The Crystal Ball 2011 Week 6

In all of the tributes both shown and written about Al Davis last week, almost all of them referenced Davis picking Sebastian Janikowski in the first round of the 2000 draft, and how the pick was universally maligned. But were people still maligning Davis for that pick? Janikowski has proven himself time and again over the past 11 years, and didn’t the maelstrom blow over years ago? Or was this merely a contrived angle to used by lazy writers to illustrate Davis’ rebellious nature, that he still had what it takes to build a team and look at the team he left when he passed away thanks to his unconventional genius type of story? Yeah, I figured laziness too.

Opening Kickoff

Baltimore tackle Michael Oher asked his Twitter followers who Steve Jobs was when the Apple tycoon passed away last week. And to think he didn’t care for “The Blind Side” because he felt it portrayed him as slow and dumb.

The Way It Was

A recent conversation in South Beach:

Dolphins fan #1 – Huh, we signed Sage Rosenfels that should help this quarterback mess. We should have had him 6 years ago when things were getting really out of hand.

Dolphins fan #2 - We did.

Dolphins fan #1 – Oh.

Tom Brady would never have gotten spanked at home by Charlie Whitehurst, Eli.

I figured the 49ers had a chance against Tampa, but a 45 point blowout? Seriously? But I do remember someone predicting at the beginning of the season that some team with a new coach would not struggle as conventional wisdom indicated. Now who could have said that? Oh yeah me! (Please kindly ignore most other predictions and how they are woefully off the mark, thank you.)

See, and that's why I eschew picking Arizona now for anything other than a good butt whipping.

Look at the Bungles putting together a decent season with who dats and rookies. Should I be worried? They're 3-2 and their defense is ranked in the top 10. Yes, I am officially concerned.

Indianapolis, come on. That was Kansas City! Or should I consider you officially in the Andrew Luck derby, because tanking against KC is the only logical explanation I can figure for losing that game. Wait, Bill Polian said the team would consider drafting Luck? They’re tanking.

You all know how I love Kyle Orton. And I think given the right situation he can be really good. But right now, he’s playing putrid football and the Broncos need some kind of spark. And Tebow's got it. Yes, I know, his delivery is all wrong and he likes to throw on the run or just head downfield alluding tacklers. So what, the same things could be used to describe Michael Vick. I know Elway and Fox aren’t crazy about him, but giving him a chance and a reason for the fans to get energized is the right move. Who cares how he gets the team to score, it matters only that they do.

Philly, the dream is officially a nightmare. But come on, jumping off sides on a 4th and 1 when Buffalo obviously was not going to run the play? Philly defense, that's just dumb.

I apologize; I will never ever doubt Buffalo again. The way they force turnovers at this point has got to be less luck and more ability.

The Texans lost Mario Williams for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. And that’s the first domino to fall that will lead to Peyton Manning leading an improbable late season charge for the Colts to claim the AFC South. Well, if the Colts are playing Suck for Luck.

Big game day stars for Dwayne Bowe and Victor Cruz for their eye popping catches. I honestly have no idea how they pull catches like those off.

When Antonio Cromartie intercepted Tom Brady in the red zone, CBS flashed the statistic that it was Brady’s first ever interception in the red zone at home, and he has a 91-1 touchdown to interception rate. How is that even possible?

If current trends continue, the Lions and Packers will meet on Thanksgiving Day with both teams undefeated. I am openly rooting for this to happen and create the greatest Thanksgiving Day game ever!

The Steel Pit

Steelers 38 – Titans 17

Well, so much for that terrifying Titan defense, no?

A few of my favorite highlights from this game:

Max Starks walking in off the street and not just starting at left tackle, but solidifying the line, pumping up the running game and keeping Big Groom clean for most of the day. Tomlin rightly gave Starks the game ball for his tremendous performance. The fans showed their love too, with a giant 78 hung from the upper sections of Heinz Field.

Big Groom tossing 5 touchdown passes, two to Hines Ward.

Hines catching 7 passes, putting him only 26 catches away from 1000, for 54 yards, putting him only 13 away from 19^th all time on the career receiving yardage list.

Heath Miller grabbing his 300^th reception, and moving into 6^th all time on the Steelers receptions list.

Jonathon Dwyer knocked out a 76 yard run in his first action of the season as the backup running back and electrifying the home crowd.

Mike Tomlin gained his 51^st career win, and with it a tie for 3^rd winningest coach in Steeler history, a spot he can hold outright with a victory this week.

