Senator Arlen Specter is still not giving up on this one just yet, so if we're going to have to talk about this INSANELY tedious story in the future, it's only right that you know which side of the fence we're on.
Now first of all let's clarify one thing: We're primarily football fans here. We aren't out to back up one side of the argument, merely to give opinions. If someone does wrong, we'll call them out on it, but at the same time, we have to be rational.
Wheras the Patriots are culpable - and this is not a defence of them - some of the media coverage has been atrocious. The most obvious and glaring example, John Tomase's Boston Herald article on the eve of the Superbowl was an obvious attempt by both writer and newspaper to grab the national headlines, especially at a time when the eyes of every beat writer in the U.S was on the Patriots. Tomase and the Herald will long be held responsible for what happened in the game, whether right or wrong, you should never put yourself in a position to be the scapegoat for someone else's failure.
My personal (and I won't include Fran in this, as he may have his own thoughts) opinion is that the issue should be left alone now. Regardless of whatever anyone says, the Patriots were punished. Imagine if Miami had lost it's first round pick this year? Does anyone think that wouldn't have been a punishment? I've read hundreds of comments that suggest that the Pats got off lightly regarding Spygate, simply because they already had a good team and had less need of the draft choice than some teams.
Rubbish.
If you'd have said to Belichick et al, that 3-4 years down the line this would blow up like it has, and they'd lose their first round pick in 2008, do you think they'd have carried on? Do you think they'd even have risked it even if they thought the chances of getting caught were slim? My opinion is that they wouldn't. The Patriots haven't built a dynasty out of throwing away draft choices, and I'm fairly certain that whatever was gleaned from those tapes was not as important as the ability to add first round talent down the line.
The effect on the Patriots' legacy is a big question. Of course, in time we may forget, but right now, every bitter fan in the country has all the ammunition they need to asterisk the Dynasty of the early 2000's. Do I blame them? No, not particularly. Like I say, I'm no Patriots fan and I don't mind seeing them lose.
But the fact is they didn't win those championships based on that film. We've all seen it now, and it's hardly anything that anyone with eyes couldn't second guess anyway. Most of the signals are blatant, signalling 4 fingers for 4-deep coverage is a prime example. Even players and coaches from the losing sides have been quick to say that blaming these tapes is a cheap get out clause for the way they played. As Mike Martz put it: "Let me make this clear: we lost to the New England Patriots in the Superbowl because we turned the ball over three times."
So my final thoughts? The Patriots did wrong, and in this situation they deserve to be punished, if only for having the sheer brass balls to send a man to videotape an ex-employee during a road game. On the other hand, it's over and done with (until the aforementioned Senator recovers from his Chemotherapy at least), and perhaps a better sign of class would be for opposing fans to stop using the tabloid slang - 'Belicheat' etc - that has become prevalent these days.
Saturday 21 June 2008
Hall of Fame 2013 class
With the retirements of a few marquee players this offseason, many outlets have questioned who the likely odd men out are in the equation. Every season five new inductees are voted into the Pro-Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. There are also up to two members inducted via the 'Seniors committee' which, to put it simply, means that players who finished their careers 25 years or more ago aren't forever excluded.
So that's 7 Hall of Famers in total every year. Maximum.
Here's a list of finalists from this year (Bold denotes inducted this year)
Cris Carter – Wide Receiver – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
Fred Dean – Defensive End – 1975-1981 San Diego Chargers, 1981-85 San Francisco 49ers
Richard Dent – Defensive End – 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
Marshall Goldberg – Back – 1939-1943, 1946-48 Chicago Cardinals
Randy Gradishar – Linebacker – 1974-1983 Denver Broncos
Darrell Green – Cornerback – 1983-2002 Washington Redskins
Russ Grimm – Guard – 1981-1991 Washington Redskins
Ray Guy – Punter – 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Bob Kuechenberg – Guard – 1970-1984 Miami Dolphins
Randall McDaniel – Guard – 1988-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Art Monk – Wide Receiver – 1980-1993 Washington Redskins, 1994 New York Jets, 1995 Philadelphia Eagles
Andre Reed – Wide Receiver – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
Paul Tagliabue – Commissioner – 1989-2006 National Football League
Derrick Thomas – Linebacker – 1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs
Emmitt Thomas – Cornerback – 1966-1978 Kansas City Chiefs Andre Tippett – Linebacker – 1982-1993 New England Patriots
Gary Zimmerman – Tackle – 1986-1992 Minnesota Vikings, 1993-97 Denver Broncos
A hefty list and one that contains some big names. However, we're not sure of a few things regarding this supossed stud batch of players in 2013. First, let's clarify: Brett Favre and Michael Strahan are locks in their first year of eligibility. Warren Sapp is almost certain to be in there too. He's been one of the most dominant interior DT's ever, and deserves to be mentioned as one of the primary catalysts in the Bucs' championship team.
