The 2010 Sport You’re Most Thankful For Debate… Hope Springs Eternal in the NFL

November 24, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Sports Geek and Babe Ruthless.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is without a doubt my favorite holiday (and that is only PARTLY because of the feasting)! Personally, I have been very blessed over the past year, and have much to be thankful for. The list of those things I am thankful for includes all the staples – family, friends, health, and the like… as well as some unique privileges that I am very grateful for, such as sharing this space each day with a group of people who are not only great writers, but who have also become great friends.

What can I say? Things are nice at Casa del Bleacher Fan!

So as I tuck in to a little lot of deep fried turkey (yes, it really is THAT good) with all the fixin’s, let me tell you why I am thankful for the NFL…

First, from a personal standpoint as a fan of Cleveland sports, this was a tough year for basketball and baseball. The Indians decided after about only 15 games that they were going to just mail in the 2010 seasons. And as for basketball, well, I’d rather not talk about it (although I must admit that there is something cathartic in the knowledge that LeBron James isn’t having any fun). But then the Cleveland Browns season started, and it became a wonderful distraction from all the other garbage.

It is not a distraction because the Browns are successful on the field. In fact, they are only 3-7 right now. The reason why the Browns are able to provide a distraction to Cleveland fans is the very same reason why fans across the country should be thankful for the NFL.

Unlike baseball or basketball, where seasons can essentially be scripted before the first actual play ever unfolds, the NFL is the one sport where “Worst-to-First” is not only possible, but it is actually PROBABLE. You see, every season in the NFL is a fresh start for every team. It doesn’t matter that your team only won four or five games last season because, in the NFL, last season is ancient history. THIS season, your team is just as good as last year’s Super Bowl champion.

Take a look at the NFL standings. Of the eight division leaders, four finished last season with losing records (Kansas City, Jacksonville, Seattle, and Chicago), and NONE of those teams that won the division last season are currently sitting atop the leader board.

Likewise, two of the pre-season favorites to contend for a Super Bowl bid, the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, share a combined six wins, while last season’s worst team, the St. Louis Rams, are only one game out of first place.

Now, compare that parity to the NFL’s college counterpart. In the NCAA ranks, a team must not only win games to be successful, it has to also convince voters. So a team like Boise State, which has not been beaten since December of 2008, could still miss out not only on the national championship game, but may not even get a BCS invitation if TCU also continues to win games.

Or compare it to a sport like Major League Baseball, or the NBA, where championships can be bought and sold like commodities on the free agency market.

But as the countdown to the 2010 NFL season continued over the summer, who could have guessed that Michael Vick would be the most exciting quarterback in the league, that the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks would be leading divisions, or that the head coaches for two different pre-season Super Bowl contenders would be unemployed before Thanksgiving?

The NFL system provides a proving ground where all 32 teams enter the fray on truly equal ground. With each season comes the mystery of the unknown. As each season plays out we are treated to a rollercoaster of surprises, excitement, and drama that is unparalleled in the fan experience for any other sport. Every fan can enter a fresh season with legitimate hope that, “This will be the year.” There is no subjectivity, and wins are the only currency that can buy a team a shot at the championship.

So, from a jaded, beaten, and broken down Cleveland sports fan, I say “THANK YOU” to the NFL! With each new game and each new season you give every fan, regardless of the team they follow, a reason to tune in and watch. That is an accomplishment no other sport can duplicate.

Thank you, NFL, for giving me hope!

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Posted by Bleacher Fan

The 2010 Mid-Season NFL Coach to Go First Debate… Down and Out in Dallas

November 4, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Sports Geek and Loyal Homer.

Wade Phillips has lost all semblance of control over the Dallas Cowboys. To allow him to coach one more game is an insult to both the players and fans in Dallas.

His continuing ineptitude at the helm causes more damage and scarring to the culture of an utterly defeated team. The 35-17 drubbing at the hands of the pedestrian Jacksonville Jaguars is proof enough. The Jags are currently ranked last in the AFC South with a 4-4 record, but last Sunday they looked like they were a conference powerhouse playing against the Cowboys.

