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.