Super Bowl XXLIII: Cardinals Steel Belted

Finally it is Friday, so I can take a few minutes out to discuss some sports. Of course those of you reading have been exposed to the 'hype' surrounding Super Bowl XXLIII, which will take place on February 1st, in Tampa, FL. I have to admit, it is hard to get up for this one, but I still believe we may be seeing a good game in that we will be seeing a very good offensive squad in the Arizona Cardinals matching up against the dominating Pittsburgh Steelers defense. However, there is a certain quality missing that I just can't put my finger on (perhaps that the Patriots missed the playoffs, the Colts choked again, the Giants could not could not make another run and the Chargers can never seem to close the deal when given the chance).

The Steelers are very deserving of this chance and from the few people I've spoken to, it appears to be a foregone conclusion that they will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy the end of the game. However, isn't the act of conceding the game to what we perceive to be the better team what we (well, those outside of the New York City metro area) thought about last year's game? What about Kurt Warner's last Super Bowl appearance with the Rams in 2001? In this posting, I will discuss my thoughts on how the participants in this year's Super Bowl match up with each other. I will not be name dropping too much, just going over how I feel each squad's scheme of playing will open up opportunities or expose their weaknesses. Then I will do the corny and geeky 'I told you so' score prediction.

There is no doubt about it, the Steelers D is going to be hard to contend with as Arizona's attack is so predicated on the pass. However after careful consideration, I have begun to feel that if running backs Edgerrin James and J.J. Arrington are major components of the game plan early, they may be able to control the clock and keep the Steelers offense off of the field. The obvious peril in holding onto the ball against a team that is as disciplined on defense as the Steelers is that sooner or later they will find a way to create a turnover or the offensive players will have difficulty in maintaining focus during prolonged drives. Just imagine, Arizona starts from its own 25 yard line, meticulously drives all the way down to the Steeler's 15 yard line only to lose a fumble, thrown an interception or victimize themselves with drive killing penalties.

The aforementioned scenarios deflate any offensive unit in the regular season much less one that is playing the Super Bowl. The alternative to 'matriculating the ball down the field', in the words of the great Hank Stram, would be for the Cards to employ the ol' heave ho to Larry Fitzgerald, which worked for them throughout the playoffs against some quality defensive units. However, it is a literally painful fact that the Steelers are different animals when it comes to measuring defensive prowess. The defense has only allowed 12 touchdown passes and has picked off 20 errant or poorly thrown balls. In analyzing the Steelers defense, the operative word is pressure. Pressure is something Kurt Warner has had problems dealing with throughout his career, so it no secret that Pittsburgh will try to rattle him early (hence, the need to lean on the running backs). The Cards will be at their best if they can keep the Steelers off balance and thus, make them predictable in terms of how they plan to defend their offensive attack.

The Steelers yielded 3.3 yards/carry during the regular season, which if one listens to the professional analysts, would seem pretty meager; however, if the Cards even get 3.0 per carry, their playbook could expand to include screen plays, reverses, flea-flickers, throw backs and direct snaps as they could conceivably face 3rd and 4 or 5 if they stay par for the course consistently. Three yards per carry does not spell doomsday for the Cardinals. If they are averaging 2 yards or below per carry, their may be problems; if they are facing in 3rd & 6 or 7 more often than not, they are playing into the Steelers' hands as this is what their defense relies on: enforcing predictability from its opposition. These are the downs where you will see safeties and linebackers such as James Harrison (left) hugging the line of scrimmage and zone-blitz schemes (defensive linemen dropping into coverage) being called by Steelers defensive coordinator, Dick Lebeau in order to counter potential 'hot routes' run by receivers. The Steelers want the Cardinals to account for blitzes by max protecting (i.e. keeping a running back and tight end from releasing into pass routes during the play to block potential blitzers in pass situations) as it will hinder what they do best, which is pass the ball.

Now, as far as the Cardinal defense is concerned, I feel that they may be able to compete with the Steelers so long as they are able to match the physical intensity in the trenches and on the peripheries of play. Although they are a little small up front, they may be able utilize speed in order to gain penetration and limit the Pittsburgh ground attack. If I were in Mike Tomlin's shoes, I'd immediately attempt to test the stoutness of the Cards' defensive line in order to find out how they intend to scheme against my offense. I would like to see the Steelers come out ready to pass the ball as it is more than likely, eight Cardinal defenders will be in 'the box' to defend against the run early. The major ace 'card' in Arizona's favor is that their head coach, Ken Whisenhunt and assistant head coach, Russ Grimm are well steeped in how the Steelers play offense as they were on their staff for a number of years: Whisenhunt (2001-2006) and Grimm (2000-2006). These coaches know the Steelers' personnel and can push the buttons that need to be pushed in order force quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into errors of judgement when confronted by certain defenses. The Cardinals' secondary is also playing very well and with loads of confidence, but the Steelers receivers (notably, Hines Ward) are notoriously physical blockers; will the corners and safeties be able to get off of blocks in order pursue plays? Blitzing Roethlisberger is a very hard thing for a team to do as he is very adept at keeping broken plays alive and turning them into positive gains. The Cards will need to hold coverage as long as they can when defensing pass plays. If Big Ben wants to run, they should let as that will not beat them...losing assignments while he is scrambling often does however.

Keys: When the Steelers have the ball:

The number one key for the Cardinals on defense is to make sure they stop the run early and do not allow Willie Parker to get outside on running plays; if they are able to keep the play in front of them, safeties such as the under-appreciated Adrian Wilson can support the run. Secondly, they have to be willing to give Roethlisberger those scrambling yards; if he is surrounded by three men before he has committing to running for yardage, that is bad news. The secondary has been playing exceptionally well and they must not only continue their string of effective play, but also step it up. They will have to be physical as TE Heath Miller is a favorite downfield target in Pittsburgh's offense.

