Red Grange made his pro football debut on Thanksgiving Day 1925, playing for the Chicago Bears against the crosstown rival, the Cardinals. The game ended in a scoreless tie. Grange not only was held to 36 yards rushing but he was unable to break loose on a punt return, a specialty.
The Cardinals great triple-threat tailback Paddy Driscoll punted many times that day, but he always kept it away from Grange, kicking it either to Joey Sternaman or out of bounds. "Kicking to Grange", Driscoll said, "is like grooving one to Babe Ruth".
After the game was over, and Grange had made his uneventful debut, Driscoll stopped at the seats behind the Cardinals bench to talk to his wife. As the other players headed to the locker room, there was a lot of booing. "I hate to hear the fans boo a young man like Grange", Driscoll said. "It wasn't his fault he couldn't break one today."
"Don't feel sorry for Grange", his wife said. "It's you they're booing."
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Nerf
Everyone has wondered, at some time, who invented the Nerf football. Well, wonder no more. The Flea Flicker is here for you. Former Minnesota Vikings kicker Fred Cox is your man.
In 1972, John Mattox had the idea of a movable goal post that kids could position in the backyard to practice kicking. He intended to use a heavy ball so kids wouldn't kick it out of the yard. Mattox introduced himself to Cox, at the time one of the top kickers in the NFL, and solicited his advice. Cox suggested a lighter ball, something made of foam, to prevent "a bunch of sore-legged kids". Inspired by the idea, the duo had a mold made of a full-sized football and employed an injection molder in the Minneapolis area to produce a prototype of the lightweight ball. The process resulted in a thick skinned football that was denser than the round Nerf that hit the market in 1970. They "kid-sized" it to 3/4-regulation size, and presented it to Parker Brothers, then the maker of the Nerf ball. They were halfway through the presentation when the Parker Brothers reps stopped them and said, "I want that ball". The company had been trying to make a football for 3 years. They were trying to make them just like the round balls. They had tried everything but the injection molding. The Nerf football, that we all love, was born. Cox still receives quarterly checks, now from Hasbro.
The next time someone asks you, "Who invented the Nerf football?". It can happen. You can say, "Well, that would be the leading scorer in Minnesota Vikings history, one of the last straight-on kickers, Fred Cox."
In 1972, John Mattox had the idea of a movable goal post that kids could position in the backyard to practice kicking. He intended to use a heavy ball so kids wouldn't kick it out of the yard. Mattox introduced himself to Cox, at the time one of the top kickers in the NFL, and solicited his advice. Cox suggested a lighter ball, something made of foam, to prevent "a bunch of sore-legged kids". Inspired by the idea, the duo had a mold made of a full-sized football and employed an injection molder in the Minneapolis area to produce a prototype of the lightweight ball. The process resulted in a thick skinned football that was denser than the round Nerf that hit the market in 1970. They "kid-sized" it to 3/4-regulation size, and presented it to Parker Brothers, then the maker of the Nerf ball. They were halfway through the presentation when the Parker Brothers reps stopped them and said, "I want that ball". The company had been trying to make a football for 3 years. They were trying to make them just like the round balls. They had tried everything but the injection molding. The Nerf football, that we all love, was born. Cox still receives quarterly checks, now from Hasbro.
The next time someone asks you, "Who invented the Nerf football?". It can happen. You can say, "Well, that would be the leading scorer in Minnesota Vikings history, one of the last straight-on kickers, Fred Cox."
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Innocence Lost
Today's football players sure seem to have become more destructive in their downtime. Yesterday's players certainly were no angels. They often raised some hell, blew off some steam. One of the most notorious "night owls" of all time, Hall of Fame QB Bobby Layne, spent most of his time away from the field drinking with friends and listening to music in jazz clubs. That seems pretty mild, pretty harmless. Most players were like that. Coaches and owners may have worried about the late nights and drinking, but few worried about handguns, assaults, dog fights. Sometimes the "hijinks" of old would get a bit out of hand, like the Oorang Indians, in drunken fun, picking up and turning around a trolley car in the '20s. During a training camp, Layne once asked a rookie to accompany him to buy some toothpaste. They returned to camp 3 days later. Books could be written about the exploits of Green Bay Packers halfback Johnny Blood McNally. The Flea Flicker will one day tackle some of his exploits. Money and the media glare have changed the game, everything really. The world, as a whole, is different, less innocent. I didn't live in those earlier days, but I miss them.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Assistant Coaches
There's a football saying, "You never see an assistant coach quoted in the news". It's not entirely accurate, but it's point is made. The assistant coach is mostly anonymous and often ignored. They are the offensive lineman of the coaching staff. They are the backbone of the team and rarely acknowledged.
When I was a kid first learning the grand history of football, I was shocked to notice the assistant coaches of the New York Giants of the '50s. I see Jim Lee Howell as the head coach and immediately think of "Gilligan's Island". The Giants of this era were dominant, winning the '56 title and playing for the title in '58 and '59. Who is this Howell fellow that leads this powerful team? Well, he had a couple of coaches named Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry working for him. I'm spinning. In the early '70s, I think of Landry and Lombardi as coaching legends, not hired grunts. The Super Bowl trophy is a Lombardi. His name is synonymous with coaching. They couldn't possibly be working for this Jim Lee Howell. In Howell's defense, he understood his place on the team, saying "I was around to pump up the footballs". It's interesting to note that Lombardi only spent about a third of his 30+ years of coaching career as a head coach. It is the career assistants that often know the most football, effect the most change. There is a lot beyond football that goes into being a head coach. The most successful head coaches are often the ones that hire the right assistants, best delegate authority, best see the big picture. Often the best head coaches are the ones that best stay out of the way of their assistant coaches (Jim Lee Howell). The assistant coaches spend all of their time concentrating on football, teaching fundamentals and schemes to the players. Most assistant coaches dream of being head coaches. There are a few, like Dick Hoak, Tom Moore, Dick LeBeau, Jimmy Johnson (not that one) that sit in the dark film room, away from the glare, that just love to scheme and tinker.
When I was a kid first learning the grand history of football, I was shocked to notice the assistant coaches of the New York Giants of the '50s. I see Jim Lee Howell as the head coach and immediately think of "Gilligan's Island". The Giants of this era were dominant, winning the '56 title and playing for the title in '58 and '59. Who is this Howell fellow that leads this powerful team? Well, he had a couple of coaches named Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry working for him. I'm spinning. In the early '70s, I think of Landry and Lombardi as coaching legends, not hired grunts. The Super Bowl trophy is a Lombardi. His name is synonymous with coaching. They couldn't possibly be working for this Jim Lee Howell. In Howell's defense, he understood his place on the team, saying "I was around to pump up the footballs". It's interesting to note that Lombardi only spent about a third of his 30+ years of coaching career as a head coach. It is the career assistants that often know the most football, effect the most change. There is a lot beyond football that goes into being a head coach. The most successful head coaches are often the ones that hire the right assistants, best delegate authority, best see the big picture. Often the best head coaches are the ones that best stay out of the way of their assistant coaches (Jim Lee Howell). The assistant coaches spend all of their time concentrating on football, teaching fundamentals and schemes to the players. Most assistant coaches dream of being head coaches. There are a few, like Dick Hoak, Tom Moore, Dick LeBeau, Jimmy Johnson (not that one) that sit in the dark film room, away from the glare, that just love to scheme and tinker.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Network Clowns!
I'm sure that everyone eagerly awaits each new edition of the NFL Network's Top 10 lists. They are pretty damn cool. However, their recent Top 10 Receiving Combos is nothing but a bucket o' lies. They should have left out the middle five and started over. The Vikings' Cris Carter, Randy Moss and Jake Reed at 9. Come on! They could have left out the Dolphins' "Marks" and the Redskins' "Posse" and the quality of the list rises. The Colts' Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark at 10! All 3 could end up in the Hall of Fame. My goodness, these people are fools. No.'s 9 and 10 were better than 1-8. Seriously, you can start with their 9 and 10, add #1 Chargers' Kellen Winslow, Charlie Joiner and John Jefferson, #2 Rams' Isaac Bruce, Tory Holt, Az Hakim and Marshall Faulk, #3 Rams' classic Elroy Hirsch and Tom Fears. Drop 4-8. Add the Browns' Paul Warfield and Gary Collins, the Jets' Don Maynard and George Sauer, the Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Bolden and Steve Breaston, the Chargers' Lance Alworth and anyone with a pulse, and the Browns' Dante Lavelli, Mac Speedie and Dub Jones. There's your 10. The 49ers' Jerry Rice and John Taylor made it. I liked Taylor. He was a good receiver. You could pair me with Rice and we'd make the list. Probably #1.
In all honesty, these lists are wonderful. They spark debate and contemplation. The NFL Network presents these lists in a very entertaining fashion. With the incomparable NFL Films assisting, you can't go wrong.
In all honesty, these lists are wonderful. They spark debate and contemplation. The NFL Network presents these lists in a very entertaining fashion. With the incomparable NFL Films assisting, you can't go wrong.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Greener Pastures No More
The Vikings hiring Leslie Frazier as head coach got me thinking. In the past 12 years, three former Minnesota Vikings assistant coaches have won Super Bowls as the head coaches of other teams. Brian Billick, Tony Dungy and Mike Tomlin learned everything that they would ever know while in Minnesota. They took that knowledge elsewhere and won championships. The hope in Viking land is that Leslie Frazier is the assistant coach that didn't get away.
I like Frazier in charge. He certainly knows what it takes to win. He won a championship with the Chicago Bears as a player and with the Indianapolis Colts as an assistant coach. As a former player, he can easily relate to the players. He listens to coaches and players. Surprisingly, a lot of coaches only listen to themselves. He is developing the team around the strengths of the players. I have never understood why some coaches force players into roles and systems that they clearly don't fit. I just really like how Frazier has gone about his business. We won't know anything until the games are actually played, but maybe this coach didn't have to leave to find greener pastures. He just needed a promotion.
I'd like to throw a Flea Flicker shout out to Chuck Bednarik. Few played the game better. Get well soon.
I like Frazier in charge. He certainly knows what it takes to win. He won a championship with the Chicago Bears as a player and with the Indianapolis Colts as an assistant coach. As a former player, he can easily relate to the players. He listens to coaches and players. Surprisingly, a lot of coaches only listen to themselves. He is developing the team around the strengths of the players. I have never understood why some coaches force players into roles and systems that they clearly don't fit. I just really like how Frazier has gone about his business. We won't know anything until the games are actually played, but maybe this coach didn't have to leave to find greener pastures. He just needed a promotion.
I'd like to throw a Flea Flicker shout out to Chuck Bednarik. Few played the game better. Get well soon.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Jake Locker
The more I listen to the "draft experts" and read comments by the "draft experts" the more I wonder if I'm watching the same game. People get so caught up in numbers and who looks good in shorts. Who throws the prettiest spiral. Who can bench press a truck. People forget that the games are played and decided on a football field. Washington QB Jake Locker is simply a football player. He's a leader on and off the field. He never stops working. I think that he's going to be a great NFL quarterback. Perhaps more than any other position, great quarterbacks possess the intangibles that aren't easily seen and can't really be measured. They just get it. They understand the game. They lead their team. They win. I see all of these in Jake Locker. In the Cal game this past season as well Washington's bowl game against Nebraska, Locker had less than stellar passing statistics. He was still the most dynamic player on the field. You just knew that he would find a way to lead his team to a win. As a Cal fan this was unfortunate. With improved talent around him on an NFL team, I see him becoming a fantastic QB. I hope that it is with the Vikings. Personally, i see a lot of Steve Young in Locker. I like that a lot.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Throwback Thursday: The Oorang Indians
It all started with a hunting trip in late 1921. Jim Thorpe loved hunting, loved dogs and loved football. Walter Lingo loved hunting, loved dogs and loved being around celebrities. It was inevitable that they would meet. What happened next probably shouldn't have happened at all, but it was fun while it lasted.
