Bleacher Report - Articles by Romo to Witten

Tony Romo vs. Donovan McNabb: Who's Really the Bigger Choke Artist?

Romo to Witten — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:12:26 -0400

The definition of a choke artist:

1. One who fails to perform effectively because of nervous agitation or tension so regularly and to such a grand scale that one becomes synonymous with the word failure, usually in an athletic contest.

2. Someone who is incapable of competing effectively when the situation calls for it.

Okay, you know I'm a Cowboys fan, so we all know where this article will go. But unlike a lot of other Cowboys fans, I will back up my argument will actual stats other than just my biased opinion.

There are two types of football fans in the world, those who love the Cowboys and those who hate them. If you love them, Tony Romo is our next triumphant hero. If you hate them, he has suddenly become the greatest choke artist of all time...after two playoff games.

Come on now, seriously?

What I find funny is that most anti-Romo fans decided to give him that label after the botched hold on the field goal against Seattle—his first playoff game ever. He also did not even start a single game until half way through that season.

Cowboys fans can give you that argument. Romo messed that one up big time. But last I checked, there hasn't been anyone who was labeled a choke artist after one playoff game.

Then you add in two seasons ago, when after a bye week, Romo could not manage to lead his team to victory over the highly underrated Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.

The saddest part of that game was that Romo did lead his team down the field at the end, and threw a beautiful pass on third down in the corner of the end zone to Patrick Crayton for the go ahead touchdown. Oh wait, Crayton stopped his route for some reason, and a perfect pass turned into nothing more than an incomplete pass.

Of course the fourth down pass, which was intended for Terry Glenn was picked off, but it was a complete desperation throw. Romo could not have just thrown it away with all of his receivers completely covered.

So Romo's playoff record is now 0-2. What an incredibly horrible record that is. I mean seriously, two games, and he couldn't even win one! Ouch!

Cowboys need to draft a QB in the first round all of a sudden!

The definition of a choke artist says someone that fails so regularly and on such a grand scale.

So for those of you who want to say Romo deserves the title simply because his team falls apart in December, shame on you.

Did you catch that line?

HIS TEAM falls apart.

If Joe Montana's teams performed on his Super Bowl runs the way the Cowboys have, he wouldn't have a ring to his name, and it would not have been because of him.

The quarterback will take the fame along with the blame.

Two losses can not give anyone the choke artist title. Haters give two-loss players that title.

John Elway lost his first two playoff games. It was not until he continuously "choked" year after year after year that the choke artist label became attached to his name. And when he won the big game, twice, it went away faster than T.O.'s big bowl of popcorn in Dallas.

Peyton Manning lost his first three playoff games. But again, he earned the choke artist name after repeatedly failing to make it to the big game year after year after year...

"Someone that fails so regularly and on such a grand scale...."

I don't think the definition of regularly applies to a two game situation in Romo's case.

And on such a grand scale?

Romo has not failed on the grand scale when he has yet to get through a playoff game, in only two chances.

But let me see...who has?

I do wonder...

The obvious of course has got to be Jim Kelly. Truly a Hall of Fame quarterback, who will undoubtedly live the rest of his life with the choke artist logo because of his four straight Super Bowl losses. That is down right sad.

Dan Marino easily is considered one of the greatest choke artists of all time. To hold every passing record in NFL history practically (until Favre came along) and only make it to one Super Bowl, and lose it, along with losing another two AFC championship games, tsk tsk tsk. Gag gag gag.

My dad always brings up one name when he hears the words choke artist, Fran Tarkenton. Three Super Bowl losses. Congratulations on making the list Tarkenton.

So now if Elway was not given that label after two losses, nor was Manning after three, or even Drew Brees after his first two losing attempts, how did Romo make the list, which is compiled of quarterbacks who have had multiple chances to win the biggest of games, yet failed to do so?

I'm not quite sure myself.

I am quite sure though that a certain Philadelphia Eagles quarterback by the name of Donovan McNabb has been on that list for more than a few years.

Oh how Eagles fans want to argue that point.

"It's not true! He's at least made it to the Super Bowl! He's won nine playoff games! That's more than Romo!"

The beauty of McNabb is this: after next season, I will venture to say he makes it back into the playoffs, and gets one more coveted playoff victory, and then lose again, in a much bigger game, and on a much "grander scale."

That one more playoff win for McNabb will give him the ultimate distinction as the only quarterback in NFL history to have won 10 career playoff games, yet failed to have ever won the Super Bowl.

He holds that fantastic record right now with Kelly with nine.

Remember Kelly?

That's the guy the entire football world sees as a true choke artist?

Is everyone following me here on this?

Now for the fun stuff you've been waiting for—the stats.

I would suggest all Eagles fans turning away at this point. I would say this is a spoiler alert, but you have already seen the outcome every year McNabb has been leading the charge, and failed, regularly, on a grand scale.

The 2000 season: The Eagles lose in the divisional round to the New York Giants 20-10. McNabb set the bar high with a 181-yard game performance. He threw one touchdown and one interception, and had a killer rating of 59.1, in a very big game. Ouch Donovan.

The 2001 season: The Eagles lose in the NFC championship game, and barely, to the St. Louis Rams 29-24. Unfortunately McNabb's weak 171 yards and quarterback rating of 73.1 was not near enough to help his team win.

**Remember this also please: The Philadelphia Eagles have always been a passing team first. It's not like McNabb does not get enough opportunities to lead his team to victory.

The 2002 season: The Eagles lose again in the NFC championship game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-10. McNabb's rating was a horrible 58.5, without a single touchdown and one interception. Unfortunately for him that one interception Ronde Barber returned 92 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Ouch again Donovan.

The 2003 season: The Eagles lose in another NFC championship game to the Carolina Panthers 14-3. This was the ultimate high for Donovan, who racked up incredible numbers such as a quarterback rating of 19.3 (HA!), zero touchdowns, and three interceptions. I don't even know what to say about that.

