Big Statement by the New York Jets

The Tennessee Titans were undefeated this season just hours ago. They still were 10-0 until they met the New York Jets who put an end to that streak. Gang Green completely dominated the Titans at home, by record the best team in football, and made a statement to the entire NFL that they are for real and in there for bigger things. Eric Mangini outcoached Jim Fisher, Brett Favre picked the vaunted Titans defense apart and if that wouldn't be enough, the Jets also ran all over one of the finest defensive units in the AFC. Their very own defense, again led by the monstrous and mean Kris Jenkins, made Kerry Collins and the Tennessee offense look as average as they are and at times even worse. All around this was one hell of a performance! Congrats JETS!!!

Knicks Clear House, Randolph Gone Too

At the beginning of the season, with many of Isiah Thomas' players or should I say losers, were still on board. One might have wondered if the New York Knicks are really serious about rebuilding. Now, after they shipped out Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph in a matter of hours, there's no doubt left. Pain, losses and scandals from the recent history seem forgotten. It's the true beginning of a new era in New York. The Knicks under Donnie Walsh have set the sights on the future, on superstar free agents and potential championships after 2010.

Crawford went to Golden State for Al Harrington and Zach Randolph along with Mardy Collins was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas. All the contracts the Knicks received in those deals will end either in 2010 or before and it will help them to get way under the cap that year, a summer in which the likes of LeBron James, Chris Bosh or Dwyane Wade are looking at potential new homes. While losing Randolph and Crawford, the two best scorers they had, may hurt them in the next one and a half years, no Knicks fan around the world will shed a tear as these guys were symbolic for the team's demise in recent years. We don't have to go into detail but it was evident that the group of franchise cornerstones former GM and coach Isiah Thomas assembled, Randolph, Crawford, Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry, wouldn't take this team anywhere. Under new coach Mike D'Antoni they might have made the first playoff round this year. But this time around the Knicks aren't about playoff berths or short term success. Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni are serious about winning, real winning, which in the NBA equals only one goal: Championships. A lot of stuff needs to happen, sure, but with a plan on their minds and pieces falling into place, things haven't looked better in New York in almost a decade. And now Mike D'Antoni's comments that are shown on the video screen before every home game at Madison Square Garden don't seem that far fetched anymore. He talks about bringing championship ball back to New York. And after last night, we surely believe him...

Knicks Deal Crawford For Al Harrington

Donnie Walsh's interest in Al Harrington wasn't surprising, given the history between the two and Harrington's bad situation over in Oakland. But that the deal would send Jamal Crawford to the Warriors for the combo forward was pretty suprising yet it makes a lot of sense for the Knicks. They get rid of Crawford's contract which would have ended in 2011 for a contract that that ends in 2010. As we all know, this is the year that Donnie Walsh and the Knicks want to make the big splash in free agency. With this deal they clearly make a step to that goal and in the upcoming days and months we will likely see more moves regarding the long term future.
All future talks and scenarios aside, Harrington is a player that should flourish in D'Antoni's offense and he will give the Knicks a much needed frontcourt player with other bigs like Jared Jeffries and Eddy Curry out. He is a versatile, athletic forward with a good outside shot. He tends to fall in love with it though and forget about his inside game. Crawford's scoring and ball handling will be missed yet nobody will have a problem with sending his erratic play and inconsistent performances out of town. All Knicks fans should wish him well though, he always was a good, likable guy, just not a winner.

Jets Prevent Themselves From Dominance

The New York Jets and their fans couldn't feel any better than they do right now. They are sitting at the top of the AFC East and they are just about a week removed from a classic overtime win against the hated New England Patriots. But there's still something that's giving Gang Green headaches these days with a clash against the unbeaten Tennessee Titans and hopefully even bigger games on the horizon. The Jets have one of the worst pass defenses in the entire NFL and if they can't get that corrected in the next few weeks, a potentially special season could end sooner than expected.

You just can't help but wonder why the Jets can't put it together. On paper, their defense has everything you need to be right their at the top with other feared defenses like the ones from Baltimore, Pittsburgh or the New York Giants. The Jets have a dominant defensive line, anchored by nose tackle Kris Jenkins, that ranks among the best units against the run in the entire NFL. The Jets pass rush, non existant last year, is also among the league's best (3rd in the NFL with 34 sacks, even ahead of the great Giants pass rush). In the secondary you have cornerback Darrelle Revis and safety Kerry Rhodes who are both among the best the league has to offer at their respective positions. Yet the Jets still give up the 3rd most first downs passing, they allow the 5th most passing yards per game and they have allowed the 5th most completions this season.
Of course there are some weak links in te Jets lineup too. Rookie corner Dwight Lowery, after playing terrific early on, goes through some struggles in his first year. Opposing teams pick on him as they won't dare to throw near Darrelle Revis. Behind Lowery you got many names but no real solutions. No wonder New York signed oldie Ty Law last week to help out in the secondary. The Jets linebackers aren't the most gifted or most athletic in coverage and have trouble defending short routes, especially against tight ends. But no defense in the world has every position secured perfectly with an all pro stud yet they still manage to put fear into opposing offenses. While Eric Mangini definitely could use a few new players for his defense, personnel isn't the problem with these Jets.

It is the defensive mindset that is killing them. Since the first day of the season they have been almost scared to death to give up the big play. That's why they drop their corners and safeties way back into zone coverage, yet forget to cover the zone right behind the defensive line. Drop off passes become huge gains for even the most average of tight ends. With their dominant run defense the Jets have their opponents in third and long more often than not but even in these situations, they aren't aggressive or force the issue. No, they just wait until they allow the 10 yard completion. It doesn't seem like a big deal but in the big picture, this bend but don't break approach will tire out the defense and give every opponent a huge amount of confidence. And some players, like New England's Matt Cassell, start to play way above their heads with that newfound confidence.
Eric Mangini has to change this passive approach if he ever wants to send a true dominant defense on the field. Don't be afraid of giving up the big play. Darrelle Revis and Kerry Rhodes are two guys that will make a big play on a deep ball more often than not. The pass rush will make it hard for the opposing QBs to step into long throws. So unleash the players! More blitzes, more people at the line of scrimmage, more man to man play (on every down) and less zone coverage. Only then we will see the entire potential of this defensive group and only then, when Mangini and defensive coordinator Bob Sutton forget about their scared approach, this defense will win entire games for you. And as we all know, this part of your team becomes more and more important with the cold January days looming.

Hopefully we will see adjustments in the next couple of weeks. This season, the Jets and their fans have seen enough completions, enough passive playcalling and enough prevent defense. It's time for a different approach or the Jets will prevent themselves from being as good a team as they can be.

Jets Win Monumental Battle At Foxboro

On a cold and windy night at Foxboro, a ball sailed through the uprights at Gillette Stadium and turned a monumental game into a night to remember for the New York Jets. In an epic battle with the New England Patriots, the Jets prevailed 34-31 in overtime and took a stranglehold of the AFC East Division. Not only did it keep all hopes alive for this season, by beating the Patriots the Jets finally put an end to what has been a nemesis to them for so many years. And now as a franchise, they can move on, to greater heigths and even bigger games.

This was the game that should seal their fate, and the Jets took every shot they could from the proud Patriots. And probably a few more. But they stood strong in hours of struggle, heart breaking plays and near defeat. They bended but didn't break. Brett Favre, the living legend, brought to New York for battles just like this one, put the team on his back and just wouldn't let them down. After Randy Moss tied the game with 1 second to go in regulation, it seemed like the Jets' long time rivals would once again hammer them in as cruel a loss as you can imagine. Yet Brett Favre, aided by incredible rookie tight end Dustin Keller and a gutsy offensive line, drove his team down the field to set up a game winning field goal by Jay Feely. A night that had many heroes for the Jets, all they can do is breath a giant sigh of relief and after that understand that they are now on their way to a special season. Special seasons take special efforts, and there were many turned in by the Green and White tonight. In these moments, just cherish the victory and move on, for the New England Patriots are finally left behind. J-E-T-S!

Knicks Leaving Good Impression

Now before we start to jump up and down over the good 5-3 start by the New York Knicks, let's remember we already had a few ups and downs this year with them as well. We just have to think back to the humiliating loss at Philly or the complete no shows at San Antonio and against the Bucks. But wait, those are already all the Knicks losses. And they still have won five other contests which in recent years might have already been the quarter of their win total for the entire season. So as a Knicks fan to have a good feeling about this year's team is more than just understandable.

