Random Shots

Posted 10/29 by Joe Bryant, Exclusive to Footballguys.com

Hi Folks,

We do a lot of really insightful, thoughtful and serious features here at Footballguys with some very smart people thinking deeply for you. This is not one of those features.

This is a few pages of me downloading my goofy and dysfunctional mental hard drive that gets stuffed with way too many random items from 40 hours of watching and re-watching (God Bless TiVO) football every weekend. It's the only way I keep relatively sane. Here's hoping it has a tiny bit of value for you. Let's go.

Random Shots

Here's what happens when you sit an NFL Junkie down in front of multiple big screens with Sunday Ticket and fresh batteries in the remote.

A Twisted Look at The NFL And All That Goes With It

Sometimes, you have to pay attention to the little things. We saw one with Baltimore last week and coach John Harbaugh was impressive in the way he handled it. Ravens DE/LB Terrell Suggs said that Troy Smith should be the starting QB over Joe Flacco. "Right now, I think [Flacco is] all right," Suggs said. "But like I said, in the end, Troy should be the starter [because he's] the better man for the job." "He (Flacco) started out hot," Suggs went on to say. "We played two teams who were in the bottom of the league in defense [Cleveland and Cincinnati]. So, everybody was going all crazy about him."

That was a pretty big deal. You have all kinds of things in the mix there with a respected defensive guy and a young QB and the support of the team in question plus the sometimes volatile race issue possibly subtly under the surface. Harbaugh didn't flinch and apparently calmed Suggs down behind the scenes. When Suggs was asked later, he said, "I think it would better if we had both of them playing," Suggs said. "Then again, I ain't no damn offensive coordinator."

But even better, the Ravens used a few formations Sunday where Flacco split out wide and Troy Smith lined up at QB. Harbaugh's name for this formation? The “Suggs Package”. That's leadership right there. You take a potentially explosive situation and spin it into a fun positive. Nice.

The new Hyundai Genesis ad says it goes from 0-60 faster than a Porsche Boxter. I'm sure trophy wives across the country are crushed.

Warren Sapp didn't pull any punches on the NFL Network Sunday Morning Pregame show. He was asked, “What's up with the Browns?” Sapp didn't hesitate and said, “They suck. It's just that simple.” Ouch.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was trying his best to lighten the Pacman Jones fiasco where the player was recently suspended after an altercation involving him scuffling with his own bodyguard.

Jerry Jones just smiled and said, “It never occurred to us that he would have an incident with the guy that was sitting there to keep that from happening.”

Marshall Faulk was not impressed with the playing field in London. Said Faulk, “That looks like a soccer field made for 130 pound guys. There are going to be big mens on that field.” To make sure you got it, he came back and said, “Yeah, big menZZZ”. I like Faulk.

I would have liked to have sat next to Buddy Ryan for the Ravens – Raiders game.

And I would like to see Rob and Rex Ryan the next time they get together. "Just another victory over my brother," Rex said. "I'll let him get on the plane, go home, and then I'll call him and rub it in a little bit."

We talked about it last year but I'm still on this. Is there a more annoying personality on TV than the little dweeb in the “I'm a Mac” commercials? I say no. I know all about the “as long as they're talking the ad must be working” thing. But I think they're wrong. I hate the smugness and arrogance of that character and those commercials so much I'm ready to ditch the MacBook and iMac that I've been trying to convince myself I like for the last twelve months.

Even worse, the primary thrust of the Apple commercial is whining about Microsoft spending money... on commercials.

Oakland's JaMarcus Russell threw one of the prettiest long passes you've ever seen Sunday as he hit Ravens cornerback Frank Walker perfectly in stride.

St. Louis opened the 2nd half with an onside kick against the Patriots. I like it.

