Bleacher Report - Articles by Alan Lupiani

Cage Match to Determine Cleveland Browns QB Battle

Alan Lupiani — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:20:32 -0400

In an unprecedented move, Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini will wage a no-holds barred cage match to determine his starting quarterback for this season.

Third year QB Brady Quinn will battle towering incumbent starter Derek Anderson at an undisclosed location in the Cleveland area.

The new head coach believes that he must do something drastic and "out of the box" to stir things up in Cleveland. Some NFL experts have predicted that the Browns will go win-less this season.

Mangini explained further: "You are well aware that the New York media criticized me through the years for being secretive, controlling, and conservative. I took that to heart and felt I needed to change my approach in Cleveland. Let's face it, our team will stink far greater this year than that awful stench wafting off of the Cuyahoga River."

Coach M continued:

"Why not let the players themselves determine the outcome? I think it's a wonderful idea. This contest will boost morale, determine our leader, and the players will have some fun in the process."

No harm, no foul.

Will reporters and the public would be invited to attend?

Coach M: "After I tore down that mural by the locker room and was consequently criticized by all of you again, you have all been on my **** list ever since. So the answer is a definitive "no." This event will be an us thing, and I'm talking about my football team only."

And who will referee the match?

"Nobody," Mangini flatly replied. "Weren't you listening to me the first time? This will be a no-holds barred fight to the end. The last guy standing will be my QB this season."

Is Mangini worried about one of his starters getting injured during the melee? "It will make my decision even easier," said the coach.

Will there be more contests to determine who starts at various positions?

Coach M: "Drastic circumstances require drastic measures. Look at the Dolphins last year and their implementation of the single wing. That team went from the basement to the playoffs. Now almost every NFL team has installed a similar package, except for teams like us who are so bereft of talent, we will be fortunate enough just to make it through four quarters this season."

"I have to do something, and this is one of the ways I am changing the culture around here. As for initiating more fights in the future to determine starting roles, let's see how this one goes first. One step at a time."

How will the match begin between the two QB's?

Coach M: "We are gonna throw a dog bone out into the middle of the floor, blow the whistle, have 'em both go at it, and see which one will be able to maintain possession for good. The one who prevails will be our starter."

Lastly, who's Coach Mangini's favorite wrestler of all-time?

Coach M: "Hands down, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. That guy was a beast. I wish I had 53 'Superflys' on my team today. I would be much more optimistic about this season. To be honest, Jamal Lewis reminds me of him a little bit."

And the two contestants? How are Quinn and Anderson dealing with this new development?

It's rumored that Quinn will execute a Brazilian jiu jitsu "scissor kicking" style to engage the taller Anderson. "Hopefully, he will fall over like a redwood tree," Quinn was overheard whispering to a team mate.

In contrast, Anderson will probably utilize classic WWE-style tactics on Quinn, such as the "pile diver."

According to a local Cleveland cab driver, Anderson confided to him that he "will pound that little meat head into the mat like a nail through butter."

If this strategy works?

Mangini will truly be Mangenius once again.

If not?

Just another Mangy mutt story for the beleaguered Dawg Pound faithful.

My Hate-Envy Relationship With Raider Nation

Alan Lupiani — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:02:37 -0400

My first encounter with Raider Nation occured about two weeks ago when I filed an article entitled, Al Davis, Ebenezer Scrooge, Timothy Geithner, and Darth Vader. The article focused on the hefty price Big Al paid for questionable 7th overall pick Darrius Heyward-Bey.

The Nation hurled hateful and offensive venom my way from all directions. Most of the remarks were of a personal nature attacking everything from my masculinity to my knowledge of football.

In retrospect, I did foster some subconscious hate for the Raiders based on my devotion to the Minnesota Vikings as a youngster. I used to cringe at the very thought of Dave Casper rolling on the ground and recovering a fumble in the end-zone and conversely felt a bit of euphoric bliss when Franco Harris pulled off The Immaculate Reception back in the day.

The Raiders were the luckiest team in football. I cursed Kenny Stabler, Fred Biletnikoff, Art Shell, Mark Van Egen, Ray Guy, Jim Otto, Cliff Branch, and the rest of that renegade bunch every time a tipped ball or awkward bobble went the Raiders way.

I had memorized the names of the Raiders roster more thoroughly than my own team and suffered from an all too familiar blend of envy towards those arrogant Raiders and a hopeless self-pity for my beloved Bud Grant led Minnesota Vikings.

Just once I desired to experience the thrill of Super Bowl victory the Raiders appeared to acquire with such ease.

One time, that's all. That time never came.

Remember, I endured through four Super Bowl Viking losses worshipping the likes of Fran Tarkenton, Chuck Foreman, Sammy White, Alan Page, Carl Eller and the rest of the Purple People Eaters.

Based on these painful and bitter memories, I completely understand the optimistic hope of every Minnesota Vikings fan out there regarding the signing of Brett Favre; the timeless longing for that one elusive big win, the heart wrenching disappointments, the low of the lows and no relief in sight.

To make matters worse, I grew up in Rochester, NY. Consequently, my second favorite team was no other than the hard luck Buffalo Bills! I suffered through four more consecutive Super Bowl losses at the hands of Jim Kelly, Marv Levy and the rest of the head-hanging Buffalo Bills.

All said, football has not been so kind to me through the years. Yet it has been much kinder to Al Davis and all of Raider Nation.

I actually rooted for the Jim Plunkett led Raiders in their Super Bowl victory over the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVII.

Similarly, I sympathized with Raiders fans when the black and silver played heroically against the Patriots in the midst of that East Coast snowstorm back in '02, only to see the game decided by an ill-fated controversial no-fumble call that launched the legacy for Tom Brady.

Lastly, I pulled for the Raiders a few years back when they played there former coach Jon Gruden and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Again, I thought the Raiders beat all odds to make it to the Super Bowl only to be routed by the Bucs 48-21.

Never cared for Chucky all that much. I can see why he and Al got along so well. The two of them shared that a certain blend of Raider cockiness and bravado that I remembered all too well from those Raider glory years.

But that was then and this is now.

Misery must love company. Currently, the Raiders are a talented yet underachieving team; heavy on salaries and high draft picks but light on wins. There are more questions than answers; negatives far outweighing positives.

Much ado about nothing in Raider Nation. Another day at the office for all those concerned.

Human nature, for whatever reason, has always been seduced by a good tragedy. In fact, the Raiders remind me a bit of the ancient Roman Empire, a mighty and proud nation that seemed invincible while dominating every adversary in it's path for over 600 years.

Some historians compare the the plight of the Ancient Romans to the recent economic decline of the United States of America. Perhaps we can also find a way to weave the story of the Oakland Raiders into this saga as well.

There are more than a few pundits who are anxiously waiting and wanting to see JaMarcus Russell fail, if head coach Tom Cable lasts the entire season, or if the Raider defense will give up it's share of last minute scoring drives. I read where one expert has predicted that the Raiders could go win-less this season.

These predictions of apocalyptic failure make for good headlines, however, I know from experience that the Raiders have always had an, "us against them," and "the little train that could" mentality.

Images of Super Bowl's past still resonate; the painful memories Jack Tatum's brutal bone-jarring hit on Sammy White and a triumphant John Madden being victoriously carried off the field after Super Bowl XI.

The moral of this story: Never count ole Al or his Raider Nation out. I know what the black and silver are capable of, miscues and all.

NFL to Implement Mandatory Gender Testing

Alan Lupiani — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:57:14 -0400

According to my league mole, the NFL, in an attempt to stay ahead of the world wide "gender bender" craze in sports, will begin testing players for gender identification purposes effective immediately.

When I asked the mole why the NFL finds it necessary to test players based on gender since, technically, female players are eligible to play in the league, the mole laughed at me, shook his head and said, "You big dummy, where you born yesterday or something?"

The mole proceeded to rattle off the reasons why Roger Goodell and his office are so obsessed with gender:

1) Locker rooms are becoming increasingly isolated and private for the players, as revealed a few seasons ago by Brett Favre's " shower-gate." Gone are the days when players all share soap on a rope in communal settings. Therefore, according to the mole, "It's just not that easy to check out your teammates junk to see if he or "she" is legit."

2) Citing a recent flap in Berlin in which a young runner from Africa has been questioned about her gender, the mole said, "Have you seen her? She makes Randy Moss look pretty."

3) Roger Goodell is an out of the box thinker. He's always looking for ways to meddle in players lives in order to maintain a high level of control over them. What better way to do this than with gender testing, especially during rookie contract negotiations. "Michael Crabtree, are you listening out there?"

4) The league has a high level of secrecy and doesn't like surprises. If a woman were to sneak in under the radar, it could cause a big problem for the NFL's tough guy image. The mole simply elaborated, "can you say PINK?"

5) When asked which positions are more vulnerable to gender bending, the mole responded without hesitation, "Hands down, kickers and punters, for obvious reasons. However, those wide receivers have been making a good case lately. Have you been listening to all that whining? What time of the month is it?"

6) Lastly, the mole cited that gender can be a "messy" issue in which nature doesn't always have a clear cut answer. The league understands this and in an effort to protect itself from possible lawsuits, believes taking a pro-active stance in this situation is the best answer. After all, the league is an equal opportunity employer.

Gender testing the players in advance, the mole explains, "allows the league to cover all bases and fend off any little surprises that may pop up."

Overall, the mole stated that fans should not be alarmed by this new development. He also claimed that Roger Goodell himself once contemplated having a sex change operation back in his college days, but nixed the idea when he realized that it could possibly conflict with his ultimate dream of becoming the NFL commissioner.

"Fans are just not ready for a "tranny" top dog in the NFL," the mole went on to elaborate, "We are at least five years away from that."

The NFL predicts that it will be the leader in all of sport when it comes to gender testing.

"We will do this the right way and the only way," the mole reports, "Ok, now 1-2-3, drop your drawers."

"Just kidding, got ya."

Michael Vicks' for the Birds, Literally!

Alan Lupiani — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:23:31 -0400

Did anyone notice but me? Michael Vick went from being a Falcon to an Eagle, keeping his teams' logo in the majestic bird's of flight realm.

hmmmm.

Mere coincidence?

-OR-

Just a great marketing move?

We're not talking bird brains or chicken feed here, we are talking flying from one top notch feathered friend to another....

Big Bird has never been so proud.

Wild Canadian geese are stopping traffic everywhere in celebration of the event.

Turkey never tasted so good.

It appears that this story has transformed itself from "dog days" to "bird bliss."

We are witnessing first wing, eerrr I mean hand, to the re-making of Michael Vick thanks to well, birds.

Let's take a closer look at the falcon first.

According to Wikipedia, The Peregrine Falcon can fly at speeds up to 200 miles per hour, making them the fasted moving creatures on Earth. Falcons also rank at the top of avian intelligence, and are also known for their remarkable vision, possessing visual acuity 2.6 times that of humans.