The Steelers' number one key on offense is establish the run. So, as I said earlier, I will not be surprised to see Pittsburgh try to spread Arizona's defense out with multiple receiver sets in order to soften them up for the run, which if administered by the Steelers, is done late rather than early (especially when playing with a lead). Willie Parker is the type of running back that cannot be held for an entire game without him making a play or two. It is critical that the Steelers set up the Cardinals with the pass in order to get the running game going provided they are able to get an early lead. Number two, get physical in the passing game. Hines Ward wears out opposing players whether he is blocking them or they are tackling him; as games wear on, those hard don't seem so hard. Get the ball the receivers in space so they can utilize effective blocking in order to turn modest gains into big ones.

Keys: When the Cardinals have the ball

For the Steelers, the first key is simple and many teams have done it before: get to Kurt Warner early. Bringing that extra pass rusher at will throw off his timing and thus cause interceptions or strip sacks. It is imperative to note that the more Warner is hit, the worse he gets (but that's just about any QB). Based on the manner in which the Cardinals worst losses were this season, if they get down or demoralized early, they generally do not recover. The offense, which is primarily one dimensional cannot sustain comebacks as their can be disrupted easily by teams that follow their keys. Secondly, as for dealing with a receiving corps that features three 1,000 yard gainers, the Steelers have to select one player they can live with having a good game. I would suggest that this player is NOT Larry Fitzgerald. If Fitzgerald is neutralized, the opportunity for instant offense via the 'jump-ball' is greatly decreased. I am not scared of Steve Breaston beating me if I am the Steelers. Anquan Boldin is still suffering from a hamstring and in light of the recent dust up with offensive coordinator and his character being questioned, he may have something to prove. We also have not seen how these receivers react to being hit in manner in which the Steelers hit opposing players; I am unsure what the response from Fitzgerald et al will be as I've not seen cornerbacks get physical with him off the line of scrimmage too often. I still think he will be 'Cover 2'd' all day with saftey coverage being rolled over to Fitzgerald's side of the field to assist the cornerback who will be covering him. Boldin can be dealt with via single coverage...heck, if Warner is under duress, he won't have time to get the ball to Boldin.

The Cards' first key is to show no consistency when dealing with Pittsburgh. All of the tendencies they displayed during the regular season and playoffs need to be scrapped. This is why I say that they need to come out and try to run the ball. If it is not the run, short passes such as screens or direct snaps would be sufficient; it would not surprise me to see a little 'Wildcat' being utilized as has been successful for several teams during the regular season. One thing that I would not do if I were Ken Whisenhunt is come out trying to spread the Steeelers defense out...many have tried and few have succeeded; doing so only gives the Steelers more space in which to bring a free pass rusher. Get James involved early and since he is relatively fresh, why not put the ball in his hands? I would not trust Tim Hightower to tote the rock too much as he is a rookie and his style of running exposes the ball, enabling him to be stripped by defenders. He could be utilized in short yardage situations and perhaps in blocking for max protect situations if they should arise. Secondly, get Arrington(pictured) involved in all aspects of the offense similar to how the Philadelphia Eagles use Brian Westbrook. If he is effective, his presence on the field alone will open up opportunities for Fitzgerald to victimize single coverage; if this happens, the entire offensive game plan can be dictated to the defense.

In predicting this game, I cannot overlook the physicality of the Steelers defense, especially in big games. This team answered blow for blow against a hardened Baltimore Raven team I have doubts the Cardinals would even be able to contend with. I have yet to see the Cardinals in a fight for their life as they have gotten their opponents in the playoffs down by many points early and then held on to win. They will be in a serious fight come next Sunday and I do not believe they can go the distance against a well seasoned, playoff tested team. For these reasons, I believe the game may be close early, but turnovers will play a huge role in the Cardinals demise...they should have listened to me. I will take Pittsburgh 27-13. MVP? Who cares?

Gruden Fired...speculated here first

Yes, finally Chucky himself has been vanquished in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have just fired John Gruden and it was speculated on this very blogsite two weeks ago. If you asked me, he took too much credit for winning a Super Bowl with Tony Dungy's team. The glaring weaknesses in personnel evaluation, poor drafting and the dizzying. endless carrousel of quarterbacks which will hopefully be at an end. I am not a Bucs fan, but I am excited for them. It is clear that the team had tuned out the dirty faces and the yelling. The lack of clutch performances when the team needed them speaks volumes of how they responded to him and his initmidating style of coaching. Hmm...maybe Keyshawn Johnson had something when he virtually quit on the team a few years back referencing differences of opinion between he and Gruden. Now, Gruden is a good coach it would be a wise move to start all over again as I believe he needs to be a coordinator again before going back to a head coaching gig. He will also have to learn to stick with one QB and let him play through the good and bad times...look what it did for Eli Manning to have a coach stick with him when he struggled mightily.

On the other side Raheem Morris is a member of the Dungy coaching tree and he was hired with hopes that what Herman Edwards and Mike Tomlin had in coaching talent will transfer to him. We will see. Man, I have to do some analysis on the age of head coaches in the NFL dropping down to my age....wierd.

Philadelphia Eagles: Preparing to Throw McNabb the 'Out-Route'?

