Seen It All Before

The killing of 17-year old Trayvon Martin, or at least the subsequent coverage and reaction of his murder, is everything that is good AND bad about the social media world we live in. Good because it brought light to an act of blatant injustice and assumed prejudice. Bad because, like we do with so many other trendy topics in America, it was the latest example of American fad-jumping and overreaction. It makes you wonder what this country would have been like if we had Facebook and Twitter a fifteen years ago when the O.J. Simpson verdict, a moment where racial tension was already palpable, was announced.

Let's get the obvious statement out of the way: The shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman was wrong. Let's get another one out of the way: None of us, beyond the two men involved, were there. We don't know if it's self-defense. We don't know if it was racism. We just don't know. In a society that loves to put a label on everything, we'd love to label Zimmerman's actions as an act of ignorance and the latest example of racial profiling and, when the dust settles, that might be exactly what this ends up being....but we just don't know. Remember Denzel in Training Day? "It's not what you know, it's what you can prove."

Now, I'm not saying there's no cause for outrage. A grown man killing an unarmed child is unacceptable, regardless of race, religion, skin color, etc. I also think that gestures like what the Miami Heat did a couple days ago in wearing hoodies in Martin's honor is one of the rare examples of star athletes putting image aside to support a cause that is dear to their hearts and, for that, guys like LeBron James and Dwayne Wade deserve a fair share of applause(because, we all know, worldwide sponsor whore Michael Jordan would have NEVER done that and I refuse to believe otherwise). My issue is the idea of justice. What exactly would be suitable justice for Zimmerman for all those out there who are clamoring for it? Let's say police arrest Zimmerman and he does life for murder....does that make what happened satisfactory? How about if someone decides to take the law into their own hands, A Time To Kill style, and murders Zimmerman the way he murdered Martin.....will that bring closure to Martin's family? Will that end all this outrage? Of course it won't.

That's my other issue here. Americans want to storm Twitter and Facebook and message boards and newspapers and cry for justice.....without any clear cut demand for what justice would entail. If all it would take for harmony is Zimmerman behind bars, then I imagine that the social pressure would have lead to his arrest by now. However, I refuse to believe we, as American human beings, are that simple. This is a nation that has always eradicated its issues through violence and the seeking of blood. We wanted to retaliate after 9/11 by going into the Middle East and kicking up dust. Many took to the streets and rioted after the Rodney King verdict. We aren't a "Let's talk this out" kind of folk. The irony of the UNITED States of America is that we aren't really UNITED on anything. We can't come to a consensus on who should pay what on taxes, a fair health care plan, good music, what's suitable television, race, religion, fashion, even sports teams. So, it doesn't surprise me that some people view this incident as racially motivated and some view it as self defense. There was a movement on Twitter called "The Trayvon Martin Foundation" whose core ideals is to help counteract racism with racial education. Really? Is that all it takes to end racism, just throwing some money at a problem and having a few seminars? Because I'd like to think we would have crossed that bridge by now. If all it took to end racism was $1 a day and some motivational speaking, then I think many athletes would have paid the freight already. Racism is a social cancer. There's no real cure because it's a product of ignorance, another detriment to society that can't be killed. You would like to think that, in 2012 with an African-American running the country for the first time ever, that we would have blurred the lines between white and black by now, but we haven't and, sadly, we never will. Americans have been trying to educate the ignorant on racism for years. They aren't listening.

Will Smith tweeted recently that "We live in America where a girl that threw flour on Kim Kardashian was arrested on site. But the man who KILLED Trayvon Martin is still free." An excellent point....except that the woman who assaulted Kim K did it in front of swarms of paparazzi and security while Martin was shot down in a vacant alley with no cooperating witnesses. It's another murder with an unjust outcome where the killer still roams the streets...you know, like the Biggie murder and the 2Pac murder. Where was the Fresh Prince at then? Why wasn't Mr. Independence Day sounding the horns for justice then? Oh, probably because it wasn't a trending topic on Twitter then. I've mentioned this before and I said it again in the opening paragraph: Americans are fad-jumpers. Less than a month ago, people were all over Facebook and Twitter aboard the "Kony 2012" bandwagon. That was a fun two-week ride, right, America.....but it eventually stopped being hip to post Kony videos on your Wall, so people stopped doing it. Sadly, that's where we're headed here, too. A month from now, you'll hear more about Jonathan Martin than Trayvon Martin. The death of Trayvon Martin, while tragic and a huge black eye on the face of a society that keeps taking two steps forward and one step back when it comes to racial progress, isn't the first example of racial profiling nor the only time a teenager has been killed by gun violence. Remember Ennis Cosby, son of legendary comedian Bill Cosby, who was shot and killed in 1997 by a couple of white kids while trying to fix a flat tire along Interstate 705 in California? Perhaps you heard about Yusef Hawkins, a 16-year old African American boy, who was killed in Brooklyn back in 1989 by a mob of white kids who believed he was dating a white girl?

Yes, both instances lead to arrests. Yes, both murderers were found guilty and sentenced to jail. No, we didn't have Twitter then. Instead, we went about our outrage a different way: We got up and we did something about it. In those days, guys like Al Sharpton, who never met a racially-motivated cause he couldn't exploit in front of TV cameras, marched the streets in protest. You think Will Smith is going to saunter down the streets of Sanford, Florida screaming for Zimmerman to be put behind bars? Of course not. Why should he when he can protest from behind his Twitter page? The beauty of social media is it allows us to shed light on subjects that might go overlooked. These days, news stories fall into one of two categories: under-reported or overhyped to the point people can't shut the fuck up about it. The issues with social media is that they are a haven for the cowardly. Will Smith may very well care about Trayvon Martin's death, but just because he once pretended to be Muhammad Ali doesn't mean he's going to lead the charge as some kind of civil rights activist the way Ali would have had this happened during The Greatest's prime. Will Smith isn't going to take time out of his busy schedule of making tens of millions of dollars in a recession to make boring movies to go parade outside George Zimmerman's house begging him to turn himself in. That doesn't mean Smith doesn't have a right to voice his opinion. It just makes his opinion every bit as empty as the rest of the fad-jumpers in this country who see this Martin slaying as the latest cause du jour.

Say what you will about LeBron James as an athlete but, while relatively mild, his decision to rock a hoodie in Martin's honor was a physical statement. He didn't hide behind his Twitter page and he didn't try to con you into thinking we can end racism with a couple blank checks and spirited speeches. He went out and he DID something, however minor it may have been. Change won't come from behind a computer. If Americans truly want to stand up to defend Martin's honor and take a stand against the racism that has plagued this world for centuries, it's going to take more than a few re-tweets and Facebook statuses. Martin Luther King Jr. once said "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.". He also said "A man who won't die for something is not fit to live."

