Texas Tech still haunting rival Longhorns
This is all Texas Tech's fault. Not once, but twice have the Red Raiders gummed up the works in the race for the national championship.
Who knows what we can believe now?
Here, everyone, is the irony of ironies: the same ridiculous voters who gave Texas no credit for beating Oklahoma on the field in the regular season will now most certainly penalize the Longhorns again because of -- are you ready for this? -- Texas Tech's implosion on the field in a Cotton Bowl loss to Ole Miss.
"No one knows how (Associated Press) voters will vote," said Texas quarterback Colt McCoy.
Let's not be naive, people. Voting is all about this week -- not previous weeks.
The problem for Texas: This week -- tonight's Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State -- doesn't mean nearly what it once did. And that makes prospects for a potential AP national title more tenuous.
"We can control what we can control," said Texas wideout Quan Cosby. "And nothing else."
He's not kidding.
When Texas Tech was exposed in the Cotton Bowl, the Red Raiders were reduced to a team whose two losses away from Lubbock were utterly horrific. This, of course, is the same Texas Tech team that beat Texas in November to start the Big 12 BCS rankings madness that eventually left Oklahoma playing for it all and Texas with its face against the window.
Tech gets embarrassed in its bowl game, and Texas feels the collateral damage. I ask you, who has gotten jobbed more than the Longhorns this fall?
"Based on one game, everybody changes their opinion now sometimes on a half," said Texas coach Mack Brown. "That's absolutely ridiculous. Why do we have a year if we look at a game?"
Because this is where we are in the poll-driven, beauty pageant sport. And frankly, who knows what voters will do if Texas beats Ohio State by 30 or by 3? It's all reactionary. It's not who throws the biggest punch; it's who throws the final one.
Or in this case, who plays in the final game of the season.
If all that weren't bad enough, there sits Ohio State on the other sideline in the Fiesta Bowl. You know, the same Ohio State team working on a recent run of futility in big games: blowout losses to LSU and Florida in the last two national title games -- and a blowout loss to USC in September. And for good measure, a home loss in October to Penn State with the Big Ten championship on the line.
In other words, a victory over Ohio State has all the panache of pea soup.
"This is an opportunity for us to put those other games behind us, to show what kind of team we are," said Ohio State offensive tackle Alex Boone.
I'm not exactly sure, but I think Boone used those same words before the USC and Penn State games. And we're supposed to get jazzed about this game?
Nothing is working for Texas. Not the Longhorns' victory over Oklahoma, not Texas Tech's loss to Ole Miss, not Oklahoma State's loss to Oregon, not Ohio State as an opponent in the Fiesta Bowl and -- for the love of God -- not playing the role of sandwich game between the biggest upset of the postseason (Utah over Alabama) and the biggest game of the postseason (the national championship game).
And these guys think they have a chance to sway enough poll voters? I've got a better chance of bench-pressing Brian Orakpo.
Late last week, Texas finally let Blake Gideon face the music at the Fiesta Bowl media day. It was Gideon, Texas' freshman safety, who dropped a sure interception the play before Texas Tech's game-winning touchdown pass against the Longhorns. If it weren't for the drop, Texas would be preparing for the national title game instead of a bowl game that, at best, could lead to a top five preseason ranking next fall.
The guy who hadn't said a word since the drop, said everything by saying next to nothing.
"It was a play that obviously should've been made," Gideon said.
You think Texas has it bad? Gideon was one of the best players on the best defense in the Big 12 as a true freshman -- and that drop could define his career.
"We told Blake there will be a perception by some that that play lost the game," Brown said. "We had a lot of plays that lost that game."
And they're still haunting the Longhorns to this day. Over and over.
(c)2008 SportingNews.com
Tide tackle Smith suspended for Sugar Bowl
NEW ORLEANS -- Alabama junior left tackle Andre Smith has been suspended for Friday's Sugar Bowl for a violation of team rules and policies, Tide coach Nick Saban said in a statement today.
"The University of Alabama, the team and the football program are more important than any individual player," Saban said. "Everyone on our team depends on each other to be responsible, to make good choices and decisions relative to their actions."
There is no specific word on why Alabama suspended Smith. According to the statement, the suspension will last one game. In practice Mike Johnson practiced at left tackle and David Ross worked at left guard.
The 2008 Outland Trophy winner, given annually to the nation's best interior lineman, Smith was considered a top-5 pick in the upcoming NFL draft if he is to leave college early.
