The Crystal Ball 2011 Week 8

There’s a new trend sweeping the nation. It’s called Tebowing, where one gets down on one knee and starts praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different. Funny, I thought it meant winning football games despite everyone saying you can’t.

Opening Kickoff

The recently signed Sage Rosenfels has been placed on the non injury/illness list and will not play for the Dolphins this season. Come on, someone, PLEASE, call Brett Favre! I’m going through withdrawal.

The Way It Was

Tennessee really? It’s the same thing as Washington the previous week. You had two weeks to prepare, your opponent is weakened, and you’re at home. That’s the best you could do?

TEBOW! Yes, not the most stellar stats, or even watchable at times, but you tell me if there aren’t at least 15 teams in the league who wouldn’t trade what they have for Tebow today. You know why they won? Because Tebow is a winner and he plays like a winner and he never gives up until he wins.

Speaking of nice job rookie, good going Christian Ponder. Yes, I know he lost, but he was playing Green Bay and he did keep the Vikings in the game. At the very least he made a compelling case to keep McNabb holding that clip board.

Aaron Rodgers threw for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns, you know an average week.

Oh sure, now the Panther bandwagon runs smoothly.

Now Santana Moss has a broken hand and Tim Hightower blew out an ACL. Ok, I think I’m done with Washington.

No Stafford, no Best, no way. I’m just about ready to cash in my remaining tickets on the Lions bandwagon, thank you.

Ok, who else is amazed by Matt Ryan’s unbreakable ankle? I watched that replay three times, and almost threw up all three. I’m still not sure how he walked back on the field after missing only two plays.

Hey, Tampa Bay, would you be so kind as to inform me beforehand which version of your team is showing up? The world beater version that knocked off the Saints or the mistake prone version that gets blown out every other week. Oh wait, I might have figured out their pattern. Only pick the Bucs every other week.

Ok, if the now running back needy Bucs have been steered clear of Tiki by Ronde, then the Keiland Williams led Lions running game should at least take a flyer on the anxious former back. Come on, someone’s gotta give Tiki a chance. Is no one really that desperate yet?

Oh, I thought Oakland was starting Palmer. You think I’d seriously take Oakland to win with Kyle Boller starting? I guess I shouldn’t have taken them seriously with Palmer either.

Oakland, you have to be kidding me. Who would have thought Jason Campbell was the straw that stirred that drink.

With all the inspiration they could possibly want, and with an early lead in which they took the air out of Met Life stadium, how did San Diego lose? Oh yeah, Norv Turner.

Did Rivers and Turner think there was still another quarter to go? Easily the worst two minute drill ever. Despite my best efforts to ignore the facts, I knew Norv would blow that game. Maybe Rex Ryan should have coached the Chargers after all.

Is it just me or is Rex Ryan looking rather orange? Perhaps he should stop taking fashion advice from Jersey Shore.

Well, Mark Sanchez did enough to keep people from questioning him for a few weeks. I can't wait until he looks like a confused rookie again and we hear the pundits questioning his ability all over again. It’s as steady and reliable as Rex Ryan sticking his foot in his mouth. Pun completely intended.

So, when DOES Tony Sparano get fired? The Dolphins say he's coach for now. Why even bother with such a nonsensical charade? Heck even Sparano knows he's done.

Did you see Baltimore’s stats for their atrocious effort in Jacksonville? 16 total offensive yards in the first half, their initial first down didn’t come until the third quarter and they entered the fourth quarter with as many fumbles lost as third down conversions. Does everyone still feel good about Baltimore as a favorite to win the AFC North?

The Steel Pit

Steelers 32 – Cardinals 20

Ok, I’m gonna shut up about the big pass play now. A 95 yard touchdown by Mike Wallace will do that to a guy. By the way, that was the longest pass play in Steelers history and one of the most exciting I’ve ever witnessed.

I guess like many Steeler fans, I need to remind myself from time to time that one of the things that make Ben, well, Ben is his ability to go deep. My apologies Big Groom, its takes time to get used to a big play offense where the big play isn’t a run breaking off for 20 yards.