Man, it has been a trying week. I have returned from my winter break hiatus from law school and thought I had the gas to just keep up the pace I had last semester. Wrong. It however is good to be back in the swing of things and writing these articles for you and the rest of the world that has some time to spare. Thank you for your time as writing these for you is the highlight of my week. I have been thinking heavily about the NFL playoffs and who will be the respective representatives of the AFC and NFC in the Super Bowl after this weekends conference championship games.

You could have slapped me silly if I told you a rookie quarterback (Joe Flacco) would be leading the offense of a team that is one game from the Super Bowl. You could have slashed my tires and taken all of the CDs in my car if I told you in September that Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner will be one step from returning to the Super Bowl and thus potentially cementing a Hall of Fame career. However, the story of these playoffs in my opinion at least is neither Flacco or Warner. It isn't even Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who since coming into the NFL has consistently been a winner. The story that intrigues me is that of Donovan McNabb, quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. It is not so much that he has been a major role in the resurrection of a team many (including me) left for dead when he was benched in week 12 against the Baltimore Ravens. It is the fact that McNabb is in a unique position that forces me to analyze loyalty, money and organizational success in the NFL. These factors are what separates good teams from bad teams and at the same time could shift the future success of the player and the franchise both negatively and positively.

There is no doubt in my mind that the 2009 NFL off season will be pivotal for every team and the league itself. There are so many questions that need to be answered from Terrell Owens' future with the Dallas Cowboys, the rumors that LaDanian Tomlinson will be traded from the San Diego Chargers, the Matt Cassel-New England Patriots saga and the moves the Detroit Lions will make in order to distance itself from a historically woeful and winless 2008 season. Other issues will be the collective bargaining agreement between the players and owners; who will be Gene Upshaw's replacement as the Executive Director of the Player's Union? What will happen after 2009 if an agreement has not been struck between the two parties. Believe it or not, the question of Donovan McNabb touches upon all of these issues in some way or another.

I've made up my mind that if the Eagles are unable to win the Super Bowl in Tampa, FL on February 1st, the team will need to seriously consider the future of McNabb and whether the team as presently constituted will be able to compete for a championship in not only the short term but the long haul (3-5 years in the NFL). The Eagles are making their 5th NFC title game appearance in 8 years with their lone breakthrough to the big game being in 2005 (which was lost). The team showed tons of heart down the stretch run of the regular season, eventually procuring a wild card berth. However, how long can this team continue to keep this up? The roster is showing serious signs of wear and tear from years of elongated seasons via failed playoff runs. Want an example? Since 2001, the Eagles have played 14 post season games, which is the equivalent of a regular season prior to 1978. Giving added significance to this while taking a swipe at Matt Millen, the Lions have appeared in 0 playoff games during this period. 14-0. Seems like a score between the Eagles and the Lions huh? However, despite the failure to win a Super Bowl and exposure to more football than the lay teams, the franchise has not made major changes. The Eagles are a very loyal franchise to their signature players. They brought back Hugh Douglas when it was apparent he was no longer an elite player. They allowed Jeremiah Trotter to return after several injury plagued seasons elsewhere. They held on to players such as Eric Allen and Bobby Taylor when they had obviously passed their prime. In a way, this behavior reflects the ideology of 'brotherly love', but when precious salary cap dollars are hanging in the balance in today's NFL, in this country's economy, how long can a team hang onto highly compensated players who have already peaked and appear to be on the decline? Sadly, McNabb is one of those players.

McNabb signed a 12-year, $115 million contract with a $20.5 million signing bonus in 2002, which at the time, gave him the highest paid contract in NFL history. Originally signed through 2013, his being able to meet certain performance clauses in the contract voided the final three years of the deal and the contract is set to expire in (ding, ding) 2010, the uncapped salary year if the CBA is not renewed. McNabb's salary cap number for 2009 (base salary and pro rated signing bonus) will be $10.3 million. The team is long in the tooth at several positions (safety, linebacker) and also has needs for the future elsewhere (running back). The Eagles have done their best to keep a core group of players intact for quite a while and have yet to win a Super Bowl. I commend Jeffrey Laurie, owner of the Eagles, for keeping the team intact and allowing consistency to become a culture throughout the organization. However, I wonder...if the Eagles stumble in Arizona this weekend or in the Super Bowl in a couple of weeks, is he still willing to stay the course with his present QB who has yet to lead this team the ultimate goal? Can that extra $9 million (provided McNabb is traded) be put to use in order to build the Eagles of tomorrow and thus potentially extend the run of consistency? Is just making the playoffs every year the ultimate goal?

I fear that Laurie, team president, Joe Banner and coach Andy Reid will be making a cardinal mistake if they do not trade McNabb in the offseason provided they do not win during the rest of these playoffs. The risk factors with McNabb are stark. He has endured problems with his thumb, tore an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and broken an ankle (which he played on). If these injuries were prevalent in the past, does one think he will be healthy in the future? McNabb started all 18 games this season but look at his games started going back (2007: 14, 2006: 10, 2005: 9, 2004: 10). I am not saying that he cannot be counted on...heck he was a major player in getting T.O. and his poison out of their locker-room. He is a team leader and he has been the figurehead during arguably the most prominent era of Eagles football. However, the facts remain that he is no longer the elite player he once was. He can still make plays that every Tom, Dick and Trent Green can make, but he has become more a game manager; if the team relies too heavily on him, he cannot win games consistently. It is Brian Westbrook that is target of every defensive coordinator; McNabb is not the dynamic threat that the organization depended on and paid handsomely back in 2002. One thing that the organization does not want to do is allow themselves to rest on the laurels of the past when it comes to McNabb similar to how the Boston Celtics did with Larry Bird in his latter years. Celtics' management was more concerned with cementing Bird's legacy than looking towards the future and seeing how they can parlay an aging and declining former superstar into a new era (remember, an upstart player by the name of Reggie Lewis languished on the bench for two years before Bird retired). Staying with 'your guy' too long can set a franchise back for a decade at least...just ask the NY Knicks and how they handled Patrick Ewing or the Miami Dolphins with Dan Marino.

