The Crystal Ball 2013 Week 14

Welcome one and all to Week 14 of the NFL season. Yes, we're a little late today, but for good reason. Yours truly and the Lady K participated in the inaugural A Christmas Story 5k-10k race yesterday. And while we did not finish first, we did not finish last either. But the journey wiped us out, and we're still catching up on rest! So while I take another nap, you enjoy this week's offerings.

Opening Kickoff

Welcome back Aldon Smith. It's so nice he managed to get his life put back together and overcome his addiction demons and legal entanglements, just in time for the playoff push. Funny how that worked out, huh?

The Way It Was

The Texans finally pulled the trigger and fired head coach Gary Kubiak after the team's 11th straight loss. Was anyone surprised?

Rex Ryan, who seems to have made a career in New York mangling the quarterback situation, benched quarterback Geno Smith last week. Tell me again how he and Sanchez were better than Tebow? I guess he'll be next with Kubiak at the unemployment office.

Tom Brady and the Texans Antonio Smith traded barbs in the press, with Smith accusing the Patriots of cheating. Color me unsurprised.

Apparently, Adrian Peterson would love to play football in his native Texas. Oh man, I want Minnesota to so badly trade him to Dallas. Come on Vikings, get back at the Cowboys for when they fleeced you in the Herschel Walker trade!

The Steel Pit

Steelers 20 - Ravens 22

There's plenty we could discuss in the wake of the season crushing defeat in Baltimore, including Sanders' repeated drops and the team's seeming refusal of letting Roethlisberger just run the No Huddle offense, the only offensive strategy that has worked all season. But we won't. No, let's just get right to it and address Mike Tomlin and his sideline antics that resulted in a $100,000 fine and the potential loss of a draft pick.

Right up front, I'll say it. Despite his protestations otherwise, I believe he did it on purpose. I know he probably does watch kickoffs on the stadium screens from that vantage piont, and him, or any of his counterparts across the league being in that white striped area or even on the field is nothing new. But this video shows him purposefully moving out into position and then looking over his shoulder and waiting until the last instant before moving. I know he claims he moved to get a better view, but nothing was blocking his view in the first place. It's obvious he was attempting to help his team in any way, shape or form. That he continues to lie about it after it's obvious he did it intentionally is exactly why this team stinks.

The players take their cues from their head coach. and Tomlin is not instilling discipline, dignity or any sort of decorum and fostering an environment with a distinct lack of pride in effort, results, workmanship and a lack of pride in being a Pittsburgh Steeler. And this is the most troubling aspect of all, because players used to feel a swell of pride putting on this uniform, and it affected their play and behavior in postive ways. 

But without pride, discipline, dignity or decorum, this team is falling apart, looking bad doing it and filled with a collection of unlikeable men who behave in detestable and bizarre ways. This is why you have Emmanuel Sanders imitating Ray Lewis in Baltimore while dropping a half a dozen passes, including the 2 point conversion that would have tied the game. And then acting like yet another loss is no big deal. This is why you have Sanders getting into a Twitter fight with fans AFTER the game, and a local radio host later in the week, with both Sanders and LaMarr Woodley threatening the host on the airwaves, yet no repercussions come from their actions, they do not see anything wrong with what they did, and they never take the time to look at themselves as responsible for the teams bad performance! This is why you have veterans playing keep away with the pool table from the younger guys. and this is why you have players feeling like it's just one loss, no big deal, we'll do better next week, even though that loss pile is getting mighty high.

There is no accountability on this team for performance, behavior, wins, losses or attitude. And that accountability should be coming from the top, but is not. Tomlin is responsible for establishing such standards, which he likes to tout often and he has been failing miserably. And it's noticeable by those outside of the organization

As an example, last Saturday the Steelers signed free agent offensive lineman Rashad Butler. Butler has bounced around the league for a bit, and was in need of a job. The team said, come on in. Butler signed, stayed two days, and then quit citing personal reasons. When a man in need of a football job says no thanks to your team, a team once viewed as a crown jewel of the NFL, that is a stunning condemnation. And I put the blame for that squarely where it belongs, on Tomlin's shoulders.

Tomin achieved great success early in his tenure in Pittsburgh, much to everyone's delight. However, that success has bred an arrogance that is reflected in the performance and behavior of the team. And that reflection is anything but attractive. Tomlin himself seems unwilling or unable to accept blame for his own failings and visibly bristles when others suggest his methods are not working.

