The All-American World Cup Side

My starting eleven would look a good bit different

If you have listened to your fellow countrymen discuss the World Cup you've undoubtedly heard this argument: "if America actually used its top athletes for soccer, we could win the World Cup. Easy."

This is a sore loser's attitude towards not being as successful in the tournament as many fans would have like to be, even if the U.S. did perform better in 2014 than most experts prospected before the tournament. Instead of accepting where we are as a nation, ranked solidly in the top 16 teams in the world, many Americans use this excuse as a band-aid to the real dilemma.

It will take time and money to build the infrastructure necessary to compete with the elite squads. Soccer is growing in this country, and the time may come where we are listed among the favorites to win soccer's highest prize. For now it's a dream we entertain every four years. And to be honest, we may never be at the same level as some of the teams such as Germany, Brazil and Spain.

Some of that is the lack of interest from American youth (though interest is growing with each passing generation), but most of that is cultural. Until the passion of soccer is ingrained into our beings as it is across other countries, we will remain standing like wallflowers while the cool kid favorites dance every four years.

In the mean time, what if we did put everything we had into the game? What if our top athletes did play the beautiful game? It's not guaranteed that our guys would have the skill set to play at the top level, but that's the fun in writing: I can be a dreamer. To be a professional athlete, you have to have a certain baseline amount of athleticism.

Here is the squad I would have taken to Brazil, assuming the top American-born athletes chose soccer instead of their respective sports.

Goalkeeper- There is arguably no better person on the planet to have in goal than the man who was the stronghold for this year's team. Tim Howard became a legend in the last month and for his performance against the Belgians should never have to buy a drink in an American bar again. But for his backup... I have long said Kevin Garnett is the perfect goalie because lanky people are good at sports. Also up for contention are Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis. Imagine any of these three's length and trying to put a ball in the upper 90 past them.

Defensemen- Typically on the outside of 4-4-3 lineup the leftback and rightback are a bit faster and smaller than their centerback counterparts. Give me two of the elite safeties in the NFL who already demonstrate defensive prowess: Richard Sherman and Eric Berry. Both run a sub-4.5 40-yard dash and posses quick hips required for turns to keep up with teams looking to make crosses from the wings.

The first centerback is one of the following tight ends from the NFL: Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski. Jimmy Graham gets the nod because he has avoided injuries in his career. The second starting centerback is LeBron James, though coach Reaves would urge him to press forward as much as the game would allow.

With the Jimmy and James tandem, the two in the middle will force oppoents to get past over 13 feet and 500 pounds of defense if they were able to get the cross off or during set pieces (which would probably be more frequent with my squad. Increased size/strength = increased believablity in opponent's flopping.)

Kobe with the strong left foot

Midfielders- Players here must have the ability to play defense as well as be the driving influence to setting up offensive plays.

On the right side of the pitch is Cam Newton. Again his combination of height and speed, along with his growing vision is seeing the entire field while passing make him a sensible choice. Chris Paul's court vision, though smaller and a little slower, make him a viable backup option.

Kobe Bryant starts on the left side for my team. Born in Italy, he grew up around the game and has long been a supporter of the beautiful game. Because of his background of playing he makes an easier transition to setting up crosses and passes with his left foot than many other Americans. He also is the sort of leader you want on both ends of play.

In the middle is Andrew Luck, who has proven to be a natural athlete and leader in the NFL during his first two years, providing another big body to have in the middle during set pieces as well.

Forwards- Here is where our athleticism frustrates opponents to no end. Our front line not only is tall - good for finishing crosses with headers but also an envious collection of speed for all other countries.

The three starters: Falcons receiver Julio Jones (6-3, 4.39 40-yard-dash), Arizona Cardinal cornerback Patrick Peterson (6-1, 4.34) and Detroit Lions' Calvin Johnson (6-5, 4.35). And off the bench you have a choice of Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook and for short bursts of speed New York Jets running back Chris Johnson, who boasts the fastest 40-yard dash ever at the NFL combine (4.24 seconds).

As impressive as this team is, there are still spots up for grabs on the 23 man roster for the World Cup, but we just rub it into the rest of the world's faces by winning with only 16 players.