The other two - Priest Holmes and Steve McNair - are trickier. Holmes had a relatively short career at the top, and despite his success, might struggle for votes. McNair is the real wild card. He was the face of a franchise for nearly 15 years, transcending the Houston and Tennessee Oilers, and eventually the Titans. He undoubtedly has big numbers, but he is missing a ring. Of course, Championships don't mean you're guaranteed anything, but put it this way: Would Strahan or Sapp be considered such locks without their rings? Sure they'd get in, but it's difficult to imagine McNair getting in in 2013.
Incidentally, a lot has been made of people like Ray Guy needing to be inducted - Guy will be eligible as a Senior member by the time Favre et al are up for nomination. In fact, three of the players in last year's list of finalists will have qualified for such entry to Canton by 2013.
Update: As a reader kindly points out, Larry Allen will likely retire, and what about Jonathan Ogden? Both have been rocks on their respective lines for the last decade, and would arguably supercede both Holmes and McNair in any Hall of Fame ballot.
So that's 7 Hall of Famers in total every year. Maximum.
Here's a list of finalists from this year (Bold denotes inducted this year)
Cris Carter – Wide Receiver – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
Fred Dean – Defensive End – 1975-1981 San Diego Chargers, 1981-85 San Francisco 49ers
Richard Dent – Defensive End – 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
Marshall Goldberg – Back – 1939-1943, 1946-48 Chicago Cardinals
Randy Gradishar – Linebacker – 1974-1983 Denver Broncos
Darrell Green – Cornerback – 1983-2002 Washington Redskins
Russ Grimm – Guard – 1981-1991 Washington Redskins
Ray Guy – Punter – 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Bob Kuechenberg – Guard – 1970-1984 Miami Dolphins
Randall McDaniel – Guard – 1988-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Art Monk – Wide Receiver – 1980-1993 Washington Redskins, 1994 New York Jets, 1995 Philadelphia Eagles
Andre Reed – Wide Receiver – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
Paul Tagliabue – Commissioner – 1989-2006 National Football League
Derrick Thomas – Linebacker – 1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs
Emmitt Thomas – Cornerback – 1966-1978 Kansas City Chiefs Andre Tippett – Linebacker – 1982-1993 New England Patriots
Gary Zimmerman – Tackle – 1986-1992 Minnesota Vikings, 1993-97 Denver Broncos
A hefty list and one that contains some big names. However, we're not sure of a few things regarding this supossed stud batch of players in 2013. First, let's clarify: Brett Favre and Michael Strahan are locks in their first year of eligibility. Warren Sapp is almost certain to be in there too. He's been one of the most dominant interior DT's ever, and deserves to be mentioned as one of the primary catalysts in the Bucs' championship team.
The other two - Priest Holmes and Steve McNair - are trickier. Holmes had a relatively short career at the top, and despite his success, might struggle for votes. McNair is the real wild card. He was the face of a franchise for nearly 15 years, transcending the Houston and Tennessee Oilers, and eventually the Titans. He undoubtedly has big numbers, but he is missing a ring. Of course, Championships don't mean you're guaranteed anything, but put it this way: Would Strahan or Sapp be considered such locks without their rings? Sure they'd get in, but it's difficult to imagine McNair getting in in 2013.
Incidentally, a lot has been made of people like Ray Guy needing to be inducted - Guy will be eligible as a Senior member by the time Favre et al are up for nomination. In fact, three of the players in last year's list of finalists will have qualified for such entry to Canton by 2013.
