Football Cat

Here's a scene from tonight's Cowboys-Giants game, guest starring our cat, Tomas:

Stacy Memes: It's Been A While

It's been a very, very long time since I last shared my wife's adorable antics.

Here's some highlights from the last week:

On Wearing a Pittsburgh Penguins Jersey to a Dallas Stars Home Game

 

 

On the Recent Texas Transitional Weather

 

 



Heroic Faith

Two constants in my childhood through my adult years have been church and a fascination with comic book superheros.  I honestly never viewed the two as having anything in common.  However, in recent years, I've gained an appreciation for both the real life lessons embedded in comic books as well as the immeasurable strength of character the Christian faith can develop.  This past Sunday, I sat through an amazing sermon (which was really a commentary on the greatest sermon of all time), and it reminded me of one of the most iconic superheroes of all time.  Combined, I think there is a great image of what we can all strive to be.

An Unlikely Hero

When I was a kid, I always thought it would be cool to have superpowers.  As a result, my favorite superheros were always the ones with over-the-top powers: flying, shooting laser beams, breathing fire, etc.  While I always respected Captain America as a classic superhero, he never ranked anywhere near one of my favorites.  His powers came across as a little vanilla compared to the Spidermans and X-Mens of the Marvel Comic Universe. 

When Marvel unveiled their cinematic strategy building up to Avengers, my desire to see Captain America was based more on it being the last piece of the bigger movie puzzle.  I was really skeptical that they could make the hammy World War II propaganda appealing to a 21st-century audience.  But I went to see it.  More interestingly, it happened to be my second date with the girl I ended up marrying 2 years later.  It was a fun date and a surprisingly fun movie.  What made it work for not only that movie but also as a set-up for Avengers was how much they focused on building the character of Cap.  He wasn't the strongest or toughest candidate for the super soldier formula, but his heart proved that he could handle being gifted with off-the-charts strength speed and agility.  

When we saw Avengers  a few months later, I asked my wife (still girlfriend at the time) who her favorite was, she said it was Captain America.  When asked why, she said he reminded her of me (cue studio audience "aawwww").  As much as I'd like to think she was noticing how much I had been working out, she was talking about how she viewed my character.  While I am far from perfect, it got me thinking that there's more to being super than just physical ability.  

Blessed Are...

At Stonebriar Community Church, Chuck Swindoll is currently leading us through the book of Matthew, and we just recently hit the Sermon on the Mount.  This past Sunday was the beatitudes:

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted. 
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

-Matthew 5:3-12

Pastor Chuck did an excellent job contrasting the world's value system to heavenly values.  On the surface, these aren't qualities most people would equate with power.  In a world where we're encouraged to look out for ourselves and use any means possible to get ahead, the beatitudes don't fit in well.  We're taught that nice guys finish last.

If you look closely at the meaning of these qualities, though, you begin to see a great deal of inner fortitude:  "Poor in Spirit" = being big enough to recognize our weakness;  "Those who mourn" = caring immensely; "Gentle" = strength under control; "Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness" = desire to grow; "Merciful" = a heart moved for someone in need; "Pure in Heart" = genuine; "Peacemakers" = creating light rather than heat; "Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake" = the more we act like Christ, the more the world will be against us.  
(The Gospel of Matthew, Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. - 3/1/15)

The sermon hit me hard.  It was a sobering reminder of the tall order laid out in that passage.  Being a Christ-follower means having strength to do what's right even under the most challenging circumstances.  It means being super...

No, you move....

Some people think Captain America is corny because he embodies an imperfect America in a seemingly perfect way.  His ideals can come across as too unrealistic.  But Captain America (at least 1960s-present) isn't supposed to represent what America is.  Rather, he is a symbol of what the country should strive to be.  Likewise, the imperfect Christian is striving to model a perfect Savior.

Sunday's sermon reminded me of an iconic quote from Cap.  During a 2006 Marvel cross-over series called the "Civil War," Cap was at odds with other superheros because he took a stand against a controversial government policy aimed at "super humans."  In Amazing Spiderman #537, he explains his stance:

"Doesn't matter what the press says. Doesn't matter what the politicians or the mobs say. Doesn't matter if the whole country decides that something wrong is something right. This nation was founded on one principle above all else: the requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter the odds or the consequences. When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world — 'No, you move.'"

The more I thought about the beatitudes, and the more I thought about this quote, I realized there was still an opportunity to fulfill my childhood daydreams of being a superhero.  Not because I can model Captain America (although, if Avengers  gave us any clues to his faith, Cap's definitely Christian).  It's because I can model Christ, the ultimate superhero.

True Power

No one said the Christian walk is easy.  In fact, we're told over and over again in scripture that there will be trials (John 16:33).  We also live in a world where most circles do not make it easy to do what we know is right.  However, it's worth noting that each beatitude begins with "Blessed are." Obedience to Christ comes with an inner contentment unaffected by external circumstances.  These are promises made by the One who can't lie.  When we're living in light of those truths, the right thing becomes a little easier.  Not only that, before we know it, the right thing is what motivates us.

Thus, when challenges come, rather than being overwhelmed or simply giving up, we can view it as an opportunity to do something super, maybe even heroic.  When we're told that we're too soft, too nice, we can't help everybody, we're too idealistic, we should be more open-minded, more progressive, our convictions are too strong, truth is relative, or even that our beliefs are foolish - if we rest in the promises of the Savior, we can hold to our convictions and say, "No, you move."

