Football Females

And That's a Wrap

2009-02-02T15:17:00.000-08:00

Well ladies, the 2008 season has come to a close with the Pittsburgh Steelers pulling out a spectacular win over the Arizona Cardinals. They have now entered the history books as the first team to win six Super Bowls. Did I think they'd win? Yes. Am I happy? Not really. I was really hoping the Cardinals would be able to stun the football world even more than they already had by taking down the Steelers but it wasn't meant to be. The first half of the game was thrilling/disappointing depending on who you were rooting for. Regardless, James Harrison's interception on the one yard line for a 100-yard return/touchdown was fantastic (at this point, I knew it was going to come back to haunt the Cards at the end)! The Steelers were definitely dominating even though the Cardinals defense held them in check. But the second half...now that was a game! Kurt Warner was on fire and the defense continued to hold the Steelers at bay. Where was Larry Fitzgerald in the first half???? The guy can catch anything within a six foot radius surrounded by a bazillion defenders! So once Kurt started taking chances, the magic happened. But then the all-too-familiar meltdown proved itself once again. When teams are winning toward the end of a game, they tend to go into this "prevent" defense - or as my dad calls it, the "prevent you from winning" defense - where they back off the rush and try to fill up the secondary. Why fix something that ain't broke? Pressuring Roethlisberger was working! Why would they change up the defense when they needed it the most??? So sure enough, Big Ben had all day to throw with a dangerous Santonio Holmes running around (covered or not) and BAM! Game Over. Yes, this game really got exciting! If you were one of the many spectators who left mid-third quarter because you thought it would be a blowout, you missed a show! But was it up there with last year's spectacle? I don't think so. Pretty much everyone had their money on the Steelers to win even though they were looking forward to a Cinderella happy ending. But come on, you have to admit hearing the ginormous thud from the Patriots' fall back to earth after the Giants chopped them off at the knees was so much sweeter. Well, as I said before, it's any given season. So who will be next season's Cinderella team? Who will be the next Goliath? All I know is that it's roughly 212 days to kickoff!

Odds and Ends

2009-01-20T21:04:00.000-08:00

So I've got a few odds and ends to comment on today. I know this isn't a political blog, but I must say Congratulations to President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and the First Daughters, Malia and Sasha!!! What a wonderful inauguration event. I was glued to the television all day! But now we're back to reality so I wish our new president the best of luck. I know he's the right man at the right time. And now on to football:) Conference Championship Games I'm bummed that the Eagles didn't win but I'm so excited for the Arizona Cardinals making it to the Super Bowl for the first time. They played an awesome, mistake-free game. The Eagles on the other hand came up short in part by some questionable play by Donovan McNabb. There were so many missed opportunities and at least six valuable points left on that field. Yes, I know I said I was going to root for the NFC West, but I just couldn't bring myself to go against the Eagles. Maybe I should have. The Ravens-Steelers game went just how I thought - extremely boring because of two powerful defenses. I had a feeling the Steelers would hang in until the end, mainly since they're the only favored team that has one a game in the playoffs. The Ravens put up a fantastic fight though and this game could have gone either way. Super Bowl So now on to the Super Bowl. The Pittsburg Steelers vs. the Arizona Cardinals. Who would have thought? We already knew that there were some newcomers in the playoffs but even I didn't believe the Cards were going to make it this far. This will be an exciting Super Bowl! My gut reaction would say the Steelers will get their sixth ring, but you can't count the Cardinals out. We might have another upset for the second year in a row? Which is bigger-the Giants knocking of the perfect Patriots or the Cardinals surprising everyone with a first time win? Under Armour Senior Bowl Just a little tip. Not sure how many of you follow college football as well or check out the Scouting Combine and NFL Draft, but I recommend watching the Senior Bowl this Saturday on the NFL Network. The Senior Bowl is played by the top seniors in the country every year on the Saturday before the Super Bowl. The cool thing is that the teams - the North Team and the South Team - are coached by NFL coaching staff. This year the North is being coached by the Cincinnati Bengals and the South is being coached by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The NFL Network broadcasts the practices during the week with some of the coaches wired so that you can see and hear their coaching styles and techniques. It's really quite insightful and sometimes explains why some teams are better than others. You also get a great look at the seniors that will be participating in the draft and combine that you don't get from watching a game - looks that are clearly reliable since all the GMs, coaches and scouts are there making their draft lists too. Check it out!

Any Given Season

2009-01-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

OK, I don't know what the rest of you think, but this has to have been one of the most exciting football seasons in a long time! The dominant teams either got off to bad starts or finished in the dump. The assumed favorites were nowhere to be found by the playoffs. The Miami Dolphins went from last in the league to first in their division with a wildcard spot. And now, only one top seed team will be playing in the league championships - the Pittsburg Steelers at #2! So this season goes to show you that on any given Sunday any team can win...and in any given season the underdog lives. From crucial injuries early (Tom Brady, Shawne Merriman, Tony Romo, the entire Seattle Seahawks team), to ongoing legal foolishness (Pacman Jones, Plaxico Burress, Chris Henry), the 2008-2009 season has given teams a fair share of obstacles to overcome. The Jets, who put their hopes and dreams of a Super Bowl appearance on the shoulders of Brett Favre, unfortunately saw the season slip away down the stretch. The Dallas Cowboys will be headed back to the drawing board to try to figure out why a team with so much talent spontaneously combusted one game away from the playoffs (the answer in a word...DRAMA). The San Diego Chargers got off to another slooooow start, still got into the playoffs, but came up short once again. But on the positive side, the Arizona Cardinals are hosting their first conference championship game and are one step away from making their first Super Bowl appearance in team history! Joe Flacco (who should have one Rookie of the Year over Matt Ryan) is taking the Baltimore Ravens to the AFC Conference Championships in his first year in the NFL! Well thank you NFL for giving us a truly exciting season. Just what we needed to take us away from all the doom and gloom we hear in the news everyday. And now on to another round where any team can win. Frankly, I'm not even trying to predict this one. I have my favorites but as the rest of the post season has gone...it's truly Any Given Sunday.

