Week 9 Is Over

NFL week 9 ended today in an anti-clamatic contest to follow up the huge Colts-Pats contest.

It lived up to the hype. The Colts played like the defending Super Bowl champs for 52 minutes, then decided to give the game away in the final eight. To the Patriots credit they earned the victory by coming back from 10 points down on the road and against the Colts.

Colts receivers made uncharacteristic mistakes by dropping passes. Two that were huge. One by Tony Gonzalez in the end zone, and another with Reggie Wayne beating two defenders and letting the ball slip through his hands in what would have been a touchdown.

They also settled for field goals early in the game when they reached the red zone. Not going to get the "W" against a team like the Patriots when you let your opportunities slip away. I knew the Colts had a chance to win this game before it started and I was proved right.

The Colts defense held the Pats receivers in check for 52 minutes before letting Tom Brady dissect the backfield.

Tony Dungy and the Colts had this game in hand, but let the Pats take it from them. Good thing they will not meet again until January in the AFC Championship game because I think I would flip too many people out by my screaming and antics.

I wore myself out watching this game and ended up passed out on my little cousin's bed snoring my head off.

The consolation that I can take from this loss is that I had $50 on the Colts (+5) and walked away a little richer.

Quick hits on the rest of the games:
Donovan McNabb got the ball to Brian Westbrook a lot in their loss to Dallas, screw Tony Romo. LaMont Jordan is killing my fantasy team and will be cut after rushing for 10 yards in the Raiders loss to the Texans. Browns are 5-3 after downing the Seahawks on a game-winning FG in overtime. The Bucs shot some Cardinals. Jets fans should stop watching this season after blowing another game in an OT loss to the Redskins. New Orleans made me look foolish by saying that the Jaguars could slow down their offense. Adrian Peterson set an NFL record for single-game rushing yards in a game in the Vikings win over the Chargers, ouch (he was seen walking on water after the game). Brett Favre continues to make me watch Packers games as he looked like a 21-year-old in their win over the Chiefs. The Titans continue to stay right behind the Colts after winning at home versus Carolina. Lions are 6-2, let me say that again, the Detroit Lions are 6-2 after dominating the Broncos. Bengals continue to underachieve after losing to the Bills. The Falcons won this week's suck fest by beating the 49ers.

And you may already know by now, but the Steelers tore up the Ravens tonight. Ben Roethlisburlaksjfaer threw 5 TDs in the first half in the 38-7 victory. Their defense was stellar tonight, with James Harrison shining bright in front of the 75th anniversary players who were in attendance.

Sunday cannot come quick enough for me, as I will be attending my first NFL game to see the Colts take on the Chargers.

This week's record: 7-7
Overall record since week 3: 58-40

Injuries Are Part Of The Game - Know When To Draw The Line

It is time, it is time my friends. NFL week 7 picks are here.

But before we get to business let me shed a little light on two big NFL injuries that have happened so far this year:
I originally was going to make this my weekly picks article, but I had too much on my mind about Trent Green and ended up writing more than I planned to. Like I said, two big NFL injuries that have happened so far this year (picks coming in a little bit):

First, Buffalo Bills' Kevin Everett has begun walking and is determined to continue his progress in his rehab from his spinal cord injury. It was his first statement since the injury happened in the Bills week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos.

It is going to be a great day for Everett, his teammates, and Bills fans when he is able to attend a game in Buffalo and support his team from the sidelines.

Second, Trent Green awaits his doctor's word on whether they will clear him to play after suffering a Grade 3 concussion.

Attention Green's doctors, tell him to retire. Before the season, Dolphins' defensive end Jason Taylor expressed concern about Green's ability to take a hit; he knew. Taylor knew that Green was susceptible to injury if he got hit hard enough.

The hard part about being in Green's position is that he is a football player. No football player, or any athlete for that matter wants to be told to retire. Scratch that, whenever anybody in this world is doing something they love they want to leave on their own terms.

We see that all the time in sports, but especially in football because of the physical nature of the sport. Injuries do end careers. But the glaring factor in this sort of injury is the long term effects on the person, not the player. There is life after the NFL for these players, and the doctors need to make sure that the players get to that life in a good physical state.

This sort of thing reminds me of "Iron Mike" Webster, a Hall of Fame center for the Pittsburgh Steelers who hiked the ball to Terry Bradshaw en route to four Super Bowl rings before suffering post-NFL injuries that ruined his life as a person.

On the field he was invincible, but after football it all fell apart due to the injuries suffered while playing the game. It may have been in a different era of time, but the results can be the same if the proper attention is not paid to players injuries.

The following is a link to a story I read a couple of years back about "Iron Mike" Webster: A Tormented Soul. It follows the story of life after football for Webster and is an excellent read when you have time. It is a five-part series (the remaining parts can be found on the link provided).