Bleacher Report - Articles by Dan Pieroni

Tuesday Morning Running Back Week 12: Steelers Are Resilient in Defeat

Dan Pieroni — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:34:11 -0500

I feared the worst for Steeler country on Sunday night.

It was bad enough having to go to Baltimore at 6-4 and face that vaunted Ravens defense.

Even worse, Big Ben was injured, and they had to rely on a youngster that had thrown only one NFL pass prior to Sunday, to lead their offense.

But as inexperienced as he may have been, Dennis Dixon did a pretty good imitation of Ben Roethlisberger.

He showed a pretty strong arm on a 33-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes, and even ran one in himself, giving Pittsburgh a brief lead in the fourth quarter.

However, Dixon's potentially magical night came to a screeching halt, as rookie linebacker Paul Kruger intercepted him in overtime, propelling the Ravens to victory six plays later on a Billy Cundiff field goal.

Even without their leader, the Steelers showed punch.

Now, with five games left, it is crunch time for the defending champs.

It doesn't look easy, with games against the Packers and Giants looming, but with a top-ranked defense and a never-say-die attitude, the Steelers can, and probably will, make a push to defend their crown.

Elsewhere in the NFL this week:

Speaking of the Ravens, I went to see The Blind Side this weekend. It's pretty good, if you're willing to overlook the typical sports movie cliches and the fact that they made Michel Oher look stupid for half the movie. At the very least it was an engaging story and Sandra Bullock was fabulous.
The Jets proved to be resilient in surviving a Mark Sanchez injury scare and getting a lucky bounce on a pick by Darrelle Revis to beat the Panthers.
Ho hum, another fourth quarter rally by the Colts orchestrated by Peyton Manning while the Texans put a dent in their playoff hopes.
I know it may not be because of him directly, but I do think that Vince Young deserves some credit for comeback player of the year since he inherited an 0-6 football team from Kerry Collins and has rolled off five wins in a row.
I think the Bears relied too much on a soft-zone defense to bottle up Adrian Peterson. That allowed Brett Favre to torch them down the field with long passes. Hey Lovie Smith, didn't you hear? Brett Favre may be 40, but he's playing like he's 25.
What were the odds that the Bengals would run the table in the NFC North, and Larry Johnson would find redemption, even a month ago?
Turnovers always kill, especially against a good defense. Kansas City found that out the hard way in their loss to the Chargers.
Credit the Bills for finishing strong in scoring 24 points in the fourth quarter against the Dolphins. But I have to wonder, did Dick Jauron hold TO back? He seems to have found his groove.
I know they beat the Rams, but the Seahawks have a right to be thankful for their first road win of the season.
Another team that should be thankful is the Falcons. Matt Ryan and Michael Turner both went down with injuries and they still kept their season alive because they were playing the woeful Bucs.
A year ago, the Eagles were ready to ship Donovan McNabb out of town. Now, they're singing his praises as a leader as his vocal support helped spark a rally against the Redskins.
The Broncos out-gained the Giants in the first half 213-38. They had a statement to make and they made it against the Giants.
How bout them Cowboys? The good news is their offense dominated the Raiders and they are still atop the NFC East. The bad news is that December has not been kind to them, especially in the Wade Phillips era.
The Lions have now lost six in a row on turkey day. Leave it to the NFL to showcase a perennial turkey on Thanksgiving day.
Everyone says Drew Brees was the hero of the Saints win over the Patriots. Not this boy. Mike McKenzie was the true hero to me because his first-half pick of Tom Brady killed any Patriot momentum, and he broke a potential touchdown pass to Randy Moss that could have put the Patriots behind by only a touchdown in the third quarter. That my friends was a game-breaking performance.
I'll talk to you next week, Have a good one.

Tuesday Morning Running Back Week 11: Ten Things I'm Thankful For.

Dan Pieroni — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:45:36 -0500

If you're a longtime reader of this column, then you know that during Thanksgiving week I usually use the space reserved for the big story of the week to list ten things I'm thankful for in regards to the current NFL season.

So without any further ado, here's this year's list.

1. I'm thankful for electrifying rookies like the Vikings' Percy Harvin. They make the most out of their abilities and contribute to their teams right away.

2. I'm thankful for success stories like the Bengals and the Saints. Their emergences always make the game fun to watch and less predictable.

3. I'm thankful for Drew Brees and Chris Johnson, since they both are carrying my fantasy team at the moment.

4. I'm thankful to be a Patriots fan, they're always a mark of consistency.

5. I'm thankful that the Broncos finally bought into Josh McDaniels' system after a summer of discontent. Although they're struggling now, I still think they've exceeded expectations.

6. I'm grateful for ageless quarterbacks like Kurt Warner and Brett Favre. They're still able to be effective leaders at an advanced age.

7. I'm thankful that Terrell Owens was such a bad teammate in Dallas that he got what he deserved by getting traded to Buffalo and is having a miserable season.

8. I'm thankful that Eric Mangini is proving himself to be a total fraud and the "Mangenius" tag is now a distant memory. The lesson is simple: Don't mess with Belichick.

9. I'm thankful that this column has taught me some valuable lessons over the years, such as don't mess with Raider fans, and Johnny Mathis is still a popular singer.

10. Most of all, I'm thankful to NBC's Football Night in America and Sporting News Today for helping me write this column every week, and to you for reading it.

And now, my thoughts on Week 11 action.

I just praised him, but now I'm going to have to rip him. Josh McDaniels made a rookie mistake in telling a couple of Charger linebackers "We own you" before Sunday's game. Not surprisingly, the poor choice of words gave San Diego all the motivation they needed to use a power running game to thrash the Broncos.
I'm convinced the football gods are watching out for Peyton Manning. He could barely score against the Ravens defense, yet his defense forced three turnovers and as usual, the Colts were able to escape with a narrow victory.
My game ball this week goes to the Eagles' Antonio Dixon, who blocked a field goal that set up a game-winning touchdown to defeat the Bears.
The Bears started 3-1, but have now lost five of six. I wonder if they're starting to get buyer's remorse about Jay Cutler.
On the flipside, the Giants finally snapped their long losing skid by overcoming the losses of a fourteen-point lead and Brandon Jacobs to beat Atlanta in overtime.
I was fearing the worst when my Patriots were carrying a 31-14 lead into the third quarter and couldn't score in the second half. But I need not have worried, since Mark Sanchez is no Peyton Manning and the defense harassed him all day.
Well TO finally had the kind of day the Bills had expected from him all along. It wasn't enough, though, as David Garrard led a game-winning drive for the second week in a row.
Who knew that all Brett Favre needed was a strong offense and his close friend Darryl Bevall calling his plays? He threw four touchdowns against the Seahawks and is having the most efficient season of his career.
A blow to the head sidelined Kurt Warner for the second half, but the Cardinals were still able to take comfort in the fact that even Matt Lienart can beat the Rams.
I feel for the Redskins. How do you allow Tony Romo to still beat you when he's in pain and has difficulty throwing? That late missed field goal really hurt.
The important thing to remember is that the Packers won the game, although they almost blew a 20-point lead and lost both Al Harris and Aaron Kampman to injury.
And while we're on the subject of pain, the Steelers sure suffered a lot of it in losing to the pitiful Chiefs and allowing them to snap a 10-game home losing streak.
If there is a Silver lining for the Raiders this year, it's that they were able to snag an improbable victory away from the Bengals with two late scores.
Only the Browns would be stupid enough to lose a game on a desperate Hail Mary in which they got called for pass interference. Better yet, the Lions took advantage of the gift penalty.
How do you know you're playing with confidence? The Saints are 10-0 and Drew Brees doesn't think his team has peaked offensively. He'll get a good test Monday night against the Pats.
Ricky Williams will never be the player he was projected to be, although you got to hand it to him since he's been able to stay in the league so long and was a huge reason why the Dolphins beat the Panthers.
The Titans/Texans game came down to a battle of field goal kickers. Rob Bironas won out, while Kris Brown has missed key field goals that would have tied the game in two of the last three weeks.
Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. See you next week.

Tuesday Moring Running Back Week Nine: Belichick Botches One.

Dan Pieroni — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:34:27 -0500

Fourth and two on your own twenty-eight yard line with a little over two minutes to play and you're up by six.

Why wouldn't you punt?

Alas Bill Belichick is a rare breed.

He rolled the dice and crapped out.

Forget that the Patriots blew a sixteen point lead, this will live be a decision that will live in Patriot infamy for a long time.

But Bill Belichick doesn't care what you and I think.

He's got five Super Bowl rings and is a surefire hall of famer. He's entitled to a mistake or two.

But what I and other Patriots fans still feel is that although he maintains he was in the right, it still was the wrong call.

That was not Matthew Stafford under center for the opposition, that was Peyton Manning, probably the greatest clutch quarterback of his generation.

In other words, that's probably the last quarterback you want to face with a short field and the game on the line.

If you punt, the odds are that you pin him deep in his own territory and since his deep balls weren't that accurate all night, you'd probably win.

In essence, you make him beat you

But Belichick decided to risk giving Manning and early Christmas gift.

Predictably, Manning continually dinked and dunked is way to the end zone, giving the Colts an improbable victory.

In essence, he let them beat him.

Manning was masterful, in quickly getting his offense down the field with no running game and his favorite target, Dallas Clark, brilliantly covered by the Pats D all night.

While the defense may have been gassed, you had no choice but to send them out there for another potentially long drive. You can't afford to cut the Colts a break.

You must punt the ball in that situation.

There's some other angles you can play to assess this loss, like Lawrence Maroney's fumble in the end zone, but Belichick's gaffe virtually guaranteed that the road to Miami in February goes through Indy.

Now there's only one thing left to say.

Thank you for your guest coaching appearance Mr Little.

Now please remove the Belichick mask and be on your way.

Elsewhere in Week 10 action:

Say what you want about their history, but the Bengals are for real this year. The defense absolutely dominated the Steelers offense.
From an NFL standpoint, Maurice Jones-Drew's decision to take a knee was smart in that he didn't risk a fumble. From a fantasy standpoint it stinks, but remember that fantasy is just pretend unless there's money involved.
Jets fans must have had a grand old time whooping it up when Belichick blew it. But remember guys your coach wasted two timeouts in the second half and could not stop the clock. That in effect killed any chance for a late rally.
Do you see what happens when Jake Delhomme doesn't throw a pick? he's a winner. The no-huddle is a big help too.
I hope the Packers gave a game ball to Charles Woodson. In forcing two fumbles and intercepting a Tony Romo pass in the end zone. He single-handily proved that the Pack can play elite defense against a quality opponent.
Sometimes all it takes to motivate you to play your best is the news that your going to be a Father. LaDanian Tomlinson found out that's all he needed to lead the Chargers to a key victory against the Eagles.
Even though Jim Zorn may be fired, and Albert Haynesworth may be the biggest money embezzler in DC, the Redskins can take comfort in the fact that they used a trick play to beat the Broncos.
Beanie Wells finally arrived in the NFL in scoring two touchdown and keying a Cardinal rally against the Seahawks.
You can't blow everyone away. The important thing is that the Saints still left Saint Louis with and still undefeated.
Is there a running back on a bigger roll in the NFL than Chris Johnson? After a two touchdown effort on Sunday, Johnson even got a signed TO jersey to boot!
Miami and Tampa Bay proved that you can still make something of yourself if you learn from your mistakes. Josh Freeman shook off a bad first half and had a good second half, and Chad Henne atoned for an interception by leading the Dolphins on a winning scoring drive.
Sidney Rice should get a game ball too, as his late touchdown put it away and moved the Vikings to 8-1.
Imagine if the Chiefs played every game in Oakland. They'd probably win the west.
Did you see anything you liked in the Forty-Niner Bear game? Neither did I. Congratulations to San Francisco anyway.
Even uglier was the Browns/Ravens tilt which was personified by a horrid first half, no points from the Browns, and a vicious hit by Ray Lewis on Brady Quinn in retaliation for a perceived chop block by Quinn on Terrell Suggs.
Next week is my annual list of things I am thankful for in regards to the NFL. Have a good week everybody!

Tuesday Morning Running Back Week 9: New Yorkers Take Giant Step Backward

Dan Pieroni — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:41:43 -0500

Sunday wasn't a good day for Chris Snee.

It's bad enough that his late holding penalty helped to cost the Giants the game.

However, what if your boss was also your Father-in-law? How much explaining would you have to do then?

Snee's holding penalty deep in the red zone, forced the Giants to settle for a field goal, and gave Phillip Rivers an opening to steal the game, which he promptly did.

But Snee isn't the only one to blame for the defeat. While talking with a friend who happens to be a Giants fan yesterday, we concluded two truths about the Giant defense.