Last night in Memphis (132-103) the Knicks once again showed improved team work, confidence and the new found positivity around the team that has helped them to a more than solid season start. The players are smiling, cheering each other up and they are all working together for the one goal which in the game of basketball is winning. Even if many of these guys won't be here in a couple of months and rightfully so, it's refreshing to see the team atleast give it all they got and play solid team basketball. That hasn't been the case on many occasions in recent years and probably won't be for the entire season. But it's still a good start and an enjoyable, too. Keep it up fellas!

Jets Head North To Meet Their Fate

Eric Mangini is known for getting his team up for big games with a little trickery. He likes to show his players legendary boxing matches or other motivational videos in order to raise their intensity level. We don't know what he will show these days but it better be something gutsy and heroic. That's exactly the kind of effort it will take this Thursday, when the New York Jets head north to Foxboro for a deciding clash with their long time rivals, the New England Patriots.

Both teams will enter the game with a record of 6-3, sitting at the top of the AFC East standings. With a win on Thursday night either team would take control of the division and propably wouldn't look back anymore. The loser will be lost in the wild card hunt and his playoff or Super Bowl dreams may be gone for atleast another year. Especially for the Jets this game is more than just another contest with a division foe. The Patriots have dominated the Jets for many years and now Gang Green has the chance to atleast make some of the pain from recent years go away. With a revamped roster that is developing better chemistry by the day and Tom Brady on the sidelines with a knee injury, the chances couldn't be better. This Jets team has one goal and that is go deep into the playoffs. The talent is there but there's one giant mountain left to climb, which is wearing blue, red and silver and is led by Bill Belichick from the sidelines. No matter what the gameplan is, no matter who will be out there on the field or not, this game will be decided in the minds of the 22 men on the field. And in the mind of the 2 men on the sidelines. The Jets cannot come out scared, they cannot wait for New England to make a mistake or hand them the victory. If they want to turn this campaign into a special season, here is your chance. Go out there and take this game with everything you got!

The great sports writer Grantland Rice once wrote: "For When the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name, He marks - not that you won or lost - But how you played the game." With Thursday night's affair being kind of a life and death situation for each team's season, nobody will care how you played the game. All that matters is the win. No moral victories, no excuses. Just win, whatever it takes!

Knicks Opening Night 2008/2009

I went to my first Knicks game at Madison Square Garden back in 1997. It was in those days when the Big Fella Patrick Ewing used to patrol the paint for New York and on the opposing Orlando Magic a guy named Penny Hardaway was a young upcoming superstar in the NBA. Now, roughly 11 years later, I finally got to see my first Knicks victory in person yesterday after leaving the arena with a hanging head numerous times in between. So personally, the Knicks home opener against the Miami Heat was definitely something special for me. But of course this wasn't the reason why yesterday wasn't like any other night for the New York Knicks. It was the beginning of a new era and a long awaited goodbye to probably the darkest period in franchise history. And of course, Opening Night itself with all the pregame show isn't just another game, no matter what year it is.

While the offseason talk among the Knicks has been more concerned with excitement and entertainment than with actual results, yesterday proved that both things can exist in unison. Jamal Crawford and company overran the Heat for about 3 and a half quarters and withstood a late Miami comeback on their way to a 120-115 victory. Crawford, who spoke the season's opening words before the game among raucous cheers of the Garden crowd, led the team with 29 points and was supported by five other Knicks in double figures. The game was an early indictment what new head coach Mike D'Antoni is all about: Sharing the ball, pushing the tempo and having fun on the basketball court. Of course that fun only reaches the group that is actually on the court and playing which didn't include highly prized veterans Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry yesterday, who both got a big, large DNP and were the night's huge stroyline next to the actual victory. But first to the happenings on the court. Offensively the Knicks looked like they are truly buying into the newly system which is based on a lot of player movement, tempo, unselfish passing and good spacing. Nearly at all times during the game we could witness extra passes, sharp cuts to the basket and quick uptempo basketball. Jamal Crawford, Zach Randolph and Nate Robinson at times fell back into old habits of overdribbling and boneheaded decisions. But you can't take all their individual strength away in favor of the team concept, therefor these guys are by far the Knicks most talented offensive players and they have to create on their own from time to time. While it's hard to really pick out an individual in New York's exceptional team effort, Wilson Chandler (17 points, 9 rebounds) looked the best among the guys in orange in blue. At times, he seemed like the best athlete in the building (even with Shawn Marion and Dwyane Wade suiting up for the Heat) and he presented us a newfound confidence he didn't possess last year. When I talked to him last season he said confidence would be a huge factor for him making the next big step as a player and judging by the preseason and last night's performance, he's well on his way. He moved great without the ball and constantly found holes in the Miami defense, finishing strong on most of his drives. He also was the lone Knick who actually resembled somewhat of an inside presence defensively, challenging a bunch of shots and playing hard nosed, aggressive defense.
Which brings us to the big problem this Knicks team will face in the upcoming months. Sure, mental lapses like at the end of the fourth quarter, when they let a 21 point lead dwindle down to 3, are bad. But the defense is what will present the most problems to a team that is undersized and also not very adapt defending their own basket. The Miami Heat, starting combo forwards Michael Beasley and Shawn Marion and no true center, were a good matchup for the Knicks. But even against a small Heat frontline David Lee, Zach Randolph and Malik Rose had huge trouble inside. Otherwise you wouldn't allow 6-8 Udonis Haslem to explode for 23 points on 10 for 14 shooting. Those are all star numbers, the only problem is that Haslem is as close to being an all star as he is to being a professional ballet dancer. Which for all of you believing in his dancing skills, is damn near impossible. What will happen when the Knicks face true All Stars on the inside? The likes of Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh or Kevin Garnett? Sure, with speed and agility the pairing of Randolph and Lee will also present some problems for strong powerful frontlines trying to defend them but in the end, size is what matters in this league and it will prevail over any gimmick lineup the Knicks will try to assemble. It isn't just the big men matchup alone but the inability of the Knicks to rotate and challenge shots. Once a guard beats his man, he has as much stress scoring in New York's paint as he would have lying on the beach in Florida during the offseason. The Knicks frontline lacks length, size and actual athleticism. While Lee is a good athlete, he doesn't play big at all and neither do his teammates upfront. Something needs to happen here, there's no question about it. But as we all know, this Knicks team isn't a finished product by any means which leads us to the other big storyline of the evening.

Eddy Curry and Stephon Marbury, two cornerstones of the former Knicks regime under Isiah Thomas, didn't play a minute in yesterday's game, fueling discussions of both players' status under D'Antoni. Curry isn't in the rotation because he came in out of shape, something that finally has backfired on him after years of too many cookies in the summer. But Marbury's demotion came surprising, mostly maybe to some fans who chanted "We want Steph" in the third quarter, met my boos from other fans. D'Antoni is showing his teeth here and he makes it clear that you can only crack this rotation by sporting a winning attitude and a team first mindset. By sitting both Curry and Marbury he also slams the door behind the recent Knicks era of overpriced veterans, losses over losses and a boatload of scandals. Neither Curry nor Marbury figure to be in the longterm plans of the Knicks (unless they change their ways which especially for the 31 year old Marbury is unlikely) and with the building of a future core picking up steam, they are the odd men out. Maybe they will soon be used as a trade bait to find a few young guys who might fit into the plans of D'Antoni and GM Donnie Walsh of creating a young base or clearing cap space for the summer of 2010 when many big name free agents will be available. Al Harrington is all but gone in Golden State and seems to be on the Knicks radar and Memphis point guard Jarvaris Crittenton, who looks perfectly suited for playing under D'Antoni, is also rumored to be available. While all this drama took a lot of today's headlines, let's remember what yesterday's game was about. The Knicks and their fans celebrated the start of a new era with a victory and a thunderous party before, during and after the game. It is a small little step and there will come a lot more bumps in the road but the New York Knicks are finally on their way back out of hell. It'll be a long journey but for now, Knicks fans, just enjoy the moment and look ahead to what might happen a few years down the road or even next Sunday, when the Milwaukee Bucks visit the Garden. Once again the Knicks will play a meaningful game and it should be exciting, just like last night...

Boston Red Sox: The Heart Of A Champion

Under the dark and cold skies of a Boston night in October, Fenway Park, one of the great cathedrals in all of baseball, was silent as a graveyard. Even in this hour of silence you couldn't hear any beating. But there was one beneath the white jerseys of the Red Sox. Somewhere inside of them a fire was burning and a heart was beating. Still beating. And it was the heart of a champion.

