Easy to rank Dallas Cowboys as No. 1 in BCS of Dysfunction
You know it has been a strange week locally when the Rangers did the right thing by not signing the big-name, ace pitcher everybody is in love with and the Cowboys screwed up royally by bringing in a real-deal football guy.
And those are just the teams not playing.
The Mavericks and Stars have been all kinds of crazy dysfunctional lately, showing signs of life and even possibly legit playoff contender status, only to both go crashing into ugly Thursday in Utah and Denver, respectively. So who knows what is real.
Yes, strange times indeed for those involved in our local stick-and-ball endeavors and that is without getting into how Texas Tech seems intent on hacking off its kick-butt football coach or that tryouts commence this morning for a chance to win a spot on the Cowboys' roster via Michael Irvin's reality show.
So much dysfunction, so little playoff success.
Which is why I thought we needed a BCS of Dysfunction, a way to rank our lovable screwups.
No. 1: The Cowboys.
Talk about a no-brainer. The Cowboys have issues that make Amy Winehouse look well-managed. Dueling reality shows, a raunchy rap, a drunk and disorderly by Anthony Spencer, bringing Wade Phillips back, and on and on.
And that is good pr compared to this latest Dan Reeves saga.
What is crazy is how extremely close Jerry was to slam-dunk help or, at very least a little good pr, for his beleaguered franchise when he brought in Reeves as a consultant for 48 hours.
As I noted Thursday on Blogs Like A Girl, my Star-Teleblog, I can not buy the company line of pretending an "hours clause" was the only thing that did in this deal. Commitment became an issue because Jerry refused to relinquish any real power when he wanted Dan to have a coaching role.
"I really felt like, if I was going to have coaching in my contract, I wanted to have the authority to get those things done," Reeves told local ESPN Radio on Thursday. "When you are just there as really a person that is advising on things, you don't have authority and I don't feel like that's fair."
Do not let that point get lost.
They were talking about a coaching role. Dan wanted power. Jerry said no. Nor does he dispute this fact; rather, he bragged about it on local ESPN radio later that same day.
"Not one time, with any head coach in 23 years, does anyone have an authority to hire a football player, fire a football player, draft a football player, hire a coach, an assistant coach," he said. "In 20 years, not one coach has ever had it. I've always had it. I want to make that clear."
That pig-headed refusal to give anybody any football power, and only that, is how Jerry and Reeves came to discuss consultant and inevitably breakup over hours language in the contract. And I do not see why Jerry should get credit for almost doing the right thing for the Cowboys. It seems even worse that he let the one guy who maybe could have whipped Coach Cupcake into shape, ridded the place of T.O. and brought some accountability to the franchise leave the building.
No. 2: The Stars.
This probably seems like a pretty high ranking considering they had strung together five consecutive victories as recently as a couple of days ago. And they played mostly alright in Thursday's streak-snapping loss in Colorado.
Too bad.
They forfeited the right to a free pass for off nights against beatable teams thanks to being god awful to downright embarrassing for a good hunk of this season. This is especially true of goalie Marty Turco.
And he was not very good Thursday, not a good sign since his schizophrenic play early helped dig them into this hole.
They also have the Sean Avery brouhaha simmering again, with word that the NY Rangers have considered picking up their "sloppy seconds."
No. 3: The Mavs.
What exactly happened in Utah again? Because I can not figure out how the Mavs, winners of four straight and suddenly looking all together, look as bad as they did against a hobbled Jazz team.
And a nasty back-to-back is not an excuse.
Not for losing by 28 points and certainly not considering how common these stinkers seem to be against good teams. Especially on the road. And especially when faced with any kind of adversity.
This team still very much has the feel of a team in denial, trying to squeeze juice out of a lemon that might not be there. Or at least not there against the West. And isn't the hallmark of dysfunction being unwilling to admit a problem exists?
No. 4: The Rangers.
What does it say that right now, as of this moment, the perennially screwed-up baseball team is the most sane franchise going?
(A) Spring training hasn't begun;
(B) El Presidente Nolan Ryan has really started to exert his influence on this team, with visible results.
The latest proof was the decision not to sign ace pitcher Ben Sheets after a physical revealed a tear of his flexor tendon. Don't get me wrong. I wanted them to sign Sheets. Wrote a whole column advocating they do so. I thought he was worth the risk, and he might still be down the line.
What I like is how they seem to be seeing the big picture out at The Ballpark lately. They might not be functional for this season and, with a rotation of Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Brandon McCarthy, Matt Harrison and Scott Feldman, very likely aren't even competitive. But they are not as dysfunctional as everybody else.
