Turner Sports Desk

Sanity has returned to Redskin Park

Mon, 8 Mar, 2010 05:39:23 GMT

Jim Turner

turnersportsdesk.com

March 8, 2010

If one required tangible evidence that the days of the free spending free agency days of the Redskins are gone look no further than your closest news outlet. Turns out the Redskins never even contacted Julius Pepper's agent despite all kinds of reports that they were first in line for his services. Bruce Allen targeted two veteran tackles, Chad Clifton, Tony Pashos and both chose to seek life elsewhere. Pashos even chose Cleveland of all places.

Thus far the Redskins have concentrated on resigning their own guys but they managed to bring in free agent Guard Artis Hicks. Times are changing and as a seasoned Redskin fan boring is great. How many times during the Dan Snyder era have we watched as the Redskins jump the free agent market only to lay an egg during the season. Redskin Coach, Mike Shanahan spent his year off analyzing team structures and operations. Maybe he noticed that the two most successful teams this decade (Colts/Pats) spend more time and energy drafting the right guys for their system. Those teams also keep their players which means more consistency.

So for my fellow Redskins fans that want to sign every big name that flashes across the screen I have a phrase for you...been there failed that. Now is the time for an emphasis on building the foundation of a winning franchise. It is time for some non-famous players/coaches to step up and bring this franchise back into prominence.

Redskins miss out on Clifton

Sat, 6 Mar, 2010 05:42:26 GMT

Jim Turner

turnersportsdesk.com

March 6, 2010

ESPN reports that Chad Clifton resisted the Redskins and will resign with the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile the Redskins continue their pursuit of veteran right tackle Tony Pashos. Pashos was with the 49ers this past season and has history with Redskins Offensive Line Coach Chris Foester.

Clifton was the left tackle on a Green Bay offensive line that gave up a ton of sacks so maybe his resigning with the Pack is not such a bad thing. Minus Clifton the Redskins will either continue their pursuit of a veteran left tackle or draft one. According to the depth chart the Skins have Levi Jones and Stephon Heyer. Obviously Shanahan believes an upgrade is needed.

What does this mean in terms of draft strategy?

It is obvious the Redskins are doing everything they can to get a veteran line in place prior to the draft. Many believe they are drafting a QB but with the tender to Campbell they may be setting themselves up to be in a position to draft the best player available. According to the Scouts Inc. big board the highest rated QB is Sam Bradford who grades out at 95 and he is the 9th best player in the draft. The next best QB is Jimmy Clausen who grades out at 88 which puts him in the early second round.

The Rams are rumored to have serious interest in Bradford so the Redskins must face the possibility that their prized QB could be gone by the time they are on the clock. If Bradford is indeed gone they would be insane to pick Clausen at 4 and pay him starter money when they can get him or Colt McCoy in the second round and save millions. If the Redskins do not fill the left tackle position by the draft they will likely take the highest rated left tackle Anthony Davis.

So even though Clifton decided to stay with the Packers the Redskins still find themselves in pretty good shape if they can land Pashos. Looks like the Skins have a plan and for the first time in many years it is a solid one.

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Redskins pursuit of Clifton, Pashos gives hints on draft strategy

Sat, 6 Mar, 2010 12:58:58 GMT

Jim Turner

turnersportsdesk.com

March 5, 2010

ESPN980 is reporting that the Redskins are actively pursuing Green Bay Veteran left tackle Chad Clifton. Clifton is 33 so that shoots the youth movement theory in the foot. This move is interesting in terms of draft strategy because the Skins can still draft an Offensive Lineman at 4 and play him at right tackle until they deem him ready to move over.

For those of you that believe the Skins are locked on a QB at 4 the Rams may change that plan. If the Rams do not grab Michael Vick or another veteran QB they are likely to draft Sam Bradford now. The Redskins would be massively over valuing Jimmy Clausen by drafting him at the 4 spot so we can only hope they are either planning to trade down or draft someone at four that most mock drafts don't have the Redskins drafting.

The optimum place to draft Clausen is out of the top ten especially if Jason Campbell stays. If the Skins draft Clausen at 4 I would expect Campbell to be dealt because Clausen has to start if he is making that kind of money. Campbell has trade value and could net the Skins some picks.

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Redskins were set to pursue Darren Sproles

Fri, 5 Mar, 2010 05:19:42 GMT

Jim Turner

Turnersportsdesk.com

March 5, 2010

According to NFL Network's Michael Lombardi the Redskins were all set to pursue Running Back Darren Sproles. The Chargers reported earlier in the week that Sproles would not be tendered but changed their minds and tendered him yesterday.

My first thought was they reported the wrong Darren. I was thinking they meant Darren Sharper which would be a nice pickup for the Skins at free safety.

The Redskins already have a 7 million dollar paper weight at the running back position named Clinton "You talkin bout practice" Portis. So let me get this straight, the Redskins O-line is in shambles and the first free agent the Redskins were going to pursue was a running back? As Scooby Doo would say...roh-roh raggy! I am going to give Shanny and Allen a wide birth but I am really confused by this.

Their are three positions a team needs to be strong at in order to compete consistently. Cornerback, Offensive line and pass rushers. I left QB off of the list because the position is more dependent upon others than people think. People who don't know football get mesmerized by guys like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees into believing that a team has to have a marquee QB in order to win a superbowl. Guess what...Trent Dilfer, Mark Rypien and other less than stud QBs have rings. Why? Because football is still a team sport. Granted some QBs are better than others but Joe Gibbs proved that in certain schemes you only need a serviceable QB. The Redskins do not to put another dime into the running back position especially with Mike Shanahan as Coach. The Redskins need Cornerbacks and you can never have enough pass rushers so I can understand the pursuit of Peppers. What I cannot fathom is the pursuit of a running back.

