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In today’s day an age, have you ever heard of an athlete getting into trouble where a night club, a gentleman’s club, a gun, alcohol, an altercation stemming from said nightclub, gentleman’s club hasn’t’ contributed to the incident playing itself out?Excluding the tragic death of Washington Redskins, Sean Taylor, there hasn’t been a single incident that was considered a “random act”. Now you have the most recent story of Plaxico Burress carrying a loaded gun, into a nightclub in New York. The gun slides down the pant leg of Burress and as he trys to finagle it back up, the trigger’s pulled and the gun goes off, shooting Burress in the thigh.
Now, while Burress receives only a minor gunshot wound, you can help but wonder what if; What if that would have hit his femoral artery? What if the bullet would have found it’s way into one of his teammates? What if that gunshot would have found it’s way into the preverbal innocent bystander?When will athletes learn that they, and they alone, are their own worst enemy? To carry a loaded gun, in the state of New York, in New York City mind you, has to be the stupidest thing you can do. No, wait, SHOOTING YOURSELF has to be the stupidest thing you can do but carrying the weapon runs a close second. In New York, they have the toughest gun laws in the country. It’s a MANDATORY 3 ½ years for this type of offense. On top of that, Burress has been charged with an additional felony of carrying a concealed weapon with the intent to unlawfully discharge the weapon. In other words, why carry a loaded gun unless you intend to use it?
Forget about how Burress let down his teammates, the coaching staff, the organization, and the fans. He’s, again, let down the league. The NFL is so image conscience right now, how he could even fathom doing something so incredibly stupid is beyond the rationale of normal thinking. I said NORMAL thinking. You have to believe that Burress is only sorry that he shot himself, not that he’s truly sorry for carrying the weapon to begin with. He was only thinking of himself and impressing his friends. Giants’ linebacker, Antonio Pierce, was with Burress and knew of the weapon. According to reports, it was Pierce who noticed that Burress’ gun had begun to slide down his pant leg. Pierce must have felt really safe hangnin’ with a buddy that’s packin’ for his protection.Not that I’m a big Plaxico Burress fan to begin with but I’m not going to be sorry for one millisecond if Plaxico goes to prison. I understand that million dollar athletes live in a different world and there are different pressures and threats but I’m tired of them thinking that there’s a different law. One that applies to you and me and one that applies to them. It’s time the justice system and the NFL make an example of yet another athlete and this selfish human being seems to be the perfect poster child for that. You can almost guarantee that Pacman Jones will be banished at some point but he’s been given numerous chances to make himself right and he’s failed miserably. Just wait though, you know he’s “on the clock”. Maybe the Burress incident will scare him straight? Yeah…me too, I doubt it. If he hasn’t gotten it by now, he never will. Michael Vick was the first domino in the line of current players who have seen prison time but, in today’s world, his conviction is a distant memory. We need idiots like Burress to go to prison once every year or two to remind the others that this too can happen to you if you do something stupid.I guess the larger question looming is, What kind of nightclub is it if you have to carry a loaded gun and more importantly, why would you want to hang out there?
Go away Plaxico, your time has now too past. Good luck at the single gender dance.
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I can only imagine that the conversation went this way;
SFX: Knock knock knock
Ted Thompson: “Come in”
SFX: Door opens and closes
Mike Stock: Ted, I think I’ve got the answers to the punting problem.
Thompson: Really, do tell Mike
Stock: Yeah, his name is Derrick Frost. He was with the Redskins last year and they don’t want him anymore. I worked with this kid before and he’s got great hang time and can drop it inside the 20 consistently.
Thompson: So you believe in this guy? You know, John Ryan’s been pretty decent and has really worked hard in the offseason to get better. John’s got that booming leg ya know?
Stock: I understand but I’m telling ya Ted, this is THE guy. He’ll be a big asset to the special teams and the coverage. I believe in this guy. If it were me, I’d dump Ryan and pick Derrick up in a minute.
Thompson: Well, if you feel that strongly, I’ll take a look at him on film but I trust your judgment.
SFX: Stock opening the office door
Stock: You won’t regret this move Ted.
With each waffling gaff that we call a punt, do you get the feeling that Thompson cringes with regret?
Mike Stock’s special teams were good last year. They were an asset actually. Bringing in Derrick Frost has been a huge mistake, there’s no doubt about that. In addition, I don’t think people realize how big the loss of Tracy White has been on coverage teams. But it’s not just White’s absence; it’s this team’s inability to be fundamental. Fundamental meaning; staying in your gaps, tackling, getting off of blocks, taking better angles in coverage.
Mike Stock has come under fire by the fans, the mass media and yours truly…and deservedly so.
I was watching Frost, before the game yesterday, practice. Mike Stock stood 3 to 5 yards away from the inadequate punter and spoke with “his guy” after each kick. Let me tell you, Frost was no better in practice than he was in the game. One kick would sail like a strategically placed missile. The next, would wobble like dual prop plane that’s lost an engine. At one point, while kicking out of the endzone, Frost hit a wobbler sideways and Stock walked away from “his guy” shaking his head in disgust. Maybe Stock was feeling the same frustration that Packers fans have been experiencing for some time now.
