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Does Resting Players Translate to Alienating Fans?
Published: January 2, 2010
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Resting key players late in the season in games where there are no playoff implications has become a trend of late, with mixed emotions from both the media and the team’s fan base.
From one viewpoint it’s hard to disagree with a coach’s decision to rest his star players when nothing is on the line. It has been said that the football gods favor the bold, but then again you can’t go wrong with playing it safe and preparing for the long run, can you?
This is often times is a lose-lose situation for the head coach. Rest your players, and face the heat from the media and your fanbase, but play the players and risk injury.
Coach Jim Caldwell of the Indianapolis Colts chose the first route, resting quarterback Peyton Manning in the second half of their game against the New York Jets. Manning would watch from the sidelines as the Colts lost their five-point lead and would go on to lose by two touchdowns with backup quarterback Curtis Painter in the game.
The Colts entered the game 14-0, seeking to become the second team in NFL history to go undefeated in a 16-game regular season, and the first team to ever go undefeated throughout the playoffs and Super Bowl and finish the season 19-0.
Caldwell knew he would take the heat, and did so accordingly. It was obvious by the look on Manning’s face, as he watched the Colts quest for perfection from the sidelines come to an end, that he did not want to give up on rewriting the history books.
By resting his key player did Jim Caldwell help prepare his team for a run at arguably the most glorified and respected feat in sports, winning the Super Bowl, or did he just kill the momentum and emotion of not only the Colts organization, but their fan base and supporters as well.
It doesn’t take much to satisfy the average NFL fan. Win, consistently, but more importantly give them a reason to show confidence in the team and organization. Go hard every week and show your fans that you want to not only win, but dominate every week.
This brings up the question, does resting players translate to alienating fans? After winning the first fourteen games of the season, it will be hard for Colts fans to think of anything else but losing again, with the next loss coming in the playoffs.
Are the Colts instilling confidence in their players and fans heading into the playoffs? I think not.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Why Goodell Needs To Consider Vick and Burress Joining the UFL
Published: July 3, 2009
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has a tough decision to make regarding quarterback Michael Vick.
You may have heard of the new professional football league, the United Football League, which opens its inaugural season this October.
As of now, the UFL contains four teams and will play a six-game schedule. Remember Dennis Green, Jim Haslett, Jim Fassel, or Ted Cottrell? They are the new head coaches of UFL San Francisco, UFL Orlando, UFL Las Vegas, and UFL New York.
So now you may have a picture in your mind of what the UFL will be at first, seemingly a sort of developmental league for the NFL.
Goodell stated that for Michael Vick to be reinstated into the NFL, he must show “genuine remorse.” What better way to test Vick’s “remorse” other than dropping him off in a second-rate league for a year? This will give him the chance to show he can behave at a professional level, while giving NFL teams a chance to see if he is worth taking a risk on.
This could be the new system for the NFL. As of now, teams are hesitant to go after Plaxico Burress, who accidentally shot himself in the leg while at a nightclub. He has been charged with two felony weapon counts, and is still waiting to be convicted.
Goodell needs to take charge and say something along the lines of, “Plaxico, you were stupid and brought a loaded weapon into a nightclub, resulting in the accidental shooting of yourself. I am willing to give you a second chance, but first you will need to show your “remorse” by playing one season in the UFL, and proving to the NFL that you are ready to move on and leave the past behind.”
The UFL plans on ending their season around Thanksgiving, which means the services of Vick and Burress could be available for the last few games of the 2009 season if they can find a team willing to sign them.
Donte Stallworth, on the other hand, is done. Sure, he may of had some unfortunate luck, but manslaughter or not, he still killed someone while intoxicated, which should end his NFL career right away.
Sending some of the NFL’s “troubled” players to the UFL would be a win-win situation for everyone. Goodell and Co. get an easy way out and get to enjoy themselves while they’re at it. Not to mention the UFL will attract more attention to strengthen their success.
What more fun could Goodell ask for than to be able to “demote” some of the troublesome egos of the NFL to the minor leagues?
Is Mark Sanchez-Josh Freeman the Second Coming of Matt Ryan-Joe Flacco?
Published: June 25, 2009
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This past season, NFL fans were pleasantly surprised by the performance of rookie quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. Drafted No. 3 and No. 18, respectively, both players led their teams to the playoffs.
Ryan led his team to an 11-5 regular season record and a first-round exit from the playoffs, while Flacco, aided by one of the NFL’s strongest defenses, also led the Ravens to an 11-5 regular season record but won his first two playoff games to reach the AFC Championship game, where they fell to the eventual champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In this year’s draft, three quarterbacks were selected in the first round; Matthew Stafford No. 1 to the Lions, Mark Sanchez No. 5 to the Jets, and Josh Freeman No. 19 to the Buccaneers.
With the Lions coming off the worst season in NFL history, even if Stafford has an amazing rookie season, the Lions’ chances of making the playoffs next season are quite slim at best.
The Jets traded up to draft Sanchez, who they have made clear is their quarterback of the future. Although the Jets play in arguably the toughest division in the NFL, they will still have a good shot, under new head coach Rex Ryan, of making the playoffs next season.
The Buccaneers also traded up to draft Freeman, but the offseason signing of Byron Leftwich makes Freeman’s shot at winning the starting job more difficult.
Either way, the Jets and Buccaneers will be playoff-contending teams, and both could end up with a rookie behind center. After this past season, where Ryan and Flacco proved they could get the job done, that may not be such a bad thing.
Sanchez does not have the stud running back Matt Ryan had, and Josh Freeman does not have the Joe Flacco’s dominant defense. It is unlikely Sanchez or Freeman will lead their teams to the level of success accomplished by Ryan and Flacco, but that does not mean they will not lead their teams to successful seasons.