Walter Lingo was a breeder of Oorang Airedales. His dogs had a broader head, stronger jaw and a more muscular build than the standard Airedale, characteristics that aided in the hunting of bears, mountain lions and other large game. Lingo's kennels had grown into a big, profitable mail order business following World War I. Lingo loved doing business with, and being around celebrities. Jack Dempsey, Ty Cobb, Gary Cooper and now Jim Thorpe were a few of his happy clients and hunting friends. Of, course, owning a professional football team would be the next move for Lingo.
LaRue, Ohio, home of the Oorang Airedales, became home of the Oorang Indians. With a population of 800, LaRue is the smallest town to ever host an NFL team. Green Bay is New York City compared to little LaRue. Lingo hired Jim Thorpe to be his coach and kennel supervisor. I suppose Throrpe's love and natural affinity for dogs led to the kennel position. Lingo had something else in mind, and Thorpe was the perfect choice to make it happen. The Oorang Indians would be just that, an all-Indian team. Thorpe brought in about a dozen of his former Carlisle Indian School friends to help fill the roster, including stars Pete Calac, Elmer Busch and Joe Guyon. Lingo thought that he could make some money with the team, but advertisement for his kennel was his primary goal. The football team had a routine of practice in the afternoon, dinner, and raccoon hunting until midnight. The whole operation had a carnival atmosphere. The all-Indian football team was supplemented with a pet coyote, hound dogs, a lot of Airedales and Queen Mary, a 375 pound Mexican black bear. The half time show often seemed more important than the games. Thorpe would display some drop-kicking. The Airedales would show off their skills, frequently with Queen Mary. The Indians would do some shooting, knife, tomahawk and lariat throwing, and finally some dancing. It was a strange wild west show. The football was terrible, winning only four games in two season, 1922-23. Thorpe rarely played, but there were a few times when the rust and dust disappeared and his unbelievable talent shined. Football success never seemed to matter to Lingo, so his team partied instead. Late one night in St. Louis, the players thought that it would be a kick to pick up a trolley and turn it around on the tracks. Local police started meeting the team at the train station to set ground rules for their stay. At a time when NFL teams formed and vanished all the time, it is easy to forget teams that lasted a season or two. The Oorang Indians are hard to forget. They brought some personality to a league that was just trying to survive. The football may have been lacking, but the fun never stopped. They probably sold a few Airedales along the way.
Walter Lingo was a breeder of Oorang Airedales. His dogs had a broader head, stronger jaw and a more muscular build than the standard Airedale, characteristics that aided in the hunting of bears, mountain lions and other large game. Lingo's kennels had grown into a big, profitable mail order business following World War I. Lingo loved doing business with, and being around celebrities. Jack Dempsey, Ty Cobb, Gary Cooper and now Jim Thorpe were a few of his happy clients and hunting friends. Of, course, owning a professional football team would be the next move for Lingo.
LaRue, Ohio, home of the Oorang Airedales, became home of the Oorang Indians. With a population of 800, LaRue is the smallest town to ever host an NFL team. Green Bay is New York City compared to little LaRue. Lingo hired Jim Thorpe to be his coach and kennel supervisor. I suppose Throrpe's love and natural affinity for dogs led to the kennel position. Lingo had something else in mind, and Thorpe was the perfect choice to make it happen. The Oorang Indians would be just that, an all-Indian team. Thorpe brought in about a dozen of his former Carlisle Indian School friends to help fill the roster, including stars Pete Calac, Elmer Busch and Joe Guyon. Lingo thought that he could make some money with the team, but advertisement for his kennel was his primary goal. The football team had a routine of practice in the afternoon, dinner, and raccoon hunting until midnight. The whole operation had a carnival atmosphere. The all-Indian football team was supplemented with a pet coyote, hound dogs, a lot of Airedales and Queen Mary, a 375 pound Mexican black bear. The half time show often seemed more important than the games. Thorpe would display some drop-kicking. The Airedales would show off their skills, frequently with Queen Mary. The Indians would do some shooting, knife, tomahawk and lariat throwing, and finally some dancing. It was a strange wild west show. The football was terrible, winning only four games in two season, 1922-23. Thorpe rarely played, but there were a few times when the rust and dust disappeared and his unbelievable talent shined. Football success never seemed to matter to Lingo, so his team partied instead. Late one night in St. Louis, the players thought that it would be a kick to pick up a trolley and turn it around on the tracks. Local police started meeting the team at the train station to set ground rules for their stay. At a time when NFL teams formed and vanished all the time, it is easy to forget teams that lasted a season or two. The Oorang Indians are hard to forget. They brought some personality to a league that was just trying to survive. The football may have been lacking, but the fun never stopped. They probably sold a few Airedales along the way.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Woes of the Kicker, Punter Too
There may come a time, as people push for more splashy action on the field, when football no longer has any use for the kicker. Touchdowns over field goals. 2-point conversions over extra points. 4th down attempts over punts. People always want more. There is never enough, even in football. Too often the kicker is only remembered when he fails. Scott Norwood and Gary Anderson will be forever remembered for a miss over so many successes. There was a time when the greatest football players, the true difference makers, separated themselves from the rest by their ability to kick the ball. Jim Thorpe, Paddy Driscoll and Ernie Nevers impacted the game with their kicking. Then, field position and field goals often decided the game. Now, kickers rarely practice with the team. They rarely get respect from the team. Several years ago, kicker Rich Karlis was welcomed to the Vikings by being taped up like a mummy and hung, upside down, from the goal post. Personally, I like kickers and punters. They're a little funky, a little different. As a football traditionalist, I value their importance now and their history. There will always be room for a kicker and punter on my team.. I hope that the NFL thinks so too.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Goodell and the Labor Situation
The media and most people seem to think otherwise, but Commissioner Roger Goodell, technically, has no role in the labor dispute. It's strictly between the owners and the players. Goodell is neither. Since he is elected and paid by the owners, he tends to sit on the owners side of the table. Not too many people seem to realize that Goodell has no official function in the discussions, since people keep piling blame upon him. When Pete Rozelle was handing the keys to the league over to Paul Tagliabue, he urged the new commissioner to play a greater role in labor negotiations. Tagliabue took the advice to heart and the league experienced it's most sustained labor peace. Rozelle frequently stated that his distant role labor in negotiations was one of his greatest regrets. The commissioner can and should play a role in encouraging negotiations along, but it's a tough task. The players don't trust the commissioner simply because he's the owner's boy. Tagliabue was lucky. He had a way too snazzy relationship with Gene Upshaw. I don't see Goodell and DeMaurice Smith getting as chummy anytime soon. Goodell can get some good things done, but he really is not to blame for any of the current mess.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Flea Flicker Mock Draft 1.0
I've been debating whether to do one of these bad boys. I guess that I decided to do so.
1. Carolina Panthers-Marcell Dareus DT Alabama
2. Denver Broncos- Da'Quan Bowers DE Clemson
3. Buffalo Bills-Cam Newton QB Auburn
4. Cincinnati Bengals-AJ Green WR Georgia
5. Arizona Cardinals-Von Miller LB Texas A & M
6. Cleveland Browns- Nick Fairly DT Auburn
7. San Francisco 49ers-Patrick Peterson CB LSU-GIFT, Peterson has no business being on the board here.
8. Tennessee Titans-Blaine Gabbert QB Missouri
9. Dallas Cowboys-Tyron Smith T USC
10. Washington Redskins-Julio Jones WR Alabama
11. Houston Texans-Robert Quinn DE North Carolina
12. Minnesota Vikings-Jake Locker QB Washington-I really like Locker, but I have a hunch the Vikings may try to trade up to draft Gabbert if he makes it past Arizona, as he does here. Not having a 3rd round pick makes moving up difficult, but I have that hunch.
13. Detroit Lions-Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska
14. St Louis Rams-Aldon Smith DE Missouri
15. Miami Dolphins-Mark Ingram RB Alabama
16. Jacksonville Jaguars- JJ Watt DE Wisconsin
17. New England Patriots-Cameron Jordan DE Cal
18. San Diego Chargers-Corey Liuget DT Illinois
19. New York Giants-Anthony Costanzo T Boston College
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Ryan Kerrigan DE Purdue
21. Kansas City Chiefs-Nate Solder T Colorado
22. Indianapolis Colts-Mike Pouncey G Florida
23. Philadelphia Eagles-Gabe Carimi T Wisconsin
24. New Orleans Saints-Adrian Clayborn DE Iowa
25. Seattle Seahawks-Torrey Smith WR Maryland
26. Baltimore Ravens-Jimmy Smith CB Colorado
27. Atlanta Falcons-Leonard Hankerson WR Miami
28. New England Patriots- Justin Houston LB Georgia
29. Chicago Bears-Phil Taylor DT Baylor
30. New York Jets-Muhammad Wilkerson DT Temple
31. Pittsburgh Steelers-Derek Sherrod T Mississippi St.
32. Green Bay Packers-Mikel LeShoure RB Illinois
1. Carolina Panthers-Marcell Dareus DT Alabama
2. Denver Broncos- Da'Quan Bowers DE Clemson
3. Buffalo Bills-Cam Newton QB Auburn
4. Cincinnati Bengals-AJ Green WR Georgia
5. Arizona Cardinals-Von Miller LB Texas A & M
6. Cleveland Browns- Nick Fairly DT Auburn
7. San Francisco 49ers-Patrick Peterson CB LSU-GIFT, Peterson has no business being on the board here.
8. Tennessee Titans-Blaine Gabbert QB Missouri
9. Dallas Cowboys-Tyron Smith T USC
10. Washington Redskins-Julio Jones WR Alabama
11. Houston Texans-Robert Quinn DE North Carolina
12. Minnesota Vikings-Jake Locker QB Washington-I really like Locker, but I have a hunch the Vikings may try to trade up to draft Gabbert if he makes it past Arizona, as he does here. Not having a 3rd round pick makes moving up difficult, but I have that hunch.
