Bleacher Report - Articles by Jimmy Grappone

Saints, 49ers Stage Rare Comebacks During Week 7's Sunday, Blowout Sunday

Jimmy Grappone — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:19:17 -0400

This may be the first time their names have ever been uttered in the same sentence, but thank goodness for Drew Brees and Alex Smith.

Albeit with different results, each NFC quarterback remembered how to make football both exciting and dramatic on a day dominated by one-sided NFL contests.

Trailing by three touchdowns early in the second half, Brees' New Orleans Saints used a resurgent ground attack and a pair of scoring interception returns, including an acrobatic catch and run combo by active career INT leader Darren Sharper, as they rallied to defeat the Miami Dolphins at Land Shark Stadium 46-34 on Sunday.

In Houston, visiting 49ers quarterback Alex Smith relieved struggling San Francisco signal caller Shaun Hill at halftime and commanded his team to a stirring near-comeback from a 21-0 halftime deficit to the host Texans. Houston won the game, 24-21, but Smith won back San Francisco's starting QB job with three second half touchdown passes.

Perhaps even more startling than the Saints' and 49ers' respective comebacks, though, is that they were among eight teams in Sunday's 13 contests to trail by 21 points or more in the second half.

The other six teams in the same predicament were not so fortunate: for the first time since the Nixon administration (Dec. 20, 1970), an NFL Sunday served up a half-dozen blowouts of at least 28 points.

Among Week Seven's 13 victorious NFL teams, only two, the aforementioned Houston Texans and the Arizona Cardinals, were limited to single-digit winning margins.

This was a day in which nearly every winning NFL team put on a BCS-worthy performance, racking up as many "style points" as possible, a la Steve Spurrier's Florida Gators of the mid-1990s.

For a league that prides itself on parity and the idea that any team not owned by Al Davis can find success in any given year, is it really surprising the NFL served up more blowouts on Sunday afternoon than Goodyear did at Martinsville Speedway?

And is there any question that New England's 59-0 drubbing of the winless Tennessee Titans in Week Six, in which Patriots coach Bill Belichick could easily be accused of running up the score against an inferior opponent, inspired nearly every winning team to keep its foot on the gas pedal until the final whistle?

Finally, will the Dolphins' and Texans' second half collapses make the league's players and coaches even more aware of the precariousness of an NFL lead, causing an abundance of lopsided games in the season's second half, or were Sunday's outcomes merely the result of poor scheduling by the NFL several months ago?

No matter the reason for Blowout Sunday 2009, we should all be thankful the Tennessee Titans were given a week to recover from last week's embarrassment and that the Detroit Lions didn't have a date with the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field this afternoon.

If either case were different, I may have been called upon to reference the Harding administration.

See, some good can come from having a bye week.

Tyrese Rice Is Nice, but Stephon Curry Is the No. 1 Gunner

Jimmy Grappone — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:04:15 -0500

Rice Outlasts and Outplays Nation's Top-Ranked Team

His friends may call him Reese, but his game is much sweeter than any candy bar images his name might conjure. And he always seems to leave his opponents in pieces.

The 21,750 in attendance at the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill, NC and everyone else who watched Boston College's 85-78 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels on Sunday night, witnessed something I've watched for the past six years, something that has become commonplace now for ACC basketball players, coaches, and fans: a virtuoso performance by the Eagles' star guard and lone fourth-year contributor, Tyrese Rice.

What makes Rice's 25-point, eight-assist performance against the nation's top team so special goes well beyond the numbers. Everyone knows Rice can put the ball in the basket, and he has already had several huge games throughout his collegiate career, including a 46-point scoring barrage in a losing effort against the Tar Heels last season at Chapel Hill.

But the Boston College point guard's poise, leadership, and ability to involve his teammates throughout the game and take over during crunch time set him apart from other high scorers in the ACC—and throughout the country.

Rice was willing and able to get his younger teammates involved early and often in Sunday's contest as his eight dimes will attest, and the performances of sophomore Rakim Sanders (22 points) and freshman Reggie Jackson (career-high 17 points) were crucial to the Eagles' win over previously unbeaten UNC.

However, Rice's quiet confidence and poise calmed his young teammates during a late North Carolina rally, and his ability to make pressure-packed free throws with the game on the line enabled his team to seize victory and pull away to a comfortable margin down the final stretch.