Dallas’ usually vaunted defense allowed David Garrard to utterly embarrass the Cowboys and at home at Cowboy Stadium, no less. Garrard completed 17-21 attempts for 260 yards and four touchdowns. Keep in mind those stats are not coming from Drew Brees, Tom Brady, or Peyton Manning… but David Garrard. The Cowboys allowed him to go 10-10 in the first half. The worst part is the ‘Boys weren’t any more effective at stuffing the run either. Maurice Jones Drew ran wild on the Cowboys for 135 yards on 27 touches, which means he was averaging five yards a carry. There is no way anyone can be convinced that Phillips’ Cowboys haven’t completely given up when they are allowing the equivalent of a first down on every other carry throughout a game.

Things got even uglier when the Cowboys had possession of the ball. Whether backup quarterback Jon Kitna was tossing interceptions or Marion Barber was getting stuffed on the goal line, the only thing the Cowboys had to offer was highlight reel blunders. Phillips’ incompetence was on full display last week and that cannot be allowed to continue. Rich Eissen made the sad but fair assessment that even, “The Texas Ranger have more wins in October than the Dallas Cowboys.”

While firing Wade Phillips mid-season is not a miracle solution that will somehow magically catapult the Cowboys from the cellar of the NFC East into playoff contention, it is a declaration to the players, fans, and the rest of the league that Dallas is committed to competing.

Dallas must fire Wade Phillips on general principle alone. The Cowboys, after all, have a reputation to maintain.

Dallas has built a rich legacy which suffers every week Phillips is allowed to continue with his charade of leadership. The Cowboys are now in the elite company of teams like the 0-7 Buffalo Bills, who are last in the AFC, and 1-6 Carolina Panthers, who are tied with the Cowboys for the dubious honors of being the worst team in the NFC.

It is absolutely shocking that Jerry Jones has allowed for this to continue for as long as it has. Watching “America’s Team” be humiliated by a host of underwhelming opponents (yes, I mean you Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears) is slowly eroding the legacy that the Cowboys have fought to establish all these years. Jones should, and with any common sense will, make a stand and show that he is committed to winning starting right now. Anything less would be second best, and we know that won’t fly for long in Texas.

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Posted by Babe Ruthless

The Time To Panic Debate Verdict

October 18, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Babe Ruthless and Loyal Homer.

The Dallas Cowboys are 1-4 and are a full two games back from even climbing out of the NFC East cellar, let alone contending for a playoff spot. They have a lousy rushing offense, averaging only 95 yards per game, and join Miami and Buffalo as the three teams in the NFL to score only one rushing touchdown on the season.

But at least they are not the Minnesota Vikings.

I can appreciate the fact that the Vikings have a better record than the Cowboys, and that the Vikings actually BEAT the Cowboys last Sunday. But if we are talking about identifying the team that is in most need of a panic-driven overhaul, I have to agree with Loyal Homer that it is indeed the Vikings.

I will agree with Babe Ruthless’ sentiment that coaching in Dallas is a real issue. As a head coach, Wade Phillips has never accomplished remarkable things, even though he has been blessed with remarkable talent. He has instead inherited great teams, and accomplished only the average with them.

He has coached players like John Elway, Shannon Sharpe, Steve Atwater, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, and most recently guys like Terrell Owens, and Tony Romo. He has led teams like the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys on to a career record of 82-58 (VERY respectable) during the regular season, but his playoff record is a horrible 1-5.

For as much as Wade Phillips should be replaced in Dallas, though, there is a difference between needing a coaching change and needing an overhaul.

The Dallas Cowboys, struggling though they may be this season, are just a few mistakes and special teams plays away from being 4-1, or even 5-0.

They lost to the Redskins without giving up an offensive touchdown (a fumble returned for a touchdown was the difference for Washington). An excessive celebration penalty late in the game against the Tennessee Titans set up a game-winning score for Chris Johnson. If not for a 95 yard kickoff return by Percy Harvin the Cowboys would have potentially put away the Vikings.

