FanNation - The Republic of Sport

The news just keeps pouring in from the league that's supposed to be just waking from its 4-5 month long slumber.  Usually, the biggest news leading up to the beginning of training camp is about a few key signings in the free agent market, and some moves made during the draft.  This year, things have been a little different. 

First of all, I can't recall a time when this many players were being busted this many times by the cops.  I remember when Rae Caruth had his girlfriend executed.  Horrible as it was, it seemed to be an isolated, relatively unique event.  Now, every time I hear a report about some player beating up a hooker or running an illegal dog fighting operation, it's perfectly normal.

So, what's new in the good ol' National Football League? (TM)

Michael Vick will not be dumped by his sponsor, Nike.  A few of you seem to think that Nike will soon do so, and that they already should.  Not that I think he's innocent, but what happened to innocent until proven guilty?  Nike needs to avoid a situation like the one CBS has with Imus.  Imus is going to get a lot of money from CBS because they didn't go about getting rid of him in the right way.  Now, Imus' contract with CBS had a specific section in it that called for "controversial" programming.  I don't know for sure, but I'll bet that Mike Vick's Nike contract doesn't have such a clause asking him to fight x number of dogs a year, but the point remains; if Nike fires Vick prematurely, and he's found not guilty in a court of law, than they have a HUGE lawsuit on their hands.  Not to mention they'll be accused of racism, classism, and any other -ism people can think of.  This is a blame culture we live in, folks.

Don't believe me?  You think personal responsibility is alive and well?  Look at video games.  Rock-star Games and developer Take-Two Interactive have a game called Manhunt 2, that is very, very violent.  It has been slapped with a rating of "AO" (adults only) due to its content.  That rating, which will severely limit sales unless the game is changed to get a better rating (thereby making it less violent, and less fun), was pushed on the game after pressure from watchdog groups claiming that game with the Nintendo Wii's controls would somehow harm children; the kids would have a new degree of control over this violence, which in turn would only influence them more to imitate the game.  Last time I checked, no 11-year old is going to get in his car, drive to the store, walk up to the counter with a game rated "M" (Mature, i.e., the Grand Theft Auto series, which is what Manhunt's creators want as a rating), and buy that game with his credit card.  Personal responsibility went out the window years ago, people.

Just look at LaVar Arrington.  A lot of people here on fannation seem to think that professional athletes should be allowed to do things like hang-glide, ride motorcycles, go base jumping, and so forth.  Yeah, sure they should be allowed to do them.  That doesn't mean that they SHOULD do them, though.  In fact, it's all the more reason why they shouldn't; they should set an example of what responsibility means, namely, sacrifice.  Whether they like it or not, these men (and women) are held to a higher standard than some of us.  It's silly, yes.  Just because you can throw a ball doesn't mean you are a good person.  But like it or not, people expect you to be.  These guys should have the cajones to accept the personal responsibility to take care of their bodies.  That is, after all, their jobs.  So while Arrington has every right to ride a motorcycle, he shouldn't ride a motorcycle.

LaVar is yet another one of these guys who seem to think they're invincible.  Don't try and tell me that Big Ben wasn't affected by that motorcycle crash last year.  He says he's tired of talking about it.  Here's a tip, genius: if you don't want people to think you're a moron, don't do moronic things, like riding a motorcycle without a helmet on.  Would you ever play football without a helmet on?  No. 

Arrington was wearing a helmet.  He did not, however, have a motorcycle license.  So he's still a jerk who thinks he's above the law.  What is it with these guys?  Arrington reportedly had "a few broken bones, which you might expect from a motorcycle accident," according to his agent.  What?  What the hell is a few broken bones?  A few broken fingers?  Or a few broken legs?  There's a big difference.  As it turns out, he broke his arm and his leg.  The guy was reportedly already considering retirement, and now this will almost certainly force him to retire.  What happened to professionalism?  I refuse to believe that LaVar Arrington wanted his career to end like this, after one ignominious year in New York. 

How can he even risk it?  Are millions of dollars really worth a nice ride down the beltway?  I live in DC, and the beltway really isn't that great.  The speed limit is only 55, so you can't really open'er up, and it's a relatively plain drive in terms of scenery.  Oh, well.

In other news, the Chiefs have reportedly invested most of their hopes in Brodie Croyle.  Also, the Bills apparently have asked Rob Johnson if he'd like to start for them.  Seriously, though, what does Damon Huard have to do get his job?  The guy should run that offense.  Croyle was a big injury problem, and the linebackers in the NFL will snack on him if he's thrown in there.  He can make throws, but they should let him sit another year.  Huard earned the job last year, he proved that he can make plays and do more than just manage a game.  Also, rookie wide receivers Dwayne Bowe and Jeff Webb, both 6ft. 2 and weighing 217 and 211 lbs, respectively, can benefit from the veteran Huard's experience.  The best thing for the Chiefs would be Damon.  Let the guy earn a spot on another team in two years, and in the process he'll groom the guy the Chiefs want to be their future for then next ten years.

