Football Coaches, GM’s and Owners must think the fans are morons...

(photo-Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan via Wikimedia Commons)

Football Coaches, GM’s and Owners must think the fans are morons because they insult the fans’ intellect on a daily basis…..
By Dr Bill Chachkes-Managing partner/Executive Editor Football Reporters Online


Why is it that (some) football coaches feel the need to “double-speak ‘ in press conferences all the time? What good does it really do? It only hurts their credibility and shows those around him that he has no grasp or control of the situation. Let me make something very clear here. I have never coached at the NFL level, but I spent over 15 years connecting with players as both a teacher and a football coach (and a H.S asst. dean). Never did I ever spend one moment making up a silly sounding story to explain to my players why I did something in practice or a game.

A most recent example of what I’m talking about is Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan. “Shanny” is supposed to be one of the most brilliant football minds out there, but clearly he was “speaking through the side (or back) of his mouth a few weeks back when he benched Donovan McNabb in favor of Rex Grossman to run a two minute drill in a game against the Lions. Grossman, who might be better off if he started his coaching or broadcasting career early (or any other career for that matter), turned over the ball as quickly as it takes a soldier to snap a salute. Result, Lions win (and the Fords’ sell a few more cars overseas!). REX, please call Heath Shuler. He was just elected to Congress, maybe he can help you out with some advice.

In the post game afterwards he(Shanahan) said something to the effect that McNabb was not in shape enough to run a “two minute” offense. Huh? Has McNabb been making un-scheduled stops at Dunkin we don’t know about? Is he doing the “3 Quarts for 12 Bux” deal at Baskin Robbins (I do, but my wife is addicted to butter pecan and rocky road)? I’ve only met Mr. McNabb once professionally, but I have never seen him “Out of Shape.” No, clearly something else is afoot here.

People who watch the Redskins have seen McNabb’s clashes with Redskins’ offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan (of course he is Mike’s son) on the sidelines during games. One was even on national TV. The sports television industry doesn’t show fans running on the field or fighting in the stands, but they show coaches and players having it out when something goes wrong. Right now the Redskins organization (read the elder Shanahan) probably wished they had never made the move for McNabb this past spring, and will be at the bottom of the NFC east again this year, especially if Dallas wins a few more games for Jason Garrett.

Speaking of Dallas, Jerry Jones must have a giant mirror he talks to every day. All we have heard during the Cowboys collapse prior to their drubbing of the Giants this past week was how “he” was looking for answers just like everyone else and how he alone was responsible for the current crisis in north Texas. At least he’s telling part of the truth. He is the blame because he thinks he’s as good a football personnel man as he is flush with money. I wonder if he actually listens to himself when he’s practicing his lines in that mirror. That’s why everyone working for him just nods to him when he talks. Poor Wade Phillips never had a shot. If Jones had handed the team to Garrett a few weeks sooner, the Cowboys might be in the hunt for a wild card spot right now. The team quit on Phillips, just like they rallied for Garret Sunday against the Giants. The Cowboys won’t be playing in a meaningful game again until “Mr. Jerruah gets hisself” another football man to run things the right way.

Another NFL head coach undergoing a season long brain cluster headache is Brad Childress in the movie “Alice in Viking-land” You didn’t see it yet? It stars Brett “The Farvelous” one, the greatest dramatic comedy actor/athlete of all time. Explain to me how the Patriots trade (Randy-the Dandy)Moss (as much as I can’t stand to admit it, coach “Bill in da hoodie” is one smart guy for a cheater), who we all know as talented a receiver as he is, is missing a few fries from his happy meal, for a third round pick in 2011, and gets released 3 weeks later, only to wind up in Nashville with his third team this season, hanging out in the home of country music?

So Randy, tell me, the caterers down there are treating you good right? Because without that post practice meal after the shower the day is just totally ruined. No, “Chilly Bear” is wishing right now that he never sent the three players down to Kiln, Miss. this summer to get Brett to come back. It’s all just a bad dream Bradley, we know. You are going to wake up and talk like Billy Bob Thorton in Slingblade. “uh Huh, We took it to em, huh? We can still win the North if we get past Green Bay, uh Huh” Coach, start wearing a hat so your brain cells don’t freeze. He doesn’t need a hug either.

