Monday Morning Quarterback

1) Just when we were all saluting the conquering of the NFC East over all comers, the division drops two of three games to the lowly NFC West. Message:
>you cannot letdown (Skins) in the NFL
>if winning is the best deodorant, then losing is the best magnifying glass (Dallas)
>just win baby (Eagles), it does not have to be pretty

2) Baseball is a joke. How many of you were up to see the TB Devil Rays win in 11? At 1:30AM? After 5 hrs and 30 mins of playing time? My response to anyone who is going to try to defend the insane behavior of MLB is to ask- what good is a good game if NO ONE IS THERE TO SEE IT? It is bad enough that these games start in the evening and kids don't see the end, but it is even more pathetic when grownups turn the tv off too. Keep diluting the game. The long term economics of this game will enforce some discipline on this situation, but I expect that discipline to come only after a major crisis. Anything short of that and the 'players vs owners' will point fingers when both are in need of major concessions to SAVE THE SPORT. They can start with a real commissioner.

3) George Young quotes from Saturday's Ultimatenyg blog post will be featured today in the NY TIMES FIFTH DOWN.

4) Have you looked at the NFL standings this morning? The Giants have an opportunity this evening to separate themselves from the pack in a big way with a win. I hope they were paying attention to what happened to the Skins, because the message is clear to get your business done.

5) Do the Giants mail it in this evening or do we get to see the Road Warriors, Act 12? Obviously fading the roadwarrior is a costly mistake. If this team is 'guilty' of anything it is that this team fights for respect more on the road than at home. They also have enough pride to not lay an egg on Monday night. So forget the X's and O's on this game, if the Giants show up they win comfortably, if they don't it will be a Bengals-type of adventure. Where have you heard that one before?

6) It is not what is being said, it is who is saying it. So when Matt Ryan's stock price is rising, it is more important for me to know who is saying it than what is being said. This got my attention.

7) In the attached link from (6) above, notice the "head-scratching" remark about the squib kick? Where have you seen the SAME SITUATION AND SAME RESULT? How about that famed squib floater that trickled out of bounds at the Meadowlands vs the Cowboys on Week 2 Monday night 2003 vs Dallas? Play 60 minutes! They get the ball at the 44 yd line, freaking stupidity! This is the special teams version of the prevent defense. The only thing it prevents you from doing is winning the game. The clock runs out by the time they have any chance for a pass play to put them in enough range for a FG kick. This game is not that complicated... the risk of a return for a TD/great field position is far less than GIVING them enough field position for the 1QuickPassWin. Respect your special teams enough to let them do what they do EACH kickoff. It's not like the FALCONS had HESTER.. you do! Frightening.