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Redskins clear 12 million in salary prior to free agency

Fri, 5 Mar, 2010 01:05:49 GMT

Jim Turner

Turnersportsdesk.com

March 4, 2010

General Manager Bruce Allen and Head Coach Mike Shanahan officially began the Redskins house cleaning process by dumping the following underperforming and often hurt veterans:

Antwan Randle El – Good guy but overpaid and slowing down
Randy Thomas – If only he could have stayed healthy. A core Redskin
Cornelius Griffin – Another guy that was limited by injuries but a core Redskin
Fred Smoot – Clearly lost a step but played with heart. A core Redskin
Rock Cartwright – If there is one guy I regret is on this list it is Cartwright. A Core Redskin
Ladell Betts – Betts could be super effective if only he could stay healthy
Todd Collins – Came here with Mr. 700 page playbook…had one good run.

There are a couple more names on the list but no one of significance. Other than the emotional attachment to a few core redskins like Cartwright and Griffin I have absolutely no problems with dropping 12 million dollars of dead weight. For those of you with hurt feelings because of these departures get over it. This team was 4-12 so nobody’s job should be safe and I mean no one.

Due to the Redskins past free agency follies they are being mentioned with virtually every big name. Clearly the new Redskins leadership group has a plan which is nice to see. You don’t clear 12 million dollars in one swipe unless you have a master plan so looks like Redskins Nation will burn some midnight oil to see what direction the team takes. The one thing you can say for Redskins nation is that the off season is always full of excitement.

Caps make statement at trade deadline

Thu, 4 Mar, 2010 07:51:37 GMT

Jim Turner

turnersportsdesk.com

March 4, 2010

The Washington Capitals were the #1 team in the NHL going into the trade deadline yesterday. The Caps believe they are talented enough to win the cup. The bigger question is are they tough and deep enough to win the cup? General Manager George McPhee made moves to answer both of those questions.

Caps acquire Eric Belanger from Columbus – The Caps needed help up the middle and they got a really good two way center in Belanger. He brings some great skating along with a very good face off record. Bruce Boudreau is familiar with Belanger as he coached him in the Minors. Belanger is an excellent penalty killer and he instantly helps the 25^th ranked penalty kill.

Caps acquire Scott Walker from Carolina – Caps nation was not thrilled when the team let Donald Brashear go. They were definitely not thrilled when teams started taking liberties with our skill guys and we had no enforcer to even the score. Scott Walker is not to be mistaken for Donald Brashear but he can drop the mitts with the best of them. He brings solid, gritty play along with good locker room leadership. Walker can make a big difference with his ability to get under people’s skin without hurting his own team. He is also good penalty killer which helps the Caps.

Caps acquire Joe Corvo from Carolina – Joe Corvo’s acquisition allows the Caps to still have a defensive scoring threat when teams key on Mike Green. Many are still at odds with this acquisition because of their belief that the Caps needed more defensive minded defensemen. Corvo brings a wealth of playoff experience, a terrific point shot and the ability to play either opposite green on the first power play unit or to quarterback the second unit. Either way you slice it the number #1 power play in the league just got better.

Caps re-acquire Milan Jurcina from Columbus – This move is proof positive that you can always come home especially if you are a 6’4 235 pound righty defenseman. “Juice” was traded with former Captain Chris Clark to Columbus earlier this season for Mike Chimera. Juice gives the Caps size and a nice heavy shot when he chooses to use it. Jurcina is injured to the tune of 4-6 weeks which puts him back in play in time for the playoffs. The Caps need Jurcina to replace Brian Pothier who was sent to Carolina as part of the Joe Corvo deal along with prospect Oskar Osala.

Overall the Caps got more grit, more playoff tested veterans and more skill. The beauty of these deals is they did not disrupt what is a good locker room in order to do it. They also did not mortgage their future. Questions remain about the Caps goaltending and defense but the Caps made themselves better despite the questions. Time will tell if the moves were good enough. The Caps took the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Penguins to seven games so they feel they have put themselves into a position to over take the Pens and the rest of the NHL.

Caps need to make defense a team effort

Wed, 24 Feb, 2010 03:27:53 GMT

Everyday there is someone talking about the Washington Capitals lack of defense. Some argue that the Caps need to bring in a big bopper on the blue line but they forget the Red Wings won multiple Cups without a killer defenseman. The Red Wings proved that team emphasis on defensive positioning and discipline is more effective than one guy trying to lay everyone out. The Caps are clearly the most talented offensive team in the league and the numbers back that statement up. The Achilles heel for this team is not a defensive personnel problem as many would suggest. The real problem is a lack of discipline, patience and the art of simplifying the game.

What I See…

I see a team that is so offensively gifted that they can spot you a few goals, play 20-40 minutes of hockey and still beat you by multiple goals by the final whistle. The Caps also have the best player on earth who can flick a switch in his mind and become unstoppable. Given these factors it is easy to see why the Caps often become so puck focused that they lose basic discipline. Sometimes you can catch them watching Ovechkin and Semin instead of positioning themselves for a pass, shot or rebound. They also believe that they can score on every shift so you see a tendency to try and stick handle when they should just dump and chase. How many times have we watched in amazement as Semin or Ovechkin tried to put the puck behind a guy only to have the guy read the play and go back the other way on our goalie. The trick plays are only awesome when they work.

Good defense is a team effort

The one thing I know from following sports all of my life is effective defense requires a team effort. Defense is not just a matter for defensemen but it requires forwards making smart decisions with or without the puck. Good defense requires the forwards back checking and helping out. Good defense requires you to dump that puck instead of trying something dumb, causing a turnover and putting your defense/goalie in a bad spot. You have to believe that if we can see these things Bruce Boudreau can see them. You also have to believe that Boudreau is screaming this at the top of his lungs. If Boudreau has become white noise in the ears of the players then McPhee can and will bring in a more discipline minded coach. It happens all the time in hockey so don’t be shocked.

