A week or so after I blasted New York Jets' Antonio Cromartie for crying to the media for calling Tom Brady "an asshole" he's finally starting to make sense. Usually you won't see a player cross the Player's Union the way Cromartie did but it's nice to see the players take a stand after the Union leader, DeMaurice Smith declared war on the owners.
Today as Cromartie and his teammates cleaned out their lockers, many of them were asked about the labor issue and possible lockout. That's when Cromartie dropped this bomb on us all, "You got our head union rep acting like an asshole," Cromartie told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. "They got their guys acting like assholes. So they just need to get their shit together and just get it done."
Cromartie went on to say, "... it’s getting to the point where it’s getting ridiculous when everything is always dealing with money. You’re basically dealing with people’s livelihoods. ... To me, you need to stop bitching about it. If you want to say that you want to get into a room and meet. Then, do it. Don’t just talk about it."
It's about time someone other than Roger Goodell try to do something about this possible work stoppage facing the NFL. However, Goodell isn't exactly innocent here. He wants an 18-game season but won't even consider giving the players an extra bye or more roster spaces. Let's face it, this is a violent game as it is. You add two more games and your injuries go up.
Someone needs to tell Goodell that you don't fix something that isn't broken. I'll try to keep you updated as we near the March 3rd expiration date of the current NFL collection bargaining agreement. And Kudos to Cromartie for manning up today.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Everyone Is A Tough Guy From Their Couch
On Sunday, in the NFC Championship game Jay Cutler hurt his knee. He tried playing on his bum knee immediately after his injury leading up to halftime and in the Bears' first possession of the second half. He came out because the doctors advised him to do, earlier when he first hurt the knee and again after that first possession of the second half. Cutler clearly couldn't plant on his left leg which affected him throwing the ball.
But when Cutler didn't come back what happened next was just spineless and cowardly. Many NFL players, current and former, took shots at Cutler from their Twitter account. Maurice Jones-Drew, Darnell Dockett, Kerry Rhodes, Deion Sanders and Mark Schlereth were a few. And while MJD has issued an apology for a "joke gone wrong" it is sad that all these guys jump the gun like this because Cutler wasn't being carted off the field, wasn't crying in pain, wasn't limping enough or wasn't that upset on the sideline.
The cameras weren't always on Cutler so no one other than the people in attendance can actually say how Cutler appeared the whole time. And for those who did question him and want to question Jay Cutler's toughness you may want to hear this. Cutler took 52 sacks this season which led the league. You can easily double if not triple that number for the amount of hits he took. And when Cutler scrambles he usually absorbs the hit from the defender instead of sliding and giving up a few extra yards. Earlier in the season Cutler was sacked nine times in the first half of a week 4 game against the New York Giants. The ninth sack sidelined him for the rest of the game and the following week as the Bears took on the Carolina Panthers.
But Cutler never complained. He never chewed out teammates to the public. He simply took his lickings and continued to get up and dust himself off. And maybe just maybe that's why Cutler's teammates had his back after the game last night and today. When Brian Urlacher vouches for your toughness by saying, “Jay was hurt,” Urlacher said. “I don’t question his toughness. He’s one of the toughest guys on our — he’s tough as hell. He’s one of the toughest guys on our football team. He doesn’t bitch, he doesn’t complain when he gets hit, he goes out there and plays his ass off every Sunday, practices every day. So, no, we don’t question his toughness.” Hell when Urlacher vouches for any one's toughness I'll trust his opinion.
Urlacher also said "Nothing like jealous people who are sitting home watching. Players around the league you said, right? Yeah, love jealous people when they're watching our game on TV while their season is over." Urlacher was right, that jealousy spewing all over Twitter reminded me of something you'd see in middle school. He and all of his teammate have a legitimate reason to be upset as these people cowardly attacked their quarterback who led this team to a 12 win season and a 2 seed in the NFC.
By all means, everyone is entitled to their own opinion but remember it's always easy to be the tough guy when you're hiding behind your Twitter or Facebook account.
But when Cutler didn't come back what happened next was just spineless and cowardly. Many NFL players, current and former, took shots at Cutler from their Twitter account. Maurice Jones-Drew, Darnell Dockett, Kerry Rhodes, Deion Sanders and Mark Schlereth were a few. And while MJD has issued an apology for a "joke gone wrong" it is sad that all these guys jump the gun like this because Cutler wasn't being carted off the field, wasn't crying in pain, wasn't limping enough or wasn't that upset on the sideline.
