Monday Night Football LIVE!!!

Due to a combination of insomnia and boredom I have decided to break out the first of what is hopefully a series of live blogs covering the last six weeks of the NFL season. Due to my unemployed status although I do prefer the term work challenged, I do not have to deal with trivial matters such as getting up before lunch time making this goal achievable. We kick things off with a match between the 6-4 New York Football Giants against the 7-3 New Orleans Saints or as ESPN will make it Eli Manning against the team his dad used to quarterback for. If you are looking for a quick way to get drunken just down a beer every time the show/mention Archie Manning, I promise you will have nice buzz going before the coin hits the ground during the Coin Flip.


I hate Chris Berman there I said it no doubt it will hurt my chances to one day work at ESPN but Berman only found out recently what the internet was wait till he discovers these new fangled devices called mobile phones a phone that allows you to make calls without a phone line genius.

Archie Manning is in the intro see I was right the first of a million Archie shots and if you are playing along at home the first of your many shots.

Do you think John Gruden practices his snarl? I have this imagine of Gruden grun in a mirror so he can get the muscles in his face lose for his snarl.

We just got a look inside the Saints Hotel from last night going over the game plan a fascinating look at the symmetry between Brees and Payton. I mean I think they were going over the plays that or ordering lunch in double Dutch.

From what I can gather the Giants better look out for the sticky dragon. Not Barney or Puff but Sticky.

The first series of the game sees the Saints go marching down the field ends up with a failed fake field goal attempt on the Giants ten yard line gutsy call from Payton but as Gruden noted The New Orleans coach is “up and atom” the Giants from the off.

Giants take over and Archie, sorry Eli Manning looks sharp. Hard to tell which Manning is playing judging by the Trico and co’s call.

INTERCEPTION!!! Eli just under cooked his throw to Tight End, Jake Ballard and the ball was picked off by the Saints in the end zone. Nearly a touchdown for the Giants but then again if my Auntie had balls she would be my Uncle C’est la vie.

End of 1st Quarter Giants 0-0 Saints Sporles’s electrifying running has Saints knocking on the door. Sporles is everything the Saints thought they were going to get when they drafted Reggie Bush. An elusive runner and dual threat in running and pass game.

TOUCHDOWN! Lance Moore, with the catch to give the Saints a lead. New Orleans Attacking weapons are like a human bat belt an answer for every question posed by opposing enemies.

Just Realised next Monday Night’s game is Jags v Chargers; this may be the first and last live Blog.

FIELD GOAL! Giants put together another nice drive but like a groom who gets too drunken and passes out on his wedding night, fail to seal the deal and have to settle for a field goal. 7-3 Saints

Dubious roughing the passer call on the Saints, it seems touching the quarterback at times is deemed illegal by umpires.

Eli starting to look frustrated, first hint of the Eli face after back to back three and outs.

ESPN are now playing the type of music usually saved for Award Show Tributes to those who have recently passed away, over pictures of Sean Payton tearing his ACL and MCL. RIP Sean Payton’s ACL and MCL.

TOUCHDOWN! Jimmy Graham obviously inspired by ESPN’s touching tribute to his Coaches long gone knee ligaments scores a touchdown to extend the Saints lead. Caught a slant pass from Brees. At 6’6 Jimmy Graham is a tough match up for defensive backs, part of a new class of tight end along with Gronk in New England who could redefine the position.

TOUCHDOWN! Saints, Lance Moore scores again as Brees puts on a master class with his accurate passes slicing and dicing the Giants defence with surgical precision, Saints on a roll Giants need the next score and quick to stay in this thing as the Saints look like they can score at will.

Lawrence Tynes misses a 61 yard field goal shot to nothing to bring the first half to a close. Giants defence needs to step up and get pressure on Brees. The saint’s quarterback has all kinds of time in the pocket and is punishing the Giants.

Second Half Kicks off and away we go with the Giants getting the ball first in a crucial set of downs. Isa Abdul Osaba just laid out Hakeem Hicks earning himself the adulation of the crowd, a penalty for his team and a hefty fine from the Commish in the process.

Mike Trico just pointed out the Giants like to call the Red Zone the Green Zone. Not because they are environmentally friendly no my friends the reason been green means go you see. Tom Coughlin a rebel.

TOUCHDOWN! Giants Brandon Jacobs rumbles in from two yards out to make 21-10 Saints.

