Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 245 of 1503)

      In rare outcome, Peyton Manning costs Colts a potential victory

      November 21, 2010 /
      FOXBORO, MA - NOVERMBER 21: Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts walks to the huddle against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

      As he drove the Colts down the field in the final minutes at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, you got the sense that Peyton Manning was on the verge of silencing an already stunned Foxboro crowd.

      The Colts, who trailed the entire game, were down 31-21 with roughly 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. But Manning found Blair White on a 5-yard touchdown pass to cut the Pats’ lead to 31-21 midway through the quarter and then he hit White again on an 18-yard touchdown with just under five minutes remaining to put the Colts within a field goal.

      After his defense shut down Tom Brady and New England’s offense, Manning methodically began to drive the Colts down the field. Facing a 1st and 10 at the New England 24-yard line, Manning dropped back to pass but the pressure caused him to shift his feet and his pass sailed on him. Patriot cornerback James Sanders then leapt into the air and snagged the interception to preserve a huge win for the Patriots.

      It’s rare to see Manning cost the Colts a potential victory. Granted, even if Indy tied the game they still would have had to play the Patriots in overtime. But they had stolen the momentum and if they had won the coin toss, there was a good chance Manning would finish the Patriots off in the extra frame.

      But Manning never gave them that opportunity and while legions of Colts fans will give him a mulligan, it was a disheartening outcome to say the least.

      And it wasn’t Manning’s first interception either. He was picked off a total of three times on the night and despite throwing for 396 yards and three touchdowns, those three turnovers proved costly for the Colts. Now Indy is tied with the Jaguars (who have already beaten the Colts this year) atop the AFC South.

      As for the Patriots, this win was huge because the Jets apparently have no intentions on losing another game the rest of the year. Both teams are 8-2 and jockeying for position not only in the AFC East, but for the No. 1 spot in the conference. With six games remaining, it’s going to be a thrilling finish in both conferences.

      External Sports, NFL

      Vince Young benched indefinitely in Tennessee

      November 21, 2010 /
      Tennessee Titans Quarterback Vince Young (10) looks on as his Tennessee Titans fall to the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium, in Miami Florida.November 14, 2010. The Miami Dolphins beat the Tennessee Titans 29-19. . UPI/Susan Knowles... Photo via Newscom

      Vince Young tore a tendon in his right thumb in a 19-16 overtime loss to the Redskins on Sunday and may need surgery. But whether he has surgery or not, Titans’ head coach Jeff Fisher has made it clear that the starting quarterback job won’t be Young’s once he returns.

      According to the Nashville Tennessean, Young tossed his shoulder pads into the stands and left LP Field “abruptly.” Teammate Michael Griffin reportedly chased after him as he left the stadium, but Young brushed him off and continued walking.

      This is what Fisher had to say about replacing Young with Rusty Smith, as well as his quarterbacks’ attitude following the game:

      “Vince tore a flexor tendon in his thumb and I was not satisfied with his ability to control the ball so I stayed with Rusty,” Fisher said. “He never said to me he was OK and wanted to go back in, and I was told he was a little upset after, and I was also told he threw half his uniform in the stands.

      “Clearly that is no way to respond, so we have some things we have to sort out with him. He may need surgery, and if that’s the case, he is done for the year. If that’s the case, Rusty is our guy.”

      Fisher was later asked if Young had lost his starting job and Fisher said, “Yes, right now he has.” While it’s a bit premature to say that VY is done in Tennessee, he has to be about out of chances. He had a mental breakdown two years ago when he considered quitting football altogether. Then he was given the starting job in preseason this year after playing well in the second half last season and the Titans thought he had turned a corner.

      Now he can’t beat out Rusty Smith. So again, while it’s too soon to draw any conclusions about his future in Tennessee, one would think that the Titans will be searching for a new quarterback next offseason. Either that, or Fisher is trying to send a message to Young that he has to be more of a leader. That he can’t act like a child when things don’t go his way and that he can’t lead his teammates when they’re the ones chasing him out of the locker room.

      Some players have all the talent in the world but nothing in the intangibles department. It appears as though Vince Young is one of those players.

      External Sports, NFL

      Are the Jaguars legitimate playoff contenders?

      November 21, 2010 /
      JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars breaks out for a big run that would lead to the winning touchdown during a game agaisnt the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Field on November 21, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

      The media often says that good teams find ways to win.

      Uh, if that’s the case, then are the Jaguars a good team?

      In the last three weeks, the Jags have crushed the Cowboys in Dallas, beat the Texans on a last-second Hail Mary and on Sunday, came back to beat the Browns in dramatic fashion. In their wins over the Texans and Browns, they had leads heading into halftime and in both games they had to use fourth quarter magic to pull out wins.

      Down 20-17 to Cleveland with 2:46 remaining in the game, it looked like Jacksonville may be heading for a loss. But Maurice Jones-Drew broke off a 75-yard screen pass to put the Jags on the Browns’ 1-yard line. MJD scored a couple of plays later and after picking off Colt McCoy in the red zone on Cleveland’s final drive, the Jags went on to win, 24-20.

