NFL Week 4 Thoughts

No Brees, No Problem

I said last week that I would stop leading off with the Jets once they lost a game. Of course that turned out to be a huge jinx because the very next week the Jets went out and got blown out by the Saints.

To make matters worse the Jets lost to the Saints without Drew Brees throwing a touchdown. Most of the damage was done by the defense as they capitalized on Mark Sanchez mistakes returning an interception for a touchdown and also recovering a fumble in the end zone.

So now the Saints are 4-0 and have shown that they don't need to rely solely on their offense to win games. Scary team.

As for the Jets they will get the Miami Dolphins this week which should allow them to get back to their winning ways and hopefully Sanchez can stop telegraphing his throws and show some of that poise and competence he showed in weeks 1-3.

Lastly I want to point out something I read in MMQB by Peter King. He wrote that Sean Peyton, the Saints coach, offered $250,000 from his own salary to bring in defensive co-ordinator Greg Williams. Thought this was really interesting and it is paying out huge already as the Saints are no longer a joke on D.

Weak Ass Officiating

Does Tom Brady blow the refs before the game or after? Seriously how does this man continue to get these crazy calls to go his way? It is embarrassing that the NFL would allow this to happen.

Also is football not supposed to be a contact sport? When did it become a contact sport for everybody not named Brady? If I was a defensive co-ordinator of a team playing the Patriots at any point during the rest of the season I would tell my team to destroy him. I am talking cheap shots and late hits galore. Teach this pussy that everyone in the NFL is equal and no one gets special treatment.

I know that the NFL doesn't want to see its star players getting hurt and everything but if they keep making these rules then they are going to ruin the game. If Brady doesn't like being hit then he should go play golf or tennis maybe even try knitting just as long as he stays out of the NFL.

Favre vs the Packers

Well the game somewhat lived up to the hype. There was plenty of offense to go around and in the end Favre got his "revenge" leading the Vikings to a 30-23 win. Now Favre did play great (3 touchdowns and an almost perfect quarterback rating) but in the end the Packers lost the game because they couldn't protect Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers was sacked 8 times. 8! His left tackle T.J. Lang looked as if he had never played football before. Lang often had help from a running back and a tight end and still couldn't stop Jarred Allen from being in the backfield every play.

If the Packers are going to be successful the rest of the season they need to do something about their O-line.

As for Brett Favre and the Vikings they are 4-0 and look great. Their defense made some big plays tonight and they proved they can win without Adrian Peterson having a monster game. Favre looks more and more comfortable throwing the ball each game and he hasn't been hit a lot this season which should help him stay healthy. The Vikes have the St. Louis Rams next week which is an automatic win and then play the Ravens who I think will hand the Vikings their first loss of the season.

Breast Cancer Awareness

All weekend NFL players were wearing pink gloves, hats, shoes, and armbands to support awareness for Breast Cancer research. The proceeds from the merchandise sold this weekend will go to research and the jerseys and other apparel will be sold in an auction with the proceeds going to breast cancer research as well.

You have to respect the NFL for doing this. It isn't a big effort on their part but the fact is they are a major organization and they make the effort to help in some way so props for that.

How Bout Them Cowboys

What is wrong with the Dallas Cowboys? This team has all the offensive weapons in the world and somehow they can't score points. Now I understand that the Broncos defense has gotten much better but the fact remains that the Cowboys need to do more than put up only 10 points because that is embarrassing.

The main problem right now is Tony Romo. He is not doing a good job distributing the football. Too many high throws and bad decisions and not enough passes to Jason Witten. Witten is the best receiver on this football team and last game he had only 4 catches for 31 yards. If the Cowboys want to be successful they need to run the ball more and get Witten involved more often.

Firing puppet coach Wade Phillips wouldn't hurt either as he is doing nothing to get his players fired up and motivated.

Quick Thoughts

- The Broncos have allowed 26 points through 4 games. To put that into perspective 11 teams scored more than 26 points this week alone.

- Mark Clayton needs to make that catch.

- Aaron Kampman had 9.5 sacks and 62 tackles last year. This year he has 1 and only 16 tackles. Kampman is not a 3-4 scheme type guy and the Packers need to let him play defensive end.

- I don't care what anyone say Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the NFL and will go down as the best quarterback of all-time.

- Patrick Willis is the next Ray Lewis.

- Seems like the Broncos knew what they were doing when they didn't trade Brandon Marshall. His play in the final 2 minutes against Dallas proves why he is an elite receiver.

- Leading receiver in the NFL is Steve Smith of the New York Giants. Plaxico who?

- The Titans have lost as many games in 24 days as they did all of last season.

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Why Not 1 More?

162 games wasn’t enough for the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers so they are going to play 1 more game on Tuesday night.

The game was announced today after the Twins beat the Royals 13-4 and the Tigers beat the White Sox 5-3. So now a playoff game is needed to see who will represent the AL Central aka Baseballs worst division in the playoffs.

