The NFL's Star System Should Have Limits

Just a week after people worried that football players would be wearing skirts after "new rules" or rather new penalties were introduced, the last rule that would allegedly result in putting skirts on quarterbacks was being ignored. During the Panthers/49ers game, Carolina QB Matt Moore was hit low by a lunging defender and tweaked his knee. Moore's knee locked straight, looking eerily similar to the play that injured Carson Palmer in the playoffs (back when he was good). I was unable to find video, because well it's the Panthers and Matt Moore's not a star, but Head Coach John Fox was livid. A man more known for his clapping, gum chewing, and incorrect challenges the outward display of dismay was a refreshing site, although the referee's decision to ignore a potentially season or in Moore's case possibly career-ending (he's a free agent that has lost his starting job once this season) hit is inexcusable.

The Star System exists in sports. The Star System does not, however, have a place when player safety is in play. A hold that goes uncalled, more downfield contact allowed, or even the assumption of a penalty against another player when a star falls are all acceptable, even if unfortunate, plays where the Star System can emerge. Penalties designed expressly with safety in mind, however, should be above such a system. A player no matter how mediocre or ordinary deserves the same protection from the officials and the NFL when it comes to protection from injury. With some calls such as the horse-collar tackle the calls appear obvious and are most often correctly enforced, but a class system seems to have clearly emerged when it comes to protecting quarterbacks.

If the NFL truly cares about player safety (a whole other discussion) officials that miss calls when player safety is involved, should be fined/chastised/reprimanded publicly by the League. ESPN's mockery of a blown offensive pass interference call against Andre Johnson had a direct impact in the following weeks with Offensive PI being called more readily, even in some cases when it was unwarranted. If players can be publicly fined or suspended, the arbiters of the rules should face similar punishments when they fail in their duties to protect those same players. This public record would help to show players, fans, and fellow officials just how serious the NFL takes player safety. To implement a star system in these instances only shifts the weight to the negative in the NFL's constant balancing act between All-American and barbaric.

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8 NFL Storylines After Week 4

I wish I could write here more often. Hell, I wish I had the ability to move things with my mind but we all don't get what we want. Even though there has been a paucity of posts it has not mean we have stopped watching sports. In fact, due to the recent acquisition of DVR in my place there has been even more viewing going on. That's right, I finally joined the rest of civilized society and it was as wonderful as I had hoped for. I've been paying attention to the baseball races winding down but of course especially on football. We're not here to give you late breaking news, just to add our perspective on some of the stories. With that said, here is a story from each division in the NFL that has grabbed attention this so far after week 4.


When your a Jet, you blow .16

I think the Braylon Edwards ordeal has helped the Jets rather than hurt them. They sit at 2-1 and atop the AFC East at the moment. All the focus in the local media shifted from Darrelle Revis' burnt hamstring and Mark Sanchez's quarterbacking to philosophical discussions on whether Edwards should have been suspended and the proper way to calculate alcohol intake. Seriously, on sports radio up here they spent more time discussing how police measure BAC and how Braylon would be more adept at handling that amount of intake than the actual games on the field. It worked. Well kind of, that just kept Jets other than Rex Ryan from having to discuss whether Braylon would be suspended.

I root against rival teams of my own but I also call it like I see it. Mark Sanchez has played well the last two weeks. The turning point came against the Patriots when the Jets were shut down in the first quarter. A chorus of boos rained down from many a bro in the stadium. At that point Brian Schottenheimer finally decided to turn Sanchez loose. Thanks to the Patriots secondary, it worked. If the Pats had held the clamps on El Sanchupaquatal, confidence would not have emerged. The offense would have remained as tight as a horsehair knot on a catapult. Amazingly I think the Pats offense was at fault for this turn of events. They were unable to sustain any drives in the second half, allowing the Jets to dominate the TOP. A big win over their division rivals invigorated the Jets and the Braylon incident dominated all headlines and questions. The joke turned out to be on the media; Edwards sat out one quarter, came in and scored a go-ahead 60-yard touchdown. Nobody cares about your moral high horses and sadly no one cares that Braylon could have easily killed someone, himself, or his two teammates. Everyone just wants to talk about him doing the Dougie in the end zone. The Jets went on to torch the Bills (not the biggest accomplishment but still) this past Sunday.

The Jets have weaknesses yes, but it appears as of now they will live up to the playoff (not willing to say Super Bowl yet) hype that they built up for themselves through their talk and HBO. Hell, LT is abusing defenders again.

Laser-Rocket Slingshot arm

I saw a lot, pretty much all, of Tennessee's 29-10 win over the Giants in week 3. What caught my eye aside from the Eli Manning Lamar from the Revenge of the Nerds-esque shotput interception and multiple personal fouls was Vince Young's delivery. I guess you can say VY bounced back from his nightmare performance against the Steelers in which Kerry Collins was exhumed to take his place. Young went 10-16 for 118 yards and a touchdown. He did not turn the ball over. However, I just can't watch him sling the ball like a wad of pizza dough and feel he is going to be a great passer in the league. This past Sunday he went up to 28 attempts and completed 17 for a very pedestrian 173 yards.

Vince Young has gone from Vick 2.0 prodigy to walking disaster to redeemed QB to game manger. His job is to keep the defense honest while Jeff Fisher runs the tires bald on Chris Johnson. Phillip Rivers will tell you unconventional throwing motions don't mean anything if you can get the ball there. Yet I don't think Vince can get the ball there consistently with the way his ball is slung out from his hand. The Titans sit at 2-2, tied with the Jags and Colts and looking up at the Texans in the AFC South. At this point you can't change Young's mechanics, and the only viable alternative is Crazy Heart himself Kerry Collins. So it is Vince's team to manage.

Men of Troy

The homeristic Hurricane fan wants me to argue that Ed Reed is the best safety of this generation. Realistically, you have to include Troy Polamalu in that category. He and Reed have been head and shoulders above the rest of the league the past few years. Reed won't return until later the season and may not even play past this year due to injuries. Polamalu is back from injury and making spectacular plays.



Pittsburgh was just supposed to hold on until Gray Dong the Magnificent returns this week but they went 3-1. They did lose a tight one to the Ravens but many thought the Ravens would put distance between them and the Steelers in the AFC North with Big Ben out. Not to go ESPN analyst on this situation but I definitely think there is a psychological edge Polamalu gives to the rest of the defense. Pass rushers and cornerbacks know he is back there keeping watch over the deep balls and he will come up and make a play in the running game. Think back to last year and how awful the Steelers defense was without him. When you talk about a guy like that, it is pretty much what the phrase MVP is supposed to mean.

