The Crystal Ball 2014 Week 2

Well, after a week of having the NFL’s implied complicity with domestic violence spread across the airwaves, an owner accused of sexual assault and now child abuse charges leveled at one of the leagues brightest stars, I’m still wondering if the owners are going to wait until revenue drops to get rid of Goodell, or if for once someone will learn a lesson from this week and be proactive about a problem rather than reactive. I

And while I’m at it I’d also like a million, billion dollars and a pony.

Opening Kickoff

Peyton Manning would be the Dan Marino of the 21^st century if not for Rex Grossman. I hope Peyton remembers that, and Rex, each Christmas.

The Way It Was

The lesson is, as always, never trust the preseason. Oh, and turnovers kill.

Ok, what was that Jekyll and Hyde performance by Philadelphia? Yeah, they stormed back, but down 17 at home to Jacksonville? Yikes.

Hmmm, EJ Manual looks much better and a lot less shaky than we were led to believe. And nice job Buffalo for their first ever in Chicago. And thanks to both teams for such an exciting week one game.

Huh, its funny how Emmanuel Sanders doesn't drop a ball thrown by Peyton Manning, but Big Ben throws him one in a key situation and suddenly its butterfingers galore.

And Atlanta and New Orleans putting on a barnburner in the Georgia Dome, but you had to feel bad for Marques Colston. That is a crappy way to end a hard fought game.

Now, I thought I was told the Patriots, with Darrelle Revis, would have an unstoppable defense. If you mean they are unable to stop anyone, then that assessment is correct. (Yeah, I know, no room to talk)

Unfortunately, the Jets and Raiders both performed as advertised. *shudder*

Wow, first Sam Bradford, then Shaun Hill leaves the game injured? St. Louis needs a quarterback like Pittsburgh needs a defensive back.

I’ll say it, 8-8 may win the NFC East.

Wow, Dallas could not have started off the season any worse. Their defense looked as atrocious as accepted, but the offense is just as bad. Romo and his receivers looked completely out of sync, like this was their first game played together.

Can we get a moratorium from all sports franchises to stop playing “Crazy Train”? No one is aboard at this point.

The Steel Pit

Steelers 30 – Browns 27

Steelers 6 – Ravens 26

Ugh.

Let’s look at some positives first.

Ben looked great in the opening weekend.

Le’Veon Bell looks like the real deal.

Antonio Brown may have an even better season than last year, if the offense kicks it in high gear.

Markus Wheaton may just be on to something.

Heath Miller, yeah, he looks back to his old self, for the most part.

Believe it or not, Brett Keisel still has something left in the tank.

Ok, now let’s look at the negatives.

The team as a whole has played two awesome quarters, and 6 crappy ones.

Since halftime of game one, the team has been outscored 50-9.

Special teams has some serious issues, and they’re not even that big of a problem right now.

Marcus Gilbert and Cortez Allen both got big contracts ahead of an extension for Ben Roethlisberger, and both have played horribly in their first two games.

Mike Mitchell was supposed to be a younger version of Ryan Clark, but other than the stupid penalties, I’m seeing none of Clark’s fierceness, run stopping ability or pass coverage from back in the day.

But no one is as bad as Ike Taylor. Taylor is done, just done. He has less than nothing left in the tank. At this point, I think someone out of the stands would do better, and I’m not really joking.

As a whole, the defense is a mess. The line cannot stop the run, the linebackers, including big money Jason Worilds, are getting no pressure into the backfield, the cornerbacks could not cover a bed with a blanket and again Troy has to play with half a safety partner. There are lots of young guys on the unit that need to gel, but as of right now those growing pains are being exposed on a weekly basis.

Unfortunately, opposing offenses have also found every crack in LeBeau’s scheme, which looks the same as it did 10 years ago, but with less qualified personnel. Unless something there changes too, this is going to get worse until it gets better.

At least I have this funny parody that mocked Antonio Brown’s hurdle/kick. Yay.

Only In Faux NFL Reality…

Looks like the Bills may have a new owner. Happy day Buffalo fans, he’ll definitely keep the team right where it belongs.

After this week I think we all need something nice to hold on to. How about something wonderful instead? The Bengals are selling replica Devon Still jerseys, with the full proceeds going to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital for pediatric cancer care and research. It makes me want to buy a Bengals jersey. Actually, with how horrible the NFL as a whole is acting, I just may buy one to feel better about things. Amazing work Bengals, you get a pass for a few weeks from this downtrodden Steeler fan.

I’ll admit it, I love, love love the latest Aaron Rodgers State Farm commercial starring Hanz and Franz for so many hilarious reasons. Here me now and believe me later, these are fantastic and I want more!