And that is saying something.
star-telegram.com
Eagles deny reports that Mornhinweg is out
Speculation offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg won't be back for a seventh season with the Eagles was dismissed Saturday by a club spokesman.
Eagles football media relations director Derek Boyko double-checked the status of Mornhinweg with his boss, Andy Reid. Boyko said the head coach denied the reports, the rumors and the speculation.
Boyko also suspects reporters confused Mornhinweg with Mark Whipple, the Eagles' offensive assistant who sources say has sold his house and will leave the nest. Whipple likely will be named offensive coordinator of the University of Miami.
Eagles quarterbacks coach Pat Shurmur was allowed to take the offensive coordinator job of the St. Louis Rams, where he teams with head coach Steve Spagnuolo, a former Eagles assistant.
Mornhinweg, 46, has been assistant head coach/offensive coordinator the past three years with the Eagles.
The Eagles ranked ninth in total offense, including sixth in passing and ranked sixth in the league in points scored.
(c) Copyright 2009 The Mercury
Jets agree to make Rex Ryan coach
NEW YORK (Map, News) - The New York Jets reached an agreement with Rex Ryan to make the Baltimore defensive coordinator their head coach, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.
The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the four-year deal was not yet finalized, said it was expected to be done in the next few days.
The 46-year-old Ryan replaces the fired Eric Mangini. Ryan takes over a team that started last season 8-3 but missed the playoffs with quarterback Brett Favre after losing four of its last five games.
Ryan is expected to be formally introduced at a news conference Wednesday at the Jets' facility in Florham Park, N.J.
"I'm very much looking forward to meeting Coach Ryan," wide receiver Chansi Stuckey told The Associated Press in an e-mail. "His reputation precedes him by the success that Baltimore has had, and I'm very excited to get started."
The Ravens' defensive coordinator the last four seasons is the son of former NFL coach Buddy Ryan and twin brother of Cleveland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.
Ryan's defense, which helped Baltimore to the AFC championship game, has been ranked in the top six in total yardage allowed the last four seasons, including second overall this season while leading the NFL with 34 takeaways.
This will be the first head coaching job for Ryan, who is said to be well liked among his players because of his straightforward, no-nonsense style.
It became apparent Ryan was at the top of the Jets' list of candidates when several other teams filled their coaching vacancies and New York's remained open. The Jets needed Baltimore's season to end - which happened Sunday with a 23-14 loss at Pittsburgh - before offering him the job.
Ryan, who also interviewed for the St. Louis Rams job that went to Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, impressed the Jets when he met with team officials earlier this month.
The Jets interviewed at least five other candidates, including offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, assistant head coach/offensive line coach Bill Callahan, Arizona assistant head coach/offensive line coach Russ Grimm, Indianapolis defensive coordinator Ron Meeks and fired Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski.
Whether Ryan will have Favre on his roster this season is unclear. The 39-year-old quarterback recently said he would take several weeks before deciding whether to return.
Favre said he was disappointed with how his first season ended with the Jets, throwing nine interceptions in New York's last five games. He also tore a biceps tendon in his right arm that won't require surgery.
Owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum have said they want Favre back, but added the new coach would have significant input on the final decision.
Nicknamed "The Mad Scientist" for his aggressive and unpredictable game plans, Ryan prefers to run a 3-4 defensive scheme, which the Jets already have in place. New York spent big money last offseason acquiring players that excel in the 3-4, including nose tackle Kris Jenkins and linebacker Calvin Pace.
That might have given Ryan a slight edge over Spagnuolo, who prefers a 4-3 scheme.
Ryan inherits a defense that had an impressive start with 29 sacks in its first eight games but just 12 in the last half of the season. The secondary also might need a makeover, ranking 29th overall against the pass despite Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis and playmaking safety Kerry Rhodes.
Although the Jets scored 405 points, the third-highest total in franchise history, the offense still has glaring needs. Other than determining who's at quarterback - whether it's Favre, Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff or a veteran free agent such as Kerry Collins or Byron Leftwich - the Jets need a tall, speedy receiver to complement Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles.
Ryan, who spent 10 seasons with the Ravens, was the only remaining defensive assistant from Baltimore's 2000 Super Bowl team. He spent six years as the Ravens' defensive line coach before being promoted to coordinator.
The Ravens fired coach Brian Billick and his entire staff, including Ryan, after the 2007 season. Ryan interviewed for the job that eventually went to John Harbaugh, who rehired Ryan and added the title of assistant head coach.
After a few stops as an assistant at the college level, Ryan spent two years under his father as a defensive assistant with the Arizona Cardinals. He then became the defensive coordinator at the University of Cincinnati before taking the same job at Oklahoma. Ryan joined the Ravens before the 1999 season, working his way up to defensive coordinator.