The choice is yours, America: Are you willing to follow the lead of a vilified athlete and physically take a stand against the social cancer that you have spent so much of your considerable technological means screaming about or will you stand behind your rich Man In Black and wait for the next chic cause to adopt so you can make more witty quips from behind your iPad?

Rocky Mountian Whhhhhhhhhhyyyyyyyy????

Yesterday, we broke down Denver's signing of Peyton Manning from Tim Tebow's perspective(extremely disrespectful) and the Broncos' perspective(extremely risky), but we never stopped to talk about whether Denver was the right move for Manning himself.

Was it?

To get right to the point: No.

A couple weeks ago, I ranked the eight best contenders who had shown interest in Peyton but left off Denver(whom he ended up signing with) because I didn't think Peyton's agents would risk irritating a client within the agency(Tebow) by angling Manning to take his spot. I used the same theory to cross out San Francisco(who was in the final three) because I couldn't see Manning intentionally making life difficult for Alex Smith, another CAA client. Tennessee ended up being the other team in the final three, and I ranked them fourth. However, had I known that Manning would show little concern for his representatives' fellow cash cows, I would have expanded the list to 10 and Denver would have been slightly ahead of the Seahawks in the bottom quarter of the list and San Francisco would have been the unquestioned best spot for Manning.

Before we get into "Why San Francisco?", let me answer "Why not Denver?". Even though it's a division filled with middle-of-the-pack teams, the AFC West is filled with young, hungry middle-of-the-pack teams that are really only a player or two away from making some noise in the postseason. That's why the division race always comes down to the final games of the season. All four teams aren't separated by much. San Diego was a perennial Super Bowl contender for much of this decade before falling off a bit the last couple of years, but they are still a force so long as Philip Rivers is behind center. Oakland was a fun story for much of the year last year after owner Al David died and the team rallied behind his passing and, they too, have a decent QB in Carson Palmer. Kansas City was one of only two teams last year to stop the Green Bay offensive juggernaut and they nearly won the division for the second time in a row despite having nearly every notable player on the IR. Now, they are back and healthy and, even with Manning in the division, I still like the Chiefs as the early favorite in the West. The AFC West may not be top-heavy like the AFC North or the AFC East or even the NFC South, but it's competitive. If the ultimate goal when picking a new team was "What team gives me the best chance at a ring?", how can you pass on a Niners team playing in the worst division in football that was a botched punt return away from the Super Bowl?

Then, there's the issue with the city of Denver itself, namely the weather. For 14 years, Manning played his home games in the friendly confines of a dome. All of those Colts teams had a reputation for being soft, finesse teams. Now, Manning, on the last legs of his career, is going to make another run at a title in one of the coldest cities in America. Let's say Manning delivers in the regular season and Denver notches the top seed and homefield advantage, who do you like in a snowy, smashmouth clash: Denver or Baltimore? Denver or Pittsburgh? Denver or the Jets? Hell, Denver or New England? Manning doesn't have a history of dominating in the cold and it's going to be hard for a 36-year old man to break out the laser rocket arm in 10 below weather with half a foot of fresh powder coming down on him. You know how much it snows in San Francisco or Tennessee? Here's a hint: not much.

From a talent standpoint, Denver was the worst of the final three as well. Even if Manning talks Elway into bringing in his old mates like Dallas Clark and Jeff Saturday, no former Colt can improve that terrible Bronco defense. While Manning has turned tuna into swordfish before in Indy, the days of him putting a team on his back and being a one-man show are nearing the end. The receivers are young and talented but unproven. Demaryius Thomas is the best of a lot that isn't very deep. The running game is in the hands of a washed up Willis McGahee and, as mentioned before, the defense doesn't have much talent beyond a couple aging vets in the secondary and some young pass rushers at defensive end(something Peyton has probably become accustomed to, anyway). This wasn't a team that was a quarterback away from a Super Bowl. No matter how much Elway and John Fox want to blame Tim Tebow for everything in Colorado short of the Columbine shootings, he wasn't the reason this team couldn't get by New England in the divisionals(Ok, he wasn't the MAIN reason).

You know who WAS a quarterback away from being a Super Bowl team? San Francisco, which brings me to why the Niners were a perfect fit. For starters, that division is horrid. Three of the four teams in the NFC West are picking in the top 12 in April's Draft. If the Niners can go 13-3 with Alex Smith at the helm, how good could they be if Manning is healthy and returns to form(albeit a big if)? Second, the Niners spent the offseason revamping an offense that was rather mundane last year. As much of a knucklehead as Randy Moss has been throughout his career, there's no denying he's the best deep threat of our generation and his teams have come within a whisker of hoisting the Lombardi twice('00 with Minnesota, '07 with New England). The team also added Mario Manningham, who was huge on the Giants' game-winning drive in this past Super Bowl. Moss, Manningham, Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis, Frank Gore.....how is that not among the best supporting casts Manning has ever had? Oh, and by the way, the Niners have the league's best defense(statistically, maybe even literally). Tell me again, Peyton, how Denver was the better play. Oh, right, you didn't want to stand in the way of little brother Eli's path to the Super Bowl by joining the NFC, too. I know the Manning brothers have some kind of weird, Brady Bunch/Partridge Family-type kinship, but the fact of the matter is, their paths are going to cross one way or the other in their quest for the Super Bowl. Peyton is 36 and is now having to play catch-up with his little brother. At some point, you have to do what's best for you. By stiff-arming the entire NFC and picking a fledgling candidate like Denver, you wonder if Peyton's ultimate goal was to win a ring for himself.....or his little brother.

Look, time will tell whether the move to Denver will work out. As someone who has spent time in Colorado and also knows the effects of the blistering cold on aching bones, I wonder if going to a cold weather city makes sense for a man with a busted neck. Of course, we're speaking of this entire Broncos-Manning marriage under the best case scenario that Manning can still play. As much as the media wants to take Peyton's return and run with it, let's see how the man responds to taking a hit first. Let's see how much he loves Denver when there's a foot and a half of snow on the ground before he's even able to take his kids trick-or-treating. From a talent standpoint, a healthy Peyton Manning could have ruled the world in San Francisco. In Denver, he'll be lucky to own the West. Peyton Manning said that his new domain would be less about the money and more about winning a Super Bowl, but that seems a bit far-fetched after he turned down a team that was thisclose in the NFC Championship to take a five-year, $96 million deal with a team that struggled to win its own division last year.

Peyton Manning didn't want to stand in the way of his little brother. With this latest mistake, he'll never have to worry about that.

