Tuesday's Thoughts

While wondering what legendary Hall of Fame Coach and Cincinnati Bengals founder Paul Brown would have said after the Bengals monumental meltdown on Saturday night, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* The NFL announced yesterday that Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been suspended three games to begin the 2016 season for his hit on Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver Antonio Brown. He should have received more of a suspension. For a league that feigns concern about player safety and who's image gets tarnished daily by the criminal behavior of its players, Burfict's intent to injure Brown was pre-meditated and should be treated far more harshly than a 3 game suspension. His actions, along with those of that other mental giant Pacman Jones, cost their team a chance to move on in the playoffs. Some want to deflect blame from these two morons onto Bengals running back Jeremy Hill, who fumbled after the Bengals intercepted Landry Jones which should have ended the Steelers playoff hopes. But that was a football play and fumbles happen. The actions of Burfict and Jones are not football plays but the acts of unprofessional hoods.

* Some members of the Bengals offensive unit have said they weren't surprised with what happened at the end of the game Saturday because the defensive unit has been out of control all year and Head Coach Marvin Lewis had done nothing to stop it. I wonder if Burfict and Jones would be playing for Bill Belichick.

* Teddy Bridgewater led his team for what should have been a game winning field goal on Sunday against Seattle in the third coldest playoff game in NFL history. AJ McCarron led his team to what should have been a game winning touchdown for Cincinnati. Bridgewater was the QB who, then-President of Football Operations for the Cleveland Browns, Joe Banner wanted to draft as a result of an analytics study. Banner was fired and Minnesota drafted Bridgewater in the first round of the 2014 draft. In that same draft, McCarron was drafted in the fifth round by the Bengals. The Browns? They drafted Johnny Manziel. Enough said.

* Was shocked yesterday to learn that James van Riemsdyk will be out 6 to 8 weeks with a fractured foot. The Maple Leafs have called up Josh Leivo from the Marlies and Shawn Matthias will be moved up to play with Tyler Bozak and P.A.Parenteau.

* Will be interesting to see how the Leafs bounce back from their 7-0 drubbing at the hands of San Jose when they take on Columbus Wednesday night at the ACC. I would expect a spirited performance.

* Last night's College Football Championship Game was much better than the dull semi-final games. Full marks to Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban. You could tell Saban is from the Parcells-Belichick tree by calling for an onside kick when he did as he realized his defense couldn't handle DeShaun Watson and the Clemson offense.

* Well not sure where Saban has been hiding tight end OJ Howard but the kid was awesome last night. Will be interesting to see if this athletic junior will decide to stay in school or declare of the NFL Draft.

* Is there any doubt that DeShaun Watson will be the pre-season favorite to win the Heisman Trophy next season?

* Should be quite the show in Western New York next football season as Rex Ryan has hired twin brother Rob to be assistant head coach.

* There is no question that Tom Coughlin resigned as NY Giants head coach at the request of ownership because why else would he be interviewing with the Eagles and the 49ers? Wonder what Giant veterans like Eli Manning will think if Coughlin is on another team's sideline for the 2016 season.

* If the Browns were smart they would hire Hue Jackson right now. What kills me is how they haven't reached out to Lovie Smith. Smith was turning Tampa Bay around and has been winner wherever he has been. Probably why the Browns won't interview him.

* If Barry Bonds doesn't belong in the Baseball Hall of Fame, then Major League Baseball needs to reinstate Henry Aaron as the home run king.

* My fearless predictions: Denver, New England, Green Bay and Seattle. By the way, I hope I'm wrong about the NFC games.

* And finally, where are all of the naysayers who were blasting Knicks President Phil Jackson. The Knicks are a contender to make the playoffs in the East and appear to have drafted a good one in Kristaps Porzingis. It seems that K.P. is fitting in nicely and Carmelo Anthony may be having one of his best all around seasons. It looks like the Zen Master may have the Knicks on the right path.

Tuesday's Thoughts

While wondering how Pegulaville is doing after the Bills first loss, here's what is on my mind this morning:

* Well the Cleveland Browns let another one get away as they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 23-21. While there were some positives with the play of the offense, when they could have put the game away in the fourth quarter they blew it. Two golden opportunities: an interception by Tashaun Gipson (which gave them the ball on the Ravens 30) and a 70 yard pass from Brian Hoyer to Taylor Gabriel (which put them in the Red Zone) resulted in one missed field goal attempt and one blocked field goal attempt. Inexcusable.