Another tough day for the officials Sunday. Atlanta was the victim of a terrible call on a punt late in the game that cost them the ball. It was prior to the 2 minute warning and the Falcons were out of time-outs so they couldn't challenge. Moral of the story: Don't burn your time-outs

Playing before a London crowd, the player the fans can most identify with is the guy kicking and Taylor Mehlhaff clanked a gimme extra point kick off the left upright...

Pittsburgh's Willie Parker is a pro. Mewelde Moore ripped off another nice TD run and the first guy out on the field to congratulate him was Parker.

Crazy finish to the Chargers game. I'm not sure how much of it was intentional but the Chargers returned the kick at the end about as well as they could have outside of scoring. With just 8 seconds left on the clock, Darren Sproles fielded the kickoff on his 18. He charged forward as the clock ticked. He ran for 7 seconds and was tackled for a 32 yard return to midfield leaving 1 second on the clock. If he'd run any longer, time would have expired and the game would have been over. If he'd run for much less distance, he would have been out of Rivers' range for throwing a Hail Mary to the end zone. It didn't work out for the Chargers in the end but it was a great try.

I understand the loss of Shawne Merriman but how is a secondary as talented as the Chargers being toasted as often as they are? I wrote that Sunday night. Evidently, I wasn't the only one thinking that as defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell was shown the door Tuesday.

On the upside for San Diego, their division sucks.

Chad Pennington is tied for the 5th best QB rating in the league. Brett Favre is #13. That has to feel good.

Hope this didn't hurt you but Drew Brees wound up with negative 26 yard rushing stat as he tried to kill the clock at the end of the game and take a safety. He threw the ball backwards and it was scored as a lateral and fumble with the rushing loss.

Glitch in the Matrix: Tampa's Ronde Barber was called for a horse collar tackle on Dallas' Marion Barber while Roy Williams watched.

The Browns scored a touchdown in the first quarter. That's news.

I don't get it. Jacksonville's been missing their center Brad Meester all season. He was finally healthy enough to get back in the starting lineup Sunday. And then the Jaguars are totally ineffective running the ball against Cleveland with Jones-Drew posting 29 yards rushing and Fred Taylor only managing 24 yards.

Arizona wins the “Jeremy Award” Sunday with WR Jerheme Urban snagging 4 catches for 51 yards while Jerame Tuman had 3 catches for 41 yards. How hard is it to spell Jeremy?

Who was that out there wearing Kansas City quarterback Tyler Thigpen's jersey?

How hard is it to see that Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles is a lot better than Kolby Smith? What's the problem here?

I'm starting to think Anquan Boldin isn't human...

We say it here every week. Turnovers kill. Buffalo was the latest example / victim. Four fourth quarter turnovers = loser.

It wasn't long ago that we were laughing at the Dolphins for being so stupid to give Joey Porter a big contract. Doesn't seem as funny now...

Who is Fred Jackson and why does he hate Marshawn Lynch Owners?

I'm happy for Ricky Williams. I hope he's having fun. It looked like 2002 out there.

If I'm a Ted Ginn Jr. owner, I'm cashing in that huge 175 yard day and trading him before he wakes up. Ginn had 177 yards through the first six games. Let someone else bank on this last game not being a fluke.

Vernon Davis looked shocked that his new coach didn't put up with his attitude and sent him to the showers early. Evidently, there's a new sheriff in town...

"I will not tolerate players that think it's about them when it's about the team," Singletary said. "We cannot make decisions that cost the team, and then come off the sideline and it's nonchalant. No. ... I'd rather play with 10 people and just get penalized all the way until we have to do something else rather than play with 11 when I know that right now that person is not sold out to be a part of this team."

Bad news: Seattle WR Keary Colbert managed just one reception.

Worse news: He gained zero yards on the play.

Saturday before the game, 49ers QB J.T. O'Sullivan got the dreaded vote of confidence from Mike Martz. "J.T. is going to be an outstanding player in this league," Martz said. "He's on his way. I'm not displeased with him in any sense, and I think he's going to be fine. But he's not where he needs to be, but we're going to get him there as quickly as we can." That lasted about two quarters Sunday...

