The Oscars are upon us now. It is nice to think about trivial and meaningless stuff in light of the mess going on in our country and our planet. I won't be able to say to much since I have seen precisely zero of the 9 Best Picture nominees. As a huge fan of "Whiplash," I am going to check out "La La Land" as soon as possible. Otherwise, I will give some general insight and conjecture.
Snubs: We will start with the one that annoyed me the most: Deadpool. This entertaining, hilarious, raunchy film was a blast to watch from beginning to end. I kind of knew that this was going to happen, but I was still disappointed. This deserved nominations for screenplay, picture, and acting (Ryan Reynolds was born to play the Merc with a Mouth). It didn't get a single nomination. Once again, the Academy's snobbery prevents them from honoring a comic book/superhero movie, let alone one as blatantly R-rated as Deadpool. To add insult to injury, "Suicide Squad," another comic book-themed movie, received a nomination for hair and makeup, and several critics and friends said it was a total shitshow. As a friend pointed out, the only time one of these movies got an honor it deserved is when Heath Ledger died (He won posthumously for his spot-on performance as The Joker). I agree that he earned the nomination and win by dying. "Rogue One" was better than "The Force Awakens," and may have deserved nods for Picture, score (Giacchino nailed it!) and screenplay. I was surprised to see that Denzel Washington was not nominated for directing, because the Academy seems to love actors who direct. Mel Gibson received a nod for "Hacksaw Ridge," and he is anti-Semitic. This is all moot, because the great Damien Chazelle takes the trophy this year. Finally, "10 Cloverfield Lane" may very well be the best movie no one saw this year. The psychological thriller, which is very loosely connected to "Cloverfield," is tense, suspenseful and well-acted. The screenplay (co-written by "La La Land" writer/director Chazelle) and John Goodman both deserve nominations.
God hates Amy Adams: I stand by my statement that Amy Adams is the new Leo DiCaprio, since Leo broke the curse by pulling off a win last year by playing outside in cold weather, and getting accosted by a bear. Poor Amy has five nominations, no wins, and no nomination this year for what was supposedly a great performance in "Arrival." Best Actress was a controversial category this year, because Meryl Streep received her 20th nomination for "Florence Foster Jenkins," and she supposedly wasn't all that great. Many believe she was nominated because of her reputation and pedigree, as well as her incendiary anti-Trump speech at the Golden Globes, after which noted Twitter film critic D.J. Trump referred to the legendary actress as "overrated" in 140 characters.
Not a snub: Some people were kvetching about "Finding Dory" missing the cut for Best Animated Film. It just wasn't that good. It was engaging and entertaining, but lacked the characterization or emotional depth of "Finding Nemo." Thanks to comfortable reclining seats, my wife was fast asleep for the majority of this movie. I do wish "Sing," an entertaining family film about the pure joy that comes from performing for an audience, was nominated in this category.
#Oscarsnotsowhite: Finally, there is some diversity in the Oscar nominations. 6 African Americans, and 7 nonwhites, if you count the talented Dev Patel, are nominated this year. Anything is an improvement over the past two years. As I said last year, this all starts with the writing and casting process, and many good screenplays were written that focused on diversity. Keep up the good work.
Other surprises (pleasant and not-so-pleasant): "Can't Stop the Feeling," the Justin Timberlake song from "Trolls," is catchy and makes you want to dance. This deserves to be here. I just hope the don't go over the top at the show with a big choreographed number and a bunch of people in silly costumes. "O.J.: Made In America" was a top-notch documentary about the legendary football player and acquitted murderer that was comprehensive and well-researched.
Prognostications: "La La Land," which received a whopping 14 nominations and swept at the Golden Globes, is the obvious early favorite, and it is essentially a love letter to Hollywood and the movies, which the Academy will eat up. But a surprising win by "Hidden Figures" for ensemble cast at the SAG Awards may change the tide. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone will ride the "La La Land" train to acting awards, as will Damien Chazelle, who will become one of the most sought-after young directors in Hollywood. I wonder which Marvel movie he ends up directing. I would have to see the movies to predict the supporting actor and actress winners.
But none of this matters: Why? Because the part of this show most people will be paying attention to is the "In Memoriam" montage after the carnage of 2016. I wonder who they will forget that will have people moaning and groaning for weeks. Last year it was Abe Vigoda and Joan Rivers. By the way, the recent SAG Awards honored Vigoda.
Looking forward to another plodding, self-important evening of patting each other on the back and insulting the President of the United States.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Monday, December 12, 2016
Football weeks 11-14: Ugh!
It has been a busy few weeks in both college and pro football. Let's jump into it.
We are... Big Ten Champions! Penn State was able rally in the second half and beat Wisconsin to win the Big Ten title and the overall No. 5 ranking. Much to the chagrin of Nittany Lions fans, they did not make the college football playoff, with the no. 3 seed awarded to Ohio State and the 4th spot going to Washington. Penn State still goes to the Rose Bowl on New Years' Day. I can't say I disagree with the playoff selections. Penn State may have won the conference, and beat Ohio State in a head-to head matchup. I think they were doomed by their 2-2 start to the season and the loss to Pitt, which, in the end, was a strong football team. Still, the Lions are going to a high-profile New Years' Day bowl, and most importantly, the team is back on the national stage. Since the awful events of 2011, Penn State has been viewed as a joke and an afterthought. When Michigan coach and all-around douche Jim Harbaugh was asked what he thought of Penn State, his response was "I don't." Suffice it to say Penn State football is back in a big way, and they are only going to get better from here on out (not a guarantee).
Now to the pro game:
The Philly Phumblers: Tough times for the Eagles. They have dropped 4 in a row and are now 5-8. Although it is mathematically possible, it would take an act of God for the Eagles to get to the playoffs. Their first three games were incredible, and rookie QB Carson Wentz looked great. Although Wentz has a future with this team, he needs more experience before he can lead this team to the playoffs. He is a little shaky, and he turns the ball over too much, evident after the game-ending sack/fumble against the Potomac Basin Indegenous People on Sunday. I was pretty upset when Fox sportscaster Howie "Action Goes Long*" laid into the Eagles, saying the QB was green, there are no great receivers, they don't know how to finish games, and will be lucky to go 8-8 for the season. The worst part is everything he said is 100 percent accurate. The Eagles need receivers who will catch the ball, a consistent running game, a better pass rush, and a willingness to play for 60 minutes. Few things are more frustrating than dropped passes in the end zone, and a long kick return TD to be negated by an illegal block in the back penalty.
Snapper wanted: The Eagles couldn't kick a field goal because both of their long snappers were injured. They had a few players on the sidelines practicing long snaps. Trey Burton eventually got the job. His snap was high, but punter Donnie Jones got it down so Caleb Sturgis could make the FG in the fourth quarter.
Bell ringer: The Steelers took a must-win game against the Bills, thanks mostly to Le'Veon Bell, who broke a bunch of franchise records with 298 all-purpose yards, more than the entire Bills offense (he also scored 70 fantasy points for my opponent). I suggest the Ryan brothers enjoy their time in Buffalo while they still can. If the Bills lose to the Browns this weekend, they should start packing.
