THE NFL LOWDOWN WEEK#6 2012

Stereotypes in sports occur so often that we don't even pay attention to them even when they are unfair and sometimes even racist. See if you can tell me what race these characteristics are often associated with. He is a thug,uncoachable,immature,a punk and freakishly and physically gifted. You already know that is why you are smiling. Now try this one. He is heady,fundamentally sound,a gamer,scrappy and he has all the intangibles.Yeah you guessed right on that one too. I listen to a lot of talk radio and I watch a lot of sports programming, so I hear a lot of outlandish things that the average person at home never bats an eyelash about. When Romo or Cutler throw picks they are called gunslingers who take chances. This leaves the audience to believe that they are riverboat gamblers who just happen to be risk takers. When Vick or Newton throw picks questions about their football IQ, maturity and overall knowledge and commitment to the game come up. Viewers are left wondering how these guys ever became quarterbacks and just what the hell do they do during the week when they should be practicing and watching film. I often feel compelled to root for RG3, Cam, Vick and Russell Wilson because they are Black Quarterbacks and believe it or not there is a pride factor involved. It is hard for me to watch guys receive criticism when it comes to their maturity,intellect and work ethic when it is all subjective and they happen to be in the minority. Feel free to criticize their play all day, but when you subject an audience to statements that question work ethic, intellect, maturity, and leadership without foundation I consider this reckless. Having Vick carry around a football all week and having teammates try to knock it out of his hand to me is childish and demeaning. This is the man that you expect the rest of his teammates to follow and respect on game day. Yeah ok good luck with that. Don't get me wrong no man is above being criticized, but when the criticism is stereotypical or has racist overtones that's when I have a problem. Now onto the Lowdown.

• THINGS I LEARNED FROM WEEK 6
• You can't count the Ravens out if you want, but I never underestimate the heart of a champion.Football is the ultimate team sport and it takes fundamentally sound play from all facets in order to succeed. The offense and special teams are playing at a high level and if the defense can correct some things against the run I can still them facing either Houston or the Pats in the AFC championship.
• Russell Wilson outplayed Tom Brady on Sunday and he was the better quarterback for that day. He threw for 297 yards and 3 tds and he didn't game manage shit. Stop looking for the negatives with Pete Carroll and his young QB and give them their fucking due.
• Andy Reid is a desperate man looking to save his job and Vick is going to end up being collateral damage. Does Vick continue to turn the ball over yes, but last time I checked when you have a 10 point lead in the 4th quarter and shady McCoy in your backfield why are you throwing the goddamn ball. One more question. Why are you paying Asomugha all those greenbacks if you are going to take him off Megatron in the 4th quarter and allow him to catch 100 yards in that quarter alone. For that Andy Reid not Vick should have to answer to the people.
• Everyone is arguing over whether or not it was Garrett or Romo's fault for the clock management at the end of the Cowboys Ravens game. Who gives a fuck? I have the question that no one is asking. Who in the hell told Romo to throw that dumb ass 1 yard pass to Dez in the first place. Throw that shit out of bounds and go on to the next one. Field position and time mean more than a 1 yard pass. That is buffoonery for your ass.
• For years Phillip Rivers and the Chargers have been doing the same buffoon shit  that Tony Romo and the Cowboys have done, but for some reason Rivers gets a free pass while Romo gets persecuted. Rivers threw 4 second half interceptions and blew a 24 point halftime lead, yet Norv Turner is the one on the hot seat. Really, Really, Really. Go figure
• The Pats,Ravens,Steelers and Eagles often get the credit for having the best drafts year end and year out, but I think the Giants have done the best job of building and maintaing a team that has the fewest holes in the NFL. In the age of the salary cap every team is going to have weaknesses, but the team that is able to hide or address those weaknesses the best without sacrificing their strengths are going to have the most success. Looking at the Giants the only real weakness that I see is the CB position and their strong pass rush  helps to nullify that. I hate to say it but we could be looking at a repeat.
• Rex Ryan will never get the credit that he deserves. He is coaching a team that is not the most talented, but yet he continues to keep his head above water. The Colts just came off of an emotional victory over the Packers and were expected to give the Jets a run for their money. The Jets dominated the Colts and I heard words like lucky and fortunate to describe their victory. For all of the haters and skeptics out there Rex is not a buffoon and he really knows how to motivate and coach. He used a ground and pound attack and he frustrated Luck all day. That's what Rex does so give him credit. Just because he supports his QB and refuses to give in to playing Tebow he is mocked and ridiculed. The one thing you will never get a Ryan to do is go against what they believe in, so judge the man on wins and losses and keep the personal feelings out of it.
• The Texans were outplayed at home by the Packers and everyone is questioning just how good the Texans are. Last time I checked any team quaretrbacked by Aaron Rodgers with these rules in place favoring offenses is capable of beating anyone anytime in any place.Stop overreacting and let the season play out. At the end of the year the Texans will be 12-4 or 13-3 and hosting playoff games at home.
• I will no longer do the top 10 rankings, because I believe that it is lazy journalism and there is no rhyme or reason the WWE my bad the NFL. Just look at the stats from the Ravens Cowboys game and you know what I am talking about.
• I learned that RG3 should be registered as a lethal weapon and if you continue to underestimate his football acumen you will pay dearly. And this is coming from a Deadskin hater. The man is completing 70% of his passes and he is third in QBR .That is frightening for a rookie who should only get better. God help us all.
• The Nationals, Deadskins and Wizards must have sold their souls to get Steve Strasburg,Bryce Harper, RG3 and John Wall. These guys are well on the way to becoming franchise type players. Well at least 3 of them are. Sorry Mr. Wall.
• It might be because his first name is Lovie but Coach Smith(THAT IS WHAT I CALL HIM, BECAUSE I BE DAMNED IF I'M CALLING A GROWN ASS MAN LOVIE) does not get enough credit for the job he has done in coaching the Bears to a 4-1 record and a 1st place position atop the NFC NORTH.
• I learned that when Peyton Manning is your QB it doesn't matter what plays you call, what scheme you implement, or how well you manage the team you will never receive the credit you are due for the part you play in your team's success. It is the price you pay for coaching Peyton.
• Jerry Jones isn't the only owner throwing his weight around.It is quite obvious that Andy Reid was told to make changes one day after he vowed not make any. He fired defensive coordinator Juan Castillo who had been with the organization for 18 years, longer than any coach in Eagles history. When a team with Super Bowl aspirations is only 3-3 somebody has to pay. I hope Vick sees the writing on the wall.
• I learned that regardless of their moronic acts the Cowboys are all on the same page. If you listen to their comments every time they lose they talk about getting better, learning from their mistakes,supporting one another, accepting responsibility for poor play, and vowing to play better next week. Typical loser, buffoon talk. I want some this is bullshit, fuck that, somebody has to pay, throw somebody under the bus talk. Just saying
• If the Broncos look this good after 6 weeks. What in the hell are they going to look like by the end of the year?
• My eyeballs tell me that Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in football. My mind tells me that Brady still is. Aaron Rodgers can run and throw with amazing accuracy and when he gets time he doesn't make bad throws at all. He was getting criticized for not being perfect. That is crazy that his standard is his MVP  season of a year ago.
• The best middle linebacker in the history of the NFL will be back next year doing what he does, because that's just how Sugar Ray is built. Remember this when everyone else was building franchises around their QB and offenses the Ravens were building around a linebacker their defense. That's just how special this man was. The Ravens were Super Bowl contenders when Kyle should have been a Bowler and Travis Taylor  were the faces of the offense. That's the equivalent of Kobe Bryant playing with Smush Parker and Kwame Brown. Number 52 will me be missed, but not forgotten.
• I'm out like Mike Vick's job security.

