Sports Redemption. Dr. Rob's Absense

It’s been a while Danger Zone readers. I've been distracted with certain things this week (social life, ladies, high school football, and work). First I’d like to make a shout out to my old HS Football team, the Rockbridge County Wildcats who are having a great season thus far. Keep it up guys. I almost can forget the winless season….ahem.

Beer in the Clubhouse?

Regardless, first off I’d like to address Joe Torre looking into the Red Sox as well as the 12 other teams that allow drinking in clubhouses. First off I want to point out, we, as viewers get to see what happens in clubhouses during baseball games, and by the 5th inning the average American is asleep in his recliner. The fact is, sports celebrations consist of champagne (unless Josh Hamilton is on your team). Regardless, the idea of banning beer in the clubhouse is definitely a stretch, unless it means that Melky Cabrera goes to A-A (never gonna happen). Look, these guys are pitchers; they pitch maybe once, sometimes twice a week. They have days off where they are nice enough to spend with their teams, it would be one thing if Jon Lackey was in the bullpen polishing off a quick game of Edward 40 hands with Buster Posey, but let’s be honest. What goes on behind closed doors is never seen by viewers. I personally believe its unfair to even imagine banning alcohol in the clubhouse. Until we have a situation that involves an intoxicated player, this is an untouchable subject, and if Torre even tip-toes the line of banning beer in clubhouses, I demand Pete Rose get his lifetime ban lifted, because trading one ridiculous thing, for another is only fair.

Occupy Stern Street

Second, I’ve been watching this Occupy Wall Street nonsense, and it’s given me an idea. Despite Brian Gumble’s idea that somehow David Stern is trying to become a modern day plantation owner, actually can someone get Gumble a text book so he can fact check himself into seeing that slaves never got multi-year multi-million dollar contracts. Terrible analogy. If Hank Williams Jr. can compare Obama to Hitler, but Gumble can call Stern a racist in such a sense…Oh never mind I hate mainstream media.

Regardless, why not have a March on David Stern’s office. I want my NBA. I want to see Kobe go for 40, I want to see Dwayne Wade break ankles and have a vicious dunk. I want to see LeBron choke during a big game. Basketball is my favorite sport, and if I don’t see them dribble up and down the court. I will be quite displeased. Greed is a helluva drug.

Tebow: Good or Product of Playing the Dolphins?

Did anyone see Tim Tebow’s start at Miami? During Gator appreciation day, which I’m pretty sure would have jumpstarted anyone’s career, Tebow kind of reopened the idea of a ‘Football Closer’ I want to erase any previous judgments and whatnot’s you have of Tebow for just a moment. We have something in the NFL called ‘3rd Down Running Backs’ such as veteran L.T. for the Jets, Danny Woodhead for the Pats, and Toby Garhart for the Vikings. These are guys that are usually ‘clutch’ in situations, have speed to get out, can run the ball, and catch. I’m not saying these teams don’t have backs that aren’t already good. But look at it, we bring in situation players. So look at it this way, if trailing in the 4th quarter isn’t a situation, then what is. The fact is Tebow isn’t Manning, or Brady, or well Josh Freeman (how many comebacks does that guy have.) but what he showed in Miami has opened the doors to a quiet idea in the NFL. The idea of a Closer. Tebow showed up, and showed why he has talent; the kid has a knack for winning, and his rushing TD. An Audible. He’s a smart, talented, charismatic kid. Maybe he can’t go all 3 quarters, but when it boils down to it. If under center, or shotgun if that kid is winning games in the 4th quarter. What more can you ask for? Needless to say it was against the winless Miami Dolphins (I hope Mercury Jones is crying, I really hate that guy). Regardless, Football Closer just some food for thought.

Player Awards Thus Far

MVP

Can you give the MVP to anyone other than Aaron Rodgers, it seems I can’t watch a Green Bay game, or highlights without someone on ESPN saying, “If you’re a kid wanting to be a Quarterback, watch Rodgers play. He’s playing prototype football.” The fact is, I watched the Green Bay-Minnesota game today, and it looked like Aaron Rodgers was playing Madden 12 on Rookie Difficulty. No hate on the Vikings, because Adrian Peterson is my twin brother, but A-Rodg went 7-7 on an 8 play drive, and each pass completion was to a different receiver. Did your jaw drop yet? No? Alright Nerds let’s look at the stats 17 TD’s to 3 interceptions? How about 2037 yards to week 6? Or, averaging 339.5 yards per game? In the 3 games he threw an interception, he followed up by passing 3+td’s. This guy is playing out of his mind, Favre never had a season like this, Favre was a gunslinger, Rodgers is picking defenses apart with ease. He’s leading the league in passer rating, which I’m sure is just a mathematical magic trick. Rodgers went 24-30 against the Vikings for 3TD’s no INT, and 335 yards. Again Bonkers I say. Give this kid the MVP already.