The axe has fallen: People who have been waiting years for pro football to return to the City of Angels are, well, still waiting. After a 4-9 season and a 42-14 loss to Atlanta, coach Jeff Fisher is sacked, and special teams coach John Fassel takes over as interim coach. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is a realistic possibility to take over permanantly. Fisher will be the first of several coaching casualties this season. On the other hand, 49ers management has insisted that coach Chip Kelly will be back next season.
The Pack is Back: After many people wrote off the Packers as having a legitimate shot this year, they make a big statement by routing the Seahawks 38-10, with a strong offense and defense. Russell Wilson gives another pitiful performance, throwing a career-high 5 picks, and laying another egg for my fantasy team, who has lost 4 of their last 5.
Wardrobe Malfunction: Last week, Panthers coach Ron Rivera benched QB Cam Newton for violating the team's dress code policy. Coach Rivera made his point, but at what cost? On Sunday, Newton and Rivera hugged after the national anthem. Aww.
Let it Snow: Unsurprisingly, it snowed in Buffalo during the Steelers-Bills tilt. They threw rubber pellets on the turf to soften the field. The start of the second half was delayed to remove the pellets from the field. Some smart aleck on the Steelers sideline wrote "No Shit" with their foot on the sideline, and the CBS camera caught it. Whoopsie.
Hot Feet: Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker (no relation) was 3-for-3 on 50-plus yard field goals in week 12 vs. the Bengals. He hit another long shot last week vs. the Dolphins. He finally revealed himself to be human on Monday when a 34-yard attempt was blocked by the Patriots. Texans kicker Nick Novak was 5-for-5 during the Moo Cows' road win Sunday.
The Cowgirls are human after all: The Giants were able to snap Dallas' 11-game win streak, and prevented them from clinching the division. I realize the Cowboys are playoff-bound no matter what happens in December, but this still brings a big smile to my face. This also opens the door for Detroit, yes, the Lions, to become the No. 1 seed in the NFC and earn a first-round bye in the playoffs. Also, Jerry Jones has said that, even though Romo is now healthy, he will serve as the backup to rookie Dak Prescott, who obviously has the hot hand. Romo is not surprised and he is being a gentleman, unlike Sam Bradford, who had a hissy fit after Carson Wentz was drafted. This tantrum got him traded, and he is just OK for the Vikings. Either Prescott or Zeke Elliott is a shoo-in for Rookie of the Year.
Three more games: That's all Cleveland needs to lose to go 0-16 and get a "celebratory" parade in the Mistake by the Lake. They are probably going to lose to the Chargers and the Steelers, but have a legitimate shot at beating the Bills this Sunday. On the other hand, RG3 is the starter for the remainder of the season.
Adventures in officiating:
Excessive celebration? A player was flagged in Chicago for making a snow angel in the end zone. Raiders punter Marquette King is penalized for picking up the penalty flag and doing a funny dance with it.
Ouch! Redskins safety Deshazor Everett landed a helmet-to-helmet cheap shot on Eagles RB Ryan Mathews, knocking him out of consciousness and the game. Eagles players then went after Everett. He was given a 15-yard personal foul, when he should have been ejected from the game.
Which team? Jeff Triplette, the king of blown calls, borked another one Sunday when He called a hands-to-the-face penalty against the Lions when it clearly was a Bears defensive lineman committing the violation.
*"Action Goes Long" was the tagline for "Firestorm," a box office bomb starring Long. It was supposed to be a Stallone vehicle, but the studio went bust and couldn't afford Sly. I find the tagline amusing because Howie Long was a defensive end, not a wide receiver. Defensive ends don't catch passes, let alone long ones.
We are... Big Ten Champions! Penn State was able rally in the second half and beat Wisconsin to win the Big Ten title and the overall No. 5 ranking. Much to the chagrin of Nittany Lions fans, they did not make the college football playoff, with the no. 3 seed awarded to Ohio State and the 4th spot going to Washington. Penn State still goes to the Rose Bowl on New Years' Day. I can't say I disagree with the playoff selections. Penn State may have won the conference, and beat Ohio State in a head-to head matchup. I think they were doomed by their 2-2 start to the season and the loss to Pitt, which, in the end, was a strong football team. Still, the Lions are going to a high-profile New Years' Day bowl, and most importantly, the team is back on the national stage. Since the awful events of 2011, Penn State has been viewed as a joke and an afterthought. When Michigan coach and all-around douche Jim Harbaugh was asked what he thought of Penn State, his response was "I don't." Suffice it to say Penn State football is back in a big way, and they are only going to get better from here on out (not a guarantee).
Now to the pro game:
The Philly Phumblers: Tough times for the Eagles. They have dropped 4 in a row and are now 5-8. Although it is mathematically possible, it would take an act of God for the Eagles to get to the playoffs. Their first three games were incredible, and rookie QB Carson Wentz looked great. Although Wentz has a future with this team, he needs more experience before he can lead this team to the playoffs. He is a little shaky, and he turns the ball over too much, evident after the game-ending sack/fumble against the Potomac Basin Indegenous People on Sunday. I was pretty upset when Fox sportscaster Howie "Action Goes Long*" laid into the Eagles, saying the QB was green, there are no great receivers, they don't know how to finish games, and will be lucky to go 8-8 for the season. The worst part is everything he said is 100 percent accurate. The Eagles need receivers who will catch the ball, a consistent running game, a better pass rush, and a willingness to play for 60 minutes. Few things are more frustrating than dropped passes in the end zone, and a long kick return TD to be negated by an illegal block in the back penalty.
Snapper wanted: The Eagles couldn't kick a field goal because both of their long snappers were injured. They had a few players on the sidelines practicing long snaps. Trey Burton eventually got the job. His snap was high, but punter Donnie Jones got it down so Caleb Sturgis could make the FG in the fourth quarter.
Bell ringer: The Steelers took a must-win game against the Bills, thanks mostly to Le'Veon Bell, who broke a bunch of franchise records with 298 all-purpose yards, more than the entire Bills offense (he also scored 70 fantasy points for my opponent). I suggest the Ryan brothers enjoy their time in Buffalo while they still can. If the Bills lose to the Browns this weekend, they should start packing.
The axe has fallen: People who have been waiting years for pro football to return to the City of Angels are, well, still waiting. After a 4-9 season and a 42-14 loss to Atlanta, coach Jeff Fisher is sacked, and special teams coach John Fassel takes over as interim coach. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is a realistic possibility to take over permanantly. Fisher will be the first of several coaching casualties this season. On the other hand, 49ers management has insisted that coach Chip Kelly will be back next season.
The Pack is Back: After many people wrote off the Packers as having a legitimate shot this year, they make a big statement by routing the Seahawks 38-10, with a strong offense and defense. Russell Wilson gives another pitiful performance, throwing a career-high 5 picks, and laying another egg for my fantasy team, who has lost 4 of their last 5.
Wardrobe Malfunction: Last week, Panthers coach Ron Rivera benched QB Cam Newton for violating the team's dress code policy. Coach Rivera made his point, but at what cost? On Sunday, Newton and Rivera hugged after the national anthem. Aww.
Let it Snow: Unsurprisingly, it snowed in Buffalo during the Steelers-Bills tilt. They threw rubber pellets on the turf to soften the field. The start of the second half was delayed to remove the pellets from the field. Some smart aleck on the Steelers sideline wrote "No Shit" with their foot on the sideline, and the CBS camera caught it. Whoopsie.
