stwasm Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=whitlock/051103 Super Bowl contenders Colts: There's virtually no debate that Indy is the best team in football this year. The only knock on the Colts is that they've dominated weak competition so far. That complaint will disappear Monday night when Indy meets the New England Patriots. I expect an Indy blowout victory, and for Madden and Michaels to raise the possibility of the Colts running the table. Broncos: Went three-and-out and failed to run out the clock against the New York Giants. That's the only real blemish on Denver's 5-2 record. The season-opening 24-point loss to the Dolphins was a fluke. But it's still fair to question Jake Plummer. Giants: Beat the Broncos and destroyed the Washington Redskins in the last two weeks. Everyone wants to knock the NFC, but Peyton's little brother is leading the third-best team in football. We could easily have a Manning vs. Manning Super Bowl. The Giants can score with anybody, and they've had just one bad defensive performance all year. Steelers: I was really high on these guys, until I watched the Baltimore offensive line manhandle Pittsburgh's front seven this past Monday night. The Steelers tried everything, but couldn't muster any kind of pass rush on Anthony Wright. Let's hope Cowher's Curtain just took the Ray Lewis- and Ed Reed-less Ravens for granted. Seahawks: Much like the Colts, the Seahawks have been beating up weak competition. You've never heard of Bryce Fisher and Rocky Bernard, the two Seattle defensive linemen with 9½ sacks between them, but that doesn't mean they can't play. The Seahawks will face the Giants, Eagles and Colts the last six weeks of the season. Super Bowl pretenders Patriots: They've lost every other game this season, which is a sign of a lack of consistency, which is a sign that you just can't replace all of the players and coaches the Patriots have lost. Their schedule gets much easier after they face the Colts, so they'll reach the playoffs on a "hot streak." But Brady will suffer his first playoff defeat. Bengals: If you can't stop the run, you can't win in the playoffs. The Bengals are a year away from being a real contender. Falcons: Wide receiver Michael Vick will never "quarterback" a team to the Super Bowl. Never. Panthers: Steve Smith has 50 receptions. Carolina's second-leading receiver -- backup running back DeShaun Foster -- has 13. Stephen Davis is averaging 3.0 yards per carry. The Panthers have two ways to move the football -- Smith or their special teams. That won't get it done in the playoffs. Eagles: Donovan McNabb will suffer a season-ending injury soon, as long as Andy Reid insists on throwing the ball on every down. Disappointments Dennis Green: No one expected the Cardinals to contend for the Super Bowl, or even really for the playoffs. But I did expect Denny's boys to match last year's six-win season. I can't for the life of me figure out how Denny opened the season with Kurt Warner as his starting quarterback -- or why he's going back to Warner this coming Sunday. Michael Vick: Atlanta's No. 1 receiver still can't throw the football. Brett Favre: The national media refuses to blame Favre for Green Bay's 1-6 start. All we keep hearing from Favre apologists is how bad Favre's teammates are. Look, USC could win the NFC North. If Favre played with a little common sense, the Packers could win games within their division. Daunte Culpepper: Daunte always looked like a fullback, and without Randy Moss to bail him out he played like a fullback until he got hurt. Ray Lewis: I like Ray Ray. But when your team plays its best game of the season with Ray Ray in street clothes, you have to wonder if it's not time to shut down the Ray Ray pregame "Soul Train" dance line. Best coach of the half-season Lovie Smith: Someone who cares about Lovie might want to drop him a note and tell him to tank the second half of the season. Making the playoffs this year will take two to three years off Lovie's Chicago coaching tenure. Chicago is a 4-12 team that is on pace to win eight or nine games and make the playoffs. Next year, when the NFC North improves and the Bears miss the playoffs, Jay Mariotti will be leading the Fire Lovie bandwagon because the team has taken a step backward. Lovie is making a mistake by raising expectations and creating the myth that the Bears are a decent club. Worst coach of the half-season Marty Schottenheimer: OK, the Chargers have played a very, very difficult schedule. But when a team loses every close game it plays -- Dallas 28-24, Denver 20-17, Pittsburgh 24-22, Philly 20-17 -- you have to point a finger at coaching. Marty has the pieces in place to make a Super Bowl run, but you know he's going to settle for a field goal at some point and bow out of contention. Head coaches need to leave the sidelines and coach from the press box. You ever wonder why football coaches -- college and pro -- consistently mismanage the clock and play calling? It's because things are much too chaotic along the sideline for them to make sound decisions. A head coach would make better game-day decisions if he watched the game and communicated with his coordinators while seated in a soundproof room with several TV monitors. When you're seated in the press box, it's easy to see that San Diego nearly let the Chiefs back into the game because LaDainian Tomlinson carried the ball once in the third quarter. Head coaches get confused standing on the sideline and lose track of the flow of the game. In the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, the clock should stop for 10 seconds after each first down. This small change would add excitement to the end of NFL games, without extending the games too much. There's nothing worse than watching a team without timeouts try to rally late in an