To a good friend... I’ve never met

.Sometimes a person makes an impression. We don’t know who it may be. It could be a teacher, a coach, a boss, bus driver or even the person working the counter at your deli or convenience store. Someone, for some reason you connect to and it seems like everything you learn from them is profound.

For some of us that person may be someone that we have never had the chance to meet. A musician, an actor, a writer or even a sports star. For me one of those people has been Drew Brees.

Growing up I was a Jets fan (I know, I know), and around the 1-15 season for the Jets, I started to root for the Saints too. I would always keep tabs on the Saints after that but it wasn’t until I was finally brought to the beautiful city of New Orleans that I learned the true wonder of being a Saints fan.

The city embraced the Saints and loved them win or lose (and at the time there was a lot of losing). The attitude, the music, the parties and of course the food (true gumbo is heaven sent). These were my sports people and I knew it. I was hooked.

Now for those older school Saints fans, I’m talking about the pre-Drew, Rickey Williams and his weed, Joe Horn using a hidden cell phone in the end zone and Aaron Brooks showing the league he could throw down field with Manning and Brady. I adopted them or maybe I should say they adopted me. You see, Saints fans welcome you…. They embrace you. They lead you to the party cause “Win or lose, Saints fans are gonna booze.”

I decided it was time to move down to New Orleans myself but I never got the chance… Katrina. The devastation that hit the area was and still is mind boggling. A city that was so inviting, that rejoiced at every chance they got and was the liveliest city I have ever seen was suddenly silent and in dire straits. The sanctuary that was used for celebrations on Sundays, was now a refuge and a shelter. I’ve never seen the Superdome like this. This event cause so much chaos. I wasn’t sure if anyone or anything could bring them back to normalcy.

The Saints were in a transition at the time too. A new coach and a new quarterback. The quarterback that was chosen was coming off one of the worst shoulder injury surgeries imaginable and was already being questioned about his performance before the surgery. What Saints fans were about to see was the start of one of the greatest coach/quarterback combos of all time.

Their first year they did something magical… they gave the city hope. The second year they did something that almost everyone thought was impossible… they made the New Orleans Saints Super Bowl Champions. I was on Bourbon St. for the NFC championship game that year with my then girlfriend now wife. The entire games atmosphere was amazing. No one was on the streets, everyone was in a bar watching the game. When they won, the streets were as full as the busiest Mardi Gras day. The “Rebirth” of New Orleans was complete.

Drew and Sean were never able to recreate the success from that year. Bad defenses, Sean’s year suspension, the Minnesota Miracle (and mini miracle), the “No Call Pass Interference” (that was the worst) and last the Tom Brady experience. Through it all I was with them and Drew. His leadership was tremendous and the way he handled the team through the ups and downs was outstanding. Drew’s off the field charity work and dedication to New Orleans recovery was matched by none.

“If you love New Orleans, she’ll love you back” - Drew Brees

My admiration for him was complete when he broke the all-time passing yards record on a Monday Night Football game. I remember watching it like it was yesterday. After Drew broke the record and celebrated with his teammates on the field, he found his family on the sidelines. Hugging his kids he told them “I love you so much. You can accomplish anything in life if you’re willing to work for it. Nothing is given to you… everything’s earned.” After the game he was asked about that interaction with his family and he replied “It’s something that we say to the kids every night before bed.” Having 2 kids of my own, this hit home.

A great football player, a great leader, a great role model, a great man and now of course a great family man and father. WWDD (What Would Drew Do) would start to run through my mind in all situations. Trying to be even a little like him has always been an aspiration.

So this goes out to you Drew. Thank you for all you have done. Thank you for the championship. Thanks you for showing us how to act in defeat. Thank you for showing up and being a warrior these past few years. Thank you for being an amazing human and helping the city of New Orleans in its time of need. Finally, thank you for just being you. You may never know how much you mean to a lot of us but know that it’s a place in us that we will always cherish.

I selfishly never wanted you to stop playing until you got that second championship. You have always been the underdog. He’s too small, he can’t through the long ball anymore, or whatever garbage excuse they make up to convince themselves that you’re not as good as Manning, Brady, Rodgers or any of the others. But it was just that… garbage excuses. I always thought getting that second ring would have helped shut the naysayers up. They could then all see you for what you really are… a lot of peoples Hero.

Enjoy your retirement. I’ll be listening when you’re broadcasting on TV. If it ever get to meet you, after I stand there speechless for a little while, I am pre-apologizing for what may seem like an awkward hug to you. You see it may be an awkward to you but to me it would be like hugging a longtime friend. Who Dat!?!

Salary Cap Hell Is Not Loomis-ing

 

The off season may have started with that heart breaking loss to the TOMpa Bay Buc’s but the real off season work starts now that the superbowl is over. The New Orleans Saints are in “Salary cap hell” with the projected salary cap decreasing due to the Covid revenue reduction this season. The first prediction is that that Saints will be $109 Million dollars over the cap before free agency even starts. For most teams this would give their fans, players and front office nightmares…. but not the Saints.

You see the Saints have a secret weapon, their GM Mickey Loomis. He has been a wizard with the salary cap throughout the years, making salary cap changes so that the Saints had enough money to make the transactions need to in order to compete. The last few years have been all in for the Saints knowing that it’s the last few with Drew Brees. Now with Brees most likely to retire (although I personally wouldn’t be upset to see a healthy Drew give it one last year) there is a lot of question marks to see what the Saints do moving forward.

How in the world is Mickey Loomis going to reduce all that money without releasing the entire team you say? Just watch and learn from him this off season. I’m confident that not only will he reduce it but he will make room for pieces we do need. But just to put your mind at ease, here are some obvious and maybe not so obvious moves.

Drew Brees Salary Reduction: Drew has already showed his first sign of retirement. He has agreed to reduce his salary this year from $25 Million to the veteran minimum of $1.075. Meaning he basically has given back $23.925 million dollars of money the Saints were going to pay him for free. This is where it may get confusing for some but I will try and break this down. When you redo player’s contracts throughout their career you can push money you owe them down the line. So even with that reduction the Saints still owe Drew $22.65 Million. The loophole is if the Saints wait until after June 2^nd and put Drew on the leagues reserve/retired list they can split that money this year and next ($11.15 Million this year and $11.5 Million next year) Saving $35.075 Million this year.