And the Drama Begins...

2008-12-29T14:06:00.000-08:00

Well the usual post season fallout has begun with the firing of three head coaches and the annoyingly persistent question of Brett Favre's retirement. The Browns' Romeo Crennel, the Lions' Rod Marinelli and the Jets' Eric Mangini all received their pink slips today with no real surprise. Crennel and Marinelli are no-brainers, but I was a little surprised with the firing of Mangini since I don't think their downfall was all on him. He was not the one that threw three interceptions and I'm sure he wasn't solely behind the off-season spending spree that everyone had expected would get them to the Super Bowl. However, apparently Mangini's coaching style is a sore topic among players, as well as the team's effort to mold everything around #4. I guess the only problem I have with this decision is that same ol' excuse owners give for why they fired their coach..."we're going in a different direction." And what direction would that be??? Ummm, how about winning? According to Jets owner Woody Johnson, this was a decision they had been chewing on throughout the season. Really Woody? You mean, when you all were sitting around in the off-season coming off a 4-12 record and decided to buy your way into the Super Bowl by paying for all this fantastic talent and then figured you'd guaranteed the win in Tampa Bay by signing Brett Favre, was that when you thought of going in a different direction? Or was it when you got off to a phenomenal 8-3 start with Favre having one of his best games ever throwing for six touchdowns in Arizona? No, Woody, I'd be willing to bet this didn't come up until you went 1-4 badly over the last five weeks. Frankly, if you look back on all the teams' records after they fire their head coaches a day after Week 17 is in the bag, and their reason is "because they want to go in a different direction," I'm guessing that's code word for "we're pissed, you're outta here!" As I mentioned before, Crennel and Merinelli were obvious. Merinelli said it himself - "You can't go 0-16 and expect to keep your job." But you can always tell when a team's ownership is just pissed because they just realized that they're not as good as they thought they were and they're probably embarrassed. Oh well, hopefully they'll be going in the right direction this time. But yes, that question still remains - will the new direction include Brett Favre? Well the Jets don't think he was the problem (hmmmm, 22 interceptions?) and they really want him to stay. Personally I don't think they want to admit they made a mistake putting so much on the Brett Favre band wagon. But believe it or not, I think we've finally seen the last of Favre - although he still wants to drag it out. I think he's finally realizing that even though he still has the passion and drive for the game, he doesn't have the body. I'm really disappointed that he didn't realize this last year because, for me at least, his reputation has really been tarnished by the long drama that played out in the off-season and the dismal end to this promising season. And just to top it off, he didn't even go shake Chad Pennington's hand after the game! How classic for the quarterback who literally got kicked off the team because Favre had something to prove and then got the sweetest payback by beating him and taking his team (after a 1-15 season) to the playoffs! But Favre, I won't go as far as saying you're "old, washed up, and gray." You've given us 18 years of spectacular football and we'll never forget it. You're guaranteed a place in the Hall of Fame for all to see. It's really not worth another couple seasons full of pressure and pain for...well, what? So it's only been one day. We've got eight more months until the start of the 2009 season that I'm sure will be filled with more drama. I'll be sure to keep putting in my .02 cents:)

We Made It!

2008-12-28T19:10:00.000-08:00

Week 17 is over! Well the Broncos-Chargers game is still on but close enough. All I can say is "we made it!" I say that for a few reasons:

The 49ers won an AWESOME game!
The 49ers hired Mike Singletary!
The Eagles beat the Cowboys and made it to the playoffs!

So all in all, this was a great ending to a long, exciting regular season for me. Now on to an exciting post season. The cool thing is that it's really going to be hard to call who goes to the Super Bowl - especially after the favorites, the Patriots and the Cowboys, have been knocked out of the playoffs altogether and the Giants aren't very strong going into the post season. On a side note - not sure it was very smart for the Giants to rest their starters. That tends to be a death sentence in the playoffs.

I'm really disappointed they didn't show the Eagles-Cowboys game here. Although, not really sure you can call it a game with a score of 44-6. But still, I would have loved to have seen how this game completely unravelled. I'm shocked that the Cowboys did so poorly. I know they haven't been playing their best, but NO touchdowns???

I went to today's Niners-Redskins game and it was fantastic! We're really starting to notice a huge difference since Singletary took over. So it was wonderful to start the game knowing Jed York had been promoted to team president, coming out with a huge win at home and then finishing with Singletary being announced as the head coach. I kind of equate Singletary to Coach Dungy in that he's so successful because of the character he brings to the organization overall. Although it sure helps that he's a Hall of Fame linebacker with a great work ethic (Dungy actually played one season with the Niners as well).