Realistically, the Cowboys are still just a few plays away from finding themselves right back in contention. Felix Jones is getting better every week, and the combination of Tony Romo and Miles Austin is one of the most exciting and talented passing duos in the entire league. They are a potent offense that can put points on the board, and despite their record, have a defense that has allowed the fourth fewest yards per game.

That does not sound to me like a team in need of an overhaul.

By comparison, the Minnesota Vikings are in a very bad state right now. The main reason for that is because they have mortgaged their entire future on this one season. As Loyal Homer points out, there is no tomorrow for the Vikings. This is it.

In fairness, we knew they were going all-in this season before it even began when they sacrificed any value they could have realized from training camp by patiently waiting for Brett Favre to make a decision on whether or not he would return one more time. But then they lost their top receiver, Sidney Rice, to a hip injury (and are HOPING to get him back by mid-season) and Percy Harvin, has been battling migraines all season long.

Then, when Favre did make the decision to come back for one last chance at glory, it became evident very quickly that he was not going to repeat the magic of his 2009 campaign.

Last season he had a career best passer rating of 107.2. This season he is on course for a career worst with a rating of 72.1 (only his 1995 season in Green Bay was worse, at 70.9).

Last season marked the ninth time in his career that he was able to pass for more than 30 touchdowns. This season he has tossed only six touchdowns in five games, which could have him on pace to match his career low of only 18 touchdowns in a season.

Last season Favre set a career low with only seven interceptions all season. This season he already has seven interceptions and still has 11 games left to be played.

It just doesn’t seem like Favre wants to be on the field any more. Injuries are now clearly taking their toll, and the resurgent allegations of inappropriate texting provide nothing more than another distraction that the ailing Favre doesn’t need.

But as Loyal Homer brings up, the Vikings HAVE to stick with Favre, because after him is no one else. Tarvaris Jackson has instilled confidence in no one, and I didn’t even know who Joe Webb was until this debate came along.

Sure, the Vikings brought in Randy Moss, who still has big-play potential every time the ball is snapped. But let’s be honest, a Favre-to-Moss passing combination does not NEARLY have the punch it would have ten years ago. Even if Moss can capture some magic at the receiving end of Favre’s arm, the Vikings have made it clear that they have no immediate plans to keep Moss around after the season draws to a close.

Dallas still has a lot of young talent at the core of their roster. Dallas has proven that, despite a poor showing in the standings, they are capable of performing very well week in and week out. The Vikings, on the other hand, have cashed in all their chips for this last roll of the dice, and so far, the gamble has not paid off.

So panic, purple people. Today may seem bleak, but if this win over the Cowboys does not help to turn things around quickly, tomorrow can always be worse!

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Posted by Bleacher Fan

The Time To Panic Debate

October 17, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Babe Ruthless and Loyal Homer.

As NFL training camps opened a few months ago, and people were looking ahead at the regular season schedule, many pegged yesterday’s matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings as one of the more important games of the season.

Both teams were returning after having won division championships in 2009, and both came into the 2010 season expecting not only a shot at the playoffs, but each team had legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.

Now that week six is in the books, it appears that we could not have been more wrong.

Rather than battling in a race for the Lombardi Trophy these teams are instead battling for the first pick in the 2011 draft. Today, the Dallas Cowboys sit at a pathetic 1-4, while the Minnesota Vikings are at a not much more impressive 2-3, by virtue only of a victory over Cowboys yesterday afternoon.

Here is the most frustrating thing for fans of both franchises – both teams have a great deal of talent on their rosters.

Minnesota’s offense features the NFL’s top running back in Adrian Peterson, and his talents are complemented with two future Hall of Famers in Randy Moss and Brett Favre, as well as younger superstars like Visanthe Shiancoe, and Percy Harvin.

Meanwhile, Dallas’ Tony Romo, Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Miles Austin have had no problems in moving the ball this season, despite the team’s record, as they had the second highest yards per game average in the NFL (421.5) entering yesterday’s game, behind only the San Diego Chargers.

On the defensive side, both teams came into the matchup boasting one of the ten stingiest squads in terms of yards allowed each weekend, and Minnesota’s 16.8 points allowed per game average was the seventh best in the league.