A Bounty-Full of Problems in New Orleans

On Friday, the NFL released a 50,000 page document with details of a bounty system the New Orleans Saints had in place under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. In the last three years under the system, Saints players were paid bounties to knock opponents out of the game and for difference-making plays. As many as 27 defensive players were involved in the bounty pool, which reached a top value of $50,000. Players were rendered a $1,500 reward for knocking an opposing player unconscious, $1,000 if an opponent was carted off the field and a $10,000 bonus was promised from starting middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma if one of his teammates could knock Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre out of the 2010 NFC Championship. Williams also used his bounty system in Washington and Buffalo, where he was the defensive coordinator and head coach, respectively.

 Gregg Williams (center) and Johnathan Vilma (left)

Sadly, NFL players around the league have publicly shared how the Saints' "pay-for-pain" is not the only like system in pro football. Many players have come forward and explained on radio and written interviews how teams use monetary incentives to boost players on-field performance.

Former players Mike Golic and Darren Woodson on ESPN's Mike and Mike radio show tried to make the case that paying their colleagues a few hundred dollars for taking out the opponent's top players was essentially the same as high school or college players being given the increasingly popular helmet stickers for good play. One enormous flaw in this argument is that the stickers are given for good on-field play: a sack, interception or touchdown; but there are no schools that celebrate injuring players on the opposite team by adding a sticker to a kid's helmet. Nor are the student-athletes payed by the high school or university for ending an opponent's game, season or career.

Junior Galette making a little extra cash at the expense of Brett Favre.

In regards to rewarding positive play on the field with cash compensation in the NFL, go for it. They are professionals, whose job it is to win football games. Coordinators and head coaches alike, feel free to use the monetary motivation to inspire positive play for your team, but do not use money as incentive to injure opposing player. It is despicable--from the 1998 Atmore, Alabama's Little League Sportsmanship Award winner for the Yankees, yours truly. I have the backing of Super Bowl two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, who told the Washington Post, "it can't be a part of football."

As for the involved parties of "Bounty-Gate," they can expect steep--and deserved--repercussions from the league's office and Commissioner Roger Goodell, who have placed an added importance on player safety. Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman said in an interview a few weeks ago that the NFL would become too violent, as the American public will eventually lose interest a la boxing. America's most popular sport is seems far from extinction, but as players become bigger, faster, and stronger behavior such as that demonstrated by the Saints can not be tolerated if the NFL wishes to remain on top.

Linsanity vs. Tebowmania: No Real Comparrison

With New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin exploding on to the sports scene in the last week, ESP'Lin' and many other media outlets were too quick to compare the young man to Denver Broncos' quarterback Tim Tebow following the NFL season.

'Lin'sane in the membrane

Again, we as a society have fallen prisoner to comparisons. I will be the first to admit that I am as guilty as the media giants, but why can we not just enjoy their impacts each as its own entity? If you examine more closely at the duo's road to stardom you will notice they have more contrasts than similarities.

Recruitment- It starts early on when looking for the differences in this couple. Tebow was rated as one of the top prospects to come out of high school in years. His recruitment was done early and often, and Tebow had the leisure to choose between two football powerhouses Alabama and Florida, going with the latter. Lin, a California native, was unable to garner enough attention from his hometown school and first choice, Stanford, to merit an athletic scholarship.

College Experience- Tebow won two BCS National Championships, was a Heisman Award winner, two-time SEC Champion and All-American, and named to the All-SEC team three times. He compiled a 48-7 record with the Gators and scored more touchdowns than any previous player in NCAA history. He was the king of college football and is considered by some to ever play at the collegiate level. On the other hand, Lin went to Harvard, where more students have become presidents (5) than played in the NBA (3). More impressive is that Lin graduated with a 3.1 grade-point average and a degree in Economics.

Part of the mania, Tebowing took the nation by storm

Draft- Although he was told "no" by experts over and over during the entire draft process, the Broncos traded three draft picks with the Baltimore Ravens and took Tebow in the first round as the 25th player in the 2010 NFL Draft. Lin was not selected in the 2010 NBA Draft. However, he did earn a contract from the Golden State Warriors, who later cut him. After being claimed off waivers by the Houston Rockets, Lin averaged seven minutes a game in preseason scrimmages. He was cut by the Rockets before the start of the sesaon. The Knicks picked up Lin and sent him the the NBDL, the Association's developmental league. If not for injuries to two starting point guards on the Knicks, Lin would have remained the 12th man on the roster of a sub-.500 season.


