You may have noticed a little less effort put into this site since the end of the football season. My posts have been infrequent and probably a little lame.

Two explanations for this. The first one is that I have new responsibilities at work (yes, this means I got a promotion, and no it doesn't mean that much more money. Bastards) and I don't have the time that I had before to use company time and company internet services for the purposes God intended, ----surfing the internet and blogging. This could change as I figure out how best to manipulate my time and responsiblities and get back to what I do best at work, which is studying the benefits of 3 receiver and 4 receiver offensive sets against the cover 2 defense.
So with work out of the picture in terms of time to update this site then I have to try and do it at home. This means competing with a wife and and 2 kids under 4 years old who have the nerve to demand more of my time. All right, so they don't have to twist my arm. I am kidding on that one. I like spending time with my family and since I didn't have a dad who liked to hang with me when I was a kid, I try to let my kids drive me as crazy as possible.

The second reason I haven't been posting as much is that I realize I just don't have the passion about other sports as I do football. And the offseason for football doesn't really get my juices flowing. I mean I'm interested in things like the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the draft, free agency, etc. but it's not enough for me to want to post thoughts on these things daily or even bi-weekly. As far as other sports go, I imagine I'll be into baseball a little more when the season gets cranked up. When March Madness rolls around I'll definitely be into college b-ball and I'll take an interest in the NBA when the playoffs roll around. But football is why I started this blog in the first place. I had thoughts about Pro and college football that I wanted to write down and a blog seemed as good as place as any. That way people had the opportunity to tell me what a dork I am for thinking the way I do. I was getting too uppity for my own good anyway.

So I figure until football season rolls around again I'll continue to do what I'm doing. That is, post about once a week on sports topics that catch my interest. I would like to update every Monday or Tuesday. So check back at the first of each week for some new nugget of wisdom (or crap) from yours truly. Thanks for sticking with me.

I understand the need for the NFL combine. I really do. It really helps some guys showcase their skills. What I don't understand is how Superstars in college are suddenly passed up by guys you have barely heard of during the college season based on the combine. This year's hot stuff is Vanderbilt QB Jay Cutler. He's big, strong armed, and I guess has decent quickness and speed. So naturally he's a cut above college superman Vince Young and possibly Matt Leinart. Young's decision to not workout at the combine, along with his throwing motion and wonderlic test results (even if it's 16 it's not great) have given teams cause for concern. As far as not working out, can you blame him? I mean the guys at the combine will pick that throwing motion apart. At the combine they are looking for specific things and if you don't fit into the mold it will work against you. Vince's speed, athleticism and arm strength would score high but I guarantee you his throwing motion would be mercilessly picked on. Now maybe his throwing motion will really screw him up in the pros. I don't know. Brett Favre wasn't the model of quarterback mechanics either and he did all right. On the other hand Jay Cutler seemingly has it all. So did Jeff George if you remember. He was a NFL combine god and got a # 1 pick based on what he did there. So how did that work out for you Indianapolis?

I just think past performance on the field ought to rate a tad bit higher than a few days hanging out in gym shorts and running drills. That's just me.

So other than getting giddy as hell over ice dancing in the Olympic games I've been struggling to care about sports for the past couple of weeks. But I really feel like I'm now over football and I'm ready to concentrate on college basketball. Yeah I know, I'm a little late and the college basketball season is almost over. So what. To me, this is the really interesting time for college b-ball anyway. I'm guessing I'm not alone in this either. I'm catching up though and there are a few teams listed below that I will be rooting for as we head towards March Madness.

1. Utah State Aggies. What can I say, it's my alma mater. Plus it's a bonus that the Ags have been pretty good for awhile now. Their last 5 season records are 24-8, 25-4, 24-9, 23-8, and 28-6. They have been in the Big West Conference, so like many non-power conference teams that do well every year they have still have had to win their conference tourney to get into the "Big Dance". Some of their best regular seasons have gone down the tubes with an upset in the Big West tournament. Two years ago they were ranked 21st in the nation and had a 25-3 record. They were upset in the conference tournament, and got screwed by NCAA selection committee. If it had been a team from a power conference ranked in the top 25 they would have got in. Such is life in smaller conferences. You get used to it. Now Utah State is in the WAC and I guess you could consider that a mid-major conference but it's really only a slight step up from the Big West conference. So I imagine the expectations will be the same. They are 18-6 right now but there is no doubt in my mind they need the conference tourney championship to get into the 64 team field.

 

2. Duke Blue Devils. Yep. I like Duke and I really like Reddick. Let the scorn begin. I can't help it, I've been rooting for Duke ever since the days of Johnny Dawkins. It's not rational. I mean I've had other sports teams that I liked as a youngster (Yankees, Cowboys, etc) that I despise now. Why not Duke as well? They're like the Yankees of college b-ball, exactly the type of team I usually root against, and by all rights I should be making voodoo dolls of Reddick and putting them through my lawn mover before every game. I just like em. I can't explain it. Maybe part of it is that I've always hated North Carolina and at some level I felt like I'd be almost a Tar Heel fan by rejecting Duke. I couldn't have that on my conscience.

 

3. Georgetown. I was a huge Hoya fan as a teenager and they are another team I've stuck with through the years. They haven't been much good since the 80's and early 90's but I'll still watch their games occasionally. I would love to see another era of "Hoya Paranoia". Just don't ask me to name anybody on their team right now.

