September 14, 2005: NFL
Commentary, Week 1
By White Russian
Can One Football Game Save a City?
The
New Orleans Saints players are being treated as heroes by the media for winning
their game while their city lay in ruin. We know the real heroes are Celine
Dion and Sean Penn, who are still formulating their plan to use kayaks to
break through the walls of the houses that have trapped the drowning and forgotten
multitude, but the way the media has portrayed the Saints victory, as well
as how the players have talked about what their win means for the city, makes
it appear like a scene out of Rocky II. The people of New Orleans star in
the role of Adrian, the players as Rocky, and the head coach as Mick. As the
players lean in close, they see the people look them in the eyes and whisper,
“Win!” The head coach, doing his best gravelly voiced Burgess
Meredith, stands in the background wringing his cap in his hands and right
on cue asks, “What are we waitin’ for?” The players run
out to the sound of trumpets and train like they’ve never trained before.
Then on Sunday they win the game and save the city. The next day we hear how,
despite the evil plans by George Bush to thwart all rescue attempts, the city
of New Orleans is on the road to recovery. We even find out that the death
toll will not nearly be as high as initially estimated.
Speaking of George W. Bush, Albuquerque Tom notes that, “no one seems to be amazed that George Bush, whom liberals claim is dumb as a box of billy clubs, has figured out a way to manufacture hurricanes and aim them right at black people without anyone even noticing he was hard at work in his lab. Though this invention is clearly evil, it seems to me that his ingenuity should be recognized and applauded at least on some level. I have heard rumors that he is working on an earthquake to kill all of the black people in Oakland next month.”
All joking aside, what is truly most absurd and offensive are comments made by people like Louis Farrakhan who said, and apparently actually believes, “I heard from a very reliable source who saw a 25 foot deep crater under the levee breach. It may have been blown up to destroy the black part of town and keep the white part dry." As silly as it sounds, it is not made up – Farrakhan really said it. And the Red Cross, FEMA, and George Bush have all had to respond to ridiculous notions that they either caused devastation directed toward black people or that they purposely delayed responding to people in need because those people in need were black.
For an excellent commentary on these very issues, see the articles that Ben Stein wrote for The American Spectator. But first, back to football…
Sac State Report
Two
players from California State University at Sacramento have made their mark
already this season. Daimon Shelton, fullback for the
Buffalo Bills, has been one of the best blocking fullbacks in the league for
years, and Sunday helped Willis McGahee to another 100 yard performance. Meanwhile,
for San Francisco, Fred “Otis” Amey scored
a touchdown the first time he touched the ball in his professional debut,
on a 75 yard punt return.
Larry Johnson’s Game Prep
Kansas City running back Larry Johnson seems to have
found a routine that works for him in getting ready for the week’s game.
After getting into an altercation with his girlfriend at a bar on Saturday
night, Johnson ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday. Now he faces
assault charges. The routine seems to be endorsed by coach Dick Vermeil, who
noted that the incident will not affect Johnson’s standing with the
team.
Mike Martz Revisited
Last season the BMTG chronicled the week to week coaching by Mike Martz of
the St. Louis Rams in order to determine if the excessive criticism typically
leveled at him was actually justified. After following his moves the whole
season, the BMTG concluded that there was enough evidence to declare that
the criticism is warranted. Despite his continued incompetence, Martz is still
the head coach of the Rams and the BMTG is considering doing a follow up one
year later to see if he has improved after receiving the BMTG’s open
letter.
One week into the season it does not look good for Mr. Martz, who started the season in grand style by challenging a call as soon as possible. The challenge came just one second into the game and, as expected, turned out to be futile. The Rams then went on to lose to Frisco, even though they outgained the 49ers 405 yards to 217 and had the ball for 39 minutes and 23 seconds, compared to 20 minutes and 37 seconds for the Niners. Four times the Rams made it to the red zone, and while each time resulted in a score (three field goals and 1 touchdown), it took a total of 23 plays to gain a total of 11 yards. And six of those yards came on a touchdown pass.