13. Detroit Lions-Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska
14. St Louis Rams-Aldon Smith DE Missouri
15. Miami Dolphins-Mark Ingram RB Alabama
16. Jacksonville Jaguars- JJ Watt DE Wisconsin
17. New England Patriots-Cameron Jordan DE Cal
18. San Diego Chargers-Corey Liuget DT Illinois
19. New York Giants-Anthony Costanzo T Boston College
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Ryan Kerrigan DE Purdue
21. Kansas City Chiefs-Nate Solder T Colorado
22. Indianapolis Colts-Mike Pouncey G Florida
23. Philadelphia Eagles-Gabe Carimi T Wisconsin
24. New Orleans Saints-Adrian Clayborn DE Iowa
25. Seattle Seahawks-Torrey Smith WR Maryland
26. Baltimore Ravens-Jimmy Smith CB Colorado
27. Atlanta Falcons-Leonard Hankerson WR Miami
28. New England Patriots- Justin Houston LB Georgia
29. Chicago Bears-Phil Taylor DT Baylor
30. New York Jets-Muhammad Wilkerson DT Temple
31. Pittsburgh Steelers-Derek Sherrod T Mississippi St.
32. Green Bay Packers-Mikel LeShoure RB Illinois
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Peterson's Slavery
The NFL labor situation is just filled with so much crap. It has caused some to lose their minds. In cased you missed it, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson compared the NFL to modern day slavery. I didn't really think too much of it. I could understand his frustration with the labor negotiations and his job. I have often felt like a slave at work. I have even expressed this on occasion. It is frustrating to feel no appreciation when you bust your ass at work. Your relative compensation matters little when you feel like you and your work is being taken for granted, even if you're a millionaire football player. Well, it seems many of my fellow Vikings fans feel differently. Some want Peterson gone, traded, cut, whatever. Comparing work as an NFL running back to slavery, how could he? No matter how many times I see it, I can never get used to the overreaction on message boards. Provide a little anonymity and people go ballistic. Peterson admits that people with regular jobs laugh because they go through it everyday, but everyone latched onto the NFL as modern day slavery comparison. What is modern day slavery anyway? It likely has a different definition to different people. Some obviously saddled Peterson with a definition not his own.
Even if we set aside the question of occupational slavery, one can find examples of slavery in any competitive sport, football in particular. My experiences in football are frustratingly fleeting. Yet, I experienced being kept from water when I desperately needed it. I was pushed further than my body said I should. I shredded my knee and finished the wind sprints. It is frowned upon now, but anyone that has strapped on a helmet in earlier times, even my time, remembers being yanked around by the facemask. You go where you are yanked. You know why it is illegal in a game. This sounds a bit like a slave serving a taskmaster. Taking part in any competitive sport requires a servitude that can fit nicely into one's definition of modern day slavery.
I realize that few probably thought of these aspects of "football slavery" when Peterson spoke. I am pretty sure that they only saw a rich football player complaining about his lot in life, clearly shedding no tear. They conveniently ignore that the NFL was built on the foundation that the player plays where he is told to play, when he is told to play, how he is told to play, and if he can even play at all. Teams have 100% control of the players. Where they work, when they work, where they spend July, when they can quench their thirst. I can see aspects of slavery, modern or otherwise, even with the great compensation. Some of which the owners last offer was trying to take away.
Even if we set aside the question of occupational slavery, one can find examples of slavery in any competitive sport, football in particular. My experiences in football are frustratingly fleeting. Yet, I experienced being kept from water when I desperately needed it. I was pushed further than my body said I should. I shredded my knee and finished the wind sprints. It is frowned upon now, but anyone that has strapped on a helmet in earlier times, even my time, remembers being yanked around by the facemask. You go where you are yanked. You know why it is illegal in a game. This sounds a bit like a slave serving a taskmaster. Taking part in any competitive sport requires a servitude that can fit nicely into one's definition of modern day slavery.
I realize that few probably thought of these aspects of "football slavery" when Peterson spoke. I am pretty sure that they only saw a rich football player complaining about his lot in life, clearly shedding no tear. They conveniently ignore that the NFL was built on the foundation that the player plays where he is told to play, when he is told to play, how he is told to play, and if he can even play at all. Teams have 100% control of the players. Where they work, when they work, where they spend July, when they can quench their thirst. I can see aspects of slavery, modern or otherwise, even with the great compensation. Some of which the owners last offer was trying to take away.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Where's the Bubble
There's a storm brewing in my head. It should touch down on the Flea Flicker tomorrow. I'm not sure where it's going, but it could shake the world. So, today I'm going to be light and fluffy. This is inspired by my dazzling wife.
I've been reading NFL draft prospect analyses and projections for years. They are everywhere now, dozens of magazines, Internet, etc. They can never replace watching game tape, but for fans this is often all we have. These analyses can be fairly generic for particular positions. They have also taken on a bit of "coach- or scout-speak". So much so that it can sound like a whole other language. A couple of years ago, nearly every player analysis contained a reference to a "bubble". I was a bit stumped at first. Through the usage of the word, it was soon obvious that the authors were referring to a part of the player's anatomy. With delicious Chicken McNuggets, one wonders where on a chicken a nugget is found. Where is a "bubble" found on a football player? You're probably ahead of me. The "bubble" is the tushy, the derriere, the butt. I'm not sure how this impacts a player's draft status, or if it even should. I can see the potential benefits of a big "bubble" on a lineman, but I can also see it getting in the way. The odd thing about the "bubble" and it's draft importance is that it has not been used since that one big "bubble" year. The "bubble" is no longer important to the NFL. For whatever reason, the "bubble" has gone.
I've been reading NFL draft prospect analyses and projections for years. They are everywhere now, dozens of magazines, Internet, etc. They can never replace watching game tape, but for fans this is often all we have. These analyses can be fairly generic for particular positions. They have also taken on a bit of "coach- or scout-speak". So much so that it can sound like a whole other language. A couple of years ago, nearly every player analysis contained a reference to a "bubble". I was a bit stumped at first. Through the usage of the word, it was soon obvious that the authors were referring to a part of the player's anatomy. With delicious Chicken McNuggets, one wonders where on a chicken a nugget is found. Where is a "bubble" found on a football player? You're probably ahead of me. The "bubble" is the tushy, the derriere, the butt. I'm not sure how this impacts a player's draft status, or if it even should. I can see the potential benefits of a big "bubble" on a lineman, but I can also see it getting in the way. The odd thing about the "bubble" and it's draft importance is that it has not been used since that one big "bubble" year. The "bubble" is no longer important to the NFL. For whatever reason, the "bubble" has gone.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Going to Court
I've got in my meaty little mitts a copy of the lawsuit filed by the players against the NFL. It is amazing what you can easily obtain these days. Lawyers have to be the worst writers that have ever attempted it. Anyway, I plowed through it. The owners should be worried. They need to get back to the negotiations before the April 6 court date. This lawsuit could split the league wide open, crush everything we know about the league. The draft is very important to the league. The parity it fosters has been critical to the league's success since 1936. The strategy and intrigue surrounding the draft is a thrill for all. It is also illegal in that it violates antitrust laws. Pretty much everything on the business side of the NFL violates antitrust laws. Major League Baseball has long been exempt from antitrust laws. I have never understood why the other professional sports leagues don't have a similar exemption. These leagues are different from any other business. The NFL is a business made up of 32 teams competing against each other as if they are 32 different businesses. The NFL and the other sports leagues are unique. In order to function properly, an antitrust law or two needs to be broken. Despite presenting the lawsuit, I think that the players know this. Maybe it will benefit the NFL. It could bring the antitrust exemption that baseball has long enjoyed. At the very least, I think that it scares the hell out of the owners, and we can see this whole mess settled soon.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Throwback Thursday: Jimmy Conzelman-Renaissance Man
A couple of years ago the football world was shocked when the Arizona Cardinals made it to the Super Bowl, almost won it too. The Cardinals have rarely been very good, and they have been doing it for a very long time. The Bears and the Cardinals are the only surviving teams from the NFL's first season. The Cardinals have taken their poor play to a few places, calling Chicago, St. Louis and Arizona home at various times. In 1948, the Chicago Cardinals were the NFL champions. They were led by an interesting coach.
Jimmy Conzelman did a little bit of everything-football player, football coach, team owner, pro baseball player, major league baseball executive, newspaper publisher, playwright, author, orator and actor. Conzelman's commencement address at the University of Dayton in 1942 made quite an impact. Titled, "The Young Man's Mental and Physical Approach to War", it became required reading at West Point, featured as text at Purdue and Minnesota, and was twice read into the congressional record. He was a success at most endeavors, but probably most successful as a football coach.
Conzelman was a versatile halfback at Washington University in St. Louis, and a team mate of George Halas and Paddy Driscoll (all 3 were inducted into the Hall of Fame) on the Great Lakes Naval Training team that played in the 1919 Rose Bowl. Halas recruited Conzelman for his Decatur Staley's professional team, the original Chicago Bears, in 1920. Conzelman jumped to the Rock Island Independents as player-coach in 1921 and then to the Milwaukee Badgers. Offered an NFL franchise in Detroit for $100 in 1925, Conzelman became an owner of the Panthers. The team saw some success, 8-2-2 in '25, but little support from Detroit. He returned the franchise to the league. He joined the Providence Steam Roller as a player-coach in 1927. Quarterback Conzelman suffered a knee injury in '28, but coach Conzelman led his team to 8-1-2 record and the NFL championship.
Conzelman turned to his other interests after 1930. He returned to the pro game in 1940 to coach the Chicago Cardinals. He helped the team to stay strong during the early years of World War II before leaving to work for the St. Louis Browns baseball team. He returned to the Cardinals in 1946 and would find his and the Cardinals greatest success. Conzelman had strong players in QB Paul Christman, fullback Pat Harder and halfback Elmer Angsman. When he added Charley Trippi in 1947, Conzelman had put together the "Dream Backfield", and would power to the 1947 NFL Championship. Conzelman's second title came nearly two decades after his first. Conzelman did a fantastic job of keeping the team focused in 1948. Stan Mauldin, as fine a tackle as the game had seen, collapsed and died of a heart attack after the first game. Still the team lost only one regular season game before losing the championship game to the Eagles 7-0 in a blizzard in Philadelphia. After the game, Conzelman retired for good from pro coaching.
In an era of such single minded coaches as Bill Belichick and Jon Gruden, it is refreshing to hear of a coach interested and involved in so many other things, so able to step away from football successfully. Conzelman showed that you can have success without being possessed.
Jimmy Conzelman did a little bit of everything-football player, football coach, team owner, pro baseball player, major league baseball executive, newspaper publisher, playwright, author, orator and actor. Conzelman's commencement address at the University of Dayton in 1942 made quite an impact. Titled, "The Young Man's Mental and Physical Approach to War", it became required reading at West Point, featured as text at Purdue and Minnesota, and was twice read into the congressional record. He was a success at most endeavors, but probably most successful as a football coach.
Conzelman was a versatile halfback at Washington University in St. Louis, and a team mate of George Halas and Paddy Driscoll (all 3 were inducted into the Hall of Fame) on the Great Lakes Naval Training team that played in the 1919 Rose Bowl. Halas recruited Conzelman for his Decatur Staley's professional team, the original Chicago Bears, in 1920. Conzelman jumped to the Rock Island Independents as player-coach in 1921 and then to the Milwaukee Badgers. Offered an NFL franchise in Detroit for $100 in 1925, Conzelman became an owner of the Panthers. The team saw some success, 8-2-2 in '25, but little support from Detroit. He returned the franchise to the league. He joined the Providence Steam Roller as a player-coach in 1927. Quarterback Conzelman suffered a knee injury in '28, but coach Conzelman led his team to 8-1-2 record and the NFL championship.