1. The secondary has more holes in it than an old pair of underwear.

2. Steve Spagnuolo is sorely missed.

Drew Brees shredded the Giant secondary a few weeks ago and subsequent quarterbacks have taken his lead. It is in desperate need of an upgrade.

And while Bill Sheridan may be an adequate defensive coordinator, he has yet to show the inventiveness of his predecessor.

Any real Giants fan will tell you that it was Steve Spagnuolo's scheming that won the Super Bowl, not David Tyree's miracle catch.

Now, the Giants have lost four straight, and are looking up at both the Cowboys and the Eagles in the division.

While they are currently in position to win at least at wild card spot, their margin of error is at most two games with Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay and either Dallas or Philadelphia clipping at their heels.

Five weeks ago this was the best team in the NFC.

Five weeks later, the Giants are now searching for answers.

Elsewhere in week nine action:

Myles Austin had a quiet night for the most part. But when it mattered Tony Romo could count on his favorite target who scampered for a winning touchdown and put the Cowboys in first place.
Yes Bengal fans, you can start talking playoffs. All you needed to do was watch your team score on their three possessions, and the Ravens shot themselves in the foot from there.
I don't like him personally but I got to admit Ochocinco is pretty entertaining. I had to laugh when he jokingly tried to bribe an official after getting a penalty.
Dolphins rookie Vontae Davs had an interesting day on Sunday. While he did pick off a Tom Brady pass, he was the recipient of a vicious Randy Moss stiffarm that put the game out of reach.
The Saints are now 9-0 for the first time in their history thanks to Drew Brees leading a comeback and their defense forcing three fumbles.
Michael Turner has finally found his groove and that's got to make both the Falcons and their fans really happy.
I understand DeAngelo Hall might have been angry over the way the Falcons treated towards the end of his tenure there. But to instigate a melee on the sideline in which coaches were involved is a bush move and should be grounds for suspension.
Speaking of idiotic moves, the Bears Tommie Harris got himself ejected after he struck a Cardinal in the head. Without his presence on the defensive line, Kurt Warner torched them for five touchdowns.
I guess the Cardinals thought the Bears were what they thought they were.
Vince Young's grit and Chris Johnson's power running have transformed the Titans into a team that can at least finish with a respectable record.
Mr. Snee wasn't the only Chris to have a bad day on Sunday. The Texans Kris Brown missed a 42 yard field goal as time expired and the Colts were able to escape with a victory. The sad part is he had made a kick from 52 yards out earlier in the game.
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio put his team through grueling tackling drills in full pads to send a message to his team after their embarrassing loss to the Titans last week. It worked this week as the Jaguars beat the Chiefs.
Hey Tampa Bay, you're a winner! Maybe you should wear those god-awful duds for the rest of the season. They seemed to bring you luck.
Kudos to Matt Hasselbeck who spearheaded a Seahawk comeback from 17-0 down to avoid being the first team to lose to the Lions at home in two years.
Last night's Denver Pittsburgh game could be summed up as a tale of two halves. Denver controlled the ball in the first half but couldn't score. Pittsburgh controlled the ball in the second half and took advantage by scoring two touchdowns that were the difference.
Happy Veterans Day to all you vets out there, and thanks for all you do for our country.
Week 10 has two marquee games on the docket with the Colts and Pats and the Steelers and Bengals. I can't wait to share my thoughts with you, but we'll both have to wait till next week. See you then!

Tuesday Moring Running Back Week Eight: Return of the Lambeau Legend

Dan Pieroni — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:30:11 -0500

It was a sight we thought we'd never see. It felt like hell had frozen over and Santa Claus had suddenly converted to satanism.

There was Brett Favre, the man responsible for the reversal of fortune of the Green Bay Packer franchise, running on to the field in the putrid purple of the hated Minnesota Vikings.

Surprisingly, he was met with a chorus of boos.

On one hand I can understand that. I would feel jilted too if I ever saw David Ortiz come back to Boston in a Yankee uniform.

However, this man did make the Packers a force to be reckoned with again after so many appalling years under such luminaries as Anthony Dilweg and Don Majkowski.

But as always, sports fans are entitled to feel what they wish about whoever they want.

So amid a smattering of boos and cheers, Favre was intent to prove he still could competently quarterback a team at his advanced age.

When it was over, Favre had thrown for 244 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-26 victory.

Even when it appeared the Packers would rally in the third quarter, Favre never let his guard down and was able to count on the reliable footwork of Percy Harvin, who is quickly becoming a candidate for rookie of the year.

So in essence, while Green Bay fans have the right to feel betrayed, they have to admit that their one time hero still can adequately run an offense.

Now, heading into the bye week at 7-1, the Vikings stand atop the NFC as the team to beat.

Elsewhere in week eight action.

• You've got to feel bad for the Giants. It isn't often that a team goes from first to third place in the course of a day.

• I don't think there's a more dynamic wideout in the NFL right now than DeSean Jackson. His big touchdown catch literally knocked the wind out of the Giants sails.

• Sooner of later you knew the Broncos were gong to crumble for at least one game. The Ravens desperately needed a victory to keep pace with the Bengals and they not only won, they made a statement.

• Maybe Rex Ryan was half right when he said he felt like the Jets outplayed the Dolphins. It certainly appeared that way on offense. But on special teams, Ted Ginn, Jr. obliterated the Jets in taking two kicks to the house. That my friends was the difference.

• Even though Peyton Manning was out of sync with his passes, Joseph Addai proved that not only can he throw, but he can do it left-handed. An equally sloppy 49er defense helped the Colts escape defeat.

• Vince Young may have given the Titans a shot of confidence in leading them to a win, but it was Chris Johnson who was the difference maker as he rushed for a franchise record 228 yards.

• Tony Romo proved that he isn't afraid to use all of his targets by connecting with three of his receivers for touchdowns to beat the Seahawks. The win also moved Dallas into a tie for first with the Eagles in the NFC East.

• On most Sundays, the Panthers have trouble holding onto the ball, as Jake Delhomme currently leads the NFL in interceptions. But this Sunday, a savvy Panther defense forced Kurt Warner into throwing five interceptions of his own in a surprising win over Arizona.

• Even though Owen Daniels is done for the year, the Texans learned that they can exploit a power running game for the rest of the season. Backup RB Ryan Moats stepped in for Steve Slaton and scored a team record three rushing touchdowns in one game.

• The Chargers used the reliable LaDainian Tomlinson and the tenacious defense of Shawne Merriman to defeat the Raiders for the the 13th straight time.

• Isn't it interesting that more and more reports about Tom Cable being an abusive person are now coming out of the woodwork. While I personally think his former lovers are beating a dead horse into the ground, I find it odd that they waited this long to come forward.

• So much for Derek Anderson being the guy to snap the Browns out of their funk.

• Sometimes I think Rodney Harrison likes to hear himself talk. He suggested Eric Mangini cut Derek Anderson to send a message to his team. Uh, Rodney, a lot more people need to be fired or released before the Browns can ever think about turning it around.

• All you need to know about the Rams/Lions game, a game I affectionately called the Toilet Bowl, is that the Rams James Butler intercepted a pass and forgot to take it out of the end zone. Congratulations to Steve Spagnuolo on his first NFL coaching victory, I think.

• The Falcons gave it a good effort against the Saints last night, but maybe they could have won if Michael Jenkins didn't drop an easy pass in the red zone in the third quarter.

• Next week we got a couple of key divisional showdowns with the Dolphins at the Patriots and the Giants at the Eagles. See you next Tuesday for the analysis.

To DH Or Not To DH: That Is The Question

Dan Pieroni — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:15:28 -0400

Sometimes I wish baseball would get with the program.

It just perplexes me that Bud Selig allows one league to play one style of baseball and the other league to play another style of baseball.

The disconnect between the style of play is all over one position: the DH.

The American League has it, the National League doesn't, hence the different style of play in both leagues.

With the World Series now going on, one league's players are always at a disadvantage because each home ballpark calls for a different adherence to the rules.

This means that in New York, the Phillies have to elect a bench player as their DH, and in Philly, the Yankees pitchers must bat, even though they probably haven't taken many swings in the cage.

No matter how you slice it, one league is always going to be at a disadvantage in the batting order.

So why won't baseball just either adopt the DH in the National League or get rid of it altogether, forcing American League pitchers to take their hacks?

What follows is three arguments both for the DH, and against the DH. In the end, I will render a verdict for or against the use of the DH, and I encourage you to comment and let me know your view.

The Case For:

1. It allows for more excitement among the casual fan: In this era of power hitting, the casual baseball fan would rather see a 400-foot home run rather than a team play small ball. Most DH's are power hitters who can smash a ball over a fence, leading to more excitement for the casual fan.

2. American League pitchers can focus solely on pitching: American League Managers do not to worry about pinch hitting for the pitcher in a tight game especially if they're down by a run in the late innings. The very idea of a designated hitter is to allow a pitcher to concentrate solely on pitching. Therefore, he can focus on the what he has to on the mound next inning without having to worry about batting.

3. It allows for a more balanced lineup of hitters: Let's face it, when they bat, most National League pitchers either strike out, sacrifice, or lift a harmless pop fly to the infield. Although there are some exceptions such as Mike Hampton and Dontrelle Willis, pitchers are almost always an automatic out. A DH is someone who is usually a disciplined hitter who can take pitchers and drive up the pitch count. Thus, each hitter in a lineup with a DH is not an automatic out, and more pressure is on the pitcher to make the right pitch in a tough situation.

The Case Against:

1. Games are quicker: National League ames always seem to move at a brisk pace because most pitchers are automatic outs. In American League games, the DH forces the pitcher to take his time in deciding what pitch to throw. This is especially bad when runners are on base, because pitchers like to step off the rubber and batters like to call time when the pitchers are taking too long to throw. All this activity is time consuming, and causes games to become marathons. Those of us on the Eat Coast, cannot usually stay up for the conclusion of playoff games, because it's late and we have to go to work or school in the morning. With the automatic out, games move that much faster.

2. National League games are more strategic: If a National League pitcher is throwing a great game but his team is down a run in the late innings, his manager is forced into making a decision to keep the pitcher in the game or remove him in favor of a pinch hitter. The American League manager does not have to worry about this dilemma. A National League manager's job is usually job is tougher because he is more likely to be second guessed for the decision he made. Having to make this decision is hard, and it makes the game that much more exciting for fans because a win or a loss may hinge on that one decision.

3. National League prospect are not deprived roster spots: I'm not fond of people like Edgar Martinez and Frank Thomas because towards the end of their carreers all they could do was hit. I find it unfair that these one-dimensional players continue to occupy roster spots over 5-tool prospects who can add a lot more to the makeup of a team. In other words, I think the DH is just a sorry excuse for guys that are way past their prime to keep playing. As long as an American League GM feels that the veteran can still provide pop, blue chip prospects are going to have to toil in the minors because they lack the experience the veteran provides.

The Verdict

National league games seem quicker, I believe in the adage that pitching and defense wins championships, and I don't like seeing guys with beer bellies who can't run or field take roster spots away from ready prospects. In short, my verdict is clear.

Can the DH!

Tuesday Morning Running Back Week Seven: Saints Steal One in South Beach

Dan Pieroni — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:49:22 -0400

Picture if you will the sight of the NFL's marquee offensive quarterback bruised and battered with cuts on both his chin and eyes heading into the locker room at halftime.

Did I mention he was down 21 points to the Dolphins at the time?

Those of us who have watched the Saints in action this year are aware of one undeniable truth. Their offense can score at will.

Therefore, when Drew Brees scored on a quarterback keeper at the end of first half, I as well as several other football fans refused to count them out of the game.

Our premonitions came true in the second half.

Behind the confident leadership of Brees, the Saints scored 36 points in the second half, including 22 in the fourth quarter alone, to lead an improbable 46-34 win in Miami.

This is the kind of win that defines a season. A team with a never say die attitude and an explosive offense always believes in themselves.

Now the Saints stand at 6-0 for the first time since 1991, and are the only undefeated team left in the NFC.

LSU football is no longer all that matters in the bayou at this time of the year. The pro team isn't the Aints anymore.