Other Coaching Blunders
While
there are most likely plenty more examples of bad coaching, two incidents
quickly come to mind and may indicate that these two coaches have been studying
under Mike Martz. The first, by Mike Shanahan, was a decision to go for it
in the first half on 4th and goal at the two against a solid Miami defense
in a tight 6 to 0 game. It was way too early to go for it and the Broncos
ran right up the middle for no gain. The second is Marty Schottenheimer who
inexplicably did not go to LaDainian Tomlinson on any of their final four
plays of the game when the Chargers faced first and goal. There was 47 seconds
left and the Chargers had one timeout. Four incompletions later, and no sign
of Tomlinson, the Chargers lost. The avoidance of Tomlinson was even more
strange considering that top tight end Antonio Gates had been suspended for
the game. Tomlinson is the first running back to ever rush for over a thousand
yards in a season while catching at least 100 passes, yet he did not have
one reception in the game Sunday, which also happens to be the first time
that has happened in his career.
Return of the Meaningless Injury Report?
The injury report has long been useless, as teams do not accurately report
injuries and the only people even looking at the report are people in fantasy
leagues. The BMTG will attempt to examine the actual usefulness of the injury
report by looking at the report released on Wednesday and comparing it to
what actually happens in the games. A doubtful status means that a player
has a 75% chance of sitting out, questionable is supposed to be 50%, and probable
is 25%.
The report on NFL.com on Wednesday, September 14, lists 75 players as questionable, 59 as probable, 11 as doubtful, and 20 as out. If the report is accurate, then about 37 players listed as questionable should sit out this weekend’s games, 14 of the probable players should sit, 8 of the doubtful players should sit, and all 20 of the players listed as out should sit.
Last Man Standing
Sandman
wins the Last Man Standing competition, being the only one to pick a winning
team in the first week. While the others went with much safer picks, like
St. Louis over Frisco and Denver over Miami, Sandman defied the odds and went
with Dallas over San Diego. If you were to replay the first week 1000 times,
with the teams at the same quality they are now, only once would this combination
of Last Man Standing results happen this way: Dallas beats San Diego, Denver
loses to Miami, St. Louis loses to San Francisco, Carolina loses to New Orleans,
and Seattle loses to Jacksonville. In at least one of those 1,000 games Drew
Bledsoe doesn't wear any pants and the New Orleans players admit their town
smelled like a dirty diaper long before the Hurricane.
Challenge
Anyone who finishes behind Tin Man in the football tourney will be subject
to a spin on the sanction wheel. Tin Man was left with the dregs after everyone
else drafted teams and should therefore finish well behind everyone else.
Special Report - More on Katrina
By Ben Stein, 9/12/2005
Fact: Katrina was a devastating storm. It left terrible damage to innocent people's lives and to property throughout the Gulf South.
Fact: There have been other storms as damaging and some far more damaging. What, then, is different about this storm? Here are a few tentative thoughts.
First, the incompetence of the local and state authorities in Louisiana and especially New Orleans was breathtaking. To issue a mandatory evacuation order without providing means of transport is almost criminally irresponsible. To take citizens to shelters where they would be beaten, robbed, and raped, and to provide no police protection for them was astoundingly incompetent. To allow armed gangs to shoot at rescuers was almost beyond belief.
Second, the response of the federal government is described as slow, and it was slow at first. But can anyone name a natural disaster in which more federal troops, supplies, and money have been dispatched as quickly as they have been done in this disaster? Bush's response has not been unusually bad, but amazingly powerful and swift. In other hurricanes, survivors have been left for weeks on their own. In Katrina's case, the whole affected area has been covered with money and aid and troops to restore order on a scale and with speed never seen before.
Third, the networks and newspapers have been quick to cry racism because so many of the victims were black. This is total nonsense. New Orleans is a mostly black city. Obviously, most of the victims of the storm would be black. No one has been able to point to a single instance in which black victims were mistreated because of their race by whites. In fact, just the opposite has happened. The whole story is of rescues and salvation by people of all races aimed at people of all races. In a gesture never seen before, the whole heart of the nation has taken in poor, bereft black families and sheltered them absolutely without regard to race. This is a mirror of the basic goodness of Americans and the disappearance of racism as an acceptable action basis of American life. It is also a measure of the total absence of racism in the heart of George W. Bush. The media may play this as a story of race versus race, but that is pure incendiary fantasy, and dangerous nonsense.
What is the real story of Katrina is (I suggest) not so much that nature wrought fury on land, water, people, property, and animals, not at all anything about racism, not much about federal government incompetence. The real story is that the mainstream media rioted.