Update: As a reader kindly points out, Larry Allen will likely retire, and what about Jonathan Ogden? Both have been rocks on their respective lines for the last decade, and would arguably supercede both Holmes and McNair in any Hall of Fame ballot.
Reactions in the press: Tommie Harris deal
The best takes on Harris's record deal with the Bears:
...Harris’ well-deserved contract extension provides a well-timed breath of fresh air that should carry into training camp in late July. Unlike teammate Brian Urlacher, Harris never considered holding out of training-camp activities due to contract concerns and even passively acknowledged the strong possibility that he could have been franchised down the road. - Pro Football Weekly
...Harris, 25, will hit free agency again at the age of 29. If he can avoid recurring knee injuries, Harris should get three huge contracts, including his rookie deal. It's also a good move for the Bears, who are locking up arguably the league's best "three technique" defensive tackle. - Rotoworld
Locking up Hester well beyond 2009, when his rookie contract expires, is paramount. The Bears have ongoing discussions with agent Eugene Parker, but nothing is imminent. It's a complicated matter. There never has been a returner like Hester, and his skills as a receiver remain unknown.
Hester, who has scored more touchdowns over the last two seasons than anyone else on the team, probably would like to work off the six-year, $42 million contract that Rosenhaus got for Bernard Berrian with the Minnesota Vikings.
- Brad Biggs, Chicago Sun-Times
Five years ago this month, Urlacher stood in the same room Harris did Friday and signed a similarly lucrative contract promising generational wealth of which most people only dream. Like Harris, Urlacher had just turned 25 and already had made three Pro Bowls.
Urlacher probably still has a few more Pro Bowls left to make and still deserves the relatively modest new contract he has lobbied for since last winter. But it's time, symbolically, to remove the crown that always fit a little awkwardly atop his helmet and let Harris wear it.
Harris was born to lead, a natural, national emblem for a Bears organization that wants to represent all that Harris stands for on and off the field. - David Haugh, Chicago Tribune
...Harris’ well-deserved contract extension provides a well-timed breath of fresh air that should carry into training camp in late July. Unlike teammate Brian Urlacher, Harris never considered holding out of training-camp activities due to contract concerns and even passively acknowledged the strong possibility that he could have been franchised down the road. - Pro Football Weekly
...Harris, 25, will hit free agency again at the age of 29. If he can avoid recurring knee injuries, Harris should get three huge contracts, including his rookie deal. It's also a good move for the Bears, who are locking up arguably the league's best "three technique" defensive tackle. - Rotoworld
Locking up Hester well beyond 2009, when his rookie contract expires, is paramount. The Bears have ongoing discussions with agent Eugene Parker, but nothing is imminent. It's a complicated matter. There never has been a returner like Hester, and his skills as a receiver remain unknown.
Hester, who has scored more touchdowns over the last two seasons than anyone else on the team, probably would like to work off the six-year, $42 million contract that Rosenhaus got for Bernard Berrian with the Minnesota Vikings.
- Brad Biggs, Chicago Sun-Times
Five years ago this month, Urlacher stood in the same room Harris did Friday and signed a similarly lucrative contract promising generational wealth of which most people only dream. Like Harris, Urlacher had just turned 25 and already had made three Pro Bowls.
Urlacher probably still has a few more Pro Bowls left to make and still deserves the relatively modest new contract he has lobbied for since last winter. But it's time, symbolically, to remove the crown that always fit a little awkwardly atop his helmet and let Harris wear it.
Harris was born to lead, a natural, national emblem for a Bears organization that wants to represent all that Harris stands for on and off the field. - David Haugh, Chicago Tribune
NFL Network and ESPN - What this means to you.
Yesterday an article appeared in the Wall Street Journal regarding apparent 'high level' talks between the NFL and ESPN.
To summarise the article quickly: The league seems to have given up trying to shoehorn the Network into Comcast and Time Warner's basic subscription packages. Instead, it looks like the Network would pretty much replace the little-watched ESPN Classic channel. This makes sense on a few levels for both sides. Classic is dire really, but NFLN usually only uses 3-4 different programs per day. Almost everything is repeated 2-3 times. It doesn't have enough leverage to secure itself on basic cable.