One Year Later: The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

It's been over a month since my last blog post, over 4 months since my last non-football post, making this my first post of 2015.  Happy New Year!  Seriously, for the 5 people out there that regularly read my babbling - sorry, the Tuesday Morning QB experiment was fun, but absolutely fried my brain's ability to think about anything non-football in a creative manner.  Long story short, I needed a month to re-charge.

When I first launched this blog, I gave some teasers for 3 future posts, delivering on 2 of those.  I had yet to do the last one, which was going to be a rant on why Jimmy Fallon was a poor choice for The Tonight Show. With this week marking the 1-year anniversary of Fallon taking the reigns, I thought this would be an appropriate time to write on the subject.  That said, I'm glad I waited a year, because everybody seems to love Fallon, and I've even warmed up on the dude.  There are a lot of things he does right, and I think it's only fair to highlight those.  That said, looking at his career trajectory compared to those of his peers, I still contest that there were better fits in the pool of late show talent.  In the next few moments, I will try to find a balance between critiquing his resume and giving credit where it is due.

What If?

I like history.  While I can't always retain the incidents in the long term, I was always fascinated with accounts given in history class and even some extra-curricular readings I did.  As a sports fan, I would spend hours reading the backs of baseball, football, basketball, and hockey cards to get a grasp on the legends of the game.  In that same light, I've been to 3 hall of fames as well as Lake Placid, NY, home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics.  Same goes for television. One of the neat things of being a broadcast/mass media major was getting to take courses in broadcast history.  You get the picture.

To understand my discontent with Jimmy Fallon as host of The Tonight Show, one needs to consider some of the history of late-night television.  The Tonight Show is the gold standard of late-night talk shows, a tradition that the legendary Johnny Carson spent decades establishing.  In the early 90s, Johnny was coming towards the end of his brilliant career, and the man seemingly waiting in the wings as his successor was the Late Night show's David Letterman.  You need to understand that the Letterman of the 80s is not the same Letterman of today.  Dave is admittedly past his prime, a key reason why he is hanging it up at The Late Show. David Letterman of the 80s and 90s, however, was funny.  And not just funny, he was a weird kind of funny, almost with an edge.  He was doing things no one (not even Carson) had thought to do on talk shows.  The choice seemed academic.  Unfortunately, politics infiltrated NBC, and Jay Leno came away as the host of the legendary show.  For a more thorough understanding of what happened at NBC, I would recommend either the book or HBO's adaptation of said book, The Late Shift.  In hindsight, Leno won the 11:30 time slot ratings in a head-to-head with Letterman, which is all that matters for the network. I would argue that much of that success had to do with the branding power of The Tonight Show.  As a raw comic and an interviewer, I'd take Letterman any day.  So what does poor Jimmy Fallon have to do with this?  Well, initially, nothing.  But, if NBC had made a choice based on talent instead of under-handed deals in the early 90s, we might not be having this conversation today, as Letterman, a much funnier talent in his prime than Fallon, would still be the host of The Tonight Show.

A few years ago, when Leno stepped down, another red-head Late Show host was dubbed the heir (and actually landed the gig this time), Conan O' Brian.  Like Letterman, O' Brian was another kind of weird and edgy, which in turn displayed his comedic genius.  O' Brian was a writer on Saturday Night Live (SNL) in it's best years, maybe not so coincidentally, when Fallon was not on SNL.  He was also a writer for The Simpsons in that show's prime.  While O' Brian started out strong, his ratings suffered among the older demographic. Then, in 2010, just like in the early 90s, Leno came in and usurped the spot.

My point is, if weren't for Jay Leno, we might not even be talking about Fallon as host of The Tonight Show today.  Oddly enough, Fallon occupied the Late Night slot after Letterman and O' Brian, and in my opinion, he was a distant 3rd place in terms of comedic performance on that show.  While I'd take him over Leno (more on that later), he's clearly not on the same level as some of his contemporaries. Which leads me to...

"Live from New York, It's Saturday Night!"

Another milestone to be celebrated this week is the 40th anniversary of SNL.  As mentioned before, Fallon was not a cast member in what I would consider it's best years, being the early to late 90s.  He came in on the tail end of that era, and ironically, left at the point where I found the show almost un-watchable. Now, most of what I'm saying can be argued as subjective.  In a Today Show interview, SNL producer Lorn Michaels said most people consider the era in which they were in high school as the best era.  There may be some truth to that, but I would also consider skits from the late 70s (when I wasn't even born) better that skits from the early 2000's (late high school, early college).  But let's take this a step further.  I believe that if you were to poll viewers familiar with the whole span of SNL to rank their top 40 cast members, Fallon probably makes that list.  Is he top 10 though?  I don't think anyone would agree with that.  Top 25?  I think only a slim margin casts him that vote.  In other words, Fallon had funny moments, but I don't think he really produced anything on that show that would stand the test of time.  "But what about when the did skits with Justin Timberlake?  Those are classic!"  They are, but there's an interesting wrinkle that I'll address letter.

