Monday, September 24, 2012

Monday morning sports recap - Week # 3

Steelers:  Gave that game away.

  • Defense - Last week the defense stepped up and this week the defense stepped out. Why did they even get on the plane for California? 
  • Big Ben - 384 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no win. Which one is going to matter in the end? I thought Ben looked strong, but he has got to lead and pull these guys into the win column.
  • Fumbles - Maybe the team needs to purchase the same receiver gloves I bought for my daughter's football season because too many of our receivers couldn't hang on to the ball. The worst was Antonio Brown's fumble in the endzone. He did recover it for the touchdown, but seriously a fumble in the endzone? I got those gloves for $25 at Walmart.
  • Penalties - Ten penalties that cost us 81 yds. and who knows how many chances to score. It slowed down the game and pushed us in the wrong direction time after time. 
  • Heyward-Bey - It is terrible to see a guy down and unconscious. I despise the violence of the game. I know none of these guys seriously want to injure a player and live with that on their conscious. But I didn't think the hit was a bad one. I'm not an expert in this game, but it looked to me like Mundy hit low in the shoulder area and his helmet caught Heyward-Bey's face mask as he lowered his chin. Unfortunately all it takes is one hit in this game to cause serious injury. I hope Heyward-Bey is okay and will continue to be able to play.
  • Replacement Refs - Ah, how many illegal hits went undetected in just this game? How many illegal plays were missed? I don't blame the replacement guys, although shouldn't they be improving each week? I blame the NFL. It's getting old. Make the deal and get the experts back in this professional league.

Other:
  • Replacement Officials: "If it weren't so important, it would actually be funny." Howie Long's statement on the Fox NFL Sunday pregame couldn't be truer. The NFL talks the talk, but isn't walking the walk. They claim their changes of the game are to protect the players, but then they put in replacement refs who, as Terry Bradshaw pointed out, have only had two months to study the rule book. So far they have been lucky, but for how long? The throwing of the hat in the endzone which resulted in a tripping of a Dallas receiver? All the crazy issued calls in week 3? The Ravens and the Pats game debacle?  Get this situation resolved.
  • Kneeling Down - For some reason I don't have much of an opinion on this fiasco that has blown up in the media and Internet. I never understood the kneeling down myself. I mean I understand why they do it, but I've never understood why the other team says, "Oh, okay. Bummer. You win." It isn't a rule that you have to abide by the kneel down, so Tampa head coach Greg Schiano wasn't doing anything illegal. As Jimmie Johnson said if the Bucs had knocked out the ball the media would be talking today about how that was a great play. The question was would he do it again?  Yes, he would.  Twice in yesterdays game against Dallas.
  • Steve Sabol - Kudos to Fox for having Friday Night Light innovator filmmaker Peter Berg do a tribute segment on the president of NFL Films. Nice.
  • Lions OT Loss - Supposedly it was a miscommunication, but what in the world was going through the Lions players' heads when they tried to go for it on 4th down? Couldn't anyone call time out and ask WTF?
  • San Francisco - They were the talk of all the pre-game shows and then they went out and got spanked. Gotta give credit to the Vikings.
  • Matt Straub - Ouch. He lost some of his ear lobe on an illegal hit. Gross.
  • Overtime - Three games went into overtime and each one had some drama; the before mentioned Lions/ Titans game, the Jets beating Miami with crazy timeout calls and blocked kicks, and the Saints going 0-3 and the Chiefs finally winning one. Who doesn't love football?

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