Somewhere They Belong

A little divergent allusion to music for the AFC West's note. I'm not all about Linkin Park. In fact, I wouldn't even call myself a fan. I first heard of them driving to practice in college with a teammate and I was not a fan of their screaming (which they did more of in their earlier work I think) at 5:30 in the morning. Then they became much more mainstream and everyone has heard of them. Look, the transformers movies have their suck amplified by the Linkin Park themesongs, especially the 2nd one but I won't lie, I have a few of their songs on my mp3 player. When I'm at the gym, I'm the kind of mind monkey that will use a rush I get from a song to finish up a run, erg session, or lifting set strong. Sounds lame? It probably is but whatever gets the job done. A few Linkin Park songs do that for me, but 'Shadow of the Day' is not one of them. I can get pumped by 'Somewhere I Belong' and I that song came on my mix yesterday. When considering my AFC West focus which are the Chiefs, I think of Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel.

These guys both would be considered failures at their respective head coaching ventures, but damned if I don't think they know a ton about football. A lot more than you or me. It is not a new addage but some coaches are better as coordinators than head coaches. Neither of these guys are likely to run the show again but as far as implementing a game plan, they are on par with just about anyone in the league. Most people that think of the Patriots now are the way they were during their Super Bowl run. Present perception does not equal past reality. When the Patriots were winning their Super Bowls they had a dynamic pass attack that included play action and a variety of screens that was complimented by a pounding run game. When Weis left and the Pats got Moss and Welker, Josh McDaniels changed the scheme. The defense a strong up front 3-4 with linebackers capable of pass rushing or dropping into coverage and veteran secondary players. Crennel and Belichick put the clamps on teams so bad they changed the rules..I mean they emphasized rules already in place (/Polian'd). Once those players left Belichick created a new identity.

The bottom line is that the Chiefs are not the most talented team in the league, but they have a lot of potential and having those two guys guiding the offense and defense bodes well for the future.



As a Patriots fan it is my everlasting shame to be reminded of Super Bowl 42. The Patriots bid for a 4th title went up in smoke for a variety of reasons but the most painful of them was Eli Manning's desperation heave that was caught by David Tyree and his helmet. Now living in New York I get to listen to Eli on the radio. He does an interview with Michael Kay every week. Despite the fact that I think Michael Kay is a sack of crap, he does get good guests. So on my drive home from the gym yesterday I listened to the sack interview Eli.

Now Eli's interview is a good get because he is the QB of the New York Giants. The Giants beat the Bears 17-3 in a game Sunday Night that brought shame to the game of football. The Giants who have been **cliché alert** much maligned so far this year for their sloppy play sit at 2-2 and tied for the lead in the NFC East. Eli giving an interview over the phone sounds like a cross between the Waterboy and Gomer Pile. There are lot of clichés like "We need to execute" and "He's been working hard and preparing" but most of the interview is Eli saying "Uh" and "You know". When Kay asked him about the reception Tiki Barber got at the ring of honor ceremony (hint: it wasn't warm and fuzzy) Eli downplayed it. Kay tried to provoke him into a response considering the shots Tiki took at Eli in the past. Since this flustered Manning it took about 4 minutes of "Eahhh Ya know" before he said a coherent sentence. Eli of course took the high road. It is the right thing to do, when he easily could have mentioned how he got his ring while Tiki missed out or the fact Tiki has become a joke and cheated on his wife with some random college chick.

Are they who we thought they were?

The Packers are 3-1. They sit in second place only because they lost to the Bears last week. They are still the favorite to win the NFC North. Yet I am not so sure all of a sudden how much of a Super Bowl lock they are. A lot of people out there think they will make it to Dallas. So far this season they have not shown it. Aaron Rodgers is a very good QB, no debate there, but the Ryan Grant injury puts more on his shoulders that were already burdened with not much of a run game. The defense was opportunistic last year, but those chances will not always be there if they play solid teams. The team looks very shaky to me, yet all the "top" NFL teams have glaring weaknesses. Another factor that threw me off was last Sunday night against the Bears. Why did Mike McCarthy challenge that fumble late in the game? Then why didn't he allow the Bears to score to get the ball back? They were not Les Miles level mistakes but it really seems coaches spend a lot of time preparing schemes but not on split-second decisions in games. NFL and college there has been a rash of bad game management.

Letting go

The Carolina Panthers are in disarray but not complete and utter disarray. They gave the Saints everything they had, in the Superdome, following a home loss. They still sit winless and the dregs of the NFC South and it is unlikely they will move vertically in the standings for the rest of the year. The owner of the Panthers, Jerry Richardson is a loyal man. He stood by Julius Peppers and did everything he could to keep him with Carolina. He has kept with his GM Marty Hurney and coach John Fox since 2002 and there has been a lot of success but also lately, a lot of frustration. With rookie (and emu) Jimmy Clausen starting Carolina has not inspired confidence that they are going for the gold this year. They seemed resigned to their fate and that cannot create a lot of bile in the fanbase. House will be cleaned in the offseason.

Some house may be cleaned now. Dwayne Jarrett was arrested for DUI this morning. It is his second arrest for this offense in two years. Jarrett now has more DUI arrests than career touchdowns. He has one more career start than DUIs. It is hard to pinpoint what exactly went wrong with Jarrett but his lack of production on the field and repeated undisciplined actions off it mean he will not be with them much longer. It is hard to figure out why they kept him this long in the first place.

Regurgitate some opinions to sound smart

Hey! Did you hear? The NFC West is bad. No really! Nothing makes blockheads feel smarter about the NFL this year than proclaiming how horrid the NFC West is. The winner of the division might be under .500! You're not breaking new ground. You're not being insightful, you're not productively contributing to football discussion. The teams are not that good, we know, we get it, let's move on.

All that said, why not the Rams? I admit I was down on Bradford but while he has not lit the world on fire, he has inspired his team a lot more than Max Hall(?) in Arizona, Alex "tiny hands" Smith in San Fran or Hasselbeck. Usually pundits tell you to bet on the team with the best QB. In this division, it just might be....Bradford? Holy shit this division sucks.

