The Crystal Ball The Good The Bad and The Ugly

Originally Posted on Quick Thoughts on January 30, 2007.


I must apologize for the delay in getting this posted. Not that I have thousands of loyal and devoted readers, but for the couple two three of you out there, I am sure you have become accustomed to seeing things in a somewhat timely manner. With no game this weekend, I felt no great rush. And then I got socked with a cold, so that just put me on the lazy train. Suffice to say, I have been dogging it, and it has caused a backlog of other ideas now as well. Regardless of all of that, I am so very happy. What a weekend in the NFL. I think we all saw one of the best playoff games ever, maybe even one of the all time best. Just fantastic football and it all took place in 30 minutes. Let’s get right to it.

Bears defeat Saints:

Unfortunately, the magical season for the Saints ended one game short. They put up a valiant effort, even making it a game of it in the third quarter. But too many mistakes and just too much Bears. I applaud Sean Payton and his staff. They did a masterful job with a team many did not expect to do very much this year except score some moral victories. They did a wonderful job and I expect them to do much more in the future. The Bears, on the other hand, turned it up when it mattered most. The defense looked great, the running game stellar and they look like they may be peaking at the exact right time. I am not convinced yet that Grossman has what it takes, but they are in the Super Bowl, and he did have a part of it. His biggest test will be next week, and then we will see if he really has what it takes.

Colts defeat Patriots:

I am as happy as a clam the Pats are gone. Color me ecstatic that I have not had to hear peep one regarding the greatness of Belichick, Brady and the Patriot organization. If for no other reason that made this game fantastic. Oh, but it was so much more than that. The Colts finally found that extra something, that little piece of themselves that pushed them through. That little piece where no matter what comes at them, they know they can take care of business. And look what happened when they found it? They overcame an 18 point deficit to start trading points with New England. And with the game on the line, Peyton finally came through, calmly leading the Colts downfield for a game clinching touchdown with only a minute left. Of course, a minute is more than the Patriots usually need to score, and they went to work with every Colt fan sitting anxiously on the edge of their seats. But then the unthinkable happened. Brady faltered in the clutch, throwing an interception and thereby ending the game. I cheered for the Colts, although it did feel odd to be watching a game in the RCA Dome and cheering for the home team to come through in the clutch, when just one year earlier I was praying for them to falter in the clutch. I felt as good as I did last year when Pittsburgh was triumphing through the playoffs. It felt that good. Not just because New England lost, but because Indianapolis won. I felt good for Manning, who has had to suffer with the title of playoff choker. For right or wrong, that label has stuck with him. But now, after beating his nemesis when it counted most, he has been able to shake some of those labels loose. A win in the Super Bowl, and he can bury them forever. I will continue rooting for the Colts. I would like to see Peyton bury that label. I would like to see Dungy bury his as well. Plus, Dungy is an old time Steeler, and you always have to root for ex Steelers, unless they are playing or coaching against the Black and Gold.

Last week I wrote a big piece regarding the Patriots. I was basically admitting to myself all of the things that are good about the team and the organization. I am biased against the Patriots, and losing to them twice in the AFC Championship game will cause such a reaction. Ask any Colts fan before this season, and they will admit the same. However, in my praise for them, and my own cathartic release of what I liked about them, I neglected to bring up two things they lack. One is a foresight of letting certain players go. I had previously mentioned this phenomenon, where they are willing to let people go if they feel they no longer hold value for the team. Unfortunately, in doing this they end up dumping more than just players leaving their prime, but players who have provided not just on field heroics, but off field leadership. By doing this, the young players they acquire to restock the team have no one to look to for leadership. No one that is able to provide them with how to behave and act in tight situations. No one who can show them the way after a demoralizing loss and how to bounce back and respond the next week. Do you think they may have been able to respond better, especially on defense, if they had McGinist or Vinatieri on their roster? Perhaps not, but we will never know now, will we? If you can manage it, you should try to keep your core together for as long as possible. But they look past that when it comes to the bottom line sometimes, and I believe it is beginning to hurt them now more than they previously envisioned.

