EL
HOMBRE KNOWS SPORTS
There
was a time – not too long ago – in this nation’s sporting history when the NFL
was the king of its castle, and the other sports were mere peasants, hoping to
find prosperity underneath their master’s tyrannical shadow. NFL TV ratings
were amazing. At one point, 19 of the top 20 rated shows for the entire year
were pro football games. Networks didn’t dare put up a program they hoped would
hit big against NBC’s Sunday Night Football, for fear it would be trampled and
end up in the Saturday evening graveyard, drawing lower numbers than “Finder of
Lost Loves” did in the mid-‘80s.
Ah,
those were the days.
Fact
is, NFL fans don’t have to remember that time as if it were a sepia-toned
photograph. Fifth-graders can recall the league’s golden age, when stars trod
the gridiron like sporting gods – and had endorsement profiles befitting their
lofty status. Then came 2016, and the trouble began.
Some
of it wasn’t the NFL’s fault. Not even Colonel Steve Austin’s doctors could
have kept Peyton Manning playing beyond the 2015 season. No one could have
predicted the overwhelming drama of the ’16 presidential election, which
directed eyes away from the NFL storylines. Those were forces beyond the
league’s influence.
But
a lot of it the trouble was self-inflicted. The league could have been smarter
and more humane about the long-term effects of concussions and other blows to
the head, instead of trying to “protect the shield” by demonizing former
players and denigrating respected doctors. It could have worked with players
and propaganda partners from the beginning of Colin Kaepernick’s (and others’)
protests to craft a solution that would have satisfied all parties – and
benefitted the league – instead of bowing to hard-liners within and without the
NFL and creating a situation that is divisive at best and crippling at worst.
And it could have focused a little less on spectacle and a little more on the
game itself, which is becoming a morass of arcane rules, time-chewing
challenges and flat-out poor play.
Further,
it could have understood the NBA’s move toward a reality-show model. It
entrances young fans with its season-long player drama, followed by a riveting
off-season that plays out as much on social media as it does in team
headquarters and is more attractive than a corporate sporting model. Yep, the
NFL is still number one, but it can no longer stomp across the landscape with
impunity. Heck, even soccer (especially the international version) is growing
in popularity in the U.S., after only 40 or so years of predictions that it
would one day take over.
Against
that cheery backdrop, the 2018 season commences with its attendant storylines.
It may not be the stuff of golden ages, or even the magical ‘60s, when muddy
fields were the stages for the mighty gladiators of yore. But El Hombre will
still be paying attention, and here are some of things the rest of you should watch.
Spider 2 Y Did They Do It? Those wacky
Raiders have had themselves a pretty crazy off-season. First, they hired
Chuckie to handle the coaching duties for a mere $100 mil. Then, they got rid
of Khalil Mack, because they didn’t want to pay him Aaron Donald money. (Or
more.) Wednesday, the city of Oakland sued the franchise because it will bolt
for Vegas after the 2019 season. Given the raging fraternity house couch fire
the Raiders have become, one would imagine the city would sue them for wanting
to stick around the Bay Area for two more seasons.
Kid
Stuff: When Sam Darnold takes his first snap in the Jets’ opener against
the Lions on Monday night (espn gets all the good games!), he will be the
youngest QB to start a season since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. The 21-year old
will no doubt have some butterflies, but what he’ll need more than a shot of Big
Pink is a football with handles. While at USC, Darnold fumbled often, something
the Jets can’t have if they want to crawl out of the AFC East cellar. Darnold
has potential, but folks in Queens and on Long Island would be wise to lower
their expectations as the youngster learns his way.
Quarterback Roulette: Let’s see if El
Hombre can get this straight: Alex Smith is in D.C. and former Washington NFL
Franchise QB Kirk Cousins has moved to Minnesota, where he takes the place of
Case Keenum, who is now quarterbacking the Broncos. KC is going with Patrick
Mahomes, even if he did look shaky in exhibition games. Ryan Fitzpatrick will
start in Tampa during Jameis Winston’s suspension for groping an Uber driver,
and Tyrod Taylor is the designated placeholder for the Browns until top overall
pick Baker Mayfield is deemed ready – or until Cleveland loses 10 of its first
12. The Bills will start Nathan “Pick Five” Peterman, and former
Viking/Eagle/Ram Sam Bradford and his fat bank balance are in ‘Zona hoping the
Cards don’t turn to Josh Rosen too quickly. Got all that? Didn’t think so. One
thing is certain: teams have spent a whole lot of money and high draft picks on
guys who aren’t exactly top-tier quarterbacks. Hope springs eternal…until the
first interception.
Ram Tough (Or Stupid): In an attempt to
beef up their defense, which isn’t wunderkind coach Sean McVay’s specialty, the
Rams added Ndamukong Suh, Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters in the hopes that the
trio will behave itself. That might happen. Then again, Suh could end up
practicing Irish dancing on an opponent, Talib could decide he wants to take
another shot at the title – or another shot at himself – and Peters could play
referee by throwing another penalty flag, or just throwing a tantrum. El Hombre
didn’t study statistics (or much else) at the Sorbonne, but he knows the
probability of all three of these Boy Scouts staying out of trouble isn’t too
high.