Of the SNL hall of fame members (I don't think there's an actual hall, just metaphor for the best cast members), many of them went on to have brilliant TV or movie careers.  Some, on the other hand, fall had seen their best days on SNL (see Tim Meadows, Chris Kattan, et. al.).  So where does Fallon stand?  Quick, without looking at IMDB, name a Jimmy Fallon movie?  Stumped, right?  If you guessed Fever Pitch, I'm betting you're a big Drew Barrymore fan. I've seen it, and I'd rate it OK.  Even then, Fallon's character does not take over the screen, something good SNL alumni do in movies.  It also doesn't help that he played opposite Barrymore, best known for her romantic comedies with Adam Sandler, who, you guessed it, is a much funnier SNL alum.  

Am I comparing apples and oranges.  Yes, but it's still important.  On the one hand, it's really hard to compare talk show host to comedy movie and TV star.  But when you look at the relative talent between his peers, comparing Jimmy Fallon to the likes of Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Mike Meyers, Chris Farley, Will Farrell, and many others is like comparing a bruised apple to a barrel of fresh, juicy oranges.  And this guy was the best we could do for The Tonight Show.

Report Card

Everything you've read up to this point is a reflection of how I felt before Fallon started his tenure on The Tonight Show.  While I still contest that all of the above is valid and worth considering when evaluating the talk show show host, I also think it's fair to say he hasn't done a bad job up to this point.  For starters, his ratings are great, and as already mentioned, that's what counts for the networks - it is a business after all.  But here are a few things I've grown to appreciate after one year:

1.  He's not Jay Leno.  I couldn't stand Leno.  For my money, his monologue was his only real strength.  His sketches were really just an extension of that monologue, and his interview style wasn't all that interesting.  I know a lot of people liked him, but I won't miss him on TV anytime soon.
2. The Roots.  Fallon's band is a real asset, and he uses them well.  I must admit, every time I've seen a clip of them in the green room with his musical guest playing one of their hits with toy instruments, it makes me chuckle.
3. He's clean.  As much as I like Letterman and O' Brian, they have their crass moments that I could do without.  Fallon, from what I've seen, strays away from the off-color stuff and keeps it fun.  It's kind of a throwback to Carson's era when comedians could be funny without being dirty.  I respect that.
4. He's salt to his guests.  This one might need some explaining.  As mentioned above, Fallon had some memorable SNL moments with JT.  I also mentioned what he does with The Roots and his musical guests.  I've caught a couple lip-sync battles with his guests and had a good laugh.  What's the common denominator here?  Fallon's funniest moments are always with a guest.  I already established above that based on his own work, I don't find him funny.  But put him with someone else, and he finds ways to get the funny out of them.  That may sound like a dig, but I really mean it as a compliment.  The man is a talk show host, meaning he's supposed to highlight and celebrate his guests.  Fallon has found creative ways to incorporate his guests in such a way that not even his predecessors have done. Salt brings out the best taste in foods.  Fallon brings out the funny in his guests.

The Verdict

It's still really hard to justify his credentials for the show compared to other available candidates and the success of his peers at that time - almost as if we were lowering the standard for what's funny.  I don't think Jimmy Fallon will ever be top of mind when I think funniest people in show business.  I also don't think I'll ever sit down at 10:30 CT and flip over to The Tonight Show just for the sake of watching The Tonight Show.  

That said, I will tune in if he has a guest I'm interested in.  I'll probably continue to watch the sketches that go viral online the next day (I almost forgot to mention, I got a kick out of the Full House and Saved by the Bell re-enactments he did with the respective original casts).  He's got a brand that will stand the test of time.  I may not always like it, but I can respect it.

Tuesday Morning QB, Week 17

Tuesday Morning QB is weekly feature on The Full Court Press, reacting to the past week’s happenings in NFL Football.

 The Grand Finale

This is it folks, my mad experiment with a weekly football post has come to an end!  The Full Court Press will return to the variety pack of subjects you all know and love (or at least know).  It's been fun writing regularly on a subject I'm passionate about, but a it's been a beating as well in trying to keep up with my self-imposed Tuesday morning deadline.  This week's edition of the Tuesday Morning QB will be a preview of the post-season, as I gaze into my crystal ball to predict the outcome of the playoffs, let's take a look:

Wild Card

Panthers vs. Cardinals: Before Carson Palmer went down (and even Drew Stanton, to an extent) this was the best team in football.  The Panthers, on the other hand, were the least-weakest team in the weakest division in football.  Expect an ugly game with a low score as Arizona's defense should be good enough to keep Carolina from kicking the most field goals of the two teams.

Steelers vs. Ravens: Saturday's night cap will be almost as ugly in a rubber match between division foes.  The Steelers are playing better ball late in the year, and I'm a Steelers fan, so I'm calling for Pittsburgh to stay alive for at least one more week.

Bengals vs. Colts:  I'm honestly shocked the Bengals managed to squeak into the playoffs.  Indianapolis has disappointed at times throughout the year, but they have a much stronger resume.  The Colts blanked the Bengals when these teams met in week 7, and while I wouldn't expect another shut-out, I also wouldn't expect Cincinnati to have learned their lesson.

Cowboys vs. Lions: While I wouldn't expect Dallas to step-up in the playoffs, I also didn't expect them to have a perfect December, or an 8-game winning streak en route to a plus-.500 season.  Since Ndamukong Suh won't be around to step on Tony Romo's back, expect the 'Boys to cruise to the next round.

