It's time for BreezyG's prediction as to who will win this year's Super Bowl. It's become a big deal for me because I am undefeated in my sports blog career (3-0).
This year, I have to admit that I am conflicted about my pick this year. On the one hand, you have the Broncos who scored more than 600 points this past season enroute to the highest point total in league history. Denver is led by future Hall-of-Famer Payton Manning, who is playing in his third title game. They are also the first team to have four WR's catch 10 touchdowns each.
Let me get this off my chest; regardless of how this game turns out, Payton, for my money, is and will be in my top five QB's in league history. One game will not make the difference for me.
On the other side of the ball, you got the Seattle Seahawks, who gave up the fewest points, fewest yards passing, forced the most turnovers and had the best overall defense in the league, period. While they have one beast in RB Marshawn Lynch, the also have a pair of beasts in CB's Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor who are both 6-foot-3.
Regular readers of my blog know I don't do too much scientific homework, watch a lot of tape or listen to all of the pundits for their take. I mainly go by the eye test.
Being old school, on paper I go by the adage, "defense wins championships". But if there is anyone that can shatter that theory, it's Manning. I also got beef with the Hawks as a fan of the Washington franchise; in both of our recent playoff appearances, we lost both games to Seattle, including last year. While I am a Peyton fan and a Seattle detester, I am holding my nose and picking the Seahawks to win their first league championship.
Who you got?
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Diversity?
Looks like the Washington football franchise has hired their new football coach, Jay Gruden (brother of former head coach John), to take over from Mike Shanahan. I don't think there will be any movies coming out titled "Brother of Chucky" anytime soon.
I know what you're thinking. You think I'm going to talk about how Gruden will be the difference maker in Washington or how he is going to be another in the long line of Washington head coaches that won't get it done. Nope. All I know about Gruden is from his time on this year's version of the HBO show "Hard Knocks".
I want to talk about the "Rooney Rule".
The rule, established in 2003, is named after Steelers owner Dan Rooney who was the chairman of the league's diversity committee. It requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior operation football jobs. The first early hires were Marvin Lewis and Lovie Smith. It even worked out well for the Steelers when they hired Mike Tomlin in 2007. He has gone 71-41 and won Super Bowl XLIII.
Let me make it plain like Malcolm. On paper, great. But then comes the Washington team. and they are not alone with this hustle. While they satisfied the requirement (they interviewed two black assistant coaches, including Raven OC Jim Caldwell), the fix was already in. Less than a week after the Bengals were eliminated from the playoffs, there were reports of Gruden having dinner with GM Bruce Allen. Less than two days later, they found their man.
This is where I put on my ownership hat on. Again, on paper, I feel that nobody should tell me how to run my team, select my players and pick my coaches. For all the fanfare that the rule that generated, the coaches selected under this rule have a combined record of 384-390 with two conference titles and only one Super Bowl. Still, when I see how the Washington football team consternates the spirit of the rule, it still makes it hard to digest.
But as Omar said, "The game is the game."
I know what you're thinking. You think I'm going to talk about how Gruden will be the difference maker in Washington or how he is going to be another in the long line of Washington head coaches that won't get it done. Nope. All I know about Gruden is from his time on this year's version of the HBO show "Hard Knocks".
I want to talk about the "Rooney Rule".
The rule, established in 2003, is named after Steelers owner Dan Rooney who was the chairman of the league's diversity committee. It requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior operation football jobs. The first early hires were Marvin Lewis and Lovie Smith. It even worked out well for the Steelers when they hired Mike Tomlin in 2007. He has gone 71-41 and won Super Bowl XLIII.
Let me make it plain like Malcolm. On paper, great. But then comes the Washington team. and they are not alone with this hustle. While they satisfied the requirement (they interviewed two black assistant coaches, including Raven OC Jim Caldwell), the fix was already in. Less than a week after the Bengals were eliminated from the playoffs, there were reports of Gruden having dinner with GM Bruce Allen. Less than two days later, they found their man.
This is where I put on my ownership hat on. Again, on paper, I feel that nobody should tell me how to run my team, select my players and pick my coaches. For all the fanfare that the rule that generated, the coaches selected under this rule have a combined record of 384-390 with two conference titles and only one Super Bowl. Still, when I see how the Washington football team consternates the spirit of the rule, it still makes it hard to digest.
But as Omar said, "The game is the game."
Friday, January 3, 2014
Tiger Power !!!
What a way to begin the new year!
Towson University, my alma mater, will be playing for the (gasp!) NCAA FCS National Championship (Division 1-AA) this weekend in Frisco, Texas against #1 (and undefeated) seed North Dakota State. This is my Tigers first title shot in football in our school's history. Ever.
Towson knocked out #2 seeded Eastern Illinois and #3 Eastern Washington to earn the shot. Both games, that I happened to watch, were in snow, rain, blizzard and all of the above. Towson also overcame an injury to their starting quarterback, senior Peter Athens, who threw for over 3,100 yards this past year to get the to the title game.
Who really makes the Tigers go is running back Terrance West. West, who was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, broke the single season FCS record for rushing yards (2,410) and all-purpose touchdowns with 40. The Clemson recruit has averaged more than 180 yards on the ground this playoff.
Leading Towson is head coach Rob Ambrose, a 1991 graduate. He has a 29-9 record the last three years while winning the Colonial Athletic Association the last two years.
Now I know how schools like Florida State and Auburn feel just before a game. That's all I got. Now if you will excuse me, i've got to get my black and yellow paint.
Go Tigers!!
Kickoff - 2pm Saturday on ESPN2
Towson University, my alma mater, will be playing for the (gasp!) NCAA FCS National Championship (Division 1-AA) this weekend in Frisco, Texas against #1 (and undefeated) seed North Dakota State. This is my Tigers first title shot in football in our school's history. Ever.
Towson knocked out #2 seeded Eastern Illinois and #3 Eastern Washington to earn the shot. Both games, that I happened to watch, were in snow, rain, blizzard and all of the above. Towson also overcame an injury to their starting quarterback, senior Peter Athens, who threw for over 3,100 yards this past year to get the to the title game.
Who really makes the Tigers go is running back Terrance West. West, who was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, broke the single season FCS record for rushing yards (2,410) and all-purpose touchdowns with 40. The Clemson recruit has averaged more than 180 yards on the ground this playoff.
Leading Towson is head coach Rob Ambrose, a 1991 graduate. He has a 29-9 record the last three years while winning the Colonial Athletic Association the last two years.
Now I know how schools like Florida State and Auburn feel just before a game. That's all I got. Now if you will excuse me, i've got to get my black and yellow paint.
Go Tigers!!
Kickoff - 2pm Saturday on ESPN2
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