The simple fact that Rice was the best "Ty" on the court should be enough to have college fans and NBA scouts drooling and future opponents sweating. Rice thoroughly outplayed his better known counterpart, UNC's speedy point guard, Tywon Lawson (10 points, four assists), and he outscored the NCAA's reigning POY, Tyler "Psycho T" Hansbrough, by four points.

Tyrese Rice first showed up on the national scene with a 30-point game against the Kevin Durant-led Oak Hill Academy in 2005.

Four years ago, Rice was the top player for the L.C. Bird High School Skyhawks (Chesterfield, VA), and though he had long shone against Richmond-area public high school competition, it took what has now become a routine performance for the All-ACC gunner against the nation's top prep team to gain the attention of big-time basketball scouts.

"Candy Bar" (Rice's nickname) may not be "The Answer," but his play is reminiscent of another Virginia high school legend and is nothing short of Iverson-esque.

Curry Can Add to His Davidson Legend at Second-Ranked Duke

America's leading scorer and 2008 NCAA Tournament wunderkind, Davidson College's Steph Curry, has yet another opportunity to add to both his mystique and his NBA Lottery status in a primetime, nationally televised game on Wednesday (ESPN, 7:00 pm) against the Duke Blue Devils.

By now, anyone with a pulse and even the faintest interest in college basketball knows the Steph Curry story.

Son of longtime NBA sharp-shooter Dell Curry, Steph was deemed too small to play in the ACC or Big East, so he stayed close to his Charlotte home. He accepted a basketball scholarship from a tiny liberal arts school in Davidson, NC and single handedly led his team within a missed buzzer-beating three-point attempt of upsetting the eventual champion Kansas Jayhawks to reach the Final Four.

Not a bad story in itself. However, his encore season may be even more remarkable for the simple fact that he leads the nation in scoring (29.2 ppg) while orchestrating the Wildcats' offense from the point guard position.

Curry has already scored more than 40 points in a game three times this season, including a 41-point game against Middle Tennessee State in which he effortlessly posted 31 points in the second half.

However, like Rice, Curry's game goes well beyond the numbers found in the final box score. Curry's court awareness, defensive toughness (3 spg), and basketball intellect are off the charts, and his ability to get to whatever point on the court he wishes is similar to that of NBA All-Star Chris Paul.

While Curry may not ever have Paul's speed or strength, both players understand equally well how to score the basketball from anywhere on the court, and each makes his teammates better with precision passing and the ability to create easy scoring opportunities for his teammates.

Davidson's most recent nationally televised game against Purdue was a blowout loss for the Wildcats and Steph Curry's worst game of the season.

But there is no question that Curry will come out firing threes, running his defenders to death, and determined to show the country why he is a legitimate All-American and one of the top players in college basketball in tonight's matchup against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Shanahan Orange Crushed: Joins Kiffin, Mangini, Crennel as Former AFC Skips

Jimmy Grappone — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:55:41 -0500

I didn't want to write anything at first. I really didn't know how to react. Except to text my parents. And my girlfriend. And everyone else in my phone book that I thought even remotely followed professional football. HOLY CRAP!!! OMG!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! I'M FLUMMOXED!!!

I was emotional, I was erratic, I was...Okay, I am exaggerating a bit and I was actually en route to the Justin Jones & The Driving Rain/Robert Randolph & The Family Band show at The National in Richmond, Virginia when I got the news, but I was still pretty shocked. And flummoxed.

Honestly, I thought my friend was ribbing me when he texted at 5:41 PM on Dec. 30, 2008, with the news that Mike Shanahan had been let go as head coach of the Denver Broncos. It's sad, but these are the kinds of friends I have. You know, the ones who usually deliver fake bad news because it's funny, but occasionally deliver actual bad news just to keep you on your toes?

Anyhow, now that I have finally sobered up five days later, I'll tell you what I was thinking. And screaming.

What?!?! Mike Shanahan? Fired?

The same coach that guided John Elway, TD, and Rod Smith to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in the late '90s? The same coach I gawked at from the upper deck in road games at the Jets and Panthers this year, the offensive mastermind who scripts the first 30 offensive plays of every game, the second-coming of Bill Walsh?

The man whom Broncos' owner Pat Bowlen stated earlier this season was his team's coach for as long as he wanted the job? That Mike Shanahan? Fired?

Yessir, the one and only! Mike Shanahan. Former Denver Broncos head coach. Damn you Pat Bowlen and New Year's Eve for driving me into a three-day binge.

