Tebow goes to Gotham City

If you've read any of my earlier posts here, you know I'm a Tim Tebow supporter. I'm not delusional by any means. Right now, he's not a great quarterback in the NFL. Saying he's a good quarterback is even a stretch. He runs the ball well and has those football intangibles. Namely, he finds a way to win. While in Denver last season, he turned a 1-4 start into an 8-8 finish and AFC West title. He defeated defending AFC champion Pittsburgh in his first playoff start and tossed the game-winning 80-yard touchdown to Demaryius Thomas in overtime. Then he got steamrolled in New England next week by Tom Brady and the eventual AFC champion Patriots. Not a bad season for a guy that very few thought deserved a starting job.

So when Peyton Manning was cut by Indianapolis a few weeks ago and ended up signing a five-year/$96 million deal with the Broncos, the Tale of Tebow seemed to be coming to an end. Fear not, fans. The Tebow Circus will now make its way to the big city thanks to a stunning trade made by the New York Jets yesterday that saw the them send their fourth and sixth round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft to Denver for Tebow and a seventh rounder.

                                     Best selling backup QB jersey...EVER!!!

You have to wonder what exactly the Jets are thinking. They pursued Manning, but dropped out early on, and handed incumbent quarterback Mark Sanchez and three-year contract extension. Now, Tebow comes to town and is anointed the backup. My guess is that Tebow is there to push Sanchez since he really hasn't had to worry about being benched the last few years, seeing as how the 40-something Mark Brunell has been his backup. Jets' brass has said that Tebow will be used in various game situations. New offensive coordinator Tony Sparano ran the "Wildcat" formation with success in Miami, so expect plenty of Tebow in those sets, some goal line situations, but very little else. Sanchez is the starter. He's been to two AFC championship games in his first three years in the league. He's "The Sanchise" until he falls on his face and gets run out of town. If that happens, we can talk more about bringing Tebow to New York being the wrong or right move. Right now, he's just the highest profile backup in the NFL.

Tebow's leadership has never been questioned and there's no questioning winning. Football is a team game and he has had plenty of help on both sides of the ball as both a Gator and then a Bronco. Look for Tebow to help the Jets look good and mend the discord that haunted the locker room last season, while the Jets make him look good when he's under center.

Baseball Hall of Fame writers are lacking

Baseball writers voted last week for Hall of Fame enshrinement and of all the credible candidates only Barry Larkin received over the 75% necessary to gain election. Larkin is very deserving and if I had a vote he would have got mine. I've been stewing all this time on how he's the only guy to get in this year. I'd have also voted for Jeff Bagwell, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff and yes, Mark McGwire. This could get into a steroid debate, but let's save that for another time.

My biggest beef here is the fact that Bernie Williams only received 55 votes (9.6%). This guy did everything on a Yankee team that won four World Series titles during his 16-year career. .297 career average, 287 home runs, 1257 runs batted in (five times over 100 in a season, which is one more time than Mickey Mantle did it, by the way), five All Star selections, four Gold Gloves in center field. Then, take his post season stats into perspective. He's first all-time in RBI's, then he's second all-time in hits, homers, doubles, runs scored, total bases, trailing Hall of Fame lock Derek Jeter in most of those categories, and Manny Ramirez, who would also be a Hall of Fame lock if not for that tiny little steroid issue he had, in the homer department.

So baseball writers? Why? Isn't the post season something that separates the legends from the regular season greats? Isn't this why the votes seem to rise every year for Jack Morris? Morris rose to 66.7% in the voting this year, and will probably have the door to the Hall open for him next year. Everyone remembers his post season efforts. Anchoring the Tigers pitching staff to the title in 1984 with two complete game victories in the World Series, and the 10-inning shutout he threw in 1991 against the Braves in Game 7 to win it for the Twins. Those post seasons overshadow the fact that his career regular season ERA was 3.90 and that he didn't break the magical 300 win plateau. Morris was a work horse. He won 254 games and he probably gets my vote as well, but only 55 votes being cast for Bernie is shameful. The guy was a class act and probably just as big a leader as Jeter was on those Yankee championship teams.