Divisional Round (hypothetical match-ups)

Steelers vs. Bronocs: On paper, this is a game the Broncos should win handily.  But momentum is everything in the playoffs, and in this case, the advantage goes to Pittsburgh.  Look for an upset in Denver.

Patriots vs. Colts: One week after duplicating a win in one regular season match-up, the Colts will turn around and repeat a loss in another.  The Patriots have been playing far too well to lose to an inconsistent dome team at home.

Packers vs. Cowboys: The Cowboys revival season stops in Lambeau.  There's simply no way this team is strong enough to beat Aaron Rodgers at home in January.

Seahawks vs. Cardinals: They say it's hard to beat the same team 3 times in one season.  True as that may be, it's a heck of a lot easier to do that when said team has more QB's on IR than the active roster.  The 'Hawks will get to defend their NCF crown at home.

Conference Championships (even more hypothetical match-ups)

Patriots vs. Steelers: This hurts, as I love my Steelers, but absolutely hate the Pats.  However, Pittsburgh is 0 for their last 2 in AFC Championship showdowns with New England.  As much as I'd love for that streak to end, it ain't happening.

Seahawks vs. Packers: This game will prove just how meaningless the regular season opener is, a game that was dominated by the Seahwaks this season.  I know the Seahawks are playing like defending Super Bowl champions, but Aaron Rodgers has been playing like an MVP since that Thursday night game that seems like forever ago.  The Packers will punch a ticket to Arizona.

Super Bowl (it's probably OK to stop reading at this point, or at least stop taking this seriously)

Patriots vs. Packers: In yet another regular season re-match, look for a memorable showdown between two elite quarterbacks in Rodgers and Tom Brady.  The Packers won narrowly in a game in which they had home-field advantage, but I don't think the neutral field will hurt them this time around.  While speculation of a New England demise after a week 4 blowout to the Chiefs might have been a little overblown and premature, I think there was an ounce of truth in there that the Pats aren't as potent as they once were.  Aaron Rodgers cements his place as the best QB in football, and Brady hopefully joins Peyton Manning in the "can't win the big one" dog house (come on, 0 for his last 3 in a "what have you done for me lately league?").

Questions, comments, smart remarks? Log in to your Gmail account and leave feedback below. For last week's Tuesday Morning QB, click here.

Tuesday Morning QB, Week 16

Tuesday Morning QB is weekly feature on The Full Court Press, reacting to the past week’s happenings in NFL Football.

Don't be sacked by shingles!

I wish that were a joke, but instead, it's a line from the PSA below:

Yep, that's something that actually airs on TV.  The YouTube video is dated from September, but I saw it for the first time during this past Sunday Night Football, not once, but twice!

As a Steelers fan, I always get a kick out of Terry Bradshaw appearances playing up to his quirky charm.  But this straight-up weirded me out.  I know shingles is a serious thing.  I've talked to people who've had shingles, and they don't wish it on their worst enemy.  That said, Terry Bradshaw describing his red blisters made me throw up in my mouth a little bit.  If you want me to take the threat of shingles seriously, you're going to have to do better than "If you had chicken pox... mm hmm... we all remember chicken pox... well that shingles virus is already inside of you... and it ain't pretty when it comes out!"

To be fair, at least Terry is being honest with me about the risk of shingles, which is more than I can say about Full House and it's chicken pox episode, in which Uncle Jessie claimed he had the chicken pox as a kid, only to get it again from Stephanie.  Meanwhile, Joey used the logic that since he never had chicken pox, he was magically immune, thus it was reasonable for him to be around Stephanie.  If they wanted to be real with us, we should have seen them both writhing in pain from boils instead of putting together this cute little jingle (cut to the 1:38 mark):

Impish or Admirable?

This is a recap of teams that are either looking good, or need help. This is not a playoff projection. I call it impish or admirable.

Impish - Indianapolis Colts.  .What do you get when you take an AFC team that's won enough games to clinch a soft division, but all their losses are against elite teams, put them in a situation where their playoff rank doesn't improve with a win nor decline with a loss, and match them against a team that can clinch a division title after 5 years of being the poster-children for mediocrity?  A 42-7 mollywhomping.

 Impish - Baltimore Ravens.  Unlike the aforementioned DColts, Baltimore had something to play for, but apparently didn't get the memo.  Joe Flacco had 50 pass attempts, but less than 200 passing yards?  When the Ravens finally came to life, Arian Foster had to remind them what the score was.

Admirable - Miami Dolphins.  This team won't make the playoffs, but they won the game on a blocked punt safety, and that's pretty freakin' awesome!  Good on you Dolphins, good on you!

 Admirable - San Diego Chargers.  I'm a little disappointed that I went to bed at half-time.  But I'm tremendously happy they didn't let San Francisco run away with a blow-out win.  They're clinging to the last playoff spot in the AFC, and if they get in, Phillip Rivers is not a QB anyone wants to face in the first round.

Fantasy Watch

Unless you do Draft Kings or are in a weird fantasy league that counts week 17, your fantasy season is likely over.  Mine ended 3 weeks ago, so I'm going to take a few moments to re-cap the litany of teams I had this season.  There's no reason for you to care about this, so I won't be offended if you stop reading now.

Still there?

Awesome, let's do this!