Jared Cook: I don’t even want to start about this guy and my disgust. For anyone that for some reason is on the fence, here is your justification. The Saints drafted Adam Trautman and he has shined in the opportunities given to show he can catch and block at the TE position. Cheaper and in my opinion better option than Jared Cook. Saving $9.1 Million

Nick Easton: Nick has been a good piece helping out with any injury on the offensive line. But Nick has had a lot of injury’s (Concussions to be particular) over the last few years. His salary is too much to carry for an injury prone back up. Saving $6.5 Million

Kwon Alexander: Man I want this guy back. When the Saints traded for him from the 49ers it helped sure up that LB position but he gets hurt so often and his $13.4 Million to be justified. I reality hope they release and they resign him for something reasonable but releasing him is a must. Saving $13.4 Million

Janoris “Jack Rabbit” Jenkins: Jack Rabbit has been hit and miss for me but definitely does not warrant a $11.2 Million dollar salary. Even a release though does not free up his full salary because of guarantees. Saving $7 Million

Malcom Brown: not much to say here except $5 Million to save against the cap with his release when there are similar and younger players waiting to earn their spot. Saving $5 Million

Andrus Peat: Somehow this clown got a giant contract at the beginning of this year and I still don’t know how. I also have no idea how he makes the probowl every year. I honestly don’t think he’s that good. If the saints could can convince someone to take him I would do it in a heartbeat saving his entire salary. If not a restructure is needed converting a lot of his salary this year into a signing bonus. He can’t be released because his money is guaranteed through 2022. Saving $9 million

After all of these moves the Saints will still need to free up about $30 or so million more. This will have to be done with some restructures of current contracts (Cam Jordan, Michael Thomas, Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczk, Taysom Hill, etc) and possibly some unpopular releases of players (Emmanuel Sanders, Thomas Morstead, Latavius Murray). But where there is a will there is a way to get things done and in Loomis I trust.

UPDATE: since this was written, Jarad Cook, Josh Hill and Thomas Morstead have been released. As well as a restructure of Wil Lutz, David Oneyemata, Cameron Jordan and Demario Davis’s contract to free up some cap space

More than a punter

 The Saints have released their punter today.  Whats the big deal right. That happens all the time. He’s just a punter?!  But he’s so much more. 

For the past 12 years Thomas Morstead had been something special to Saints fans and New Orleans. It all started the magical year of the Saints Super Bowl run, when a then new Head coach asked a rookie punter who was handling kick offs to do the impossible.  Run “Ambush”. The onsides kick to start halftime of the Super Bowl. Morstead ran the play successfully. 30 football minutes and some NOLA magic later the Saints had their first Super Bowl. 

Ever since that day Thomas Morstead has done more and meant more to New Orleans.  Forget the fact he’s one of the greatest punters to play the game statistically.  But over the years he’s done what a lot of players haven’t been able to... he’s embraced and become New Orleans. 

From the parade antics in the French quarter to the “Business Trip” social media posts before games he’s been amazing. Embracing New Orleans. From fundraising to community work the man had been everywhere.  Becoming one of the faces of the Team and a captain for as long as I like to remember. 

He’s never not been there to help. Pretty much trained his replacement for next year. Helped the young “big nutz” Wil Lutz be one the best kickers in the league. Always seeming to be one of the most reliable weapons on the team. 

I understand this is a business but it sucks. And anyone else looking in is saying “he’s just a punter” but he isn’t.  He’s so much more.  Something non-Saints fans will never know. And that’s ok. Morstead was just for us Saints fans.  He is a special player and a special human.  Something we all got to experience for the past 12 years and I’m happy we did. 

Quick story... a few years ago I was tailgating at a preseason Jets/Saints game with my family and a friend. A car rolls up next to us and a couple get out of the car. They are wearing Thomas Morstead Jerseys. He was and still is my wife’s favorite player so I immediately point it out. I mean not only did a couple of Saints fans pull up next to us in New York, but they were fans of the punter!  We introduce ourselves and ask “you guys Morstead fans. We love Thomas Morstead!”  The woman says “oh we love him too.... he’s our son!”  In total disbelieve we say no way and she proceeds to pull out her id to show us she is in fact a Morstead and his mom. We hung out for a few minutes, shared season ticket info and some tailgate snacks and then they proceeded to leave for the gate. I never thought I would be star struck to meet someone’s parents. 

After the game Thomas came over to say hi to his parents and his kids (who were with them) and we happened to be a section over. 11 years in the league and I don’t know who was prouder, his parents of him of him of his parents and kids. 

I’m thankful for all you did. And grateful for the memories I have.  If you keep playing I hope you’re happy. If you decide to retire or when you decide to retire, I hope the team has a coaching spot ready for you. New Orleans is where you belong. We love you as much as you love us

Thomas Morstead ... all the feels. 

"I love this city and they've loved me back 100 times more."

- Thomas Morstead

Dilly Dilly Eli Manning... Pit Of Misery for McaDope

SERIOUSLY... no Seriously...... Geno Smith!!!! Geno "Howard the Duck' Smith.... No disrespect Geno but come on we all know what you are and what Eli Manning is.


Let me start off by saying I despise the Giants. Growing up a Jets Fan and eventually converting to the Saints their are only 3 things I liked about the Giants...  when they lose, when they beat the Patriots and Eli Manning.


I'm no dummy. I know Eli is having an awful year... but in all fairness, who isn/t having an awful year on a 2-9 Giant Team.  Wanting to see young QB's to evaluate the future of the position is fair and in the end can not be argued with since it is for the best of the team.  But that evaluation should be done n=by a coach and general manager that will be with the team next year.  And an evaluation is not what's happening here.


Ben McaDope has been successful in making the people in NY think that the Rich Kotite "Jet year" of 1-15 wasn't to bad... that's damn impressive. Every where he turns he makes an awful decision. He was afraid to reprimand his "Diva Wide Receiva" ODB, but whenever he could, took at shot at his 2 time superbowl winning and 2 time superbowl MVP QB.  His season went to hell in a hand basket and someone needed to take the fall so instead of saying he needed to do a better job as coach he benched his QB. A QB that is the backbone of this team, a QB that 2 days ago said on the radio he is playing to win every day and playing for peoples jobs. A QB that never threw you under the bus even though you did on a bi-weekly basis.  The cold, matter of fact way you decided to go about announcing this decision, with no remorse, no emotion is sickening. I felt bad for Eli listening to you say the garbage reasons you did for the decision you made... you fail in all aspects of Football.... PIT OF MISERY!!!


Jerry "Dumbass" Reese.... So you go into a season knowing you have an immobile QB who needs to stand in the pocket and throw the ball to be successful and you do nothing to fix what every knew was one of the worst offensive lines in the game and did nothing to improve the worst running game in the league.  Your Job as a general Manager is to assess your team and build it by putting that team in the best position to win.  You failed as well.... PIT OF MISERY!!!


John Mara, The entire Mara and Tish Family that is involved with football decisions in any way.  Shame on you. SHAME ON YOU ALL. in the end this all falls on you. McaDope can say he wants to change the QB to "evaluate talent" Reese could agree with him... but in the end it is your job, as the owner of what I have been told (but can't see) to be a classy franchise to say "This is not how Eli Manning's Story is going to end In NY Guys, No Dice.  Talk to me in the off season about releasing him and we can look at our options then".  You see that's what your Father Wellington would have done.  Actually, that's what he did when he stood up on the podium, crying when he let everyone know Phil Simms was no long going to be a Giant.  In the end none of this would come to be if you had a quarter of the heart your father did.  Shame on you... PIT OF MISERY!!!