Regardless, I was confident of a victory over Steelers West, and the “away” team didn’t let me down. Yeesh, did you see that place? Half of that stadium must have been filled with Steeler fans. If I were one of the 10,000 Cardinal fans in attendance, I’d have been mortified. I know how that feels; I went to a Pirate game this year against Boston and half of the park was filled with Red Sox fans. Luckily, the Pirates won so they went home crying, but still.

Ok, I get it. Kevin Kolb is in a new offense, this is only his 13^th career start and he didn’t have a normal offseason to work within the new offense and with his new teammates. But at some point, you have to stop making the excuses and perhaps just look at his body of work and say, he’s a crappy quarterback. I bet right now Larry Fitzgerald would quietly agree with me.

Ward Watch – Hines nabbed only 3 passes, reducing his needed catches to reach 1000 to an even 20 and now only needs 40 yards receiving to reach the 12,000 receiving yards mark. But Hines was unable to add to either of those numbers when he left the game with an ankle injury that makes his availability for this week’s game questionable. And watching the old warrior Hines watching the game from the sidelines only drew thoughts of Steeler fans to the other old warrior in street clothes, Aaron Smith.

On Saturday before the game, the Steelers revealed Smith has a previously undiscovered neck injury and placed the defensive end on injured reserve, ending his season. This injury, which requires surgery, will be the final one for Smith and short of something miraculous will end his stellar NFL career.

All weekend, players were seen around Smith, who made the trip to be with the team. In interviews players spoke of Smith in reverential terms as one would speak of someone who just retired. By the tone and emotion coming from Steeler defensive players, it seems obvious we’ve seen the last of Aaron Smith in action for the Black and Gold.

You could see it coming. Not the injury, I don't think anyone saw that coming, but his retirement. When played this season, he looked like an average defensive lineman, prone to getting beat by double teams. He did not look like Aaron Smith, who ate up double teams and, on occasion, triple teams. The man so good at his job you rarely even realized he was out there because he stuffed gaps and freed linebackers to make amazing, highlight reel plays.

The sad thing is for years Smith toiled in anonymity to those outside of Pittsburgh. People didn't notice all he did, because what he did was not flashy or meant to be noticed. But the last few years, he finally started getting the recognition for his amazing work that he so richly deserved. And right about that time, his body started betraying him. Most likely due to the wicked punishment he put it through in working to keep those gaps plugged and linebackers free to make plays.

Without a doubt, Smith will be placed in the pantheon of all time Steeler greats, alongside the likes of Greene, Greenwood, White, Holmes, Steed, Dunn and Banaszak. And as things are in life, things change and time moves on. But perhaps at least for the remainder of this season I’d like to keep thinking of Smith as still there, just unavailable.

A tremendous person who gave his all for the team and to the city of Pittsburgh, which did the same for Smith (I know I link many things, but if you only click on one, click this one, it is a tremendous story) when he needed it the most, and how he became one of us and we a part of him and just think of the good times and not how that time moves on. At least not just yet. Thank you Aaron for everything, and I hope we made your time here all the better and that like many Steelers of yore; you stay here and become a full fledged yinzer.

Only In Faux NFL Reality…

Patriots’ tight end Rob Gronkowski had a bit of fun during the Patriots bye week, so much so he had to apologize to owner Robert Kraft for embarrassing the Patriots organization. Is it too much to hope that Rob’s weekend of porn actress fun is enough to cause a needed distraction in the locker room?

Let the rumor mill start spinning wildly! Already talk has begun that Jim Caldwell is soon to be out as head coach of Indianapolis. Since he’s obviously lost the team, I’m not surprised. At this point the Colts might as well officially Suck for Luck and then after the season install new head coach Peyton Manning.

Falcon players were more than ticked at Ndamukong Suh for apparently mocking Matt Ryan as he writhed on the ground in pain from what initially looked like a season ending injury. Just wait, there’s more to come from Suh. I warned you before the season and very soon he’ll be permanently labeled as a dirty player.

Indianapolis placed Kerry Collins on injured reserve, officially ending his season and most likely his career. You think Kerry’s thinking he should have just stayed home?

I don’t want to bust on the Colts too much, since it’s such an inglorious fall from grace. But Colt fans, try to look at this horrific season from a positive standpoint. Your team has been a perennial 10 win season and playoff contender for nine years straight, has been to the AFC championship game several times, has been to two Super Bowls and brought home one championship. Almost any team and their fan base would trade spots with you right now to reminisce about such a stellar run of success. Yes, I know that doesn’t take away the sting, but it should help keep things in perspective. Just ask Titan, Texan and Jaguar fans.

