The Crystal Ball 2011 Week 12

I’m so upset that the 49ers lost the Har-Bowl. I was really hoping to see if Jim Harbaugh would be as dismissive with his post game handshake in victory with his brother as he was with Jim Schwartz.

Opening Kickoff

Ok, I just want to remind everyone that I said it before the season even began that Ndamukong Suh would do something this season that would cause even his apologists to admit he is a dirty player. Did you see how fast his bandwagon emptied after he was ejected from the game for stomping on Evan Dietrich-Smith?

The Way It Was

Oh Buffalo, we almost had something didn’t we?

I’m getting real sick of Baltimore’s long yardage strategy, throw it deep and try to draw a pass interference penalty.

I’m assuming at this point Miami is comfortable going forward with the Matt Moore era? Who need someone called Luck, huh?

When Jack Del Rio is sitting at home in February, working on his resume, he’ll be haunted by the thought that with 4 tries he couldn’t move the ball 2 yards against Cleveland. Pathetic

Ok, I can understand the Packers having some struggles against Tampa Bay. They’ve played so lights out for so long; a game where the team looks out of sorts is to be expected. But Dallas, struggling against Rex Grossman and the Redskins? Come on Romo, give me a break. Inexcusable

The Chiefs placed Matt Cassel on injured reserve. I think they are going for the record for starters on IR.

And speaking of injured quarterbacks, Jay Cutler broke his thumb attempting to make a tackle on an interception and now will be out until the playoffs. Now you see why Antonio Cromartie didn’t want to take on Tim Tebow.

Ok, perhaps we need to look at St. Louis from a different angle. Last year the Rams finished a surprising 7-9 and almost won their division. This year, they have flat lined hard, with their previously exciting young quarterback looking overwhelmed and underprepared. What has changed? The team added Josh McDaniels as their offensive coordinator. Perhaps it’s time we consider that McDaniels is not the offensive guru everyone makes him out to be.

Referee Ron Winter was swept under a mad scramble for a loose ball and consumed by the pile. Poor Ron, it happened so fast I didn’t even see him get swallowed up until they dug him out shaken, bleeding and sobbing. Ok, he didn’t sob but I’m sure he saw things he can’t forget.

The Steel Pit

The team spent their bye week relaxing, resting, letting Big Ben’s thumb heal and, well, not playing football. Not exciting, but hey what do you want, tabloid headlines?

In actual football moves, left guard Chris Kemoeatu has been benched in place of Doug Legursky, who is younger, faster, thinner and, well, better. And it couldn’t come soon enough because I’m sick of Big Juicy’s stupid penalties. Come on Chris, if you slam into a defensive player after the whistle, they always flag that you idiot.

Kemoeatu joins Hines Ward, now the 5^th receiver, and Chris Hoke, now third string nose tackle behind Steve McLendon, as starters and team stalwarts who have moved to more ancillary roles with the team. The times, they are a changin.

Only In Faux NFL Reality…

Jay Cutler may be healing a broken thumb, but it would seem his broken heart is mended. Boy, it’s nice to see two crazy kids like Jay and Kristin find a way to make it in this topsy turvy world, huh?

Denver gave the team officially to Tebow by cutting Kyle Orton. Oh, I know the Neckbeard can still be the man, someone just has to believe!

Ok Tim Tebow haters, this should make you feel better. Tebow agrees with John Elway that he needs to get much better as an NFL quarterback. Bronco fans would agree, since 4-1 as a starter so far this season is not good enough.

The Bills placed Fred Jackson on injured reserve. Well, thanks for playing Buffalo, it’s been real.

Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell boasted that the Bills laid down in the face of Miami’s punishing defense. Bell, you know your punishing record is 3-8 right?

Despite having a 5-5 team that just lost to the Broncos, Rex Ryan is still backing up his claim to be Super Bowl bound. Rex, sometimes it’s good to be quiet.

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is not setting a timetable for his return due to a toe injury. You know he’s fine to play, he just can’t do his stupid pregame dance with his injured toe and he won’t play unless he can have his pregame convulsions.

Jags kicker Josh Scobee got into a war of words through Twitter with Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson. Remember when players’ trash talked on the field, before and during games, when retribution was swift if your butt couldn’t back up your mouth? *Sigh* I miss Joey Porter.

Upon Further Review

So far in 2011, there has been a run on quarterback injuries. The signal callers that have spent more than two games sitting on the sidelines due to some game-caused malady could fill several all star rosters. These include:

Peyton Manning, Kerry Collins, Chad Henne, Jason Campbell, Matt Cassel, Matt Schaub, Michael Vick, Jay Cutler, Donovan McNabb, Tarvaris Jackson, Kevin Kolb, Sam Bradford, Byron Leftwich.