Eli's time in NY was coming to an end. We can all agree on that but this is a guy that has done so much for this franchise.  He has came out for 210 games strait, hurt, knowing he was going to get hit, knowing he was could win, knowing he was could lose, it didn't matter. He came out to win the game in front of him and he did it with class, dignity and to the best of his ability (which was pretty good). Lets not make Eli out to be the best QB to ever play the game, but he was the best QB to ever play for the Giants and deserved some respect when being shown the door. His streak deserved some respect as well.  I personally hope he keeps playing. I know Jaxonvlle would be an even more dangerous team if they had a real QB on that team, his REAL head coach is calling the shots there and I would love to see Eli step on Tom Brady's Soul on his way to another superbowl appearance. Dilly Dilly to you Eli. Well deserved and thanks for giving me something on the Giants to not completely hate....


P.S. For the record (cause I got into this argument a few weeks ago) Eli is NOT better than Drew Brees. I don't care if he does have one more ring. Dilly Dilly!!!

No really....Citizen of the Year

How and the Hell does Colin Kaepernick with "citizen of the year"?  First let me get to this title. I am not familiar with GQ's protocol... have they always done a citizen of the year? was it man and woman of the year first and they just decided that for some reason that was too expensive or somehow insulting so they combined it? do they still do an man of the year, woman of the year and then a citizen of the year?  I don't get it.  But what I do get is that Gonzo... aka Kaepernick is NOT the Citizen of the year.


I'm sure you have all seen the posts and I usually don't jump on a popular opinion but when the people are right, they are right... Citizen of the damn year is JJ Watt. Hands Down.  Guy took has platform and instead of dividing the country, decided to so something that unit it in a time a tragedy.  He asked the American people for help.  Help with the devastating disaster that Hurricane Harvey had caused to the Houston Area.


JJ Wanted to Raise 500,000 hoping that people would be generous enough to open their hearts and their wallets with the assistance of the rebuilding efforts to the Houston Area... an area that he plays for and an area he has grown to love.  When all was said and done JJ Watt raised 37 Million Dollars for Disaster Relief efforts to that area of Houston.


Why is that so important not only to the Houston area but to the entire country?  Houston was not the only area devastated from natural disasters this year.  Florida and Puerto Rico were hit hard with Hurricanes, and California dealt with week long wild fires that left people without homes.  FEMA (the governments natural disaster relief division... in case you live under a rock) is spread thin with so many disasters happening around the same time.  This money assisted with FEMA being able to distribute its budgeted money to the other areas of need (like Puerto Rico that wants Billions of dollars to fix the entire country... don't get me started).


Kaepernick hasn't played football all year.... hasn't kneeled down all year.... hasn't been relevant until the President decided to weigh in and everyone turned his protest into a "I hate the president, he can't tell me what to do so I will do what he is telling me not to" protest. It's pretty pathetic that GQ needs publicity so bad that this is how they are going about it


If you're not going to give the citizen of the year to JJ maybe you should look at his teammate, Deshaun Watson.  Rookie QB of the team just recently torn his MCL and is out for the year. Was going to win rookie of the year.  Before he even got to start a game. He donated his entire first Paycheck to the cafeteria workers that serve them that were affected by Hurricane Harvey.  Kid is right out of college and the first paycheck he receives that finally gets him PAID, he gives the entire thing away.  Dilly Dilly!!!! JJ Watt, Dilly Dilly!!!! Deshaun Watson.... pit of misery for Colin Keapernick

Getting "Buck Showaltered" is now a thing!

Hey everyone... long time no Rant.... sorry After the Yankees lost I was pissed I didn't want to say anything that I would regret (Go suck an egg Altuve). But the Yankees decided to "Part Ways" with Joe Girardi and I was speechless. Yep I said that... No idea why they would let go of a guy that came 1 win from going to the world series with a team that wasn't supposed to win more than 83 games. 

I guess the Yankees thought that they had gone as far as they could with Girardi, or that 10 years was long enough and it was time to move on... or that he was too "robotic" and they wanted someone that was a little friendlier with the players, I don't Know. All I know is that I have seen this before.  In 1995 the Yankees were the first winner of the AL Wild Card and played in a playoff game for the first time since 1981. Buck Showalter was the manager. He had managed the Yankees for the past 4 years. He had taken them from a dysfunctional laughing stock to a respectable playoff contender. They lost that one game playoff and Buck was let go.  It was shocking and unexpected. No one knew why since the Yankees looked primed to be a playoff contender for years to come.

Within the next few weeks they hired Joe Torre, won 4 World Series Titles and in the next 12 years was in the playoffs every year under Mr. T.  Buck went on to be the first coach of  the Arizona Diamond backs. He was fired the year before they won the World Series too.  Then he moved onto to Texas Rangers.... they made (but lost) the World Series 2 years after he left.  The term "Being Buck Showaltered" was born.  Fire a guy right before you go on a championship run.  Girardi was just Buck Showaltered.

We can't predict if the Yankees will win anything the next few years... injuries happen, people do not hit or pitch like they did the year before.  All this is true but we all can see the Yankees have a lot of YOUNG Talent and when you have Young Talent yo are usually pretty good for a number of years.

So who will be the next Yankee manager?  No one knows.  Looks like they want a puppet that will go by the numbers, listen to the front office and do as told. A Younger manager that is more "relatable" to the younger player and less 'Robotic"   Kevin Long, Aaron Boone, Rob Thomson, Al Pedrique (Current AAA Manger) and John Flarhety have all come up. Jerry Harriston Jr. has been said to be a front runner too.  They have the a guy that is everything I just mentioned but he is too hatted by the organization and polarizing a character for them to admit and hire....... Alex Rodriguez!

Yeah that's right, Good Old AROD. Oh stop your eye rolling and "hes a cheater" crap.  If anyone has paid attention to him as an announcer you will know that he is very well prepared, knowledgeable and baseball smart. Like him or not he is one of the reasons DiDi, Castro, and Sanchez are hitting well at the big league level... When Sanchez was benched this year cause he couldn't catch a cold and also wasn't hitting, who did they call to have diner with him and discuss hitting... ARod. What did he do after that.. nothing but bat .320, with 20 or so HR's and like 50 more RBI's.. no biggie. Hes not a robot like Girardi.  He's player friendly.  He works off of the "analynics" as you will see from his announcing stats he pulls out and like him or not, he still considers himself a Yankee.  Biggest knock on ARod the Announcer is he says "we" whenever he mentions the Yankees. When asked he said he could never not consider himself part of the Yankees.

ARod should be your next Yankee Manager, but he won't be... cause they hate him.  They screwed him out the door and they won't give him a chance to do what he will eventually be doing anyway, Managing the game he loved so much he cheated even when he didn't need to just to be the best.  Thing is he would have been great even without the junk.  He is a terrific student of the game and has more knowledge about baseball then most of us could ever dream of.  I'm rooting for you AROD... DILLY DILLY

The Yankees Rule THE LAND

GOOOOOOODDD DAY Fine People. Ah today is a glorious day. Why yes... yes it is.  I decided to delay this weeks rant until AFTER the results of the Yankee/Cleveland (The Land) series.  Why did I wait you may have asked in your head? That Series determined the level of my Anger Rant and I,'ll tell you.