The other item they lack is class, both in victory and in defeat. After the San Diego game, they celebrated like children by dancing in the middle of the field. They did not act like professionals, and certainly not like a team that had been there before and still had a long way to go. If that was the Super Bowl, no one would have minded, they had earned the right to celebrate anywhere they chose. But it was a divisional game, and if you do not realize you have a long way yet to climb, you are destined for failure. Usually, we see such antics from the likes of TO, but not the Patriots. In losing to the Colts the following week, they showed me much more about their character than they ever did in winning. Brady walked off the field without congratulating Manning, something Manning always did to Brady in all of Brady’s triumphs over Manning and his Colts. I found this just in bad taste. Yes, it hurts to lose, especially when you are so close to the Super Bowl. I know this for a fact, and now so do the Patriots. But to walk away like a petulant child who has had his favorite toy taken away is, well, childish. If he had even a modicum of class, he would have walked over to Manning and said, job well done. But he has none. And Bill Belichick was not much better. He did show some class and congratulate Dungy, which he should. But he said maybe one word to Manning as he brushed past. Manning even went out of his way to speak with Belichick, moving people out of the way so he could go up and speak with the coach who has for so long vexed him. For all the good things about the organization, these are two of their most glaring problems.

One of the biggest stories of this Super Bowl is that this marks the first time a black head coach has led their team to the Super Bowl. And in a cosmic twist, the first time it happens, we have two, so we will also have this year the first black head coach to win a Super Bowl. I find this admirable and a great story line, but of course one that will be beaten to death all week. Both of these men have proven themselves great leaders and coaches. I know that the real story is that the NFL has shown progress not just in promoting black men to head coaching positions, but that they have worked hard in changing the culture of the NFL, that good men will get these opportunities, regardless of their skin color. I know in our society we will never be able to eradicate senseless prejudices and biases; unfortunately as human beings, we have shown and incredible incapability at this task. I am glad we as a society have made progresses like this where we have gentlemen like Smith and Dungy in the league, leading and teaching men both on the field and off. We should look to these men not just as trailblazers, but as examples for all of us to live up to, regardless of our color. If we had more men and women like these two, both white, black, red, green, purple and beyond, in all facets of life, imagine how far we could go as a society and as the human race.

However, with this discussion going on, we are missing out on another historic, if much less important, first. There has never been a man named Lovie as the head coach in the Super Bowl. We have had a Vince, and even a Weeb, but never a Lovie. Now that has to be significant, right? How long before our first Dakota or Skylar, I wonder.

Vick and weed – seriously, can we all admit that this guy is now overrated? His quarterbacking is suspect, at best. And now we see he is too stupid to know they will confiscate water bottles at airports, especially those that smell like pot? After investigation, Vick was vindicated by authorities who stated there was no evidence of drugs, but this is not a moral debate about smoking ganja. Personally, I feel what any player, or person, wants to do in the privacy of their own home is their choice and their right. Yes, marijuana is illegal, but let us not be blinded sheep about this. Many people do it, from all walks of life and in every income bracket. I am sure almost everyone out there knows a few people who indulge in the sticky. Whether or not you are fine with this, or find it morally reprehensible is not a debate I feel like entering on this particular incident. That is a debate for another time. The point I would like to make with this particular incident is that Vick needs to understand he is much more than just a player in the NFL; he is looked up to as a role model and as the face of an organization. While I agree with Charles Barkley’s stance, I am not a role model, for better or for worse high profile athletes are looked upon as role models in our society, and this phenomenon is nothing new. Vick should make the attempt to look as such, at least in public.

Coaching update:

Cam Cameron took the Miami job, bringing his offensive acumen to the Dolphins. Word has it that Jim Mora really wanted the job; however it would seem the Miami brain trust thought otherwise. Mora is now lying low as the secondary coach in Seattle. Jim, sometimes you need a bit of time to just lay low and lick your wounds. Other opportunities will come. I am sure by the end of next season, more than a few head coaching jobs will open up. It happens every season, just bide your time.