Romo's starting to look pretty good now isn't he fellas?

The 2004 season: Finally, the Eagles make it to the promised land, but fall short against the New England Patriots 24-21. Terrell Owens played his heart out with a messed up foot. The defense played decent against a tough Tom Brady-led offense. But who was that quarterback who just couldn't get the job done?

Yes that's right, that's right—McNabb. He threw for 357 yards. Not too shabby, except for the fact that he threw threw interceptions, which cost them dearly.

McNabb had only thrown eight interception all season long, yet threw three in the biggest of all games. I'd say that's not quite stepping up to the plate. I'd even say that was sort of...choking, at a very big time, in a very big way, on a very grand scale.

Even when McNabb and the Eagles offense got the ball down 10 points with eight minutes to go, he could not manage to get his team in a hurry up, no huddle mode, and wasted about four minutes to move 49 yards, before throwing a 30-yard pass to Greg Lewis.

Even getting the ball back at his own four-yard line with 40 ticks on the clock, and being down only three points, he couldn't manage to move them anywhere. Final result, a Super Bowl meltdown.

And finally, the 2008 season: The Eagles lose again in yet another NFC championship game against the Cinderella story Arizona Cardinals 32-25. This was sadly one of McNabb's best playoff performances, at least in the second half that is. Even though his defense did not help him much, McNabb still only put six points up on the board at the halfway point.

Hey, if Romo gets the blame every time he doesn't put points on the board, so does McNabb. Six points in 30 minutes against an average Cardinals defense is pathetic.

Especially since he showed how easily the ball could be moved against them in the second half.

This is the same Arizona Cardinal team that Philadelphia managed to score 48 against in the regular season.

Where did you go McNabb?

McNabb choked, again. This time in the post season against Arizona. Consistently playing good for one half of a game does not make one great. Playing consistently great for an entire game does.

I will continue to enjoy hearing how Romo is this instant choke artist, while McNabb is still hanging around the league, continuing to blow games at the most crucial of times. I would rather have Kelly leading the charge, at least he can run a no-huddle offense effectively.

I would also venture to say that anyone other than a Cowboys or Eagles fan would rather have Romo and all of his upside, with his measly two playoff losses, compared to a burnt out McNabb and his record-high nine playoff wins without a Super Bowl win.

"To fail to perform effectively because of nervous agitation (or puking) or tension so regularly and such a grand scale (one Super Bowl, four NFC Championships) that one becomes synonymous with the word failure."

Hello McNabb.

Enjoy your little tea parties with your fellow long-time failures, Marino, Kelly, and Tarkenton. Hold that ring-less pinkie up with pride.

Dallas Cowboys-Oakland Raiders: Roy Williams for Michael Huff

Romo to Witten — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:18:02 -0500

Roy L. Williams, the safety, almost has his bags completely packed to leave Dallas and it's starting to sound more like Michael Huff may have to do the same thing in Oakland soon, too.

So if these two guys have pretty much worn out their welcome with their current teams, why not pull the old switcheroo?

My dad (insane Raider fan) and I have discussed this for over a year now. We loved it when our teams drafted these guys, but they have both underachieved so much lately it's ridiculous.

Most Cowboy fans will riot if Roy is not cut, and the Raider fans only give a player a very short time to prove themselves, otherwise, move on.

A flat out player for player trade would be a very fair deal too. Huff will only be 26 going into next season while Roy will be 29.

If anyone is actually getting the better of the deal it may even be Oakland. Roy has had five pro bowl seasons, and even though his coverage skills have been lacking of late, he is still considered a very fierce hitter. Line him up alongside of Gibril Wilson and they could make a very nice tandem.

And if the Raiders can pull it together and sign Nnamdi Asomugha, with the rise of youngsters Chris Johnson and Stanford Routt, their defensive backfield would be set.

For the Cowboys, let's face it, they need coverage help bad. Roy has not been the right guy for the job these last two years. They need something different.

Michael Huff would bring much more speed than Roy ever had. With the notion of moving Anthony Henry back to safety this year, maybe moving Huff to a corner position would suit him better.

I at least think it would be worth a shot testing this out.

With Dave Campo taking over a more active role defensively this coming year, he could really help a young player like Huff grow into a great player. He did, at one time, have Roy Williams looking outstanding.

These two players careers have looked very similar except for Roy having seven years of NFL experience while Huff has only had three.

Roy was the eighth pick in the 2002 draft. Huff was the seventh pick in the 2006 draft.

In his seven years, Roy has compiled 506 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 38 pass deflections, and 19 interceptions. He is a five-time pro bowler.

Huff has totalled 191 tackles and only one sack and one interception. He is far from a pro bowler at this point of his career.

Michael Huff is already being labeled an NFL flop.

But from what I saw from him at Texas, I know, like a lot of people, he has some serious skill. It just needs to be showcased somewhere different.

Roy is basically going to get cut by Dallas. He signed a four-year, $25.2 million contract in 2006.

Huff, said to be in Al Davis' doghouse, signed a six-year, $43 million contract in the same year.

So if these two guys have a very good chance of not being part of their current teams' rosters at the start of the 2009 season, why not give them both a second chance?

Al Davis and Jerry Jones have always been good friends. They have had to have kicked this idea around at least once lately.

The players' contracts could be renegotiated once they land in their new cities, and let them prove to the league and the fans they're not washed up.

I really do feel that these are two very talented guys, who just happen to be in the wrong defensive schemes with their current teams.

I would love to see them both get one more shot to prove it to everyone else. What do you think?

How Has Fantasy Football Affected the NFL Fan?

Romo to Witten — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:44:50 -0500

How many people are actually into fantasy football?

How can something like this even be that much fun?

