December 2007 Archives

The Wizards defeated the Heat at home 96-74 in a laugher Saturday night at the Verizon Center. The Wizards took advantage of the injury plagued Heat playing without Shaq and Jason Williams. Rightfully so the Wizards rolled up the score on Miami to run the record to 15-14. The team oriented offense and concept was run to perfection. It became sloppy towards the end when the game became nothing but jump shots, but the W in the record books was the important thing. To be able to pile up the wins despite the injuries across the roster is a tribute to management and its decisions. This shows just how far the Wizards have come under Ernie and Eddie.

Butler Dunk in 1st half - Photo by TSF

Brian Billick fired today. The "Offensive Genius" never had that great offense. But that wasn't totally his fault. GM Ozzie Newsome never got him a good quarterback. However, that's purely luck as well.

In the end a change needed to be made. I would have much preferred a more experienced defensive coordinator, although Rex Ryan has coaching in his blood as son of Buddy Ryan.

I wonder if the decision came down to owner Steve Bisciotti? And if so, hasn't he learned by watching Dan Snyder that football decisions should be left to football people?

Update
There are now reports that Ravens players went to Bisciotti to tell him Billick had lost the team and would not be able to get them back.

As you have heard, the Redskins made the playoffs by defeating the Cowboys. Did you also know that they made the playoffs because Mark Mosley said so?

Photo by BMT

The Redskins won a must win game against Dallas at home today 27-6 in dominating fashion. They did something few teams appear capable of doing and that's take control of their own destiny by winning. The Cowboys defense put up a good fight for a while, but the Redskins were just too much for them and did something that I don't think too many people thought they could do and run the football down their throat.

The pre-game show on Fox was very interesting. Both Jimmy and Terry agreed that the Cowboys should try to beat the Skins because they may face them in the divisional round in the playoffs because they both believe the Skins will beat Seattle and face Dallas for the third time.

Now that the New England Patriots have gone 16-0, why do we even need to have a playoff this season in the NFL? The Pats have already proven beyond any doubt that they are the best team in the NFL this season, and they have even proven it to people such as myself who don’t even like them as a team. During the regular season the Pats have beaten the best team in the NFC (Cowboys) and all three of the other division winners in the AFC (Colts, Steelers, and Chargers). So what purpose does even playing the playoff games serve?

I really never thought I'd see an NFL team go undefeated. Even when the Broncos and more recently the Colts went deep into the regular season without losing I just didn't think it would happen. It only takes a few key plays to blow a game. A tipped ball, a key penalty, a fumble, or just an uncharacteristic performance by one of the team's stars. The Patriots have been able to minimize those types of mistakes this year, and have fought back in the 4th quarter of the games where they've been down. Yeah, they've had a few close calls (the Ravens in particular really could have knocked them off), but this is a great team, and an undefeated season is a remarkable accomplishment.

Mixed night for the Terps. The men's basketball team broke a three game skid to roll over the Blue Hens of Delaware 76-46. Later in the evening, the football team lost to the Oregon State Beavers 21-14 in the Emerald Bowl.

Photo by BMT

The NFL, in service to all NFL fans, will allow simulcast broadcasting of the Pats-Giants game for the potential historic 16-0 game.

I think of it as both a service and a disservice, as all of America, and not just us NFL Network worthy subscribers, will be treated to the play by play and color duo of Bryant Gumbel and Chris Collinsworth. Ask your friends with the NFL Network. They'll tell you. Not the best combo. Even when Collinsworth is not available, Neon Deion Sanders can't save the sinking ship.

According to a Chris Mortensen Report on ESPN, Joe Gibbs has been offered a 2 Year Extension ESPN - Joe Gibbs.

This is fantastic news for a team and organization rebuilding and trying to recapture its glory from the '80s.

The Terps fell today 67-59 in consecutive non-conference losses at Comcast Center for the first time during Gary's tenure at MD. AU showed great determination and energy as Vasquez and Hayes showed up for MD scoring 28 and 16 points respectively.

Happy Holidays to all! Looking forward to a great new year. Just to let you know, we will be posting new entries when appropriate, and reading comments through the holidays. Special upcoming reports will include...

I usually take Curt Schilling's messages with a grain of salt. He seems to spit out something every few weeks because he feels no one is paying attention to him. He makes a statement that I actually agree with.

In the holiday season, there's much of "It's the thought that counts" thrown around. Sometimes warranted, other times, it's just the right thing to say. However, today's Pro Bowl results shows how much fans did care.