One last brilliant football man who has me looking through the websters’ unabridged trying to find a word to describe him is Chargers GM A.J. Smith. He’d rather screw over his own team then trade away a player who he doesn’t think is worth the money he was already being paid, twice. I forgot that A.J. was a commander in the civilian harbor watch unit when he wasn’t making Bolts’ fans suffer through his ignorance. Clearly he understands naval tactics so he must know how to manage an NFL franchise. Let’s ruin my teams’ defense and let my QB chase Dan Marino’s passing record. That’s gotta be good for a 9-7 record, right?
“We are not going to trade a player to another team for less then he’s worth”
Brilliant, simply brilliant. What he was really saying was: “no one is going to get the better of me.” So smart boy, what is the Chargers record? Brilliant. Now you know why the NFL owners want a lockout next March. Not only do they want to screw the players, they want to lay off half their front office staff too. Sorry if this was all too blunt for you on a Friday in November, but I’ve only been watching, playing, coaching, scouting, and writing about football for a total of 45 years, so I have to call it as I see it.

A Giant Statement

A Giant Statement
By Jon Wagner-Sr. Writer at Large-Football Reporters Online

With their 2009 season teetering on the brink of finishing without playoff football, the New York Giants (8-6) couldn’t afford yet another slip-up.

They ensured that wouldn’t happen, and then some.

Not only did Big Blue come away with the road victory they so desperately needed to remain a factor in the NFC playoff race, but the Giants served notice that if other conference contenders allow New York to crash the NFC postseason party, the Giants might still be dangerous enough to make the most of such an opportunity.

The G-Men made that type of statement with a thorough 45-12 thrashing of the Washington Redskins (4-10) before a national television audience in the nation’s capital on Monday Night Football.
It was the type of effort that was a lot more reminiscent of the Giants’ 5-0 start to the season while making the Giants temporarily forget their subsequent 2-6 mark leading into Monday night’s contest.

A day after the Redskins’ stadium crew had to remove an estimated 25 million pounds of snow from the stadium and their parking lots just so the game could be played after a big northeast snowstorm, it was the Giants who took the Redskins by storm.

The Giants sent an early message that they would return to their former dominating selves right from the outset, as they took the opening drive 80 yards in 16 plays, consuming 9:13, to lead 7-0 on a three-yard touchdown run by running back Ahmad Bradshaw (9 carries, 61 yards, 2 TD).

And, there was no looking back from there.
“We felt we can play at that caliber that we were playing at the beginning of the year. We came out fired up,” Bradshaw said. “This was a must-win. I told everybody before we went out, I need the whole team to come with us. And that’s how we played… together.”

The Giants scored on their first four possessions, and on six of nine times overall, punting just twice and simply running out the clock the final time they had the ball.
Meanwhile, the Redskins couldn’t get anything going offensively in that half while the Giants continued to move the ball and put points on the board.

The one saving grace for Washington might have been its defense, but even the Redskins’ biggest strength failed them against a determined Giants team.
Coming into the game, New York ranked 26th in red zone offense and was going against the NFL's top red zone defense. Yet, the Giants scored on all four trips into the red zone, getting touchdowns on three occasions.
The Giants forced a three and out on Washington’s first possession, which included a third-down sack by defensive end Justin Tuck, the first of five different New York sacks which were recorded by five different Giants.
Big Blue then drove right down the field again, going 63 yards on 11 plays in 5 minutes, for 14-0 lead, as Bradshaw scored again, on a four-yard touchdown run 39 seconds into the second quarter.
The Giants then went 27 yards, settling for a 38-yard Lawrence Tynes field goal, and on their next possession, they struck quickly, going 56 yards on just four plays in 2:05, scoring on a six-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning (19-26, 268 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT) to wide receiver Steve Smith, to take a commanding 24-0 lead with 4:36 left in the first half.
With 1:55 left in the half and each team having had for possessions, the Giants had run 40 plays to the Redskins’ 15, and New York had outgained Washington 226-6.
Though he certainly did his own part, Manning gave credit to the Giants’ defense for contributing to the Giants’ offensive success. “They came out ready, and played awesome,” he said. “They kept giving us the ball and we kept going down and scoring. We just set the mood for the night very early.”
Washington finally looked good at the start of the third quarter, taking the opening possession of the period 86 yards on eight plays, in 4:20, scoring on an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jason Campbell (15-28, 192 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT) to tight end Fred Davis 4½ minutes into the quarter.
The extra point was missed however, the Redskins still trailed 24-6, and the Giants weren’t through lighting up the scoreboard themselves.
New York answered Washington’s first score of the game with a seven-play, 77-yard drive in 4:08, capped by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to wide receiver Derek Hagan, to lead 31-6, with 6:21 left in the third quarter.
Just fourteen seconds later, it started to get embarrassingly bad for the Redskins.
Cornerback Terrell Thomas intercepted Campbell and scored on a 14-yard return to make the score 38-6, and made Giants fans think back to the first five weeks of the season when Big Blue was considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender prior to its mid-season swoon.
Redskins’ running back Quentin Ganther scored on a one-yard touchdown run with nine seconds left in the third quarter to at least get Washington to double digits, but an ensuing two-point try failed, and the Giants maintained a healthy 38-12 lead heading into the final quarter.
Before taking the bench later in the fourth quarter, Manning led one more scoring drive, taking the Giants 64 yards on five plays, in 2:14, finding wide receiver Mario Manningham on a 25-yard touchdown pass to close out the scoring with 12:48 left in the game.
Most importantly, the win keeps New York one game behind Dallas and Green Bay -- who are each 9-5 overall -- in the race for the two NFC wild-card playoff spots, with two weeks remaining in the regular season. The Cowboys and Packers are each 7-3 in NFC games, while the Giants improved to 6-4 within the conference. However, based on their season sweep over Dallas, the Giants need only to tie (not pass) the Cowboys in a potential two-team tie involving New York and Dallas. The Giants and Packers have not met this season, and do not play each other over the final two weeks of the regular season.
Secondarily, should the Giants find their way into the playoffs, and do so by playing in the next two weeks they way they played in Washington, they may look back to their victory over the Redskins as another crucial turning point in their season, and something on which to build a successful playoff run the way the 2007 Giants rode a 10-6 regular season to a Super Bowl title.
Thus, as Giants head coach Tom Coughlin pointed out, a greater sense of urgency such as the one on display in D.C., will be needed henceforth from the Giants this season.
“We were the team that had more at stake, obviously, and [we] played that way,” Coughlin said. “We always talk about being the team that demonstrates greater purpose. And we did… we ascended tonight, and we have to continue to do that.”