In other NFL action:

The Cowboys always seem to have a knack for backups who get starts and make the most of their opportunity such as Clint Longley and Tony Romo. Sunday, Myles Austin got his chance and quickly established himself as Romo's go to guy, catching six passes for 171 yard and two scores.
Bengals RB Cedric Benson had a grin from ear-to-ear on his face as he greeted his former Bears teammates after the game. He had good reason to wear that smile since he torched them for 189 yards and a touchdown in a romp victory.
Usually the Cardinals offense helps them win games. Sunday night, it was the defense who won the game as they forced four Giant turnovers and blitzed Eli Manning at will.
Arizona's all time record at Giants Stadium may be 3-15, but they'll always have that victory to remember it by.
So what if the Steelers defense gave up 386 yards to the Vikings? What will be remembered is their uncanny ability to get the big play when it matters. Keyaron Fox's fumble return for six to seal the victory is a prime example of that.
How did Aaron Rodgers respond to getting his helmet ripped off and a punch in the face on the game's first play? Try three touchdown passes and a power running game as the Pack pushed around the Browns.
Give the Bucs credit, at least they were able to intercept Tom Brady twice. But they have a lot of work to do on offense if they want to succeed, particularly on offense.
We already have enough bad teams in the states. Why would we want to put one in London? If they agree to put a cricket team here, then maybe I'll consider putting a football team there.
Why is everyone making a big deal out of Mark Sanchez eating a hot dog on the sidelines as the Jets were taking it to the Raiders? If the man was hungry, let him eat!
Give a game ball to the Texans Eugene Wilson. His late pick of Alex Smith saved Houston the embarrassment of blowing a 21-0 lead at home.
If anyone thought the Rams/Colts game was going to be close, they probably think the moon is made of cheese.
The Rams have now lost 17 straight, which begs the question, can Albert Pujols play quarterback?
I think the Chargers Vincent Jackson is a very underrated receiver. He's very athletic and can catch the deep ball. He's also a big reason why the Chargers blew out the Chiefs.
The Bills game plan seems to be to create turnovers. Even though the Panthers out-gained them and they had only nine first downs, the defense forced four turnovers, and the Bills got a win.
So much for Sherman Lewis making a difference for the Redskins. Jason Campbell still fumbled the ball four times and was the beneficiary of six sacks by the Eagle defense.
Next week, I'll recap Brett Favre's return to Green Bay. Be on the lookout also for my piece on the role of the designated hitter in baseball that should be up by the end of the week. See you soon.

Tuesday Moring Running Back Week 6: Pats Pulverize Titans.

Dan Pieroni — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:10:26 -0400

On a cold day in New England with snow on the ground, the natives, like myself, always bundle up and run to the supermarket for bread and milk.

On a cold day in Foxborough Massachusetts with snow on the ground, it usually means the Patriots are in for a tight defensive battle in which very little yardage will be gained by the offense.

But this Sunday was different, so different that the Patriots were able to both score at will and set or tie team and NFL records in the process.

Within the context of the Pats 59-0 shellacking of the hapless Titans, Tom Brady threw for six touchdowns, including five in the second quarter alone.

The Patriots also set team records for yards gained (619) and the largest margin of victory in their history.

In addition, the fifty-nine point victory matches the league record for margin of victory achieved by the then Los Angeles Rams over Atlanta by the same 59-0 score in 1976.

As for the Titans, it was just a miserable day.

Five offensive turnovers coupled with only two completions by both quarterbacks netting a total of minus seven yards meant a quick ascent back to the bus to put this game behind them quickly.

Now at 0-6, The Titans have some serious issues to iron out as they continue to wonder how they have reached the bottom of the NFL so quickly after such a successful regular season last year.

Although the Patriots returned to the high-powered offense from 2007 for one game, they still have some issues to work on, particularly in the running game and the defensive secondary if they want to stay on top in the AFC East.

But even if the season is forgotten in the annals of time, this game sure won't.

Other key moments in the Week Six action:

I made a huge mistake in my fantasy league this week. Because I thought Drew Brees would not be as explosive against the Giants defense, I sat him. All Brees did was shred the Giants for 369 yards and four touchdowns. Your welcome to whoever played me this week.

Brett Favre told the press that was not confident in his team's ability to pull out a victory against the Ravens after blowing a 27-10. I wonder if still lacks confidence now his team is 6-0?
Memo to any team playing the Bears the rest of the season: If you want to beat Jay Cutler, schedule the game for Sunday night.
The Falcons aren't explosive, but they're efficient in that they always seem to get what they need at the most opportune times. The defensive proved that when they were able to force the Bears into making mistakes in the red zone.
The Steelers defeated the Browns for the twelfth straight time behind a 400-yard passing day from Ben Roethlisberger. I think the Mangeius tag is something that is now long ago and far away.
Mark Sanchez threw five interceptions against the Bills on Sunday, welcome to the NFL kid
The thud you hear is the Jets coming back to Earth after such a strong start. If I were Rex Ryan, I'd start making calls to the season ticket holders again
While it's great that Donald Driver is now the leading receiver in Packers history, and defensive pitched a shutout, the Packers still should remember they were playing against a third-string quarterback and they still squandered some opportunities in the red zone.
Kurt Warner is all about precision, and if his offense has the same objective the Cardinals can be lethal. That's why they were able to jump out to a 17-0 lead before the Seahawks knew what hit them.
Jaguars' running back Maurice Jones-Drew recently implored his team-mates to run the ball more. It certainly proved to be a worthwhile tactic as Jones-Drew ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Rams.
Matt Schaub finally showed Texans fans he was worth the gamble, as he threw three touchdowns to help defeat the Bengals.
Just when you thought the Bengals were finally going to a turn a corner, their best defensive player goes down for the year. Hopefully, they can just chalk Sunday's loss up as a bad day.
The Panthers should just keep running the ball in tight games. The likelihood of them winning is greater if they do so.
Finally, the Raiders were able to get a big play on offense, and the defense came up big to pull out a win over the Eagles. Perhaps they read my column last week and were motivated to turn things around.
Finally, the Redskins have wised up and relieved Jim Zorn of his play-calling duties on offensive. If you can't score in the red zone against the Chiefs, it's time for a change.
Give a game ball to Eddie Royal, the first Bronco to ever return a kick and a punt back for a touchdown in the same game. You also should start believing in the Broncos, their perfect record is no fluke, especially with big wins over the Patriots and Chargers in the last two weeks.

Lastly, have a great week in your sports viewing; I'll talk to you next week.

Tuesday Morning Running Back Week 5: I Pity The Raiders

Dan Pieroni — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:54:52 -0400

Pride in your organization is a precious commodity in the NFL.

If you've got it, odds are you're successful. You represent the benchmark that all of the bottom feeders in the NFL only wish they could attain.

Ages ago, when the league preached toughness and a win-at-all-cost mentality, that team was the Oakland Raiders.

The Raiders were a team that personified smash-mouth football, with such luminaries as Jack Tatum and George Atkinson anchoring their defense during the glory years of the 1970s.

Those players were able to pass on the wave of success to people like Howie Long and Marcus Allen.

Sure the Raiders had an owner who looked like a crypt keeper and loved to thumb his nose at the establishment, even going so far as to testify against the NFL in an anti-trust suit brought against it by the USFL.

But they still won consistently, and going into the the Oakland Coliseum was like going into Death Valley, as the stadium always looked like it was swarmed by rogue pirates ready to pounce on the opposition.

But when Al Davis let Jon Gruden get away, it was the start of a organizational free-fall.

In recent years, the Raiders have been blown out in a Super Bowl, hired a coach that was too young for the job, and have even had coaches come to blows during a practice, in which one coach suffered a broken jaw.

In short, the Raiders have become the laughingstock of the NFL.

That image more than manifested itself on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J., where the Giants feasted on the Raiders even without Eli Manning at full strength and blew them out 44-7.

The pitiful Raiders offense was no match for the No. 1 defense in the NFL, and it showed.

So for Tom Cable and his dysfunctional team, it's back to the drawing board yet again.

Forget trying to save the season and work on salvaging what little reputation you have left.

How could such a proud and successful organization become such a sorry one in a relatively short time?

Sad, just sad.

In other NFL action:

It's time for the NFL to start taking the Broncos seriously. Their 5-0 record is indicative of a confidence that was severely lacking at the end of last year. To overcome a 10-point deficit and hold the Patriots scoreless in the second half is quite an accomplishment.
I've read many complaints on various Patriots message boards from angry fans who want the overtime system overhauled to reflect that of the college game. I say leave it as is. Winning the coin toss is an advantage, and it's up to you to take advantage of the opportunity you've been given to score. If we go to the college format, you will see games that will last forever, especially with two good offensive teams. The games are long enough already. This isn't peewee football where everyone gets a chance. Stop the offense or lose, it's that simple.
Most people dread the onset of old age on the 40th birthday, but most people aren't Brett Favre, who looked like he was playing a child's game in throwing for 232 yards and a touchdown to beat the Rams. He just continues to make quarterbacking look so effortless and easy, even at an advanced age.
The Bengals have won three straight games by less than three points as they continue to prove they can get it done in the clutch.
The Ravens have got to cut down on the late penalties in close games. An illegal contact penalty against Chris Carr on the Bengals final drive may have cost them a win.
Mike Singletary has been just what the doctor ordered in San Francisco, for he's calm but authoritative, and he doesn't take any crap evident by the shouting match he got into with former Niner Harvey Dahl when Dahl taunted him from the Falcon bench during Atlanta blowout win. I admire him for sticking up for his team even when they lost any momentum they have gained from their strong start.
Peyton Manning joined Steve Young and Kurt Warner as the only QBs to ever throw for 300 yards in the first five games of a season in Sunday's win over the Titans. In the process the Colts won their 14th-straight regular season game and Manning passed Fran Tarkenton for third on the all-time touchdown passes list. That's quite a night of milestones for a guy to remain humble about.
This week's issue of the Sporting News named Pittsburgh the best sports city in America for their recent string of championships and loyal fanbase. The reputation of the fans was justified, even on the road as several Steelers fans' loud cheers and towel waving inspired the defense to hold on the final drive of the game and avoid disaster against the Lions.
While Jake Delhomme may have thrown his eighth interception of the year on Sunday, all that matters is the Panthers finally won a game.
Kudos to Cowboys WR Miles Austin. Hiscareer day allowed Dallas to escape potential snickers on the way out of Kansas City with a win.
It was a happy day all around for the Eagles. Donovan McNabb showed no ill effects from his cracked rib, Michael Vick completed his first pass in 33 months, and the team itself mauled the Bucs.
Only a team as hapless as the Browns would find beauty in an ugly 6-3 victory over a equally lowly team like the Bills.
The Cardinal defense was shredded by Matt Schaub for most of the game, but came through when it mattered with a big interception return for a touchdown by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to seal the win.
Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck, like McNabb, showed no ill effects from his broken ribs as he threw for four touchdowns in a rout over the Jaguars.
Just when you thought the Dolphins would never use the wildcat formation again, they found it to be the perfect remedy to stymie the Jets defense. No wonder why Tony Sporano was jumping up and down the sidelines when it worked to perfection.
So what did we learn this week? I guess we can say that the Raiders are awful, Miles Austin is better than most people think, and that cracked ribs, while painful, can help you become a better player once you're recovered. I can only imagine what next week will bring.

Tuesday Morning Runnng Back Week Four: Brett Favre Sparkles in MNF Spotlight

Dan Pieroni — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:59:54 -0400

It was an image we'd thought we thought we'd never see in our lifetimes.

The man that is considered by many from Kenosa to Green Bay as the man who returned football to prominence in Cheeseland, was now playing against them.

Better yet, he was under center for a hated rival.

Hence, the drama was understood, and the atmosphere electric, as Brett Favre went out went out to prove he still has it to both the world and his former team.

He did just that.

It was as if he stepped into a time machine, his passes were on target, his arm was strong, and he trusted the speed of his receivers to go get the ball.

When it was over, the Vikings had a 30-23 win, and Favre threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions, with a passer rating of 135.3 that would make Drew Brees blush.

Favre's almost perfect night on a national stage even managed to steal some limelight away from his own teammate. Jared Allen recorded 4.5 sacks, the most ever by a defensive player on Monday Night Football.

But it was clearly No. 4's night, as he proved you can teach an old dog new tricks.

How does he do it?

It must be the Wranglers.