Copyright (c) 1998-2008 Consolidated Publishing
Giants Rediscover Their Winning Formula
In the Giants' Super Bowl run last season and in the first 12 games of this season, the team's signature was resilience.
Whether it was the Brett Favre-to-the Jets-distraction in the summer, disrespect from the national news media, or injuries, the Giants seemed oblivious to distractions.
They kept on chugging.
But after the numbskull madness of Plaxico Burress last month, and while Brandon Jacobs's injured knee limited his effectiveness, the Giants were faced with circumstances they could not ignore.
"We just couldn't get that spark, we couldn't build momentum," offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie said after the Giants' electric 34-28 overtime victory Sunday night against Carolina.
After the opening drive against the Panthers, the Giants sensed they had rediscovered the spark. The drive produced only a field goal, but quarterback Eli Manning made a big play (a mini re-creation of the Super Bowl miracle in which he escaped and threw a completion) and Domenik Hixon made a big catch.
Jacobs, while clearly hurting, was back to the punishing style of running that has put NFL defenses on their heels. "After that drive," McKenzie said, "I knew we got that spark back. We'd regained momentum."
Consecutive losses to Philadelphia and Dallas had compelled the Giants to do some soul-searching. Words like accountability began to float around the locker room. There weren't any team meetings, although a number of players convened in smaller groups.
"Everyone has to look themselves in the mirror," tackle David Diehl said on Sunday. "It's about accountability, selling out for each other and working your way back through adversity.
"We knew this was an important game. This was a one-game season for us."
The most important pep talk might have been the one Jacobs gave to running back Derrick Ward just before overtime.
"I told him before we went to overtime, 'Look, you're the better man out of us tonight; I want you out there,' " Jacobs said. "And he got out there and proved that. He went out there and picked up the slack for me. That's what a teammate is for. I love him to death. So we just have to keep on pushing. We have a long road still ahead of us."
While Sunday's victory gave the Giants home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, their saving grace was clinching the division weeks ago. Clinching so early afforded the Giants the luxury of concentrating on playing well rather than being caught up in the hysteria of earning a playoff berth.
"In a way, I looked at it a little bit like the win or loss at the end wasn't going to be the biggest difference," Manning said Sunday night. "I thought as long as we came out and played well, we made some plays, we got into a rhythm, we ran the ball, we threw the ball, mixed it up. We got back to having fun out there. We haven't had much fun because we haven't had that much success in the past."
After Burress accidentally shot himself in the thigh in a Manhattan club in November, the sky seemed to fall on the Giants. Burress's injury created a domino effect that many, even those within the Giants' organization, may not have fully appreciated.
With Burress out, the Giants' opponents no longer needed to assign an extra defender against him, leaving them free to use that extra defender to stop the Giants' vaunted running game. With Burress out and Jacobs limited, the Giants' offense had all but come to a halt before Sunday. More than any other Giants player, Manning has felt the brunt of the Burress domino effect.
The best news of all on Sunday was that Manning can carry the Giants. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 181 yards, with a touchdown. He also completed a 2-point conversion pass to Hixon with 3 minutes 21 seconds left to tie the score at 28-28.
In the exhilaration of victory many players said they had never lost faith nor doubted that they would rediscover the Super Bowl spark.
Frankly, I had my doubts.
Five weeks ago everything seemed so sure for the Giants, but after consecutive losses their Super Bowl hopes appeared to be fading. On Sunday they rediscovered a spark.
Maybe they'll repeat as Super Bowl champions, maybe they won't.
The Giants at least know that they've recaptured their groove, and not a game too soon.
Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company
Trojans in the NFL: Week 15
Matt Cassel (QB, New England) played this week even though his father passed away on Monday. It was eerily similar to when Brett Favre's dad died. Both men faced speculation that they wouldn't suit up, both traveled to the Oakland Coliseum, and both threw for four touchdowns in a route of the Raiders. Cassel finished 18-of-30 for 210 yards, picked up 18 yards on 7 carries, and walked off the field with the game ball. He had more touchdown in this contest than all other former Trojans (Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and John David Booty) have had this season -- combined.
Reggie Bush (RB, New Orleans) could be done for the year after another knee injury. He appeared to suffer a sprain while being pushed out of bounds, but MRI results won't be back until today or tomorrow. In limited action, he picked up 30 yards on 6 carries and 16 yards on 2 catches in a 27-24 OT loss to Chicago.
Steve Smith (WR, NY Giants) grabbed 5 catches for 59 yards in a 20-8 loss to Dallas.
