1. Indianapolis Colts 13/2
2. San Diego Chargers 8/1
3. New England Patriots 10/1
4. New Orleans Saints 10/1
5. Pittsburgh Steelers 11/1
6. Dallas Cowboys 12/1 7. Green Bay Packers 12/1 8. Minnesota Vikings 12/1
9. Philadelphia Eagles 16/1
10. Baltimore Ravens 20/1
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Peyton Manning has, for the most part, exuded class. Last night, during his post-game press conference Manning applauded the Saints for their effort and victory and expressed his joy for the city in which he grew up. However….to not seek out Drew Brees and congratulate him, shake his hand after the game, even if for a moment, was classless. You can make all of the excuses you want about the pandemonium on the field, the masses of media, the not wanting to steal the spotlight…whatever, it was classless. Manning, during his post-game press conference explained, ""The stage is being set up for the celebration and it was time for the Saints to celebrate at midfield. They deserved the moment.'' The Colts QB did say that he would call Brees and congratulate him but, to me, the moment has passed.
There have been times that Peyton has looked rather whiney and immature and at that moment, he very much resembled that description.
One of the best moments that I can remember in a long time was Brees holding his new son as the confetti flew and the Saints QB was whispering in the covered ears of his boy as tears of joy filled his eyes. What would have made that moment a little more joyous would have been, just prior to that, to see one of the best to ever play the quarterback position fight through the ring of media and give the traditional congratulatory hug and words of wisdom to his victorious counterpart. Manning instead chose to walk quickly off the field with his security entourage bookending him.
Sportsmanship doesn’t only come in victory, it’s revealed, much like character, in defeat.
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The over and under on Kim Kardashian sightings never really took hold for the fact that CBS focused squarely on the game and, for the most part, that’s where my attention was targeted. Aside from the lackluster commercials and the screeching owl-like vocals of the elderly Who at the half, the game was the centerpiece, as it should have been.
For as much hype as Saints Defensive Coordinator, Gregg Williams, received this past week for his tough comments regarding his defense’s attitude towards Peyton Manning, Williams came up with a brilliant game plan. Drew Brees took home the Super Bowl MVP hardware, and rightfully so, for the way he played but Williams should be recognized for his coaching masterpiece in holding Manning and the Colts to a mere 17 points. Williams’ Saints mixed it up with 3 and 4 down linemen, mixing in 3 and 4 linebackers and continuously disguising the blitz pressure to the point that Manning, and his receivers, looked confused at times. Early on, Manning to Dallas Clark seemed to be the key for the Colts to sustain a drive but it was Williams who then figured out how to keep Clark occupied with blocking and chipping schemes to exclude the Indianapolis tight end from being truly effective. Colts wide out Reggie Wayne showed signs of still being a bit dinged up but even he looked confused at times. Then came the comments after the game by Saints DB, Tracy Porter, whose pick-6 solidified the win for New Orleans. Porter said, “It was coach’s (Williams) who gave us the film and made us study every down. He told us to trust what we see and be aggressive.” Porter elaborated on the 3rd down interception of Manning, “It’s something we saw on film. They ran that play a lot and coach just told us, if you see it, jump it (the pass route) and that’s what I did.”
Williams’ defense didn’t pound on Manning the way they did 2 weeks prior to Brett Favre, mainly for the fact that Manning gets rid of the ball so quickly, but they did keep the Colts QB’s feet moving and seemed to throw off his rhythm just enough to make a difference.
You can't discount the gutsy calls by Sean Payton and the way that he convinced his team to buy into the "we're the aggressors" mentality, it all starts at the top...no doubt. The onside kick to start the second half will go down as one of the more legendary calls of Super Bowl history but Williams.....he gets my MVP vote.
The Canyon of heroes in New York has seen so much history and so many great parades. Everyone from the historic Yankees teams, to the Giants, Joe Namath and the Jets to war heroes and troop homecomings…they have all passed through the tickertape air in New York City but I can’t imagine any bigger party than the one that’s about to take place in New Orleans. That champion’s parade, through The Big Easy, will be unlike any other in the history of sports. For a city, an economy, fan base that was devastated only 4 years ago, you can’t help but smile for the current riches New Orleans and the state of Louisiana is enjoying right now.
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The Sports Fan Coalition is a goup that takes your voice to Cpaital Hill and expresses what's best, in the world of sports...FOR YOU. CLICK the logo to sign up and join the growing numbers of fans who want those in power to know how you feel.