Elsewhere in week four action:

I always love to see players who get the message when they're benched that there is no margin for error. Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall turned his punishment into a positive as he rushed for 165 yards and two touchdown in their win over San Diego.
Ravens WR Mark Clayton is the clear goat of the week as he dropped a easy touchdown that allowed the Patriots to get away with a win.
Mark Sanchez finally got his welcome to the NFL moment as he was sacked four times and the offensive turned the ball over four times in a sloppy game for the Jets.
It's amazing that Drew Brees has not thrown a touchdown pass in two weeks but yet the Saints are still 4-0 for the first time since 1993.
Memo to Tony Romo, with the game on the line and one second left, it isn't a good idea to throw the ball in Champ Bailey's direction.
I know their secondary is depleted, but any good defensive team that allows themselves to be picked apart by an average QB like David Garrard deserves to lose. It's a shame the Titans can't find any answers.
Maybe Chad Henne will be the Matt Cassell of 2009, but then again he was sacked six times and helped out by his running game.
The Bills have now lost eight consecutive games in their division, and have also been outscored 65-17. It's time to bring out the paper bags Bills fans.
It was nice to see that the Redskins rebounded for a victory after a putrid start in which they allowed two sacks and lost a fumble.
The slow exhaling you hear is that of every Giants fan after they learned Eli Manning was only going to be out day-to-day.
So much for the Lions carrying any momentum into week four as they allowed 48 points to the Bears.
If you have a 4th-and-11 in overtime with a minute and four seconds left at your opponents' 41, why wouldn't you go for it? Thankfully, Marvin Lewis came to his senses and it all worked out for the better.
The Texans only gave up 165 yards of total offense on Sunday, the lowest total in their history. But then again, it was the Raiders,.
You saw a vintage Peyton Manning on Sunday as he led the Colts to touchdowns on their first five drives, and tied Fran Tarkenton for third on the all time TD passing list in a win over the Seahawks.
Mike Singletary's positive approach and motivational pep talks have certainly inspired the 49er's, as they now occupy first place in the NFC West.
I'll leave you with this parting thought, The Saints and Broncos are both 4-0 and the Bengals and 49er's are both 3-1. Are we living in a bizarre world or what?

Tuesday Morning Running Back Week Three: Lions Snap Skid

Dan Pieroni — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:08:33 -0400

It's the home base of the declining U.S. auto industry, as well as the home of baseball's Tigers, who are clinging to a sparse two-game lead in the AL Central as I write this.

Long story short, the people of Detroit needed a pick-me-up to get them thinking positive again.

Well, they got it in the most unlikely source.

Finally, after 19 straight losses, the Detroit Lions tasted victory for the first time in over a year.

Behind the leadership of confident rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford, and the power running of Kevin Smith, the Lions were finally able to halt the snickers from other NFL fans, at least for one week.

Of course the Lions victory was aided by the poor play of the Redskins, who missed several opportunities of their own on offense, and could not stop the Lions from running out the clock on their final drive.

But a win's a win, and it's especially sweet if you've waited 21 months for one. Therefore, I don't blame the Ford Family for acting like they won the Super Bowl when time ran out.

A victory tastes sweet no matter how long you wait for it or who you beat. The sweetest ones however are the ones that are few are far between.

Elsewhere in week three action:

Right now, the Redskins must question if either Jim Zorn is the right coach for their system, or Jason Campbell is the right quarterback for it. In other words, a change must be made if they want to save their season.
It was nice to see that the Patriots were more comfortable running the ball on Sunday. It was even nicer to learn that my team has a coach that is willing to go for it on fourth down deep in his own territory!
I never realized how much Falcons coach Mike Smith looks like Steve Martin until I saw him up close on Sunday.
The pressure's on Donovan McNabb once he returns from his cracked rib. Not only did Kevin Kolb throw for over 300 yards on Sunday, but he also proved that he can control the offense without Brian Westbrook.
Kudos to the Jets David Harris who had an interception and a sack on the Titans' final two possessions to preserve New York's victory over the Titans.
The problem for the Texans right now is their run defense. Maurice Jones-Drew ran all over them on Sunday.
Aaron Rodgers was the right man for the job in Green Bay. His strong arm led to several deep passes that led to scores, and he's gone over 100 passes without throwing a pick.
He may have overthrown some balls and taken a lot of punishment on his body, but Brett Favre can be as good a clutch quarterback as anyone in the NFL. His game-winning throw to Greg Lewis proved it.
Phillip Rivers was smart to realize that the Dolphins had collapsed the pocket on him. Therefore, he wasn't afraid to run with it and score the touchdown on a quarterback draw that put the Chargers ahead for good.
Chad Pennington's shoulder injury is the most crushing blow to a team in the NFL so far this season.
Josh McDaniels is my early, and I stress early, choice for NFL coach of the year. He's put his faith in Kyle Orton, and the defense did not allow a touchdown for the second straight week.
Steelers K Jeff Reed was a goat again missing a key field goal that could have put the game away.
Not even Otto Graham can save the Browns now.
Devin Hester told Jay Cutler to give him the ball before the Bears final drive. Not surprisingly, Cutler's perfect passing drive culminated in a 36-yard TD to Hester and a Bears win.
Did someone forget to separate the colors from the whites while washing the Seahawks jerseys last week?
The Saints won at Buffalo with a strong defensive effort, but perhaps more shocking is that TO did not record a catch in a game for the first time since 1996! I bet he'll want out of Buffalo by the end of the season.
The Cowboys addressed every concern they had last week last night. The running game was dominant even without Marion Barber, and the pass rush looked like it finally mastered the 3-4 defense.
It should be a good week four with the Pats playing the Ravens and the Pack playing Favre for the very first time. See you next Tuesday for all the analysis.

Tuesday Morning Running Back, Week Two: Cowboys Christen New Home

Dan Pieroni — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:14:23 -0400

$1.15 billion can sure build a state-of-the-art football facility.

Proof of that was on display on Sunday evening when the Cowboys opened their brand new football haven with a regular season game for the ages.

Even before the game one couldn't help but get caught up in the sheer grandeur of Cowboys Stadium.

Massive doesn't even begin to describe the facility. It can seat 75,000 people comfortably, with room for another 30,000 to view the game from a standing room section.

It is packed with enough video boards and electronics to make a Sony executive blush.

Best of all, it's home to America's team, and perhaps it would inspire them to finally return to the glory days of Cowboys football.

After night one, the team is still a work in progress.

The flashy Dallas offensive unit sputtered as QB Tony Romo threw three interceptions and compiled a passer rating of 29.6. And the Giants' offense, led by wideouts Mario Manningham and Steve Smith, spoiled opening night with a 33-31 victory.

However, the final score is not as misleading as one would think, given the poor play of the Dallas offense. There were eight lead changes in the game, and no team was ahead by more than six points at any time.

It also went right down to the wire, as Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes calmly nailed a 37-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Giants to the win after his first attempt was nullified by a late timeout call from Cowboys coach Wade Phillips.

All in all, it was a fine debut for a billion-dollar stadium, and a game that should be remembered for years to come.

Elsewhere in week two:

• The Chiefs/Raiders was ugly all-around. An ugly debut for Matt Cassel, and an ugly 7-for-24 completion rate by JaMarcus Russell. But hey, at least Darren McFaddens' power running got the Raiders a win!

• If you were lucky enough to draft the Titans Chris Johnson, give yourself a pat on the back. He gained 284 all-purpose yards despite the fact his team lost to the Texans.

• If there's any consolation for the Rams, at least they broke their streak of 15 possessions without a touchdown. At least the Cardinals are still playing for something meaningful at the moment.

• An extra pat on the back for you fantasy owners that were stupid enough to pick the Bengals as your No. 1 defense. They recorded seven sacks, including five solo by Antwan Odom, in a win versus the Packers. At least I won't be sneering at you this week.

• Hypothetical question of the week: The Packers celebrated their 90th anniversary on Sunday. If he were retired, do you think Brett Favre would have been invited to the festivities?

• Just when you thought Kurt Warner would spend his days reminiscing about his glory days in the NFL and gabbing about God, he completes 92 percent of his passes in the Cardinals win at Jacksonville.

• Brett Favre told the media after the Vikings victory over the Lions that his experience with the team thus far as "been fun." It should be fun when you play with a running back as gifted as Adrian Peterson.

• The Saints scored another 48 points on Sunday. Dare I compare them to the 2007 Patriots in terms of production?

• The Falcons are now 9-1 at home under Mike Smith. This is very surprising considering not much was expected of them at this time a year ago.

• The Jets didn't embarrass the Patriots like Kerry Rhodes said they would, but the Patriots embarrassed themselves in that game. Sloppy passes by Tom Brady as well as numerous penalties and a lack of consistent rhythm on offense cost the Pats the game.

• Rex Ryan deserves to be complimented on his defensive schemes. The constant stream of blitzes confused the Patriots and helped to quell any sort of momentum they got.

• I'm not surprised that Phillip Rivers had a career day against the Ravens. After all, LaDainian Tomlinson was out, and the Chargers have a mediocre running attack without him.

What does surprise me however is Rivers' inability to run the two-minute offense in the waning stages of the game. That's why they lost.

• Niners running back Frank Gore rushed for 207 yards against the Seahawks. Surprisingly, that's not his career high. The team against which he achieved his career best mark was also the Seahawks. That leads me to wonder how good he'd be if he played Seattle in every game?

• Speaking of surprises, the Broncos have only given up 13 points on defense through two games. And you thought their offense was going to be their selling point.

• While it's true that Jay Cutler didn't throw a pick, and may have found a new favorite target in Johnny Knox, Bears fans should really thank Steelers kicker Jeff Reed who missed two clutch field goals and gave Chicago the victory.

• For all the glitz the Dolphins had last night in rolling out the red carpet to introduce the new owner and several celebrity minority owners, you'd think they'd play well.

Ball control wasn't a problem, but their lack of delivering the knockout punch gave Peyton Manning a chance to win. Predictably, Manning's late touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon sealed the fish's fate.

• Have a great rest of the week, and I'll talk to you next Tuesday.

Tuesday Morning Running Back Week 1: Return of the Brady

Dan Pieroni — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:44:06 -0400

As year three of this column begins, the big story leading up to opening weekend in the NFL in my neck of the woods was the return of the Patriots' leader. Yes, the golden boy with the golden arm was finally going to be under center for the Pats for the first time in over a year in a meaningful game.

Unfortunately, the hype was greater than the sum of its parts, and Tom Brady found that both he and his offense were out of sync for the majority of the game. However, with the help of a gift fumble by the Bills' Leodis McKelvin, the Brady Bunch saved their best drive of the night for last, and Tom Terrific fired a strike to tight end Ben Watson in the back of the end zone for an improbable 25-24 victory few saw coming.

Heck, even I flipped to Leno once the clock struck ten.

But I should have remembered Brady is a miracle worker. After all I've been watching him for eight years. By the time I flipped back, the deed was done.

The moral of this story is, he who gives Brady a chance to win will almost certainly pay for his misfortune in the end.

The rest of the weekend in the NFL can be summed up in one word: adjustment.

Eleven head coaches made their debuts, the Jets and Lions had to adjust their offenses to fit rookie quarterbacks and we fans had to adjust to not hearing the booming voice of John Madden in the broadcast booth for the first time in 30 years.

Now, as I've been to prone to say before I give my opinions on the rest of the games on the NFL schedule, on to the bullet points!

Let me ask you a hypothetical question: What was more shocking in the Saints/Lions game? The fact Drew Brees threw six touchdowns passes or the fact Jeremy Shockey caught two of them to earn his first two scores as a Saint?
Kudos to Jets QB Mark Sanchez for throwing for 278 yards in his first game as a professional. The last rookie QB to even throw for 200 yards in his debut was a fella named Peyton Manning in 1998. What ever happened to him?
Did you see Jets coach Rex Ryan on the field with Joe Namath before the game? Rumor has it Namath guaranteed Ryan a victory in his debut as a coach and that he asked Ryan to kiss him.
Not much to say about the Ravens/Chiefs game, except that Mark Clayton was the offensive star of the game with 300 yards receiving.
I am convinced that only the Bengals can routinely lose games on tipped passes that go for touchdowns. I wouldn't be surprised if they lose next week on a fumble in the end zone when they're down by four in the fourth and there's no time on the clock.
Panthers QB Jake Delhomme has turned the ball over 11 times in his last two starts. That's hardly the mark of a quarterback who signed a $5 million contract extension over the summer.
Cracked ribs are a painful injury to play through. Therefore, I don't expect Donovan McNabb to be on the field this Sunday for the Eagles.
The real reason Brett Favre came back was that he knew Adrian Peterson would run the majority of the Vikings defense. That was clearly evident in the Vikings' win over the Browns.
Who would have ever thought Tony Gonzalez would have 11,000 receiving yards as a tight end? Congratulations to him.
So much for life with T.O., as Tony Romo had the best day statistically for the Cowboys.
The key to the 49ers' win over the Cardinals was that the Niners defense never allowed Kurt Warner to become comfortable. By the time they did, the game was out of reach.
In yet another example of why the preseason doesn't matter, the Rams had a perfect preseason but didn't score a point in their opening game at Seattle.
New Seahawks running back Julius Jones ran for 117 yards and a touchdown in his first game as a Seahawk. I would think he'd be on more fantasy teams next week.
There was a lot of pressure on new Giants defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan to keep the defense at the same high-performing level they were at under Steve Spagnoulo. All they did was harass Jason Campbell all day to prove they are still an elite defense.
Jay Cutler played better in the second half, but he was far from the man the Bears brought in to be the franchise quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers, on the other hand, made a beautiful throw to Greg Jennings that caught the Bears defense off guard for a touchdown. Score one for the Pack!
I'm sure Hines Ward is the most relieved man in Pittsburgh right now. His end zone fumble on Thursday night was much ado about nothing.
You can fault the Chargers for allowing the Raiders to keep it close, but Phillip Rivers ran a heck of a two-minute offense last night, allowing his team to eek out a victory.
Thank you for reading the first edition of the third year of Tuesday Morning Running Back. I hope you come back for more candid opinions next week.

