Cam Newton finally gave an explanation as to why he did not dive for that fumble in the fourth quarter with his team only down by six points with a little over four minutes to go in the Super Bowl. He said his "leg was contorted in such a way" but he never really finished that thought. The replay only shows his leg being contorted when he was headed the opposite way of the fumble.
Newton always gave the reasoning of when a quarterback throws an interception but that is a completely different scenario. When a quarterback throws an interception, defensive lineman see that as an opportunity to legally "block" the quarterback and that usually means laying a cheap shot on the quarterback and drilling him through the ground. The only time Newton made an effort to get the football was when it deflected back by him and he really only gave a half ass effort then.
Just like the Seattle Seahawks and their fans have had to relive the New England Patriots interception at the goal line from last season, Carolina Panthers fans will be reliving this fumble and non-recovery for quite a while. Cam Newton did not see the fumble as a pivotal play in the game. Newton also penned an open letter to Panthers fans promising to continue to "win his way." I wonder if that way is over the top showboating when he wins, taking his football and going home when he loses, and making excuses when the situation demands it.
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Kobe Bryant's Farewell Tour
Kobe Bryant's farewell tour around the NBA is starting to wind down and I will be one of the few people on the planet that believes the end cannot get here fast enough. Kobe Bryant came into the NBA out of high school in Philadelphia and was drafted in the first round, 13th overall, by the Charlotte Hornets. He refused to play for the Hornets and demanded to be traded to one of three NBA teams. A trade to the Los Angeles Lakers was worked out and a star was born. There is no denying Kobe's talent and his place in NBA history.
When he announced that this would be his final NBA season an amazing transformation occurred. Bryant suddenly has the congeniality of a game show host, granting interviews and clowning around in front of the cameras. His last appearance in Charlotte really caught my attention. These were the same fans he refused to play in front of to start his career but the same fans that he did not want to miss seeing him play his last time in Charlotte. In a tribute fitting for his final season, Michael Jordan recorded a message that was played for Kobe. Kobe went out and shot 5 for 20 from the field, including 3 for 12 from the three-point line.
The Los Angeles Lakers have sacrificed this season in order for Kobe Bryant to say his good bye's and to receive all of the accolades. He has played his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers and that is a rarity these days in any sport. The Lakers are not a good team this season and Bryant is shooting a career low .355% from the field. He has already played more games this season that he has in the previous two seasons combined. When he scored 38 points the other night that was the lead story on the majority of the sports highlights shows. I will be glad when the spotlight fades.
When he announced that this would be his final NBA season an amazing transformation occurred. Bryant suddenly has the congeniality of a game show host, granting interviews and clowning around in front of the cameras. His last appearance in Charlotte really caught my attention. These were the same fans he refused to play in front of to start his career but the same fans that he did not want to miss seeing him play his last time in Charlotte. In a tribute fitting for his final season, Michael Jordan recorded a message that was played for Kobe. Kobe went out and shot 5 for 20 from the field, including 3 for 12 from the three-point line.
The Los Angeles Lakers have sacrificed this season in order for Kobe Bryant to say his good bye's and to receive all of the accolades. He has played his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers and that is a rarity these days in any sport. The Lakers are not a good team this season and Bryant is shooting a career low .355% from the field. He has already played more games this season that he has in the previous two seasons combined. When he scored 38 points the other night that was the lead story on the majority of the sports highlights shows. I will be glad when the spotlight fades.
Friday, November 27, 2015
The Cowboys Have More Problems
The Dallas Cowboys have more problems than just Tony Romo being injured. The Cowboys have a team full of bad attitudes and selfish players. Josh Norman had Dez Bryant off his game from the first play. They were talking to each other before the first snap and when Romo through his first interception to Panthers defensive back Kurt Coleman that was returned for a touchdown, Dez Bryant stood face mask-to-face mask with Josh Norman jawing with him rather than try to chase the ball down. The announcers even caught that one. What they did not mention was the consummate Dallas Cowboys professional, tight end Jason Witten, loafing down the field after the ball and never really becoming involved in the play. He did not even attempt to tackle Coleman as he ran right by him.
The bad attitude starts with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. When the Cowboys released backup quarterback Brandon Weeden a few weeks ago, Jones took a few parting shots at Weeden and his inability to win games. The coaching staff developed an offensive game plan specific to Weeden skill set and it failed to produce results. I thought it was unprofessional of Jones for him to make comments like that. Who is Jones going to blame now? His "yes" man of a head coach Jason Garrett? The Doctors and training staff for not getting Romo more prepared? Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys reminds me of George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees of the 1970's. The Yankees were extremely talented and often won in spite of themselves but the Cowboys can't even get it together well enough to do that.
The bad attitude starts with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. When the Cowboys released backup quarterback Brandon Weeden a few weeks ago, Jones took a few parting shots at Weeden and his inability to win games. The coaching staff developed an offensive game plan specific to Weeden skill set and it failed to produce results. I thought it was unprofessional of Jones for him to make comments like that. Who is Jones going to blame now? His "yes" man of a head coach Jason Garrett? The Doctors and training staff for not getting Romo more prepared? Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys reminds me of George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees of the 1970's. The Yankees were extremely talented and often won in spite of themselves but the Cowboys can't even get it together well enough to do that.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Romo Is Not The Answer
As it turns out, Tony Romo is not the answer to the question who will be the quarterback that beats the Carolina Panthers? It seems that most Dallas fans have forgotten that Romo is the quarterback that could only guide the Cowboys to consecutive 8-8 records, has not gotten the Cowboys deep into the playoffs, if even past the first round, and until he went 12-4 last year, it seemed like the Cowboys were always looking for a replacement for Romo.
