One day back in June, my pal Jean Fugett called from Baltimore and while we talked, he told me that the Ravens deal for QB Steve McNair was completed and then he said: "The Ravens just won themselves another Super Bowl."
Now opinions are easy but sometimes you get one from a buddy who was such a good athlete that he played eight seasons in the NFL, who is smart enough to have graduated from Amherst College, talented enough to play the first of his four seasons for the Cowboys at age 20, driven enough to get a law degree from GW, and sought after enough to play four seasons with the Redskins after signing as a free agent. So that's an opinion you listen to. One thing I've learned about a lot of former pro football players: they see things and can tell you things about what happens on the field that you can only dream about seeing or knowing. So you listen, you definitely listen. (You also realize that some of the former NFL players who are hired to describe the games on our TVs really do know less than we do. Are you getting this, Theismann? How about you, Irvin?)
Despite the long list of injuries that McNair had suffered while quarterbacking the Titans for 11 seasons (broken sternum, infected shoulder among them), Jean believed that this was the right move with the right guy at the right time. While Miami and its Genius Coach were spitting the bit by signing Daunte Culpepper (and rejecting both Drew Brees and McNair), Baltimore made its choice early on and let McNair know he still had a future in the game.
"The only thing this team was missing was leadership at the most important position," Jean says. That's a big piece of missing. "Roger Staubach didn't say much but he led us. He'd play like he's not saving anything for another play; he's giving it all on THIS play. That's the way McNair plays.
"And there was a play early this season, one of the first drives of the year when he showed just that. It was hard for Kyle Boller to lead on a team that had Ray Lewis (still does) and Deion Sanders (long gone). I knew McNair could do that. And give credit to Ozzie Newsome (the GM) and Brian Billick for recognizing it in McNair."
When we got a chance to watch McNair in his Titans years we always thought there was something more going on inside this cat than in most QBs in the league. He always played hurt and made the most of out of his assets. We're hoping he gets to show that and then some on Saturday when the Colts play their first playoff game in Baltimore since they were the home team and lost to the Raiders in 1977. It's a delicious matchup and as much as we'd like to see Peyton get his playoff monkey off his back and see Tony Dungy take his team to the Super Bowl, we're rooting for the Ravens. (Jean's not only smarter than me, he's bigger, too.)
And while we're at it on the Ravens, you might think that a lot of teams would pay attention to the run of success Baltimore has had over the 11 seasons in Baltimore. (I know you ExtremeRavens fans might not think it's enough; check out the Cardinals or Raiders or Lions if you want to learn about real failure.) This team drafts well, it signs worthwhile free agents, has stability at the top and courage to fix a mistake once it's apparent (Billick jettisoning his friend and offensive coordinator Jim Fassel earlier this season, for one.) So many of the Ravens stars came to them the best way going: through the draft. Adalius Thomas, Ray Lewis, Chris McAlister, Todd Heap, Ed Reed, Jamal Lewis, Jonathan Ogden , Mark Clayton, Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata are all starting (and starring) for Baltimore and were all picked by the team.
Although the Ravens have been flying high this season, they have mostly remained under a radar filled with Chargers, Bears, Colts and Saints. This is a team to watch for more reasons than the QB. But just watching and enjoying the success the QB is having is good reason, too.
As for the other AFC game:
Do you think it's really possible for Marty Schottenheimer to continue to overlook who he has been as an NFL coach for his 21 seasons? He's got more wins overall than Bill Cowher but no one will make a big deal about him walking away from a team like they did for the Chin this week. He's got more wins than any coach in the league over the last 25 years. Marty coached a lot of good teams in a lot of good places (original Cleveland Browns, Chiefs, Redskins) but never took his team farther than an AFC championship game. But now he has LT on offense and Shawne Merriman (whatever you may think of him, the guy can really play) on D and the inner Schottenheimer hasn't shown itself. On Sunday, the Patriots made the Jets look like what most of us thought the Jets would look like this season. You probably should never pick against loony Bill Belichick and incandescent Tom Brady. Doesn't mean we can't root for the other guys, though.
In the NFC:
Rex Grossman stinks. He should be embarrassed for the way he let his season disintegrate. I'm no longer interested in Rex the wonder QB and his inattentive 0.0 passer rating. He should be ashamed on so many counts for his lack of attention to that last game against the Pack and for owning up to it in public. He said it was New Year's Eve for god's sake! Here's a thought Rex. You should have walked into Coach Lovie Smith's office and said the following:
"Coach, I don't know what was wrong with me on Sunday night. I didn't have my head in the game. I want you to know that. I apologize to you. I'll apologize to the team if you want. I want to understand why I could act like that and I need you to tell me."
And then shut up about it. But no, Rex had to tell the world and when will anyone who roots for the Bears ever trust (or care about) this guy ever again? Boo.
There is one team worth rooting for on this side of the board: Our Saints. Sure I'm a Giants fan. Always have been, always will be. But I also root for the story and if this ain't the story of the year in the NFL, what is? Go Saints. Beat Dem Iggles.
And as for the Seahawks, put a Starbucks receipt in the proper pocket (read comment No. 4 on this link) and they got nuthin' to worry about.
Ashley Allen
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Man, some harsh words for ole Rexy...but I have no choice but to pull for the guy...without him playing well, I have no hope to see my Bears in Miami. And in the end, that's what I care about.
Josh
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No choice is right. But that's not a ringing endorsement you offer.
Arthur Pincus
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And man, when you read about Rex and you read about McNair, you have to understand thinking the way I do.