Faith No More

You almost have to wonder what Tim Tebow would have to have done to make believers out of head coach John Fox and VP John Elway. Is turning around a franchise that started off 1-4, clinching a division title and notching a huge upset victory over the defending AFC champions not enough for one to keep their job? In an era where atheism is at its apex, does it not matter that the Crown Prince of Christianity has managed to still emerge as the NFL's most popular athlete?

The Broncos' decision to axe Tebow Time in exchange for making the Rockies "Peyton's Place" is the latest in a string of slights that the former Heisman winner and two-time NCAA champion has had to endure since he bid adieu to Gainesville, Florida. It wasn't enough that everyone watched his every step at the Combine. It wasn't enough that guys like Merrill Hoge took every opportunity to bash the most decorated collegiate athlete of our time. We always had to find some wrench to throw in Tebow's way. It's the kind of chicanery that feeds the legacy of Tim Tebow as America's most beloved underdog: the unappreciated good guy who triumphs no matter the odds. This time, however, this latest debacle feeds into what bloggers and media outlets love to do during news lulls: create conspiracy theories. My take on why Fox and Elway were so desperate to end Tebowmania has been mentioned before but was reinforced when the team was finally able to snag this offseason's biggest free agent fish in Peyton Manning.

For Fox, it's pretty simple. Tebow doesn't fit the mold of the type of conservative quarterback that was not only the lynchpin of Fox's teams in Carolina but also the prototype used by Fox's mentor, Bill Parcells. Tim Tebow didn't evoke memories of Phil Simms or Jake Delhomme. Instead, he was a one of one. A true original. A superb athlete with no real precedent. Tebow was a huge wad of clay and Fox wasn't exactly an architectural expert.

For Elway, the theories that Tebow's overwhelming popularity in Denver was making Elway a bit nervous got a bit more weight with Elway's increasing anxiousness to exile Tebow. After all, we live in a "What have you done for me lately?" world and Elway had just sat back and watched the memory of former rival Brett Favre get washed away in Green Bay in large part because of the success of heir apparent Aaron Rodgers(Although, Favre's three-year "Fuck you, Green Bay!" campaign was just as big a factor). You don't think that, given Tebow's knack for winning and insatiable want to get better, there was a possibility that Tebow could be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy with greater speed than Elway, who was infamous for his postseason failures up until the final two years of his career? You don't think that Elway, one of the great clutch performers of any era, was starting to get scared with every fourth quarter comeback Tebow was putting under his belt? In the social networking society we live in, all it takes is a couple triumphs here and there to turn you into an icon. It doesn't take much to be famous. Don't think for a second that Elway doesn't know. Tim Tebow was the most talked about athlete in an NFL season that saw rookie records shattered and three QB's surpass the once-unfathomable 5,000 passing yard mark.....and that was after putting together a season that was, statistically, average. Imagine if Tebow would have spent the next few seasons committing himself to becoming a more pure passer and started putting together 4,000 yard passing seasons to go along with that bulldozing running style of his. Imagine if Tebow emerged as the bigger, stronger version of the Micheal Vick that Vick was supposed to be in Atlanta. Elway would be shitting his pants in the press box with every pass.

As soon as the season ended, the plot was simple: We need to get rid of Tebow but only if we can get back someone that won't cause a mutiny. Viola! Enter Peyton Manning. The problem with that is obvious. For one, as big a name as Manning is, he isn't going to make everyone forget Tim Tebow unless Broncos fans are every bit as fickle as, say, Knicks fans. Second, you've now given one of the most tireless workers in the league a reason to make you regret giving up on him. This isn't cutting the cord on a fat tub of lard like Albert Haynesworth. Tebow is going to make Denver pay for this. Third, while everyone wants to soak their shorts over doctors' reports and non-contact workouts, the fact remains that we don't know if Manning will still have his fastball when the season opens up in six months. He's 36, coming off three neck surgeries and he hasn't taken a hit in a year and a half. Even the biggest optimist will tell you Manning returning to MVP form isn't a near-certainty. So, in a twist of irony, if this Manning-Tebow swap, which was partially made by Elway out of fear that Tebow would replace him in the hearts of the Denver faithful, goes awry, it will cause a backlash in Denver that will bring along the very vitrial towards the two-time Super Bowl winner that he was so deathly afraid of.

So, Elway's decision is mostly tied to Manning's health, but it's also tied into what Tebow does in his second act in his new locale as well as where that new locale is. Jacksonville has been the rumored destination for Tebow even before he was a Denver Bronco and it makes sense on so many levels. First, Tebow's obviously an icon in Florida and his presence on a team that couldn't sell out a game with a rope and a gun would be huge. Second, the team is in desperate need of a QB. Whether Tebow is a potential elite QB remains to be seen but it goes without saying that he'd be an upgrade over Blaine Gabbert. A Gabbert-for-Tebow trade makes sense because it allows Gabbert to get the tutlege he was never allowed to get in Jacksonville and it also allows Denver to place Tebow on a team with a higher degree of difficulty in terms of biting the Broncos back on the ass. Even though Tebow succeeded with guys like Eddie Royal and Demaryius Thomas as his go-to guys, those guys look like the "Greatest Show On Turf" compared to Tebow's would-be supporting cast in Jacksonville. Miami looked to be another ideal spot for Tebow, but they just signed David Garrard. Granted, a 34-year old QB coming off back surgery isn't exactly a reason to turn down alternative options, but considering Tebow is only on the market because he's being replaced by the scant hopes that a 36-year old with a broken neck can return to MVP form, you'd have to say Tebow-to-the-Dolphins is a bit more of a long shot than initially planned.

It's the latest saga in a string of Tim Tebow-related events that seem almost staged for maximum effect in the hopes that they will someday lead to an ESPN-produced/Channing Tatum-led Tim Tebow movie. It's fitting that the most unconventional quarterback in years was replaced by the man who might be the ideal specimen when looking for a prototypical quarterback. From the minute Tebow lands at his new destination, the fates of Elway, Manning and Tebow will be forever intertwined. For now, Denver's decision to move on from Tebow is the latest in what has been a smattering of disrespect since the new regime came to town. Perhaps it's a great deal of fortune by Tebow that Manning's arrival will finally allow Touchdown Jesus to get the full appreciation he never received by the powers-that-be in Mile High.

The only thing better than good underdog movie......is the inevitable sequel. For Elway and Fox, it's coming to theaters near you very soon.

The Panic Room

There was a stench emanating from Indianapolis a few short weeks ago. It wasn't the smell of burnt rubber off the shoes of Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III after he scorched the Earth with his blazing sub-4.4 40-yard dash(which would mean a lot more to me if he wasn't playing a position that doesn't require a ton of speed. See: Manning, Eli or Brady, Tom). It wasn't the fumes of NFL execs soiling themselves over the inevitable availability of a 36-year old future Hall of Fame QB with a surgically repaired neck.