Conzelman turned to his other interests after 1930. He returned to the pro game in 1940 to coach the Chicago Cardinals. He helped the team to stay strong during the early years of World War II before leaving to work for the St. Louis Browns baseball team. He returned to the Cardinals in 1946 and would find his and the Cardinals greatest success. Conzelman had strong players in QB Paul Christman, fullback Pat Harder and halfback Elmer Angsman. When he added Charley Trippi in 1947, Conzelman had put together the "Dream Backfield", and would power to the 1947 NFL Championship. Conzelman's second title came nearly two decades after his first. Conzelman did a fantastic job of keeping the team focused in 1948. Stan Mauldin, as fine a tackle as the game had seen, collapsed and died of a heart attack after the first game. Still the team lost only one regular season game before losing the championship game to the Eagles 7-0 in a blizzard in Philadelphia. After the game, Conzelman retired for good from pro coaching.
In an era of such single minded coaches as Bill Belichick and Jon Gruden, it is refreshing to hear of a coach interested and involved in so many other things, so able to step away from football successfully. Conzelman showed that you can have success without being possessed.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
I Fear We're Drifting Apart
An interesting thing happened on the way to the draft. Two talented quarterbacks started moving in opposite directions on draft boards due to a little something called red flags.
The dreaded red flag. No football prospect wants to see one slapped on them. It means that something is wrong with them. Often, it is a medical issue. There is not much a player can do except prove to the teams that they are recovered from an injury, prove that it won't affect their career now or later. The other cause for a red flag is often for off the field issues. It is unfortunate and often unfair. People quickly forget that these guys aren't too far from childhood, aren't too far from stupid kid mistakes. Often, these mistakes may label them for the rest of their lives, let alone their football careers. It can certainly cost them millions in the draft.
Auburn's Cam Newton and Arkansas' Ryan Mallet are two of the top QBs in the upcoming draft. In case you missed it in an earlier Flicker, Newton found himself in possession of a stolen laptop and cheated on some tests while at Florida. The greater problem for me was that Newton was more concerned with the punishment than the crime. As if it was only wrong because he was punished for cheating and stealing. More recently, Newton's father was caught trying to get $180,000 from Mississippi St if his son went to the school. You can't really fault Cam for the actions of his father, but it paints a little picture of the Newton household. Ryan Mallet has some issues of his own. A couple of years ago he was arrested for public intoxication, which can actually be translated as walking about town with an open beer. There are also some rumors of drug use from about the same time period. Mallet has never tested positive for any drugs. Unless the rumors blossom into something else entirely, it sounds more like Mallet was a college student. Newton's transgressions seem to be far more serious to me, yet his draft prospects are soaring. Some even think that he could be the first pick in the draft. Mallet, the typical college student, is watching his draft stock drop. Some even think that he might drop into the 2nd round. On the field, it is near unanimous that Mallet is the more pro-ready of the two. Newton, while supremely talented is considered a project. He needs some training and adjustments to his game before he is ready for the NFL.
The NFL Draft is a crazy process. Off the field issues sometimes grow unchecked, often become far more than they truly are. Often, mistakes are simply being a college student. Sometimes, they can be much more.
The dreaded red flag. No football prospect wants to see one slapped on them. It means that something is wrong with them. Often, it is a medical issue. There is not much a player can do except prove to the teams that they are recovered from an injury, prove that it won't affect their career now or later. The other cause for a red flag is often for off the field issues. It is unfortunate and often unfair. People quickly forget that these guys aren't too far from childhood, aren't too far from stupid kid mistakes. Often, these mistakes may label them for the rest of their lives, let alone their football careers. It can certainly cost them millions in the draft.
Auburn's Cam Newton and Arkansas' Ryan Mallet are two of the top QBs in the upcoming draft. In case you missed it in an earlier Flicker, Newton found himself in possession of a stolen laptop and cheated on some tests while at Florida. The greater problem for me was that Newton was more concerned with the punishment than the crime. As if it was only wrong because he was punished for cheating and stealing. More recently, Newton's father was caught trying to get $180,000 from Mississippi St if his son went to the school. You can't really fault Cam for the actions of his father, but it paints a little picture of the Newton household. Ryan Mallet has some issues of his own. A couple of years ago he was arrested for public intoxication, which can actually be translated as walking about town with an open beer. There are also some rumors of drug use from about the same time period. Mallet has never tested positive for any drugs. Unless the rumors blossom into something else entirely, it sounds more like Mallet was a college student. Newton's transgressions seem to be far more serious to me, yet his draft prospects are soaring. Some even think that he could be the first pick in the draft. Mallet, the typical college student, is watching his draft stock drop. Some even think that he might drop into the 2nd round. On the field, it is near unanimous that Mallet is the more pro-ready of the two. Newton, while supremely talented is considered a project. He needs some training and adjustments to his game before he is ready for the NFL.
The NFL Draft is a crazy process. Off the field issues sometimes grow unchecked, often become far more than they truly are. Often, mistakes are simply being a college student. Sometimes, they can be much more.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Steak and Shake
As I followed the Scouting Combine through the experiences of the NFL Network characters, I heard frequent mention of a diner-style restaurant named Steak and Shake. To quote the fabulous Liz Lemon, "I want to go to there."
Steak and Shake was founded by Gus Belt in Normal, Illinois in 1934. To his restaurant, he brought the Steakburger, a trademark name for his burger made from the grinding of round, sirloin and T-bone steaks. Since ground meat was a sketchy process to some in '34, Belt coined the slogan "In sight, it must be right". He would grind the meat for his delicious creation in sight of the public. The slogan is still in use today but refers more to the open grill line. After the success of the original, Belt purchased a chain of, the perfectly named, Goal Post restaurants throughout central Illinois. The hand-dipped, real milk shakes are a perfect compliment to the Steakburger.
Steak and Shake sounds like a keeper. During a certain week in February, it sounds like a great place to meet the football world. Hey, there's Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau sitting in the corner, must be waiting for Mike Tomlin and Marvin Lewis because they are headed right for him. This place is a football junkie's delight. I hear the food is pretty good too. NFL Network's Rich Eisen is always talking about this place, from the people that are there to the food on the table. Speaking of the food, rumor has it that Steve Mariucci is a treat to watch eat, a machine. I have actually heard mention of this throughout the year. People are always bringing him leftovers. "You done with that?" can frequently be heard wherever food is served. He is always eating. Most of the patrons of Steak and Shake see the shake as a dessert as well as a compliment to the meal. Mariucci finishes his appetizers, Steakburger and shake and asks about dessert. Others think he's nuts. He gets a sundae. It was said that he inhaled the sundae "faster than Chris Johnson runs a 40. That is approximately 4.2 seconds.
Yes, Steak and Shake is a treat. 500 units throughout the Midwestern and Southern United States.
Steak and Shake was founded by Gus Belt in Normal, Illinois in 1934. To his restaurant, he brought the Steakburger, a trademark name for his burger made from the grinding of round, sirloin and T-bone steaks. Since ground meat was a sketchy process to some in '34, Belt coined the slogan "In sight, it must be right". He would grind the meat for his delicious creation in sight of the public. The slogan is still in use today but refers more to the open grill line. After the success of the original, Belt purchased a chain of, the perfectly named, Goal Post restaurants throughout central Illinois. The hand-dipped, real milk shakes are a perfect compliment to the Steakburger.
Steak and Shake sounds like a keeper. During a certain week in February, it sounds like a great place to meet the football world. Hey, there's Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau sitting in the corner, must be waiting for Mike Tomlin and Marvin Lewis because they are headed right for him. This place is a football junkie's delight. I hear the food is pretty good too. NFL Network's Rich Eisen is always talking about this place, from the people that are there to the food on the table. Speaking of the food, rumor has it that Steve Mariucci is a treat to watch eat, a machine. I have actually heard mention of this throughout the year. People are always bringing him leftovers. "You done with that?" can frequently be heard wherever food is served. He is always eating. Most of the patrons of Steak and Shake see the shake as a dessert as well as a compliment to the meal. Mariucci finishes his appetizers, Steakburger and shake and asks about dessert. Others think he's nuts. He gets a sundae. It was said that he inhaled the sundae "faster than Chris Johnson runs a 40. That is approximately 4.2 seconds.
Yes, Steak and Shake is a treat. 500 units throughout the Midwestern and Southern United States.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Keepers of the Vault
One of the true jewels of professional football is NFL Films. Ed and Steve Sabol have done as much for the NFL's past and it's future as anyone. Ed Sabol's recent induction into the Hall of Fame is much deserved and his son should soon follow. The Flea Flicker wishes Steve Sabol a speedy and complete return to health.
"We were a bunch of young people who loved to make movies, loved pro football, and wanted to convey our love of the game to our audience."-Steve Sabol
Pete Rozelle accomplished many things to make the NFL better and stronger in his 30 years as NFL Commissioner. As great as any was his decision to purchase Blair Motion Pictures in 1965 and create NFL Films. As important was his decision to leave NFL Films solely in the Sabol's hands. Named after his daughter, Ed Sabol's Blair Motion Pictures won the rights to film the 1962 Championship game between the Packers and Giants. Little did anyone know the impact this man and his camera would make. Art, football and quality are words rarely used together. Ed and Steve Sabol brought them together with ease. Sports Illustrated wrote: "the league has the best public relations tool of any coporation in the world-NFL Films".
The NFL Films vault would be my personal Valhalla. Every single play from every single game since 1965 is there. Extensive game film going back to 1948 is there. Measured in film footage, nothing in history has been as well documented.
"We were a bunch of young people who loved to make movies, loved pro football, and wanted to convey our love of the game to our audience."-Steve Sabol
Pete Rozelle accomplished many things to make the NFL better and stronger in his 30 years as NFL Commissioner. As great as any was his decision to purchase Blair Motion Pictures in 1965 and create NFL Films. As important was his decision to leave NFL Films solely in the Sabol's hands. Named after his daughter, Ed Sabol's Blair Motion Pictures won the rights to film the 1962 Championship game between the Packers and Giants. Little did anyone know the impact this man and his camera would make. Art, football and quality are words rarely used together. Ed and Steve Sabol brought them together with ease. Sports Illustrated wrote: "the league has the best public relations tool of any coporation in the world-NFL Films".
The NFL Films vault would be my personal Valhalla. Every single play from every single game since 1965 is there. Extensive game film going back to 1948 is there. Measured in film footage, nothing in history has been as well documented.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
QB Prospects and a bit of Cam
As the football world hunkers down for Laborgeddon, the Flea Flicker directs it's steely glare at the QB prospects in the upcoming draft and the idiot comments of one Cam Newton.
While everyone was in a tizzy over Cam's "I wanna be an icon" comment, I was a bit more concerned with this little gem:
"I can say with my chin held high to the sky that if I could do it all over again...those same mistakes that I made at Florida...I wouldn't do that because I know what happens if you do the things that I did at Florida"
Newton's little mistakes at Florida included stealing a laptop and cheating. It doesn't seem to Newton that cheating and stealing are necessarily wrong. It's what happens to you when you are caught cheating and stealing that really needs to be avoided. Newton's football talent is undeniable, but his moral compass is a bit off.