It's not a sport. It's for people who could never actually play football themselves.

Okay, that was my opinion until the summer of 2001 when my buddy, after drilling me about joining his fantasy league for the previous two years, finally convinced me to do it.

If I had only known prior how much fun it truly is, I would have been doing this for years.

Does anyone have any idea how long this has actually been around? Who started this addictive, non-contact "sport" so many of us play today?

Try 1962 when Bill Winkenbach—a partner for the Oakland Raiders—along with Philip Carmona (PR man), Bill Tunnel, Scotty Stirling, and George Ross first developed the concept. Stirling and Ross both worked for the newspaper, and created the idea on a team trip.

Upon returning, they set up a league known as the Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League. Unfortunately, having to manually do all of the stat work, it did not grow into the fantasy game we know today.

The major difference between then and now—computers. Around the early '90s, fantasy football really took a hold on a lot of American football fans.

So now, in 2009, any ideas as to how many of us actually play this game?

Fantasy football alone is played by over 30 million people.

When I joined, I joked about how only "geeks" probably did this, then realized how hooked I became after my very first draft.

It was exciting when you picked your own team of players you'll never actually sit or start depending on what their matchups look like from week to week.

I decided my team name had to be Shadow Knights, and of course I had to pick out the absolute most evil-looking skull face for my jet black helmet.

We fans of fantasy football spend more time during football season preparing our lineups, performing drop/adds (especially when that kicker had such a great game last week), trash talking it up with our next opponent, and making sure to have that one good running back, for that one good matchup in Week 17—just in case we make it to the championship game.

We have complete dedication to the game, even if we forget to pick the kids up at school, or your wife asked you to make dinner, while you instead, decided to chomp down half a bag of Doritos while checking the latest injury report on your star receiver.

There also happens to be an insane amount of money spent in the quest for the bragging rights of each league. From the purchasing of software to run a league, to online gambling in different leagues, to chipping in $10 to $50 or more, assuring your league's top-four receive a nice cash prize.

My hopes and dreams fell this past season when I saw my starting quarterback, Tom Brady, go down with a season-ending injury. I knew it would cost me a great chance at making the final game.

I'm sure there were quite a few fantasy football fans whose hearts sank too, knowing that killed their season as well.

But how much did that really cost Tom Brady owners?

Try approximately $150 million (in fantasy football money), if not more.

It was estimated that fans spent over $500 million this past season to enter into fantasy football leagues, and that teams with Brady on their roster had a 30 percent chance of winning their league.

You could probably buy the Detroit Lions for that kind of money!

I have discovered, after partaking in fantasy football for the last eight years, that I have become a walking stat sheet, seemingly pulling numbers out of my rear at any given moment, remembering how this running back's 54 yards cost me a game back in week three.

And how, if my receiver would have gotten credit for one more yard, it would have given me that one more win, placing me in a better playoff spot, which in the end I would have won it all.

We all do this. And we all know way too much about stats and backup players than any one person should.

And there is nothing more enjoyable—unless your team is 1-5 after Week 6, of course.

I used to only take great joy from a Cowboys or Raiders game. Now, I can sit and watch any game, and I mean any game, even if it's the Bengals-Browns, as long as I (or my opponent) have Carson Palmer or Jamal Lewis.

A lot of people, myself included, even have our TV's set with our NFL Sunday Ticket to show us on the screen every time one of our players does something. While watching a Cowboys game, I loved seeing "A. Peterson runs for a 25 yard TD" flash across the bottom of my TV.

The greatest for me is being down about 10 points, knowing my opponent has no one left to play, and I'm sitting down on Monday night, about to watch my star player attempt to get me those all-important 11 points to seal the victory.

If there are actually any NFL fans out there who do not play fantasy football, I would beg you to do so. It makes any fan that much more aware of all that goes on throughout the entire season, especially making it possible to enjoy every game you watch.

I've loved football my entire life, but I would have to say, since playing fantasy football, it has become a passion. It gives me a greater understanding as to how good players from other teams really are, and what they are really accomplishing on a weekly basis.

For me, I'll be hooked forever.

Feel free to tell me your creative team names, and share your fantasy football experience. That is, if you can pry yourself away from making your 2009 draft board.

Memo to Steelers Fans: Don't Forget Your Near-Loss to the Cowboys

Romo to Witten — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:03:24 -0500

Notice: The title of this article was changed on me. It did say "Steeler and Cowboy fans listen up" I did not write this to harp over the game between the two teams this year, but unfortunately the new title now gives that impression. You beat us fair and square. I am not bitter about that.

Let me start by saying this is not a Super Bowl article.

This is an article I am writing strictly as a defense to my Cowboys against every Cowboy-hating Steeler fan on here, that instead of commenting on the topic of an article, decides they must attempt to rip apart the entire Cowboys organization.

I don't like Pittsburgh, pretty sure most people get that by now. Pittsburgh fans don't like the Cowboys. I'm fine with that.

But every article I write, or comment I make, is followed by a Pittsburgh fan trashing myself for being a Cowboys fan, and the team I've followed my whole life.

Steelers fans want to keep saying how they won the big one, and the Cowboys don't have enough class and they don't make enough plays, Romo is crap, T.O. tears the team apart, their coaching sucks...do you not think most Cowboys fans are at least half-agreeing right now?

We know our team is falling apart quicker than Janet Jackson's halftime outfits, but come on, give me a break.

You think your team is that much better? The Steelers who had to go through absolutely no one in the regular season? The Steelers team who had to beat what, an 8-8 team, then the Ravens with rookie Flacco, and finish it off with a controversial, last second win against a 9-7 Cardinals team?

You know the Cardinals are not that good, right?

I just wanted to bring to light how much better you think your team is than mine.

Week 14, remember that? When we played each other? That wasn't too long ago. That was in the middle of the Cowboys playing about as bad as they could...and do you by chance remember how mighty your Steelers team was that day?