But what does this mean for us? Well, if you're a UK viewer, it means there's a distinct possibility of seeing the Network on basic SKY packages. ESPN Classic is channel 442 if you're interested, which I'm not, because it's currently showing a Rugby match from 1981. No announcement is imminent, but the fact that the two sides are talking is positive from a purely UK standpoint. It's also a huge bonus for our American readers who have previously gone without the Network because of the continued disagreement between the NFL and cable operators..
The move marks an interesting shift by the league regarding NFL Network. Previously, the station has gone toe-to-toe with ESPN, especially with it's draft coverage. Unfortunately (for the league), last year's near-blackout during the Giants and Patriots final regular season game seems to have brought the issue to a swift conclusion. When the Network carried decent programming, both sides reached a stalemate that didn't look like being resolved. The channel's availability became a national concern in 2006, when the league secured 8 regular season matchups to be broadcast exclusively on the channel.
All of a sudden, Sen. John Kerry is complaining that millions of viewers in his constituency will be unable to watch a game that could secure the first undefeated regular season for 35 years. The league capitulated, and in doing so showed the weakness that the cable operators needed to see.
To summarise the article quickly: The league seems to have given up trying to shoehorn the Network into Comcast and Time Warner's basic subscription packages. Instead, it looks like the Network would pretty much replace the little-watched ESPN Classic channel. This makes sense on a few levels for both sides. Classic is dire really, but NFLN usually only uses 3-4 different programs per day. Almost everything is repeated 2-3 times. It doesn't have enough leverage to secure itself on basic cable.
But what does this mean for us? Well, if you're a UK viewer, it means there's a distinct possibility of seeing the Network on basic SKY packages. ESPN Classic is channel 442 if you're interested, which I'm not, because it's currently showing a Rugby match from 1981. No announcement is imminent, but the fact that the two sides are talking is positive from a purely UK standpoint. It's also a huge bonus for our American readers who have previously gone without the Network because of the continued disagreement between the NFL and cable operators..
The move marks an interesting shift by the league regarding NFL Network. Previously, the station has gone toe-to-toe with ESPN, especially with it's draft coverage. Unfortunately (for the league), last year's near-blackout during the Giants and Patriots final regular season game seems to have brought the issue to a swift conclusion. When the Network carried decent programming, both sides reached a stalemate that didn't look like being resolved. The channel's availability became a national concern in 2006, when the league secured 8 regular season matchups to be broadcast exclusively on the channel.
All of a sudden, Sen. John Kerry is complaining that millions of viewers in his constituency will be unable to watch a game that could secure the first undefeated regular season for 35 years. The league capitulated, and in doing so showed the weakness that the cable operators needed to see.
UK TV Coverage
With the 2008 NFL Season only months away, information on the UK coverage has started to appear.
Of particular interest to those without access to Sky Television will be the news from The Associated Press that the October Regular Season game from Wembley will be aired, live, on the BBC. According to the report, coverage will start on BBC2 and after two hours switch to BBC3.
The BBC also have the rights to air Super Bowl XLIII live from Tampa, Florida and recently announced a permanent interactive sports service on digital TVs (believed to be part of "MySportNow" which, according to a speech back in November by the BBC's Director of Sport, Roger Mosey, will be "one of the BBC's biggest investments in the next five or six years"), a service which could, foreseeably, be used to cover NFL News.
Away from the BBC, this little snippet from OFCOM, updated on the 17th June, seems to indicate the NFL Network already have a license for a "cable and satellite channel". NFL Network coming soon to the UK?
Channel Five seem to still have live Sunday and Monday night football (as they did for the 2007 season), and Sky will presumably still show all the games it can via Red Buttons everywhere.
Of particular interest to those without access to Sky Television will be the news from The Associated Press that the October Regular Season game from Wembley will be aired, live, on the BBC. According to the report, coverage will start on BBC2 and after two hours switch to BBC3.
The BBC also have the rights to air Super Bowl XLIII live from Tampa, Florida and recently announced a permanent interactive sports service on digital TVs (believed to be part of "MySportNow" which, according to a speech back in November by the BBC's Director of Sport, Roger Mosey, will be "one of the BBC's biggest investments in the next five or six years"), a service which could, foreseeably, be used to cover NFL News.
Away from the BBC, this little snippet from OFCOM, updated on the 17th June, seems to indicate the NFL Network already have a license for a "cable and satellite channel". NFL Network coming soon to the UK?