Ray Rice is playing better. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of time to get used to the game at this level.

I think Mike Ditka is right. The Cowboys are the only team with three head coaches in Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett.

It's funny how paths cross. Ten years ago, Panthers QB Jake Delhomme was stuck behind Kurt Warner on the same team in NFL Europe. Sunday, the two class acts faced each other. Delhomme was funny talking about speaking to Warner. "Talked to him a good while before the game," Delhomme said of facing Warner for the first time. "Didn't get to talk to him after. I would have probably asked him for his autograph."

Biggest hit of the day in Dallas might have been their punter, Sam Paulescu taking down Tampa's Clifton Smith with a perfect tackle in the middle of the field. Nice. The crowd went wild and you sense a palpable increase in the team's energy.

The bad news: Chaz Schilens may be the Raiders best WR.

The good news: He's pretty good.

Brad Johnson is at that age where you stop worrying about what other people think so much. "We knew going in it was going to be an ugly game at times," Johnson said. "Third-and-long, check it down, let them boo you -- that's OK by me. ... You've just got to manage the game." I can relate to that.

Cowboys receiver Roy Williams went back to Detroit for a Halloween party. Williams showed up in support of former teammate Mike Furrey, who puts on the party to raise money for his charities.

Williams went as former Lions running back Tatum Bell. Williams was wearing a bellhop uniform with a big name tag that said "T. Bell." But the fun part was that he was also wearing boxer shorts on the outside of his pants and it said "Rudi" on the front and "Johnson 32" on the back. That's pretty funny.

Wouldn't have been just like the Lions to finally win a game that was blacked out on TV in the Detroit area because Ford Field was not sold out for the first time since opening in 2002?

He said all the right things but you just know that Drew Brees enjoyed spanking the team that chose to go with Philip Rivers over him.

Even LaDainian Tomlinson was in awe: "I was sitting on the sideline watching him working his magic, and I kept on just thinking 'When is he going to miss one?'" Tomlinson said.

Brett Favre is leading the league in interceptions. No shock there. But he's also doing pretty much what the Jets brought him there to do as he led New York to a come from behind win Sunday. "I believe that's why they brought him in here," said WR Laveranues Coles, who played after suffering a concussion last weekend. "No matter what the circumstances are, he always gives you a chance to win. I know he's a little old, but he still can play."

Seattle fullback Mike Weaver scored both of Seattle's second-half touchdowns, including the clinching score on that 62-yard run down the Seahawks' sideline with 6:10 to play.

He doesn't seem to have any illusions about his role though. "My first obligation is to block, (and) my second obligation is to block," Weaver said. "All I know is if they throw you a bone, you've got to grab it. ... I never knew I could run that fast."

San Francisco had the Hill to Hill (Shaun to Jason) TD connection working Sunday. Nice.

You think Jeff Fisher believes in LenDale White?

3-9-IND 17 Collins pass short left to 81-B.Jones to IND 2
1-2-IND 2 White left guard to IND 2 for no gain
2-2-IND 2 White left tackle to IND 1 for 1 yard
3-1-IND 1 White up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.

Me too.

Week 8 Hard Luck Awards

Some weeks for the Hard Luck Awards are worse than others. This week was rough.