Summary

As I look at the Caps roster I see more than enough to win a Stanley Cup on offense, defense and in goal. Theodore is playing high quality hockey and Varlamov is capable when healthy so the biggest hurdle for the Caps is just playing smarter and more team oriented hockey. Coach Boudreau has a unique challenge that many coaches only dream of. He has such offensively gifted players that he has to walk a fine line between allowing them to flourish but also holding them accountable for their decisions/actions. If the Caps want to win a Stanley Cup every player in that locker room needs become more disciplined, patient and simplify the game.

Americans spoil Canada's coming out party!

Wed, 24 Feb, 2010 03:32:11 GMT

As I asked in a previous blog what happens when you take the best players in the world give them home ice, a home crowd and the biggest stage in the Olympics? They get out hustled, out worked and out smarted by those pesky Americans that did not seem the least bit phased by Canada's assembled firepower.

So what happened to the Canadian hockey dream team? Did they read their own press clippings and decide that they were too awesome to lose? I doubt that. I think the Americans are a pretty good team in their own right. Many of these guys play on the same team in the NHL so the Canadian advantage is only one of perception.

Despite all of the external factors surrounding the Olympics the game of hockey does not change. The Americans used speed, patience, and hustle to beat a more talented team. That happens just about every night in arenas everywhere within the NHL. The Americans were the better team last night and they earned that win. The Canadians can rebound and win the gold but they need to remember that no one is going to hand the gold to them.

The Americans served notice that they are back. They are still not the favorites to win but they proved that team hockey beats a bunch of talented guys almost every time.

The pressure of 33 million and national pride

Sat, 20 Feb, 2010 05:33:03 GMT

If you were scripting a favorable hockey scenario I don't think you can do better than what the Canadians setup. So why even with everything in their favor are they going to fold?

Home ice, check…
Home crowd, check…
Best team in the world, check …
Most hockey lineage on the planet, check…

You look at all the things in Canada’s favor and you could easily think the gold medals came with Canada pre-engraved on them but not so fast. Team Switzerland, with only two NHL players on their roster came a couple whiffed penalty shots away from making an entire nation implode. This Sunday the Canadians host a United States team that (on paper) is better than Switzerland, has zero fear and no problem ripping the heart out of 33 million hockey fans in their country.

All the US team needs to do is either jump out to an early lead or keep this game too close for comfort. Eventually the pressure of 33 million will force the Canadians on the ice and in the stands to implode. A proper comparison would be the 1984 US dream team. What if they lost? That would have set US basketball along with national pride back 50 years. Canada is a nation of 33 million people and most of them are hockey fans. They have attached national pride to winning a Gold medal in the sport they created so make no mistake this is a big deal to them.

The problem for Canada is simple. They have the perfect storm of everything being in their favor which also means they have zero excuses if they lose. By contrast the US team has zero pressure because they were never considered a favorite, but you know how feisty those Americans can be when people count them out.

Tiger speaks, what should we expect?

Thu, 18 Feb, 2010 07:41:54 GMT

As I listen to the media pundits talk about what Tiger should and should not say I am reminded that this is still a private family matter at its core. That is certainly not a pass for the harm and embarrassment Tiger caused his family, his endorsers and the fans that held him up as a role model. Despite the strong opinions on both sides of this issue Tiger broke no laws that require full disclosure so how much of this are we entitled to know? This also begs another important question of how much do you really want to know?

The journalists that want Tiger to spend an hour or two spilling his guts about each transgression are crazy. That will never happen and frankly it should never happen. Tiger’s comments should be pretty simple. He should say he is sorry to his family, his sponsors, fellow golfers and golf fans. As I write this and as you read this you probably know people who are going through the same situation. The only difference is Tiger is insanely rich but he lives in the fish bowl of public scrutiny.

The news media (myself included) gets paid to provide accurate and relevant information. The entertainment media gets paid to entertain you by any means necessary. As you watch the news about Tiger’s statement it is up to you to discern between who is providing news versus the organizations determined to gin things up for the sake of ratings.

What happened to the Olympics?

Tue, 23 Feb, 2010 01:08:00 GMT

I remember when the world stopped for the Olympics. I remember when it was a big deal and every event was worth my time and energy. Sadly, those days are gone and here is why.

NBC Olympic coverage underwhelming – I like Bob Costas but much like sugared up kids at a birthday party he gets annoying and you want to send him home after a while. I was hoping NBC would do something different besides the sob story followed by the event script everyone else has done. I wanted to see more rivals, more Tanya Harding – Nancy Kerrigan type feuds. The world is a lot smaller place these days and these athletes compete against each other before the Olympics so there has to be more rivalries. Don’t give me fluff NBC…give me competition in its raw form. Yes I already know little Mikey wanted to be a snow boarder since he could walk. Tell me about how little Mikey wants to stomp a hole in that German snow boarder that beat him twice in the world championships. This is competition folks...not a pity party!

Lack of Snow in Canada? – As I write this from my comfy couch in Wine Country Virginia we have more snow in the Washington DC area than the Olympics. I haven't seen my grass in so long that I dug a hole in the snow yesterday just to remember what it looked like. If anyone told me that Canada would ever lack snow for any reason I would have required a drug test. Talk about a bad omen...Hmmmm.