On the flip-side, I also kind of appreciate the loyalty that the Eagles have shown to McNabb. It is the kind of loyalty that is rarely seen especially when the player is going through the ringer in the press, life or in the locker room. This loyalty has been rewarded by playoff appearances and has sold out Lincoln Financial Field consistently. I constantly harp on the value of loyalty and how it is a missing component in not only the sports world, but also in our everyday lives. People's futures are determined by the stroke of a pen in order to help a company spare the bottom line which enables discontent in the workplace to stay extremely high. In Philadelphia, the player wishes to be re-signed and the employer seems to want to do the same. It is a rare amount of respect shown in public. However, the Eagles are still a business and they are not out to make older players feel welcome; they are in business to win and generate revenue, just like every other team or business. There are teams that are so cut-throat, you have to follow suit sometimes just to financially compete with them. The Patriots got Drew Bledsoe out of New England as soon as they found a more effective, and efficient player to take his place. The Indianapolis Colts allowed Edgerrin James, a cornerstone to the franchise's resurgence to walk via free agency as he demanded the motherload. The NY Giants waved the franchise's all- time leader rusher, Tiki Barber out of the door and into the cozy confines of an NBC studio set after his complaints and threats to retire wore on everyone associated with the organization. What do all of these franchises have in common? The players that replaced these legends were younger and cheaper. Know what else? After replacing them, the team won championships.

Now, if the Eagles are able to win the Super Bowl this year, it may no problem to bring McNabb back for a 2009 swan song. Going into 2010 flush with cap space and a market that does not restrict spending, may enable the team acquire that player who can get them over the top. It is a popular sentiment to bring back your Super Bowl winning quarterback with a brand spanking new contract extension in order to create the illusion that the team is back to defend the title. What happens when Jason Taylor edge rushes McNabb into a separated throwing shoulder and the team is now committed to him for more years with even more money sitting on the cap? It may be in the best interest of the Eagles, if they win...if they win....to not give McNabb a new contract but bring him back (loyalty and forward thinking) while allowing, ulp... Kevin Kolb to get a majority of the snaps in the preseason after getting another signal caller in the draft. We all appreciate the McNabb signature moments...can anyone say 4th and 26? However, are they worth not allowing the franchise to move forward if they cannot complete the quest for a title with him at the helm? Either way 2010 is the year the in which the Eagles can really do some damage. They are fiscally responsible and know how to prepare financially for the long term. Once again, if they do not win, it may be in every one's best interests to try another strategy in order to reach organizational and personal goals.

By the way, yes it is true...LaDanian Tomlinson is on the trading block. Do you think the Chargers should pull the trigger? Are they kicking themselves for not locking up Michael Turner two years ago? Turner carried the ball 376 times for the Atlanta Falcons for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns...sounds Tomlinson-esque doesn't it? What are your thoughts about McNabb? If the Eagles win, should they still pursue a trade while he is at his highest value? If they lose, should they bring him back? Is the salary cap relief worth cutting or trading a beloved player?

Coach's Dilemma...Emphasis on a broken system

I was doing some research on my next article and happened upon an interesting article by ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski in regards to University of Miami quarterback Robert Marve. Marve requested to be released from his scholarship and the school granted the release...under the condition that he not attend schools in conferences of the school's choice. The interesting twist is what we touched upon the previous post...if the coach decides to break his contractual commitment, he can do so without any strings attached by the school. However, if the student athlete decides to do so, his choices are crippled by the institution. The question is what message is being sent to other recruits? To emphasize the point on the previous post, the relationship between recruits and the school of their choice is unfair...don't even get me started on these bowl games where the school pockets the advertisement money and student athletes get nothing. The article is a good read. Enjoy.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=3815468&sportCat=ncf

Coach's Dilemma: Honor Thy Contract or Not?

Well folks, my winter hiatus from law school is running out and my focus has somewhat been skewed from sports alone back to legal issues. Funny how that kind of works out as I was reading my very first blog and noticed that I wrote like someone who just was liberated from their first semester of work, yet still constrained by the intricate details of legal training. As I progressed into the break, my writing became a little more free and I was able to venture out again as far as topics and provide nuggets of information that perhaps you will not find elsewhere. It's nothing out of the ordinary, this is what we do here at AlphaleticArticles. In other words, I am patting my back. I also thank you for tuning in and hopefully we can continue our weird writer-reader relationship.

Relationships are critical in all aspects of our lives. Relationship dictate living space, transportation and employment. One portion of our society where relationships are very important is the area of athletics. The common mode of legitimizing relationships in athletics is a contract. We the public are provided with a great deal of the details in regards to these complex agreements whether it be a player's salary, a team's corporate sponsor, an executive officer's scope of power and even issues regarding the sale of tickets. Coaches themselves have their contractual agreements with their employer thrust into the public spotlight for debate, praise or analysis. Sports fans have seen the role of contracts and their validity come to the surface in instances where coaches who signed contract extensions (Sylvester Croom and Maurice Cheeks for instance) with their employer, be summarily shown the door shortly afterwards due to the struggles of the team.