For those of us who have watched Vick on the football field, one can easily draw comparisons between the grace of falcons to Vicks' athletic accomplishments.

Here's where the story get's a bit strange and quite possibly, ironic.

The term falconry describes the sport of training of falcons, hawks, and eagles to hunt game for humans.

Whoa!

Now, I know it's a bit of a jump, but, if one were to take a closer look at Vick's recent indiscretions regarding the training of canines for dog fighting, an animal based "sport" widely condemned and considered illegal in our country an other parts of the free world, isn't it just a tad bit ironic that the term falconry describes a similar animal based "sport" related to the two avian species, falcons and eagles, in which Michael Vick find's himself most closely associated with these days?

Again, do we conclude:

A) "Mere coincidence?"

-OR-

B) "Is something more thought out and intentional going on here?"

I am leaning more towards option B.

Back to Wikipedia for more clarification.

According to Wikipedia, the sport of falconry involves the training of raptors (birds) to hunt game for humans.

Furthermore, A falconer describes one who trains falcons, and a austringer describes someone who trains/flies a hawk or eagle.

The popularity of falconry is at it's highest point in the last 300 years and the sports roots can be traced back to ancient times.

Falconry has always been associated with status and nobility for reasons including:

1) Eggs of birds of prey have always been considered rare and precious making them very expensive and only accessible to the noble and wealthier classes.

2) One requires a great amount of time, free space, and money to raise and train the birds properly.

Even during feudal times in Japan, the warrior class of the samurai put strict restrictions on who was allowed to practice falconry.

Similarly, falconry has always been considered a virtuous sport with practical purposes.

For example, falcons and hawks have been trained to control pests in urban areas such as landfills, commercial buildings and airports.

In rural areas of Kazakhstan, Golden Eagles have been utilized to hunt wolves and foxes in order to protect livestock.

Lastly, falconry is considered a legal sport in the United States expect in Hawaii and the District of Columbia.

It should be pointed out that there are some key differences to falcons and eagles.

1) Falcons are long winged raptors, which make them faster and more versatile than Eagles. Falcons are also recognized for their intelligence.

2) Eagles are broad winged raptors known more for sheer power, strength and size. Also, eagles are widely considered proud and unrelenting, representing independence, freedom, and wisdom. Besides that, the Bald Eagle is the United States national symbol and one of it's protected species.

That's a pretty good blend of notable characterizations and associations to attach Vick too, don't you think?

I certainly do.

Now that I have outlined the ancient and still very popular sport of falconry, I can start to draw a hypothesis regarding Vick's recent indiscretions with dogs and his subsequent choice to sign on with the Philadelphia Eagles.

On the topic of dog fighting.

Similar to falconry, dog fighting harkens back to ancient times. For example, dog fighting was a popular sport to watch at the Roman Colosseum, considered by many scholars to be the first outdoor stadium ever built.

Dog fighting also involves a great deal of time, space, and financial resources, and dog fighting breeders have made breeding the animals a virtual science through the years.

However, unlike falconry, this practice has historically been associated with a more brutish, inhumane, and warrior like mentality and less with civility and noble behavior. I am assuming that this has to do with pitting the animals against each other to the death rather than utilizing the animal for another purpose such as hunting game or managing environmental situations.

*The sport of cock fighting would fall into a similar category.

Also, dog fighting is often considered a violent and deadly blood sport because the animals often fight to the death in a savage and horrific manner. It also involves baiting; the practice of using weaker dogs as "bait" or sacrificial lambs to be brutalized and killed in order to train the more lethal fighters.

Lastly, dog fighting has been widely considered to be inhumane, illegal, and and an overwhelmingly unacceptable activity in many parts of the world with little or no desirable purposes or outcomes, other than in the practice of gambling.

Which brings me back to Vick.

I have rambled on enough in this article regarding bird and dog sports and all that surrounds them. I am not going to get into the social/political/historical aspects of animal sports anymore. I simply would like to draw some conclusions regarding Vick's choice in signing with the Eagles.

From a pure marketing perspective, I give a standing ovation to Vick and his management.

Not only are the Eagles in the City of Brotherly Love, something that Vick desperately needs these days, the city of Philadelphia is the oldest and most prominent example of our American way of life.

Philadelphia is the site where many of our national treasures are located and historical events have taken place, including:

the site of the Liberty Bell.
the signing of, "The Declaration of Independence."
and oh yes, Ben Franklin resided there.

Also, Philadelphia was the United States' first national capital before it moved to Washington, DC.

Coupled with the fact the the American Bald Eagle is our national symbol and also the name of Philadelphia football team, well, Mr. Vick, can you say,

"I have hit the the fast track to resurrecting my name and reputation?"

Perhaps we can find it somewhere deep in our hearts to suggest, "Perhaps Michael would make a better falconer/austringer than a dog breeder/fighter. He deserves a second chance."

And, what if Vick takes on a key role for the Eagles in their ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl?

Many of us may be more inclined to use terms describing Vick's play, such as: "flying like an eagle, and "soaring with the wind" and other catchy eagle friendly phrases that compare Vick's play to the majestic and graceful movements of this wonderful bird, dawg!

Stay tuned and get ready to crank up, "Fly like an eagle to the sea, fly like an eagle and take Michael Vick with me."

Brandon Marshall to Become Poker Dealer

Alan Lupiani — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:38:07 -0400

Here's the latest on troubled NFL star, Denver Broncos WR Brandon Marshall:

My embedded NFL source has just revealed to me that Marshall, generally unhappy over the last year or so, has recently found God and happiness at a poker table in Las Vegas!

The source recounted the chain of events like this:

"We are all sitting there relaxing, you know, having some drinks, playing cards, and Brandon just didn't look right. He had been experiencing some personal and legal issues and the weight of it all just seemed to be getting to him. He was angry and upset that the dealer was taking so long to deal the cards. Many people don't know this about Brandon, but he's a detail-oriented guy and likes things done in a certain way. So Brandon starts to get on the dealer a bit and the dealer says, 'Hey Brandon, I understand, I didn't bring my 'A' game today.'"

"On that note, Brandon turns to me all ecstatic, and says, did you hear that? Did you hear that? He said he didn't bring his 'A' game today!"

"I didn't quite get it, I just looked at Brandon, and thought, 'This dude just needs to chill out.' Before you know it, Brandon starts asking this guy about his career as a poker dealer and I quickly realized that the two had much to discuss."

The source continued:

"After they were finished talking, the dealer passed Brandon a small book titled, 'The Lord Plays Poker Too.' When we got back at the hotel room, well, Brandon just couldn't put that little book down. Next thing you know, he wants to become a Las Vegas poker dealer!"

"I couldn't believe it at first and to asked him, 'Why?' He kept saying that being a WR in the NFL made him feel empty and miserable inside.

"Now, after the encounter with his new friend, Brandon can't stop singing that Kenny Rogers tune, "You gotta knows when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run..."

"Also, Brandon now believes that he can expand his own brand to other entertainment markets much faster, including the NBA, NHL, and all other sports and Hollywood type venues that utilize poker to promote themselves."

"He has made up his mind that by being a poker dealer, he can fast track his way to achieving all of his professional goals and aspirations.

"The NFL just doesn't move fast enough or have a big enough vision in Brandons' mind. He says all the time, "I'm just a big fish in a small pond.""

The source concluded:

"Brandon sees that the game of poker has gone global, whereas the NFL has plodded along at a 'snail's pace' to achieve this status."

"He has a grand vision of being the master MC of world-wide poker, a Poker Dealer to the Stars, descended from the heavens above."

When I pressed the source regarding Brandon's practical motivation to become a poker dealer, he continued to recount more of Brandon's thoughts on the matter.

"Brandon said, "Look at Kobe, Barkley, and all the rest of those guys. All of them play the celebrity charity poker tournaments and give back to society. I want a piece of that action."

Marshall also claims to be humbled by his recent enlightenment. However, he still likes to take a good-natured jab at other prominent sports personalities who are heavily involved with the game of poker.

When asked by the source about ex-NBAer Charles Barkley's passion for poker, Marshall said, "Charles never met a poker chip he didn't like."

Ultimately, the transition won't be easy for Brandon.

Las Vegas casinos require that all new dealers have clean criminal records.

When the source pressed Brandon further about this topic, Brandon quipped, "That's why I have God on my side. He's better than Jay Cutler will ever be."

Lastly, Brandon proudly proclaimed, "The casinos will forgive me for my past indiscretions and see me for who I truly am."

"Together, we will be unstoppable."

Brett Favre: "My Wife Made Me Do It!"

Alan Lupiani — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:58:49 -0400

Brett Favre, citing retirement fatigue, claims his wife Deanna forced him out of retirement and back out onto the football field.

Neighbors repeatedly overheard domestic squabbles between the Hall of Famer and his better half.

One neighbor, calling herself Cindy Lou, said the squabbles started to take on an ugly turn in the last few weeks.

"There were fishing poles and football pads flying out of the front door onto the lawn almost every day!" Cindy said.

It appears a restless Favre had his fill of sitting in front of the television over the last few months.

Others close to the Favre family have claimed Favre was in bad sorts over not being selected by Dancing with the Stars. Favre claimed the producers of Dancing with the Stars just didn't seem to have any interest in him, and this was just way too much to take for the Super Bowl hero's larger-than-life ego.

He was also overheard in a local diner mumbling about not being able to land his own reality show, lamenting, "If TO can have his own reality show, why can't I?"

All said and done, it was his wife Deanna who pushed Brett out of the front door and onto a flight to Minnesota.

Anonymous sources close to the situation claimed Brett refused to do chores around the house like mow the grass, clean the gutters, and take out the garbage.

"These things are all beneath me," he confided to a neighbor, "and I refuse to do them."

All said, the straw that broke the camel's back came when Deanna discovered Brett had filled up a shed in the backyard with losing lottery tickets.

"The situation with the lotto tickets tipped the apple cart over," one neighbor said. "Not a single winner outside of a free game in the whole lot."

All the cash spent on losing lotto tickets has caused further speculation that Brett had to come out of retirement in order to save his finances and his marriage.

All of this offseason activity put Favre's sleepy Mississippi community a bit on edge.

Another unnamed source stated: "I went to go see if Brett wanted to go hunting one day, and all I got was a scream from the house, "Go ask the purple people eaters if they want to go!'"

Miami's Magic: Killer Bill, Two Chad's and Pat

Alan Lupiani — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:14:41 -0400

One year ago, Bill Parcells and his staff came marching into Miami and completely re-structured the Dolphins.

At that time, second year QB John Beck manned the ship for the Fins.

Parcells cleaned house faster than a hurricane making it's way through the South Florida panhandle.

As a result, Beck and many on the Dolphins roster were either cut, traded, or released.