(c)2008 Copyright Examiner.com
Chargers Take On Steelers For Right To Face Ravens
In a game that most national pundits are treating as having the same number for a percentage chance of a Bolt victory as forecasted temperature at kickoff, San Diego faces an offensive test to prove what the defense proved last week. That we came to play.
The Lightning Bolts are playing their best football of the year, but are going to be missing L.T. The news that the groin muscle truly is detached surprises no one who saw his face after the touchdown run last week. Pittsburgh has Big Ben returning from a concussion. But he has had two weeks to prepare. Norv Turner has also had time to prepare and is famous in coaching circles for being a guy you don't want to play twice in a season. Antonio Gates figures to be much better physically than against Indy.
The oddsmakers have the Steel Curtain favored by six. I doubt the margin is that great regardless of the victor. If it is larger than that, I feel that favors San Diego. I don't believe Pittsburgh will score much. I also feel that the Steelers are by far the best defense in the league.
The keys for a Bolt upset?
Tight Coverage: The Steelers will have Heath Miller, who I keep unconciously thinking they did last time. That's because his backup, Matt Spaeth, caught six passes that day. The Bolts have not done well covering the middle of the field between 10-15 yards out. They must improve that. On the other side of the ball, Gates needs to find room to grab a few and attract attention from Troy Polamalu. That will free up WR opportunities for Philip Rivers.
Four Rivers In Pittsburgh: Simply put, Philip Rivers is the one Charger that can win and lose this game. He was horrible last trip here and that may be a bad thing. The Steel Curtain will not be lulled when they have seen him play so well the last five weeks. But Rivers needs to stay calm and not try too hard. His burning desire for redemption could get in the way. If Rivers has an efficient game and throws for 250-275 yards, the Bolt chances go way up. If he needs to throw for 300, they go down.
Ring Big Ben's Bells: I don't ever root for a player to be hurt. But the Chargers must hit Ben early in the game. Make him aware of the pass rush and worried about his head. After his last concussion, he threw four picks against the Raiders. Yeah, the Raiders. I doubt Ben can win the game for Pittsburgh, as I feel that will come from their D. But he could lose it for them.
Play Charged Up:The Chargers have wanted it more in the last five weeks. They have out-emotioned every team they faced. This has to continue. The knowledge that they are fighting for an AFC Championship Game in San Diego won't hurt that. And the fact that almost everybody not wearing Bolt gear expects them to lose will actually help. This team thrives on being disrespected.
In the end, I expect this game to be close and I would be shocked if it weren't decided in the last few minutes of the fourth quarter. Both teams are fighting for the right to host the Ravens, and emotions will run high. I'd like to think that the "Football Gods" will pass judgment on the Pennslyvania hypesters who are already focusing on Baltimore, just as they did in January 1995. But I think that is the fans, not the Steelers. They know what they are up against after San Diego dismantled Indy last week and only two end zone turnovers and a freak play kept it from being a blowout.
I'm thrilled that I will have the chance to see my boys in the playoffs despite my move to AppaIachia and I have to admit that even a loss will not ruin my enjoyment of the opportunity. But I don't want to wait til next year. I want a win to counter all the disdainful looks my Charger gear generates here. I have to make the prediction with the emotion I am calling for from the Bolts, so I am going to say Chargers 20 - Pittsburgh 17.
Copyright 2008 Most Valuable Network, LLC.
San Diego Chargers Finally Where They Expected to Be
The San Diego Chargers would have been unimpressed with a second-round berth in the playoffs to start the season. In the beginning, the Chargers would have taken that success for granted, regarding that as just a stepping stone to the Super Bowl. The San Diego Chargers were tired of reaching the second round, and finally wanted to go one step further. But this year, as it turned out, a second round berth is far sweeter- and more unexpected- than it was to start the season. And now, the San Diego Chargers have those Super Bowl hopes back at 9-8.
The Chargers have been the roller coaster story of the NFL this season, winning and losing in the most stunning fashion. The Chargers' last play defeat to Carolina in Week 1, and especially their controversial defeat to Denver in Week 2, have gone down in history.
Injuries to Shawn Merriman, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates also plagued the Chargers. There was also a loss to the Bills during a power outage, a loss to the Saints in London, a last second loss to the Colts at home, and a weird 11-10 defeat to the Steelers, marred by a non-touchdown by Pittsburgh to end the game.
In the end, the Chargers looked likely to be the most disappointing NFL team in years. A team that had Super Bowl expectations was 4-8 by Week 13, and certainly out of any playoff hopes. The only bright spot was Philip Rivers, who became the highest rated passer in football.