Christianity- Tebow is the most polarizing figure in sports because of his well-documented, out-spoken faith. He has taken a stand on many controversial topics. Though not given the same platforms as Tebow  has over the last two seasons, Lin has been given standard answers when speaking about his faith. Lin has been very appreciative to God for his talents during press conferences much like many other athletes after recognition.

Lin is the brightest star in NYC... for now

Individual Production- "All Tebow does is win!" Sure he does have miraculous comeback wins over the Dolphins, Chargers, and Bears and he threw the winning touchdown pass in his first playoff game. However, he had 18 touchdowns and 13 turnovers this season, too. I am in no way trying to discredit his wins and good moments (as I have been so often been accused of), but in football more than any other sport the importance of a solid overall "team" is necessary. Tebow did benefit from a ball-hawking defense and the league's top rushing attack. Since moving to the starting lineup that was missing its two superstars, Lin has led the Knicks to 7 consecutive wins and is averaging 24.4 points and 9.1 assists per game.

Undoubtedly, both athletes have defeated the odds stacked against them and taken advantage of a little good fortune thus far in their young careers, but the sample size is too small. The New York media has helped blow Linsanity out of the water, and more than likely, the madness will cool down, unless we have the next Steve Nash on our hands. Tebowmania will unquestionably crank back up as the NFL's summer workouts begin. Regardless, enjoy their performances, personalities, and let Linsanity be Linsanity and Tebowmania be Tebowmania.

*As someone who loves wit, it was incredibly difficult not to use every Jeremy Lin pun I have heard while writing this. You're welcome.

January 20

Most days I wish I could sit down and write, but life, particularly studying for my Master's degree in Occupational Therapy and working at FBC Gainesville, gets in the way. When I finally do get more than a few minutes away from my responsibilities, of course there is not one subject which interests me in sports to write on at length tonight.

My favorite television show is PTI, Pardon the Interruption for those of you not as well versed in ESPN jargon. On the show, hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon debate the day's biggest sports stories. Since I have not yet reached their status in sports media, nor do I possess the television or radio medium in which to express my opinions, you reliable readers reap the rewards of my free time and are subject to a blog post.

Ed Reed's "C'mon man!" face

- “I think Joe was kind of rattled a little bit. I think a couple times he needed to get rid of the ball. It just didn’t look like he had a hold on the offense.”

These are the comments Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed said of Joe Flacco, the Ravens four-year starter at quarterback on Monday during a SiriusXM NFL Radio interview. Big deal. Flacco was facing one of the NFL's best defenses, and he did depend on his traditionally strong Baltimore defense for the win. But they did just that, won and advanced to the AFC Championship. Reed, a future hall-of-famer, knows this may be his last shot at one more ring and was trying to motivate his teammate. In Reed's defense, Flacco has been shaky in his eight postseason starts (6TDs to 7 Int). On top of it all... they are playing a Bill Belichick-coached team this weekend. Keep reading to see how that turns out.

- Canyon High in Draper, Utah will open its doors in the fall of 2013 and one thing is for certain. They will not be known as the Canyon Cougars. The reasoning? The school board decided the big cat mascot might be offensive to some middle-aged women. The board also claimed its colors and mascot were too close to that of in-state school Brigham Young. Never have I associated BYU's, Houston's or Washington State's team name with a slang term towards women. Now I'm afraid it will be my first connection. The board settled on Chargers, which if offensive to weather and confusing with San Diego's NFL Team.

The NFL is not usually a part of my "The Weekend That Will Be" during football season but in the absence of the college game here are some bonus predictions: New York Giants over San Fransisco 49ers and New England Patriots over Baltimore Ravens, setting up a rematch of the Super Bowl XLII.

Also, if you would not mind saying a couple of prayers this weekend for me and all of those helping with FBC Gainesville's Discipleship Now, I would greatly appreciate them.

What's Next for the Falcons Foursome?

The Falcons have a come a long way in four years. Atlanta was struggling as one of the worst teams in the NFL, Michael Vick was suspended for his actions in a dog-fighting ring and coach Bobby Petrino skipped town in the middle of the night to coach the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Where do the Falcons go now?

