Life and Stuff

With all the talk about how the Patriots may become the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to go undefeated, I thought it might be a good idea to take a look at the other side of the spectrum. Right now, there are two teams that could conceivably finish the season without a victory. The Miami Dolphins are one of those teams. Unlike most teams who are bad on just one side of the ball, the Dolphins seem to have trouble on all sides of the ball. An inexperienced offense has failed to put a consistent stream off points on the board. Add to that, an aging and tired defense that doesn't pressure the quarterback and constantly allows themselves to get burned on deep passing plays. A couple of weeks ago, I joked that Nick Saban left the Dolphins because he knew something the organization didn't. As time goes by, my intended joke has allowed itself to become more and more of a reality. The Dolphins are truly in shambles. Their starting quarterback and running back are done for the year and their defense is full of aging vets that have lost their quickness and inexperienced rookies who look clueless on the field. The St Louis Rams on the other hand may not have a defense, but they have a decent offense that was constantly being bogged down by one man, Gus Ferotte. Gus Ferotte is like The Brady Bunch, no matter how much that show wasn't funny it always finds its way onto a TV schedule because of its wholesomeness and commitment to family values. Gus Ferrotte has never been a successful QB and throws a ton of interceptions, but yet he still finds a way to find employment in the NFL. Regular starter Marc Bulger has finally returned, but the Rams also have age and lack of depth to add to their seemingly endless list of problems that keep them in the basement of the NFC. It's unlikely that we will see a team lose 16 in a row, but with the caliber of football that these teams are playing at, anything is possible. One week until the halfway point of the NFL season, and as always there was a lot to complement and criticize this past weekend.

• Last year, Drew Brees was a potential MVP candidate. This year it took him 7 games to throw his first home TD pass. The Saints are becoming relevant again but will it last?

• Nick Saban may have no regrets leaving Miami, but I'm certain Bobby Petrino regrets leaving the college game to take over the Falcons. Perhaps he'll use the upcoming bye week to reformat his playbook.

• How bad are things in Atlanta? Byron Leftwhich walked away from his postgame press conference because he was unable to put into words how frustrated he is with his team's play.

• Ravens RB Willis McGahee was recently quoted in a Buffalo newspaper that Buffalo was a city where you " can't go out, can't do nothing." If McGahee spent a week in Milton Massachusetts, he'd be dying to go back to Buffalo. McGahee also said that going to Buffalo was liking hitting a brick wall, you know, like he does when he runs into a 300 pound linebacker.

• Moron of the week is Ravens QB Kyle Boller, who elected to throw the ball on a 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1 respectively with his team down by a 7 in the fourth quarter when his team had run the ball effectively all day. Perhaps his offensive coordinator should share the award with him for allowing him to get away with it.

• Jeff Garcia still have not thrown an interception, but showed he has the ability to produce coastlly fumbles and generate drives that lead to missed field goals on Sunday.

• The Lions are 4-2, how did that happen?

• Bucs coach John Gruden told the media that he did not have an explanation for all of the fumbles, and botched kicks that befell his team on Sunday, but if he did, he would do his best. The preceding has been brought you by the people who brought you duh.

• Lions QB John Kitna has been sacked more times this year than the latest shipment of Idaho potatoes.

• The Patriots are beyond belief, Tom Brady threw 5 touchdown passes in the first half alone and Randy Moss made a one-handed catch between 2 defenders. This proves that at least for the time being, the Patriots are in a league of their own.

• The Titans-Texans game was without question the game of the week. Little known quarterback Sage Rosenfels throws 4 TD passes in the fourth quarter to overcome a 32-7 deficit. But, Tennessee kick Rob Bironas kicked the game winning field goal as time expired to give not only the Titans the win, but the 8th field goal of the day for Bironas which set an NFL record.

• With the Giants playing well, the Cowboys the toast of the NFC, and the Redskins playing decent, the NFC East may be the most solid division in the NFL

• San Francisco started 2-0, and has subsequently lost their last four games. It is probably because they are not being quarterbacked by Trent Dilfer. Dilfer is another fine graduate of the Gus Ferotte school of quarterbacking, a place where futility is there middle name.

• Ichiro was seen waving a towel and carousing among the fans in Seattle. That's quite a contrast to his normal stone-faced complexion when he's playing baseball. I wouldn't be surprised if next week, Joe Torre is drinking beers and slapping fives among the Jets faithful.

• Marc Bulger has returned to the Rams, but like Gus Ferotte he threw three picks and showed a knack for fumbling the ball.

• The Jets are now 1-6, which leads me to ask the question, Kellen Clemens where are you?

• You couldn't pay me enough to convince me the Raiders are a good team. Granted they're better than the Dolphins and Rams, but they really have a lack of talent.

• The Eagles are another team that could sink into the abyss of the NFC if they are not careful

• How can the Viking defense justify leaving Terrell Owens wide open for two easy scores. Did he have a bad body odor or something?

• In the fourth quarter of a tie game, the reliable foot of Jason Elam is about as sure a warm blanket on a cold night.

• Until next week, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.