[I give myself bonus points for avoiding discussing Vick]

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Lighting a Candle for Catfish

Catfish has been hard at work making morning drives less grueling and more insightful. He's also been hunkered down in his lair creating a MASS device which will make him the most powerful NBA GM in the galaxy (outside Rigel 7 of course). As football season enters the conclusion of its first month back, Catfish has been welcomed back with two colossally bad football teams. First, we have the Carolina Panthers. We knew the team was going to be bad, but in all honesty were we really expecting this only three weeks in?

It's hard to mark down a definite win for the Panthers, and they still play the Rams and Browns. Maybe San Francisco's dumpster fire will burn brighter in week 7 for the Panthros to steal a win. Perhaps that is a bit harsh, John Fox is a solid coach, if a bit resistant to change. One thing is certain: when Saints host Carolina this Sunday I expect Charles Godfrey and the rest of the Panther defense to get lit up like a Manora. I'm sure when they return home to face the Bears the next week it will be a joy seeing Julius Peppers give maximum effort all game as Carolina struggles again on offense.

On the college side, Catfish's beloved Tar Heels have not had any easier go of it. After almost taking the opener off the silver platter Les Miles held out for them, UNC fell to Georgia Tech. They bounced back last week against Rutgers thanks in large part of the return of Bruce Carter. Carter was one of the many defensive stars the Heels had sitting out. The defense will keep improving as the year goes on and they get players back but will the offense, especially the playcalling, get in gear? They face interstate rival East Carolina this Saturday which is by no means a gimme. [Update: Yahoo not making things easier]

It can't be easy to stomach but then again I guess it is not as bad as being a Cleveland sports fan. At least they didn't name a horrible social network movie after you Catfish....oh wait.


(Emu getting crushed via)

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Around the ASD Universe: UNC/Duke, Jake is No Longer Our Del-homey, and Chanticleer Fevor

After going without power last weekend and digging myself out from the snow, which still covers the ground and my walkway, we are looking forward to a weekend full of sports. I will be huddling inside this weekend to save a little no the budget. I basically had to spend a bit much on gas driving to my brothers to enjoy any form of modern technology and then on replacing the contents of my fridge. I thought I might salvage some of the food by putting it outside in my shed, but after further inspection I chucked it. Like my Dad always said "When in doubt, throw it out" but if there is one thing I loathe it is wasting food. Whenever I eat out, I always clear my plate, nothing wasted. When I cook (which is rare) I always eat it all or save what I can't finish (which is rare if ever). It is not from any form of self-righteousness, but just the fact that I love eating so much it irks me to see perfectly edible food tossed away.


That said, the weekend provides plenty in the sports world that should keep my time with Call of Duty to a minimum. We have to begin with Catfish's embattled North Carolina Tar Heels. The Heels are sitting at 16-14, 4-10 in the ACC so unless they string together a perfect ACC tournament the Dean Dome will be a raucus host to an NIT game in a few weeks. Many people (including me sometimes) tell Catfish that he should just be quiet and enjoy the title his team won a year ago. Any true fan of a successful team knows that is impossible; you always want your team to win every year, every season no matter what. Catfish will be the first to tell you the light blue fan base is quite unforgiving. Win is the only way to keep them satiated. Win now, win often, win all the time. The setback of this year's team has brought a lot of heat on Roy Williams, perhaps more than I have ever seen for a coach who cut the nets down the previous year.

A lot of ills can be cured if UNC wins their 5th straight at Cameron on Saturday night. Duke is favored to win, should win, will most likely win. However, it is not like Carolina will not be pumped up and does not contain the talent to spark the upset. I do think Duke wins this game in a crazy scene reminiscent of the '98 senior day Wojo game.

In NFL news, the Carolina Panthers cut Jake Delhomme last night. Jake came a long way from his World Bowl Dance(see below) to leading the Panthers to Super Bowl 38. He leaves the Panthers with virtually all their passing records but after his 18 INT performance last year (and that's with missing 5 games!) it was clear the magic had left the Cajun's right arm. Delhomme was a great leader for the team and ambassador for the franchise while he was productive. It is a shame the horrible decision by the front office to give him an extension to try and clear cap space last spring. The Matt Moore era will continue in Charlotte next year. Don't expect the Panthers to go after Vick, GM Marty Hurney and coach John Fox are on the chopping block for their jobs and they are not going to risk next year on the flappy arm and shotty legs Vick displayed last year. Don't feel too bad for Jake, the Panthers still owe him about $13 million.



Championship week is upon is in college basketball. The mid-major conferences are first into the fray in determining who gets their league's invite to the tourney. One of the first tickets will be punched tomorrow when Coastal Carolina hosts Winthrop in the Big South Championship. Never hiding our love for the Big South, Coastal Carolina is a team that could spark an upset come tourney time if they win tomorrow's championship game at 4 on ESPN2. The Chanticleers (a nickname everyone will be talking about if they make it) are the 1 seed and hosting on their tiny on-campus gym which I believe is smaller than my high school gym. Still, the Chants are led by coach Cliff Ellis who has lead teams to the tourney before, including sweet 16 trips with Clemson and Auburn (yes the Auburn with Chris Porter). Their opponent is Palmetto in-state rival Winthrop. The Eagles are the most recognized Big South team in basketball due to their upset of Notre Dame in the 2007 NCAA Tournament. They are coached by Randy Peele who was an assistant under Greg Marshall who led those Winthrop teams. This is what (the current) Tournament is all about, mid-majors playing one game, with one shot at the ultimate prize of playing on a national stage in the dance.

Sadly, there will be no tale of the country's leading rebounder and Drago alter ego Artsiom Parakhouski of Radford. The Highlanders fell to Winthrop in the semifinals. Dreams are not true this year.

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Super Bowl Countdown #3: Super Bowl XXXVIII

During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.

Sometimes the greatest contest come from great forces that are unknown. The Carolina Panthers are one of the least known entities in the NFL. People know they exist, but most of their knowledge comes from a stray highlight or what someone in the media blurbed about them. The Panthers have only been in existence for 15 years, but in that time they have reached the NFC Championship Game 3 times and the Super Bowl once. The Patriots entered the game winners of 14 straight and were now seen as the rising power in the NFL. Thus they were favored by a touchdown. Yet, on the biggest stage and for a brief moment in time the country knew the kind of heart, passion and drive the Panthers had. They fell short, but along with New England gave football one of it's most frantic, best Super Bowls ever. The Heater in Houston is at #3.