Romo was 3-0 as a starter this season and most Cowboys fans were basing the rest of their season on Romo going undefeated. He threw three interceptions, two were returned for touchdowns, and the Cowboys were losing 33-6 when Romo got sacked by Thomas Davis Sr. and from the looks of things of things, he broke his clavicle again. I hate to see any player get hurt and Romo is a gamer and a competitor but I believe he came a couple of weeks too soon.
Romo was 3-0 as a starter this season and most Cowboys fans were basing the rest of their season on Romo going undefeated. He threw three interceptions, two were returned for touchdowns, and the Cowboys were losing 33-6 when Romo got sacked by Thomas Davis Sr. and from the looks of things of things, he broke his clavicle again. I hate to see any player get hurt and Romo is a gamer and a competitor but I believe he came a couple of weeks too soon.
Will Romo Be Enough?
Will quarterback Tony Romo be enough to upset the Carolina Panthers today in Dallas? I look for Dallas to utilize the short passing game to try to neutralize Carolina's pass rush because Romo cannot afford to take any big hits. I also look for Josh Norman to shadow Dez Bryant to try to neutralize his impact on the game. The big "X" factor in the game is going to be Greg Hardy of the Dallas Cowboys. Will Hardy be able to pull his head out of his ass long enough to play the game of his life or will he play like his head is in a London fog? Cam Newton has not been under pressure much this season and I really can't wait to see the chess match between Ron Rivera and Jerry Jones.... I mean Jason Garrett
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Carolina Panthers 10-0 Start In Perspective
The Carolina Panthers are 10-0 and I don't care what your schedule looks like in the NFL, that is a monumental achievement. However to keep their undefeated start in perspective, the Carolina Panthers have only beaten one team with a winning record in their 10-0 start and that was the Green Bay Packers. Every other team they have beaten is at .500 or below.
The Panthers did beat a Seattle Seahawks team in Seattle in come-from-behind fashion that was probably their signature win on the season. The Panthers only play one team, the Atlanta Falcons who are currently at 6-4, in their last six games that has a winning record. The Panthers stand an excellent chance of going 16-0. The biggest obstacles will be the game in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day, and the game in Atlanta.
In spite of all of his antics, Cam Newton is playing the best football of his career right now. The defense is playing solid football and their best defensive lineman, Charles Johnson, comes back this weekend. General Manager Dave Gettelman has made all of the right moves (the trade for Jared Allen was huge), Josh Norman may be playing the best cornerback in the NFL, and he has made all of the pieces fit together beautifully.
The Panthers did beat a Seattle Seahawks team in Seattle in come-from-behind fashion that was probably their signature win on the season. The Panthers only play one team, the Atlanta Falcons who are currently at 6-4, in their last six games that has a winning record. The Panthers stand an excellent chance of going 16-0. The biggest obstacles will be the game in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day, and the game in Atlanta.
In spite of all of his antics, Cam Newton is playing the best football of his career right now. The defense is playing solid football and their best defensive lineman, Charles Johnson, comes back this weekend. General Manager Dave Gettelman has made all of the right moves (the trade for Jared Allen was huge), Josh Norman may be playing the best cornerback in the NFL, and he has made all of the pieces fit together beautifully.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Duke Vs. Kentucky
There was an article on ESPN.com the other day that made reference to the developing recruiting wars between Duke and Kentucky for the nation's top high school talent. Kentucky has won the recruiting wars for several years, consistently signing the #1 recruiting class. Coach K from Duke seems to have settled on the belief that the only way he can compete with Kentucky on the recruiting wars is to recruit many of these same "one and done" players that Kentucky does. Not only is college basketball big business but promoting high school basketball players is big business as well.
I have never had much respect for Coach K or John Calipari at Kentucky anyway because they seem more worried about pushing their own brand or promoting their own image. They are both great "X's and O's" coaches but all either one of them has to do most of the time is roll the ball out onto the court and tell them to play like on the blacktop back home.
The institution of college basketball has taken the student out of the student-athlete. The best players only go to college for one year because that is all they are required to go. Most of the major programs has at least one player leave early to go pro and it has been that way for 30 years. Kentucky has entire freshman classes, five or six deep, go pro after one year. I would love to take a peak at their class schedule, their SAT scores, or just about anything academic related. College football players have to be on campus for at least three seasons as do college baseball players.
I have never had much respect for Coach K or John Calipari at Kentucky anyway because they seem more worried about pushing their own brand or promoting their own image. They are both great "X's and O's" coaches but all either one of them has to do most of the time is roll the ball out onto the court and tell them to play like on the blacktop back home.
The institution of college basketball has taken the student out of the student-athlete. The best players only go to college for one year because that is all they are required to go. Most of the major programs has at least one player leave early to go pro and it has been that way for 30 years. Kentucky has entire freshman classes, five or six deep, go pro after one year. I would love to take a peak at their class schedule, their SAT scores, or just about anything academic related. College football players have to be on campus for at least three seasons as do college baseball players.
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