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Archive 2005

It’s a sad day in football. I’m speaking of college football. A huge problem has once again surfaced in deciding the college football champion. The college game has once again messed up royally. I don’t agree at all with the selection of the Florida Gators to play for the title. The best two teams should play for the championship, regardless of what conference they’re in. The pollsters didn’t want to see a rematch, so they made the unprecedented move of vaulting Florida above the idle Michigan Wolverines. People sure do have short memories. They forget the numerous struggles the Gators had at beating crap teams. I mean, only a week ago the Gators barely beat the horrendous Florida State Seminoles. But, after everybody watched an exciting UCLA upset, they were charged to watch another good game and weren’t disappointed when they watched the Gators beat the Arkansas Razorbacks. If it wasn’t for Fish’s boneheaded play muffing a punt for the Razorbacks… I’m not sure the Gators would have won this game. But, as I said, people have really short memories and forgot about this as well. What they really forgot about was the excellent way the Wolverines beat up on all their opponents with the exception of the Ohio State finale, in which they only lost to the Buckeyes by 3 points IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. It’s common knowledge it’s harder to win on the road, so the fact everyone keeps reiterating that the Wolverines had their shot… it was ON THE ROAD, which makes a huge difference than playing in a neutral field as would have been done for the Championship. The Gators had a great season, but if anyone thinks they’re the better team compared to Michigan, they are seriously deluded. I don’t think many people even believe they’re the better team though, they just think they’re ‘deserving’. The only deserving team is the second best team to play the first best. That’s all. And that wasn’t considered in this voting farce.

As for Urban Meyer whining incessantly for weeks, it was a pathetic sight to witness. He shamed himself for his politicking and shamed Florida University as well. It’s not right to reward him and his team for whining. It sets a bad precedent. I guess Mack Brown already set that precedent with Texas though. Now it’ll just continue. Lloyd Carr did the honorable thing and kept his mouth shut while Meyer cried and cried all the way to a shot at the championship. Carr at least kept his dignity during the voting travesty.

As for Jim Tressel not voting? Well, it is America, and there really never is a great voter turnout, so don’t look at Tressel to put in his two cents when it matters most. What a pussy move by him. He just didn’t want to get questioned when he picked someone. He was afraid of the media. That’s just absolutely pathetic. You have to choose subjectively and pick who you think are the two best teams in the nation. Period. Tressel copped out big time on this one. When making your ballot, you’re not supposed to be biased anyway, so it wasn’t a conflict of interest. The coaches have to forget what their team is when making their ballots. Tressel couldn’t do this, so he decided to run and hide in a corner. Good job fearless leader.

The public was robbed of a great rematch, and we’ll now have to settle for a 60-7 joke win for the Buckeyes over the Gators, I have no doubt of that. I look forward to pollsters kicking themselves after the game. At least I can take solace in that fact.

No Huddle
I am immensely thankful that Cris Collinsworth is back in the booth. With Gumbel, they form the best commentating duo by a mile. It’s weird getting used to Gumbel’s voice, but I’m sure that’ll happen with time. Collinsworth can probably make it work with anybody.

Billick was exposed as being a horrible offensive mind years ago and people were reminded of this after being fooled for a few weeks by good defensive and special teams play. The Bengals ‘ferocious’ defense held the always weak Ravens offense to an embarrassing 1 TD performance. Billick has done absolutely nothing for this Ravens offense. He ended his friendship with Fassel for nothing, and he’s patting himself on the back for it.

Larry Johnson is a racist. I know it’s not popular to say this about a black man being racist towards white people, but this is exactly what LJ is. I saw this instantly once Herm Edwards showed up in Kansas City. Thanks to Cris Carter on HBO and his interview with LJ, the whole world got to see it. LJ basically said that he can’t take advice/coaching from a white coach because… well… he’s white. He doesn’t identify with him, so can’t listen to him. What an absolute racist moron. Where’s Priest Holmes when you need him.

Speaking of the LJ and the Chefs, they really blew it against the ANDERSON led Browns. The thing is, everyone predicted they would lose including me. What does that tell you about this year’s Chefs? Well, they aren’t as good as their record. Too many close wins against bad teams this season. They won’t be going to the playoffs, and I’m sure LJ will blame the white snow for it.

