Saturday, December 31, 2016

The Iconic Quick Lane


The Quick Lane bowl game was a classic. It pitted Boston College against Maryland. Both went into the game at 6-6. Only one would emerge with a winning record for the season.

The game was played Wednesday afternoon at 2:30pm and broadcast on ESPN. It went up against soap operas, game shows, talking heads and other assorted mediocre programming.

The attendance at Ford Field in Detroit was announced at 19,117. It was more like a studio audience with so many empty seats.

BC won the game 36-30, finishing at 7-6. Maryland has the dubious honor of being in a bowl game and ending the season at 6-7.

Bowl games are good for recruitment. I wonder if the players will have reunions with their teams in the future. Do the players get a ring for showing up?


Friday, December 30, 2016

Nick Says No


NFL coaches are dropping left and right. There will be several vacancies before it's over. Some coaches get recycled onto other teams, only to get fired down the road.

We keep hearing amount Nick Saban giving it one more try. He was a bust in his one stint with the Miami Dolphins.

Why would be want to leave Alabama? His team is ranked number one and plays Washington in the Peach Bowl on New year's Eve for a shot at the championship game. He is paid tons of money and is the big man on campus. He doesn't need the NFL

He could be offered more money to make the switch, but would be a fool to do it. With few exceptions, everyone in the NFL gets fired eventually.

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Victor Is Right


Recent comments by Giants WR Victor Cruz certainly caught the attention of some Pats fans. He said that the last team the Pats would want to face in a potential Super Bowl would be the Giants.

I think he is right. It would be a match for the ages, but the Pats have a horrible history with Big Blue. We all know how the 2007 and 2011 seasons ended in the final moments of the biggest game.

Fans will be hoping for an early elimination of the Giants in the playoffs.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Reggie's Record


There are many dubious records that no player or team wants. However, someone needs to own them.

Bills RB Reggie Bush has the chance to be the only running back in league history to have minus yardage with more than ten carries. Going into the final game, he has 12 carries for -3 yards. This is from being on a team that leads the league in rushing yards and average per carry.

The future of Bush is uncertain. His numbers don't bode well for him. If he doesn't retire, he will need to earn a roster spot in training camp for some team.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Rex TV


It was not a surprise to see Coach Rex Ryan and his brother Rob get fired by the Buffalo Bills. I thought they would make it through the last game.

Rex was headed for the door, but the game against the Dolphins sealed his fate. RB Jay Ajayi ran 57 yards to set up the game winning field goal to keep the Bills out of the playoffs for the 17th consecutive season. If that wasn't bad enough, the Bills only had ten men on the field for the play. Rex claimed he called time out, but it doesn't matter at this point.

What happens now for the Ryan Twins? Do they go back to being Defensive Coordinators? I can't see Rex getting a head job next season. He would be perfect as a television analyst. His future is there if he wants it.

Monday, December 26, 2016

The Plan For Sunday


The Pats control their own destiny to secure the #1 seed in the AFC playoffs. They just need to win in Miami on Sunday. It won't matter what the Raiders do. If the Pats lose, they would need to have the Raiders fall.

There is no point in hoping for other scenarios. The Pats need to keep the momentum going. They can't afford to have a bad game. They also need to make it through Sunday without anyone getting hurt.

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Tough Break For Raiders


It was nice to see the Oakland Raiders make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. That has been too long for this iconic franchise.

They enter the final week of the season with a stellar record of 12-3, but  lost their starting quarterback Derek Carr to a broken leg. Matt McGloin was forced to finish the game in their win over the Colts.

How far can they go with McGloin? They are putting their hopes on a guy who has six career starts and none since his rookie year of 2013.

It was a terrible blow for the Raiders. Things were going so well for them. Every team is one play away from having their playoff hopes go down the drain.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Doing Their Part


The Pats close out their schedule at home today against the Jets. If they win and the Raiders lose to the Colts, they will have home field throughout the playoffs.

They were in a similar situation last year, but couldn't close out the season on a winning note. They still need to travel to Miami next weekend.

As Tom Brady would say, it's no time to take the foot off the gas pedal. They need momentum going into the playoffs.

Friday, December 23, 2016

Michael's Chance


WR Michael Floyd has been a very expensive and controversial signing by the Pats. He is due $1.2 million for three regular season games. He didn't play against the Broncos, but will probably be ready for the Jets.

The Pats are very thin at receiver. They think that Danny Amendola will be back for the playoffs after dealing with his high ankle sprain. Another injury would devastate their playoffs hopes.

Floyd is a free agent after the season ends. He faces a possible jail sentence in Arizona on his aggravated drunk driving charge.

For now, he has a chance to make a big impact on the offense.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

The Life of Josh


QB  Josh Johnson of the Giants just got elevated to backup Eli Manning after Ryan Nassib was placed on IR.

The former 5th round pick in 2008 will probably see no action as Eli has never missed a game in his 13 year career.