The administrators who gave them these contracts were criticized for these decisions being that the coach is rewarded for doing a great job with the team by being give an extended commitment of security; but if the team struggles or has a bad year, that security is null and void. Is that fair? Well, it all depends on who you ask. The employer thinks its fair as they are trying to bring out the best in their investment. The cost of firing a coach on a professional level is small in comparison to keeping the coach and watching good money being spent on an already salary-bloated roster. On the collegiate level, all of the resources that go into recruiting, raising money for the program and casting the school in a positive light for higher admission rates takes precedent over the coach's contractual commitment to the school.

Now what happens in a situation on the collegiate level where the coach has done a great job, has a long term contract, and wants to see if he can procure a better job elsewhere? If the coach interviews elsewhere or accepts a new job? Is that fair to the school? I mean, the coach is a human being that has higher goals for themselves and a family to support. For instance, Boston College has just fired their head football coach Jeff Jagodzinski today in reference to his recent interview for the vacant head coaching position with the New York Jets. Jagodzinski became the head coach of BC in 2007 and led the team to the highest ranking (No.2 in the country) in the school's history and also coached it to back to back berths in the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) Championship Game. He in all respects has done what the athletic department has asked of him and in turn, rewarded them with sterling results. Jagodsinksi signed a 5-year contract as head coach and it has been reported that the athletic director for BC, Gene DeFilippo, hired him on the condition that he honor the entire length of the deal (doesn't anyone?). There were also reports that the contract stipulated that he is not interview with any NFL team until after his third year of the contract, although this has not been confirmed as true.

After the 2008 season for BC ended with a 16-14 loss to Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl, rumors began to swirl in regards to Jagodzinski's interest in coaching in the NFL and his having been in contact with the Jets. When DeFilippo asked him if this was true, Jagodzinski said no. Is this reason to be fired? How about the ultimatum from DeFilippo warning Jogodzinski that if he interviewed with the Jets, he would be fired? Was that warranted? When looking at this issue, I have no choice but to look at a shining example of a school that was burned by a coach who, flush with a long term contract still had his eyes to door.

Anyone remember Bobby Petrino? He signed a 10 year, $25.5 million contract with the University of Louisville in 2006 and subsequently left to become the head coach of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons for the 2007 season, despite offers from the school to up his salary in order to convince him to stay. Petrino signed a 5-year $24 million deal with the Falcons and then quit on the team during the season no less, to become the head coach of the University of Arkansas. Is something wrong here?(pictures of his odyssey below) The one thing that I think about the most in regards to Petrino's mess is not that he said 'you got yourself a head coach' to Falcon's owner Arthur Blank in the midst of the stories concerning his imminent departure. It is the fact that the coaches find it so easy to bail out (the operative term for the latter part of this decade in the U.S.) on the student athletes that they recruit.

Jagodzinski and countless other coaches visited the homes of many high school juniors and seniors in order to convince them that their institution is best for them. There is tradition, top ranked academics, plenty of women, active city life and oh yeah, can't forget...a chance to go to the NFL. Some of these young men live thousands of miles away from the school and the parents trust the coach enough to send their child to this school under the watchful eye of the man who sits in the living room pitching the program to them.

What if after the young man commits to going to the school, the coach quits in order to get a higher profile and higher paying job elsewhere? Now, the coach can bail out of his contract, but the student athlete is stuck in his agreement (letter of intention). I don't care about the AD at BC, the local/national news services or pundits. If anyone has a right to be angered by this type of behavior, it should be the parents of the student who were recruited by the coach who engages in such a practice. Now, Jagodzinski was merely testing the waters when he put out feelers for jobs in the NFL. Although this does not mean he was actively shopping his wares, it has to be disturbing to others who's livelihood depend on his being there to coach. Is his inquiry into the head coaching job with the Jets a breach of contract? I am not sure as we are not privy to the language in the document. Were his actions a breach of trust between his employer, the students and their parents? Yes. This breach of trust is what cost him his job.

As I've stated, student athletes are most affected by this. Think of all of the prized recruits who realized a dream when they were recruited to play for Steve Spurrier at the University of Florida, only to see him on ESPN announcing he has accepted the head coaching position of the Washington Redskins (which didn't last long). The same thing can be said about University of Alabama's Nick Saban, who in the course of three years, left LSU(Louisiana State University), took the head coaching position with the Miami Dolphins and then quit after two seasons to return to the college ranks. How can any parent in clear conscious trust the coach that comes to their home? He will say to the parent 'I am here for the long term' or 'I'm not going anywhere', but does that mean anything if the coach inherently wants to coach on the professional level or at a higher profile school? Who gets left behind when he leaves?

As I touched upon earlier, coaches are people just like you and I. They have goals they set for themselves and those goals are set high (I hope yours are too). If the opportunity to grab that goal by the horn presents itself, why shouldn't they take it? For all Jagodzinski knows, the next recruiting class could underachieve and the team could suffer through injuries the following season. If the team doesn't do well, he is back down on the totem pole with years to build back up to where he is now. If he doesn't get optimum performance out of the players, guess what happens to him? He gets that call down to the AD's office and he will be FIRED. The average coach's life and family are always hanging in the balance no matter what job they take because so much is not under their control. Why not find ways to keep the pipeline of communication to better jobs open? Is it his kids he cares about most or someone else's kids? I know when I had a job in my pre-law school life, I went on job interviews from time to time. I did it just to get a gauge on where I stood in the market and what skills would make me more attractive in the future. If I received an offer, I weighed it and then made the informed decision which was best for me. I always remembered that everyone is replaceable, so why not look out for other opportunities? The employer is always looking for some new and exotic way to cut costs.