My Ultimate Sports Bucket List

Dan Pieroni — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:13:53 -0400

Tomorrow I'll begin a new chapter in my life.

At high noon, I will somberly depart my home of 21 years in the Greenville section of Smithfield Rhode Island, and move to a newer, more modern house three minutes down the road.

It will signal the commencement of so many wonderful memories such as the block parties, and the friendships I made, but at the same time, it will begin a new stage of my life in which I'm sure to have many memorable experiences with many new friends.

During my time in the old house, I was fortunate enough to experience many happy times as a sports fan.

For instance, I was able to live to see my beloved Red Sox win not one but two World Series championships.

I was also extremely lucky to be able to sit in old Yankee Stadium before it sadly closed its doors.

With a new chapter of my life about to begin, I thought it'd be nice to reflect on the things I haven't yet accomplished as a sports fan.

What follows is a list of things I'd like to accomplish pertaining to sports before my time on this Earth expires.

I'd like to get an article published in a major metropolitan daily newspaper or a national sports magazine. That may seem obvious to you, but the thrill of seeing my name below the headline in something many people may read will produce feelings of exhilaration and pride I may never experience again.
I'd like to take my Uncle Bob, a lifelong and passionate Packer fan, to a game at Lambeau Field to sit among the Packer faithful with foam cheeses on our heads and smiles on our faces.
I'd like to sit among the Cameron Crazies at Duke University and taunt the latest over-hyped NBA prospect at UNC.
I want to visit every ballpark in the major leagues; seven down and 23 to go. I don't know where I'm going next, but I'm sure some people will tell me what makes their ballpark unique and sway me to pack my bags for that city.
To sit in a Monster Seat at Fenway Park would be a divine experience. Of course there's always the chance that I may get hit in the throat by a ball, but it would still be worth it.
Speaking of seats, an afternoon game at Wrigley Field among the Bleacher Bums would probably produce some stories I wouldn't be proud to tell!
I'd be proud to take my charter Captain Pop to any place he'd want to go in search of the one fish he's never caught.
I'd like to see each of my favorite teams win a championship. This is very likely to happen since the Bruins are the only team I have not witnessed celebrate a championship in my time as a New England Sports fan.
I want to be among the spectators at Churchill Downs to hear the singing of My Old Kentucky Home and then swear my head off as I blow my last $20 bucks on a 30-1 long shot who barely gets out of the gate.
Finally, I want to pass pass on the privileged experience of being a passionate sports fan to my children and grandchildren. Then, I would sit back and watch with anticipation as they create their own experience as a fan. That to me, would be the greatest gift of all.

Brett Favre Makes NFC More Interesting and Other Thoughts on Recent News

Dan Pieroni — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:55:11 -0400

I hate to admit it, but Brett Favre's return from yet another false retirement makes the upcoming NFL season a lot more interesting.

It's easy to lose respect for Favre because he continues to play the will he or won't he game, but now that he's definitely back, the meetings between the Vikings and the Packers will have a lot more meaning.

What self-respecting football fan won't be watching Monday Night Football on Oct. 5, when the Packers visit Minnesota? It has all the drama a football diehard could ask for.

The man who many feel was a Messiah in Green Bay for making the Packers relevant again, is now a pariah in suiting up for a rival team.

The person I feel the worst for in this whole chain of events is poor Sage Rosenfels.

Here's a man who's waited nine long years for his chance to shine, and now all of a sudden he's back on the bench because a legendary quarterback who's past his prime still feels he has something to prove.

Maybe Favre does make the Vikings better, but don't come crying to me when the $12 million man loses his effectiveness down the stretch.

Other News

Fran Tarkenton is right to call the Brett Favre love fest a circus, but I have a theory as to why he lashed out. Either he doesn't like the fact that he's longer the greatest quarterback to ever play for the Vikings, or he just realized he hasn't been relevant since That's Incredible went off the air.

Let me preface this my saying I'm not really an animal lover. What Michael Vick did was wrong, but you must understand that the NFL is a business and that talent is sometimes at a premium. Although I personally believe Vick was an overrated player, he is still talented enough and young enough to make an impact in the NFL this season.

That's why he got a second chance.

Maybe John Smoltz can provide the veteran leadership to the Cardinals that he never did for the Red Sox. It may be easier for him since he's back in the National League and his team has a comfortable lead in their division.

The lawyer who's in possession of OJ's collectible footballs says he won't sell them unless OJ and his brain-trust agree to have some of the money donated to a charity in Ron Goldman's name. To that I say two words, fat chance.

I really don't care if the Raiders' coaches got into a fist fight and one of them broke a bone in front of his eye. The Raiders organization has become as irrelevant as cassette tapes.

If Allen Iverson returns to Philly, will he be forced to practice?

I'm glad Jerry Remy is returning to the Red Sox television booth on a part time basis. His courageous fight of both lung cancer and depression is an inspiration to Red Sox Nation.

Speaking of Remy, I'd to blow a raspberry in the face of the arrogant Yankee fan who posted the following question on MLB.com. What kind of cigarettes did Remy smoke? I didn't see any Red Sox fans make fun of Bobby Murcer last year.

I'll close with this thought, if I read one more story about how Tim Tebow is a goody two shoes who lives in the land of milk and honey and just happens to be the best player in college football, I'm going to throw up. Enough already!

Rick Pitino: Can We Really Trust Him Despite His History?

Dan Pieroni — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:14:49 -0400

Let me tell you a story.

When I was 12, I read in the newspaper that Rick Pitino was going to be named the head coach of the Boston Celtics.

At the time, I was ecstatic. I worshipped Pitino and everything he stood for, and was quickly losing my patience in the team as a fan.

He had led the Kentucky Wildcats to the NCAA championship in 1996 and followed up with another run to the championship game. He was considered a master of basketball knowledge as well as discipline.

In short, he was exactly what the Celtics needed.

It didn't matter that Pitino wanted more power and a boatload of money to come to Boston. He had a reputation as a winner.

There was little doubt that the Celtics would be restored to their former glory, and Pitino would take his place among other legendary coaches of the Green such as Auerbach and Hiensohn.

However, I began to learn of warning signs that Pitino wasn't the man he claimed to be.

It all started when my history teacher at the time, Mr. Mello, advised me to not count the chickens before they hatched.

He was a proud alumnus of Providence College and was still involved with them as an athletic booster.

He remembered the days where Pitino greased every booster's palms and said he was committed to coaching the Friars for a long time after leading them to the 1987 Final Four.

Alas, he lied and took the head coaching job with the Knicks.

I bet poor Mr. Mello still bristles when he sees the interviews the local media does with Pitino when he comes back here with Louisville and always expresses regret for leaving when he did.

Within two years, Pitino was tired of the grind of the NBA, and went back to the safety of the college game.

Shortly before he moved on to the Celtics, Pitino filmed an ad for Kentucky tourism in which he stated he wouldn't leave the state for all the money in the world.

But money talks, and he did it anyway.

The past didn't matter to me. Rick Pitino was now coaching my team, and knew how to get the most out of everyone to succeed.

I should have known things would get worse when the Celtics missed out on Tim Duncan in Pitino's first draft, and demoted the iconic Red Auerbach to vice chairman of the board so Pitino could take over as team President.

He built his team around undersized players such as Ron Mercer and Rodney Rogers, and traded away a solid up-and-comer named Chauncey Billups.

The first two years were rough, but I still thought Pitino would eventually turn things around in his third year as coach.

Then, in a instant, came the night I would lose my trust in Rick Pitino forever.

In a game in early 2000, the Celtics lost a close one to the Raptors on a buzzer-beater by Vince Carter.

The press conference after the game has gone down in Boston lore.

A clearly agitated Pitino ripped both the Boston media and it's fans for being negative, and managed to besmirch the names of three Celtic legends in his tirade.

While it was true Bird, Parrish, and McHale weren't walking through the door, and would be grey and old if they did, I felt the press conference was an insult to me as a fan.

How dare Pitino, who was given carte blanche when he came here, attack the fans like this?

If you're making millions on a salary I'm helping to pay by plunking ten dollars down on a stale piece of pizza, I have every right to be negative.

Plus, Pitino knew the sports culture in New England long before he came to the Celtics.

Win, and you're golden.

Lose, and you're garbage.

After spewing more bull about how the team was upbeat and positive and would turn it around, Pitino had authored one of the more memorable press conferences in Boston sports history.

After another losing season, the Celtics came out of the chute in 2000-2001 limping along at 12-22 after 32 games.

That's when Pitino decided he had had enough and resigned as both coach and President of the Boston Celtics.

In effect, he was washing his hands of the mess he created, and left his beleaguered assistant Jim O'Brien to pick up the pieces.

How could someone I greatly admired turn his back on his team and his fans like a weasel?

Now, eight years later, comes news of an extramarital affair Pitino had with a woman six years ago.

While I believe that personal business should stay out of the limelight, this episode does give Pitino a chance to be contrite and admit what he did was wrong.

The effects of his admission could be devastating, as it may hurt both Pitino's reputation as a person and on the recruiting trail.

But two lingering questions remain.

Will Rick Pitino focus on his job and try to right his slowly sinking ship, or will he make a quick exit before the situation gets worse?

Fasten your seatbelts, this could be one heck of a ride!

Patriot Passion: The 10 Patriots Who Had the Greatest Impact on Me

Dan Pieroni — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:34:17 -0400

With the pro football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies coming up this weekend, we as football fans often pause to reflect how much these players meant to us.

Furthermore, we may dwell on those players or coaches who aren't Hall of Famers yet we will always have admiration for the way they played the game and the impact they had on our favorite franchise.

What follows is a list of 10 people that I feel have had the greatest impact on the New England Patriots franchise in their 50 years of existence, aside from those already and those soon to be enshrined in Canton.

10. Robert Edwards (RB 1998)

Drafted out of Georgia, he was anointed the heir apparent to the departed Curtis Martin.

Edwards rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie season, but then blew out his knee in an offseason flag football game.

He never played for the Pats again leaving us to wonder what might have been.

9. Irving Fryar (WR 1984-1992)

He was drafted out of Nebraska with the hype of being the best pure athlete in the draft.

Instead, Irving Fryar is more remembered for such incidents as the time he got into a fight at a Providence night club, and the time he totaled his car during a game he left due to injury.

However, Fryar did have an incredible work ethic as a teammate, and managed to make the Pro Bowl once in his time in New England.

Fryar later found God, and became the standout receiver for the Dolphins, showcasing the talent he never had in Foxboro.

But his willingness to turn his life around commands my respect and admiration for him as a person.

8. Ben Coates (TE 1991-1999)

Drew Bledsoe's favorite target, Coates was a five-time Pro Bowl selection who broke the record for receptions by a tight end in a season in 1994.

He was also named to the all-decade team for the 1990's and led the Patriots in receiving yards in Super Bowl 31, yet his name is often forgotten in the annals of great NFL tight ends.

7. Steve Grogan (QB 1975-1990)

The Patriots first franchise quarterback, Grogan led the team to an 11-win season in his first year as starter in 1976.

He also set the record for the most rushing touchdowns in a season with 12 in that same season, a record that still stands today.

However, it was Grogan's toughness and class that stood out to me. He worked his way back from several injuries and remained classy and committed to winning even when he lost his job to Tony Eason in the mid 80's.

6. Steve Nelson (LB 1974-1987)

A hard-nosed and durable linebacker, Nelson recorded 100 or more tackles in a year nine times and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

But I know him best as the football coach and athletic director at my beloved alma mater Curry College during my first three years there and a man who always smiled and said hello to those who acknowledged him.

5. Gino Capelletti (WR/K (1960-1970)

If there is a man who deserves the title of "Mr. Patriot" Gino Capelletti is it.

The 1964 AFL MVP has been involved with the team since the beginning as a player, coach, and broadcaster.

He is the AFL's all-time leading scorer, as well as one of it's top receivers of all time.

However, fans of my generation embraced him as the kind and gentle analyst for the Patriots radio network who loudly cheered when Adam Vinatieri kicked the game winner in Super Bowl 36.