Defensive Player
My defensive player of the year, is the Vikings Jared Allen. The Rodeo had 2 sacks against the Packers bringing his total on the year to 11.5, Allen is playing out of his mind right now, being one of the lone sparks on a struggling team. I’ve said it a lot in some of my talks with people on how good Jared Allen is, but he’s on pace to break the single season record. Let’s just hope by the time Jay Cutler has to meet the Vikings again, that Allen is healthy and the Bears O-line is still holding a grudge for Cutler not picking up their dinner ticket. (Completely realistic assumption)



Rookie of the Year
If I said anyone other than Cam Newton I deserve to be dragged into the streets and beaten with a stick. This kid in 6 of 7 games has thrown for over 100 yards, and 1,847 passing yards, 207 rushing yards, with 13 total TD’s. The kid is a game changer, and a breath of fresh air for Carolina fans. Right now he’s not winning many games, but the kid is rolling in stats, and is revitalizing Steve Smith’s career. He’s going to put people in seats, and with the right kind of growth, not only as a player, but if the team keeps drafting smart (particular on defense, maybe get him another WR option) Cam Newton has a bright future. He can make any throw, he is athletic as they come, and Tebow needs to drink some of the Newton Gatorade.

Flacco's Performance on MNF

Joe Flacco: The product of a great defense, or the product of poor offensive coaching?
It’s simple to say that the Baltimore Ravens have one of the best defenses in NFL history, anchored by veteran Ray Lewis roaming the middle like a monster. I remember flashing back to a few weeks ago when Terrell Suggs was on ESPN First take, and talked about how much faith they put into Joe “Cool” Flacco. Bringing in one of the best slot receivers in Anquan Bolden, and this year acquiring former Buffalo Bill Lee Evans who has been a stand out on a poor team his entire career. Yet I sit back and wonder why Flacco isn’t a premiere quarterback? He has the weapons from receivers, to a great offensive line, and a great running back in Ray Rice. Yet, I look at his mediocre performances; he never really has a standout game. We can relate him a lot to Mark Sanchez in the sense that a good defense has bailed a QB out of situations, and given them a lot of success. Sanchez has 2 AFL championship appearances under his belt with only being in the league 3 years now.

Joe Cool has thrown for 3,000+ yards twice in his 3 years (obviously not counting this year), he hasn’t thrown more than 12 interceptions in a season, and has 20+ TDs twice (same year as his 3000+ yard seasons.) So I wonder if maybe Flacco is just a bit…mediocre for the hype he receives, the fact is he has the weapons that a lot of QBs could drool over (imagine what Phillip Rivers could do in this situation…) I really enjoy Joe Flacco, I think he is a great QB, but if we look at it…maybe the Ravens need to take a hard look at the way the Steelers do. Run the ball, play great defense, and when you go to, trust your QB’s arm. The fact is I think Harbaugh is trying to MAKE Flacco an elite QB and is having mixed results thus far. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Ravens bring in T.O. after letting Veteran Derrick Mason go, Owens despite his locker room problems, would have a lot of ‘issues’ with his mouth when Ray Lewis is in the locker room. I think Owens would be a great fit in Baltimore, plus it gives Joe Cool another target who still has some talent left in him to squeeze out.

I’m keeping my eye on Joe Flacco, and as much as I want to be sold on him. It’s so damn hard to be.

• Speaking of T.O. here are my top 5 teams to sign him.

1. Ravens. Flacco gets another target, a savvy vet who showed flashes of a good season last year in Cinci, before blowing his knee out.
2. St. Louis. The fact is, Bradford needs help, he needs talent to get the ball out to. T.O may bring baggage with him, but he’s got talent regardless. A 1 year deal can’t hurt them, can it?
3. Patriots. Bill “The Brain” Bellick. That’s all.
4. Minnesota Vikings* okay, this is more of a I want to see the Ponder to T.O. connection, and the first TD Owens hands the ball to McNabb….
5. Washington Redskins. Shanahan just lost Tim Hightower, and Chris Cooley, with the trade deadline passed, I feel like Ol Mikey Mike will be reaching for anything he can get at this point.


Code Red(Skins)
I just addressed in the T.O. think that Hightower who was doing so well, and standout Chris Cooley the target for many years in Washington have both been placed on the I.R. Shanahan has enough trouble reeling from the McNabb trade, on top of the fact that he has two QB’s that he’s started, that would be a third stringer anywhere else in the league. Once was a bright look to a season, comes crashing down in a few short weeks. Sorry Ned.