Ok, not ALL of them are all stars. As for the walking wounded, those include:

Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady, Matt Hasselbeck, Matt Ryan.

Ok, that’s an all star roster.

Regardless, there are more than a few teams out there who could use either a viable starter or a decent insurance policy and as luck, or Luck, would have it, this year there are a few viable candidates on the market that could bolster a team and their post season hopes. So let’s take a gander at the available field generals and their potential ability to lead men to victory at this point in the season.

David Garrard – Well, Garrard, who was cut by the Jaguars before the beginning of the season, had surgery and is out for 2011. So he is a non choice this year. But perhaps next season he will be able to begin a Kerry Collins like sojourn through the NFL.

Brett Favre – Brett, despite his retirement status, is wholly available. After all, the only thing he has going on right now is Wrangler commercials with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Yeah, that’ll keep you in game shape.

Marc Bulger – the former Ram and Raven, who is supposedly retired, is being linked to Chicago, mainly because of his relationship with current Chicago offensive coordinator and former Ram head coach Mike Martz. This would be ideal for Martz since he could go whole hog with his pass first ask questions later offense and totally submarine Chicago’s season and make Matt Forte a footnote in an epic late season collapse. Whether this happens or not is dependent on the performance of Caleb Hanie. In that case, welcome new Chicago Bear Marc Bulger!

Jeff Garcia – The off traveled foil to Terrell Owens has been spotted working out for the desperate to make the playoffs Houston Texans. Garcia is scrappy, determined and can add value to any team at least every other season, even in his 40s. Just call him the generic version of Drew Brees.

Jeff George – Hey, if Favre and Garcia can be considered viable candidates to start in the NFL, why not Jeff George? Just ask Jason Whitlock.

Kurt Warner – Kurt has already stated in no uncertain terms he is retired. And I believe him. If he had any inkling of returning to action, he’d come back and save poor Larry Fitzgerald from the hell of crappy quarterbacks he currently lives in.

Kyle Orton – The recently released Broncos quarterback could have been a life saver in Chicago, as he was during the 2005 season. I was rooting for that. Unfortunately, they were low on the waiver wire list, and the Chiefs beat them to the punch. Oh well.

Ok, so there’s a reason these gentlemen have been sitting on the couch since August. But hey, perhaps a few desperate teams will take a chance, roll the dice and see what happens. If Jeff Hostettler and Frank Reich can have permanent places in playoff lore, then why cannot any of the above gentlemen? Ok some already to, but so far, not this season.

He Said He Said

“I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m pleased. I’d be pleased if we were 10-0, but we’re not. We are what we are.” – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and his assessment of the team at their bye week.

I like how Coach T thinks, but I’m not complaining.

"I'm extremely confident. We'll go out there and play tomorrow. That's how I feel about Mark. This is our quarterback, he's going to be our quarterback for as long as I'm here, which I hope is a long, long time." – Jets head coach Rex Ryan on Mark Sanchez

The funny part is not long after Ryan said that, he gave backup Mark Brunell reps with the first team offense in practice, claiming it was to motivate Sanchez. Who else smells manure?

"We haven't had a home playoff game since I've been here. It would really be beneficial to get one." – Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco

Wow, good to see that Joe Flacco has a firm grasp of the obvious.

"I have great confidence in Tyler. I really believe that he will continue to get better and give us a chance to win a big game this week. We had confidence in Tyler." – Chiefs head coach Todd Haley

That confidence translates into adding Kyle Orton, sooooo I wouldn’t get too comfortable Tyler.

“Don't get me wrong. I'm not doubting Tim Tebow's skills. He's a great football player. We felt like we had him where we wanted him. Those legs he's got brought the Denver Broncos home. He did it. Tim Tebow did it." – Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis

I’m sure he stopped doubting Tebow at the exact instant Tebow plowed over him for a few more yards.

Idiot of the Week

Oh please, is there any other choice than Ndamukong Suh?

Look, perhaps all those who claim to know Suh personally and how he was in college are correct and he is a genuinely good guy and is not a dirty player. But when you see a player with less than two full seasons in the NFL racking up over $50,000 in fines, multiple personal fouls and meeting with the commissioner shows a pattern.

Perhaps this is also a result of bad coaching, with those charged with shaping Suh into a relentless defensive force not harnessing his energy properly and allowing his destructive tendencies to run rampant.

Regardless, Suh is a grown man and should be in control of himself on and off the football field. I understand that football is an emotion fueled sport, but there is a fine line between playing with emotion and having your emotion play you. Suh is played by his emotions.