 

THE NFL LOWDOWN WEEK#4 2012

Do you remember the cautionary tale of the nWo, the most popular faction of stars since the 4Horsemen ran roughshod over the NWA in the 80's? The nWo started out as the most talented trio of wrestlers ever put together in wrestling history.Hollywood Hulk Hogan, The Bad Man Scott Hall, and Big Sexy Kevin Nash destroyed WCW and along the way became the coolest and hippest faction in wrestling.They won titles,destroyed opponents and and their catchphrases and hand gestures became an everyday part of our lives. The nWo was so successful that WCW started destroying WWF in the Monday Night Wars but somewhere along the line things started to change. The nWo went from a dominating cutting edge trio to a still popular, but overcrowded shadow of its former self. They became watered down and DX became the more popular faction of the two. The nWo added the Big Show,Xpac,Marcus Bagwell,Curt Hennig,Horace Hogan,Ray Traylor,Vincent,Stevie Ray and Brian Adams. Meanwhile DX was comprised of  The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels,Triple H, and Chyna.You know what happen to the nWo. Because they were so powerful and popular they could take average talent like Marcus Bagwell and make him into a star just by affiliation alone. Marcus Bagwell by himself couldn't draw flies to shit but with the nWo backing him Buff the Stuff Bagwell became a household name. Instead of staying lean and mean and focusing on the basics they became victims of their own arrogance and started losing the Monday Night Wars. In other words they loss focus and the desire and discipline that made them #1 and it forced them to go out of business. I bring this up because if you close your eyes and think the Dallas Cowboys are just like the nWo. Jerry Jones once upon a time had Jimmy Johnson and the Triplets Emmitt Smith,Troy Aikman,and Michael Irvin as the faces of his organization. Since then he has had Barry Switzer, T.O.,Dave Campo,Wade Phillips,Quincy Carter,Pacman Jones,Ryan Leaf,Roy Williams,and Dez Bryant as the faces of his organization. Some of the biggest buffoons in the history of sports, ut yet throughout it all the Cowboys have remained America's Team.Success came so quickly for Jerry Jones that he ran off Jimmy Johnson for Barry Switzer and even though the Cowboys won a Super Bowl with Switzer things were never the same. Jerry believed as long as he was in charge anybody could wear the star and succeed.It's the nWo syndrome all over again. Take Jason Witten and Demarcus Ware away and you have average to below average guys who because they wear the star are worshipped and scrutinized more than any other team in the NFL. Year after year regardless of the obvious holes that are there Jerry Jones aka Eric Bischoff put these guys in the silver and blue and sells them to the world as the next big thing. Is it fair probably not, but that is the price you pay when you play for Jerry Jones version of nWo. Just because they have a star on their helmet,  that doesn't make them a star. Now onto the LOWDOWN

