Back in the game

It’s been awhile. But do know that the last few weeks or so that I’ve been absent from this blog have not been from naught. Indeed, much has been accomplished.

Tentatively, I am no longer a free agent. Last week, I accepted an offer from the McAllen Monitor to be a general assignment sports reporter/designer. I say “tentatively” because it’s not yet official; my drug test and background evaluation still have to be complete. but I do have a start date of Aug. 28 set. Interestingly enough, I’ve always held The Monitor in high regard. I have known McAllen very well over the last decade and counting, as my aunt and uncle – and now my brother – all work and reside there, so I grew up reading The Monitor’s sports section whenever we visited them. It was an impressive section then, complete in its purpose. It seems no stone is left unturned.

Aside from that, I’ve been finishing up some reading as well. Thursday, I finally wrapped up Jack McCallum’s “Dream Team,” which is worth all the accolades and hoopla that’s been sent its way since its July release. I found the book insightful. It doesn’t read too long – maybe around 330 pages or so – but it is packed with information and new material about, in my opinion, the greatest team ever assembled. Most importantly, the book offers much needed perspective. All you have to do is turn on ESPN and hear the stupid debate about whether the Dream Team could beat the 2012 USA team. It’s ridiculous, and just further proof of how short our memories are. This year’s USA team couldn’t even hold a candle to the 1996 USA team, let alone the ’92 version. And that ’96 team had plenty of issues of its own, as McCallum points out toward the end of his book.

Along the lines of reading, as I leave this post, let me offer some worthy material for your own enjoyment. I promise you won’t be disappointed;

– Grantland.com’s Jonah Keri, who has become my favorite baseball writer, has a neat piece on Felix Hernandez’s perfect game from Wednesday here.

– SI.com’s Andy Staples takes a look at the copycat process going on across college football, as Alabama’s Nick Saban apparently holds the gold standard for the game today. Read it here.

– SI.com’s Thomas Lake has a compelling open letter asking Michael Jordan why he hasn’t come to the aid of his former high school coach, whom Jordan has incorrectly called him out time and time again for “cutting” him. Read it here.

– Via ESPN.com, a Texas Pee Wee youth football league bars a 300-pound player. It’s here.

 

 

 

Where do we go from here?

 

I won’t harp on the issue too much, since it’s been scrutinized and beaten every way possible, but I wanted to offer my two cents about the whole Penn State/Paterno/Sandusky nightmare that came to a conclusion last week when the NCAA penalized Penn State significantly for its involvement in the situation.

First, let me say that the punishment was fair. I agreed with it. PSU is looking at a four-year ban from bowl games, was fined $73 million dollars total ($60 million by the NCAA; $13 million by the Big 12 when it announced the football program could not compete in championship games or receive any of the financial split between league members), and vacated all wins from 1998-2011. The last component was, yes, important, contrary to many’s thinking, since it was Joe Paterno’s legacy, as well as the program’s, that was protected at all costs in this whole thing. The vacation of wins knocks Paterno off the top of the ladder as owner of the most wins in college football.

Second, I hope we can all stop talking about Penn State football. Football is grossly irrelevant in this case. This is a matter of a heinous crime, committed by an assistant coach and aided by Paterno – two sporting gods trusted and beloved by so many. The crime itself, and how we can further prevent child sex abuse and the monetary support that will be directed to programs that aide those victims , is No. 1. No. 2 is the fact that trust is at the centerpiece of this. Just as those kids trusted Jerry Sandusky, and just how others trusted Paterno and his response when he found out Sandusky was sexually assaulting kids, how are we supposed to expect young kids to trust coaches today? How do we as parents or guardians fully lend our trust toward a coach or administrator and expect them to truly have our kids’ best interests at heart? Where do we go from here?

The essence of sport, even more so than wins or losses, is the bond we develop between teammates and coaches. For many young athletes, from the day they can pick up a ball, they spend a great amount of time under the care of their coach. Generally, we’d think to never second guess the concept. We meet with the coach, we’ll talk with them, we get to know them. Perhaps we invite them over for dinner or hit up a ballgame with them. We feel comfortable in their presence, so, naturally, we let our guard down a bit. Or a lot. We begin to see them as another selfless caretaker for our child, and when our kid refers to the coach as a “second father,” we don’t even blink. We even understand it.

But this whole Penn State debacle has only proven once again that we never, ever, truly, really know someone. We just don’t. We don’t know what an individual is capable of, whether it’s our mother, brother, son, friend, or, yes, coach. We tell ourselves we do, but who are we kidding? Sandusky founded an organization in 1977, “The Second Mile”, that was a children’s charity that provided care for foster children. He was one of the most respected defensive coordinators to boot. His name, like Paterno’s, was angelic around Happy Valley. And yet when he was found guilty on 45 of 48 charges against him, including eight counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with minors, many of his victims came from that same “Second Mile” franchise he had built. But how was anyone supposed to know? That’s why Paterno deserves so much scorn sent his way. Only he knew. Only he, within the parameters of the university, could stop it, and he chose not to.

It is a scary proposition, this idea that the best friend or coach or parental figure that we know today could be someone entirely different. And what’s more, I’m not sure there is a way to be more aware or conscious of that. We can’t be with someone 24/7. As human beings, we (most of us, anyway) have a propensity to trust, to give our fellow human being the benefit of the doubt. Especially if that someone plies his professional career in a field like coaching, which embraces discipline, responsibility, accountability, teamwork, unselfishness. What are we to do? Sure, for every 1 Sandusky there are 300, 400 others who truly care for others and would do whatever possible to see young kids succeed and fulfill their dreams. But the bottom line remains that there is that 1 guy. There is a possibility. In sports, we’re coached to gameplan for everything that can go wrong. We’re taught to have a plan B and C, and then to have a counter should those be unavailable. But how do we gameplan for misguided trust? Even more so, what are we to do when those “players” are precious kids, who are only more impressionable and giving of their heart the younger they are?

