Sunday Thoughts

Texans-Jets: Two weeks in a row the Texans' secondary single handly loses the game for Houston. But blame the offense too. Why couldn't Arian Foster punch in a touchdown after the defense picked off Sanchez? There was no effort on their last drive, lackluster effort. Seemed like they were content with the field goal. Bye Houston coaching staff.

Titans-Redskins: Vince Young's 5th year and he has yet to grasp the offense. Mark Sanchez, Sam Bradford, Josh Freeman, the list goes on but they all figured out their playbook quickly. VY is still an immature kid who thinks he can run the show. Jeff Fisher has been coaching the Oilers/Titans for long as he has because of the smart decisions he makes. Too bad owner Bud Adams loves VY too much to let Fisher let go of him completely. VY needs a change of scenery, sit a year, learn the ins and outs of being a professional and earn a starting job elsewhere. Sounds like the Mike Vick story without the prison time.

Panthers-Ravens: Stay at home dad Brian St. Pierre had a week of practice as quarterback for the Panthers and played as well as anyone can when you're playing for Carolina. That must be one simple playbook.

Cowboys-Lions: Let's assume the Cowboys are undefeated under Jason Garrett when Romo is deemed healthy to play. Do you start him immediately or ride Kitna? I would think Garrett has to keep playing Kitna because he is doing one thing Romo didn't - win! Though impossible a wild card team comes from the NFC East, what if the Cowboys make the playoffs? You definitely have to reconsider Romo as the future star QB of the franchise and give Garrett the full time job.

Colts-Pats: - Its hard for Peyton to be Peyton when he doesn't have a consistent group of receivers within one game. Pats made the right play at the right time by finally getting pressure on Manning and Pats' DB Sanders making a ridiculous interception.

Bills-Bengals: Bills are the best 2-8 team in history of the league. I like how Steve Johnson had 3 TDs and each time there were fewer Bengals near him. Bengals are just bad like TO said, "We are terrible."

Browns-Jags: Dear Browns D, please learn to tackle. Last week it was Holmes and this week MJD.

Vikings-Packers: Goodbye Favre.

Mike Vick's Next Payday

Tom Brady's next contract is 4 years, $72 million with $48.5 million guaranteed. Donovan McNabb got 5 years, $70 million with a complicated amount guaranteed. Peyton Manning probably will get more than both them. So where does that put our latest quarterback hero, Michael Vick. Before we get too carried away, keep in mind the Eagles can place a franchise tag on him and give him a one year deal worth nearly $17 million. That might be a price worth paying to extract Vick's talents for one more year and then really handing the position off to Kevin Kolb. But he has become a local favorite with his exciting play. It would be hard to pass up on a winning quarterback. I'll leave it to Andy Reid to figure out his QB situation, seems like he knows what he is doing.


Vick can easily command a newsworthy deal because he seems to have put it all together while only turning 30 this year. He was out of the league for 2 years so he is a bit fresher than most 30 year olds. However, doubters quickly point out Vick may be the product of the offensive system he plays in combined with the talent around him. But then again besides the likes of Manning, who isn't?


Whatever contract he gets, I'm sure its going to be based on plenty of triggers and earned bonuses instead of straight up cash. In the end, Vick could easily end up playing out a contract similar to Brady or McNabb.

Who Isn't Divorced?

Kholmar!! That's Khloe and Lamar Odom for my non-E! watchers. Another NBA couple bit the dust this week when Eva Longoria Parker filed for divorce from Tony Parker. Recently, Steve Nash and his wife of 5 years divorced ONE day after the birth of their son! What could be crazier than that? Well not really but...
"Longoria asked the court to require each side pay its own attorney fees. She also wants to receive spousal support from Parker but not pay any to him."(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5817115)


SAY WHAT?!?! Isn't Desperate Housewives still on TV?


So what will happen first - Lakers win a championship or Khlomar dissolve? I'm taking the championship (this year). Khloe and Lamar are going to prove all their doubters wrong and never separate!

Flaming Out

Playing against the Miami Heat may not be as daunting as it looks on paper. So far on the season they have 4 losses - Boston (twice), Utah & New Orleans. Some similarities between them makes up the recipe for a win.