Lame events – Since when did the X-games crap I go out of my way to ignore become Olympic sports? Maybe I am just getting old but when I watched the snow boarders I wanted to call the police thinking they were on my lawn. Is snowboarding for people to lazy to Ski? Curling? What the hell is that? Is that bowling on ice? I missed that email. What’s next? Playing X-box outside in a snow bank as a winter sport?

The thud heard around the world – The pride of Canada is in that dream hockey team they assembled for this Olympics. That team is so good that the guys they did not pick for the team would win a medal. So why are they are going to fold like a cheap tent during an F-5 tornado? The problem as I see it is the Canadian team has everything in their favor. They have the best team, the home field and the home crowd. That is a recipe for disaster. The Russians, Swedes and Americans are quite capable of dealing a death blow to the nation that made hockey famous. This is like a slow motion car wreck because I know its coming but I can’t turn away. There are not enough grief counselors on this planet should Canada fail to win a gold medal on their home turf.

Mike Milbury vs. Jeremy Roenick - With the Olympic Ice Hockey tournament underway the tensions are high. Apparently that tension carries over to the hockey announcers. Former NHL Coach and NBC Analyst, Mike Milbury is in love with team Canada and Sidney Crosby in particular. Former NHL star and lock for the Hockey Hall of Fame Jeremy Roenick is there to simply tell it like it is. The fact is most of these announcers believe Canada has already won the gold so they bring a heavy Canadian bias with them. Roenick, like most Americans will not implode if the US does not win it all. We have to excuse our Canadian friends if they are super sensitive right now as their national pride is on the line. This bares watching.

Start of games marred by tragedy – It was truly unfortunate that even before the games began a young man with dreams of glory was sent home to be buried. That is heart breaking not only for his family but for everyone.

What i miss most is competition and a genuine dislike for old enemies such as Russia etc. Now I find myself rooting for Russia except against the USA. Instead of hating the old Soviets Canada is the obnoxious nation everyone wants to see cough up a giant snow ball. What has the world come to?

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TSD quick hitters: Tebow, Warner, Wizards, Capitals and the Olympics

Sat, 30 Jan, 2010 07:25:30 GMT

Don't count Tebow out – I find it amusing how the Nintendo (instant gratification) crowd has already written off Tim Tebow at the beginning of his pro career. If Tebow does not quit he has plenty of “doubter fuel” to propel him to succeed at whatever position he wants to play. The so called draft experts all missed on Tom Brady so I do not buy into this early dismissal of Tebow as a QB. This kid appears to have some fire in his gut so I’m not going to count him out just yet. Of course he has some things to work on but who walks into any job already knowing everything about it?

Congrats to Kurt Warner – The guy goes from bagging groceries to league MVP and Superbowl Champion. Oh, by the way he is a genuinely decent human being. I am a big Kurt Warner fan and I wish him and his family well in retirement. Now it is time for Matt Leinart to take what we HOPE he learned from Warner and get his team to a new level.

The Wizards are not getting a dime from me until Arenas is gone – I have a nice young man from the Washington Wizards sales staff calling me about season ticket options. For those keeping up with my articles on the Wizards they fall just short of curse words. I did not want them to re-sign "six-guns" Arenas and look how that turned out. Wait, I feel it coming on...I told you so! Let’s just say I will be basketball-less until Ted Leonsis takes control of the Wizards organization. I know Ted and I can trust that he will turn the Wizards into a winner eventually.

Pressure bursts pipes and wrecks Olympic teams – The entire country of Canada is banking on a gold medal with the stacked hockey team they picked for the Olympics. Problem is they have everything in their favor (home ice, best team,) which usually means they are going to fold like a cheap lawn chair. Their every move will be scrutinized and I think the pressure will get to them. It is the equivalent of watching a slow car wreck. You don't want to look but you can't turn away. The only question is how will it happen this time.

The Pro-bowl before the Superbowl is a dud – I appreciate the fact that Commissioner Goodell decided to mix it up a bit but 14 of the best guys will not be in the game. What have we learned? Never make big decisions on 50 cent Tequila shot night. The pro-bowl is pretty lame to begin with so I’m not sure how you can spruce it up. Perhaps turning it into a reality show and voting people off the island is next for Goodell and company. If that happens you heard it here first and I want royalties! My money is on crazy Ray Lewis to be the sole survivor.

Capitals are dishing out serious punishment – The Caps are have won 9 straight and when I say win I mean more destroyed most of their opponents. They are scoring at a crazy clip and what is even more worrisome for opponents is that Ovechkin is not the guy scoring all or any of these goals. The Caps are sporting three scoring lines and a checking line that could e a scoring line on many teams. The Caps seemed to have learned the lesson of relying too much on one guy. This hot streak is good for a bag of pucks come playoff time, but the Caps appear to have learned how to play championship level hockey. They have definitely improved but will it be enough to hoist the cup?

Six steps to fix the NHL part II

Fri, 29 Jan, 2010 07:31:45 GMT

Some of you may remember my original article article Six steps to fix the NHL part 1. Some things changed while some things remained the same. Despite our love for the game hockey is a business. Businesses produce products and the NHL product is pretty darn good. That said no product is perfect so I make the following suggestions in the hope that the hockey gods are listening somewhere.

Winterize the Winter Classic – (new) Pick three regional spots (west/central/east) and alternate between those venues. That way you minimize the chances of a weather malfunction. It would be nice to have a drawing at the end of each classic to pick the teams for the next winter classic. I know the NHL is worried about attendance but that worry appears to be a non-factor in terms of ticket sales. Seems to me that the NHL has a good thing going no matter who plays in the game.

Sell the game not just a couple of players – (old & new) Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are great players but the NHL is selling him like they are the only two guys on the ice. This is hockey and not pairs figure skating. Sell the game and the people will come. On that same note try regional advertising. Do you really think I want to see Chris Pronger commercials in DC? Probably about as much as a Flyers fan wants to see an Ovechkin commercial in Philly.