Wasting little time to fill the quarterback void, the Dolphins grabbed free agent veteran Chad Pennington from the Jets.

Parcells had originally drafted "The Chad" back with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2000 draft, and knew that Chad was just what the Dolphins needed:

A game-hardened leader possessing superior game management skills.

The rest is history.

The Dolphins went from a 1-15 record in 2007 to a 11-5 playoff team in 2008.

And this story only gets better.

The Dolphins then drafted sure armed quarterback Chad Henne with the 57th overall pick in the second round of the 2008 draft out of the University of Michigan.

Right now, Henne looks like the starter at quarterback for the 2010 season.

To make things even more interesting, the Dolphins were able to snag all-world college quarterback Pat White with the 44th overall pick in the second round of the 2009 draft.

White appears to be a perfect fit for the Dolphins, because he has great presence in the pocket, can play the pro-style, and has the athleticism required for newly designed offensive sets such as the "single wing."

Call me crazy, but I believe Pat White can be a starting quarterback in the NFL.

White will need to develop more upper body strength to improve his passing effectiveness and durability, however, when all said and done, this guy can flat out play.

True, Henne and White have contrasting styles.

On one hand, Henne possesses the stronger arm of the two, whereas White has more overall play-making ability.

Both appear to have what it takes "between the ears" to be successful quarterbacks.

Therefore, a number of factors will contribute to who will start in 2010 for the Dolphins as this team's personality takes shape, including:

1) Will the Dolphins evolve into a more classic pro style offensive set which includes a vertical passing game and a smash mouth running attack?

If so, Henne appears to be the better fit.

-OR-

2) Will the Dolphins continue to implement more single wing offensive type strategies in an effort to keep the rest of the league guessing?

White gets the nod here for being the more versatile of the two quarterback's.

Overall, I am leaning more towards option No. 2, as Parcells and his coaching staff like to keep folks guessing, as witnessed time and time again in recent history.

And what if papa bear Chad Pennington leads the Dolphins to Super Bowl victory in 2009?

Chad's $11.5 million, two-year contract runs out after this season. By NFL standards, Chad is in his quarterbacking prime at 33 years of age.

Will "The Chad" be back in 2010 with continued success this year?

The "element of surprise" has always been considered a key tactical element while engaging in battle, and Parcells has mastered this strategy to perfection.

Stay tuned as this Dolphins story plays out with all the drama and surprise of a pulp fiction thriller.

Mr. Goodell, Please Blow Up the NFL Draft

Alan Lupiani — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:37:06 -0400

What if the NFL draft simply disappeared?

The NFL draft started in 1936, probably as a result of an increase in the number of teams joining the league, and an effort to give new teams a chance to sign top talent, hence creating more competition and building the NFL brand.

The introduction of the draft also occurred at the same time as Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal initiative. The New Deal implemented federally funded socialistic-based programs in order to put the country back on track after the Great Depression.

Since 1936, exactly 73 years ago, the NFL has become a multi-billion dollar sports and entertainment industry that has outgrown the antiquated system of the NFL draft.

The draft has become a comical playground for manipulative Super Agents to flex their negotiating muscle.

Owners, fans, and the league have been subjected to this high-flying money grubbing act on an annual basis.

The money gets bigger, the holdouts last longer, and the fans get nastier.

Untested rookies make top dollar while veterans, who have helped to fortify the league with their service, are stuck looking over their shoulders in envy.

Not to mention, ticket prices increase in order to compensate for these astronomical salaries, and we are starting to see more and more, glimpses of young players protecting their bodies on the field in order to protect their contracts.

This type of behavior negatively effects the overall product of the game. And it will get much worse before it gets better if something doesn't change.

First step? Abandon the draft.

As already stated, the draft intends to give less successful teams an opportunity to better themselves.

However, teams are now forced to outlay huge sums of money on unproven talent at the top of the draft, and the results are not always game changing.

Examples in past years include: Lions WR Charles Rogers, Browns QB Tim Couch, Bengals QB Akili Smith, Texans QB David Carr, and Bears WR David Terrell.

Can teams maintain a high level of success without picking in the Top 10 on a regular basis?

Look no further than the New England Patriots, a team built on masterful scouting.

Take Tom Brady for instance.

Brady went undiscovered in the 2000 draft until the Patriots pick him in up in the sixth round with the 199th overall pick!

Moreover, The Patriots have picked only two players in the Top 10 of the draft in the last ten years:

1) NE picked five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All Pro Defensive Lineman Richard Seymour with the No. 6 overall pick of the 2001 draft.

Many draft analysts consider this pick to be the best overall No. 6 pick of ALL TIME.

2) LB Jerrod Mayo was picked with the 10th overall pick in 2008. Mayo received Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2008 after recording 100 solo tackles and 28 assists.

So much for Top 10 draft busts.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and management have also built the Patriots into consistent winners largely because of free agency. Examples include: Jabar Gaffney, Junior Seau, Sammie Morris, and Adalius Thomas.

One can start see a trend here.

Belichick utilizes the draft to his liking, but not as a desperation device.

He also finds the players in the draft which match the personality of his team, and he's not interested in signing top talent that will not work well in his system.

Therefore, why not just get rid of the draft all together and start a free agent market for college players to sign with teams of their choosing?

Belichick could just as easily have recruited Seymour and Mayo out of college to come play for his team, minus all the obstacles that have been created by the manipulation of draft Super Agents.

Like in all sports, these players prefer to play for the coaches and organizations that match their personalities and give them the best opportunity to win a championship.

How many times throughout history have we heard about players taking a cut in pay in exchange for an opportunity to win a ring?

Based on this, the NFL could adopt a recruiting system similar to college football or simply re-invent it's own free agent recruiting programs to sign up college players.

Possible immediate affects of such a move?

1) Removal of the slotted draft system.

2) Equitable wage scale systems for rookies and veterans.

3) Increased pressure for NFL teams to improve and maintain their competitive advantage.

4) Improved relations between ownership and players, minus the Super Agent.

In conclusion, the NFL has established a mature global brand which demands an assertive and confident strategy for dealing with player contracts in today's marketplace.

Dumping the draft will be a good first step in creating a more enlightened strategy for years to come.

My Answer to Raider Nation Regarding Heyward-Bey's Contract

Alan Lupiani — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:20:02 -0400

I took a substantial amount of heat today from Raider Nation for riffing on Al Davis' spending ways in my article, "Al Davis, Ebenezer Scrooge, Tim Geithner, and Darth Vader."

Raider Nation has an inner passion that I respect.

A few knuckle-headed comments came flying down from the upper deck from cranky Raider faithful, but I expected that.

No big deal.

One of the responders to the article, a guy named Justin, took me to task regarding my criticism of Davis' signing of WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, the No. 7 pick in the 2009 draft, to a five-year contract at $38.25 million, $23.5 guaranteed.

So here ya go Justin. Enjoy the read.

The Signing of Darrius Heyward-Bey

Darrius Heyward-Bey got paid. Good for him.

If you look just at the contract alone, Bey received roughly a 20 percent raise on the guaranteed side over last year's No. 7 DT Sedrick Ellis. Ellis signed a five-year deal at $49 million with $19.5 guaranteed. So basically Heyward-Bey received more money upfront and overall will make potentially less than what Ellis signed for over five years.

The problem remains that owners such as Al Davis insist on paying untested players more than most proven veterans.

Similarly, I am starting to observe more and more, younger players who hold back on the field in order to protect their bodies and their contracts.

And gosh darn it, it just doesn't seem right.

Back to the Raiders.

The silver and black have poured mega-dollars into signing draft picks over the last few years including: Darren McFadden, JaMarcus Russell, and now Darrius Heyward-Bey.

These young players are on a steep learning curve and will have to mature quickly in order for the Raiders to have any shot at all this year. That's a tremendous amount of unrealistic pressure.

Successful franchises like the newly re-tooled Dolphins, Steelers, and Patriots rarely have these problems. These organizations: 1) Find talented players lower in the draft and are able to trade/sign for higher value talent, and/or 2) Develop "project" players into solid contributing members of the team.

Conversely, the Jets, an organization much like the Raiders over the last few years, spend exorbitant amounts of money in the higher rounds of the draft to bring top talent to make an immediate impact.

This short-term approach has proven not to be the optimum choice.

Ultimately, I do not agree with the strategy of signing unproven players to big money contracts on a regular basis. It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

Well managed teams regularly trade, unload, or utilize their high picks on positions that are not as high risk with faster upsides.

For example, the Dolphins drafted OT Jake Long last year and he became an immediate starter and impact player, helping the Dolphins get into the playoffs.

On the other hand, drafting high for immediate impact players at skill positions does not historically work out as well. Examples include ex-Lions WR Mike Williams and perhaps the most famous bust, ex-Chargers QB Ryan Leaf.

However, if a team puts in exhaustive research with a talented scouting staff, once in a while an organization can find that immediate impact skill position player.

Take the Falcons last year—they drafted Matt Ryan and he led them to the playoffs.

Which bring us back to Bey. Let's be straight. Bey will not come close to having the impact this year for the Raiders that either Jake Long or Matt Ryan had for their respective teams last season.

Yet Bey has received top 10 money.

RESULT: The Raiders don't get that much better at the wide receiver position this year and have spent top dollar upfront for a long term possibility.

In the end, one has to ask, "Is it worth the risk, especially at the WR position?"

Lastly, to finally answer Justin's question, I would NOT have taken Bey at No. 7 to begin with and I would probably have traded my pick for a reliable receiver already in the league. I may have also saved the money and traded for a lower pick that might be as good, if not better than Bey.

Based on this assessment, do I think Bey was worth the money?

Heck No.

Openly Gay in the NFL: Not a Matter of "If," but "When"

Alan Lupiani — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:36:03 -0400

Gay Pride.

Coming soon to an NFL stadium near you.

That's right, folks.

I will be very surprised if an active NFL player does not come out either this year or next.

Will the NFL accept him with open arms, you may ask?

You bet your ___ it will.

Why?

It's all about doing the right thing, money, and the NFL taking a leadership role for all of sports as we roll into the second decade of the 21st century.

Thus far, only three NFL players total have come out after they have left the game.

Here's the list:

RB Ron Kopay, who came out after he retired in 1977.

OL Roy Simmons came out in 1992.

DL Esera Tualo came out in 2002.

My rationale for an active gay player to come out in the next year or two?

New Technologies

Twitter and uStream are creating a closer look into the lives of NFL players. It will become increasingly difficult to keep the veil of secrecy over the NFL.

Money/Marketing Strategy

It's a win-win for the players and the NFL.

The first gay player to come out will more than likely be embraced by the fans around the world, instantly becoming a hero to millions.

Also, the sheer spectacle of the first active gay player will create a PR blitz for the NFL. Think of a Madonna or Michael Jackson tour in every NFL city for a whole season, including the playoffs and Super Bowl.