Instead, the intoxicating aroma of desperation has wafted through the air from numerous locales and has traveled to the great city of St. Louis where Rams head coach and GM Les Snead rubbed their palms and licked their chops over the forthcoming wave of offers from QB-needy teams falling over themselves to move up to St. Louis' coveted #2 overall spot in this April's draft so they can tab Griffin as the face of their franchise. Last night, though, the stench of desperation reeking from Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder was akin to the body odor of a homeless man running the Boston Marathon in 125 degree heat. The Rams took advantage of the Redskins' lust for Griffin the way Jason Russell took advantage of America's need for a chic cause du jour to draw attention to his Joseph Kony documentary.







The Redskins offered up their first and second round picks this year as well as first rounders in 2013 and 2014 to move up four spots(from 6 to 2, for you math wizards) in one of the dumbest trades in recent memory. For starters, football is a team sport. No one player changes the fate of a franchise. Eli Manning just capped off a season where he established himself as one of best, if not THE BEST, QB's in the league......and he'd be nowhere without New York's vaunted pass rush. Robert Griffin III might be a star in the making, but he's no sure thing. As the Falcons found out the hard way this past year(and the Saints found out long before them with the Ricky Williams trade on Draft day), trading a huge package of picks in exchange for one player almost never works. It didn't work for Minnesota in the infamous Hershel Walker trade. It didn't work for Mike Ditka with Ricky Williams and it didn't work for Atlanta last year with Julio Jones.



For this trade not to come out bad for Washington, Griffin is going to have to transform the Redskins instantaneously to keep those two future first-rounders from being so high that they not only become building blocks for an emerging Rams team, but that they don't also become Exhibit A and B for the inevitable "What we could have had if we never traded for RG3" case that Redskins fans will be making in three years. We know why Washington made this deal. They are desperate for a QB, have no shot at signing Peyton Manning and clearly are more willing to bank on the uncertainty of RG3 than the uncertainty of Matt Flynn.



Here's what we also know about Washington: You can make the case they need at least four new starters on the offensive line. They don't have a running back that scares defenses(a point that will be driven home even further as the Redskins pass on Trent Richardson the way they passed on Adrian Peterson for safety LaRon Landry back in 2007.....which is still a sore subject for Redskins fans). Their best wide receiver is Santana Moss, an undersized speedster who would be a #2, at best, on half the teams in the NFL. Their secondary is in shambles, as they are ready to bid farewell to Landry a year after parting ways with cornerback Carlos Rogers. To put it more plainly, the Redskins have a lot of holes. And now, rather than fill those holes through the draft like most smart teams do(Giants, Patriots, Steelers, Packers, etc.), they will tab Griffin as their franchise quarterback and continue with their usual strategy of throwing bags of money at free agents in an attempt to build a winner around RG3 with high-priced mercenaries. Rather than draft a Morris Claiborne, the team will sign Brandon Carr. Instead of having Justin Blackmon, Snyder will pay top dollar for Vincent Jackson. It's a method that has failed this franchise for years from guys like Deion Sanders to Bruce Smith to Antonio Pierce to Adam Archuleta to Albert Haynesworth.







It's easy to look at this deal on paper and chastise it, which is why these several paragraphs will either read as an "I told you so" in four years or as the reason behind the large plate of crow I'll be forced to eat. Still, a team only goes all-in for a franchise guy when that player fills the only gaping hole that stands between them and the Lombardi trophy. How much faith do you have in this Redskins team with Griffin at QB in 2012? If Cam Newton can put together the best statistical season for a rookie QB in the history of the league and still only lead the Panthers(a team with an equal or greater amount of talent when compared to the Redskins, depending on how you feel about either team) to a 6-10 record, what does Griffin have to do to keep this Redskins team above .500 in a much tougher division? On top of that, think about the pressure now being placed on Griffin. It's hard enough for guys picked with the second overall pick to come in and justify their standing, but now Griffin has to keep a front office infamous for its stupidity from looking like even bigger imbeciles. Again, it's still early to pass total judgement on this trade. We don't know where the Rams will be picking when they go on the clock with Washington's picks in '13 and '14. If both picks are in the top 10 or 12, then this trade was a complete failure. If Griffin is the first piece of an epic turnaround, then this trade was a huge coup. I tweeted after the Combine that the team that pushed all of its chips to the middle of the table and traded up for Griffin was either signing their own letter of resignation or launching themselves into the pantheon of the league's great front office execs. This trade will either lead to a lot of hand-wringing or a lot of heads rolling. It's that simple. Time will tell.



The Rams are complete winners in this one, to me, either. Yes, they nabbed a huge load by parlaying all of the Griffin love into the biggest movement of picks since the Walker trade of 1989. They also potentially moved themselves out of range selecting one of the two guys that they desperately needed: USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil and Oklahoma St. Justin Blackmon. Kalil will almost certainly be going to Minnesota with the 3rd overall pick. As for Blackmon? Well, he could still slide to 6th, if he gets by receiver-hungry Cleveland or even Tampa Bay. If both are gone, the Rams will have to talk themselves into someone like Iowa tackle Riley Reiff or maybe even Griffin's college teammate, wideout Kendell Wright, among other candidates. None of which are the best at their position like Kalil and Blackmon are. Time will tell. If the Redskins continue to flop for the next few years, this trade could set the Rams straight long-term but if Griffin proves to be the real deal and Blackmon becomes a star elsewhere, the Rams will have to question whether they moved down a bit too far and whether they should have considered trading with Cleveland instead.



Speaking of Cleveland, they are the big losers here. The Browns offered up the 4th and 22nd picks in this year's draft but were obviously dwarfed by Washington's offer and now find themselves on the outside looking in. They miss out on Griffin, a guy they had the inside track on moving up for and they seem to be long shots to land a marquee free agent QB like Manning or Flynn. At 4th overall, they are way too high to draft Texas A &M QB Ryan Tannenhill(although stranger things have happened) and there won't be an elite prospect after the first three are gone that teams will be salivating to move up for. Flynn also loses here. With Washington out of the running, Flynn has to hope Peyton steers clear of Miami. The Dolphins are the only team that truly makes sense for Flynn because most of the teams that are in the Manning Sweepstakes aren't going to throw away their current starter for Flynn like they are willing to do for Peyton. You think Denver is taking Flynn over Tim Tebow? Nope. You think Houston is going to axe Matt Schaub for Matt Flynn? Doubtful. Is Flynn far and away better than Kevin Kolb for Arizona to make the switch? Not really. Making matters worse, the Jets extended Mark Sanchez for three more years(another foolish move), which takes them out of the running. That leaves Flynn with Cleveland(where QB's go to die), Miami(if they don't get Peyton) or Seattle(which is intriguing, but not as enticing as South Beach) for Aaron Rodgers' heralded backup. Yikes.