The cameras weren't always on Cutler so no one other than the people in attendance can actually say how Cutler appeared the whole time. And for those who did question him and want to question Jay Cutler's toughness you may want to hear this. Cutler took 52 sacks this season which led the league. You can easily double if not triple that number for the amount of hits he took. And when Cutler scrambles he usually absorbs the hit from the defender instead of sliding and giving up a few extra yards. Earlier in the season Cutler was sacked nine times in the first half of a week 4 game against the New York Giants. The ninth sack sidelined him for the rest of the game and the following week as the Bears took on the Carolina Panthers.
But Cutler never complained. He never chewed out teammates to the public. He simply took his lickings and continued to get up and dust himself off. And maybe just maybe that's why Cutler's teammates had his back after the game last night and today. When Brian Urlacher vouches for your toughness by saying, “Jay was hurt,” Urlacher said. “I don’t question his toughness. He’s one of the toughest guys on our — he’s tough as hell. He’s one of the toughest guys on our football team. He doesn’t bitch, he doesn’t complain when he gets hit, he goes out there and plays his ass off every Sunday, practices every day. So, no, we don’t question his toughness.” Hell when Urlacher vouches for any one's toughness I'll trust his opinion.
Urlacher also said "Nothing like jealous people who are sitting home watching. Players around the league you said, right? Yeah, love jealous people when they're watching our game on TV while their season is over." Urlacher was right, that jealousy spewing all over Twitter reminded me of something you'd see in middle school. He and all of his teammate have a legitimate reason to be upset as these people cowardly attacked their quarterback who led this team to a 12 win season and a 2 seed in the NFC.
By all means, everyone is entitled to their own opinion but remember it's always easy to be the tough guy when you're hiding behind your Twitter or Facebook account.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
How Two Simple Words Almost Killed Football At The University Of Michigan And The Man Who Might Save It?
Two simple words from a phrase legendary Bo Schembechler used over 20 years ago have almost ruined the program he built and loved so dearly, "Michigan Man". For the last three years fans and alum have been throwing this term without knowing the true meaning of it. In 1989, before the start of the NCAA Men's basketball tournament Bill Frieder then coach and Michigan alum announced he was leaving for the Arizona State vacancy after the tournament. Schembechler, now the AD of the school was going to have none of it. He proclaimed at the press conference promoting assistant coach Steve Fisher to interim head coach that, "a Michigan man is going to coach a Michigan team."
Now what Bo meant or what one who can understand this knows he meant that the only people to coach a Michigan team are people who are fully committed to Michigan and the team. Someone who understands the traditions at Michigan, they don't need to necessarily know them at hire but should be able to understand them once explained. This was Rich Rodriguez's first mistake when he came into the job. He tried giving away the jersey number 1 to anyone, a jersey which has been held for a wide receiver who has earned the right to wear it. He also did away with team captains which he later restored.
This caused a rift with former players and the then current staff. The main culprit is Braylon Edwards who has gone out of his way to introduce himself as "Braylon Edwards from Lloyd Carr's Michigan". Rodriguez's few early mistakes lost the support of former players who never bothered to stand behind him. Rich Rodriguez wanted to be a "Michigan Man", he wanted that title so badly that he cried at the last team banquet which he was still the coach of. Those mistakes weren't what cost Rodriguez the "Michigan Man" title, instead it was he refusal to adapt to Big Ten play. His lack of recruiting on defense and his 3-3-5 defensive scheme were setting him up to his ultimate firing.
Now on to the "Michigan Man" who might just be able to unite the Carr and Schembechler groups who have split the ties to this program. Brady Hoke isn't the sexy hire that everyone wanted to see but Hoke is safe hire who could be around for the next 15-20 years if he wins. Hoke worked under Lloyd Carr as an assistant coach from 1995-2002. He then went on to be the head coach at Ball State and in 2008 took them to a 12-1 record. He then spent two years at San Diego State where this year he led them to a 9-4 record and their first bowl win since 1969. Hoke has also been a great recruiter for years in the state of California, something which he'll need to continue if he plans on winning at Michigan.
How did Michigan get to Hoke? Well it's simple really, Jim Harbaugh didn't want the job because he was headed to the NFL which Dave Brandon pretty much told everybody the day after the Orange Bowl. This led many people to think that Les Miles who passed on the job three years ago would take the job if offered. But like Harbaugh, who was never offered the job neither was Miles but for different reasons. Harbaugh wasn't offered the job because it was believed he would always entertain thoughts of leaving for the NFL and Brandon wanted to hire a guy who would stick around for quite a long time. Miles was never offered the job presumably because of the seven self-reported violations LSU just made to the NCAA, this might have been enough to scare off Brandon seeing how Michigan is on a three year probation period.