NFL contest. The clock burns too fast. The endings are boring and way too chaotic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skins11 Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 Why does he keep calling Vick a wide receiver? If anything, shouldn't it be runningback? Unless there's some crazy play I missed where Vick caught a pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gridironmike Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 I'm suprised he didn't mention Charlie Weis and Notre Dame's racist intent with giving him an extention to keep him from the NFL. I have a problem with writers like he and Michael Wilbon that invoke the racist angle so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stwasm Posted November 3, 2005 Author Share Posted November 3, 2005 I'm suprised he didn't mention Charlie Weis and Notre Dame's racist intent with giving him an extention to keep him from the NFL. I have a problem with writers like he and Michael Wilbon that invoke the racist angle so much. Actually, he teased that sarcastically, but I didn't include it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bird_1972 Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 I'm suprised he didn't mention Charlie Weis and Notre Dame's racist intent with giving him an extention to keep him from the NFL. I have a problem with writers like he and Michael Wilbon that invoke the racist angle so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanTheBeastTaylor Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 jason whitlock is a turd......... enough said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakinandpeakin Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 hmmm...the Broncos 24 point loss to the Dolphins was a "fluke." I wonder what he would say about the Redskins loss to the Giants? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidenreich Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 [In the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, the clock should stop for 10 seconds after each first down. This small change would add excitement to the end of NFL games, without extending the games too much. There's nothing worse than watching a team without timeouts try to rally late in an NFL contest. The clock burns too fast. The endings are boring and way too chaotic. hell, why have a clock at all? This is the stupidest thing I've ever read. There's a reason teams try to SAVE their timeouts. You shouldn't get a break for good TV. A defense has to hold for 1:30 to win, the clock should ren for 1:30. It shouldn't stop so the other team has 4 minutes...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccsl2 Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 I'm suprised he didn't mention Charlie Weis and Notre Dame's racist intent with giving him an extention to keep him from the NFL. I have a problem with writers like he and Michael Wilbon that invoke the racist angle so much. Actually ESPN had him on a live chat yesterday regardign his Charlie Wies Column...and he onluy took question from peopel criticising his article...it is intersting why Charlie Wies got an extension after going 5-2 and Tyrone Willingham didn't even get one after going 8-0 in his first season...ND overreacted that is for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slm2856 Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 And this guy will never write a column worth a damn. NEVER. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miguelskins Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 Whitlock is a moron and a racist imho. His most recent proof is the comments he said about Charley Weis's raise at ND was racist because their former black coach didn't get one with an extension. Heck, Weiss wasn't even ND's choice to succeed the guy. Whitlock has no cred. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccsl2 Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 And this guy will never write a column worth a damn. NEVER. Whitlock has written some pretty good articles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor ToughLove Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 Worst coach of the half-seasonMarty Schottenheimer: OK, the Chargers have played a very, very difficult schedule. But when a team loses every close game it plays -- Dallas 28-24, Denver 20-17, Pittsburgh 24-22, Philly 20-17 -- you have to point a finger at coaching. Marty has the pieces in place to make a Super Bowl run, but you know he's going to settle for a field goal at some point and bow out of contention. I am going to enjoy the Redskins playing Marty Nov 27. Marty has always been my vote for most overrated coach in the NFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccsl2 Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 Whitlock is a moron and a racist imho. His most recent proof is the comments he said about Charley Weis's raise at ND was racist because their former black coach didn't get one with an extension. Heck, Weiss wasn't even ND's choice to succeed the guy. Whitlock has no cred. He is no more racist that Notre Dame IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvan1 Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 wait, this guy gets PAID to write crap like this?