According to Steeler fans, since your team is so much better, you should have pummelled us, especially since it was in Pittsburgh, which is by far the toughest place for a travelling team to play.

But I'm pretty sure, just like Kurt Warner handing Harrison the ball in the SB, it took a Romo INT to win that game for you. Am I right?

The Cowboys went into that game with their top two running backs out, along with their first and second string guard, and third stringer Tashard Choice ran for the second best rushing yards against Pittsburgh this year with 88, plus had an additional 78 receiving.

Your boy Willie Parker compiled a measly 25 yards on 12 carries.

As bad as my team is, and as bad as they played that day, they still were leading 13-3 with under 8:00 to go.

And if it wasn't for Romo, with a bum finger, throwing the ball right to Townsend with 1:40 left, who knows how that game would have ended.

Pittsburgh didn't beat the Cowboys, the Cowboys beat themselves (Sounds familiar Arizona, doesn't it?).

Steelers fans can continue to bash on the Cowboys all they want, just remember your team is a dead equal as far as how good you actually are.

The only decent teams you beat during the year was Baltimore twice, New England (without Tom Brady), and that's it, since I keep hearing how bad Dallas really is.

Congratulations on your Super Bowl win, which was nothing more than a road travelled through a bunch of average nobody teams, by an average Steelers team.

I was hoping to see two titan teams battle it out in this year's Super Bowl, like last year's.

Instead we just got to see how Clark Kent-like the Steelers really were, having to go to the final seconds to beat the lowly Cardinals.

Feel free to continue to rip on the Cowboys, and tell me how bad and horrible they really are. And then just remember we had you beat in Week 14, before the meltdown.

You're as average as we are.

Why Can't the Pittsburgh Steelers Ever Win Without Controversy?

Romo to Witten — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 07:15:11 -0500

The majority of America felt disgusted and sorry for Mike Holmgren and his Seattle Seahawks after Super Bowl XL, which was one of the worst officiated games in NFL history.

I had never seen more articles written after one game about officiating like that Super Bowl, and how the refs seemed to be on a mission to ensure The Bus left Detroit with a Super Bowl ring.

Mission accomplished, refs. That was absolutely ridiculous.

Now we fast forward to 2009, Steelers vs. Cardinals, for one more year of bragging rights, and most of America is wondering if those same officials made the trip.

I sat in a room with about 25 people, only knowing about 10 of them, but not one person in that room, Steelers fan alike, said the refs were not, once again, favoring the Steelers.

This is insane that the worst officiated games just so happened to be when the Steelers are involved.

I guarantee you, you put the Raiders in these situations, and the results would be different.

I'm saying that because the Raiders and Al Davis will never get calls to go their way. The league has had it out for them ever since he moved them from Oakland to L.A., to Oakland, to L.A., to Oakland...etc. :)

In yesterday's game it seemed that if the teams would have been switched, and those same plays occurred, you would not have seen half those calls made, because the calls would have hindered Pittsburgh.

One Eagles fan whom I was watching the game with, who said he wanted Pittsburgh to win, even stated the refs should have been wearing black and gold stripes, with the words "12th Man" on the front.

I watch as many games as I can each year. I love football. I've seen every TD celebration I can think of. Wes Welker gets fined for making a snow angel in the snow, and he didn't even use the football as a prop.

Now, the rulebook does state, if you use the football as a prop, there is a penalty. Bottom line. That is it. Prop.

Then how is it that I see Santonio Holmes doing his post-TD celebration, with the football, which by definition is a prop! How is this not called?

Answer: Because he is a Pittsburgh Steeler.

How do you call roughing the holder on a kick? Adrian Wilson clearly did not try it. Shouldn't that have been possibly a five-yard penalty? Oh wait, that occurred against Pittsburgh. That's right.

A 15-yard facemask was called against, if I recall, Rodgers-Cromartie against Holmes, when both were grabbing each other's facemask, yet there was still no "head-turning" that occurred. Therefore, there never should have been a call.

The rulebook states the player's head has to be jerked or moved in order to call a 15-yard penalty. Oh wait, that goes out the window when it happens to a Pittsburgh Steeler player. My bad.

The worst that I've probably seen has got to be the final play. It was almost a mirror image or the previous Kurt Warner "fumble, no, incomplete pass" play from earlier in the game.

We're talking the final play of the Super Bowl! And we can't even get a replay? Both Madden and Michaels were already preparing for one more play and just a little more hype. And we can't even get a replay? Are you serious!?

Oh wait...that would not have been beneficial to the Pittsburgh Steelers, would it? Maybe I missed that. In that case, the refs were correct. It would have been ludicrous to have a replay occur that could in the end affect the Steelers winning that game.

Good call, refs. Hope you cash out those paychecks the Rooney's gave you quick before you get questioned too much.

How about Mr. League Defensive MVP? Oh, isn't he great, running that pick back all the way for a TD? Followed that up with a cheap shot that caused John Madden to say, "He should be kicked out of the game for that one."

I'm sure the Steeler fans will say he did nothing wrong on that play, because the Steeler fans are still living in their "tunnel-vision."

And if you question why I say Steeler fans have "tunnel-vision" when it comes to their team, here's only one example I will give:

Friend of mine, huge Steelers fan, tells me how in Super Bowl XXX, when the Cowboys beat Pittsburgh, that the Steelers were far and away the better team that year. They were robbed.

Better team? I responded with who was exactly on those two teams that year...Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Jay Novacek, Moose Johnson, probably the best O-line in the game at that time, along with one of the best D's in the league. His Steelers were led by Neil O'Donnell, Bam Morris, Yancey Thigpen, and Andre Hastings?

And that team was better? After pointing out the players in the game, he still said the Cowboys weren't a better team. He lives with the Pittsburgh "tunnel-vision."

