Browns, Bengals Blow, other Football Follies

That was a real disaster in Cleveland – if you really appreciate football – you understand and appreciate that defense is a part of it. Otherwise, you appreciate all the so-called “excitement,” of scoring nearly 100 points. Both teams – the Browns and the Bengals – gained over 500 yards. Fifty-six first downs. Cleveland averaged 7 ½ yards per rush. Surprisingly the turn over total was only four – not unusual. It was high scoring, it was close, but a “good game?” No, that’s something else.

Jeannie’s Horsies hosted a lousy Raiders team at Mile High. They almost blew it. Last week, they had to come from behind to win in Buffalo. The Bills were beaten 26-3 this week by Pittsburgh. Anyway, of note was a demonstration of sideline management by Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. In overtime, Oakland had apparently kicked the winning field goal from 52 yards. But they didn’t. It seems Shanahan had called a time out just before the kick. Legally, but too late to stop the play on the field. The Raider’s kicker would have to make a tough one again. He couldn’t, and the Broncos drove down the field to win.

The Patriots were caught cheating last week, gaining an unfair advantage. What they did to the Chargers – a team expected to be a factor in the playoffs – was truly unfair. It was 24-0 at half as Brady, Moss, and Maroney beat San Diego “to a pulp,” according to one sportswriter.
The Purple went to Detroit and gifted the Motor City Kitties their first win in eleven years. The chief Santa was quarterback Tavaris Jackson, an Arkansas drop out (feeling unwanted in the “bigs,” he took off for Alabama State, where he was a “find” for rookie head coach Brad Childress. For the game Jackson was 17-for-33 for 166 yards, four interceptions and a quarterback rating of 26.4. Throw in the opener, won by the Vikings in spite Tavaris, and his rating remains an anemic 40. I can’t say for sure that Jackson won’t be a good one someday. It’s just that there’s nothing to suggest he will.

Elsewhere in the Noxious North, a young Packers team (except the quarterback) whipped the Giants. Good, perhaps they’ll get smart in New York and sack a really, really bad coach. The Bears won, but coach Lovie Smith seems to be getting tired of the team having to carry it’s quarterback. They’re saying in Chicago that Rex Grossman might be on a short tether. A Chicago cousin sent us a Bear named Lovie today. Murphy and Charles are exited to get another “garage buddy.” Heidi’s a little worried about “the boys” behaving themselves.