My last point is that Boston College fumbled the ball on this whole sordid affair. It allowed internal entities to leak the school's position to the press and DeFilippo let his opinions be known too early. As a result, after day two, the matter took on a life of it's own and DeFilippo painted himself into a corner; he had to fire Jagodzinski. This could have been avoided by offering 'no comment' to all questions or by putting an internal gag order on the matter immediately after the rumors surfaced. Silence and vague statements are what keep Mayors, Presidents, CEOs and coaches alike employed. Once one lets the world know their position, they no longer have maneuverability or leverage. If you don't follow through, you have no spine and your word means nothing; if you do follow through, you cut off your nose to spite your face. There are many lessons to be learned through this situation, that's for sure.

If my opinion is wanted on the issue, Jagodzinski should have been forthright with his employer and told the truth about his contact with the Jets when they asked him about it. He betrayed the trust that got him hired. Without that same level of trust, there is no way he could have returned as head coach. Now BC has to go tell Jagodzinski's recruits a story about how the football program is still stable.

BTW: See how the Jets' organizational incompetence affects other organizations? Man oh man...

The NHL Outdoors: Opening the Door for Diversity? Maybe...

Good Evening/Morning to those who are reading this entry. Once again, thank you for tuning in to read a little bit about my take on issues within the vast universe of sports. I do not plan on getting too in depth on this entry as I am trying to get my behind to the gym before the sun rises. Interestingly enough, ever since I've been on Winter hiatus from school, I've been a vampire...I stay up all night reading and preparing new material for this medium and then sleep half the day...I better get myself in gear before school starts back, that's for sure. Anyways, I am sitting here writing and just put on some old school music while I write. Got a little Chaka Khan and Rufus going on right now. Before I go forward, I would like to send my condolences out to the family and close friends of one of my favorite hip hop artists, Arthur "Party Arty" or "P-80" Sheridan, who passed on December 4, 2008. I know many of you do not know Arty, but he was a one half of the group "Ghetto Dwellers" and a member of the Worldwide D.I.T.C. Crew (Diggin' in the Crates). Rest in Peace, dun, this is dedicated.

Now, while the sports world has been focused on the popular topics of the NFL Playoffs, the ascension of Lebron James to the NBA elite, Brett Favre, coaches in all professional sports being dropped at a dizzying pace and the gawd-awful, dreadful, begging episode narrated by Jared Allen of the Minnesota Vikings on the teams website, pleading the struggling American citizens in the Minneapolis area to buy tickets to the last evening's playoff game. The game could have been blacked out in the local market due to the stadium not being sold out...so Allen basically stated "I know you got your holiday bonus, buy some tickets". Now this is from a man that signed a $69 million contract in the 2008 off-season. People are losing jobs, homes and futures. And he, with the co-signing of his employer had the nerve to address such a condescending message to fans. I for one, am glad the Vikings lost last night. No more tickets to be sold for this season!!! Whoever is the public relations specialist in that organization should be put in a position to know exactly what the lay American laborer is dealing with...a pink slip firmly in hand. As it was stated on Cannibal Ox's album " The Cold Vein"...'it's a cold world out there, sometimes I think I'm getting a little frosty myself.'

Speaking of cold and frosty, I am unsure if the average sports fan has paid attention to what the NHL has been doing over the past two seasons. The league has created what is called a "Winter Classic" where two teams play a hockey game outdoors. I have to admit, it was exciting to watch and I have no doubts that if this idea is implemented and packaged to the consumer correctly, it can not only expand the league brand, but also increase it's influence demographically. Let's be frank here...I am African American and I remember my first NHL game...in Boston. In 1993. In the old Boston Garden. Yes, back when I was in high school. Reggie Lewis was doing his thing for the Celtics and Bill Clinton was President. My boss at my little part time job was a season ticket holder and he could not go to a game (Bruins vs. St. Louis Blues, to the best of my memory). So he gave the tickets to me and my homeboy Andy, who is Puerto Rican. As we made our way to the seats, you should have seen, or felt the eyes of the predominately...forget that...all of the white people in the section squarely on us. We were made to feel we did not belong, but we had a good time nonetheless. The experience did not endear either of us to accepting tickets again however, as we both felt that the game was not as enjoyable without a diverse group of fans rooting for the local team.

When I watched portions of the Winter Classic last year which was played in Ralph Wilson Stadium, in Buffalo, N.Y., I actually wanted to be there. For one, it wasn't such a closed in, tight box of a venue (thank you TD Banknorth Garden) and two, the stadium was so huge, you knew that there is at least a remote chance that there would be more diversity among the fans in attendance. Even though the crowd was more than likely 90-98% white, I still felt more comfortable and open to the idea of taking in a Winter Classic. When you look at the picture of the atmosphere to your left, you cannot tell me that anyone wouldn't at least be interested in taking in that experience. If you are a sports fan, that is a memorable scene, regardless of which team you were rooting for or what sport is your fancy. The television ratings for that game also reflected as much, garnering a 2.6 last year. This year it grew to 2.9, which is leap of 12%. The increase in those rating absolutely had to include people who had little to no interest in hockey and tuned in out of curiosity. How can the NHL continue to hold onto these casual viewers?