Some of the most recent issues the SFC has or is dealing with:
· NFL blackouts amidst a recession
· The cable blackout - local sports exclusives
· Comcast/NBC merger - Senate Anti-trust Subcommittee Hearing Thursday
· American Needle vs. NFL Supreme Court case
· Public funding for sports stadiums; teams threatening to move to LA
· Illegality of the Bowl Championship Series' administering NCAA post-season
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Despite Tiger Woods' problems surrounding his adultery scandal and lost corporate sponsors, the world's No. 1 golfer remains the top athlete brand as ranked by Forbes.
The business magazine estimated in its second annual "Fab 40" list that Woods still represents the top sports brand by an athlete, with an estimated value of $82 million.
The report said Woods' remaining sponsor deals with Nike, Electronic Arts and Procter & Gamble's Gillette brand will allow him to remain the world's highest-paid athlete this year.
Woods, who is taking an indefinite break from professional golf, has been in hiding since admitting in December that he had cheated on his wife.
His total was larger than that of the next five athletes combined, according to Forbes.
2. Soccer star David Beckham ($20 million)
3. Tennis player Roger Federer ($16 million)
4. NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. ($14 million)
5. NBA star LeBron James ($13 million)
6. NBA star Kobe Bryant ($12 million, respectively)
Although Nike and others have stood by Woods, Accenture Plc and AT&T dropped him as their pitch man after he became engulfed in allegations of multiple extramarital affairs following a minor car accident outside his Florida home on Nov. 27.
The most valuable team brand is English soccer club Manchester United, worth an estimated $270 million, just ahead of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees at $266 million, Forbes said.
Among sporting events, the NFL's Super Bowl championship game was the leader with an estimated value of $420 million, topping the Summer Olympic Games ($230 million) and the FIFA World Cup ($120 million), the magazine said.
Forbes said it ranked athletes based on endorsement income relative to peers in their sport; businesses based on the amount of an enterprise's private market value attributable to its name; teams based on the portion of their overall value not a result of market demographics and league; and events based on revenue generated per day of competition.
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STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES: * Last meeting was season opener in 2007, seven months after Colts won Super Bowl.
* All five of Saints' victories in series were consecutive, in 1986, '89, '95, '98 and 2001.
* Colts have won last two meetings.
* Saints making first trip to Super Bowl in their 43-year history.
* Saints won franchise record 13 games during season. They led NFL with 510 points, ninth most in NFL history.
* QB Drew Brees set NFL record with 70.62 completion percentage and topped league with career-high and franchise-record 109.6 rating. Brees had 4,388 yards passing, his fourth consecutive 4,000-yard season. In NFC title game, he threw for three TDs, giving him six in postseason. He has not been intercepted in playoffs.
* RB Pierre Thomas had 99 total yards and two touchdowns vs. Vikings. He led team with 793 yards rushing, had 302 receiving and scored eight times during season.
* RB Reggie Bush had huge game in playoff win over Arizona with 83-yard punt return TD, 84 yards rushing on just five carries, with a TD, and four receptions. Bush became second player in postseason history with touchdown rushing and on punt runback in same game, tying Hall of Famer Charley Trippi. He also scored once on reception vs. Minnesota, but muffed a punt.
* All-Pro S Darren Sharper tied for league lead with nine INTs. Sharper set NFL record for most interception return yards in a season with 376 and had three TDs.
* DE Will Smith had 13 sacks, second in NFC, but has none in postseason.
* 6 Saints have been to Super Bowl, although TEs Jeremy Shockey and David Thomas were on injured reserve when their teams got there. Those who were active: CB Randall Gay (Patriots), FB Kyle Eckel (Patriots), Sharper (Green Bay) and LS Jason Kyle (Carolina).
* Saints have two starters who went to University of Miami: MLB Jonathan Vilma and Shockey.
* Colts beat Bears 29-17 to win championship in February 2007 in Miami, the only Super Bowl played in rain.
* Franchise won Super Bowl representing Baltimore in January 1971, beating Dallas, and lost to Jets in January 1969, both also in Miami.
* Peyton Manning, the league's only four-time Most Valuable Player, is trying to become first reigning MVP to win Super Bowl since Kurt Warner in 1999.
* Manning set NFL record for 300-yard playoff games with his seventh in last week's win over Jets. Manning finished 26 of 39 for 377 yards to surpass Warner and Joe Montana. He's No. 3 in postseason completions.
* Dallas Clark needs 74 yards receiving to pass Brent Jones (740), Shannon Sharpe (814) and Keith Jackson (834) for most by a tight end in postseason history.