So for finally going too far and pulling an Albert Haynesworth, Ndamukong Suh, you are an idiot.

On Tap This Week

Well, no triumphant championship week but…

Last week: 11-3

Thanksgiving: 2-1

Season to Date: 108-56

…not bad. Hey, a few more weeks like this, and we might be on to something.

Sunday

Minnesota (2-8) at Atlanta (6-4)

Oh boy, this most likely won’t be pretty.

Falcons over Vikings

Carolina (2-8) at Indianapolis (0-10)

Does anyone have any doubt at this point that Indy will stumble in their quest for the number one pick in next year’s draft? No? Good, let’s move on.

Panthers over Colts

Cleveland (4-6) at Cincinnati (6-4)

The poor Bungles have finally hit the hard part of their schedule and so far, the fight has not gone well. And while Cleveland has a rocking defense, their offense is not so much.

Bengals over Browns

Houston (7-3) at Jacksonville (3-7)

Even Matt Leinart can’t screw this one up.

Texans over Jaguars

Tampa Bay (4-6) at Tennessee (5-5)

I know I’ll regret this, but….

Titans over Buccaneers

Arizona (3-7) at St. Louis (2-8)

Welcome to the Poo bowl! Who’s ready to back John Skelton on the road?

Rams over Cardinals

Buffalo (5-5) at New York Jets (5-5)

Buffalo, you know I love you. But come on you have to give me something, and C.J. Spiller is not it.

Jets over Bills

Washington (3-7) at Seattle (4-6)

Yeah right, like Rex Grossman is succeeding 3,000 miles from home in one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL.

Seahawks over Redskins

Chicago (7-3) at Oakland (6-4)

Yes, I know Matt Forte is in action, but do you feel confident in Hanie on the road in the Black Hole? Me either.

Raiders over Bears

New England (7-3) at Philadelphia (4-6)

Bwha ha ha! Yeah right. Welcome to the Nightmare on South Darien Street.

Patriots over Eagles

Denver (5-5) at San Diego (4-6)

I know it seems improbable for San Diego to lose 6 straight games, but if you doubt, I have two words for you. Norv Turner.

Broncos over Chargers

Pittsburgh (7-3) at Kansas City (4-6)

Let’s just say the mystique that Arrowhead is a tough venue for road teams to play in is, at the moment, vastly overrated.

Steelers over Chiefs

Monday

New York Giants (6-4) at New Orleans (7-3)

Here’s where we see the first chink in the armor of the New York Giants and the first evidence of sportswriters leaping from their bandwagon.

Saints over Giants

The Crystal Ball 2011 Week 11

TEBOW!!! Boy he’s fun to watch isn’t he? Ok, mostly only in the 4^th quarter, but still!

Opening Kickoff

Well, congratulations to Baltimore, who indeed seem to have discovered how to finally beat Pittsburgh, at least in the regular season. Unfortunately for Ravens fans, in gaining this new ability the team has completely forgotten how to win any other game.

The Way It Was

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Eli is the best quarterback named Manning playing in the NFL this season.

I still believe in the Bills, kinda, maybe…

Miami, what are you doing? That team cannot even fail right!

Neither Tim Tebow nor Matt Cassel could muster 100 yards of passing, but Tebow won the game. Now, who would you rather have on your team?

Of course, perhaps Cassel had an excuse with his season ending injury.

But you have to give it up to Jonathon Baldwin, how wicked was his behind the back catch around Brian Dawkins?

Oh good gravy Cleveland give me a break, you can’t win at home against a one win team? I’d hate to see how bad the score would be if they went up against a winning juggernaut like the Dolphins? I mean really, a 22 yard field goal missed?

Hey Seattle thanks that helps immensely.

Does anyone feel good about this Baltimore team that has played 6 good quarters out of the last 16 and lost to two crappy teams?

Detroit, oh how do you let the Bears run two interceptions back for a touchdown? Something tells me the Lions may be in trouble.

Wow, did you see the mass exodus from the Texans’ band wagon when Schaub got injured and the season was put into Matt Leinart’s hands? I thought the springs on the wagon would break from such a rapid weight loss.

I loved Vernon Davis leaping into the end zone. There is no defensive back that is going to be able to stop that bulk flying through the air.

It seems that Dream Team leader Michael Vick has a few broken ribs. Now, tell me again why you lost to the John Skelton led Cardinals? Tell me you’re not going to bat with the broken rib excuse?

The Steel Pit

Steelers 24 – Bengals 17

The game started out great with the defense providing an excellent 3 and out stand and the offense contributing with an opening drive for a touchdown.

I loved Jericho Cotchery catching his first touchdown as a Steeler. Love me some Hines Ward Light.