Steeler fans feel that unless they won the game, they were somehow robbed. And after most losses they'll tell you how the other team didn't win the game, but rather how their Steelers gave the game away.

This is the working man's team. If they don't win there is an injustice!

I'm sure every response I get will be to me bitching about the game, because I didn't want the Steelers to win.

You're right, I hate the Steelers. I loathe the Steelers. This year has only made me despise them that much more.

They can never do anything on their own.

The worst part is, if Kurt Warner doesn't hand Pittsburgh the ball right before the half, Arizona would be kings of the world right now. The Steelers should give Kurt a small bundle of cash for that one, too.

All I see, since I wasn't around for the previous four super bowls the Steelers won, is that the last two they did, they didn't win for themselves.

The Steelers walk away this year with the title after beating and 8-8 team, the Ravens with no offense and a rookie quarterback, and a 9-7 Cardinals team that was playing above its level. Yet, Arizona still should have won the game.

All of Seattle must feel downright horrible for Arizona, knowing exactly how they feel.

The room full of 25 people I was in last night was ready to riot.

The officiating has become an absolute joke when they are doing a Steeler game.

Unless you're a Steeler fan, and you enjoy getting enough bad calls to sway your games, then you're as sick of it as I am.

Just once, once, I would love to see the Steelers go out and win one game for themselves when it matters the most.

Well, until the next Steelers' Super Bowl appearance, I'll enjoy some good officiating.

Go refs.

Why the NHL, NBA, and MLB take a back seat to the NFL

Romo to Witten — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:58:45 -0500

Between league strikes, steroid abuse, and lack of fan support, there is one thing certain in this day and age—NFL Football reigns supreme in the sports world.

I am part of the worldwide revolt too.

When I was a kid, I remember riding my bike to the nearest store to buy a 40-pack of baseball cards—you know, the kind with the 10-year old stale gum in it.

I had bookfulls of my favorite players: Ricky Henderson, Jose Canseco, Ryne Sandberg, and for some odd reason, Tony Fernandez. I actually liked the sport.

Baseball slowly died out as an interest, but throughout high school I lived and breathed the NBA. I loved Dominique Wilkins. I followed teams such as the Magic, Knicks, Hawks, and Suns.

In my eyes, the NFL still rules.

What started for me about three years ago, I now see in everyone else I talk to.

No one gives a rip about any sport other than the NFL.

I will bounce to hockey when the season ends, but to watch it all year long—who really cares?

That's the major problem with other professional sports. Teams play too many games.

If you're a baseball fan, and you lose a few, who cares? You still have a multitude of games to make it up.

Basketball and hockey are the same. No one lives and dies with each game when there are 82 to be played.

People watch an NFL game and know, especially after what has happened this season with the standings, that one game can make or break your favorite team's season.

We give ourselves to every game we watch. Each win makes us feel like we just won the lottery, while it seems that we should take a sick day after each loss.

Baseball is a seriously tainted sport right now. There are new records being broken each year by players who have gained about 70 pounds of muscle in a two-year span. It causes major controversy.

True fans of the game hate that the long-standing records of the greats from the past are being shattered by players like Barry Bonds.

Then there are players like Jose Canseco and others who love to try and take everyone else down with them in their latest biographies. All it does is kill the game that much more.

I live in Pennsylvania, and couldn't believe how there was no hype for the World Series. I was waiting to hear it from every Phillies fan I knew, but even they don't care enough about the sport.

As for the NBA, I went from watching any televised game in the past to barely being able to sit down for more than 15 minutes at a time.

Where have all the pure players gone?

There are no more Jordans, Ewings, Drexlers, Magic Johnsons, or Barkleys. It was players like Chris Mullen, John Stockton, and Reggie Miller that made the games watchable.

Now, a good percentage of the league is either a thug off the street or palms the ball like Allen Iverson.

It also gets tougher to follow when the NBA draft is being held, and two in every three picks are players from Germany or Yugoslavia whose names are downright unpronounceable.

How often do you see kids driving to the hoop against their friends saying, "Kelenna Azubuike for the layup!"

And watching games, these guys are really among the best in the league.

Thankfully there are a few players like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Kobe Bryant who resemble the past, but for the most part, the majority of the world doesn't care.

The NHL has never been a strong candidate as far as the leading sports go, and their stock has dropped drastically since the 2004-2005 lockout.

As far as the NFL goes, there is no other sport like it. Name me one other sports where there is an actual countdown to the start of free agency?

An actual countdown!

There are football pools that are created for free agency, the NFL draft, realignment, coaches, and what color outfits the players wear on Wednesdays.

This is America's Game!

It's above and beyond the most watched sports on television. Of course, there isn't an American sporting event bigger than the Super Bowl. It's been a yearly Nielsen ratings leader for a while now.

Do you really know anyone who has an NBA Finals party at their house?

How about a World Series party?

Super Bowl Sunday is a national holiday in the American public's eyes.

And for now, it will remain that way—most likely for a very long time, unless there is a strike along the way. But I would still seriously doubt that would do too much to kill football.

Now that the 2008 season is over after this weekend, these are the two words that are uttered from a consensus of fans, myself included:

This sucks.

Dallas Cowboys: A Poem From The Heart

Romo to Witten — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:42:34 -0500

Another season has passed without even a chance,

To go to the game that we call "The Big Dance"

We looked just as bad as we did in '07,

Even a playoff birth would've been like heaven

But not with this team, which crumbles as fast,

As the same Cowboys teams from 12 years past

Camp Cupcake has failed, yet Wade is still boss,

But we'll turn this around, no matter what cost!

For Jerry's got pockets deeper than the rest,

Even if all his money has not acquired the best

"That's my quarterback man," T.O. has whined,

As he sneaks up to stab Romo from behind

The secret meetings, the lack of coaching,

The gun in Pacman's hand is still smoking

The bad special teams, the lack of hits,

The way Romo stares at Jessica's....hair

We need order, we need Ray Lewis,

Anyone willing to say, "We can do this!"

