NFL-Random Thoughts

     After just finishing watching my beloved Browns beat the Bills, I have decided it was a good time for a little essay about America's TRUE pastime, the NFL. Sadly, most “journalism” is slanted one way or another, and sports isn't any different. I can assure you that isn't the case with me. During an Ohio State Buckeyes game in 2002, the year they won the national championship, they played a very tight game against Perdue. Sitting on the edge of my seat throughout I had the displeasure of watching OSU outside linebacker, Bobby Carpenter, thrust his hand into the throat of a Purdue player. Whether out of frustration or desperation it was a disgusting act and made me ashamed to be a Buckeye. Again, you wont get any bias from me, I don’t call it as I see it, I call it as it is. The ultimate mediator. So, without further ado, hut, hut, hike!

     Let us accept the stereotype that jocks are dumb. Granted there are plenty of exceptions, like Pat McInally, whom scored a perfect 50 on the Wonderlic Aptitude Test. (The best I have ever done was 38) But for the most part jocks are dumb. But that isn’t relevant. They are playing the sport of football and it isn't rocket science. Physical strength and conditioning, speed, and talent are the attributes these athletes are required to posses. But one position in particular does require a bit more than most. The quarterback. Between knowing and understanding the playbooks, to reading defenses, to willing his team to victory. Yes, quarterbacks SHOULD have a good head on their shoulders. 

     With that being said, let us get back to tonight’s Brown's game. Cleveland raised Brown's quarterback, Brian Hoyer, has electrified the souls of Brown's fans this past two weeks and there was a great deal of optimism coming into tonight’s game that he was our salvation from mediocrity. Fans reveled in the fact that finally we had a player with heart on par with the greatest fans in the NFL. Fast forward to the early part of the first quarter, Cleveland down by 7 points, Hoyer gets the snap, watches the pocket collapse, and without any viable targets, decides to run with it. After scrambling for 11 yards and a first down, he begins his slide. Then Buffalo linebacker, Kiko Alonso, commits what should have been ruled a personal foul, by not only tackling Hoyer after he went into his slide, but also hitting him helmet to helmet. On this play, Hoyer's knee was injured, possibly jeopardizing his season, and the hearts of Brown's fans were ripped out.

     Later, midway thru the third quarter, Bills quarterback EJ Manuel, scrambled for a 15 yard gain and a Buffalo first down. On this play, Manuel took a shot in the knee and would be out for the rest of the game. What was a highly exciting back and forth game became effectively sewn up as a win for the Browns upon the loss of Manuel for the Bills. And these injuries are why I brought up the intelligence issue. While I do believe Alonso's hit on Hoyer was a personal foul, Hoyer's injury is squarely to blame on his foolish decision. He was NOT running the final play of the Superbowl. It was the first half of the first quarter and the Browns were only down by seven. Why even take the unnecessary risk and unnecessary hit? Why not take 5 yards and slide? Why not just throw the ball away and punt? Hoyer sacrificed his knee and possibly his season over a single inconsequential first down. This was not smart football. Then again, neither was the play involving Manuel. On that play, Manuel needed around 11 yards for the first down. He got that and then some and all he had to do was step out of bounds. Instead, he got the “bright” idea to decide to break a tackle and score a touchdown. In reality, he almost broke his knee for 3 extra yards, as well as cost his team the game.

     Both of these plays were eerily similar to OSU's quarterback Braxton Miller's injury during week 2 of this college season. Miller shot himself in the foot, or should I say knee, by fighting for an inconsequential first down in a game that they could not lose even if they had wanted to. Thereby flushing his Heisman hopes down the drain. Whether it be by a desire to be on ESPN or some foolish pride, these three centerpieces all risked everything when there wasn’t even any prize at stake. I personally don’t wish to see any of these three drop like a sack of potatoes, ala Peyton Manning, at the first hint of contact. But I do wish to see all of them have long productive careers. And to that they just gotta play smart. Just know when to hold em, and know when to fold em.


Well, while I am at it, just some other random thoughts on the NFL:

• Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, hands down, not even close. And Nascar is the most “popular” sport in the USA, according to attendance and merchandise sales. Baseball consists of 2,430 regular season games, and I only needed to watch two of them, the Indians and Reds wild-card games, to see all that I needed to see. This wasn’t our year. But it is the NFL, and only the NFL, that is capable of bridging the gaps between races, gender, age and cultures, as well as have the most watched event, in the world, regardless as to whom is playing. Bottom line: Football IS America's past-time.
  
  
• Another year, another over-ranked San Diego Chargers team. And why? Because although I have known this for years, NFL “experts” have yet to catch on. Phillip Rivers SUCKS! Sure he has the physical tools, height, weight, and a rocket arm. And sure he is plenty capable of reading NFL defenses. Rivers sucks because he has no heart, no poise, and no leadership ability. Things that just cannot be taught. You either have them or you don't. Sure they can be acquired through maturity, but Rivers will always be a baby, a cry-baby. Maybe yall can trade him for say, Drew Brees?!?!
  
  
• Tim Tebow: OH, Timmy, poor, poor, Timmy. As an OSU fan I have plenty of reason to abhor this man, but alas I do not. He won it fair and square. And everyone should admire his conviction in being able to thwart the countless pairs of panties that were undoubtedly throw his way in college. But let us face that he ISN”T capable of being an NFL quarterback. He does not have the height. He does not have good mechanics. Actually, that was too nice, his throwing mechanics are ATTROCIOUS! And lastly he does NOT have the intelligence to be a NFL quarterback. Being a good Christian doesn't make you smart, or capable of playing in the NFL. Tebow's only hope would be to play at fullback, maybe.

• Stop hating on my beloved Cleveland Browns. Big deal if your team has 3, 4, 5, or even 6 Superbowl wins. If tomorrow they change the name of the Superbowl to “Megabowl” does it render your team's titles irrelevant? No it wouldn't. The Browns have 8, yes, EIGHT world titles. 4 AAFC and 4 NFL. And if you are under the impression that the AAFC was minor league football, so did everyone in the NFL at that time, at least until the merger. Then Cleveland came in and dominated the NFL as well. Not to mention an undefeated season in 1948. Home of the greatest football player EVER, Jim Brown, and the greatest coach EVER, Paul Brown. Bottom line: The people who don't respect the Browns get no respect from me, they don't know squat about football.