Channel Five seem to still have live Sunday and Monday night football (as they did for the 2007 season), and Sky will presumably still show all the games it can via Red Buttons everywhere.
Jason Taylor to the Packers... a few thoughts.
People are gushing over the possibility of Jason Taylor's proposed trade to Green Bay. Let's just clarify a few things first though, before people need reconstructive surgery on their worn out genitalia.
In fact, here's some reasons why the Taylor trade makes zero sense for either side:
1) From the Packers' point of view, Taylor is not a sound investment unless he brings them a Superbowl. A player who has expressed a desire to only play one year in the NFL is never the kind of guy you want to shell out serious money for. Not to mention that they're going to need to throw a 2nd rounder Miami's way.
2) Taylor wants to play on a championship winning team. That's his primary motivation for leaving a franchise that has been nothing but good for him throughout the years. Are the Packers that team? Perhaps if Brett Favre wasn't sitting on a tractor shooting deer and... chewing tobacco. That's how we imagine things go down on the farm when Deanna is shopping. ANYWAY moving on. Are the Packers that team without Favre? We don't know. How can anyone know? Aaron Rodgers is an unproven QB, and if there's one position that it's difficult for a team to cover for, it's the guy under centre. The Pack are solid, but with the biggest question of all still remaining, is Taylor sure that they'll be a contender in '08?
3) The Packers think that if Taylor decides to play 2 years, then it's a decent deal. On paper they're right, but what happens if the Packers actually do win? It's difficult to imagine him staying around for the final part of that 2 year deal, no matter how much money is left on the table. Similiarly, if they don't, is he really likely to give the effort needed to take the Packers to the next level in '09? Imagine of the Pack implode next year. You're not going to see Jason Taylor at any Voluntary mini-camps, that's for sure.
So no matter what the posturing from the Dolphins or Packers, any deal for Taylor falls squarely under the 'one year, Superbowl or bust' category. The strange thing is, Green Bay has a relatively young team (barring a few players such as Woodson and Driver), and are certainly not in a situation where Taylor would be the missing piece of their puzzle. He's certainly a quality player, but right now it's hard to think that his football focus is still what it was 2 years ago, when he was named NFL Defensive player of the year.
And by the way, 'puzzle' really is the optimum term for this deal.
In fact, here's some reasons why the Taylor trade makes zero sense for either side:
1) From the Packers' point of view, Taylor is not a sound investment unless he brings them a Superbowl. A player who has expressed a desire to only play one year in the NFL is never the kind of guy you want to shell out serious money for. Not to mention that they're going to need to throw a 2nd rounder Miami's way.
2) Taylor wants to play on a championship winning team. That's his primary motivation for leaving a franchise that has been nothing but good for him throughout the years. Are the Packers that team? Perhaps if Brett Favre wasn't sitting on a tractor shooting deer and... chewing tobacco. That's how we imagine things go down on the farm when Deanna is shopping. ANYWAY moving on. Are the Packers that team without Favre? We don't know. How can anyone know? Aaron Rodgers is an unproven QB, and if there's one position that it's difficult for a team to cover for, it's the guy under centre. The Pack are solid, but with the biggest question of all still remaining, is Taylor sure that they'll be a contender in '08?
3) The Packers think that if Taylor decides to play 2 years, then it's a decent deal. On paper they're right, but what happens if the Packers actually do win? It's difficult to imagine him staying around for the final part of that 2 year deal, no matter how much money is left on the table. Similiarly, if they don't, is he really likely to give the effort needed to take the Packers to the next level in '09? Imagine of the Pack implode next year. You're not going to see Jason Taylor at any Voluntary mini-camps, that's for sure.
So no matter what the posturing from the Dolphins or Packers, any deal for Taylor falls squarely under the 'one year, Superbowl or bust' category. The strange thing is, Green Bay has a relatively young team (barring a few players such as Woodson and Driver), and are certainly not in a situation where Taylor would be the missing piece of their puzzle. He's certainly a quality player, but right now it's hard to think that his football focus is still what it was 2 years ago, when he was named NFL Defensive player of the year.
And by the way, 'puzzle' really is the optimum term for this deal.
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