Consider the pre-season aspirations and talent levels on each roster, then look at the current state of their franchises. Now let’s debate: Which team has more reason to panic, the Minnesota Vikings or the Dallas Cowboys?

As a side note to Babe Ruthless and Loyal Homer, who will be arguing today for the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, respectively, I have used the word “panic” in my debate topic for today. I don’t just want to know which team has been the most disappointing, or has the least chance at still making a playoff run. I am talking about a full-on, “women and children first,” “the sky is falling,” “Armageddon is upon us” type panic.

The little red emergency phone in Roger Goodell’s office is ringing, is it Jerry Jones or Zygi Wilf in hysterical tears on the other end?

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Posted by Bleacher Fan

The Time To Panic Debate… Big D is in Deep Trouble

October 17, 2010

Read the opposing argument from Loyal Homer.

The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2010 season with great expectations. With Cowboys Stadium playing host to the Super Bowl this season, Dallas wasn’t just playing to make the playoffs but to secure home field advantage in the NFL’s most important game. As lofty a goal as that may have seemed before the season, it seems even more improbable now that the Cowboys are off to a 1-4 start. Now the Cowboys are merely trying to get out of the cellar of the NFC East.

This would be a bad start for any franchise in the NFL, but it is even worse for the Dallas Cowboys. Just like the old adage, “Everything is bigger in Texas!” Their abysmal start has pretty much killed the dreams of a playoff appearance. But I would say that it is also indicative of a much bigger problem… or should I say problems.

The Cowboys need a new vision. They need a new coach. And they need a new running game. In short the Dallas Cowboys need a Texas-sized overhaul.

The current game plan isn’t working for the Cowboys. They are a one dimensional team that the rest of the league has figured out. Their “pass, pass, and if all else fails pass” approach just does not work without the right personnel (i.e. Peyton Manning). Looking at the stats. The Dallas Cowboys boast one of the most potent passing games in the NFL, but that claim is somewhat misleading. The Cowboys excel at the pass because they must. The team lacks any semblance of balance. The Cowboys have an incredible wealth of receiving talent in Miles Austin, Jason Whitten, Dez Bryant, and Roy Williams, but their ineffective rushing attack leaves them vulnerable.

Marion Barber was at one time among the most capable backs in the NFL, but not any longer. He isn’t even the most effective rusher on his own team, as Felix Jones was posting better yards per attempt than Barber through week six. Thus far running backs in Dallas have only scored one rushing touchdown. That definitely does not pose a threat to opposing defensive coordinators, and until something changes, opposing defenses can focus on shutting down the passing game.

Adding to the dysfunction in Dallas is the team’s lack of discipline. The team ranks in the top third of the league in number of penalties and penalty yardage. Similarly, turnovers have been a problem as the Cowboys rank near the very bottom of the league in turnovers lost compared with takeaways. These problems are fixable, but they are matters of personnel and coaching. Since we all know Jerry Jones isn’t about to relinquish managerial control, the the Cowboys must do something about the latter.

The time has come for the Cowboys to cut some dead weight, starting with the head coach. Wade Phillips is not the coach Dallas needs right now. Obviously he is somewhat effective having led the Cowboys to the playoff twice in three full seasons as head coach, but that really isn’t good enough. In Dallas the expectation isn’t to simply make the playoffs, but to WIN. Phillips has taken the team as far as one victory in the wild card round in the 2009 post-season, but that’s it. After dropping four of the first five games it looks like this season isn’t going to pan out either. His inability to win the big games and address the sloppy play that continues to be the albatross around the Cowboys neck should show Jerry Jones it is time to move on from Wade Phillips.

But, the most obvious and frustrating aspect of the Cowboys failures is the lack of a running game. A successful rushing attack would certainly open up the pass. Obviously the team should capitalize on its strength – passing. But, the lack of effective rushing is one of the things hold the Dallas back. Obviously every team wants to rush the ball well, but the Cowboys should be in a position to do that. Jerry Jones is a competitive owner who is not afraid to throw money around in order to get the players he wants, but it seems since Emmitt Smith led Dallas the running backs haven’t been a top priority target. There were difference making players that were available this off-season – most notably LaDainian Tomlinson – as well as players available via trade during the season – like Marshawn Lynch – if the Cowboys felt they needed another back. Instead it appears that Dallas will stick with Barber and Jones and hope something changes. This approach doesn’t seem reasonable for a team that wants to compete and be the best.

