NFL Week Six: My Three Wishes

More Gadget Plays

After a couple of seasons where "safety first" has been the watchword for most head coaches and offensive coordinators, we've suddenly seen a rush of trick plays. Much of this is due to the astonishing success of the Dolphins' "Wildcat" formation, where the ball is snapped directly to running back Ronnie Brown.

Some of this is, of course, born of necessity. Without this formation, the Dolphins' offense becomes at least as predictable as it was last season. With it, they have rolled over sides as good as the Patriots and Chargers.

Coincidentally, those two sides meet on Sunday. Each knows that the other is vulnerable to this kind of play. What's the betting that we see many more unusual plays run?

The NFL Discover Some Sense Of Proportion

I know, this is optimism of the worst kind. But fining Brown and two of his teammates for "excessive celebrating" really shows just how far the organization has gone to take the fun out of this game. There's a huge difference between a choreographed dance and taunting the opposition.

We should allow players to show their joy at their success in the way that all other sports do. Provided it doesn't amount to taunting the opposition, no-one should have a problem with it. And if it goes on too long, there's such a thing as a delay of game penalty–something which, in Brown's case, no official thought it necessary to call.

A Swift Recovery For Trent Edwards

The Bills were looking like playoff contenders for the first time in years. Edwards was at last looking like a franchise quarterback—for the first time ever. Then he was concussed, J.P. Losman took over and, on both sides of the ball, the Bills looked like the bad old team of the last four or five years.

Here's hoping that a bye week gives him enough time to recover—his team need him to, but more importantly, his career needs him.