Heading into September, the Twins looked finished in the AL Central, especially without Justin Morneau who has missed serious time due to a lower back injury. Twins tickets for today's game were expected to be for the last baseball game ever at the Metrodome, as the Twins are moving to the brand new, and outdoor, Target Field in 2010. But today's win over the Royals means there will be 1 more game, which is in the Metrodome because the Twins won the season series over the Tigers.

Although the Twins-Tigers drama has been the biggest playoff race this year, it may not be remembered in the long run. Both teams played in the worst division in baseball, and the winner may just be a sacrificial lamb for the Yankees in the playoffs. However, with the run the Twins are on, they may not be quickly counted out against the Yankees - and the Tigers have the starting rotation to give the Yankees trouble.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, they needed ace Justin Verlander just to force the playoff, and can't use him on Tuesday. Rick Porcello is expected to go for Detroit, with Scott Baker set to go for the Twins, according to MLB.com.

The Tigers have been awful lately going 3-6 in their last 9 but somehow they managed to pull it off and keep a ray of hope alive.

"I'm awful proud of our team," Tigers Manager Jim Leyland told ESPN. "Have we been perfect? No. Do you wish you would've had it wrapped right now? Do you think you should've? Yes.

"But when you also think that people were picking you fourth in the division in the winter and spring and after 162 games, you're tied for first place -- that's not bad."

I love these playoff games just to get into the playoffs as they always provide tonnes of excitement. Who can forget that memorable game in 2007 at Coors Field as Matt Holiday had that controversial slide into home plate in the bottom of the 13th inning to send the Rockies to the playoffs?

The city of Minnesota is already at a fever pitch with the Twins' run, and the Vikings mega-showdown against the Packers tomorrow night. Getting at least one more playoff game at the Metrodome would be the perfect way to close out the Twins' tenure there - but they have to beat the Tigers one more time first.

The Twins vs Tigers playoff begins at 5 p.m. EST, 4 p.m Minnesota time, on TBS (and yes I refuse to call it 'PeachTree TV').

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Breaking the Mold...Literally

Never before has society been so fixated on looks. Everywhere you look people are dieting and trying to get in shape to meet modern standards of beauty and attractiveness. I myself have recently started a health binge in order to lose weight. Yet there are some who refuse to conform to societies view and choose instead to go the opposite way. While some may look to buy smaller clothes and feel better about themselves these men rise look to add body mass and attain their own gravitational pull.

This is not an attack on overweight people. I myself am overweight. This is merely a celebration of fat athletes who succeed in professional sports despite their weight.

Here are a few men who are fat and proud:

CC Sabathia

Carbs and Calories Sabathia has been a professional baseball player for 9 years. In those 9 years he has been the heaviest baseball player in history tipping the scales at a rotund 300lbs. His neck rolls are numerous and his uniform looks like billowy pajamas. Despite these "handicaps" he has been a dominant pitcher and even won a CY Young award in 2007. Does he plan on losing weight anytime soon? Of course not. Why mess with a good thing?

Prince Fielder

An excerpt from Moneyball by Michael Lewis, "How about Prince Fielder? Isn't he a little heavy? It says here he is 265lbs. How much does he weigh if he puts the other foot on the scale?"

At the end of his 5th year Prince has a .283 career batting average and has hit 153 HR with 438 RBI. The man is one of the best power hitters in the league today and hits absolute bombs. Does his huge gut help him generate power? Probably not but it doesn't seem to be hurting him either.

Jerome Bettis

Here is a man who played professional football while suffering with severe asthma. How can you be a running back in football is you have asthma. I will tell you how. You do what Bettis did and make a career out of being a bowling ball. By this I mean he packed on the pounds and would literally fall forward to get yards.

In his early days he was slimmer and could break long runs but as he aged he got fatter and became the best 3rd down back in the NFL. For his career he averaged 3.9 yards per carry which is roughly the distance his fat ass covered as he hit the ground after falling forward.

Every Lineman in the NFL

These guys make a living off being fat. Guys like Gilbert Brown, Sam Adams, Ted Washington and Vince Wilfork all had jobs because they were fat and could clog up running lanes. These guys push 400lbs and yet are professional athletes. Good for them. They show people that you can just get really fat and then play football. Now don't get me wrong I am not saying they aren't athletic or that they are only successful because they are fat but it is a fact that it is harder to move a guy who weighs 355lbs than it is to move a guy who weighs 285lbs.

The NFL is really a league that promotes being massive. Offensive linemen have to be big in order to stop the big guys on the other side of the ball and vice versa. Of the 22 players on the field at any given time usually at least 9 of them will weigh close to 300lbs. Gotta love it.

John Daly

While Tiger Woods may be the best golfer in the entire world he probably isn't the most popular. That award goes to the man in the ugly pants John Daly. Daly smokes, gambles, divorces women like he is Henry VIII and eats like a true American. He has made a career out of being the outcast in golf because he is fat and doesn't really care what people think. Daly breaks every stereotype of the modern golfer and does it while rocking a 46' waist.

Big Baby

Glen Davis currently plays for the Boston Celtics in the NBA. He is called big baby because he is a large man and is also very emotional often crying while on the bench in moments of joy and frustration. He also rocks some nice B cups as pictured below:

Here are a few more guys who are fat and proud:

Antonio Alfonseca - 34 inch waist, 64 inch gut. That belt is working harder than Alfonseca has worked his entire career.