So a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks and the 2009 season as well. We haven't gotten off the roller coaster yet:)

The Surprises

2008-12-26T14:08:00.000-08:00

So after Week 14, the playoff spots were still very much up in the air. Now, heading into Week 17 - the last week of the season - we still have some spots being fought over. We can pretty much throw my predictions out the window, along with the predictions that the experts made at the beginning of the season (now I don't feel so bad:) ). But what's really exciting is the teams that have earned spots or are still in the hunt. Predictions aside, some of the teams that got off to terrible (and sometimes surprising) starts are now in the playoffs. First, my absolute favorite surprise, the Miami Dolphins. I am so happy for this team who went from a 1-15 record last season to 10-5 this season. That's incredible!!!! Next we have the San Diego Chargers that were at 4-8 and then won their last three games for a 7-8 record going into Week 17. How can they get in with an 8-8 record you ask? Trust me, I asked too:) Well, if the Chargers beat the Denver Broncos (8-7), they'd be tied at 8-8, but the Chargers would have the better conference record. Unbelievable!!! Lastly, I have to say the Atlanta Falcons have improved drastically. They went from 4-12 last season (and a whole lot of foolishness with the Michael Vick fiasco) to 10-5 and a playoff spot. That's fantastic!!! So on to Week 17! I'm so excited to see how this is all going to work out! Happy Holidays everyone!!!!!

Where Are They Now?

2008-12-09T19:44:00.000-08:00

So we've just completed week 14. It's been quite a ride and we're not done yet. With only three weeks left in the season, only three teams have clinched division titles - the AFC South Tennessee Titans, the NFC East New York Giants, and the NFC West Arizona Cardinals. Now before I go any further, I've got to say CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ARIZONA CARDINALS!!! OK, back to my point. At this point last season, all divisions had been clinched as well as wild card spots and home field advantage for the Patriots and the Cowboys. Weeks 15, 16 and 17 are going to be really exciting! The AFC East is all tied up with the Jets, Patriots and Dolphins at 8 - 5. The AFC North is close with the Steelers at 10 -3 and the Ravens at 9 - 4. The NFC North is close with the Vikings at 8 - 5 and the Bears at 7 - 6. And the NFC South is up in the air with the Panthers at 10 - 3 and the Bucs at 9 - 4. So I'm going to take a stab and make some predictions. In the AFC East, I'm going with Jets, Patriots, then Dolphins. In the AFC North, I think I'll go with the Steelers on top. I'm going with the Bears over the Vikings in the NFC North. And I think the Bucs are going to come out on top over the Panthers. And on another quick note, the league is going to be looking into extending the season an extra few weeks! Yay!!!!

Perplexed by Plaxico

2008-12-04T15:49:00.000-08:00

OK, sorry everyone. I'm a little late but I still have to put in my two cents. I'm confused by a few things regarding the Plaxico Burress incident.

I'm starting to understand the thought process behind these guys having guns, but if it's for your protection, why is it not registered in the state(s) you live and socialize in???
Why are you carrying a gun without the safety on???
What in the world made you think you could carry a Glock (or any gun for that matter) in the waistband of your sweats???
And why are you wearing sweats to a club anyway???

I know why everyone went through so much effort to cover up this story - this has got to be the dumbest incident I've ever heard! And for this, Plax will likely spend the next 3 years in jail. All I can do is shake my head.

For another perspective, read What Sucks - this is hilarious!

And now I'll leave you with the most pitiful comment by Plax's lawyer that needs no commentary: "He is standing tall. He is a mature adult...I think any professional athlete in this situation would be concerned."

You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!

2008-11-19T20:38:00.000-08:00

I CAN NOT believe Goodell reinstated Pacman Jones AGAIN! How is this guy ever gonna learn and turn his life around if he keeps getting slaps on the hand. You can tell he doesn't get it because he was making excuses for this last incident, saying it shouldn't have been a big deal because it was "in house." Pacman, were you fighting? Again? I rest my case. All I know is this is some BS and there's something shady going on behind the scenes or just some serious favoritism. He only started his alcoholism program last month! Anyone knows that it's going to take months before he can truly say he's kicked his habit. And don't get me started on the behavior issues...that might never change. Well Roger, all I can say is good luck trying to punish anyone else in the league after this. You've lost your credibility at this point.

10 Years in the League and You Didn't Know???

2008-11-18T08:30:00.000-08:00

OK, I realize there are a lot of rules, regulations, plays and strategies these guys have got to memorize, but I just can't believe Donavan McNabb didn't know games can end in a tie. And if he really didn't know, I don't think he should go around saying that publicly. He's been in the league way too long to not know that. Now I will cut him a little slack since it is very rare that teams don't score in overtime so I can believe he may have forgotten, but that he didn't know???? Come on. Now what I definitely agree with is that it's a stupid rule. McNabb brought up an excellent point...what happens if this happens in a playoff game or the Super Bowl? Do the rules suddenly change so that you have double or triple overtime? If you're going to do it for those games, you might as well do it for all the games. A tie doesn't do anything for either team. And it's rather disheartening to fight through an entire game plus overtime and no one wins at the end. In a such a physical sport, it seems like such a waste of time and energy if there's no decisive outcome. To me it's like both teams lose. Anything that's not a W is a loss because it takes away from your record. When it comes down to those wild card standings, you're going to wish that 1 in the tie column was in the W column instead. And if it was in the L column, at least you'll know why you're not in the playoffs. I'm not sure what the best solution is - one possession each, sudden death, one full quarter - but I know ties just doesn't make any sense. But this is just my opinion. Hear what the guys on NFL Total Access have to say.