Here's hoping he does it again this year.

4. Stanley Morgan (WR, 1977-1989)

How is it that a man with more career receiving yards than Hall of Famer Raymond Berry and more career touchdowns than Lynn Swann and Michael Irvin isn't in the Hall of Fame himself?

Morgan was arguably the best deep threat the Pats ever had. His 19.2 yards per catch trails only Paul Warfield among wideouts with 500 or more career receptions.

3. Drew Bledsoe (QB 1993-2001)

The individual who along with Bill Parcels ushered in an era which the Patriots were no-longer pushovers in the NFL, Bledsoe lived up to his reputation and put up solid numbers in his Patriots career.

While it may be true that Bledsoe was sacked far too often, and was sometimes a poor decision maker with the ball, he did lead the NFL passing yards in 1994 and often found his man if he was given time.

Most importantly, he brought the team back to respectability and was a catalyst for the wave of success the organization still enjoys.

2. Troy Brown (WR 1993-2007)

In my lifetime, no Patriot player was more versatile and clutch than Brown.

It's not enough to merely state that Brown is the all time team receptions leader with 557, Brown also was best kick returner the team ever had, and even record three interceptions as an emergency defensive back in 2004.

Brown mostly proved his worth in the clutch.

He made a key catch that put the Patriots in field goal range to win the game in Super Bowl 36.

He returned a punt that provided the winning margin in the 2001 AFC Championship game

Finally, he stripped the Chargers Marlon McCrree in the fourth quarter of the 2006 AFC Divisional Playoff, on a fourth and five and gave the Patriots a new set of downs and allowed them to become victorious.

Troy Brown was a player who always rose to occasion and got the most out of his abilities.

1. Darryl Stingley (WR 1974-1978)

Darryl Stingley was a good but not great player in Patriots lore.

He only scored 14 career touchdowns and recorded only 110 catches in his brief career.

One day in Oakland would change all Patriots fans perceptions of Darryl Stingley and give him the title of most inspirational figure in Patriots lore.

On August 12th, 1978, Stingley went up to catch a high pass from Grogan and was knocked unconscious by a forearm from the Raiders Jack Tatum.

The hit broke Stingley's spinal cord, paralyzing him for life.

In the aftermath, Tatum never went to see Stingley in the hospital and never called to check up on him.

The only time he offered to reconcile with Stingley was to call him to ask if he wanted to help him promote his book on a TV special.

Despite his hardship, Stingley was never bitter about the accident and remained a classy and humble man for the rest of his life.

He spent his post football life establishing a foundation for unprivileged youth in his hometown in Chicago until his unexpected death from a heart attack.

Darryl Stingley was a stark reminder that football is only a game and things such as helping troubled youths have a much greater impact in life than accomplishments on the playing field.

I wish more of today's athletes would follow his example.

Special thanks to Michael Felger's book Tales From The Patriots Sideline & Maple Street Press' 2009 Patriots Annual for their help in writing this article.

Ortiz Was a Marked Man, Martinez Helps Sox and More

Dan Pieroni — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:13:04 -0400

News

As A Red Sox Fan, I can't honestly say I'm surprised with the news that David Ortiz once used PEDS. With every other power slugger from this era under suspicion, it was only a matter of time before Ortiz was outed.

Maybe it taints his personal accomplishments from the playoffs, but I don't believe that the news taints either of the Red Sox's two world championships under Ortiz, especially the one in 2004.

In order for that to happen, either the majority of the team had to be taking PEDS. Ortiz and Manny Ramirez weren't the only ones who contributed that year.

Trades

I've always admired Victor Martinez for his solid bat, but I must question how much playing time he'll get since Kevin Youklis is already entrenched at first base and it would set a bad example for their captain to be benched.

If it were up to me though, Varitek can quit for all I care. He's partically useless at the plate.

In the end, the Philies realized that although Roy Halladay may be the best pitcher in baseball, it would have been too much of gamble to trade away your future for one guy. Cliff Lee is a top tier starer in the game as it is.

George Sherill is a nice pickup for the Dodgers. He can give Jonathan Broxton a breather, and gives them a proven closer as their setup man.

One trade I don't understand is the Casey Kotchman for Adam LaRoche trade by the Braves and the Red Sox. Why would the Red Sox trade for another first baseman when they already have two of them.

Speaking of LaRoache, he now joins Jim Landis and Jose Cruz Jr, as the players that barely got playing time in their Red Sox careers.

Oakalnd's Brett Anderson is the first rookie pitcher to beat the Red Sox twice in a month since 1938. If I were the Yankees or Rays, I'd seriously consider grabbing him when his contract is up and if his luck continues.

The Pirates couldn't pay me enough to cover or broadcast for their team.

Sorry Tigers fans, but with Jake Peavy now in the mix, the White Sox are going to be awfully hard to beat for the AL Central crown.

I'm surprised the Yankees didn't make more of a splash at the trading deadline, especially with the Red Sox trading for Martinez.

Other News

It's been exactly 30 years since Thurman Munson died in a plane crash, and the fact that the Yankees have never altered his locker shows what a great leader and person of character he was.

Terrell Owens has his own breakfast cereal now. What is this, every time the Bills sign a marquee free agent they get a cereal named after him? Remember Flutie Flakes?

Michael Vick needs to return to the NFL with a team that has a stable backbone such as the Patriots or Steelers. If he goes to a NFL team or the UFL, he'll probably be public enemy No. 1 based on his background.

What if Vick went to the Browns? Would the Dawg Pound be disbanded?

Lamar Odom's willingness to re-sign with the Lakers as the likely backup to Ron Artest shows that he is committed to winning and is comfortable where he is.

I think Phoenix is a terrible market for hockey. I know Jerry Reinsdorf is committed to keeping the Coyotes in Arizona, but I feel they would draw better in Hamilton, or really well in Winnipeg.

It was great to see Sandy Koufax at the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. Boy, I would have loved to see him pitch.

I still think it would have been entertaining if Rickey Henderson referred to himself in the third person in his speech.

Last week's quiz answer was Dave Winfield.

This week's question, Besides Heathcliff Slocumb, who did the Red Sox give up in their deal for Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe?

ESPN's SportsNation said that Bo Jackson in Techmo Bowl was the greatest video game athlete of all time. I personally think it was either him or Mike Tyson in Punch-Out!

If I were Roy Halladay, I'd be breathing a sigh of relief right now. I get to stay where I'm comfortable.

In My Humble Opinion: Halladay Will Stay Put, and Other Musings

Dan Pieroni — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:51:44 -0400

Simply Put, Roy Halladay is a franchise player, and it will take a king's ransom of prospects to pry him away from the clutches of the Blue Jays.

In addition, Halladay may be the franchise player for the Jays. He's the one guy who makes them relevant in a highly competitive baseball landscape in both his own division and the game itself.

What will transpire over the next five days will be a test of wills. Will one team give up a package of prospects on the brink of stardom for a proven ace pitcher who's on the fast track to the AL Cy Young?

The Phillies have already said no, but are very much still in the running. Could the Angels or Yankees be the ones to bite?

It should be an interesting week nonetheless.

Here are some other thoughts pertaining to the sports world this week:

As a Red Sox fan, I'm happy that they got something for Julio Lugo. Ironically, Chris Duncan is a guy who never lived up to his full potential with the Cardinals. Here's hoping both can benefit from the change of scenery.
Adam LaRoche is a tailor made hitter for the confines of Fenway Park. Therefore, I like the deal and I wouldn't be surprised if the Red Sox are not done dealing.
Did you hear that Bronson Arroyo was upset at Dusty Baker for not leaving him in to face Manny Ramirez the other night? Arroyo's rationale was that he knew how to pitch to him because they were teammates. Based on what happened, you'd like to think that Arroyo would have kept the ball in the yard.
I think there's no better pitcher to watch from a control and quickness standpoint than Mark Buehrle, although I do think he owes Dewayne Wise a bottle of champagne for preserving his perfect game.
Dwight Howard is the best center in the NBA today, but to say he's as good as Shaq in his prime is a little far fetched at the moment. Check back with me in two years.
If Michael Vick returns to the NFL, I think he'd do better with a contending team because there won't be as much pressure on him to preform at his peak level.
The Sporting News says that the Saints have the best chance to reverse their fortunes and become an elite team. I personally think the offense is fine, but the defense needs a little work for them to really contend.
I really like ESPN2's new show SportsNation, it makes the fans a focal point of the discussions and values their opinions. Plus, it's a good source for column ideas.
Congratulations to all the Baseball Hall of Fame inductees. As far as next year goes, I believe that Roberto Alomar and Barry Larkin are shoe-ins.
The boxing column I wrote last week was a mistake; I tried to diversify myself by writing a niche sport article on something I knew little about. However, I still stand by every point I made in that article, and the fact I used Don King as a name proved that I'm misinformed and that boxing needs to do a better job marketing to the average sports fan.
I've been hearing tons of Rickey Henderson stories this week so I thought I'd share my favorite. Years ago Rickey had to miss a game due to frostbite because he fell asleep with an ice pack on!
I saw Stephen A. Smith on MSNBC talking about politics the other day. Does this mean that President Obama will appear on ESPN to talk about Jay Cuter in the near future?
Speaking of the President, after watching his ceremonial first pitch, I think with a little work on his mechanics he could easily become a member of the Washington Nationals.
The longer Brett Favre keeps the charade of will he on won't he up, the more respect I lose for him.
I would have never thought that Phil Hughes would become a quality setup man at any stage of his career.
Last week's trivia answer was Bo Jackson, this week's question, who was the first player to go into the Hall of Fame with a Padres hat on his plaque?
Maybe the Rangers should hand out free antibiotics at their games to fans just as a precaution.
Then again, the Nationals should pay their fans to keep them from getting sick from watching them!

Technical Knockouts: Three Reasons Why Boxing Has Waned in Popularity

Dan Pieroni — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:16:01 -0400

Once upon a time, boxing was one of the most popular spectator sports in all of the country.

In the early days of television, boxing was as popular an attraction as pro football and American Idol are today. People would tune with anticipation to see the big names of the day such as Rocky Marciano and Willie Pep.

Old Yankee Stadium was once a popular venue for fights, with everyone from Joe Louis to Muhammad Ali fighting there between 1923 and 1976.

In the 1980s, major boxing fights were still heavily attended but had shifted to pay cable outlets. Therefore, consumers were forced to buy HBO or Showtime as part of their cable plans. However, boxing still remained a presence on free broadcast television through shows like ABC's Wide World of Sports & USA's Tuesday Night Fights.

However, in 1994, a fight took place that I believe signaled the beginning of the end of boxing as a highly popular display of athleticism in mainstream society.

On Nov. 5, 1994, heavyweight champion Michael Moorer fought a bloated, senile, and uncoordinated George Foreman for the championship in Las Vegas.

As expected, Moorer outfoxed Foreman for the first nine rounds, although he failed to put Foreman away with a knockout blow. Then, all of a sudden, Foreman landed a devastating right hook to Moorer's chin.

The impossible had happened, boxing's worst nightmare was realized, as it now had a 45-year-old, heavyweight champion who was past his prime and out of shape.

Two years later, an agitated and barbaric Mike Tyson bit off part of Holyfield's left ear in frustration.

It was the beginning of the end of boxing as a mainstream sport.

Now, boxing barely survives as a niche sport that is lucky to get a mention in the back page of the sports section or magazine.

What follows are three reasons as to why I believe boxing as lost it's cache as a popular spectator sport in our sports lexicon, and what I believe can be done to fix it.

After all, as long as the sport's main premise is two men using gloves to beat the crap out of each other, anything is possible.

Reason One: Lack of any network coverage.

As I mentioned, boxing was a staple of network television in the early days of the medium. However, since the dawn of pay cable, greedy promoters like Don King and Bob Arum have taken their business there, and refused to do business with the networks because they know enough suckers will pay the $49.95 for a big fight and line their pockets with a lot of green.

Why have the networks pay you to televise a fight for free when you can make more money charging the average Joe $50 for the right to even see the fight?

Under this shrewd gameplan, only a select few can watch the fights because many that want to simply view it cannot afford to fork over the high price.

Moreover, boxing's lack of coverage on free television hurt's it's popularity because few people know or care who the big name fighters are in all the weight classes because there is no free showcase on network television for their talent.

In order for boxing to regain its popularity, there should be at the very least a weekly afternoon or evening boxing series on network television.

I would even go so far as to suggest that it may be a good idea for a title fight to be broadcast on one of the major networks to rejuvenate interest in the sport. That way, many people will know who the marquee talents are instead of a select few.

Reason 2: Lack of marketing

I'd bet that right now, outside of maybe Manny Pacquiao, even the most diehard sports fan couldn't name a popular fighter in boxing today.