I guess I should have seen it coming. Denver hasn't made the playoffs since the bearded-one, Jake "The Snake" Plummer, led the donkeys to the AFC Championship game and a Mile-High thrashing at the hands of the Steelers nearly three years ago.

Despite the gaudy aerial numbers Jay Cutler and los Nuevos Tres Amigos—Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, and Tony Scheffler—compiled this season, Denver couldn't overcome the incessant tailback injury problem or the fact that no matter how many points they scored, the defense was an even pick to give up even more.

The bottom line is, Denver's defense stinks and there are numerous areas that need to be addressed in the offseason, the least of which is a new Defensive Coordinator, but I thought that's where the coaching changes would begin and end.

The Broncos also need a defensive line capable of rushing the passer and slowing the run. And linebackers that are bigger than the Barber twins. And how about safeties that can slow the run and help cover deep? Denver flat out needs better personnel and better performance at every defensive position, including the normally reliable cornerback position.

No matter what, though, when things go badly—and they went downhill quickly in a dismal Denver December—there must always be someone to take the blame. And in this case, Owner Pat pointed the finger at Coach Mike, for better or for worse.

Now, it's always nice to have a scapegoat to make management feel better when a season falls apart. Unless the Broncos can somehow lure Bill Cowher to the Rockies or recruit Tony Dungy out of retirement after he relinquishes his post as the Colts' skipper next weekend, I'm not sure there's anyone out there who can step in and fill Shanahan's shoes right away.

However, as long as the next guy can help Cutler and Co. reach the playoffs next year and for the next decade, then all will be forgiven.

One thing is certain, though. This will be the most interesting offseason for high-profile coaching changes in recent memory.

In the end, it was a great run and we still love you Mike. I just wish you had kept John Lynch around this year. And you really should have moved to bring your comrade and fellow ex-Raider coach Lane Kiffin on board to help slow the other guys down.

A little more leadership on the defensive side of the ball and, who knows, you just might have kept your job.

Al Davis Uses His One Phone Call To Break Up with Lane Kiffin

Jimmy Grappone — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:08:13 -0400

Long Live Al Davis and Long Live Raiders Futility

The man who coined the phrase, "Just win, baby!," and made "Commitment to excellence" synonymous with the once proud Oakland Raiders pro-football organization may have finally succeeded in leading his moribund franchise to rock bottom on Tuesday, firing Head Coach Lane Kiffin.

Rumors of Coach K's demise, which have been circulating around the Interweb since the beginning of the season, were finally confirmed today when Raiders' owner, Al Davis, broke up with his youthful, dimple-chinned manager over the phone.

C'mon, Al. I thought older gentlemen such as yourself had more tact than that.

To make matters much worse, Davis exposed himself as the worst kind of owner in professional sports, one who commits slander and attempts to publicly humiliate his former employees, as he did by calling Kiffin a liar and saying that the coach had "disgraced" the team in an embarrassing press conference, in which he erringly cited just cause for firing Kiffin.

Kiffin Should Have Signed A Pre-Nup

Evidence that the honeymoon was over for the 33-year old head coach—the league's youngest—began even before the Raiders suited up for their first game of the season against the Denver Broncos, when rumors of the coach's imminent firing were first reported. I wrote about the topic here.

To his credit, Kiffin handled the media speculation and questions about his stability as the Raiders coach with dignity and aplomb throughout the first quarter of the 2008 NFL season, repeatedly deflecting comments and questions regarding then-uncited criticism from the Raiders' brass and maintaining that his focus was on coaching the Oakland Raiders.

Kiffin continued to show humility and grace in a post-firing interview with ESPN's Trey Wingo, in which he said he felt sadness for Al Davis.

Now Davis doesn't want to pay Kiffin the money owed to him on the remainder of his three-year, $6 million contract.

Raiders On-Field Performance Improved Under Kiffin

When Davis hired Kiffin in 2007, he did so knowing the young coach would inherit a 2-14 Raiders group, and a team that compiled an NFL-worst 15-49 record in the four years (2003-2006) following its most recent Super Bowl appearance, which they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and another former Raiders coach, Jon Gruden, 48-21.

Kiffin only slightly improved Oakland's winning percentage (.250) in his first year with a 4-12 record, but signs of improvement were beginning to show with an impressive 34-20 triumph over their bitter AFC West rival, the Denver Broncos, in Week 13.

The defeat of the Broncos followed a 20-17 victory over the Chiefs at Kansas City in Week 12 and signified back-to-back divisional wins for a Raiders team that had lost its previous 17 matchups against AFC West opponents.