Matt Leinart (QB, Arizona) saw action for just the second time all year. He was 3-of-5 for 28 yards in mop-up-duty as the Cardinals fell to Minnesota, 35-14.
Justin Fargas (RB, Oakland) carried the ball 15 times for 70 yards in the loss to the Pats.
Billy Miller (TE, New Orleans) picked up 35 yards on 3 receptions in the loss to Chicago.
LenDale White (RB, Tennessee) had a quiet day with 26 yards on 8 carries in a 13-12 loss to Houston.
Junior Seau (LB, New England) had 5 tackles in the victory over the Raiders.
Terrell Thomas (CB, NY Giants) made 4 tackles in the loss to the Cowboys.
Fred Davis (TE, Redskins) made his second career catch, picking up 15 yards in a 20-13 loss to Cincinnati.
Keary Colbert (WR, Detroit) made a 9-yard reception in a 31-21 loss to Indianapolis.
Chauncey Washington (RB, Jacksonville) had his first career carry, picking up 6 yards in a 20-16 victory over Green Bay.
Troy Polamalu (S, Pittsburgh) had 3 tackles in a 13-9 victory over Baltimore.
Lofa Tatupu (LB, Seattle) made 3 tackles in a 23-20 win over St. Louis.
Sedrick Ellis (DT, New Orleans) had 2 tackles and 1 sack in the loss to the Bears.
Darnell Bing (LB, Detroit) was promoted to the active roster for the Lions. In case you forgot, he has bounced between safety and linebacker in the NLF.
Also played: Lawrence Jackson (DE, Seattle), Thomas Williams (LB, Jacksonville)
Monday Night Football: Mike Patterson, Winston Justice, and Philadelphia host Willie McGinest and Cleveland. McGinest is reportedly wavering on his decision to retire.
Copyright 2008 Los Angeles Times
Browns coach Marty Schottenheimer? Say it isn't so, Randy Lerner
CLEVELAND -- Marty Schottenheimer is said to be happily retired, a year removed from his last NFL season, and admittedly in no great hurry to rejoin the NFL. Let's keep it that way.
The Browns should be looking for a permanent fix, not a Band-Aid. And at age 65, that's what Schottenheimer would be.
I first read in Tony Grossi's Sunday notes that Schottenheimer's name has come up in discussions. He also addressed it in his latest version of "Hey Tony." Then in Chris Mortensen's ESPN.com story, we learned that Randy Lerner is supposedly looking "hard" at Schottenheimer as a Plan B to the pursuit of Bill Cowher. Tony and Mort are two of the best. I worked with Mort for several years in Atlanta. Like Tony, he's wired in so I don't doubt his sources.
In fact, it sounds exactly like something Lerner would do if he can't land Cowher and that's what should concern you. It would be taking the easy way out. Hire a coach with experience primarily because the last one you hired had never been a head coach and it showed.
But with Schottenheimer, all you'd be doing is rinsing and repeating two or three years from now. Maybe Lerner wants a quick turnaround so he can sell. But that kind of short-term thinking doesn't do Browns fans any good.
All you had to do is sit by the TV long enough Sunday to be reminded that other organizations make bolder, better moves than the Browns do. The differences in approach among the Browns and their chief rivals in the AFC North is noteworthy and explains why this franchise is still rudderless a decade after expansion.
In Pittsburgh, owner Dan Rooney answered the departure of Cowher by hiring Mike Tomlin, last seen taking a running leap and shoulder bumping his players after rallying to beat Dallas Sunday. (Note to Browns players: don't try this with Romeo. For both of your sakes).
Rooney bypassed incumbent assistants (and various NFL retreads) to hire Tomlin away from Minnesota. That's what happens when an owner is wired in. Rooney lives football. He's not interested in owning a soccer team and flying back and forth across the pond.
Next up for the viewing displeasure of Browns fans Sunday came Baltimore, doing more with a rookie head coach (John Harbaugh) and a rookie quarterback (Joe Flacco) than anyone suspected it would. GM Ozzie Newsome found Harbaugh on Andy Reid's staff in Philadelphia where he served nine years as special teams coach and one in the defensive backfield.
Newsome had no qualms that Harbaugh could reach the strong veteran personalities on the Ravens team. He has. That's what happens when you have a GM like Newsome making decisions with an overriding organizational purpose in mind.
If you make the right choice based on a wide knowledge of the coaching talent around the league, it makes it easier to ride out the bumps. In picking Crennel from New England and Savage from Baltimore, Lerner was intent on borrowing from successful organizations. But within a year he was ready to fire Savage and had serious concerns about Crennel.
