The Crystal Ball 2012 Final Primer

Camps broke weeks ago, the cheers have died down from the final pre-season games and teams have pared their rosters down to the league mandated 53 players. The 2012 training camp/pre-season has officially come to an end. And with it came also the end of my own personal training camp. No, I'm not talking about rounding into mid season snarkiness, I'm talking about my own personal training camp I alluded to earlier in August.

If I may, I'd like to take a moment to share a new activity and accomplishment I recently achieved as I am feeling quite good about them. At the start of the NFL training camps, I started my own, and partook in the Couch to 5K running program. My goal was to be ready to race before the season began. While I still have two weeks of the program to finish, I did participate in my official first race, the Run For Your Lives Zombie 5K Obstacle Course. Check out their official website here for all the details regarding this event.

Now, I didn't race to win, nor even try to beat others. I set personal goals to finish as strong as I could, and I accomplished that. I probably should have started with a more traditional 5K race, as the obstacles were daunting, and trying to negotiate the course while avoiding zombies provided yet another level of difficulty. But considering the Lady K and I did as well, and in a few cases better, than hard core runners plus we conquered all the obstacles and finished the race without getting hurt I call those huge wins. And of course, we got sweet "I Participated" medals to commemorate the event.

For the first time, I'm both physically and mentally ready for the NFL season. In the future, there will be additional races, and improvement in my running of which I'll share significant milestones where they seem appropriate. Much like pro athletes, you have to keep doing it to get to the top of your game. Plus, with this exciting and new exercise regimen, I can easily justify extra chicken wings on game day! Wow, the benefits just keep coming! Here's to a season full of football, running, races and chicken wings! Now let's wrap up what's left of the off season and get ready for some football!

Opening Kickoff

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gave head coach Jason Garrett a vote of confidence. I don't think I've ever started the Coaching Carousel segment after week 1 of the season.

Final Pre-season Odds and Ends

The Seattle Seahawks didn't let T.O. disrupt their season, and cut him in favor of Braylon Edwards. First Ochocinco, now T.O. gone? Are their any disruptive attention seeking receivers left anymore?

Oh, there's one! Mike Wallace ended his "holdout" and reported to Steelers camp without getting the new long term deal he was attempting to extract from the team. Sorry Mike, Pittsburgh only negotiates contracts with players in camp. If it didn't work for Franco Harris or Hines Ward, it never would have worked for you.

Nor did it work for Maurice Jones-Drew, who ended his hold out and reported to Jaguar camp without a big new contract either. Although I figured since most people in Florida couldn't name three other Jaguars, he might have a bit more leverage than Wallace.

The Buffalo Bills decided they preferred the services of Tarvaris Jackson as back up quarterback than that of Vince Young. Vince, you might as well get it over with and just sign with Oakland. It's where all careers go to die.

Speaking of services no longer required, the Eagles traded Nnamdi Asomugha to the Falcons. I wonder if Andy Reid will realize, once Asomugha has a great season this year, that perhaps his offensive line coach as defensive coordinator experiment may just not be working.

Detroit vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. touted the Lions will bring a Super Bowl victory to long suffering Lions fans. I'm guessing it won't happen this year.

A Jets fan tweeted to Jet Blue officials he wanted to fly in Jet Blue's New York Jets logoed plane on his upcoming trip to New York. Jet Blue said no problem and the fan got his wish. I didn't realize Twitter granted wishes, I wanna try! I'm going to tweet the NFL to ban sideline hoodies! Crossing my fingers....

Speaking of the Jets, head coach Rex Ryan sent some of his higher profile players to a leadership seminar in lieu of a day of practice. Considering their play, I think they probably needed the extra practice more.

Dolphins rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill revealed on HBO's Hard Knocks that he doesn't know which teams are in what NFL division. Ladies and gentlemen, you're 2012 Miami Dolphins!

The Cowboys, concerned about the off field behavior of their star wide receiver Dez Bryant, have banned him from alcohol consumption, banned strip clubs, instilled a midnight curfew and hired a 24 hour security team to escort Bryant around. That sounds all well and good, but how about instead of grounding Bryant, why doesn't the organization get this kid into therapy to help him deal with his self destructive tendencies? And why weren't they doing these measures all year round, instead of during the season? How about putting some resources to helping this young man onto a better life path in general, not just keep him square enough to run routes.

Upon Further Review

As the beginning of the 2012 season approaches, the NFL finds itself embroiled in another lockout, this time with the NFL referees. Throughout the pre-season, the NFL has employed replacement referees in place of the professional crews previously employed, with disturbing results.