As a Vikings fan, I have been very aware of all the QBs available. Joe Webb and Rhett Bomar are the only QBs on the roster. I really like the poise and athletic ability of Webb, but the position is a huge concern. If the Vikings' people find that Newton is the man, despite his moral wiring, I'm a fan. My personal favorite is Jake Locker of Washington. He might have been a bit wild with a few of his throws in college, but I think that it is all in his footwork. Locker is a leader and a worker. He will never stop working at improving his game. I see a right-handed Steve Young in Locker. That is a fantastic place to start. Florida State's Christian Ponder, and Turlock's very own, by way of Nevada, Colin Kaepernick are also high on my list. So much to discuss over the next month, and it's much more fun than players vs. owners.
While everyone was in a tizzy over Cam's "I wanna be an icon" comment, I was a bit more concerned with this little gem:
"I can say with my chin held high to the sky that if I could do it all over again...those same mistakes that I made at Florida...I wouldn't do that because I know what happens if you do the things that I did at Florida"
Newton's little mistakes at Florida included stealing a laptop and cheating. It doesn't seem to Newton that cheating and stealing are necessarily wrong. It's what happens to you when you are caught cheating and stealing that really needs to be avoided. Newton's football talent is undeniable, but his moral compass is a bit off.
As a Vikings fan, I have been very aware of all the QBs available. Joe Webb and Rhett Bomar are the only QBs on the roster. I really like the poise and athletic ability of Webb, but the position is a huge concern. If the Vikings' people find that Newton is the man, despite his moral wiring, I'm a fan. My personal favorite is Jake Locker of Washington. He might have been a bit wild with a few of his throws in college, but I think that it is all in his footwork. Locker is a leader and a worker. He will never stop working at improving his game. I see a right-handed Steve Young in Locker. That is a fantastic place to start. Florida State's Christian Ponder, and Turlock's very own, by way of Nevada, Colin Kaepernick are also high on my list. So much to discuss over the next month, and it's much more fun than players vs. owners.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Players vs Owners
My optimism failed me. I truly thought that this whole mess would be settled this week. I was wrong, so very wrong.
I don't know much about labor law, and I often struggle to balance a checkbook. However, I follow and love football, and I try to view every situation with an open mind and a bit of logic. I see and hear a lot of people, in fact most people, bashing the players. I don't know if it is because the players are the face of the league, and they see only the players when there is a problem. Some just hate unions, so they hate the players. Some may see a bunch of rich guys fighting over a huge sum of money and flip a coin to decide who to hate. Just gotta hate someone. If people would take the time to look at the situation with an open mind, look beneath the surface, they would see that it has little to do with money. It has a whole lot more to do with the respect that the players seek and the control that the owners want to keep.
About 50 years ago, future Hall of Famer Jim Ringo walked into Vince Lombardi's office, with an agent, seeking to negotiate a contract. Lombardi left the room for a moment, returned to tell Ringo that he had been traded to Philadelphia. Agents and unions were not allowed near the game then, and if the owners had their way it would be the same today. The owners have always relied upon their control over the players. They have banked on their assumption that the players are stupid. They have laughed at the idea that the players have any other desire than to play football for pay. The players will always take what the owners give them and do what the owners tell them. All with a smile. Those may sound like ancient notions, but the current owners maintain them. The owners have worked too hard to build the league to let some uppity players take some of it away.
The chaos now upon us started when the owners backed out of an agreement only two years after agreeing to it. They then negotiated a sweetheart TV deal that would pay them 4 billion even if there was no football in 2011. The owners claim to be in such financial stress that they need an extra billion bucks before the pot of gold is split. The players have asked for proof of this financial need, for the owners to open their books. The owners refusal is a greater issue than the split of the money. The players have asked for the owners to negotiate in good faith, to treat them with respect. In the past two weeks, there were far too many meetings skipped by the owners, deadlines passed, requests ignored. TV reports showed most of the owners showing up for negotiations. They met amongst themselves, 25 miles away from the negotiations, for a couple of hours and jetted off in private planes without ever meeting with players. The owners have shown no respect, and are shocked that the players are out of control.
I don't know much about labor law, and I often struggle to balance a checkbook. However, I follow and love football, and I try to view every situation with an open mind and a bit of logic. I see and hear a lot of people, in fact most people, bashing the players. I don't know if it is because the players are the face of the league, and they see only the players when there is a problem. Some just hate unions, so they hate the players. Some may see a bunch of rich guys fighting over a huge sum of money and flip a coin to decide who to hate. Just gotta hate someone. If people would take the time to look at the situation with an open mind, look beneath the surface, they would see that it has little to do with money. It has a whole lot more to do with the respect that the players seek and the control that the owners want to keep.
About 50 years ago, future Hall of Famer Jim Ringo walked into Vince Lombardi's office, with an agent, seeking to negotiate a contract. Lombardi left the room for a moment, returned to tell Ringo that he had been traded to Philadelphia. Agents and unions were not allowed near the game then, and if the owners had their way it would be the same today. The owners have always relied upon their control over the players. They have banked on their assumption that the players are stupid. They have laughed at the idea that the players have any other desire than to play football for pay. The players will always take what the owners give them and do what the owners tell them. All with a smile. Those may sound like ancient notions, but the current owners maintain them. The owners have worked too hard to build the league to let some uppity players take some of it away.
The chaos now upon us started when the owners backed out of an agreement only two years after agreeing to it. They then negotiated a sweetheart TV deal that would pay them 4 billion even if there was no football in 2011. The owners claim to be in such financial stress that they need an extra billion bucks before the pot of gold is split. The players have asked for proof of this financial need, for the owners to open their books. The owners refusal is a greater issue than the split of the money. The players have asked for the owners to negotiate in good faith, to treat them with respect. In the past two weeks, there were far too many meetings skipped by the owners, deadlines passed, requests ignored. TV reports showed most of the owners showing up for negotiations. They met amongst themselves, 25 miles away from the negotiations, for a couple of hours and jetted off in private planes without ever meeting with players. The owners have shown no respect, and are shocked that the players are out of control.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Us vs Them
Yesterday's post about the rival leagues and the pattern of those threats got me thinking. Never a safe thing but it does happen. In addition to the upstart leagues, the NFL was under constant attacks from colleges in the early years. According to the colleges, professional football was filled with criminals and would kill the purity of the game. The founding owners had to really fight to keep their league afloat. I think that it might have created an "us vs. them" mentality. It seemed everybody was looking to destroy what they worked so hard to build. The harder you have to work for something, the more protective you become of it. The owners reluctance to reveal their books in the current CBA negotiations could be due to that protectiveness. Some of the original families still own their teams. Dan Rooney of the Steelers and Virginia McCaskey (George Halas' daughter) of the Bears were children when it was mostly a struggle to own a team. They must have seen what their fathers went through. Owning a team was not a wise investment in those days. There was a thrill that went beyond making a bunch of money. Tim Mara owned and kept the Giants more because his sons, Wellington and Jack, loved the team. He kept it for them. It is so different today. Owning an NFL team can be very lucrative. There is certainly still a thrill. There has to be. I still see people owning a team mostly for greed, highlighted by the Cowboys Jerry Jones and the Patriots Robert Kraft. If those two continue unchecked, they could destroy all that has brought the NFL to a position of strength. They should start listening to the people that have seen and experienced the struggles. As long as football is played, the money will follow. If they try and grab too much, it could all fade away like the rival leagues of the past.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Throwback Thursday: The More the Merrier?
The NFL is the strongest league in professional sports. It hasn't been an easy road to the top, especially in the first 20-30 years. The greatest challenges, certainly the most interesting, came from other leagues trying to grab some of the football pie.
Starting in 1920, the NFL was challenged by a rival league in every other decade. After Red Grange exploded onto the professional football stage in 1925, the financial future of the NFL looked a bit better than bleak. There was one problem. Grange happened to have an idiot named C.C. Pyle as his manager. Grange closed out the '25 season with the Chicago Bears. Hoping to make a fortune on Grange's name, Pyle scheduled the Bears for a cross-country barnstorming tour. Grange, Pyle and George Halas did make a lot of money, and the publicity was priceless for a league in need of some, but the schedule was brutal on the players. The financial succes prompted Pyle to demand his own NFL team with Grange as his star. The NFL refused to give him one, so he started his own league, the American Football League. It failed miserably after one year, and Grange returned to the Bears to resume his Hall of Fame career. It's curious that the NFL refused to grant Pyle a team since teams were popping up and vanishing throughout the '20s. I think that the NFL just didn't want to yield to the lunatic.
The next challenge came from the All America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1946. This league was well organized and fairly well backed financially. It also had some dynamite talent, and one amazing team. The end of World War II left some former NFL players looking for teams. In an era without free agency, the War provided a little taste of some. The AAFC lasted four years and was dominated by the Cleveland Browns, winning all four championships. The San Francisco 49ers challenged the Browns at the end. In 1950, the NFL agreed to add the Browns, 49ers and Baltimore Colts at the expense of the rest of the teams. The Browns proved their worth, and the AAFC quality, by playing in every championship game from 1950-55, winning in '50, '54 and '55.
The most significant challenge to the NFL came in 1960 with another American Football League. The NFL and AFL fought over players and TV money. It led to a combined championship starting in 1966, best known as the Super Bowl, and a full merger in 1970. The only person upset with this outcome was Al Davis, and he hasn't been happy since.
The World Football League presented a meager threat in the '70s, but, like the first AFL, quickly faded away. The United States Football League posed a greater threat in the '80s. Using a spring schedule, this league was banking on the unquenchable thirst of the public for football. They would love football all year long. The league was able to sign some of the best college players, including future Hall of Famers Steve Young, Reggie White and Gary Zimmerman. The USFL did manage to throw a scare into the NFL. Lawsuits were involved, but ultimately the new league failed.
The NFL faced a rival league in the '20s, '40s, '60s and '80s. Unless the current labor issue results in something truly crazy, I see that trend coming to end. The NFL is simply to powerful to challenge now. The Arena Football League has carved out a little niche, but direct competition for players and attention is over.
Starting in 1920, the NFL was challenged by a rival league in every other decade. After Red Grange exploded onto the professional football stage in 1925, the financial future of the NFL looked a bit better than bleak. There was one problem. Grange happened to have an idiot named C.C. Pyle as his manager. Grange closed out the '25 season with the Chicago Bears. Hoping to make a fortune on Grange's name, Pyle scheduled the Bears for a cross-country barnstorming tour. Grange, Pyle and George Halas did make a lot of money, and the publicity was priceless for a league in need of some, but the schedule was brutal on the players. The financial succes prompted Pyle to demand his own NFL team with Grange as his star. The NFL refused to give him one, so he started his own league, the American Football League. It failed miserably after one year, and Grange returned to the Bears to resume his Hall of Fame career. It's curious that the NFL refused to grant Pyle a team since teams were popping up and vanishing throughout the '20s. I think that the NFL just didn't want to yield to the lunatic.
The next challenge came from the All America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1946. This league was well organized and fairly well backed financially. It also had some dynamite talent, and one amazing team. The end of World War II left some former NFL players looking for teams. In an era without free agency, the War provided a little taste of some. The AAFC lasted four years and was dominated by the Cleveland Browns, winning all four championships. The San Francisco 49ers challenged the Browns at the end. In 1950, the NFL agreed to add the Browns, 49ers and Baltimore Colts at the expense of the rest of the teams. The Browns proved their worth, and the AAFC quality, by playing in every championship game from 1950-55, winning in '50, '54 and '55.