Arthur Pincus
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McNair definately makes Baltimore a better team, but I just can't see them winning a Super Bowl with him. He made it to the Super Bowl once and lost with the Titans. And don't say the Titans were only a yard away from winning that Super Bowl. Number one, it was more like a yard and a half away. Maybe closer to two. And number two, they wouldn't have won on the score, they woulda tied it.
As for the Playoffs, I got hopes that the Colts will win, cause I am a Peyton fan. However, I think both the Colts and Patriots, that's right, not the Chargers, will win. As for the NFC... well, it's the NFC. Who cares!?
Rocky Top
Dickson, TN
Total Comments (78)
Okay, a couple things...
McNair is a gritty leader, and if you listen to what his teammates and former teammates say about him, it obvious what he means to his team. Plus, in Baltimore, he's not asked to win games for them, that's hte D's job, which wasn't the case with the Titans.
And Arthur, at this time, I can't offer an ringing endorsements on Rex, I don't think a Bears fan alive can. We're all hoping for the best and fearing the worst...and that's the best we can do right now.
I won't get into too much about the games, as I'm busy writing my picks, but...
The Colts are a very different team on the road, and Manning threw 3 picks against a TERRIBLE KC pass D.
Don't dismiss the NFC, I know it's the thing to do right now, but everyone was dismissing the National League, and then the Cards won. The saying goes, "that's why they play the games". And yes, I hate my self for using a Berman line.
Josh
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In my opinion on the Colts game, one of the things the Colts do have going for them this weekend is the fact that Lewis is a straight downhill runner. Every time I have seen a RB kill the Colts it is because they try to play defence at such a high-speed (that's how they draft their D for the Cover 2) that they tend to run right by a guy when he cuts, or fail to tackle him because they are almost by the runner. With Lewis, if you are running to where you think he will be, chances are he will be there and try and run you over, this plays into the Colts' hands. With that threat taken out, I personally feel the Colts' offence is equal to the Ravens' defence (both the best) and the Colts pass defence is equal to Mcnair and the Ravens' pass offence (both average at best). Looks like it will be a great game, and hopefully Peyton can come back from a terrible game against KC.
loosemonkeys
Westminster, CO
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Great stuff artie! But no one is mentioning the pats! who the heck would bet against brady? Of anyone in the playoffs, no one has more playoff experience, and no one is more cluth when it counts! Go Pats!
yaotmacrockets
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YTR: Not overlooking the Pats, just not rooting for them against the Chargers. It would be fun to have some new teams go places this season. And I love the Chargers unis.
Arthur Pincus
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It would be fun if the Bears didn't lose their first playoff game this year. I hope Grossman pulls a Mark Prior & gets injured in the 1st quarter, allowing management the time to structure a limited contract for Henry Burris who had long been in hiding. Burris was found using an assumed identity -working as a quality control manager in the production line at the Swingline stapler factory. The liklihood of the situation above happening is greater than "Bringing Rexy Back" Grossman having a QB rating +100.
chicago al
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This is to confirm that I am bigger than Pincus but not smarter...I was not smart enough to avoid playong profootball for eight years. Arthur, the aints are not the story of the year, unless youn want to talk about thye fact that jerry Jones let his offensive and defensive coordinators of two years ago leave head coach bill parcells in Dallas only to have the students come back to beat the teacher at home in a big game...the story of the year has to be lovie and the Bears winning with a QB you disslike so much. Still wondering how they do it. This wekend, the seahawks will need somewthing strong to drink...after their loss!
ps thanks for the mention pal!
Dream84
Total Comments (3)
If the Chargers make the Super Bowl, I am calling for the to wear their powder blue uniforms...
loosemonkeys
Westminster, CO
Total Comments (111)
Oh, yeah. That's what I'm talking about.
Arthur Pincus
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Dream!!! A whiny ex-Cowboy. You can't possibly root for Jerry Jones. One of many things Parcells hasn't managed in Dallas is to develop the next generation of his coaching offspring the way he did with Giants and New England. Great to see you on The Nation.
Arthur Pincus
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I will be at the Bears game so I need one of y'all to do me a favor: please count the number of the Cougar's "This is our Country" commercials. What's a fair over-under? 14? in 3 quarters (split b/w the two Saturday games) I counted 8. Remember, this is our country. Also, count the number of people who AREN'T wearing jeans in those commercials (note: uniforms are in an entirely different category and should not be counted in this study).
chicago al
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Thank you, Chicago Al, for bringing up those damn commercials! My God, my wife and I cringe every time they come on -- which is about once every other commercial break. There could be a drinking game involving those commercials.....
Jango
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Ahh, a drinking game. We suggested a drinking game for Packers-Bears with a shot going down each time Madden said the words 'Brett Favre'. Rex won that one.
Arthur Pincus
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Al, I got your back man, I'll keep a running total on the commercials, and post it up here for you. But remember, this is our country!
Josh
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I never really cared much for the Ravens until I read John Feinstein's "Next Man Up". Now that the Cowboys have exited, I'm rooting for the Ravens. Dream - Mike Zimmer has been the Cowboy's D -coordinator since 2000.
McMark
Wichita Falls, TX
Total Comments (17)
Al, I think the count for Our Country commercials was 3...that's it.
Josh
Total Comments (5870)
Wow. I am amazed that there were only three; that means I am taking the over next week. I definitely sang it more than that while I was at the game... every TV time out: "from the East coast... to the West coast... to the Dixie highway... this is our country." How's the reaction in Seattle? Josh, thanks for looking out.
chicago al
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