Hot Feet: Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker (no relation) was 3-for-3 on 50-plus yard field goals in week 12 vs. the Bengals. He hit another long shot last week vs. the Dolphins. He finally revealed himself to be human on Monday when a 34-yard attempt was blocked by the Patriots. Texans kicker Nick Novak was 5-for-5 during the Moo Cows' road win Sunday.
The Cowgirls are human after all: The Giants were able to snap Dallas' 11-game win streak, and prevented them from clinching the division. I realize the Cowboys are playoff-bound no matter what happens in December, but this still brings a big smile to my face. This also opens the door for Detroit, yes, the Lions, to become the No. 1 seed in the NFC and earn a first-round bye in the playoffs. Also, Jerry Jones has said that, even though Romo is now healthy, he will serve as the backup to rookie Dak Prescott, who obviously has the hot hand. Romo is not surprised and he is being a gentleman, unlike Sam Bradford, who had a hissy fit after Carson Wentz was drafted. This tantrum got him traded, and he is just OK for the Vikings. Either Prescott or Zeke Elliott is a shoo-in for Rookie of the Year.
Three more games: That's all Cleveland needs to lose to go 0-16 and get a "celebratory" parade in the Mistake by the Lake. They are probably going to lose to the Chargers and the Steelers, but have a legitimate shot at beating the Bills this Sunday. On the other hand, RG3 is the starter for the remainder of the season.
Adventures in officiating:
Excessive celebration? A player was flagged in Chicago for making a snow angel in the end zone. Raiders punter Marquette King is penalized for picking up the penalty flag and doing a funny dance with it.
Ouch! Redskins safety Deshazor Everett landed a helmet-to-helmet cheap shot on Eagles RB Ryan Mathews, knocking him out of consciousness and the game. Eagles players then went after Everett. He was given a 15-yard personal foul, when he should have been ejected from the game.
Which team? Jeff Triplette, the king of blown calls, borked another one Sunday when He called a hands-to-the-face penalty against the Lions when it clearly was a Bears defensive lineman committing the violation.
*"Action Goes Long" was the tagline for "Firestorm," a box office bomb starring Long. It was supposed to be a Stallone vehicle, but the studio went bust and couldn't afford Sly. I find the tagline amusing because Howie Long was a defensive end, not a wide receiver. Defensive ends don't catch passes, let alone long ones.
Friday, November 18, 2016
Football week 10: Great plays and great games!
This was a great weekend for football, both college and pro. I usually don't like college football,and I think the bowl system is a giant profit-motivated joke. This is one of the only times you will see me write about college ball.
A weekend of chaos: The No. 2, 3 and 4 teams all fell in upsets. Sadly, Nick Saban's No. 1 Alabama routed Mizzou. But Pitt Beat Clemson with a last-second field goal, Iowa did the same to Michigan, and out West, USC handed the Huskies their first loss. Meanwhile, Penn State had its win gift wrapped by Indiana, which lost five fumbles. A little background here... I work in student aid at Penn State. Many families are surprised to know that I am not an alum and generally couldn't care less about the football team. I wrote off this season after the loss to Pitt, assuming they would go 7-7 and end up in yet another bowl no one cares about or remembers. That all changed the night of October 22. They beat not only their most bitter Big Ten rival, but also the No. 2 ranked team. Fans stormed the field and trashed downtown State College. I then became a fan and I am now pulling for the No. 8 Lions to make a playoff run, which is unlikely but definitely possible.
Best play: Penn State runs a flea flicker. Sorry football experts, but I have to explain this one. In a flea flicker, the QB hands off to the running back, so the other team assumes there will be a running play and stacks up the line. But, the running back pitches the ball back to the quarterback, who then throws a deep pass because all the defenders are at or near the line trying to stop the run. This either works spectacularly or fails epically. This one worked, because it was a score for the Lions.
Off-the-field fun: I was fascinated by an off-the-field pickup game between a bunch of kids during which a football got caught in a tree. They then attempted to throw a second football up there to get the first ball down, and the result was two stuck footballs. The kids threw their friend "Hunter the Punter" under the bus. They then tried to throw a shoe, and climbed the fence. ESPN even sent a camera and their sideline reporter over there to cover the hijinks. The cops got involved and the kids got their ball back.
If Penn State runs the table by beating Rutgers and Michigan State (very possible), they could face Ohio State again in the Big Ten East Championship, and then get into the playoff. I didn't expect them to be so good this season, but we are starting to see Coach James Franklin's recruits show their skills. The reason JoePa's teams were so good was because of recruiting, and we may be seeing that again with Franklin.
On to the NFL: There was also plenty of action in the grownup leagues as well.
Yes Virginia, the Eagles have a ground game: They didn't win in dramatic fashion on a last-second field goal, but this is an important win because, for the first time, they committed to the run. The three-headed running monster of Darren Sproles, Ryan Mathews and rookie Wendell Smallwood combined for 208 rushing yards and three TDs. Since the Birds' receivers are mediocre, this adds a whole new dimension to their game. Yet, they are somehow still last in the NFC East at 5-4. And Carson Wentz is still having a decent season, and would be a serious contender for rookie of the year if it wasn't for two hot rookies who play for the Cowboys.
Cowboys dominate: Big D won another one, this week in Pittsburgh, and are an amazing 8-1, with their single loss the result of a bonehead play on opening weekend. Dak Prescott and Ezeikel Elliott have re-energized this team and made them an offensive powerhouse. Jerry Jones said a now-healthy Tony Romo is the backup to Prescott. This is most definitely the right call, because you stick with the hot hand. Drew Bledsoe even said to Romo "This is what happens when you get injured." For those of you with short memories, Bledsoe was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1993, and the Patriots envisioned him as their QB for the forseeable future. After signing a gigantic contract in 2001, he was badly injured and replaced by some guy named Tom Brady. We all know how that turned out. Don't count your chickens, Dallas fans... It's not December yet.
Halfback option: RB DeMarco Murray was a beast for the Cowboys. He then had trouble fitting into Coach Chip Kelly's offensive scheme playing for the Eagles. Since playing for the Titans this year, he has returned to form, and he is one of the top rushers in the NFL, second only to Zeke Elliott. During the Flaming Thumbtacks' blowout win over the Packers, Murray had a rushing TD, and even threw a TD pass. The 5-5 Titans are one of the most unpredictable teams in the NFL. Because of the 47-25 win over the Packers, longtime coach Mike McCarthy's job is now in jeopardy.
Down in the Dumps: Da Bears are 2-7, and many optimistic Chicago fans think they will end up 2-14. At least they can draft a decent QB with a record like that. Still, the Cubbies won the World Series. God continues to hate the city of Cleveland, who may very well be the first 0-16 team since the 2008 Lions, and the Browns don't even need Matt Millen to foul things up. A Cleveland fan wants to have a parade if the Browns go 0-16. I say why the hell not?
Jared Who? We all know Carson Wentz was the No. 2 pick this season, and he is having a great run as a rookie. The No. 1 pick was Jared Goff, another quarterback. So far he has been the backup behind Case Keenum. Since the L.A. Rams offense is so inept, they will play him this weekend against the Dolphins, looking for some kind of spark.