* Jim Caldwell is fifth rookie coach to make Super Bowl. San Francisco's George Seifert and Don McCafferty of Baltimore Colts are only rookie coaches to win Super Bowl.
* Indy allowed league-low 13 sacks in 2009, but has given up four in postseason.
* Colts ranked 24th against the rush during season, but have allowed only 173 yards in two playoffs. However, they've rushed for just 143.
* DE Dwight Freeney, who had 13 1/2 sacks this season, has ligament damage in right ankle, but hopes to play.
* 25 current Colts played in Super Bowl vs. Bears. Two other players who joined the Colts this year have previous experience: PK Matt Stover with Ravens in 2001 game, and DB Aaron Francisco last year with Arizona.
* Only Colt who played for Miami Hurricanes is WR Reggie Wayne. But he grew up in New Orleans, as did Manning.
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On National Signing Day, the Wisconsin Badgers welcomed in their newest class of football players and, in doing so, eeked their way in to the ESPN Top 30 recruiting class. The Badgers stand at #22 right now and the day's not done yet.
The two highest ranking recruits are: Frank Tamakloe - S out of Good Counsel H.S. (MD) 6'2'' / 172 Beau Allen - DT out of Minnetonka H.S. (MN) 6'3'' / 290
One of the more impressive signings is Joseph Brennan - QB out of Camden Catholic H.S. (NJ) who was also considering Rutgers, Miami, Stanford, Pittsburgh and Iowa.
Cody Byers, lb, 6-3, 225, Archbishop Alter, Centerville, Ohio
Sherard Cadogan, te, 6-3, 215, Camden Catholic, Washington Township, N.J.
Kyle Costigan ol/dt, 6-4, 280, Muskego HS, Wind Lake, Wis.
Manasseh Garner, te, 6-3, 218, Brashear HS, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Bryce Gilbert, dt, 6-0, 286, Brookfield Central HS, Brookfield, Wis.
Chase Hammond, wr, 6-4, 210, Boardman HS, Youngstown, Ohio
Josh Harrison, lb, 6-0, 225, Wayne HS, Huber Heights, Ohio
Rob Havenstein, ol, 6-8, 350, Linganore HS, Mount Airy, Md.
Warren Herring II, de, 6-3, 250, Belleville East HS, Fairview Heights, Ill.
Jake Irwin, de, 6-4, 243, Waunakee (Wis.) HS
Peniel Jean, cb, 5-11, 185, Palm Beach Central HS, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Dallas Lewallen, ol, 6-5, 302, Berlin (Wis.) HS
Jeffrey Lewis, rb, 6-1, 201, Brookfield Central HS, Brookfield, Wis.
Marquis Mason, wr, 6-3, 210, Madison East HS, Madison, Wis.
Joseph McNamara, dt, 6-2, 282, Cypress Bay HS, Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Cameron Ontko, lb, 5-11, 202, Walsh Jesuit, Seven Hills, Ohio
Frank Tamakloe, s, 6-3, 185, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Washington D.C.
Michael Trotter, s, 6-1, 206, Marquette HS, Racine, Wis.
James White, rb, 5-11, 195, St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Isaiah Williams, wr, 6-2, 195, Monsignor Edward Pace, Miami, Fla.
Jameson Wright, cb, 6-1, 178, Fort Pierce Westwood HS, Fort Pierce, Fla.
Konrad Zagzebski, lb, 6-4, 234, D.C. Everest HS, Weston, Wis.
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NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith sounded today as if he was definitely preparing for a lock-out in 2011. The NFL has also hired Bob Batterman, a high powered New York attorney who most recently presided over the NHL’s lockout of its players. This hiring is a clear indication that the NFL owners are more than ready to climb off of their perches and partake in financial war.
When March 5th rolls around the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA), for the most part, runs out and thus the uncapped year is upon us. Staring at a $3+ BILLION dollar industry, it’s amazing how these two sides can’t come to an agreement. What was once the poster-child for how to do things right is fast becoming the blueprint on how to screw up a good thing. While there are some minor tweaks that need to be adjusted this system seems to have been working well.
Some of the things that I believe need to be corrected are;
· A rookie salary cap including signing bonuses. Too many rookies making way too much money and they haven’t played a snap in the NFL, they haven’t stepped foot on to an NFL field yet. I’d rather see that money go to proven veterans that have earned it rather than the perceived potential of a rookie.
