While thinking about what it would be like to follow a real NFL football team, here is what's on my mind this morning:
* Well, Mike Pettine and Ray Farmer became the next in a long line of fired head coaches and general managers who have been fired by the Cleveland Browns and more specifically by that smooth snake oil salesman, Jimmy Haslam. While there was no question that Ray Farmer had to go, I really believe that Mike Pettine could have remained as head coach. Pettine's biggest problem was the decline of the most expensive defensive unit in the NFL. Firing Pettine made sense if the new general manager was going to be hiring the new head coach. But according to Snake Oil Jimmy, the head coach will be hired first and then he along with Haslam, his wife and Sashi Brown (the new V.P. of Football Operations) will hire the general manager. What a joke.
* Snake Oil Jimmy's press conference was pathetic. Oh we had to hear how he was accepting full responsibility for the failures of his team, If that is suppose to make me feel better, sorry Snake Oil Jimmy but that does nothing for me. What's clear is that Haslam has no idea what the hell he's doing. We are all suppose to be impressed because he has brought in an executive search company to assist in the hiring of the new head coach. Snake Oil tells us that this company was involved in the hiring of Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, Pete Carroll at Seattle and Andy Reid at Kansas City. Really!! An executive search company was needed to bring Harbaugh to his alma mater or Reid to Kansas City?? Give me a break!! What Haslam didn't tell us was that this company was also involved in the hiring of failed NY Jets General Manager John Idzik.
* Haslam's promotion of Sashi Brown is another example of Snake Oil Jimmy's incompetence. Brown is a lawyer who has worked for the team as its cap specialist and contract negotiator. He is not a football guy, yet Snake Oil Jimmy said that Brown will have ultimate say on the 53 man roster. Brown will also have the final say on draft day.
* Every NFL expert and former coaches have said that the Cleveland job will be the least attractive of all the current openings. But not according to Snake Oil Jimmy. His incompetence will result in the Browns settling for a guy who has never been a head coach in the NFL.
* Johnny Manziel needs to be cut. I'm tired of his defenders trying to justify this spoiled rich kid's actions. He doesn't give a damn about his team, his teammates or the fans. All he cares about is promoting himself. But here's the bigger issue, Manziel is not a pro quarterback. He's too small and his arm isn't strong enough. Couple that with him not being committed to being the best he can be and you have an Arena League QB.
* Heard Justin Gilbert, another one of Ray Farmer's disaster first round picks in 2014, yesterday on Cleveland radio 92.3. The reason why he couldn't make team meetings in his rookie season was because he was a hard sleeper. You can't make this stuff up. This clown needs to be cut too.
* I wonder what Sashi Brown thinks of the $9 million contract that Dwayne Bowe got to do absolutely nothing this year.
* What a great testament to the character of Tom Coughlin by former Giant Justin Tuck. Tuck said that not only was Coughlin a great football coach but he also taught his players how to be good husbands and good parents. Will be interesting to see who the Giants will get to replace their former soon to be Hall of Fame coach.
* So much for exciting college football playoff games. Both games were a bust and one has to wonder how good the championship game will be. In fact the bowl games on New Year's Day were also non-eventful.
* The Maple Leafs head out west for a three game road trip beginning Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks. You have to be impressed with the job that Mike Babcock is doing. The turnaround that this franchise has made since Team President cleaned house and brought in Kyle Dubas, Mark Hunter, Lou Lamiorello and Babcock has been amazing. Maybe Shanny could give Snake Oil Jimmy a call.
* With Wild Card weekend approaching, isn't it interesting that Brian Hoyer is leading the Houston Texans into the playoffs. As was pointed out by someone in Cleveland yesterday, the beginning of the end for Mike Pettine may have been when he was forced to keep Hoyer on the bench after he was injured so Johnny Boy could play.
* Here's hoping Cincy, Washington, Minnesota and Kansas City are victorious this weekend.
* Loved seeing Peyton Manning come off the bench and lead the Broncos to victory and the number one seed in the AFC. I'm not a Denver fan but I would love to see Manning lead them to the Super Bowl.
* The best that could happen to the Browns is if Hue Jackson or Jim Schwartz were hired as their new head coach. Both have head coaching experience in the NFL.
* And finally, it was really nice listening to former Browns Head Coach Sam Rutigliano yesterday. Brought back many great memories of the Kardiac Kids Days. Not sure if we will ever get back to Cleveland being relevant in the NFL again under Snake Oil Jimmy.
Showing posts with label Hockey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hockey. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Saturday A Statement Game For Leafs?
The Toronto Maple Leafs won their second game in a row with a solid 4-1 victory over the injury riddled Columbus Blue Jackets. The night began with the news that Joffrey Lupul has a broken bone in his hand and will be out of action for an undetermined amount of time. As a result, the Leafs top two lines had to be altered with Daniel Winnik teamed up with Nazem Kadri and Phil Kessel and David Clarkson matched up with Tyler Bozak and James van Reimsdyk. The restructured top two lines accounted for all four of the Leaf goals letting all Leaf fans breathe a sigh of relief.
