Plaxico Burress: Pleads Guilty but Jail Time Unjustified

The Plaxico Burress saga is officially over. The former Giant receiver and Super Bowl champion will follow in the footsteps of Michael Vick and Donte’ Stallworth on his way to prison.

Burress accepted a plea bargain, and pled guilt to two counts for criminal possession of a firearm and one count of reckless endangerment. The former first-round pick will be incarcerated for two years.

The state of New York was quite stern on their assessment of the Burress case, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg urging that Burress be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, saying that any punishment short of the minimum three-and-a-half years for unlawful carrying of a handgun would be “a mockery of the law.”

The facts of the case have been noted numerous times.

On Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, Burress suffered an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to the right thigh in the New York City nightclub LQ when his Glock pistol tucked in the waistband of his sweatpants, began sliding down his leg; apparently in reaching for the gun he inadvertently depressed the trigger, causing the gun to fire.

Burress had an expired concealed carry license from Florida, but not one for the state of New York.

The state of New York was looking to make an example out of Plaxico Burress. For many years, celebrity status would allow others to avoid the trouble that they had caused.

Players such as Ray Lewis and Leonard Little, had previously received lesser sentences for crimes against society. New York decided to take a page from the state of Virginia for punishing athletes.

Plaxico Burress should not have brought a gun into a nightclub. Yes, I agree to that, but does that mean he should be in jail for two years?

Burress only hurt himself, the “crime” was not even reported to the police of New York. It was an accident, something that has ruined his future career as a football player.

I want Burress to be punished, I don’t, however, want a self-inflicted gunshot wound to end his career.

New York went after Burress in hopes of using him as an example that no man is above the law. The problem with this idea is that Plaxico Burress, a celebrity, will be punished more because of his social status.

Plaxico made an honest mistake, one that will surely hinder his ability to continue his career. New York needs to realize that all men are created equal, let’s not put celebrity on a pedestal, positively or negatively.

Baltimore Ravens Offense: Questions, Comments, and Concerns?

The NFL offseason brings up numerous issues for all teams. The Baltimore Ravens are no exception to this rule. Let’s take a look at some Ravens offensive questions, comments, and concerns.

Question: Will Michael Oher be a starter to begin the season?

Comment: Oher is certainly a cornerstone, along with Jared Gaither, to protect Joe Flacco for a long while. I would look for Oher to be the starter when the season begins.

Concern: If Oher doesn’t produce, there is not much depth behind him. The Ravens rely on a young offensive line and older backups. An old left of right tackle can spell bad news for a immobile quarterback.

Comment: Le’Ron McClain returns as the teams only fullback.

Concern: Who will he be blocking for? It looks like Willis McGahee has taken a step back and has been running against the second team defense. Ray Rice has added on some bulk to contend for to be an every-down back.

Question: Who is going to come out on top? Don’t look for anything different from Baltimore regarding the run game. All three men will see the ball, and all three will be necessary for the wins to continue. McGahee needs to be pushed, and John Harbaugh looks to be doing just that.

Question: Where is the receiver help? The Ravens did not sign a notable free agent or draft one this season.

Comment: Don’t worry about this issue. Demetrius Williams, Yamon Figurs, and Mark Clayton are all young enough to grow together with Joe Flacco. Williams and Clayton are able to catch and run, making good use of Flacco’s incredible arm strength.

Concern: Figurs is in his third season, the “breakout season” for wide receivers. He has yet to impact the team consistently in the return game or the receiving aspect. I think you might see more of Marcus Smith and Kelley Washington if Figurs doesn’t step up.

Quick Update: It looks like the tight end position is starting to get healthy. Todd Heap is getting better, as is L.J. Smith. Quinn Sypniewski will be looking for the start of the regular season for a return.

Good luck Ravens

Cleveland Browns: Mangini Needs To Decide Now, Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson?

Eric Mangini is the perfect example of what happens when the sports media proclaims greatness too soon. Mangini seemed to be on the right track with his first head coaching job for the New York Jets.  The “Man-Genius”, as people have referred to him, took the Jets to the playoffs with a 10-6 record. 

Mangini’s second and third season with the Jets fell nothing short of disappoint. He’s not Bill Belichick and the sooner he realizes this, the better.

After being fired, by the Jets for missing the playoffs in 2008, it seemed Mangini would finally go back to his true position as an assistant coach. Instead, the Cleveland Browns decided to sign this coaching failure, who has a career record of 23-26 as a head coach. 