      Of course, good teams generally don’t turn the ball over six times like the Jaguars did against the Browns. Yeah they won, but that had to be the ugliest win of any team all year. Phil Dawson also missed two field goals, so who knows how the game would have played out had the Browns’ kicker been more accurate. Shame on Cleveland for not converting the opportunities it had off of the Jaguars’ turnovers, but teams usually don’t win when you throw for a lower yards per pass average and turn the ball over more.

      That said, no matter how you shape it, the Jaguars are 6-4. And if the Colts lose to the Patriots on Sunday, then Jacksonville will own first place in the AFC South by virtue of a tie-breaker over Indianapolis.

      Their wins appear to be a collection of luck, fluke play and incredible fortune, but the Jaguars are winning nonetheless. If they can figure out a way to keep winning, they won’t need to answer whether or not they’re for real. Their record will speak for them.

      External Sports, NFL

      The Packers continue to be better off with Rodgers

      November 21, 2010 /
      ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 27: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers passes during the game against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on September 27, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

      I’ll admit that it’s awfully convenient to write a “Packers are better off with Aaron Rodgers” piece when Rodgers throws for 301 yards and four touchdowns while Brett Favre plays like elephant dung. But I’ve always felt that the Packers were unfairly criticized by some fans for the way Favre was ushered out of Green Bay and I’m not going to shy away from an opportunity to note that they handled things correctly in that situation.

      Favre forced himself out of Green Bay – not the other way around. He told the Packers that he wanted to retire and when he started to change his mind, members of Green Bay’s front office met with him to say that they would welcome him back with open arms. It wasn’t until he told them for the second time that he would retire that they decided to back Rodgers and move on. He got his feelings hurt, requested a trade and after one bad season in New York, he’s now in Minnesota.

      Well guess what? The Packers were better off then and they’re better off now.

      I thought for sure that Sunday would be the day where we would see some of that old Favre magic and he would put it all together to beat his old team. But he stunk up the joint instead. He was inaccurate with his throws, he overthrew open receivers and he could be seen refusing to talk with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell on the sidelines (which isn’t unlike Favre to take an it’s-my-way-or-the-highway approach with his coaches).

      Rodgers, on the other hand, was brilliant. He started slow, but eventually he was shredding Minnesota’s suspect secondary. It helped that the Vikings’ pass rush was once again non-existent, but it didn’t matter. The Vikings weren’t going to beat Rodgers on Sunday. He was the best player on the field – for either team.

      Had the Packers bowed to Favre a couple of years ago and allowed him to dictate their quarterback situation, maybe they would be the ones in complete disarray right now like the Vikings are. Maybe they’d be the ones sitting at 3-7 and without a clue on what they’ll do at quarterback next year.

      Instead, they’re set at the position. Rodgers has yet to win a Super Bowl or even a playoff game, but it’s clear that he has the talent to be elite. It’s clear that he’s the future of the NFL and because of him, the Packers will remain Super Bowl contenders the rest of the year.

      As for the Vikings, they’re done – as is Favre. The Packers backed the right horse a couple of years ago.

      External Sports, NFL

      It’s time for Vikings to bench Brett Favre

      November 21, 2010 /

      MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mall of America Field on October 17, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Cowboys 24-21. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

      It’s time, Minnesota.

      Bench Brett Favre. At 3-7, there’s really no reason to keep playing him and he’s shown time and time again that he’s only about himself. Bench him and move on.

      Favre isn’t coming back in 2011 and why would the Vikings want him to? It’s time to see what they have in Tarvaris Jackson because he may be around past this year. Favre won’t.

      Favre’s effort in the Vikings’ 31-3 loss to the Packers on Sunday was pathetic. His final stat line (17-of-38 for 208 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT) would be fine if he were a rookie, but he’s a veteran with plenty of motivation to beat his former team and maybe get his team back on track in the second half. Instead, he was highly inaccurate, he missed open receivers and he was shown refusing to talk with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell on the sidelines. Grow up, Brett.

      Brad Childress won’t (nor shouldn’t) be back next year. But he needs to play Jackson. It doesn’t matter that Favre is a proud veteran because he’s brutal right now. If he weren’t a legend he may have been benched weeks ago. Jackson may not be the answer but it’s hard to argue that Favre gives the Vikings their best chance to win now. And seeing as how he won’t be a part of their future, it’s time to move on.

      Hey, the Vikings took their shot last year and they came up a little short. They went back to the well this year and now realize that it’s bone dry. So regroup. They still have Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin and Jared Allen. They’re not in complete disarray but they need a quarterback. Can Jackson be their man? How will they know if Favre continues to start?

      The season is over. If Favre doesn’t want to go to the bench, then cut him. It’s time to look towards the future.

      External Sports, NFL

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