There are no leaders, we have lost all hope,

This team has become the artists of choke

What happened to Aikman and others that cared?

He showed up on time, and was always prepared

Roy Williams (the safety), has no coverage skills,

Yet Jerry has paid him some serious bills

Romo's little pinkie, Barber's baby toe,

The defense all asking, "Which way did he go?"

Flozell's 30 false starts, Ware was offsides again,

Playing like a bunch of boys and not like men

Deliver like a postman, through snow and through rain,

Even if Jerry Jones forgets to catch the team plane

I pray next year is different, I can't stand it any more,

I don't care if they want to show T.O. the door

This ain't Parcell's team, even though he created 'em

Hope they play better in the billion dollar stadium

I'll still show support, still act like I care,

Man how I miss Jimmy Johnson's fake hair...

Hopefully next season doesn't end with me cryin',

Look at the bright side, we could be the Lions!

Dallas Cowboys: What Is Wrong with These Guys?

Romo to Witten — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:02:30 -0500

Where do we even start?

Everything that is so good about this team is also what curses them. Romo, T.O., coaching, defense, etc. They were downright embarrassing this year at times.

I thought last year's loss to the Giants in the playoffs was hard to get over. This entire season has been like a slap in the face.

But I have not lost hope. I'm slightly doubting now, but the hope is still there.

A major part of why the 2008 season fell apart was clearly to injuries. An insane amount of injuries.

Romo, Barber, Felix, Kosier, Holland, Witten, Hurd, Austin, Roy Williams (S), Keith Davis, Watkins, Newman...The list goes on. How can a good team overcome losing key players all year like that?

No one can.

The Steelers are healthy. The Cardinals are healthy. The Eagles and Ravens were healthy. That fact is too serious to overlook, yet everyone wants to think the Cowboys are just that bad.

Of course, we did bite ourselves over and over again with mistakes, lack of concentration, bad coaching, horrible play calling...etc.

One main difference from this year to last was the close games.

Even with the injuries, this team is the same as last. The records tell otherwise, but a few things ending differently and they're almost identical.

Last year, they squeaked out a win against Buffalo (we all remember that one), Washington, and Detroit. That easily could have put Dallas at 10-6 last year.

This year you play the full 60 minutes against Washington and Arizona, and there's two more wins. Even one of those games, and Dallas is 10-6, just like they could have been last year.

Romo's numbers were down this year, but with his top two running backs, fourth and fifth string receivers, and starting guard hurt how much can a guy do on his own?

Then you add in T.O.'s bull and secret meetings and so on...

Also, a busted pinkie can't help. He's a quarterback, he needs all 10 fingers to be 100 percent effective.

But again, one more win gets a playoffs spot, and seeing what Arizona has done this year, not to mention the Giants last year, who knows what might have been.

The Cowboys have an uncanny way of forgetting their troubles when they're winning. If they wouldn't have won 13 games last year, we might have seen this same falling apart.

We need team unity. People need to step up.

Romo has to. Witten has to. T.O. tries, just not the right way all the time.

These guys need to be leaders. Ray Lewis would be an amazing addition to this team just because of his leadership. I was hoping Zach Thomas would have been, but we were wrong.

Bradie James is our proven defensive leader but still needs to be more vocal. Newman needs to also. We'd be set if DeMarcus Ware was more vocal. At least he leads by example.

Bottom line

Phillips will get one more year to see if he can actually do this or not. It's a shame, too, with Mike Shanahan sitting out there.

Wade also must take over all defensive play-calling.

Offensively we are completely fine. Those guys get healthy and the Cowboys have one of, if not the best, offenses in the league. Garrett just needs to change the play-calling. The league has adjusted to his schemes. Find new ones, Jason.

Defense proves year after year to be our weak spot. But aside from Roy Williams, the roster is basically set. That's where the coaching needs to take over.

You give our defense to Philly's Jim Johnson, and my God, look out. He makes mediocre players look amazing.

It might finally be time to move Anthony Henry back to safety, along with Hamlin, and let the young corners step up. I love what I saw from Scandrick this year, and Jenkins really started to come along by the end.

They have to re-sign Burnett. Great player. He reminds me so much of Bradie James, aside from all his injuries. James sat as a backup, then when he got his chance, he never looked back.

I think Burnett can be that kind of player. Carpenter is really the guy that may have worn his welcome out in big D.

They also have to re-sign Canty. Not many players like that in the league that can produce at the end spot in a 3-4 defense. Not a bad find in the fourth round, when he was originally projected as a first rounder. An eye injury will do that to you around draft day.

As far as the draft is concerned, with nine draft picks, Jerry needs to trade up to an early second-round pick to get a player of serious talent. My pick would be a fiery player. The perfect position would be outside linebacker/defensive end, like another DeMarcus Ware.

They tried with Anthony Spencer, but he's almost too nice or something.

We all knew Ray Lewis was nasty in college. Warren Sapp. Even Brian Dawkins. I know they can't land a first rounder, but there are guys out there that aren't first round quality that can be a big time locker room leader. Find someone with some anger.

If there's one there, maybe even a safety. I know there's only one decent safety in this year's draft though, according to my man Mel Kiper, the draft god.

After that they need to get youth at the wide receiver position. Who knows how much longer T.O. and company will be around. Hopefully even someone like a DeSean Jackson, who has kick and punt return capabilities.

Then defensive back and backup quarterback.

I'm used to them drafting off the wall every year, so it won't surprise me if there first three picks are tight end, offensive line, and backup kicker.

In the end I've already put this horrible season behind me. I hope the Cowboys players can do the same thing.