Flynn's waiting game, however, is exactly how I would have played it if I'm running the Redskins. There's no way I make this trade before Peyton Manning picks a home. For one, if Manning picks a place with an established starter, that team now has a much cheaper option for me to pilfer. If Manning signs with Houston, I can get Matt Schaub for less than I just dealt to move up for RG3. If Manning chooses Denver, Tebow is suddenly available. I know, I know, you Redskins fans read "Tim Tebow" and start cringing but tell you'd take Rex Grossman or John Beck over Tebow with a straight face. It's not an ideal option, but it's an option. If Manning would've signed with the Jets, I could make a play for Sanchez(again, not ideal, but an upgrade nonetheless). I know what you're thinking: "But what if St. Louis decides to trade the pick to Cleveland?" So be it. At 6th overall, I'm staring at a good corner like Morris Claiborne or a talented back like Trent Richardson. Maybe Justin Blackmon falls to me. I could rebuild my offensive line with a guy like Reiff or Mike Adams out of Ohio State. I have options. Plus, I still have my picks next year and the year after. Next year, we got Matt Barkley coming out. Landry Jones is coming out. Is it a guarantee I'll be picking high enough for those guys? No, but again, I have options. By going all-in for Griffin, I lose all those options. I'm putting a lot of eggs in the basket of a kid whose style has not translated to much success in the NFL for guys who fit his prototype. As great as Griffin's wheels are, they also make him susceptible to injury. Griffin isn't built like Tebow or Newton and he's now playing behind a bad offensive line in a division with three good pass defenses. How do you like the prospects of a 6'2, 220lb guy running for his life to stay healthy for 16 games? Is it worth betting the house for? Griffin missed nearly all of 2009 and 2010 at Baylor because of injuries. He has one great season to his name....and before you reply with "Well, so did Cam Newton!", my response to that is "Would you have traded three first round picks for Newton this time last year?". No. You would not.






At the end of the day, time will tell on this deal. For now, it's a hefty price for a guy who's chances of stardom are somewhere between 49 and 51 percent. Robert Griffin III holds the fate of football in the nation's capital in his hands. He'll enter DC as the savior, the franchise, the man who will turn things around. In a bit of comedic irony, the deal that was made that brought him to Washington could be the chief reason why he fails. Franchises aren't built around one player. Aaron Rodgers needed plays from his defense to win the Super Bowl. Tom Brady needed Adam Vinatieri. Big Ben needed James Harrison. TEAMS win Super Bowls and you can't build for the future if you mortgage it for the present. We knew somebody was going to be desperate enough to pay a king's ransom for St. Louis' pick. The fact that Dan Snyder was the guy who foolishly overplayed his hand was as surprising as Snooki's pregnancy. This trade is a microcosm of how business has been handled under the Snyder era:



Win now....or win never.

Finding Peyton's New Place

Now that the I's have been dotted and the T's have been crossed on the much-anticipated(though people on Twitter and elsewhere still reacted like it was some kind of bombshell discovery) divorce between the Indianapolis Colts and legendary quarterback Peyton Manning, all other sports get the unfortunate privilege of being dwarfed by the courtship of a 36-year old, four-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion signal caller coming off three neck surgeries.

That's right, folks, we are heading straight for Manning-mania, Peyton-palooza, whatever cute little tag you want to throw on this. Everything else gets put on the back burner until the man with the laser rocket arm chooses his suitor like he's some heir to an oil tycoon's millions sifting through bimbos on The Bachelor. All that talk about the inevitable Dwight Howard trade? Take a seat. Baseball spring training? Pump your brakes. March Madness? Slow up, boys. For the next few days, Peyton Manning is the greatest appetizer to the main entree that is free agency that we've seen in quite some time.

So what do we know about Peyton's future? Well, if you're naive, you bought Peyton's "I haven't even thought about where I'm headed" nonsense hook, line and sinker. Manning's a cerebral assassin, and when the Colts went in the tank for Andrew Luck, you know he was making plans to start penning his final chapter in a different locale. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Manning's people have been contacted by 12 teams already. The first seven we've known for a while: Arizona, Seattle, Miami, the New York Jets, Washington, Kansas City and, surprisingly, Denver(despite the 2011 season being non-stop Tebow Time). The other five are unknown but if I had to take a stab, my guesses would be Cleveland, Tennessee, San Francisco, Houston and Jacksonville(Initially, I thought Dallas would be a surprise entry, but they've pledged their allegiance to the human Heimlich that is Tony Romo).

To get a better feel for where Peyton's going, one must weigh the pros and cons. One must also eliminate the contenders with no shot. Cleveland is the front runner to make a play for the #2 overall pick and select Baylor Heisman Trophy winning QB Robert Griffin III. They are also a few pieces away from contending, so they are out. Jacksonville might be in worse shape offensively than Cleveland, so they are out. As entertaining as Denver's candidacy is, ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio raised an excellent point a few days ago. Manning isn't going to a spot where the current starting QB is repped by the same agency that reps Manning. Peyton's reps, CAA, also rep Tim Tebow and there's no way CAA(namely Tebow's agent, Jimmy Sexton) risks losing a cash cow like Tebow by infuriating Touchdown Jesus after pitting him against the greatest QB of our generation in a competition for the Broncos starting gig. Manning's also smart enough to know how rabid Broncos fans are when it comes for their love for Tebow and he'd be foolish to try to compete for their love. So, Denver, is out as well. Eventhough they are the best fit of the 12 teams, San Francisco is out for the same reason as Denver. Last year's starter and current free agent, Alex Smith, is also repped by CAA and, while the presence of Manning certainly makes the Niners the favorite in the NFC(if he's healthy), Manning and his people know the only real suitor for Smith is San Francisco and aren't going to selfishly push him out so you can X the Niners out as well.

As foolish as I find Houston's alleged interest in #18 to be, I can't quite rule them out yet. Matt Schaub has proven to be every bit as injury-prone as he is productive and he's in the final year of his deal. The Texans proved that they were an efficient and healthy QB away from making even more noise in the AFC last year. We know Manning is the former, but if he proves to be the latter as well, it would be hard for the Texans to say no with Schaub such a risk to play a full 16. By signing Manning, Houston can then move Schaub in a relatively shallow QB market and get something decent in return for a fragile QB in his prime. A team like Washington, which might not have a chance at Manning and is a little gun-shy about pulling the trigger on an uncertain product like Griffin or even Packers backup Matt Flynn might go with a more proven commodity in Schaub(who played his college ball in nearby UVA). The risk, obviously, is that you're throwing away a 30-year old QB who helped turn around your franchise for a 36-year old replacement who hasn't thrown a pass in an NFL game since January 2011. Schaub might not be durable but he's also not coming off three neck surgeries.

