There's no question Fitzgerald has been phenomenal in this incredible playoff run for Arizona, but a good quarterback and a well executed offense can push a team over the hump regardless of the names running routes each play.

Wide receivers have to learn to share the football, and that they're part of a team. Never has their been a wide receiver who by himself had lead a team to Super Bowl victories. Boldin is just the next big-egoed wideout that has had to learn that the hard way.

So if the Cardinals win the Super Bowl, his teammates shouldn't let him celebrate, no matter what his role in the game. He walked out on them. He doesn't deserve the glory.

Results from NFL Championship Weekend

You win some, and you lose some, as the cliche goes. And Scott and I went 1-1. The Cardinals did more than cover, as the 32-25 score doesn't really describe how well the Cardinals played.
However despite their best efforts, the Ravens couldn't cover the 5.5, as the once turnover-proof Joe Flacco couldn't decipher which color his team was wearing. Three interceptions by Flacco did in the cover, as Troy Polamalu ran one back 40 yards for a touchdown to take the two point Steeler lead (covering) to a nine point lead (no longer covering). So kudo's to Scott on that one, because while I thought Pittsburgh would win I thought the Ravens would keep it closer.

For the playoffs, in the paraphrased words of Around the Horn's Tony Reali, "Heeeeere's how we stand:

Scott: 6-3 (1-1 this weekend)
Jordan: 3-6 (1-1 this weekend

It's no secret my picks have been bad, so I don't even need to waste my time relaying that information to you once again. All I can say is, if I get the Super Bowl right, that would provide a small vindication for my poor performance throughout the season. Stay tuned.

As for the games, Scott will have that tomorrow in the Monday Morning Longsnapper. But, a couple of quick thoughts from me:

• Once again, even if Kurt Warner wins the Super Bowl, he's NOT a hall of famer. The Eagles not winning did not help Donovan McNabb's case either. For me, neither should ever be enshrined in Canton.
• Larry Fitzgerald is really, really good. That guy could break some records if he stays healthy throughout his career.
• Joe Flacco reminded us he's a rookie. I guess no one can commend him any more for not throwing picks, not getting sacked, or not costing his team games. That said, impressive for a rookie they got this far.
• Now for the storyline that's going to get overplayed for the next two weeks: Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt was the Steelers offensive coordinator the last time Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl.
• And, so much for those #6 seeds, as both went down today.

Not Worth The Hassle

According to various sources, Terrell Owens might be on his way out of Big D.

After a season in which Owens stirred up trouble (surprised, right?) with his quarterback and, of all people, his tight end, there is some thought that T.O. might be on the outs. Though the likelihood of such an occurrence appears to be slim because Jerry Jones isn't in total agreement with the above school of thought, the fact that we're even talking about it means that his welcome has been worn.

In what seems to be yet another chapter in the "Is He Really Worth It?" book being rewritten on an almost twice daily basis, Terrell Owens has basically forced another team to think about getting rid of him. Which on its face in an ideal world would appear to be insane.

A guy that is one of the best receivers in the league year in and year out, a guy that is coming off his third straight season of at least 1000 yds and 10 TDs. Not bad. Again, ideally, not bad.

Yet, when you consider all of the heartache that comes with Owens, the answer is simple: get rid of him.

Like our friend Manny Ramirez, T.O., despite his great on-field abilities isn't worth the hassle, nor should be rewarded for his antics. If there was some sort of thing as karma, guys like Owens and Ramirez wouldn't be able to get new contracts in new places with new teammates. They'd be actually punished for carrying on and complaining and jaking and jiving and showboating and lolligagging and anything else that fits under "these are the type of athletes/humans" most everyone can't stand.

To bring it back to football, my feeling is that no wide out is really worth the trouble. As great as T.O. was in Philly's run to the Super Bowl a few years back, truth is, most wide receivers simply aren't worth the effort.