Unfortunately, a lot of the fans and the media aren't allowing them to do it.

Cowboys for life baby.

Let's hear our battle cry one last time...."Next year's ours!"

Pittsburgh Steelers-Philadelphia Eagles: Do They Actually Cheer for One Another?

Romo to Witten — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:48:40 -0500

Welcome to media week in the NFL.

The week every player and coach on the two Super Bowl teams get harassed by reporters from all over, in an attempt to grab a quote here or there, and put in big bold letters on the front of a newspaper:

"We know we can beat these guys. We've just fought too hard to get here..."

But this will also become the 43rd year of the Super Bowl, in which the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles will not face one another. They've happened to come close a few times, but both teams have not been able to get over the hump the same year.

This year in the NFC Championship game, after only playing one half of football, the Eagles crumbled to the Arizona Cardinals, this year's Cinderella story.

Oh what may have been...An all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl.

Every K-mart and Walmart across the state would be happier than a fat guy on wing night.

But again, not this year.

There is quite a bit of history with these two teams, which as most people know, were one team in 1943, during World War II, known as the Steagles...very original.

After 10 straight years of a losing record for the Eagles, this actually was their very first winning season... and they needed the Steelers to help accomplish that feat? Who knows.

Maybe that was the start of it all. The two teams split the next year like Siamese twins, the Eagles moving on while the luck stayed with Pittsburgh.

Although, the very next year the Steelers actually joined up with the Chicago Cardinals to become the team known as the Card-Pitt, which the rest of the league mockingly referred to as the "Carpets", since their 0 - 10 record placed them at the bottom of the league.

But after the short stint as the Card-Pitt, the Steelers have become one of the most successful NFL teams in history, while year after year the Eagles struggle for mediocrity.

Both franchises joined the league in 1933, with the Eagles actually holding the edge in the Hall of Fame category, with 19 players inducted. (One being John Madden in '58, but never took a single snap with the team due to injury.) So maybe more like 18.

The Steelers have placed 17 players/coaches into the Hall of Fame, but another 10 to 15 years should sway the numbers Pittsburgh's way big time.

As far as playoff records, since the modern era (1970) Philadelphia has compiled a playoff record of 15-17, while the Steelers are 30-18 in the playoffs.

The Oakland Raiders have proven over the years to be a thorn in Pittsburgh's side, but not more than the Eagles, since they beat the Eagles in there first ever Super Bowl under the coaching of Dick Vermeil, while being led by Ron Jaworski at quarterback.

The only other Super Bowl the Eagles have been to, and lost, was to the New England Patriots. If not for some serious lack of clock management on Donovan McNabb's part, the Eagles might have won that game.

While the Eagles sport their 0-2 Super Bowl record, the Steelers are, as of today, 5-1 in Super Bowl play. Winning this year would place them as the only team with 6.

Through the years the Pittsburgh Steelers have been far and away the more dominant team than the Philadelphia Eagles.

But what do the fans feels about all of this?

I am a Cowboys fan living in Pennsylvania. I see it on a daily basis. Every radio commercial backs either Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. Every store has more Steeler/Eagles merchandise than necessary.

(As I'm writing this, the Steeler's fight song is on my radio, being played by an Eagles' fan DJ, who is rooting for Pittsburgh to win it all.)

...I think I just threw up a little.

But over the years, I've seen and heard it all. My mom is an Eagles fan, my sister's a Steeler fan. It's all in the family, so they will cheer each other's team on to victory once their own team gets knocked out. (It's basically been my mom cheering for my sister)

I've also seen some seriously angered fans who would rather have the other PA state team go down in flames, so they don't have to worry about state bragging rights for the next year.

Will Eagle fans cheer for a rival team that are too cheap to even put their emblem on both sides of their helmet? Really though, Philly looks more like the team who should only have one wing on their helmets, the way the team flies in constant circles, never able to reach the final destination.

I, personally, would in no way cheer for my state rival. I'd hope they'd fall apart quicker than Pacman's NFL career.

I have to assume the majority of Steeler fans probably don't care too much, since their team has dominated for so long, while the Eagles have yet to accomplish anything with any actual meaning. No one cares if they won the "NFL Championship" in 1960. Seriously Philly fans, this is what you fall back on? 1960!?

I love nothing more than seeing Eagle fans continuously wearing their 2004 NFC Champs shirt, or their latest, 2006 NFC Eastern Division Champs. Wow, there's something to brag about.

Can't argue the old "No Fear" shirt saying, "Second place is First loser."

So come on Eagle fans, are you going to tell me you are cheering your state-rival Pittsburgh Steelers on to win yet another Super Bowl, while you sit at home listening to your Fly Eagles Fly theme song over and over, continuously thinking about Arizona's game-winning drive over a week ago that took away your chance for your first ever Super Bowl victory?

Knowing you'd get to play a team you already beat earlier this year?

And what do you think Steeler fans? What if you would have lost to Baltimore, and the Eagles moved on? Would you be toting an ugly green jersey for this weekend's game?

I can barely type this next comment...but if the Eagles would have beaten Arizona, I would actually....had to...oh this hurts...I would have cheered for...THE EAGLES!! THERE, I SAID IT!!

I'm sorry, but I could not sit there and cheer for Pittsburgh to get that sixth before my Cowboys! I would have been singing the Eagles' fight song louder than Aretha Franklin.

In the end, I must say I am now thankful knowing another NFL season has passed without the city of Philadelphia receiving the coveted Vince Lombardi trophy.

Hopefully for my sake, due to where I live, Arizona can rise to the occasion and save me hearing it for next year.

But if not, how many of you Eagle fans would be wearing the mask of "I'm just so happy for my interstate rivals?"

(And Steeler fans, with Philly's luck, do you really want them on your side?)

Arizona Cardinals-Pittsburgh Steelers: Which Team Is More Worthy?

