Post by TheShadow on Dec 31, 2006 10:55:22 GMT -5
www.insidebayarea.com
Column by Jerry McDonald
Inside Bay Area
Article Last Updated:12/31/2006 02:36:21 AM PST
EDUCATED GUESSES, shots in the dark, fun facts and jumping to conclusions for Week 17 in the NFL:
-There are few things more ridiculous than listening to Tom Brady stand at the podium and say with a straight face that only people who think the Patriots can win the championship are in the locker room.
Yeah, right. Everyone will be so surprised.
The only thing worse will be if the Patriots run the table and then have an entire locker room full of players say "Nobody thought we could do it" while they hoist their fourth Lombardi Trophy in six years.
-Warrick Dunn became the latest Atlanta player to question the direction of the team's offense, saying it lacked "identity."
Dunn doesn't fall into the category of a spoiled athlete complaining about his touches. He's one of the most respected players in the NFL. If Dunn is complaining, the Falcons have real problems and Jim Mora ought to have his rsum ready.
-Some people like Ohio State's Troy Smith, and others Notre Dame's Brady Quinn. Louisville's Brian Brohm plays in a sophisticated passing offense and could play as a rookie. For raw potential, there's LSU's JaMarcus Russell.
It says here Hawaii's Colt Brennan might be a better pro than any of them, but it appears he won't come out until 2007.
-Bill Cowher's reasoning for the 7-8 Steelers wanting to take down the 8-7 Bengals and deny them a shot at the playoffs?
"Misery loves company, and we're looking for company," Cowher said.
-Amazing that Al Davis, given his penchant for collecting Heisman Trophy winners, missed out on Ron Dayne. After getting zero carries in November, Dayne has 429 yards on 89 carries in December and 612 yards overall. Dayne was cut by Denver at the final roster cutdown and signed by Houston, coached by former Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.
At age 28, Dayne is roughly at the same point in his career as Tyrone Wheatley in 2000, who was signed by the Raiders after being cut by the Dolphins and became a productive power back.
-With a win tonight over Green Bay, Chicago becomes the first team to sweep its conference games since the 1985 Bears. The Bears are 11-0 within the NFC, with their losses coming against Miami and New England.
-The NFL ruled a hit by Patriots linebacker Clint Ingram to the back of Brady was legal. Brady was in the process of diving for a first down and did not slide.
The reaction of Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, however, could cost him some cash.
"They should have speared him then," Del Rio said in what appeared to be support for the tactic of leading with the crown of the helmet.
-Jon Kitna deserves a long whirlpool bath. If he plays the entire game against Dallas today, he becomes the first Lions quarterback since Bobby Layne in 1951 to take every snap from center in a season. He's 98 yards of 4,000 yards passing.
Kitna has 21 interceptions, nine lost fumbles and been sacked 58 times. He was going to be hurting this season regardless. He was courted by the Raiders before signing with Detroit.
-If it seems like it takes forever for the Raiders to score a touchdown, it's because it does. Oakland has 12 offensive touchdowns in 899 snaps, or one every 74.9 plays.
The second-worst is Tampa Bay at one score for every 48.6 snaps. Only three more times (Carolina at 40.6) and Minnesota (43.8) and Miami (44.1) are over 40.
San Diego takes the fewest plays to score, averaging one touchdown every 17.7 plays.
-Haven't sent it in yet, but here's this year's ballot for the Pro Football Weekly and Pro Football Writers of America postseason awards:
Overall NFL MVP: RB LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego.
Offensive MVP: Tomlinson.
Defensive MVP: DE Jason Taylor, Miami.
Coach of the year: Sean Payton, New Orleans.
Comeback player of the year: WR Ronald Curry, Oakland.
Overall NFL rookie of the year: QB Vince Young, Tennessee.
Offensive rookie of the year: Young.
Defensive rookie of the year: LB DeMeco Ryans, Houston.
Most improved player of the year: Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland.
Executive of the year: A.J. Smith, San Diego.
Assistant coach of the year: Rex Ryan, Baltimore.
-Count on the comeback honor to go to a quarterback such as Carson Palmer (knee), Drew Brees (shoulder) or Jeff Garcia (scrap heap) even though Curry's story is one of the most remarkable in recent years.
Most players don't return to full strength after one Achilles' tear, let alone two in less than a year's time. Not to diminish what Palmer and Brees went through, but quarterbacks return from knee surgery and shoulder surgery every year.
Palmer didn't miss a game 2005 and played in every game this year. Brees missed the 2005 finale.