So this is a 2-point play now? The Broncos-Saints game ended in dramatic fashion. The Broncos blocked an extra point as time expired, and ran it all the way back to their end zone. This was counted as a 2-point conversion, and the walk-off win for Denver. Didn't this used to be a 6-point play?
How bad are the Jets? Following the 9-6 loss to Los Angeles, apparently they are so bad that the Pats-Jets game was yanked from NBC's Sunday Night slot in Week 12. This is because of the Jets' inability to play professional-level ball and sagging TV ratings for the NFL. Supposedly, the Cards' 23-20 win over the 49ers was also a woofer.
Adventures in Officiating: This week, it's about the non-calls. Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas weren't flagged after molesting Gronk, giving the Seahawks the unlikely win over the Pats. In the Eagles' win, the zebras missed a blatant helmet-to-helmet hit as Keanu Neal launched himself at Jordan Matthews. The Philly fans reacted accordingly.
A weekend of chaos: The No. 2, 3 and 4 teams all fell in upsets. Sadly, Nick Saban's No. 1 Alabama routed Mizzou. But Pitt Beat Clemson with a last-second field goal, Iowa did the same to Michigan, and out West, USC handed the Huskies their first loss. Meanwhile, Penn State had its win gift wrapped by Indiana, which lost five fumbles. A little background here... I work in student aid at Penn State. Many families are surprised to know that I am not an alum and generally couldn't care less about the football team. I wrote off this season after the loss to Pitt, assuming they would go 7-7 and end up in yet another bowl no one cares about or remembers. That all changed the night of October 22. They beat not only their most bitter Big Ten rival, but also the No. 2 ranked team. Fans stormed the field and trashed downtown State College. I then became a fan and I am now pulling for the No. 8 Lions to make a playoff run, which is unlikely but definitely possible.
Best play: Penn State runs a flea flicker. Sorry football experts, but I have to explain this one. In a flea flicker, the QB hands off to the running back, so the other team assumes there will be a running play and stacks up the line. But, the running back pitches the ball back to the quarterback, who then throws a deep pass because all the defenders are at or near the line trying to stop the run. This either works spectacularly or fails epically. This one worked, because it was a score for the Lions.
Off-the-field fun: I was fascinated by an off-the-field pickup game between a bunch of kids during which a football got caught in a tree. They then attempted to throw a second football up there to get the first ball down, and the result was two stuck footballs. The kids threw their friend "Hunter the Punter" under the bus. They then tried to throw a shoe, and climbed the fence. ESPN even sent a camera and their sideline reporter over there to cover the hijinks. The cops got involved and the kids got their ball back.
If Penn State runs the table by beating Rutgers and Michigan State (very possible), they could face Ohio State again in the Big Ten East Championship, and then get into the playoff. I didn't expect them to be so good this season, but we are starting to see Coach James Franklin's recruits show their skills. The reason JoePa's teams were so good was because of recruiting, and we may be seeing that again with Franklin.
On to the NFL: There was also plenty of action in the grownup leagues as well.
Yes Virginia, the Eagles have a ground game: They didn't win in dramatic fashion on a last-second field goal, but this is an important win because, for the first time, they committed to the run. The three-headed running monster of Darren Sproles, Ryan Mathews and rookie Wendell Smallwood combined for 208 rushing yards and three TDs. Since the Birds' receivers are mediocre, this adds a whole new dimension to their game. Yet, they are somehow still last in the NFC East at 5-4. And Carson Wentz is still having a decent season, and would be a serious contender for rookie of the year if it wasn't for two hot rookies who play for the Cowboys.
Cowboys dominate: Big D won another one, this week in Pittsburgh, and are an amazing 8-1, with their single loss the result of a bonehead play on opening weekend. Dak Prescott and Ezeikel Elliott have re-energized this team and made them an offensive powerhouse. Jerry Jones said a now-healthy Tony Romo is the backup to Prescott. This is most definitely the right call, because you stick with the hot hand. Drew Bledsoe even said to Romo "This is what happens when you get injured." For those of you with short memories, Bledsoe was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1993, and the Patriots envisioned him as their QB for the forseeable future. After signing a gigantic contract in 2001, he was badly injured and replaced by some guy named Tom Brady. We all know how that turned out. Don't count your chickens, Dallas fans... It's not December yet.
Halfback option: RB DeMarco Murray was a beast for the Cowboys. He then had trouble fitting into Coach Chip Kelly's offensive scheme playing for the Eagles. Since playing for the Titans this year, he has returned to form, and he is one of the top rushers in the NFL, second only to Zeke Elliott. During the Flaming Thumbtacks' blowout win over the Packers, Murray had a rushing TD, and even threw a TD pass. The 5-5 Titans are one of the most unpredictable teams in the NFL. Because of the 47-25 win over the Packers, longtime coach Mike McCarthy's job is now in jeopardy.
Down in the Dumps: Da Bears are 2-7, and many optimistic Chicago fans think they will end up 2-14. At least they can draft a decent QB with a record like that. Still, the Cubbies won the World Series. God continues to hate the city of Cleveland, who may very well be the first 0-16 team since the 2008 Lions, and the Browns don't even need Matt Millen to foul things up. A Cleveland fan wants to have a parade if the Browns go 0-16. I say why the hell not?
Jared Who? We all know Carson Wentz was the No. 2 pick this season, and he is having a great run as a rookie. The No. 1 pick was Jared Goff, another quarterback. So far he has been the backup behind Case Keenum. Since the L.A. Rams offense is so inept, they will play him this weekend against the Dolphins, looking for some kind of spark.
So this is a 2-point play now? The Broncos-Saints game ended in dramatic fashion. The Broncos blocked an extra point as time expired, and ran it all the way back to their end zone. This was counted as a 2-point conversion, and the walk-off win for Denver. Didn't this used to be a 6-point play?
How bad are the Jets? Following the 9-6 loss to Los Angeles, apparently they are so bad that the Pats-Jets game was yanked from NBC's Sunday Night slot in Week 12. This is because of the Jets' inability to play professional-level ball and sagging TV ratings for the NFL. Supposedly, the Cards' 23-20 win over the 49ers was also a woofer.
Adventures in Officiating: This week, it's about the non-calls. Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas weren't flagged after molesting Gronk, giving the Seahawks the unlikely win over the Pats. In the Eagles' win, the zebras missed a blatant helmet-to-helmet hit as Keanu Neal launched himself at Jordan Matthews. The Philly fans reacted accordingly.
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Fleet car review: 2016 Chevrolet Impala Limited
Pros:
Good, powerful engine
Surprisngly good fuel economy
Easy to drive
Looks inoffensive
Big trunk
Cons:
Low tech, low features
Cheap interior
Hard to feel the power
Not a sports car by any means
Not that big on the inside
Calling it "long in the tooth" would be a major understatement
First of all, the Impala was replaced in 2014 with a much better car. You know the car is good because it was rated very high by Consumer Reports, and is not a Honda, Toyota or Subaru. They decided to let the old Impala soldier on as the "Impala Limited" until 2016 as a fleet-only car, similar to the Chevrolet Classic (an old Malibu) and the Chevrolet Captiva (a Saturn Vue).