There will be a huge spike in ticket sales and other endorsements.

Cha-ching a ding, ding.

Audience Expansion

Many gay people turn their backs on the NFL because of its history. The acceptance of an openly gay player will attract up to 10 percent more of the population!

Also, the NFL has big plans to expand its demographic on a global scale. What better way of pushing the brand internationally than by embracing an openly gay player?

Heck, the NFL would become by far the coolest sports league in the world, overnight.

It's Just the Right Thing to Do

We all know that there are closeted players in the league right now and have been for a long time.

Estimates have put it to anywhere between 75-150 players or approximately 10 percent of the entire league.

On that note, the NFL has been largely described as the new American pastime. Roger Goodell appears to be an open-minded taskmaster, oops, I mean Commissioner. As a businessman and leader, I would think that he would be behind, errrrr, I mean spearheading this effort 110 percent.

The NFL would become the unquestioned leader in all of sport, setting a new standard for the 21st century.

Acceptance by Fans/Players

Recent surveys of NFL fans have stated that approximately 75 percent would not change their opinion of a player if they knew he was gay. Similarly, over 50 percent of NFL players surveyed in a recent poll stated they would be accepting of a gay player in the locker room.

Wait a minute, gay players already exist in the locker room! Talk about denial.

I would be more encouraged if the acceptance rate for gay players in the locker room were higher than 50+ percent. However, as time passes, education continues, and tolerance pervades; the acceptance rate will undoubtedly increase.

In conclusion, The NFL can't push back the hands of time, it can only adapt to an unpredictable future with openly gay players in it.

Watch and see.

Al Davis, Ebenezer Scrooge, Timothy Geithner, and Darth Vader

Alan Lupiani — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:03:27 -0400

Al Davis appears to be setting the gold standard for the NFL this year.

Are we watching a modern version of a "Christmas Carol" with Davis playing the part of enlightened Ebenezer Scrooge?

Super agents like Drew Rosenhaus must be pinning up their stockings above the fireplace, because it sure looks like Christmas has arrived a bit early this year.

Other NFL teams around the league are rolling their eyes (think slot machine) in disbelief, as Davis has become the new Timothy Geithner of the NFL.

Because you see folks, all of the other teams in the NFL wait for the top banana draft picks to sign, before they negotiate contracts with their incoming draft picks.

So when the top picks are chosen by teams that have truly gone bananas, well then you have a problem.

Case in point.

Exhibit A: Davis just signed seventh overall pick, Maryland WR Darrius Heyward-Bey to five years $38.25 million, $23.5 million guaranteed.

Now talk about a California aftershock.

Just look at what this signing has done to create a log jam for the next draft pick at wide receiver.

Exhibit B: Texas Tech wideout Michael Crabtree, the 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft, already miffed that he fell in the draft to No. 10, has threatened to sit out the entire 2009-10 season if he doesn't get a contract comparable to Heyward Bey's.

The Niners, stacked at the WR position, are in no rush to accommodate Crabtree.

It's a stand off, or more like a traffic jam on a California freeway at rush hour.

To slow things down even more, the sixth, eighth, and ninth overall draft picks, OT Andre Smith, OT tackle Eugene Monroe, and DT B.J. Raji, haven't signed either.

In fact, five of the first 11 draft picks still remain unsigned if you include the 11th pick DE Aaron Maybin who has yet to sign with Buffalo.

There may be a glimmer of hope with the recent signing of No. 12 overall pick RB Knowshon Moreno, who signed last week with the Broncos for five years at $23 million, $13 million guaranteed.

We all know that Al Davis possesses a huge ego, loves to be a rebel, and dominate the headlines. That being said...

...WILL SOMEONE FROM THE BLACK HOLE AKA "MONEY VACUUM PIT," PLEASE TAP DARTH VADER ON THE SHOULDER AND TELL HIM TO CUT IT OUT!?!?!?

Thanks in advance.

Philip Rivers and the Bolts: It May Come Down to One More Comeback Win

Alan Lupiani — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:47:00 -0400

Hands down, Philip Rivers has become an elite NFL quarterback.

Just take at look at these individual statistics from last season:

TDs/Ints: 34 -11
Completion percentage: 65.3
Overall QB rating: 105.5

And to Philips' credit, he helped bring back the underachieving Chargers from the dead last season to get them into the playoffs, finishing at 8-8.

However, the gnawing question remains, "Can Philip lead this team and be a consistent winner, especially at playoff time?"

Let's put it this way, two-time Super Bowl winning QB, Ben Roethlisberger already has 19 comeback victories to his credit, whereas Rivers, drafted the same year as Big Ben, has been credited with only eight comebacks.

Granted Rivers did not start until his third season, his eight comeback victories still lag behind quarterback greats John Elway with 47, Brett Favre with 42, Marino and Peyton Manning each had 37. And look at this, Drew Bledsoe's had 32 comebacks to his credit.

One more to knock the point home, four time Super Bowl champ Joe Montana tallied 31 comeback victories in his career.

*It should be noted that comeback statistics are highly disputed. Some statisticians have Elway's comeback total as low as 34 and Big Ben's as low as 15.

Furthermore, for those who think it's unfair to compare comebacks because Big Ben has started two more seasons than Rivers, let's break it down by comebacks per season.

Roethlisberger averages 3.8 comebacks per year where Rivers has averaged 2.7 comebacks.

This might not seem like a noticeable difference to some, however, in today's NFL, parity reigns king, and the difference of a win or two due to comeback can make the difference between going to the playoffs, winning in the playoffs, and ultimately giving your team a chance to win the Super Bowl.

Now I am not saying the Rivers will not/cannot belong to this elite group!

He's right at the doorstep.

I am merely trying to point out that he may need to raise his level of play one more notch to achieve his ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl.

Furthermore, based on my observations watching the Chargers play last year, many of their games had all the drama of a developing hostage situation, and the Bolts weren't the ones saving anybody, if you know what I mean.

The trick for Rivers this year will be his ability to reach back just a bit more and to dig down a little deeper at crunch time.

If he can accomplish this, then Philip Rivers will become the steely eyed sharpshooting marksman who can lead the Chargers all the way to Miami and beyond.

Analyzing The Starting NFL QB's: AFC West

Alan Lupiani — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:54:50 -0400

There are two brand new gunslingers in the AFC West as Kyle Orton takes the reins of the Broncos and Matt Cassell will sling it for the Chiefs. There's also the possibility of wily veteran Jeff Garcia taking over in Oakland if JaMarcus Russell can't get the Raiders going early. Truth be told, it's closed circuit time for Philip Rivers and the Chargers. Philip must provide enough high voltage to get the Chargers electric train speeding Miami, or the Chargers might be done faster than the electric trolley was with the advent of the automobile.

Begin Slideshow

Fox Sports Columnist Mark Kriegel Throws Desperation Heave @oGOchocinco

Alan Lupiani — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:12:48 -0400

My response to Mark Kriegel's column, On the Mark: "Please, Not More Ocho," posted on the FOX Sports website recently, criticizing Chad Ochocinco.

Tuesday August 4th, 2009

First of all, it's never good for a columnist, in my opinion, to let one's personal feelings get in the way of reporting. This has not been the case with Mark Kriegel's latest column for FOX Sports inaptly titled, On the Mark: "Please, Not More Ocho."

Kriegel takes painstaking steps to launch a personal and professional attack on Johnson, calling him a "loser" and a "clown."

To top things off, Kriegel lobbies for us to hate on Chad even more because Ochocinco calls out Kriegel on twitter, calling him an "idiot."

Didn't Kriegel ever learn the famous children's rhyme, "sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me?"

Moving forward to Wikipedia, Chad Ochocinco has made five Pro Bowls and has been selected All Pro three times. That's one heck of career for a guy playing on an average team all these years.

Not only that, Chad does/has done alot of community service work. It's my understanding that he regularly visits Africa to help people there.

He knows how to give back.

Granted, some of Kriegel's observations about Chad regarding narcissism and self-absorption have validity. However, in the world of popular culture and sports, this kind of behavior has been witnessed, tolerated, and even encouraged many times before.

Kriegel's confirms this with a willingness to peddle low level trash-talk for FOX Sports and/or the NFL brand.

Let's not forget that Kriegel and FOX are in direct competition with twitter and ustream, the two sites Johnson had been criticized for using. After all, these internet media tools represent a potential threat to FOX's market share and to the status quo for which FOX has helped to create and sustain.

Clearly, the motivation here centers on revving up the FOX Sports NFL hype machine before the season starts.

Wednesday morning, Aug. 5, 2009

The Ocho-Kriegel incident has held my attention as a compelling case study in twenty-first century sports marketing.

I just watched a Kriegel video which further fans the flames of his alleged viral Cinco bashing column, On the Mark: "Please, Not More Ocho."

I thought "viral" meant that you had to be picked up on more than one news source other than your own. A Google news search reveals exactly one hit—FOX. I guess FOX has a different idea regarding "viral" than the rest of the world.

Back to the story.

The Ocho-Kreigel incident stirs up emotions regarding old vs. new, historical sentimentality vs. post-modern hype.

To Kriegel's credit, he has written a few critically acclaimed sports books that hail the history of the game.

Good for him.

It leads me to believe that he's all about tradition, hard work, and the American way.

All good things.

The problem arises when the traditionalist, Kriegel, lashes out at Johnson in a personal way as a result of objecting to Johnson's style and/or conduct. This kind of action hints at being moralistic, hi-minded, and making judgements based on personal preference.

Translation: "If your'e not like me, you're no good."

In short, Kriegel feels threatened.

We all know Chad will be Chad, but will Kriegel be Kriegel?

Another point regarding Kriegel's video: The columnist lashes out at Chad for calling him an "idiot" on twitter. We expect this kind of reaction from Chad, because Chad will be Chad.

However, Kriegel, the self-anointed "adult" in this situation, conveniently forgets that he was the one who started this whole thing by calling Ocho a "loser" and a "clown" and not to Ochocinco's face, but in the media.

Finally, Kriegel highlights examples of sports greatness to support his position against Johnson by referring to Tom Brady, Tiger, Ali, Jeter, and Jordan. Last I heard, Tiger and Ali played individual sports that do not require a team to achieve legendary status.

On the other hand, "team sport" living legends—Brady, Jeter, Jordan and how about free spirit Dennis Rodman, were all a part of organizations which helped to insure their greatness.

Here's the funny part. Kriegel conveniently denies Rodman, a winner of championships with two teams, his rightful legendary place in sports history.

Why does Kriegel act this way? Because Rodman does not fit into Kriegel's idea of greatness.

Yet again, it's personal.