TOP 10:
1)Texans 4-0 They haven't shown a weakness yet.
2)Falcons 4-0 That drive that Matty Ice engineered from inside his own 5 with no timeouts and less than a minute to go is the stuff that legends are made of.
3)Cardinals 4-0 I still can't explain it which must mean its a team effort.
4)Eagles 3-1 3 victories by a combined 4 points. Just win baby
5)Ravens 3-1 Could a Harbaugh vs Harbaugh Super Bowl BE ON THE HORIZON.
6)49ERS 3-1 The only question I have is can the 49ers can from behind and win
7)Bears 3-1 Fuck da Bears
8)Vikings 3-1 The defense has improved and they have a Seminole playing QB
9)Bengals 3-1 A young team on the rise
10)Giants 2-2 Eli showed he was human, but they are still the team to beat in the NFC EAST
MVP WATCH:
1)Matt Ryan Falcons  #1 rated QB
2)J.J.Watt  Texans 8 sacks
3)Matt Schaub Quietly playing the best QB in the AFC
WHAT I LEARNED FROM WEEK4:

• My Dallas Cowboys can't get out of their own way and its sad. Read these soundbites. Jason Witten said "The wins haven't shown it, but Jason Garrett is a good coach. WTF!!!!!!
• Jason Garrett said"Dez Bryant brings a great attitude during practices, meetings, and games. I thought our team responded well to our mistakes Mon night. What fucking game was he watching?
• Tony Romo said "I tried to do too much. He says that shit after every loss.
• Jerry Jones said "Overall we met a Chicago Team that made big plays with the ball, they took care of the ball and we didn't and we got be soundly. Once again why is he talking again?
• Having a good front office and an elite head coach is needed in all sports, but none more than in the NFL. The Saints have always had a suspect defense, but Sean Payton was always able to get the best effort out of his team. 0 and counting should be proof enough.
• People want Peyton to succeed so bad that they are willing to look past all of his faults. He is still better than most, but that is not the standard he set.
• Cam Newton is carrying the Panthers on his back and this is only his second year in the league, yet he gets criticized for things like celebrating. Let the man continue to grow and save the criticism for the Jamarcus Russells nd Akilli Smiths of the world.
• When the Bengals are on TMZ nightly for their transgressions all I hear is how Marvin Lewis can't control his lockeroom and how bad of a coach he is. When he cleans house and has his young team for all of dynamic play makers at 3-1 to start the year all I hear is crickets. I wonder why that is? Give the man his due!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• The Pats erased a 21-7 deficit and defeated the Buffalo Bills and all that was talked about was how the Pats never give up. Fitzpatrick threw 4 interceptions in that game and blew a 14 point lead at home and no one said a word about him. SportsCenter didn't lead off with a typical Fitzpatrick just being Fitzpatrick monologue. I saw no SportsNation poll on whether Tavarus Jackson should be the Bills starter. The point is there are two sides to a story and you can either bury a story or create one.
• I know that this is not the BCS, but the Houston Texans should be meeting the Alabama Crimson Tide in the National Championship Game. They have been feasting on their competition and with their weak schedule all signs point to them landing in the big dance the Superbowl that is.
• The difference between Mark Sanchez and Joe Flacco is the front office that they play for and the supporting casts that surrounds them. Switch them both and the results would be the same.
• Jay Cutler is talented, but he still doesn't know what it means to be a QB in the NFL. If you don't want to be asked dumb ass questions don't do dumb ass shit.
• It looks like the clock is about to strike 12 on Pete Carroll and his Cinderella Seahawks.
• Coaches still haven't learned that the icing the kicker strategy doesn't work. Sooner or later someone is going to pay and it was almost check out time for Andy Reid and his Eagles on Sunday.
• I learned that Tony Romo doesn't just throw regular ints but he hits his defenders right between the numbers that way they don't have to break their stride in route to a pick 6.
• Joe Flacco is leading the Ravens to victories which isn't a bad thing, but what is bad is the treatment of Kerry Williams by opposing QB'S. He has been victimized more than Penny on Good Times and no man this side of Deon Sanders can defend passes when they are picked on every down. Lucky for Kerry their is only 4 downs.
• Ask the Packers, Eagles and Giants HOW BOUT THOSE REGULAR REFEREES?
• I have to cut this short, because my President is on. I will continue tomorrow. I'm out like brother man 5th floor.