Thoughts on the Conference Championship Round

Eagles/Cardinals:

- The Cardinals shocked everyone by beating three solid competitors on their way to the Super Bowl. Everyone is getting down on the Cards because they made the postseason with a 9-7 record after winning the hands-down worst division in football, but they brought it in the playoffs and have not just beaten, but utterly outplayed every team on their way through. Arizona has been playing on borrowed time all month long, there's no reason to think they're going to stop now.

- The Eagles were demolished in the first half, but somehow managed to turn the game into a real nail-biter in the fourth quarter, but in the end the Cardinals early lead was just too much to overcome.

- Eagles D-coordinator Jim Johnson called another game from the booth due to a back injury. Johnson likes to coach from the field so that he can have close contact with his players to give and receive feedback and make adjustments. You have to wonder if that had an impact on the defensive play in the first half.

- Brent Celek played an outstanding game on the NFL's second-biggest stage. There are some solid Tight Ends in the NFC East (Witten, Cooley, Boss) but the fact is only one of them was playing on Sunday. Does that make him the best of the bunch? That's your call. (Answer=yes)

- L.J. Smith is definitely not going to be in Philly next year. Even if the Eagles offer him a contract someone else will pay him more to be the number one on their depth chart.

- Did anyone catch that block by Hank Baskett? He leveled 2 defenders with one hit. That was the best block of the season, by any player, on any team, at any position. (Except maybe that Clemons block on Tarvaris Jackson during Asante Samuel's INT return in round 1.)

This is the best photo I can find. The problem with delivering a devastating block on a TD play is that every photographer is going to take a pic of the Touchdown.

- This is the one game of the season where I wish Andy Reid had passed more. I applaud him and Morningwheg for their renewed commitment to the run game and I hope it continues, but I really felt like the Cardinals were vulnerable (and they did give up some huge plays downfield to Jackson and Curtis.)

- I think Ref's call on the disputed kickoff was correct. The call wasn't that the kickoff illegally went out-of-bounds, but rather that Abiamiri touched it when he was out-of-bounds which would end the play. If you watch the replay closely the ball hits near the sideline and bounces up, and then appears to hit Abiamiri in the left forearm and starts spinning in a different direction. At least that's the way it appeared to me. Either way, once the whistle was blown the point was moot.

- There were 2 uncalled pass-interference penalties against the Cardinals that could have changed the game. Jason Avant was mugged on a third down catch in the first half and the Eagles were forced to kick a field goal and Kevin Curtis was absolutely interfered with on the fourth down play that sealed the game. I'm pretty sure it's never been legal for a defender to grab the legs of a receiver after getting beat. You have to wonder what might have been.

- This was really a down season for Brian Westbrook. Was it because he was banged-up all season long? Let's hope so, because the other option is far worse. Running Backs have a certain amount of carries they can handle in a carreer and when they hit that mark they decline very quickly. That number is different for each back, but all you have to do is look at Shaun Alexander and L.T. to see what I mean. Alexander set an NFL TD record only a few seasons ago and now he's out of football. L.T. broke that record a year later and the Chargers are seriously considering dumping him this offseason.

Ravens/Steelers:

- Defense wins championships and I don't think it's a coincidence that the league's top 3 defenses were all playing this weekend. I'm surprised there were so many points scored in a game between the first and second-ranked defensive units. I was half expecting a 3-0 victory in quintuple overtime.

- The Steelers' Offensive Line has turned things around pretty well. They were demolished by Philly early in the season, but now they're doing a better job at protecting Roethlisberger and they're getting things done with tough, physical run blocking.

- Excellent challenge by Harbaugh on the Santonio Holmes reception. Holmes clearly did not control the ball all the way to the ground. I heard someone complain that "The ground can't cause a fumble," but that was never the call. A receiver has to have complete control of the ball the entire time on a diving catch.

- Mike Tomlin is an excellent coach. I can't believe there were so many people out there who didn't believe he was experienced enough when he took the job.

- Harbaugh too.

- Joe Flacco played well for a rookie going up against the league's best defense in a conference championship game. This kid'll be back here real soon.

- My thoughts go out to Willis McGahee. All indications are that he'll be alright. He has movement in his arms and legs and is "neurologically intact." That's great news to hear. People get wrapped up in the sport sometimes and forget that it's just a game. It's not worth getting maimed for. Let's hope for a speedy recovery.

Plaxico Linked to '05 Shooting?

Authorities in New York are looking for a match between bullets fired from the back of a truck that Plaxico Burress rented in 2005 and the guns seized from his house.

Apparently Plax's truck got stuck behind a Garbage truck in the Bronx and a shooting occurred (did they shoot up the back of the truck? Was it a road rage incident? Who knows, I'm not finding any specifics.) Anyway, the driver and a passenger fled on foot when the cops arrived, but two other passengers - both with criminal records - were arrested.

