Griffin pays for his guts with his knee

In the Redskin–Seahawk playoff game last Sunday, the story was that of Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III and his desire to play on despite a debilitating injury that has now resulted in knee surgery. Griffin was showing his toughness, his desire to win at all cost, and yet he showed immaturity and perhaps selfishness in his decision to stay on the field.

Pro football is not a forgiving sport. You take what you can, play hard and hope you are healthy enough to play next week. In Griffin’s case, better judgment needed be shown by his coach Mike Shanahan. Shanahan has been around for a long time and has seen an injury or two that would prevent a player from playing to a level that he can help the team. He owns this major mistake that may cost him more than a game.

While the media has embraced Griffin for his courage and toughness, the hammer has fallen on his coach for leaving him in. Shanahan failed to alert anyone that there is no real reward for being a hero in the NFL. Ask Jay Cutler.

The Chicago Bear quarterback removed himself from a playoff game because of a similar injury and was nearly run out of town by fans, media and even some players in the league who questioned his toughness. Cutler’s relationship with all of the above has never been the same.

As for Griffin, for him to have that sort of say-so on whether he can play to the level of helping his team is ludicrous. That is what a head coach is there for. If Griffin turns out to have a subpar career due to a balky knee, many will remember this game and who made what decisions. They will also be talking about another quarterback as Griffin will be just a fond memory.

Manhandled by Alabama

Now that Notre Dame fans know they have a lot of work to do to back up all that big talk before the championship game with Alabama, the real question is how many more times will we see Alabama in the winner’s circle for the foreseeable future? The answer is simple: As long as they get the great linemen.

While we were all wowed by the statistical blowout of the Irish, one needs to take a longer look at how the Alabama linemen simply manhandled Notre Dame. There is no question that the Alabama receivers and backs were superior to Notre Dame and nearly everyone else, but when you look at it one begets the other. Very good linemen make great football teams.

Nick Saban and his coaching staff have it figured out. They are light years ahead of most and will continue to be that way as long as they can assure those high school seniors they will be playing in the last game of the college football season.

Sumner High to Crimson Tide

There is a local flavor to the Alabama Crimson Tide’s success. Assistant Coach Bobby Williams for the Tide is a Sumner High School grad. Bobby moved on to be all everything at Purdue and played for the Cincinnati Bengals. Once his career in the NFL was over, after some grad assistant work he hooked up with Nick Saban at Michigan State. The two have been everywhere together since then. Williams has served in virtually every capacity under Saban with his current position being tight end and special teams coach. Did I mention he is the most successful college football coach from St. Louis, as his championship ring total is now at four and counting? Nice going, Coach Williams.

Blues are back

Over 100 days of one of the most embarrassing events ever to take place in sports in now over.

The National Hockey League lockout was a joke. It was an embarrassment and it has put the league in a position where it is nearly laughable when it comes to being a Big Four sport.

With that said, The St. Louis Blues were not responsible for this travesty. New ownership has yet to even sit in the ownership box for a game, yet they already have a lot of work to do.

I am a Blues fan. I despise the league they play in as it is a certified joke. The team have yet to win a Stanley Cup, but their chances look good to compete.

For those who are not fans because they do not understand it, I would suggest now is the time you take it in. There will be a schedule of 50 games or less, which means every game counts. The intensity level will be as high.

The St. Louis Blues will be going all out to win their fans back as well as make new fans. This is the time to get on board as there is local ownership involved. Give it a shot.

Laker surrender

As many of you know, I am huge Los Angeles Laker fan. Been one all my life. I am a realist though in saying this will not be the Lakers’ year due to bad chemistry, poorly constructed roster, injury and age. Yep, I have surrendered. Their season is over. Try and fix next year. All this and we are not even at the MLK Holiday. That is how bad I think it is. There are a lot of past Lakers turning over in their graves by what is on the floor now, and it will only get worse for this season. Blow it up and start over again.