OAK RB Fargas 6 yard rush to the 3 (Janikowski FG)
OAK QB Russell 25 yard pass to TE miller to the 4
OAK RB Bush 2 yard rush to the 2 (Russell to Griffith TD)
BAL RB McGahee 3 yard rushing TD nullified by penalty (Stover FG)
ARZ QB Warner 18 yard pass to TE Tuman to the 4
ARZ RB James 3 yard rush to the 1
ARZ RB Hightower rush for minus 2 yards to the 3 (Rackers FG)
ARZ QB Warner 8 yard pass to WR Boldin to the 2 (Hightower TD)
ARZ QB Warner 8 yard pass to RB Hightower to the 2 (Warner to Boldin TD)
CAR QB Delhomme 11 yard pass to WR Smith to the 4
CAR RB Stewart rush for minus 1 yard to the 5 (Kasay FG)
WAS QB Campbell 14 yard pass to WR Moss to the 1
WAS QB Campbell rush for minus 2 yards to the 3
WAS RB Portis rush for minus 5 yards to the 8
WAS QB Campbell 6 yard pass to RB Portis to the 2 (Suisham FG)
MIA QB Pennington 7 yard pass to WR Bess to the 4
MIA RB Brown 2 yard rush to the 2 (Pennington to Fasano TD)
BUF QB Edwards 14 yard pass to WR Hardy to the 5
BUF RB Jackson 1 yard rush to the 4
BUF RB Jackson 3 yard rush to the 1
BUF RB Jackson rush for no gain from the 1 (Lindell FG)
STL QB Bulger 9 yards pass to WR Holt to the 2 (Brown FG)
NE RB Faulk 9 yard rush to the 5
NE RB Faulk rush for no gain from the 5 (Green-Ellis TD)
NO QB Brees 9 yard pass to RB Stecker to the 3
NO QB Brees 2 yard pass to WR Moore to the 1 (McAllister TD)
NO QB Brees 10 yard pass to TE Miller to the 4
NO RB Karney 3 yard rush to the 1 (Brees to Campbell TD)
NYJ QB Favre 8 yard pass to RB Washington to the 2 (Jones TD)
PHI QB McNabb 10 yard pass to RB Westbrook to the 4
PHI RB Westbrook 1 yard rush to the 3 (McNabb TD)
PHI QB McNabb 7 yard pass to RB Westbrook to the 2
PHI RB Westbrook rush for no gain from the 2
PHI QB McNabb pass to RB Westbrook for no gain from the 1
PHI QB McNabb rush for no gain from the 1 (Akers FG)
ATL RB Turner 1 yard rush to the 1
CLE QB Anderson 10 yard pass to TE Heiden to the 5
CLE RB Lewis 3 yard rush to the 2 (Anderson to Stallworth TD)
CLE QB Anderson 51 yard pass to TE Heiden to the 2 (Lewis TD)
CLE QB Anderson 53 yard pass to WR Steptoe to the 1
CLE RB Lewis rush for minus 1 yard to the 2 (Dawson FG)
JAC QB Garrard 8 yard pass to WR Northcutt to the 5 (Garrard to Williams TD)
NYG RB Jacobs 13 yard rush to the 2
NYG RB Jacobs rush for no gain from the 1
NYG RB Jacobs 1 yard rushing TD challenged and reversed.
NYG RB Jacobs rush for no gain from the 1
NYG RB Ward 7 yard rush to the 2 (Manning to Boss TD)
SEA QB Wallace 10 yard pass to RB Weaver to the 4
SEA RB Weaver 3 yard rush to the 1 (Duckett TD)
SF RB Gore 3 yard rush to the 4
SF RB Robinson 2 yard rush to the 2 (Hill to Hill TD)
TEN QB Collins 15 yard pass to WR Jones to the 2 (White TD)
TEN QB Collins 7 yard pass to RB Johnson (White TD)
IND QB Manning 5 yard pass to RB Rhodes to the 2
IND RB Rhodes 1 yard rush to the 1 (Manning TD)

Sometimes it's better to just not know...

That'll do it for this week, Folks. Thanks to Footballguys David Lundy, Keith Overton and Kyle Lebeda for the help on this one. If you've got a Random Shot of your own, shoot me an e-mail at bryant@footballguys.com.

Reminder, as if you needed one: Get out there and vote if you're an American citizen. And show some class next week no matter whether your guy wins or not.

Thanks for playing along. I hope you have a gas with whatever you're doing in your life. Here's to Football.