Muzzle Don Cherry – (new) Some of the things he says specifically about non-Canadian players is not in the best interest of the sport. I understand that he is a hockey icon in Canada but if he continues to slam European players while promoting his good old Canadian boys in a sport exploding in Europe Cherry is not helping hockey. Sometimes relics need to be put away (or kept in Canada) in order for the game to move on. Cherry is a relic for Canada alone to enjoy.

Stop the the east coast bias (New) - I want to see more of the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings on the Sunday game of the week. I've seen the Penguins so much on Sunday I'm starting to believe they are my home team. Come on NBC! How about some variety?

Maximize Player protection – (old) The amount of games players miss because of preventable injuries is simply insane. Mandatory complete face cages alone would cut down a dramatic number of injuries. Of course I can hear the hockey traditionalist now “In my day they didn’t play with helmets”. That is great but would you want a doctor to treat you today using 16^th century medical practices? Some things are traditional and some things are just stupid. It only makes sense to do everything you can to keep your players-products on the ice. Injuries will happen but it is the preventable ones that make me angry when I am a paying customer.

Addition by contraction or movement - (old) While hockey has caught on somewhat since its migration to nontraditional markets there are some places that simply are not working out. Meanwhile there are cities in Canada that can afford a team and want one. It makes very little sense to keep trying to sell snow shoes in Bermuda. Someone can explain to me why there are two teams in Florida and Canadian cities don't have teams?

Stop the fighting for good – (new) I admit that I used to love the fights but as I’ve grown a bit older it just drags the game down. The hockey traditionalist will argue that it is hockey’s form of self-policing. I used to agree with that but now it just sounds like a lame excuse. If you have referees why do you need fighting? Aren’t the referees supposed to police the game? The days of the goons are dying anyways because no teams can afford to have a guy that just fights taking up salary cap space. Why not score a public relations victory and just stop it now.

Ok...that was seven steps, but six is kinda tradition. What would you change if you had the power?

Definitive news on Jason Campbell, Okung and other tidbits

Thu, 28 Jan, 2010 04:14:13 GMT

ESPN Insider, Adam Schefter reported this morning on the Mike and Mike show that Jason Campbell will remain with the Washington Redskins for the 2010 season. Word of advice for Redskin fans Schefter was Shanahan’s guy when he worked with the Denver Post and covered the Broncos so this is pretty solid info. Schefter went on to say that the Redskins will still draft a QB within the first two rounds which means they are not entirely set to draft a QB at the 4 spot. This will be great news for the Redskins fans that want offensive linemen to be the focus of the draft. I believe it means that the Redskins are keeping their options open. That is a good thing.

Chief’s House Writer, Scuba said in response to my article on the Redskins draft and I quote “I agree with you about the number of picks. However, having Shanahan in the AFC west for a number of years I have learned one thing: Shanahan likes his quarterbacks. If Shanahan has a chance, I think he will pull the trigger on Bradford, and maybe that might not be until later in the draft. Personally I hope you take him with the 4th pick so the Chiefs can take Okung”

I figured Okung would not last very long if the Redskins did not take him. Many scouts believe based on the Senior Bowl practices and workouts that Jimmy Clausen might be a step or two ahead of Sam Bradford. I was speaking to a Vikings writer yesterday afternoon that believes should the Vikings fail to get McNabb they could make an offer for Campbell as they think really highly of him and the numbers he put up despite the state of the Redskins organization. Just goes to show that things are a lot different outside of the Redskin bubble. Jason Campbell is a restricted free agent so the Redskins will tender him an offer. If another team wants him the Redskins have the right to match or to receive draft picks as compensation.

J.I. Halsell, Inside the Cap Writer, NFL Salary Cap Expert and former employee of the Washington Redskins was on the Sports Fix program on ESPN 980 yesterday. He explained the ramifications of an uncapped year which is a certainty. He went on to talk about the Redskins situation in particular. Based on what I heard it appears this is the year to dump dead weight with the least amount of penalty. Click here to listen.

Schefter also reported that the most likely landing spot for Michael Vick is St. Louis. I was thinking Vick would land in Jacksonville, Carolina or St. Louis. Schefter added that although Andy Reid stated that Donovan McNabb will be back that Philly could get offers from either the Vikings or Cardinals that could change his mind. Obviously the Cardinals interest shows they have some doubts about Matt Leinart.

Can Redskins max value with 4th pick?

Tue, 26 Jan, 2010 05:15:35 GMT

So you are the Redskins and you have the #4 pick in the NFL Draft. According to most mock drafts the Redskins are about 60/40 on Oklahoma Quarterback Sam Bradford and Oklahoma State Offensive Tackle Russell Okung. I would like to suggest another route. I recommend the Redskins follow the lead of teams like Indianapolis, New England, NY Giants and base the draft on value and fit.

I start by asking this basic question. Can the Redskins become a championship team with whoever they pick at #4? If you are not smoking crack that answer is a resounding no. I think we all can agree that none of the rookies in this draft class represent that much value at least for the Redskins. If the skins draft Bradford they still have an O-line to fix before Bradford can make a difference. If they draft Okung they still have other positions along the O-line that they will need to upgrade before they can be competitive. The bottom line is the Skins have so many holes that to truly maximize the 4^th pick they need to turn it into multiple picks.