Explain to me how you don't vote this guy for the Hall. Please.

25 years and counting

Currently watching the Cardinals-Rangers World Series, Game 6, with Texas needing three more outs for their first ever championship, I felt it time to reflect on the 25th anniversary of my beloved Mets only World Series title of my life.

I went to bed crying after the Red Sox homered twice in the second inning to go up 3-0. Thankfully, my mom woke me up when the Mets tied it at 3. Ray Knight homered soon after my waking, putting the Mets ahead for good. Darryl Strawberry hit a monstrous home run in the 8th for some insurance. In the ninth, Jesse Orosco delivered the 2-2 pitch. Marty Barrett swung and missed. I went ape shit and this is what it looked like on the field.

                                                         VICTORY!

Thanks Mets! Now go out and get me another one before I die.

"Behind the bag!"

                                                            MOOK! 

25 years ago today, Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully uttered these three little words. Mets' fans all over New York, including myself, age 9, went crazy. Just moments prior, Boston was leading Game 6 of the 1986 Series 5-3, with two out and no one on base. They were on the verge of their first title since 1918.

Then it happened.

Gary Carter singles. Kevin Mitchell singles, Ray Knight singles home Carter. Bob Stanley uncorks a wild pitch to Mookie Wilson that allows Mitchell to come home and tie it at 5. Then it's Mookie's "little roller up along first..." Bill Buckner watches it go through his legs. Mets win. See you in Game 7.

No matter how many times I watch it, or talk about it, it will never not make me smile.

Tebow's time?

There are many people in the world of sports that consider themselves experts. You see them on television, listen to them on the radio, and read what they have to say in newspapers. Since Tim Tebow completed his senior season at the University of Florida there have been lots of experts voicing their opinions. They said that he'd never be selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. The experts showed they aren't perfect prognosticators when the Denver Broncos selected Tebow with the 25th pick of the first round.

As expected, Tebow spent most of his rookie season as the backup to Kyle Orton. He saw some action in short yardage and goal line situations. Ran for a few short touchdowns and even tossed a short touchdown pass on his first NFL attempt. Denver turned to Tebow to start the final three games of 2010 after Orton and the Broncos stumbled to a 3-10 record, dead last in the AFC West. Tebow went 1-2 in his three starts, completing just under 50% of his passes with four touchdowns and three interceptions and a passer rating of 82.1. Pedestrian statistics and plenty of rookie mistakes, but that's what should be expected of a young quarterback. In his lone victory, he rallied the Broncos from a 23-10 deficit to Houston by throwing and running for two scores in the final 11 minutes giving the Broncos a 24-23 win.

Tebow's 2011 began with many questions as well. Should he be the starter? The experts said no, once again. The Broncos' coaching staff apparently agreed as Tebow was dropped to third on the depth chart behind Orton and Brady Quinn. The Broncos started slowly again in 2011 under Orton and while trailing San Diego 23-10 at halftime, Tebow was called on again to take the reins starting the second half. Tebow engineered two second half touchdown drives and had his last chance pass fall incomplete in the end zone as the Broncos fell 29-24.

Tebow was named the starter on Monday and all the experts came out again to bash him.

   How many of you get this fired up for a team that's lost 16 of their last 21 games?

Now I'll be the first to admit, I don't believe Tebow is never going to be Joe Montana, Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. I will say it's time for the experts to let the guy have a chance before the bash him anymore. If he fails, they can gloat all they want, but if he proves them wrong, they should apologize to him publicly since they have tried writing off his career before it even has a chance.

Tebow isn't your typical pocket QB, but there have been plenty of successful NFL quarterbacks that used their other athletic abilities to lead teams to victories on the field. And there's those intangibles experts like to talk about. He's a great teammate from everyone you ask. He's a monster in the workout room. He's a winner. In his three years as a starter for the Gators he posted a 35-6 record, winning the Heisman Trophy and a National Championship. He puts points on the scoreboard, as he tossed 88 touchdowns and rushed for another 57. Yes, college isn't the NFL, but so far at the pro level he's accounted for 13 TD's in 12 games.