I really don’t know what to think or even what to make out of the Penn State stuff. I’m a bit shell-shocked, to be honest. The past 7-8 months have been a blur of disgust, discomfort, anger, tragedy, you name it. It’s all come so fast, that I really haven’t gone too deep beyond the basics to really tear this thing apart. I don’t know if I even want to. It’s maddening. But I do know that in sports, trust is something you don’t play around with. So what happens now? Perhaps there is nothing to be done. Optimistically, we can look at Sandusky as more of a rogue figure. Either way, it’s unsettling. It’s disturbing. It’s an issue that, in my opinion, should at the least be approached, be given some thought. Even if these were disadvantaged kids Sandusky dealt with, that still does not mean it can’t happen to anyone else. I wish I had an answer, but I don’t.

I just know that I’ve been told so many times, over and over, is so very true: No one is as they appear to be.

 

Galveston Daily News story lacks judgment, exploits high school kid

Tim Wright is a senior at La Marque High School, beloved for his prowess on the football field. He has thrilled thousands with what he can do after having received the football. Having rushed for 48 touchdowns and more than 4,100 yards the last two seasons, he is considered by many Galveston locals as the best running back to ever lace up the cleats for Galveston County.

His academic struggles, however, have been well documented, to the extent that offers from Texas A&M and Oklahoma never came to fruition due to that exact issue. It’s been like a plague following him around, as he has been quietly whispered about as those same people enamored with his ability are also wondering if he’s the next prep stud who never quite got it.

On Saturday, those struggles reached a head – in the public spotlight, no less. The Galveston Daily News reported that Wright failed to graduate and did not receive his diploma, as he is apparently one TAKS test shy of doing so.

You can read the story – which, as celebrated by the paper as it is, painfully lacks depth and substance – here. It was apparently placed on 1A, and was written by the paper’s sports editor.

This is a story that should have never been written. It should have never even gotten further than a  brainstorming session. You just don’t do this to high school kids. It serves no good for either party. Want to take a shot at how many articles were written this spring of high school seniors who failed to graduate? This is a “story” to the GDN because of Wright’s status, and that is unfortunate.

Needless to say, the story caused a furor on Twitter. Readers attacked the writer and the paper for allowing the story to even see the light of day. They correctly were angered that it exploited the athlete; that the paper, which has surely sold a plethora of copies due to fine documentation of Wright’s splendid athletic achievements, threw him under the bus, per se, and for no good reason. In seven years in the business, six as sports editor, I have not seen anything like this before, and it would have never even crossed my mind to run the story. It’s a high-risk, no-reward situation. Not only are you exposing a young kid’s academic ills, but you’re also jeopardizing your professional relationship with him, the coaches and possible the school’s athletic department, and for what? For what?

It lacks judgment. It lacks perspective. It lacks sensitivity when it certainly called for it. Again, we’re dealing with a high school kid. There is no rhyme or reason to this. It’s unnecessary. It’s uncalled for.

I am uncertain if the newspaper’s higher-ups or if the sports editor himself pushed for this. As I said, it did end up on 1A, which is incredulous in its own right. And the SE did write it. Whether he was under orders to, I’m not sure. I don’t care. This reeks of a situation in which the media wanted a spectacular story splashed across its front page. The bottom line is I’m not sure many of its readers would even care. How many high school stars go off to college, earning a scholarship due to their gaudy stats while playing for Podunk High, and flame out after a year? Do we write stories about that? How many athletes in high school have to sit out a significant part of their season due to failing a six-weeks period? Do we write about that? No, and no. Not only is this story laughably of poor taste, but it sets a horrible precedent.

Unnecessary.

 

March madness, indeed

The past few days have been an absolute whirlwind in sports, complete hysteria. It’s March Madness alright, but we’re not talking about college hoops … yet.

Manning to the Broncos? Tebow to the Jets? Ryan to the Eagles? The hammer to the Saints? It’s taken this long just for me to process it all, so let’s take a look at what went on and evaluate an NFL landscape that has dramatically altered, taking the sports world by storm … and games haven’t even been played.

Peyton Manning is a Denver Bronco, much to the delight of executive VP John Elway (right) and team owner Pat Bowlen. (AP PHOTO).

I can hardly blame them. As much as I am a fan of Tim Tebow, as much as I think he’s only approached the tip of his potential, the Broncos relentless pursuit of – and ultimately acquiring – Peyton Manning made sense. No-brainer. I’d do it 10 out of 10 times.

In the end, it was a positive for both sides, one of those rare deals where everyone involved walked into better (healthier?) circumstances. Broncos executive VP John Elway, a legend in Colorado, got the prototypical quarterback he desired, and he doesn’t even have to face the wrath of fans for it, either. It’s no secret he was as off the Tebow bandwagon as anyone. Deep down, I’m sure he loathed Tebow going 8-4 last season and earning a brilliantly dynamic playoff win over the Steelers at home. Elway is a quarterback’s quarterback. He wants three and five step drops. He wants multiple reads. He wants audibles. He wants comfort in the pocket, tight spirals and the ball to fly gracefully out of his signal-caller’s hand. To Elway, and a lot of others, you can’t win playing quarterback the way Tim Tebow does. You can’t win scrambling, misfiring on slants and owning an obscure throwing motion. You can’t win having to rely on your legs and not your arm when you play the game’s premier position. Yet, Tebow did. That was Elway’s greatest nightmare. Consider Manning his salvation.

The Broncos tossed a lot of dough (5 years, $95 million; $58 million guaranteed; $18 million fully guaranteed) at a quarterback who’s had four neck surgeries in the last 18 months. They committed to a four-time MVP, one-time Super Bowl champ who has damaged nerves; one who has a .474 postseason winning percentage compared to 67.8 in the regular season. All it takes is one hit. One devastating hit, and it’s possible Manning’s Broncos career is over before it ever begins. Yes, Manning only gets sacked on 3.1 percent of his drop-backs, the second-lowest of all-time, but since undergoing the neck surgeries, he has shown nothing to make anyone think he will be the old Peyton Manning. There has not been one shred of evidence that even remotely would lend one toward justifying such a big risk by Denver. The Broncos rolled the dice. They gambled, and as much as they’d like to convince you it’s a sure gamble, it’s not. In my opinion, it’s not worth it. The risk is too great for a declining quarterback who has seen his passer rating drop from 121.1 in 2004 to 91.9 in 2010.