Instead of trying to disrupt Jacoby Jones by standing at the edge of the sideline, perhaps Tomlin should have been doing his job as coach to improve the play of his special teams units so Jones wouldn't be screaming up the sidelines.

The team issued a statement claiming Tomlin's actions were unintentional. But remember this is the same team that said Bruce Arians was retiring. How's that retirement house in Arizona working out Bruce?

Let me put it this way. Could you imagine Bill Walsh, Bill Belichick, Chuck Noll, Tom Landry or Vince Lombardi doing something so juvenile? No, and therein lies my problem with his actions, and ultimately my problem with this team.

Next week, we'll take a look at what the team should, and most likely will, do in the approaching off season.

Only In Faux NFL Reality…

Dan Dierdorf is retiring from NFL broadcasting. Hey, good for Dan for having such a great career. I know he often would state the obvious during games, but with how little people pay attention nowadays, his style became in my opinion increasingly necessary. Happy trails Dan!

The Kansas City Chiefs mascot was hurt practicing a stunt for the game. No word from the Chiefs if they will sign a mascot off the practice squad to fill in.

I know this will seem odd, but Colts owner Jim Irsay is working on being an even bigger douchebag than Jerry Jones. Irsay took to Twitter to rip his teams recent performance. Really? Twitter? If he wanted to rip and/or inspire the team, go to the locker room. this is just a pathetic grab for attention.

Toronto mayor Rob Ford, who only uses crack in drunken stupors, took in the Bills/Falcons game in Toronto last week. How proud Buffalo must have been seeing Rob in Bills gear.

You thought that magic settlement the NFL laid on the NFLPA was gonna make the concussion issue go away? Ha ha you were wrong.

Snyders receiver Santana Moss shredded the officials, claiming they are the worst he's ever seen. I can understand how the officials would be so bad during Washington games. I'd have trouble watching that mess also.

Upon Further Review

I gotta say, I love the cajones on Bill Belichick to defer the overtime kick against the Broncos a few weeks ago. But you know what it said to me? He knew Peyton Manning didn't have it in him to go out and win the game. And Belichick was banking on that knowing Tom Brady did. Belichick dared Manning to go out and take the win from him. And Manning again in a big game could not deliver.

You know why Brady is 10-4 lifetime against Peyton Manning, including this most recent meeting when Manning's defense and running game were working so well? Because Manning cannot close out big games. He never has, and at this point probably never will. Whenever his defense or running game collapse, as his defense did in this game, Manning does not have it in him to finish. He's basically Dan Marino that got lucky once against an overachieving Bears team. And while that's a great comparison, people don't as often remember the statistical great as much as the champion.

Peyton Manning is a statistical great, and a great quarterback just by the eye test. But when it comes down to crunch time, he does not have that extra gear, that killer instinct needed when the pressure is at it's highest. And that is not a knock on Manning. Very few people have that. He, unfortunately, is not one of them. Or fortunately for the rest of the league. If he did have it, he might be working toward his 12th championship. Well, as long as he never played in the cold.

Manning and his 2013 Broncos are a very good team. But I have serious misgivings seeing them as the NFL champions. If you don't great, I say cheer them on. They are fun to watch. But let me ask you this. If Denver makes the Super Bowl this year, with the game in New Jersey, if temperatures are below freezing, who are you betting on?

He Said He Said

"We suck. As an offense. That's pretty much it." - Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson

Don't hold back Andre. Tell us how you really feel.

"New England beat a very good team Sunday night, and it wasn’t just Brady that did it. It took a village." - The MMQB's Peter King discussing the Broncos/Patriots game

Really? because from all the hyperbole I heard all week and all day leading up to this game, I really thought it would just be Brady and Manning throwing footballs at each other for 60 minutes.

"Right now, I can't tell you who is starting." - Jets coach Rex Ryan on his quarterback issues

Bungling the quarterback situation has cost better coaches than Rex Ryan their job.

“We are a necessary part of the game. We’re not a necessary evil of the game. We have a role to play, and our role is truly to not be recognized.” - NFL referee Gene Steratore

True, but fans hate to blame their own team or accept a reality where their team just plain stinks. So the referees become the unfortunate scapegoat.

"I’m not afraid to make a mistake. As a quarterback, you can’t be. One of the things that’s helped me in this position is my parents taught me attention to detail. And if you’ve done all the work and play one snap at a time and do the best you can on every snap, you’re going to be confident enough to make those throws.” - Eagles quarterback Nick Foles

I keep wanting him to say something like, "I cooked you a delicious bass." Is that wrong?