For one, the league has to increase it's presence in strongholds where Latinos, African Americans and Asians live and work. The NFL, MLB and NBA's presence far outweighs the NHL due to the fact that they engage the audiences they wish to cultivate. Even though the NBA does this to a point of alienating the older, established and more well endowed pockets of fans of previous generations, the NFL and MLB have taken their product and made it very global in scope. Why is the NHL not doing this? I am not sure, but maybe it has to do with how expensive it is to get involved with youth hockey. Maybe being on skates and sliding around on ice is not appeal ling to cultures and races other than whites. I have no idea. I for one love the game...it combines the physicality of football with speed, gracefulness, athleticism and stratagem of soccer. If you like those two elements, it cannot be beat as far as entertainment. Gary Bettman, the Commissioner of the NHL, used to be an NBA exec, so I know he is trying to grow hockey in America and abroad in a similar manner as the NBA grew in the late 70's, early 80's and throughout the 90's. However, the racial divide that seems to be simmer underneath and maybe even inherent at the sport's core can be something that could perhaps hinder its growth.

In the January, 26 2008 Time Magazine article, "Will Hockey Ever Get Its Tiger Woods?" Sean Gregory and John Hollis highlight a strategy the NHL is employing to get more involvement in hockey among African Americans and change the perception that hockey is reserved for only the white population:

'The NHL is hoping, once and for all, to change that perception. During the first intermission of Sunday's NHL All-Star game in Atlanta, the league is honoring Willie O'Ree, who broke hockey's color barrier 50 years ago'

However, the authors continue:

'But half a century later, with hockey in desperate need of new fans to restore its fading relevance in the U.S., the game still holds very little appeal among blacks.'

For the entire article, click the link below: http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1707253,00.html

This is where the Winter Classic can have serious relevance and impact that negative fact positively. This year, the game was held in Chicago, IL in Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs (right). The venue was sold out and the fans loved it. The one thing that struck me about both last year's game and this year's edition is that both Buffalo and Chicago are cities where there is a strong African American populace. Is this a coincidence? I am not sure. If not, is the NHL taking advantage of this? They'd better. This article is not so much about just African Americans, but the entire scope of the racial composition of our country and how more people can follow the great game of hockey. I firmly believe that the Winter Classic, with its unique atmosphere, being outdoors, brings an appeal any sports fan can appreciate. I liked hockey before the Winter Classic but I feel more engaged when it is on this type of stage. I feel comfortable going to a hockey game outdoors with a literally ice cold beer in my palm, following the action with the rest of the fans. By the way, the Bruins game I went to back in 1993 was a shutout, 4-0 Blues. Not much celebrating to do in the old barn that day. However, this opportunity to diversify the fans of the league is what Bettman must work towards in order to keep the NHL a viable sports product both in North America and in limited areas abroad. The league has instituted a salary cap and can thus keep their players from facing the stigma that players in MLB are labeled with, when markets become unstable and the demand for players outstrip the good of the league. If the NHL does not take advantage of their current position, it will continue to languish on the bottom of the sports totem pole in America.

N.Y. Jets: Long Island Dreamin'

Oh man....what a ride. I have driven from Dallas to Houston today, contending with the soccer moms driving Dodge Caravans on steroids, rich folks in expensive cars that want to play chicken on the highway and looking out for that elusive state trooper that we all know is somewhere on the shoulder of the road in which we are obliterating the speed limit on. And of course we cannot forget the people who are doing 55 mph on a 70 mph limit highway that insist on staying in the fast lane no matter how many people they slow up or cause to stay stuck behind them. Yes, that trip is always a challenging adventure that I look forward to. Needless to say, Happy New Year to all of my readers (all five of you), and here's to wishing a yule log, more money, hope, prosperity and a better go 'round this time than in 2008.

While I was on the highway today, I picked up sports talk radio while looking for a new CD to play. The topic de jure, which has been beaten to death was the Brett Favre and N.Y. Jets situation and the fallout from the team's late season collapse. For those of you who have read my last entry, I firmly believe the firing of Eric Mangini by owner Woody Johnson in concert with Mangini's PNC (partner n crime) Mike Tannenbaum (Christmas tree), was the wrong decision by a franchise that structured its entire operation around Mangini's management, personnel and system requirements. After shelling out a massive amount of money to sign free agents in order to bolster a 4-12 '07 roster, and trading for a grizzled, yet experienced star studded quarterback, I believe that the coach deserved at least one more season to get the team to jell under his watch. I am not sure if it is good business to bailout on such a huge overhaul of talent on the roster after just one season while not knowing who is going to replace deposed coach and whether the new system fits the players you just blew out the market for in order to sign.

I decided to read the New York papers and national media websites searching for a reporter or writer to hit on this point especially in light of the salary cap ramifications. Nothing. What I also noticed is that everyone seems to be dumping on the long and sordid histories of perennial cellar dwellers in the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals, but yet nobody has taken the liberty to throw the Jets into that discussion. The Jets' only Super Bowl title came in 1969...Super Bowl III for those who are too young realize. The Jets have had such a long history of ineptitude and mismanagement, I question why they are not thrown into the same category as the Lions, Bengals and Saints as teams that are more consistently thought of based on their failures and high draft picks than wins and title runs. Indeed, the history of the New York Jets is just as or even more depressing than the Lions. I mean, at least the fans knew that ownership was selling them crap...the Jets have always led the way in dressing garbage up in the fanciest of clothing and selling it to the people like it is a privilege to buy it...like they are doing the favor. The far fetched promises always have seemed to earn them the likes of Dwayne Robertson, Marvin Jones, Jeff Lageman, Browning Nagle or Blair Thomas.