Over the past 10 years or so the NY Yankees have been Managed by Joe Girardi.  Some people like Joe's managing style, some people hate Joe's style. I have been indifferent. The entire time I have believed him to be a very good manager of talent, developer of young talent and dedicated to the focus of winning a World Series (He wears number 28 so he can look at the number every day reminding himself he needs to get the Yankees to their 28th World Series championship btw).  Joe is very much a by the number kind of guy.  Looks at match ups between people, does this guy hit that pitcher well, does this guy pitch better verse lefties, etc.  He manages to what he sees the numbers to be in his favor.  I get that and understand it. If your a baseball purist and hate all the numbers then you want him to manage more with his "gut" and probably hate his guts. Trust me I get that too.  To be clear though, just because you don't like someone's management style does not make them a bad manager


Last Friday, Joe WAS a bad manager.  It may be the first time I thought decisions that he made were illogical, out of character and at the time in my opinion would cost the Yankees the Series. I'm a passionate fan.  It was bad. What made it worse was at first he didn't want to admit he made a mistake.  That infuriated me.  Almost made a voodoo Girardi Doll... not gonna lie.


But than something happened I never could have guessed.  THEY WON THE WHOLE F#*CKING THING... well at least the series. His team never gave up on him. Winning 2 games at home and then coming back to "THE LAND" to beat this years (expected) Cy Young award winner, thats the best pitcher in the league award for those playing at home who don't know.  I have no words.  This team made up of mostly Young Kids with a few veterans sprinkled in surprised everyone.  They also won one for their coach. 


Joe is a very loyal coach. To a fault almost. He will stick with a guy through their troubles even when every sports announcer, analyst and fan is screaming for their head.  To the public his confidence in them never waivers. Even when he has to remove them from the line up or a roll they currently are in his answer is usually " We will get him right and get him back in there". It looks like the team showed that same confidence in him. They needed to play perfect baseball to rectify a mistake their coach made and they did.  Like him or not, that kind of leadership and loyalty is impressive.  Tip of the hat to you Joe.  Don't do it again though.... and keep on winning.


On a side note, in the soap opera that is the NFL. It looks like the owners may demand the players stand for the anthem, the players are making statements that they won't listen to it and I am at a point where I don't give a F#*K anymore.  Hey guy that gets paid a lot of money to play a game, if your boss says enough is enough you all stand... you stand.... or you will have now given someone else an opportunity to make a lot of money to play the game that will listen to their boss.  Don't worry, McDonalds is giving out like $15 an hour to say "do you want fries with that". I'm sure you can kneel all you want there.


Good luck to the Yankees in this upcoming series (sorry Houston) and I'm excited to see how much more destructive the NY Giants can be this season as this year moves along. Heard a rumor of Eli to Jaxonville.  That would be interesting. See ya next week sports fans!!!




PS - Happy Belated Birthday Uncle Mitch.  I know you read this. Have a cigar for me tonight.

Free... Free Fallin

It's Only Tuesday and its been a hell of a week already.  Before I get to the "Toy Store" aka sports (thanks for that analogy Joe Boningo) I just want to quickly address a few things.




First I would like to send my thoughts and prayers to all of the family's and people affected by the shooting in Las Vegas this Monday.  I hope that you will receive whatever is needed in this awful time.  No one will ever know when Evil will show its ugly head.  It seems as though it is showing up more and more now causing everyone to question their safety.  The answer is, we can no longer feel the safety we once did because of the world we live in. It's sad.  There are ugly, evil people in the world today and nothing will stop them. Not silly gun laws.  Not security checks. Nothing. If they want to spew their evil, they will find a way.  Shame on anyone out their pushing their own agenda's in a time like this. This is not a time to debate gun laws or terrorism definitions. It is a time to help your fellow man (or woman). Please do so.




Second, Kudos to Jerry Jones in regards to last weeks "To Kneel or not to Kneel" topic.  In a sea of crap that was our NFL last week, Jerry Jones (like he usually does) proved he is a smart business man that is always one step ahead and can create a solution for almost any problem.  In a sign of unity, Jerry had his entire team and staff kneel before the national anthem in prayer against diversity and for equality and freedom of rights.  He then had his entire team stand as one for the Anthem to show Unity. Good Job Jerry well done. "Dilly Dilly"




Third, yesterday we lost one of music's great talents.  Tom Petty passed away after falling into a coma after cardiac arrest.  He was 66.  It's heart breaking to many when someone such as Tom Petty passes. His, and many others music touch us in ways that the artists will never know. Luckily their music will always live on. So turn up that "Last Dance with Mary Jane", 'American Girl" or "Free Falling" as well as countless other hits and celebrate the terrific life of Tom Petty




Speaking of Free Falling..... How bout them Giants (See what I did there).  From a team that thought they were superbowl contenders, they now are just a team that needs their first win of the season. 0-4 hurts no matter how you look at it. Don't Worry Giants, you may be one of the worst so far this year but it could be worse. You could be the LA Chargers. Not only are they 0-4 as well but they got moved from their home town in San Diego to LA and no one is showing up to watch them play.  Most Football Stadiums hold between 75k and 100k people.... The Chargers are playing in a 27k seat Soccer Arena while they build their new building.  And they can only draw 10,000 fans a week to that stadium.  That's pathetic.  More people go see College games than that.




I feel bad for the soon to be Las Vegas Raiders having their star QB hurt 2 years in a row.  A fractured back has to hurt. Poor Derek Carr.  The Bears are so bad that they have decided 4 games into the season it's time to go to their rookie QB to save their season.  Yep that works every time I'm sure it will work out for you Chicago.  I'm pretty sure Alabama could beat the San Fran 49ers at this point btw.... they are so bad (Roll Tide).  In a personal side note, I have also been calling out the Atlanta FalCANTS for being the softest "good team" all year and it showed last week. After the Football Gods gifted them 2 wins this year to make them 3-0, lady luck finally kicked them in the balls this week as the Buffalo Bills rolled all over them.  I'm calling an 8-8 finish for the FalCANTS this year Just Watch.




Well, till next time everyone stay safe and protect yourself from the evils in this world.  Sports and Music really are the toy store of our lives and its a shame when tragedy and politics get intertwined.  God Bless

To Stand, Kneel or Sit... You Son Of A Bitch!!!!

Many moons ago I decided it was time to End Ant's Rants. I thought no one really wanted to listed to me complain about sports.... no one likes a whiner, but 2 things happened recently.  First, I've had this uncontrollable urge to do this again. There are so many thing in the sports world that I feel very passionate about.  That coupled with the realization that this rant is as much for ME as it is any of you smacked me in the face faster than Ray Rice would (sorry Ray it was too easy).  Second, I actually have had people ask or tell me to do this again. Maria, Uncle Mitch, and you Knuckles, thanks for the support and lets see how this goes.

