Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Another Open Letter to Nick Collins


Dear Nick,

Glad you showed up at camp. Lose the 'tude, though. Let's not forget, you're still not good enough to whine about your contract. And, stop saying things like this: "I'm a humble kid. I'm here to do my job, come in here, help this team win, play football. That's all I know how to do is play football. I'm a winner and that's what I'm trying to do, win a championship here." Humble people don't call themselves humble. And they don't demand more money when they have a year left on their contract. Nick, take a look at Greg Jennings, for example. He got a new contract with one year left on it. Notice, Nick, that he did not accomplish it by playing mind games, holding out for more money, and calling himself humble. He did it by earning on the field. Now go and do likewise.

Love,
Bryce

P.S. You're set to make $3 million next year. That is enough money.

Big Ups to Ted

This space is usually used to rip on Ted Thompson. Not today friends, not today. Reports out of Green Bay indicate that TT and the Pack signed my boy Greg to a long term deal.

I won't give you all the specs because I'm not that technical. I will give you my reaction though: this is good, an A-/B+ move for Ted. Why not just a straight up A? Because, I don't know if Greg is the 2nd best WR in the entire NFL just yet. Has he even been voted to a Pro Bowl yet? I guess the Pro Bowl is kind of overrated anyhow. I can live with the contract though, because as new guys get contracts they'll get more money, so it's not a huge issue. Overall I'm stoked. Here's why:

1. Jennings is the prototype of the Ted Thompson strategy. Draft a guy you've never heard of, develop him in your system, and then if he pans out pay him well. So, it's nice to see the TT philosophy playing out well in the long term, although it does make me scream at the TV occasionally in the short term.

2. There's probably not going to be a salary cap next year about this time, as it will be the last year of the collective bargaining agreement between the NFLPA and owners. So, to resign him at this time next year would have cost way, way, way more money.

3. I like Greg, he's a fan favorite, so it's nice to see Ted being interested in keeping him around.

Unrelated side note: the picture above is from what is potentially my favorite Greg Jennings moment thus far: when Favre hit him streaking down the sideline in OT vs. the Broncos. Unfortunately, I didn't see it in real time because I was moving my car as I was watching it at Spencer's dorm, and nobody ever wins on the first play from scrimmage in OT. Except then. Funny enough, Spencer and his then roommate Andrew exploded in applause, screaming at the top of their lungs, and, although they lived all the way down the hall from the elevator, could still be heard in the elevator a few floors down as I was riding back up. The girl in the elevator with me remarked about how people are idiots, and I kind of mumbled in agreement before I realized who was yelling. When I heard that it was Spencer and Andrew, I took off sprinting down the hallway as soon as the elevator doors closed.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

An open letter to Nick Collins


Dear Nick Collins,

You're not good enough to hold out for more money. Shut up and play out the remainder of your contract.

Love,

Bryce

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Nightmare? No, this is like a never ending daymare...

Well, it's the worst possible Packer news that I could blog about. It seems that the reality of Favre starting at QB for the Vikings is becoming more and more likely each day. Unlike last year, I will not be supporting Favre. Not so much because he's going to play for the Vikings, but the way that he's going about it. If he would have signed with or been traded to the Vikings last year, I think I would have supported him, based on the circumstances last year. But the stunt that he's pulling right now is unacceptable. And the way that he's gone about things really causes me to wonder if he had this planned all along. I'm pretty sure that when he was traded to the Jets, he decided that he would re-retire/seek his release and try to go sign with the Vikings. Obviously that's what the Packers thought that he had in mind, hence the clause that they included in the trade. For him to retire again, from a franchise that basically rolled out the red carpet for him, then demand to be released, then get surgery on his shoulder and start talking to the Vikings...these are the actions of an arrogant megolomaniac. When he came back last year it was about playing football. He could have played for the Jets this coming year, they didn't push him out the door at all. In fact, they fired their head coach when they could have made Favre the scapegoat and run him out of town on a rail.

It's not about playing football this year, this is obviously about getting revenge on TT. It is very apparent that he has decided he wants to play against the Packers, as if that is going to hurt TT somehow. Look, I'm no fan of Ted Thompson, but for Favre to go this far, spend this much energy, and do this much damage to his reputation, for the sole purpose of giving the middle finger to TT, that's insane. So, I'm not going to make any bold declarations about how I'll boycott the Packers (even though this is partly their fault), or Favre (even though I'm disgusted with him and he'll probably always be tarnished in my mind if he wears purple), or the NFL (even though it just won't be as enjoyable for me to watch). No, no boycotts, only a statement: I'm sad. I'm very sad. I'm sad, as a Packers fan, even more than I'm angry. I'm sad because one the of greatest Packers of all time seems to have lost his mind and is now bent on playing against the team that everyone would have remembered him for. I'm sad because Favre could have rode off into the sunset of our minds, still the golden boy that brought the Lombardi trophy home and made all of those impossible, ridiculous throws. But, he didn't. He retired. If only he wouldn't have. He asked to be given his job back. They didn't, if only they would have. He was traded...re-retired, released. Even then, with his reputation still in tact, he could stay down south. I'll concur with Michael Hunt, maybe the biggest lesson we can learn from this is not to hero-ize athletes. Maybe Favre should have never been "Favre", but just a guy that played quarterback, maybe. All I know is, it's not going to be as much fun to watch the NFL this year. I'll leave you with a clip, eerily similar to last year, of Favre sweating while throw balls to high school kids. He's throwing off his back foot, Favre style.







