|
Cyd is traveling and
will not post comments this week. |
--There were two great moments Sunday that
showed men, even tough pro football players, can show their
softer side. On ESPN’s pregame show, Kansas City Chiefs
coach Dick Vermeil and his quarterback Trent Green
couldn’t stop effusing over each other. Vermeil said the
last thing he says to Green before they go on to the field
is “I love you.” Green said the last thing he says to
Vermeil is “I love you.” Vermeil, of course, couldn’t stop
crying. I hear he cries even when he order’s Dominos.
The second moment occurred along the sidelines of the San
Diego Chargers during their 42-28 upset of the Minnesota
Vikings. New Chargers starting quarterback Doug Flutie
came up behind his benched counterpart Drew Brees,
hugged him and lightly nuzzled his cheek against Brees’
back. Brees turned around and they hugged again. So much for
a quarterback controversy in San Diego.
--My upset special was previously 1-7 San Diego over
6-2 Minnesota, precisely because of Flutie. Having not
played all season, Flutie was fresh and I felt his skills
would overwhelm a suddenly shaky Viking defense. Flutie
threw two touchdowns and ran for two others in the day’s
most entertaining game. Gushed Charger RB LaDainian
Tomlinson: ``I believe in magic, Flutie magic. He played
awesome. Doug Flutie, he's just amazing. He's
unbelievable.''
--Randy Moss is a great player, but he took off a
play at a critical point for the Vikings. Minnesota was down
14 late in the game and had the ball at the Chargers’ 10. On
a pass play, Moss simply stood at the line as the ball was
hiked. He made no attempt to run a pattern or no attempt to
block. QB Daunte Culpepper, trying to make a play,
wound up throwing an interception that sealed the game. Moss
has said he plays only when he wants to and we saw evidence
of that again.
--The Indianapolis Colts came into Jacksonville
at 7-1 to play the 1-7 Jags. They led 20-7 against a rookie
QB. And still lost, 28-23. It was a puzzling defeat and one
that could come back to haunt the Colts in the race for
playoff position. Post-game comments showed the frustration
the Colts felt. Starting running back Edgerrin James
was asked why he was on the sidelines during a crucial late
drive. " Maybe I'm not good enough," he said. And QB
Peyton Manning said he was “the wrong guy to ask” about
the team’s sometimes-baffling play selection. If the Colts
stumble down the stretch, this game might be the start.
--It’s amazing, but the Carolina Panthers have all
wrapped up the NFC South, two seasons after going 1-15.
Carolina (7-2) has a three-game lead on both New Orleans and
Tampa Bay, but the lead is really four since the Panthers
swept both teams and would win any tiebreaker. This is the
second week in a row the vaunted Tampa defense let the
opponent drive down the field at game’s end for the winning
score.
--How the hell did the New York Giants lose by 20 to Atlanta
and score only 7 points against a defense that had been
allowing an average of 30 a game? One of life’s mysteries.
--Trick play of the day was in Washington, where the
Redskins upset Seattle, 27-20, on a pass from wide receiver
Rod Gardner to running back Trung Canidate.
--Bizarro game of the day was St. Louis’ 33-22 win
over Baltimore. The Rams won despite gaining only 121 total
yards and committing four turnovers. They were aided by the
inept Ravens, who fumbled four times and threw three
interceptions. |