Thus leading Brandon to Brady Hoke, the man with Michigan ties. This job was his all along and he was really the only guy who interviewed for it, which is somewhat disappointing. Disappointing because this is the University of Michigan, they should have been able to pluck anyone they wanted from any school in America. Bob Stoops, Chris Petersen, Gary Patterson, etc. Now they might have said no but you have the money and the prestige to rightfully think no one was untouchable. Anyone of those guys would have been the sexy hire many fans and alum at Michigan were hoping for, someone who could have turned things around quickly.
Instead the hopes are that Brady Hoke will unite and unify the program among its players both current and former and the fan base too. While I reserve full judgment on the hire of Hoke until he brings in his full staff I do like the hiring I just don't like the run around fashion it was done in. Hoke will recruit, make no mistake about it but it might just take him a couple years longer then it would have the sexy hire many hoped for. One thing is for sure though, this hire should stop idiots from introducing themselves as being from "Lloyd Carr's University of Michigan".
Now what Bo meant or what one who can understand this knows he meant that the only people to coach a Michigan team are people who are fully committed to Michigan and the team. Someone who understands the traditions at Michigan, they don't need to necessarily know them at hire but should be able to understand them once explained. This was Rich Rodriguez's first mistake when he came into the job. He tried giving away the jersey number 1 to anyone, a jersey which has been held for a wide receiver who has earned the right to wear it. He also did away with team captains which he later restored.
This caused a rift with former players and the then current staff. The main culprit is Braylon Edwards who has gone out of his way to introduce himself as "Braylon Edwards from Lloyd Carr's Michigan". Rodriguez's few early mistakes lost the support of former players who never bothered to stand behind him. Rich Rodriguez wanted to be a "Michigan Man", he wanted that title so badly that he cried at the last team banquet which he was still the coach of. Those mistakes weren't what cost Rodriguez the "Michigan Man" title, instead it was he refusal to adapt to Big Ten play. His lack of recruiting on defense and his 3-3-5 defensive scheme were setting him up to his ultimate firing.
Now on to the "Michigan Man" who might just be able to unite the Carr and Schembechler groups who have split the ties to this program. Brady Hoke isn't the sexy hire that everyone wanted to see but Hoke is safe hire who could be around for the next 15-20 years if he wins. Hoke worked under Lloyd Carr as an assistant coach from 1995-2002. He then went on to be the head coach at Ball State and in 2008 took them to a 12-1 record. He then spent two years at San Diego State where this year he led them to a 9-4 record and their first bowl win since 1969. Hoke has also been a great recruiter for years in the state of California, something which he'll need to continue if he plans on winning at Michigan.
How did Michigan get to Hoke? Well it's simple really, Jim Harbaugh didn't want the job because he was headed to the NFL which Dave Brandon pretty much told everybody the day after the Orange Bowl. This led many people to think that Les Miles who passed on the job three years ago would take the job if offered. But like Harbaugh, who was never offered the job neither was Miles but for different reasons. Harbaugh wasn't offered the job because it was believed he would always entertain thoughts of leaving for the NFL and Brandon wanted to hire a guy who would stick around for quite a long time. Miles was never offered the job presumably because of the seven self-reported violations LSU just made to the NCAA, this might have been enough to scare off Brandon seeing how Michigan is on a three year probation period.
Thus leading Brandon to Brady Hoke, the man with Michigan ties. This job was his all along and he was really the only guy who interviewed for it, which is somewhat disappointing. Disappointing because this is the University of Michigan, they should have been able to pluck anyone they wanted from any school in America. Bob Stoops, Chris Petersen, Gary Patterson, etc. Now they might have said no but you have the money and the prestige to rightfully think no one was untouchable. Anyone of those guys would have been the sexy hire many fans and alum at Michigan were hoping for, someone who could have turned things around quickly.
Instead the hopes are that Brady Hoke will unite and unify the program among its players both current and former and the fan base too. While I reserve full judgment on the hire of Hoke until he brings in his full staff I do like the hiring I just don't like the run around fashion it was done in. Hoke will recruit, make no mistake about it but it might just take him a couple years longer then it would have the sexy hire many hoped for. One thing is for sure though, this hire should stop idiots from introducing themselves as being from "Lloyd Carr's University of Michigan".
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