Despite a 1-3 start to the 2008 campaign, Kiffin's Raiders displayed continued signs of progress behind a rejuvenated offensive attack, led by a talented young quarterback in JaMarcus Russell and a potent rushing attack, spearheaded by rookie running back Darren McFadden and his backfield mate, Justin Fargas.

The team's 23-8 victory over Herm Edward's Kansas City Chiefs in Week Two, and fourth-quarter leads over the surprising Buffalo Bills and perennial AFC power San Diego Chargers were encouraging signs of a team headed in the right direction.

Though the Raiders are still clearly a far cry from rejoining the NFL elite, even the casual observer can see they were slowly gaining on the middle-of-the-pack under Kiffin's tutelage.

And while average is not acceptable in today's "What have you done for me lately?" world of college and professional sports, it is a step in the right direction away from mediocrity.

A Petite Disclosure and a Plea to Pat Bowlen

Finally, in the name of editorial integrity, I should point out that as a lifelong Denver Broncos supporter, my opinions presented here are not completely unbiased, though I have attempted to present the facts of this case with both accuracy and truthiness.

I honestly believe that the finest days of Al Davis' Hall of Fame tenure as Captain of the Silver & Black are behind him, and his performance as the team's GM over the past five years have been no better, if not worse, than the recently fired Detroit Lions' GM, Matt Millen.

On the upside, Lane Kiffin is a talented, young NFL coach who comes with an impressive pedigree as the son of defensive guru and current Bucs defensive coordinator, Monte Kiffin, and he has brighter coaching days ahead.

So, Pat Bowlen, if you happen to read this article, consider doing something you did in the early '90s and extend an olive branch to a former Raiders coach who was similarly fired by the H.P.I.C.—Head Pirate In Charge—after compiling a losing record in just 20 games.

Perhaps some of that Kiffin ingenuity could help restore the Broncos' struggling defense as one of the league's best.

And you never know; when future HOF'er Mike Shanahan's run as the greatest coach in Denver sports history finally sets into the Colorado sunset, you just may have his successor waiting in tow.

Coffee Maker, Clipboard, Center: The Ideal Progression for NFL Quarterbacks

Jimmy Grappone — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:07:02 -0400

Call me old fashioned. Call me conservative. Call me what you will. But when it comes to calling signals in the NFL, rookies should be made to wait.

I understand that millions are being paid to highly-touted rookie signal callers, whether they play or ride the bench. I understand that owners want a fast return on their investment. I also understand that fans want to behold the future today.

But whatever happened to having just a little patience?

Allowing young NFL quarterbacks to play too early is more-often-than-not detrimental to their career development and severely restricts their opportunities for success.

Say It Ain't So

Just ask Joey Harrington. The journeyman quarterback from Oregon and former Detroit Lions top pick was a four-year starter for the team that drafted him, but after meeting with minimal success in the Motor City, he was forced to leave the team.

Recently, the former All-American and once mighty Duck has racked up more miles than Steve Prefontaine, as he's been bounced from team to team, but he hasn't been able to stick anywhere for more than a year, and he's currently without a job.

I'm generally of the opinion that it's best to let a quarterback hold the clipboard and learn from a solid and experienced veteran for at least a couple of years before being thrown into the fire.

Rodger Dodger Doesn't Sing The Blues, But There's Always an Exception to The Rule

Aaron Rodgers seems to be doing well so far in his first starting season as the Green Bay Packers' quarterback after serving mop-up duty for Brett Favre for the past three years.

He's won his first two games, and his stats at this point in the season are the best in the league.

In addition to Rodgers, just consider the following successful NFL quarterbacks: Steve Young, Tom Brady, Matt Hassellbeck, Tony Romo, Matt Schaub, Derek Anderson, and Philip Rivers.

Each backed up a veteran at the start of his career and waited his turn to play, and each has experienced team and individual success once given the reigns. And the list goes on.

Occasionally, teams just don't have a choice when it comes to playing a young quarterback, and if you have a guy as smart, mature and physically gifted as Peyton Manning on your squad, you can probably get away with starting him early.

But Manning is a once-a-generation type player and the best pure passer since Dan Marino. And even he threw more interceptions (28) than touchdowns (26) in his first year out of a Volunteers uniform.