Plaxico claims that he lent the truck to his cousin that day and had no knowledge of the shooting. Well in that case he seems completely innocent in this whole situation. PSYCHE! This clearly isn't as bad as Michael Vick bodyslamming dogs to death or Pacman Jones ordering hits on people, but even if he wasn't present at the shooting (which he may well have been, two of the occupants of the car did manage to escape) and even if he had no knowledge of it until the police arrived he's still complicit. He gave the thugs the car, and if the authorities can match the bullets then he gave them the guns too. That's a really big deal.

Plax should have been smarter from the start. Don't associate yourself with thugs, especially when merely knowing them could land you in trouble with the fuzz. I don't care if they're childhood friends from the old hood, or if they're family or if they make you feel like a tough guy. You have everything to lose and shady characters like these are just going to ride your coat tails, mooch off your success and ultimately get you in trouble with their criminal acts. Even if you had no prior knowledge and weren't present you're still enabling their lifestyle, and they're eventually going to bring you down.

Incidently, the truck was the rental car that Plax was recently litigating over. Apprently the damages Plax had to pay for were incurred when the Police were impounding the vehicle.

This guy is just cocky and acts like he's above the law. He doesn't respect his coaches, his teammates, the NFL or the legal system. At first I was rooting for him, hoping the courts went easy on him for shooting himself in the leg, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe a few years in prison will humble him. Although if he does go to prison his football career will likely be over. A manditory 3.5 year sentence means that he'd be at least 35 when he got out. Likely too old to resume his career, especially after missing about 4 seasons.

Quote of the Day: 1/14/09

This is entirely unrelated to sports, but I was reading this article on cracked.com. The hilarious quote in question was a subtitle for one of the photos:

"Are stereotypes still wrong when they're awesome?"

Pioli Leaves New England for Kansas City

In one of the best examples of "from the penthouse to the shithouse" Scott Pioli has left his position as Vice President of Player Personnel for the New England Patriots in order to take the GM job with Kansas City.

I understand why Pioli left his position with the Pats - he wants to carve out his own legacy. He didn't have full control in New England, everyone knows that was Belicheat's team. Pioli is the only guy holding the reigns in Kansas City. He doesn't have to defer to anyone else (except maybe the owner.) If Pioli can build the Chiefs back into a contender then he's the hero, not Belichick. So, I understand why he took the job, I just don't agree with it.

Kansas City needs a lot of work, and there's a very good chance that Pioli could also tank his career by taking this job. If he builds a winner then he's going to get a lot of credit and respect, but the odds are stacked against him.

This also likely means the end of Herm Edwards in KC. ESPN's Michael Smith reported an unnamed source close to the team said not to rule out Herm Edwards to continue as Head Coach, but I don't buy it. I like Herm Edwards a lot, but I really don't like him as an NFL head coach. He is far too conservative for my tastes. He's an average coach. An 8-8 kind guy, meaning he has the ability to eek out 8 wins from a terrible team, but he'll also frusterate fans by losing 8 games with a great team. I just don't think he's the answer for the Chiefs and he will get the axe sometime this offseason.

Quote of the Day: 1/11/09

This one comes from my girlfriend. She was on her computer and passively watching the Eagles/Giants game this afternoon when she said:

"That Philadelphia guy looks like a walrus."

"That Philadelphia guy" was, of course, Andy Reid. I'm not really sure where she's coming from though.

A walrus? I just don't see it.

Happy Birthday Jake Delhomme

I'm flabbergasted. If you had told me yesterday that the score in the Arizona/Carolina game was 30 to 7 in the 4th quarter I wouldn't have been phased. If you told me that the Cards were on top I wouldn't have believed you. Not even for a second.

Jake Delhomme is delivering one of professional sports' all-time choke jobs. And to add insult to injury it's his 34th birthday.

This is even more embarrassing than that time I ripped my pants.

Congrats to the Cardinals. They're not ready to go home yet, and they're playing their hearts out.

Quote of the Day: 1/10/09

I got my new issue of Sports Illustrated today and there's a great quote by Panthers LB Jon Beason in the Pop Culture Grid section. When asked what celeb he'd like to see take it easy in 2009 he replied:

"The Dallas Cowboys. All that off-the-field stuff and hearing about them in the media. I'm tired of it. they're like five-year-olds who say 'I'm mad he didn't come to my birthday party!'"

Right on Jon. The Cowboys are a bunch of crybabys. The entire organization, from Jerry Jones on down. This team needs a serious shot of chemistry. Pacman's gone and Tank Johnson should be out too. Now all they need is to oust T.O., bring in a coach that can inspire and unite and Jerry Jones needs to step back and let his players and coaches do their thing.

Everyone on that team spends way too much energy placating Owens. If they got rid of him Romo would finally be able to take over and make it his team. Not going to happen with JJ in charge, though. The city of Dallas wants winners, not whiners.