Why not start with the Hottest topic of the NFL year so far. No it has nothing to do with Tom Terrific and Bell-a-cheat.  Not the pathetic G-Men and their "Diva Receiva".  Its about 2 of the best known symbols of this great country... the Flag and OUR National Anthem.  

Last year Collin Kapernick started a revolution of sorts when he decided that he wanted to silently protest what was going on in this country with Police Brutality.  Let me say now that I am a huge supporter of our men and women in blue and always will be. These people go out there every day and put their life on the line to make sure we are safe.  That bravery and sacrifice, in my opinion can never be repaid. Not every police officer is honest and loyal, I understand that, but not every officer is an evil "shot first ask questions later" monster that the miserable media portrays in an attempt to boost ratings and sell papers either. 

Kapernick's protest has now been taken to a new level and i'm not even sure some of the people doing it know why they are anymore.  My family and I will always stand and salute our flag for our nation anthem. To me its a time to be proud of this country, to be proud of the men and women that fight for this country and to all the men and women that protect and serve this country in any way. That's soldiers, police officers, fire fighters, EMS workers and any other group i may have missed. That's what I believe and my right as an American.  

It is also every Americans right to silently protest any way they chose to. That is how this country work.  Just like it is MY RIGHT to say that I think that sitting, kneeling or doing anything other than standing and placing your hand over your heart during our national anthem is completely disrespectful and moronic.  Chose another form of protest please.  One that does not show disrespect for the country that provides you with the freedoms to be such an idiot. You see I can say that... cause it's my right.... just like you can sit or kneel or sit on a Gatorade cooler, wearing a knit hat while eating a banana (I'm looking at you and your skittles Marshawn Lynch).

As an American you have the right to say how you feel and feel however you would like.  Everyone. Including the President of the united States of America.  President Trump can feel strongly about whatever he would like as a person..... BUT as the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, you can not verbally tell people they do not have the right to do something that is in the Constitution. You just can not. And you CAN IN NO WAY call a group of individuals "Sons of Bitches".  You are the President of the United States of America.  Please show respect to the office you hold and speak in a professional manor when reflecting anything ESPECIALLY your opinion on something. I completely disagree with the manor in which President Trump addressed this situation.  Hundreds to thousands of players took on a protest not for what Kapernick had intended it for. They took on a protest to show that they have the right under the first amendment to protest and not even the president can tell them not to. It had less to do with what Kapernick wanted his protest to be and more to do with their first amendment right at this point.  But can they actually protest?

In the end it comes down to this. Football is a sport, we are all entertained and athletes make a TON of money.... but in the end they are employees. Employed by a team, that has a management system in place and an owner. Further prof it is a job is they are unionized as a group. This union is to look out for their rights and best interests as employees.  If an owner feels strongly about something he should let his Employees know what is exceptionable and what is not. I am required to come into work everyday in a dress shirt and dress pants. Some companies allow you to wear jeans and a t-shirts for the same job. I can protest and start coming in to work dressed in t-shirts and jeans saying that my company needs to change with the times and change their dress code. That's my right. I would also be fired on the spot as it is understand that for my job,with my company, this is the proper dress attire. Same applies here. If an owner allows their team to protest then fine they can protest that's their right. But if an owner does not think that at this job (which is playing football), while working for them they should use their job as a platform for politics then its simple. Tell them that, tell them what is expect and if someone does not listen to the rules and regulations set up by you as the owner of their company then fire them. Unfortunately, there is too much money to be lost so most of the owners are to gutless to do this. Except one? It has been said that Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys does not want any of his players or coaches to sit of kneel for the National Anthem. If they do it was reported that they will be fired immediately. He put that out there. Their Game is played tonight on Monday Night Football. Only time will tell if Jerry is true to his word or gutless like the rest. 

As always if you have anything to say leave a comment. Thanks everyone #ComeGetSome

#YeahJeets! (Jeter Haters piss me off)

He's a sell out. This is a joke. This isn't tradition. He's just trying to make money. He should be ashamed of himself. And of course the ever popular, he's isn't worth all this fuss. To all of you Yankee haters and some Yankee fans out there that are saying this about Derek Jeter, all I have to say to you is, go F yourself ya rat bastards. 

Derek Jeter is only the 13th player ever to be named a captain in one of the oldest and most successful sports organizations ever to exist. With all of the great players to ever put on Yankee Pinstripes, none have gotten more hits in their career than he has. He has 5 world championships. Others have had more (yogi and his 10 come to mind) but none have more in the free agent era. It's a different time now. In a time where it is almost impossible to build a dynasty,  Jeter was the corner stone of one. When the game was on the line, the one person everyone wanted up was Derek Jeter. 

And more importantly, when it seems like everytime we turn someones taking drugs, performance enhancers, accused of domestic violence, beating children, and even killing people in sports today, Jeter did it right. Never accused of taking drugs. Never let his personal life get in the way. Always seemed to have the right answer and always seemed to do the "right" thing.  

For everyone that is hating this send off because "they are just doing this for the money, sell outs, hypocrites" let me ask you this. After seeing Jeter play this year did you not figure it was his last year even if he didn't announce it?  Did you want the last impression of him to be him

breaking his ankle in the playoffs verse the Tigers? Or when he couldn't stay on the field last year?  

Jeter was due 7 million this year to play and the Yankees gave him a 5 million dollar raise for no reason to 12 mil and everyone was like WTF. 2 months later he announces this is his last year. No one but Jeter and the people involved know what was said or happened but could it have gone like this? Jeter tells te yanks he's done. They tell him to give the fans a better send off then the injury season he had the year before. They will be able to make some money on ticket sales,  so his "gold watch" was 5 million more he wasn't worth and memorabilia sales. 12 mil and memorabilia sales probably total this year to about 20 million combined. Let me ask you this, who would turn down 20 million. If you said yeah, your a dirty lier. Even for a rich man, 20 million is 20 million. So the fans in every city get to show their respect, Jeter gets to say goodbye the right way (not injured) and everyone makes money. And if you don't like it then don't go to the games or buy the memorabilia. It's that simple. But don't attack the man as a player. His "numbers" may not put him as one of the top Yankees of all time but anyone that watched how he played and carried himself throughout this career knows Jeter was a class act and one of the greats. We don't have anyone (as Yankee fans) to look to like this after Jeter.