Steve Sarkisian removed himself from the Oakland job search, even though it looked as though he could have had it. But Oakland still landed a USC coach in the end. The Raiders hired Lane Kiffin, USC’s offensive coordinator for last two years, as their new head coach. Kiffin is the son of Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, a long time stalwart on the Buccaneer staff. Hopefully he can give his boy a few pointers now and again; he will need all the help he can get with this mess that is the Oakland Raiders.

Now, the only coaching vacancy in the NFL is with the Dallas Cowboys, as Bill Parcells retired last week. Parcells has established himself long ago as a legend, with his Super Bowl wins, his revival of several franchises and his now lengthy coaching tree. But during this last stint the drive did not seem to be in him. He never quite had the fire he had in New York. Now, even at half the intensity Parcells is formidable, but you want a coach who is into it 100%. This is why I did not feel too bad about Cowher’s retirement. Coaching at any level is difficult, and in the NFL it is a grind performed under a microscope. If Parcells feels his time is up, then I wish him well. I hope he stays retired, enjoys a bit of the good life, and I hope I see him again in a few years being inducted into the Hall of Fame, where he belongs. Happy retirement Bill, you deserve it.

Ok, time for a little honesty. When Cowher retired, I knew who I wanted to be the next coach of the Steelers. I wanted them to hire within and promote Ken Whisenhunt. I felt he would be the best choice. In him they would have an offensive minded coach familiar with the team who could open up the Pittsburgh offense and start maximizing the returns of the fantastic youthful core of skill position players on the roster. When that did not work out, I figured they would go with Russ Grimm. In Grimm they would have that stability of an in house candidate, but also one with an offensive mind and perhaps a new twist or two. I spent a bit of time talking myself into Grimm. He was not my first choice, but like I really have a choice in the matter. But the Rooney’s went outside the organization, and went somewhere no one would have guessed when the search started and hired Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin as the new head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mike Tomlin is a former college receiver who started his coaching career in 1995. There are more than a few similarities to his situation and that of Bill Cowher. Both men were 34 when they took the job, both long shot outside candidates and both former defensive coordinators who had not been on the job all that long before getting their first big shot in the show. Tomlin has had pro stops not only in Minnesota, but also Tampa Bay, where he coached the defensive backs and learned his craft under Monte Kiffin, Jon Gruden and Tony Dungy. Thus far, I have heard nothing but good things about his coaching, his personality and his all around nature as a coach, man and leader. I would imagine hearing nothing but praise about a man who worked under one of the best and classiest coaches in the game, Tony Dungy. In my opinion, that is the kind of pedigree you love to have in your coach.

But of course, I am scared. Change can be scary, plus, I only went through this once before, so I am not used to changes in coaches, obviously. Change can be a good thing and I need to remind myself of this. However, taking a chance on an unproven commodity can be risky. The last two times Pittsburgh chose the unproven coach it paid off, and well, but there were reasons to go in a completely different direction each of those times. When they hired Noll, the club had never had a winning tradition, and they were willing to go out on a limb. When they hired Cowher, the team had been years removed from their last championship, and needed an infusion of new blood to shake up things. But is that really needed this time? The team is not quite one full year from a Super Bowl win. I understand the paradox of status quo. Status quo can provide either stability, or it could be a dangerous lack of progress. The key is determining which it will provide. But in the end, I need to remember that the Rooney’s have been pretty good with their hiring track record, so I have faith in the organization. One thing I need to keep in mind is 1992. That year, I witnessed first hand my very first coaching change in Pittsburgh when Noll stepped down and Cowher was hired. I remember at the time thinking, who the heck is Bill Cowher? We all know now who he is, and keeping that in mind, I am sure by the time he is ready to move on, we will also all know who is Mike Tomlin. Hey, there are more than a few reasons why I am not running an NFL franchise. But I still maintain I could turn the Lions around in less time than it has taken Matt Millen to drive them into oblivion. William Clay Ford, just give me a call.

But one thing I am curious about is how well his interviews were that he vaulted past two excellent in house choices. If he was that dazzling in the interviews, I cannot wait to see what he does during the season. I hope that skill translates to wins.