League's leading wide receiver, Andre Johnson, hasn't played in the playoffs in his career. In previous years, the Patriots, Ravens, Bucs, and Steelers have won Super Bowls without the help of a top-notch WR.

Of the top 14 guys leading the league in yardage from that spot, only one is still playing-Larry Fitzgerald. Of those 14, only seven made the playoffs.

This isn't to say wide receivers serve no purpose. Come on, I've watched an NFL football game before. I know they have purpose, that they can change the course of a game. But, the honest truth that people need to come around to realizing is that while it might be fun to have the big name wide receiver, it may not be wholly worth it.

Especially when that guy is Terrell Owens.

Monday Morning Longsnapper

Home-Field Don't Mean Jack Edition

OK, so, let's take a look at this.  Carolina loses at home.  They did that, umm, zero times this year. Tennessee and the Giants lose at home.  That at least makes some sense, they each did that a lot--once a piece.

In fairness, the G-Men and Titans were in the game, and could've or should've won.  The Panthers got destroyed, save from that first drive of the game.  You know that one, right?  That one where they did what's worked all year for them, running wild with DeAngelo Williams' 31 yard scamper and Jonathan Stewart punching it in from 9 out.  Things looked mighty fine kicking off.  Then Jake Delhomme turned into Charlie Batch, fumbling and throwing awful picks like it was his job.  And, in fact, it may cost him that job at some point in the near future.  Delhomme just has to thank his lucky stars there's no one waiting in the wings in Carolina, otherwise, he'd be out on his keister.

What does it all mean, you ask?  I answer, I don't fully know.  Sometimes, that extra week of rest that those teams had may wind up hurting, especially when the team coming in is a hot one.  Outside of Arizona, that was the case.  Also, it's likely that Tennessee isn't really that good.  After winning the first ten, they were a mediocre 3-3 to finish things up.  Were they as good as the 10-0 team, or as average as the 3-3 team?  Probably somewhere in the middle, but it is nice to put things into perspective.  

Same thing goes for the Giants, who, after starting 11-1, finished out the year on a 1-3 slide.  Which team were they?  Again, somewhere in between but losing a go-to receiver like Cheddar Bob (err, Plaxico Burress), obviously hurt Eli Manning on Sunday.

• Don't blame Kerry Collins for Tennessee's loss.  The Titans aren't a team built to come from behind, or, frankly, to rely on Collins for anything other than the proverbial game management.  This Raven's D is fierce, and you don't need me to tell you that.  Don't get mad at Collins, it's a miracle he was able to do as much as he did this year.
• If there is a better wideout in the league when it comes to just going up and getting the ball than Larry Fitzgerald, I'd like to meet him.  Two weeks ago it was that flea flicker, this week just a long bomb in a crowd.  The guy is an athletic freak, and when the ball touches his hands, it's about as good as caught.  Side note, some how, the Cardinals passing attack didn't miss a beat with Anquan Boldin out.  Interesting.
• Donovan McNabb has fun when he plays, and I think that's good for the league, for sports.  End of the Giants game on Sunday, on a rushing play he scampered off the field on the Giants sideline, and picked up a phone, presumably to let NYG personnel know their work was done for the year.  He received a penalty for these actions, and Troy Aikman actually said that "sometimes I don't know what goes through this guy's mind".  Easy Troy.  This guy's not frying dogs or shooting people at clubs or getting caught for DUI's.  He doesn't know about ties in the NFL, that's an issue, but let's not confuse someone who likes to have fun with a real troublemaker.
• Questionable decision late in that Giants game:  with his team down two scores, Tom Coughlin challenged a spot on a 3rd down rush.  The initial ruling was 4th and short, and that ruling was upheld.  Giants lose a timeout (after already having burned one earlier in the quarter), and try anyways to get the remaining few inches for the first (which they didn't get).  So, you lose a timeout and the ball, all when you knew you'd wind up going for it anyway on 4th.  Having such trouble scoring as it was, why would they even allow themselves to lose that second T.O. of the half?