Flutie Flakes, RoughRiders Reality League (ESPN): 8-5, lost first round of the playoffs.  This was the league I cared about the most, as it's the only one I paid to join.  It's also the first time I did an auction draft (for those of you not familiar, every participant has to be at the draft in person, and starting with a fictitious $200, you bid on all the players).  I was pretty happy with my strategy, as I set a draft board with a budget, got everyone on my board, and still had $4 left (although, apparently you're not supposed to do that).  The best bargain was Andrew luck, as I got him for about $30 (again, if you're not familiar, 1st-2nd round talent usually goes for $40-$50).  The steal of the draft was Steve Smith, as he was my last pick at $4, and nobody bid against me (which is why I had $4, I didn't think he'd go without a fight).  I was pleased with the balance of talent throughout the season, and the highlight was having the best record and most points scored after week 10.  Unfortunately, tight end was my weak link, as Vernon Davis forgot how to play football.  The team faltered the last 3 weeks of the regular season, falling to the 5th seed, losing the opening round game by a point gained on a meaningless 30 yard toss to Roddy White in garbage time of the Green Bay-Atlanta Monday night game.  Sigh.

Tears of a Clowney, Wait for it....... (Yahoo!): 8-6, missed playoffs.  Another draft first - I stepped into the 21st century and did the entire draft (standard snake format) on my phone.  I thought I did well, but Yahoo! was ridiculously harsh in it's draft evaluation (yes, I got offended by a computer).  Peyton Manning was my most productive pick - unfortunately, he decided to become human after his 509th career TD pass.  Running back was an area of inconsistency, as Giovanni Bernard and Reggie Bush couldn't stay healthy.  Denard Robinson was the steal of free-agency, getting me double digit points 3 weeks in a row after being acquired, and I was able to plug him into the RB, WR and Flex spots.  I'm not sure what the commissioner was thinking, but we only had 4 playoff spots, so our regular season ended when most other leagues were starting their playoffs.  I controlled my own destiny holding the 4th and final playoff spot going into week 14, but I lost the finale and the playoff spot.  I can't say I'm not at least a little irritated at the playoff format, as I would have made it in any other league.

Cowher Power, Backyard Football 11 (Yahoo!): 5-8, lost first round of the playoffs.  I had to autodraft on this one, as I couldn't make the scheduled draft.  I was sure to rank as many players as the there were draft slots, and I was pleasantly surprised at the results.  Running backs: Marshawn Lynch, Matt Forte, Alfred Morris and Darren Sproles.  I had the coin toss decision at QB between Tom Brady and Tony Romo.  Not only are these picks I would have made if present, I actually think I would have done worse if I was in there making decisions.  Then, another first - I lost the first 7 games of the season.  I started 0-7.  Believe me, I was trying.  I just made all the wrong guesses, as I had the difference in points on my bench in 6 of those losses.  But then, a miracle - I won 4 of the last 5 and grabbed the last playoff spot!  I even changed the team name to Bad News Bears, because it was just like the movie. But then, the momentum deflated and I lost round one.  

Questions, comments, smart remarks? Log in to your Gmail account and leave feedback below. For last week's Tuesday Morning QB, click here.

Tuesday Morning QB, Week 15

Tuesday Morning QB is weekly feature on The Full Court Press, reacting to the past week’s happenings in NFL Football.

Johnny (College) Football

Don't act so surprised.  I told you this was going to happen.  Johnny Football's coronation into the NFL was an utter disaster.  And perhaps even more dismayed about this than the Dawg Pound and Aggie Nation combined are the national media.  Talking heads at all the major sports networks have been salivating for weeks about the possibility of Manziel starting, and when he was finally announced the starter for this past week's game, they could not contain their excitement.  Just look at how the TV coverage map changed in light of the news.  Even after the embarrassing defeat, I think some outlets were in denial.  I flipped over to Fox Sports 1 after Cincinnati's 30-0 victory over the Browns, and look what I found on the scrolling score/stat line:

I'm sure they meant to type 2 Int., but maybe they were hoping we wouldn't notice that it was mathematically impossible to throw 2 TD's and finish with 0 points.

Impish or Admirable?

This is a recap of teams that are either looking good, or need help. This is not a playoff projection. I call it impish or admirable.

 

Impish - Philadelphia Eagles.  I think it's safe to say there weren't any Eagles fans offering Mark Sanchez their cheese fries at Pat's/Geno's after Sunday's disappointing loss to the Dallas Cowboys.  Philadelphia is fighting for a playoff spot, and they have lost to 4 teams that are currently in the playoffs.  A loss to the Giants or hapless Washington would be disastrous.




 

Admirable - Dallas Cowboys.  Sticking with the Sunday night game, this week's admirable goes to the Cowboys, simply because of this:

 

 

Fantasy Watch

A look at players worth having on your fantasy football roster, who needs to be cut, and who has deceptive stats.

Like - Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints QB.  While many fantasy owners have been disappointed with his overall output, Breees put up big numbers on Monday to help propel the Saints into first place in the underwhelming NFC South.  Able to control their own destiny, I wouldn't bet against the Saints in the next two weeks, so expect another big game this weekend.  

Dislike - Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis WR.  While showing some flashes of brilliance this season, Reggie has not been the same WR this season after returning from a knee injury and is now reportedly considering retirement after this season.  The numbers have been pedestrian over the last few weeks, so if you're sorting out your WR3 or flex spot for championship weekend, feel free to take Wayne out of the mix.
 