BREAKING NEWS Gruden announces to the world that Sean Payton likes to stimulate Drew Brees, I knew they had a close relationship but I didn’t fully realise how close till now...



TOUCHDOWN Drew Brees unreal shows great mobility to run in for a touchdown .Used his Legs to keep the drive alive also earlier in the series. The more I see this Saints offense the more I think they could give the Packers some real problems if they were to meet in the playoffs. Would have no problems exchanging scores with the defending super bowl champs and Defensive Coordinator Greg Williams a mad Scientist of defensive schemes could stifle Aaron Rodgers just long enough for the Saints to sneak the win.

FUMBLE! Saints recover a fumble from the Giants and have a chance to stick a dagger in the men from New York on this Drive.

TOUCHDOWN! Dagger delivered! Brees finds Jimmy Graham deep down the field. Graham then shows balance like a tight rope walker as he tip toes his way in from 5 yards out. 35- 10 Saints big Statement game here from Saints. Giants need a strong finish or I fear a late season swoon could be on the cards.

Giant mess two near fumbles. Saints dialling it up!

I have no idea what Steve Weatherford was thinking there I don’t think he knows what he was thinking The punter decides to run on his own, would not be surprised if he is cut by Coughlin tomorrow.

TOUCHDOWN! Giants just as I was about to go to bed Eli finds Victor Cruz with a bomb to make it 35-17 Saints. Blown Coverage by the Saints, getting blitz happy and leaving huge hole in the backend for an easy catch and run.

Payback Jimmy Graham just took a vicious hit from Kenny Philips. Bent Backwards on the ground a head to head hit by Philips possible revenge for the Saints hit on Hakeem Hicks.

TOUCHDOWN! Thomas easy run in Giants look like they have quiet in this game and Saint all too easy touchdown and a 42-17 lead.

Don’t like what I am seeing from the Giants tonight the score and their inability to rush the passer or catch the ball are one thing but they look like they have giving up this could turn bowling shoe ugly in a hurry.

The Giants have quit and so will I with ten mins left in the fourth quarter the game is a done deal I terms of been competitive, only question now is how larger the winning margin will be for the Saints

One last shot of Archie before I go to bed. Drink Up

The Comeback Kid

After ten long agonising months, paced by false starts and a lost season Sid the Kid is back. Sidney Crosby, the Captain and star centre for the Pittsburgh Penguins, finally got back to doing what he does best when he skated on to the ice of the Consol energy Centre in Pittsburgh Monday night to rapturous applause and audible sighs of relief from the penguins faithful, who gathered to see their hero make his long awaited return.

Sidney Crosby is a hockey superstar and a Canadian icon. At twenty four years of age Crosby’s list of achievements is inscribed with every major individual and team honour in the game. Destined for greatness from a young age Crosby was shooting pucks at the age of two clanging shot after shot off his family’s washing machine down in the basement and skating by age three. By seven he was giving his first media interviews as the buzz about the young hockey prodigal began to spread around Canada. The hype was justified as Crosby would go on to dominate every level of amateur hockey he played. His play was so outstanding that he was capped for Canada at the age of sixteen at the World Junior Championships.

“The Great one” himself Wayne Gretzky, singled out Crosby as the man to one day best his records. Gretzky was quoted as saying he hadn’t seen a player so talented since the emergence of Hall a famer Mario Lemieux. It was to no one’s surprise than that Lemieux himself drafted Crosby with the 1st pick in the 2005 NHL Draft.

In his first season wearing the black, gold and white of Pittsburgh Crosby set franchise records for a rookie in assist and points. His encore was even better leading the NHL in scoring and been handed the captaincy of the Penguins all at the tender age of nineteen. Two years Later, Crosby would lead his Team to a Stanley Cup Victory against the powerhouse Detroit Red Wings in Seven Games. Making him the youngest winning Stanley cup captain in the history of the NHL. Indeed it was a puck that flew off his stick past USA Goaltender Ryan Miller that won Canada Olympic gold in 2010.

However While Crosby’s past is the stuff of fairytales modern day times for Sid the kid have been nothing short of a hazy concussion induced nightmare. Up until Monday’s game Crosby had not graced the ice with his once in a generation talent since a game on January 5th. In that Contest Crosby suffered a concussion following an innocuous looking hit from Tampa Bay Lighting, Player, Victor Hedman, A hit that trigged an anything but innocuous aftermath for Crosby.