New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29

Semi-Lame Nickname: "Raise the Retractable Roof"

Scores:
Historical Significance- 4.5: While the Patriots were going for 2 in three years, the Panthers were 1-15 just two years ago. Their paths had crossed that year, in Charlotte. I got tickets from a friend and went to Bank of America Stadium(Then Ericsson Stadium). The Patriots were a surprise team with Brady as their QB. The Panthers put forth one of the worst performances I had ever seen. Chris Weinke could not throw the ball to save his life. Carolina won 38-6 and it led to the firing of George Seifert and the hiring of John Fox. Just two years later the Panthers were in the Super Bowl.

Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: The game was expected to be a defensive battle throughout. Early in the game neither team could score(first points came 26:55 into the game) and that included a missed and blocked field goal from Pats kicker Adam Vinatieri. The Patriots forced a fumble from Jake Delhomme and turned it into the first points of the game. That strike to Branch seemed to ignite the offensive weapons for both sides. The Panthers awoke all of a sudden and marched down the field for a TD to Steve Smith. The Patriots bounced it right back with a TD 89 seconds later. A botched squib kick and a big run by Stephen Davis set up a 51 yard field goal from John Kasay. 24 points in the final 3 minutes and 5 seconds in the half.

The third quarter reverted back to the defensive battle with each team going scoreless. The teams exploded in the 4th for 37 points in a back and forth battle that came down to the wire.

High Profile Element-4.5: The Patriots had suffered some Super hangover in 2002 as they went 9-7 and lost on a tiebreaker for the playoffs. The two key additions to the Patriots that season were safety Rodney Harrison and big nose tackle Ted Washington. With the development of Brady and Belichick building the defense to where he wanted it, the Patriots ran the table the last 12 games of the regular season. Their final regular season game was a 31-0 win over the Bills, who had beaten them 31-0 in week 1.

The Panthers earned the nickname the "Cardiac Cats" in 2003. Jake Delhomme was not the turnover machine he was now when this season began. He was backing up Rodney Peete when the Panthers went down 17-0. Delhomme got subbed in and lead the Panthers to a 24-23 win. The Panthers went 11-5 and beat the Cowboys in the wild card round. They then defeated the Rams 29-23 in double overtime on a 69-yard touchdown. Carolina next went on the road to Philly and beat the Eagles 14-3. The Panthers gameplan was the same as it is today under Fox, run the football to set up play action and play hard-nosed defense. The Panthers also had Rod Smart as a special teamer, you may remember him as "He Hate Me" from the glorious XFL.

Venue/Atmosphere- 4.5: Reliant Stadium was the first retractable roof stadium to host the game. Beyonce sang the national anthem, yes sir. The halftime show became what people remember; Janet Jackson had her nipple exposed by Justin Timberlake. I assure you greater tragedies in life have happened. It erupted a huge controversy which led to the country wasting huge amounts of time and money on saying it was bad. You here that America, NIPPLES ARE BAD!


Personal Enjoyment- 5: This was my favorite Super Bowl. The Panthers are my 1-A team. I was a Pats fan before the Panthers existed, but I lived in Charlotte when Carolina came about. I root for them in every situation, except one: when they play the Patriots.



Cleet's Rating Index: 24

Where I Was: Some people graduate college and move straight to the desk job. I was fortunate enough to take a coaching job in Miami that allowed me to be on the water everyday and enjoy a little time to be a semi-bum. I went to a friend's house to watch the game on his big screen. It was great food, great drinks and a great game.

What Happened in the World: Two days after the game the CIA admitted there was no imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Record of Note: The 37 points in the 4th quarter were the most ever in any quarter in Super Bowl history.

Game MVP: Tom Brady set the record for completions with 32. He also had 354 yards passing with 3 TDs and 1 pick.

LVP: Anyone that says the kickoff out of bounds by John Kasay cost the Panthers the game. It certainly did not help to give the Patriots good field position, but the Patriots also got hit with an offensive pass interference penalty on the drive that set them back. The Patriots still had to drive the field and Vinatieri still had to make the kick.

Most Memorable Play: A moment that always sticks out for me was after Delhomme threw the record 85-yard TD pass to Muhammad. On his way back to the bench Rodney Harrison bumped into Jake. Delhomme went fiery Cajun on Harrison spouting some talk, I always love seeing that.

NFL Fallout: The Patriots would continue their run the next season, while the Panthers faltered. The Panthers did make it back to the NFC Championship game in 2005 but lost to Seattle. Delhomme led them to playoffs again last year but this season battled an injury and giving the other team the ball all the time. Matt Moore took over and lead the team to late season success. It appears Moore has ended the Delhomme era in Carolina.

90 not pictured

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Little Bit Of Pride For The Panthers

via TBL

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Carolina Panthers: A Cry for Help

Last night Panthers linebacker Jon Beason was on WFNZ's Primetime and had some pointed comments about the effort of fellow captain Julius Peppers. When asked about Jared Allen's performance on Monday Night Football, Beason outlined receiving a call from a teammate and how different the passion Allen plays with is in comparison to Peppers. He refused to identify Pep by name, but it was painfully clear. Beason plans to have dinner with 90 tonight and have a "heart to heart" with the big fella. This was not a player popping off about another, but a cry for help. The Panthers and his defense need him to perform if they hope to have any measure of success this season.

Peppers has long been known in these parts as an enigma that was difficult to reach and this seems like a desperate plea by a desperate leader. Beason and every other member of the team needs to be on the same page and when the highest paid player on the team refuses to try it justifies lackadaisical effort from every other player. As it stands now, 90 has just seven solo tackles, one sack and no tackles for loss. By comparison, WR Steve Smith has three solo tackles. Peppers defenders will point to his lack of interest in playing here, a point he made abundantly clear at the start of the last off-season. It cannot be forgotten, however, that Pep and his agent, Carl Carey, handcuffed the organization by refusing to sign the franchise tender. NFL rules prevented the Panthers from pursuing a trade for him until he signed the tender, which he did not do until the last possible second, past the NFL draft and well into the free agency period. He made the choice to make trading him impossible and he gladly deposits his $1 million dollar checks each week, so expecting him to perform and to help out his teammates is not asking too much.