It’s definitely panic time in Dallas. Jerry Jones should break out the broom and clean house. He can hang onto a few key guys – Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, and DeMarcus Ware – but the rest can go. The Cowboys need top down reform. They need a new coach with a different, more balanced vision. They need fresh players who can breathe some new life into a storied franchise suddenly fallen on hard times, and sweeping reform is the way to go.

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Posted by Babe Ruthless

The Time To Panic Debate… The Vikings Ship Is Still Sinking

October 17, 2010

Read the opposing argument from Babe Ruthless.

I was looking forward to today’s debate all weekend long. Both teams are two high profile teams, and since both the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings were matched up in a late afternoon national broadcast yesterday, I knew I’d get a chance to sit down in my recliner and soak it all in. Being the lazy man that I tend to be on Fall weekends, that’s exactly what I did. Thanks to a couple of Tony Romo interceptions and a handful of Cowboy penalties, the Vikings were able to escape with a much needed victory. That victory left the Vikings at a much more manageable 2-3 and within striking distance of the vulnerable Bears in the NFC North. But, a victory does not mean all is well in the Twin Cities.

First, let’s look at yesterday’s game. By no means did the Vikings dominate the game. Hardly. A quick look at the box score shows quite the opposite. The Vikings had 188 total yards, which included a measly 118 passing yards from Brett Favre. The Cowboys, in contrast, had 314 total yards, and seemed to be able to move the ball a lot easier than the Vikings. If it wasn’t for Percy Harvin’s 95 yard kickoff return to open the second half the outcome of the game could have been flipped as the three other scoring drives by the Vikings totaled an embarrassing 75 yards! Ouch! Obvious questions remain.

New acquisition Randy Moss was supposed to jump start the Viking offense, but that really hasn’t happened yet. He hasn’t been a distraction yet, either. In fact, both Favre and head coach Brad Childress credit Moss for firing the team up at the half. But Moss really hasn’t been the spark to the offense on the field. In two games he has nine catches for 136 yards. Expectations are admittedly high for Moss, but I don’t think nine catches over two games meets those expectations.

Then there’s our newest text message fanatic, Mr. Favre. For those of us who have watched the NFL for the past eighteen years we have gotten used to #4 riding in his white stallion and saving the day for his team. He’s not that guy anymore. And to be perfectly fair, we shouldn’t expect him to be. What he accomplished last season at age 40 was amazing. What he is doing this season at 41 is realistic. Last season we often heard, “How did he make that throw?” This season we are hearing, “Brett would like to have that one back.” I heard that more than once from commentator Troy Aikman. That’s not to say that Favre doesn’t still have it in him. He can still play. He’s just not an All-Pro quarterback anymore. Not to mention the fact that he has been battling elbow tendinitis and also has ongoing off-the-field distractions.

The Vikings, however, are built to win in 2010. They traded for Moss to win in 2010. They talked Favre out of retirement… AGAIN… to win in 2010. And if you look behind Favre on the quarterback depth chart, quarterbacks number two and three bring out the names Tavaris Jackson and Joe Webb (who?). At least Dallas has Jon Kitna! Can the Vikings win this season with those guys if Favre goes down with injury (entirely possible)? Are those guys capable of leading the team in the future? Hahahahahaha!!!

Both the Cowboys and Vikings have uphill battles to make the playoffs in 2010. With both being 2009 division champions, they have extremely difficult schedules the rest of the way. But the Vikings have age going against them. They HAVE to win now and that’s why there is more panic in the Twin Cities.

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Best Game of THIS Weekend Debate… Winning Is a Choice One Team Must Make

October 14, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan.

It’s now or never.

