The NFL week in review

Can't let the last few days of NFL gossip pass me by.  Must....blog...

• New Orleans Saints - Wow!  Roger Goodell sent a message and it was a big one.  The 70's, 80's and even the 90's way of playing football is over.  Shape up or ship out.  Don't care that this is the way it has always been done.  That way is over.  I applaud his decision.  The coach and management knew what was going on and looked the other way.  After the Penn State debacle Goodell didn't want this situation to compare.  The Saints organization was told to put a stop to things in 2009 and they didn't.  A one year suspension from the game for Coach Payton.  A fine of $500,000 and two draft pick losses for the owners.  An 8 game suspension for the Saints General Manager.  More sanctions are sure to come for the players involved, but Goodell sent a message that the organization and coaches are held to a high standard from now on.
• Roger Goodell - That being said, Goodell's hands were tied and he has no one to blame but himself.  Faced with the concussions, dementia, and deaths of previous NFL players Goodell has made a name for himself in his "cleanin up" of the league, issuing fines and changing the way the game is played where no one knew which end was up.  Claiming that things were going to change has now made him realize that things are worse than he imagined and now he has no choice but to "clean" it all up.
• Drew Brees - Sigh.  He should look around the league.  Miami could use a quarterback.  He should also look inside himself.  Did he know?  Did he really want to win a Super Bowl that badly?  I like the guy.  I hope he hadn't a clue, but I seriously doubt that.
• Spygate vs. The Bounty - Now that the sanctions have been issued talk has turned to the lesser charge for the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick.  The whining has begun, but I say no comparison.  Can't compare setting out to deliberately injure someone for payment to videotaping the opposite team's practices and hand signals.  I'm not a Patriot or Belichick fan, but that situation, and while I thought the Spygate punishment was a slap on the wrists, it doesn't begin to come near what the Saints have been doing for the past three years.  
• Take the Super Bowl away? - Huh?  That is one of the questions being tossed around, but seriously?  Can't even get into that any more than you could with Spygate.  I said then, and say now, put an asterisk by their names just like they plan to do with all the baseball records of all the steroid users.  Those Bowls are always going to be tainted now.
• But that is what players are suppose to do - Yep.  Defensive players are suppose to get to the quarterback and put a stop to him.  Yes, they get paid to do that.  Yes, that is the rule of the game.  But there are other rules in play too, and therein lies the issue.  You are not allowed to go after a person with the intention of permanently damaging him because someone is offering you quite a bit of cash under the table to do so.  I believe in this country that falls under conspiracy and battery.
• Hines Ward retires - So he will never have to wear another uniform of another team because the Pittsburgh Steelers are "the greatest organization".  Yes, I already wrote about this in a previous blog, but he is that great and deserves another mention.
• Peyton Manning - So John Elway smooth talked his way into Manning's ear and promised him what?  Can't believe Manning chose the Denver Broncos, but what do I know of his relationship with Elway?  I love Peyton Manning and cheered for the Colts because of him, but I won't cheer for the Broncos.  I hope Manning can still play because the game and the NFL needs him.  I just wish he hadn't succumbed to Elway.
• Tim Tebow - Poor Tebow.  Elway inherited him, never cared for the quarterback, and has now shipped him out of town for the aforementioned Manning.  Personally, when I heard that the Broncos were going after Manning I figured Tebow would welcome him with open arms and learn everything he could from him as the back-up quarterback.  I was actually hoping Manning would make Tebow great.  Maybe Elway was afraid of that too.
• And what was he thinking? - The Jets?  Elway did that on purpose.  He purposely picked the nastiest, most foul mouthed coach and sold Tebow to him like a slave on the block.  And then said he would want his daughter to marry Tebow?  Oh, please.  Watch your back Manning.  Elway loves that he is the King in Denver and he is hoping you will win and make him look even better, but if you usurp his throne he will not take it kindly.
• And what was he thinking? - The Jets?  I think Tebow picked them over his hometown Jaguars just to stick it to Elway.  Send me to that nutcase Rex Ryan thinking I can't handle his "f" this and "f" that?  Was this Tebow's way of raising his middle finger to Elway?  The Jets have more problems then the coach's filthy mouth and as a player I wouldn't go anywhere near that locker room.  I have a lot of worries for Tebow's future, and I like the kid.
• The Jets management - Seriously?  They didn't read the contract before agreeing to the trade?  And then wanted a do over?  Such a rookie mistake.  Hello?  Didn't I just say that this team has problems?  Obviously, they start at the top.  Tebow has his work cut out for him.