They used the storm and its attendant sorrows to continue their endless attack on George W. Bush. Wildly inflated stories about the number of dead and missing, totally made up old wives' tales of racism, breathless accounts of Bush's neglect that are utterly devoid of truth and of historical context -- this is what the mainstream media gave us. The use of floating corpses, of horror stories of plagues, the sad faces of refugees, the long-faced phony accusations of intentional neglect and racism -- anything is grist for the media's endless attempts to undermine the electorate's choice last November. It is sad, but true that the media will use even the most heart breaking truths -- and then add total inventions -- to try to weaken and then evict from office a man who has done nothing wrong, but has instead turned himself inside out to help the real victims.
In the meantime, George Bush does not lash out, does not attack those who falsely accuse him of the most horrible acts and neglect. Instead, he doggedly goes on helping the least among us. I don't know how he does it, but we are very lucky he does. As for truth, it eventually may be salvaged from the flooded neighborhoods of The Crescent City, but not as long as there is a lie to use to hurt an honest man trying to do the best he can, and hundreds of thousands of brave, tireless men and women who do more than point fingers and tell tales. The Katrina story is a disgrace to the people who are "reporting" it while pouring gasoline on a fire. They and their crusade against George Bush are the real stories, and they are dismal ones.
Get Off His Back (Updated)
By Ben Stein, 9/2/2005
UPDATED: Sept. 4, 2005
A few truths, for those who have ears and eyes and care to know the truth:
1.) The hurricane that hit New Orleans and Mississippi and Alabama was an astonishing tragedy. The suffering and loss of life and peace of mind of the residents of those areas is acutely horrifying.
2.) George Bush did not cause the hurricane. Hurricanes have been happening for eons. George Bush did not create them or unleash this one.
3.) George Bush did not make this one worse than others. There have been far worse hurricanes than this before George Bush was born.
4.) There is no overwhelming evidence that global warming exists as a man-made phenomenon. There is no clear-cut evidence that global warming even exists. There is no clear evidence that if it does exist it makes hurricanes more powerful or makes them aim at cities with large numbers of poor people. If global warming is a real phenomenon, which it may well be, it started long before George Bush was inaugurated, and would not have been affected at all by the Kyoto treaty, considering that Kyoto does not cover the world's worst polluters -- China, India, and Brazil. In a word, George Bush had zero to do with causing this hurricane. To speculate otherwise is belief in sorcery.
5.) George Bush had nothing to do with the hurricane contingency plans for New Orleans. Those are drawn up by New Orleans and Louisiana. In any event, the plans were perfectly good: mandatory evacuation. It is in no way at all George Bush's fault that about 20 percent of New Orleans neglected to follow the plan. It is not his fault that many persons in New Orleans were too confused to realize how dangerous the hurricane would be. They were certainly warned. It's not George Bush's fault that there were sick people and old people and people without cars in New Orleans. His job description does not include making sure every adult in America has a car, is in good health, has good sense, and is mobile.
6.) George Bush did not cause gangsters to shoot at rescue helicopters taking people from rooftops, did not make gang bangers rape young girls in the Superdome, did not make looters steal hundreds of weapons, in short make New Orleans into a living hell.
7.) George Bush is the least racist President in mind and soul there has ever been and this is shown in his appointments over and over. To say otherwise is scandalously untrue.
8.) George Bush is rushing every bit of help he can to New Orleans and Mississippi and Alabama as soon as he can. He is not a magician. It takes time to organize huge convoys of food and now they are starting to arrive. That they get in at all considering the lawlessness of the city is a miracle of bravery and organization.
9.) There is not the slightest evidence at all that the war in Iraq has diminished the response of the government to the emergency. To say otherwise is pure slander.
10.) If the energy the news media puts into blaming Bush for an Act of God worsened by stupendous incompetence by the New Orleans city authorities and the malevolence of the criminals of the city were directed to helping the morale of the nation, we would all be a lot better off.
11.) New Orleans is a great city with many great people. It will recover and be greater than ever. Sticking pins into an effigy of George Bush that does not resemble him in the slightest will not speed the process by one day.
12.) The entire episode is a dramatic lesson in the breathtaking callousness of government officials at the ground level. Imagine if Hillary Clinton had gotten her way and they were in charge of your health care.
God bless all of those dear people who are suffering so much, and God bless those helping them, starting with George Bush.