"I do it quite often, like everybody else in the National Football League. I was wrong, I accept responsibility for it." - Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin

No you don't. if you did you'd tell the truth that you did it on purpose. Instead you're lying to avoid big trouble.

"Lawsuits and legislation are not needed to return Thanksgiving to its original meaning -- all that's needed is for Americans to refuse to enter stores for one day of the year. Has materialism become such an almighty that Americans cannot do this? Then maybe Thanksgiving is a religious event after all." - Tuesday Morning Quarterback's Gregg Easterbrook

Hear hear!

Idiot of the Week

Since it's been a little while, I have a few idiots I'd like to honor. They are, in no particular order:

Snyders owner Dan Snyder - in his increasingly pathetic attempt to justify his team's racist nickname, Snyder showed a new level of disrespect by  trotting out a group of World War II veteran Navajo wind talkers to "honor" them. But it felt more like a ploy to show Native Americans comfortable with his team and it's moniker. Shame on you Snyder for dishonoring those men by using them for your own gain. Honor them for what they did, not what you want their presence provides to you.

Referee Jeff Triplette - At the end of the Snyders game, Triplette and his crew screwed up the down situation, and he refused to stop play and the clock to correct the situation. Triplette claimed stopping play would give Washington "an unfair advantage". But by not stopping the clock, and letting Washington operate under the impression they had more downs than they did, didn't that give New York an unfair advantage?

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin - I mean come on, he had to get at least a runner up.

Select Green Bay Packers - some of them thought at the end of overtime against the Vikings, there would be multiple overtimes. Donovan McNabb had no comment.

Gentlemen, you know the drill. You are all idiots.

On Tap This Week

It's been a while, so let's just do a big catch up.

Thursday: 1-0

Season to Date: 121-72

Ok, a few rough weeks in there. But I'll be better now. I swear!

Sunday

Oakland (4-8) at New York Jets (5-7)

I'm sorry, but I can't trust New York's offense at all. Even less than Oakland.

Raiders over Jets

Minnesota (3-8-1) at Baltimore (6-6)

I'm rooting for Minnesota, but I know better.

Ravens over Vikings

Detroit (7-5) at Philadelphia (7-5)

Call me a Nick Foles fan. Any cat that can be successful and look like Napoleon Dynamite is ok in my book!

Eagles over Lions

Miami (6-6) at Pittsburgh (5-7)

Oooh, Mike Wallace's big return to Pittsburgh! Big deal. He's so overrated, I bet he can't even exploit Ike Taylor!

Steelers over Dolphins

Atlanta (3-9) at Green Bay (5-6-1)

Come on Matt Flynn, even you can beat Atlanta. Right?

Packers over Falcons

Indianapolis (8-4) at Cincinnati (8-4)

I'm telling you, the Bungles are going to reveal their true nature. Starting today.

Colts over Bungles

Kansas City (9-3) at Washington (3-9)

Please. I know KC has had a rough patch, but that ends today.

Chiefs over Snyders

Buffalo (4-8) at Tampa Bay (3-9)

And watch Greg Schiano continue to hamstring the team's future draft considerations.

Buccaneers over Bills

Cleveland (4-8) at New England (9-3)

Starting quarterbacks for Cleveland since 1999 -      20

Starting quarterbacks for New England since 1999 - 3

Yup.

Patriots over Browns

Tennessee (5-7) at Denver (10-2)

Something tells me that Peyton may just have a good idea of how to beat Tennessee. Not sure why though.

Broncos over Titans

New York Giants (5-7) at San Diego (5-7)

I have no idea. All I know is with these two teams, whomever I pick is gonna lose. It just seems to be the way.

Giants over Chargers

St. Louis (5-7) at Arizona (7-5)

Ugh, a match up of teams that moved and screwed their former fan bases. Both should be sent back to their original cities. Rams, back to Cleveland and Cardinals, get back to Chicago! There. All fixed.

Cardinals over Rams

Seattle (11-1) at San Francisco (8-4)

Give me one good reason NOT to pick Seattle? I know, there is none.

Seahawks over 49ers

Carolina (9-3) at New Orleans (9-3)

Who would have thought this game would be for the division? I like Carolina this season, but I like New Orleans home field better.

Saints over Panthers

Monday

Dallas (7-5) at Chicago (6-6)

Meh. Why not the Cowboys? Just to give a little hope before falling apart.

Cowboys over Bears