Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 1052 of 1503)

      Could we see an all-New York Super Bowl?

      November 24, 2008 /

      Brett FavreWith their back-to-back road wins over the Patriots and previously unbeaten Titans the past two weeks, the talk of the NFL world is now Brett Favre and the New York Jets. Some are even suggesting that the J.E.T.S, Jets, Jets, Jets are even the best team in the AFC right now.

      While there is still some debate over which team is the best in the AFC (remember, the Titans are still pretty damn good at 10-1), there’s no question that the New York Giants are the top team in the NFC, especially after they knocked off the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale on Sunday.

      What are the chances that we could see an all-New York Super Bowl come January?

      Let’s look at the Giants first. With their win over the Cards, they improved to a conference-best 10-1 on the year and sit comfortably atop the NFC East Division by three games with only five remaining. However, they have a tough schedule down the stretch: at Washington, vs. Philadelphia, at Dallas, vs. Carolina, at Minnesota. NFC East games are always tough, and the Panthers and Vikings will be competing for playoff berths themselves, so they won’t be pushovers either.

      Barring a total collapse, the G-Men will make the playoffs and of the top teams in the NFC – Arizona, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Washington, Atlanta – nobody outside of maybe the surging Cowboys should scare the Giants. (Although the Bucs’ defense should keep o-coordinators up at night.)

      Conversely, the Jets have an easier road. They play the inconsistent Broncos next week, travel to San Fran, home against Buffalo, at Seattle and home against Miami to end the season. Considering they just crushed the Titans, one could probably assume the Jets finish no worse than 11-5.

      Eli ManningThe one main thing to consider in all of this is that the Jets would have a tough road in the postseason. The Steelers are flawed, but they’re a veteran team with a solid defense, while the Pats and Colts remain dangerous, although they’re more beatable now than ever. And if the Jets have to go back to LP Field, they can probably bet the Tennessee defense won’t surrender 400 total yards like it did Sunday.

      Still, the possibility of an all-NY Super Bowl is a reality and it would be a cool sight come playoff time. And think about the story lines: Favre leads Jets to Super Bowl; Giants try to defend title; Clash of New York; etc, etc.

      It’s fun to think about the scenario.

      NFL

      Matt Ryan the greatest rookie quarterback ever?

      November 24, 2008 /

      Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that we are watching the greatest rookie quarterback to ever play in the NFL in the Falcons’ Matt Ryan.

      Matt RyanTom Brady threw three passes his rookie season; Brett Favre threw four. Bart Starr and Joe Montana each started one game as rookies. Troy Aikman had to be benched midway through, having gone 0-11 as a starter. Peyton Manning threw 28 interceptions his first season. John Elway completed 47.5 percent of his rookie passes, Terry Bradshaw 38.1 percent.

      Joe Namath was 3-5-1 as a lavishly salaried — he was making $400,000 — rookie. Fran Tarkenton was 2-8 as a first-year starter; Johnny Unitas was 4-3, Bob Griese 3-7. Ben Roethlisberger was 13-0 as a rookie quarterback on a loaded Pittsburgh team but didn’t start until Week 3. Sammy Baugh made All-Pro as a rookie but threw six more interceptions than touchdown passes. Bob Waterfield was league MVP as a rookie but started only four games. (Doubtless he got bonus points for being married to Jane Russell.)

      Dan Marino is considered the gold standard of rookie quarterbacks, but his first start only came in Week 6, and he joined a team that had reached the Super Bowl the previous season. And now we consider Matt Ryan, who has started from Day 1 for a dilapidated team the Sporting News pegged to finish 1-15, who stands now as the chief reason the refurbished Falcons are 7-4.

      Ryan has been unbelievable, but I think we should wait until the end of the year before making claims that he’s the best rookie quarterback ever. What Big Ben did his rookie year was pretty astonishing, although Bradley’s point about him playing on an already stacked Steelers team is just. Still, Ryan still has five games left and if he leads the Falcons to the playoffs, then maybe we can talk about him being the greatest ever.

      That said, he is absolutely remarkable. Pundits figured the Falcons would win no more than two or three games not only because Ryan is a rookie, but also because the roster is devoid of overall talent. But with a little help from Michael Turner, John Abraham and Roddy White, Ryan has done some amazing things as a rookie. His poise, confidence and demeanor have been incredibly impressive and he looks like he has a bright future ahead of him.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Alabama not unanimous choice for No. 1

      November 24, 2008 /

      While they remain undefeated, the Alabama Crimson Tide aren’t the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation according to some voters.

      Alabama Crimson TideAlabama, which was idle this weekend, retained the top position with 56 of 61 first-place votes. The Crimson Tide are the only remaining undefeated team from one of the six conferences with automatic BCS tie-ins.

      Third-ranked Florida, an easy winner over The Citadel, claimed the last No. 1 vote. The Gators will square off with Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game in two weeks. If both can handle their in-state rivals over Thanksgiving weekend, the winner is sure to claim one spot in the BCS championship game.

      Hmm. How can an undefeated Alabama team not receive 61 of 61 first place votes? I thought the BCS system was set up so that a clear No. 1 and No. 2 would be determined?

      Nobody should be surprised that ‘Bama didn’t receive all the first place votes, because it’s still unclear at this point if they are truly deserving. Everyone wants to point to Florida’s loss to Ole’ Miss as proof that the Gators shouldn’t be ranked No. 1, but in the back of many people’s heads they’re not so sure that Urban Meyer’s team isn’t the best team in college football. The same could be said for Oklahoma, which absolutely crushed Texas Tech over the weekend and got four first place votes. And what about Texas? They lost to Tech on the final play of the game and beat Oklahoma, yet received no first place votes.

      The system is a mess, which is a dream scenario for supporters of a playoff, because it proves that the BCS doesn’t work.

      College Football

      LenDale White sounds off about lack of playing time

      November 24, 2008 /

      Titans’ running back LenDale White isn’t a happy camper after getting only one carry in Tennessee’s 34-13 loss to the Jets on Sunday.

      LenDale White“I have been over it. It is a game, so what?’’ White said. “You would like to win it, but it is one game, so what? … I only played three plays so I really couldn’t tell you what happened, I don’t really know, I wasn’t paying attention, I didn’t care really.’’

      White wouldn’t say if the game would’ve been different had he played. Rookie Chris Johnson had 46 yards on 10 carries, but had a fumble that led to a touchdown.

      “You never know, man,” White said. “I can’t tell you that. I don’t know if I would have gotten the ball 30 times if we would have won the game or not. I would like to be involved more, but if I am not involved I would like somebody to tell me what’s going on. Coming into these games, you expect to get certain carries or see certain things going on at least that’s what they tell you.

      “And then you get in these games and then randomly you only play three plays. I just wish somebody would let me know what’s going on before I go out there. Three plays, I don’t know what you want me to do with three plays. I don’t know what three plays is helping me do.”

      White said he had not had a conversation with coaches, and wasn’t sure if he would.

      “I ain’t got no conversation for nobody, I don’t care,’’ White said. “If they have something to tell me, if they need to tell me I’m not going to play, then they should tell me, you know?”

      I know he’s frustrated, but there’s no reason for White not to be paying attention on the sideline. This shows a lack of maturity on his part for not always being involved in the game, whether he’s on the field or not. It is befuddling that the Titans would only use him for three plays, but they’re 10-1 on the year and don’t need White to become a distraction.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

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