Now, despite my own unfounded fears, no rookie coach could ask for a better situation for his first time in the spotlight. Tomlin now has a solid team only one year removed from a Super Bowl victory, stocked with a strong group of core players just entering their prime. He has inherited a good group of assistants of which he can retain if he likes and lean on while he learns some of the inner workings of head coaching, such as challenging plays, clock management, motivation, winning on the road and winning the close games amongst many others. Behind him is a well constructed organization with an excellent front office and scouting department and supportive owners that do not panic when things are not going well and patient enough to know that winning and losing are cyclical, and while things may be down, they will always come back up. On top of this, Tomlin will find behind him at every game, no matter where it is, one of the most rabid, devoted and faithful fan bases any coach could possibly ask for from an organization. I bet we can aid Tomlin in at least one to two road wins this year. If Coach Tomlin is half as good as all the press I have been hearing about him, with all of this at his disposal, he will do just fine.

Tomlin himself is getting off on a good foot, and seems to be impressing everyone in his first few days as coach. He has been magnanimous, funny, open and honest in his first press conference. His philosophy of a blue collar work ethic, a tough defense and a strong running game will go far in Pittsburgh, a team that thrives on such things and that have always been a part of their overall philosophy. He has stated in his first day that he is keeping Dick LeBeau and while he prefers the 4-3 defense, he sees no reason to change when he has a defense and personnel that thrive in the 3-4. The next day he promoted wide receivers coach Bruce Arians to offensive coordinator. Now, he is keeping the entire defensive staff but one, and a good portion of the offensive staff. He is also working on adding a second coach for the special teams. I must say, I already like the new guy, he is obviously smart, and knows better than to fix something that is not broken.

So, I would like to put out there a hearty congratulations to Mr. Mike Tomlin and a welcome to Steeler Nation. You are a part of us now. Please pick up your official towel at dispatch; it is next to the 5 trophies. And do not worry; we will make room for you to add a sixth one in there, and possibly more.

More news from the Arizona Steelers, I mean Cardinals. Russ Grimm, who obviously did not want to stay in Pittsburgh, was hired by the Cardinals as their new assistant head coach/offensive line coach. Interesting thought that at one point, that is exactly the head coach/assistant head coach structure most of us thought would end up leading the black and gold. The world works in mysterious ways.

So, with this being an open weekend where absolutely no football was being played, the horror, I felt this a good time to break out an idea I had around mid season. I would like to take this time for a little review and introspection. It is time to look back on the previous season and take a look at some of the things that made the season memorable. And in doing so, perhaps take a gander at a few of the things I have put forth here. It is time to glance over both in something I like to call, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.


The Good

The Steeler-centric bend of the column - Sure, everyone has their own favorite team and biases, as do I. I liked how I added another voice to the cacophony of Steeler Nation. Sure, the boys did not come up big this year, but that is ok. It shook off the bandwagon fans they picked up after the Super Bowl. I may go even further next year.

The return of the suit to the sidelines - This was a great step for the NFL, at least in my opinion. Harkening back the look of the authoritative coach of yesteryear, images of Stram, Landry and Lombardi danced in our heads as coaches did not look so much as pin ups for the latest merchandise offered but more like men in charge. That is the way a coach should look, none of this torn up hoodie nonsense or garish prints.

Denny Green’s post game meltdown – Oh, it had been a long time since we had that kind of entertainment. Plus, it lasted the rest of the season, and is still showing up. Perhaps he could crown the Bears if they win the Super Bowl, since then they WILL BE WHO HE THOUGHT THEY WERE!

The idiot feature – Oh, I should have come up with that from the beginning. This was a lot of fun to do, and I think added a nice little feature to the column. It will definitely be in the column again next season starting week one.

Devin Hester – Wow, what an athlete. He sure made everyone forget about Dante Hall in a hurry, did he not?

Unheralded players – Tony Romo, Marques Colston, Frank Gore and others came out of nowhere to make significant contributions to their teams and the NFL. You love to see players from little schools make it big over ones from football factories. I hope to see more of them next year.