Winnik did not look out of place on the top line, in fact he cleared space for his line mates and was rewarded with a goal late in the third period. Once again, Phil Kessel led the way with a goal and two assists which included a pretty pass to Kadri. The young center seems to be benefiting from being paired up with Kessel and hopefully this will continue. The constant bashing that Kessel gets from certain members of the media and the fan base because he only skated 10 times during the summer needs to end once and for all. The bottom line is that Kessel makes his line mates better. Look what he has done with Tyler Bozak and now it appears Kadri may be the next beneficiary.
Jonathan Bernier played very well last night and appears to have shaken off the early rust that he had in the first couple of his starts in goal. The Leaf defense played well last night. Morgan Reilly continues to grow and it seems that Roman Polak makes for a nice defense partner for him. It looked like Jake Gardiner played a much more simpler game last night and as a result was sound defensively.
The fourth line had one shift in the third period and that resulted in a foolish Matt Frattin penalty that led to a power play goal for Columbus. I didn't have a problem with the Leafs re-acquiring Frattin, even though I like Jerry D'Amigo's game. But Frattin has been awful since the pre-season and has not shown any signs of being a solid contributor for this team. It is unfortunate for his line mates, Peter Holland and Carter Ashton. Ashton needs to get a fair shot with the Leafs so they can determine where this kid stands in this organization. As for Holland, I still believe that this kid can be a solid possible top-6 forward with the Leafs. He set up the Clarkson goal with a nice pass to Dion Phaneuf. It is encouraging that Randy Carlyle is giving Holland power play time but he needs to get more minutes. If Frattin continues to be a liability then Leaf management needs to make a decision and bring up someone like Josh Leivo. As an aside, the Komorov-Santorelli-Panik line had a strong game and Komorov has been a difference maker on the PK along with Winnik.
Tonight the Leafs step up in weight class as they take on the Chicago Black Hawks at the ACC. In home meetings against Pittsburgh, Detroit and Boston, the Leafs were completely out played and out hustled. The games were brutal to watch. Last season, the Leafs had a huge 7-3 win against the Black Hawks at home where Peter Holland led the way with 2 goals. The Leafs have something to prove tonight to their fans and to themselves. A lackluster performance tonight will rewind the criticism of the core of this team. Fans will be looking for scapegoats. A win isn't necessary but what is necessary is some effort. Certainly a better effort than what they showed against the Penguins, Red Wings and Bruins. While it's fairly early in the season, tonight's game very well may be a statement game on this season.
Winnik did not look out of place on the top line, in fact he cleared space for his line mates and was rewarded with a goal late in the third period. Once again, Phil Kessel led the way with a goal and two assists which included a pretty pass to Kadri. The young center seems to be benefiting from being paired up with Kessel and hopefully this will continue. The constant bashing that Kessel gets from certain members of the media and the fan base because he only skated 10 times during the summer needs to end once and for all. The bottom line is that Kessel makes his line mates better. Look what he has done with Tyler Bozak and now it appears Kadri may be the next beneficiary.
Jonathan Bernier played very well last night and appears to have shaken off the early rust that he had in the first couple of his starts in goal. The Leaf defense played well last night. Morgan Reilly continues to grow and it seems that Roman Polak makes for a nice defense partner for him. It looked like Jake Gardiner played a much more simpler game last night and as a result was sound defensively.
The fourth line had one shift in the third period and that resulted in a foolish Matt Frattin penalty that led to a power play goal for Columbus. I didn't have a problem with the Leafs re-acquiring Frattin, even though I like Jerry D'Amigo's game. But Frattin has been awful since the pre-season and has not shown any signs of being a solid contributor for this team. It is unfortunate for his line mates, Peter Holland and Carter Ashton. Ashton needs to get a fair shot with the Leafs so they can determine where this kid stands in this organization. As for Holland, I still believe that this kid can be a solid possible top-6 forward with the Leafs. He set up the Clarkson goal with a nice pass to Dion Phaneuf. It is encouraging that Randy Carlyle is giving Holland power play time but he needs to get more minutes. If Frattin continues to be a liability then Leaf management needs to make a decision and bring up someone like Josh Leivo. As an aside, the Komorov-Santorelli-Panik line had a strong game and Komorov has been a difference maker on the PK along with Winnik.
Tonight the Leafs step up in weight class as they take on the Chicago Black Hawks at the ACC. In home meetings against Pittsburgh, Detroit and Boston, the Leafs were completely out played and out hustled. The games were brutal to watch. Last season, the Leafs had a huge 7-3 win against the Black Hawks at home where Peter Holland led the way with 2 goals. The Leafs have something to prove tonight to their fans and to themselves. A lackluster performance tonight will rewind the criticism of the core of this team. Fans will be looking for scapegoats. A win isn't necessary but what is necessary is some effort. Certainly a better effort than what they showed against the Penguins, Red Wings and Bruins. While it's fairly early in the season, tonight's game very well may be a statement game on this season.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)