What a season it’s been in 2007. From Michael Vick to Adrian Peterson to the surprising Packers to ESPN continuing to stink up the joint, it’s been an eventful year. Let’s take a look at what’s going on:
-Where is the outrage over the move that Atlanta Falcons coach Bobby Petrino just pulled? “Hey Arthur, tough loss out there tonight again, eh? Yeah, 3-10, that’s not so hot. Oh, by the way, I think I’m going to take off and coach Arkansas.” Based on everything I’ve seen, Falcons owner Arthur Blank is a class act (don’t start with the fried chicken comment. He didn’t mean it like that). He took out a full-page ad in the Atlanta Journal Constitution one time to apologize to fans for the team’s poor performance that weekend. After a terrible Monday night loss a few years ago, he wrote a letter of apology to the president of ABC Sports. This guy did everything he could to stand behind his jerk of a franchise QB. The same jerk who lied to his face when discussing his involvement in dog fighting. And now this.
Mr. Petrino, you are classless. In order to really test your ability at the highest level, you need a few years to get things turned around. Especially when it’s the Falcons in the year of the dog fight. You need to take time to rid yourself of the DeAngelo Halls (and I’m sorry, DeAngelo, you aren’t anywhere near as good as you think you are). Maybe draft a Brian Brohm and work on his development. These things take time. If the Falcons were Iraq, the Iranians would be on there way in right this second. He cut and ran with no regard to what he was leaving behind (and believe me I want to get the troops home, but you need some sort of plan. Ok, no more politics). Even the most liberal suit in Washington DC would be disgusted.
-I’m going to stay with the Falcons for a second because they have so much nonsense going on. Memo to Falcons fans and players: Stop with the Michael Vick support, it makes you look stupid. I was irate when I saw all the Vick jerseys and “Free Mike Vick” garbage on Monday night. Was anyone aware that an emotionless Vick admitted at his sentencing for a felony earlier that day that he put a noose around a dog’s neck? Think about your own dog for a second. Now, think of him doing that to your dog. If you think this guy is truly sorry for what he did then you are living on a different planet. This loser is sorry he got caught. Showing support for him and saying “Free Mike Vick” (I’m talking to YOU, Roddy White) is the equivalent of absolving him of responsibility for his actions. This guy is a criminal and deserves to be in prison.
-True or false: A Code Red was ordered in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room when Anthony Smith guaranteed the victory against New England. Stupid.
-I think it’s safe to say that 2005 #1 overall pick Alex Smith stinks. The 49ers QB is hurt, bad at football, doesn’t like his coach, and his coach doesn’t like him. Sounds like a recipe for success. This is what I’m talking about when I say “careful watcha wish for” in reference to Donovan McNabb. Even having the first overall pick doesn’t guarantee you anything other than the possibility of being held hostage by his potential while you wait to find out if he’s worth a damn.
-The media up here in New York is very similar to the Philly media. They are tough up here too. I’d feel bad for Eli Manning if he wasn’t such a petulant brat on draft day 2004. This is what you asked for, dufus. They kill this guy because he shows no emotion. Talk radio is awash with angry fans demanding that he change his personality. It’s nonsense. If he was throwing for 400 yards and winning every game, they’d say “wow, look how cool he is through good times and bad. He never gets rattled!” I’m a publicist, I know what spin is. It’s spin. His problem isn’t his demeanor, it’s that he’s not that good at throwing a football where teammates can catch it.
-I railed on the Colts for spending another first-round pick on WR Anthyony Gonzalez in April. They need defense, why would the do that? Shows what I know. They need Gonzalez right now for, if nothing else, a warm body.
-I can’t stand listening to the announcers of these Colts games while they are hurt at WR. “Don’t forget, Peyton Manning doesn’t have his weapons.” I’ve never heard that of McNabb or Tom Brady (before this year, obviously). #5 was dropping back and looking for James Thrash or Todd Pinkston for a couple of years. I never heard, “Don’t forget, McNabb is throwing to heaps of cow dung this afternoon.” The media needs to back off of the Manning and Brett Favre loving. Yes, they are good. We get it.
-“Jesus in Cleats” isn’t that good. Sure, Reggie Bush can be explosive, but an every-down back? Worth the #2 overall pick? It’s not looking good. Injuries aside, he makes too many mistakes and runs soft. I don’t like the way he hits the hole and he doesn’t fall forward. Oh, and there is a tell-all book coming out soon about his NCAA violations while at USC. Good times ahead for Reggie. And you thought it was the other famous Bush that they hated in New Orleans? That may change. Reggie may wish he was George at some point.
-When is Joey Galloway going to get old? This guy is still a burner.
-How is your fantasy football team doing this year? That’s what I thought. Bad year for fantasy football. Larry Johnson, Frank Gore, Steven Jackson and Shawn Alexander were all top picks this year and have done zero. Hopefully, you drafted depth. Hopefully, you got mad at yourself in the fifth round when you needed a WR and were “forced” to take Braylon Edwards. I’ll be the first to admit that I wanted no part of the guy.
-How awful are the Dolphins? Did anyone take a gander at how their second-round draft pick has been playing at QB? He wasn’t taken far from Kevin Kolb. That doesn’t mean anything really, other than to illustrate that you never know what you have. First round pick, second round pick, doesn’t matter. Finding a good QB is very, very tough to do.
-I think idiots like Charlie Casserly need to shut up when it comes to claiming that Adrian Peterson is already the best back in football. Charlie, you are not good enough to be one of the 32 NFL general managers, yet you are paid by CBS to comment on the decisions of the general managers who do have jobs. Your opinion means close to nothing to me (and that goes for 95% of the talking heads employed to talk about football). Peterson broke the single-game rushing record, yes, I get that. He is a phenomenal running back. But to claim he’s the best in the league after one partial season? C’mon now.
I’ll continue to look around the league as we close out the season. Might as well talk about teams that have a chance to do something.
micahw@feverpitchmedia.com
