Tuesday Morning Quarterback

Yes, I know that I’m supposed to be a Monday morning quarterback but I didn’t get around to it until Tuesday.

First, and most obvious, hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the Redskins’ Sean Taylor who was shot and ultimately killed in what appears to be a break in at his house. It is a tragic crime and is terribly sad.

This weekend in the NFL was not a good one for me.

I’d begin by saying that my Giants played the Vikings. That would be strong. My Giants laid down like dogs in front of the Vikings might be a better image. The game ball for the Vikings should have gone to Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning who was significantly more accurate throwing to Viking defenders than he was to Giants’ receivers. He threw three touchdown passes to Viking defenders and one was run back to the Giants’ 8 yard line. In his post game interview Manning had his “Aw schuck’s” attitude and or lack of reaction. Peyton plays with a fire in his belly and Eli just seems to lack much development as an NFL quarterback. Having said that, the Giants’ defense allowed a 9 minute drive against them in the third quarter. This was a team that deserved to lose.

It’s obvious that the Eagles didn’t get the memo that you’re supposed to become rugs when you play the Patriots and let them walk all over you. They played an amazing game against the Patriots.

A.J. Feeley needs to be the Eagles’ new starting quarterback. Donovan McNaab has always lived with a monkey on his back since the comedian Rush Limbaugh’s in his failed attempt at being a sport’s analyst made his incredibly ignorant comments about McNaab. Being a Giants’ fan, on the receiving end of McNaab’s playing ability, I know he was a quality quarterback in the NFL. There is a hill that he seems to have gone over, however. He’d be better off playing for the Ravens who seem to delight in getting over the hill quarterbacks in their team.

The Dolphins and the Steelers game. THAT is real football. Fun. Probably nasty to play in, but fun to watch. It is amazing, however, how good teams always manage to win.

Do you get the impression that the golden carriage has turned into a pumpkin for the Lions and the Titans?

And that the pumpkin has turned into a carriage for the Browns?

I think that I saw Jeff George warming up on the Ravens’ sideline last weekend.

Here is my prediction. The Giants’ next two games are against the Bears and the Eagles. The Giants were, at one point, 7-2. In two weeks they will be 7-6 and history will repeat itself with a second half of the season collapse. Will Tom Coughlin survive another collapse? I doubt it.

Jack Del Rio cut Byron Leftwich just a bit more than a week before the season began. He placed the team’s fate and his own fate as the Jags head coach by choosing to go with David Garrard. Talk about good decisions. In watching Leftwich in Atlanta, it’s obvious that is biggest problem is his incredibly slow release. In his last game with the Falcons one of the beer vendors sold three beers from the time that Leftwich saw the open receiver to the time the ball left his hand...

And saving the best for last. Todd Sauerbrun. Before the game against the Bears he boasted that he would not kick away from the Bear’s Devin Hester. You know, Devin Hester who FEASTS on returns. Often the only thing that stops his returns are the walls of the stadium. Opposing special team players certainly haven’t.

Then there is Todd Sauerbrun. He wasn’t afraid of Devin Hester. Too manly for that.

He punted to Hester. The last player he had to beat was Sauerbrun. Hester cut, and Sauerbrun was so faked out his jockstrap hit one of the officials standing by. Touchdown. Lesson learned.

But, no, this is the manly and brilliant Todd Sauerbrun. He also kicks off for the Broncos. He kicks off directly to...

One can only speculate on what he was thinking. The Bears had two number 23's. Two guys named Devin Hester. One guy who returned punts, another guy, same name, same number, but very slow returned kicks. So, the manly and brilliant Todd Sauerbrun kicked off directly to Devin Hester.

One person to beat. Todd Sauerbrun. Sauerbrun’s jock strap landed in some guy’s beer in the third tow and Hester scored a touchdown.

Later on the manly and brilliant Todd Sauerbrun decided, finally, to not kick to Hester. He turned right into a blitzing guy and kicked it to him. Blocked punt returned for at touchdown.

After the game, the manly and brilliant Todd Sauerbrun said that Devin Hester had won it for the Bears.

No Todd, you did.