Critics and analysts were all over Brandon Marshall for his stunt in practice, but as recently as this Sunday, when the team needed a play made, Marshall made it. We've previously asked if Peppers off-season behavior was worse than TO's and here we are again, comparing him to another immature diva receiver and Pep's pitiful performance is far more embarrassing and immature than Marshall's because he's doing it on game day.

On the flip side, there are plenty of critics upset at Beason for choosing a public forum to air dirty laundry, but again this was not calling someone out because of personal differences, this was a cry for help. For many Panther fans, they feel vindicated and relieved that finally someone in the organization has acknowledged exactly what they (we) have felt for the last year. Instead of toeing the company line someone finally broke ranks and spoke up for all the fans as well as all the players who are busting their tail and putting their bodies on the line in that locker room. It will be intriguing to hear the reception Beason gets on Sunday, but also how the other nine players on defense respond. If they come out with fire and a renewed dedication to tackling, can we not assume that Beas was saying exactly what the other players were thinking? Peps lack of passion has been the white elephant in the room for months and finally someone spoke up and perhaps now this team can focus on playing instead of being quietly frustrated that one of their captains is hanging them out to dry.

Hear the entire interview.

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0-2 in the NFL: What it Really Means

With the first two weeks of the NFL season in the books, the pundits are out in force to point out that teams that lose their opening two games have a very small percent chance of making the playoffs. Until last season, they enjoyed using the “Since 2000...” stat, but with three teams making the playoffs after losing two straight to open the season and with the Giants as the then reigning champions, despite an 0-2 start, many have switched back to “Since 1990...” representing the expansion of the league from 14 to 16 games and from ten to twelve teams in the playoffs.

So here are the stats:
Since 2000, only nine of 79 teams that began the season 0-2, made the playoffs.
Since 1990, only 22 of 160 teams that began the season 0-2, made the playoffs.

Annually, these stats have suggested that good teams have had a less than 15% chance to make the playoffs if they get off to a slow start. This is a bit of a red herring, however, because they include the often futile efforts of teams like the Rams, Browns, Lions and Bengals, as well as four expansion teams. With this in mind, let's take a look at the true impact of going 0-2.

Of the 160 teams that have started 0-2 since 1990, 44 (27.5%) won six or less games both the year prior and the year they started winless (Think Shula/Coslet era Bengals, Kotite's Jets, or Mornhinweg's Lions). These are bad teams that serve only to negatively skew the perceived chance that good teams have to make the playoffs after a slow start. More than half, 92, weren't above .500 in either the year before or during the 0-2 season. While some were decent teams, their statistical merit when considering the chances for teams such as the 0-2 Panthers, Dolphins and Titans (all playoff teams from a year ago), is negligible.

What we're left with are 68 teams that were over .500 either the year before or the year they began 0-2. So of these 68 nearly a third, 22, made the playoffs and of the 43 teams that made the playoffs prior to their 0-2 start, nine (20.9%) made the playoffs the following season. This stat, however isn't without it's own skewing. More than a handful of these teams had to deal severe injuries, retirements, etc. that lead to a dramatic decrease in their record (four or more additional losses). A quick glance reveals at least 10 teams that had significant changes that severely hurt the team's ability to make the playoffs.

Some examples:

1992 Jets – Contract dispute with quarterback Ken O'Brien ushers in the Browning Nagle era.
1994 Oilers – Departure of Warren Moon leaves the team in the less than capable hands of Billy Joe Tolliver, Bucky Richardson and Cody Carlson.
1996 Falcons – Sideline tirade after week 3 leads to Jeff George being waived and 36 year-old Bobby Hebert taking over.
1998 Lions – Replaced quarterback Scott Mitchell with rookie Charlie Batch.
1999 Falcons – Jamal Anderson blows out his knee leaving Ken Oxendine as the team's leading rusher.
1999 Jets – Vinny Testaverde tears his achilles' tendon week one, beginning the Ray Lucas and Rick Mirer era.
1999 Broncos – John Elway retires and Terrell Davis tears up his knee.
2001 Vikings – Robert Smith retires after four straight 1,000 yeard years, leaving rookie Michael Bennett to carry the workload.
2004 Chiefs – Priest Holmes suffers (effective) career-ending neck injury after 8 games while on pace to break single-season touchdown record.
2005 Packers – Injuries to leading rusher Ahman Green and leading receiver Javon Walker.

While the Titans saw a defensive tackle walk in free agency and the Panthers lost one due to injury, the cores of all three winless playoff teams from a year ago remain intact. Removing the ten teams that had substantial changes from consideration means nine of 33 playoff teams that started 0-2 the year after, still managed to make the playoffs. If we deduct 10 from the 68 “good teams” that went 0-2, 22 of 58 (38%) made the playoffs following this “death blow” beginning to the season. Going 0-2 certainly hurts a team's chance to make the playoffs, particularly in a conference like this year's NFC where there is tremendous balance, but more often than not it's the tougher schedule over 16 weeks and perhaps having some free agents being poached that has much more impact. An 0-2 start is not optimal, but it certainly doesn't mean the season's over, particularly for good teams.

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Where In The World Are Carolina's Running Backs?

August is here and along with it NFL training camps are in full swing. The Carolina Panthers have made their annual trek down to Spartanburg, SC to prepare for the season in lovely sweltering summer in the south conditions. Following a disappointing end to their 12-4 season last year by getting blown out by the Cardinals in the playoffs, the Panthers are determined for redemption this year. One of the highlights from the past season was the backfield duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. After squabbling with Tennessee's Lendale White (who has lost 30 pounds by giving up tequila) and Chris Johnson over the nickname "Smash and Dash", the Panthers' combo came up with a new moniker for this season. Harking back to the glory days of Carmen Sandiego on PBS they have chosen "Double Trouble". Well it was actually coined by wide receiver Muhsin Muhhammad but it certainly reminds me of eating fruit rollups on the couch and watching Rockapella do their thing. Williams and Stewart combined for 2351 yards and 28 touchdowns last year. They are expected to haul the majority of the offensive load, especially with Stewart fully healthy going into this season.



The two have created a website that will feature exclusive videos, a blog, pictures and more of them out and about since they truly are best friends off the field. There are also Double Trouble shirts to buy with proceeds going to St. Jude. There is also a hilarious intro which addresses the controversy last year with Lendale and the Titans. The fee to join the website and get full access is the combination of their jersey numbers, $34.28 which for me is a little steep but for diehards it is probably worth it. With Jake Delhomme determined to make up for last year and the entire offensive line returning, despite losing depth on defense, the Panthers may only go as far as Double Trouble takes them.