****
UPDATE: Sept. 4, 2005:
More Mysteries of Katrina:
Why is it that the snipers who shot at emergency rescuers trying to save people in hospitals and shelters are never mentioned except in passing, and Mr. Bush, who is turning over heaven and earth to rescue the victims of the storm, is endlessly vilified?
What church does Rev. Al Sharpton belong to that believes in passing blame and singling out people by race for opprobrium and hate?
What special abilities does the media have for deciding how much blame goes to the federal government as opposed to the city government of New Orleans for the aftereffects of Katrina?
If able-bodied people refuse to obey a mandatory evacuation order for a city, have they not assumed the risk that ill effects will happen to them?
When the city government simply ignores its own sick and hospitalized and elderly people in its evacuation order, is Mr. Bush to blame for that?
Is there any problem in the world that is not Mr. Bush's fault, or have we reverted to a belief in a sort of witchcraft where we credit a mortal man with the ability to create terrifying storms and every other kind of ill wind?
Where did the idea come from that salvation comes from hatred and criticism and mockery instead of love and co-operation?
It's a grand time when Shelton leads
Buffalo News, August 29, 2005
Daimon Shelton has been a running back's best friend for most of his seven-year NFL career. Everywhere he goes, a 1,000-yard rusher is sure to follow.
Shelton is one of the league's most powerful blocking fullbacks, paving the way for Jacksonville's Fred Taylor, Chicago's Anthony Thomas and Buffalo's Willis McGahee to achieve 1,000-yard seasons.
“My role is to be primarily a lead blocker, and I take a lot of pride in what I do,” Shelton said. “I’ve been fortunate to lead some great backs in the past and even in the present, so it’s just a blessing all around.”
The Bills obviously consider Shelton a blessing to their offense. That’s why they recently gave him a contract extension that will keep him in Buffalo at least through 2006.
Shelton is scheduled to make $700,000 this season and $950,000 in ’06, according to the NFL Players Association’s Web site.
“I’m definitely excited about it,” Shelton said. “It feels good to be rewarded for your hard work and recognized for it. I’m excited. It gives me more motivation and reason to go out and work even harder.”
Few players have worked as hard as Shelton, who was out of football when he signed with the Bills prior to last season. He came back with a vengeance, blowing up defenders with jolting blocks that created open spaces for McGahee to run through.
At 6-foot and 262 pounds, Shelton is like having an extra offensive lineman on the field.
“Watching Daimon do his thing is an awesome sight,” Bills running backs coach Eric Studesville said. “His strength is he uses his leverage so well. He’s a big man who is powerful and strong. Then you see him make contact. When his pad level is low and he’s running full speed, it’s hard for guys to physically compete with him. He accelerates so well on contact. When he sees a target he attacks it. It’s a unique talent and not everybody has it. He has it and he does it well.”
Shelton played well enough to help McGahee rumble for 1,128 yards in his first season. Shelton has also played well enough that a lot of people around the league thought he should have gone to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl. Tony Richardson of Kansas City got the AFC nod at fullback for the second straight year.
“Not taking anything away from the players that have been over there, but I don’t think there is any question he should have been there last yea,” Studesville said. “Because of the position and the fact that people sometimes take him for granted, his work goes unnoticed. But he’s a guy who does the dirty work every day and should get the credit for his productivity.”
Shelton admitted he was disappointed in not making the Pro Bowl but said some things are more important to him.
“What truly matters is the respect of my teammates, my family and those who see me doing my thing and handling my business,” he said. “It will happen eventually as long as I continue to do well and we do well as a team.”
Gaining attention is hard for fullbacks, especially when they don’t get many touches. Although Shelton had career highs with 17 catches and 114 receiving yards last season, he hasn’t had a rushing attempt in the regular season since he played for Jacksonville in 2000.
An outstanding ball carrier in high school and college, Shelton can be excused if he fantasized about being more involved in the offense as a runner. But at 32 years old, he said McGahee’s job is safe.
“About four or five years and 10 or 20 pounds ago I could probably show these young guys a thing or two,” Shelton said with a wide grin. “Now I’m just happy doing what I do as a lead blocker.”
Amey makes a new name for himself in debut
By Josh Bubow, AP Sports Writer, September 11, 2005
Otis
Amey made a name for himself in his NFL debut even before becoming the first
San Francisco 49er in 12 years to score the first time he ever touched the
ball.
After being known as Fred Amey all through training camp, the undrafted free agent out of Sacramento State let the team know late last week that he prefers to be called by his middle name — Otis.