Please help me understand...

2008-11-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

OK, did I miss something? How is it that a rookie quarterback, completely untested in the NFL, can holdout for a $68 million contract ($31.5 million guaranteed!), pretty much miss his entire rookie season, come out and play mediocre and still have people saying "oh it'll take time?" I'm sorry, but if you demand that much money before you've played a single down, then you're telling me that you're gonna come out smokin' hot. Remember, 68 MILLION DOLLARS! You don't get a learning curve. But here's the kicker that just set me over the edge - JaMarcus Russell has now played two games - yes TWO games this season - and now he's hurt. Yes, he sprained his ankle and says it still hurts. Umm, for $68 million I'm thinking you're the man of steel!

Does This Just Happen to Me?

2008-11-01T20:16:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies- I have to apologize for being so quiet lately. I don't know if this happens to you, but now that we're going into the fourth season of dismal to completely ineffective play with the 49ers, it has completely put a damper on my excitement. After every loss, I have to block out all football talk for like two days before I can stomach what's going on in the rest of the league. But since my team has a bye this week, I'm going to take this opportunity to refresh myself so I'll be ready to go for the second half of the season - regardless of how my team is doing. One other thing...in an earlier post I said I was going to root for all NFC West teams from now on because we need some wins and some credibility. However, I have to go back on my word this week. I just can't bring myself to root for the Seahawks over the Eagles. The Eagles are my second team and I'm very anti-Seahawks so I just can't do it. I'm sorry to the fans of the NFC West and the Seattle Seahawks, but I'm gonna have to jump ship this week. Forgive me?

One Comment...

2008-10-26T14:46:00.000-07:00

Well, I've just jumped off the JTO bandwagon. I was barely hanging on with one hand and it just slipped off. Or should I say, I gave up and let go. Sorry JT, but there's a new sheriff in town and he means business.

Nolan Out; Singletary In

2008-10-20T19:35:00.000-07:00

Well, the Yorks actually had the guts to make a major change mid season. I had finally come to the conclusion that Nolan had to go. But I have to admit I feel bad for the guy. I've always liked Nolan, but he just hasn't been able to pull off the improvement we need. With that said, I am so excited for Mike Singletary! Now we get to see what he can do. I know there are some of you out there that think a major shakeup like this is not a good idea in the middle of the season, but honestly, what's the worst that could happen? They lose more games? They can only go up from here. I just hope they don't blame any more mistakes on Singletary. I'd like to see him get the official job (he is the assistant coach you know), and then see what changes he makes next season. Well, this has definitely given me a little motivation to watch the 49ers-Seahawks game next Sunday. Usually we make this game a family outing, but schedule conflicts and pure exhaustion from watching losing games is causing us to miss this one. Frankly I didn't even want to watch, but now I'm excited. Not that I expect to see a 180 degree turnaround, but it will be interesting to see what minor changes will occur. Let me take this opportunity to say WAY TO GO RAMS!

A New Home for Shaun

2008-10-15T23:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm happy to announce Shaun Alexander finally found a home. Now, I've never bought in to the Alexander hype, but I surely didn't expect him to be sitting out for so long. So I'm glad to see that the Redskins signed him yesterday to backup Clinton Portis. Unfortunately, he's only been signed for a year. Hopefully he's well rested and ready to go. Good luck, Shaun! Alexander brought in to fill injured Betts' backup RB role

3 Strikes You're Out! Or Are You?

2008-10-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

OK, I don't get it. Tell me again...why is Pacman Jones still officially in the league?

First, watch this - NFL Suspends Jones

So, zero tolerance to me means NO MORE CHANCES. Am I missing something here? What else is there to "understand?" What I understand is that he doesn't know how to handle his anger. And clearly he has demonstrated that he can't conduct himself in an appropriate fashion.

Now, watch this - Zero Tolerance

Come on, Deion! Are you kidding me? Pacman's upset? He might lose hope? His childhood dream has been stripped away? Ummmm, is it just me or does everyone else see that he keeps bringing this on himself? Who cares how the "situation" came about. In house? It was with the guy that the Cowboys hired to PROTECT him. Why does he keep getting into "situations" that involve fighting anyway? According to Deion's update last week, the argument was over the guy being late! How does this translate into a fist fight? He's already been arrested six times and involved in 12 incidents where police were involved. I'm sorry, but I have absolutely NO sympathy.

And the voice of sanity - Jones on Jones

Sounds to me that even if Goodell lets Pacman back after the 4-game suspension, Jerry's gonna be pretty hesitant to let him play for the Cowboys again. He's got a reputation to uphold and Pacman's too much of a liability. TO has started rearing his ugliness again and that's a handful in itself.

So again, I'm not sure what else these people are hoping to see. Pacman has shown that he doesn't know how to change, even with the treat of a ban hanging over him. At this point, it's not about changing just to play football - it's about growing up, period! That's it Pacman, you need to move on.

No 16-0 for the Champs

2008-10-13T21:18:00.000-07:00

Hey Ladies! Well, the Browns of all teams were able to do what five other teams hadn't been able to do...beat the Giants. And did I mention they BEAT the Giants? So if they can do it, so can we! Note to upcoming Giants opponents - if your o-line can hold of the Giants d-line, you've got it made. Manning was held to less than 200 yards passing. Even though the Browns' receivers were dropping balls all over the place, the Giants secondary wasn't able to contain them. They also handed the Giants 55 yards from 10 penalties, but that wasn't enough to shift the momentum. So the Giants win streak ends with a 35-14 loss. Does this show the Giants' true colors or was this just a bad week? The Giants now join the Patriots, Chargers and Cowboys as the fourth team to lose to a bottom 10 team. I wonder what the rest of the season has in store...hmmmmmm.