Double Trouble 34-28
Panthers Players are 'Double Trouble' [WSOC]

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Happy Birthday, Smitty

Around these parts love for Smith knows no bounds, but do people realize he's thirty? With the on-going Peppers saga, and aging Jake Delhomme and Coach John Fox seemingly on a year by year contract, Steve will not stay content for several more years if the Panthers do not continue to make the playoffs and start winning once they're there. I hope Smitty retires a Panther, but I also want to see him win a Super Bowl more than any player I've watched play in a Panther uniform. Here's to hoping that's his wish today and it comes true.

As an aside, we've been down on Pep for most of our existence, but watching this video of last season reminded me that sometimes we do forget just how good he can be.

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Paging Nancy Grace or Navy SEALS

Can we just pretend that Julius is missing, so at least someone will talk about this stalemate? Maybe we can send Navy SEALS to Carl Carey's house, because if the Panthers are held hostage through the draft there has to be some sort of crime being committed. While GM Marty Hurney remains optimistic about the situation (and even 90's return), he also pointed out that Carl Carey has not come to him with one trade offer. Not one?

Ninety, what are you paying this guy for? You demanded a trade and the only person on the planet that can negotiate (and who will be rewarded handsomely if you don't move) is doing nothing to help facilitate your departure. If Pep is not traded by the draft any positive momentum from the 12-4 season will be lost and the team will be headed straight to Mediocre Town (a lil place right outside Fayetteville). The team can't even afford to re-sign their long snapper because of this situation. Pep, you've said this wasn't about money it's about moving on, but with a fat payday dangling in front of you and your clueless agent, you appear ready to screw the city that loved you. Sadly, you now have more big plays made in the off-season than you do in the post.

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Things That Caught My Eye: Links

I would've forgiven Benny Santiago for doing roids if he had a beard like that. (PopularVulture via BB)

A 'Four out play' helps Dodgers win. If this had been in the ole rec league, rest assured at least one coach would've been kicked out and one screeching mother would've had all the neighborhood dogs howling. (Big League Stew)

Panthers making big moves son, big moves! "[T]raded a conditional seventh-round draft choice in 2011 to the Green Bay Packers for long snapper J.J. Jansen, an undrafted rookie last year who spent the season on injured reserve." Suck it Peppers, you've been replaced. (Observer)

This description of John Wall's performance at the Nike Hoop Summit sums up the feelings of every Facbook-using basketball fan in North Carolina. Additional John Wall YouTube goodness endorsed by yours truly. I tried to play it cool with the recent revelation that Wall coming to UNC was a possibility, but having watched this, I'm developing a crush.

At least Dale Jr. won something. The new ad campaign for the All-Star race is well conceived and has Dale "Wahoo" Junior wearing a title belt. Junior apparently only wanted to participate if he could be in full Wahoo headdress. No link to the image, but you can watch Ric Flair's promo (and 39 woos) with the poster in the background. Highlight: "20 other drivers that wanna take your women, wanna take your money, and wanna take your trophy."

"...at the end of the day, the three [underclassman] big boys - Deon Thompson, Ed Davis, and Tyler Zeller - may be better as pros than Lawson, Hansbrough, and Ellington. With Hansbrough, energy and effort only get you so far in our league. You can count on one hand how many guys get by on that..." Davis... check, Zeller... check, Thompson... whoa, dood your credibility just flew out the window, better go get it. As for the Hansbrough line, if a small number of guys get by on effort, why would a the hard worker not be a possibility? Does he realize Brian Cardinal is still in the league? (Globe via Observer)

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Is Julius Peppers as bad as TO?

To have this discussion, we must first acknowledge that TO is, at least in part, a creation of the media. There are inherent differences between the two players. TO has craved the spotlight, while Julius shies away from it. TO has been vocally disruptive and publicly criticized his coaches and fellow players alike. Peppers has never caused such problems, again shying away from the spotlight to the point of being called a loner by his fellow teammates. Terrell wanted more money from the Eagles, while Julius turned down a contract to be the highest paid defensive player in the league. So how can it be possible that two so diametrically opposed players possibly be similar? Let's take a look.

TO's time in San Francisco was not always pleasant, but he did deliver on the playing field. In many ways, the rift between himself and the organization began after he scored two touchdowns in Dallas and celebrated on the star. The next season he set a career high in receptions with 100 and was instrumental in the team's comeback win in the playoffs against the Giants (9 catches, 177 yds, 2 TD) while having a contentious relationship with then coach Steve Mariucci and QB Jeff Garcia. The following season he and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp had a verbal disagreement on the sidelines and the Owens and the Niners agreed to part company.

Despite having none of the public discord surrounding Owens, Peppers last season was of the mind that he did not want to return to the Carolina Panthers. He recorded 14.5 sacks, a tremendous total, but without maximum effort. He recorded a third of those in two games against the woeful Raiders and Lions (3 and 2 respectively) and he also recorded sacks against the Vikings and the Chiefs, two teams in the bottom third of the league in sacks allowed. So, 7 of his 14.5 sacks came in four games against three of the worst teams in the league and one who had just made a quarterback change to the immobile Gus Frerotte. Peppers also recorded a sack for 0 yards lost, but did incur an unnecessary roughness penalty on the same play (a net of +7 yards for the offense) and one against the Falcons in the final two minutes with the Panthers up 15. All of this is not to bag on Peppers, but to point out that the total number of sacks is not representative of number 90's play. He was without a doubt, a tremendous difference maker in the first game against the Saints, but beyond that he could often be found playing to not get hurt, skirting around piles, and arriving just in time for tackles to be made by other players, as he recorded three or fewer tackles in twelve of the team's games last year. The image of him playing pattycake with Adrian Peterson's back instead of tackling the hulking beast of a running back will not soon be forgotten (and served as the inspiration for this poster).



While TO was not happy with the situation in San Francisco, he continued to produce at a high level. With Peppers not happy with his situation, he did not bring the off the field attention that Owens did, but his performance was not as good either. Perhaps a most telling stat, in the playoff game against the Giants Terrell's touchdowns tied Julius's mark for career playoff sacks (eight games) with two.

