Category: NFL (Page 287 of 1282)

This is why you don’t allow punters to make their own decisions

This is why you don’t allow punters to make their own decisions

Apparently the failed fake punt that Rex Ryan called for against the Packers on Sunday wasn’t actually called by Rex Ryan. It was called by Jets’ punter Steve Weatherford, who is “given the ability to take advantage of favorable looks when appropriate.”

From the Newark Star-Ledger:

The problem in this situation, though, was that Weatherford didn’t realize the Jets had just lost 9 yards on a sack. Third-and-9 became fourth-and-18, a sizeable distance for even the athletic Weatherford to run. A Green Bay challenge determined he stepped out just before the marker.

“We told him before that it needed to be a manageable situation,” Ryan said. “As he was running, I was trying to make sure he knew where the first-down marker was. I don’t think he was clear on that.

The failed attempt didn’t cost the Jets the game on Sunday. Their inability to move the ball offensively against Dom Capers’ defense was the reason they didn’t win. But that play should have never happened.

Weatherford should have never attempted an 18-yard run on a fake punt when backed up in his own territory like that. Granted, he picked up 17 yards on the play but the guy has to pay attention if he’s going to make a decision like that. If he’s given the opportunity to pull off a fake, then he should know the down and distance before he even steps on the field. Period.

That said, this is freaking hilarious when you think about it. A punter called his own number on a 4th-and-18 because he thought the first down marker was closer than it was? Outstanding!

Randy Moss doesn’t miss Patriots – he misses winning

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss gives a hug to his former teammate, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady at the end of the game at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts on October 31, 2010. The Patriots defeated the Vikings 28-18.  UPI/Matthew Healey Photo via Newscom

I almost choked on my Fruit Loops when I read Randy Moss’ comments to the media after his former team beat his current team on Sunday.

In case you missed what the receiver had to say, here it is (from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune):

Let me hold it down. Alright. I really haven’t had a chance to talk to the guys, so this is no disrespect to the Minnesota Vikings and their organization. The [Patriots] captains, [Vince] Wilfolk, Tommy Boy [Brady], [Jerod] Mayo, Kevin Faulk, man I miss them guys. I miss the team. It was hard for me to come here and play. It’s been an up and down roller coaster emotionally for me all week. And then to be able to come in here and see those guys, running plays and I know what they’re doing, and the success they had on the field, the running game, so I kind of know what type of feeling they have on their locker room.

“I just want to be able to tell the guys, I miss the hell out of them, every last helmet in that locker room. I mean, Deion Branch came up to me after the game. I’ve never had a chance to meet Deion Branch, but it was definitely a pleasure to meet him. Coach [Bill] Belichick, he gave me an opportunity to be a part of something special. That’s something I really take to heart. I actually salute coach Belichick and his team and the success they’ve had before me, during me and after me. So I’m actually stuck for words, just because of the fact that, man, this is just, a lot of memories here. To the New England Patriots fans, that ovation at the end of the game, that really felt heart-warming. I think I actually shedded a tear for that. Like I said, it’s been an emotional roller coaster all week.

Do yourself a favor and read all of his comments – trust me, you won’t be disappointed. He starts off the interview by telling the media that he’s not going to answer any more questions. But since he’ll be fined if he doesn’t speak to them following games, he’ll ask and answer questions himself. He also goes on to say that he tried to help the Vikings win by sharing his knowledge about the Patriots, but they didn’t listen. It’s a hoot.

But back to his comments about the Patriots. Is this, or is this not the same guy that started pouting about his contract in New England earlier this season? And is this, or is this not the same guy who (reportedly) got into it with Brady and a coach in the locker room during a game before he was traded? And is this, or is this not the same guy that dogged it in Oakland when the Raiders were losing week in and week out, yet were paying him handsomely to run half-assed routes?

Right, I thought it was him.

Moss should be embarrassed for what he said and even though he tried to soften the blow for the Vikings (a team that gave up a 3rd round pick to acquire his services), he still disrespected them by dry humping the Patriots for 10 minutes. He doesn’t miss the Patriots – he misses playing for an organization that knows how to win. Do you think that had the Vikings beaten the Patriots on Sunday to get to 5-2 that Moss would be saying how much he misses New England? I sincerely doubt it.

How important is that contract extension now that you’re playing for a loser, Randy? Had you shut your mouth and played out the remainder of your contract, you would have won and then maybe the Patriots would have rewarded you. But now you can rot in Minnesota for all Bill Belichick cares.

Moss wants a contract extension – that’s not going to change. But winning can be just as important and his comments on Sunday prove that.

Should the Cowboys fire Wade Phillips midseason?

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 31: (L-R) Head coach Wade Phillips and assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys looks on against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Cowboys Stadium on October 31, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The 2010 version of the Dallas Cowboys are dead and in the spirit of Halloween, there are no Jason-type comebacks on the horizon.

They’re done, finished, caput. At 1-6, they’re tied with the Panthers for having the worst record in the NFC and whether they fire Wade Phillips now or torture him and themselves by waiting until after the season, 2010 is over with.

Thus, what is an owner like Jerry Jones to do? He knows that no matter what he does with his head coaching position, it’s not going to matter for this season. So does he wait it out and then start fresh the second the season is over or does he start making changes now?