Getting the right people is what's most important, not taking one from Column A and one from Column B as if you're ordering in Chinese.
This next hire demands foresight. Sorry, that's not Marty Schottenheimer, whose time here came and went 20 years ago.
(c) 2008 Cleveland Live, Inc. All Rights Reserved
NFL Should Prohibit All Players From Owning Guns
Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame tight end and Super Bowl-winning coach, discussed the Plaxico Burress situation today in his role on ESPN's NFL Countdown.
And Ditka proposed a simple rule that would likely make players safer, but would also draw the ire of the National Rifle Association: Simply ban all NFL players from owning guns. Here's what Ditka said today, according to a transcript provided by ESPN:
"This is all about priorities. When you get stature in life, you get the kind of contract, you have an obligation and responsibility to your teammates, to the organization, to the National Football League and to the fans. He just flaunted this money in their face. He has no respect for anybody but himself. I feel sorry for him, in the sense that, I don't understand the league, why can anybody have a gun? I will have a policy, no guns, any NFL players we find out, period, you're suspended."
Ditka's proposal will never happen, but Ditka deserves credit for pointing out a simple fact that Burress learned the hard way: If you carry a gun around, you're more likely to hurt yourself than protect yourself.
(c) 2007 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved
Titans have short turnaround with Thanksgiving game at Detroit
NASHVILLE, TN, Nov. 23, 2008 -- The NFL's last unbeaten team has fallen.
The New York Jets crashed Nashville's party with authority Sunday, beating Tennessee 34-13.
As national attention mounted, the Titans' margin for error vanished in recent weeks. Tennessee withstood a barrage of close calls before Brett Favre's arm shattered the glass on the perfect season.
"We didn't tackle, we had some wrong gap fits, we didn't play the type of game I think we could play on defense, offense or special teams," head coach Jeff Fisher said. "We were punting the ball and letting it bounce and go into the end zone ... it was just one of those games."
Said quarterback Kerry Collins: "They were the better team today. That's a hard pill to swallow for everybody in this locker room."
After a rousing victory over Indianapolis on Monday Night Football, the offense has required at least a half of football to gain any momentum. The Titans managed one first down in the first quarter against the Jets and gained 88 total yards after two quarters.
"We had some mistakes, some drops and stuff like that," running back Chris Johnson said. "Basically instead of waiting to the second or third quarter to start putting drives together, we've got to put a drive together coming out in the first quarter."
Tennessee required overtime to beat Favres' former team, the Green Bay Packers, on Nov. 2. Tennessee fended off Chicago 21-14 the following week and trailed Jacksonville 14-3 at halftime last week before pulling through in the second half.
After a tenuous 10-3 halftime deficit, Sunday's second-half surge belonged to New York. Favre and the Jets now lead the AFC East at 8-3, while the Titans fall to 10-1.
The loss breaks Tennessee's 13-game regular season winning streak. Tennessee lost 23-17 Dec. 9 to San Diego, its last regular-season defeat. Tennessee faces a short turnaround this week with a Thanksgiving Day game at Detroit.
"Honestly, the way I feel right now, I wouldn't care if we played tomorrow," linebacker Keith Bulluck said. "If [the Jets] handle their business, they might get a chance to play us again. The AFC playoffs are going to come through us regardless. Take a note, because this feeling is not sitting well with this team ... we're ready to turn up the heat."
Not many figured Tennessee would finish the schedule without losing. Still, Thursday's Thanksgiving turkey and dressing may have lost some luster. Many players referred to the loss as "a bad taste."
The Titans haven't scored more than 24 points the last four games, placing a difficult burden on the defense. At any rate, this team hasn't flashed the explosiveness that spring-boarded Tom Brady and the New England Patriots to 16-0 last year.
"Losses are never good," defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said. "Nobody really expected to go undefeated, but we don't like to lose and it's hard to look at the bright side of a loss."
By the end of the game, frustration permeated on the field and in the stands. After a pass interference call on cornerback Chris Carr, Titans fans booed the referees and burst into chants of disapproval while the Jets drove for their final touchdown. Vanden Bosch scrapped with D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who ended up helmetless, and center Kevin Mawae got into a shouting match with Jets tight end Chris Baker from the sideline.
"This is the biggest challenge that we've faced all year. Up to this point, we've had a lot of success. This is our first taste of adversity," Collins said. "We're going to need to handle it like professionals and move on. I think it's up to the leaders on this team to keep the right approach and the right attitude ... and I think that needs to come from the veteran leadership."
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