The most significant challenge to the NFL came in 1960 with another American Football League. The NFL and AFL fought over players and TV money. It led to a combined championship starting in 1966, best known as the Super Bowl, and a full merger in 1970. The only person upset with this outcome was Al Davis, and he hasn't been happy since.
The World Football League presented a meager threat in the '70s, but, like the first AFL, quickly faded away. The United States Football League posed a greater threat in the '80s. Using a spring schedule, this league was banking on the unquenchable thirst of the public for football. They would love football all year long. The league was able to sign some of the best college players, including future Hall of Famers Steve Young, Reggie White and Gary Zimmerman. The USFL did manage to throw a scare into the NFL. Lawsuits were involved, but ultimately the new league failed.
The NFL faced a rival league in the '20s, '40s, '60s and '80s. Unless the current labor issue results in something truly crazy, I see that trend coming to end. The NFL is simply to powerful to challenge now. The Arena Football League has carved out a little niche, but direct competition for players and attention is over.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Media Fools
The Monday Flicker about Blanton Collier had me thinking again about the Hall of Fame selection process. This topic was raging inside of me about a month ago with the latest balloting. I didn't want the Flea Flicker to start with that kind of anger. So, I let it simmer for a month, hoping to calm down a bit, but writing about Collier brought it back to a boil.
The media should not be allowed near the Hall of Fame ballots. Tell them the field is rectangular in shape, they probably respond, "stop lying". They know nothing about football, and they show it every year. Even when they try to correct past mistakes, like finally inducting Fritz Pollard and Benny Friedman about 70 years after they played, they often do it by making new mistakes. They approach each year with agendas and quotas. Such as, Jerry Rice is going in this year so we can't have another receiver, so many defensive players this year, a coach next year, an offensive lineman the year after that. A player either deserves to be a Hall of Famer or he doesn't. Sometimes a player comes around that has a career that gains appreciation over time. Their impact isn't truly felt until some time has passed. Former Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall could be such a player. He was a very good player, the unquestioned leader of some very good teams. He was also an iron man. He played every game at one of the most grueling positions for nearly 20 years. His achievement should gain significance as every player falls short of what he did.
Blanton Collier and Don Coryell are coaches that immediately come to mind as Hall of Fame worthy. Last year Dick LeBeau was inducted. After his selection, I heard some media say that LeBeau could open the door for other deserving assistant coaches. LeBeau is an amazing assistant coach, but he went into the Hall as a player. The media should have known that. They voted for him. My main criticism right now, and for the past four years is Cris Carter's omission. It's truly mind numbing that he has been eligible for four years and is still waiting. Even a media member with an infant's grasp of football, which is about all of them, should see that Carter's ability to catch a football is special. Terrell Owens makes a mockery of catching a football. I doubt that he waits more than four years for induction. Carter's receiving skills are nicely complimented by his stastics. Few have ever played the wide receiver position better.
I have often wondered about a better selection process. The media has repeatedly proven to be clueless. Voting Michael Vick as Comeback Player of the Year is further proof of that. There has to be media members that know football and have respect for it's past. If it weren't for the fact that they are eligible for induction themselves, I would recommend Ed and Steve Sabol. Few have their passion for football. I could do it. The Pro Football Research Association members are better qualified than any currently voting. The input of former players should be considered. To hear former players speak of playing against Alex Karras, you would think that he was already in Canton. He's not. He should be. All I know is that the current system is a joke. As along as Cris Carter is sitting outside the Hall, it's quality is severely lacking.
The media should not be allowed near the Hall of Fame ballots. Tell them the field is rectangular in shape, they probably respond, "stop lying". They know nothing about football, and they show it every year. Even when they try to correct past mistakes, like finally inducting Fritz Pollard and Benny Friedman about 70 years after they played, they often do it by making new mistakes. They approach each year with agendas and quotas. Such as, Jerry Rice is going in this year so we can't have another receiver, so many defensive players this year, a coach next year, an offensive lineman the year after that. A player either deserves to be a Hall of Famer or he doesn't. Sometimes a player comes around that has a career that gains appreciation over time. Their impact isn't truly felt until some time has passed. Former Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall could be such a player. He was a very good player, the unquestioned leader of some very good teams. He was also an iron man. He played every game at one of the most grueling positions for nearly 20 years. His achievement should gain significance as every player falls short of what he did.
Blanton Collier and Don Coryell are coaches that immediately come to mind as Hall of Fame worthy. Last year Dick LeBeau was inducted. After his selection, I heard some media say that LeBeau could open the door for other deserving assistant coaches. LeBeau is an amazing assistant coach, but he went into the Hall as a player. The media should have known that. They voted for him. My main criticism right now, and for the past four years is Cris Carter's omission. It's truly mind numbing that he has been eligible for four years and is still waiting. Even a media member with an infant's grasp of football, which is about all of them, should see that Carter's ability to catch a football is special. Terrell Owens makes a mockery of catching a football. I doubt that he waits more than four years for induction. Carter's receiving skills are nicely complimented by his stastics. Few have ever played the wide receiver position better.
I have often wondered about a better selection process. The media has repeatedly proven to be clueless. Voting Michael Vick as Comeback Player of the Year is further proof of that. There has to be media members that know football and have respect for it's past. If it weren't for the fact that they are eligible for induction themselves, I would recommend Ed and Steve Sabol. Few have their passion for football. I could do it. The Pro Football Research Association members are better qualified than any currently voting. The input of former players should be considered. To hear former players speak of playing against Alex Karras, you would think that he was already in Canton. He's not. He should be. All I know is that the current system is a joke. As along as Cris Carter is sitting outside the Hall, it's quality is severely lacking.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Dreaded CBA
Is anyone else losing sleep over the current NFL labor issue? I can't be the only one that thinks important matters take place this time of year.
I am an optimistic chap, so I don't see this labor battle lasting too long. I feel that the one week extension agreed to last Friday is a promising sign. I think that it will end this week. I was actually hoping that it would end before the Flicker had a chance to run with it. Maybe, I should wait a day or two more.
I typically side with the player in these situations. Despite being very well paid, they tend to get the short end in pretty much everything. The players are the face of the league yet they have no say in which team drafts them, in which city they live and work. They have to play in that city for four years or more before they get a chance to pick their own home. Stastics show that the average NFL career is only about four years. The window to earn the big bucks is often so brief. Even after a 15 year career, a 35 year old player is ancient in this league. A football players career is over when most people are fresh in the middle of theirs. The NFL business is a very lucrative one. 9 billion a year and growing if some of the owners don't screw it up. Due to the brief career of the players, the only people guaranteed of these great profits for an extended period of time are the owners. Owning an NFL franchise is no longer a gamble. If one is wealthy enough to own an NFL franchise, increasing that wealth is guaranteed. The only thing that changes is the players that represent those teams. The pot being fought over is so huge that both parties should be ecstatic, not fighting.
It is unfortunate that the other group affected by this battle is one that has no say in the battle. Most fans won't care about this until it cuts into the games next fall. Some, like me, see the impact now. The players and owners had better see the fan's side. It's the fans that ultimately pay for the whole thing. In that respect, the players and owners work for us.
I am an optimistic chap, so I don't see this labor battle lasting too long. I feel that the one week extension agreed to last Friday is a promising sign. I think that it will end this week. I was actually hoping that it would end before the Flicker had a chance to run with it. Maybe, I should wait a day or two more.
I typically side with the player in these situations. Despite being very well paid, they tend to get the short end in pretty much everything. The players are the face of the league yet they have no say in which team drafts them, in which city they live and work. They have to play in that city for four years or more before they get a chance to pick their own home. Stastics show that the average NFL career is only about four years. The window to earn the big bucks is often so brief. Even after a 15 year career, a 35 year old player is ancient in this league. A football players career is over when most people are fresh in the middle of theirs. The NFL business is a very lucrative one. 9 billion a year and growing if some of the owners don't screw it up. Due to the brief career of the players, the only people guaranteed of these great profits for an extended period of time are the owners. Owning an NFL franchise is no longer a gamble. If one is wealthy enough to own an NFL franchise, increasing that wealth is guaranteed. The only thing that changes is the players that represent those teams. The pot being fought over is so huge that both parties should be ecstatic, not fighting.
It is unfortunate that the other group affected by this battle is one that has no say in the battle. Most fans won't care about this until it cuts into the games next fall. Some, like me, see the impact now. The players and owners had better see the fan's side. It's the fans that ultimately pay for the whole thing. In that respect, the players and owners work for us.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Blanton Collier
This is another installment of my Looking Back Mondays, but after consulting with my amazing wife I may be changing it to Throw Back Thursdays. During the season, Mondays may offer juicy subject matter that can not wait for another day. For now, let me introduce to you, one of my favorites, Blanton Collier.
Vince Lombardi, George Halas, Weeb Ewbank and Hank Stram all won championships in the 1960s. All are in the Hall of Fame. Blanton Collier won a championship in the '60s. He is not in the Hall of Fame, and few outside of Ohio and Kentucky have probably ever heard of him. He might have been the best coach of them all.
Blanton Collier was also very lucky. He enlisted in the Navy, at the age of 37, to serve his country in World War II. His name was called for sea duty, but he never heard it. He missed the boat. The ship he should have been on was bombed. There were no survivors. When testing revealed that he had less than 30% hearing ability, he was packed off to the Great Lakes Navy Hospital. While an out-patient, he learned that the great Paul Brown was coaching the base football team. Each afternoon, Collier would sit on a fence and take notes of Brown's practices. Always fearful of spies, this quickly attracted the attention of Brown, who sent his commanding officer to check out the guy on the fence. The officer made a quick assessment and told Brown, "You better hire this guy. He knows more football than you do." The high school coach from Kentucky joined Paul Brown's staff. After the war, Collier joined Paul Brown with the new Cleveland Browns. There, Hall of Fame QB Otto Graham credited Collier with "teaching me everything I know". Collier was also charged with designing a film study to grade the players. It remains the model for grading players in use today.
In 1954, Collier returned to his home state to coach at the University of Kentucky. He replaced Bear Bryant. It would not be the only time that Collier would replace a legend. He compiled a record of 41-36-3 in eight seasons. The University of Kentucky faculty remembers the Collier years as a time when there was a healthy balance between winning in football and winning in the classroom. Collier emphasized preparation in the game of life. "You are here because you have a God-given ability to play the game of football which has enabled you to have the opportunity to get an education. Do not ever get it backwards." To assist him, Collier assembled an incredible coaching staff. Don Shula, Chuck Knox, Howard Schnellenberger and Bill Arnsparger all came to Kentucky because they all wanted to learn from the man who became known as the greatest teacher of them all. After 1961, Kentucky bought out the remaining years of his contract. He is the last Kentucky coach to have a winning record.
Paul Brown immediately brought his friend back to the Browns. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported, "We welcome back a football wizard and a gentleman." In 1962, young Browns owner, Art Modell made a decision that shocked the football world. Paul Brown was too big for Modell's Browns. He fired the only head coach the team had ever known. Paul Brown's impact on football and especially the Browns can not be overstated. His on field success is legendary. From 1946-55, the Browns played in the Championship game every year, winning seven. To avoid being run out of town or killed, Modell could not make a mistake in his choice to replace Brown. Luckily, the perfect coach was already in Cleveland. Blanton Collier replaced a legend for the second time. Accepting the position was no easy decision. Paul Brown was his friend. "You have to take it, Blanton." Fortunately, Brown's ego did not prevent him from encouraging his friend. It would take Collier two years to win a Championship. The Browns completely dismantled the favored Colts in the 1964 NFL Championship.