According to Scouts Inc. Russell Okung is the 6^th best player in this draft. Sam Bradford grades out as the 11th best player in the draft. So if you draft either of these guys at 4 you are over paying in terms of value. Meanwhile, the 4^th best player in the draft is Florida Cornerback Joe Haden. If the Redskins are bound and determined to draft a QB as most of the draft gurus believe they can definitely find willing trade partners to move down and still get Bradford while accumulating more picks which we all agree they need. Okung is likely to be taken by the Chiefs at the 5^th spot if we pass on him and he certainly will not slip as far as Bradford. So if the Redskins are looking to trade down Bradford is the guy. There will be plenty of teams willing to move to the 4^th slot especially the teams mired in the middle to bottom half of the draft order and need a playmaker. Another factor that will influence teams to make deals this year is the lack of a salary cap. Some teams will not be able to sign free agents unless they lose them so the draft becomes the only way they can improve themselves.

If the Redskins are looking for cheaper alternatives they can trade picks with the Minnesota Vikings and draft Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen late in the first round. According to many scouts Clausen is very close to Bradford in terms of physical talent and ahead of Bradford in the mental portion of adjusting to NFL offenses since he has played under an NFL Coach. The Vikings need a quality QB regardless of what Favre decides to do so they would be quite willing to make a move should the Redskins approach them.

The moral of this story boys and girls is simple. The Redskins need to turn 1 pick into many in order to maximize value. They have a lot of holes to fill and one guy at the 4^th pick can’t do it all.

Why Sam Bradford?

Mon, 25 Jan, 2010 03:18:04 GMT

Bruce Allen, Mike and Kyle Shanahan just watched New York Jets Rookie Quarterback, Mark Sanchez get tantalizingly close to a superbowl. We all know the Redskins were interested in Sanchez so will his success influence the Redskins to get what they believe is a franchise QB in the upcoming draft?

ESPN Draft Guru, Mel Kiper thinks the Redskins will Select Sam Bradford -- Kiper says "Mike Shanahan and the Redskins can get a quarterback who might have been the top player taken had he opted to come out last year. The Redskins need to find their franchise quarterback, and when healthy, Bradford is an exceptionally accurate passer with an underrated arm. Shanahan also hit on his last QB selection when he drafted Jay Cutler in Denver"

I can see a few of gaping holes in that theory. The first being that Bradford is not very mobile. The second is he has a history of injuries that concern me and the third is the Redskins offensive line sucks. Why would you draft a fragile rookie and place him in a position to fail? Jason Campbell was getting sacked on three step drops. Three step drops are specifically designed so that QBs don't get sacked. That is how bad the offensive line is in Washington. Perhaps Mike Shanahan will wave his magic offensive line wand and cure the line?

Let's take a look at Braford's scouting report (provided by walterfootball.com)

Strengths:

Good size with room to add some bulk

Peyton Manning-like accuracy

Outstanding job of anticipating routes

Solid arm strength

Capable of making all the throws

Smooth, consistent spiral

Textbook footwork and can drop back if asked

Great decision-maker since freshman year

Understands timing

Well versed in progression reads

Experienced

Very quick release

Ridiculous level of production

Sells play action

Places ball in stride of receiver

Will step up in pocket

Decent athleticism

Throws pro routes and has been under center more than given credit for in career

Strong leader and good character

Weaknesses:

Toughness really hasn't been tested at this point in his career; never seen pass rush

Arm strength is good, but he will struggle to fit ball in tight windows if he doesn't make very quick decisions

We really do not know if he can make throws on the run yet

Doesn't make any jaw-dropping throws

Doesn't have Stafford/Sanchez level of upside

Is never really forced out of pocket

Summary: The statistics are there and he has operated in a pro-style offense as a freshman. He does throw pro routes, however, he WILL get nitpicked. Matt Leinart was nitpicked. Aaron Rodgers was nitpicked. Brady Quinn was nitpicked. Bradford won't have any challenges this season, so scouts and draftniks will find the flaws. Bradford is a top-20 pick, but don't be shocked if he doesn't go as high as we expect (Top 5) next April.

Player Comparison: Eli Manning. Like Eli, Bradford lacks the elite arm, but he is a superb decision-maker with great accuracy and decision-making. Both have limited upside.

My thoughts: There is a lot to like and a lot to be concerned about. I think the kid can play personally but my biggest issue is not with Bradford but the Redskins offensive line. I gotta believe that Shanahan must have a plan to fix the O-line because if he does not this kid is going to spend his first year either hurt or running for his life. That said, if this kid has Peyton Manning like accuracy and football smarts then I am all for taking him.

If I were the Redskins brass I would not be influenced by Mark Sanchez's success because Sanchez had a superbowl quality defense to cover up for his mistakes. The Redskins do not have that luxury to put it mildly. If the Skins draft Bradford look for them to be active in the free agent period for offensive linemen.

Carcillo, Flyers sink to new low even in victory

Sat, 23 Jan, 2010 03:03:30 GMT

I do not find myself agreeing with Ranger Head Coach John Tortorella often but in this case I do. Daniel Carcillo broke a code of honor by going after the Rangers top scorer Marian Gaborik. In hockey there is an unwritten rule that fighters go after fighters only. Fighters do not take runs at the other team's top scorers.

Carcillo already violated the fighting code earlier this season by sucker punching the Washington Capitals forward Matt Bradley before he had a chance to remove his gloves. Once both parties agree to knuckle up the honor code states no punches will be thrown until gloves drop and in some cases helmets as well. Carcillo's actions that night gave the Capitals a 9 minute power play which the Caps #1 rated power play made the Flyers pay to the tune of 3 goals.

What I find equally shocking is the Rangers went into a game with the Flyers and scratched their own resident tough guy Donald Brashear. Brashear would have ended Carcillo's night with a couple bombs to his chin. Brashear would have been more than happy to jack hammer anyone else on Philly's bench if they felt froggy. To his credit, Sean Avery (who I normally detest) defended his team mate even though Avery is more of an agitator than a fighter.