Rivers finally got a shot to shine brighter when he led the Chargers to a furious comeback against the Chiefs in Week 15. But after that, the Chargers were still 6-8 and two games behind the Broncos in the AFC West. However, the Chargers then thumped the collapsing Buccaneers, and the Broncos were upset by the Bills.
An historic comeback from a 4-8 start was completed with a lopsided win over those Broncos at home in Week 17. The Chargers were an 8-8 divisional champion, with many angry that they got in while the 11-5 Patriots had to stay home. But because they were the San Diego Chargers, and were finally playing at the level expected of them all season, the mockery wasn't as bad as it would have been.
In fact, due to the Chargers' finish, they were only slight underdogs to the equally red-hot Colts last night. As such, a win over the 12-4 Colts was not that surprising, even if the overtime circumstances and heroics from backup runner Darren Sproles were.
No one would have even predicted an 8-8 division winner as a serious threat for the Super Bowl. But now, pundits are beginning to do just that as the Chargers prepare for either Tennessee or Pittsburgh next week.
After all this insanity, the Chargers are right on their predicted path to Tampa all along.
(c)2009 Associated Content, Inc
Rams done for the season
It's finally over. The 2008 NFL season has ended in St. Louis. There are no more losses left on the Rams' schedule.
They put a wrap on this fiasco with an agonizing 31-27 loss in Atlanta. They played a spirited game against the Falcons but lost, again.
Despite playing in the league's worst division -- the NFC Worst, er, West – they lost their final 10 games to finish 2-14.
The '08 Rams will be remembered as one of the most exasperating professional teams to ever represent St. Louis.
Maybe the old baseball Browns had worse teams, maybe not. Let the historians debate that one.
We know this much: the failure of the '08 Rams was epic. Injuries alone cannot explain how this former champion came unglued.
Bad personnel decisions, incompetent coaching, player immaturity, the abject failure of high-priced veterans, leadership vacuums at every level of the organization . . . many bad things had to happen all at once to produce so many losses in a parity-driven league.
The Rams lost every way imaginable. Sometimes they got blown off the field from the start.
Sometimes they lost in dramatic, come-from-ahead fashion - as they did Sunday, when they led 7-3, 14-10 and 27-24.
They lost to good teams, like the playoff-bound Falcons, as well as bad ones. They lost at home and on the road. They lost in all four time zones in the contiguous United States.
The Rams were to do whatever it took to NOT succeed. In this case, they surrendered 263 yards rushing and failed to take full advantage of the three Falcons turnovers.
The cast of players changed slightly from week to week, but the same mistakes kept occurring.
Defenders missed tackles. Blockers missed assignments. Defensive backs blew coverage. Receivers ran the wrong routes. Quarterback Marc Bulger missed his targets in critical situations..
The Rams collapse was so thorough that it triggered unthinkable change. This quirky, family-run franchise is finally headed in a new direction.
In the near term, new general manager Billy Devaney will try to make this team solid again. He will lead the search for the next coach, starting immediately.
Interim coach Jim Haslett is a candidate. He shares Devaney's vision for '09. He understands the need to toughen up on defense, strengthen the offensive line and rely on Steven Jackson to drive a ball-control offense.
Jackson plowed the Falcons for 161 yards and two touchdowns rushing. He also caught four passes for 54 more yards.
"He played his butt off," Haslett told Rams radio after the game. "There is a guy you can build a great football team around, just like this (Falcons) team."
Indeed, Atlanta is playoff-bound thanks to running back Michael Turner - who gashed the Rams for 208 yards rushing in this game.
"This is the team you want to resemble next year," Haslett said.
To salvage another year out of Bulger, the Rams must shield him from punishment and give him a less ambitious passing game to operate. Haslett is clearly on board with that plan.
But with the Rams needing to get much more from the returning players, why not bring in a whole new coaching staff? Wipe the slate clean, give everybody a fresh start and raise expectations for every employee of the organization.
The players are petitioning Rosenbloom to keep Haslett. That is a nice show of support for a good, hard-working football man.
It would have been nicer to see the players actually win some games for their coach, though -- especially when the Rams hosted losers like the Seahawks and 49ers in the Edward Jones Dome.
This team had chance after chance after chance to come through for its coach, but it kept failing instead. Sunday was just one more missed opportunity.
So now we're seeing change. Rams President for Life John Shaw stepped aside and moved into an advisory role. He still wields clout as owner Chip Rosenbloom's chief adviser, but he is no longer the titular head of the operation.
The Czar of Rams Park, Jay Zygmunt, actually left the organization altogether. Seriously, the man has finally left the building.