Johnson has found a role for himself on the bench which has allowed him to last for nine seasons. His last game action was on December 22, 2013 when he played for the Bengals.

He spent his first three years with the Buccaneers before stints with the Browns, Bengals, 49er's, Colts and Bills. He has five career starts with 96/177passes for 1,042 yards and five TD's.

Guys like Johnson can have a long career if things go right.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

A Record For Gus


It remains to be seen if former Jaguars coach Gus Bradley ever gets a head job again. He was fired last Sunday after his team's latest loss.

If he never leads a team again, he will hold the dubious record of having the worst winning percentage for coaches with at least 60 NFL games. He went 14-48 (.225) over four seasons.

He is probably hoping that someone breaks his record. He will own it for now and the foreseeable future.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Exciting Games Ahead


College bowl game fans only had the Boca Raton to choose from today. The action really starts to pick up starting Friday with the Bahamas, Armed Forces and Dollar General games.

Wednesday and Thursday only have one each with the Poinsettia and Idaho Potato respectively. No matter what happens, people will be watching and the games make money.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Passing Fine


The NFL wastes too much time trying to crack down on player celebrations on the field, especially after touchdowns. They continue to fine players and look foolish in the process.

They decided to take a pass yesterday on Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliot after he scored and dove into a giant Salvation Army red kettle at the back of the end zone.

The charity reported a 50% increase in online donations in the last 24 hours. Did this have anything to do with Elliot? It probably did as the replay was shown countless times.

It's good to see that the league decided not to create a public relations nightmare by fining Elliot. They will waste time on other trivial matters.

Sunday, December 18, 2016

They Are Really Thinking


Whenever a coach says they are not thinking about getting fired, it really means that there is a great concern on their part. They just can't say it publicly.

Todd Bowles of the Jets is seeing his time in New York evaporate after his team lost to the Dolphins last night and fell to 4-10.

Rex Ryan and his Bills beat the winless Browns to even their record at 7-7. Another loss will keep them out of the playoffs for the 17th consecutive season. This was suppose to be their year, but Rex was never able to back it up. It might only be a matter of time for the Rexster.

Saturday, December 17, 2016

It's a Celebration


The college bowl season began today with several games that have interesting names. They include Celebration, Las Vegas, Cure, Carmellia and New Orleans.

No games are scheduled tomorrow so as not to go up against the NFL. There is only the Miami Beach Bowl on Monday in the afternoon, but the rest of the way is busy through January 2nd.

There are so many mediocre teams playing. Some have .500 records. Every team is glad to be playing because it means money for them.

These games only exist for financial reasons. Fans watch and enjoy them. Ads get sold. Everyone wins.


Friday, December 16, 2016

Brady's Worst Place


As great as Tom Brady has been in his career, he has met his match when playing the Broncos in Denver. He holds a career record of 2-7 in the Mile High city. To make matters worse, three of his losses came in the 2016 AFC Championship game and the Divisional rounds in 2014 and 2006.

Denver has stood in his way for winning more than the four Super Bowls he has to his credit. Last year was a total debacle as the Denver defensive line was relentless with hitting Brady and knocking him down.

A loss doesn't ruin the season, but won't do anything to instill confidence in their playoffs hopes. They need to win to keep home field advantage in the post-season.

We all know how things can work out in Denver. Their record tells the story.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

At Witten's End


It's always a shame to see a streak end, especially if the player is healthy. Such was the case for Cowboys TE Jason Witten in a recent win against the Vikings.

His streak of catching a pass in 130 consecutive games ended. I'm sure he felt bad about it, but didn't want to go on record as being selfish.

His streak began on November 2, 2008 against the Giants. He went into Monday night's game against the Giants with 1,072 catches for 11,768 yards and 62 TD's in his career. He had caught a pass in 213 of his 219 NFL games before it came to an end.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

The Long Journey


Pats DE Chris Long was the second overall pick in the 2008 draft when he was selected by the St Louis Rams. He spent his entire career with them before signing with the Pats prior to the 2016 season.

Although he has made a great deal of money, he was never a part of a winning team. This will be his first time in the playoffs.

The league is filled with players who have never seen the post-season. Jets WR Brandon Marshall just passed 12,000 receiving yards, but has never made a trip in 12 years. His time is running out real fast.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Times of Cyrus


The Pats selected CB Cyrus Jones in the 2nd round of the 2016 draft because of his exceptional punt return skills at Alabama. He was seen as the safe alternative to exposing Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola on kick coverage.

Jones has been a total disaster. In nine games, he has five fumbles. The one last night against the Ravens had fans calling for his benching or being cut by the team.

Coach Belichick has taken a different approach publicly by preaching the importance of ball security by all players.

Will Jones get another opportunity in a big situation? He fumbled in college, but made spectacular plays while playing on a national powerhouse.