OK, KFC it’s time to stop the confessional/viral video style advertising campaign. No one is going to a KFC and taking a bite of chicken and thinking, damn, this is so good, I just have to video it and share it with the world. No one.

Gee, I wonder which team Cris Collinsworth was rooting for on Sunday night. He excused every Denver mistake, openly questioned every call against Denver, and marginalized every Colt accomplishment. Honestly I picked the Broncos, but eventually I started rooting for the Colts because Collinsworth was acting like such a Manning sycophant.

Ok, I'll say it if no one else will. I'm beginning to think the Colts success a few years ago had nothing to do with Chuck Pagano and everything to do with Bruce Arians. And the circumstantial evidence to support this stance is growing weekly.

Question, I know after many years, the memory can start to fade. But Ickey Woods played running back right? Because now, he looks like a former offensive lineman. The years have not been kind. Perhaps it's too many cold cuts.

Upon Further Review

The NFL has named former FBI director Robert Mueller to head an independent commission to investigate the Ray Rice quagmire. Owners Art Rooney II and John Mara will assist and oversee the investigation, and be the liaison between Mueller and the NFL. That sounds great on surface, but there’s no way this will end in anything other than some no named NFL executive losing their job. You want to know why? Because the NFL does not care, and are just trying to do enough until we all forget about it and find the next social injustice for which to be outraged.

Don’t believe me? Well, here are the facts. Rooney and Mara are two of the most respected owners in the league, but also two old guard owners and two of Goodell’s biggest cronies. Yes, it pains me to say that, but it’s true. Mueller works for the law firm of WilmerHale. WilmerHale, if you’re unfamiliar, has represented the league in numerous legal actions, including just recently helping the NFL negotiate a new contract with DirecTV. WilmerHale also used to be the employer of Dick Cass, current president of the Baltimore Ravens. So much for independent investigation.

Still not convinced? Ok, let’s look at the San Francisco 49ers. When the new, tougher domestic abuse guidelines came out, head coach Jim Harbaugh talked all tough about how this sort of thing won’t fly on his team. And just recently, the team suspended their play by play announcer for making disparaging comments about domestic violence. Wow, what a great organization. Except, just days after the league’s tough new bylaws, and Harbaugh’s tough words came their defensive lineman Ray McDonald getting arrested for domestic violence for beating his pregnant girlfriend. And where is he today? Is he sitting out until the courts decide his legal fate? Nope, he played last Sunday against Dallas. He deserves due process, according to the 49ers owner. And that, of course, translates into just keep playing until everyone forgets.

Not enough? Ok. Wednesday night, Roger Goodell canceled plans to join Panthers owner Jerry Richardson who was receiving the Echo Foundation Award Against Indifference. This award is intended to honor those who have exhibited “human dignity, justice and moral courage.” While receiving the award, Richardson chose to address the crowd with heartfelt words on his stance on domestic violence.

“Standing before you tonight, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge an issue weighing heavily on our sport and our society. When it comes to domestic violence, my stance is not one of indifference. I stand firmly against domestic violence, plain and simple. To those who would suggest that we’ve been too slow to act, I ask that you consider not to be too quick to judge. Over the course of our 20 years, we have worked extremely hard to build an organization of integrity … I will work hard to continue to earn your trust.”

Why did he say these things? Because right now Richardson employees Greg Hardy, who has been convicted of domestic violence. Is he awaiting sentencing? Is he in jail? Nope, he’s appealing the conviction, and in the meantime happily suiting up for the Panthers, despite the fact that his actions were even more disturbing than Rice’s.

Don’t believe me yet? Ok, how about this one. Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones has been implicated in a lawsuit for sexual assault. Could it be a money grab? Most likely, as the Cowboys organization seems to think. And this woman was once involved in a blackmail suit with Jones, so there’s some oddities surrounding the story. But it’s the fact that Jones has put himself in a situation of impropriety that no owner of any sports team, league or even business, should be in. Especially right now at this juncture for the NFL.

One more? You need one more? Fine. Try this one on for size. Several of the Ravens dedicated Thursday night’s game and win over Pittsburgh to Ray Rice. Rivalry feelings aside, as I am biased on my thoughts when it comes to Baltimore, I do not know how anyone in good conscience could root for such a callous and despicable group of men.

The NFL has a problem with domestic violence, it is systemic, and no one behind the shield seems to care.