In fact, it may very well be never or never for the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings. Both teams sit at 1-3 and both teams have more questions than answers. Both teams were expected to be the elite teams of the NFC and contenders for an appearance in the Super Bowl. Oh, and both teams are desperate.

Both teams have (had?) major expectations and have crumpled beneath them, but for starkly different reasons.

The Vikings lost the receiving corps to injury – despite the team’s latest desperate measures to secure the services of Randy “Every Down” Moss. Now Brett Favre’s elbow hurts, which sounds a lot like a built in excuse for failure. The once vaunted run defense with the Williams’ brothers in the middle is now a middle of the pack group that allows over 100 yards per game on the ground routinely. The team is full of weak spots and led by a desperate coach.

Speaking of teams with weak spots and desperate coaches, the Dallas Cowboys are also playing in this game. Jerry Jones has recently stated that he is not going to fire Wade Phillips until the end of the season, which is something I think few folks actually believe. Here is another situation where the receivers are decimated by injury, running backs are underperforming, and the defense is only two positions better than the Vikings – giving up 102.3 yards per game.

The football basics that make up the best teams are the very traits that appear to have vacated both teams. This game, however, is the perfect opportunity for one of the two teams to reclaim the ground they’ve lost to this point in the season. Neither team is playing to the level most fans and pundits expected, but neither team is dead in the water, yet.

The choice – and yes, it is a CHOICE for these two teams and their collective players – is between 2-3 and a faint glimmer of hope, and 1-4 and certain death this season. It’s a choice because playing well starts in the film room on Monday, it continues in the walk throughs mid-week, it governs thoughts and extra study on travel day, and that choice is made when lacing up cleats pre-game. The team with the most players to make winning choices wins the game and life in the season. The stakes don’t get much higher for an earlier season game, even if it does reek of desperation.

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Posted by Sports Geek

The Undeserving NFL Hall of Famer Debate… Great By Association

September 8, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Bleacher Fan and Loyal Homer.

Everybody loves a winner, and in the 1990s no one knew how to win like the Dallas Cowboys. America’s team was led on their run of dominance by a triumvirate of then future Hall of Famers – Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, and Troy Aikman. The first two, Smith and Irvin, are unquestionably one-of-a-kind players that deserve their status as NFL icons. But Aikman? That’s a different story.

Aikman does not deserve the hallowed status of Hall of Famer because although he won games as a starter, he often wasn’t the best player on the field or even his own team. I am reminded of a scene from the end of Rocky 3 when Apollo Creed tells Rocky Balboa, “You fight great, but I’m a great fighter.” There is indeed a difference. At times Troy Aikman could play football great, but he was not a great football player. His sometimes mediocre stats are evidence of that. Aikman’s completion percentage (61.5 percent) and passer rating (81.6) do not exactly set the world on fire. Add to that the fact that he had a winning percentage just above .500 and his legend is diminished further. If the stats are just so-so, it is fair to be asking the question, “Why is Troy Aikman in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?”

At first glance, Troy Aikman’s career is marked by numerous accomplishments, not the least of which is three Super Bowl wins. He was selected to six consecutive Pro Bowls from 1991 to 1996 and won Super Bowl MVP honors in 1992. These accolades alone would lead one to believe that Aikman deserves his spot in the Hall of Fame, but each and every one of these accolades was dependent on the surrounding cast which made it all possible. Instead of Aikman making the cast better, the cast made Aikman.

It is only logical that a quarterback would be successful provided he is surrounded by great talent. Certainly there was no one more talented in the backfield during the early 1990s than Emmitt Smith. He broke nearly ever rushing record there was in route to his position as the all-time rushing leader in NFL history. It is because of Smith’s overwhelming success that Aikman was also able to succeed. The Cowboys ground game opened up huge opportunities for the passing game. As Emmitt Smith ran wild in Big D, opposing defenses had to game plan for how to deal with a seemingly unstoppable rushing attack, and Aikman reaped the benefits.
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Aikman was also assisted by throwing to an elite reliever in Michael Irvin, ”The Playmaker.” Irvin, a five time Pro Bowler himself, helped make Aikman look good. With 750 career receptions for 11,904 yards and 65 receiving scores, Irvin still ranks in the upper echelon of receivers today. In the same way Smith improved Aikman’s effectiveness, Irvin helped Aikman to lead the Cowboys to win after win. But Smith and Irvin have something that Aikman doesn’t have – statistical dominance.