Mangini’s career can be entirely attributed to New England’s Bill Belichick. Belichick was keen on Mangini as a ball boy in Cleveland. Belichick also took Mangini on the three Super Bowl title run with the Patriots.

Mangini was only a cornerbacks coach during these title runs. 

Eric Mangini has proven his inability to be a Head Coach in the NFL with his current quarterback issue. Mangini came to town and wanted an open quarterback battle. The battle he is allowing to happen will only hurt the Cleveland Browns.

Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson? The answer to the question is not as important, but Mangini needs to choose. As of today, Mangini claimed that the Browns will wait until late in the preseason to pick their starting Quarterback. 

How can a coach be considered a genius when he cannot even find the right player for his offense?

Does he not know what he wants to run?

Does he not know who has a better grasp of the offense?

The truth about Mangini is that he is a terrible coach. Would any New York Jets fans want another season of this passive coach? Or do they want a Coach who says that “I didn’t come to New York to kiss Coach Bill Bellichick’s rings.”

Eric Mangini is causing the Cleveland Browns to continue to get beaten up in their own division. Can anybody actually see Cleveland competing with Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati?

The truth is that Cleveland is the last team to believe in the “Man-Genius.” This coach is going to continue to keep Cleveland in the cellar of the AFC. The only positive about Mangini is his ability to wear out his welcome quickly.

Let’s hope Cleveland is as hospitable as the New York Jets.

 

2009 Baltimore Ravens Season Prediciton: How They’ll Finish

The Baltimore Ravens know what it takes to win. The 2008 squad made it to the AFC Championship game with a rookie quarterback and head coach. 

This year’s team looks like a threat to contend for the AFC North title and a Super Bowl appearance. Will the Ravens return to their first Super Bowl since Trent Dilfer and company won Superbowl XXXV?

Let’s take a look at the schedule and make some predictions.

 

The Schedule:

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13 — vs. Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20 — at San Diego, 4:15 p.m.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27 — vs. Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4 — at New England, 1 p.m.
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 11 — vs. Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18 — at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Sunday, Nov. 1 — vs. Denver, 1 p.m.
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8 — at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Week 10: Sunday, Monday, Nov. 16 — at Cleveland, 8:30 p.m.
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22 — vs. Indianapolis, 1 p.m.
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 29 — vs. Pittsburgh, 8:20 p.m.
Week 13: Monday, Dec. 7 — at Green Bay, 8:30 p.m.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13 — vs. Detroit, 1 p.m.
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 20 — vs. Chicago, 1 p.m.
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 27 — at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3 — at Oakland, 4:15 p.m.

On paper, the Ravens schedule seems easy. The team gets to play every NFC North and AFC West team. They also have to play Indianapolis and New England—not exactly a cake walk. Let’s take a look week by week.

Week 1: Kansas City should be a perfect opener for the Ravens—a home game against a rebuilding opponent. Matt Cassel is in for a bad opening week. Chalk this up to B-more, 31-7

Week 2: San Diego is a tough team, especially at home.  A trip across country is never easy for an east coast team. LaDainian Tomlinson, Darren Sproles, Phillip Rivers, and Antonio Gates are all back. Shawne Merriman returns to reek havoc as well. It’s going to be a toss up, but I’ll take San Diego, 17-13.

Week 3: Cleveland will probably be through both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn before this game. A home game is what the team will need after a long flight home.  I’m giving this one to the Ravens, 23-10

Week 4: New England is my favorite to win the Super Bowl this year. If Tom Brady is back, the Ravens DB’s are in for a fight against Randy Moss and Wes Welker. I’m giving the Patriots this game, 31-21.

Week 5: Cincinnati is always a tough game for Baltimore. Carson Palmer should bring a tough offensive game for the team. The problem is, the Bengals don’t play defense. Ravens win, 30-21.

Week 6: Minnesota is going to push Baltimore with their defense and you never know when Adrian Peterson will break a long run. If the Ravens shut down the pass, they win this game. I think they will make the Vikings one-dimensional. Ravens win, 17-7.

Week 7: A well deserved bye-week. The team enters the bye with a 4-2 record.

Week 8: Denver comes across the country and that is bad news for the Broncos.  Kyle Orton and Knowshon Moreno are no match for the purple and black. Ravens romp, 24-7.

Week 9: Cincinnati wins this one in a shocker. The Bengals play well at home and the Ravens tend to have trouble on the road in Cincy. Ravens lose a surprising one, 20-17.