The NFL does not understand the full magnitude of the problem in front of them, because they do not live in reality. They do not understand how bad the actions of domestic violence are, or how bad their seemingly complicit and tacit endorsement of such horrific behavior is by their lack of action and true punishment. Their ham-fisted attempts to make the Ray Rice situation go away only exasperated the problem, further highlighted their ignorance and increasingly muddled any potential path to true enlightenment and rectification of this problem.

On top of this, their lying about the situation has created a credibility gap that I see is insurmountable. What was the immediate and almost universal reaction I heard from people when the news broke that there would be an independent investigation? It was there’s no way it would be independent. Already, before Mueller has done task one, people are already doubting the veracity of his findings. That’s a major issue.

The sad part is that this investigation will go through the motions. Goodell and the upper echelon of league executives will get scolded, while a couple lower level management people will be sacrificed upon the altar for the good of the league, and that’s it. Nothing of significance will come of this, but after it’s over everyone will pat themselves on the back as though they did something significant and important.

Yet right now, the NFL is losing customers. I’ve already seen casual fans turn their backs in disgust. But hard core fans are starting to do the same. I am in a pick em pool, and have been for years, it was one of the impetuses for this weekly tome. And just Friday one member quit. He could not take the visceral violence of Rice’s attack coupled with the NFL’s blasé callousness regarding the video, their indifference toward women, or fans ignorance in support of Rice and Baltimore. So he quit. He quit the pool, he quit football, and he walked away.

The NFL has a major credibility issue right now that I believe can only be rectified by Goodell’s ouster and the implementation of a new commissioner who truly is concerned about the good of the game, and not the balance sheets of the owners. Unfortunately, the owners don’t see this as necessary, as they are making money hand over fist. Their thought is if it isn’t broke, why fix it?

Because it’s broken on the inside, and no one wants to see that thanks to the shiny exterior. However, all they see is record revenue each year, a commissioner seemingly dedicated to only maximizing revenue streams, a unbelievably owner friendly CBA and television and advertising contracts that even Pete Rozelle would have said were impossible. Any other issue facing the league, despite their public statements, is a minor irritant and can easily be ignored until it goes away.

The owners only give a crap about money, plain and simple. They will keep Goodell because he has made them a ton of it. But if the money starts drying up, they’ll toss his butt right on the street. And if any real change is to happen in the NFL, that’s what needs to happen.

Life takes compromises to live. That’s the truth no matter where you live, what you do, or who you are. Some are minor, some are major, and some can be life altering. Each season, it seems we as fans and consumers must make more and more compromises to enjoy the game of football as provided by those currently in charge. Increasingly, those compromises are less along the lines of higher costs and diminished product and more along the lines of moral questions of safety, humanity, basic human dignity, compassion and right or wrong.

Eventually, the pros of enjoying the game of football will be outweighed by the cons of those who provide the game in its current context. Some have reached that tipping point. As the NFL blindly and arrogantly charges ahead, I believe many more of us will reach that tipping point much sooner than later, as I find myself rapidly approaching that moment too. And when that happens enough times, the NFL and its owners will finally have a problem impossible to ignore.

He Said He Said

"Even so, that Goodell and the Ravens knew for months that Rice punched Palmer, and took almost no action until the visual proof was revealed, suggests the league and the Ravens care only about money, not about social responsibility. As long as they could put Rice back on the field and use him to generate excitement about NFL games, all was well. Now that they can't, he's waived and suspended." Tuesday Morning Quarterback’s Gregg Easterbrook

Yup.

“I am disappointed; this is personal for me. So I’m torn. This is a guy, a young man I really took under my wing and tried to mentor and tried to make sure he had a successful career and stayed away from things like this.” – ESPN analyst Ray Lewis

By Rice’s violent nature, obviously he took to Ray Ray’s guidance. You have to wonder though, if Lewis has ever been self-aware in his entire life.

"It was the right move. It was the only move. That doesn’t make it the commendable one. Doing something because you have no other realistic option isn’t brave, it’s a matter of self-preservation." – USA Today sports writer Chris Chase

Yup.

“Ignorance is not an excuse.” – NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Sean Payton in the wake of the Bountygate scandal

Apparently, it’s too much to ask that Goodell be held to the same standards.

"We know what time it is in this circle. Ray is our brother. We pray for him." – Ravens receiver Jacoby Jones on Ray Rice and members of the team dedicating Baltimore’s win over Pittsburgh to Rice

This makes me want to vomit.