The Pitfalls of Playing Too Young

For every Peyton Manning, there are 20 Vince Youngs and Matt Leinarts. These players are at a stage in their early careers where they should reasonably be expected to play well and contribute to their teams.

However, their early playing experiences and being forced to learn under fire have stunted their growth as NFL quarterbacks and potentially damaged their careers.

It's just better to bring along promising young quarterbacks slowly. Quarterback is the headiest position in a sport that's become the most complicated and popular in American professional sports—it's not like the running back position in which an exceptional athlete can just step right in on day one become a top shelf player from the start of his career.

Perhaps Leinart will be okay if he ever gets his confidence back and focuses on football enough to learn a few things from Kurt Warner.

As for Young, he played too early and now he apparently doesn't know if he wants to play football at all. The Titans' QB is still prodigiously talented, but it's doubtful he'll ever reach his ultimate potential as a pro quarterback without a drastic change of scenery, a commitment to the game, and the humility that he still has a lot to learn to be successful at the highest level.

The QB situation is so bad in Tennessee that Young has been benched for Kerry Collins, who was at Penn State when I was in grade school, and he still hasn't fixed that hitch in his delivery!

There's Bad...and Then There's Bad

If you want to shine the spotlight on royally disappointing quarterback play even more severe than that of Leinart and Young—and who doesn't after reading this article?—you need look no further than the Bay Area for fellow No. 1 draft picks, San Francisco's Alex Smith and Oakland's JaMarcus Russell.

Smith signed a six-year, $49.5 million contract with the 49ers—$24 million guaranteed—after being selected first overall out of Utah in 2005, where he played for Tim Tebow's current coach at Florida, Urban Meyer.

"Now it's time for me to go earn this money and prove that I deserve this money," Smith said in 2005. "The primary goal is to get on the field. I don't think this team is paying me this money to sit on the sideline."

19 touchdowns, 31 interceptions, and three sad, sad years later, Smith has failed at everything football related, except disappointing those who'd hoped he'd be the once-proud franchise's savior.

Instead, Smith is now backing up some bloke named J.T. O'Sullivan, who probably signed w/the 49ers primarily for San Francisco's abundance of Irish pubs. No disrespect.

Across the Bay, second-year pro JaMarcus Russell made his second start of the season last week against the Kansas City Chiefs and picked up his first career victory, no thanks to the giant QB's performance.

The guy was picked No. 1 overall in 2007 because he's built like Karl Malone and can throw a football 80 yards, but apparently he struggles a bit with accuracy.

Did you see Russell's stat line against the Chiefs last weekend? His numbers were so bad that he doesn't even have them posted on his website, www.jamarcusrussell.com. Believe me. I just checked. They're not there.

JaMarcus' college stats from LSU are on the site—and his Raiders jersey is for sale—but his NFL stats are strangely amiss.

Fortunately, I knew where to find them on NFL.com. Let's see, against AFC West rival Kansas City he was...Wait for it, wait for it...6-of-17 for 55 yards! Wow. That's bad, and not the way Michael Jackson meant it.

In the end, the Raiders defeated a tragic Chiefs team, but it was due mainly to the stellar performance of rookie running back Darren McFadden, Herm Edwards' ineptitude, and the efforts of the Raiders' defense against Kansas City's third-string quarterback, Tyler Thigpen, who's just happy to be here.

Where does the league find these guys?

Will They Ever Learn? And Can They Learn Quickly Enough?

Finally, there are two teams in the league who are starting rookie quarterbacks and history says their first year will be a struggle, both individually and for the team.

The Falcons' Matt Ryan is immensely talented and mature for both his age and his lack of playing experience, and he may prove to be the exception to the rule.

However, the jury is still out on his counterpart in Baltimore, Raven's rookie Joe Flacco.

No matter how these quarterbacks fare in their first year, though, the deciding factor concerning their long term success may be how well their confidence remains intact despite numerous inevitable setbacks.

And if their rookie years become especially painful, they can all reflect on Troy Aikman's initial year out of UCLA, in which the Cowboys lost every game he started.

Yet, despite these early growing pains, No. 8 went on to have a pretty successful career for the Blue & Silver.

I guess that just shows what I know.