Daniel Sepulveda’s sweet fake punt and pass to Ryan Mundy for 33 yards, a first down, keeping a drive alive and turning the game fully in favor of the Steelers.

Heinz Field and downtown Pittsburgh sparkling on a crystal clear, sunny, warm early October day with temperatures in the 70s, people in shorts and sunglasses and the mood festive and fun as people frolicked in the rivers and by the stadium on one of the most beautiful days of the year, and perhaps the last one of its kind before winter sets in. And my favorite highlight was being lucky and fortunate enough to be there in person to soak it all in, which I did until the final seconds ticked off the game clock, reveling in one of the few lucky opportunities I have now and again to attend a game.

You could not have asked for a more perfect day and a more perfect results, from the pregame drinks with our friend Miss Nick and the Lady K, to cheering myself hoarse, to wings and pizza afterward to the final coda on the day with the Lady K and I enjoying a DQ Blizzard as the sun set. A top 5 day of 2011 without a doubt, and a treasured memory that will be revisited often when old man winter starts knocking on my door. Life can be a royal pain in the tuckus sometimes, but every once in a while, it makes up for it with a great day.

Only In Faux NFL Reality…

Cardinal quarterback Kevin Kolb would like to see more preparation from his teammates. I’m sure they’d want a decently thrown ball from time to time.

The Eagles are looking into hiring a defensive consultant to help out their beleaguered defense. Soooo are you admitting Andy Reid that making your offensive line coach your defensive coordinator was a bad idea? Huh, who could have seen that coming?

Chiefs head coach Todd Haley claims a spirited locker room game of cornhole bean bag helped the Chiefs unite after a disastrous start to the season. So now we’re resorting to tailgate activities to get teams to win? What’s next grilling on the sidelines?

Remember that goofy new quarterback rating system that ESPN created and has been trying to have replace the current passer rating system? Do you know the top rated quarterback, according to ESPN’s new metrics? Yes, it’s 49er quarterback Alex Smith. Now will anyone actually take ESPN’s rating system seriously after this?

Its official, Aaron Rodgers is now an elite quarterback in the NFL with his appearance in a comedic national commercial for State Farm. I guess I should just brace for the inevitable when he joins Eli Manning and the Double Stuf Racing League.

Not one to stay down long, Hank Williams Jr. penned and recorded a new song that blasts ESPN and Fox and Friends. What, couldn’t figure out a way to slip Roger Goodell in the song too Hank?

The Green Bay Packers announced that they were going to be selling stock in the team to raise money for renovations to Lambeau Field, the first time they’ve offered stock to the public since 1997. Yes, I know it’s not my team, and yes, I know the Packers beat the Steelers in last year’s Super Bowl, but it would be cool to own a small piece of an NFL team, no?

Browns running back Peyton Hillis says he’s unsure of his future with Cleveland and the ongoing contract negotiations between the parties. Seriously Hillis, are you kidding? You had one good season. Let's not let that Madden cover go to your head. Running backs are replaceable in today's NFL. If you think I'm kidding, go ask Steve Slaton

Tony Romo stood up for himself and fired back at critic and blowhard Deion Sanders and vowed the Cowboys would win the Super Bowl at some point. Whoa there Tony, walk before you run.

Upon Further Review

With the NFL’s trade deadline coming on Tuesday, there has been much speculation regarding Cincinnati’s plans with prodigal quarterback Carson Palmer. Thus far, team owner Mike Brown has been mum on the subject not discussing any plans he or the team may have regarding Palmer.

Now through the years much as been said regarding Brown’s management of the Bungles, with most of it being negative. And the evidence is in the results. Brown has sacrificed quality on the field time and again for saving a few bucks off of it.

But either through shrewd management or dumb luck, Brown has managed to construct his 2011 team to be a potential playoff sleeper despite the loss of his two biggest star players. And with this development, has begun to draw back the oft disappointed and perpetually pessimistic Bungle fan base. But if Brown really wants to give his team a chance at postseason glory, and really pull the fans back in, he needs to take advantage of the ace up his sleeve. He needs to trade Palmer to bring in additional help and support and really give his team as much help as possible to continue this improbable drive toward a potential playoff spot and possible division title.

Brown proved his point with Palmer. He did not give in to the quarterback’s trade demands and held fast to his stance that he will not allow one player to dictate how he runs his team. More so, Brown showed Palmer that the Bungles will be just fine without his services under center and the team will not only survive but thrive without him. Andy Dalton to be honest is a breath of fresh air in a locker room and city that desperately needed one, especially after last year’s T Ocho show.