1. Strong point guard play. All-star caliber players leading their teams against a Miami team who doesn't even know who their point guard is. Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo is as good as group of floor generals you can find in the league. Combined 66 assists and 12 turnovers in 4 games (16.5 assists/game and 3 TO/game).


2. Big guys in the middle. Everyone knew the Heat were lacking interior big men. Without a true center to safety up the paint, the Heat will let good, not great, centers like Emeka Okafor (team high 26 points and 13 rebounds) and potential all stars like Paul Milsap (46 points, game tying tip-in bucket at the buzzer) dominate the inside.


3. Simple defense. Boston has made it no secret that they will rotate defensive assignments in order to keep a body on each player. Doesn't matter if the smallest guy takes on LeBron James, you still have to make him work for his shot. Neither James nor the other guys are automatic from the floor.


I know, I know, easier said than done. It's also difficult when the refs don't call traveling violations on LeBron or let him get away with complaining on calls while Nate Robinson slightly moans and groans and gets T'd up.

Leave Cam Alone

Anytime an athlete screws up in life off the court or off the field, they get reprimanded by their respective league, gets the second chance by the media and fans, performs well and all is forgotten. Cam Newton falls into that category but for some reason, certain anonymous people won't let the kid play. Most people have already decided he will be the Hesiman winner but others have plans to bring the hottest player in the game down.

First, it was John Bond (former Mississippi State quarterback) claiming multiple people from Newton's camp asked for money to get Cam to sign with MSU. John Bond is basically a nobody now...so why would anyone believe him? Initial reports said he claimed the person asking for money on Newton's behalf was former teammate Kenny Rogers. Bond now denies that and says its just "two people". Why not name these people? The least it does is add credibility to his report. Otherwise you are just a high school gossiper. I can't believe this random guy on vague information.

Now, an unidentified source claims Newton had 3 instances of academic cheating while at Florida. Academic violations involved cheating off other students, changing names on tests and buying papers online. Regardless, if he did or not, this information should be kept locked away in Gainesville. I have a hard enough time getting my own documents from the registrar so it's hard to believe this information is getting out or even true. But if it is true we have a bigger problem. How did it get out? Who is the source? Is it the same person who has access to Newton's academic history at Florida? UF needs to investigate why academic information regarding a former student is getting out. This has to be a major crime and a huge concern to students and alums of the school.

Bigger Problem in Big D

It was clear the team wasn't even trying last night when Michael Jenkins attempt at a tackle on a Greg Jennings touchdown catch looked like he flinched from seeing a ghost. Jerry Jones finally saw what everyone already knew - Phillips voice carried no message within the locker room. As as result, Wade Phillips is gone. The problem is Jerry Jones got rid of him a little too late. The right time would of been a third a way through the season at 1-4 or 1-5. At that point its obvious a team with high expectations shouldn't have that record. You could of had interim coach, Jason Garrett, possibly put some life into that team and possibly reel a few wins in a row to get back into playoff position. Well, too late for that.


The bigger problem lies within Jerry Jones. He needs to realize his methods of the past aren't going to work in the future. Jones is a great owner and does anything and everything for the Cowboys to win but I'm not sold on him being a good general manager. He has the highest payroll in the league. Drafted Felix Jones in the 1st round because he is from Arkansas but is sitting as the 3rd running back on the depth chart. Drafted a kicker in the 5th round for his strength. David  Buehler can kick like hell but a 5th rounder? Come on now. He's made questionable acquisitions of TO, Tank Johnson & Pacman Jones who were all let go to clear up the "chemistry" so Romo could work quietly. Romo himself is undrafted from Eastern Illinois and Miles Austin is undrafted from Monmouth. There is no way Jones can take credit for finding those guys, credit goes to the players for working hard. He was so stuck on never firing a head coach in mid-season that he actually did! Now is the time a time when Jones looks in the mirror and doesn't see the same Jerry from the 90s. Take the George Steinbrenner approach and give day to day control to your children while riding off into the sunset. But let's get real, if this team is 1-12, I wouldn't be surprised if Jones is on the sideline coaching.