I work for a very large organization that happens to have a large fleet of cars at its disposal. They range from the full electric Nissan Leaf to gigantic 15-passenger vans. Since three of us were traveling about 2 hours to a conference in Hershey, PA, we took the Impala Limited, a full-size sedan. Naturally, I volunteered to drive because I know my way around Hershey, and I love cars and love to drive. Let's get into the nitty-gritty about this car:
Exterior styling: If it was any more generic, you might as well put the word "Car" on the grille. It's an improvement over the obnoxious, NASCAR-inspired 2000-2006 version of the Impala. For this version, they probably benchmarked the Camry and Accord to make this one of the most conservative and inconspicuous cars on the planet. It pretty much gets lost in the crowd. The 2014 restyle was a huge improvement for this car.
Good, powerful engine
Surprisngly good fuel economy
Easy to drive
Looks inoffensive
Big trunk
Cons:
Low tech, low features
Cheap interior
Hard to feel the power
Not a sports car by any means
Not that big on the inside
Calling it "long in the tooth" would be a major understatement
First of all, the Impala was replaced in 2014 with a much better car. You know the car is good because it was rated very high by Consumer Reports, and is not a Honda, Toyota or Subaru. They decided to let the old Impala soldier on as the "Impala Limited" until 2016 as a fleet-only car, similar to the Chevrolet Classic (an old Malibu) and the Chevrolet Captiva (a Saturn Vue).
I work for a very large organization that happens to have a large fleet of cars at its disposal. They range from the full electric Nissan Leaf to gigantic 15-passenger vans. Since three of us were traveling about 2 hours to a conference in Hershey, PA, we took the Impala Limited, a full-size sedan. Naturally, I volunteered to drive because I know my way around Hershey, and I love cars and love to drive. Let's get into the nitty-gritty about this car:
Exterior styling: If it was any more generic, you might as well put the word "Car" on the grille. It's an improvement over the obnoxious, NASCAR-inspired 2000-2006 version of the Impala. For this version, they probably benchmarked the Camry and Accord to make this one of the most conservative and inconspicuous cars on the planet. It pretty much gets lost in the crowd. The 2014 restyle was a huge improvement for this car.
Interior styling and features: If you thought the exterior was a yawner, wait until you look inside. Cheap, hard plastics, blatantly phony wood trim, old tech and components from the GM parts bin are everywhere. The cloth seats are flat and soft like an easy chair. Considering this is Chevy's largest sedan, the level of content is rental-grade pitiful. There is no navigation, remote engine start, backup camera, seat heaters, steering wheel audio controls, automatic climate control, or sunroof. Even the radio is the base unit, and does not have the station presets displayed on the screen. At least there is an auxiliary jack. The steering wheel is cheap rubber with a big hub to hold the airbag. Newer cars can pack an airbag into a smaller wheel. There are buttons to shift the automatic transmission, but they are nearly invisible, hidden behind the cruise control buttons. From what I hear, they don't work anyway.
Performance: The one bright spot of this car is the engine. It uses GM's sophisticated DOHC 3.6 liter V6, which puts out 305 hp in the Impala. You can't really feel it, since everything about this car, including the acceleration, is pillowy and smooth. The engine and six-speed automatic keep the car moving well, and I was never at a loss for passing power. The ride and handling are also pillowy. Understeer is very noticeable, and this was not built to be a performance car. Brakes respond, but it feels like you are stepping on a pile of mashed potatoes.
Fuel economy: Excellent. The car did have a decent (but not very user-friendly) trip computer. The mileage was in the low 30s. I realize these were almost entirely highway miles, but that's awesome for a full-size car with a big V6.
Safety: Comes with ABS, traction control and a full complement of airbags. Received 4-star crash ratings and "good" ratings across the board. There are safer cars out there, but the Impala limited is more than adequate.
Space/utility: Because this platform dates back to 2000, It is big on the outside, but not as big on the inside. 3 of us rode in the car. The woman sitting in the back seat was about 5 feet, 3 inches tall, so she had plenty of room. The back seat was adequate, but not huge. The trunk, on the other hand, was large, and had no problem swallowing all of our bags.
Value: Since this is a fleet car, you can't buy it at a Chevy dealership. However, because these cars are not in demand, you can find a used one for a good price, usually in the low teens. Be careful, though, and check the Carfax. Some fleet cars get the crap beaten out of them.
Would I recommend it to other people: Yes. Not to put too fine a point on it, but this would be a good car for old people, especially since the Grand Marquis is gone and a new Toyota Avalon, or even a Camry or Accord can be well over $30,000. It is conservative, it is quick, it is easy to drive, and it is more than big enough to hold the grandchildren and shuttle them to the Golden Corral and be home in time for "Matlock." Also, it lacks a lot of those "newfangled doodads" That confuse geriatrics (look for stories that talk about what old heads think of Ford Sync or Cadillac CUE). Those looking for a performance car or something fun to drive should look elsewhere.
Thursday, October 13, 2016
75,000 miles of life with a minivan
We just got rid of our 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan after 4 years of driving, two vacations down South, two kids, and all kinds of cargo from strollers, Pack and Plays, bicycles and a big honking bass drum. I thought I would share my overall impressions of the van, even though I don't do impressions.
2011 Dodge Caravan Crew
The Good:
Good value for the money
Plenty of power
Handles well - for a minivan
Unparalleled practicality
Good, functional design, inside and out
The Bad:
Transmission woes
Eats brakes
Awful resale value
Mediocre fuel economy
So first of all, why did we buy a Dodge minivan? Until 2011, I wouldn't even have thought about buying this product. In 2011, the Caravan got a major refresh inside and out. First of all, the well-engineered Pentastar 3.6 liter V6 with variable valve timing became the only available engine. In the Caravan, it puts out 282 horsepower, which, at the time, made it the most powerful minivan you could buy. They also worked on the chassis so it handled better, and completely refreshed the interior. I liked what I saw, was surprised how well it drove, and was thousands of dollars cheaper than comparably equipped Siennas and Odysseys (Although I found out the hard way you pay for that down the road).
2011 Dodge Caravan Crew
The Good:
Good value for the money
Plenty of power
Handles well - for a minivan
Unparalleled practicality
Good, functional design, inside and out
The Bad:
Transmission woes
Eats brakes
Awful resale value
Mediocre fuel economy
So first of all, why did we buy a Dodge minivan? Until 2011, I wouldn't even have thought about buying this product. In 2011, the Caravan got a major refresh inside and out. First of all, the well-engineered Pentastar 3.6 liter V6 with variable valve timing became the only available engine. In the Caravan, it puts out 282 horsepower, which, at the time, made it the most powerful minivan you could buy. They also worked on the chassis so it handled better, and completely refreshed the interior. I liked what I saw, was surprised how well it drove, and was thousands of dollars cheaper than comparably equipped Siennas and Odysseys (Although I found out the hard way you pay for that down the road).
Exterior styling: It's a van. A basic two-box design you can only do so much with. Honda tried to take some chances with the goofy lightning-bolt styling of the Odyssey, and the result is not pretty. That having been said, the Caravan is a clean, inoffensive design. The tracks for the sliding doors are wisely integrated into the bottom of the window so it doesn't cut into the middle of the van.