Trailing the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series by 3-1, the Red Sox faced elimination in Game 5 on Thursday night. And the end of their season was inching closer and closer with every inning. They Rays jumped in front by 7-0 and with evey passing at bat, more and more fans left Fenway Park. Stunned, shocked, hopeless. But for those who stayed, who kept believing in their proud team, the rough hours turned into a night to remember. David Ortiz, struggling all series long, made it 7-4 with a homerun in the bottom of the seventh. J.D. Drew followed him up with a homer in the eighth and Fenway erupted as if the Sox had just won the World Series. All of a sudden the swagger, the pride and the hope, it all was back. And when Coco Crisp singled in the tying run off Dan Wheeler, you could hear it beating all around Boston. It weren't the hearts of the Red Sox players but the stands in a ballpark that had turned from a graveyard into a frenzy. And to make this a legend that will be told for many many years, Drew got his second clutch hit in the 9th as he singled home Kevin Youkilis who was greeted by thunderous cheers and his emphatic teammates at homeplate. After the game, which lasted almost 5 hours, Terry Francona maybe put it best: "It was simply magical."

Damn sure it was. In 79 years baseball hadn't seen such a comeback on as big a stage as there is, with everything on the line in an elimination playoff game. But Francona also reminded Red Sox Nation that it's only the first step on a long climb that lies in front of his team. "Hopefully there will be a moment when we can sit back and say that this was what put us over the hump. But we are still climbing." They are as the series will go back to St. Petersburg on Saturday for Game Six. Josh Beckett will start for Boston and face James Shields, trying to keep the momentum on the side of the defending World Champions. It's still a long way to go but with last night in the books, no matter what happens from now on, the Red Sox can end their season with their heads up high. But that's all in the future. For now, Boston lives to fight another day. And as we saw around midnight at Fenway yesterday, they will fight... until the very end. With the heart of a champion.

NFL Rookie Report Week 6

As Week 6 in the NFL once again proved, everything can happen on any given Sunday. The Giants lost to the Browns, Washington falls to the lowly Rams and all around the league we saw interesting developments. Same can be said among the current rookie class where we also had some surprising breakout games, some players continuing their pro bowl caliber play and others stepping onto the scene for the first time. Let's have the weekly look at the rookies' play in week 6.

Offense:
We have to look no further than Atlanta to find some of the most impressive rookies of the 2008 class. The surprising Falcons beat the Chicago Bears and again got a tremendous performance from their first year signal caller Matt Ryan. The third overall pick completed 22 of his 30 passes for 301 yards and a touchdown. That gave him a 116.1 rating for the day and was just another reason for Falcons fans to smile about the upcoming years and to forget about a certain player with the number 7. Two other rookies help Ryan in Atlanta's offense: Tackle Sam Baker once again looked great on the offensive line and wide receiver Harry Douglas had a true breakout game against the Bears. Douglas, critisized by many before the Combine, caught 5 balls for 96 yards, both season highs. Matt Forte had another strong showing in the same game for Chitown with 110 all purpose yards and a rushing touchdown.

The other rookie starting quarterback, Joe Flacco in Baltimore, struggled this weekend despite a good completion percentage and 241 yards in the air. In a blowout loss at Indianapolis, Flacco found himself on his back 4 times and also threw 3 interceptions. Former Michigan star running back Mike Hart got his first real action for the Colts and rushed once for 2 yards and caught a pass for 18 yards. A little more impressive was the performance of Detroit's Kevin Smith who poured in 62 yards on only 5 carries against a tough Minnesota front and also added 11 receiving yards. His numbers scream for more touches. Unlike Smith, Eagles rookie sensation DeSean Jackson and Rams' receiver Donnie Avery don't have to worry about playing time right now. Jackson caught 6 balls for 98 yards and with now 433 total receiving yards he ranks 11th among all NFL receivers for the season, in front of some big names such as Terrell Owens or T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Not bad for a 5-10 second rounder that couldn't save himself from negative predraft buzz. Donnie Avery helped the Rams to celebrate their first win of the season with a nailbiter at Washington. The 5-11 Avery hauled in 5 passes for 73 yards against a very talented Redskins' secondary. A number of other pass catchers had solid showings this weekend, too. Jordy Nelson grabbed 4 balls for 42 yards and tight end John Carlson (Seattle) caught 4 passes for 22 yards including a 6 yard touchdown from backup QB Charlie Frye. Running back Ben-Jarvus Green-Ellis got his first action for the New England Patriots and caught a pass for 9 yards. The Carolina Panthers felt how valuable rookies already can be as Jeff Otah missed his second start in a row. The Panthers got destroyed by division rival Tampa Bay and the offense stuttered without it's starting left tackle in all areas.

Defense:
Looking at the defensive end, we can also start with an Atlanta Falcon. Linebacker Curtis Lofton racked up 8 total tackles in his team's win against Chicago and contiues to be a disruptive force in the middle. Fellow linebacker Keith Rivers recorded 6 tackles in a losing effort at the Meadowlands. In that game, Jets rookie cornerback Dwight Lowery passed another important test going up against Chad Johnson (sorry, that namechanging crap can't be taken serious) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. While both had their moments, Lowery played well and at no point lost his focus. He finished with 3 tackles and defended two passes. For the Bengals Corey Lynch had an early career highlight. Not only did he defend a pass from quarterback legend Brett Favre, no, he also got his first career interception against old number 4. Defensive tackle Pat Sims out of Auburn also had a strong outing for Cincinnati with 4 solo tackles and an assist.

Aqib Talib also had a great game on Sunday. The big and physical corner intercepted a pass from Jake Delhomme, batted down two other throws and also added 3 tackles in an important division game. The second overall pick Chris Long had a key play against Washington when he recovered a fumble to go along with 3 tackles. Two other well known rookies led their respective tackles this week. Chris Horton, safety for the Redskins, finished with 10 stops against St. Louis and Jerod Mayo collected 7 tackles for the Patriots. Bryan Kehl also stood out as he got his first heavy duty for the New York Giants. The former BYU star finished with 6 stops at Cleveland. Kenny Phillips had 4 tackles in the same game for the Giants but was part of a secondary that got killed by Cleveland's air attack. Alex Hall had two tackles for the Browns and also sacked Eli Manning once. Trevor Laws (Eagles) and Calais Campbell (Cardinals), both heralded defensive line rookies, had solid outings with 2 tackles apiece and Campbell also forced a fumble against the Dallas Cowboys.

Special Teams:
Devon Bess had 113 kick return yards for the Miami Dolphins and also had a nice punt return for 25 yards. As if his receiving prowess wouldn't be impress enough, DeSean Jackson also comes around as a return man. After recording his first return touchdown last week he netted two punt returns this week for 28 yards. His teammate Quintin Demps had a tremendous 63 yard kick return against San Francisco on his way to 116 total return yards. The highlight play this week came from Tampa Bay's Geno Hayes though as he blocked a punt against Carolina and returned it 22 yards for the score. He also added 3 tackles and defended a pass, respectively.

Knicks On The Verge Of A New Era

Looking at the roster of the New York Knicks today it's hard to see many changes. Yes, there is the newly aquired Chris Duhon, who came from Chicago, and there's italian rookie Danilo Gallinari, the 6th pick in this year's NBA Draft. Oh, and how could I forget Patrick Ewing Jr. who hopes to make the roster as a first year player and follow in the footsteps of his father, who's retired number is looking down on today's Knicks from the Madison Square Garden rafters. Overall, that's not what you would call a radical rebuild, something that seems inevitable for a team that lost 216 games in the last four seasons. Yet the storied franchise from the Big Apple is still on the verge of a new era with the 2008/2009 season just weeks away. New general manager Donnie Walsh and head coach Mike D'Antoni were the Knicks' big offseason (or last season) aquisitions and they are now in charge of bringing the team back to long forgotten glory.