Throw Out the Throwbacks!

2008-10-12T19:16:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies! OK, I'm all for nostalgia and the NFL's appreciation for the past by allowing the teams to wear their throwback uniforms a few times a season. But the New York Jets are getting a little too cozy in theirs. Those things are depressing! They look like the actual original uniforms pulled out of the attic! Yes, I know they're reminiscent of the old New York Titans, but there's a reason they changed the colors to green and white. Actually, this kinda brought back memories of the Eagles' bright yellow Yellowjackets uniforms. Well you can definitely say that the strategy worked! Both teams won in those uniforms - the Jets put their opponents to sleep from boredom and the Eagles' opponents were blinded. Photos courtesy of NFL.com

Finally It's Arizona's Turn!

2008-10-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

Hey Ladies! Well finally the Cardinals have a solid first place lead in the NFC West. I've been pulling for them for quite awhile since they've had the weapons but just never seemed to be able to make it to the top. But thanks to the depressing play of the rest of the West, they are sitting on top by themselves. Hopefully they can keep it going. On the other hand, I don't have much left to say about the Forty Niners. I was down in Los Angeles today so I was watching the Cowboys-Cardinals game. But I saw the score for the Niners game (14-6) and figured "here we go again." However, as I was waiting for my flight, I was shocked to see the score at 23-17 Niners! Of course that lead dwindled to 27-26 Eagles by the time I actually boarded. Now as I turned my phone back on after landing, I was expecting to see maybe 34-29 Eagles, 30-29 Eagles, 34-33 Eagles, or prayerfully, 33-27 Niners. But no, 40-26 Eagles! WHAT??????? Needless to say, Cards, Hawks, even you Rams, don't expect to get any help from us. I'm leaving it up to you to pull the West out of the pit of embarrassment. The Niners aren't going anywhere until Nolan is gone. Frankly, I think it goes higher than that, but that's just not being realistic. The Yorks are going nowhere. I mean, all this team has to do is listen to the radio or tv before, during and after a game and they'll know exactly what to do. How is it that everyone sees the problem except the ones getting paid? I've hung in there long enought trying to give all these guys the benefit of the doubt, but I just can't back them up any longer. With the exception of Frank Gore and Patrick Willis and a few other guys here and there, the Niners just don't have the staff or personnel it's gonna take to be a winning team.

Calling All NFC West Fans!

2008-10-10T16:24:00.000-07:00

NFC West Fans Unite! OK ladies, I'm tired of the NFC West being the black sheep of the NFL. I'm beginning to feel like we're being left behind. Other than the NFC North, every other division has at least one 4-1 team! Being first in the NFC West is not much of a stretch. The only way for us to get our credibility back is for us to continue to get these tough schedules and raise our standards of play. It may take a few seasons to be on the same playing field, but I'm ready for the rough road. So from this point on, I'm rooting for all NFC West teams to win. Now obviously if we're playing each other, I'm staying with my Niners. But I want even those games to show some signs of real, down and dirty, gridiron football! No more comments like "Well they were missing their entire rushing and receiving core," or "They were only playing the Lions." Let's show the rest of the NFL that the NFC West has what it takes to play with the big boys. So Let's Do This!

NFL Football Theme - FOX

Why Did They Change the Defense???

2008-10-05T16:32:00.000-07:00

OK, I just don't understand. Just got finished watching the Niners-Patriots game. We started off on fire! And then they changed the defense. Why? It's only the 1st quarter! Yeah you got beat by Randy once. So what do you do? Give him more space? You can't give Randy Moss a 10-yard cushion! What happened to the pass rush? We finally saw it again in the second half, but by then we were playing catch up. It's almost like they gave up that first touch down and then got scared to do anything else. You still have a whole game to play! Now there's no excuse for JT's interceptions. However, you really do increase the risk of interceptions when you're forced to constantly pass the ball because you're behind and rushed. Now one thing was very clear to me - someone definitely told JT not to run last week because he sure was running all over the field today. If he hadn't, the offense would have done even worse. But here's my concern - 3rd down conversions. We're starting to slip back into that pattern again so I hope something changes. Well, all I can say is that we need the practice. Like I said in my last post, we need to continue to play teams like this in order to raise our standard of play. Not that I was really expecting the Niners to beat the Patriots, especially off a bye week, but I did expect them to play better than this. Now I have no idea how the rest of the season is going to play out, but the Eagles are coming to town next Sunday and we HAVE to get our act together and win that game.

So Much to Say...