Don’t get too high on Vince Young yet. He hasn’t shown much yet. The Giants come back was aided by mental lapses by the Giants, and the Titans play the Colts tough often, including their first meeting this year losing by only one point. The real credit should go to Jeff Fisher and his defense for holding down the Peyton Show.

Yes, Reggie Bush had a great day scoring 4 TDs. But it was still a few fancy plays and not a consistent threat. Why has it taken so long this season for a game like this from Bush? Oh, they played the 49ers, now I understand how he did it. Sorry, it wasn’t his coming out party. He’s a nice gimmick player, good 3rd option on a good Saints team.

I love that Lovie Smith is sticking with Rex Grossman. He has shown he can do it early on, and they DO have 10 wins and the division crown already. He’ll rediscover his mojo and quiet critics pretty fast once the playoffs arrive and reward a brilliant coach like Lovie Smith. The weather was bad for QBs in the game, Brad Johnson played bad too… but a 1.3 passer rating against the league’s 31st ranked pass defense? Wow. That was a bad day.

Losman keeps growing and improving every week. The Bills kept it close against the Super Chargers, but a win was asking too much. I used to like Merriman, but every time I saw him on the field making a play, all I could think was: cheater. He has forever lost favor with me for his steroid abuse. Shame on him. He in no way should get defensive MVP honors this year based strictly on his steroid use unless you throw out the first part of his season before the suspension due to being a backne-having, tiny-endowed, steroid-abusing cheater.

The Patriots struggled against the Matt Millen Lions… time to worry Belichick. Time to worry.

Mike Vick wins one game after dropping 4 in a row and he’s back to being a great QB instantly in the eyes of idiots everywhere. Sigh.

I hate the Vanderjagt move by Bill Parcells. I agree completely with Terrell Owens’ comments, which may be a first for me, when he questioned the move and mentioned how he’s lost a game for the Cowboys, whereas Vanderjagt hadn’t (and probably wouldn’t have). Even though Gramatica made the winning kick this week, Parcells will regret his decision when he’s bounced from the playoffs due to a Gramatica missed FG.

Was Cutler the right move? It wasn’t the right move to beat the Seahawks, that’s for sure. As a long term move for the Broncos’ future, it was. This season was already slipping away for Mike Shanahan’s boys after having a hot start. His defense was being billed as the greatest ever early on, and that’s been soundly put to shame. Plummer was making the same bonehead moves Cutler did, so why not give Cutler some experience while underperforming? We know Plummer’s had oodles of experience in that department.

Mail Bag
Non-existent, like Urban Meyer’s dignity after whining for weeks and politicking to get his team in the BCS Championship game even though they’re not one of the two best teams in the nation.

Offensive Player of the Week:  Ladainian Tomlinson, as always, for all but cementing his status as MVP of the league this season.

Defensive Player of the Week:  The entire Bengals defense for exposing Billick’s crap offense and his crap play calling that’s done nothing (unless he’s the one calling the defensive TDs and special teams TDs…). Note: Shawn Merriman is banned for this year from this award for his steroid use. We’re stricter here at MMQB than the NFL on substance abuse. Now pass it on the left hand side, I need to finish this column. Possibly the best ever column ever man… I meant stricter against steroids only. 

Special Teams Player of the Week:  Rob Bironas hits a 60 yarder after Fisher forces Dungy to waste his last time out.

Joe Theismann Award of the Week: This will be the Anti-Joe Theismann award this week and be given to Cris Collinsworth for his excellent performance on Thursday night for the NFL Network. He is bar far the best football commentator in the business today.  

Pet Peeve of the Week: The BCS and the selection process and everything about crowning the college football champion is ludicrous. What an immensely flawed system causing nothing but controversy year after year. A playoff system will be put in place eventually. Hopefully it’s sooner rather than later. As a reflection of this, I therefore have to give my Pet Peeve of the Week to Division I College Football. 

C Kay’s Top Ten
1. San Diego Chargers
2. Indianapolis Colts
3. Chicago Bears
4. Dallas Cowboys
5. Seattle Seahawks
6. Cincinnati Bengals
7. New Orleans Saints
8. Baltimore Ravens
9. New England Patriots
10. Jacksonville Jaguars