Not that former GM and coach Isiah Thomas didn't have the same intentions. But unlike the new men in charge, he not only lacked a certain plan but also a winning and well respected resume around the league (as an executive I might add). Walsh, a big part of Indiana's success in the 90s and the early new millenium, and D'Antoni, who transformed the Phoenix Suns into a perennial championship contender in recent years, know how to win and what it takes not only for a team to change it's culture but also for a franchise. If anyone needs further proof, we only have to look back a few days at the Knicks training camp. While the players were the same guys who invented losing as an entire new art form, the coach was different and so was the vibe all around the team. It went way beyond D'Antoni's on court tactics that intend to make a Knicks a running, fastbreak team. No, the entire culture of the team is changing. You could sense an upbeat atmosphere, a new motivation and a group of players that figure there are going to be changes for the better. But next to all the positivity, Mike D'Antoni's remarks from Tuesday's practice tell the most important early chapter of what hopefully will be a blockbuster success story with a happy end down the road. He wasn't satisfied with the effort of his players and he reminded us all that there something needs to happen inside everyone of the Knicks. "You play three or four years and not every play matters, then you develop bad habits", said D'Antoni about his team's recent "success". "When not every game matters, then your mind plays tricks on you. You think you're playing hard but you really aren't." With those words he hit a very sensitive nerve that has been nagging on this franchise for years. Being able to win comes from within a group and how they act every day. It takes more than just making a jumpshot or beating your man. It is a mental thing, too. "Of course these old habits have to change. Then we can think of becoming a good team, when we understand how hard it will be." What might sound like a sidekick at former Knicks regimes is actually much more of a direction for the future. What happened, happened. But now things have to change. Not only players.

And things will change. Maybe not today in the Knicks first preseason game against the Toronto Raptors, maybe not in the first regular season game, maybe not even this year or next year. But by listening to Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni, you understand that they will make the certain changes that will take care of the losing culture around the Garden. When a player isn't willing to follow, he will be removed sooner or later. When a player doesn't fit this kind of way, he will also be shown the door one day. This hasn't happened yet in terms of roster changes, but believe me, if necessary, D'Antoni and Walsh will make these decisions. It will take time, no roster can be build in one season. But under the new leadership of holding people accountable, it is more than likely that the franchise makes steps in the right direction. Right now, the Knicks are at the bottom of the ladder and have many many stairs to take. Knicks fans though can be happy that they have the right persons leading the team up those stairs that will hopefully end one day at the top of a podium...

NFL Rookie Report Week 5

With every passing week more and more rookies start to see the field and begin to breath their first true professional air. Of course some rookies have already established themselves as top performers on their respective teams and even start to scratch at the bottom of the league's elite at their positions. Now let's take a look at the rookie performances from week 5 and who made an impact or his first big play in the pros.

Offense:
A number of receivers got their first career catches this weekend. The list includes former Michigan star Mario Manningham for the New York Giants (1 catch for 6 yards), Buffalo's 7th round draft choice Steve Johnson (1 catch for 8 yards) and Arizona's Early Doucet. The former LSU Tiger made the most of his chance, catching 6 passes for 42 yards. He might look at more playing time and plenty of opportunities from now on in Arizona's high octane offense. The Cardinals game against the Bills had another rookie receiver stepping up in the Bills' James Hardy. The tall wideout presented a nice big target, especially on third downs, and finished with 35 yards on 3 receptions. Another receiver who might have increased his playing time this weekend is Washington's Devin Thomas. He could be a valuable part in Jim Zorn's West Coast offense as he caught 2 balls for 28 yards at Philadelphia. He looked much more comfortable than he did in recent weeks, basically following the development of the entire Redskins' squad. Tight end Tom Santi had a nice showing for the Colts as he caught 4 passes for 27 yards, including a key touchdown in Indy's comeback victory at Houston.


Three rookie running backs particularly stood out in week 5: Houston's Steve Slaton, Arizona's Tim Hightower and the Cowboys' Felix Jones. All of them have more than cemented their roles as key parts in their teams' offense and continue to make big plays. Slaton rushed for 93 yards on 16 carries and two scores against the Indianapolis Colts. He also showed off his explosivness with an impressive 41 yard run. Hightower also scored two touchdowns, including one for 17 yards. He carried the ball only 7 times but made the most of it, collecting 37 yards on the ground. Felix Jones also didn't need the ball much to make his presence felt. He finished with 93 yards on just 9 carries, once again proving how much of an explosive runner he can be. His 33 yard touchdown run against the Bengals was easily the Cowboys' highlight of the game.


On such highlight runs the offensive linemen mainly have an assisting job but are just as important as the ball carrier. Numerous rookies look terrific in the trenches early in the season. Jeff Otah starts for the well playing Panthers and Atlanta's Sam Baker does his job for one of the most surprising offenses in the league. Gosder Cherilus made his second start for the Detroit Lions but as you can imagine, Detroit isn't the greatest place for a rookie to shine. Running back Kevin Smith had a nice outing though, finishing with 56 all purpose yards and a 12 yard touchdown run. A much more impressive performance took place in Miami with the Dolphins beating the San Diego Chargers, aided by top draft pick Jake Long. The big, mauling left tackle thrives in Miami's running attack and looks more and more comfortable in pass blocking. Carl Nicks made his second straight start at guard for New Orleans.

Defense:
Something is happening down there in Miami as Bill Parcells and company have quickly changed the culture of the franchise. Young defensive players Kendall Langford and Phillip Merling once again looked very good against the run. They along with their teammates allowed only 60 yards on the ground against San Diego. Another defensive lineman getting more and more reps is Eric Foster for the Indianapolis Colts as he had 5 solo tackles and batted a pass down against Houston. The smallish Foster (6-2, 265) fits right in with the rest of the Colts defense that builds on speed and quickness.

Plenty of quickness can also be seen among the defensive backs in this rookie class. Chris Horton led the Redskins in tackles, finishing with 8 stops in another impressive road victory in the NFC East. Fellow safety Kenny Phillips is looking very good for a strong New York Giants defense. He recorded 7 tackles in the Giants' blowout victory over the struggling Seattle Seahawks. Brandon Carr (Kansas City) is slowly getting used to blowouts, too, playing for the lowly Chiefs, yet he does a solid job in the secondary. Against Carolina he finished with 8 tackles, suffers though from the overall state of his entire team. It's hard to look good on a team as young and inexperienced as the Chiefs. Charles Godfrey finds himself in a better spot as the starting free safety for the Carolina Panthers. He recorded just 2 tackles but was part of an impressive Panthers' backfield that only allowed 92 yards in the air. Keith Rivers didn't have his usual high number of tackles but made plenty of other plays in his team's close loss to Dallas. He forced a fumble, defended a pass and intercepted a Tony Romo pass that he returned 39 yards. Rivers is proving to be a very versatile linebacker who is capable of making plays all over the field. Defensive end Jason Jones out of Eastern Michigan recorded 3 tackles for the Tennessee Titans and continues to earn his reps among one of the league's best defensive fronts. In Jacksonville Quentin Groves finished with half a sack and 2 tackles but couldn't prevent his team from losing to the Steelers. Defensive back Orlando Scandrick (Dallas Cowboys) had 4 solo tackles against Cincinnati, Leodis McKelvin had 5 stops against Arizona and his Buffalo teammate Reggie Corner finished with 2 tackles, the first two of his NFL career. Overall the Bills' secondary had a rough day though against the Cardinals as Kurt Warner and his receivers racked up 250 yards in the air. Just like Corner, two other defenders recorded the first stops of their pro careers: Cliff Avril (Detroit) and Ali Highsmith (Arizona) each had 2 solo tackles. Another very good rookie performance was turned in on Monday Night Football as Tyrell Johnson continues to play well at safety for the Minnesota Vikings. One of the stars at the Combine, Johnson had 3 tackles, a fumble recovery, defended a pass and got the first interception of his NFL career in the dying seconds of the Vikings' road victory at New Orleans.

Special teams:
Though he didn't have a very impressive day as a receiver (1 catch), DeSean Jackson still got Eagles' fans excited against Washington as he scored on a 68 yard punt return. Brett Kern was the most impressive rookie kicker of the week. Of his 5 punts 2 found their way inside the 20 yard line and overall he averaged 49.6 yards per kick. On Monday Night Reggie Bush shined with two punt returns for touchdowns and one of those was aided by a first year player. On Bush's first score, JoLonn Dunbar had an absolute monster block near the sidelines, paving the way to the promise land for his teammate.

Injuries:
Left tackle Branden Albert (Kansas City) didn't play due to a hyperextended elbow. The Saints suffered another serious injury, this time to rookie defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. The former USC Trojan had to get arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and could be out for a month. Carolina's defensive end Hilee Taylor had to leave his team's win against the Chiefs with a minor knee injury. Explosive wideout Eddie Royal suffered an ankle sprain in Denver's win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Chicago Cubs: The Weight Of A Century

As the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated in Wrigley Field for the second straight day, the Chicago Cubs left the diamond with their heads down. Their stunned faithful in the stands exited with the same expression. Some looked up to the heavens as if they wanted to ask the baseball gods how all of this was happening. As the cold wind was blowing through the emptying stadium it seemed as if it would take all glimpse of hope up in the skies, out to Lake Michigan and beyond into the dark night, never to return. Atleast not this season. Not with the way the Cubs played, with the fear of failure on their mind and the load of a 100 painful years on their shoulders.