However, at this point holding onto Palmer shows nothing but spite. Yes, I’m sure having Palmer demand his release from the team in the press most likely ticked Brown off big time. And I don’t blame Brown for feeling spiteful. By airing his and the team’s dirty laundry, Palmer submarined any chance Brown may have granted his wish and lowered his own trade value to almost zero. No one is going to give up a valuable commodity when they know Palmer won’t play no matter what Brown demands.

But the field has shifted now. Brown, other teams and Palmer know the Bungles no longer need the quarterback and are happy to let him rot on the couch. So if the Bungles never get any additional return on their investment in Palmer, it matters not to the fortunes of the team. But there are more than a few other teams in the league, after playing a few games, realize that any aspirations at the post season, or even a winning season, rest in the hands of unproven quarterbacks or substandard starters currently on their roster and could desperately use a fresh, live arm to invigorate a failing team and excite a moribund fan base.

Arizona, Seattle, Minnesota, Denver, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Miami could all use help at quarterback, even though none are playoff teams at the moment. Going further, Kansas City, Washington, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Cleveland, New York Jets, Chicago, Carolina, Dallas and Oakland would be happy to have a secondary option to call upon if their current starters either fall into old patterns of bad play, continue to struggle, need a mentor for their young quarterback or their starter gets injured. And taking this thought process even one step further, Detroit, San Francisco, Houston, Buffalo and Baltimore would love to have a safety valve ready to go behind their current starters so an unexpected injury won’t sink their increasingly successful seasons. That is a total of 22 teams, over two thirds of the league.

You cannot tell me amongst all those teams with some level of need for a viable starting quarterback, not one of them could offer the Bungles something that could improve their team immediately and give them a better shot at stealing the division and making the playoffs.

If Brown really does give a toot about his team and its fans, and despite his skinflint behavior Brown does seem to care about the Bungles, then the only move he can make at this time is to bring in some weapons to help Dalton in his development and add depth to a surprisingly good defense.

Brown has a unique opportunity to not only improve his team and get rid of a long running headache, but also build an immense amount of goodwill with his fan base. Time is running out though to exploit this opening. If Brown doesn’t act now in the best interest of the team, there’s a good chance we’ll see this same cycle of ineptitude repeat in the Queen City for decades to come.

He Said He Said

“And would anything be funnier than him signing with the Steelers and sending everyone in Cleveland into another frenzy? Now I'm rooting for this.” – Grantland.com’s Bill Simmons on a potential football career for LeBron James

No, the only team LeBron could logically sign with that would really tick of Cleveland would be the Dolphins.

"I never thought I would be here, losing three straight.'' – Jets head coach Rex Ryan

Neither did anyone else.

“I may have been hasty in my career dismissal of Troy Polamalu; he was a major force in the win over the Titans.” – SI.com’s Peter King

Perhaps just a tad hasty. He may be spending his spare time scaring people at wax museums, but he still has some skills on the field.

"About as miserable a feeling as we've had around here in a long time.'' - Giants coach Tom Coughlin after the Seattle loss

Maybe it’s time to break out the cornhole beanbag toss.

"It's still an integral part, but some guys don't need it." – Steelers left tackle Max Starks on training camp

Well, if you can go from the couch to starting in less than a week, then yeah, you probably can get a pass on training camp.

"Defensively, we stink. We can't stop the run, we can't stop the pass." - Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher

I think I've heard this somewhere before recently....

Idiot of the Week

Oh boy, just who should we pick this week as our reigning idiot?

There is perennial favorite Andy Reid, blowing yet another game with bad clock management and an awful defensive plan.

Or I am a fan of new nominee Matt Schaub, who could have walked the winning score into the end zone at the end of the game but chose to throw an awful interception instead. But I was fine with that move, since I picked Oakland to win, so I’ll give Matt a pass.

This week I think we should go with super agent and narcissistic egomaniac Drew Rosenhaus, who claimed with all sincerity that the NFL would fall apart without him in an interview with 60 Minutes.

Rosenhaus claims his relationships with his clients are what help keep the league together, and he helps fix things when relationships between players and coaches break down. How playing amateur therapist to a bunch of overpaid, immature man-children keeps the money making juggernaut that is the National Football League from breaking down is beyond me.