But Elway wanted no part of Tebow. He needed an out. Manning was exactly that.

Tim Tebow defeated Mark Sanchez and the Jets in a game last season. Now he'll be teaming up with Sanchez in New York. (AP PHOTO)

So now, Tebow finds himself a New York Jet, having been acquired from Denver for a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick. And when I say the whole Broncos/Manning/Tebow shebang worked out for all parties, I mean it. Tebow finds himself in a great situation.

The most polarizing story of 2011, Tebow comes to a Jets team whose head coach (Rex Ryan) and offensive coordinator (Tony Sparano) are all strong advocates of the wildcat offense; Sparano specifically employing the system and bringing it full throttle into the league while head coach of Miami in 2008. The Jets had a player who thrived in that wildcat role in Brad Smith a few years ago, before Smith bolted for Buffalo after the 2010 season. Smith was like Tebow, a quarterback with a strong deep ball who was more comfortable scrambling and making plays on his feet. It was a sound change of pace for New York, and it missed that desperately in 2011. What Tebow brings is unpredictability to juice up an otherwise iffy offense. He helps their goal-line offense tremendously, and Ryan is reportedly salivating at the thought of what his new toy can do. It’s my belief Sparano and Tebow will be a perfect partnership.

So what does this mean for incumbent Mark Sanchez? It certainly adds more pressure. Sanchez was subpar last season, if not downright erratic, and has not been the most stable of presences during his tenure in New York. He is brutally inconsistent, teammates have spoken out against him, and he appears to be a mixed bag, on and off the field. Trust that the Tebow move was made for on the field as much as it was off it. The Jets are hoping Tebow’s work ethic, spirit and toughness wears off on Sanchez. Essentially, they want it to light a fire under him. Tebow is a competitor’s competitor. Sanchez, by all accounts, is not. I have my doubts that Sanchez will last the complete two remaining years as the Jets’ quarterback. Would not surprise me if Tebow was to eventually hurdle him on the depth chart. Sanchez has some maturing to do, and he has to do it quickly. We know one thing: Tebow has proven to command a locker room. Sanchez has failed miserably in that regard.

Don’t get it twisted. Tim Tebow is absolutely a threat to Mark Sanchez’s job. The Jets will try to put a halt on those thoughts early and often, but who are they fooling?

When it’s all said and done, I absolutely love this move. Jacksonville, of course, would have been a logical fit for Tebow as well, and were a finalist for his services, but the Jaguars are headed nowhere. The franchise is a dead end. Yes, Tebowmania would have filled seats and brought some energy, but that may have lasted for, what, one season? And then what? Fans are smart. They won’t keep supporting a loser, and the Jaguars don’t look to be turning the corner anytime soon. Not to mention that Jacksinville’s GM and coach wanted nothing to do with Tebow; only the owner was gung-ho on him. So the situation would have been similar to Denver’s, a toxic situation where the people in charge clearly did not want him there.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Denver apparently allowed Tebow his choice of destination, and Tebow picked the Jets. Makes sense to me, and not only because of the last point of being wanted. The Jets are a lot closer to winning, have a solid, established coaching staff, and fit right into Tebow’s game as much as the Jaguars do. Both teams want to run the ball, control tempo and let their defense work. But, even in the rigid AFC East, the Jets are a lot closer to a Super Bowl than Jacksonville is in one of the weakest divisions in football. Don’t believe for one second that winning did not factor at all into this equation for Tebow.

Before we leave the Topic of Tebow, one last concern I potentially see: We all want to see if Tebow can develop as a quarterback. We all want to see if he can hone his throwing motion, fine-tune his passing and improve his accuracy and as a threat in the pocket. To do that, however, he needs reps. He has yet to have a full season as a starter, and already he’s headed off to a new team amidst talks of his use as a dynamo in a wildcat package. To develop as a quarterback, Tebow needs reps. He needs starts. My concern is, in New York, he will be confined to a role as a specialist and that will severely stunt his growth. I guess what I’m trying to say it’s very possible we may never find out if Tim Tebow is a starting quarterback in the NFL. He has to be given the reins, and obviously he won’t be getting them anytime soon in New York.

Then again, he’ll be playing behind Mark Sanchez and Drew Stanton. So perhaps he’ll get that chance sooner than he thinks.

As much sense as it made financially to trade DeMeco Ryans to the Eagles, the Texans managed to upset many of their players and fans in the process, continuing an offseason that has only seen a gouging of the roster and talent to this point. (AP PHOTO)

It makes sense. That’s what I hate about it so much, and yes, I do know that ‘hate’ is a strong word. The Texans traded defensive captain and longtime stalwart DeMeco Ryans to the Eagles earlier this week for a fourth-rounder, as well as swapping third-round spots, moving up 12 places in this year’s draft.

Despite being injured and playing fewer snaps in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense, the inside linebacker was idolized in the Texans’ locker room. He was the leader of the defense. He was the engineer. He was the commander. He held everyone’s respect.

Don’t believe me? Read this.

It was like the Lakers trading Derek Fisher. In fact, that’s the perfect analogy, right down to the part where it made sense for the Lakers to make that move. The Texans traded the heart and soul of an up-and-coming defense. He’s a class act. Sometimes you just need to keep hanging on to players like those. They’re important. They mean something.

The reason Houston did it, I can’t necessarily argue with. While they take a $2 million hit on this year’s salary cap, they clear $9 million for next season, when they need as much dough as possible to sign the likes of quarterback Matt Schaub, linebacker Connor Barwin (Houston’s new Mario Williams) and left tackle Duane Brown. I understand it. I get it. But there is no way to rid the emotion of this. No way.