Over the course of the year you get to see many bad teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates or the Seattle Mariners from time to time. They all had their moments where you could have labeled them an offense to the game of baseball, that's how terrible they played. But last night's performance by the Cubs tops everything that you might have seen during the MLB season. The fans saw a lifeless team if there has ever been one and players that looked like the played the game for the first time ever. Bobbled ground balls, terrible at bats, frightened faces without emotion - it all added up as the Dodgers won the game 10-3 and took a commanding 2-0 lead in the National League Division Series. "It just wasn't good baseball, it was terrible", said Cubs manager Lou Piniella after the game. "These were propably our worst performances of the entire year. It wasn't fun to watch." No, it wasn't. It's no exaggeration to say that the Cubs faced a little more pressure than any other team in this year's playoffs. They are the team everybody dies to watch. They were the story that everyone wanted to see have a happy end. And given how the team played this year, with their 97 wins, the strong pitching and the dangerous lineup, it seemed more realistic than ever that they could finally bring that World Series title back to the city for the first time since 1908. This was a good team, maybe even the best in baseball. They looked immune against the talk from the outside, the ghosts of former failures and the heavy pressure to perform. Yet with the postseason on the horizon something changed within Lou Piniella and his troops. Who can say what it is, they might not even know themselves, but all of a sudden it seems like the team has lost all of it's confidence. All the smiles, the poise, the strong character from during the season - blown away. They keep it real to their franchise's history as if they want to prove that the Cubs can't win. They are the "lovable losers" and they can't come through either. But that is not true. A curse doesn't exist on the field or in a city. The curse exists in the people's heads and as the last two games proved, it exists in the minds of this team. This version of the Cubs is afraid to win, afraid to fail again and they don't believe in themselves. Despite proving all year long that they are one hell of a good baseball team. Now they fail to show that they have what every great team has and that is mental toughness.

How come that they all of a sudden chase pitches way out of the strikezone after being one of the most patient teams all year long? How come they commit one horrible error after another despite showing good defense during the season? Why do the pitchers lose their poise? We could ask more and more of these questions and the answer would be the same. It's not because the Los Angeles Dodgers are the better baseball team or because the Cubs are a bad baseball team. You don't win 97 games if you don't know how to play. No, the reason for the Cubs downfall is that they bow down in front of a myth that has been part of baseball legends for so many decades. As a player you have to forget about that. It takes toughness under such circumstances to believe in yourself and to fight of the ghosts that have haunted so many players before you. After two games, these Cubs don't have that toughness. Actually, it looks like they never had it. No matter who you pick, if it is the struggling Alfonso Soriano, the declining Derrek Lee, the rattled pitchers, all rounder Kosuke Fukudome, they all showed the same fear, the same lack of guts and the inability to raise their game to the occasion. They dropped all their strongpoints of the year, their good, patient approach at the plate or their undying believe after falling behind. Nobody stepped up and put the team on his back either. Carlos Zambrano tried to do it but fell short. Lou Piniella could have tried it by moving a runner to third in the first inning with nobody out. He decided to let Ryan Theriot swing and strike out. It was a crucial situation not to score in that first inning as it only added to the doubts in his players' minds. In the end, they failed as a team in a monumentally bad effort from top to bottom.
You could pick hundreds of symbolic situations or images from last night to describe the Cubs' state of mind. Mark DeRosa's postgame interview isn't one of them: "Don't count us out, stay with us. We're not dead." Well, even though it's hard to believe, he's right. There is hope. Like in 2004, when the Boston Red Sox were in almost the same situation as they Cubs are in now. Down 0-3 against the New York Yankees in the ALCS after decades of disaster and without any hope of bringing back the long wanted World Series Championship. That Red Sox team though fought back in a legendary comeback and later won their World Series ring. The talk was the same about curses, ghosts and losing. Yet the players stepped up, they showed their guts, their toughness and their heart. Even though they didn't have history on their side as no other team had ever come back from a three game deficit. This year it looks better for the Cubs actually. The Yankees once came back from 0-2 to advance against Oakland. So could we say history is on the Cubs' side? Not really as the history and how they deal with it is the reason why these Cubs are where they are right now. And they better find their hearts quickly or the lights at Wrigley Field will not shine again this season. For another year until the ride begins again. With another added year of weight on their shoulders...

NFL Rookie Report Week 4

Offense:
The rookies who have made an impact in these first weeks of the young season mostly continued to do so in Week 4. Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson is slowly but surely turning into one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the NFC East as he recored 35 yards on two carries and 71 yards on 5 receptions and a touchdown. He lost a fumble though which is his second mental mistake in as many weeks and something he has to work on. Eddie Royal has been very impressive so far for the Denver Broncos. The speedy wideout is a true playmaker as he showed in the Broncos' loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Royal caught 9 balls for 104 yards and added a long pun return for 36 yards. The Broncos look to be in great shape at the wide receiver position for many years to come with Royal and teammate Brandon Marshall. Steve Slaton of the Houston Texas is taking advantage of the vacated backfield in Houston and is making the best out of his new found playing time. Though he only gained 33 yards on 10 carries against a stout Jacksonville front, he managed 83 yards receiving yards including a touchdown. Jonathan Stewart for the Carolina Panthers is more of a bruising type of runner. He splits carries with DeAngelo Williams but had a solid game on Sunday as he finished with 52 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. It was already his fourth score in as many games. Chicago's rookie runner Matt Forte wasn't fortunate enough to get a touchdown in his team's win against Philly but once again showed off his impressive versatility out of the backfield. Subpar on the ground with 43 yards on 19 touches, he helped his team with 42 receiving yards and continues to give quarterback Kyle Orton a nice security blanket on short passing situations. Another star among this year's rookie class is Tennessee's Chris Johnson. He tallied in 61 solid yards on 17 carries against devastating Vikings defensive front, reached the endzone twice and helped his team to remain unbeaten. Such joys are far away for the Rams' Donnie Avery as his team continues to wait for their first victory of the season. If they get it though, you figure that Avery might be a reason for it. On Sunday he rushed for a 37 yard touchdown on an end around and added 3 receptions for 22 yards. Not special numbers but a welcomed sign for a squad that desperately needs new life. Other receivers were rather quiet this week, yet Jordy Nelson (Green Bay) and Dustin Keller (New York Jets) have solidified their roles on their respective teams. Nelson caught 4 passes for 31 yards and Keller caught Brett Favre's career high setting 6th touchdown against the Cardinals. Not bad for your only catch of the day!

In the trenches some of the young big guys continue to look real impressive. Jeff Otah starts at right tackle for the Carolina Panthers and does a fine job in both pass protection and run blocking. Same can be said for Duane Brown of the Houston Texans who looked outstanding against Jacksonville in passing situations. He needs to develop quicker feet but used his arms very well to fight off pass rushers. Carl Nicks got his first NFL start for the New Orleans Saints at left guard and did a very good job. He got through the game without commiting a penalty and got a great push in the run game, using his massive size and quick feet to open holes for his running backs. Branden Albert played well for Kansas City against Denver but got injured in the second quarter. Joe Flacco had a very solid performance on the first Monday Night Football game ever for him. Even though he couldn't lead his team to victory against the Steelers, he showed toughness on the road throughout the game and threw the first touchdown of his NFL career. Rashard Mendenhall replaced Pittsburgh's Willie Parker in the lineup but his first career start was cut short. He injured his shoulder on an inside run in the third quarter and didn't return. Best wishes to him!