Blazing Bolts Baffle Colts: A Poetic Recap

Alan Lupiani — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:35:24 -0500

The Chargers shocked the Colts last night, 23 -17…

Thanks to Darren Sproles, the ultimate "Mighty Motor" all-purpose back.

Leading the Flash's magnificent running attack.

Sproles put the Chargers on his back last night. After nearly fumbling it all away, he never gave up the fight.

Call him, “dude electric,” gaining 328 all purpose yards. He made up for his nearly disastrous third quarter bumble with a highlight reel overtime touchdown rumble.

Go Darren Go!! You Rock Dude! Can you say, "Michael “The Burner” Turner X 2?"

LaDainian “new?” My word! Darren, you might just win a trip to Disney World!

And then their was this guy named Scifres. The MVP (All-Pro wannabe) punter in baby blue. Re-inventing “coffin corner” with new meaning. Scifres strafed and buried the Colts, a one man wrecking crew.

Did you hear that moan? The Colts have to start their offense again, down by their own end zone?

The Bolts are not quite out of the sand, however, you can add on the Colts as their latest victim, in Qualcomm land.

Didn’t need no Vanderjagt, just a stellar air and ground attack.

Philip Rivers finally emerges?”

Sure, look at all those late game surges!

The Bolts O-line played together, never backing down to Dwight Freeney and the rest of the Colts defensive fraternity.

Let’s face it, “the dudes in the baby blues” just had more energy!

Cover 2? No problem for the Bolts.

Laserlike Phil picked apart the Colts.

Antonio Gates plowed his way down field, ensuring the victory sealed.

What lies in wait for the Chargers, Norv Turner, Ron Rivera, and the rest of the Bolts coaching crew?

We will soon find out as the road leads through Pittsburgh or Tennessee, The AFC’s top, “who’s, who!"

Alan Lupiani is a contributor to the Bleacher Report and also produces a daily sports talk podcast called "The Alan Show - Morning Sports Bite."

You can find his podcast here.

Roll Over Tide, Roll Over: BCS Debacle

Alan Lupiani — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:59:52 -0500

The seventh ranked (No. 7) Utah Utes just finished at 13-0. Spanked the Tide tonight in the Big Easy.

31-17.

Rodney Dangerfield = Mountain West Conference.

"No Respect."

Thirty-plus end-of-year bowls in NCAA Division 1-A and still no definitive National Champion. The fourth-ranked Tide's to blame. Bama really screwed things up for the NCAA.

Or shall we say the Utes did. No...Bama did. The Utes had no pressure on them. Utah played superbly this evening. Dominated the Tide. Wasn't even close.

Really.

21-0 after the first quarter. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. There were many stunned, sullen looks at the Super Dome after one quarter.

Sugar never tasted so sweet, or sour depending on your perspective. This wasn't supposed to happen. Not on this night, not in this game. But it did. And the debate will begin.

Again.

The Utah Utes, your NCAA Division 1-A National Champions. Why not? Impressive road wins at Michigan, Air Force, and New Mexico. Late-season thrashings of San Diego State, BYU, and now Alabama.

Would the Utes give either Florida or Oklahoma a run for their money? Don't be shy. Don't be ashamed. It's okay. You can all put your hands down now.

Really.

Ya see, The NCAA DOES have a pigskin problem. College football and its conferences are not mutually exclusive static entities. Some NCAA conferences improve faster than others.

Its called, "free market competition." Could this be true with the Mountain West? Or how about the Western Athletic Conference?

Remember Boise State?

13-0 Boise State.

Boise State, which finished No. 5 in 2007. Boise State, who shocked the mighty Oklahoma Sooners in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl?

There are some pretty good teams coming out of the Northwest these days.

Another team from the Northwest have done it again. And it wasn't even a close game. The Utes dominated this contest against the dynastic Tide, thoroughly and completely humiliating the Crimson this evening.

The Southeastern Conference has seen better days, no doubt.

Has NCAA's ranking system for Division 1-A become obsolete? Look at it this way.

Let's say the Carolina Panthers went 16-0 in their first season in the NFL, and the Panthers had a soft schedule their first year. The NFL decides not to not include the Panthers in the playoffs. First-year team, soft schedule, not playoff worthy.

Didn't really EARN it. Does that make sense? A simple "no" will do.

We are dealing with a dinosaur mentality here. And a lot of greed. Has the NCAA reached a critical mass regarding its distribution of wealth?

Is the NCAA just another big huge corporation that remains loyal to its old guard, to teams like the Bamas, the Gators, the Wolverines, and the Irish?

It's a complicated situation, not one easily resolved. A big mess if you ask me. Lots of factions, many competing interests.

I think this situation mimics a broader problem in America today. Call it regionalism. It hits at the core of who we are as a country.

We are made of individual parts with competing interests. The NCAA has many of the same problems the car industry has.

For instance, some states wanted the "Big Three" automobile bailout, others did not. If your state makes Toyotas and Hondas, would you back a bailout? A free pass for your competitors?

Have the NCAA and some of its old guard conferences become lazy dinosaurs?

Hmmmm.

This is getting a bit creepy. Scary in fact.

Ok Utes, congrats once again. Thanks for stirring things up. And broadening the discussion.

My name is Alan Paul Lupiani. Therefore Utes, you win my APL Top Ranking of the Year.

Utah Utes, National Champs!

Alan Lupiani is a contributor to the Bleacher Report and also produces a daily sports talk podcast called "The Alan Show - Morning Sports Bite."

You can find his podcast here.

Bowl Me Over, Again, and Again, and Again.

Alan Lupiani — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:52:20 -0500

It's Bowl time again.

Peach, Orange, Cotton, Rose...

...many different flavors, shapes, and colors.

Marching bands, "The Doobie Brothers," heck, where's "the Jonas Brothers?!"

At last count, there are 34 Division 1-A Bowl games. Bowl Games

Have you heard of the EagleBank and St. Petersburg Bowls?

I haven't.

One may asked while getting Bowled over, "what does it all mean?'

Wait a minute, let me grab some tostitos, I'll be right back.

Bowl, Bowl, Bowl, and more Bowl.

Did you also know there are nine, yes (9) college All-Star games?

Indeed led by the East-West Shrine game, but look...

...the Senior Bowl and seven others are not far behind! Bowl Games

The Bowls are as familiar to us as the setting sun.

Did I say, "Sun Bowl?"

The Bowls are at the heart of our collegiate and consumerist traditions.

Conflict of Interests? Perhaps.

Playoffs?? Wha??

President in waiting, Barack Obama wants it.

What will that mean for the Bowls?

Will our Bowls disappear?

Will they vanish?

Never to be heard of again?

No more Rose, Peach, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, or Cotton?

No more Meineke, Outback, Chick-fil-A, GMAC, or Emerald Nuts Bowl?

Can our nations consciousness take it?

Can we survive?

In fact, there are about (50) defunct Bowl games listed. Bowl Games

Notable negations include the, Vulcan, Pineapple, and Freedom Bowl.

The Haka Bowl was to take place in New Zealand in 1996, but the NCAA rejected it before the first game.

The Oil Bowl lasted for two years 1946-1947 in Houston, Texas.

The Cigar Bowl went on from 1947 -1956 in Tampa Florida.

What do you think of these Bowl names?

The Becel/Flora/Promise, "I can't believe it's butter" Bowl.

or...let's try this one, the Wendy's, "Where's the beef?" Bowl.

Lastly, aww what the heck....drum roll please.....

The Subway, "Five dollar foot long" Bowl!!!

Personally, I think that should be the BCS Championship game.

Hold on, it's Papa John's delivering a pizza...

Who won the Papa Johns Bowl again?

Alan Lupiani is a contributor to the bleacher report and also produces a daily sports talk podcast called "The Alan Show - Morning Sports Bite."

You can find his podcast here.

Doubting Thomas, Favrinator, Woodya?

Alan Lupiani — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:26:54 -0500

First, let's re-wind back to early summer 2008, "pre-Favrinator" days in Jets country.

The Jets had just pulled off over $142 million in free-agent acquisitions and appeared ready to become a competitive playoff team, until...

...they done lost their football minds in the name of, "Favrinator."

Yes, that's right folks, "Favrinator."

"Favrinator," who confused he Jet's locker room for a set of The Office.

"Favrinator," full of promise, even with his AARP card in the mail.

"Favrinator," who had 'em rolling their eyes in Green Bay as he left town.

"Don't let the door kick you in the butt, good sir."

I too, rolled my eyes at the beginning of the season.

I thought, "short team thinking by them there Jets."

I smelled a rat.

After all, "The Chad" had waited so patiently all those re-building years for a solid offensive line.

"The Chad," the comeback kid. (see Dolphins)

"The Chad," who had remained loyal to those Jets through thick and thin!

Not to be the case.

"The Chad" had been spurned, exiled off to Miami for, "the other quaterback."

Can you say, "The Days of Our Lives?"

"YES YOU CAN!!" Jets fans!!!

No doubt, "Favrinator" "has been" a marketing boon for the Jets.

The "No. 4" jerseys had been flying off the presses all season.

One hundred and forty some odd millions spent in free agency and a new stadium on the horizon?

Good business sense? Yesssir! Good football sense? Hmmmmmmmm.

It's been a perfect business football marriage, albeit lacking season-ending "feel good" vibes.

The Jets have become "a mimosa and bloody mary" team folks.

Most of you (Jets fans) and your children's children will never know this fact...

...because you (Jets fans) and your children's children will never see the light of the new Jets Stadium.

Too exclusive, too expensive.

Simply stated folks, you have been turned away by "Favratorian" methods.

Problem is, the popular press won't come out on those Jets like it, "shoulda, wooda, and coulda."

Too risky.

Woody Johnson = very powerful individual around these parts.

Too much at stake here for criticising the powerful, especially in difficult financial times.

Can you say, "advertising revenue?"

Hand it to the Jets and their 21st-century approach.

The Jets, with help from the local media, led us to believe that "Favrinator" was welcome by EVERYONE in Jets country with open arms.

Ex-head coach Mangini named his new born after "Favrinator."

"Favrinator" had changed, he had become more "team friendly."

After all, he had his own office in Green Bay, that would never happen in Jets country.

Think again...

It's no wonder that Jets fans found out about the acrimonious atmosphere in Jets camp until it was too late.

Too many tickets, jerseys, and seating licenses to peddle.

Then there's "THE REAL" Jets TEAM LEADER, running back Thomas Jones.

Thats my new nickname for Thomas, "THE REAL," I kinda like that.

"THE REAL" vs. "Favrinator."

"WWE, where are you?!"

Jones, bold enough to go where no "REAL" man has dared to go before.

Jones openly criticized "Favrinator" and the organization.

"Bench him" Jones stated!!

"Tap, tap" uuuuhhhhhuuummmm Mr. "doubting" Thomas, I am sorry to inform you, your season has already ended!!

