I have to admit, I am elated that the Giants won. I'm equally elated that they wiped that goofy grin off of Tony Romo's face. There was an interesting lesson in discipline, talking, and playing that game out of that game. The Dallas players, many of them All-pro trash talked all week as to what they were going to do to the Giants. They had defeated the Giants twice already and were going to be going against a team with a banged up secondary while Dallas had its full contingent of receivers. So they talked and talked and talked. The Giants players had little to say.
Sometimes players believe their own talk and suddenly find that they talked themselves into a loss. In the NFL the game is won by the players playing on the field. Talk is cheap unless you back it up. Silence, on the other hand, never gives anything way.
Tony Romo is a talented player but he lost his cool yesterday. Players who lose their cool, especially quarterbacks, tend to lose. And, frankly, this had nothing to do with his weekend away with Jessica Simpson. Unless it was a distraction to his team mates, stories on that were simply gossip and silly.
The Packers are a formidable foe. Brett Favre is not Tony Romo and will not trash talk this week.
The Patriots. Wow. Tom Brady was almost perfect. One of his incompletions was a drop. I'd love to see the Giants in the Super Bowl but I can't imagine anyone defeating the Pats this year. They are that good.
Lovie Smith coached his team to the Super Bowl last year. Here's what he needs to learn.
All four teams going into this weekend have quarterbacks who can carry the game on their shoulders and win. Favre always has. Rivers demonstrated he could. Brady. Wow. Manning led a 47 second drive to tie the game before the half and has played incredibly well. Both the Bucs and Cowboys made him beat them and he did. The Bears do not have this kind of quarterback. Lovie needs to get one. He also needs to get some offensive linemen. The biggest problem with the Bears offense is that no matter who is running or passing, they are not getting much blocking.
Was the Colts defensive coordinator on vacation? I can't help but wonder if he came to the game. Seriously. They weren't getting pressure and no one called any blitzes. No one called for pressure on the Chargers' quarterback. When their back up came in it was time for a 'welcome to the turf' kind of blitz and nothing. No matter how could your secondary is, when a quarterback has the time to order a hot dog and drink a beer, that secondary will not be able to cover receivers.
Speaking of Tony Romo. Well, I wasn't, but there are random thoughts. His girlfriend is Jessica Simpson who, I guess, is famous. I don't have a clue what she does. I read that she's a singer but I don't recall her singing. All I know her for is getting her picture taken.
Terrell Owens wept about people being mean to Tony Romo about his Cabo trip with Jessica Simpson. He decreed to the world that he always has his quarterback's back.
Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb were probably amazed at that statement. It is true, to the extent that Owens always has their back.....with a target on it......so he can thrown this knife and stab them in the back that he has covered.
I'm betting that Tony Dungy retires. He's had a great coaching career and he's one of those guys who I think that when he retires, will stay retired.
Arthur Blank of the Falcons is interested in USC coach Pete Carroll. He thinks that a successful college coach is just the answer. Here's my question. Does this man have a learning curve? I have three names for him to remember. Bobby Petrino, Bobby Petrino, and Bobby Petrino.
I actually saw Chris Redman being interviewed by some sports reporters in a local dining establishment in Louisville. Redman played well for the Falcons and should be able to either sign with them again or sign with someone else. He looked like the quarterback Brian Billick could have had in Baltimore had he (Billick) demonstrated some patience with a young quarterback. I hope that Chris Redman signs a contract someplace and does well. He is a class act.
I'm wondering how long it will take Daniel Snyder (owner of the Redskins) to call Bobby Petrino. It seems like it's about the time for Petrino to be planning to move.
Speaking of learning curves. Two years ago Tony Dungy rested his players and they came out flat and lost to the Steelers. Last year the players played till the end and they came out sharp. This year....
The lesson is that if you're flat in the playoffs you will lose. The level of competition is too good. Every team in the playoffs has demonstrated an ability to win. Any advantage you give anyone, will cost you.
Speaking of costing. Kevin Boss is making good catches as the Giants tight end. He's not a great blocker, but he has good hands and runs good routes. Unlike Jeremy Shockey, he doesn't lose his cool and have huge penalties called against him.
Finally, the experts picked the Giants to win between 4 and 6 games this year. The players, we were told, were disgusted that the Giants organization brought back Tom Coughlin. These guys, we find out, were loyal to their coach and wanted him back. The biggest distraction they had is now discussing pantyhose on the Today Show. The Giants, for their part, are now playing with house money and have no pressure. They've had a great season----no matter what happens.
But I'm not ready for it to be over as of yet!!!
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