Craig Littlepage and Al Groh Go A Sign Too Far with University of Virginia Ban

Jimmy Grappone — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:09:14 -0400

This is a blog I wrote on my myspace page last week concerning UVA Athletic Director Craig Littlepage's admonition against the sign toting, Wahoo supporting student body. Does the FAA restrict prop plane, banner dragging fly-overs above Scott Stadium? Is this just part of the Groh/Littlepage Machine's efforts to promote a "positive gameday atmosphere" at Virginia home games? Hey fellas, how about putting together a positive game day performance on the field! My theory is that both men know this is going to be a long season and the last thing either wants is for a vocal fan base to let them, and the team, and their recruits know about it on game day. Anyway, here's what I wrote:

Wow, I was shocked when I read Bill Reilly's article about UVA banning signs at home sporting events, ( http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3566872 ). That's right, no more creative, homemade cardboard displays allowed within the confines of Scott Stadium, Klockner or the JPA - though I shouldn't be too surprised.

I graduated from UVA in 2000 and a lot has changed at the games - and in the world -since then. No more pep band b/c they were "too offensive" to WVU fans at a couple of bowl games. Truth was, they were funny as hell. Now we have a marching band that sounds okay but doesn't really have much tradition. Speaking of UVA traditions, there was a day (when I attended The University) when guys wore ties to the games, girls wore sundresses, and you could leave the stadium to tailgate during the half and return for the start of the 3rd quarter. Win or lose, everyone went home happy, some a mite liquored up and/or ready to take their date home for some post game activities.

Okay, so the ties were not a favorite of mine, but nowadays, Head MacGruber Al Groh encourages everyone - EVEN THE HOT GIRLS WHO'D OTHERWISE WEAR SUNDRESSES - to wear orange HooVille t-shirts to Saturday's games, and even students, who get in w/their student ID's instead of tickets can't leave the stadium and return. I guess we can blame the administration's reaction to 9/11 on that one. Don't want a rabid fan to go out to the parking lot and celebrate a half time lead with a Molotov cocktail! Maybe that's why they allow an unlimited supply of potent potables in the corporate boxes - believe me, I've watched games from there and gotten pretty tanked in the process. Oh well, as long as students are still mastering the Virginia Gentleman in a plastic baggie on the crotch technique, there really is no need to leave the stadium at the half, but I digress. Back to the issue at hand!

Signs are a tradition at major sporting events, they're occassionally clever and aside from paper cut or ink poisoning, they typically don't hurt anyone. I mean, Peter Warrick didn't have much of an NFL career, but I doubt it's because of the sign I held up during a 1997 Florida State rout of the 'Hoos that read "Every Saturday = Parole for the Noles." It was P-Dub's first game back after he and Lav Coles (a solid pro who was kicked off of that FSU team but is now catching passes from Brett Favre) went on a majorly discounted shopping spree at a Tallahassee Dillard's and were charged with shoplifting. Sure, I wanted the sign to hurt his feelings if he saw it, though I was sitting on the Hill behind the endzone, so if he saw my sign, it was probably after scoring a touchdown. The real reason I made it was to show support for my team and to try to get on television.

Finally, I really hope they don't crack down on signs outside of the stadium or in other places around Grounds. My favorite sign of all times hung from a satellite sorority house on Charlottesville's 14th Street, nicknamed "The Brothel" because of the large number of girls who lived there, prior to a late fall match-up versus our biggest rival, Virginia Tech. The sign simply read "Culture Vs. Agriculture," and we all knew who stood on which side. I'm not quite sure that sign could hang today without being an Honor violation for dishonesty.

Go Hoos! and Go Hooligans For Free Speech!!

New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys Top NFC East and Week 2 NFL Rankings

Jimmy Grappone — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 04:49:47 -0400

Following the Monday Night Football match up between Tony Romo's Dallas Cowboys and Donovan McNabb's Philadelphia Eagles, my rankings remained the same. The top four teams in my NFL Top 10 Power Rankings for Week 2 are in the NFC, including three teams from the NFC East. Has the balance of power actually completed its shift back to the conference and division that dominated most of the 80s and 90s, or is this just an early season aberration? After all, those NFC teams do have to beat up on one another. I just feel badly for the Redskins, who have to play six games against their formidable division rivals.

1. New York Giants (2-0) - The defending Super Bowl champs have the look of a big time winner again this year, winning their first two games by a combined score of 57-20. A healthy Plaxico Burress has established himself as a top five NFL receiver, Brandon Jacobs is a human wrecking ball and Eli Manning continues to steer the ship in the right direction. And even with the significant injuries and departures to their vaunted D-line, the defense is still one of the best.