Defense:
The linebackers among this rookie class continue to impress. Curtis Lofton once again racked up a high number of tackles for the Atlanta Falcons (7 solo stops, one assist) and looked good against the run. Former USC standout Keith Rivers has owned a starting spot at outside linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals and he thanks his coach for the confidence with solid performances. In the "Battle of Ohio" against Cleveland he recorded a total of 8 tackles. Both players not only continue to play heavy minutes, they also pay back by being very active on the field and playing very solid for first year players. Another linebacker who starts to burst onto the scene is Alex Hall from the Cleveland Browns. The 7th round pick from tiny St. Augustine College got a lot of snaps for the second week in a row and contributed with a tackle, a forced fumble and a sack. He already got to the quarterback the week before against Baltimore and looks to be a nice shot in the arm for an overall struggling Cleveland Browns defense.
The New Orleans felt a big boost this weekend by finally seeing Deuce McAllister run hard again. But on the defensive side of the ball they continue to get contribution from two first year players that fill important holes for the newly constructed Saints D. Tracy Porter is emerging as a true playmaker in the secondary and filled up the stat sheet pretty nicely against the 49ers. The aggressive corner from Indiana had 3 tackles, his first NFL sack, defended a pass and also got the first interception of his young career. He might have openend a little bottle after that game! And if he did, I'm sure Sedrick Ellis joined him. The strong defensive tackle looked stout in the middle by occupying blockers and he also recorded his first sack in the pros. There are a number of other players who got their big debut play this weekend. Hilee Taylor, defensive end for the Carolina Panthers, got his first sack and might continue to take advantage of the double teams against his teammate Julius Peppers. Taylor went to college at North Carolina by the way, just like Peppers. Buffalo's cornerback Leodis McKelvin finally got some extended playing time in the Bills' win at St. Louis. He immediately made an impact by forcing a fumble and recovering the loose ball. Brandon Flowers also recovered a fumble to set up a score for Kansas City, who not only got their first win of the season but also played a lot of first year players all around the gridiron. Flowers finished with 7 tackles and batted down 2 passes while his teammate in the secondary Brandon Carr managed his first career interception. Beside the pick he also defended 3 passes, recovered a fumble and added 2 solo tackles. And there was another rookie for the Chiefs who got his first highlight in the pros. Defensive end Brian Johnston sacked Denver quarterback Jay Cutler, rounding out the overall impressive performance by the Chiefs rookie defenders. Jets corner Dwight Lowery collected 9 tackles and forced a fumble against Arizona in a lopsided victory for his team.

In Tampa Bay the Buccaneers got solid contribution from two rookies in their secondary. The athletic Aqib Talib had 3 tackles (after only having one throughout the first weeks) and his rookie teammate Elbert Mack (undrafted out of Troy) also chipped in with 4 stops. Both might have a chance to take away some snaps from the aging and struggling Ronde Barber, even though this is hard to imagine considering Barber's resume in the league. Someone who is also working on such a storied legacy is Chris Horton, starting safety of the Washington Redskins. So far, he is doing a tremendous job. In Washington's impressive road victory at Dallas he had 3 tackles and an interception, giving him 3 for the year. He possesses good speed, gets quickly to the line of scrimmage and stays tight in coverage (he had a great tackle against Jason Witten on a crossing route). The other Redskins rookie safety, Kareem Moore out of Nicholls State, also had a solid showing with 3 solo tackles and adds to an already good depth in Jim Zorn's secondary.

Special Teams:
Well, let's also give the kickers and special teamers some props. We didn't have an impressive highlight reel return this weekend, atleast not from a rookie, but for the first year players the special teams are always a great opportunity to raise a few eyebrows. So did Washington's punter Durant Brooks. With two of his four punts he pinned the Cowboys inside their own 20 yard line and averaged 46.3 yards for the night, putting his defensive in good position numerous times. Tyvon Brach had a highlight tackle against San Diego's mighty mouse Darren Sproles, as he brought him down immediately after a catch. Branch is starting to become a star special teamer for the Raiders and his coaches love his contribution in this part of the game. Brian Witherspoon is propably getting similar reviews from his coaches in Jacksonville. Evn though he hasn't made the big splash with a touchdown, his returns have been a nice spark for the at times offensively challenged Jaguars. Against Houston on Sunday, Witherspoon averaged a solid 26 yards on kickoff returns but added an impressive 21.5 yard average on his punt returns. Another player who got his work in on special teams was Vernon Gholston for the New York Jets. He struggled so far on defensive snaps but his contribution on kicks and punts this week (4 tackles) earned him coach Eric Mangini's "Special Teams Player Of The Week" Award.

Blackout: Dark Night For Georgia

In the weekly war down on the gridirons across the South, every game is a unique challenge to a team's mental toughness, to their physical talent and last but not least to their heart. Some games are even bigger than others, like last night's clash between the #3 ranked Georgia Bulldogs and the #8 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Sadly though, only one of the teams was up for grueling challenge on another hard Saturday in the SEC. It weren't the Bulldogs, who suffered a painful 41-30 home defeat and left a quiet "blacked out" Sanford Stadium into an even darker night with more questions than answers on their minds.

Georgia, previously unbeaten just like the high riding Crimson Tide, came out of the tunnel fired up with the black jerseys on their proud chests for just the third time in modern history. Yet that pride and that energy quickly got lost in what turned into one of the worst played halfs by a Georgia football team in recent years. Not to take anything away from Alabama, who came in with an excellent gameplan and a boatload of confidence. They outplayed Georgia on both sides of the ball in the first 30 minutes, yet the game could have been much closer if the Dawgs wouldn't have self destructed completely. But, sadly for Bulldog Nation, they shot themselves in the foot numerous times. And it wasn't just some little graze shot, it as more like bomb crater everytime they made a mistake. They served Alabama over 50 free yards on penalties on the Crimson Tide's first three drives. One of those miscues even neglected an Alabama fumble on their opening possession. Georgia fumbled the ball on a first down play on their side of the 50 yard line. And if that wouldn't have been enough, punter Brian Mimbs experienced propably one of the most horrible nights in his early football career. On his first two kicks he averaged 24 yards, including an 18 yarder that gave Alabama great field position. After all these errors added up and the Crimson Tide had seen how vulnerable their opponent was on that night, the first half was over. So was the game as Alabama led 31-0 at the break. With the huge lead, Bama could execute their gameplan to perfection, handing the ball off to their strong running backs behind their gigantic offensive line. Georgia had to play catch up and their young line's problems in pass protection got exposed numerous times. Star running back Knowshon Moreno only carried the ball 9 times for 34 yards and a touchdown, basically taken out of the game by the lopsided score. Despite an inspired second half comeback, the Bulldogs lost in the end and took a huge blow to their confidence and their National Championship dreams.

It was a painful loss, both because of the result and also because as Bulldogs coach Mark Richt put it because of "the self inflicted wounds". Not only did penalties and bad execution hurt Georgia right from the opening kickoff, the talented Alabama squad also showed the vulnerability of the Bulldogs team that has yet ot figure out how to get rid of some of their own shortcomings. There is the defense that in recent games is playing way too passive under coordinator Willie Martinez. Blessed with one of the fastest linebacking corps in the nation, Martinez at times just refuses to bring more pressure through blitz packages and different formations. Last night a more aggressive approach might have helped against a big offensive line and a quarterback in John Parker Wilson who can be rattled by pressure in his face. Georgia though rather sat back in their zone, continued to play way off the wide receivers and only rushed four, giving Wilson easy pitch and catch throws all night long. Another problem with the Bulldogs right now is their lack of a short passing game. When they land in obvious passing situations, quarterback Matthew Stafford almost exclusively goes down the field. That might work against average defenses like Arizona State but not in the SEC. The long throws and plays also take time to develop, making it even harder for the inexperienced offensive line. Mark Richt and Mike Bobo have to find a way to include more crossing routes, more slants and more screens into the gameplan or they will never be able to move the ball consistently against a good defense that takes away the long ball. Now another problem that is slowly but surely developing for Georgia is an unwelcomed visitor in their locker room: The injury bug. Already without starting left tackle Trindon Sturdivant, star defensive tackle Jeff Owens and hardnosed fullback Brannan Southerland, the Dawgs lost another leader yesterday to injury with All SEC middle linebacker Dannell Ellerbe who left the game midway through the first drive with a knee injury. His status is uncertain as of now. No matter how talented or deep your team is, if you are losing key players on a weekly basis it's hard to really get rolling.

Georgia now enters the bye week with a lot on their mind and Mark Richt will have his hands full to bring back the confidence in his players that carried them to a Sugar Bowl victory in 2007. Everything can change from week to week in college football and with Florida's loss to Ole Miss yesterday, the Bulldogs still have everything in their own hands in the SEC East. Even the National Championship is far from being out of reach. The top unbeaten teams will all face each other in one way or another and Georgia still has the possibility for redemption against the Tide if they make it to the SEC Championship. A lot of ifs, a lot of question marks, the bottom line is that the Bulldogs have a lot of work to do. Not only because of their brutal remaining schedule (including trips to Baton Rouge and Auburn) but also because of what they brought to the field on Saturday. Hope is clearly there, as Georgia was in the same position last year after early season losses to South Carolina and Tennessee and bounced back. "If we want to look at a bright spot, it's just the beginning of the season", said Knowshon Moreno. "You saw last year what can happen, it's not the downfall of our team. We still can bounce back." But to bounce back, the Bulldogs need to regroup first. In that case, the bye week couldn't have come at a better time...