·Revenue sharing. The Jerry Jones’ of the world want to keep all of their own money and pay for their taj mahals while smaller market teams suffer. However, the smaller market teams (I’ll use Cincinnati as example because I’m more familiar with the inner workings there) like the Bengals need to be forced to use the money they receive on players and scouting to improve their product on the field and not to merely pay the additional bills to operate the franchise. The perception is that guys like Mike Brown (Bengals owner) are lining their pockets on the sweat, money and foresight of others.
·Retired players need medical and monetary assistance. Those who paved the way for today’s player need to be better compensated for their suffering. The money has vastly changed in the last 10 years and is worlds apart from where the game and it’s dollars were back in the 60’s and early 70’s. There are serious health concerns for the vets of yesterday and there needs to be more attention paid to those who blazed the path for the wild success of the game today.
From ESPN.com, here’s a look as to how we got to this point today: The players got the upper hand on the owners in 2006, the last time they hashed out a CBA. The players were able to renegotiate what revenues were considered a part of the financial pie, from which they would receive about 60 percent.
The salary cap skyrocketed from $80 million per team in 2005 to $102 million the next year. In each subsequent season, the cap climbed to about $109 million, $116 million and $128 million for the 2009 season. The salary floor -- the amount of money teams are forced to spend -- was $112 million this season, or $32 million more than the highest ceiling under the previous CBA. By doing so, the owners froze the percentage of revenues dedicated to player costs at 57.5 percent.
In 2008, the owners voted unanimously to exercise a clause that allowed either side to opt out of the CBA one or two years early.
The leagues (owners) perspective basically equals money, as does the players but in the owner’s case they are taking a majority of the financial risk with larger and larger portions of the revenue pie going to the players. The players would love to see the status quo; salary caps going higher and higher and no restriction on guaranteed signing bonuses, less money to the veterans which means more money for the current rosters and a lot of the “say” power including the nixing of an 18 game season. The questions are; who will blink first, with so much on the line and the game of football as wildly successful as it is today, can the NFL survive a public and messy labor dispute and how much will football fans stand for?
Even though a recent victory by the NFLPA to keeps the revenue sharing viable thru 2011, which means that the small market teams will be competitive in the free agent bidding this offseason vs. the larger market teams, this is a short term victory. Even with that flow of money, small market teams may hedge their bets and keep a lot of their own capital in an effort to survive a lengthy labor dispute and work stoppage.
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You are more than welcome to view, read and respond to this blog. I appreciate your participation. Profane or offensive language and/or responses in poor taste of any kind will be cause for the deletion of your response. Repeat offenders will have their computer IP addresses banned permanently from blog response capability.
Odds to win the 2011 Super Bowl XLV
For as much hype as Saints Defensive Coordinator, Gregg Williams, received this past week for his tough comments regarding his defense’s attitude towards Peyton Manning, Williams came up with a brilliant game plan. Drew Brees took home the Super Bowl MVP hardware, and rightfully so, for the way he played but Williams should be recognized for his coaching masterpiece in holding Manning and the Colts to a mere 17 points. Williams’ Saints mixed it up with 3 and 4 down linemen, mixing in 3 and 4 linebackers and continuously disguising the blitz pressure to the point that Manning, and his receivers, looked confused at times. Early on, Manning to Dallas Clark seemed to be the key for the Colts to sustain a drive but it was Williams who then figured out how to keep Clark occupied with blocking and chipping schemes to exclude the Indianapolis tight end from being truly effective. Colts wide out Reggie Wayne showed signs of still being a bit dinged up but even he looked confused at times. Then came the comments after the game by Saints DB, Tracy Porter, whose pick-6 solidified the win for New Orleans. Porter said, “It was coach’s (Williams) who gave us the film and made us study every down. He told us to trust what we see and be aggressive.” Porter elaborated on the 3rd down interception of Manning, “It’s something we saw on film. They ran that play a lot and coach just told us, if you see it, jump it (the pass route) and that’s what I did.”
The business magazine estimated in its second annual "Fab 40" list that Woods still represents the top sports brand by an athlete, with an estimated value of $82 million.
On National Signing Day, the Wisconsin Badgers welcomed in their newest class of football players and, in doing so, eeked their way in to the ESPN Top 30 recruiting class. The Badgers stand at #22 right now and the day's not done yet.
NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith sounded today as if he was definitely preparing for a lock-out in 2011. The NFL has also hired Bob Batterman, a high powered New York attorney who most recently presided over the NHL’s lockout of its players. This hiring is a clear indication that the NFL owners are more than ready to climb off of their perches and partake in financial war.