Mike Silver Says Zorn throws himself under the bus - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Zorn throws himself under the bus - NFL - Yahoo! SportsMike Sliver: “Jim Zorn, I’m rooting for you. I really am. I resolved back in February to give you a chance as an out-of-the-box hire, and I hope you survive to coach a second year with the Redskins.

But could you kindly stop bleeding all over the place?”

Knowing Sil, I can actually hear him saying that!

NFL KICKOFF WEEKEND - REDSKINS v. GIANTS TODAY

WHAT TO LOOK FOR – NFL KICKOFF 2008 WEEKEND

SUPER STARTERS:  There are never any guarantees in the NFL, but there are trends.  And they start as early as Kickoff Weekend.  History indicates that the best way for a team to start its drive towards a possible Super Bowl championship is to win in Week 1.

The 42 Super Bowl winners have a 34-7-1 record in the Kickoff Weekend games of their title seasons.  However, as the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants proved, a loss on Kickoff Weekend can still lead to a championship season.

Since 1978, when the NFL went to the 16-game schedule, and excluding the abbreviated season of 1982, teams that are victorious on Kickoff Weekend are more than twice as likely to reach the playoffs than losers of an opening game:

Of the 426 teams which won openers…225 went to the playoffs (130 won division titles).

Of the 426 teams which lost openers…99 went to the playoffs (55 won division titles).

In 2007, nine of the 12 playoff teams – Dallas, Green Bay, Indianapolis, New England, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Seattle, Tennessee and Washington – were victorious on Kickoff Weekend.

“Season openers,” says Washington Redskins tight end CHRIS COOLEY, “set a standard for your team.”

KICKOFF WINNERS:  The season kicks off on Thursday night when the Super Bowl XLII champion NEW YORK GIANTS host the WASHINGTON REDSKINS.  The contest will feature two of the NFL’s most successful teams in season openers.  The Giants rank second in history with 46 Kickoff Weekend victories and the Redskins tie for sixth with 37 wins.

The teams with the most wins on Kickoff Weekend:

TEAM	KICKOFF-WEEKEND WINS
Chicago	49
Green Bay	48
New York Giants	46
Detroit	42
St. Louis	38
Pittsburgh	37
Washington	37

-- KICKOFF 2008 WEEKEND --

STREAKING INTO HISTORY:  The NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS became the first team in NFL history with a perfect 16-0 regular-season record last year.  Dating back to the last three weeks of 2006, New England has won 19 consecutive regular-season games, the longest streak in league annals. 

The Patriots, who also have the second-longest such streak in history (18 games, 2003-04), will seek to reach 20 in a row on Sunday when they host Kansas City.