America’s Game – One of the best sports documentaries I have ever seen, and maybe the best one about football ever. The beautiful mix of NFL Films footage, reminiscing from former players and coaches and the narration by A-List actors really brings these episodes together in a riveting way that will keep anyone’s attention, even if you are merely a casual fan. I watched the episode for the 1976 Raiders the other evening and for a nanosecond almost liked the team. Almost. This spring will be enjoyable watching the last twenty, where three Steelers teams will be represented. I will definitely be tuned in for all of them, and be ordering the DVDs for the Steelers Super Bowl teams.


A few good tidbits from me.

From Week 2:

- Not to bust too much on Vick, because he is a superior athlete, but he is a terrible quarterback.: Yeah, I still feel good about that. Prove me wrong, Michael.
- Hiring Art Shell, who has not coached in the NFL since Oakland FIRED HIM 14 years ago? I have no idea where that came from either.: And they fired him again.
- Not a bad first showing by the Giants last week. The defense looked tough, and their rookie backup running back looked strong. They played stupid though. Their running game was obviously clicking. They have two really good backs, and Tiki Barber looks like he is picking up where he left off last year. But instead of jamming the ball down the Colts throat, as they should have because it was working on the Colts undersized D, they went too much to relying on Eli to win the game with his arm.: Ok, they ultimately were not that strong overall, but I still contend they spent too much time relying on Eli, and will again next year. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

From Week 4:
- it seems like they might actually have a semblance of a team in New Orleans. And thank goodness, because they desperately need one. – I am so glad I was right about this one. Not just because I was right, but because of all that it meant for the Gulf Coast.

From Week 5:
- Ok, last week I was watching the Sunday night game, and right after it became a rout, I kept thinking of what NBC could be doing to keep interest. And then it hit me, how oh how did we not have the Superfans in the booth for at least part of the game? : I still think this is a good idea. And if I do not see one single Super Fans reference this week on the NFL Network, then they should fire their creative team and hire some new people, stat. You can contact me through the email link at the top.

From Week 6:
- Cowher says its all gossip and speculation, but actions always speak louder than words, and his actions show a man ready to hang it up, even if it’s for just a few seasons. – A little too good on this one.
- Come February 4th, a certain team, from a certain city will be hoisting a certain trophy above their collective heads. A team known simply as, Da Bears. DAAAAAA BEARS. – Could it be prophetic????

From Week 10:
- Baltimore is a good team. Ok, not good like Indianapolis or New England, but good enough that they will probably win the division and possibly go deep into the playoffs with how they are built. – Ha ha, dead on!
- Peyton Manning may be learning how to win the big game. – Ooooh, two in a row!

From Week 12:
- Regarding the Chargers: I feel confident they will screw things up in the playoffs. – Ha ha ha! All I can do is laugh.



The Bad

Too Steeler-centric – Now, I certainly do not believe that. But, if I looked at this from an objective standpoint and one of a casual fan, I could see people going, good gravy; get off of Pittsburgh’s jock already. But, until I am writing for NFL.com or some other major sports publication, I will keep my Steelers first and foremost. Sorry, Houston fans, I hate to disappoint both of you.

Game research – I did some for each match up, but not enough I think. I could have delved more into each game, histories of the teams, records against each other, key match ups. Part of me avoided that, since you could find that almost anywhere. I prefer a different angle. The problem is I have yet to define that angle. But I have some ideas. Maybe we will shake a few out during preseason.

Overall column format – I went in not really knowing what I wanted to do. By the end, I had a few regular features and a few things I liked, but it was not planned. But, you learn by doing, and I did. I have some great building blocks for next season, and cannot wait to start.

Column length – You would think I would learn eventually how to be more succinct. But I have not, and if I learned anything it was how to be even more verbose. Next season, I may even crack 10,000 words. Almost did this season.

Oakland ruining their bid for an 0-16 season – They really could have done something special and historic. If they lost them all, everyone would have been talking about them, every week. They would have been front page news. But no, over a two week span, they torpedoed that with two wins, and thus just relegated themselves to crappiness as opposed to being a historic team.

Thursday Night Football – How can I possibly say an added night of football is bad? Because the games were terrible, that is how. There was one game out of the slate of eight that was decent. The rest were chum. And I am including the Pittsburgh game in the chum. Sure, I had fun watching it, but did anyone else feel compelled to tune in? Certainly not. If the NFL Network hopes to keep things going, they best get some improved match ups for next season.

