What is more entertaining these days in the NFL, the poor play on the field each Sunday or the off-field “buck passing” between league, owner and Ray Rice and associates?
When this is all over Ray Rice will get paid. Once he files his grievance on how his suspension was handled it will be lifted, or he will sue the league and that is where the fun will begin. Then all the dirty laundry will come out on how this mess was handled by Commissioner Roger Goodell and his minions. The league could ill afford to have that, so they will try to figure a way to resolve this, only to once again admit that they messed this thing up from the beginning.
When the dust settles Rice will be blacklisted, and he will be able to go after the league for conspiring to prevent him from working. After all, we are talking about a player who was in the prime of his career, even though a pro football player has a very short shelf life. Heads have to roll here, but I doubt that they will for the foreseeable future. The corporate sponsors covered themselves by issuing statements of concern, but we have yet to see them scale back or terminate their relationship with the NFL.
Let’s be clear here. Ray Rice was wrong; he should be out of the game for more than the two games that he was initially handed. How this other video tape was concealed from everyone for so long is a mystery to some and just a nod of the head by others who knew what the deal was all along. My question is: when does it stop? Rice should be on ice for a while, but if the league doesn’t watch out Rice will be the victim.
As for Adrian Peterson, the league has a bigger problem as they and the team are sending mix messages. The team has been at the front of this one and has tried to do the right thing, but this is a touchy subject. Clearly the best running back in the game, Peterson has a parenting issue of his own as he has at least seven kids by five women. Yes, there are issues here well beyond a whoopin’.
Bigger, faster, stronger, worse
I conducted an unscientific poll of a number of people last week that consisted of media members (I respect their opinion, because they have seen it), former and current NFL coaches and former NFL players. Would a Dallas Cowboy, San Francisco 49er, St. Louis Ram (1999) or Baltimore Raven team be able to play with the best team in the NFL today? The answer was everything from “yes, they would beat today’s team” to “they would destroy a Seattle, San Francisco or Denver team of today.”
Yes, the player today is bigger, faster and stronger, according to most, but the “x” factor here is toughness and skill that today’s players seem to lack. To call an NFL payer soft would be crazy, but there is great separation when you compare the two generations with their ability to play through it.
Take the poll yourself. Deion vs. Richard Sherman? Jerry Rice vs. the field? Marshall Faulk, Emmit Smith and others vs. someone other than Adrian Peterson, now that he is off the field? After Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, who could defend against Aikman, Young or Warner? As for defensive and offensive lines the list is too long, but for giggles how about Larry Allen and Erik Williams on the same actually blocking people compared to the love taps of today?
Normally the next generation show they may be better than those from the past, but there is no real argument for the payer of today. There are a few who could hang but most would be looking for a jock strap to carry.
Hope for Hope
Let me get this straight. Ray Rice was arrested, suspended and fired from his job for domestic violence while soccer player Hope Solo – who was arrested for the same thing against a 17-year-old relative – not only continues to play soccer but has the support of the U.S. Soccer Federation, not to mention Nike, while her situation is under review. Where is the suspension? Where are the statements of concern from sponsors? Where is the commissioner?
Wait, it’s soccer for one. Second … you can figure that one out. Hey, both are as wrong as two left shoes, but do we have a double standard here? Solo and her husband former NFL player Jeremy Stevens have been in the middle of domestic disturbances before, and yet she gets a pass. Yes, there is still Hope!
Jeter winding down
I could say something nice about Derek Jeter as his great career is winding down this weekend, but I think everyone else has already said it. Thank you for what you have meant to sports.
Who is number one?
As the college football season is underway and conference play is set to start, the questions are always who is number one and who are the Heisman candidates?
Who really cares? The colleges rankings have been proven to be flawed. When a team that we have heard little about takes on a real proven opponent from a reputable conference and wins, it is an upset and the losing team falls in the rankings due to the “upset.” Really?
We know very little about how good a team really is in the month of September because of the schedule many teams play, as well as youth who are trying to mature on the fly. The ranking system is flawed and it leaves a false impression on who is really good and who has the potential to be really bad. Do not put a lot of stock in rankings at this time of the year.
As for the Heisman, wake me when it’s over. Never have we seen a more overrated award that normally leads to mediocrity at the next level. It has become a public relations campaign that is headed up by the school and ESPN who carries the award ceremony. While the award will not go away, the impact it has on the game has been diminished considerably.
Color on the Cardinals
For those who ask the perennial question, “Why don’t the Cardinals have any black players?” please allow me to introduce you to some. Left-handed reliever Sam Freeman has been a mainstay out of the bullpen all year long. Call ups from the championship team in Memphis, Xavier Scruggs and Tommy Pham, are here for a reason: they can play. Both figure to compete for jobs on the roster next season and Pham may have already been here if not for some season-ending injuries. It is a slow process for sure and they are yet to be difference makers but it is a marked improvement over a few years ago.