I realized last night as I was watching the news that the Pro-Bowl was played yesterday and I had forgotten to watch it or even tivo it. How does a self-professed football fanatic like myself forget to watch pro football players in the last event of the season? Simple. The Pro Bowl sucks. I think I have only watched the entire game once in my life. Although I have to say the coaches shirts for the game are a really good idea. See Shanahan's face in the pic? His eyes say "I'm pissed", but his shirt says, "Aloha!". Good stuff.

What's the biggest reason this game sucks and nobody cares? It really comes down to one thing. It's played after the season. Now logic says due to the violent nature of the sport this is the only time it could be played. And I agree. It couldn't be played any other time. But their is no denying that the NBA and MLB games are more interesting and more controversial (who got snubbed, who got in that shouldn't, etc.) because it's mid-season and fan interest in their games are higher.

The SuperBowl is just a memory now. The climax is over. It's like sex. Nobody wants to make out after the deed is done. We just want to go to sleep now. Thats the Pro-Bowl.

Give me a couple of months and I'll be ready to watch anything resembling football. Right now I'm going to go take a nap.

Cool Stuff from the 2005 Season

---Steve Smith and Santana Moss showing teams that little guys can play big and be more than just possession receivers. You just have to have supernatural speed and incredible hops.

---The Steelers proving that it ain't over until the fat lady sings. Or at least until Jerome Bettis announces his retirement.

---Willie Parker coming out of nowhere to rush for over 1,000 yards.

---Carson Palmer turning into an all-pro type QB.

 ---The Patriots losing in the playoffs and Tom Brady proving me wrong. He is mortal and at least temporarily no longer employed by the Prince of Darkness.

---Clinton Portis interviews. This man is a genius.

---The Love Boat cruise. I know, I'm demented but if you have to have a storyline that's beat to death it might as well be one that involves strippers, boats, lawsuits, and Dante Culpepper denials.

 ---The Bears defense. At least until the Carolina game. They were pretty good. There is no other explanation for them being in the playoffs, especially with the division II offense they had.

Not So Cool Stuff from the 2005 Season 

---Carson Palmer's injury. Ruined what could have been a nice playoff game.

---Payton Manning's annual playoff meltdown. I wanted to see the Colts in the SuperBowl.  I've defended Payton in years past to my buddies but I can no longer deny it, Payton has a nasty habit of losing his cajones in big playoff games against tough defenses.

---P. Manning's off-season gift for his offensive lineman: constructive criticism from a "good teamate".

 ---Bad Beards. Kyle Orton, say it ain't so. Jake and Ben, the new Gillette has 5 freaking blades! It's pricey but I think you'll be allright.

---Gaps in teeth. Shaun Alexander and Michael Strahan, remember you're not in England, orthodontists can operate legally here in America.

---Matt Millen, Terrell Owens, Drew Rosenhaus, and Mike Martz No explanation needed right?

 ---Joe Theismann masquerading as a broadcaster. Now he will be on the Monday night crew. Hopefully Kornheiser will call him out when he says stupid stuff. --"What?! Joe that makes no sense at all. You just contradicted yourself 3 times in that sentence!" ---Of course this would happen every few minutes, so look for Kornheiser to be gone by midseason.

---Jim Mora giving up the smelling salts. Why Jim, why?

---The Jets bad luck at the QB position. I think at one point they considered bringing Joe Namath back. He was making out with ESPN's Suzy Colber though and couldn't be reached.

 ---SuperBowl XL. This year's version was kinda like that XL popcorn you eat in a movie theater. It looks like it might be tasty but after you've finished it you want to throw up.

---SuperBowl whining. I'm busting myself here. It's getting old, I know. I swear I'm through after today. I just don't care enough about either team to think about it anymore. But it did suck though didn't it? The Seahawks blew chance after chance, the refs blew their credibility, and other than two very cool plays (Randle El TD throw and the Parker TD run) the Steelers looked flat. Ok then. I'm done.

---Did I already say Mike Martz?

---The Rams season. Disappointing again this year for us Ram fans. Mediocre at best. Just a few quick hits on the Rams while I'm on the subject:

1. In case I haven't made it clear, Mike Martz gone from the Rams is a very good thing.

2. Marshall Faulk got screwed this past season. When he did get to play he showed that he still had the legs and moves to make a difference in a game. He should have been given at least a third of the carries per game.

3. I'm irrational when it comes to Marshall Faulk. I just wish he would respond to my invitations to come and hang out at my house. We could do cool stuff like look at my football card collection and watch episodes of The Office together.

4. Tory Holt showed why he is one of the best and most underrated receivers in the game. He tied for 2nd in the league for most receptions with 102. He was sixth in the league in yards with 1331 racked up. Plus he missed two games with injury.

5. As much as I like Isaac Bruce I think he should be the 3rd receiver and Kevin Curtis should be number 2 next year (if Bruce is back with the Rams).

6. Keys to success for next season. A) Upgrade the defensive personnel and schemes. B) Don't abandon the passing oriented offense but fine tune it so that Bulger is better protected (remember he moves like he is in quicksand) and the running game isn't forgotten for long stretches in the game. .

Okay most of you could care less about the Rams, but what about your teams or stuff you saw this year? What did you think was cool or not this past season? I’d be interested to know what I left out or what you didn’t agree with.