Following are the teams with the longest regular-season winning streaks in NFL history:

TEAM	YEARS	STREAK
New England	2006-07	19*
New England	2003-04	18
Chicago Bears	1933-34	17
Chicago Bears	1941-42	16
Miami Dolphins	1971-73	16
Miami Dolphins	1983-84	16
Pittsburgh Steelers	2004-05	16

*Active streak

MVP QBs:  Last season, New England quarterback TOM BRADY was named the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player after setting an NFL record with 50 touchdown passes.  Brady, who led New England to Super Bowl XLII, hopes to continue the success of MVP quarterbacks this Sunday.  The past 10 QBs to be named the NFL MVP have posted a passer rating of at least 88.5 on Kickoff Weekend the following season.

The past 10 MVP quarterbacks and their performances on Kickoff Weekend the following season:

NAME	TEAM	DATE	ATT.	COMP.	PCT.	YARDS		TD	INT	RATING
Steve Young	SF	9/3/95	27	21	77.8	260		2	0	131.5
Brett Favre	GB	9/1/96	27	20	74.1	247		4	0	141.5
Brett Favre	GB	9/1/97	22	15	68.2	226		2	1	113.1
Brett Favre	GB	9/6/98	32	24	75.0	277		2	0	121.5
Kurt Warner	StL	9/4/00	35	25	71.4	441		3	3	106.5
Kurt Warner	StL	9/8/02	41	32	78.0	315		0	1	88.5
Rich Gannon	Oak.	9/7/03	38	24	63.2	264		2	0	101.2
Peyton Manning	Ind.	9/9/04	29	16	55.2	256		2	1	93.5
Steve McNair	Ten.	9/11/04	14	9	64.3	73		1	0	101.2
Peyton Manning	Ind.	9/11/05	36	21	58.3	254		2	0	98.6

-- KICKOFF 2008 WEEKEND --

THANK DEVIN:  Chicago Bears return specialist DEVIN HESTER has scored 14 touchdowns (seven punt-return TDs, four kickoff-return TDs, two receiving TDs and a missed-FG return TD) in his first two NFL seasons.  The two-time All Star averages 80.9 yards per touchdown, the highest such mark in NFL history (minimum 10 touchdowns).  

The players with the highest yards-per-touchdown average in history (minimum 10 TDs):

PLAYER	TEAM(S)	TDs	YARDS		AVG.
Devin Hester	Chicago	14	1,132		80.9*
Mel Gray	NO, Detroit, Hou./Tenn., Philadelphia	10	781		78.1
Tamarick Vanover	Kansas City, San Diego	11	757		68.8
Dante Hall	Kansas City, St. Louis	21	1,438		68.5*
Deion Sanders	Atlanta, SF, Dallas, Washington, Baltimore	22	1,461		66.4

            *Active

Hester’s 11 combined kick-return touchdowns (seven PR-TDs, four KR-TDs) already rank as the third most in history.  With another kick-return touchdown, Hester will tie DANTE HALL and ERIC METCALF (12) for second all-time, one behind BRIAN MITCHELL’s NFL mark (13).

The players with the most combined kick-return touchdowns in history:

PLAYER	TEAM(S)	YEARS	PR-TDs	KR-TDs	COMBINED TDs
Brian Mitchell	Washington, Philadelphia, NY Giants	1990-03	9	4	13
Dante Hall	Kansas City, St. Louis	2000-07	6	6	12*
Eric Metcalf	Cle., Atl., SD, Ari., Car., Was., GB	1989-02	10	2	12
Devin Hester	Chicago	2006-07	7	4	11*
Three Tied	--	--	--	--	9

*Active

TDs FOR T.O.:  Entering his 13th NFL season, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver TERRELL OWENS has 129 receiving touchdowns, the third most in history.  With two touchdowns this Sunday against Cleveland, Owens will move past CRIS CARTER (130) into second place all-time in the category.  Owens had two touchdowns on Kickoff Weekend last year and has six receiving TDs in his past four openers. 

The players with the most receiving touchdowns in NFL history:

PLAYER	TEAM(S)	YEARS	REC. TDs
Jerry Rice	SF, Oak., Sea.	1985-2004	197
Cris Carter	Phi., Min., Mia.	1987-2002	130
Terrell Owens	SF, Phi., Dal.	1996-Present	129*
Randy Moss	Min., Oak., NE	1998-Present	124*
Marvin Harrison	Indianapolis	1996-Present	123*

      *Active