This is probably because boxing is perfectly happy as a niche sports, as long as it turns a profit and puts butts in the seats.

In the old days, the sport did a great job in marketing the brand. Many people may not have known about Ali the boxer, but they knew about Ali the person due to his relationship with Howard Cosell.

Likewise, a lot of people remember Ray Leonard as a commercial pitchman for 7Up, and Mike Tyson lent his name to an iconic video game.

These days, boxing has not marketed itself well, you don't see many fighters in commercials, and The Contender is not exactly a blueprint for superstardom within the industry.

On the flipside, boxing major competitors in the UFC and the WWE have done a brilliant job in marketing with weekly television programs on basic cable networks and merchandising that has brought in millions of dollars.

In essence, they have promoted their brands well, therefore fans tend to gravitate towards their product and leave boxing in the cold.

Reason 3: Greed

Only in America can a guy like Don King promote the heck out of a fight, earn millions of dollars, and still refuse to get himself a halfway decent haircut.

Kidding aside, King is however, a greedy, manipulative, con artist of a man who is at the forefront of the cash windfall that boxing generates.

If other words, you can thank him for wasting $50 on a fight that last two rounds.

King doesn't care about you the average fan, he cares about his money, and other promoters have followed in his footsteps.

Thus, the average fan can't enjoy a major championship fight because the prices both at the arenas and through cable are too steep, and there not coming down until even the corporate muckety mucks stop paying for their ringside seats.

As long as this continues, the high prices will be justified.

So let's review, how can boxing reclaim its bygone as a major spectator sport?

Quite simply, do a better job of catering to the average Joe by understanding that they're not made of money and thus need a more cost effective approach of accepting boxing as a major sports entity.

Until then, boxing can enjoy its niche audience of Hollywood stars and soulless corporate executives.

If I were Don King, I'd try to do the right thing and welcome the average fan with open arms.

In My Humble Opinion: Jacques Lemaire Owes Wild

Dan Pieroni — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:14:01 -0400

If I were Gary Bettman, I'd adopt a new rule for NHL coaches who pull the wool over their former team's eyes by announcing their retirement and then having a change of heart.

Jacques Lemaire claimed he was burnt out and wanted to step away from the bench, so he announced his retirement early last month.

However, a little schmoozing and a nice salary was all it took for Lemaire to change his mind and return for his second stint as Devils head coach.

Lemaire put the Wild in a bad situation, granted the Devils had the same thing happen to them with Brent Sutter. However, a coach who retires unexpectidly puts their former team in a position in which they have to scramble to find a new coach. Often, the right man isn't found until just before it's too late.

I say Lemaire's stunt wasn't fair to the Wild, and I propose the following rule change. Any coach who announces their retirement must stay retired for one season. Any team that claims a coach's services during that period should be required to fork over a draft pick for their new coach's services to his former team.

After all, the Jets had to give the Patriots three draft picks for the right to have Bill Parcells coach them. Why can't this rule apply in hockey?

Other opinions from the week in sports.

The Home Run Derby was a total snoozefest. Aside from a few moon shots from Pujols and Fielder, a few years from now, nothing will remembered from this Derby.
Congratulations to Prince Fielder anyway, it must make him proud to know that he accomplished something his father never did.
I may not be able to hit a home run, let alone get a base hit, but I'll always take comfort in the fact that I would do as well as Brandon Inge did in a Home Run Derby.
I'm convinced that Inge was replaced by an impostor or that someone actually thought he was among the best power hitters in the game.
The least Joe Maddon could have done was given Tim Wakefield an opportunity to pitch in the game. It isn't often you see a 42-year-old first-time All-Star.
Sayonara, Julio Lugo, enjoy your $23 million "gift" from the Boston Red Sox.
Yao Ming is done for the season with a hairline fracture. His departure assuredly means a long season for the Rockets.
I didn't see it, but from what I heard, Joe Buck Live was a big-time failure. Buck is the Ryan Seacrest of sports, overrated but everywhere.
In my 20-plus years of watching Boston sports, I have never seen a more selfish, egotistical, miserable athlete with more hubris in him than Antione Walker. The fact that he was arrested this week comes as no surprise to me personally.
I can't wait to see what Fenway Park looks like with a sheet of ice on it.
Look, Boston doesn't need another all-sports radio station, but I'm intrigued by the fact that WEEI will have a legitimate competitor within a few weeks.
Brett Favre within the Jets was a failed experiment. Brett Favre with the Vikings has the potential to be an absolute laughingstock. Quit while you're still popular, Brett; it's the only way to save your reputation.
Brock Lesner's victory celebration was a little over the top, but given the fact that he was once in the WWE, are you really surprised?
The answer to last week's trivia question is Angels Stadium. This week's question, when was the last time the game was in Anaheim, and who was the MVP?
Sigh, if only the National League could win the Midsummer Classic now and then. It's boring otherwise.

In My Humble Opinion: All-Star Game Has Lost Luster and Sheed Helps C's

Dan Pieroni — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:32:16 -0400

Once upon a time, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was an anticipated event during the baseball season. However, it has lost some of its panache because of three things:

1. Interleague play: Since it's inception in 1997, Interleague play has taken some of the fun of the All-Star game because players are no longer clueless on how to pitch to or hit a player from the other league, since there's a good chance they have seen that player in that particular year or in the not too distant past. Interleague play has taken the fun out of a pitcher trying to second guess the tendencies of an unfamiliar hitter, and vice versa, simply because it's too long. Natural rivalries should be the only interleague series played; that's where it's most meaningful.

2. Total domination: In the 1970's the NL dominated; nowadays, the shoe is on the other foot. It's no fun to watch the game when it's clear that one league has a clear advantage over the other in all facets of the game. The American League is on a prolonged winning streak, and is clearly the superior league with their dominance in both the game itself and interleague play in recent years. When you're pretty sure who's going to win, it's likely the ratings will suffer as well.

3. Home field advantage: Since they started playing for it in 2003, the American League has won it every year. It isn't fair to put so much emphasis on an exhibition game that is supposed to be fun. I see nothing wrong with alternating home field advantage between the leagues year after year. At the rate the NL has been going, they may have to wait another year.

Other thoughts:

At least the Home Run Derby is fun to watch, and I really don't think there's a clear-cut favorite going in. Anyone want to help me by giving me their picks?
Thank goodness for the mute button, the perfect antidote for Chris Berman's tired shenanigans.
Rasheed Wallace personifies toughness, something the Celtics were severely lacking once Garnett went down. The only problem I have with him is his attitude and his penchant for technicals because of it. Nonetheless, he's a solid pickup.
RIP Steve McNair, a class individual and mentor to many young quarterbacks. It's a shame his life ended the way it did.
Speaking of death, I'm now willing to believe any angle the media tries to spin on Michael Jackson's death. For all we know, he could have been doing the moonwalk and fell down the stairs.
If Magic Johnson truly believes Michael Jackson made him proud to be black, he should first realize that he isn't the only one since he probably did the same thing for a lot of inner-city youth in his time.
Privacy is a virtue in today's NFL. Former Patriots QB Steve Grogan told The Sporting News that in his day, he could walk into a K-Mart and go virtually unrecognized. Nowadays, Tom Brady is afraid to leave his house because he'll be swarmed by photographers every time he does.
Jim Tracy is my pick for NL manager of the year, no questions asked.
If Junior Seau is actually serious about coming back if the Patriots want him, he is a stronger man than I thought. I admire anyone who can play a physically daunting position such as linebacker into their forties.
Given the fact that the Padres only have one player worth paying money to see, I'm starting to regret the fact that I paid $30 for a seat at Petco Park. Please tell me it's worth visiting.
The fifth set in this year's men's final at Wimbledon may have been the finest fifth set in the history of the game.
Last week's quiz answer was Moises Alou. This week's question: Where will next year's All-Star Game be held?
The proud and baseball rich city of St. Louis should provide a grand and majestic backdrop for a midsummer's classic. I know I'll enjoy it.

In My Humble Opinion: Artest and Manny Make L.A. Place To Be for Sports

Dan Pieroni — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:56:05 -0400

Here's are some things that are really grinding my gears this week.

LA Dodgers fans will rejoice as their suspended slugger Manny Ramirez returns from his 50-game suspension tonight after testing positive for a female growth hormone banned by MLB. His return makes the Dodgers stronger, and you'd be hard pressed to find a team in the National League that can contend with the Dodgers at this moment in time.
Likewise, Ron Artest brings a stronger defensive presence to the Lakers, and makes Trevor Ariza expendable at that.
At the very least, Rasheed Wallace should write a thank you note to the entire Celtics organization for the lengths they went to try and sign him. For the "Big Three" as well as both the GM and the owner to make a personal appeal to a free agent shows how much they value his talent.
If Marian Hossa is a total bust in Chicago, every season ticket holder should get a refund on their tickets. No player is worth a 12-year contract.
Mark Sanchez just signed an endorsement deal with Nike. That's a pretty bold move for an unproven commodity.
I'm pretty sure that as I'm writing this sentence, the Mets just put another person on the DL.
I don't know about you, but if the Cowboys expect me to pay $35 to tour a stadium that hasn't been used yet, they could at least give me a private meet-and-greet with the cheerleaders.
I'm willing to bet that no more foods with honey in them will be sold at Petco Park after yesterday's bug delay.
Watching the Red Sox blow a nine-run lead against the Orioles Tuesday night was as painful as watching slides of great aunt Tilda's visit to the Spam Museum
Rick Reily's recent article in ESPN Magazine illustrates the lengths some coaches will go to to avoid losing. At a recent championship softball game, a coach was able to convince a clueless umpire that a girl who had just hit a game-winning homer should be called out because her teammates touched her in celebration as she was rounding the bases. Long story short, the coach prevailed, and her team ended up winning. It's sad that a coach would stoop so low to protest a homer on the basis of a ridiculous rule that makes no sense. I agree with Reilly that the coach should forfeit the win as a show in sportsmanship.
Pablo Sandaval has been the unsung hero for the baseball Giants this season. Without him, they're not even in contention.
Why do the Knicks want Jason Kidd so badly? Sure, he's a veteran leader, but I thought they were going in a direction that emphasizes youth and talent.
Last week's quiz answer: The Yankees have won 39 pennants. This week's question: Who scored the winning run for the National League in the 1994 All-Star Game?
I'd rather watch grass grow than see a bunch of 300-pound slobs stuff hot dogs down their throats tomorrow afternoon. I know that Kobayashi guy is as thin as rail, but he must starve himself at times to be as good as he is.
Have a happy and safe fourth of July weekend! See you next week.

In My Humble Opinion, Shaq Will Help The Cavs and Federer Wins Wimbledon

Dan Pieroni — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:15:55 -0400

Here are a few things I'm stewing on this week:

He may be 37, and not as quick as we once was, but as long as Shaq clears the lane for LeBron to have an open look at the hoop, the Cavaliers will be the cream of the Eastern Conference.
I would find it hard to believe that anyone could possibly think that Blake Griffin wouldn't be the No. 1 pick in the draft.
You couldn't pay me enough to coach, play, or broadcast for the Nationals.
I know he's still struggling to find his form, but John Smoltz did little to convince me that he can survive in the rough and tumble world of the American League East. However, aside from two bad innings, I still am optimistic that he can turn it around.
I haven't heard any calls for Joe Girardi's head yet. I must be missing something.
I'm not a fan of the Lakers supposed plan of having Phil Jackson coach only home games simply because there might be a disconnect between Jackson and Kurt Rambis on how to run things. A team needs a set strategy and stable leadership in order to succeed.
The Yankees are the only team dumb enough to file a protest with the league because they think their opponent won unfairly.
I can live with the fact that Cleveland and Orlando are better than the Celtics right now, but I refuse to believe that the Wizards are better than the Celtics based on the quality of their draft picks.
I knew Brent Sutter was going to be the coach of the Flames. It was the worst kept secret in hockey.
If TO is as bad as he was on The Superstars, it's going to be another long year in Orchard Park.
New Lions coach Jim Schwartz is a coach with nothing to lose—if he wins just one game, he's already improved the team's win total.
The lack of a strong male opponent for Roger Federer should mean an easy Wimbledon championship.
If you told me a few years ago that Sweet Caroline would be an actual athletic fight song, I would have laughed. Now, no Red Sox game is complete without it.
Last week's quiz answer was Chris Miller. This week's question: How many pennants have the Yankees won in their history?
RIP Michael Jackson. You are the closest thing my generation had to the Beatles. Your music will live on forever.

In My Humble Opinion, Roger Goodell Is a Man Of Integrity!