Week 10: Good ole’ Cleveland. The Ravens get back on the winning track with a Cleveland beat down, 35-10.

Week 11: Peyton Manning and the Colts come to M&T Bank stadium with the talent to beat the Ravens.  Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, and Joseph Adai can all contribute to a high-powered Indy attack.  This game is going to be tough and I see the Ravens falling, 24-20.

Week 12: The Black and Gold come to town for the best rivalry in the NFL. A rematch of the 2008 AFC Championship sees the Ravens pull this out. The Ravens shut down Willie Parker’s running attack and Ben Roethlisberger has trouble hooking up with is new No. 1, Santonio Holmes. Ravens win, 17-9

Week 13: Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are looking to rebound from a disappointing 2008. The Lambeau winds should be gusting, and the Ravens running attack of Willis McGahee and Ray Rice is not strong enough to pull out this game.  Ravens lose, 14-10

Week 14: The Detroit Lions! Need I say more? Matthew Stafford gets shown why he has much to learn. Kevin Smith gets shut down a year after his near 1,000 yard season. Ravens easily win, 24-3

Week 15: The Chicago Bears bring their new Quarterback Jay Cutler to Baltimore. Too bad they didn’t bring much else. Matt Forte looks like a rookie as the Ravens shut down “Da Bears,” 23-6

Week 16: The Black and Gold show why they play so well at home. Pittsburgh gets the series split with the Ravens, 24-10.

Week 17: A trip across the country is never easy, but a game against Oakland makes it easier. JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden show promise, but not enough to stop the Ravens. Ravens win it, 24-21

Final Record: Ravens 10-6.

 

Vince Young and the Tennessee Titans: As the World Turns.

Vince Young is not a smart guy. The reported score of six on the Wonderlic Test (out of 50) gave us this theory. Now Vince himself has proven it all to be true.

The former Texas Quarterback who was drafted as the third overall pick of the 2006 draft has fallen from Pro Bowl to no-go for the Tennessee Titans. Now he says he wants out. Young recently told WMAR of Baltimore:

“I definitely want to get back out there playing ball and picking up where I left off, winning games and having a good time with my teammates and with the fans. At the same time, if them guys don’t want me to be in there, it’s time for me to make a career change for myself. Because the fact is I’m ready to play ball. If they’re not ready for me to play ball, then somebody is.”

This is of course after he told Jim Wyatt on April 20th:

“I am just going to keep my mouth closed, man. All I am doing this year is shutting up, just shutting up and working. I am going to smile and shut up and continue being Vince Young, a happy smiling guy. I am not going to get into the hoopla anymore because of the fact I can’t win any more, I see.

“I am just going to shut my mouth and play my role and if they need me then I will be available as a weapon.”

Welcome to Stupidity!

Vince Young has not been the same since their playoff loss to the San Diego Chargers 17-6 in 2007. When the 2008 season started, the immaturity of Vince Young came to light with an “injury” against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

As someone who watched this game, Young was getting beaten around, and was not wanting to play football for the remainder of the game. After Young was supposed to return, the Titans stuck with Kerry Collins. 

Vince Young needs to realize that he is not a good quarterback. He is not even a decent Quarterback. Vince Young is a terrible Quarterback. He was great in College, but those skills did not transfer over to the NFL. 

Vince Young doesn’t want to play football anymore. He is hoping to make another quick buck, because he knows, like most everybody else, that he is finished.

Vince Young has the mentality of a small child. When he doesn’t get his way, he takes his ball and goes home. Coach Jeff Fisher had to call the police once to search for Vince when he disappeared.

Good riddance, Vince Young. You’re a draft bust, but you don’t have the character to admit it. You think teams are looking to sign you? Prove it. Take your ball and go out and look for a new job. Nobody wants you.

Titans fans are feeling stupid, having the chance to draft Jay Cutler from Vanderbilt, but they picked you. You seemingly had it all. You were fast, strong, physically tough. All you lacked was a winning mentality. 

Sure you loved to win, and loved to run “Playground Football” at Texas, but this is the NFL. If you don’t learn the system, you will fail. There are no Quarterbacks who succeed on their own. You are not an exception.

So leave Vince Young, but have the dignity to leave quietly like former busts: Tony Mandarich, Akili Smith, and Heath Shuler. Don’t continue to make news like Ryan Leaf, Lawrence Phillips, or Cedric Benson. I have a feeling, though, that Young will fall into the latter group anyways.

 

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