2008-10-02T13:35:00.001-07:00

Hi Ladies! Yes I know, I'm a little late with my comments. But better late than never, right? So I've got 3 topics for today: Niners-Saints game, the upcoming Niners-Pats game and the Kiffin-Davis feud. Niners-Saints game My first comment is everyone was bad. This was a bad game. But not like last year's games. This time we were able to eat up the field, but ran into a twilight zone in the red zone 'causing JT to lose his head. It never really dawned on me until I heard the Steve Young show on KNBR yesterday that playing in the red zone is so much more difficult. Like he said, guys don't "get open" because there's no room down there. It's very crowded so it's much more dangerous. That makes complete sense to me. So JT, you're gonna have to learn how to throw in the crowd. And by the way, don't listen to whomever told you not to run. My next concern is the offensive line. I think this was a huge problem for Alex and it's becoming a huge problem for JT. He's got to have more protection if he's gonna last. That and the rush should be the main themes for practice this week. Niners-Patriots game OK, I'm not expecting a whole lot more than what we've already seen. Is it enough to beat the Patriots? All I can say is the Dolphins did, so why can't we? But here's what I think. We have a chance if we clean up the mess from last week. I mean Vegas is only giving the Pats 3 points! That's a good sign. But on the other hand, an extremely embarrassing loss plus a bye week could be very bad for the Niners so we'll just have to see what happens. Now I have to say, I'm very excited about these tough games ahead - this is giving the Niners some real practice. We need to start playing against the big guys much more often in order to raise our standards of play. The Niners have improved just enough to beat the NFC West teams but that's not good enough. If we ever do get to the playoffs, we're gonna have to learn how to beat championship teams. So I'm looking at this as a learning experience, not a death march. Kiffin-Davis Feud Man, it's over! FINALLY! If I heard one more media reporter tell me that today might be the day Kiffin gets fired, I was gonna scream! But Al, was the 2-hour-plus-intermission-letter reading really necessary? I know the guy made you mad, but really - completely uncalled for. No, Kiffin probably should have never been hired, but you did. You gotta take the good with the bad. So just fire the guy, pay him and move on. No one really cares about the nit-picky he said, he said drama. Now I guess Tom Cable didn't really have much of a choice taking the coaching position seeing as though he was called a few hours before the press conference. What would have happened if he said no (which may not have been a bad idea). I guess it's basically a choice between losing your job now because you turned Big Al down, or losing it later because you only have a 2-year tenure at best. But who knows, maybe he'll pull a Gruden and get to stay 4 years. Well I'm pulling for you, Cable. This is your big break!

Is it Too Early to Get Excited?

2008-09-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

So I went to the Niners game yesterday and what a sight to see! Now before you bust my bubble, I'm very aware they played one of the worst teams in the league. But over the last few years we would have barely won this game, if we actually won. We saw JT throw some fantastic passes - kinda felt like the old days for a minute. The defense was on and special teams stepped up a little too. I know we have a ways to go, but the season looks a whole lot different than it did over the summer. So on to The Big Easy to face the Saints as the real test begins.

Time for a Shake Up?

2008-09-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

Well it sure does seem like we're having a little shake up in the League. What the heck happened to the Patriots? Beat by the Dolphins? And what's going on with the Colts? I'm not concerned about the Chargers. They got off to a bad start last year too, but they just served up the Jets on a platter. We haven't really heard from the Broncos in a while and they're fourth in the league right now. Now I know it's only Week 3 so it'll be interesting to see who's the real deal. But I have to say, this is getting quite exciting!

OK, You're Right

2008-09-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies! Well, looks like I'm gonna have to eat my words. I'm not changing my mind about anything I've posted - just somthing I've disagreed with since the Super Bowl. The Giants are the real thing. I was convinced that last season's turnaround was a fluke. But looks like they've found their groove and they're on a roll. Well I'm definitely happy for Eli Manning, especially after all the pressure and slack he was getting. And it sure is nice to see another team in the mix.

Prayer Changes Things!

2008-09-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

Hey Ladies! Well I can't be sure that it was my prayer at the beginning of the 3rd quarter that changed the game, but I'll choose to believe it was!!!! The Niners beat the Seahawks 33-30 in overtime!!! We needed that game! I only have two "quick and to the point" comments to make:

JT O'Sullivan - 20-for-31 for 321 yards
The play that changed the game

Now, I'm not going to assume that we're in the Playoffs or anything - we'll take it one game at a time. I'll take a huge, fought for win over Seattle any day!

Don't Want to Say "I Told You So"

2008-09-10T17:26:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies! So apparently pain since 2006 and four doctors' recommendations for surgery was not enough for Shawne Merriman to sit out the season and mend himself. Instead, he put himself (and the team's performance) in jeopardy by insisting on playing with torn ligaments in his knee. Well he's definitely a warrior if nothing else. But at the end of the day, Merriman finally realized that he needs surgery now. I guess it's difficult to have other people tell you what's right when your heart is telling you otherwise - ladies, don't we know - so I'm glad he finally came to his senses. Get well soon Lights Out!

You're Wrong on This One Ann

2008-09-10T17:04:00.001-07:00

Hi Ladies! Well, there's more to the Alex Smith drama. After reading Ann Killion's article in the San Jose Mercury News, "Killion: Alex Smith is through as a 49er," I just had to put in my two cents. I'm so sick of hearing about pour Alex Smith. Don't get me wrong, the Niners organization is a mess from the ownership down to the head coach (the rest of the staff is good though). But Alex's problems are not directly related. Here's the comment I posted to Ms. Killion's article...