Unfortunately, Heath miller had worst game of season, with a deflected pass that was picked off bouncing off his hands and an interference penalty that called back a touchdown. That’s ok; everyone has a bad one once in a while.

While Rashard Mendenhall didn’t get the yards, he got in the end zone twice. Keep that up and I’ll be a happy camper.

And then there is the prerequisite injury to Roethlisberger, this time with a fractured thumb. Nothing is easy for the Steelers it would seem.

In other news Art Rooney and Mike Tomlin have had an ass full of the constant targeting by the league on Steelers for hitting and fining and met with Heir Goodell to clear the air. I hope they specifically pointed out how Ryan Clark gets flagged and fined $40,000 for a clean hit while Ray “on parole” Lewis did not get flagged and fined only $20,000 for a helmet to helmet hit on Hines Ward. I’m still waiting for an explanation on that double standard.

Ward Watch – Hines had only one catch, and at this pace may not make 1000 catches by the end of the season. But I think the dancing machine has at least one or two big games left in him, so stay tuned.

Only In Faux NFL Reality…

For those Green Bay fans that still remember the good times with ol’ Brent.

Gee, I wonder why the Jets have plummeted to a 5-5 record. Perhaps it’s because Rex is too busy concentrating on his movie career?

Lions’ fans started a petition to stop Nickelback from playing halftime of Lions/Packers Thanksgiving game. I’m all for this, most of us will still be digesting dinner, why show something that could bring stuffing and turkey back up??

Ok, considering how Cleveland has tired of the antics of the injured Peyton Hillis, does anyone doubt the power of the Madden Curse now?

In celebration of his touchdown catch in Dallas, Bills wide receiver David Nelson ran the ball down the field and presented it to his girlfriend, who is a Cowboys cheerleader. And who says romance is dead.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning stated he’s in favor of the team drafting Andrew Luck as his successor. Of course he is, any head coach would be ok with drafting a franchise quarterback

Poor Fred Jackson. Not only did he suffer the humiliation of his team getting pasted by Dallas, but it had to happen on his boyhood home, which was razed to build Jerry Jones’ monument to his ego.

Wait, what? Rex Ryan cursed at Jets fans? That seems completely unlike a loudmouthed blowhard such as Rex.

He Said He Said

"It's all right. It seems like everybody is going to find a nickname with 'red' or something for my hair. So, the 'Red Rifle' is all right.” – Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton on his nickname

Don’t worry Andy, you start playing like a true Bungle, more colorful nicknames will be generated.

“This time it’s wrong, not that I respected Roger before this.” – Steelers safety Ryan Clark on Roger Goodell and his latest fine against the Steelers

Yeah, like it was so right the previous half dozen times he fined Pittsburgh players.

"You can't spell 'elite' without Eli.'' - Giants defensive lineman Justin Tuck

And that’s today’s lesson from the Reading Rainbow.

“We don’t know how to lose.” – Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham

How about now?

"The longer we can keep the players from knowing they're good, the better.'' – 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh

Contrary to popular opinion, football players can read and comprehend ideas. So if they have read any information source, they know their record and the talk on the street about them. So they know they’re good already, dip wad.

Idiot of the Week

This week we grant the award of idiot to Falcons head coach Mike Smith.

Now, just to clarify I loved Smith going for the first down on fourth and inches. The odds favor success in this situation and it puts the onus to win on the players and the blame for failure on the coach, where they should be.

Why Smith is an idiot is the play call. There was absolutely no deception or misdirection in his call, a standard heavy package with a run straight up the middle. The Saints knew exactly where the ball was going and who was getting it just by the Falcons formation and reacted accordingly.

So, for taking control of the game against a fierce division rival and going for it, but then using such a transparent play call that a JV coach could have defended it, Mike Smith you are an idiot.

I was toying this week with creating a Douchebag of the week segment when I heard Jon Gruden calling Aaron Rodgers A-Rod, but then I realized that Gruden most likely would win every week so what’s the point? And on that note, is Ron Jaworski alive anymore? Can anyone shut Gruden up? He babbles incessantly during and after every single play. I swear the only way to watch Monday Night Football enjoyably anymore is on mute.

On Tap This Week

Well, what a middling week we had.

Last week: 8-7

Thursday: 1-0

Season to Date: 95-52

Thank goodness for some Tebow to start off this week right!

Sitting at home contemplating yet another find from Heir Goodell:

Houston, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Pittsburgh

Sunday

Carolina (2-7) at Detroit (6-3)

I don’t care that Detroit is showing a ton of red flags, I am not getting suckered into the Panthers again!