Wild Afternoon In College Football

The Sportsbar opens early today as there is a lot to talk about already on this Saturday afternoon in September. Johan Santana is giving the Mets an almost legendary performance right now as their playoff hopes are hanging by a threat. And of course a bunch of college football games are already in the books and fans got so see some wild ones all over the country. So have a beer and let's take a look at the action across the gridirons.

#14 Ohio State 34, Minnesota 21
The unbeaten Golden Gophers came in with a strong 4-0 record but this one is just as much history as the waiting time for the Buckeyes freshman sensation Terrelle Pryor. While the return of star running back Beanie Wells was the story of the day, Pryor once again gave the fans at the "Horseshoe" a lot to cheer. He finished with one passing touchdown and a rather unspectacular 69 yards through the air. Yet he turned on his weels for 97 yards on the ground and two scores giving Ohio State a preview what he can do for them in the upcoming years.

Michigan State 42, Indiana 29
Oh come on, Mr Ringer! We are used to see a better effort from you. MSU's star runner "only" rushed for 198 yards and a touchdown as he once again carried the Spartans on his back to an important road victory. He missed his third straight 200 yard rushing performance by only 2 yards. This time he got important help from his quarterback Brian Hoyer (260 yards, 2 touchdowns) and kicker Brett Swenson who went 4 for 4 on field goals and was perfect on extra points. Despite a gutsy effort from Keenan Lewis the Spartans prevailed and should be ranked in the next polls.

Maryland 20, #20 Clemson 17
Well, Cullen Harper once again laid an egg and couldn't keep up with his explosive rushing duo of James Davis and C.J. Spiller who combined for 220 yards on 31 carries. Harper got picked off once and lost a fumble as the Terrapins are looking better and better as the season goes on. Quarterback Chris Turner managed the game well, avoided mistakes and can now celebrate another big win after beating Cal two weeks ago. After an opening thrashing against Alabama, the Tigers though find themselves wondering how quickly their dreams and hopes of a magic season went south.

Mississippi 31, #4 Florida 30
Who would have thought a missed extra point would decide this game?! Ole Miss pulls off the gigantic upset at the Swamp, beating the confused Gators in a nailbiter. Senior kicker James Phillips, who looked good all season, missed a PAT with about 3 minutes to go and left the crowd, his teammates and the country stunned. Tim Tebow couldn't convert on a 4th and 1 as the Gators' National Championship hopes took a huge hit. Even Percy Harvin's 286 all purpose yards and two touchdowns weren't enough. How much a little extra point can mean to a season...

JUST IN: New York Mets 2, Florida Marlins 0
Johan Santana - 9 IP, 3 hits, no runs... outstanding performance by one of the most dominant pitchers of our time. The Mets live to fight another day.

The Game To See: Alabama at Georgia

#8 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE - #3 GEORGIA BULLDOGS

7:45 pm ET, Saturday, Septembter 27, 2008
Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA

All eyes will be on Athens Saturday night as blacked out Sanford Stadium will host one of the best games of the entire season. Both unbeaten teams are on a roll entering this clash of traditional SEC powerhouses and will put their record to the test in what should be a physical and dramatic matchup. Georgia is led by the explosive Heisman hopeful Knowshon Moreno at tailback, their strong armed quarterback Matthew Stafford and a relentless linebacking corps. The Crimson Tide will counter with a big defensive front and an experienced, nasty offensive line featuring star left tackle Andre Smith. Alabama will look to establish their potent running attack with junior Glen Coffee and freshman Mark Ingram leading the way against a stout Georgia front seven. As with most SEC games, this game will test not only the talent, the heart and the strength of each opponent. In the end toughness will determine the winner of this game, may it be on a deciding goal line stand, down in the trenches or on a critical 4th quarter drive. But that's nothing new to Bulldogs coach Mark Richt, his counterpart Nick Saban or their players. It's their daily fate in the SEC and it will once again make up for one hell of a night down South!

Mets Have It In Their Hands Again

It's just one of those stories that you'll only find in sports. How big a story it was, the collapse of last year's New York Mets, when they blew a huge division lead to the Philadelphia Phillies on the last days of September. The Mets have to go at it again, in a year where they had their chances, their leads and their praise as one of the teams to beat. Now, even though they are right in the middle of the National League playoff race, the story is basically how they will manage to just fall short again? What big late inning lead will they choke away or what play will they mess up on their road to another painful long winter full of ruined dreams and what ifs? Yet they again have it in their own hands. At home, on the last days of good old Shea. 3 games, 3 finals. Do or die. They heard this story before. And they sure are sick of it. But to get rid of that dark history, they have to deliver. Today, tomorrow and on Sunday. In their closing regular season series they face their division rivals, the Florida Marlins. But that shouldn't matter. Just as the results in other stadiums or the matchups shouldn't interest the Mets right now. It's all about themselves. Their heart, their guts and their will to win. And what better way there is to say goodbye to Shea Stadium than give the ballpark another few days of life...

Down Goes Southern California

Everyone in the college football world was waiting for January when the mighty USC Trojans would be put to the test. When they would have to face the Sooners, Bulldogs or Tigers of this world. Everybody waited for a worthy opponent to go up against the number one team in the nation... until last night, when it took a 5-6 true freshman running back and a team of highly motivated and fired up Oregon State football players to ruin the Trojans' National Championship dreams.

The Beavers upset USC 27-21 on Thursday night at Reser Stadium and look to be the deciding factor in Southern Cal's bid for the National Championship. Freshman halfback Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 186 yards and 2 touchdowns on 36 carries to lead the Beavers to their second upset of USC in the last three years. Throughout the entire game Rodgers found room inside the trenches where his offensive line manhandled the Trojans front. Asked how he was able to have such success against the highly praised USC defense, Rodgers had a quite amusing answer: "I'm a small dude, I was just hiding behind my offensive linemen. They couldn't find me." If it would be just that easy... After dominating the first half on route to a 21-0 halftime lead, Oregon State looked to lose the hold of the game in the third quarter. Pete Carroll's talented Trojans stormed back to get within one touchdown yet they couldn't finish their aspired comeback. When quarterback Mark Sanchez threw an interception with about 2 minutes to go, Corvallis exploded in a collective uproar that was heard around the entire nation. The Trojans might not forget that sound anytime soon...

NFL Rookie Report Week 3

So, week 3 of the NFL season is in the books and quite a bunch of rookies continue to make an impact. Others are slowly but surely earning their spots and should see more and more time in the upcoming weeks. Let's see who the best rookie performers were this weekend.

OFFENSE:
The highlights of the offensive rookie class this season has been without a doubt Eddie Royal, Chris Johnson and Matt Forte. While Royal and Johnson had solid yet unspectacular outings this week, Forte once again proved his worth to the Chicago Bears, even though they lost their home opener to Tampa Bay in overtime. Forte finished with 89 yards rushing on 27 carries and added 7 receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown. He continues to show his versatility and that he will be the all purpose back of the future for the Bears. Steve Slaton had his first breakout performance for the Houston Texans this weekend. It didn't factor in the decision since we are still talking about the Texans here, but Slaton's 116 yards on 18 carries were clearly impressive. He also added a touchdown. Felix Jones continues to seize the opportunities given to him in Dallas' high octane offense as he finished with 76 yards on only 6 carries, including a big time 60 yard touchdown run against a tough Green Bay defense. He will only see more chances as the year goes on since not only Marion Barber will wear down many defenses but also the Cowboys gigantic and experienced offensive line.
We also have some emerging players at the fullback position among this year's rookie class. For example new Seattle Seahawk Owen Schmitt, a throwback bulldozer who's main response is opening holes for his halfback and hammering his head into opposing defenders. Schmitt helped Julius Jones to break the century mark of 100 yards in the last two games and is a big part of the resurgance of Seattle's running game. The undrafted Mike Tolbert out of Coastal Carolina hopes to have the same impact in San Diego where he blocks in front of superstar LaDainian Tomlinson. While he has trouble in the blocking department, Tolbert proved to be a capable receiver on Monday Night against the New York Jets. He finished with 4 receptions for 17 yards and a touchdown. In the same game Dustin Keller had his first stellar performance for Gang Green. The athletic tight end regularly got open down the seam and caught the first touchdown of his young NFL career. With his 4 catches for 41 yards he clearly was a bright spot in New York's rather unimpressive offense. While running back Michael Turner has been the star in Atlanta's impressive start, signal caller Matt Ryan continues to amaze people with poise, a strong arm and solid game management. The third overall pick completed 12 of 18 passes, including a 70 yard TD bomb to Roddy White. While it's still early, Falcons fans can't be more happy with the early development of their franchise quarterback.