If Amey keeps playing like he did in his debut, the 49ers will be happy to keep calling him whatever he wants.
Amey's 75-yard punt return sparked a 21-point second quarter and helped San Francisco start the season on a winning note with a 28-25 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.
Amey was named after his grandfather, Fred Otis Holmes, and went by Otis most of his life until a substitute teacher at Sacramento State called out roll one day, asking for Fred Amey. His teammates latched onto the new name and it stuck until late last week when he informed the team of his preference.
With another Fred — Beasley — already in the locker room and no one named Otis on the team, Amey said it also felt good to know that when someone calls his name it meant they were looking for him.
"I kept turning my head every time I heard someone say, 'Hey Fred,'" he said.
Amey, who came into camp as the 11th out of 11 receivers, earned the punt returner role ahead of starting receiver Arnaz Battle with his hard work in the preseason.
"We have a lot of confidence in him doing it first off," coach Mike Nolan said. "The opportunity to take a little bit off of Arnaz Battle's plate because we expect big things from him all year long."
Amey's score came midway through the second quarter when he fielded Reggie Hodges' punt at the 25 and burst up the middle, beating Hodges at midfield and coasting to the end zone for a score.
The last time a 49ers player scored on his first career touch was when Nate Singleton did it in 1993, catching a TD pass from Steve Young.
Amey's only rookie mistake came after the return when he nearly forgot to go out on the kick coverage team.
"I actually forgot for a minute," he said. "I was still celebrating the punt return for a touchdown. I was still hanging out and they said I had to be out there, so I ran out there."
Johnson arrested, charged in altercation with
girlfriend
Associated Press, September 13, 2005
Updated: September 14, 2005
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Larry Johnson turned himself in to face an assault charge after an altercation with his girlfriend at a bar, the latest in a series of troubles with the law for the Kansas City running back and other Chiefs players.
Police Department spokesman Darin Snapp said Johnson was cited Monday for domestic abuse assault. He posted bond and was released, with a court date set for Sept. 20.
Snapp said Johnson's girlfriend came into the bar early Saturday and saw him with another woman. The 25-year-old girlfriend, of Overland Park, Kan., then walked away, Snapp said, but Johnson text messaged her on her phone and asked her to meet him downstairs.
He then grabbed the woman by the arm and pulled her to the front door, where Johnson asked the manager to make her leave, Snapp said. The manager said he couldn't do that.
Snapp said Johnson became irate after his girlfriend confronted the other woman. The running back grabbed his girlfriend by the shoulders and shoved her to the floor, the police report said.
The Kansas City Star reported on its Web site Tuesday that the girlfriend denied that she was pushed or dragged to the door. Snapp said the woman told police she didn't want Johnson arrested, but wanted the incident documented.
Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said the incident will not affect Johnson's standing with the team. Johnson, a backup to starter Priest Holmes, ran nine times for 110 yards and two touchdowns against the New York Jets on Sunday.
Johnson was charged in December 2003 with aggravated assault, a felony, and misdemeanor domestic battery for allegedly brandishing a gun during an argument with an ex-girlfriend at his home. He entered a diversion program and was required to complete 120 hours of community service, attend an anger management course and stay out of trouble for two years.
If it's determined he committed a criminal act, Johnson County prosecutor Paul Morrison said his office would file a motion to revoke the running back's diversion.
Johnson is the latest of several Chiefs players in trouble with the law either at bars or because of alcohol.
Earlier this year, cornerback Eric Warfield pleaded guilty to a third offense of driving under the influence, a felony. He was suspended by the NFL for the first four games of this season.
During training camp, backup quarterback Todd Collins was involved in a scuffle at a restaurant and bar near River Falls, Wis.
In earlier incidents, kicker Lawrence Tynes was charged with breaking a bouncer's nose in a River Falls bar fight. Defensive tackle Junior Siavii and safety Greg Wesley also were arrested during camp after allegedly getting into a drunken confrontation with police in a Minneapolis hotel.
Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said his players know that anything they do -- or are accused of doing -- will be magnified because of who they are.
"I think we do as good as the best job in the National Football League of making sure players are aware of their vulnerability, their profile," Vermeil said. "There's no place to hide in Kansas City. Our fans know our players. To use common sense and to be aware of the problem areas. Stay out of the bad areas. Be aware of certain things."
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