Pyrite - Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals QB.  Don't do it.  I know he's had 2 strong outings in a row, but if you're still alive, you're playing for either 1st or 3rd place this week, so you need to stick with the guys who got you there.  I had Dalton on my bench 2 weeks ago with Andrew Luck starting (which has been the case all year).  Dalton scored 5 more points than Luck, and I lost by 1.  Do I regret that decision?  No.  Hindsight is always 20/20, and on any other week, Luck would have been the academic choice.  If you have a QB that's been struggling as of late, such as Manning or Rodgers, just remember - those guys have hiccups, but always get bounce back.  Dalton needs to win in the next 2 weeks, and he has a knack for choking on the big stage.

 

Questions, comments, smart remarks? Log in to your Gmail account and leave feedback below. For last week's Tuesday Morning QB, click here.

Tuesday Morning QB, Week 14

Tuesday Morning QB is weekly feature on The Full Court Press, reacting to the past week’s happenings in NFL Football.

Bandwagon Family

I know this isn't exactly news, as the "Vikings, Bengals, Eagles, Steelers, Cowboys Family"
commercial for NFL Shop.com has been airing for a few months now, but with Christmas approaching, we're seeing it a lot more on Sundays, and I'm getting more and more irritated.  Take a look.

This is the most irrational line of thinking I've ever witnessed.  And the sad part of this is, there are actually people who use this model for picking teams.  It's one thing to move somewhere, go to a game for the local team and enjoy it for what it is... as long as they're not playing your team.  If you have kids, and they go off to different colleges, then yes, you can spread your allegiances around on Saturday afternoons... just remember your Alma Mater.

But these aren't college teams, and this fictional family changes like the wind for the stupidest things.  I went to school in Philadelphia, and I was not charmed into being an Eagles fan.  The opposite happened - after being around the most obnoxious fans in football for four years, I loathed the Eagles by the time I  graduated.   I was there when they reached the Super Bowl, and unlike some of my peers at the time, I was not cheering for a Philly win just so I could "experience a championship parade." On the contrary, one of the most satisfying moments of my life was getting on the subway after the game and seeing full-grown men covered in green, drunk, depressed and quiet.

The commercial said one of the daughters met Emmitt Smith and became a Cowboys fan.  I moved to the Dallas area 5 years ago, I've seen Michael Irvin and Barry Switzer in person, and I hate the Cowboys even more.  Being a fan is not something that should automatically change with your circumstance or surroundings.  Fanhood is something internal, a part of you.  If you're a Raiders fan, then cheer for the Raiders.  If you grew up a Buffalo fan but move to Green Bay, then you still cheer for the Bills.  Please, I'm begging you, let's cut back on this, "I live in Detroit, so I like the Lions, but I had a layover at Reagan airport one time, so I cheer for the Redskins (oops, I mean Washington football team), but I like the beach, so I want Miami to win, but I have Angry Birds on my phone, and the red one reminds me of the Arizona Cardinals logo, so I cheer for them too...."

Impish or Admirable?

This is a recap of teams that are either looking good, or need help. This is not a playoff projection. I call it impish or admirable.

Impish - San Francisco 49ers.  If you ever wanted an example of mailing it in, look no further than the Bay area.  Any time there are rumors of your coach getting traded, that's a bad thing... nobody trades coaches anymore, especially to the cross-town rival!  The offense simply can't do anything right - Frank Gore is a perennial 1,000 yard back, and they don't run the ball.  Vernon Davis is ghost.  That's not a metaphor, I actually believe he's a ghost that floats and can slip through walls like Casper.  And the league has finally caught up to Colin Kaepernick.  He's completely useless now.  On paper, there is still a very realistic chance this team can make the playoffs... but they won't.

Admirable - Pittsburgh Steelers.  The opening piece about the NFL Shop commercial really inspired me, and after 2 "impish" labels already this season, I don't know how many opportunities I'll have left.  Sunday is an example of why I can't give up on the Steelers just yet.  Roethlisberger is as sharp as he's ever been.  Le'Veon Bell is arguably the best dual-threat running back in the game.  Antonio Brown is the best receiver in the league not named Calvin Johnson.  Even the much-maligned O-line has significantly improved.  It's just been a very long and gradual improvement, so whenever they give up a sack, everyone immediately over-reacts.  But they're better.  The defense is a big play liability, but when healthy, they can keep the team in a game. They're apparently vulnerable to sub-.500 teams, but if they can make the playoffs, that shouldn't be an issue (unless they play the NFC South champ in the Super Bowl).

Fantasy Watch

A look at players worth having on your fantasy football roster, who needs to be cut, and who has deceptive stats.

Like - Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers WR.  Based on Monday night's game, the only reason this doesn't go to Julio Jones is because of his hip injury.  But Jordy Nelson has put up yet another 20-plus point performance, giving him 5 for the season.  This isn't earth-shattering news, or even news for that matter.  I didn't realize Nelson has never played in the Pro Bowl, and that will change this season (unless Green Bay punches their ticket to Arizona), so this is just a matter of giving props where props are due.  