I remember back in the day, my uncle had season tickets to the Jets. He got them right after the Super Bowl victory in...yup 1969. Back in 1982, the Jets played in Shea Stadium and my uncle and cousin welcomed my mother, father and me to see them play the New England Patriots. All I have to say is, what an experience. Johnny 'Lam' Jones, Wesley Walker and Co. tore up my beloved Pats that day. This was back when Mark Gastineau and Joe Klecko were doing their thing....back when Marion Barber III's and Jabar Gaffney's fathers were on the team. And team still couldn't win. In my lifetime, the Jets have been to two conference championship games and lost them both. In the years following the appearances, they fell back into mediocrity and subsequent disarray. Little did I know even then that the Jets were playing, and still are, second or even third fiddle to the NY Giants, no matter whether they had the same coaches or personnel.

The Jets have tried everything possible to change the direction of an otherwise rudderless franchise...the hiring of Bruce Coslett, with hopes to create a new 49ers type offense, the hiring and firing of Pete Carroll (yes, that Pete Carroll) after just one 8-8 season, the sad and sorry affair of the Rich Kotite era, which included a 1-15 season and earned them Keyshawn Johsnon in the 1996 NFL Draft, the Bill Parcells era where the Hall of Fame head coach took them to the AFC title game in 1998, lost, then was snake bitten by injuries and Rick Mirer the following season, which was supposed to be the big Super Bowl run. Now that's bad luck. Bill Belichick wanted nothing to do with being 'HC of the NYJ' and Al Groh didn't fare any better than Parcells' predecessors. How is this any better than the Lions or Bengals? Is being a New York team an exemption from membership to the dregs of NFL futility?

Lets look at the records of the Jets going back to 1990:

2008: 9-7------>1999: 8-8 ----->1990: 6-10

2007: 4-12----->1998: 12-4

2006: 10-6----->1997: 9-7

2005: 4-12----->1996: 1-15

2004: 10-6----->1995: 3-13

2003: 6-10----->1994: 6-10

2002: 9-7------>1993: 8-8

2001: 10-6----->1992: 4-12

2000: 9-7------>1991: 8-8

Total: 136-168. Not exactly world beaters huh? I am not even counting the ill-fated 1986 season when the Jets started off 10-1, lost their last five and snuck into the playoffs as a Wild Card. The point I am trying to make is that the New York media and many writers seem to look at the Jets as a team that has a history of doing something tangible enough to warrant the type of attention they are getting. In reality, the franchise is one that has been mired in instability from ownership all the way down to sideline going back at least two decades. So when I hear all of the Favre bashing coming from players and media, I have to admit that this seems to be a culture that goes far back even before the current roster was composed. Maybe Mangini tried to change the culture and was met with resistance...maybe Favre did not react well with the ingrained culture or the attempts by the coach to change it. One thing is for certain, and this is my opinion folks, (pre-blog), Favre was never a good choice for this team due to his penchant for making critical mistakes at the wrong time. In the AFC East, if a team expects to win consistently, it needs an efficient QB that does not turn the ball over and manages the game...Favre has NEVER been that kind of player...was the brain trust that shortsighted to believe he would change from his gunslinging ways? It is that shortsightedness that has defined the NY Jets whether it be the jettisoning of one of its all time best players in Chad Pennington for nothing in return or trading a first round pick to the Oakland Raiders in 2005 for TE Doug Jolley...that's right, a tight end...who hasn't been heard from or seen since.

The main point of this article is that the Jets will continue to make the same mistakes unless they start thinking outside of the box when it comes to running the organization. Hiring coordinators from competitors with hopes to replicate successes that the said coordinator had in a different culture and organizational structure has never worked in professional sports. In reading the blogs written by season ticket holders, the Jets, with their new stadium set to open in 2010 have instituted exorbitant prices for PSLs (personal seat licenses) charging fans large fees just for the right to purchase tickets. The Jets have always had a down to earth, moderate to upper class fan base (I know because we ate smuggled in sushi and sausage sandwiches in the stands); these fans are now being being pinched by the country's economic crisis and they now ask in unison 'why alienate them, especially now?' It is clear to them that the Brett Favre trade was a fiasco to build excitement in order to get those PSLs moving...however, sound planning and an eye towards putting together a team that the fans can embrace is what could have moved those PSLs and maybe even not made the play so obvious. I am not even a Jet fan but look back to that 1998 season where Vinny Testeverde, Curtis Martin, Wayne Crebet, Anthony Pleasant, Aaron Glenn, Ray Mickens and Bryan Cox made them downright scary to watch. I felt that team because I was connected to the way the team was constituted and the way they played...that is what the fans buy Mr. Johnson. That is what makes them spend money better spent somewhere else to experience the journey of a team that is a product of sound management/coaching that always has a chance to win, and when in defeat, points the finger within, not at each other.

So when looking for the next individual to build the organization Mr. Johnson, focus on a guy that you know touches an accord with the fans and has the ability to do the same with his players. Resorting to gimmicks in order to buy a playoff spot or sell a stadium has never worked in the NFL...just ask Jerry Jones. Mr. Johnson, look at the team's history and the moves the front office made in the past...such as signing a washed up Tony Eason from the Patriots, throwing the mother load at mistake prone Neil O'Donnell, and in essence trading a capable head coach in Herman Edwards for a draft pick, which nobody does in professional sports. I hope that they find their man, but I believe that they already fired him. Mangini needed a chance to grow into a head coach the Jets envisioned. However in these days, owners are more concerned with the bottom line NOW, rather than giving a first time head coach the support he needs in order to develop his own philosophy among a revolving door of personalities from year to year. As long as the Jets are looking to make the big splash, without taking into account the less than stellar history and problematic culture within, the organization will always be Long Island Dreamin'.