Before I had ever heard anything about Blanton Collier's football knowledge and coaching skills, I had heard about his kindness and warmth. Everybody loved him. Players, coaches, the press, the fans, everybody. It is astonishing to hear Jim Brown speak of Collier. The brutal fullback sounds downright cuddly in his fondness for his coach. Collier had a great rapport with the press. He brought them into his office to watch game film and grade players. He taught the press football. I wish that someone could do the same for the press today. He did this on the condition that anything negative said of a player in his office stayed in his office. He protected his players. I have always loved the story told by Akron sportswriter Tom Medley.
"One day, Bill Scholl (of the Cleveland Press) and I were at practice. The Browns were trying out a new kicker, and there weren't many people around. Blanton asked us to stand in the end zone and catch this guy's kicks. We did, and it seemed like the balls were dropping from the heavens. We dropped some, and nearly got hit in the head with others. As we walked off the field, Blanton had his arm around me and said, 'The next time you criticize someone for dropping a punt or a kick, I want you to remember this day.' And it worked because I always thought about that when I saw a guy mess up a kick."
Collier's hearing issues only got worse. In fact, his hearing was the major factor in his retirement in 1970. It is amazing that in a profession where so much depends on communication that Collier functioned so well. He became an expert lip reader. He adapted and dealt with his hearing loss as best he could. Collier rarely seemed limited. Of course, some players had some fun with him, but as with everything he took it with grace and a smile.
Blanton Collier deserves to be remembered for all that he brought to football and to all that knew and loved him. I think that he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, but I smile when I think that he probably doesn't care if he is remembered in that way. He deserves to be listed with Lombardi, Halas, Ewbank and Stram, but I think that he was happy just to have known them.
Vince Lombardi, George Halas, Weeb Ewbank and Hank Stram all won championships in the 1960s. All are in the Hall of Fame. Blanton Collier won a championship in the '60s. He is not in the Hall of Fame, and few outside of Ohio and Kentucky have probably ever heard of him. He might have been the best coach of them all.
Blanton Collier was also very lucky. He enlisted in the Navy, at the age of 37, to serve his country in World War II. His name was called for sea duty, but he never heard it. He missed the boat. The ship he should have been on was bombed. There were no survivors. When testing revealed that he had less than 30% hearing ability, he was packed off to the Great Lakes Navy Hospital. While an out-patient, he learned that the great Paul Brown was coaching the base football team. Each afternoon, Collier would sit on a fence and take notes of Brown's practices. Always fearful of spies, this quickly attracted the attention of Brown, who sent his commanding officer to check out the guy on the fence. The officer made a quick assessment and told Brown, "You better hire this guy. He knows more football than you do." The high school coach from Kentucky joined Paul Brown's staff. After the war, Collier joined Paul Brown with the new Cleveland Browns. There, Hall of Fame QB Otto Graham credited Collier with "teaching me everything I know". Collier was also charged with designing a film study to grade the players. It remains the model for grading players in use today.
In 1954, Collier returned to his home state to coach at the University of Kentucky. He replaced Bear Bryant. It would not be the only time that Collier would replace a legend. He compiled a record of 41-36-3 in eight seasons. The University of Kentucky faculty remembers the Collier years as a time when there was a healthy balance between winning in football and winning in the classroom. Collier emphasized preparation in the game of life. "You are here because you have a God-given ability to play the game of football which has enabled you to have the opportunity to get an education. Do not ever get it backwards." To assist him, Collier assembled an incredible coaching staff. Don Shula, Chuck Knox, Howard Schnellenberger and Bill Arnsparger all came to Kentucky because they all wanted to learn from the man who became known as the greatest teacher of them all. After 1961, Kentucky bought out the remaining years of his contract. He is the last Kentucky coach to have a winning record.
Paul Brown immediately brought his friend back to the Browns. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported, "We welcome back a football wizard and a gentleman." In 1962, young Browns owner, Art Modell made a decision that shocked the football world. Paul Brown was too big for Modell's Browns. He fired the only head coach the team had ever known. Paul Brown's impact on football and especially the Browns can not be overstated. His on field success is legendary. From 1946-55, the Browns played in the Championship game every year, winning seven. To avoid being run out of town or killed, Modell could not make a mistake in his choice to replace Brown. Luckily, the perfect coach was already in Cleveland. Blanton Collier replaced a legend for the second time. Accepting the position was no easy decision. Paul Brown was his friend. "You have to take it, Blanton." Fortunately, Brown's ego did not prevent him from encouraging his friend. It would take Collier two years to win a Championship. The Browns completely dismantled the favored Colts in the 1964 NFL Championship.
Before I had ever heard anything about Blanton Collier's football knowledge and coaching skills, I had heard about his kindness and warmth. Everybody loved him. Players, coaches, the press, the fans, everybody. It is astonishing to hear Jim Brown speak of Collier. The brutal fullback sounds downright cuddly in his fondness for his coach. Collier had a great rapport with the press. He brought them into his office to watch game film and grade players. He taught the press football. I wish that someone could do the same for the press today. He did this on the condition that anything negative said of a player in his office stayed in his office. He protected his players. I have always loved the story told by Akron sportswriter Tom Medley.
"One day, Bill Scholl (of the Cleveland Press) and I were at practice. The Browns were trying out a new kicker, and there weren't many people around. Blanton asked us to stand in the end zone and catch this guy's kicks. We did, and it seemed like the balls were dropping from the heavens. We dropped some, and nearly got hit in the head with others. As we walked off the field, Blanton had his arm around me and said, 'The next time you criticize someone for dropping a punt or a kick, I want you to remember this day.' And it worked because I always thought about that when I saw a guy mess up a kick."
Collier's hearing issues only got worse. In fact, his hearing was the major factor in his retirement in 1970. It is amazing that in a profession where so much depends on communication that Collier functioned so well. He became an expert lip reader. He adapted and dealt with his hearing loss as best he could. Collier rarely seemed limited. Of course, some players had some fun with him, but as with everything he took it with grace and a smile.
Blanton Collier deserves to be remembered for all that he brought to football and to all that knew and loved him. I think that he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, but I smile when I think that he probably doesn't care if he is remembered in that way. He deserves to be listed with Lombardi, Halas, Ewbank and Stram, but I think that he was happy just to have known them.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
More Fan Bits
There are a lot of things to like about fan message boards. For someone, me, that has a long distance relationship with a team, Vikings, message boards provide great team information and some enjoyable fan interaction that I can't find locally. Some of the bickering that inevitably erupts can be a bit annoying, but what bothers me the most is what usually takes place at about this time. The CBA has delayed it this year, hopefully briefly. Fans always have ideas about what a team should or should not be doing in the offseason. It's part of being devoted to a team. I regularly plot an offseason path for the Vikings regarding free agency, trades and the draft. I make lists in my head and on paper of the Vikings players that need to be re-signed, free agents that need to be added, and players that need to be drafted. I try to be realistic about it, but I don't take it seriously. I just find it fun to do. One of the many idle things that I have done that has led to the Flea Flicker. Maybe it is this new sports world of video games and fantasy leagues, but some people have little concept of reality. They become annoyed if a player leaves in free agency, or the team fails to bring in a prized free agent, or the team fails to make a desired trade. Some fans seem to forget that a player has to want to re-sign with a team, a player has to want to visit and sign with another team, two teams have to agree on a trade. They seem to think that if they want it to happen, it will happen. As a free agent, a player may sign with a team for a variety of reasons. Money is often the main reason, but so many other things factor into the decision. Some fans should realize that the NFL is made up of individuals that have their own needs, desires and dreams.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The Joker and the Thief
This post has absolutely nothing to do with Jokers or Thieves. I just thought that it sounded better than what would probably be the real title. Plus, I like the song by Wolfmother. This post is really titled the GM and the Coach, and in no way am I making assumptions about either with the preferred title.
In my football knowledge infancy, I was always confused by what it was exactly that a General Manager did. I simply assumed that the coach made all decisions regarding the football team. The coach installed the offensive and defensive schemes. It should just follow that the coach would be the one to determine the players to execute those schemes. I still believe that. Over the years, I have come to the conclusion that it is an awful lot to expect from one person. Some coaches want, even demand, that dual responsibility. Mike Holmgren enjoyed great success as the Green Bay Packers head coach in the '90s. He went to two Super Bowls, winning one. A terrific GM, Ron Wolf, was in charge of providing Holmgren with the players that made for that success. Holmgren certainly had input. It would be foolish to ignore the coach, but Wolf made the call. Holmgren may have left Green Bay for many reasons, but one of them was to call all of the shots in Seattle. He showed his skill in building a team by taking the Seahawks to their only Super Bowl. Some coaches are excellent talent evaluators. Bill Belichick, Jimmy Johnson, Holmgren, Jimmy Johnson and Bill Walsh are a few. Former Vikings coach Dennis Green was an excellent evaluator of offensive talent, but failed miserably when taking a stab at the defensive side of the ball.
The key is the relationship between the GM and the coach. They must be able to see the same big picture. There will always be differences of opinion, but egos have to be kept in check. The good of the team must be the only concern. The GM usually has final say. Someone has to. If there is an agree to disagree situation, it must be done with respect. It is often the GM that hires the coach. So, it is often the GM that fires the coach. It is a delicate dynamic. The team that best handles this relationship is often the one holding the shiny silver trophy in February.
In my football knowledge infancy, I was always confused by what it was exactly that a General Manager did. I simply assumed that the coach made all decisions regarding the football team. The coach installed the offensive and defensive schemes. It should just follow that the coach would be the one to determine the players to execute those schemes. I still believe that. Over the years, I have come to the conclusion that it is an awful lot to expect from one person. Some coaches want, even demand, that dual responsibility. Mike Holmgren enjoyed great success as the Green Bay Packers head coach in the '90s. He went to two Super Bowls, winning one. A terrific GM, Ron Wolf, was in charge of providing Holmgren with the players that made for that success. Holmgren certainly had input. It would be foolish to ignore the coach, but Wolf made the call. Holmgren may have left Green Bay for many reasons, but one of them was to call all of the shots in Seattle. He showed his skill in building a team by taking the Seahawks to their only Super Bowl. Some coaches are excellent talent evaluators. Bill Belichick, Jimmy Johnson, Holmgren, Jimmy Johnson and Bill Walsh are a few. Former Vikings coach Dennis Green was an excellent evaluator of offensive talent, but failed miserably when taking a stab at the defensive side of the ball.
The key is the relationship between the GM and the coach. They must be able to see the same big picture. There will always be differences of opinion, but egos have to be kept in check. The good of the team must be the only concern. The GM usually has final say. Someone has to. If there is an agree to disagree situation, it must be done with respect. It is often the GM that hires the coach. So, it is often the GM that fires the coach. It is a delicate dynamic. The team that best handles this relationship is often the one holding the shiny silver trophy in February.
Friday, March 4, 2011
A Bit More Combine
I'm sure that most everyone has asked, at times aloud, how did the combine begin. I know that I have. Since it was kept so secret initially, it seemed like it just appeared on the scene like it had been around for years. Turns out that it had been. We just didn't know it.