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidenreich Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 He is no more racist that Notre Dame IMO I don't see it that way at all. Scenario A- You're hotshot new coach is 5-0, getting your team back to national ranking. You are on your way to your first ever BCS bowl game. The NFL has no interest in your coach, so you don't need to extend him because he has the #1 college football job in America. Scenario b- You're new hotshot coach is 5-2, getting your team back to a national ranking & respectability. Unlike your previous coach, this high-profile hire was a top coordinator in the national football league, and helped win three super bowls & 4 years. Due to your hot start with what was thought to be an inferior program, everyone is amazed at your new coach's ability. Unlike your previous coach, NFL owners everywhere are salivating at the chance to throw any amount of money at this guy to try to lure him back to the NFL. Despite words from your coach about this being his "dream job", everyone knows in the back of their minds that should the NFL come calling, he certainly may listen. So, to try to avoid that, you sign him to a lucrative extension so he won't even listen to them. It has nothing to do with the skin color, it has to do with the coach, and the situation. If Ty Willingham was the coach in scenario B, a smart college would have done the same thing ND just did with Weis. everything isn't black & white all the time........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redskins Diehard Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 Actually ESPN had him on a live chat yesterday regardign his Charlie Wies Column...and he onluy took question from peopel criticising his article...it is intersting why Charlie Wies got an extension after going 5-2 and Tyrone Willingham didn't even get one after going 8-0 in his first season...ND overreacted that is for sure. Willingham didn't even finish the contract he originally signed. What good would an extension have done anyway? The problem with contracts in sports these days is that they rarely mean anything to either party. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redskins Diehard Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 He is no more racist that Notre Dame IMO If ND is racist, then why was Willingham hired in the first place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 I am going to enjoy the Redskins playing Marty Nov 27. Marty has always been my vote for most overrated coach in the NFL. Agreed. The guy's entire rep has been based on winning in the worst division in the league year after year. He couldn't even win a playoff game back in the days when the AFC was a total joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccsl2 Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 I don't see it that way at all. Scenario A- You're hotshot new coach is 5-0, getting your team back to national ranking. You are on your way to your first ever BCS bowl game. The NFL has no interest in your coach, so you don't need to extend him because he has the #1 college football job in America. Scenario b- You're new hotshot coach is 5-2, getting your team back to a national ranking & respectability. Unlike your previous coach, this high-profile hire was a top coordinator in the national football league, and helped win three super bowls & 4 years. Due to your hot start with what was thought to be an inferior program, everyone is amazed at your new coach's ability. Unlike your previous coach, NFL owners everywhere are salivating at the chance to throw any amount of money at this guy to try to lure him back to the NFL. Despite words from your coach about this being his "dream job", everyone knows in the back of their minds that should the NFL come calling, he certainly may listen. So, to try to avoid that, you sign him to a lucrative extension so he won't even listen to them. It has nothing to do with the skin color, it has to do with the coach, and the situation. If Ty Willingham was the coach in scenario B, a smart college would have done the same thing ND just did with Weis. everything isn't black & white all the time........ Your scenarios I agree with...but my thing is this...1) Why didn't ND just wait until the end of the season to reward him with a contract extension? He basically got an extension becasue he lost a close game to USC. 2) If Charlie Weis wants to be an NFL coach, there is no way ND could stop him, no matter how many extensions he gets. 3) If the NFL is salivating over him, then why didn't he get a job in the NFL before ND came along? 4) If this is the criteria to getting an extension, then damn near all NCAA football coaches who are successful right now should get contract extensions. I think if you read Whitlocks ENTIRE article and not just blurbs (Not saying you did just read blurbs), his main question is why does Weis get a contract extension after winning 5 games that they were supposed to win, and Willingham didn't after winning his 1st 8? BTW, Whitlocks said in that same article that the firing of Willingham by ND was not racist in his opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccsl2 Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 If ND is racist, then why was Willingham hired in the first place? MY point exactly...miguelskins called Whitlock a racist because of his article...so if ND is not racist for not giving willingham an extension and giving charlie weis one, then Whitlock is not racist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccsl2 Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 Willingham didn't even finish the contract he originally signed. What good would an extension have done anyway?The problem with contracts in sports these days is that they rarely mean anything to either party. Because he was the 1st and only coach at ND to be fired in the middle of his contract. That has neverhappened inthe history of ND football...now the question is was this a coincidence or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCalRedskinFan Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 jason whitlock is a turd......... enough said A big steaming Turd!:laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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