Unfortunately, Rosenhaus does not see the obvious. If a player destroys his relationship with a team or coach, said team will jettison said player and fill his role with someone else who’s more coachable, less trouble and cheaper (see Palmer, Carson and Dalton, Andy). Rosenhaus doing his impression of Frasier Crane does not keep the league from falling apart it keeps his clients employed and therefore keeps Rosenhaus making money.

And a few months ago, when the NFL was on the brink of falling apart, I did not see Rosenhaus anywhere near the bargaining table. You’d think someone of such vital importance to the league would have been in the middle of those crucial negotiations.

But you know what I tend to have a small gambling streak in me so I say you’re on Drew. You say the NFL will fall apart without you. I say that’s a load of hogwash. How about you go away and we try it for a little while. If the NFL does fall apart, you win. If you go away, everybody wins. Wanna try it and see how things work out Drew?

So Drew Rosenhaus, for just generally being a slimy human being who makes money as a legal pimp, has created a financial environment that works to keep most teams downtrodden and only a few able to afford the ridiculous salaries of your clients, and for having delusions of grandeur larger that could overflow the Grand Canyon, you are an idiot.

On Tap This Week

Bye weeks are so tough to pick, because any wrong call is devastating. Think about it, if you go 10-6 in a normal week, well that’s a pretty good week. But if you lose 6 in a bye week, then you’re 7-6 and barely treading water. It’s tough.

Last week: 10-3

Season to Date: 55-22

But this season, we’re off to a strong start. Now, if only we can keep that sweet mojo rolling.

Sitting at home waiting excitedly for Tim Tebow’s first start:

Arizona, Denver, Kansas City, San Diego, Seattle and Tennessee

Sunday

Carolina (1-4) at Atlanta (2-3)

You know what, I’m going out on a limb here and gonna take a ride on the Cam Newton just to see how it feels.

Panthers over Falcons

Jacksonville (1-4) at Pittsburgh (3-2)

Mike Tomlin hung up on a conference call with the Jacksonville media this week when they would not stop asking about Tomlin’s first playoff game as a head coach in 2007 when the Jags beat the Steelers. Something tells me they’ll shut up completely after this game.

Steelers over Jaguars

Philadelphia (1-4) at Washington (3-1)

No way do I trust Andy Reid on the road against a team that’s had two weeks to find new and creative ways to pummel Michael Vick.

Redskins over Eagles

St. Louis (0-4) at Green Bay (5-0)

Think of it this way St. Louis fans. Three years ago Detroit went 0-16 and look at them now. So just think 2014 will be your time.

Packers over Rams

Buffalo (4-1) at New York Giants (3-2)

Nope, not doubting Buffalo anymore, although that pretty much guarantees they’ll do something to let me down. But I know no matter what the Giants will let me down, so I’ll take my chances with the boys from upstate New York.

Bills over Giants

San Francisco (4-1) at Detroit (5-0)

Oh man, who would have figured this would be the best looking game of the day? I’m actually having trouble deciding, but I know what I want to see when I have turkey and stuffing next month, so with that in mind…

Lions over 49ers

Indianapolis (0-5) at Cincinnati (3-2)

Just think Colts fans, only 10 more games after today until Andrew Luck time.

Bungles over Colts

Cleveland (2-2) at Oakland (3-2)

Oakland’s first home game since the death of Al Davis, who do you feel good about picking?

Raiders over Browns

Houston (3-2) at Baltimore (3-1)

No Andre Johnson and no Mario Williams will make for one long day for Gary Kubiak.

Ravens over Texans

New Orleans (4-1) at Tampa Bay (3-2)

I think Tampa Bay may be finding themselves in a small losing streak.

Saints over Buccaneers

Dallas (2-2) at New England (4-1)

I know Dallas is rested and recharged and had two weeks to game plan. I’m still not picking against New England at home.

Patriots over Cowboys

Minnesota (1-4) at Chicago (2-3)

Woof, ok, I’ll try this again, if only because Minnesota has a good pass rush and Jay Cutler would be better protected by a large tarp with linemen drawn on the front than he is with is current line.

Vikings over Bears

Monday

Miami (0-4) at New York Jets (2-3)

Let’s break this down. The Jets are on a 3 game losing streak. The Dolphins are on a 4 game losing streak. The Jets, at least their receivers, have lost confidence in their quarterback. The Dolphins lost their starting quarterback for the season. The Jets’ head coached has tossed out a bunch of bold proclamations from training camp on. The Dolphins best receiver is planning on getting tossed from the game. Edge: New York.

Jets over Dolphins