Ryan WAS a Houston Texan. He defined what the team stands for: class, dignity, leadership, accountability. He has a lot of football left in him. You just don’t trade players like DeMeco Ryans. He’s a part of your fabric. He’s a part of who you are. People are quick to say how he only played 57 percent of the snaps in a defensive scheme he didn’t fit in, but that was Year 1 of said defense. I would assume defensive coordinator Wade Phillips would find a spot for a healthy Ryans. Can we not just let things play out? Should we really be rushing to judgment after one season, particularly one when Ryans was not at full health? People are quick to turn players away who didn’t fit into a new scheme. Schemes progress. They improve. They adjust. It was a bit hasty to discard such a beloved figure after just 16 games in a new alignment, with hardly any sort of training camp to boot, mind you.

So now I have to root for the Eagles. Because I root for Ryans. It was an absolutely tremendous move by Philly, the clear winners of this deal. And while I am disappointed in the Texans, I understand it. But I also understand this: Already three starters are gone from last year’s AFC South champions, one unexpectedly in Eric Winston. The holes have gotten bigger. Now they need offensive linemen, a linebacker, a top notch wideout and probably a kicker too, since it’s likely Neil Rackers is a goner as well. While this offseason has been admirable financially in dealing with the cap and resources, there is no doubt the roster and talent, at this moment, has been significantly gouged. Momentum has taken a huge hit. Do I expect the draft and some free agents here and there to address some of the issues? Of course. Fortunately, the Texans can get away with all the early big blows to personnel, since they play in one of the weakest divisions, if not THE weakest. But Houston should not be in it just to win the division. They need to be eyeing the Super Bowl. It’s like the first moment they experience vast success, they don’t know how to respond to it.

Just like the Ryans move, I can say the same about this offseason so far: I understand it, yes. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.

The NFL dealt the Saints a big blow Wednesday, suspending head coach Sean Payton (left) for the 2012 season, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams (right) indefinitely and GM Mickey Loomis for eight games of the season.

Their head coach, Sean Payton, is suspended for the entire 2012 season.

Their general manager, Mickey Loomis, is suspended for the first eight games of the 2012 season.

Their assistant coach, Joe Vitt, is suspended for the first six games of the 2012 season.

Two second-round draft picks (one this year, one next) are gone.

They were fined $50,000.

Their former defensive coordinator, Greg Williams (currently St. Louis’ DC) was suspended indefinitely and will be re-evaluated after the 2012 season.

Ladies and gentlemen, bounties are bad. And for the New Orleans Saints, the victim of all the above, it’s REALLY bad. A franchise two years removed from winning a Super Bowl finds itself in complete devastation. As it should.

After a thorough, exhaustingly-detailed investigation, the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell handed out an unprecedented punishment Wednesday for a franchise that was caught employing a bounty system – with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams leading the charge and encouraging it, and assistant Joe Vitt having knowledge of it, and head coach Sean Payton having knowledge of it – that targeted key players such as Brett Favre, Cam Newton and Kurt Warner, at least dating back to the 2010 season when Williams arrived.

According to an Associated Press report, the NFL said the scheme involved 22 to 27 defensive players and specifically targeted quarterbacks. “Knockouts” were worth $1,500 and “cart-offs” $1,000, with payments doubled or tripled for the playoffs.

Via SI.com: According to the league, head coach Sean Payton ignored instructions from the NFL and Saints ownership to make sure bounties weren’t being paid. The league also chastised him for choosing to “falsely deny that the program existed,” and for trying to “encourage the false denials by instructing assistants to `make sure our ducks are in a row.”‘

It is simply unbelievable, but not entirely unexpected. The big deal here is not that the system existed, but that it was an organizational operation. It’s one thing for players to do it, but for coaches to be involved is a whole other matter. The league was also lied to, and if there’s one thing that really irks Goodell, it’s a coverup. You could even argue that this is even bigger than the fact it was an organizational issue. The Saints had been told repeatedly to put a stop to this. They didn’t. They then tried to cover it up before backtracking when they were caught in too deep. Just like the Michael Vick case, if you lie to Roger Goodell, it will not be a happy ending. And the Saints scoffed at the league’s warnings, lied and then tried to cover it up. I have no sympathy for them whatsoever.

I am completely on board with Goodell’s decision. You can say a bounty pool is a part of football. You can say the game is getting meek. You can say how this is no longer our fathers’ football. Whatever. You’re dealing with livelihoods. You’re participating in a professional work environment with the intent to injure. That’s a no-no. You’re dealing with livelihoods.

Let me say that again. You’re dealing with livelihoods.

You can take all that macho nonsense and tell me how we might as well play flag football. And I’ll tell you that if grown men cannot play a child’s game for millions of dollars without intending to hurt somebody, maybe they need to go find another gig. It’s stupid. These are millionaires willing to hurt their peers for even more money. Greed and recklessness is at the heart of this issue, and I applaud Goodell for dealing with it appropriately.

I feel bad for Saints fans. But that’s it, and , heck, maybe I don’t feel so bad since they got a Super Bowl out of it. I feel bad for owner Tom Benson, who, by all reports, had no idea this was taking place and was not involved. But, either way, the franchise got what it deserved, and thankfully there is a commissioner who has the guts to do what it takes, no matter to what extreme. Remember, Goodell works for the owners. And he still took a machete to Benson’s team’s foundation. Good for Goodell. Good for the game. Good riddance (hopefully) to bounty systems.

The punishment fit the crime just fine.

More at stake than just a game

Eli Manning is a two-time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP. He's also primarily responsible for producing the final chapter on the Patriots' once distinguished legacy. So is he headed to the Hall of Fame?

And just like that, a dynasty is done. The New York Giants are Super Bowl champions and their foes, the New England Patriots, are not, this coming for the second time in the last four years.

Things may never be the same again.