Lions over Panthers

Oakland (5-4) at Minnesota (2-7)

If Oakland doesn’t take care of business today, they will be fighting to keep Tim Tebow from taking the AFC West. Luckily, they get Minnesota!

Raiders over Vikings

Dallas (5-4) at Washington (3-6)

Dallas, do that thing you did last week against Buffalo that would be nice.

Cowboys over Redskins

Buffalo (5-4) at Miami (2-7)

Come on Buffalo, you can bury the Jets! And Miami, you need some Luck!

Bills over Dolphins

Jacksonville (3-6) at Cleveland (3-6)

Yuck, this is the game you get stuck watching when you’ve been bad.

Jaguars over Browns

Cincinnati (6-3) at Baltimore (6-3)

Oh I’ll be rooting for Cincinnati because that helps me. But knowing Baltimore, they’ll find a way to win because they can only win games now that somehow relate to screwing Pittsburgh.

Ravens over Bungles

Tampa Bay (4-5) at Green Bay (9-0)

Just give me one reason to pick against Green Bay right now.

Packers over Buccaneers

Seattle (3-6) at St. Louis (2-7)

Ewwww.

Seahawks over Rams

Arizona (3-6) at San Francisco (8-1)

You think John Skelton can pull off another big win on the road? Me either.

49ers over Cardinals

Tennessee (5-4) at Atlanta (5-4)

Hmmm, I’m gonna go with the ticked off Atlanta squad. Although I will be keeping an eye on Tennessee, since they now have an opportunity to steal the south.

Falcons over Titans

San Diego (4-5) at Chicago (6-3)

If San Diego loses today, that will be 5 straight losses. I believe Norv Turner can find a way to make it happen.

Bears over Chargers

Philadelphia (3-6) at New York Giants (6-3)

Do you think Andy Reid will even bother to look interested if there is not a menu taped to his play call sheet?

Giants over Eagles

Monday

Kansas City (4-5) at New England (6-3)

The Tyler Palko era in Kansas City begins! I think it will be off to a rough start.

Patriots over Chiefs

The Crystal Ball 2011 Week 10

Yes, Pittsburgh lost again to the Ravens. Rex Ryan acted like a jagoff, Tim Tebow threw a few more haters for a loop, the Giants recreated the wonderful results of Super Bowl XLII and Dolphin fans felt like they lost Andrew Luck in winning a game, but those things are minor this week. Please allow me to break from the norm of goofiness and nonsense while we step outside the lovely cocoon of professional football and address the most disturbing story I have ever seen to come from the college ranks. And if you have not heard about the ever widening scandal at Penn State, I am sorry that you will be reading about it here first.

And We All Fall Down

You typically will not find me waxing about college football. But the child sex abuse scandal currently engulfing Penn State is too much, and far too personal and heartbreaking.

The scandal broke last Saturday with the release of the Grand Jury report investigating former coach Jerry Sandusky followed by his arrest on 40 counts of sexual abuse against minors, and rapidly spread to engulf Penn State administration personnel arrested for perjury charges and the dismissal of Penn State president Graham Spanier and head football coach Joe Paterno. Just writing that seems surreal. I find it so troubling and mind blowing, and each day I think the same thing; this is only going to get bigger and more horrifying. So far, I have been sadly proven right.

It’s tough to think about something so terrible happening at Penn State, because being tucked into a small town in the middle of Pennsylvania, it seems so far away from where awful things happen that there’s no way something as horrific as child molestation could even find its way to State College and onto the Penn State campus through the rolling central Pennsylvania hills. But that is just foolish naiveté and ignorance speaking; the kind that allows things like this to happen. Evil goes everywhere.

It’s difficult and mortifying to see a place you grew up in, loved for various reasons and holds a cherished place in your heart at the center of something so unspeakably malevolent. Those emotions are even further corrupted and twisted when you see that place being used as a punch line and mocked by people who either never went to Penn State or only know of the school through football. It hurts worse when you see close friends ridicule the institution and the town for the transgressions of one subhuman. The worst feeling of all is that it deserves every bit of scorn heaped upon it right now. Still, every State Penn U crack cuts like a knife.

I find myself getting irrationally angry when I see people using Penn State, State College or the area as punch lines despite the fact that I agree with what they're saying. That's what hurts the worst. I know they're right; I agree with them. Yet it’s still home, it’s so personal because it feels like it happened to us. Penn State is a part of who we are and where we came of age. It’s a place that we carry with us every day as we move throughout the world. A place we hold dear, a physical reminder of a time when the world was ours for the taking, of hope and enthusiasm and a bond between those we met and with whom we formed the bonds of lifelong friendships and with others we have yet to meet but are joined together as alumni and Penn Staters.