Interior styling and features: Before 2011, the Caravan's interior was a cheap, plasticky mess. This was when Fiat and Sr. Marchionne stepped in, said this was unacceptable, and revamped the interiors of several products, including the Caravan. The interior is not luxurious, but clean and inoffensive (see the theme here?). The surfaces have an upscale feel to them, and use decent-quality plastics. The fake-chrome metal inserts are a nice touch. The best design is in the steering wheel, which has controls for the trip computer and cruise control. There are also rocker switches on the back side of the wheel that let you control the volume and tuning for the radio. The display between the tach and speedometer showed trip information and fuel economy information (if you want to be depressed), and could even function as a digital speedometer if you so desired. There are speakers all over the car. The radio sounds clear, even at a loud volume, and is, frankly, one of the best OEM radios I have ever heard. The automatic climate controls were easy to use and worked well. The touch screen was an older unit, and wasn't the most user friendly system. For example, it had a built-in hard drive for music. In order to put music on the hard drive, you had to burn music from the computer on to a CD, and import the music from the CD on to the hard drive, a time-consuming process. There is a headphone jack and a USB jack. The USB jack was virtually useless, because it charged my iPhone so slowly, or not at all if it was in use. But, like any other infotainment system, it was fine when you got used to it. Power jacks, including a 110-volt plug, and cupholders are everywhere.
Performance: All Chrysler minivans (and their mechanical twin, the slow-selling Volkswagen Routan), regardless of trim level, come with the aforementioned Pentastar engine. This is a great engine with lots of power and flexibility. The van accelerates smoothly and briskly, and has plenty of passing power. The chassis also got a much-needed overhaul. The van handles like a much smaller vehicle, and the steering feel is great considering this is a van. Then there is the transmission. Although the engine is new, they kept the old 6-speed automatic transmission. From the beginning, shifts were rough. There was a voluntary recall for a quick fix for the transmission that seemed to work. During the van's time with us, we needed two major transmission repairs. One for the powertrain control module, and another for the torque converter. The second repair took more than a week, but the dealership went above and beyond and provided us with a really nice loaner car. Thank goodness the van had a 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. This is when I also vowed that I would not keep this vehicle past 100,000 miles. Major transmission breakdowns are unacceptable on a car with this few miles on it, so I am glad Chrysler backed its product with a good warranty. They have since shortened the warranty to 5 years/60,000 miles. I am not sure if that is a good idea, because Chrysler, especially their cars, are not selling well right now. The brakes were responsive and did their job, but here is the other major problem with this car. During the 75,000 miles we had it, we replaced the brakes three times. I am told we had to do this because they put the same brakes on the van as they put on their cars. In other words, this 4,300 pound vehicle has the same brakes as a tiny Dart. The van did well in the snow. It is front-wheel drive, and the vehicle's weight kept it stuck to the road.
Fuel economy: Mediocre, but I understand this is a heavy vehicle with a large V-6. We live in a rural area, and we got roughly 20-22 miles per gallon for typical driving. When we were on vacation racking up major highway miles, mileage increased to 25-26 mpg. This still pales in comparison to our other car, a 4-cylinder Subaru Legacy, which gets 28-30 mpg.
Safety: Has airbags everywhere, traction control and stability control. The car performed well in the standard crash tests. Where it suffered was the offset crash test. The driver's compartment was nearly crushed, and the dummy's leg was impaled on the foot-operated parking brake. Ouch!
Space/utility: Can carry 7 passengers and a ton of cargo comfortably. On our first trip down south, there were 4 of us, a stroller, a wagon, and a week's worth of clothes. The "super console" up front had two storage cubbies and a cupholder. There was also a large drawer that pulled out with lots of space and twin cupholders for the second row. Finally, the van has stow and go seating, meaning the third and second row of seats folded into the floor, so you could have a flat floor behind the first row without having to lug any seats out of the car. The stow and go was relatively easy to use, but you had to push the front seats all the way forward so you can fold up the floor and fold the seats. Another handy feature is the hidden cargo area under the second row when the seats are up, which I called the "Millenium Falcon Secret Storage Area." For the record, I never stored anything illegal or myself in those compartments. Even with all seats up, the cargo area had plenty of room for groceries and such. With the seats down, we were able to store all sorts of things ranging from couches, mattresses and my concert band's bass drum. One time, when the house was bring fumigated, we used the van as a temporary storage bin to hold all of our dishes and silverware. I am definitely going to miss the room and practicality this van offers.
Value: Very aggressively priced, and significantly cheaper than comparably equipped Honda and Toyota minivans. The base Caravan, which still has the Pentastar engine, power everything, and all safety features, starts at $23,595. We had the Crew, which was nicely equipped with color screen for infotainment and a backup camera, automatic 3-zone climate control, and second-row captain's chairs. This sold for about $28-30,000 new. However, you will pay for it down the road when you go to sell the vehicle, because the resale value is awful.
Would I recommend it to other people: Unfortunately, no. The van had tons of space, and I loved the way it van rode and drove, and it was a good value for the money. I would not recommend it because of the transmission problems. We had to get rid of it at 100,000 miles, because I didn't want to be stuck with a minivan with high mileage and in need of a $2,000 transmission repair. I would recommend purchasing an extended warranty to cover transmission repairs. Buy it from Chrysler, not the dealership when you are talking to the finance manager. The resale value was already bad enough with the car in good working order. The brakes were also a major headache, and got quite expensive.
The future: The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is already out there. It looks great for a van, with Chrysler styling cues, and a sloped windshield. The inside is equally as attractive. The engine carries over, but they switched to the 9-speed transmission. This is the transmission in the Jeep that was blamed for killing "Chekov," when he accidentally left his vehicle in neutral, but they seemed to have worked most of the bugs out of this tranny, and the Pacifica uses a rotary knob to select the gear instead of the hockey stick-like lever on the Grand Cherokee and the Charger. All-wheel drive is not available yet, but they designed the chassis so they can put in AWD down the road. Reviews are good so far, but we will have to see how it stacks up against the competition, including the redesigned Honda Odyssey. The Caravan with the current body style soldiers on, and, if you want to drive it, it is likely available at an Enterprise counter near you.
Thursday, October 6, 2016
NFL Week 4: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
THE GOOD
The Eagles didn't lose: They didn't win either, because they didn't play. They are among the first teams to have a bye week. I wasn't too happy, because they could lose momentum after an unexpected 3-0 start. On Sunday, they play the struggling Detroit Lions. Most people believe Carson Wentz and the offense will rip through the Lions' defense. I think this is looking more and more like a trap game. Coach Doug Pederson is aware of that too, and claims he is making sure the team isn't too complacent, and will, as Coach Herm says, play to win the game on Sunday.
Falcons putting up Tecmo Bowl stats: QB Matt Ryan, formerly of Exton, PA gunslings for 503 yards, and a passer rating of 142, which is not far from the perfect 158.3 rating. Norm Van Brocklin's 1964 record of 554 yards still stands. WR Julio Jones racked up 300 yards receiving, beating his own franchise record. He is only the sixth receiver to hit the 300-yard mark. Flipper Anderson's 336-yard performance in 1989 still holds the record.