Cornerback Asante Samuel blasted Eagles management, who had put the defensive back on the trading block before the trade deadline. Much like Suggs blasting the Ravens offense, I have to ask; are all the warm and fuzzies over? You'd think with so much time away from each other due to the lockout people would get along because they missed each other, but apparently, it only made everyone extra testy. Oh where has the kinder, gentler NFL gone?

Due to his unfortunate accident, Saints head coach Sean Payton sat out the Saints demolition of the Colts and merely observed from a booth high above the action. He surrendered play calling duties for the first time to offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, who led a total annihilation of Indianapolis, because Payton missed the initial planning sessions for the game. Now the question has arisen, who will call the plays this week? If Payton were smart, he’d put ego aside and let Carmichael go nuts. But like any head coach, he’ll let ego decide, try to call them from the booth and completely disrupt the rhythm of his offense.

And in the saddest, most bizarre news of the week, perpetual attention hound Terrell Owens held a workout to show NFL teams he is healed from his torn ACL and ready to play. However, not one NFL team showed up, despite a few in desperate need for a receiver.

To add insult to injury, the only initial offer Owens did receive was from the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League. As if that wasn’t low enough, then Owens’ publicist came out and said that no, T.O. did not attempt suicide at the beginning of the month. Owens has the resume of a Hall of Fame receiver. If it weren’t so sad, I’d say this latest chapter in the T.O. story was the pathetic plot for a bad made for TV comedy movie that has a heartwarming lesson at the end.

Upon Further Review

To the thrill of some, and the consternation of others, Tim Tebow managed to pull out a win in his first start of the season. While Tebow looked less than pedestrian for most of the game, he looked exquisite at the end when it mattered most. Most of the recaps of the game I read described the game as weird, strange, odd and other off kilter descriptors. People were rushing to post articles that pointed out Tebow’s terrible play through the first three quarters and his awful statistics.

I just have to ask. Who cares? He won. He energized his team. He did what he needed to do win and it worked. You think Oakland would have traded every quarterback they had on Sunday for some Tebow? I know they would. So would have Baltimore, San Diego, Arizona, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Washington, Tennessee, Seattle and especially Miami.

I understand Tebow doesn’t have the prototypical quarterback delivery, footwork or style, but why should that matter? For every Tom Brady, there are at least a dozen Rob Johnsons that fit the mold yet have no business being under center. Yet it seems every other year some quarterback comes out of nowhere that has seemingly no business even being in the league yet tears apart opposing defenses. If you doubt that, just ask Drew Brees who was ousted from San Diego because Rivers fit the quarterback profile better than the future Super Bowl MVP. Now for fun, of those two who has a championship ring and who has Norv Turner as a coach?

So what that Tebow stank for most of the game, he managed to use his talents and the talents of those around him to find a way to win. Shouldn’t that be enough? Shouldn’t his play and results mean more than the sum of his statistics? That certainly seems to be the case for Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez.

We've been seeing bad throws, questionable decisions, accuracy issues and terrible statistics from Mark Sanchez for three seasons now and no one seems ready to pull the plug on that experiment, except Jets fans. So tell me what’s the difference between Tebow and Sanchez?

It’s said you can’t measure Mark Sanchez by stats alone. Ok, well from my eyeball test he sucks. He over and under throws receivers, makes questionable decisions, has odd looking throws and footwork and doesn’t come close to putting up elite quarterback numbers. But, he has control of his locker room (mostly), the support of the coaches and front office (mostly) and support of the fans (sometimes) when he’s not being a veritable lightning rod and most importantly wins football games. By those parameters, he’s a successful starting quarterback.

Now, take that description, change the name to Tim Tebow, and tell me the difference between the two? There is none. The only difference is Sanchez will at least, when he throws three touchdowns, gets unanimous support from every talking head on television and in print, yet Tebow only garners stronger arguments about how his unorthodox style will mean he’s destined to fail in the NFL.