Photo by BMT
Sure, most "all star" games are popularity contests. And none more than the NFL's Pro Bowl, as starters bow out unless they really, really can't afford a Hawaiian vacation on their million dollar contracts, unlike the PGA's Rory Sabbatini.

The Redskins won again yesterday, 22-10. Impressive? Amazingly the only impressive thing was that Suisham could kick FG's of 28, 31, and 49 yards. 49 yards? In that wind? This from a guy who missed some chip shots in recent weeks.

These players that Oakland got from the Diamondback in exchange for Dan Haren had better be some good prospects. Otherwise, why trade away the AL All-Star game starter when he still has three years left on his contract for an average of less than $5.5 million a year? If this was Haren’s last year under contract and would be a free agent in 2008, then I could understand the trade. But Haren won’t be a free agent until 2010 so why wouldn’t Billy Beane keep him for two more years?

To the fans: just because the mainstream media chose to ignore the allegations against Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte does not mean it is surprising that they were named in the Mitchell Report. Clemens and Pettitte were named by Jason Grimsley in a federal investigation according to an article that appeared in the Los Angeles Times on September 30, 2006. I’d cite the article, but the LA Times has archived it to their paid/subscription section.

So unless you have been sequestered all day, the Mitchell Report was released. While some names, like Bonds were no surprise, Clemens and Petitte were big surprises.

That might be an appropriate comparison had the Orioles won something recently, i.e. not 1983, and there was a good team to break apart. But trading Tejada, arguably the O's star player, is a strange move.

I rather disagree with the media and the Falcons reaction to Bobby Petrino resigning as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons yesterday. We live in a free country. One of our rights is the ability to make a decision about our employment.

As stated in a prior posting (of mine), Gary (NCAA Champion Coach) made the adjustments that were necessary giving Hayes more control running the offense to free up his back court partner Washington Post .

Although the Terps fell to BC 81-78 on Monday, it made for one spectacular game. It bodes well for the Terps as their play improves and as the freshman mature. Hayes leading the half court offense should steady the team and Vasquez fire and intensity should spirit their scoring runs from the transition game.

I have to admit, if MD had won that game in a fabulous come back maybe we wouldn't have to watch the final 90 seconds over and over again of the MD collapse against Duke on ESPN Classics. This game could have been one to eclipse it. It was oh so close, just like the game.

Peter King had an interesting item in this week's Monday Morning Quarterback showing each NFL team's status relative to the 2008 salary cap. Take a guess at who the only team was that is already over the cap. Yep, the Redskins. Not only are they over the cap, but they are over by a whopping $20 million. Think about that for a minute. That means the 'Skins will have to trim $20M in payroll just to be in compliance next year, to make no mention of signing draft picks or free agents. They will be able to cut that number down a little bit by getting creative and converting some of their players' salaries into prorated signing bonuses and the like, but that alone is not going to get it done, and that's really just delaying the inevitable cap crisis to a later year anyway. Some high-price veteran players will have to be cut. With the emergence of Jason Campbell, and in light of Mark Brunell's large cap number next year he is a goner for sure. Who else will be let go?

The Nationals acquired the catcher they were looking for to mentor Flores by signing LoDuca to a one year contract ESPN

Washington makes a good signing for the right amount of time. It’s interesting that the Mets essentially traded catchers with Nats after trading for Schneider and giving the Nationals Milledge. Also interesting to note is that the Mets could have protected Flores in last year’s rule #5 draft and the move to acquire Schneider may not have been necessary.

Well, finally Vick gets his due. Nice how he ruined the Atlanta Falcons. Yes, I am aware that he brutalized dogs, but his sports impact was unimaginable. Chris Redman now becomes the third starting QB for the Falcons this season, following the footsteps (or piano keys) of Joey Harrington and Byron Leftwich.

Picture by BMT in Las Vegas, circa July 2006

Is there anything that the sports media makes a bigger fuss over nothing about than a guarantee of victory from a player? Is it really so bold for a player to say that he thinks his team will win a game? If the players don't have the confidence and belief in their mind that they can win a game then they have already lost. So why does the media make such a big deal about it when a player expresses this confidence publicly? Does the other team really believe that it is disrespectful to think that their opponents believe they will win, or does the media simply want them to believe that in order to drum up a story for the pre-game coverage?

A year that marks some exceptional performances has two standouts among the field of candidates. Tebow & McFadden separated themselves from their peers. In a two man race, Tebow's tools, stats, and on field presence during the game give him a slight edge. Tebow has all the attributes that NFL scouts salivate over and he's not even eligible for the draft yet. McFadden will certainly be an impact player in the NFL.