Final thoughts are this. No one said boo last season when Mo had a patch the entire year, had his tour, and said goodbye crying on the mound.  Maybe people are sick of it 2 years in a row. Who knows but knocking the guy for makin money, people giving him gifts, and where he bats in a batting order he doesn't set is obsured. You don't know what you have right in front of you until it's gone. Who's the leader next year? McCann? Gardner? CC? ARod? Right not lookin so got now is it. Thanks Jeter. Thanks for giving me someone that I can tell My kids about like my grandfather talked about Joe D and Mikey and my Aunts about Thurman. Thanks for being part of the Tradition, Ledgend, and Class that is the New York Yankees 

#YeahJeets

USA USA... Oh wait soccer's over

Let me tell you a story about a 14 year old kid and his dad. You see, this kid loved his dad and looked up to him. Both father and son are big sports fans. The son always talked to his dad about sports and obviously liked the same teams his dad did. Baseball, football, some hockey and a little big of basketball. It was great. There was one thing that the son never understood. How could his father love SOCCER more than any of those sports?!?!  It's slow, it's boring, the rules are a little complicated and I don't understand why the clock never stops?!?  But looking up to his dad, the son wanted to learn why he loved it so much. So when his dad asked him to go to a World Cup game at Giants stadium that year, he was happy to go. Upon entering Giant stadium that day he saw 2 groups of fans that loved their countries and teams, he saw passion that was unmatched from any sporting event he had ever been too, he saw competitiveness but comratery. But what he saw that touched him most of all was has Dad, a person he looked up too for his entire life, watching a sport he loved so much with a look in his eye like a little kid. At that moment, that 14 year old boy was hooked on soccer, and especially the World Cup. 

That 14 year old boy was me many moons ago. Even though I may never have the love for soccer my dad did (mine will always be baseball), I went on to learn, love and play soccer. Learning this wonderful game is not easy but in doing so I have some insite on why Americans can not embrace this wonderful game because I needed to come to grips with a few things to do so. Below you will find the list  

1. There is no clock:  Americans are so used to structure, clocks stopping, out of bounds, time outs incomplete passes and whatever else that will stop a game clock. It's something we can control, use and even minipulate if we want to (kneeling down at te end of a game). With soccer you don't have that. A clock runs but it's not official. There is only one person that has the official clock and that's the ref on the field. Everything else is an estimation and a guess. You can't stop the clock when it goes out of bounds,  when a goal scores, to call a time out, at a 2 minute warning, or when someone "injures" themselves. You need to except that not only is the clock not your friend, it's your enemy and there is no way you can stop it, speed it up or minipulate it. Except the ref will stop play when the time is up in his watch and that he will not call a "play dead" and end a game in the middle of a chance to score if his time runs out. Play will only ever stop at a neutral point not in the middle of someone trying to score.  

2. 1-0 games and 0-0 games are the norm:  Soccer is not built to be a high flying lots of scoring type of game. It's a game a skill and finesse that needs to have a perfect situation for a scoring play. As Americans, we hate this. 90% of people hate pitchers dules, don't like the defensive football games with low scoring, if a basketball team plays good defense first before scoring it's not an enjoyable game and low scoring is the reason no one really likes hockey. Unfortanetlaly we are trained to expect action to be entertained. We need to except/appreciate the skill over the action

3. MOST IMPORTANT... We are not the best in the world:  Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, even Tennis, Golf and the Olympics. We expect excellence out of all of these sports. The top leagues play here (for the most part), more importantly, even if the best players aren't American, the goal is to get to America to play here, make the most money, and showcase your ability. With soccer, this will never happen. The best players/league is set up in Europe. This game is older than us.  We can play it here but we will not get the top players until they are done with the leagues over in Europe. MLS is like the retirement league that helps older players extend their playing carrer. We need to except this and not be upset with players from

America that go to these European teams to play. They are just doing what foreign players have done for so many years by coming here to play in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and NFL. 

4. Soccer Players are sissys:  Listen, just because players are diving like they just got shot in the leg ever time someone touches them doesn't make them a sissy. It makes them an actor. They are trying to draw a penalty (falsely) to get a free kick in order to put their team in a better position to score and win a game. Anyone that basically is running for 90 minutes strait is not a sissy. Get that sissy thing out of your head. 

Once you understand all of this and except this as fact, you can start appreciating this game that has been played before our time and that the entire world embraces. Alas I know the answer to this. 90% of America can't get past the fact we are not the best at something, the rules are not what we are used to, and no one is willing to "change things" to appease us.  Watching my dad's passion for a sport, since he is from Italy and has played soccer there as well as here in the US, was one of the greatest things I remember as a young teenager. I learned and played, wanting to make him proud. Hope I did. I leave you with this. Give soccer a chance. Open up your mind and except it's rules, with and without its flaws and you will see an amazing sport, with amazing passion. #JustSayin

FU Robbie Cano

Good riddance Robbie. You may have ended up being the best 2nd baseman to ever play the game but instead your gonna be that guy that took the money and went to a team that never won. 

I'm not saying Robbie won't be missed, I'm saying this signing (or lack there of) is surprising.  The guy talked about the Yankee history, how important it was to him to be a Yankee and and the right things but in the end I guess he was just talking to ARod too much about his phyilospoy on baseball. 

For everyone having a baseball cow right now you need to look at it this way... We just got Brian McCann and Elsbury for the price it would have cost to keep Cano and Elsbury and McCann > Cano and Steward. Especially when you add Beltran in there as well (would not have been signed without a no Cano signing). But this leaves the question of who will play 2nd base for the yanks. 

We need to remember that this is a business and not personal so when I say this, your gonna get pissed but your gonna have to deal with it.  We need to move Gardner for a second Basmen. I want Beandon Phillips from the Reds (owner wants him moved so he will go). Of course for Philips it will take a lot more then Gardner but I feel like this is a move that needs to be made. 

Brandon Philips is not only one of the top 5 second basemen in the league but everyone talks about his character and how great of a guy he is in the club house (just like McCann). We need these kind if guys to be the future leaders of our team. Jeter isn't gonna be around forever you know and Mo is already gone. 

Whatever needs to be done to get Phillips should be done. Then add a Pitcher (tanaka ?) or two (colon) that will solidify a rotation. Anyone know if Tim Tebow can pitch? #justKiddin #Maybe 

Bill Madden is a joke

The Daily News was my favorite paper to read. I'm obviously a sports guy and they did a better job then everything else around. DID is the key word. Thanks to Bill Madden, I now will put them will the NY Post and Enquirer; Clown paper. 

I normally kill this guy for being an "Egotistical Maniac" (he still is), but I have to give him credit. Mike Francesca was fed up with what he was reading in the paper so he went to the source, or as he says it "sauce".  He just asked Bill Madden to put his money where his pen and mouth are and Madden folded like a house of cards. 

When asked why the focus on ARod, Maddens answer was because he was the worst offender of the current "Steroid Era".  So after some bickering back and forth, Big Mike asked why ARod was worse then Braun. Brain ruined a guys life last year and ARod has only ruined his. Bill had nothin. He asked what ARod did that was worse then everyone else that took steroids. Bill had nothin. He asked why is ARod getting killed when his name came out on the "102 anonymous" list and he did the right thing and admitted he did steroids but Ortiz, the only other guy that got leaked off that list, said I didn't so it and is a God. Bill had nothin. Big Mike then asked if MLB is serious about cleaning up the game and the players are serious about cleaning up the game why don't we get to know the other names on that list so we don't wonder who used or who we should or shouldn't put into the hall of fame cause they used. Bill again had nothin. 