That dwindles our field of 12 down to 8. So, without further ado, I'm going to rank the remaining candidates(bottom to top, for suspense purposes) and weigh the pros and cons. Keep in mind that these are the teams that I think have a likely shot at Manning and are the best fit, not necessarily where I think he lands(honestly, I think he ends up in Miami, but who knows?)

8. Washington Redskins

The good: There isn't much to like but it's necessary to get these guys out of the way. If you're looking for positives here, there's the fact that Manning will be coached by a two-time Super Bowl winner in Mike Shanahan. He'll also have a decent defense and a proven running system to help balance things out. By locking down Manning, the Redskins can move on from looking at QB with their first round pick, and use #6 overall to fill another need, be it LSU corner Morris Claiborne, 'Bama RB Trent Richardson, Iowa OT Riley Reiff or Oklahoma St. wideout Justin Blackmon(if available). Washington is also a given to be players on the free agent market and, with some legit salary cap space, the Redskins could add some pieces to go with their win-now movement.

The bad: Well, for starters, the team's won 15 games in three years. They don't have a true workhorse back or a proven weapon to be on the receiving end of Manning's missiles(despite the fact they insisted upon franchise-tagging TE Fred Davis). Sure, they could fill both of those holes in the draft and free agency, but why take that chance? Speaking of taking chances, why would a immobile QB coming off three neck surgeries play behind THAT offensive line....with three of the best pass rushes in the game in the same division? The Redskins allowed 41 sacks last season and are expected to bid adieu to OT Jamaal Brown. If that isn't enough to lack hope in Mr. Manning coming to Washington, there's this killshot: Peyton has made it known that he's reluctant to come to the NFC because he doesn't want to stand in his little brother's way of the Super Bowl. So, if Peyton is hesitant to join, say, Arizona or Seattle(which are more enticing than DC) because he doesn't want to block Eli, why would he go to the same division as his little brother(not to mention, a team that's won two Super Bowls in five years)?

7. Seattle Seahawks

The good: Seattle has went hard in the draft to rebuild their offensive line the last two years, using first and second rounders on lineman the last two years. At the tail end of the season, it looked like the line was materializing as the youngsters got healthy. The Seahawks also made the best move in free agency so far by locking down workhorse back Marshawn Lynch. Lynch would represent the best back Manning has played with since Edgerrin James in his prime. Seattle also has one of the best homefield advantages in football with one of the best, state-of-the-art stadiums in Qwest Field. Another plus for Manning to come to the Home of Grunge? The NFC West sucks. If the Niners could go 13-3 with Alex Smith, imagine what Seattle, who won the division two years ago at 7-9, could do with a healthy Manning.

The bad: The defense is a bit of a question mark. The team cut oft-injured Pro Bowl corner Marcus Trufant and don't seem to be in any rush to sign tackling machine LB David Hawthorne either. That leaves DE Chris Clemons(11 sacks) and FS Earl Thomas as the only real gems on the defense. Manning also wouldn't have much to throw to beyond TE Zach Miller. Fellow TE John Carlson missed all of last season. WR Sidney Rice hasn't been able to stay healthy for two straight seasons and guys like Mike Willams and Golden Tate are #3 types at best. Also, while clearly a wrecking ball when he has his head on straight, Lynch is still sort of a wild card and I'm not sold on head coach Pete Carroll's prospects in the NFL.

6. New York Jets

The good: A very good defense, even if they underwhelmed last season, has been Gang Green's calling card. If New York managed to make two AFC Championships in three years, you'd like to think they could get over the hump with a healthy Manning. If LaDainian Tomlinson decides to give it another go, Manning's presence opens things up for LT and fellow back Shonn Greene and gives the Jets the offensive balance Mark Sanchez couldn't provide. From a fan standpoint, we would get the always overhyped Brady-Manning clashes twice a year and Manning gets to further stick to his rival by leading Brady's chief competition within the division.

The bad: To put it plainly, this team is a group of knuckleheads. Plaxico Burress is old and rusty coming off nearly three years in the joint and that was evident in his first year back last season. Santonio Holmes is a proven headcase who quit on the team when they needed him the most late last year and those two would be Peyton's top targets. Seriously. Plus, do you really see a situation where Manning and Rex Ryan co-exist given Rex's oversized mouth? I don't. There's also the pressure of New York as well as competing in the same city as the little brother Peyton has made it so clear he wants to protect. We've seen this story four years ago when Brett Favre came to town and, while I think Peyton will resist the urge to send dick pics to the ladies on staff, I think he'll also resist the urge of the Big Apple as well.

5. Arizona Cardinals

The good: Manning gets to play pitch-and-catch with the best wideout in the game. Manning-to-Larry Fitzgerald will make highlight shows drool and fantasy football players spontaneously ejaculate. Arizona also has an above average running game with Beanie Wells and a solid head coach in Ken Whisenhunt. Plus, as with Seattle, Manning benefits from playing in a laughingstock of a division like the NFC West. If the Cardinals could still remain competitive with the shit sandwich that was Kevin Kolb and John Skelton, it goes without saying that Manning makes them more formidable.

The bad: The defense is terrible!(Side note: This is why I loved Manning in San Francisco. The Niners are the only team that plays defense in the NFC West and they play it as good as anyone else in the league. If Manning can entice a good free agent wideout or two to San Francisco, the Niners would run away with the NFC....even ahead of New York and Green Bay. Once again, though, Alex Smith stands in the way of the Niners' title hopes. Stupid Alex Smith.). Since losing guys like Karlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the last couple offseasons, the Cardinals have tried to retool through the draft and free agency with a couple hits(last year's first rounder Patrick Peterson) and misses(the Joey Porter experiment). The Cardinals have guys like DE Darnell Dockett to apply some pressure and Manning commandeering the offense means the Cards will have the upper hand in most shootouts but I don't think that's a risk worth taking for a guy who wants a sure thing in terms of Super Bowl contention.

4. Tennessee Titans

The good: The Titans are the unnamed team not getting much buzz as a potential landing spot for Peyton. For one, they have the best running back in the league in CJ2K, Chris Johnson and a good tag team of receivers in Kenny Britt and Nate Washington. The Titans also have a solid offensive line and the defense is coming along thanks to some nice drafting. Tennessee is also where Manning played his college ball so what better way to close out a career than going back to where it all started. The Titans currently have Matt Hasselbeck and heir apparent Jake Locker on the roster but you have to think, if Houston is willing to jettison Schaub for Manning, the Titans would be willing to axe Matty H for Peyton as well.