Friday, June 12, 2009

Redemption

One year ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins were on the other side of the coin, having been eliminated by the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Penguins had a shaky start to this year's Stanley Cup matchup. losing two games in Detroit to start the series. However, the Penguins were able to win at home and take 4 of the next 5 games.

You stay classy, Detroit.
Winning the President's Cup and the Stanley Cup last year wasn't good enough; winning the Central Division wasn't good enough; and apparently going seven games and losing to a worthy opponent is simply UNFORGIVEABLE ::gasp!:: While the Penguins celebrated their championship and their team skated off the ice, dejected, the fans at Joe Louis Arena booed. I understand being upset, but shut up and have some sportsmanship. You can't win every year. Just be thankful that your last Cup was won more recently than 1961.

Why is this good?
Frankly, I think that everyone gets bored when the same team wins over and over again. Take the Patriots for example. Get some new faces up at the top and I think the league gets a whole lot more interesting.

Halfway through the regular season, the Penguins didn't even look like they'd make the playoffs. After a coach-firing and the promotion of Bylsma, the Penguins found themselves in the thick of things again. I think this shows that any team can win.

It's good for the Penguins' franchise as well, obviously. A few years ago, the Pens were on the verge of non-existance. After winning a Stanley Cup, you have to believe that Pittsburgh will be hanging around for a while.

Dan Bylsma is a happy man, I'm sure. After Michel Terrien was removed as head coach, Bylsma was promoted as interrim coach. This is where the team turned around from being a 'going-nowhere' team, to championship-bound. You have to believe that he's going to be getting paid a lot more next year.

Beyond all this, the NHL can now show pictures of its poster-boy, Sidney Crosby. Ever since he joined the league, the NHL has promoted this young phenom because they finally found another player who truly made hockey exciting. You have to know that Crosby's going to be making a little more on endorsements next year. Oh, and I'll say it right now, he and/or--Pittsburgh's other young gun--Evgeni Malkin will be on the cover of NHL 10.

What about me?
Oh, I'm lovin' it. I HATE the Red Wings. I mean, I HATE 'em. I'm sick of all their old veterans who and their ability to buy every good player on the market. I'm ready for the assumption that players who sign with the Red Wings win championships to end. I want their to be more parity in the leauge. Here's to hoping that this is just the beginning of a long draught for the Red Wings.

Oh yeah, one more thing
Joke's on you, Hossa. Thought you had a better chance at winning a Cup with the Red Wings? Woops. Maybe you should have stayed in Pittsburgh. I'm glad that the Penguins had no qualms about using your number again this year by giving it to Miroslav Satan. You won't be missed in Pittsburgh. (Conklin is another one who went from the Penguins to the Red Wings in the time passed since last year, but his was probably less by choice.)

DETROIT SUCKS!

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Derrick Rose in Turmoil

Shocking news on Derrick Rose, via The Onion:

"CHICAGO—An NCAA report released Monday alleging altered grades on high school transcripts and a fraudulent SAT exam could forever blemish the record Bulls point guard Derrick Rose achieved during his two semesters at the University of Memphis. "This has disturbing implications for the academic legacy of the Tigers' basketball program and is an upsetting matter for our fans, all of whom would be utterly devastated to learn that a player was admitted to this institution without meeting its minimum scholastic requirements," said University of Memphis spokesperson Henry Jackson, who added that the school has always emphasized education. "That one of his grades in high school might have been changed from a 'D' to a 'C' is a painful thing to hear for all those who followed Rose's grade point average so closely and trusted him to add to the wealth of human knowledge." Rose has also refused to acknowledge accusations that he did not attend any classes during the spring semester of his freshman year. "

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

You awake Ted?


If TT is awake, he might wanna consider signing this guy...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4224851&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines

Of course, he'd have to be willing to sign for a little less than he wants to make. And maybe take a different role or position, but it sounds like he wanted to play DE a few years ago anyway.

If I had to bet I'd say that there's about a 1/1,000,000 chance that the Packers will sign him. But still, it's nice to dream.