Turns out "Favrinator" threw one too many interceptions for Jones taste!

In my opinion, "Favrinator" just got bored.

Don't barf up your quiche and salmon almondine just yet!

It will get worse. Just ask the Joneses. Always ask the Joneses.

The Joneses will give you "THE REAL" deal...that's why the "Joneses" are well, the "Joneses."

Unfortunately, the Jets are "jonesing" all of us now...

Why?

Oh yeah, ask Bill Cowher, he's like the Joneses.

I am sure of that.

"The Chin" rejected any Jets offer for the head coaching job before you can say, "pass me your seat license, please."

Cowher won't get "jonesed" by the Jets.

He's way too smart. Just ask Bill Parcells, Tony Sparano, and Chad Pennington.

Oh you can't right now, the Dolphins are preparing for the playoffs.

Psyche!!

I wonder if Jones will now get "jonesed" by the Jets for coming out against "Favrinator."

Impossible, can't happen.

"Knock knock"...oh it's Bill Parcells for Thomas Jones.

"Right this way sir! Happy New Year!"

"See ya Jets, smell ya later Meadowlands!!"

Alan Lupiani is a contributor to the bleacher report and also produces a daily sports talk podcast called "The Alan Show - Morning Sports Bite."

You can find his podcast here.

"Tears for Fears?" NFL Week 12: Top 10 Meltdown, I mean Countdown!

Alan Lupiani — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:46:48 -0500

10) "Kurt Warner MVP, Kurt Warner MVP!!!"

Those were the chants heard around the blogosphere after ageless Kurt led the Cardinals to victory the past three weeks.

Many of us pundits did not take note that those three Cardinal wins came against three lower tier teams:

St. Louis, San Francisco, and Seattle.

The Cardinals were exposed tonight against the Giants.

Top NFL team?

Ummmm...maybe top 10, but certainly not top five!

The only thing I could think about with regard to Kurt Warner on Sunday night was how much of the Arizona Desert sky he was taking in from laying on his back!

9) Brady Quinn tossed two picks and no touchdowns after getting pulled for Derek Anderson in the third quarter.

The line on Quinn: 8-18, 94 yards passing, no touchdowns, two interceptions.

Looked more like a Texas BBQ in the Dawg Pound then anything else.

Brady Quinn? Meet Brian Bosworth.

The two of you may have something in common.

My advice to Brady: If I were you Brady, I would keep doing as many high potency vitamin commercials as I could over the next year.

You never know what tomorrow may bring.

Romeo Crennel, sure ain't no "romeo" when it comes to his quarterbacks!

John Gruden, do you and Romeo date?

8) It had been rumored that Matt Cassel was just a glorified high school quarterback playing in the NFL.

Hmmm, the dude passes for 400+ yards for the second straight week and leads New England to victory over AFC East rival Miami.

The proposed price tag on Cassel for next year?

Eight mils and rising.

Matt Cassel meet Eminem. You two might have something in common.

Slim Shady plays quarterback for New England Patriots.

psych!

7) A dysfunctional family in Philly has finally gone public (again).

Andy Reid, possibly in an act of "fatal attraction" oops... I mean, desperation, pulls beleaguered Donovan McNabb from the lineup after McNabb throws two (two) interceptions in the first half against Baltimore.

Enter, back up quarterback Kevin Kolb, who promptly throws two (two) more interceptions, one of which is returned for 108 yards for a touchdown by Raven safety, Ed Reed.

Embarrassment, dissension, and bewilderment in Philly.

Bye Bye Birdies!!

I didn't know Canadian geese and eagles had so much in common.

Both like to fly south in late November.

Wait, eagles don't migrate, do they?

On that note, Donovan to Chicago?

Home Sweet Home?

You Betya!!

6) Dial T.O., Dallas GO, GO, GO!!!

It appears that Tony Romo has found his mojo with regard to getting T.O. the ball once again.

T.O. looked like a man amongst boys out there today, and I am not talking about his teammates.

T.O. being T.O.

"Just get TO the dang ball"

The TO line: 7 catches, 213 yards, one touchdown...and a lot of spilled popcorn!

Wade "Super Duper" Phillips?? na- na- na-na- nahhhhhh!!!

5) Buffalo did "whaaaa?" to the Chiefs?

Buffalo Bills fans, you were not dreaming.

This was not the Oklahoma Sooners playing Texas Tech.

This was the Buffalo Bills putting up 54 on the punch drunk Chiefs.

This game was not as much a testament about what the Bills offense, but more about the Chiefs' putrid D!

Herm Edwards, instead of, "Just win the darn game." How about, "How do I get my defense to make a tackle?"

Buffalo's game plan against the Chiefs? "Call a play and change the score!"

No wonder why Trent Edwards was so eager to implement the game plan against the Chiefs.

Will someone please tell the Chiefs defense that this is not, "two hand touch!"

4) Are the Jets on crack, or are we?

The Jets just made it look too gosh darn easy against the undefeated Titans today.

Talk about clicking on all cylinders...

The Jets looked machine like in their dismantling of the Titans today in Memphis.

The Jets made the Titans look downright bad.

And it's not ALL about Brett.

Can you say, Leon "The Whisper" Washington?

Two touchdowns, 82 yards on eight carries? Ridiculous.

Oh yeah, Chris Johnson, I feel your pain.

I see you and Kris Jenkins are close buddies now.

3) Will the real Jay Cutler, "please stand up?"

What's up with this guy?

Every week we want to believe (excuse me, every other week we want to believe) and every other week we are let down AGAIN.

This Sunday was no different at Mile High. The line on "Cuts like a knife?" 16-37, 234 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, and lots of frustrated Bronco receivers.

There were whispers about Cutlers ability to stay calm, cool, and collected in order to control his immense talent coming out of college.

Those whispers are now louder than an ill-timed Cutler audible.

I am starting to believe that Cutler is looking more like Tommy Maddox than John Elway.

2) Jake Delhomme, do you and Jay Cutler hang out together?

Yo! Steve Smith, would you please give both of these guys a beat down for me?

Please?

Just kidding...Not really?

Believing in the Panthers, John Fox, and Jake Delhomme is like playing the game, "Peek-a-boo, I see you!" with your kid before nap time.

Your kid laughs hysterically at you when you act all stupid, when you make believe that you are not there as you cover up your face, when you really are.

Your kid gets tired from laughing so hard and well...falls asleep.

Here's the problem with John Fox and Jake Delhomme. Some weeks, these two like to play this game DURING A REAL NFL GAME!!

This Sunday? Nappy time!

PS: Jake woke up sometime in the fourth quarter, with the game pretty much out of reah, padding his stats with a touchdown run and pass, keeping his "fantasy faithful" at bay for one more week.

1) Philip Rivers: Biggest tease in the NFL.

Just when we think Philip is going to be a stellar All-Pro quarterback year in an year out, he always leaves us wanting....

...and his horrified looking coach, Norv Turner pining away for more out of his talented quarterback.

CASE IN POINT:

How many more time will we watch Philip throw a third down pass late in the game for eight yards when he needs nine, usually around the other team's 40-yard line with two minute left in the game?

Next, watch Philip drive the team down the field with ease, then pass for eight yards when the Bolts need nine with about a minute 30 left to play.

Electing not to go for it on 4th-and-1, Norv punts the ball back to the other team, who, in turn, get the ball back with about a minute left.

Now, watch the other team complete about two to three passes for 20-30 yards and kick a 50-yard field goal to win the game as time expires.

Now, watch as the television camera pan over too a dejected L.T. on the bench with a towel over his head.

Now watch Norv Turner look as if he has just seen a ghost.

Now watch Philip shake his head with a look of frustration on his face.

Then watch Philip and trot across the field to congratulate the other teams victorious quarterback.

Wow, it must be hard being San Diego Charger fan!

IGNITION, BLASTOFF!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Alan Lupiani is a contributor to the bleacher report and also produces a daily sports talk podcast called "The Alan Show - Morning Sports Bite."

You can find his podcast here.

"Real Change" in Washington? "Redskins" NO WAY!

Alan Lupiani — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:46:23 -0500

On Monday, November 3rd, 2008, the eve of the presidential election, Chris Berman from ESPN asked both presidential candidates to address one issue "for change" regarding sports in America.

The interview took place during halftime of the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Washington Redskins game on Monday Night Football.

Obama replied that he would like to see college football implement a playoff system for a national champion.

McCain offered up a similarly safe response by stating that he would expect more policing and monitoring of drug use in sports.

That being said, I'd like to offer up my opinion:

Start by changing the name of the racially insensitive, Washington Redskins.

The name "Redskins" gets a double whammy for:

1) Being totally insensitive to American Indians, and

2) It's the name of the football team in the city that houses our federal government.

Come on folks, give me a break!

Daniel Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, if you ever read this article, please take note.

The Washington Redskins have bad karma for a reason.

It sits on the head of every Washington Redskins football player.

Mr. Snyder, the monumental "face" of America will change right in front of our eyes on January 11, 2008 when President-elect, Barack Obama takes the reigns of this country.

A "face" that's embodied in the talents of your starting quarterback, Jason Campbell.

Is it any wonder that a Superbowl won by the Redskins came by way of an exceptional African-American quarterback by the name of Doug Williams?

That's right! Doug Williams led the Redskins in Superbowl XXII to victory on January 31, 1988 by beating John Elway's Denver Broncos.

Williams earned MVP honors in that game completing 18 of 29 passes for 340 yards, and four touchdown passes, arguably the best quarterback performance in Superbowl history.

Mr. Snyder, why not make some real change with your franchise instead of just spending millions of dollars trying to fix a problem that you just won't allow yourself to see?

Seize the moment, the limelight, the world stage, something I am sure you would not mind at all!

Bad karma can't be fixed by throwing money at it.

Bad karma can only be fixed by realizing that a wrong has been committed, and doing something about it!

We as a country have changed. We expect more from ourselves and each other. "WE the people" have evolved, hopefully.

That includes respecting each others identity.

Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians take note. Your'e next.

Daniel Snyder, it's time for you to put your millions aside and make a bold and "brave" statement for your country.

Show America and the rest of the world that change really has come to America.

Show the rest of the world that "WE the people," put people first in this country, instead of personal financial gain.

I was going to get into the various litigation about the use of the name "Redskin" and surveys that "confirm" that American Indians do not seem to mind the use of the term "Redskin."

However, all that talk gets away from the core issue.

Can there be any good argument that legitimizes, rationalizes, and endorses the use of SKIN COLOR for a team's nickname, especially in our nations capital?

No way!

As we New Yorkers sometimes say, fuugggggeeetttaaabouuutiitt!

"Ok, Why not the Blackskins, Whiteskins, GoldenBrownskins, or Yellowskins?"

Interesting note: If one takes the Redskins last home game record since 1936 when the team was still in Boston and called the Boston Redskins, one has a 94.444% chance of predicting the next president. Let me explain.