* The play calling after these 2 opportunities was too conservative, particularly after the 70 yard pass to Gabriel. This was also the case in the last Cleveland possession when a first down would have salted the game away. And by the way, Travis Benjamin needs to catch that ball on Baltimore's last punt which ultimately pinned the Browns in their own zone.

* The Browns run defense has been awful as they have been torched in every game this young season. Justin Gilbert, the eighth pick overall in the 2014 Draft, has been terrible and Sunday was no different. I think I would rather have Sammy Watkins. 

* Have to give Coach Bruce Arians credit for the job he is doing with the Arizona Cardinals. The Cards are 3-0 and 13-6 when you combine their record from last year. 

* It's amazing how much influence Nike has as it can get teams to alter traditional uniforms. The latest disgrace were the uniforms that the Oklahoma Sooners wore in Saturday's game against West Virginia. The Browns are next from what I'm told so expect an explosion from me when that happens. 

* The Ray Rice-Baltimore Ravens story is lowering itself even more as an ESPN report indicated that the Ravens pressured law enforcement and the NFL to take it easy on their star running back. Yesterday, the Ravens owner denounced the report saying that it was based on information from Rice's attorney, agent and friends. Wow, two weeks ago Biscotti was standing by his man now he's throwing him under the bus. What would you expect from a team created by Art Modell. 

* "There are some things you can cover up and some things you can't". These words from the ESPN star, Ray Lewis. The same Ray Lewis who was involved in a double homicide where they never recovered the clothes he was wearing that night and he took a plea to blow his two compatriots in. ESPN should be ashamed of themselves. This guy should never have been given a job. He's a thug. 

* ESPN running a commercial commemorating the 45th year of Monday Night Football that shows Dan Marino, Walter Payton & Ray Lewis. What a joke!! Lewis doesn't belong in the same sentence with those two. 

* Kudos to Mike Francesa for his comments regarding Lewis. Francesa said he could never understand why the league glorified this guy. I agree 100%. Francesa said he had no desire to interview Lewis and can't understand why the Ravens have built a statute for him. I couldn't agree more, Mike. 

* Funny how the Pittsburgh Pirates have found Russell Martin a key contributor to their recent entries into the playoffs. Interesting how the Pirates will have made the playoffs both years since he joined the team while the Yankees will have not made the playoffs since Martin was not re-signed. 

* So happy that Derek Jeter is having a good homestand. It is going to be a long time before we see a player who exhibits the class and clutch performance that has characterized Jeter's career. For those that want to criticize him, take a look at what's going in on in sports today and tell me who you would rather have as the face of your franchise or sport: Derek Jeter or Ray Rice?

* Looks like the planning for the Super Bowl parade in Pegulaville has been put on hold. EJ Manuel has gone from the toast of the town to a bum. This kid will not be the starting QB for the Bills by the end of the season. 

* And finally, what are the odds that ESPN hires either Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson or Greg Hardy to be on Sunday Countdown?

NFL and Ravens Just Don't Get It

A day after the Ravens released Ray Rice and the NFL suspended him indefinitely as a result of a video that shows Rice cold-cocking his fiancé and knocking her out with one punch, it is clear that the team nor the league gets it. Reading Baltimore owner Steve Biscotti's apology left me shaking my head.

Biscotti, while admitting that the team did not handle the situation properly, still had to say that it was a situation where Rice & his then fiancé were drinking and started hitting each other. Really Steve. Forget the second video. The first video shows an NFL player pulling a woman face down who was unconscious out of an elevator. From that video, Biscotti's team did nothing. In fact, they defended Rice. 

Commissioner Roger Goodell has said he never saw the second video. So what Roger. The bottom line is you blew it and the second video shows that big time. A former Carolina Panther team executive on TSN Drive 1050 Toronto stated that he believed that the NFL underestimated the importance of the issue of domestic violence because it would be the only reason why they wouldn't have seen that second video.  The NFL knows how to conduct a thorough investigation. It's clear that this did not happen in this case.

The NFL and the Baltimore Ravens have given themselves a black eye.  I've yet to hear a major politician speak out and demand that the NFL take immediate action to deal with the issue of domestic violence. The NFL has a considerable amount of influence in our society (too much as far as I'm concerned).  If they took a no tolerance approach and went on a public education campaign about the evils of domestic violence, they could have a significant impact. They could start by combining their Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Have October be the month where the NFL shows it sensitivity to these issues which impact women. A meaningful effort for the entire month of October in educating the public on breast cancer awareness and domestic violence awareness would go a long way in the NFL rehabilitating itself. It's up to you Mr. Goodell: face the issue head on or bury your head in the sand and hope everyone focuses on their fantasy league.