The stones of the week award is given to any person that demonstrates the ability to look overwhelming adversity in the face and pimp slap it.

The three award winners for this week are:

1. Mike Shanahan – The Denver San Diego game will go down as an instant classic but Mike Shanahan’s decision to go for two to win instead of tying the game without hesitation was the bravest call I’ve ever seen in an NFL game. Keep in mind that if the Broncos don’t convert that game is over and the pundits will grind Shanahan into a fine mist for the rest of his life. Not to mention the fact that Denver got two major homer calls that I still can’t believe. I tip my cap to Mike Shanahan for pimp slapping adversity and giving his team crazy confidence for the rest of the season. Heck, Shanahan’s call was so gutsy I was tempted to name the award after him.



2. Jason Campbell – All Jason Campbell sees and hears about is how he is not the franchise QB for the Redskins. Campbell had a sit down with Zorn this week and asked Zorn to trust him. To his credit Zorn says ok, Jason it’s your show but try to remember the fundamentals we worked on this summer. Jason Campbell takes not only the coaches trust but the team’s trust and leads them to victory late in the game which they trailed by 9. The big stones came when Jason made a play call at the line of scrimmage based on the coverage and then avoided what looked to be a sure sack while throwing a frozen rope to a streaking Santana Moss for the go ahead TD. As a member of the Washington area media establishment I can tell you first hand had Jason not made that play both Zorn and Campbell would be bombarded with questions about the shape of this franchise. I tip my cap to Jason Campbell for earning the trust of both his coach and teammates with a very gutsy call late in the football game.


3. Aaron Rodgers – Ok, Brett who? All this kid does after having the opening game of his life against a very good division rival is nearly hang a 50-burger on another division rival. Here is the beauty of Rodgers..NO STUPID TURNOVERS. Hey Green Bay fans life is pretty awesome when your QB is pretty good and does not have bad interceptions embedded in his DNA. Rogers needs a wheel barrel to carry his stones around. I wonder if all of those Brett apologist flew to NY to make excuses for that bad pick Brett threw in the Jets game. Brett is gonna love that NY media this week!



Honorable Mentions:

Ohio State University – Ok, we all know they got pimped out like an @ss clown by USC but I give them credit for putting a tough game on their schedule. Ohio State could have chosen to hide out in the Big Ten and beat up on everyone until the Rose Bowl but they showed some major stones by playing an incredibly tough opponent in their place no less. My theory is if you want to be the best you have to play the best. Now Ohio State may have taken a beating but at least they know where they need to improve. I tip my cap to Ohio State for having the stones to play the best.


Michigan Wolverine Nation – This year ain’t gonna be pretty for Rich Rodriguez but Michigan is the first team in the big ten to buck tradition and go with a spread offense. They have learned the lesson of having a slow plodding team go into bowl season only to get smoked like a cheap cigar by faster and more talented teams from other conferences. Michigan fans need to give Rodriguez some time to recruit his type of players. Michigan’s growing pains are gonna pay big dividends down the road when everyone else is trying to catch up. Chin up Wolverine fans….Rodriguez will deliver and you will be better for it. So I tip my cap to all those Michigan fans taking serious abuse now. It takes some pretty big stones to sport your gear.


As usual I welcome your thoughts comments and additions…