The actions of Carcillo magnify the problems with the Flyers. They have a ton of talent but they shoot themselves in the foot with this Broad Street Bully crap. With Veterans like Chris Pronger in that room Carcillo should be pulled aside and corrected. When will Flyers nation come to grips with the fact that those dumb penalties and bully tactics don't win cups.

Redskins may find takers if they opt to draft down

Fri, 22 Jan, 2010 01:57:46 GMT

A lot of teams see drafting in the top 5 as more of a curse than a blessing. For one you are pressured to take players projected to be of a certain value. The other problem is teams normally drafting that high are there for a reason. They have so many holes that this one pick is the equivalent of using bubble gum to patch the hole in the Titanic. The teams with these high picks would love to trade down and gather more picks but you must have a trade partner desperate enough to want to mortgage part of their future in the form of draft picks or players in order to move up. That said, the Washington Redskins have some options this year in the form of potential trade down partners.

The Seattle Seahawks 6^th Pick – Pete Carroll has an aging and busted Matt Hasselbeck and the combat ineffective Seneca Wallace as his top two choices at QB. Yes Seattle will be in the hunt for an impact QB and other pieces of the puzzle. Seattle also has a pretty good defense when healthy so they are in a good position to right the ship with an impact player.

The Cleveland Browns 7^th pick – The Browns thought they had a franchise QB in Brady Quinn. Maybe they still believe but my gut tells me they don’t. It will be interesting to see what the Browns do this off season in terms of QBs. Don’t be surprised to see Cleveland trade for Matt Hasselbeck since he has pretty much worn out his welcome in Seattle.

The Oakland Raiders 8^th Pick – How do you spell bust? JaMarcus Russell is how. They either need to bring in a coach that can squeeze water out of that stone or start over with someone else. The hard part here is getting crazy Al to admit he screwed the pooch on Russell. The Raiders may still be looking for a coach by draft time so you just never know. The Raiders have a ton of talent and a good QB/strong coach can turn this team around pretty quick.

The Buffalo Bills 9^th Pick – The Bills have a couple of decent guys at QB but no one to hang their hats on. They do have 2^nd year player Brian Brohm on a roster with a bunch of guys that are not impressive. Now that the Jets are better and challenging in that division along with the Pats they need to make a move in order to stay competitive. Buffalo has a pretty good defense but they could use a QB and some more play makers.

The Jacksonville Jaguars 10th Pick – It seemed that if not for a monster contract Jack Del Rio would have been canned. The Jacksonville owner spoke of drafting Florida standout Tim Tebow just to put more butts in seats. David Garrard is solid but unspectacular so the Jaguars could definitely be in the market for anyone that will put more Fannies in seats. If the Jaguars are not trying to tank for the sole purpose of a move to Los Angeles then look for them to move up in order to get an impact player. They stand a much better chance of doing that at 4 than 10.

The Minnesota Vikings 30^th Pick – The Vikings make a very interesting potential trade partner because win or lose they are going to need a quality QB with Favre’s status questionable. Of course the Vikings are rumored to be interested in Donovan McNabb should he finally get the boot in Philly despite what Andy Reid says. No doubt Childress would want a veteran QB but if they don’t get McNabb they will need someone that Minnesota fans will be comfy with.

Both Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan need to be good salesmen in order to pull it off but the Redskins do have potential trade down partners. If the Skins do this right they could still get a good player in the top ten and pick up some much needed picks in later rounds or even high picks next season. Everyone’s interpretation of a good deal varies according to their own particular needs so the Skins need to be asking around. You just never know..

Top ten sports ticket values: Washington DC

Fri, 22 Jan, 2010 02:28:03 GMT

As a rabid sports fan on a budget it is becoming increasing difficult to support franchises that either suck or are stuck on stupid. In order to maximize your family sports entertainment dollar TSD has come up with a list of the top ten sports values for your sporting dollar in our nation's capital.

Washington Capitals – They are the best ticket in town by a wide margin. Ted Leonsis, George McPhee and Bruce Boudreau have built a hockey machine in Washington DC. The Caps have an embarrassment of riches throughout their system along with the best hockey player on earth. Caps Nation is rising and if they win a Stanley Cup or two they will compete with the Redskins for city supremacy.
Virginia Tech Football – I know this will be controversial but if Virginia Tech had 16 games at Fed Ex I’m willing to bet they would have better attendance than the Redskins. Never bet against Hokie Nation. As someone pointed out before the VT is about 3 hours away but that is nothing for a city that sits in traffic all week especially for the atmosphere of a VT game. VT also played at Fed Ex before and filled it to capacity. They are discussing playing some of their really big games at Fed Ex.
Washington Redskins – If they are winning there is no competition in DC. The Redskins are a costly ticket for a team that has not won anything since 1991. That said the Redskins are at the core of this city. If Mike Shanahan can right the ship the Redskins will never sink this low again.
NCAA College Basketball – There are many good teams to watch and follow and the tickets prices are family friendly. Georgetown, George Mason, George Washington, Virginia Tech, Virginia, and Maryland are worth a look.
DC United - If you are looking for the team with the most recent history of winning look no further. The United are retooling and have not been MLS cup contenders for a couple of years but they are definitely a top sport to consider for a family outing at a decent price. Your kids probably play soccer and know more about the United than you do.
Washington Wizards – Clean up on aisle 7 (as in 7^th street). The only good news coming out of Wizards nation is they may be able to void the Gilbert Arenas contract and Ted Leonsis will be the new owner. Leonsis cleaned up the Capitals and now they are the class of the league so there is hope for the Wizards, just not much right now. The fact that DC is a big time basketball city is the only reason the Wizards are ranked this high.
Naval Academy Football – The "middies" are flat out getting it done. They have a high scoring offense and they keep winning the Commander and Chief’s trophy. They are definitely worth a drive to Annapolis to check out. The prices make this a great family event.
Washington Nationals – A drill sergeant of mine once said “You can’t sugar coat a turd” so in that perspective the Nationals are really bad. The good news is they appear to have competent leadership/management so they could be crawling out of their funk. They also picked up one of the best young pitching prospects ever in Stephen Strasburg so there is hope. If you are going to attend a Nats game please go early because DC Summers are brutal.
World Team Tennis – Talk about a great way to spend an evening! I love this new spin on tennis and it is definitely worth your time and attention.
Washington Mystics - If you want an event to take your daughter (and her friends) to while keeping your sanity I highly recommend a Mystics game. You get to see some quality basketball and it is easy on the wallet.