Tommy Boy: Tom Brady turned 41 last
month, and despite his stated desire to play until he is 45 (who does he think
he is, George Blanda?) and his 2017 MVP performance, the Pats’ QB is heading
toward the end of his career. It’s inevitable, and all the avocado ice cream in
the world can’t change that. The question is whether Brady will author a couple
more glorious seasons or lose his edge quickly, becoming the NFL version of
pitcher Warren Spahn, who went from 23-7 as a 42-year old in 1963 to 6-13 the
next season. When we last saw Mr. Bundchen, he was dropping a pass on a trick
play in the Super Bowl and sparring with Captain Hoodie over the role of his
personal fitness Svengali Alex Guerrero. It could be another big year for Brady
and the Pats or the beginning of an ugly end.
Welcome Back: Last year featured the
premature conclusions to a trio of quarterbacks’ seasons, and all are poised to
make big returns. Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson and Carson Wentz suffered
serious injuries that ruined their teams’ playoff hopes. Well, Green Bay’s and
Houston’s at least. Wentz’s torn knee ligaments didn’t prevent the Eagles from
Philly Specialing their way to the Super Bowl title. All are expected to be in
top form – Wentz a little later than the others – and ready to join the NFL’s
elite signal-callers. Meanwhile, Indy’s Andrew Luck, whose best work over the
last year came from the clever Twitter feed @CaptAndrewLuck, hopes his
two-season hiatus from the game hasn’t hurt his skills and that his shoulder
can handle greetings from angry defensive linemen.
The Picks: NFC Division Winners:
Eagles, Packers, Saints, Rams; NFC Wild Card: Vikings, Falcons; Sleeper:
Giants.
AFC
Division Winners: Patriots, Steelers, Jaguars, Chargers; AFC Wild Card: Texans,
Titans; Sleeper: Dolphins.
NFC
Playoffs: Falcons over Packers; Rams over Vikings. Saints over Falcons; Eagles
over Rams. Saints over Eagles.
AFC
Playoffs: Steelers over Texans; Titans over Chargers; Patriots over Titans;
Steelers over Jaguars. Steelers over Patriots.
Super
Bowl: Saints over Steelers.
* *
*
EL HOMBRE SEZ: It wasn’t the best
weekend for some of college football’s bigger brand names. Texas dropped a
decision to Maryland, Florida State got whipped by Virginia Tech, Miami was
bombed by LSU, and Michigan went back to the ugly end of ‘17 in a desultory
loss to the Domers. But the biggest mess might be in Westwood, where Maximum
Leader’s Bruins lost at home to Cincinnati. Looks like that genius card might
not be good for much anymore…Rick Pitino announced in his new book that his
coaching career is “possibly finished”. You think? What’s stopping another top
program from bestowing a fat contract on Ricky P? It couldn’t be the late-night
restaurant gymnastics with another woman, could it? Or maybe it was the hooker
party for the recruits? Was it the stench of an FBI investigation? Nahhhhh.
It’s a conspiracy. Yeah, that must be it…The Mariners players had a Pier Six
brawl before their game Tuesday, which worried some Seattle fans. Those folks
should be delighted, because it’s the most fight the M’s have shown in weeks.
Once wild-card contenders who were actually dreaming of the divisional title,
the Mariners are nine back of the first-place Astros and 5.5 behind Oakland for
the second wild-card spot…Pope Urban VI returned to Ohio State this week to
conduct practice and to prepare for his return to the sidelines for week four
of the season. In other Buckeye news, the Board of Trustees, save the one
member who resigned in disgust over the week penalty handed out to Urban VI,
remains gutless and completely in the pocket of the football program.
* *
*
AND ANOTHER THING: If any of Nick
Saban’s or Doug Pederson’s players reacted to mildly stressful situations
during a game with the similar lack of composure the coaches did when asked
over the past week who their starting quarterbacks would be, they would no
doubt be excoriated and probably demoted. It’s amazing that coaches today get
so upset over questions that couldn’t possibly be surprising to them. Here’s a
bit of inside information from the media, fellas: Fans want to know who will be
playing quarterback. Instead of crafting a benign answer designed to satisfy
(somewhat) the questioner and avoid controversy, these coaches became angry and
petulant. Part of the job descriptions for these heavily compensated men is
dealing with the media. So, why wouldn’t they do it in ways that doesn’t make
them look unprofessional? Saban’s response to espn reporter Maria Taylor’s
innocuous question about the Tide’s top signal-caller was uncalled for and
exposed him further as someone for whom common decency is often elusive.
Pederson’s tantrum was even sillier, since the person who “put words in [his]
mouth” worked for NFL.com, the propaganda arm of the league for which he works.
Getting angry at the local reporters who have helped promote his book and his
team made no sense in that case. Pederson and the “offending writer” who said
Nick Foles would be starting the season at quarterback work for the same
company – the NFL. Come on, guys, show a little more poise.
* *
*
YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT? The Eagles
head into the 2018 season enjoying a completely unfamiliar status: defending
Super Bowl champs. The fan base has been placated, and that means everything
should be sunshine and lollipops, no matter what happens on the field, right?
Maybe. The expectations for the team have grown, and even though people are
merging onto local highways without risking serious injury these days, a poor
performance by the team will not be received well. Like most towns that
experience ultimate success, Philadelphia now believes the Eagles will win
multiple Lombardi Trophies over the next five seasons, and even a return trip
to the Super Bowl that doesn’t end in triumph will be received poorly in some
circles. So, what’s going to happen? Expect Nick Foles to play QB for three
games, before Carson Wentz returns. Expect the offense to take some time to
develop into a real force. Worry about the middle of the defensive front
without Haloti Ngata and pray hard for Jordan Hicks to remain healthy. The
Eagles should win the NFC East and a playoff game. After that, things could get
pretty tough on the Schuylkill Expressway.
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