Bill also is accusing ARod's camp of conspiring to commit insurance fraud. He  reports that ARod was willing to take a 100 game suspension and retire after that on the PUP list to collect his money from the insurance company. ARod's camp had denied this. 

If this isn't a witch hunt then I don't know what is. I've said this a million times and I will say it again. Everyone hates him for making so much money from baseball and that's not his fault. He asked and a team gave it to him. If your boss offered you a million dollars a year to do your job, you wouldn't turn it down or say no that's ok I feel as though 100k a year is what I should make. 

And don't feel sorry for the Yankees. I'm a Yankee fan and I have a question to ask that you should give yourself an honest answer too. If the Yankees got out of ARod's contract tomorrow, do

You think they would lower their ticket prices? Their concession Prices? Their merchandise prices?  If your answer is No then what do you care what they are paying him.  And if you don't care what they are paying him then let me know a better third baseman out of the 10 that have played their this season you want to see everyday and not ARod. 

I'm not saying he didn't use PED's or Steroids. I'm also not saying he shouldn't be punished for that. What I am saying is I'm pretty sure everyone else got 50 games. Braun, who ruined a guys life last year by accusing him of tainting his failed test, got 65 and ARod got 211.  Anyway you look at it, that math doesn't add up. Or is Bud Selig using the same calculator to get that number that he used to count the money he made when baseball was saved by Steroids in '98 with a homerun race that brought fans, revenue, and life back into a dying game?  Maybe who know. "If you live in a glass home, you shouldn't throw stone"

#JustSayin

A-Roid vs. MLB/Yankee Frauds

Ughhhh.  What a joke this all is. Let me start this out by stating I am an ARod supporter. Was before this, during this and may be after this but with that said, this post is NOT written to support ARod and his "yes/no" steroid activity. We can get into that on another post. This is written to call out the joke of a commissioner Bud Selig is and what MLB has become.

I believe the proper term for what is going on is "witch hunt". I understand MLB's frustration with Ryan Braun's arrogance.  He got off on a technicality and MLB wanted to prove a point. He is relatively young took his suspension in a year the Brewers stink and will come back next year to a team that will hopefully improve and 7 years left on a 10 year deal with around 100 million left on it.  Good job MLB. You sure showed him. 

I'm not sure what evidence MLB has on ARod, or what they plan on releasing in a few hours. I'm not important enough to have that information as most of us aren't including the arrogant reporters and their "sources". But this is what I see. 

- MLB bought information and testimony that ARod refused to buy from a few shady characters. 

- MLB was mentioning a 100 game suspension to lifetime ban for a guy that has never failed a required drug test (the test he did fail was supposed to be and stay anonymous, which 102 players failed and his name and ortis were the only 2 linked). 

- MLB has mentioned using the CBA instead of the drug agreement to "assure" he can't play during an appeal

- Brian Cashman refused to allow ARod to come back and play when he declined himself ready to play, citing "protocol" that needed to take place (that wasn't there when Jeter hurt himself the week before) and coincidently that extra week helped assure ARod wouldn't play in any games until his "suspension" is announced by the MLB

Fact is after baseball's strike in '94 it was sinking. They were talking about closing teams down and were in a main stream panic.  Steroids brought the fans back with the HR chase.  We all assumed the players were using and MLB had to know they were, but they turned a blind eye. Now they want to clean it up because someone called them out (Reminder that Cansaco's book is the only reason they decided to clean things up). I want a clean game as much as the next guy and I truly think believe MLB should apply a "1 or 2 strike then lifetime ban" when it comes to steroids.  Players would think before they act when it pertains to steroids if that was the case. Your never going to get Steroids completely out because there are always going to be guys that want to cheat and get that edge. But 2 wrongs don't make a right. Being shady to get answers or evidence on shady players is never going to be right. 

At this point with the "Biogenesis" case I feel like its more of a witch hunt to prove a point for Bud Selig before he rides off into the sunset then actually catching cheating players. Bud, no matter how many big names you catch, you will never wipe the guilt away for letting it go on for so long with no action. It wasn't ok then and you knew it but you did what you felt you needed to to help drive revenue back into a sport so many of us love.Remember Bud, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stone

#JustSayin

My football teams "cross breeding"

Nothing makes me happier when some of my favorite players from one of my teams get signed by my other team.

Example: Vilma from the Jets to the saints
Nick Toon (Al's kid) signs w/ saints
Jimmy Lenard signs with saints
Ivory from saints to Jets

Stuff like this just makes me smile. But, I feel as though there needs to still be one more "cross signing"

The Jets did some work the past few days and I love it. They addressed some of their defensive issues in the first round. Got some solid players that we will
have to see if they are the real deal
. The departure of Revis will be survived. No matter what some people think, you don't pay a corner that much money. To be honest, the Defense is the last thing I am worried about. Defense is Rex's thing. And if he doesn't produce a decent defense then he doesn't deserve to coach. PERIOD!

The jets did something I have been asking for them to do for the past 6 months. They have solidified their running game with 2 legit running backs. Ivory (baring an injury) is a meaner version of Marshion Lynch. And Goodson is a good 3rd down back. Other teams need to respect our running game this year. And when you have to respect a running game, it opens up the passing game (just ask Flacco).

They drafted a number of offensive lineman so lets assume some of them
pan out there. The drafting of Geno in the second round was an interesting move. If this kid is as "football smart" as a lot of people say then this may not be awful. I think they still have a hole at tight end they need to fill (Would love it to be Tebow but probably won't be). And then of course, Wide Receiver.

Holmes should be back and he will be our one. Now I know he's prob a 2 at this point but he will be out 1. Kerely proved last year that he is a legit #3 slot receiver They Like Steven Hill and if he could catch, wouldn't be a bad option but he needs to "develop" (learn to catch the ball). So I feel the Jets need a good Veteran receiver that will be cheaper, sign a one or 2 year deal and be able to be a #2 wide out and teach Hill. So my final cross signing would be, the Jets should sign Devery Henderson.

Dude can play. He's a big big target, fast and can hold on to the ball. Saints are moving on with some younger talent and the Jets need a player like him.

Will this fix everything, No. Will this give us a good foundation, yes. Will this give me something to look forward to, yes. And if they pay Sanchez 12 million to go away and figure out the Geno, Garrard situation, then they may be able to have a little fun this season.

By the way CHIS IVORY IS A BEAST. YOU ARE ALL ON NOTICE!!!
#BeastMode!

Deserted Island

Alight so I felt as though I needed to blog about this because a simple post wouldn't do. So here are my thoughts and rant on the Revis Trade.

Let me start of by saying I loved Revis. He was my favorite Jet. He IS the best at his position in the game today and can maybe rival Deion for the best corner all time.

This trade is smart. The Jets were never going to resign him. They need to get players out of this before he walked. It's hard to give a corner back, quarterback money. The Jets were never going to do that. In the end Revis gets his money and the Jets cling to a hope that whomever they draft will be half as good as Revis.