The Boston Redskins beat the Chicago Bears in 1936 and incumbent President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was re-elected.

Fast forward to 2008.

The Steelers beat the Redskins on Monday Night, and Barack Obama became president-elect.

Redskins lose? New party. Redskins win? Same party.

This has happened every single election, not withstanding the 2004 election when W. got re-elected.

Go figure.

That tallies to a 17-1 record for the Redskins since 1936. Not bad odds.

Now it's time to make those odds go to work for America.

Daniel Snyder, please seize this moment in history.

Seize this moment for your team, your city, and your fans.

Your players will appreciate it too!

I will even go as far to suggest a new name for the Redskins.

Let's change our thinking about this.

The name, "Washington" sounds kind of long and boring to be quite honest.

Why not think outside the box and use "DC" instead?

"DC" sounds kind of cool and edgy. And similarly to the Tennessee Titans, who recently changed their name from "Oilers," let's use a name that symbolizes power, the world beyond, an overall awareness.

What about the, DC Comets? Now there's a name!

Shameless plug time: "President-elect Obama, if you read this article and like this idea, please make a guest appearance on my daily sports pod-cast, "The Alan Show, Morning Sports Bite," Monday - Friday, 9AM EST!

My email address is: aplupiani@gmail.com.

Mr. President-elect Obama, congratulations on your presidential election victory, and all the best in your first term as 44th President of the United States of America!

Let's make some more REAL change for this country and the world at large!

Alan Lupiani is a contributor to the bleacher report and also produces a daily sports talk podcast called "The Alan Show - Morning Sports Bite."

You can find his podcast here.

B/R Senior Writer, Angel Navedo To Appear on the "Alan Show"

Alan Lupiani — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:49:12 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Angel Navedo, Senior Sports writer for the Bleacher Report and New York Jet expert will be making a special call-in appearance on the, "Alan Show – Morning Sports Bite."

He will be calling in at approximately 9:30 AM EST, tomorrow morning, FRIDAY No. 14.

Here is the LIVE LINK to the, "Alan Show - MSB".

That makes two (2) NFL experts calling into the MSB tomorrow morning.

Resident MSB NFL expert, Long Island Statman Matt, will also be in da house giving his Week 11 picks.

The Long Island Statman has won the, "MSB - Ring of Fire" NFL pick Challenge the last two weeks! Let's see if Angel can beat the LI Statman and the rest of the, "MSB - RING OF FIRE" competitors in Week 11!

Also, please email me your picks in listed order to aplupiani@gmail.com if you would like to participate in this week's, "MSB - RING OF FIRE" competition.

DO NOT include tonight's game between the Jets and the Patriots and also include a ONE GAME TIEBREAKER FINAL SCORE for one of your picks.

LI STATMAN and ANGEL NAVEDO will be entering this weeks MSB – Ring of Fire Week 11 NFL Pick challenge competition, so throw your hat into the RING and see how you do! There are no PRIZES at all, just bragging rights!

Please join us as we review all the NFL action for Week 11, INCLUDING a re-cap of tonight's HUGE game between the Jets and the Patriots. Be a part of this SHOW, it will be fun and interesting!

A special "shout out" goes to Aron Glatzer, Content Delivery Manager and Internship Coordinator for the Bleacher Report, for setting up this interview with Angel, exclusively for the "Alan Show - Morning Sports Bite."

See you there!

Alan Lupiani

"Alan Show - Morning Sports Bite"

Tyler Thigpen's Solid Play Improves Chiefs' Chances Against Saints on Sunday

Alan Lupiani — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:26:13 -0500

I picked the Chargers to handle the Chiefs this past Sunday but I knew it would be a tougher game than most thought.

Afterall, the Chiefs easily covered the fifteen point spread.

The Bolts survived with a 20-19 victory at the Murph because of a bit of good fortune.

The Chiefs had missed an extra point earlier in the game, resulting in Herm Edwards deciding to go for a two-point conversion and the win after the Chiefs had scored a touchdown and were down by one point with 23 seconds left in regulation.

The two-point conversion attempt failed, as Thigpen's pass was knocked down in the end zone. However, this play remains as a minor footnote to an otherwise fantastic day for Chiefs quaterback, Tyler Thigpen.

Thats right! Tyler "Thrill A Minute" Thigpen captured the spotlight from start to finish. Thigpen's numbers were All-Pro like this past Sunday, as he completed 27 of 41 passes for 266 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions against the Chargers.

Unknown before this season, Tyler Thigpen has pushed the hapless Chiefs to the brink of victory three weeks running. It all began in Week Eight against the New York Jets on a windy day at the Meadowlands.

According to CBS analyst Dan Dierdorf, Thigpen appeared to be oblivious to the pressure that goes along with playing on the center stage of a nationally televised game.

The "young gun" eagerly took on the challenge and played exceptionally well, completing 25 of 36 passes for 280 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions.

More importantly, Tyler gave his team a sense of hope in an otherwise meaningless season. The Chiefs almost stole the show from the blundering Jets, as the Jets narrowly escaped, scoring a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, winning the game 28-24.

Tyler Beckham Thigpen, was born on Apr. 14, 1984 in Winnsboro, NC. According to Wikipedia, Thigpen was the first quarterback in Coastal Carolina University history, as the school started its football program in 2003. Thigpen lead the Chanticleers to a 30-8 record in his four years (2003 - 2006) as the starter.

He earned Big South Player of the Year honors in 2006, his senior year, after racking up some impressive statistics against the likes of conference foes, James Madison and Furman. He threw for 3,296 yards, completing 217 of 339 passes for 29 touchdowns, and ran the ball 656 yards on 113 carries that resulted in five touchdowns.

After his college days, Thigpen was then chosen in the seventh round (217th overall) of the 2007 draft by the Vikings and picked up by the Chiefs after being released by the Vikings in September 2007.

Thigpen reminds me of another great Chief quarterback, Hall of Famer, Joe Montana, albeit being a more "Robo Joe" version. Tyler stands at 6'1", one inch shorter than the 6'2" Montana, yet he carries much more weight at 224 pounds compared to Montana's 197 pounds.

Overall, it's Tyler's calm and cool pocket presence, gliding footwork, and naturally fluid throwing motion that remind me most of the "comeback kid."

This young quarterback has been nothing short of remarkable in his past two starts, beginning with Tampa Bay in Week Nine: 14-25, 164 yards passing, one touchdown, zero interceptions, and this past Sunday's game against San Diego: 27-41, 266 yards passing, three touchdowns, zero interceptions.

Unfortunately for the Chiefs, both games resulted in heartbreaking losses, but the Chiefs just keep coming back stronger!

A bounce here, a play there, and the Chiefs are looking a 4-5, instead of 1-8. Thigpen gets much of the credit. He has earned the respect of the teammates and this could be seen against the Chargers.

The Chief offense looked unstoppable on their final drive against the Bolts with under a minute left. Veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez hauled in a great Thigpen pass for a touchdown with twenty-three seconds remaining and the Chiefs looked nothing like their abysmal record might indicate.

This week, the Chiefs take on gunslinger Drew Brees and the 4-5 New Orleans Saints who are coming off a tough 34-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. At first glance, I believe the Chiefs match up well against the Saints.

For one, the Chiefs talented secondary (six interceptions in the last three games) will be locked in and ready to challenge the pass happy Saints.

Secondly, the Saints look vulnerable after giving up 66 points in their last two games. Currently, the Saints rank 27th against the pass and 19th against the run. That being said, Thigpen will get ample opportunities to lead the Chiefs to their second win of the season at home this Sunday.

In closing, it will be interesting to see how the Chiefs handle Thigpen's contract situation next year. The Chiefs have Thigpen signed on until 2011, when he becomes a free agent. He will make $370,000 this season, $460,000 in 2009, and $550,000 in 2010.

Could this be another Tony Romo situation, where the Chiefs make a long term offer to Thigpen next year if he finishes out strong this season? It may be too early to tell, and rumor has it, that the Chiefs will be drafting a quarterback regardless.

The Chiefs will get a shot at a top college quarterbacks with their anticipated high draft position. Could Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel be in a Chiefs uniform next year? That would be a great story. Daniel's size may be a concern, but we all know this guy can play.

Also, Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford or Texas Tech's Graham Harrell will undoubtedly be on the Chiefs draft day radar as well.

Lastly, free agency may play a part in this story as well with quarterbacks Matt Cassel, Kyle Boller, Kyle Orton, Rex Grossman, Jeff Garcia, J.P. Losman, Charlie Batch, and yes, possible MVP Kurt Warner becoming free agents at the end of this season.

At the end of the day, Tyler Thigpen's story has been a bright light in an NFL season that has seen its share of off the field player problems, fines, suspensions, and midseason coaching changes.

Will Thigpen be next Joe Montana? It may be too early to tell, but the early signs for Tyler "The Thrill" Thigpen look promising.

VIVA Gang Green!! New York Jets Turn Corner, Dominate Rams

Alan Lupiani — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 09:05:32 -0500

The New York Jets have arrived.

The Jets are for real folks. As I write this article, the Jets have just annihilated the St. Louis Rams, 47-3 at home.

Oddly enough, this story does not begin with the Jets convincing victory at home today, but in Week Eight, when the Jets narrowly escaped an embarrassing loss to the upstart Chiefs.

The close call in Week Eight served as a wake up call for the Jets' players and coaching staff alike. The follies began when Jet quarterback Brett Favre, the "mad heaver," needlessly started chucking the ball all over the field, playing into Kansas City's defensive strength, their secondary, resulting in three interceptions.

This game reminded me of a guy who takes out his new Ferrari, wants to test out all the bells and whistles, and in the process, looses control of the vehicle @ about 160 MPH, jumps the median on the Long Island Expressway, nearly takes out the Lexus SUV and BMW 323i in the oncoming lane, flips the car three times in the air, lands the car on its wheels, and drives off without a scratch.

The life of a Jet fan in the passenger seat of a Ferrari, oh me, oh my.

There had to be some kind of fallout from this kind of mind-numbing, nearly-catastrophic victory? The result: Coach Mangini, (who by the way, has named his latest offspring after Favre) had a sidebar with his veteran QB and told him to cool it and just "manage" the game.

How do you tell a living legend to "cool it?" To be a fly on the wall in that conversation...uhhhhum. Telling Brett Favre to "manage the game" is like telling Brett Favre well, what exactly can you tell Brett Favre not to do anyway.

The Jets immediately got back to basics in Week Nine by taking a fresh, "team first, just win the gosh darn game" attitude and beat the Bills in convincingly unglamourous, smash-mouth fashion. I observed the Jets' offensive line transform itself the third quarter of that game, taking control, gelling together, and dominating the line of scrimmage like two Olympic Russian ice dancers about to take their ninth consecutive gold medal at the winter games. The Jets, for once, looked seamless on offense.