When TO's troubles with Philadelphia started it was not about philosophy, but about money. He was not being paid on par with the upper echelon receivers as most of his $49 million contract was back-loaded. Peppers has never had this problem, as twice the Panthers have offered him monster contracts, both of which he turned down. The similarities, however, rise out of contract disputes. After the Eagles made the Super Bowl and with TO returning quicker than anyone thought possible to play (well) in the game, Owens hired Drew Rosenhaus. Rosenhaus, one of the most publicly disliked agents has experience representing over 100 clients in the NFL. During the '05 season, Owens and Rosenhaus were a distraction to the team, culminating with the suspension of TO after seven games. It should be noted that he had over 750 yards receiving and 6 Touchdowns already and Owens was to make $4.5 million dollars for that season. The Eagles ultimately released Owens when faced with paying him a $5 million roster bonus.

For Julius, the drama began almost as soon as this 08-09 season ended. There was the awkward Pro Bowl interview where he dodged questions about his future in Carolina and his agent throwing down the gauntlet, "Julius is ready to move on and play for another team." The agent, Carl Carey, represents (and has represented) only one client in the NFL, Peppers. Carey stated there were no circumstances under which he wanted to return to the Panthers. Peppers in a written statement made it clear he felt he could do more elsewhere, "At this point in my NFL career, I am seeking new challenges that will allow me to grow, develop and reach my personal potential on the football field." He's expressed interest in playing in a 3-4 scheme as a linebacker, an unprecedented move for a man of his size.

The 2005 season for the Eagles was terribly disappointing, going 6-10 after reaching the Super Bowl the year before. With so much focus and energy being spent on their malcontent receiver, the team floundered. As we look ahead at the 09-10 season, the Panthers could be very much in the same boat (minus the Super Bowl trip the year prior). With Carl Carey acting as his agent, Peppers has refused to sign the one-year tender offer of the Carolina Panthers, resulting in the team being unable to negotiate trades with other teams. Odd considering his stance when asked about the prospect of the team using the franchise tag on him earlier this off-season, "If they decide to use the tag on me, the first thing that I'll be doing is requesting a trade." Under the auspices of playing hardball, his refusal to sign the tender is the one thing preventing that from happening. Where TO's cap number was less than $5 million for the '05 season, Peppers's will be almost $17 million. Just by applying the franchise tag, the team has been handicapped in it's ability to sign free agents or even re-sign their own. While TO's displeasure has often been accompanied by public outbursts and off the field drama, he's never had nearly the negative on-the-field presence that Peppers and his audacious contract will next season. With NFL writers around the league now of the opinion that Peppers won't be going anywhere and with his agent more than willing to accept such a large commission (while screwing up a much larger deal opportunity for Peppers), the Panthers will effectively be stuck in a holding pattern for a year, while their star Steve Smith gets a year older and their young stars Jon Beason and DeAngelo Williams get a year closer to free agency and there's no guarantee that the team won't be in the same situation next off-season.

There's little doubt that TO's outlandish behavior far outweighs the non-existent negatives of Julius Peppers off the field, but on it Owens has never crippled a franchise the way Julius will this off-season. If Julius is unhappy he will not produce the way TO did when he was upset with a situation and Panthers fans have seen that over the last two seasons. While Peppers will never have the three ring circus following him the way Terrell did, Owens and his management have never crippled a franchise the way Peppers and his clueless agent are poised to, if he continues to refuse to sign the tender offer. The worst part is neither side is getting what they want and it's solely do to Carl Carey's ineptitude as an agent that this seemingly ludicrous comparison is even plausible.

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What's New with Orange Julius?

We discussed Julius at the end of our most recent podcast, but shockingly others still feel the need to comment as well.

Bill Belichick has an interesting message for Julius Peppers and his "agent" Carl Carey, "If a player wants to be in a position to be traded, the best thing for him to do is sign the tender, be under contract, go to the team and say, ‘I don't want to be here.' Trade me and here's where I want to go." In simpler terms, "Sign the bleeping tender." That's what Matt Cassell did and he's already relocated and got a nice place picked out in Kansas City. (NFL.com with audio of Belichick interview)

Both ESPN's John Clayton and the Chicago Tribune's Dan Pompei are now of the belief that 90 will still be in a Panthers uniform next season. Say it with me now, "Noooooooooooo!"

The Steelers have no interest according to defensive line coach John Mitchell, “We have the 32nd pick in the draft,” he says, “and we wouldn’t take him.” (Rocky Mount Telegram)

Carl Carey spoke with Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald last week and again he appears ready to stick it to the Panthers (after publicly declaring they didn't want to do so), "While Julius is interested in the Patriots and a few other teams in the league, he is comfortable with the position he’s in right now," Carey said. "In the event we are unable to reach an agreement (with another team), Julius will be among the highest paid defensive players next season, and we will be comfortable with that. Were not in a position where we have to act hastily." And Julius won't be in a position to play hard... again.

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Shackleford Files 012: Catfish v. A Hot Microphone

We take a look back at the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. Memphis v. Vasquez gets some love, the impact officials have had, late game execution and what conference has been the most disappointing (I'm still mad Wake). We also look ahead at the upcoming match-ups and discuss the ongoing (have we entered saga territory?) story of Julius Peppers and a potential win-win situation for two teams needing to make a move. Come for the wrestling reference, stay for the breakdowns. Download it HERE.

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Moose House On Ebay

Carolina Panther receiver Muhsin Muhammad is putting up his South Charlotte home for sale on ebay. Bidding starts at $1.9 million. I imagine Catfish is scheming his way into the money so we can land the 8,600 sqaure feet pad. [Charlotte Observer via Deadspin]

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Panthers Make Round of Cuts

Today, the Carolina Panthers cut offensive linemen Jeremy Bridges, running back Nick Goings, and wide receiver DJ Hackett. Of the three, Bridges will be missed the most but his off-the-field transgressions have been multiple. Hackett, signed last year, had largely been a disappointment and hopefully this means Dwayne Jarrett will be the third receiver for the entire season (We here at ASD think having a guy make huge 3rd down catch after huge 3rd down catch is reason enough for him to get a helmet). Nick Goings, leaves having served as one of the most under appreciated players in franchise history. He's done everything for this team, from special teams to running the rock in the NFC championship game, but struggled mightily this past season.