We prided ourselves in knowing that at Penn State and in State College, this kind of thing never, ever happened. It is a quiet little town and a secluded beautiful campus nestled amongst rolling hills and sun dappled fields. Sure, we had rambunctious students acting like jagoffs from time to time and our share of wayward, lawbreaking athletes. But a horrific scandal that exposes a dysfunctional leadership structure and reveals a cover up the likes of which would not be believed if shown in a major motion picture? Good gravy that would, could, never happen at Penn State. And yet, sadly, infuriatingly, depressingly, here we are.

From a personal standpoint, I still cannot fathom that this horrific behavior, which according to the Grand Jury Report started in 1994, happened when I was at the university. In 1994, I worked at Penn State at a student dining commons and on the periphery for the football team at their training table dining facility. On a few occasions, I worked recruiting events. To think now that the same man I saw there was actively recruiting boys to rape both makes me violently sick and viciously angry. Even worse victim 7, whom Sandusky began his horrific treatment of in 1994 according to the Grand Jury report, ate at the dining hall with the athletes on a few occasions. To think I may have seen this poor child and had no idea that Sandusky was using this boy for his deviant sexual pleasures? I don’t know whether to cry, vomit or pound the wall in impotent rage until my hands are broken or bloody.

And now to know that an institutional wide malaise regarding this subhuman’s actions was led by the very people charged with shaping lives for the better has had my emotions in such a tizzy I don’t know whether to sob, hide in embarrassment or drive to the heart of the university and personally beat the living hell out of everyone named so far in this tragic story. Obviously, common sense stays my hand from the latter, but that doesn’t mean I still don’t want to do it.

This isn’t us, this isn’t Penn State. Stories like this happen at other schools, with a history of questionable morality and a lack of ethical judgment. You figure you would hear about this from the U or some other typically scandal riddled school. But not Penn State, not with Joe Paterno, shaper of men, at the helm making sure kids grow up, graduate and go on to successful lives. And yet, sadly, here we are. And the evil actions of one man, and the institutional dysfunction and reprehensible inaction by university personnel that allowed it to go unspoken for so long, has brought upon another unthinkable; the end of Paterno’s career.

For all the good he has done for the university, the football program, the thousands upon thousands of students who attended Penn State during his tenure that have benefitted from his fundraising and personal generosity, college football and the State College community, it will sadly be but a footnote and mean little as this scandal will be forever linked to him. No one will remember the wins, the donations, fundraisers, the new library or the untold thousands of lives changed for the better. They will remember his part in this sordid mess. And that is a shame. Because Joe has done more good for more people and one town and one university than arguably any coach ever. And his career success and longevity are the stuff of legend.

I have said often in the last few years at those harkening for Joe’s exit to just relax and enjoy it. no, no one seriously thinks he’s the coach he once was or that he is even that deeply involved in the nitty gritty of coaching any more. But to see one man and one university stay together for 61 years, through good seasons and bad, and form a symbiotic relationship that has strengthen, grown and benefitted both entities and all those who came within their spheres of influence will never be seen again. All things must end, but for one who did so much, and stumbled so badly at the end, it should have never ended in such moral disgrace.

Mind you I am not soliciting or trying to evoke any sympathy or pity for Paterno. Any feelings sympathy or empathy should be reserved and directed to the kids whose lives were ruined and scarred by Sandusky and his, at the moment, alleged violations. JoePa’s lack of action when he could have stood tall against this evil is what led to his unceremonious dismissal from the university. Penn State did what they had to do and it was the right thing. If the university has any hope of restoring meaning to Paterno’s long time mantra “Success With Honor And Integrity”, then they have to clean house.

And I would never justify or defend any position of anyone in this disgusting mess. As far as I'm concerned, there is no such thing as a defensible position. But it seems too easy to place all of the anger and outrage over this unspeakable tragedy and how it was allowed to continue for so long on Paterno. Yes, Paterno’s position dictates he should have done more from a moral and leadership standpoint. That is not debatable. But Joe is far from the only one who passed it up the chain and hoped it would go away.

Others should have done more as well. Anyone who had even the slightest inkling of Sandusky’s actions, if they are proven to be true, had just as much of a moral obligation to step in and do something to protect these children as the principals now on trial by the public. They should get no more of a pass for not doing more and earlier than Paterno and the Penn State hierarchy.

The following are people named specifically in the Grand Jury Report that either witnessed or had knowledge of Sandusky’s atrocities, most of them before Paterno was aware of his former defensive coordinator’s disgusting and perverted behavior. They deserve as much derision, blame and public vitriol, if not more, than Paterno. I’m not revealing any information that is not public knowledge. These people are culpable for allowing a monster to continue his abhorred behavior.