Thomas Dmitrioff came to Hotlanta from the New England Patriots with a winning attitude for owner Arthur Blank. Dmitrioff brought in a new head coach in Mike Smith--a defensive guru from the Jacksonville Jaguars, the hottest free agent--running back Michael Turner from San Diego, and a drafted a quarterback from Boston College named Matt Ryan.

The franchise's new foursome enjoyed immediate success, leading the Falcons to an 11-5 regular season in 2008. Ryan was awarded the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Atlanta would finish the season in a loss in the Wild Card round to the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinal.

The following season the Dirty Birds missed the playoffs at 9-7, but did manage to snap the club's embarrassing mark of 44 seasons of never having consecutive winning seasons in 2009.

With a regular season record of 13-3, Atlanta had their best regular season since the 1998 Super Bowl squad. The Falcons secured a division title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the playoffs before being absolutely destroyed 48-21 by the eventual Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers in the Georgia Dome.

The past four years have led to yesterday's offensive debacle, a 24-2 beating from the New York Giants. "Offensive" is meant in both ways, the offensive side of the ball and the coaching staff's repulsive play calling. Atlanta was 1 for 5 on third and fourth downs less than 2 yards. When the Falcons score one-third the number of points that Zaza Pachulia, an awkward Georgian forward for the Hawks, is averaging this season it was a horrendous day on the gridiron.

With the playmakers at the Falcons disposal, this should never happen.

Now defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder has left the NFL for Auburn, and it looks as if current offensive coordinator will be hired as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins or the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Falcon fans have many questions as they head into the offseason about the four-man anchor that brought Atlanta unprecedented success.

Thomas Dmitrioff- Though he has brought a bevy of free-agent talent to Atlanta on the field a la Dunta Robinson, John Abraham and Ray Edwards, Dmitrioff has plenty of work ahead this season with no first or fourth round picks in April's draft. Of course, aging veterans and the offensive line will have to be addressed along with the hiring of new coordinators.

Matt Ryan- In the latter stages of yesterday's game, while watching Atlanta's porous offensive output, I began to ask myself, with his poor performances in postseason play, when does Matt "Smirnoff Ice" Ryan begin to receive comparisons to the often criticized Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo? The biggest difference is that Romo waits until the fourth quarter to ruin his team's chances of advancing, whereas Ryan (3 TD, 4 INTs in three playoff games) only scores in mop-up duty after the Falcons' losing fate is long decided. Ryan has shown the clutch gene in the regular season but has immensely underperformed when it counts.

Ryan's first feeble attempt on 4th and 1

Mike Smith- Play calling, play calling, play calling. One would think after losing to New Orleans on a failed quarterback sneak on a 4th and 1 conversion that Smith would have learned his lesson. Nope. Twice the Falcons were stuffed running the "Matt Ryan-curls-up-into-a-fetal-postion-and-hopes-to-fall-to-a-first-down" play on fourth down yesterday. When you are on the road in playoffs and especially when your offense is struggling, you take the points.

Michael Turner- The Burner Turner had 41 yards on 15 carries yesterday. He turns 30 in February. Which because of the wear and tear taken at the running back position usually a red-flag age for this position. No doubt he had his great moments during the regular season, but without a consistent running game Ryan was forced to throw too soon, and there was no threat of play-action.

Is this it? I hate to think so, but look at the rest of the NFC. Green Bay and New Orleans are going no where from the top. The Chicago Bears had their starting quarterback go down, keeping them out of the playoffs. The Detroit Lions are rising, and with the new pride Jim Harbaugh has instilled in San Fransisco they appear headed in the right direction. Even within the division it looks like Carolina's Cam Newton will be a threat for years to come.

Making the playoffs was a tremendous accomplishment for a rookie coach and quarterback, but now just getting to the postseason is not enough. Success in the postseason, not the regular season, matters now in Atlanta.

NFL Lockout... Maybe

When looking at the current meetings involving the NFL Players Association and the NFL I have to admit I side more with the players. In the end, it is not important to me which side wins. It is important that there is football to watch in the fall (especially for my Dad who just added another 15 sports channels to their cable package, one of which is the NFL Network).

Player Retirement Benefits- Did you know the average NFL player on average lives almost 20 years less than the average American male? Based on the previous collective bargaining agreement a player who plays in the NFL six years is given 300 dollars a month in retirement. I know most say "pro players make too much money anyways", but those suffering from injuries they sustained during their playing days deserve proper medical attention. (That's the OT coming out in me.)