One Panther that some were thinking (hoping?) would get cut Ken Lucas, was not released, but GM Marty Hurney's comments seem to show the Panthers are thinking much like their fans, "Ken's here at this point. We're always talking and working on things. But I'd rather talk about what we've done at this point because anything else is speculation." The team also restructured the contract of Landon Johnson, another free agent disappointment from a season ago. (ESPN)

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Peppers Sends Clear Message to Carolina

In his last time wearing a Carolina Panthers helmet, Julius Peppers had a sack of Peyton Manning and a tipped pass which he intercepted off of Jay Cutler in the NFC's 30-21 win in the Pro Bowl yesterday. For those in Carolina still holding out any slim hope of Peppers staying with the team, Julius made it clear he wants to play somewhere else. He discussed the situation on the sideline, on camera with Tiki Barber during the game. In the interview he shared more of his feelings with Barber than he had with any member of the Charlotte media.
From the Charlotte Observer:

"Peppers was asked why he wanted to leave the Panthers, and, specifically, why he wanted to play in a 3-4 defensive scheme (the Panthers play a 4-3 scheme). Peppers said he wanted to play in a scheme that would best take advantage of his ability.

When asked by Barber what it would take for the Panthers to keep him in Carolina, Peppers hesitated, then smiled and said he just wanted to enjoy the Pro Bowl.

Announcers Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth joked that Peppers ran a “line stunt” in an effort to avoid Barber's question."

Collinsworth also went on to say that in a 3-4, Peppers would have more responsbility to stop the run and he did not know if that was the best situaiton for Julius. The Pro Bowl was Peppers's opportunity to gain more interest from other teams and he certainly will have accomplished that with his play and his words about wanting to go elsewhere. The only questions now are who will pay the high pricetag for him and will he play like he did for the Panthers when he gets there?

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The Mayor Talks and We Listen

Today, I had the pleasure of sitting down to discuss with Charlotte's mayor, Pat McCrory, some various issues about Charlotte and sports. Mayor McCrory has been instrumental in bringing the NBA back to the city, getting Charlotte selected as the home of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and the development of the light rail that was widely criticized during planning and has been a tremendous success since it's completion. Copious amounts of appreciation to Pam in the mayor's office for helping to facilitate the interview. Read after the break, for more about 'leaving it up,' baseball in Charlotte, and why Mayor McCrory thinks Andrew Bynum should have been suspended.

ASD: First, some great news for Charlotte sports fans, Jerry Richardson had a successful heart transplant last night. Have you spoken to anyone with the Panthers about how he's doing?

Mayor McCrory: No, I haven't, just what I read in the Observer. Jerry's got a heart of gold with or without the new heart and it's great news for the city.

ASD: The Bobcats have been playing for five years, why do you think they've continued to struggle to attract fans?

Mayor McCrory: Part of it is the economy, but the other part is they haven't had a good team. Any sports team needs to give fans that sense of hope of winning. Even the Panthers, when they weren't doing well, you couldn't give a ticket away. College or professional, fans need that.

ASD: As a former basketball referree, we need an official statement, should Andrew Bynum have been suspended for his hit on Gerald Wallace?

Mayor McCrory: Yes. He should be suspended for such poor defense. A pro should never be caught that flat footed. (laughing)

ASD: Several months ago, (Hornets owner) George Shinn, came out in the Observer and said he wished things had worked out differently in Charlotte, have you spoken to him since the tem left?

Mayor McCrory: No.

ASD: Attempting to exclude the tenuous end with the Hornets, how has your relationship with the Bobcats been different from your relationship with the Hornets?

Mayor McCrory: The Bobcats have never given me false information, good or bad. The Hornets, specifically one of the other owners, would tell me they weren't looking to move, but mayors from other cities would call me and tell me they'd already met with them.

ASD: The city has hosted both a Final Four and a NBA All-Star Game, are there any plans to try to bring other special sporting events to Charlotte?

Mayor McCrory: Not in the short time. Our primary focus has been to become the permanent home of the ACC football championship, and that's something we're working very hard at doing.

ASD: As a former basketball ref and as a sports fan, you must be familiar with the phrase, 'leaving it up,' like Michael Jordan. With as criticized as you were during the development and as successful as it's been, have you ever been tempted to 'leave it up' when talking about the light rail in Charlotte?

Mayor McCrory: No, we can't rest on our success. One of the lessons I learned coming from this was never to quit communicating. During the development we stopped, and all the public was hearing was the bad things. There was a repeal vote, which fortunately failed, but I learned that you can't ever quit communicating through a process like that. With some of the criticism I faced, it did feel at times like a contact sport, but no I never considered leaving it up.

ASD: In the last twelve years, or even longer, Charlotte's been repeatedly mentioned as a potential destination for major league baseball, how close were we to getting a team?

Mayor McCrory: With the economic downturn, our major goal should be to hold onto what we have and grow it. With the Wachovia Championship and NASCAR we have four major sports in the market, and maintaining those is our priority.

ASD: There's been some talk of an uptown ball park for the Knights or for major league baseball, do you see that as a possibility or should we focus on growing the events that we have?

Mayor McCrory: Not growing, maintaining. With this economic reality we need to focused on keeping what we have and making it stronger instead of trying to expand.

ASD: Looking ahead, what does the new mayor need to do to continue to grow sports in Charlotte the way you have, at all levels?

Mayor McCrory: I've been in activist for sports in the city, as a way to brand Charlotte to outside businesses and industries. I love sports, but it was to brand the city and to foster economic development, not just for the sake of sports. Sports brings in revenue and travel and tourism dollars, but sports is a way to make the city attractive to outside industries and businesses and that's why it's important.

Thanks again to the both the Mayor as well as his staff for their time and effort to make this happen. It should be noted that my digital recorder decided to take a personal day (typically reserved for exam reviews), so the answers were all handwritten. Any errors in grammar should be attributed to my hand's inability to write clearly and not the Mayor.

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Carolina's Big Cat Gets a New Heart

Jerry Richardson, owner of the Carolina Panthers has received a new heart according to sources in Charlotte. It has not been confirmed officially, but WBTV is reporting he underwent the procedure and is "doing well." Richardson had been on the transplant list since December. He is often somewhat of a mystery in Charlotte since he does not do interviews with the mediaor put himself in the public eye, but as a former player, Panther fans know he is committed to winning. Richardson has been the owner of the team since it's inception in 1993 and as a former NFL player caught the winning pass from Johnny Unitas in the 1959 NFL Championship. We all wish him well.

Story from SI.com.

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