Look, whether you like his faith or not, that should mean nothing nor play into any argument regarding his ability to play professional football. And as a quick aside, I find it sad that our society looks at a public display of personal faith as an opportunity to mock and ridicule rather than admire or even emulate, but that is a topic for another day. For now, let’s look at Tebow as a just a football player. If the man has that strong of convictions in his personal life, something tells me his convictions to football, his chosen profession, and winning are equally strong. He invigorates the fan base and inspires his teammates. Who wouldn’t want a guy like that on their team?

At the very least, it’s time to shut up and give him a chance. The same chance everyone gave JaMarcus Russell, Ryan Leaf, Tim Couch, Brian Griese, Joey Harrington, Chris Simms, David Carr, Tarvaris Jackson, Brady Quinn, Kevin Kolb, Kelly Holcomb, Alkali Smith, Jay Fiedler, Kellen Clemens, Derek Anderson, A.J Feeley, Damon Huard, Ty Detmer, Cleo Lemon, Elvis Grbac and countless others. And those are just a sample of the quarterbacks drafted in the last 13 years. If we’d done a comprehensive list, this column would be 20,000 words long.

If we can give them a fair shake, why cannot we extend the same courtesy to Tim Tebow? At the very least, he’ll get us pumped up every time he scores a touchdown. As for the haters out there, who knows, maybe he’ll fail and then you can have the satisfaction of screaming from the mountain tops I TOLD YOU SO! No matter what result you expect, at the minimum Tebow will make the journey interesting. Therefore, everybody wins, so let’s just shut up and let the man play.

He Said He Said

“I don't really know what the game plan was. When I have a Pro Bowl running back and he's not getting his touches, I’m going to feel some kind of way about it. He wants the ball, and I think we should feed him. Ray Rice is a phenomenal player. You have to use your phenomenal players.” – Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs complaining about his teams abysmal offense

Does me sense a division forming in the Ravens locker room?

"I'm trying to search for answers. I just keep coming back to embarrassing." – Dolphins running back Reggie Bush

Yeah, that’s kind of what we have all been thinking.

“We don’t plan on being upset on Sunday.” - Giants safety Antrel Rolle

Who does?

"He's a guy you root for, but he's a guy we love" - Steelers safety Ryan Clark on Aaron Smith

We love him too, Ryan and already miss him as much as you. We just don’t get to know him like you do.

"That team played better than we did in every area and we just got whooped across the board. It's one of those things that once you don't do the little things right, there is a lot of bad things that happen to you. Obviously, I have to take responsibility for our team and the way that they played." - Colts head coach Jim Caldwell

That’ll sound great in your interview after the team fires you.

"This isn't the way we planned it. I know I have to play a lot better. I can make more plays. But who we are as a team came out at the end of the game.'' – Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow on his first NFL win as a starter

You did just fine Tim, and I’m sure victory starved Bronco fans would agree.

“We’re a young team. We’re switching guys out and in up front. We have some new guys up there. We need some time.” – Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco trying to explain Baltimore’s offensive meltdown in Jacksonville on Monday night.

Hey Flacco, nice excuse, but do you know how many line combinations Pittsburgh's had this year? 7. Yup. Switching guys in and out works for them because they adapt. Try it sometime you turd.

“If you come in and think they're the 32nd best defense in football, you're kidding yourself." - Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on the Patriots defense

You damn well better believe I’m kidding myself. I’m doing it big time.

“That is absurd. Terrell will only be playing in the NFL.” – Agent Drew Rosenhaus on client Terrell Owens receiving an offer to play in the Arena Football League

It won’t be in a year when it’s between the AFL and UFL or T.O. sleeping on your couch.

"He runs like he's on the playground, like he was a little kid. His form isn't right, arms out wide, but every time you see him he's running past people." - Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor on teammate Mike Wallace’s running style

Just like Phoebe Buffay.

Idiot of the Week

With such a plethora of horrible games played in Week 7, there certainly is no shortage of idiots, especially among many offensively challenged coaching staffs. But I think we’ll go with Vikings defensive end Brian Robison for a terrifically idiotic act.

During Minnesota’s game against Green Bay, Robison was knocked to the ground during a field goal attempt by Packers offensive lineman T.J. Lang. In retaliation, Robison kicked Lang right in the family jewels.