The short answer is that he must make changes now. The Dallas Morning News is reporting that Jones is considering making a coaching change, which he should. His team can’t execute game plans, they can’t tackle, they have completely forgotten basic fundamentals, they have no energy and play with zero urgency. They’re a mess.

Jones can’t hire someone from the outside right now because it would wind up being a useless move. Nobody could go to Dallas, install an entirely new system in a week and have the Cowboys – this Cowboys team – competing again this season. There’s just no way.

But that doesn’t mean Jones can’t send a message to his players that this type of play won’t do. If he fires Phillips, he’ll at least be telling his players and fanbase that he’s willing to do something – anything, to right the ship.

Who would replace Phillips? Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett certainly doesn’t deserve a promotion, but Jones once viewed him as Phillips’ replacement so he might as well see what the red head can do over the next nine weeks. If Garrett stabilizes things and gets this team to compete again, maybe Jones can consider making him the full-time head coach when the season is over.

Or, whatever. The end of the season is a long way away. The here and now is what matters and the here and now is ugly with Wade Phillips in charge. Granted, the Cowboys’ problems aren’t all Phillips’ fault but he oversees things and right now he oversees one of the worst teams in football (even though they have more talent than the likes of the Panthers).

Jerry Jones has to do something, even if the 2010 season is a goner.

Fantasy Fallout, Week 8: Where Calvin Johnson welcomes Matthew Stafford back with open arms

DETROIT - OCTOBER 31: Calvin Johnson  of the Detroit Lions scores a second quarter touchdown as DeAngelo Hall  and Lorenzo Alexander  of the Washington Redskins attempt tp make the stop at Ford Field on October 31, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

As I’m sitting here attempting to start my fallout column, there’s a little two-and-a-half year old firefighter pestering me to go trick-or-treating, so don’t be surprised if this week’s version is abbreviated. I’m only going to focus on the truly surprising fantasy lines of the day.

EARLY GAMES

In my Waiver Wire Watch, I’ve been pushing Matthew Stafford (212 yards, 4 TDs) for the last couple of weeks and he delivered in a great matchup this week thanks to Calvin Johnson‘s (9-103-3) outstanding performance. The split in the backfield between Jahvid Best (17 touches, 79 yards) and Kevin Smith (14 touches, 67 yards) is a little worrisome, however. Smith has looked good in recent weeks in limited duty and we’ll have to wait and see if the Lions were limiting Best for any particular reason. Ryan Torain (12 touches, 29 yards, TD) left the game with a hamstring injury, and Keiland Williams (9 touches, 53 yards, TD) took his place. Williams may be a hot waiver wire pickup this week.

David Garrard (260 yards, 4 TD, rush TD) was a common pickup for a lot of Tony Romo owners who were scrambling for QB help this week, and boy, did he deliver. Mike Sims-Walker (8-153-1) exploded with a big game as well. Garrard has his bye next week and then has two good matchups in Weeks 10 (HOU) and 11 (CLE), so he’s a good play, at least in the short-term. And don’t read too much into Jon Kitna‘s so-so week (379 yards, TD, 4 INT). With the way that the Dallas DT is playing (poorly), the Cowboys are going to be in a lot of shootouts this season and that should mean some nice fantasy lines from Kitna. Felix Jones‘s struggles (11 touches, 36 yards) are very troublesome — I’d probably bench him until he can get it going.

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There’s the Derek Anderson we all know and love

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Quarterback Derek Anderson  of the Arizona Cardinals on the sidelines during the NFL game against the New Orleans Saints at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Saints 30-20. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Only Derek Anderson would come in as a replacement, lead his team to a great comeback and stab them in the face with the opportunity for victory presented itself late in the game.

Let me explain.

Midway through the second quarter, Anderson replaced an ineffective Max Hall, who had just thrown a pick-6 to Aqib Talib to give Tampa a 21-14 lead. Anderson then took the Cardinals up the field on his first possession, but a pass attempt to Larry Fitzgerald fell incomplete on a 4th-and-2 from the Tampa Bay 3-yard line and the Bucs wound up kicking a field goal to take a 24-14 halftime lead.

After Tampa built a 31-14 lead midway through the third, Larod Stephens-Howling scored on a 30-yard touchdown run to cut the Bucs’ lead down to 31-21, then Arizona scored on a Gerald Hayes 21-yard fumble return to make the score 31-28. Early in the fourth, Anderson found Fitzgerald on a 5-yard touchdown pass to give the Cardinals a 35-31 lead, although Tampa scored to make it 38-35 with just over five minutes remaining.

After an Anderson interception (not his fault – the receiver had it bounce off his hands and straight into the loving arms of a defender) and a bone-headed decision by Bucs’ head coach Raheem Morris to try a long field goal attempt, Anderson marched the Cards up the field and into the red zone. With just over two minutes remaining, Anderson had the Cardinals knocking on the door of a touchdown or at the very least, a game-tying field goal.

But Derek Anderson, in all of his Derek Anderson glory, threw a pass into quadruple coverage trying to get the ball to Fitzgerald and was promptly picked off by Talib.

Game. Set. Match. Derek Anderson. Bucs win 38-35.

Cardinals need a freaking quarterback.

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