2. Dallas Cowboys (2-0) - According to Tony Kornheiser, the Dallas Cowboys have supplanted the New York Yankees as the sexiest professional sports franchise in America. That statement and rookie Felix Jones' performance in a 41-37 MNF victory over the rival Eagles allow the 'Boys to retain their #2 ranking. On a side note, did anyone else hear Tirico say Jones was "tankled" on a first half run after an Eagle made an ankle tackle on the Cowboys running back?

3. Green Bay Packers (2-0) - Aaron Rodgers has gotten off to a better start than the legend he replaced so far in this NFL season and his accuracy is reminiscent of Troy Aikman's just two weeks into his career as an NFL starter. The rest of this team is basically the same group that was a Favre interception away from representing the NFC in Super Bowl XLII.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) - The Eagles offense looked great against Dallas with Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook playing as well as ever. After losing 41-37 in a game that should go to instant replay on ESPN Classic and the NFL Network, the Eagles maintain their position as the league's 4th best team. McNabb is healthy again and his combination of experience and talent could help him play at the highest level of an already borderline HOF career.

5. Denver Broncos (2-0) - Jay Cutler and his group of talented targets are reminding folks of the gunslinging days of John Elway and the Three Amigos, but the defense needs to make some serious improvements. The Broncos are the highest scoring team in the league after two games, but that they could hang 50 on themselves does not bode well for their prospects for post season glory.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) - Still the class of the AFC North. Big Ben is a proven winner and the Steelers' defense still hits harder than yours. Unless, perhaps, you're the Baltimore Ravens.

7. Buffalo Bills (2-0) - Let's see. Marshawn Lynch, Lee Evans, Trent Edwards. Okay, I tried, but I couldn't think of any other players on this team. That's alright, though, because the no-name Bills are playing well enough as a unit to jump out to an impressive 2-0 start.

8. Carolina Panthers (2-0) - The Cardiac Panthers have started the season strong with a couple of last second wins against a pair of teams with top ten talent in the Chargers and the Bears. They also finally have the power running game with Jonathan Stewart that Coach John Fox has pretended to have since Steven Davis toted the mail.

9. New England Patriots (2-0) - The Patriots still have not lost a regular season game since 2006, riding a .923 overall winning percentage during that span, but without Tom Brady, these aren't your sister's Patriots. Randy Moss and the rest of the team are still pretty good, but if Bill Belichick turns in a performance enhancement-less championship performance this year without his best player, they may have to consider renaming the Lombardi Trophy.

10. Indianapolis Colts (1-1) - I wanted to put the Arizona Cardinals here, but when it comes down to it, if these two teams were matched up against one another at a neutral site, I'd pick the Colts to win nine out of ten. Advantage Peyton Manning.

On the Bubble:

Arizona Cardinals (2-0) - Undefeated this late in the season for first time since the first Bush administration. I saw a stat yesterday that gas in 1991 was a buck-oh-nine, which is just four cents more than the price of freedom. Former Marine and war casualty Pat Tillman played for the Cardinals. McCain/Palin is gaining in the polls. Coincidence, or is Karl Rove really that good?

Chicago Bears (1-1) -Surprised the Colts in Week 1 but lost at their own bruising game versus the Panthers in Week 2.

Baltimore Ravens (1-0) - The defense is still anchored by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, and Willis McGahee should be back to run the ball by next week. This team would have been 2-0 by now had Hurricane Ike not forced their game in Houston to be rescheduled. New Nickname Suggestion: Baltimore Harbor Hurricanes.

BCS Contendors:

St. Louis Rams (0-2) - The nearby Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers could give The Greatest Joke on Turf a run for its money.

Miami Dolphins (0-2) - Pathetic. Bill Parcells really is the Saint of Hopeless NFL Causes.

Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) - When the Raiders make you look like chumps, I'm not sure if you should be ranked ahead of the Oklahoma Sooners.

Cincinnatti Bengals (0-2) - Marvin Lewis' ship has finally sailed.

Detroit Lions (0-2) - Wow, their defense is bad. Wowwwwww. I mean B-A-D bad. As in not good at all.

NOTE: THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MONDAY, SEPT. 15, 2008 AND UPDATED ON TUESDAY, SEPT. 16, 2008 UPON COMPLETION OF MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME WITH NEW COWBOYS AND EAGLES COMMENTARY AND RECORD UPDATES. BOTH TEAMS MAINTAINED THEIR RANKINGS AS THE NFL'S NO. 2 AND NO. 4 TEAMS, RESPECTIVELY.