(I always thought it would take a nuclear strike to make that happen, but 27 losses in two seasons forced him off the premises.)
Now, finally, it's time to start over. Rams fans can only hope their team's off-season goes better than the regular season did.
stltoday.com
Titans clinch AFC's No. 1 seed, home-field edge
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Titans wanted to head into the playoffs with a little momentum. Thanks to a dominating performance over the Pittsburgh Steelers, they'll have much more than that.
Kerry Collins threw for a touchdown, Chris Johnson and LenDale White ran for a score apiece, and the Titans routed the Steelers 31-14 in a showdown of the AFC's best teams. Tennessee clinched the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Coach Jeff Fisher called this the Titans best game this season.
"This was not a statement game by no means," Fisher said. "It was a momentum game. We needed to build momentum for the playoffs and the bye week by playing well and winning the game. The bonus is the second game here at home."
Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck, who celebrated by stomping on a Terrible Towel at the end, was much more succinct.
"It sets the tone for the playoffs in the AFC," he said.
The Titans improved the NFL's best record to 13-2 with their 15th win in 17 games. But they were coming off a loss to Houston in which they failed to score a touchdown for the first time this year and were up against the NFL's stingiest defense.
They snapped back very well, ending the Steelers' five-game winning streak and becoming the first team to top 300 yards against Pittsburgh (11-4) this season.
Tennessee finished with 323 yards.
Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin denied his Steelers were flat after a tough stretch in their third road game in four weeks.
"If you don't take care of the football versus good people, it comes back to bite you," Tomlin said.
Tennessee did it without Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and end Kyle Vanden Bosch because of injuries. Their replacements helped them rest easy as the Titans sacked Ben Roethlisberger five times and forced him into four turnovers that they turned into 21 points.
Rookie Jason Jones, who started for Haynesworth, had 3 1/2 sacks and forced Roethlisberger into three fumbles. Michael Griffin, a Pro Bowl alternate, came up with two interceptions for Tennessee.
"The effort we got out of that group was nothing less than spectacular," Fisher said.
With Roethlisberger trying to come up with more of his late-game magic, Griffin ended the Steelers' latest comeback try picking him off again. Griffin ran back across the field and up the left sideline for an 83-yard TD return with 16 seconds left. Roethlisberger's first turnover hurt the most, coming at the 1 in the first quarter as he was about to score.
"I don't know how damaging (it was)," Roethlisberger said. "It's hard to say. Any time you get there and take that crowd out of it, I mean, we were going to score some kind of points. Maybe their crowd gets out of it.
"We're not going to point fingers around here. We've done a great job of that all year. We win as a team, we lose as a team."
The Steelers, who had to win out to earn the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2004, had plenty of waving Terrible Towels in the sold-out crowd as fans stood throughout the game.
"It was a little surprising to see that many in our stadium," Collins said.
But Tennessee had its fans chanting "Titans, Titans" early in the fourth quarter and celebrating at the end.
In a game of streaks, the Titans scored the first 10 points, with Collins finding Justin Gage on a 34-yarder after Roethlisberger's second fumble of the game.
Roethlisberger answered by driving the Steelers to two touchdowns. He tossed the 100th TD of his career to Santonio Holmes in the second quarter. He was a perfect 3-of-3 for 62 yards in the third quarter, when he capped a four-play drive with a 21-yarder to Hines Ward and a 14-10 lead, Pittsburgh's first of the game.
But the Titans, who now have won eight of nine games against the Steelers in Tennessee, scored the final 21 points.
The Titans drove 79 yards in 11 plays after Roethlisberger put Pittsburgh up 14-10, and the key play came on fourth-and-inches at the Steelers 21. Tennessee, which failed to complete a fourth-and-3 pass in losing at Houston, had Collins pitch out to Johnson, and the rookie ran untouched 21 yards for a TD.
Then Griffin picked off Roethlisberger by stepping in front of receiver Nate Washington on the next drive, and he returned his pick 32 yards. White scored his 15th TD rushing on a 1-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter.
"That is not the way we are used to playing defense," Steelers linebacker James Harrison said. "They did a good job. They came out and imposed their will."
Notes:@ Harrison got a sack for his 16th of the season, setting a Pittsburgh record, after hurting his right hip in the first quarter. He even went to the locker room with his return questionable, but he was back a series later. ... Steelers safety Ryan Clark said he thought he separated his shoulder, but after the game thought he was OK. ... Only Earl Campbell has scored more touchdowns rushing (19 in 1979) in franchise history than White. ... Collins improved to 3-0 against Pittsburgh all-time.
Copyright (c) 2008 The Associated Press
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