It's a different world for him now. He can't keep making mistakes. The team has a significant financial investment in him, but it's not worth costing them the season by one bad play on his part.

Monday, December 12, 2016

Sharing Their Losses


Rex Ryan is still coaching the Bills today, but the axe fell on Jeff Fisher after five consecutive losing seasons with the Rams. Yesterday's loss tied him with Dan Reeves for the most losses by a NFL coach with 165.

Fisher has coached for 23 season. He will probably get another chance. The record will be his by next season.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

A Time For Rex


Whenever the media says a coach might be fired tomorrow, they are often correct. It seems like Rex Ryan could be the one.

After losing to the Steelers today, the Bills are 6-7 and out of contention for the playoffs. Ryan spoke big about making a run at the Super Bowl, but it looks like it was all talk.

It's hard to believe that he could be gone before Todd Bowles of the Jets.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

No Angels Allowed


The NFL lives up to its "No Fun League" nickname when they assessed penalties on players for making snow angels after a play.

The league can't keep itself from restricting and controlling player behavior during the games. Players run the chance of having their team penalized if they do anything that shows a sign of celebrating.

The NFL should look at itself when trying to determine why television ratings are getting worse.

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Too Many Losses


Kickers can have a long career if things work out. Phil Dawson of the 49er's has lasted 18 seasons, while Sebastian Janakowski has 17 with the Raiders.

Dawson played for the Browns most of his career, while Janakowski has been with the Raiders. Both have played on too many teams with losing records.

As a result, they are number one and two for players with the most losses. It's a very dubious record, but indicates their longevity. Dawson has seen defeat 177 times and Janakowski has 159.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Bowles Almost Empty


With their latest loss, the New York Jets fell to 3-9 and have left fans angered and frustrated for another season. The tabloids are calling for Coach Todd Bowles to be fired. It will happen because someone has to pay the price. Will GM Mike Maccagnan survive?

The season has ben a total disaster, with so many questions about the future. Owner Woody Johnson knows he needs to make a big move to win back the fans.

No matter what happens, we will probably be saying the same things next year.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Bowling With BC


The college bowl selections are being announced and teams with records of .500 will have their day. Boston College and Maryland, both with 6-6 records, will face each other in the iconic Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit on December 26th.

BC is on a two game winning streak, while Maryland has lost four in a row since starting the season at 6-2.

In all likelihood, there will be many empty seats for the game. The most important thing is the television audience which drives most of these meaningless bowl games.

It doesn't seem right that one of the teams will finish the season at 6-7 after playing in the post-season.

Monday, December 5, 2016

Nothing Fishy With Fisher


Rams coach Jeff Fisher added another loss to his career total yesterday against the Pats. With one more defeat, he has the opportunity to tie Dan Reeves for the most losses by a NFL coach with 165.

Yesterday's announcement of a two year extension for Fisher got a great deal of attention when it was learned that it had been done before the start of the season.

Some speculate that the team finally mentioned it because of the ongoing lobbying by Hall of Fame RB Eric Dickerson to have him fired. The Rams are headed for their fifth consecutive losing season under Fisher.

No matter what happens, the coach is very resilient. In 22 seasons, he has a career record of 173-164-1. He lasted 17 seasons with the Oilers/Titans. It doesn't look like he is going anywhere else.

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Decreased Play and Pay


Jets CB Darelle Revis is at the crossroad of his career. He has taken a great deal of criticism this year because of his play on the field. Some are saying that he is finished at 31.

Revis brushed off all the talk and said he plans to return next year. He mentioned that he is willing to switch to playing safety.

He has not committed to taking a pay cut next year to stay with the Jets. They would be foolish to pay him $15 million. They will either cut him or force him to play at a reduced salary.

Friday, December 2, 2016

Is This The End of Gronk?


Fans were shocked to hear that Rob Gronkowski will miss the rest of the season after undergoing back surgery. It's the latest injury for the star-crossed player who exhibits phenomenal ability on the field, but has a career filled with injuries.

Many consider Gronk to be the greatest tight end of all time, but will he ever play again? This is his third back surgery and he is only 27.

Nobody wants to think of the inevitable, but Gronk needs to consider his long term health. He stands to lose money by not playing, but he should seek some type of injury settlement.

He has often said that he has never spent any of his NFL money because he lives of his endorsements and appearance fees. He can spend the rest of his life being Gronk.


Thursday, December 1, 2016

Finish With A Winning Record


With 80 college football teams needed to fill all of the bowl spots, a number of teams will play with less than a stellar record for the season.

Boston College at 6-6 is a great example. They had easy wins over soft opponents like UMass, UConn, Wagner and Buffalo.

When they played in the ACC, they lost to Virginia Tech 49-0, Clemson 56-10, Louisville 52-7 and Florida State 45-7. These four teams outscored them 202-24.

BC is not alone in this situation. Teams are chomping at the bit to play in the post-season. It means more money for the school.