Romo to Witten — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:12:28 -0500

Who deserves this title the most?

The Arizona Cardinals, with their Cinderella story, going to their first Super Bowl in franchise history?

Or the Pittsburgh Steelers, the supposed "working man's team," attempting to win their unprecedented sixth Super Bowl championship.

My opinion

Arizona Cardinals hands down.

And I'm not talking about which team is better. All around, Pittsburgh's team as a whole is a better unit. Arizona's defense all season has been down right horrible at times. They couldn't run the ball to save their lives. Luckily, they had Kurt Warner at quarterback to win games for them.

The Steelers' offense was average, but their top-ranked defense won many a game for them. But looking back at this season, were the Steelers that good?

Starting this year, the Steelers were cursed with one of the hardest schedules in the league, according to last year's records. It's funny how tough that schedule looks now though, at the end of the year. Not quite so hard after all.

Eight of Pittsburgh's 12 wins came against teams with a winning % of .500 or lower. The Eagles, Giants, Colts, and Titans all handed the Steelers a loss, and most likely would have in the postseason, if any of these teams would have gotten the chance to.

Arizona wasn't much better in the regular season though. Seven of their nine victories came against teams with a winning % of .500 or lower. And they finished with three fewer wins than Pittsburgh. Only four of their losses were to playoff teams, but it could be argued New England and the Jets were pretty close.

Everyone wants to talk about how easy the Cardinals had it, getting to play six games against the 'Niners, Rams, and Seahawks. Every NFL would love to play in that division right now.

But Pittsburgh was awfully close: Bengals twice, Browns twice, and yes Baltimore. Unfortunately for the Ravens, their lack of offense keeps any opponent in a game. But hats off to Pittsburgh to taking them out all three times.

By season's end, Pittsburgh was the better team. Any football fan would admit that. In fact, most would even say Arizona was easily at the bottom of the weakest teams in the playoffs.

I'm a big Kurt Warner fan, but even I scoffed at them each playoff round, continuously picking them to go down in playoffs pools. All they did was make a believer out of me.

If Pittsburgh wins this Super Bowl, they should be handed, along with the Lombardi Trophy, a second trophy, for the easiest championship ever won, by who they had to beat along the way.

After a first-round bye, they got to play the lowly San Diego Chargers, who they only managed to squeak a victory out against in the regular season, 11-10. That's sad.

They beat them more convincingly in the playoff game, 35-24, but who expected any different, they were 8-8 for crying out loud! While the 11-5 Patriots were sitting at home, an 8-8 team was in the playoffs.

That's nothing short of embarrassing for an NFL team. Yet amazingly, that same 8-8 team took down the streaking Colts, who looked to be on their way to a second championship.

So the Steelers managed to avoid the Colts. Well, at least the Titans would take them down for the second time... oh wait, no, they managed to choke against the Ravens. While the Titans' defense shut down the Ravens' offense, they also decided to turn the ball over three times, sealing the deal.

So the Steelers also avoid the Titans, and instead get to play the Ravens team again, which a few high school teams have a better offense than. Wow, welcome to the Super Bowl Pittsburgh. That was a tough road, huh?

Now Arizona on the other hand, has earned every playoff victory they've won. Even a blind man could see that. They've had me in awe these last three weeks.

While Big Ben finished the regular season with a lousy 80.2 rating, 17 TD's, and 15 INT's, Kurt Warner has compiled 30 TD's, 14 INT's, 4,583 yards, and a quarterback rating of 96.9. Not bad for the guy a lot of people thought wouldn't even be in the NFL at this point.

Head to head, Kurt Warner smokes Big Ben like a pack of Camels.

Big Ben already has a Super Bowl victory under his belt, that he didn't even earn. While his team beat Seattle, with some serious help from the refs, he gave the performance of his life: a 22.6 rating. Wow. Awesome Ben.

And in his two playoff games this year, he's put up a TD total of 1. Again, wow. What a leader. How did this guy get the $100 million contract?

Kurt Warner compiled eight TD's and two INT's in his three playoff games, where last week's game against Philly his quarterback rating was 145.7. That's just sick.

Their first playoff game they took down a very impressive Atlanta team. Some thought a fluke, since they had the rookie quarterback Matt Ryan at the helm. Okay, so maybe that win wasn't as impressive.

But what about Carolina? My god, they didn't just squeak by them, they flat out trounced them, 33-13. And Carolina's TD didn't even come until late in the fourth quarter. One of the most dominating games I saw this year. Pittsburgh should thank Arizona for removing another threat from the playoffs there.

And then last week, against one of the best defenses in the league, they managed to take out Philadelphia. The Eagles put up one heck of a fight the second half, and if not for Arizona's last drive, no one would even be talking about Arizona's Cinderella story.

But they did have that one last drive, and Hightower did punch it in on third down, to seal the victory. Very impressive. Warner continuously shows up when he's supposed to.

Pittsburgh had to have enjoyed seeing one of the 4 teams to hand them a loss this season, get wiped out in the NFC Championship game, yet again. Happy for you Pittsburgh, you managed to not have to face Philly either.

But Arizona EARNED it.

Are they a better team than Pittsburgh? No.

Is Arizona better than the Falcons, Carolina, or Philly? No, not in my opinion. But they had to go through them, and did, convincingly.

Is Pittsburgh better than Indianapolis, Tennessee, Philly, or Carolina? Nope. But it doesn't matter. They didn't have to play any of those teams. Instead they got to play an 8-8 team, followed by the lackluster offense of the Ravens, with a rookie quarterback.

Pittsburgh's a better team than Arizona, but last year, New England was better than the Giants, yet we saw how that turned out.

My biggest question was who has earned the trip to Tampa Bay more?

Clearly Arizona.

My hats off to them. What a playoff run they've had. I hope it continues for one more game.

There is no other team that deserves it more.