Franchise players are also often playing on the left side of the offensive line. This week, two rookies had outstanding games at the important left tackle position. Sam Baker from the Atlanta Falcons is showing nice technique and experience, coming from his career at USC. He didn't allow a sack and Atlanta's running game is performing brilliantly so far. While Baker was good, the offensive line star of this weekend was top pick Jake Long. The Michigan standout was a key in Miami's upset win at Foxboro as he not only kept his quarterback Chad Pennington on his feet but also opened big holes in the running game. The Dolphins' rushing attack came out with numerous option plays and direct snaps, keeping New England's defense on their heels. Long went up against one of the best defensive fronts in the league and clearly passed that test with great marks. Same can be said for Tampa Bay's Jeremy Zuttah, who had to deal with Tommie Harris in the trenches of Soldier Field. He did a good job in pass protection. Branden Albert continues to start at left tackle for Kansas City.

DEFENSE:
Some rookies around the league really have solidified their spots on the defensive side of the ball. Antoine Cason in San Diego is giving good performances as the nickelback while Tracy Porter (New Orleans), Brandon Flowers (Kansas City) and Dwight Lowery (New York Jets) start on the outside for their respective teams. Lowery had two great pass breakups against the Chargers but also got beat two times. His coverage though was solid on both occasions. Another cornerback who is slowly expanding his number of snaps is the Cowboys' Mike Jenkins. The former South Florida star clearly showed some jitters but looked very solid and physical in coverage as he finished with 3 solo tackles. With an overall struggling secondary, Jenkins figures to get more and more playing time as the year goes on. Kenny Phillips for the Giants and Charles Godfrey for the Panthers are two safeties who right now make the most of their opportunities. Phillips knocked down a pass and had 5 tackles. Godfrey finished with 4 solo tackles and one assist and also got the first sack of his career. With Godfrey, Carolina's safety problem appear to be over.
The most surprising game of the weekend clearly was played in New England, where the previously winless Miami Dolphins ended the Patriots 21 game regular season win streak. While the result was a suprise, the performance of Miami's rookies up front shouldn't be that surprising anymore. Kendall Langford and Phillip Merling have had a great start to their NFL careers and even though they have to learn a lot, they make their impact felt. Langford starts at defensive end in Miami's 3-4 front and while he didn't have a sack this week, he looked much better against the run. He held his own inside, finishing with 2 tackles and a blocked pass. Merling's stats are a bit more impressive with a fumble recovery and a sack. Both look to be long time parts of Tony Sparano's front seven and will only get better with more experience and confidence. One of the more "experienced" rookies is Jerod Mayo as he continues to start at inside linebacker for the New England Patriots and getting almost no breathers in the first three weeks. Against Miami he finished with 8 tackles and 4 assists, though I'm sure he would have liked to pass the experience of losing his first NFL game. But hey, it's all about the learning process!

Monday Night Meltdown For Jets

It wasn't about the result yesterday for the New York Jets when they lost 48-29 to the San Diego Chargers on Monday Night Football. You can lose over there on the West Coast, especially against a Chargers team that had their backs against the wall and was playing to rescue their season after an 0-2 start. But the way the Jets played in the bright lights has to raise an armada of red flags, not only for next weekend's clash with the Arizona Cardinals but also for the entire season.

The night couldn't have started any better for the Jets as new starting safety David Barrett intercepted Phillip Rivers for a touchdown on the second series of the game. But from that point on, everything went south. An early onside kick didn't work, Favre looked like he played for the Chargers the way he was targeting their defensive backs and Thomas Jones fumbled right into San Diego's hands to give them a short field. Yet all of this wasn't nearly as bad as the injury to nose tackle Kris Jenkins. Believe it or not, the 6-4, 350 pound Jenkins is by far the most important player on this Jets team. Yes, including number 4, Ben Graham or Eric Smith (who had an atrocious game yesterday). With the man mountain in the middle, the Jets have the potential to be a top 5 run defense in the league and when they ever start to blitz again, a top 10 overall defense. Without Jenkins though, as we saw last night, the front seven looks like a high school team going up against Earl Campbell in his heyday. It was that bad. The Jets can scratch their heads about the offense all day long, if Jenkins is out for any longer amount of time, the season is over. If you want to be a contender with a 3-4 defense, you can't have some kind of journeyman like Sione Pouha playing nose tackle for you. Great teams are never made by their offense alone and as old the saying seems, defensive still wins championships. The Jets have a lot of pieces in place (above average linebacking corps, strong secondary) but without Jenkins, make your plans for an early January vacation.

While Jets fans have to keep their fingers crossed that big Kris Jenkins is healthy, last night's game puts a rest to those idiots who just wanted to unleash Brett Favre and let him throw the ball all over the place. This group includes the majority of ESPN's inept Monday Night Crew. Mainly Steve Young acted like a voice of reason and had his reservations, calling the idea of letting an unprepared Favre loose "foolish". That comment could be expanded to his pregame partner Emmitt Smith, who is just a notch below Tony Kornheiser in terms of Monday Night stupidity and lobbied for a heavy dose of Favre without giving any indication how that might look. A couple of hours later, Steve Young proved to be oh so right. I don't want to hear all that legend stuff and how great Favre was, is or will be. This isn't about Favre, this is about the New York Jets. He better learn the playbook quickly and gets held accountable for his mistakes. While he sure doesn't have chemistry with his receivers, you still don't have to throw a ball into triple coverage off your back foot. Sure, Favre has always been that way but he better develop some chemistry with his receivers at some point in the near future. The coaching staff has to do their part too, putting up some plays that favor Favre's ability like the vintage quick slant pass that we finally saw once last night. Now Favre is only one of the problems of the Jets offense. The offensive line has been far from good this season. While they looked ok in run blocking yesterday, Faneca and company had trouble keeping the pocket intact. You could expect more from a group that includes two recent first round picks and two big offseason additions. There were also some positive things on offense, like the expanded role for rookie tight end Dustin Keller (4 catches, 41 yards and a touchdown) and the continuing emergance of Chansi Stuckey (6 catches, 42 yards and a touchdown). The special teams were flat out spectacular with Leon Washington electrifiying the field with 198 return yards, a recovered onside kick by rookie Vernon Gholston and another great return by Jerricho Cotchery. But on a night where nothing else works out for you, such bright spots quickly get lost in the dark skies.

Something has changed with these Jets from 2006, Eric Mangini's first year in which they went a surprising 10-6. That team overachieved, though short on talent and personnel, and did everything imaginable to gain an advantage on their opponent (except for video taping of course). They ran trick plays, had a quick striking offense and blitzed all day long with a gigantic package of formations. Yesterday you saw a little glimpse of 2006 when Mangini ordered an onside kick with the game still close. Gutsy call, but somehow it seemed like a desperation move. This year so far, the Jets not only play conservatively and almost passive, no, they also seem to be unprepared. You see the two inside linebackers David Harris and Eric Barton trailing 5-11 scrub receivers on third and long, good blitzers like Kerry Rhodes are wasted in deep coverage, Leon Washington seems to only get the ball on special teams - it's just a long list of things that add up in the big picture and make it hard for this team to break out. On top of that, the Jets look lethargic and don't seem to play with a lot of fire. That includes Brett Favre, even though he already pointed out the Jets' lack of passion in the media. The bye week can't come quick enough for the Jets who have to develop a certain gameplan and an identity on the field. They have to work on chemistry, leadership and a lot of other things. Even though last night was tough, nothing has happened yet. You can lose at San Diego (even though the Chargers are far from anything special right now) but now the Jets face a ton of pressure against Arizona. Going into the bye 2-2 would be good but 1-3 might be something this team, that doesn't really show great resilliance, fire or character right now, can't come back from... especially without Kris Jenkins.