Now for my rant to Revis and everyone that's upset he's gone. GET OVER IT! Yeah he's great but this is a guy that held out when he was drafted. Held out after his first great season and would have left at the end of the year anyway. And Revis. I loved watching you man. And I will be lucky enough to continue watching you since I am a Saints fan as well. But here's some advice. And LISTEN CLOSELY:

Being in coverage 6 times a year verse Brady, Moore/Henny, and Fitzpatrick and being in coverage 6 times a year against Brees, Ryan and Newton are 2 totally different animals. We'll see just how good you are now.

If Revis makes it through to the 4th year of this deal without them releasing him, I'll be impressed. No guarantee is just that. Ask Amni. So Good luck my man and god speed. The Island has moved. Lets see if its as affective down south.

#justsayin
#RevisIsland
#whodatnation

Ryan Brothers

OK maybe it's Just me... Maybe my Love of the Jets and Saints is skewing what I am thinking but I will list my reasoning and you can see what you think for yourself. 

I may be one of the few that didn't want the Jets to fire Rex Ryan, and am happy that he seems to be a fixture in the Jets organization. I also loved the OLD REX.  The guy that talked about winning a Superbowl every year. They guy that didn't want to be the "little brother" in New York, and the guy that talked his players  up like they were the greatest things since slice bread. 

Most of you either clicked away or are like "your an idiot".  I could be, but my personal opinion and taste is for a guy that goes for the gold every year and tells you he is doing it and not someone that has no personality, doesn't talk or gives you the organizational answer.  You can call my way "classless" or "loud mouth" or whatever but to me that's what i want to see. 

THE OLD REX was all of that.  Did i get tired of him saying he was going to the Superbowl every year for the first 3 years? NO... he made it to the championship game 2 years in a row and if Victor Cruz didn't make the Jets look silly with a 96 yard catch and run for a TD, who knows what would have happened 2 years ago.  This year was bad but he was also given nothing really on offense to work with to be honest.  If he would have been 8-8 i would have been impressed  6-10 was about right. 

Everyone here in NY says Rex should be a defensive coordinator and not a head coach.  Well his brother is not a bad Def coord. in his own right.  "the apples didn't fall far from the tree"

Rob has done a good job everywhere he has been.  In 2 years he did help the cowboys get back to being a respectable defense and if he didn't get hit with a ton of injured (I know thats part of the game), his def was an upper tier def.  The lack of turnovers is troubling, I will say that.  You need to win the turn over battle to win games and it is hard to do that if you aren't creating any.  But when a def player that seems to be consistently hurt and is getting older (Ware), says you are one of the best coaches he has ever had and that Rob made him think and see the game from his position like he has never seen before, that means a lot (31 sacks in 2 years btw)

Rob is a good 3-4 guy... and that's what the Saints are switching to.   It was reported that he was offered and then fired from the job but I read that he turned it down (making more sense... you don't offer someone a job you know is outspoken like Ryan and then fire him for being outspoken). Read that Ryan thought if he failed in St Louis with the 4-3 (which he is not as comfortable with) he wouldn't get another job as easy.  He also wasn't allowed to hire his own coaches as well. 

The saints played will under Greg Williams (bounty or not), until the end.  They sank (to my surprise) with Spags.  2 different personalities totally. I think the saints need that fiery passionate guy. Someone that will stand up, scream, make promises, and be confident that his def will be the best.  Not a guy that tells you "it's a process".  BTW I like how the Saints were ok with putting Joe Vitt in charge of the entire team this year but has never been mentioned as a coord candidate this time around.
#JustSayin

Ravens win!

Haven't blogged in a while but I haven't really been interested in much. The steroid story is boring to me. Either A-Rod is the biggest joke ever or he's being set up. Either way, I don't really care. This guys at the end of his career and robbing the Yankees of money for the next 4 so unless he says I retire and wants no money at all, it's a non story to me

Lance Armstrong? We are complaining about a guy that lied and cheated for 7 years to help himself screw over the French.... Let's get this into perspective people.

Ray Lewis? Why is it such a big story that he may have had something to do with 2 murders 12 years ago? When Ray Lewis came out in that boa last Super Bowl, I knew he killed those people. No that didn't interest me at all.

Now the end of football for the year, that's something to talk about. We had a lot in this game; domination, comebacks, goal line stances, kick returned for td, safety's, I mean the game was so good, it knocked the lights out (lol I couldn't help it).

In the end, it was a storybook end for Ray. Has to make one last goal line stance to go out a Super Bowl champ and he does. Joe Flacco had to be perfect and he was. Ray Rice had to not fumble but he did (can't get everything). Ed Reed also showed he had a little left in the tank (good for New England or whomever gets him next year).

I congratulate the Ravens who proved that emotions sometimes are greater then skill. I also congratulate the 49ers. In 2 years under Jim Harbaugh, you have gone to a championship game and a Super Bowl. Natural progression would mean Super Bowl next year. There gonna be a force for some years to come

Maybe I'm a jealous Jet fan or a bitter Saints fan but I can't wait for baseball season to start . Pitchers and catchers in 5 days. Let's go yanks!
#justsayin

Trading Revis!?!

SOOOOOO, the Jets are talking about TRADING REVIS!!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!!

Alright now that I have that out of my system (the fan reaction), lets take a look at this logically.  The reason Woodman mentioned trading Revis is because he has no confidence in his team resigning him.  Revis held out a few years ago and after they gave him a 45 million dollar deal (which after next year, he will collect all of), Revis himself called it "just a band-aid".  What this comes down to is the fact that Woodster has no confidence in the fact he can resign so he wants to get something in return. 

Let me state this. Personally, in any "hold out" in football negotiations, I am siding with the player.  I don't care if they do it every year.  The fact of the matter is, in a league where 99% of contracts are not guarantied and your last play could be the next play. i am all for every player getting as much money as they can as often as they can. 

Now, back to Revis.  Let’s make a list here of what we know:

·    He wants to get Paid

·    He is coming off a big leg injury

·    He needs to prove he can be the player he once was (which I have confidence he will do)

·    He is the best Corner in the League, maybe history of the game (sorry Prime, you didn’t tackle)

·    He's reportedly stated he would LIKE (not want) to stay a Jet his entire career

·    Coming off an injury would put his trade value at an all time low, even for Revis

I have to say it doesn't sound like the dumbest idea in the world but you have to take this into account. First, He is the best CB in the game and maybe one of the best players ever to wear a Jets uniform. Second, what are you getting in return? I mean the Jets don't really have the best Draft Record the past few year. Third, what happens if Revis comes back and is a shell of himself?   Then what? (again, I don’t think this WILL happen but it COULD happen).

In the end we need to wait and see. As a fan I want to see Revis stay in the Green and White for his entire career so I can talk about him forever but we need to understand this is a business (which most of us as fan’s don’t).  If Revis is gonning to walk then you need to get something for him before it happens.  If you think Revis is not going to be “Revis”, then you need to get something now.

#JustSayin

He's Back

Man, did I miss you!!!
WHO DAT!!!!