Rookie Wage Scale- In no other business are salaries skewed to new employees like it is in the NFL. High draft picks along with many of the rookies make more than veterans. They have not proven their worth to the league. Can you imagine if this was the case in the business world? College graduates, or at least those that could find jobs, would be paid millions of dollars more than those that have spent their entire careers working? Veterans deserve their "raises" from the stingy owners.

18 Game Schedule- This is the one issues in which every player agrees, keeping a 16 game schedule instead of moving to an 18 game one. It is also a bargaining point in which the owners will give up. Currently the players would not make any more money but would be subjecting themselves more chances to an injury in an increasingly violent game.

It all boils down to the NFL team owners giving up a little bit of money, which they would make back easily due to the popularity of the league. The money is there and will keep on coming. Is it worth the health of the players for the money?

Fat Tuesday

I am back to school this week and living today up large before the Lenten season is underway, enjoying all of the benefits that come with being the only male at an all girls university. To keep my sanity I oftentimes come to the library during my breaks to catch up on the sports world. read ESPN.com, SI.com, and a number of blogs about what is going on in the SEC, instead of reading over Anatomy or Neuroscience notes.  A couple of "notes" I've read today...

- In NFL news, other than that of the collective bargaining agreement (thought on this to come soon), former cornerback and current TV analyst Tiki Barber is coming back to the NFL next year. At least he pulled the trigger on his retirement once by actually retiring, Brett Farve. But really... How effective is a 35 year old, running back, a position reliant on speed and power, who has been out of the game for 4 years going to be? Will he even be picked up as a free agent? Maybe he can tag team with former New York Giants teammate WR Plaxico Buress who plans to return to football from his two year hiatus, which he spent in jail for shooting himself in the foot at a night club.

-The late Arkansas OL Brandon Bullsworth's name came out yesterday on the College Football Hall of Fame Ballot. Bullsworth, known for his distinct black glasses, was a walk-on for the Razorbacks that eventually earned himself a scholarship and a spot on the AP All-America second team by his senior season. He was killed in a car accident days after being selected in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts.

-There are a number of Newton ''Cam"eras following the Heisman winner at Auburn's pro day this afternoon. Is ESPN going too far in their coverage of college football? SEC fans would argue they aren't even coming close. Televised workouts, a signing day focusing on the hottest conference in all the land, four spring games televised, and a weekly show in ESPNU? Yeah.. it's a start. Keep the coverage coming.

-Turns out Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel knew and Buckeye officials knew about five of their players receiving benefits in exchange for autographed memorabilia eight months before the NCAA announced the suspension of the players from the first five games of next season.

-Ryan Mallet's response to not running the 40 yard dash at Arkansas's pro day earlier today, "I'm not Michael Vick. Everyone knows that." Sounds like the interview skills are improving.

Sorry for no basketball talk in the middle of March. I'll work on that.

Off By A Little

Maybe it is a good thing I didn't write a detailed analysis of how the game was going to go because well... it didn't really go that way. Except for the points. I only missed the point total by one, which in my book is pretty impressive. The defenses didn't play up to their capabilities, but in the end what happened? Defense won the Green Bay Packers their fourth franchise Super Bowl.

This year's Super Bowl goes down as the most watched television event ever, ousting last years Super Bowl in the Nielson ratings. As far as the game went though there wasn't a whole lot of substance. There was no defining picture or moment stuck in my head. The only thing I can think of was the bad calls made against Green Bay. The Steelers had their chances and were given a few more by the zebras, but they couldn't pull off the win.

The Star Spangled Banner was "bombed" by Christina Aguilera, who forgot an entire two lines from our country's national anthem. I am taking the higher road. and not even waling down the path making fun of her. The good news is she has another gig to try again after her "fumble." She has been demoted from the Super Bowl to the New York Mets Class A minor league baseball team.

The halftime show was... interesting? It was neat to see artists under the age of 60 dance and try of so hard to cover other's songs. The best part was Usher's jump down the stage to a full split. "Never in a million years," Graham said, as he watched in awe.

Give credit to North Texas. They tried as hard as they can and all reports coming out of there said the atmosphere was incredible and the people were even better. It is just a shame no one in the Dallas-Fort Worth area has a shovel. Flash forward two years to the Super Bowl at the New Meadowlands Stadium in New York. Did you really think that idea through Roger Goodell?

