* I would be lying if I told you that I thought the Cleveland Browns would comeback from a 25 point deficit to win on the road against Tennessee. You have to wonder if they would have been successful if Jake Locker would have played the whole game but they deserve credit for winning. There are still concerns. The defense was getting used throughout most of the game. The run defense has continued to be a problem and that may be as a result of the linebackers needing an upgrade. I'm also wondering what's going on with Joe Haden. He has looked awful in all four of the games and if it continues I can't see him being a Pro Bowler this year. One has to wonder if Haden's difficulties are as a result of a new defensive scheme that has been put in place by Head Coach Mike Pettine. This is something to keep an eye on.
* The Browns need to take a look at their fourth down offense as it failed twice deep inside Tennessee territory.
* Tom Brady and the Patriots served notice to the rest of the league that they are not dead yet. Brady was a man possessed on the first drive and that set the tone for the game.
* This Saturday's college football games are the reason why I love college football over the NFL. Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, USC and LSU, Wisconsin and Oregon (on Thursday) all losing has thrown the national polls into a tailspin. The unpredictability of college football is what makes it so exciting.
* Notre Dame knocked off 14th ranked Stanford 17-14 to elevate the Irish to 6th in the country. It was a nice late drive engineered by Everrett Golson that has me believing that this team has a legitimate shot at making the playoffs. In looking at their schedule, I believe that the Irish could win at Florida State and at USC. Time will tell but it should be exciting. Can't wait.
* It would be best for all parties concerned if Jim Harbaugh ends up with Michigan next season.
* If Rex Ryan is lucky he will be ousted as head coach of the New York Jets. I like Rex and I think he is a good coach. But the Jets are a joke of an organization and it begins with the owner Woody Johnson.
* The Thursday night football schedule has been brutal up to this point as each game has been a blow out. Players were not happy about these weekly Thursday games as it disrupts their routine and gives them less time to recover from the various aches and pains that they suffer. If Goodell and the owners continue to demand Thursday games, then they should only be played by teams coming off of a bye. So much for the league being concerned about player safety.
* The Major League Baseball playoffs have been very exciting up to this point. The Tigers & Angels being swept out of the playoffs was incredible and I certainly did not see that coming. However, I did predict in early September that Baltimore could very well represent the American League in the World Series. Not sure what to expect out of the National League except that I'm pulling for the Dodgers. I still can't believe how Clayton Kershaw blew up in Game One of their series with the Cardinals.
* Not sure if there currently is a more clutch post season player than Matt Carpenter. This guy seems to be a guy who delivers.
* Hal Steinbrenner's interview last week with Beavis Kay was very telling. It proved to me that he will never be his father. His assertion that he doesn't react impulsively is nonsense because he doesn't react at all!! With Cashman staying on as General Manager I don't see how much will change, particularly in the scouting department. All Hal cares about is the bottom line.
* Hal and Cashman are spewing the party line by saying that guys like Beltran and Teixiera will bounce back next season. Keep on saying it enough guys and maybe you will start to convince yourselves of such crap because you won't convince me.
* I don't care what anyone says: Kevin Long should be fired as hitting coach for the Yankees. There should be no excuse why guys are not working on going the opposite way when there is a shift on. Teixiera's dramatic decline in his batting average since coming to NewYork should have been corrected. Long needs to go if for no other reason than to send a message that complacency will not be accepted.
* It will be interesting to see which teams will fork over multi-million dollar contracts for six years to Jon Lester and Max Scherzer. Don't forget, Scherzer turned down a six year $144 million dollar offer from Detroit. The Yankees should steer clear.
* Does the Oakland A's collapse after the Lester trade put an end to the glorification of Billy Beane?
* I know some diehard baseball fans who are unable to watch the NLDS playoff games because they don't get the MLB Network or FoxSports 1. Post season baseball is what makes memories. It grows the game. It's a damn joke that those folks who can't afford the cable or satellite packages which carry these 2 networks can't watch these games. Many hotels and motels do not carry these stations so a business traveler is unable to watch these games where he or she is staying. Bud Selig should be ashamed of himself. So much for the National Pastime.
* Really happy with the direction the Maple Leafs are taking as evidenced by the cutting of Frazier McLaren and Colton Orr. Finally, the Leafs will have a fourth line that can skate and have some ability to score. This year's team should be tougher to play against and for that it should be an exciting year.
* This whole notion of tanking to get Connor MacDavid should be a big concern for Gary Bettman. The moron Buffalo media is a joke as they continue to advocate this for the Sabres. I wonder how Brian Gionta, Mike Moulson and Josh Gorges feel about losing games to be able to draft MacDavid.
* And finally, the Kyle Orton era has started in Orchard Park and on Sunday the Bills will take on New England in a battle for first place in the AFC East. This game should be real interesting and the Bills have played the Patriots tough recently. A Bills win and the Gasbags on WGR 550 will be talking playoff match ups. Boy, I can hardly wait!
No comments:
Post a Comment