We’re not even going to discuss stats or certain plays or who did what and who didn’t, at least in regard to on the field. Numbers and highlights aren’t really relevant in the big picture of the Giants’ 21-17 Super Bowl XLVI victory over the Patriots in Indianapolis on Sunday. This is about legacy, about what becomes of Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning and about what’s possibly finalized about Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

The former duo has two Super Bowls in the last four years; one of which put a dramatic finish on what looked to be a perfect and indestructible NFL season for the Pats, both of which came down to electric game-winning drives soon to be idolized by NFL Films. The latter pair won three Super Bowls in four years the last decade, and has appeared in two more February games since, but those are looking more distant with each passing year, no matter how elite the team remains.

Coughlin and Manning did not launch themselves into the Hall of Fame Sunday, contrary to what the pundits would have you believe. They did, however, launch themselves into the conversation, and that is quite an accomplishment in itself. Brady and Belichick are undoubtedly great and both certainly headed to the Hall, but the bottom line is their once storybook dynasty is complete. Finished. They can look to starting a new one if they so wish, but continuation from the success birthed many years ago has been, well, discontinued. Three titles in four years is admirable, but the bottom line is they have come up short in two of the last four.

The almosts are becoming more remembered than the haves. Just the nature of the beast. The Patriots’ dynasty is done. Their last Super Bowl win was 2004, and no one cares about “almost.” You either got it or you didn’t, and they haven’t gotten it in eight years now. Brady and Belichick, as a tandem, started 10-0 in the postseason. They are now 16-6 and have split their last 12 games.

So what do we know? Well, we know Coughlin is underappreciated and, for all the sloppy miscues his team seems to commit game in and game out, he is a fine strategist and teacher of the game. Players play hard for him, which is by no means a given for coaches these days. Manning is arguably the top clutch signal-caller in the game. You can argue Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees … but it is hard to argue against Manning – Eli, not Peyton – with the ball in the closing minutes. He has a unique flair for making great plays with the game on the line, on the biggest stage imaginable. That’s a sign of a great quarterback.

And no matter what outcome Sunday provided, we know this: Brady and Belichick are brilliant, and I don’t use that word lightly. Ironically, their great talents were on display even in defeat. How they managed to win the AFC with the cast and crew they did is remarkable. Almost no run game. A horrendous secondary. A pass rush that was hardly consistent. An unstable receiving core outside of the tight end position. But Brady’s and Belichick’s genius comes in how they manage to make others around them better than they really are. They lift the expectations and standards of those around them, be them first-round picks or undrafted free agents. Once they solve some of those holes, they’ll be fine. The Giants were right to be favored in this game. They had the better team, more talent. No question. But the truth is it’s a testament to Belichick and Brady that the Patriots were even in position to win a game like this.

Legacy means a lot in sports. It’s what we, as sports journalists, and fans love to break down. It’s what we spend way too much time on. It’s a big part of why we watch the games to begin with. The greatness of Sunday’s game was not in Mario Manningham’s spectacular catch on ultimately the game-winning drive (by the way, Manning’s throw was a heck of a lot better than the catch.) It wasn’t in the precision of Manning or Brady. It’s the fact that legacies were at the core of the 60 minutes of football. They were the game within the game. When each team had the ball, we were watching the best of the best, the greats of the great. The history of the game matters to those who care, and legacies obviously play a crucial part of that.

There are many who will argue that the legacies of each team’s set of Coach-QB went separate ways on Sunday. In reality, however, both were given a bit of a boost. The Giants got the absolute most out of what they had. The interesting thing is that the Patriots did, too. And once the dust clears and people can gain a bit more perspective of matters, hopefully they’ll reach the same conclusion.

In a year of greatness, Texans should be driven by the one that got away

J.J. Watt's and the Houston Texans' outstanding 2011 season came to an end on Sunday, but the future has never been brighter for the Texans. (AP PHOTO).

Family was in town this weekend, so I did not have the chance to offer my immediate thoughts in light of the Texans’ heartbreaking 20-13 loss in Baltimore in the divisional playoff round on Sunday.

In spite of the Texans doing the ONE thing they certainly could not afford to do – turn the ball over – I still sit here more than 24 hours later dismayed by the circumstances. Yes, Houston turned the ball over four times. Yes, they did all they could defensively to stifle a potent Ravens attack. And, yes, they had a shot to win the game in the closing minutes, which is pretty much all you can ask for with a team on its third-string quarterback and with its star wideout far from 100 percent.

Perhaps I expected too much. Perhaps I should be excited – heck, THRILLED – with the fact that the Texans were actually playing in mid-January with their starting quarterback and a starting linebacker injured for most of the season, and with that aforementioned star wideout never at full strength. Even with Matt Schaub, Mario Williams and Andre Johnson unavailable for long stretches of the season, the Texans still managed an AFC South championship and the first playoff win in franchise history.

But I’m not excited. Perhaps that makes me ungrateful, but I did expect more. I had grown confident in Yates and no longer saw him as a rookie, but as a quarterback capable of running a team competently. I had more than enough confidence knowing the Texans’ defensive system could make up for the loss of Williams. Basically, I refused to allow Yates’ inexperience and the poor health of Schaub, Williams and Johnson be used as excuses. Because it all came down to the following:

I thought the Texans were certainly the better team on Sunday in Baltimore.

I thought they were the team that deserved to win. In spite of those giveaways, I saw a team that fought harder and wanted it more. I saw a team with the better offensive force in Arian Foster. I saw a team, however, that doomed itself, and nothing hurts worse. I saw a team that beat itself in the head with a fumbled punt return that handed the Ravens the ball on Houston’s own 3-yard line and gift-wrapped Baltimore’s first touchdown. I saw Neil Rackers misfire on a relatively easy kick, by his standards. I saw a shanked kick on a punt. I saw horrific play-calling down the stretch, having rookie T.J. Yates go for gold when there was plenty of time to move down the field with singles and doubles and not gun for the home run.