I’m sorry, but Alex’s injury has nothing to do with his 3 coordinators in 4 years sob story or the fact that he didn’t get to start this season, which is a blessing seeing as though he injured himself again – WITHOUT PLAYING. And the fact that the coordinators keep getting hired by other teams is not the fault of the 49ers either. They’ve been doing their best to deal with the situation every year. Alex is not the only one on the team with a new coordinator. The WHOLE offense had to deal with that but seems like they’ve been able to improve. As a matter of fact, seems as though the weak link was none other than ALEX SMITH. If we look at Alex over the years, he’s a backup quarterback at best, unless some team is willing to give him 5 years to mature. The problems he has aren't anything a different coordinator would solve. They’re basic skills which he still hasn’t been able to master in 3 years – ok, 2 if you don’t count last year. But if it’s gonna take you 2 years to learn how to throw a ball accurately or feel comfortable enough releasing the ball on time, then you had no business getting $31 million and playing in the NFL in the first place. And by the way, how can you now say that his new injury is from "overworking" his arm? Everyone was just whining about how they weren't letting him play, start, take any snaps, whatever. Seems like he needed to be resting anyway. No we don't have a starting quarterback right now in JTO, but we never had one in Alex Smith.

Now don't get me wrong, I've been pulling for Alex. I really like him, but we have to be honest here. I just don't see where it was ever happening for him regardless of who was coaching him. I do hope he will get picked up by another team and be given the kind of grooming and hand holding he needs, but we just don't have time for that. Good Luck Alex!

Off to an Unpredictable Start

2008-09-08T09:42:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies! Well, the dust has settled and we'll be putting a close on Week 1 after the two games tonight. I have to say I don't feel so bad about the Niners' loss. Yes, they should have won. But so should the Seahawks, Chargers and the Colts. And Brady's done for the season. Tampa Bay lost too. So all this to say, everyone's either off to a really bad start or there's about to be another shift in the leadership. No, I'm not saying that the Niners were in the leadership to begin with, but it sure does help lessen the wound when even the great ones fall. So now I'm really looking forward to next week. Not just for the Niners, but for the rest of the league as well. Looks like there might be a big shake up in the AFC and it might be time for the NFC to shine. And on that note, I have one closing remark...E A G L E S - Eagles!

Well, What Can I Say?

2008-09-07T17:57:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies- Well that wasn't exactly the start I was looking for. The Niners lost to the Cardinals 23-13. But the upside is that they played better than last year. One word - Mistakes. Too many mistakes and fumbles in the first half which I'm going to trust Martz will have taken care of by next week. So Cards start off in 1st place which means I'm on my way to a correct prediction that they'll win the division. It's about time! Man, Seahawks got pummeled too! They lost to the Bills 34-10. In the rest of the league, Brady goes down. I wonder what that will mean for the team since he's so much of the offense. It will be interesting to see how that plays out. Would love to hear what you think?

Real Men of Genius

2008-09-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies! OK, I never think of this until football season starts and I remember why I love listening to the radio during the games - so I can here the new "Real Men of Genius" commercials from Bud Light. These have got to be the most hilarious commercials I've ever heard because they continue to deliver. I didn't even realize there were so many. They have ones for everything from Mr. Gangsta Rapper Posse Member to Mr. Supermarket Produce Putter Outer. Here are my personal favorites:

I love this blog where I found these because they've managed to tie each of the commercials to a funny blog post. Check out the full list on Jim and Lynette's Fun Times Guide.

Getting Familiar with the New Rules

2008-09-05T11:22:00.001-07:00

Hi Ladies- So I didn't make it in time to get this posted before last night's game but better late than never. So there are some new rules to be aware of as you watch the games this season.

Defensive Helmet Radios: One defensive player can have a radio in his helmet to communicate with the coordinator.
Incidental Facemasks: This 5-yard penalty has been eliminated because it was too difficult to call. Either there is obvious twisting, turning or pulling resulting in a 15-yard penalty, or there isn't.
Forceout Rule: This rule has been eliminated. The receiver must have both feet touch the ground before going out of bounds in order for the play to be ruled as a catch.
Reviewable Plays: Field goals, extra point attempts and illegal forward handoffs are now reviewable.
Second Half Coin Toss: Teams can now defer the opportunity to kick or receive the kickoff to the second half if they'd like.
Muffed Snap: Previously ruled a false start, a direct snap from the center to a player that goes untouched is now a live ball and can be recovered by either team.

Personally, I think these are all great additions and will allow the game to move along more smoothly, fairly and competively.

For more opinions about the new rules, check out these articles:

New NFL rules for 2008 NFL Rule Changes for 2008: Summary of the NFL Football Changes that Passed and Failed This Year New NFL rules geared to defense New rules will have impact on league

Jumpin' on the Bandwagon Early

2008-09-03T14:49:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies! OK, I know JT O'Sullivan has yet to prove himself in a regular season game. All the analysts and fans are extremely weary of what he can and can't do. But I'm jumpin' on the JTO bandwagon now. And here's my rationale:

While in NFL Europe he had the 2nd best passer rating in the league and led the Frankfurt Galaxy to the World Bowl in 2004 and was co-MVP in 2007
Backups never really get a shot at playing unless someone gets hurt, leaves or gives them a chance. Doesn't mean they can't play
Mike Martz is impressed with him and even a little surprised at his talent
He can MOVE THE BALL

Now I'm not saying he's Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, but I bet you he's going to be around for awhile. So I will give you all permission to throw this in my face later if he completely bombs, but remember my words at the end of the season when everyone's jumpin' on the JTO Express.

Let's Get it Started!

2008-09-03T14:48:00.001-07:00

Hi Ladies! Football's Back!!!! Yes I know, it already started. But the regular season starts tomorrow!!!! Woo Hoo!!!! Well I purposely didn't comment much during preseason because you can't really tell a lot. Teams are trying to figure out what they're doing with their players and they're not giving up their big play secrets. But now I can officially put in my two cents as much as possible. Let's get it started!!!

