Oct 5, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Ahmad Bradshaw (44) runs with the ball against the Baltimore Ravens at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeats Baltimore 28-13. Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
There are times when there is the distinct feeling that some analysts seem to have fallen off a planet somewhere having never seen the NFL action before.
Here’s what I mean. If there’s one thing consistent about the NFL is that predicting what will happen is nearly impossible. Furthermore, especially early in the season, the most dangerous thing anyone can do is attempt to make instant evaluations that make any sense.
The reality of the NFL is that, for the most part, it’s a week-to-week league where anything anyone believed the week before is quickly blown up the following week.
Yet, when national networks have hours and hours to fill with pre- and post-game analysis, there is the need to fill those hours and resulting pressure to be bold with what is said. After all, it’s about being noticed, right?
I don’t know how many times I was asked in the first few weeks of the season what team is the best in the league. My response was to be totally honest and say, “I don’t know. No way to really know that now.”
That assessment certainly wouldn’t play on the alphabet soup of pregame shows.
To illustrate, following are some statements made on shows prior to games in Week 5:
“I believe the Ravens are the best football team right now playing across the board. The Ravens are a better team. They play defense and they are going to be able to get after Andrew Luck. The Ravens are more battle-tested and they are better built to play championship football. This is going to be a championship game for them.” – Kurt Warner.
The Ravens lost to the Colts that day.
Of course, the Patriots were everyone’s dartboard after losing to the Chiefs in the Week 4 Monday night game.
Thus, this is a sample of what was said before the Week 5 game against Cincinnati:
“The Cincinnati Bengals look like the most complete team in the National Football League.” – Sterling Sharpe.
“For the first time in a very long time, the Patriots from a talent standpoint are just outmatched and they are going to be outmatched in this game with the Cincinnati Bengals. I just don’t see a scenario where they come away with a win.” – Michael Robinson.
There is always a scenario, and that’s what makes the NFL the league it is. Never forget it.
Reggie’s World
Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne is an early candidate for Comeback Player of the Year, not only for playing at a high level after a serious knee injury but doing in a year where he turns 36 on Nov. 17.
Last Thursday night, he played his 202nd game with the Colts, and is now four behind Johnny Unitas and six behind Peyton Manning for the most games in franchise history.
Said Wayne, “We all know what Peyton has done for this franchise, for this city. It’s kind of hard to believe that I could pass him up. He was here a long time. He won a lot of games for this organization, so just for me to be in the same breath, the same category as Peyton, is obviously an honor.”
As for doing what he’s doing at his age, Wayne said his mental approach has never been more acute than it is now.
He said, “I know I’m not going to just Usain Bolt run past everybody. I’ve got to be that much more in-tune to film watching, watching my opponent to try and find an advantage the best way I can. I probably watch more film now than I’ve watched the past couple of years than I’ve ever watched. It’s worked. It’s helped me. That’s how you get that edge and hopefully I can continue to get that.”
Twitter Terrorists
Maybe it had been used before, but Bears coach Marc Trestman used the term to describe some of the insanity and ignorance that gets disseminated in social media.
Trestman was commenting after defensive end Lamarr Houston went a tad overboard with comments responding to some of the things written on Twitter about him or the team.
Wrote Houston, “Where are my real fans???the ones who don’t waver during the storm the tough ones?!?!? Those r the ones we need the rest of u can eat dirt”
Said Trestman, “We talk about it all the time, we talk about it all the time, making sure they take a deep breath, making sure they understand that they’re representing the team. We talk about it in terms of not being responsive to the Twitter terrorists, so to speak, that are out there, for lack of a better word. I know I’m going to get quoted on it, but I believe in social media and we don’t try to stop our players – this is a generation of players – and we do, we try to get them to take a deep breath, remind themselves that even though they’re trying to protect their team and their teammates, to do the right thing.”
It might feel good at the time to hit send and answer in kind, but regret soon follows.
Second Chances
The Broncos released kicker Matt Prater just a few days before his four-game suspension would end for violating the NFL substance abuse policy as it relates to alcohol. He quickly landed in Detroit as the Lions’ third kicker of the season.
Prater said, “When I was suspended, I was just staying away from football in general to just work on myself as a person. I got the call Sunday night and flew in and knew I was going to have a workout and kicked well enough to sign.”
Most important was an hour-long talk he had with head coach Jim Caldwell before his tryout.
Said Caldwell, “I am one who believes in a second chance and I’ve had a few second chances in my life – and it’s made a tremendous difference. I do think the young man is sincere – and it wasn’t just the hour conversation; we vetted him thoroughly.”
The Quote
Raiders running back Maurice Jones-Drew on the reality of the NFL: “My second year I found out what the business of the NFL was about when (quarterback) Byron Leftwich was cut Week 1. It changed my whole mindset. That’s probably one of the reasons I’ve been able to play so long or this long at the position I’m playing is because it’s a business.”