Now I know football is an emotional game, and a player who gets shown up badly will obviously be stinging from the embarrassment and want to get back at the player who got the best of him. But to rear back and just kick another player in his fellas? Dirty pool mister, dirty pool.

To his credit, Robison did later say he regretted his act and that’s good to take responsibility for your foolish action. But it’s not enough to avoid our crown of indignity. So for lashing out in anger at another man’s wedding tackle just because he got the best of you, Brian Robison, you are an idiot.

On Tap This Week

Man, if I had some sort of touch picking these games in the early going of the season, I’ve lost it since. It’s like I’m the Washington Redskins of prognosticators.

Last week: 6-7

Season to Date: 68-35

Ok, let’s walk it off, rub some dirt on it and try this darn thing again.

Sitting at home, popping some popcorn and getting ready for Tebow Time:

Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, New York Jets, Oakland and Tampa Bay

Sunday

Miami (0-6) at New York Giants (4-2)

Even Eli Brady can’t screw this one up. Now that I said that out loud…

Giants over Dolphins

Jacksonville (2-5) at Houston (4-3)

Stunning defensive performance displayed by Jacksonville against Baltimore. You think they can do the same against a quarterback who can complete a pass and an otherworldly receiver? Me either.

Texans over Jaguars

Indianapolis (0-7) at Tennessee (3-3)

Which pile of poo is worse? I’m going with the pile with the soon to be fired coach.

Titans over Colts

Minnesota (1-6) at Carolina (2-5)

Ok, let’s give this one more try.

Panthers over Vikings

New Orleans (5-2) at St. Louis (0-6)

You saw what New Orleans did to the winless Colts, right?

Saints over Rams

Arizona (1-5) at Baltimore (4-2)

Have you ever come across a co-worker who’s ticked off because he dropped the ball on a project he should have succeeded at with almost zero effort? Yeah, welcome to Arizona’s world.

Ravens over Cardinals

Detroit (5-2) at Denver (2-4)

Despite my previous effusive praise on Tebow, it must be known I hate to pick against him. That mea culpa aside, I just don’t see Detroit losing three games in a row. If they do, they’re as dead to me as Washington. Do you really want that Detroit? Do you?

Lions over Broncos

Washington (3-3) at Buffalo (4-2)

There’s no way I’m picking against Toronto, I mean Buffalo, right now, especially considering the number of essential people Washington’s lost in the past few weeks, and Shanahan’s current shade of orange.

Bills over Redskins

New England (5-1) at Pittsburgh (5-2)

Remember in the early 2000s when it didn't matter how good Peyton Manning and the Colts were, they just could not get over the Patriots hump and the NFL played up this one sided rivalry to no end? And then, suddenly, Peyton started winning against New England and turned the tables? Eventually, that has to happen with Pittsburgh, right? I say it starts today.

Steelers over Patriots

Cleveland (3-3) at San Francisco (5-1)

Yeah right, good luck Colt.

49ers over Browns

Cincinnati (4-2) at Seattle (2-4)

I’m legitimately scared that Cincinnati did three smart things in the last year. They drafted A.J. Green and Andy Dalton, got rid of distractions T.O. and Ochocinco and got potentially two first round draft picks for Carson Palmer. This would have never happened if Mike Brown were still alive.

Bengals over Seahawks

Dallas (3-3) at Philadelphia (2-4)

I wanna take Romo and the suddenly relevant DeMarco Murray, I really do. But don’t you just see this as a game that Philadelphia owns followed by Jerry Jones openly questioning his quarterback, head coach and team with everyone realizing Jones hired them all and any failure is his fault but Jerry not self-aware enough to acknowledge such?

Eagles over Cowboys

Monday

San Diego (4-2) at Kansas City (3-3)

Ok, do I really have to buy into Todd Haley’s magical rally beard? Look, I’m fully invested in Brett Keisel’s beard. I already have a two season’s strong loathing of Brian Wilson’s beard (and every time I hear that name all I can think of is the song “In My Room:” which totally creeps me out looking at the Giants pitcher). So I don’t have room in my world for yet another big time beard. And at some point, the Chargers have to find themselves in a game that even Norv Turner can’t screw up, right? Oh God, I can’t go with Norv and company on the road again, can I?

Chiefs over Chargers