Can't Hold My Tongue

2008-08-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies! OK, I was trying not to focus too much on the 49ers but I can't hold my tongue anymore. I have to say I'm actually excited for this season. Now I know we don't have the best team in the world by far, but I think we actually have something to work with. I was very impressed by JTO's performance. Unfortunately the defense and special teams had a very bad night but I'm not worried. I know they're much better than how they played against Chicago. But hey, we moved the ball! 37 points! Get out! I still am not sure exactly how we match up against other teams since it's the preseason, but I'm a little optimistic. I sure hope I'm right!

Gene Upshaw

2008-08-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies! I just wanted take this opportunity to say my thoughts and prayers are with the Upshaw family, their friends and all the fans who are dealing with Gene Upshaw's passing last night. The NFL Players Union leader and Hall of Famer was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer only a week ago! He was 63. So with that, life is so much more than football. Cherish your loved ones and all those around you. Enjoy life and live it to the fullest! Many, many blessings Ladies!

You Mean I Have to Leave the Country???

2008-08-15T22:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies! So I was watching the Buffalo Bills-Pittsburg Steelers game last night that was played in Toronto...as in Canada. So the question going around is whether or not teams should be able to play a number of their home games internationally. I think a few exhibition games every once in awhile is ok, but not on a regular basis. I think this is completely unfair to the fans who have paid money to see their team play at their local stadium. Now I realize Toronto is only about a 2 hour's drive from Buffalo, but I'd have to literally leave the country in order to see my team play a "home" game. I've just left the country! Luckily you don't need a passport until 2009, but you do need your birth certificate or proof of citizenship. Wonder how many of you know where your birth certificate is... One note about that game though - Trent Edwards was on fire!

Is it the End?

2008-08-14T17:51:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies! So we may have just seen the end of the Alex Smith era at the San Francisco 49ers. On this morning's 49er Coordinator Show on KNBR, Mike Martz pretty much confirmed that JT O'Sullivan is his guy. He was a little vague with what the difference is - only that he can do some "unusual" things. I sure hope so! This actually brings up another point - the issue of paying first round draft picks gobs of money before they've played a single down in the NFL. We all know that pro football is much faster and complex than the college game. Just because a guy's a star in school doesn't mean he's the automatic ticket to the Super Bowl. I think the execs should wait and see what they've got before they get stuck paying for nothing. For a little extra reading to back up my point, check out this list of the best and worst first round picks.

Haven't Heard Their Names in a While

2008-08-11T21:14:00.000-07:00

Hey Ladies! So I've got a question for you. Where is Shaun Alexander??? Talk about falling off into oblivion! I hate to say "I told you so" (my sister knows what I mean), but there was always something missing with him - umm like, 5 avg rushing yards maybe. But seriously, he still was a good player so it's a shame that he's kind of faded into the woodwork. I mean, he doesn't even show up in the search results on NFL.com! I had to find him in some unknown roundabout way. I do hope he at least gets a backup spot somewhere. If I've missed something and he has been signed, please let me know. And what about Terrell Owens? Obviously he's still playing with force for the Cowboys, but ever since that whole pain medication overdose/possible attempted suicide incident, he hasn't been up to his usual antics - well at least in the national news. He could be creating havoc in the Big D but I know we don't hear about it here in CA. As a matter of fact, the last thing that made the biggest news was him crying about "his quarterback," Tony Romo. Has TO finally grown up? Or maybe he's gotten overshadowed by his quarterback's soap opera life with Ms. Simpson.

Football Penalties by Yards

2008-08-10T18:34:00.000-07:00

Hey Football Females! I'm sure you know what some of the basic penalties are and how many yards they cost - offsides, false start, pass interference. But do you know what spearing is and that it costs 15 yards? I came across this great list of penalty descriptions on football.com. It really helps give an even deeper understanding of the game. Check it out!

Preseason 1: 49ers-Raiders

2008-08-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

Well you will all find out sooner or later that I am a die hard 49er fan, even though there's really no team right now. All I have to say about yesterday's game is "What the heck was that?????" This is now the fourth preseason game I've watched and the Niners aren't in any team's league. I just don't understand. New coordinators and talented veteran coaches, halfway decent players - the only constant problems? A naive head coach and lack on an NFL-caliber QB. Can we please cut our losses, spend the money and get a quarterback that can at the very least throw a ball correctly? Now I like Alex Smith. He seems like a nice guy, but I don't care how many coordinators you've had, you should be able to retain at least something you've learned along the way for $24M guaranteed! And I'm sorry Nolan, I know you're trying to be diplomatic, but your team is garbage! It's time to get aggressive! DO something! And I've just gotta close with this...Vernon Davis - NO MORE FALSE STARTS!!!

My First Post - Brett Favre Fever

2008-08-09T21:54:00.001-07:00

OK everyone, this is my first post so let's see how it goes. I'd like to start off by putting my one and only two cents in on this whole Brett Favre fever. I think he made a big mistake. Yes I said it. Brett, you should have stayed retired. I understand that you miss playing football and the itch came back, but did you really think that you could just come back to the team and say "Oops, just kidding, I think I really will play this year. Sorry Aaron but I'm back. Your career will just have to wait." Well if the Jets go all the way (not holding my breath) then yay for Favre. You got your wish. Now retire.