Also out of KC, apparently Larry Johnson will not sign for anything less than $60,000,001, which is one dollar more than LaDainian Tomlinson's 60 million dollar deal.  I don't know how much LJ wants; he's great, but with the rampant success Kansas City has had producing running backs, would the Chiefs be better served maybe not giving LJ the richest contract in running back history?  Is LJ as good as LT?  I don't think so.  LJ wasn't that far off from LT's numbers last year, but he wasn't that far ahead of, say Frank Gore.  LT had 1815 yards rushing, a 5.2 yard per carry average, and 113.4 ypg.  LJ had 1789 yards, with a 4.3 ypc.  Gore had 1695 yards, with 5.4 ypc.  He also had 104 less caries than LJ.  That's food for thought.  How much should you rate a great running back when the gulfs separating them are relatively small?

But the Chiefs are in dire need of a wide receiver.  How hardcore would it be if they, instead of paying LJ, used the money to get some receiver to bolster their roster and mentor the rookies?  They already scr*wed the pooch on that one, seeing as how Joe Horn and Randy Moss are off the board, but you can get the idea.  Still, they'll pay LJ and that will be that.  All that talk was just the Madden player in me wondering how to make my team better while staying well under salary cap. 

The Panthers have apparently expressed interest in Donovin Darius.  I'm not sure Darius wants to go to the Jags NFC equivalent.  The Panthers are a grossly overrated team, especially as long as Delhomme is at the helm.  Most people are actually starting to pick up on that, too.  They have a good defense, but not a great one.  Adding Darius would be cool, though.  The secondary would be great on paper, with Minter, Ken Lucas, and Chris Gamble.  Then they'd get killed by the Saints, Falcons, and Bucs at least once, but they'd still be great on paper.

Hey, all you Panthers fans out there, anyone want to take bets on how long it takes Fox to bench Delhonky and throw David Carr in there?  I'll give odds to anyone who wants'em!

In Tampa Bay (BOO!), Chris Simms is apparently sliding further and further down Chucky's "People who I don't think are total Jerks" list.  Chucky is not, however, in love with newly arrived Jeff Garcia as the Bucs are eagerly waiting to see if Jake Plummer is just joking about his retirement, or if he's just a lazy jerk who doesn't want to do the paperwork and give it to the NFL front office.   Here's the truth of the matter as I see it: the Bucs are waiting to see what happens with Plummer so they can absorb his signing bonus.  If he doesn't go to the Bucs, he could end up owing them money and I'm pretty sure they will get their pick back from the Broncos.  If he does show, then they get another QB.  Gruden has gushed over Garcia, but we all know how Chucky hates whatever Qb he has at any given moment.  His lust for Plummer is all the more proof that Garcia is already being relegated to a quick-fix role, which he should be.  If the Bucs want Plummer, first appeal to the guy's ego, then his sense of pride, and then his wallet.  Plain and simple.

I hope Asante Samuel sits out until week 10.  First of all, if he does, then my fellow University of Georgia graduate Paul Oliver might get to try for the job there in New England.  As someone who watched the Bulldogs intensely for 4 years, I can say that Oliver is very good and he'll do just fine with the Pats.  That system is for tall corners with a nose for the ball, which Oliver was in college.  He's big, too, at 205 lbs, so as a cornerback he'll have an advantage when it comes to matching up with physical receivers.  Secondly, the Pats secondary will feel the effects of Samuel's absense even with a competent replacement, and I'd like to see that smug look wiped off of Belichick's face, just once. 

Apparently, in Chicago, defensive tackle Tommie Harris now says he was "just kidding around" when he commented to television reporters in Philadelphia last weekend that the Bears would have a better chance to win the Super Bowl with Donovan McNabb as their quarterback.  I'm sure white guys everywhere got indignant when they heard this; the truth is, this was not a racist comment as some people I know have claimed (they ask me why Harris didn't pick a white quarterback better than Grossman to cite).  I'm sure there was a reason Harris picked McNabb over, say, Peyton Manning,  and maybe it has to do with the fact that McNabb is black, but Harris' comment wasn't saying that they'd have a better chance to win because McNabb is black and Rex Grossman is white; it's because McNabb is good and Grossman is not.  And I defy anyone to try and tell me that having Donovan McNabb wouldn't greatly increase the Bears chances of winning football games.  He should not have said it, as it isn't right to low-blow your teammates like that.  But, sorry Rexy, you stink, and what Tommie Harris said was absolutely correct.

As a Redskins fan, I'd love to have Bill Cowher come and coach the team.  Cowher is a tough coach, and he'd get the God out of Washington and put the fear of God into those players about what will happen if they have another 5-11 season.  He knows how to use slashes like Randle El, he likes having an aggressive, top ranked blitz happy defense, and the offense in Washington can be as dynamic as any.  He'd be great, if you ask me.  He'd also be great as coach for the Panthers.  He'd open that offense up (though anything is more open compared to Fox, who is so conservative he sometimes out Marty-Balls Marty) and get the ball to Steve Smith on a consistent basis while making his quarterback spread the ball around.  And he'd find a running back.  The only thing I don't like about this is Cowher reportedly wants control of football operations.  How many more coaches have to prove that they are not great judges of talent?  When Joe Gibbs was coaching the Redskins Super Bowl teams, he was not the evaluator of talent; Bobby Beathard was.  I don't see why a team should have to give up a good GM to get a good coach who wants more control than he really should have.

Well, until next time, it's been a blast as always!