Rex gets to brag: The Patriots were shut out at home! By the Bills! This is the first time the Patsies were shut out in the 135-game history of Gillette Stadium. I don't think this will be a regular occurrence, though. Next week they get Tom Brady back from suspension and they play the lowly Browns. (see below)
So, there is life in Pittsburgh after all: After the Steelers were thumped by the Eagles, they came back this week to squash the Chiefs, a potential playoff team, 43-14. Big Ben, who was rendered virtually useless last week, throws 5 TD passes.
THE BAD
This week in the Mistake by the Lake: Actually, not too much to complain about here. Rookie QB Cody Kessler could have looked much worse, and Isaiah Crowell rushed for 120 yards. Still, they were outrun and outscored by the Potomac Basin Indigenous Peoples' offense. Next week, they will face a Patriots squad who will be mad coming out of a shutout loss and will have Tom Brady back. (see above)
John Kuhn: His mere existence is the bane of fantasy players. The Saints fullback scored 3 TDs - One 4-yard catch and two 1-yard runs, taking scores and points away from the team's high-profile receivers and running backs.
No Fitz-Magic: The Jets QB's Harvard education must not have taught him to throw footballs to his own team, because he had 3 picks in a loss to the Seahawks, and nine in the past two weeks. Another performance like this, and he will likely be surfing the bench.
THE UGLY
Adventures in officiating: The referees continue to make sure this is the No Fun League. Cam Newton was flagged for making a first-down signal with his hands. The ref was probably thinking, "Hey! That's my job!" Josh Norman was penalized AND fined 10 grand for pantomiming shooting a bow and arrow... On the sideline! He wasn't even on the field! He is appealing the fine. Jags receiver Allen Robinson was flagged for spinning the ball. However, Jacksonville QB Blake Bortles was not flagged for punting a ball into the stands. The refs need to calm down. Not only are they taking the fun out of the game, these are also 15-yard penalties that can change the course of the game. Players need to be a little more aware of what they are doing, and refs don't need to throw the flag every single time a player celebrates.
Injury report: This week was ugly. Cam Newton is probably out this week with a concussion. Trevor Siemian, who has been impressive as Peyton Manning's replacement, hurt his non-throwing shoulder. Cardinals QB Carson Palmer may also be out with a concussion, which is the last thing the 1-3 Cards need right now (although they won with Drew Stanton this week).
Top drafted QBs: No. 2 pick Carson Wentz is 3-0 with the Eagles and was named the NFL offensive rookie of the month. No. 1 pick Jared Goff was mediocre in training camp, has watched Case Keenum stary every game and has not taken a snap. Could this be the next Ryan Leaf?
The Eagles didn't lose: They didn't win either, because they didn't play. They are among the first teams to have a bye week. I wasn't too happy, because they could lose momentum after an unexpected 3-0 start. On Sunday, they play the struggling Detroit Lions. Most people believe Carson Wentz and the offense will rip through the Lions' defense. I think this is looking more and more like a trap game. Coach Doug Pederson is aware of that too, and claims he is making sure the team isn't too complacent, and will, as Coach Herm says, play to win the game on Sunday.
Falcons putting up Tecmo Bowl stats: QB Matt Ryan, formerly of Exton, PA gunslings for 503 yards, and a passer rating of 142, which is not far from the perfect 158.3 rating. Norm Van Brocklin's 1964 record of 554 yards still stands. WR Julio Jones racked up 300 yards receiving, beating his own franchise record. He is only the sixth receiver to hit the 300-yard mark. Flipper Anderson's 336-yard performance in 1989 still holds the record.
Rex gets to brag: The Patriots were shut out at home! By the Bills! This is the first time the Patsies were shut out in the 135-game history of Gillette Stadium. I don't think this will be a regular occurrence, though. Next week they get Tom Brady back from suspension and they play the lowly Browns. (see below)
So, there is life in Pittsburgh after all: After the Steelers were thumped by the Eagles, they came back this week to squash the Chiefs, a potential playoff team, 43-14. Big Ben, who was rendered virtually useless last week, throws 5 TD passes.
THE BAD
This week in the Mistake by the Lake: Actually, not too much to complain about here. Rookie QB Cody Kessler could have looked much worse, and Isaiah Crowell rushed for 120 yards. Still, they were outrun and outscored by the Potomac Basin Indigenous Peoples' offense. Next week, they will face a Patriots squad who will be mad coming out of a shutout loss and will have Tom Brady back. (see above)
John Kuhn: His mere existence is the bane of fantasy players. The Saints fullback scored 3 TDs - One 4-yard catch and two 1-yard runs, taking scores and points away from the team's high-profile receivers and running backs.
No Fitz-Magic: The Jets QB's Harvard education must not have taught him to throw footballs to his own team, because he had 3 picks in a loss to the Seahawks, and nine in the past two weeks. Another performance like this, and he will likely be surfing the bench.
THE UGLY
Adventures in officiating: The referees continue to make sure this is the No Fun League. Cam Newton was flagged for making a first-down signal with his hands. The ref was probably thinking, "Hey! That's my job!" Josh Norman was penalized AND fined 10 grand for pantomiming shooting a bow and arrow... On the sideline! He wasn't even on the field! He is appealing the fine. Jags receiver Allen Robinson was flagged for spinning the ball. However, Jacksonville QB Blake Bortles was not flagged for punting a ball into the stands. The refs need to calm down. Not only are they taking the fun out of the game, these are also 15-yard penalties that can change the course of the game. Players need to be a little more aware of what they are doing, and refs don't need to throw the flag every single time a player celebrates.
Injury report: This week was ugly. Cam Newton is probably out this week with a concussion. Trevor Siemian, who has been impressive as Peyton Manning's replacement, hurt his non-throwing shoulder. Cardinals QB Carson Palmer may also be out with a concussion, which is the last thing the 1-3 Cards need right now (although they won with Drew Stanton this week).
Top drafted QBs: No. 2 pick Carson Wentz is 3-0 with the Eagles and was named the NFL offensive rookie of the month. No. 1 pick Jared Goff was mediocre in training camp, has watched Case Keenum stary every game and has not taken a snap. Could this be the next Ryan Leaf?
Thursday, September 29, 2016
NFL Week 3: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
THE GOOD
How about them Eagles?: On Week 1, they beat a joke of a team. On Week 2, they beat a mediocre team on the road. On Week 3, they beat what many people thought was a playoff contender with a bruising defense. Furthermore, they held them to a field goal. Carson Wentz continued to look impressive with his precise passing and quick release, and Jim Schwartz's defense bottled up Big Ben and the Steelers' offense. They better take advantage of him as defensive coordinator while they can. I have a feeling he will be a head coach somewhere next year. This is the first 3-0 start for the Eagles in several years, and, so far, this looks like a team that could be going back to the playoffs. The Eagles now go into an early bye week, which is kind of unfortunate, because this might stop their momentum. However, they face a Detroit squad in a couple of weeks that has its share of problems, including a defense that was flattened by "A.A. Ron" Rodgers and the Packers.
Ex-Eagles: Shady McCoy, now a Buffalo Bill, ran roughshod over the hapless Jets for the Bills' first win of the season. Sam Bradford had another decent outing in a win over the Panthers, and the Vikings, like the Eagles, are a surprise at 3-0. Everything will be fine until Bradford gets injured.