Initial ruled day to day Crosby struggled to recover from what was diagnosed as concussion like symptoms. These symptoms derailed numerous attempts by Sidney to get back on the ice, the closet coming in late March when he was cleared by doctors to resume practice with his teammates only for it to be abandoned after Crosby later admitted he had suffered a setback. With his health as tightly a guarded secret as that of a matter national security the rumour mill ran rife that Sid the kid was going to retire at the age of twenty four.

Crosby came out and vehemently denied these rumours, but yet with his team doctors unable to commit to anything more that an broad indefinite absence prognosis for Crosby many wonder would he ever step on the ice again and if so would he ever be the same dynamic player that had an ability to leave opposing defenders chasing his shadow and goaltenders quaking in their pads as Crosby bore down on goal.

On Monday Night after ten months spent in Hockey purgatory ten months of CT scans and hospital visits, ten months of nausea, ten months of the bright lights that once adored him now causing dizziness, ten months of self doubt and determination and ten months of listening to pundits and fans alike question would he ever return Crosby had a chance to answer those questions.

A return that was greeted with giddy anticipation. Imagine the Obama and the Queen visits combined with another great Canadian, Michael Buble turning on the Christmas lights rolled into one and multiplied tenfold. Crosby showed that while others who had suffered similar absences in sports might be rusty his talent and skills are so sharp that his prolonged abscence could not dull them. A breathtaking two goal and one assist return performance that showed everyone that the comeback kid was still Sid the Kid.

Heineken Hangover Week one

As we wrap up the first weekend of this year’s Heineken Cup here is a few quick thoughts on the action so far:

The more I see Leinster and particular Johnny Sexton run the loop play the more it reminds me of the option pass Quarterbacks in College Football in America use. The option pass is a play where the Quarterback can either run with the ball himself or pitch it out to his running back that is in close support. The option pass only works with a quarterback who can read opposing defences quickly and recognise whether he has the space to run or if his running back has a better chance to make a gain. To me it looks like Sexton has been giving by the Leinster Coaches the same options as a college Quarterback and speaks volumes of Joe Schmidt and Co confidence in their Fly Half’s ability to decipher defences and make the right decisions. Despite living in age were teams often study countless hours of tape the Leinster loop remains a very effective attacking weapon and much of the credit for that belongs to Sexton.

It is staggering the difference between Sexton the Leinster Kicker and Sexton the Ireland Kicker. It is almost like Johnny Sexton’s less talented twin brother was actually in New Zealand as not only are the results different but also the change in confidence is noticeable. There was never a doubt in my mind that as Sexton was lining up a shot goal to save the Leinster’s bacon in the dying embers of Yesterdays match against Montpellier that he was going to make it. Yet if he had been faced with the same kick during the world cup I would have been hiding behind the sofa unable to take the sight of another kick sailing wide right of the posts.
I wonder what type of World Cup Johnny Sexton would have had if Leinster Kicking Coach Richie Murphy was in New Zealand? Murphy a prolific Kicker in his playing days is a highly articulate and intelligent rugby thinker who seems to bring out the best of Sexton.

A lot was made of the match ball in the World Cup and to some extent that is a valid point as Sexton was not alone in the Kicker brotherhood guilty of profligacy in front of the posts. However as some media commentators pointed out it looked like Sexton’s pre kick routine and run up had changed from the one he had used with Leinster. As the old saying goes if it ain't broke don’t fix it and serious questions have to be raised about Ireland kicking coach Mart Tainton role. It was either Tainton’s choice to alter Sexton’s routine or he failed as a coach to stop the fly half from tinker with it. Sexton’s kicking woes clearly and undeniable sucked the confidence out of the Fly Half and Declan Kidney was left with no choice but to drop him. If Murphy was there would Sexton suffered such a torrid time with the boot I for one highly doubt it.