I suppose we can chalk that up to a franchise’s first heartache and the fact that you must crawl before you can walk. Still, it hurts. I’m not thinking, “What a great year for Houston!”; I’m thinking “Sheesh, the Texans let one get away” and that it should be Houston heading to Foxboro next weekend, not the Ravens.

But, we shall move on. One game does not make a season, and more than anything I am most proud of the fact that the Texans developed an identity this season. They turned into a defensive juggernaut, with a dynamic run game to boot. It was a system and methodology that even allowed a third-string rookie to take control with a few games left in the regular season and lead the Texans deep into the postseason. I give most percent of that credit to Wade Phillips for completely altering the defensive culture. He’s my MVP this season and for good reason. After ranking at the bottom of defense in 2010, the Texans ranked second overall this last season. Obviously a good amount of credit also goes to J.J. Watt, Johnathan Joseph, Danieal Manning, et cetera. The last two especially, considering the horrificness of last year’s secondary play.

For once, Houston has established itself. It only took 10 years, but, hey, whatever. The Texans, for once, aren’t left trying to find themselves once again in the offseason. Now they know what to look for in the draft and free agency: another cornerback, a dependable No. 2 wide receiver. Start there. There’s a lot of people saying we should forget about re-signing Mario Williams and do what it takes to re-sign Arian while going after a stud WR and/or CB in free agency. Not sure I buy that. Yes, Arian is gold and he is priority No. 1. But Mario is just as important, at least in my eyes. He opens things up for everyone else and constantly demands double teams. Now if he’s talking some ungodly amount of money, then yes, move on. But at least try, make an effort.

The bottom line is running backs are a dime a dozen. Athletic beasts of Mario’s size and skill at 6-foot-6, 283-pounds? Not so much. It’s easy to forget all that Mario brings to the table in midst of the extravagance of this season, but there’s a reason he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft and he had 11 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble in five games before getting injured.

If you’re as defensive-conscious as the Texans are, you don’t just let that package walk away.

But we’ll have plenty of time to discuss that as the spring and summer wears on. The good thing is we’re talking about adding complementary pieces instead of shooting for the stars in hopes of a nine-win season or so. Things have changed in Houston. Standards, expectations have all increased. As a fan, I can’t even begin to tell you how good that feels.

No matter how much the sting of Sunday’s defeat will haunt me this offseason.

Pickin’ em: NFL divisional playoffs round

My pick: Arian Foster and the Houston Texans are headed to the AFC championship game. (AP PHOTO).

It’s mid-January and one thing is really, really weird. The Houston Texans are still in the national limelight.

Even as the Texans’ run to the divisional round of the playoffs has not exactly surprised me, it’s still a bit odd to hear ESPN’s talking heads discuss their chances against the Ravens (as you can imagine, many are picking the Ravens, and not exactly in a nail-biter.) Usually around this time I’m waiting to see if Gary Kubiak is going to be brought back and what other changes lie in store after yet another disappointing year.

But this year, the Texans are in the same breath as the Patriots, Broncos, Packers, Giants, Saints, Ravens and 49ers. Not bad company. Not bad at all. It’s been a long time coming, but hey. At least it’s come.

The divisional round kicks off today. San Francisco hosts the Saints and the Patriots host the Broncos. Sunday pits the Texans in Baltimore for the second time this season to face the Ravens, followed by the Packers hosting the Giants. Not one of these games looks like a dud, and you’ll read why in a moment.

It’s already been a heck of a rollercoaster through the playoffs so far. Dominated by Tebow, of course, but stirring nonetheless as an offensive-driven league searches for any sort of defense to stop the madness and reinforce the notion that defense wins championships.

It’s only about to get nuttier.

And here we go …

Darren Sproles and the New Orleans Saints don't have the easiest route to the NFC championship game, but they'll get there. (AP PHOTO)

SAINTS (14-3) at 49ERS (13-3): The most electric offense in the NFL, speared by a record-breaking signal-caller, against one of the most throwback teams in the league, one predicated upon a dominant run game and even more dominant defense. The Saints average 34.2 points per game on 467.1 yards per game. The 49ers allow just 14.3 points per game on 304 yards per game. Something’s got to give. I really want to go with the 49ers. I really do. But teams like the Saints are dangerous, simply because you absolutely CANNOT turn the ball over and you absolutely have to limit three-and-outs and at least produce meaningful, time-consuming offensive drives that keep the Saints’ offense off the field. That’s quite a demanding task for the 49ers, who, mind you, are still under a first-year head coach in his first NFL playoff game and boast a quarterback in Alex Smith whose foreign to these waters as well. I think New Orleans squeaks it out. SAINTS 28, 49ERS 17. 

Unfortunately for all, Tom Brady and Aaron Hernandez will put an end to TebowMania. At least for this season. (AP PHOTO).

BRONCOS (9-8) at PATRIOTS (13-3): The Patriots absolutely manhandled Denver in Foxboro earlier this season. Now Bill Belichick’s had two weeks to prepare for Tim Tebow and Co. Tebow and Denver certainly have the momentum after last week’s majestic playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. But I don’t expect the flaws in the Steelers’ defensive game plan to repeat themselves in New England, where Belichick loves challenges and where the Patriots will be playing with a chip on their shoulder as they haven’t won a playoff game since 2008. Add that to an offense whose lone rival is New Orleans in regard to potency (the Patriots score 32.1 points per game on 428 yards per game) and it’s not looking so hot for the Broncos, This is almost a completely similar contest as Saints-49ers in regard to what each team has to do to win. I think the Broncos will get some yards and points against the Patriots, but I don’t see them keeping up. A couple of turnovers will prove to be all the doctor ordered for New England. PATRIOTS 31, BRONCOS 21.

He's just a rookie, but T.J. Yates will earn his first road playoff win on Sunday in Baltimore. How sweet it will be. (AP PHOTO).