The bad: The biggest reason to cross off Tennessee is the Favre factor. Unlike Favre, I don't see Manning relishing in the idea of going into Lucas Oil Stadium and throttling his former team and their new franchise face. You saw how Manning welled-up during his farewell press conference. Does that sound like a guy willing to play with a vendetta? There's also the presence of Locker. Manning wants to go somewhere, kick ass and win Super Bowls. He doesn't want to babysit. Locker's ready to take over this team right now. He's not going to want to keep sitting around waiting for Father Time to finally tell Peyton to kick rocks. Speaking of babysit, does Manning really want to keep chasing after Britt and keep him in check? I doubt it.

3. Houston Texans

The good: They are Peyton's best chance at winning another ring. They have a star in the making in RB Arian Foster, a top 3 wideout in Andre Johnson, a stellar defense and a rock solid offensive line. Also, as the defending AFC South champs, the Texans are already good enough to make the playoffs on their own, which means Manning not only takes them to the next level but, by joining them, removes the threat of having to go through them elsewhere. The only thing that derailed Houston last year was injuries and if Manning stays healthy and they can get something of worth for Schaub, then the Texans become AFC favorites instantaneously.

The bad: Again, the Favre Factor is in play. Playing for the Titans is at least somewhat understandable because of Manning's history with the Vols, but coming back into Indy as a member of the Colts' biggest divisional rival? Well, that's a huge kick in the balls. Also, for all their talent, Houston is the poster child for not being able to get over the hump. Sure, last season could be chalked up to bad luck with injuries but it seems to always be something with this team. One year it was the running game, then the pass defense, now injuries. The Texans were a cute story because they came out of nowhere and developed into legit contenders. With Manning, they become favorites with a bulls eye on their backs. Ask Philadelphia how that kind of pressure ends up working out for you.

2. Miami Dolphins

The good: Miami gets the nod over Houston, despite the lack of talent, because they would be the most likely to land Manning's tag team partner Reggie Wayne. Wayne played his college call as a member of The U and nobody seems more willing to take their talents to South Beach than this former Hurricane. Even if Miami can't get Wayne, the Dolphins still have Brandon Marshall and a slew of young receivers with upside in Davone Bess and Brian Hartline. The Dolphins also have the best left tackle in football in former #1 pick Jake Long, meaning Manning's blind side is covered so long as Big Jake is healthy. Manning would also have a budding running game in Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas. Bush resurrected his career with his first 1,000 yard season and showed flashes of the every-down back that experts thought he would be when they praised him as "the next Gale Sayers" coming out of USC. Thomas is, at the very least, a good fallback option if injuries continue to slow Reggie down. The Dolphins also have a very good defense and Manning will enjoy the glorious weather that comes with playing your home games in South Florida(Those December road games in Buffalo, New Jersey and New England are gonna be a bitch though.)

The bad: For starters, Marshall is a bit of a loose cannon and, while Bush and Thomas have potential, neither are proven. Also unproven is new head coach Joe Philbin, who rose to glory as the offensive coordinator of the vaunted Packers' air attack, but has never been a head coach at any level. Granted, that didn't stop Manning from making the Super Bowl with Jim Caldwell, but it might be a red flag(Then again, the only real proven coach of the eight suitors is Shanahan and he's at the bottom of this list. You could also make the case for Whisenhunt, but the Cards are no shoe-in to land Peyton either). There's also the issue of having to go through New York and New England in the division. Sure, Manning's played in the AFC East before the divisions were realigned but Manning might find this road to the Super Bowl not worth the trouble. That being said, I still think Miami is Manning's most likely landing spot, just not the best fit.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

The good: They possess one of the league's best rushing attacks and get one of the game's best dual-threat backs in Jammal Charles back from injury. Whether Jackie Battle or Thomas Jones or whomever joins Charles in the backfield remains to be seen, but Kansas City has proven they can run the ball. They also have a steady crew of receivers from recently-franchised Dwayne Bowe to veteran Steve Breaston to last year's top pick Jon Baldwin. TE Tony Moeaki also comes back from injury and we've seen Manning make productive playmakers out of guys less talented than Moeaki(Looking at you, Ken Dilger!). The defense also came on strong once Romeo Crennel took over for Todd Haley as head coach. Making the defense more stout is the return of FS Eric Berry and free agent signee Stanford Routt. Berry and Stout add to a defense that already has guys like pass-rushing phenom Tamba Hali and lockdown corner Brandon Flowers on the roster. Kansas City also has a great home crowd at Arrowhead Stadium, which is why their November/December record at home speaks for itself. The kicker for Manning, however, is the division. The AFC West makes the NFC West look like the NFC South. With half their stars on injured reserve, the Chiefs still nearly won the division last year after winning it the year before with Matt Cassel running the show. How much faith do you put in a Chargers team in a lame duck Norv Turner year, the Tebow Time Broncos or the Carson Palmer Raiders' chances of topping a Manning-led Chiefs team?

The bad: The offensive line is a bit iffy and the Chiefs are really going to have to hit that area hard in the draft and free agency. There's also the issue of Crennel in his second run as a head coach. Sure, Romeo did well as the interim guy last year and he was huge in leading Kansas City to a big upset over the then-undefeated Packers but was that a sign that Crennel is the real deal or were the players just responding to the fact that the coach they hated was gone? We don't really know. What we do know is Crennel bombed as the lead dog in Cleveland(granted, Cleveland is where stars go to die, but nonetheless, he failed miserably) so it's hard to have too much confidence when expectations will be raised by signing Manning.

At the end of the day, there's no real optimal situations for Peyton Manning. Houston presents the best chance at obtaining what Manning ultimately wants: a Super Bowl ring. But that comes at the expense of having spend the rest of his career going back into the house he built and ripping out the hearts of the very fans who cheered him on for 14 years. Every team comes with a catch, whether it be a lacking defense or an unproven coach or having to compete with his little brother. Inevitably, it comes down to how many red flags Peyton can stomach. He wants to stay in the AFC but he wants to avoid rubbing salt in the wounds of Colts fans. If he avoids smiting Colts fans, he risks going head-to-head with his little brother.

The whole situation might be a lose-lose and that's before we get to the even bigger question: Can Peyton even still play? As much as the social media networks and hype machines like ESPN want to build up Peyton's second act, it can't be ignored that we haven't seen the man throw a football in nearly 14 months. For all we know, Manning's second coming could look more like Joe Namath with the Rams than Favre's first year with the Vikings or Montana's stint with the Chiefs. That's why I suggested he retire a couple months ago. That ship, however, has sailed. In the coming weeks, we will find out where Peyton Manning: The Sequel will be filmed, but will it be a true underdog story or an absolute nightmare?