I was listening to a podcast on which Gil Brandt was a guest. Brandt and Tex Schramm were the draft gurus for the Dallas Cowboys from the team's birth until Jerry Jones kicked them and coach Tom Landry to the curb. The draft may have started in 1936, but pretty much all that is known about scouting today can be traced Brandt and Schramm. On the podcast, Brandt was telling the story of how he and Schramm saw Kansas QB Nolan Cromwell at an airport with a bunch of packets from different teams. Apparently he was jetting to various teams so that they could check out an injury before the draft. Brandt and Schramm started talking about how much easier things would be if teams and players all met in one place. In the early '80s the scouting combine was born. Initially, medical checks were the main priority of this meeting. Eventually, it evolved into the various testing and drills that take place now. It remained in the shadows throughout the '80s. Opened up a bit more in the '90s as some of the results were eventually leaked to the media. Everything exploded into the circus that we have now with the NFL Network. I should have guessed that Brandt and Schramm were to blame for all of this.
I was listening to a podcast on which Gil Brandt was a guest. Brandt and Tex Schramm were the draft gurus for the Dallas Cowboys from the team's birth until Jerry Jones kicked them and coach Tom Landry to the curb. The draft may have started in 1936, but pretty much all that is known about scouting today can be traced Brandt and Schramm. On the podcast, Brandt was telling the story of how he and Schramm saw Kansas QB Nolan Cromwell at an airport with a bunch of packets from different teams. Apparently he was jetting to various teams so that they could check out an injury before the draft. Brandt and Schramm started talking about how much easier things would be if teams and players all met in one place. In the early '80s the scouting combine was born. Initially, medical checks were the main priority of this meeting. Eventually, it evolved into the various testing and drills that take place now. It remained in the shadows throughout the '80s. Opened up a bit more in the '90s as some of the results were eventually leaked to the media. Everything exploded into the circus that we have now with the NFL Network. I should have guessed that Brandt and Schramm were to blame for all of this.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
6 Degrees of Steve DeBerg
Most people are familiar with the party and road trip sensation "6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon". If you are not familiar with it, the object of the game is to connect any actor/actress to Kevin Bacon in six moves or less. It is based on the premise that Bacon has been in enough movies with enough people to be closely connected to everybody in the field. Who can forget his terrific performance in "Animal House". 6 Degrees is a crowd pleaser. I have always wanted to play this game using football players and coaches, sadly no one will play with me.
In the football version, former QB Steve DeBerg would be a fine place to start. Like Bacon, his work spans decades, he has played on a lot of teams and has had a bunch of teammates and coaches. Besides, the words degree and DeBerg are strikingly similar. Not many QBs can say that they lost their job to Joe Montana twice, on different teams in different decades.
For the truly adventurous, I would recommend connecting players from the early days of the NFL to today. Let's give it a try:
Chicago Bears RB Red Grange from the '20s and '30s to the Minnesota Vikings awesome RB Adrian Peterson
Grange played for George Halas
Halas coached Mike Ditka
Ditka coached Leslie Frazier
Frazier coached Peterson
If you can connect a player or coach to Halas, your work is mostly done. That guy had connections to everyone and was around the league for nearly 70 years.
Good times. Give it a try.
In the football version, former QB Steve DeBerg would be a fine place to start. Like Bacon, his work spans decades, he has played on a lot of teams and has had a bunch of teammates and coaches. Besides, the words degree and DeBerg are strikingly similar. Not many QBs can say that they lost their job to Joe Montana twice, on different teams in different decades.
For the truly adventurous, I would recommend connecting players from the early days of the NFL to today. Let's give it a try:
Chicago Bears RB Red Grange from the '20s and '30s to the Minnesota Vikings awesome RB Adrian Peterson
Grange played for George Halas
Halas coached Mike Ditka
Ditka coached Leslie Frazier
Frazier coached Peterson
If you can connect a player or coach to Halas, your work is mostly done. That guy had connections to everyone and was around the league for nearly 70 years.
Good times. Give it a try.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Two Countries, Two Sports
Pretty much any whisper of football will grab the attention of the Flea Flicker. That was the case when I read of the passing of Wally Yonamine on Monday at the age of 85. Yonamine's name should be more well known and should never be forgotten. I hope that my adorable wife will forgive me, but Yonamine's story has a fair amount of baseball.
Born in Maui, Hawaii, Wally Yonamine starred in football and baseball at Fairington High School in Honolulu. Although he never went to college, he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers because coach Buck Shaw considered him an outstanding breakaway runner. Yonamine became the first Asian-American athlete to play professional football when he lined up as a running back for the 49ers in 1947. At the time, many Japanese-Americans were just returning to their homes after spending the war in internment camps. At a dark time, Yonamine brought them a little hope. In 12 games, with 3 starts, he rushed for 74 yards on 19 carries, caught 3 passes for 40 yards, and recorded one interception for a 20 yard return.
A fractured wrist playing exhibition baseball ended his football career after one season. Switching to baseball full time, he played for the San Francisco Seals Salt Lake farm team and a year for the Hawaiian Asahi team. At the suggestion of Seals manager Lefty O'Doul, Yonamine went abroad to play for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan. He became the first American to play in Japan after World War II. He adapted his football skills to baseball and played hard-stealing bases, sliding hard and knocking down opponents. The Japanese were aghast at the aggressive American. Opposing fans hurled insults and rocks at him, but he quickly became one of the most dominant players in the league. His success changed the way the Japanese played the game, and opened the door for other Americans to come to Japan. A seven-time all-star in his 11 seasons with the Giants and Chunichi Dragons, he won three batting titles, and was part of three Japan Series championship teams. Yonamine went on to coach or manage various professional teams for 26 years. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.
The 49ers established the Perry/Yonamine Unity Award in 2007 to honor an exceptional non-profit agency, youth football coach and a current 49er player who has demonstrated a commitment to promoting unity and giving back to the local community. The award is named after Yonamine and former 49er Joe Perry, one of the first African-Americans to reintegrate the NFL. It is not often that a person gets a chance to break through a barrier, to change things into something better. Yonamine did it twice in two different countries in two different sports.
Born in Maui, Hawaii, Wally Yonamine starred in football and baseball at Fairington High School in Honolulu. Although he never went to college, he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers because coach Buck Shaw considered him an outstanding breakaway runner. Yonamine became the first Asian-American athlete to play professional football when he lined up as a running back for the 49ers in 1947. At the time, many Japanese-Americans were just returning to their homes after spending the war in internment camps. At a dark time, Yonamine brought them a little hope. In 12 games, with 3 starts, he rushed for 74 yards on 19 carries, caught 3 passes for 40 yards, and recorded one interception for a 20 yard return.
A fractured wrist playing exhibition baseball ended his football career after one season. Switching to baseball full time, he played for the San Francisco Seals Salt Lake farm team and a year for the Hawaiian Asahi team. At the suggestion of Seals manager Lefty O'Doul, Yonamine went abroad to play for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan. He became the first American to play in Japan after World War II. He adapted his football skills to baseball and played hard-stealing bases, sliding hard and knocking down opponents. The Japanese were aghast at the aggressive American. Opposing fans hurled insults and rocks at him, but he quickly became one of the most dominant players in the league. His success changed the way the Japanese played the game, and opened the door for other Americans to come to Japan. A seven-time all-star in his 11 seasons with the Giants and Chunichi Dragons, he won three batting titles, and was part of three Japan Series championship teams. Yonamine went on to coach or manage various professional teams for 26 years. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.
The 49ers established the Perry/Yonamine Unity Award in 2007 to honor an exceptional non-profit agency, youth football coach and a current 49er player who has demonstrated a commitment to promoting unity and giving back to the local community. The award is named after Yonamine and former 49er Joe Perry, one of the first African-Americans to reintegrate the NFL. It is not often that a person gets a chance to break through a barrier, to change things into something better. Yonamine did it twice in two different countries in two different sports.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Thomas Dimitroff
Despite what some people may think of him, hanging out with Bill Belichick is the wise thing to do if you want a career in football. Coaches and personnel people jsut seem to spin off of him. Thomas Dimitroff is one of those guys.
I was somewhat aware of Dimitroff when was hired as the Atlanta Falcons general manager in 2003. I had often heard his name mentioned as being a part of the effective New England Patriots personnel team. When I saw him on TV as the new Falcons GM, I thought that he was a high school kid amped for his first rave. Despite being 37 at the time, he looked much younger. The spiked hair made him look even younger. As the Falcons have steadily improved since 2003, it was apparent that he was doing some good things. The team even had to change their direction due to Michael Vick's idiocy. Acquiring Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez and Dunta Robinson have all been strong moves. His drafts have proven to be solid, highlighted by Matt Ryan. The Falcons look to be a contender for a long time. What really grabbed my attention was when I heard that he was on the Cleveland Browns' grounds crew while Belichick was the coach. Talk about getting your foot in the door anyway you can. Belichick is one to take notice when someone shows the passion and aptitude for football. Since he excels at both coaching and personnel, he can see skills at both. Even if Dimitroff was slaving away on the Cleveland sod, Belichick must have seen something in the kid. He brought Dimitroff to the Patriots, teaming him with Scott Pioli and the rest of the personnel team. The Patriots started a little dynasty, and the light started shining on Dimitroff. The Falcons soon came after him. Nearly every football professional starts low and hopefully climbs the ladder. I had just never heard of one that started on the grounds crew.
I found it a bit humorous to learn that Dimitroff is a vegan. In a profession dominated by carnivores, where "wining and dining" is frequently done at steak houses, Falcons owner, Arthur Blank, was a bit shocked to find his new GM sticking with fries and a shake.
I was somewhat aware of Dimitroff when was hired as the Atlanta Falcons general manager in 2003. I had often heard his name mentioned as being a part of the effective New England Patriots personnel team. When I saw him on TV as the new Falcons GM, I thought that he was a high school kid amped for his first rave. Despite being 37 at the time, he looked much younger. The spiked hair made him look even younger. As the Falcons have steadily improved since 2003, it was apparent that he was doing some good things. The team even had to change their direction due to Michael Vick's idiocy. Acquiring Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez and Dunta Robinson have all been strong moves. His drafts have proven to be solid, highlighted by Matt Ryan. The Falcons look to be a contender for a long time. What really grabbed my attention was when I heard that he was on the Cleveland Browns' grounds crew while Belichick was the coach. Talk about getting your foot in the door anyway you can. Belichick is one to take notice when someone shows the passion and aptitude for football. Since he excels at both coaching and personnel, he can see skills at both. Even if Dimitroff was slaving away on the Cleveland sod, Belichick must have seen something in the kid. He brought Dimitroff to the Patriots, teaming him with Scott Pioli and the rest of the personnel team. The Patriots started a little dynasty, and the light started shining on Dimitroff. The Falcons soon came after him. Nearly every football professional starts low and hopefully climbs the ladder. I had just never heard of one that started on the grounds crew.
I found it a bit humorous to learn that Dimitroff is a vegan. In a profession dominated by carnivores, where "wining and dining" is frequently done at steak houses, Falcons owner, Arthur Blank, was a bit shocked to find his new GM sticking with fries and a shake.
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