Dislike - Any Kansas City Chiefs WR.  Alex Smith threw a touchdown pass on Sunday.  It was caught by Jamaal Charles, a running back, but it's nothing new for running backs to double as a useful pass-catching option.  What's interesting here is who didn't catch it - any of the Chiefs wide receivers.  The Chiefs are the only team in the league without a TD pass caught by a wide receiver.  That's right, all of Smith's TD passes have been to tight ends, running backs, or water boys.  My sincerest apologies if you drafted Dwayne Bowe early in your draft.

Pyrite - Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns QB.  Named the starter for this week's match-up against the Bengals, Johnny Football fever will only rise exponentially by week's end.  But he's never started a game in this league, his tools are very flawed, and Cleveland is throwing him in the midst of a playoff race against a division foe looking for revenge.  With fantasy playoffs underway, if your team is still alive, then you must have got there with a more reliable QB.  Now is not the time to experiment.

Questions, comments, smart remarks? Log in to your Gmail account and leave feedback below. For last week's Tuesday Morning QB, click here.

Tuesday Morning QB, Week 13

Tuesday Morning QB is weekly feature on The Full Court Press, reacting to the past week’s happenings in NFL Football.

I warned you about this last week.  I'm a day late, and very abbreviated.  That's what happens when you use your Thanksgiving vacation to travel across the country.  I don't regret it though - it was a memorable trip, and my wife and I had a blast!  You might say I was thankful for it.  So, in the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday that delayed this report, I thought I would use this Tuesday Morning QB to list everything I was thankful for in week 13 of the NFL:

• I'm thankful Dallas lost.  It's not just because I hate Dallas, as I'm not particularly fond of the Eagles either.  As a Dunkin Donuts (DD) Perks member in the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) area, I get a free coffee from DD as part of the "Cowboys win, You Win" promo.  After a Dallas win, the coupon is usually loaded to my phone the following day.  The coupon is also only valid at DFW DDs.  However, when Dallas won in week 12, I did not get the coupon.  I was also not in the DFW area at the time, and the GPS on my phone was on due to my travels.  Dunkin Donuts knows where I am at all times!  Had Dallas won on Thanksgiving, I would have been denied free coffee twice in the same week, and I can't have the Cowboys winning if I'm not getting something in return.  More importantly, forget government surveillance, DD is watching....
• I'm thankful the Jets lost.  To be fair, I have nothing against the Jets and usually cheer for them, but let's face it - the NFL is more interesting when the Jets are either really good, or really awful.  Right now they're the latter, and wouldn't you know it, they're making headlines! This is no time for the team on Broadway to climb their way to mediocrity.
• I'm thankful Johnny Football got pancaked in his own end zone in the drive following his touchdown run.  After scoring, the entitled brat made his infamous "money" sign, so it was nice to see some grown men knock him back down to reality.  The buzz in Cleveland is that Manziel will be the new starter.  I'm sure we'll see some highlight reel plays in the near future, but I'm also sure we'll see even more humbling moments for Johnny Football in the long run.
• I'm thankful that after returning a blocked punt for a touchdown for the first time since 1986, the Minnesota Vikings didn't wait another 28 years to do it again.
• I'm thankful I started Keenan Allen on my fantasy team.  I picked him up several weeks ago, as he fell to the waiver wire due to a poor start to the season.  I was hesitant to start him, but I took a gamble last week, and it paid off with a 25-point effort!  I usually don't want to rush to irrational conclusions, but I think it's safe to say Allen is back. After only posting one 100-yard game and 1 touchdown through the first 11 weeks, he has back-to-back 100 yard games with 3 TDs in that stretch.
• I'm really thankful I started DeAndre Hopkins in 2 of my leagues.  Early in the season, he had a "boom or bust" label with Andre Johnson in the picture, yet he kept posting bigger numbers than Johnson.  After a 35-point outburst on Sunday, I think it's safe to say there's a new top WR in Houston. 
• I'm thankful Justin Bieber is hanging out with the Patriots.  I don't know why the Steelers let him in their locker room a few weeks ago, but it made my stomach turn, as he's the polar opposite of the team's blue-collar persona.  The Pats, on the other hand, are a much more natural fit for the Biebs, as they're basically a collection of 52 frat-tastic dude bros.  I'm also pretty sure Bieber is the reason the Steelers lost the game he attended, so I'm hoping the same jinx rubs off on the New England.

I realize football is inconsequential, so if you want to see a list of more meaningful things I'm thankful for, click here.

Questions, comments, smart remarks? Log in to your Gmail account and leave feedback below. For last week's Tuesday Morning QB, click here.

Tuesday Morning QB, Week 12

Tuesday Morning QB is weekly feature on The Full Court Press, reacting to the past week’s happenings in NFL Football.

I know, I know.  It's neither Tuesday nor the morning (I also never played QB in organized ball, in fact, I was typically a last resort in sandlot ball...).  I've been traveling for 4 days on a half-country road trip from Texas to PA, so my football viewing & time in front of a computer have been limited.  As a result, you're getting a limited post (spoiler alert: I'll be road-tripping back this weekend, so expect something similar next week).  A few notes below:


While I did not get to see much football on my road trip, I did get to stop in glorious Pittsburgh (while the Steelers were on a bye-week).  Naturally, I took some time to soak in the beauty of Heinz Field.

Impish or Admirable?