The major knock on Irvin’s legacy is the fact that even surrounded by great players in Dallas he quite frankly failed to post mind blowing stats. Looking back on his career, Aikman’s best years draw comparison to players like Joe Montana, Drew Brees, and Steve McNair, but stopping the comparison there would not tell the whole story. Looking at Aikman’s career as a whole, there are plenty of less flattering comparisons to players like Mark Brunell, Donovan McNabb, and Joe Namath. All talented players, no doubt, but certainly not the greatest QBs of all time (Namath’s case is so shaky that Loyal Homer has chosen to question his Hall credentials).

Simply being on a winning team does not necessarily prove to be a direct representation of greatness. Aikman was a capable signal caller who managed games effectively, but crediting him as the driving force behind the Cowboys’ dynasty of the early 1990s is a bit farfetched. Had Aikman played for another team he probably would not have three Super Bowl rings, without which he might not have entered the Hall of Fame discussion at all. His sometimes pedestrian numbers undermine his Hall of Fame worthiness.

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Posted by Babe Ruthless

The 2010 NFL Rookie Impact Debate… Bryant Will Catch on In Big D

July 29, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Bleacher Fan and Sports Geek.

When the idea to debate the biggest impact by a rookie in this year’s class was tossed around, one name immediately came to mind. When thinking of rookies who are apt to make big plays I tend to think of wide receivers. There’s a guy who was drafted in the first round in 2010 who fits the “big play” mold. I’ve written about this guy in the past, actually (though Babe Ruthless has said that this guy could be a bust). Who? Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, of course.

If I had any lingering doubts about choosing Bryant they were erased when he became the first draft pick in the first round to agree to a contract. He decided it was important to not to let any minor contract disputes linger into camp and disrupt his growth on the field. I get the feeling he knows he has a wonderful opportunity in front of him. And, that’s exactly what’s in front of him. His dedication was evident on Saturday at the start of Dallas Cowboys training camp. Who do you think was the first player on the field? Tony Romo? DeMarcus Ware? Miles Austin? Anyone else? Nope, it was none other than the kid rookie from Oklahoma State. That’s sure to score his some locker room points, and definitely scored him some points with very boisterous Cowboys’ fans.

Bryant certainly comes into the league with a lot of accolades from college. The only real reason he dropped all the way to the 24th pick is because of his meeting with Deion Sanders, and then lying about the meeting with the NCAA. Before that incident, Bryant’s stock was climbing. He had helped make T. Boone Pickens’ Oklahoma State Cowboys relevant again. He was arguably the best receiver in college football in 2008 and had gotten off to a good start in 2009. Then, the story with Prime Time broke. In a flash Bryant’s collegiate career broke into pieces. Bryant appealed the decision, but to no avail. It was unfortunate. Suddenly Bryant’s time in Stillwater was finished.

Dallas, however, saw potential and actually traded up to get him. So far the coaches appear to be raving about him. He’s been spending a lot of individual time working with quarterback Tony Romo. And, with Romo’s gun slinging mentality there’s definitely going to be plenty of chances for Bryant to make plays.

Last season was the coming out party for Miles Austin with the Dallas Cowboys. Perhaps this year could be Bryant’s. Austin, coming off a Pro Bowl season, is the number one guy right now. But the second receiver spot is up for grabs. Roy Williams has been a big disappointment since coming over from Detroit, and Patrick Crayton is nothing more than a third receiver, at best.

The contract is signed. He’s had his first practice at training camp. Now all he has to go out and do is produce. And I believe Dez Bryant will. He will make the Cowboys better.

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Unwelcome Return Debate… At Least the Prodigal Son Was Repentant

June 18, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Babe Ruthless and Loyal Homer.

No one in sports has burned his bridges after leaving a team or city more unabashedly than Terrell Owens.