National anthem protests continue: Ever since Colin Kapernick staged his protest by not standing for the Star-Spangled Banner, several players, including some Eagles, have protested in one way or another, annoying many rednecks, I mean, red-blooded Americans. I won't give you my personal opinion on the matter other than to say the Constitution and its amendments are the supreme law of the land. Believe it or not, there was a game on Monday night during the debate. Few Americans seemed to notice. What the game did have was the best show of unity I have seen so far this season: Both teams formed a circle on the field and held hands. This made a very important point: What the anthem and the recent protests symbolize is bigger than the game and both teams playing it. Well-done, gentlemen!
Big Man TD: Nothing is more fun to watch than a big guy taking it to the house. This week, it was the Rams' Ethan Westbrooks picking up a fumble and going all the way.
THE BAD
This week in the Mistake By The Lake: I feel so bad for Cleveland fans. On Wednesday, rookie wideout Corey Coleman, chosen 15th overall in the draft, broke his hand in practice. On Friday, kicker Patrick Murray tweaked his knee in practice, forcing the team to scramble and bring in ex-Eagle Cody Parkey. Then comes Sunday. The Dolphins are also 0-2, so someone has to win this game. The Browns showed some signs of life, with Terrelle Pryor becoming the Swiss Army Knife of football players catching 8 balls, playing a few downs as safety, and even completing a couple of passes. Parkey shanked 3 field goals, including one at the end of regulation that would have won the game. Instead, the game went into overtime, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Sacks and interceptions galore: Who let these pass rushers loose? Normally decent QBs ate the turf and threw to the other team numerous times. In a loss to the Vikings, Cam Newton, last year's league MVP, was picked off three times and was sacked a whopping eight times. The Purple People Eaters are back! Carson Palmer, who is usually good at getting the ball off quickly, threw 4 INTs and went down 5 times. Ivy Leaguer and Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick threw 6 interceptions and ate the turf 4 times. His QB rating was an abysmal 18.2. By the way, your QB rating would be 25 if you threw every single pass into the ground. I don't blame Fitzpatrick here, I blame the coaches for not benching him to see if backup Geno Smith could turn things around.
Non-football news: The Dolphins had a moment of silence for Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, who died in a boating accident at the age of 24. He was not only one of the best pitchers in baseball, but also, by many accounts, a nice and charismatic guy. He defected from Cuba, and leaves behind a pregnant girlfriend. Very sad.
THE UGLY
Adventures in officiating: The pass interference call on Lions DB Nevin Lawson was a spot foul worth 66 yards, supposedly the longest NFL penalty in 15 years. It reopens the debate as to whether DPI calls should all be 10 yards, like OPI penalties. Upon further review, the league said this wasn't even a foul. Giants center Weston Richburg is the first player to be ejected under the league's new 2 & DQ rule. The Eagles' Kenjon Barner is inexplicably flagged for somersaulting in the end zone.
Finally: The Giants' Odell Beckham Jr., whose ability is overshadowed only by his ego, had a tough day facing off against the Potomac Basin Indigenous People's Josh Norman. He decided to take out his frustrations on the kicking net, but the net was having none of it.
Someone had some fun with it here.
How about them Eagles?: On Week 1, they beat a joke of a team. On Week 2, they beat a mediocre team on the road. On Week 3, they beat what many people thought was a playoff contender with a bruising defense. Furthermore, they held them to a field goal. Carson Wentz continued to look impressive with his precise passing and quick release, and Jim Schwartz's defense bottled up Big Ben and the Steelers' offense. They better take advantage of him as defensive coordinator while they can. I have a feeling he will be a head coach somewhere next year. This is the first 3-0 start for the Eagles in several years, and, so far, this looks like a team that could be going back to the playoffs. The Eagles now go into an early bye week, which is kind of unfortunate, because this might stop their momentum. However, they face a Detroit squad in a couple of weeks that has its share of problems, including a defense that was flattened by "A.A. Ron" Rodgers and the Packers.
Ex-Eagles: Shady McCoy, now a Buffalo Bill, ran roughshod over the hapless Jets for the Bills' first win of the season. Sam Bradford had another decent outing in a win over the Panthers, and the Vikings, like the Eagles, are a surprise at 3-0. Everything will be fine until Bradford gets injured.
National anthem protests continue: Ever since Colin Kapernick staged his protest by not standing for the Star-Spangled Banner, several players, including some Eagles, have protested in one way or another, annoying many rednecks, I mean, red-blooded Americans. I won't give you my personal opinion on the matter other than to say the Constitution and its amendments are the supreme law of the land. Believe it or not, there was a game on Monday night during the debate. Few Americans seemed to notice. What the game did have was the best show of unity I have seen so far this season: Both teams formed a circle on the field and held hands. This made a very important point: What the anthem and the recent protests symbolize is bigger than the game and both teams playing it. Well-done, gentlemen!
Big Man TD: Nothing is more fun to watch than a big guy taking it to the house. This week, it was the Rams' Ethan Westbrooks picking up a fumble and going all the way.
THE BAD
This week in the Mistake By The Lake: I feel so bad for Cleveland fans. On Wednesday, rookie wideout Corey Coleman, chosen 15th overall in the draft, broke his hand in practice. On Friday, kicker Patrick Murray tweaked his knee in practice, forcing the team to scramble and bring in ex-Eagle Cody Parkey. Then comes Sunday. The Dolphins are also 0-2, so someone has to win this game. The Browns showed some signs of life, with Terrelle Pryor becoming the Swiss Army Knife of football players catching 8 balls, playing a few downs as safety, and even completing a couple of passes. Parkey shanked 3 field goals, including one at the end of regulation that would have won the game. Instead, the game went into overtime, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Sacks and interceptions galore: Who let these pass rushers loose? Normally decent QBs ate the turf and threw to the other team numerous times. In a loss to the Vikings, Cam Newton, last year's league MVP, was picked off three times and was sacked a whopping eight times. The Purple People Eaters are back! Carson Palmer, who is usually good at getting the ball off quickly, threw 4 INTs and went down 5 times. Ivy Leaguer and Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick threw 6 interceptions and ate the turf 4 times. His QB rating was an abysmal 18.2. By the way, your QB rating would be 25 if you threw every single pass into the ground. I don't blame Fitzpatrick here, I blame the coaches for not benching him to see if backup Geno Smith could turn things around.
Non-football news: The Dolphins had a moment of silence for Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, who died in a boating accident at the age of 24. He was not only one of the best pitchers in baseball, but also, by many accounts, a nice and charismatic guy. He defected from Cuba, and leaves behind a pregnant girlfriend. Very sad.
THE UGLY
Adventures in officiating: The pass interference call on Lions DB Nevin Lawson was a spot foul worth 66 yards, supposedly the longest NFL penalty in 15 years. It reopens the debate as to whether DPI calls should all be 10 yards, like OPI penalties. Upon further review, the league said this wasn't even a foul. Giants center Weston Richburg is the first player to be ejected under the league's new 2 & DQ rule. The Eagles' Kenjon Barner is inexplicably flagged for somersaulting in the end zone.
Finally: The Giants' Odell Beckham Jr., whose ability is overshadowed only by his ego, had a tough day facing off against the Potomac Basin Indigenous People's Josh Norman. He decided to take out his frustrations on the kicking net, but the net was having none of it.
Someone had some fun with it here.
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