Phearless Phred’s Deranged Comments Regarding NFL Week 10
THE DECISION
Seldom do things live up to their hype, but the Colt/Patriot game Sunday night exceeded the hype. Brady owned the 1st half as Indy failed to protect their QB, the running game was a joke, and Payton’s receivers couldn’t catch. Late in the second half though, with the Colts behind by 17 points early in the 4th quarter the momentum began to shift. As a result of two unanswered field goals by New England, but also two unanswered touchdowns by Indianapolis, the score stood at Pats 34 – Colts 28 with 2:23 left in regulation and Pats ball on their own 20, 1st and 10. Three plays later, netting only 8 yards, New England was faced with a 4th and 2 on their own 28 but with a mere 2:11 left on the clock. Unless you spent Sunday night in a Turkish prison, you know what happened after that: Pat Coach Belichick rather than punt the ball away opted to go for it, but a pass to Kevin Faulk gained only a yard and the ball went over on downs. Now, we’re not talking about JaMarcus Russell or Rex Grossman here its Payton Manning and you just gave him the ball with 1:57 and only 29 yards to go for a game winning touchdown. Indy of course scored that TD - Payton to Wayne - leaving 13 seconds for Brady to work with and time ran out on the ensuing kickoff and 1 play later. Final score Colts 35 – Pats 34.
After the game was over, the TV talking heads and on Monday the sports writers and coaches discussed Bellyache’s decision ad nausium, with a relative few in support but the vast majority calling it on a scale of 1 to 10 - 10 being “dumbest”- a hands down 10. Some rated it a 10 on the arrogance scale as well.
Several years ago in Candlestick Park with only seconds left Joe Montana hit TE Dwight Clark who made a leaping acrobatic catch in the end zone for a score that spelled defeat for the Dallas Cowboys and a win for the Niners. In San Francisco and wherever anti Cowboy fans gather it is still universally referred to as “the catch.” Perhaps “the decision” will have a shelf life in NFL lore. Eric Mangini who is as close as you can come to being an ex NFL head coach went to bed Sunday night with a smile on his face; guaranteed!
THE BIRD
In case you missed it Tennessee Titan owner Bud Adams was fined by the NFL (No Finger League) for not once but twice “flipping off” the Buffalo Bills during the Sunday game. He not only did it 2 times but with both hands totaling 4 birds. His fine was a hefty quarter million dollars and by my calculations that’s $62,500 per bird. Maybe, he is lucky that it happened in Tennessee because had he done that in traffic for example here in Phoenix he would have had a 70% chance of being shot.
OBSERVATIONS
Eagles 56 passes and 13 rushing attempts – balanced offense? I realize that Westbrook is hurting but come on man. Also, they LOST!
Dallas has 3 presumably healthy backs but ran only 11 times. Also, they LOST!
SCENE: LEISURE SUIT AL’S OFFICE
MZ. HIGGINS: “Hello Mr. Cable, what can I do for you?”
TOM CABLE: “Is Al in Mz. Higgins, I need to talk to him about a quarterback change?”
MZ. HIGGINS: “He’s probably asleep but this sounds important so let’s see if we can rouse him.
“Mr. Davis, wakeup. Mr. Cable is here to talk to you and its important.”
TOM CABLE: “Al, I just wanted your permission to change quarterbacks for Sunday’s game.”
AL DAVIS: “What? Is Blanda hurt?”
TOM CABLE: “Al, George Blanda hasn’t been here in years, he’s long out of football I want to sit
JaMarcus Russell because he stinks! Al….Al?”
MZ. HIGGINS: “He’s drifted off again Tom; go ahead with it he won’t remember anyway.” Really enjoyed Thursday’s game between two teams with no quarterbacks and likely nothing to do in January but watch TV or go to the clubs. Ricky Williams was the only guy worth watching.
Phred