TEXANS (11-6) at RAVENS (12-4): Here’s my thinking: I don’t trust Joe Flacco. I don’t exactly have all the faith in T.J. Yates either, but I certainly don’t trust Flacco. In seven playoff games, he’s thrown seven interceptions and four touchdowns. His reputation is that as an inconsistent, yet talented, playmaker who doesn’t exactly merit the most confidence from teammates and Ravens fans. When you have to address your past failures in the postseason, as Flacco has had to do this week, that’s not a good thing. Especially when your position is quarterback. This game will come down to turnovers, and simply put, I believe Flacco will give the Texans’ defense plenty of chances to make plays, whereas Yates will stick with the same conservative game-plan as has been the case. It helps the Texans that they’ve played in Baltimore earlier this year and it helps they have the momentum. In their case, I think it bodes well they didn’t earn a bye because they needed to get their feet wet. Meanwhile, I don’t trust Flacco to put points on the board, and the Ravens’ defense will be wearing down in the process thanks to Arian Foster and Ben Tate. Call me a homer. Call me crazy. Call me incompetent. Call me loony. But I’m calling it: Texans win. TEXANS 21, RAVENS 17.

After playing a big role, Brandon Jacobs will have reason to be happy again once Sunday is done and over with in Green Bay. (AP PHOTO).

GIANTS (10-7) at PACKERS (15-1): A dangerous, dangerous game for a Super Bowl favorite that has coasted its way through the season far. By the way, expect all four of these games to be dazzlers. I don’t see one ninny in the bunch. Anyway, here again you have a stingy defense in the Giants that’s just now starting to hits peak after a rash of injuries, though with a versatile offense that can produce on the ground or in the air, against a dynamo of an offensive attack led by the league’s best quarterback in Aaron Rodgers.  But Rodgers won’t be enough. I like New York’s ability to pass (295 yards per game) and run the ball (89.2) well, and I think they’ll control tempo and possession because of that balance. Green Bay’s run game is lethargic (ranked 27th; 3.7 yards per attempt) and that’s never a good thing in the postseason. I think what has ailed them all season comes back to bite them big time when it counts, especially because New York will be able to get to the quarterback and apply pressure. My upset of the week: GIANTS 24, PACKERS 21.

Destiny at work? Texans rise up, move on

J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans are headed to Baltimore after an overwhelming wild card playoff win against the Bengals. (PHOTO BY TONY GUTIERREZ | ASSOCIATED PRESS)

If I didn’t know better, I’d say the Texans are a team of destiny. How else do you explain the fortunes of a team headed to the second round of the playoffs without its star starting quarterback and star linebacker, while still working into rhythm its star wideout?

But, I do know better. Logic says the Texans’ ride will eventually come to an end. Logic says that in today’s NFL, quarterbacking will win the Super Bowl, and right now, the Texans simply do not have that; they’re an old-school, throwback team in an evolved aerial game in which the best of the best teams in the league are offensive-driven.

Still, what a ride. Saturday’s wild-card playoff win against Cincinnati in Houston, 31-10, will go down in the record books. It was typical Texans: a slow start carried by a few game-changing plays that eventually set the stage for impressive adjustments in the second half.

Here were my keys:

– There is no question rookie defensive end J.J. Watt changed the complexion of this game. It was his 29-yard pick-6 at the end of the second quarter that broke a 10-10 tie and gave Houston the lead going into halftime. What should have been a tied game going into the half with the Bengals receiving to start the second half ended up with the Texans having momentum, a play that I think really fazed Bengals rookie QB Andy Dalton, who had been having a stellar game to that point, completing eight of his first 10 passes, including seven in a row at one point, and moving the chains easily.

– Another key play that I thought was absolutely essential came in the fourth quarter after Texans rookie QB T.J. Yates found Andre Johnson on a 40-yard pass down the left sideline with 4:37 left in the game. On the ensuing kickoff, James Casey – of Rice lore – made a crucial tackle to pin the Bengals deep in their own end zone. Huge play. In games like these, stuff like that makes all the difference.

– I loved the adjustments Houston made on defense. I love the fact that they’re making adjustments at all on that side of the ball after last season’s pathetic showcase. After converting four of their first six third downs, the Bengals connected on just two of their last seven. What had been an offense that moved the ball well throughout most of the first half turned into a unit that was three-and-out or forced into turnovers, allowing the Texans to do what they do best: use clock, run the ball and dominate tempo.

– It was huge how the Texans responded after falling behind early. The Bengals jumped out on top on a Cedric Benson 1-yard run late in the first quarter. But 2 minutes, 37 seconds later, Arian Foster scored the first of his two touchdowns to reassert order. For a franchise in its first playoff game ever, with a coach coaching in his first playoff game ever, and with a rookie signal-caller, how the Texans responded was big. I think every Texans fan breathed a sigh of relief after that because we had an idea all would be OK. The Bengals could not afford to go up two scores so early.

– What a job by Texans corner Johnathan Joseph on Bengals star rookie A.J. Green. Green caught four of the first six passes thrown his way for 42 yards in the first quarter in what looked like it would be a long afternoon for the Texans’ prized free agent. But Joseph, like the team, adjusted accordingly, holding Green to just one catch and five yards the rest of the afternoon, which is pivotal since Green is all but the Bengals’ offense. Joseph took away Dalton’s favorite target, forcing the rookie to look elsewhere time and time again and go away from his comfort zone.

Just an overall spectacular game by the Texans, executed perfectly.

I actually like Houston’s chances going into Baltimore next week. They’re not going to be dazed by the atmosphere, having played the Ravens at their place earlier in the season, and I think Ravens QB Joe Flacco will give the Texans’ defense plenty of chances to make a play, which could turn the tide of a game.

It was a mesmerizing afternoon on Saturday, to see how far this franchise has come. I was there, watching in awe, when the Texans hosted the Cowboys in the first game in franchise history in 2002, winning to boot. That was a game that will forever be etched in my mind, the crowd roaring as Houston scored on its first possession to really set the tone. Saturday’s game was a lot like that, just more electric and obviously meaning so much more.