Despite being one of the best wide receivers to have ever played the game (just ask him, he’ll tell you…), Owens is one of the least respected, least welcomed personalities in the entire NFL. Nowhere is that sentiment more strongly felt than in the cities of San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Dallas.

Owens is one of the rare people to whom the adage “actions speak louder than words” does not apply. Quite the contrary, actually. For Owens, it does not matter what his actions have been, it is his words that carry the greater volume, and the ringing echo of those selfish and arrogant words (usually spoken at the expense of others) lingers bitterly in each of TO’s former “hometowns.”

Whenever Owens joined a new team he enjoyed a very nice (albeit brief) honeymoon period. The teams were understandably excited to have Owens on their side of the ball, and Owens was (at least publicly) happy to have earned a HUGE paycheck to play for a team that really appreciated his absolute greatness (just ask him, he’ll tell you…).

Inevitably, though, the honeymoon would end, and that is when the REAL Terrell Owens would rear his head.

Here is a brief and incomplete rundown of Owens’ infamous escapades, and why the fans of those cities now perceive Owens as public enemy number one.

San Francisco: Owens never got along with quarterback Jeff Garcia, and even though he shared the field with his alleged idol, Jerry Rice, Owens felt slighted that the was not getting enough passes thrown his way. He didn’t seem to care that he was lining up with the greatest wide receiver ever to play the game, he felt he was more deserving of the ball. The simple fact that he was not on pace to catch 100 passes was intolerable for Owens.

His tirades played a major factor in Garcia’s ouster from the 49ers, and then, after having thrown his tantrums and demanded that he get his way, he skipped town for a sweeter deal in Philadelphia.

The feud with Garcia boiled to a head shortly after Owens left San Francisco, when, during a Playboy interview (Editor’s Note: Sorry, no link here. Heh.), Owens launched a personal attack against Garcia, calling him gay.

Owens has also publicly attacked Jerry Rice’s accomplishments, the DE FACTO greatest wide receiver to ever play the game. He has implied that Rice’s success is due more to his playing with quarterbacks like Joe Montana and Steve Young, and that Owens would have at least equaled, if not surpassed Rice’s results if he had been fortunate.

By commenting that Rice was fortunate to have played with “quality” quarterbacks, he was also criticizing Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, and Tony Romo as not being of the same “quality” stock.

Philadelphia: Second verse, same as the first!

Once again, after frustrations mounted because Owens did not feel he was being treated with the respect he felt he deserved, as well as not having the on-field success he felt he was entitled to, he set out on another personal campaign to simply trash those things he didn’t agree with.

One of the biggest feuds in the NFL began after Owens made a comment that he “wasn’t the one who got tired in the (2004) Super Bowl,” implying that quarterback Donovan McNabb was the reason the team lost the game. He then further attacked McNabb by saying that the Eagles would have been undefeated if a guy like Brett Favre was quarterback. He attacked the Eagles as an organization for not recognizing his 100th touchdown catch, calling it a classless organization. He then stated that he did not care what the fans thought of him.

This was never more evident than when, at the close of the Eagles’ 2005 game against the rival Dallas Cowboys, Owens was seen leaving the stadium sporting a Michael Irvin Cowboys jersey.

After that, the city of brotherly love felt nothing but animosity towards Owens.

Dallas: Things went well in Dallas for a while, but old habits die hard, and Owens once again wore out his welcome. This time, it came as the result of Owens’ jealousy for the relationship between quarterback Tony Romo and Jason Witten.

Owens could not fathom how he, one of the most accomplished wide receivers of all time, could possibly have less catches that a tight end, and felt that Witten and Romo had agreed to draw up plays specifically to target Witten, slighting Owens in the process. This one ended with Owens and Witten having to be separated after a locker-room confrontation.

It seems like everywhere he has been, Owens managed to do nothing more than stir up controversy, alienate teammates, and alienate fans. His attitude of self-service has left a very bitter after-taste for fans of the 49ers, Eagles, and Cowboys, and while Eagles’ fans may feel it the strongest, there is no welcome-home party waiting in any of these cities whenever TO comes to town.

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Posted by Bleacher Fan

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