They're No Saints

In the coming days, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will once again lay the hammer down, as was once his M.O. when he first started out as Paul Tagliabue's replacement as the gridiron boss. The target this time around is the New Orleans Saints, namely 22 of the 29 members of their defense whom league offices have concluded after an intense investigation were involved in a special "bonus" program that rewarded players for knocking opponents out of the game or even causing serious injury to opposing players.



This special reward program, as you may assume, violates the NFL's policies on bounties and the punishment that is expected to be handed down to Saints defenders as well as former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams(now with the Rams) and the team itself is expected to make the SpyGate sentence dealt to New England a few years ago look like a slap on the wrist. Fines, suspensions, loss of draft picks.....any combination of those and even more likely all of the above is expected to be levied on the boys from N'awlins for three years worth of head-hunting.







The penalty will most certainly send a message and set a precedent, but if it's a P.R. battle Goodell is expecting to win by coming down hard on the Saints....well, good luck with that. Don't get me wrong: What the Saints did was wrong and justice needs to be served and, knowing Goodell, it most certainly will. However, while you'll get no opposition from even the most jaded fans that taking the field with the intent to injure your opponent for the sole reward of a few extra bucks in your pocket is classless and unacceptable, Goodell is going to find it's going to be an uphill battle getting all of NFL's fan nation to be on his side in this one.







Roger Goodell has bent over backwards to uphold the safety of the players he is employed to look out for. The problem with that is his caution has divided fans into two sides: Those that are willing to accept the changes to the game if it means less long-term injuries to the men we pay good money to see and whose talents hold the keys to our team's success and those that feel Goodell has somehow ripped the spine out of the smashmouth way of play that this game was built on. It's no coincidence offensive numbers have skyrocketed over the last few years since Goodell has implemented stricter rules on the way defenders hit their offensive counterparts. Over the years, we've seen defensive ends back off wrap tackles on quarterbacks out of fear of phantom roughing calls. We've seen defensive backs be less physical with receivers coming off the line and we've seen linebackers and safeties get a bit timid when faced with the opportunity to pop someone going the middle.




There's a reason why guys who lay the wood on opponents like Pittsburgh's James Harrison, Baltimore's Ray Lewis and San Fran's Donte Whitner are so revered by fans. Those men represent the hard-hitting, old-school way of defending those hashmarks. Evolution has made it so checks and balances have to be put in place to keep 240-pound linebackers that run a 4.4 40 from killing their equally athletic rivals. Still, Goodell's approach in recent years is more an example of cutting off your nose to spite your face than something that will be universally accepted as good for the game. After all, last season so many a player take that vaunted cart ride to the infirmary, whether it be guys like Adrian Peterson or Jason Campbell. You can attribute that to the lockout robbing folks of proper conditioning but these are well-conditioned athletes at the end of the day that are paid to stay in good shape.






Goodell's philosophy on how defenders should hit has made life harder for the guys who are paid to stop opposing offenses in their tracks and, conversely, has turned even the most measly of aerial attacks into "The Greatest Show On Turf". Need an example? This past year's Super Bowl featured a Patriots team that was near the bottom in every major defensive category playing a Giants team that ranked dead-last defending the run. New York topped New England because the one thing they do well(rush the passer) was better than the one thing the Pats do well(throw the ball). The Packers went 15-1 with a defense that closely resembled a JV scrimmage. You had three quarterbacks throw for 5,000 yards last year(Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Matt Stafford) and another come within a couple hundred yards of joining them(Eli Manning). Before this season, one man threw for 5,000 yards in a season....and he held the record for most yards in a single season(Dan Marino). When the smoke cleared on the 2011 regular season, Marino's seemingly-unbreakable record was broken....twice.....in the same season. You had a rookie QB with no training camp coming out of an option-heavy offense throw for 4,000 yards and break the rookie season record for passing yards that was set by arguably the greatest passer of our generation. Thanks to Roger Goodell, Cam Newton and Peyton Manning are going to be mentioned in the same breath(and that's not me taking anything away from Cam, but think of how many traditional, pro-ready QB's have come into this league since 1998 and they were all bested by a guy who ran the same offense at Auburn, give or take, that Tim Tebow ran this past season).




What does this have to do with the Saints? Well, nothing. What the Saints did was take Goodell's crackdown on player safety to an extreme and they deserve every last penalty they get. But if Goodell is looking for a nation full of hand-wringing after he lowers the boom on New Orleans, he's going to be disappointed. In protecting the players, Goodell transformed football into two-hand touch. Injuries and hard hits are a part of the game. Yes, malicious intent has no business on the football field but sometimes when you try your hardest to make things safe, you do more harm than good. I don't know whether the Saints' "bounty system" was an act of defiance to try an rebel against Goodell's sissy-fying the game of football, but it wouldn't surprise me if there are few people out there who read about what the Saints were attempting and grin from ear to ear(I, personally, found the "bounty" on Brett Favre in the 2009 NFC Championship amusing. Although I'll confess I'd be livid if one of the Saints deliberately tried to take out Aaron Rodgers in the 2011 opener. I guess you can't have it both ways). It's the way of the world. Some people watch hockey to see Sid The Kid score a hat trick. Some watch it to see two guys slug it out in the middle of the ice. Some football fans live for the fantasy points and the touchdowns. Some want to see a wideout's head get taken off. You can't please everybody. Watch tapes of Ditka's Bears or the old Steel Curtain.....those were teams that prided themselves on setting the tone by using brute force and intimidation to beat opponents. Try telling Ronnie Lott it's not OK to go out and injure people for money. Offenses light up the scoreboard because they play the game without fear. Tom Brady knows that some posturing to the ref after a defender comes too close to his knees will get him the flag he wants. Andre Johnson knows a little contact when the ball's in the air gets him a pass interference call 9 times out of 10. You can't have offensive players scared someone's gunning for your head. You also can't have defenders scared to do their job. There's a middle ground between both issues. It's paper-thin but it exists.



At the end of the day, the Saints went overboard and what happens to them will set the bar for any other team that wants to put prices on the heads of the NFL's golden boys(although a bigger issue going forward is going to be identifying malicious intent. Defenders are paid to hit. How can one differentiate what hits are meant to stop the ballcarrier from those that are intended to put guys on a stretcher?) but I'm not willing to make the Saints out to be villains just yet. Defenders are paid to hit, intimidate and do what they can to impinge offenses from having field days out there. They aren't paid to intentionally cause harm. That's where the line needs to be drawn. In an attempt to protect the players, Roger Goodell made the game more entertaining while also thumbing its nose at its roots. You can't be surprised that some people aren't on board with that.