Goats

I hate it when someone gets labeled a goat. Especially in the lose and go home environment of playoff football. So often its players like San Francisco 49ers returner Kyle Williams. A young player that's put on the field because of an injury to another. His overtime fumble in the NFC Championship game happened when he was trying to get a big return. Make something happen for his team. He should have carried the ball tighter but an opponent made a great play. The fumble set the New York Giants up nicely for the winning field goal. Williams allowing a punt to glance off his knee in regulation was a greater mistake. Every returner should know to get away from a bouncing punt. Stupid mistakes are far worse than those made through effort. Everyone is pointing at Kyle Williams as the goat. Its so unfortunate that he'll always be remembered for those turnovers on returns. No matter what he does in his football career. The stage is too bright in the playoffs. Just ask Leon Lett. Personally, I consider 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree the bigger goat in the NFC Championship game. He was drafted to be a difference maker. He was. Just in a negative way. Crabtree did nothing to help his quarterback. He showed no effort getting open, giving his quarterback a target, getting a first down. Tight end Vernon Davis was the only downfield threat. Fortunately for the 49ers Davis was terrific. Williams may have made mistakes trying to make something happen for his team. Crabtree never seemed interested in making anything happen for his team. Crabtree was a goat.

The AFC Championship game provided the usual goat, a kicker. They only have one thing to do and they have to be perfect every time. Every other position has some room for error. A bad pass can still be completed with a great catch. Poor coverage can be rescued by a great pass rush. Some say that a cornerback is on an island. Kickers are truly on an island. Its either good or a miss. A win or a loss. On Sunday, Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff missed. Its a kick that he probably makes the next twenty times he tries. A goat.