This past Thursday, on a brisk night, the Redskins beat the Bears. Finally, a win. And it felt rather satisfying. Q and yours truly attended this game with much anticipation of the corporate sponsored Tailgate Club meal. Well, maybe it was the cheerleaders or the ambassadors (as pictured here). BTW - What makes them only ambassadors? Are they waiting for a cabinet position from Snyder?

Picture by BMT

Two points of bad news.

What's this...the Yankees no longer the front runner for the Santana sweepstakes? It seems like the mighty Yankees have decided upon placing value on free agency and decided that the dollars and cents along with providing prospects for other teams just isn't worth the price.

It will be interesting to see where Santana lands and if the Yankees shift their attention to Bedard or Haren at a lower cost.

The Winter Meetings for MLB concluded on Thursday. The Nationals made three trades, a free agent signing, and extended Willy Mo Pena's contract. It was a spectacular start to a new season and new ball park.

The Nationals completed two trades that appear to have been in the works for a while. Milledge has some mild baggage from New York and Dukes has some serious baggage from Tampa Bay. Both could potentially be the middle of the line-up bats that the Nationals are looking to add to the team. The question is at what price.

Much like the doubt and discontent fans are heaping on Joe Gibbs, Gary Williams will hear the boo birds again from fickle fans due to the slow start and it's unwarranted. This could be one of the best years of Gary's coaching career.

Many are starting to lose the faith and patience with Joe Gibbs. The Redskins have only made the playoffs once during Joe Gibbs Version 2.0. Joe has so many coaches and many of whom were with him during the first tour of duty. But some things have changed since his first stint with the skins.

OK, so physically I know where Baltimore is...about 40 miles north of Washington DC. However, where are they in the Hot Stove League? My baseball team of my youth seems to be nowhere in talks. Except that they are shopping Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada lightly. Like a sad yard sale deep in a neighborhood nobody goes to.

A coaching revolving door occurs at the end of every season, but there are some coaches that always seem to be recycled or maintain their ridiculously long tenure with one team. As the NFL regular season draws closer to an end, let's take a closer look at some of these coaches. Let's take a look at another overrated head coach.

A coaching revolving door occurs at the end of every season, but there are some coaches that always seem to be recycled or maintain their ridiculously long tenure with one team. As the NFL regular season draws closer to an end, let's take a closer look at some of these coaches.

My first thought. Who the F is Elijah Dukes, when I heard about him on Elliot in the Morning. Well they were trying to track him down because of his incidents in the past. It then reminded me who he was. I hear Dmitri Young had some doing in getting him so Young could bring the kid into the light and get him on a straight path. Very noble of him.

4 Superbowl Championship Rings divided by 2 Head Coaches plus 2 badly-timed timeouts multiplied by 2 AFC East oppenents. I'll wait. Don't forget to carry the 1. Oh, there is about ~40 mile difference that throws some weird trig on it like COSECANT.

Watching the ESPN BCS Bowl Show special, I could only think to myself I'd like a pep talk from Lou Holz. He's awesome! He should have a Super Bowl commercial giving the loosing team at half time a (fake) pep talk and at the end of the commercial - drink a soft drink.

When talking about a particular conference, Lou mentioned something to the effect that some people may mention that while other teams in other conferences played additional tough conference games this team/conference went to the bakery and played cupcakes. He has such a great way with words.

I don't even know what else was on TV, but Lou had my attention. He made so many valid points about coaches leaving to go coach and recruit for their new team and leave their old one, that every team had a chance to play for the title by not losing and any team can make a case to be in whatever bowl game they'll be playing.

Oh, and yes it's Ohio State vs. LSU for the title and Hawaii plays in a BCS Bowl.

I'll admit, I was not a big Sean Taylor fan. But he was a human being that had his life taken away too early. He was a son, a brother, a father. So while I did not get to appreciate him when he played for the Redskins, I appreciate him now and thank him for providing us entertainment via the football field for a few years.

Photo taken by BMT

The past two weeks have provided a glimpse into the future when looking back in Redskins history. In both the Tampa Bay and Buffalo games the Redskins gave the ball away and had clock management issues late in the game. Does anyone remember the 1990 season?

The Redskins tried to put together a performance worthy of remembering Sean Taylor on a very emotional week and for lack of a "w" they succeeded on many levels. The team will fly down as a team together on Monday for Taylor's funeral and then try to prepare for Chicago for this Thursday night's game.