This is a recap of teams that are either looking good, or need help. This is not a playoff projection. I call it impish or admirable.

Admirable - Oakland Raiders.  Just an admirable this week.  Oakland finally won a game!  They did everything they could to lose it, but they somehow found a way to win!  I'll give this franchise some credit - ever since my week 4 "impish" label, this team has played with a lot of heart in some close losses.  It may still be a few years until they're relevant again, but their decision to implode in order to rebuild (maybe in Los Angeles), is probably for the best.

Fantasy Watch

A look at players worth having on your fantasy football roster, who needs to be cut, and who has deceptive stats.
 

Dislike - All my fantasy teams. Every one of my teams lost.  In my paid league, I was in first place two weeks ago, now I'm clinging to the 6th and final playoff spot with a week to go in the regular season.  The last league I joined has me on the outside looking in at 5th place (apparently our league manager doesn't believe in bye-weeks).  The only silver lining is my team that lost 7 in a row before winning 4 in a row.  Despite having that win streak broken, I'm somehow in the 6th and final playoff spot with a 4-8 record!


Questions, comments, smart remarks? Log in to your Gmail account and leave feedback below. For last week's Tuesday Morning QB, click here.

Tuesday Morning QB, Week 11

Tuesday Morning QB is weekly feature on The Full Court Press, reacting to the past week’s happenings in NFL Football.

Throw-back Trivia

If you watched the Green Bay Packers 53-20 thrashing of the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, you noticed they wore throwback jerseys.  That's nothing new. But what caught me off guard were the hats they wore on the sidelines:

Who are the Acme Packers?  When the team was founded in 1919, they received funding for their uniforms from the Indian Packing Company.  India Packing was taken over by the Acme Packing company in 1921, the same year the NFL granted Green Bay a franchise.  Over the years, the nickname "Packers" stuck.  Some cheese-eating Wisconsin native is probably rolling their eyes at my recent discovery, but for those of us in the country who did not have Packers history as part of our elementary school curriculum, I thought this was a fun fact!

Impish or Admirable?

This is a recap of teams that are either looking good, or need help. This is not a playoff projection. I call it impish or admirable.

Impish - Cleveland Browns.  Just one week after the Browns had sole possession of 1st place in the division this late in the season for the first time since the Clinton administration, they went and did something Cleveland-ish by dropping to last place in the AFC North.  To add insult to injury, the Houston Texans managed to win without Arian Foster, and scored a touchdown with J.J. Watt lined up at wide receiver.  The silver lining for the Browns: Josh Gordon's suspension is over.

Impish - Philadelphia Eagles.  Just to prove the week-to-week nature of "Impish or Admirable," here's a team that was one of my admirable's last week.  For a team that has made a name for itself off big defensive plays all season long, they looked very inept at stopping anything on Sunday.  We're enamored with big offensive numbers, but defense still wins championships.  If they keep trying to arm tackle their way to stops, they'll be in for a long Thanksgiving Day NFC East showdown with the Cowboys.

Admirable - Miami Dolphins.  With all the attention on a litany of other teams in the AFC, the Dolphins have been quietly plodding along in the AFC East.  Since his starting job was in danger after a poor week 4 performance, Ryan Tannehill has managed to assert himself in the top half of the league in passing yards, touchdowns and QB rating.  Despite two weak games recently, Mike Wallace is on track to surpass his disappointing numbers from his first season with Dolphins last year.  The aforementioned Eagles defense can take a few notes as well: the Dolphins are top-5 in the league in points and yards allowed per game.  Don't look now New England, but Miami is only 2 games back in the AFC East and won the first meeting between the teams.  They meet again in week 15, and should Miami complete the sweep, they'd own the tie-breaker in the event they end up with the same record at the end of the season.

Admirable - St Louis Rams.  What. The. Heck? 

 

Fantasy Watch

A look at players worth having on your fantasy football roster, who needs to be cut, and who has deceptive stats.

Like - Greg Zeurlein, St. Louis Rams K.  It's time to show some love for the kickers.  Initially, it may seem more reasonable to give him the "pyrite" label, as Zeurlein scored 20 of his 50 season points on Sunday alone.  While this St. Louis team is still struggling to find its identity on offense, they have shown flashes of potential in their last 3 freaky wins.  Don't be surprised in the coming weeks if the Rams string together some chain-moving drives that stall in the red zone - the ideal formula for a fantasy kicker.

Dislike - Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers TE.  Once the darling of fantasy tight ends, Davis has yet to post a respectable game since week one.  In addition to a myriad of nagging injuries, there are rumors floating that he hasn't been giving his best effort as of late (believable considering recent history).  Factor in that he is also on a San Francisco offense that is very vanilla right now, Davis has essentially played his way to the waiver wire in just about every fantasy league.

Pyrite - Jonas Gray, New England Patriots RB.  It's tempting.  He's easily the most popular waiver pick-up in all fantasy leagues right now.  But this is New England.  Next-man-up, flavor-of-the-week, running back-by-committee, the "whole is greater that the sum of its parts" New England.  I was clearly too hasty in my rationale when I labeled Shane Vereen as a "like" in week 7.  In fantasy terms, it's best to exercise caution when dealing with New England running backs.

Questions, comments, smart remarks? Log in to your Gmail account and leave feedback below. For last week's Tuesday Morning QB, click here.