Already this pre-season I've seen calls changed after talking with head coaches, blatant off side infractions missed, head shots to quarterbacks improperly called, 5 minute summits between the entire crew and the replay officials to determine field position on a change of possession, wrong team names or players called for infractions, poor spotting of the ball after the play and an overall confusion. And mind you, I’ve only watched parts of 3 games. I have seen highlights of this happening in all other games too.

For those hoping that the NFL would run these negotiations to the last minute and then come to an agreement in time for the season, that hope has been dashed. The NFL announced replacement crews will work week 1 of the season.

Without getting too deep into the collective bargaining agreement the NFL and the referees are working on, and the sticking points of the deal, I find it troubling the NFL would allow this to come to pass.

Using replacement crews, which are staffed by officials from the Division III college level, high school football level and even the Lingerie Bowl, creates a serious safety hazard for the players on the field. These officials are not as experienced in the rules of professional football officiating, nor are they used to or adept at seeing what is happening at the speed of an NFL game. Why Goodell would damage his player safety campaign credibility by allowing inexperienced officials to determine penalties is beyond me.

Also by using replacement officials, there is the serious possibility that this could affect the quality of the on-field product, turn off fans and affect the outcome of games. As we have learned by now, damaging the on field product is damaging to the shield, Goodell's biggest pet peeve and one he cites often when meting out punishment to wayward players.

What really irks me is it was revealed over the weekend that the negotiations, and specifically the divide between the NFL and referees, comes down to $4 million per year in compensation and retirement benefits. $4 million per year, total, is keeping these two sides from coming to terms.

The NFL slapped a take or leave it offer on the table Friday, in hopes of strong-arming the referees into folding. The referees did not, most likely knowing that after week 1, they're bargaining position will become very strong with fans up in arms over the debacle that will be the officiating. And already, teams, players and coaches are concerned regarding the replacement officials and what it will mean when the games become official.

I do not understand how Goodell and the NFL brass, as well as the owners, feel comfortable standing their ground over $4 million, pennies comparatively to an organization that pulls in over $8 billion a year. It seems to go against logic and common sense to fight for such a paltry gain when the affects of their stance could affect which teams make the post season and win the Super Bowl.

Bad or non-calls made by the replacement officials could affect the outcome of games, which would affect standings, playoff positioning or even making the playoffs, and ultimately who will be crowned NFL champion. I can't believe saving a few million dollars would be worth losing a championship. Think of it this way, if a bad call affects the outcome of a Cowboys/Giants game in favor of the Giants, and the Cowboys miss the playoffs because of it, how well do you think Jerry Jones, one never afraid to speak his mind, would rate Roger Goodell's job performance after the season? Well guess what, that very scenario could occur on Wednesday night during the NFL's season opening showcase.

Goodell better be sure he's right about this, because I see a clear path to him being fired over a $ 4 million stance.

He Said He Said

"Do you want to punch me in the face?'' - former Jet quarterback Boomer Esiason to current Jet quarterback Tim Tebow in response to Esiason's criticism of Tebow

"They have confused attention with talent, headlines with performance, hype with Lombardis. The Jets are emblematic of everything that is wrong with America nowadays." – Foxsports.com columnist Jen Floyd Engel

And that's called hitting the nail squarely on the head, both in the microcosm of the Jets and the macrocosm of the current state of our society.

"I guarantee (Vick) will not get hurt." - Unequal Technologies CEO Rob Vito in reference to Michael Vick wearing his company's flak jacket for safety during games

Apparently this magical flak jacket comes with a full body shield. Now what happens when Vick does get hurt? Do the Eagles get a money back guarantee?

"Officiating is an imperfect science. They're not going to be correct all the time, but we have systems in place to try to help." - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell

Is this system bringing back the regular officials?

"I was hoping it would have been just an all-out college party. It would have been worth it. I would have been there all night. I would have gotten hammered. I'm not kidding." - Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski in a cover story in Sports Illustrated

I read this article, and the entire time I kept thinking, if you were trying to create an over the top, caricature of the ultimate Frat Bro D-Bag, this would be the results.

Idiot of the Week

To close out the pre-season, I don the cape, scepter and crown of idiot on Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Yes, it would be easy to give him the award for his ridiculous glory hole comments, or hiring full time baby sitters for his star wide receiver, or even just his generally over the top arrogance with no tangible results. Jerry does plenty to nominate himself.

But I think his latest foray into being a corporate pitchman speaks for itself, and easily wins him the coveted award. Jerry Jones, you are an idiot.

Next Time On…

The wild, wacky fun that we call the NFL regular season commences.