While the absence of Brian O ‘Driscoll rightfully dominants all the headlines for the Leinster I think the loss of Cian Healy was far more damaging to the reigning champions Yesterday. Montpellier has a huge pack and put Leinster under serious pressure at scrum time particularly targeting Healy’s replacement Heinke van der Merwe.
van der Merwe struggled mightily causing Leinster to struggle with getting a platform for much of the game. Not only at scrum time was Healy a loss but also in running play. Healy is the best attacking prop in the world wit ball in hand almost like a fourth back rower at times for Leinister. Leinster's tactics at in the game was to try and power their way through Montpelier and meet the French Sides huge monstrous players head on this resulted in a lot of ball going to Mike Ross and Leo Cullen not noted ball carries, and it showed as time and time again Leinster were driven backwards. Indeed the value of what Healy could have meant to Leinster’s charge yesterday was puncuated by Sean Cronin’s the dynamic hooker had a Healy like run that tore open the Montpelier defence for Leinster’s only try.

Wow that’s all you can say about Munster’s win over Northampton yesterday. It was impossible, imaginable, and improbable and yet once again a magical Thomond park moment was born. Forty one phases in which Munster where driven back from the Northampton twenty-two to midfield and marched their way back again in a feat that can only be matched by Moses parting of the red sea. A remarkable display of patience and a basic refusal to lose on their home patch from a group of players still hurting from last year’s early exit from the Heineken Cup. Stunning

For all of Northampton’s cutting edge in attack and bulldozers up front last year’s runner ups have now displayed twice in their last two Heineken Cup games they lack the know how or the basic cuteness to close out a big game. They should never have lost last Year’s Final to Leinster and how they conspired to lose the game against Munster only they will know.

Speaking of Irish fortress and fragile Teams Ulster put themselves in the driven seat to repeat last year’s achievement of getting out of the Group. Yesterdays win over Clermont combined with Leisters’ inability to cross the line for a fourth time and a bonus point against Aironi means the Ulsterman are sitting pretty. Ravenhill has now become one of the toughest places in European rugby to win for opposing teams. If Ulster can see of Leister at home and are able to secure a bonus point against Aironi home and away then the Ulstermen will top their group and put themselves in contention for that all important home draw in the quarter finals and a real chance to go one better than last year.

Clermont have yet to win on Irish soil and the wait will have to go on they looked in good position to break that duck yesterday but some curious substitution and Brock James once again crumbling in the face of pressure means the French go home still in search of the win and the courage and spine they will require if they want to achieve any European success.

Welsh Rugby is clearly riding a crest of a wave with all three Welsh club sides winning their games yesterday. No welsh side has reached the Final of the completion since Cardiff Blues way back in 1995. Could this be the year where a Welsh side wins the Heineken Cup?

We have only seen the first weekend of the Heineken Cup but already we have been treated to two last gasp wins by Munster and Glasgow, Leinster the Champions pushed to the brink and hugely entertaining rugby. I for one am so happy it is back in my life.

The Bear's Necessity

“Show me the money”

Rod Tidwell (Jerry Maguire, 1996)

For Chicago Bears running back, Matt Forte those four words are dancing around his head in the same manner he himself dances and glides past defenders. Forte is an elite running back, a two headed catching and rushing monster having his best ever season in the NFL. Nearly half of his team’s offensive production, 47% is down to his dancing feet, soft hands, blistering speed and exceptional vision that allows him to see gaps in the sea of 300 plus pound men all trying to be roadblocks.

This year he leads the NFL in total yards and he is also only the second player in the history of the NFL to have 700 rushing and 400 receiving yards for the first four years of a career. Those numbers make Forte by far the most valuable player on the Bears and yet for all his gaudy stats the Bears have not shown Forte their appreciation by showering him with a gaudy pay check.

Matt Forte is entering the last year of his contract signed when the Bears drafted him in the second round of the 2008 draft out of Tulane. Forte has made no secret of his desire for a big pay day. He does not crack the top 10 of highest paid running backs this season and has seen fellow members of the running back brotherhood Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, and Jamal Charles all rewarded with lucrative new contracts.

The Bears have reached out to their star running back with General Manager, Jerry Angelo, in a recent radio interviewing stating the club offered a contract in the region of 30-40 million dollars an offer Forte turned down. In response an increasingly frustrated Forte muttered to the media that any other team would have paid him by now .The gap in money between the two sides in unknown but it seems that the Bears are in no rush to financially appease their disgruntled superstar.
The reason for their reluctant is simple, history. Running backs are viewed as interchangeable parts for many NFL teams. Cogs in a machine who when they are broken down can be easily replaced by another. Current Washington Redskins, Coach, Mike Shannhan once remarked when he was coaching the Broncos that could turn any running back into a 1,000 yard rusher.

Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Rueben Droughns and Tatum Bell a list of one hit wonders only rivaled by that of past X factor winners. No name journeymen plucked from obscurity that proved Shannahan’s theory correct. Turned into stars and disappeared all in the blink of an eye. Yet the self appointed running back guru was also blessed with a once a generation talent in Terrell Davis.

Davis was picked in the sixth round of the NFL draft by Shannahan’s Broncos in 1995. Pencilled in as the sixth running back on the teams Depth chart heading into that season Davis quickly rose up the ranks and was named the Bronco’s opening day starter. In four seasons Davis would go on to become the Denver’s all time leading rusher gaining 7,607 rushing yards. In 1996 he set a team record with 13 rushing touchdowns and helped the Bronco’s win its first ever Super Bowl crown winning MVP honors in the Final. The following year Davis’s encore was even better rushing for the third highest single season yardage ever with 2,008 the fourth man ever to run for over 2,000 yards, a league MVP awarded and retainating of the Super Bowl.

Terrell Davis was at the peak of his powers a one man offensive machine who put together an unparrlled first four season of his career indeed no running back in the NFL hall of fame can match Davis’s 56 rushing touchdowns in their first four season. With the sky the limit the soaring Davis crashed down to earth in a hurry the next season. Terrell, tore his ACL and MCL an injury that took away his legs and effectively ended his career Davis retired in 2002 at the age of 29 only four injury plagued years removed from being the best player in the league.

It can be argued that those 2,008 yards that Davis ran for shaved at least two or three years off his career. Running back years are a lot like dog years. Taking the ball and bobbing and weaving between men who can run like Olympic sprinters and hit like a freight train adds wear and tear to the body. A 24 year old running back that has been in the league four years actually has the knees of a 31 year old and as the aforementioned Davis can attest to once your legs go so does the ability to be productive on the field.

Matt Forte is now 26 years old and is entering his fourth season in the NFL .The Bears rely on Forte the same way the Broncos did Davis. As already stated Forte accounts for a remarkably 47% of his team’s Offensive a staggering number. A Figure that is well known to all defensive coordinators in the league who make it their number one mission to stop Forte. If you stop Forte you stop the Bears. Indeed the Bears do not have to look far for reason to have pause about shelling out money on Forte. The current poster child for the dangers of paying running backs is Chris Johnson.

Chris Johnson is the same age as Matt Forte and was drafted in the same year in 2008, going in the first round to the Tennessee Titans. Johnson is an elusive runner blessed with sprinter speed a nightmare for opposition when he is in open field. In his first season in the league he finished as runner up in the rookie of the year vote in his second season he had a Terrell Davis like year rushing for over 2,000 yards becoming the sixth man to do so as well as breaking Marshall Faulks all time record for most yards from scrimmage in a single season.

The best running back in the league since his debut Johnson, decided to try and cash in on his success demanding a new contract from the Titans. He refused to show up to the teams off season training camp this summer until they gave him one. The standoff lasted most of the summer before Titans management buckled and handed Johnson a deal on September 1st. The deal makes him the highest paid running back in the league.
A deal that has backfired spectacular on the Titans this season as Johnson has inexplicably gotten old in a hurry and has lost his spark. Johnson only ranks 28th out of all running backs in terms of yards rushed this season with a measly 366 halfway through the season. A far cry from his recorded stetting performance just two years ago, Johnson’s performance is so bad this year that some members of the media and management of other teams are wondering will the Titans just get rid of Johnson a mere two months after handing him the biggest pay day a running back has ever seen.

The Bears are justified to have concerns about the ability of Forte to perform for the length of his contract given the past and recent history of NFL running backs just losing their ability overnight. There is no Benjamin Button like cure that comes with these contracts that reserves the ageing process in running backs and despite Forte’s unquestioned importance to their scoring efforts the Bears might decide to spend the money elsewhere and grant Forte his wish of seening if indeed another NFL team will pay him. Yet you cannot blame Forte however if more words are floating around his head every time he gets ready to take the handoff or dusts himself off after been tackled.

“I got a shelf life of ten years, tops. My next contract's gotta bring me the dollars that'll last me and mine a long time. Shit, I'm out of this sport in 5 years. What's my family gonna live on? Huh” (Rod Tidwell, Jerry Maguire 1996)