Jay Cutler, Mike Shanahan Rumble, Stumble, Fumble Denver Broncos to Victory

Jimmy Grappone — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:46:05 -0400

There's an old saying out West that you don't bring a knife to a gunfight.

Perhaps they should change that saying to, "Don't bring just a knife," because Denver Broncos' quarterback Jay Cutler and his San Diego Chargers counterpart, Philip Rivers, brought six-shooters, hand grenades, and Crocodile Dundee-esque knives to Sunday's AFC West duel.

This was a wild shootout reminiscent of offensive performances last seen, in these parts, when John Elway and Dan Fouts were firing bullets and bombs over, through, and around rival secondaries and blitzing linebackers before many current players were born. Smith & Wesson would have been proud.

In one of the most entertaining games of the young 2008 NFL season, Cutler (350 yards/4 touchdowns/1 interception) and Rivers (377 yards/3 touchdowns/1 interception) weren't the only players who enjoyed career days in a game that saw a combined 942 total yards in the Broncos' 39-38 victory.

In churning out 317 combined yards, including a first quarter 103 yard kickoff return touchdown and a fourth quarter 66 yard receiving touchdown, San Diego's diminutive super-sub Darren Sproles regained the form he last displayed during his days at Kansas State.

And, in making his case as "the next T.O.," Denver's Brandon Marshall took over the Week Two league lead in receptions in his first game of the year, setting a new Broncos record for catches in a single game (18).

For those of you who are wondering, that's two catches shy of the NFL record 20 receptions set by the enigmatic Terrell Owens as a 49er nearly eight years ago.

Denver controlled the early action, racing out to a 21-3 second quarter advantage behind a pair of Cutler TD throws to tight end Tony Scheffler. This was before Sproles' aforementioned return helped San Diego get back into the game.

Marshall capped the first half scoring with a touchdown reception in the corner of the endzone just two seconds before the break.

The teams went into the locker room with the Broncos clinging to a 31-17 lead, made tenuous by the Chargers' 14-3 second quarter spurt, capped by the first of wide receiver Chris Chambers' two receiving touchdowns.

San Diego continued its energetic comeback after the break. They started the second half by scoring 21 consecutive points, including the aforementioned Sproles catch-and-run which took the oxygen-starved breath out of 75,000 faithful Broncos supporters with 4:22 remaining in the game.

However, if there's one NFL fan base that knows a thing or two about fourth quarter game-winning drives, it's the Denver Broncos. The 2008 version of this team called upon that tradition, and a little bit of horseshoe's luck, in maintaining sole possession of the AFC West divisional lead.

After leading his team down the field and into a 2nd-and-Goal situation from the one-yard-line, Cutler did the unthinkable and fumbled a slick ball that looked like a greased pig with lipstick.

Fortunately for the Broncos, veteran referee Ed Hochuli was the one who applied the makeup, incorrectly ruling that Cutler had thrown an incomplete pass on the play.

Moments later, replays confirmed that the ball had actually slipped from the quarterback's grasp just before he began his forward arm motion. The play should have been ruled a fumble on the field and would have iced the game for the Chargers, given that their defense recovered the ball.

However, because the play was whistled dead before the recovery, no change of possession ever occurred and the Denver offense lined up for third down.

To his credit, Hochuli not only admitted his blunder, but offered a thorough explanation of his ruling to an enthusiastic crowd and national television audience hanging on the official's every word.

The explanation was crucial. After the game, Hochuli told reporters, "All we can do to fix it is put the ball at the spot that it hit the ground, which is why we moved it back to the 10-yard line and the down counts and it becomes third down."

Two plays later, Cutler found rookie AFC West killer Eddie Royal open in the endzone for a touchdown, cutting the score to 37-38 with under a minute to go.

Then, in a gutsy move which just felt right to Denver's Five Star General, Head Coach Mike Shanahan, the duo hooked up again for what proved to be the game-winning two-point conversion in the Broncos' 39-38 victory.

Said Shanahan regarding his decision to go for two points and the win, "I just felt like it was a chance for us to put them away. I didn't want to count on the coin flip. I wanted to do it then, and obviously it worked out."

It was only the third successful game-winning attempt in seven tries by NFL coaches since the league instituted the two-point conversion rule in 2004.

As for Norv Turner's team, they'll have to turn things around quickly if they are going to be regarded as one of the AFC's leading Super Bowl contenders. After Week Two, the Broncos are the team out West that everyone is talking about.