Joseph Miller, the administration of Clinton County High School, Mike and John McQueary, Steven Turchetta, The Second Mile Organization, Dr. Jack Raykovitz head of The Second Mile, Dr. Graham Spanier, University counsel Wendell Courtney, the University Police department, University Police detective Ronald Shreffler, District Attorney Ray Gricar, University Police director Thomas Harmon (who ordered Shreffler to close an investigation on Sandusky in 1998), State College Police detective Ralph Ralston, Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare investigator Jerry Lauro, Sandusky’s wife, janitorial staff members James Calhoun and Ronald Petrosky, Jay Witherite (Calhoun’s supervisor).

These are just those mentioned in the report. With this many people named in a Grand Jury investigation, who knows how many others may have also had some sort of knowledge. As per the report, many knew about Sandusky’s atrocities long before Paterno was ever aware, and his part per the report seems minor compared to the public maelstrom currently engulfing the coach and the university. Mind you, I’m not excusing JoePa for operating only by the letter of the law and not stepping up to his moral responsibility. I’m just making a point that there are so many others that also had a chance to bring down this fiend and did nothing.

And as a small aside, if his Sandusky’s wife knew, she is even more despicable than Sandusky himself. Of all the troubling things contained in the report, one that stood out to me is that in the weeks prior to Victim 7’s appearance before the Grand Jury, the victim received phone messages from Sandusky, his wife and a family friend urging him to call them back. They did not say why, just that the matter was important. Why would she contact Victim 7 in this manner so close to when he would be giving his testimony? This implies to me that she may have known exactly what her disgusting slug of a husband was doing all those years. If she did know, and did nothing to stop it and this habitual pattern of abuse to continue she should be arrested as well.

How could you let your partner, your life mate, your spouse do such things and get away with it? And do them in your own home? What kind of person remains in a marriage when you know your spouse is doing the kinds of things to children that every parent fears and reviles could happen to their child? How could you?

Unfortunately hindsight is 20/20, and right now as a way to deal with our own tumultuous emotions over this horrific scandal we are pouring our impotent rage and wrath out on the principals involved and demanding to know why they did not more and screaming that they should have stood up and stopped this monster years ago. I am not defending any action or inaction. To be brutally honest, I find no position in this mess defensible in any way. But when faced with something bad, people unfortunately let each other down by avoiding getting involved.

Too often we neglect to take the time to help those who need it when personal attention could make all the difference. We’re all guilty of creating this malaise. For the most part, this usually applies to minor offenses like not letting someone into a traffic line, not holding a door open or cutting someone off in a line. Sometimes it goes further like not helping out a hungry person or ignoring those fundraising efforts from shelters. But when it comes to protecting children, we should all be ready to step up to the plate no matter the trouble, inconvenience or potential damage. And that’s the crux of why everyone is so angry. We see the inactions in these people who we look up to and expect to do what is right and privately wonder, would I have been strong enough to stand up to this evil if I had been in their position when they obviously were not? And I think more than a few people are scared they may have done exactly what many did, pass the information along and try to forget it ever happened.

Placing all the blame at Joe's feet is at best scapegoating and at worst letting society off the hook of moral responsibility to protect its young and weak and stop evil when we see it. Many are to blame for not standing up when they had the chance, but we always blame celebrity because it's easy, quick and keeps us from examining our own souls and questioning if we would be brave and strong enough to stand up to such an atrocity.

I do not defend anyone at the University for their actions; their departure in disgrace is well earned, and I find every new piece of information that comes out even more sickening and disturbing than the previous one. But let's make sure we blame everyone involved throughout the years for their lack of resolve and negligence in coming forward to the authorities and make sure to direct the majority of the venom at the monster who perpetrated these crimes.

With Paterno and other top officials out, the focus seems to be turning to where it should be, on the villain Sandusky and on the children. I have seen more than a few open letters to Penn State students and alumni showing support, reminding us we are not defined by one coach, or one team or one administration, but by something greater which is Penn State and the ideals it stands for and that we helped shape through the years by our time there and what we’ve done since. I thought this letter from an Ohio State University fan was quite nice.

And despite the actions of a few misguided idiots and their mini riot Wednesday night over Paterno’s ouster, Penn State students showed what they are truly made of, and what it means to be a Penn Stater, and held a vigil on Friday night at Beaver Stadium for the victims. The fans at Saturday’s game all donned blue in support of stamping out child abuse. Penn State and Nebraska players joined each other in silent prayer before the game at midfield in a contest of which the results mean nothing. These are but the first small steps in what will be a long and painful road of healing for the victims, the university and its alumni, but it’s a start. And that’s what everyone needs now, a fresh start.