Monday Night Football – All season I have gone over the things wrong with this institution. Bad announcers, terrible games, lackluster teams, the annoying addition of the celebrity interview, low production quality. There is a lot that needs fixing, and honestly, I do not see anyone at ESPN smart enough to do any of it. They could have a jewel on their hands, but unfortunately, no one seems to want to polish it to perfection.

A few bad tidbits from me.

From Week 1:
- Many are saying the Colts will strangle the competition. Well, they stepped down in the running back department and last time I checked, when it came to the post season, they did not know how to strangle, but were pretty good at choking.: Ok, so it would seem I got that one wrong. So far.
- Many are saying the Ravens will explode this year. How so? Their defense is a year older, and that much more ineffective (the glory days of 2000 are over, ask the 1985 Bears how fast it goes away).: Yeah, way wrong on that one. But they did not go far in the playoffs. I would take a push, but they did explode. Could I be biased??? Nah
- I am picking Pittsburgh to win. Let the season begin! Now they better not lose and make me look stupid, I can do that on my own. : Umm, it seemed as though I needed some help. Thanks guys.

From Week 4:
- I said the Browns could pull off the upset, and very nearly did. Now, it is looking to me that their defense is far stouter than anyone could have thought, and if their offense could generate a few more points, they might be a team. – I must have been hallucinating. I think I had a cold that day.

From Week 10:
- Tom Brady is the most clutch QB in the NFL today – You know, this one does not feel so bad.


From Week 13:
- Do you think that maybe, just maybe, Joey Harrington might actually be a good quarterback? And that maybe, just maybe, his success this year is due to the fact that he finally has a decent team around him and a good coaching staff? And that maybe, just maybe, he played poorly in Detroit not because he was bad, but because the whole team, coaches and front office were atrocious and never gave him any real weapons, support or instruction? Yeah, I am thinking maybe, just maybe though. – Ok, yeah, I screwed that one. But I was not the only one fooled for a little while by Harrington.


The Ugly

Pittsburgh’s title defense – Not much I can say about that. As always, health and luck play a part in the success of any team, and Pittsburgh had a dearth of both. But despite that, overall, it was terrible. There were a few highlights, but not many. And ultimately, they could not find a way to beat the elite teams. I know this is still an elite team, but they need to find their way again. Perhaps Coach Tomlin can help.

Oakland – Yeah, they could have had the special season, but even if they did, they still would have been what they are, atrocious. It is amazing to think that a few short years ago, this was a Super Bowl team. What happened? How can so many things go so badly in such a short amount of time? It is flabbergasting to think.

Matt Millen’s Lions tenure – Shamefully, this will continue into the next season. Do Lions season ticket holders get a bag for their heads when they get their ticket packages?

From Week 2:
- Well, I think St. Louis might really be a sleeper pick this year.: Uhhhh, yeah.
- But now we have to look at the sticky situation that is Kansas City. I said before the season even started that they would go down the toilet. Half of their offensive line retired. That right there told me the season they would have. Teams win with a consistent offensive line that plays together for a long time. One of the reasons KC has had such a great running game is consistency on the line. With 2 of the 5 gone and new guys stepping in, that is a lot to overcome. – Ummm, who wrote that???

From Week 3:
- If they (Atlanta) keep out of trouble, they will spoil the Monday night homecoming. – That so did not happen. Nor did it for the rest of the season. Woof.

From Week 4:
- One other note before the good stuff. No TO discussion here. I could go into all the reasons why and why not, but it is this simple. I refuse to add to the miles of print that are already dedicated to him, especially since most of us could care less. These few sentences are already too much. Enough. – This would have been good, if I had kept to it. But since he showed up at least once a week by mid season, well, that makes me an idiot.


From Week 6:
- Referring to the Chicago/Arizona game: Wow, this one is about as tough to pick as a choice between pizza and lima beans. – Almost had lima beans.

Well, that is it for this week and a run down memory lane. Stay tuned for the Super Bowl extravaganza coming in but a few short days.