Can’t wait to see what next week holds in store. And while, yes, logic haunts my fan’s heart and makes me appreciate every snap and every play with a bit more zest, I do know this: there is no stopping destiny when it’s in the cards.

Abusing the profession

Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky is carried by players Rick Bolinsky (92) and Jason Wallace (88) after they defeated Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl, Tuesday night, Dec. 28, 1999. Sandusky marks his 381st and final game as a member of Penn State's coaching staff. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

It’s been tough to get into the spirit of the holidays. In fact, this particular season, it’s been downright impossible.

At an especially delicious time for sports when we’re supposed to be consumed by the drama of the NFL, NBA and college basketball, instead I find myself having to go through story after story of child abuse scandals.

If it’s not Penn State’s Jerry Sandusky, it’s Syracuse’s Bernie Fine. If it’s not Bernie Fine, it’s veteran Philly Daily News sports writer and distinguished journalist Bill Conlin.

It’s gross, unsettling and mind-blowingly disturbing to know that these human beings violated many young children – boys and girls, in Conlin’s case – and continued living their lives as if all is well. How are we supposed to realistically focus on the spirit of a giving season when we know of stories like the aforementioned, with surely many, many, many more left uncovered.

The plight of these three individuals has done nothing but remind us of the constant suffering that is overwhelming our youth. It’s deplorable for two of these three men to use their status as coaches as bait for their crimes. It’s sickening to think how many children’s lives these three men alone have been responsible for ruining.

As coaches and influential administrators in a child’s game, they should know better. They should be better.

I hate to even bring this up at a time like this, with a new year on the horizon and hope and optimism never higher, but it would be wrong to ignore it. In my eyes, if found guilty, these men deserve life in prison without parole. And I understand this probably happens more often than we think, but it maddens me to no end that they took advantage of the trust and admiration of young boys and girls.

However, it also makes you appreciate more the coaches who do completely hold precious that trust and admiration and use it as a gift to, in fact, help the youth. We have plenty of those in Laredo. They are coaches who are under scrutiny because of that nagging win-loss column, but when tragedy – and yes, the circumstances involving these three men are indeed tragic – strikes, it forces you to re-evaluate.

And the bottom line is that Laredo is home to many coaches who devote their entire beings to benefit the city’s youth.

The stories of the three men have darkened public perception of the coaching profession, and sports in general. It’s unfortunate, but it’s painfully obvious eyes need to be opened. It’s not a good look, and it will only get worse before it gets better.

But the horrifying actions of the two coaches should not take away from those who do their job with honor and accountability. For every Fine or Sandusky, there are dozens of Hecky Noyola Jr.’s, J.J. Gomezes and Oscar Villasenors.

This holiday season, be thankful for who the city’s coaches are and what they stand for. For we have seen too closely what others have become.

December = more BCS madness

It’s December, so that must mean the BCS is on everyone’s lips. Like Christmas carols and cruddy holiday movies, college football is always in the limelight this time of year, and that’s not necessarily a good thing.

LSU and Alabama are playing for the BCS championship in New Orleans in January. No. 1 LSU is 12-0. No. 2 Alabama is 11-1. They have already played this season – a bit more than a month ago, in fact, when LSU bested Alabama 9-6 in an eye-sore of a game – and they were apparently rewarded with a rematch. Interesting. Head-scratching, but interesting.

No. 3 Oklahoma State (11-1) was bypassed. The argument, by the BCS, is that the championship game pits the two best teams in college football against each other.

The truth is we’ll never know who the best team of 2011 is.

LSU is certainly deserving of consideration. But Alabama has proven it is not, having already lost to LSU.

OSU, on the other hand, opened a lot of eyes with its thrashing of Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game, but that was too little, too late. That game – just like every one played on the regular season’s final weekend – had no bearing on who the BCS would select to compete for its grand prize.

The computer wanted a rematch. Everyone with common sense wanted LSU-OSU.

As we’ve found out too often in recent years, the computer won.

There is no element of surprise. No anticipation. No excitement. And that’s pathetic when you’re talking in regard to a championship game.

We know LSU can beat Alabama. We don’t know if Alabama can beat LSU, just like, more importantly, we don’t know if LSU can beat OSU or vice versa.

Now which scenario is more intriguing?

But, once again, a computer’s faulty system is responsible for playing a bad hand in the country’s most beloved sport. Nothing about this makes sense. Nothing.

Every year, the BCS wants to say how there is no need for a playoff system. Every year, they’re proven wrong.

If you’re a college football fan – as in, a fan of the game, one without rose-colored glasses – then you feel betrayed. You feel disgusted, upset.

The BCS is telling you the best two teams in college football are going at it. The fact is we don’t know.

As close as that Nov. 5 game was, no one wanted a rematch. No one wanted to see another game between those two teams. It was ungodly, ugly, unsettling.

There was nothing memorable about it, and they were the top two teams in the country.

But the BCS wanted to see it. The SEC is their baby, and you better believe ESPN is wetting its pants over it, too.

Oklahoma State got shafted. Simple as that.

Mike Gundy’s boys deserve to be playing on Jan. 9. They played a more difficult schedule than either LSU or Alabama, taking care of business against the No. 8, 10, 14 and 22 teams in the country.

And their reward is a trip to the Fiesta Bowl. Whoop-de-doo.

People always tell me how college football is the greatest game on earth. How there’s nothing like it. Nothing even comes close.

They’re wrong. The “greatest game” is determined by a laughable system that screws up more often than it gets it right. The “greatest game” is a system rigged with numbers and nonsense; a system that will be proud to give you an answer but won’t dare try to explain it.

You want to laugh and scoff at the expense of the NBA or any other pro sport? Don’t bring that my way when college football is a sham. Don’t bring that my way when the system makes a mockery of whatever the heck it thinks it represents.

Don’t bring that my way when college football is the only sport more significantly impacted by a computer than anything that takes place on the field.