I know the institution itself will weather this and survive. And I know it will be even greater than before for finally addressing such evil and taking the necessary and unpopular steps to move forward and heal.

But the fact that it has to do such things is so upsetting and saddens me so I cannot adequately put it into words. This should have never happened, ever. But it has, and now it’s time for all of us to pull together and begin to heal and work to make sure this never happens again. We should start making efforts to help ourselves, our friends and neighbors, our communities and reach out to those who are in need. Create better versions of ourselves and our world, and grow in strength and bravery so if we should ever be faced with such a situation, we will not only know what to do, but have the intestinal fortitude to do something about it.

If we all start working together, then perhaps this will never happen again and we can have success with honor and integrity. We can do this. We have the strength and courage, knowledge, will and drive to change the world. We learned it at a place that was once wonderful and beautiful and with our help can be again. We are greater than those who did wrong and we are not defined by them. We are defined by what is yet to come and what we will do. After all, We Are Penn State.

On Tap This Week

So much for the previous week’s stellar performance.

Last week: 7-7

Thursday: 0-1

Season to Date: 86-45

Ok, so perhaps I’m not back yet. But let’s see if trying to prognosticate what some of these messes that call themselves NFL teams will do will provide a needed distraction.

Sitting at home, no one. Everyone works this weekend so get on it.

Sunday

Buffalo (5-3) at Dallas (4-4)

I haven’t jumped off the Buffalo bandwagon yet. And since Rob Ryan seems to be more interested in starting his plans for his next job and not stopping the run, why should I steer away from Buffalo now?

Bills over Cowboys

Tennessee (4-4) at Carolina (2-6)

Ok, I’ll try this just one more time.

Panthers over Titans

Houston (6-3) at Tampa Bay (4-4)

I think it’s obvious that Tampa Bay overachieved last year. But hey, they don’t call it the sophomore slump for nothing.

Texans over Buccaneers

New Orleans (6-3) at Atlanta (5-3)

I’m sorry, I still do not trust Atlanta. And I really am not sure why.

Saints over Falcons

St. Louis (1-7) at Cleveland (3-5)

Cleveland has nothing left as far as skill position players who are healthy short of Cribbs. Their offense is anemic at best. They are ripe for the picking. But St. Louis, who couldn’t finish off the Cardinals last week?

Browns over Rams

Washington (3-5) at Miami (1-7)

Way to go Miami, real smart winning a game. What good does that do for you? Some teams never learn. Well, at least they have their normal failures at home to look forward to this week. Oh, and as a safety note, please do not watch this game. There is no way it will be palatable.

Redskins over Dolphins

Pittsburgh (6-3) at Cincinnati (6-2)

Alright, how about we start winning some division games guys, think that might be a good idea? Bunch of jagoffs….

Steelers over Bengals

Jacksonville (2-6) at Indianapolis (0-9)

See, this is why you root for Indianapolis. They set a goal, and they do whatever it takes to achieve said goal and never let anything get in the way, like say winning games and losing out on the number one pick.

Jaguars over Colts

Denver (3-5) at Kansas City (4-4)

And yes, I am rooting for Tebow and the Broncos, because a win here makes the AFC West a complete mess.

Broncos over Chiefs

Arizona (2-6) at Philadelphia (3-5)

Ok, Chicago was too much to handle for the Dream Team. Let’s lower the bar a bit and see if they can work with a team of the caliber of Arizona. Not to scare you Eagle fans, but Baltimore had trouble with them for a half.

Eagles over Cardinals

Baltimore (6-2) at Seattle (2-6)

Watch, after pouring it all out last week and looking like a good team for the first time in three weeks, Baltimore will go back to playing poorly just to tick me off.

Ravens over Seahawks

Detroit (6-2) at Chicago (5-3)

One of two Chicago teams will show up, the gritty, determined bunch that shut down Philly on the road last week and made everyone wonder how we’d forgotten about them, or the one that laid a few embarrassing eggs earlier in the season that caused everyone to write them off in the first place. There is no in between.

Bears over Lions

New York Giants (6-2) at San Francisco (7-1)

Thank you G-Men, that was a most satisfying victory last week. I’ll make you a deal, if you win this week, I’ll start taking you seriously. In the meantime….

49ers over Giants

New England (5-3) at New York Jets (5-3)

I know their defense is atrocious, their running game suspect and their deep threat receiver nonexistent, but there is no way I can believe New England can lose three games in a row. No way.

Patriots over Jets

Monday

Minnesota (2-6) at Green Bay (8-0)

Another speed bump in the path of Green Bay’s freight train. This one should provide little resistance.

Packers over Vikings