Dan Pieroni — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:55:54 -0400

Kudos to NFL Commish Roger Goodell, who proved yesterday that he's a man of principle and that he's not afraid to rule with an iron fist. Just because the legal system let Donte Stallworth off with a slap on the wrist didn't mean he had to. The suspension leveed by Goodell gives Stallworth plenty of time to deeply regret killing an innocent pedestrian and is far more of a blow to Stallworth then 30 days behind bars. Well done sir, I salute you!
Okay, Phil Jackson is a great coach. No coach wins 10 titles in any sport entirely due to luck. However, I still have my doubts that he'd be as successful as he is without Jordan, Pippen, O'Neal, and Bryant. That's why I can't honestly say he's the greatest coach of all time.
The Yankees should play Charlie Brown's baseball team next to earn back their self respect. Losing 2 of 3 to the Nationals at home is a bitter pill for anyone to swallow.
There's a great article in Sporting News this week about Dolphins QB Chad Pennington's long road to success. It made me admire the man more than I did after I finished reading it.
Speaking of other articles, fellow BR columnist Michael Nasti did a great piece on the worst announcers in New York sports. I couldn't agree more with his choice of Suzyn Waldman as No. 1. That woman is a redundant, annoying, and uninformed fool who is an embarrassment to professional sports announcing. She must be really tight with the Steinbrenners.
Happy trails Kevin McHale. The best trade you ever made as Timberwolves GM was for the Celtics. Perhaps you can go back to counting the floorboards in the famous parquet floor as you wait for another job.
Thank you NHL for honoring Claude Julien as the coach of the year, mainly because I don't have eat crow by shaving my head.
Congratulations Pittsburgh, with the best football and hockey teams in the land, you are now experiencing a sports nirvana few cities have had before.
I tend to doubt that Matt Holiday will end the season with the A's. I see him replacing the pop of Carlos Delgardo with the Mets.
It's hard not to admire the accomplishments of Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, who's gone from a hockey vagabond to the best in the NHL in only a few short years.
Kobe Bryant is the defining player of his generation.
Last week's quiz answer: Rick Monday, current Dodger radio man, was selected first overall in the inaugural MLB draft in 1965.
This week's question: way back when the Falcons traded a young man named Brett Favre in 1991, who was their starting QB?
I feel for Manny Acta. The Nationals aren't going anywhere but yet they're already preparing to make a managerial change. Why not let Acta finish the year out and let him leave peacefully with his dignity intact?
If PETA is giving President Obama some flack about killing a fly in front of reporters, they clearly have too much time on their hands. If they had their way, dogs would rule the world, and we'd be the ones begging for treats!

In My Humble Opinion, Week One: Phil Jackson, Brett Favre, and the Yankees

Dan Pieroni — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:35:18 -0400

Hola and thanks for reading the first ever edition of Dan Pieroni's "In My Humble Opinion."

Before we begin, let me take some time to discuss what this column is all about and some ground rules for commenting.

This column will be very similar to my "Tuesday Morning Running Back Column" expect that it will entail all sports, as well my thoughts on popular culture.

Except for this week, the column will consist of nothing but bullet points, and will not employ any of the long introductions that are prevalent in the former column.

I will do this column once a week throughout the summer until the NFL season begins, after which I will focus my attention solely on "Tuesday Morning Running Back" and the occasional general column.

I would like this piece to be be highly interactive, therefore, I'm going to include a weekly trivia question, in which selected correct respondents will have their names printed in the following week's column.

There will also be a weekly poll question that I invite you to vote on.

I also invite comments on any of my opinions, although I'd appreciate it if the following rules are followed regarding comments.

1. Please feel free to be as honest as you'd like, but please keep your language clean.

2. Only one trivia answer per user please.

3. Please do not use the comment page or my profile page to promote your work. I understand that you're trying to build an audience, but isn't that everyone's goal here? If something interests me, I'll find it on the front page, and if it really interests me, I will become your fan.

So without any further ado, let's begin.

Thanks for reading the long-winded intro, I promise next week I will cut right to the chase.
I wouldn't be surprised if Stephen Strasberg makes an immediate impact for the Nationals this season. They could use some excitement in their drab existence as an MLB franchise.
This week's quiz: What current MLB broadcaster was selected first overall in the first-ever MLB draft in 1965?
The Red Sox drafted Carl Yazstremski's grandson Michael. I'm rooting for him to make an impact someday.
It is painfully evident that the Yankees are in desperate need of a setup man. It's even sadder that a member of the starting rotation is the best man for the job and Joe Girardi hasn't realized it yet.
I'm tired of reading articles about how Phil Jackson is in poor health and the only thing that keeps him coaching is his pursuit of Red Auerbach's record for most NBA titles as a coach. Just win this series Phil so I don't have to hear you complain about your painful hip anymore.
Likewise, the Kobe winning without Shaq articles are tiresome too.
Is it me, or does Phil Jackson look like Colonel Sanders when he allows his beard to grow?
I was a huge Pete Sampras fan back in the day. You may even say that I was a groupie for him. However, I'll be a man and admit that Roger Federer has dominated tennis like no man ever has in my lifetime.
Will Brett Favre ever stop jerking the media and the Vikings around? Yes or no Brett? It should be an easy decision for a man your age.
If anyone else but Dan Bylsma beats Claude Julien for NHL Coach of the Year, I'll shave my head.
Conan O'Brien's only true competition should be sleep.
The Sporting News says that Pedro Martinez has had workouts with both the Cubs and the Rays this week. Here's hoping he can contribute to someone, although I personally would hate to see him in a Rays uniform.
If not for the Red Wings, the Detroit sports scene would be more painful than watching a Nationals game.
I know I took some heat for including Padre broadcaster Ted Leitner in my list of best radio voices because he's egotistical, but that is precisely why I like him. He's so wooden and unfunny that it amuses me a man like him can become a major league broadcaster. Thus, he is a must listen for his outrageous opinions and self-worship.
If hell had a broadcast team it'd be Ted and Suzyn Waldman
I don't know about you, but if I were marooned on a remote island with Heidi and Spencer Pratt, I'd resort to cannibalism.
Finally, if Manny were to star in a remake of a Hollywood movie, I'd love to see him in the Ivan Reitman film "Junior" all that female growth hormone he took has to amount to something, right?

Lay Off LeBron: The Sports Media Needs To Examine Its Conscience

Dan Pieroni — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:07:54 -0400

It was probably the worst night of LeBron James' professional career.

After a season in which his Cleveland Cavilers were almost unbeaten at home, breezed through the first two rounds of the playoffs, and presented themselves as legitimate NBA Finals contenders, it all blew up in the king's face.

He was beaten by Dwight Howard and his cocky-but-cool band of basketball players in a series characterized by stylish play, but very little excitement.

And so, after a season that began with promise and high expectations, James failed to deliver a trip to the finals for the championship-starved city of Cleveland.

When so much weight is put a person's shoulders to deliver what both the fans and media expect, it's a pretty painful feeling to realize they've come up short.

Therefore, I don't blame James for skipping out on the media on Saturday night following the Cavs' loss.

While sitting down and answering tough questions may have been the moral and polite thing to do, maybe he was just too stunned to sit and face the scrutiny of the media at that moment.

Even if he did volunteer a few minutes of his time, did they honestly think he would eloquently discuss his shortcomings when all that was on his mind was his failure to produce?

At best, all James would have given reporters as far as quotes would have been the same tired cliches such as, "I wasn't my best tonight, and the better team won."

So, why is the media beating up on for not taking the time to address his failures right after the game?

Cut him some slack.

James was obviously saddened by his failure to lead his team to the NBA Finals, and answering a bunch of obvious questions about his failures would just make him feel worse.

That's not to say he does not owe the media and fans an explanation down the road. James may have feelings and a right to privacy, but he's also the face of the franchise and should, at the very least, give an explanation to those who support him and pay his salary.

The bottom line here is that James didn't have to face the media right after the game, but sooner or later he will owe them some articulation on his inability to lead the Cavs to the finals after a season of such high hopes.

Maybe next year, Cleveland.

The 10 Most Hated People in Boston Sports History

Dan Pieroni — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:15:18 -0400

There are two kinds of people that are hated by the Boston fan base, those who speak out against the fans or players and create trouble and those who leave Boston for greater pastures, and never express any gratitude for what the city gave them. The following is a list of those who wined, complained, and alienated the fan base and whose names will forever be linked to hatred and scorn in the New England sports community.

Begin Slideshow

Red Sox Might Have To Make Hard Decision About Fenway Park

Dan Pieroni — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:12:41 -0400

I'm dreading the feedback from this article.

So before you get so angry that you'll feel compelled to call me an idiot, let me have my say.

Then, id you still think I'm an idiot, you are more than welcome to send your scornful comments my way,

Are we good? Alright, here comes the bombshell.

I believe Fenway Park is on borrowed time.

From a personal standpoint, I love Fenway. It is the most prestigious and beloved ballpark in all of baseball.

I will miss its uniqueness, the Green Monster, the poor sap stuck inside of it who makes little money sliding the numbers into the spots on the scoreboard, and the outfielders who look lost in the triangle in center field.

I don't want to see Fenway go, but in reality it needs to.

I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal about The new Yankee Stadium and how the Yankees are expected to generate $800 million of revenue off of it this year.

This, mind you, is a modern ballpark with all the modern bells and whistles that people will flock to because it fields a competitive team with a mystique unmatched in Major League Baseball.

While the same may hold true for the Red Sox, they play in an intimate, charming, but severely outdated facility, that while historic, cannot compete in the current baseball climate.

Fenway is a place in which we, the poor fans, pay $45 to sit in splinter-ridden creaky old grandstand seats to have our view of the game obstructed by support poles.

Plus, many seats offer no leg room, and God help you if you have to sit next to Bubba the 400-pound trucker with an unfortunate flatulence problem for three hours.

Did I mention the concourses are too narrow as well? I was there on Patriots Day, I must have bumped into a hundred people on my way to get a hot dog.

This is not an ideal way to spend a day at the ballpark!

You can make as many upgrades as you wish, but no matter how hard you try, you cannot change the fact that Fenway will never be a comfortable modern ballpark.

Even if every game is sold out, the Red Sox won't even come close to generating the revenue the Yankees will. Even if their seats are overpriced, at least they're comfortable and the concourses are much more spacious.

Sadly, all major league baseball seems to care about is a buck, and as long as there is no salary cap in baseball, the Yankees will stockpile players in free agency, leaving all other teams in the dust.

So the real reason I want Fenway gone is because I cannot bear to see another era of Yankee domination.

I know it will be very difficult to find land for a new ballpark, but I'd hate for John Henry to sell a pair of Big Papi's sweat socks for profit just to compete with the evil empire.

But aside from building a new ballpark, or implementing a salary cap, there's not much you can do.

So although I do not wish to see Fenway meet the wrecking ball, it may have to so that our beloved Boston nine can stay competitive for years to come.

I for one do not wish to see it end like this.

Breaking News: John Madden Calls It a Career.

Dan Pieroni — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:39:03 -0400

There are two ways I'll remember John Madden as a broadcaster.

On one hand, the man was an absolute marvel. No one, with the possible exception of Tim McCarver, stated the obvious more often than him.

In his later years, he became laughable, based on how many times he could injerject the word "well" into a sentence.

But for a man with many faults, John Madden was always entertaining, even if for all the wrong reasons.

He also breathed life into an analyst job that was severely lacking before his arrival.

Madden was the ultimate insider, and the first guy to really discuss the x's and o's of pro football in an engaging, and interesting way.

It was almost as if he was explaining the complexities of football so much that he could have written Pro Football for Dummies.

But we embranced John Madden, he was the type of guy who wants to go have a beer with you after the game.

He was also the perfect complement to the straight-laced and often dull announcing of Pat Summerall with his loud and boisterous commentary.

Sure he lost his fastball in later years. I could have killed him when he said the Patriots should have fallen on the ball and played for overtime on their final drive in Super Bowl 36 twice!

But after Summerall mercifully hung it up, Madden seemed rejuvenated with Al Michaels as his partner. They seemed like two guys who enjoyed each other's company and respected each other as professionals.

But now, the partnership has ended. Yahoo! sports reported this morning that Madden has decided to call it a career.

At age 73, Madden has had a long career both as a coach with the Raiders and as a broadcaster for all four major networks.

He was quoted as saying he wants to enjoy more family time, as his 50th anniversary is coming up in the fall, and he would like to spend more time with his grandchildren.

I believe he's more than entitled to do so.

His blue-collar attitude and zest for a game he never stopped loving will be missed, but his impact on the game of football will always live on.

I'd like to end this column with an open plea to any NBC executive that may read this piece.

For the love of God, please keep Collinsworth in the studio!