Photo By Jim Beaver (Frost & Stock in warm-ups)
Will the poor special teams play cost Stock his job, we’ll wait and see but this has certainly been a momentum killer throughout the season and something that needs to be addressed, again, in the offseason.
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We’ve concentrated on the defensive line, the offensive line and the lack of special teams play. One thing we haven’t discussed, because of the overly powerful microscope that’s been placed upon him already, is Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers, to the amazement of many, has played extremely well. He’s one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the league statistically. He’s proven his durability and his toughness by taking numerous shots and bouncing right back up from them. He’s been a stand-up guy and has publicly and personally taken the blame for losses.
But, when will that intangible come? When will Rodgers take his team down the field for that game winning score? When will Rodgers throw that pass, which no one else could have made, that finds a receiver in full gallop and his momentum takes him out of bounds to stop the clock thus continuing the drive? When will Rodgers, in a surgeonesque way, pick apart a defense and put his team into the end zone for that game winning score? Eventually……but when?
Rodgers, with 1:24 left in the ball game yesterday, deep in his own territory, threw two passes. One found its way to Greg Jennings for a first down. The second pass, found it’s way into the hands of Carolina Panther, Jon Beason and the comeback hopes of the Packers and their fans, and quite possibly their season, ended right there.Brett Favre’s last pass as a Green Bay Packer was an interception that was rifled to the only double covered receiver on the field, Donald Driver. At that moment, the Packer management attitude became, “He can win regular season games but he can no longer win the big one. Anyone can throw picks when the pressure’s on.”
While I understand that Rodgers is in his first year and he’s done a tremendous job making many forget about the aura of #4 but at some Rodgers has to win a ball game. He has to throw the team on his back and, as a field general would lead his troops, will his team thru the metaphoric battle to a “W”.
The future is in good hands, you’ve gotta believe that. But, Rodgers needs to get over that hump for his legacy to truly begin. Underthrowing a receiver on 2nd down with time left, well….well, that’s unacceptable. Just lofting it up there was part of the frustration of being a Brett Favre fan. There’s a step higher that the Packers brass are aiming for and Rodgers needs to aim there too.
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Both the Packers and the Panthers defenses were less than admirable in their last outing. Carolina was beat up in a 45-28 loss to Atlanta and the Packers, well, they were shamed on Monday Night Football by the New Orleans Saints to the tune of 51-29. The loss, more importantly, dropped the Packers out of first place in the NFC North. With Chicago and Minnesota playing one another today in the Metrodome, its imperative that the Packers keep pace with a win here at Lambeau today. If the Packers should fall 2 games behind in the division, with only 4 games remaining, it could be all but over for the Packers post-season hopes.
With weather looming, it’s simple for both teams, run the ball. The Packers, before being forced to air it out in the Super Dome, Ryan Grant was gashing the Saints defense for an average of 4 yards per carry and 64 yards in the first half alone. The Packers run game and offense will be their best defense. Meanwhile, Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams has 4 straight 100 yard rushing performances, looking for his 5th in a row.
While this is a must-win for the Packers (5-6), the Panthers (8-3) are currently tied atop the NFC South with Tampa Bay so Carolina won’t be playing with the same sense of urgency the Packers will be.
Look for a “bounce back” day by the Packers defense including an interception or two from that humbled secondary and a much better performance by quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
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It's Thanksgiving and we're supposed to think about the things that we truly appreciate. While I am thankful for many things in my life, especially in these times that have hit many American's much harder than myself, I think about the things that you, me and every other person has to endure. So I now give you my list of things, in no particular order, that I'm NOT-SO Thankful For, things that....for lack of a better term, CHAP MY...well, you get the picture;
• The Detriot Lions playing on national TV today
• Watching Lebron James throw his cloud of dust into the air prior to tip off
• The New York Yankees
• NCAA officials who can't figure out a BCS playoff system
• People who can't sing the Star Spangled Banner the way it was written
• Brian Urlacher for using his 3 year old kid to get back at his ex
• Super Agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Scott Boras
• Oakland Raiders owner, Al Davis, "Just Go Away Baby"!
NOTE: Cincinnati Bengals owner, Mike Brown, can be flip flopped with Davis
They're both pathetic and living in the past.
• Stephon Marbury, of the New York Knicks, what a classless jerk.
If collusion were allowed, this moron is the poster child.
• The NFL Network. Figure it out already! You can't be hurting that bad for cash,
heck you're fining everyone for everything.
• Manny Ramirez, the guy is a selfish teammate and now he's going to get millions
• Fans who stand up and wave into the camera while they're on their cell phones
• ESPN for showing; competitive eating, poker, duck calling and fishing and calling them a sport
• Tampa Bay Rays fans; those losers didn't show up until the playoffs
• Roger Clemens, you took roids, we all know it. Even your WIFE tookem'.
• Reggie Bush's girlfriend, Kim Kardashian. Come on Reggie, you can do better!
• Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengal, your act has grown old and you're not that
good anymore. Catch a pass once in a while.
• MMA Fighter, Kimbo Slice. He got beat in 14 seconds. Shave your beard and
sell cheese burgers through a clown's head.
• Former track star, Marion Jones. You're guilty and you cry on Oprah, GO AWAY already.
• Brett Favre fans who can't get over it. You know who you are.
There ya have it. My list of 20 things that make me scream. Happy Thanksgiving!
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