Although Favre threw an almost disastrous pick to Buffalo corner Jabari Greer in the third quarter (Greer proceeded to return the interception for a touchdown to bring the Bills back to within six points), the Jets countered with a "sleeper hold" drive on their next possession.

The Jets offense wasted no time getting down to business after getting the ball back, combining a balanced ground and air attack to successfully counter with a clock eating, eight minute, 41 second, back-breaking drive to wind down the third quarter, which resulted in a 31-yard Jay Feely field goal and put the Jets up 26 -17.

A two-score lead immediately sucked all the air out of Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Jets had turned the corner, and all of a sudden, Gang Green looked like genuine "contendas!"

Yes, yes, yes, Jets, Jets, Jets!!! The $140+ million spent in free agency looks like it's paying off. As projected, it has taken the Jets approximately half the season to get their ship headed in the right direction. And now it's all systems go!!!

The additions of 11th-year veteran, free agent offensive guard Alan Faneca from Pittsburgh ($40 million over five years), and 10th-year veteran, free agent offensive tackle Damian Woody from Detroit ($25.5 million over five years) have solidified an emerging offensive line.

The offensive line has protected Favre by only allowing 16 sacks so far this season and zero sacks today against the Rams. They have also opened up gaping holes for veteran running back Thomas Jones (160 carries, 750 yards, eight touchdowns, this total includes today's game against the Rams).

Jones must feel like a kid in a candy store after only rushing for one, yes one, touchdown last season, and that TD came against the lowly 1-15 Dolphins.

And while we are talking sacks, let's take a look at how the investment on defense has paid off for the Jets as well. The new-look aggressive Jets D has 28 sacks (this includes today's two sacks against the Rams) and has been harassing quarterbacks all season.

Kris Jenkins, an eighth-year free agent defensive tackle acquired from Carolina (five-years, $35 million) has been solid up front, with 27 tackles and 2.5 sacks and consistently stuffing the run. Similarly, Calvin Pace, a sixth-year free-agent linebacker acquired from Arizona (six-years, $45 million) has also been a nice fit in the 3-4 scheme, making 39 tackles and four sacks this season. **Pace also returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown this past Sunday against the Rams. His first touchdown since high school.

Fast-forward to this afternoon and the Jets' convincing 47-3 victory over St. Louis. The Jets scored 40 points in the first half and Favre only threw the ball 19 times (14 -19, one touchdown, 0 interceptions) the entire game. Did I say, "smash mouth" before?

Gang Green dominated the Rams on both sides of the ball. Thomas Jones had 26 carries for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Leon Washington chipped in with 59 yards on 12 carries. The offensive line worked as a cohesive unit. Rookie TE Dustin Keller had nine catches for 109 yards and one touchdown.

On defense, the Jets only allowed 80 rushing yards and converted five turnovers (two INTs and three fumbles) into 27 points.

This brings us to right here, right now! JETS!! JETS!! JETS!!! The Jets are now 6-3. Can these Jets take on the 6-3 Patriots for the AFC East crown? You betya!

The Jets play the Patriots this Thursday night in New England, and this contest will be a defining moment in Jets history, for better or worse. A hostile crowd awaits at Gillette Stadium, with an old master at the helm leading the Pats, and you all know who I am talking about. This game will definitely have a playoff atmosphere and a bit of bad blood to boot, so keep your camcorders at home, if you know what I mean!

The grand wizard of Foxboro has figured out a way to cobble together a winning football team, minus the team leader, quarterback Tom Brady. The Patriots have also assembled an effective ground game with "no-names," BenJarvis Green-Ellis (26 carries, 105 yards, one touchdown against the Bills today), please stand up!

All in all, the Patriots will be ready for the Jets, and hopefully the Jets will be ready to change the course of history this Thursday night. We shall see.

THIS JUST IN

The Dolphins beat the Seahawks to go 5-4. These fish have barracuda teeth and are lurking more like a tiger shark than a fun-loving porpoise. Looks like "The Chad" has vengeance on his mind and has settled quite nicely in his new Florida digs. The Dolphins' season-ending meeting with the Jets at the Meadowlands on Dec. 28 looks to be more and more important with each passing game.

CLOSING NOTE

I can't believe I just wrote a whole article about the NY Jets without focusing on Brett Favre and the passing game. Perhaps a new day has truly arrived in Jets country! Smash-mouth football has arrived in Jets land...Hello, and welcome!! Viva Viva!!!

Bolts To ZAP Chiefs!

Alan Lupiani — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 01:47:59 -0500

Look for the San Diego Chargers to have a big day at home against the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday. I originally thought I would pick the Chiefs to WIN here in this bettors delight, (KC gets 15 points in this game, last I checked) but upon further review of this game, the Chargers should handle the Chiefs with few problems.

This game piqued my interest for many reasons:

1) Ron Rivera became the new defensive coordinator for the Chargers in the bye-week. How will this "4-3" guy adapt to the "3-4?" Rivera has stated that he will be aggressive by blitzing and taking calculating risks in certain situations. Shaun Phillips gets at least one (1) sack on Sunday. Cromartie and/or Jammer get one (1) pick (or great pick opportunity!) as well.

2) KC has been knocking on the door the past two weeks after a narrow loss away to the NY Jets in week 8 and a heartbreaking loss at home last week against the Bucs.

3) San Diego's high powered offense is arguably one of the best in the NFL. Philip Rivers has 19 touchdowns vs. only 6 interceptions.

4) KC's much talked about secondary has more than doubled it's INT total (7) for the season over the last two weeks, picking Favre three (3) times in week 8 and Garcia one (1) time in week 9. Also, KC is (+8) overall in giveaway/takeaways in relation to San Diego this season.

5) The emergence of Tyler Thigpen as a steadying force for the Kansas City Chiefs and lets not forget back up rookie running back, Jamaal Charles, who had 18 carries for 106 yards against a tough Buccaneer defense. Also, The Chargers are ranked DEAD LAST in passing defense.

6) The steady play of Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez, who each have three touchdowns apiece this season, both of them gaining between approximately 50-100 yards per week and providing solid targets for Chiefs QB, Tyler Thigpen.

**Interesting note, the last time the Chargers visited the Murph on September 30, 2007, a 30-16 Chiefs upset, Dwayne Bowe looked unstoppable, catching 8 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. Also, The teams are tied 2-2 in their last four (4) meetings.

All this being said, one cannot overlook the fact that KC ranks DEAD LAST in the NFL in rushing defense. As San Diego's defense adjusts under Rivera's leadership, I look for Norv Turner to devise a bit more conservative, ball-control ground game strategy this Sunday at home. LT has had more time to rest during the bye-week and should be ready to go against the Chiefs. I also look for Darren Sproles to get about 5-7 carries. And we all know what Philip Rivers can do in the air and now with Chris Chambers looking healthy, Rivers should have no problem picking and choosing his spots against Kansas City's porous defense. Rivers is having a Pro Bowl season with 19 TD passes thrown against only 6 interceptions and an overall 107.8 quarterback rating.

I do see Kansas City covering in this game, with the final score being 28 - 17 Chargers. San Diego's defense, minus Shawne Merriman, will be looking to re-make a name for itself against this weaker opponent. I predict Rivera will call for outside pressure on Thigpen, allowing linebacker Shaun Phillips to attack the pocket in key situations. Also, DB's Cromartie and Jammer will probably be asked to split the field and be more aggressive in Rivera's new defensive scheme in order to stop the likes of Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez.

INJURY UPDATE: CHIEFS - RB Kolby Smith was carted off the field with a knee injury against the Buccaneers and will miss the rest of the season. Smith started at RB last week for the Chiefs. That means more of the burden will fall on rookie RB, Jamaal Charles this week. CHARGERS - Are pretty healthy, key players listed as PROBABLE: WR Chris Chambers still has been nursing an injured ankle, and Antonio Cromartie, last season's INT sensation, has an injured hip.

FINAL NOTE: San Diego finished 11-5 in 2007, before losing in the AFC championship to the New England Patriots. The Chargers are at 3-5 this season. Many pundits have stated that San Diego could very well be at 7 -1 this season with a better defensive effort. The Chargers are in a MUST WIN situation at home this Sunday against the Chiefs in order to keep there playoffs hopes alive. It gets very difficult for teams to make the playoffs once the six (6) game loss plateau has been broken with eight games left in the season. To San Diego's credit, this team reeled off six (6) straight wins to close out the 2007 season and two (2) additional wins in the playoffs before losing to the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. A notorious "late starter," San Diego will begin its turnaround this week.

Brady Quinn's Debut/Dawg Pound's Sadness

Alan Lupiani — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:52:46 -0500

Brady Quinn played above expectations last night against the Denver Broncos, however, history was against the Cleveland Browns last night. Denver had beaten Cleveland 18 out of the last 20, and nine out of 10 IN CLEVELAND! Go figure.

The ghosts of John Elway and Bernie Kosar must still be lurking in the Dawg Pound...I don't understand what happened to Cleveland in the second half.

Quinn played solid in the first half, connecting on 11/15 for two touchdowns to oft disillusioned TE Kellen Winslow. Both Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison were productive in the first half with Lewis running for 49 yards on and Harrison for 44 yards on four carries, that's almost 100 total yards rushing in the first half!

It appears that Cleveland got a bit pass happy in the second half and got away from the run. Lewis finished with 60 yards on 19 carries and Harrison getting only one carry in the second half. Granted, Quinn did not throw any INTs, but it appears that Denver CONTROLLED THE TEMPO in the second half of this game.

The Broncos scored 21 fourth quarter points, with Jay Cutler having a huge night, 24-42 with 447 yards, three TDs, one INT. I did not expect Quinn to throw more than 25-27 times in this game, and I projected Jamal Lewis would have to rush for at least 90 yards in order for Cleveland to win this game. Neither of those things happened.

Quinn was 23/35, 239 yards, two TDs, no INTs. Lewis finished with 60 yards rushing on 19 carries. I was looking for Lewis to get at least 25 carries on the ground so Cleveland could keep Denver's offense off the field and control the clock. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN!

In conclusion, the BROWNS appear to be in an identity crisis. Quinn played well at QB, but the Browns have not established a solid defense this season and were exposed last night. Also, when it came time to control the tempo of this game, it appeared that Cleveland abandoned the running game, which does not say much for their offensive line.

All in all, the Browns appear exposed on both offensive and defensive fronts. Also, the coaching staff has to prioritize where this team is going. I would suggest that Crennel adopt a "smash mouth" Bill Parcells style of ball control, game management style of play. After all, the Browns DO NOT appear to be one of the most talented teams in the NFL this year, and every win will come as a result of executing a well thought out game plan.

It looks like NEXT YEAR has arrived already in Cleveland.