Babe Ruth - The Sultan of Swat indulged in women, booze, and food. After all that he is still considered by many as the best baseball player of all time. And he accomplished all that while pushing three bills.

Charles Barkley - Quick, whats higher Charles Barkley's weight or his gambling debt? Former MVP, 11x All-Star, and 5x All-NBA First Team.

David Wells - Brings new meaning to the term hefty lefty. Any pitcher that can consume enormous quantities of beer and the pitch perfect games will make the list every time.

Livan Hernandez - One more cheeseburger and he would have to be airlifted from the dugout to the mound to pitch every inning.

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The First Billionaire in Sports

By winning the Fed Ex cup over the weekend Tiger Woods became the first professional athlete to earn over $1 billion. Think about that. Through his 95 professional victories, including 14 majors, and his countless endorsements he has become a billionaire.

I did some research and found out that there are only 106 billionaires in the entire world, not including Woods. The people on this list are heads of banks, oil tycoons and heads of major companies. Now they can add a golfer to their exclusive club.

What makes this accomplishment even crazier is the fact that Woods is still only 33 years old. This means he still has several more years left to add to this total. Hell by the time he does he could be a multi-billionaire.

When it comes to earnings Woods is in a class all his own as the next closest to him is Michael Jordan who has earned an estimated $800 million since entering the NBA and then Michael Schumacher who stands at $700 million.

Obviously Woods has made most of his money through victories and Nike but he also has another of other sponsors including AT&T, Pepsi, Accenture, and Electronic Arts. He also gets a $3 million appearance fee for playing anywhere outside of the United States and is currently assisting in golf course development which bets him $10 million per project.

Tiger Woods really does have the perfect life. He plays golf for a living, his wife is crazy hot, and he is a billionaire. I once thought that when I had kids I would teach them to play baseball or football but I now realize that golf is the way to go.

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Clusterf*ck in the Desert

With the NHL season set to start this weekend 29 teams are ready to begin their quest for the Stanley Cup. Yes I know there are 30 teams in the league but if you think the Phoenix Coyotes have any plans on winning anything this year you are an idiot. Not only is their roster filled with dusters and unproven youngsters but they don't even have an owner.

The Phoenix Coyotes have become one of the saddest stories in sports. The fact that this team has been operating without an owner for the past few months is ridiculous. Add to this the fact that the head coach quit 10 days before the season and you have yourself a clusterf*uck of epic proportions.

The whole problem started when Jerry Moyes decided to needed to sell the team and sold it to Jim Balisllie. Balsillie bought the team and immediately planned to move the franchise to Southern Ontario.

Enter Gary Bettman and the NHL who took legal action to stop Balsillie. A long and confusing legal battle ensued concluding today with a judge ruling that Balsilli couldn't move the team. Problem solved right? Wrong.

While Balsillie can't buy and move the team the NHL can't buy the team either, at least not with their current offer. The offer needs to be improved and a whole bunch of other requirements need to be met in order for the sale to be finalized. All of this to keep hockey in Phoenix.

So as of right now the Phoenix Coyotes are owned by no one. How embarrassing. Things couldn't get worse though.

Enter Wayne Gretzky and his giant ego. Now before I tell you what Gretzky did I need to mention that he is one of the worst head coaches in the NHL and yet he gets paid $8 million a season. At that salary he is the highest paid coach in the NHL and 3rd highest in North American professional sports. You would think with that salary that he would stay with the team and be a rock through the troubled times (also he is a part owner) but instead he bailed...hard.

Last week Gretzky resigned and chose not to coach because he wasn't sure if he was gong to be getting paid, like he doesn't have enough money already. Show some class jerk off.

So now the team has no owner and with less than a week before the season starts no coach. So Dave Tippett was hired. By who I do not know seeing as the team has no owner. So Tippett has one week to get his team organized and ready to play hockey. Good luck my friend.

Beyond the problem with the lack of ownership and the fact that the head coach has known his players for less than two weeks there is one glaring concern I have with the Coyotes. Who is paying the bills?

Who is paying to keep the lights on in the Jobing.cm Arena (top 5 worst arena name in sports)? Who is paying for the hockey tape, the sticks, the goalie equipment, the zamboni, and the employees who sell beer and jerseys? All of these costs are covered by the owner but the Coyotes don't have an owner.

Is the team running on IOUs?

The whole situation in Phoenix has gotten so bad that it is starting to become material for Leno, Conan, and Letterman. Gary Bettman has royally screwed everything up and has made the NHL look like an even bigger joke than usual. I understand you can't have people buying teams and moving them wherever they want but hockey is a dead market in Phoenix and a thriving one in Southern Ontario. It makes so much sense.

I for one feel bad for every member of the Coyotes team, every person who depends on a paycheck from Moyes and the Coyotes organization and of course the few fans the team may have.

Hopefully this can get resolved as soon as possible and the Coyotes can get back to business as usual, losing hockey games.

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