The End Around - 11.18.07

Colts Rebound - A week after missing the game-winning 25-yard field goal last week against the Chargers, Adam Vinatieri redeemed himself by kicking the game-winning 24-yard field goal this week against the Chiefs. Redeemed himself is probably a poor word choice. How about, "did his only job as an NFL kicker"? Either way, the Colts ended their two game losing streak and thanks in part to a Steelers' loss, appear to be in good position to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. Surprisingly, the Indianapolis defense was impressive against the Brodie Croyle and Priest Holmes-led Chiefs despite losing Dwight Freeney for the year. We can point the finger to the Colts' newest acquisition, Simeon Rice, who tackled zero people, which was the same number of tackles Freeney made this week. An adequate replacement by all accounts.

Moss v. Owens - To no one surprise, the NFL's two top wide receivers this year continued their fantastic seasons. Owens flew by a depleted Redskins secondary for 173 yards and four touchdowns on eight receptions and the Cowboys held on to win, 28-23. Then later that night, Moss answered with 10 catches, 128 yards, and an identical four touchdowns as the Patriots toppled the Bills 56-10. As football fans, we can only hope that this continues for the remaining season so we can bare witness to a brewing rivalry unseen since Bird v. Magic or Spy v. Spy or Brown v. the Board of Education or Alien v. Predator.

On Second Thought - In a controversial game in Baltimore, the new Browns beat the old Browns 33-30 in overtime. This game featured a 51-yard field goal at the end of regulation by Phil Dawson that first ended the game and then later sent the game into overtime. The kick in question bounced off the upright, bounced on another crossbar, and then bounced into the end zone. The refs originally called the kick no good, but on insistence of another ref the kick was called yes good because it hit the support behind the field goal uprights. Players from both teams were ushered back onto the field, celebratory handshakes were revoked, and overtime began and eventually ended on a Cleveland field goal. I don't understand what the controversy was about. If Phil Dawson missed the field goal but tucked the ball before he kicked it wide right and the refs let him kick it again because of the tuck rule that would have been controversial. Or if Phil Dawson called a timeout before the kick to ice himself and kicked it anyways that would have been controversial. Or even if the holder moved the ball as Phil Dawson was about to kick it like in Peanuts cartoons that would have been controversial. But Phil Dawson made the field goal and the refs made the right call. Seemed perfectly versial to me.

Miami D'ohphins - The football season started September 6th and the Dolphins have won zero games. The basketball season started just about two weeks ago and no team has failed to win a game. Is it fair to compare these two sports? Probably not. But is it fair to let the other football teams play football against the Dolphins? Absolutely not. But Miami continues it's march towards infamy with yesterday's loss against the Eagles which was particularly distressing for Dolphin's fans. Because after taking a 7-0, the Dolphins squandered their best chance at winning by injuring Donovan McNabb halfway through the 2nd quarter. McNabb had accumulated -1 fantasy points and in 11 attempts he had only completed five passes, three to his teammates and two to the Dolphins. The Dolphins foolishly sprained McNabb's ankle and backup quarterback AJ Feeley led the Eagles to 17 unanswered points while Dolphins' starting kicker Jay Feely could only watch. Next up for the woeful Dolphins are the Pittsburgh Steelers who Miami hopes would like nothing better than to follow up a loss to the Jets with another loss.

Hire Norv Turner - Most of the headlines coming from the Chargers/Jaguars game yesterday will be about San Diego dropping their 5th game of the season by losing 24-17 in Jacksonville. We'll probably read about the ineptitude of one Norvit Turner even though the Jags won the game moreso than the Chargers lost it thanks to solid defense and continued mistake-free quarterbacking from David Garrard. Unfortunately, I'm no trendsetter. Norv has turned a 14-2 offensive juggernaut into a team who plays .500 football and gives LaDainian Tomlinson 16 carries when he should have closer to 116. And as a result, firenorvturner websites have appeared demanding his head. I've never been a fan of these websites since I'm not a fan of firing someone from a job and threatening their family's financial security. This is why I'm insted spear-heading the Hire Norv Turner movement. Perhaps if we help him find another job he's more suited for, he might just leave on his own. And with this end in mind, I've sent his reusme to numerous companies with job openings on Monster. By this time next week, Norv Turner will likely resign from his position of NFL coach and become a Systems Analyst at Lockheed Martin or a Sandwich Engineer at Subway or a Home Maker at Norv Turner's home.