"We had a tough family situation this week. I thought our guys handled it tremendously, with class, with character. They responded." – Ravens head coach John Harbaugh

Tough family situation? No one died, no one was horrifically injured. The team was under fire because they tried to minimize and ignore the fact that their star player beats women, and the team got busted for marginalizing the crime and victim blaming the woman. Again, are these people not self-aware? And let me add this. If any of these people had any class or character, they would have stood up to the team that this situation was wrong, they would have spoken out about this, they would have kept their teammates and coworkers from saying and doing ignorant things, and they would have personally beat the living hell out of Rice for laying hand one on his fiancé and then playing victim. Class and character, what a piece of shit.

"It means I'm old" – Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning when asked his response to finding out he is now just the second quarterback to defeat all 32 teams.

Oh that wacky Peyton!

Idiot of the Week

Goodell got it last week, and although he deserves it again, let’s give someone else a chance.

How about Jacoby Jones, and other Ravens players, for dedicating the game to Ray Rice, John Harbaugh for his ignorant class and character comment, and every Raven fan out there who ignorantly wore a Ray Rice jersey to Thursday night’s game. Let me say this once more, and I’ll use small words.

HE HIT A WOMAN IN THE FACE! HE LET HER TAKE THE BLAME FOR AN ACT JUST SO HE COULD AVOID LOSING HIS JOB. WHY IS THIS OK WITH ALL OF YOU?

I swear, there must be a bunch of ashamed mothers in the Baltimore area right now.

Idiots.

On Tap This Week

Yeah, it was obviously the first week of the season. It would seem I have some rust to shake off too.

Last week: 9-7

Thursday: 0-1

Season to Date: 9-8

Ok, let’s slog through this and see what happens. Maybe we’ll have a better week.

Sunday

Detroit (1-0) at Carolina (1-0)

Detroit had a nice win in week 1, but it was against the Giants. Carolina won, but how far can they go without Cam Newton? I’m not sure, but I have to see more of the new look Lions to trust them.

Panthers over Lions

Atlanta (1-0) at Cincinnati (1-0)

The Falcons came through big in week 1, defeating the Saints at home in overtime. But it took overtime, at home. Yes, New Orleans is good, but that makes me question the Atlanta defense. Cincinnati on the other hand looks pretty good overall, and I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt for their season opener.

Bengals over Falcons

New England (0-1) at Minnesota (1-0)

You know what's really funny in going into Week 2? The only team in the AFC East without a win is New England. That will change this week.

Patriots over Vikings

Dallas (0-1) at Tennessee (1-0)

Tennessee is better than we thought. Dallas is worse. Tennessee is led by first year head coach Ken Whisenhunt. Dallas is led by Jason Garrett, in his fourth and final year.

Titans over Cowboys

Jacksonville (0-1) at Washington (0-1)

Neither team really thrills me, but Jacksonville managed to hang with a good team last week, at least for a half. Washington cannot say the same.

Jaguars over Snyders

Arizona (1-0) at New York Giants (0-1)

Nice comeback by the Cardinals last week. Fortunately for them New York isn’t as good as San Diego.

Cardinals over Giants

Miami (1-0) at Buffalo (1-0)

New England’s stranglehold is over! Now Miami and Buffalo will battle it out for the division! Yeah, it’s week 2, but still, technically, this is for the division lead.

Bills over Dolphins

New Orleans (0-1) at Cleveland (0-1)

Maybe Cleveland is a bit better than we thought? Nah. New Orleans has this.

Saints over Browns

St. Louis (0-1) at Tampa Bay (0-1)

Lovie Smith will get his first victory as Bucs head coach. It’s easy to defeat a team without a viable starting quarterback. Or so I’ve heard.

Buccaneers over Rams

Seattle (1-0) at San Diego (0-1)

If you can’t keep a lead against the Cardinals, what makes me think you could do better against the defending champions?

Seahawks over Chargers

Kansas City (0-1) at Denver (1-0)

KC did not look good last week. They won’t look any better against the juggernaut that is Peyton Manning and Company.

Broncos over Chiefs

New York Jets (1-0) at Green Bay (0-1)

Green Bay has a ways to go to be truly competitive. Last week showed that to everyone. But I know they can beat the Jets.

Packers over Jets

Houston (1-0) at Oakland (0-1)

Boy did Bill O’Brien luck out to start his pro head coaching career. First the mess that is the Washington Snyders led by a rookie head coach and now the mess that is the Oakland Raiders.

Texans over Raiders

Chicago (0-1) at San Francisco (1-0)

The Bears had their chance last week. Now, they fall behind further.

49ers over Bears

Monday

Philadelphia (1-0) at Indianapolis (0-1)

Yeah, once they got rolling, the Eagle offense looked good. And maybe I’m being foolish; I just don’t trust them yet. Yet.

Colts over Eagles