For whatever reason, the running athletic quarterback has always been knocked at the NFL level. The experts say they can't succeed. Well, experts let me prove you wrong with four names: Randall Cunningham, Fran Tarkenton, Steve Young and Michael Vick. All four known as mobile, athletic quarterbacks, and with the exception of Young (who didn't start full time until he was 30, while learning behind Hall of Famer Joe Montana), all completed less than 60% of their passes.

                     W-L-T       Comp. %    Pass yards   TD/INT      Rushes-Yards   TD
Tarkenton    124-109-6      57.0           47003        342/266       675-3674         32
Cunningham   82-52-1       56.6           29979        207/134       775-4928        35
Young            94-49-0       64.3           33124        232/107       722-4239        43
Vick               47-35-1       55.8          15945        101/65         690-4948         32

They all had winning records. Young won a Super Bowl. Tarkenton started three Super Bowls, but came away without winning the big one. Cunningham led his team to the playoffs eight times. Vick has been to the playoffs in four of his eight years as a starter, and has years left to play still.

Now I'm not proclaiming Tebow as the next in this line of great athletic signal callers. Maybe he will be. Maybe he won't. At the very least, he's earned the chance to prove to every expert that says, "he can't do it", that he can. One thing I can guarantee is that Tebow will give every ounce of sweat to helping the Broncos win each and every week. That's what happens when you put your heart into doing what you love most.

I'm behind you, Tim. I'm no expert, but I'll at least give you a chance.

Back from the abyss...and bitching!

I've watched a ton of football in my days here on Earth. I've learned that sometimes the refs screw up a call. Sometimes it goes your way. Sometimes it doesn't. Today, I have to say that refs flat out screwed the Jets with bad calls. Maybe it's Rex Ryan's fault for talking up his team in the media and creating resentment among the masses, who I guess enjoy all those boring press conferences where coaches droll on about "giving 110%" or "taking it one game at a time." I love Rex from a fan's standpoint, but maybe it's time to turn the bravado down a notch until the calls start to balance out a little.

            "Hey, ref. He touched me and I stumbled to the ground. Where's the flag?"

Apparently when you play for the Patriots you can run into opposing defensive backs, fall down, and you get a pass interference call. Tom Brady whines after every pass he throws that falls incomplete. So I'm guessing that maybe the refs are just tired of listening to that little bitch whining all game long and they throw flags just to appease him. Whatever. Call me a bitter Jets fan, if you must. I'm not. I fully expected the Jets to get smoked today, but they actually played a solid game on both sides of the ball today and had a chance to get a win.

***Apologies for my long hiatus. Will be more regular with the postings. ***

All clear football fans...

  

One of many fans excited for the return of football.  "ROAR."

If you haven't heard, the NFL's players and owners agreed on a new, ten-year collective bargaining agreement yesterday, ending the 100+ day lockout, and assuring that sports bar owners and fantasy football enthusiasts all over America won't have to commit mass suicide due to lack of Sunday football. 

Free agency begins Friday night and Adam Schefter might explode with all the updates he'll be tweeting day and night. Lots of big names will be available including cornerback Nnamdhi Asomugha (please don't make me pronounce that, I can't believe I even spelled it right without checking first); receivers Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, Sidney Rice, Steve Smith and Randy Moss; running backs Cedric Benson, Ahmad Bradshaw, Joseph Addai and DeAngelo Williams; quarterbacks Marc Bulger, Matt Hasselback and...Brett Favre?

                                                          YEP! 

Favre, who at the end of every season since seemingly the start of this century, has retired, only to return when some team backs up a truck full of money to his house in Mississippi. Brett, you're in that club of all-time greats like Unitas, Montana, Marino, Elway, Manning and Brady. Just stay retired this time and leave Jenn Sterger alone so she doesn't have to go through life thinking all men are creepy.

Enjoy it, football fans. Disaster averted.