Either way a good time was had by all (outside of the 100 people arrested Sunday night in Pittsburgh for disorderly conduct) as the nation got together to watch. I know I did. I got to watch a football game with four guys, who knew football, on a 48" TV and surround sound. It was almost as good as the Jerry Dome I am sure. Too bad it was the last game of the year, but as they say, "there's always next year."

Now that the game is over... who is ready for the NFL draft?

Super Bowl XLV

The Super Bowl is truly an amazing sporting event. Everyone in America watches, along with much of the world. Whether it be for the commercials or the actual game, people pay attention on Super Bowl Sunday. Everyone has an opinion about the game. Who they are pulling for. Who will win. How they will win.Who will be the difference maker. How good, or bad, will the halftime show be.

So here is my opinion about how the big game will go...

The best two defenses are playing each other, but I don't think that defense will win this championship. Expect a big game from Pittsburgh TE Heath Miller as he takes advantage from too agressive Green Bay LB's. Big Ben joins the ranks of the greats of all time and wins his third in a high scoring affair, for these two teams at least.

Steelers- 30
Packers- 26

(I had full intention of writng at length why I thought the Steelers will win, but studying for an Anatomy test and a run got in the way.)

NFL Hard Hits

It is one of the biggest reasons we watch the game. The casual fan will tune in just in the hopes of seeing one. The NFL sells videos and pictures from all teams of collections of these. It is what makes Moms everywhere cringe when their son wants to play football (another reason my Mama loves me more, I was in the band).

If you search YouTube and type in NFL the first thing that comes up is "hardest hits." There are 1000s of videos online of the classic bell-ringers. I have to admit I have watched some Arkansas hits more than 50 times a piece (USC game on kick off return, JPW of Alabama trying but not trying hard enough to get out of bounds and it destroyed by a Razorback LB). Without a doubt it is the most entertaining part of the game.

I bet former New England Patriot Safety Rodney Harrison had no idea the beast he would unleash when he and Coach Tony Dungy discussed an unusually rough weekend during NBC's coverage of the Colts vs. Redskins game Sunday night. He said that the League should start suspending players because the $15K- $20K fines do not mean anything to a person making a couple million a year. Harrison himself was known around the league for his rough and sometimes dirty play. In fact he had a designated fund set aside at the begining of the year to pay for the fines and was ultimately fined more than $250,000 throughout his career.

The NFL took his words and has in the last few days issued larger fines for the tough hits this past weekend, totaling more than $175,000. There has been an uproar from the fines and penalties for these helmet to helmet hits. Super Bowl MVP James Harrison has threatened to retire all together because he "is not playing football anymore." Sports media has exploded with debates about whether this is the right thing for the league to do. Monday Night Football host Stuart Scott felt so passionately against the new concentration he was all but standing up on set in an argument with Steve Young, a quarterback that suffered more than six concussions during his career.

Knowing what I have learned over the years about concussions I know that it is not the first one that is damaging to the brain but second impact syndrome, the repeated harm done to the brain. The syndrome can lead to seizures, migraines and recent research show a connection to Hodgkin's, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, and Parkinson's. I am OK with leading the tackle with the shoulder it is the head-to-head hits that are so devastating.  I also agree with most of the football pros in saying that it is a choice to play football and playing with that risk is just part of the game. I also know post retirement  on football players is one of the hardest in all pro sports because the damage done to the body starts to catch up.

Maybe a change is necessary but with the change rules on the defensive side of the ball need to be looked at too or defenses do not have a chance. The passing game is already glorified in the NFL and hard hits are some of the only ways defensive players have a chance because of the strict pass interference penalties and how well the quarterback is protected. I am ready to see the Week 7, watching how the linebackers and safeties handle the new attention to be paid to the blows they deliver.

On a side note, Grannie, "How 'bout them/your Cowboys?" They have to get it together. I can see her now on the couch as frustrated as anyone in America with the way her 'Boys are playing.

Oh and how about a Thursday night game with the No. 1 team in the nation? ESPN lucked out there.

On the other hand, the Yankees are not lucking out and my childhood favorite Texas Rangers look like they are headed to the World Series. Hope those back at home are enjoying the one piece of Ranger memorbillia we still have, a glass cup.