As the 8-8 San Diego Chargers are set to do battle with the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday in the opening round of the NFL playoffs, all the New England Patriots can do is sit back and watch after missing the postseason despite finishing with an 11-5 record. How can this be? Bang! Cartoons has the answer in their latest ‘toon, “Karma.”
If you like Bang! Cartoons, check out their latest podcast, which is their annual year end Best edition.
Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning took home his third MVP Award on Friday, beating out Dolphins’ QB Chad Pennington and Falcons’ RB Michael Turner.
Peyton Manning has joined Brett Favre as the only three-time winners of The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award.
The Indianapolis Colts quarterback was a landslide winner Friday in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. Manning also was the league MVP in 2003, when he shared it with Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair, and in 2004.
Favre, then with Green Bay, took MVP honors in 1995 and ’96 before sharing it with Detroit running back Barry Sanders in 1997.
Manning received 32 votes, far ahead of Miami quarterback Chad Pennington and Atlanta running back Michael Turner.
I don’t know if anyone is playing as good as Manning is right now. But the playoffs have spelled a different story for him in the past and it’ll be interesting to see how he does on the road Saturday night in San Diego. I know the man won a Super Bowl, but it doesn’t erase the fact that he’s had more bad times than good in the postseason. And with how banged up the Colts are on defense, their game Saturday against the Chargers won’t be a gimmie.
(Boy I’m positive, huh? The man wins his third MVP Award and I dump on him. What a dick…)
According to the Star-Ledger, most people in the Jets organization wouldn’t mind if quarterback Brett Favre retired.
“If Favre says he’s not coming back, I don’t know if that would be a great disappointment. … I think Woody and Mike are upset (with Favre’s late-season play) to a point, especially Woody. But I think they have to handle the situation with care. They’re not going to say publicly they don’t want Favre back, but privately I’m not so sure.”
The Jets expect a decision from Favre “sooner rather than later,” said the person, although the team hasn’t given Favre a timetable. The Jets are hoping to have a decision from Favre before a new coach is in place, which will likely take several weeks.
Some in the organization feel Favre’s torn right biceps injury is old and was simply aggravated this season. Mystery has surrounded the injury and the MRI of Favre’s shoulder ever since he complained of pain during the final week of the season.
“The Jets don’t feel it’s something that he did this year,” said the person. “It’s not a new injury.”
Another player, who requested anonymity, also had some harsh words on Favre.“It’s the quarterback throwing the ball all over the place,” the player said when asked about the struggles of the offense down the stretch. “And he didn’t suffer any repercussions. He kept doing it. People said (coach) Eric (Mangini) called him out in meetings. I didn’t see it. Eric treated him like he was Brett Favre. A lot of guys didn’t like it.”
Wow, I haven’t seen a beating like this since Mike Tyson-Peter McNeeley. After hearing the comments being made by the Jets players this week, there’s really no reason the team should hang onto Brett for next season. A new head coach shouldn’t have to do this kind of damage control right off the bat so if Favre doesn’t retire, it might be wise for the Jets to eat the money and move on.
It’s amazing how just over a month ago, some were talking about Brett taking the Jets to the Super Bowl and now he’s being lambasted by teammates and unnamed media sources. Even though most of the Packer fan base wanted the team to take Favre back last year, I don’t know how they’re not glad they don’t have to put up with his retirement dance this offseason.
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The New England Patriots have quite the decision to make regarding quarterback Matt Cassel, who becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. They could allow the young signal caller to walk, franchise tag him and keep him, franchise tag him and trade him or re-sign him and ship multiple Super Bowl winner Tom Brady elsewhere. (The last option I discussed in more detail a couple weeks ago.)
NationalFootballPost.com writer Mike Lombardi recently provided some insight on which way the Pats are leaning:
NationalFootballPost.com writer Mike Lombardi, speaking on Inside the NFL, said the Patriots will place the franchise tag on Matt Cassel.
“The Patriots are way too smart, and I’ve talked to people in the organization,” Lombardi said. The former Raiders GM worked under Bill Belichick in Cleveland. While this may just be informed speculation, it’s the likely move. Cassel is a huge asset and the Patriots can either work out a short-term contract or trade him after using the tag.
I agree with Rotoworld.com – the Patriots will likely tag Cassel and then figure out what their next move is. Maybe the team will know more about Brady’s recovery and whether or not he’s going to be ready next season. If Brady continues to recover slowly (which seems to be the current notion), than maybe the Pats will eventually make Cassel their long-term answer and deal Brady in the offseason.
This will be one the best storylines this offseason.
According to ESPN.com’s John Clayton, former Denver Broncos’ head coach Mike Shanahan is unlikely to coach before the 2010 season.
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen admitted he didn’t have a plan yet to replace Mike Shanahan as head coach, and it sure looks as though Shanahan isn’t going to find the right opportunity to keep him in coaching this season. Bowlen appeared a little lost as to the direction of the coaching search during his version of the news conference Wednesday. During his talk, he said all of Shanahan’s coaches were being let go. Later, it was revealed that he misspoke and offensive coaches such as coordinator Jeremy Bates are staying for now. Shanahan was blindsided by his firing. And unless the Jets decide to throw his name into their search, the Lions and Chiefs don’t look like teams ready for his plans to get to the Super Bowl. Shanahan will coach but it most likely will be in 2010 or later.
Coaching class: If Mike Shanahan does indeed sit for a season, it sets up a remarkable store of head coaching candidates for 2010. Mike Holmgren, Bill Cowher and Shanahan should all be available. A team looking for a head coach can’t lose if they get the guy whom they considered the third best from that list.
Well this puts a major crimp in my massive plan to get Shanahan in a Detroit Lions jumpsuit next year, now doesn’t it?
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