Shanahan bets on superior athletes

Tue, 19 Jan, 2010 02:35:58 GMT

When Mike Shanahan adopted a system that favored smaller but more athletic offensive lineman I thought this tactic took good advantage of the thin air in Denver. I also thought it would not work anywhere else but Denver. I was pretty comfy with that conclusion until I watched this year’s playoffs. I watched Baltimore’s huge offensive tackles get whipped on the regular by Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. I watched the Cowboys huge offensive tackles be made to look like statues while Jared Allen and Ray Edwards beat Tony Romo to a pulp. What did I learn? I learned that the better the athlete, the better your chance of success.

I can see why Shanahan took his chances with guys that were more mobile and in better overall condition. Right now pass rushers dominate the league. The evolution of offensive football will require faster lineman to block the pass rushers.
The Denver teams that dominated the league during their super bowl runs were very athletic. They used a zone blocking scheme that required the offensive lineman not to destroy the other guy at the point of attack but to simply get a hat on a hat long enough for the running back to get by. That is why it seemed like Denver grew 1000 yard backs in a garden somewhere on their property. That is why Mike Shanahan did not hesitate to trade Clinton Portis because he knew a large portion of Portis success was due to the athletes in front of him. Given the speed of pass rushers today it only makes sense that your offensive line be equipped to handle them.

The same principle applies for defense. For example, Albert Haynesworth has freakish strength and cannot be blocked by anyone consistently. The problem is he is so poorly conditioned that he has to leave the game almost every other play. Haynesworth is a $100 million dollar, zero-sum player unless coaches can find a way to maximize his value every play. I have no doubt Coach Shanahan is going to shoot very straight with Haynesworth. They will either come to an agreement to improve his fitness/endurance levels or Haynesworth will be wearing another jersey.

For all of the schemes and matchups football still requires you to put a hat on a hat. Coach Shanahan understands this theory better than most. To his credit he builds his offenses from an athletic offensive line out to the skill positions. What does that mean for some of the Redskin O-line holdovers? It means they better commit to being in the best shape of their lives by the time they get back to work.

NFL playoffs favor defenses thus far

Mon, 18 Jan, 2010 04:38:50 GMT

Pass rush is still king – How do you stop Brady, Rivers, Romo and Warner? You put them on their backs as early and as often as possible. The teams that are winning in these playoffs are finding ways to create consistent pressure on opposing QBs. Who thought Phillip Rivers would wind up making more mistakes than Mark Sanchez? No one except Rex Ryan and that dominant Jets defense. The Colts combination of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are so quick to the QB that they make up for a pretty average secondary. Saints defensive coordinator, Greg Williams is more pass rush by scheme while the Vikings combo of Jared Allen and Ray Edwards are absolutely relentless.

Kickers are really, really important – There is no worse feeling than driving down into scoring range and coming up empty handed. There is also no better feeling than your punter being able to keep the other team pinned in their territory.

Most teams that commit to running win – Everyone says this is a passing league but all the teams that remain in the playoffs except for the Colts are running the football pretty well. Running is ball control and ball control is winning the football game as long as you finish your drive with points. Running the football in the playoffs is a matter of will over skill. It is also the safest way to travel in terms of less potential for turnovers.

Dominant corners are a precious commodity – The Jets have two really good corners in Darrelle Revis and Lito Shepherd which allows them the freedom to pressure the opposing QB without giving up big plays. The Jets made the normally mistake proof Phillip Rivers look worse than his rookie counterpart in Mark Sanchez.

Dominant defense appears to still trump dominant offense – The NY Jets versus the Colts will put this theory to the test next week. History has favored dominant defenses like the 85 Bears and the Ravens. The Jets and the Vikings appear to have the best defenses remaining in the playoffs and they both are playing some high octane offenses next week. It will be very interesting to see how that works out.

How bout them Cowboys?

Sat, 16 Jan, 2010 05:36:51 GMT

The Boys won their first playoff game since the 90’s last week breaking that embarrassing streak of impotence but for Texas where football is life that is not enough. Cowboys Nation to their credit measures success in Lombardi trophies so what happens if they lose to the Vikings on Sunday? Prior to writing this I completed a piece about the Vikings and how they pushed in all their chips on Brett Favre to get them to the superbowl this year. They are truly a franchise with everything on the line come Sunday. The Cowboys are in the same boat in a lot of ways because both Romo and Phillips could be unemployed if the Cowboys lay an egg. Romo is less likely but if he really stinks it up then yes he could get a pink slip.

The Cowboys are playing some terrific football of late but their last three opponents were not exactly of the highest caliber (Redskins and the Eagles twice). Now they are facing a legitimate superbowl contender in their house with everything to lose. Jerry Jones just invested an ungodly amount of money in that new football palace. He was banking on the fact that the Cowboys would be good enough to win tons of games and pay for that beautiful new stadium. If they lose this game and Jerry starts cleaning house that only sets them back further depending on who they bring in. Most of the big name coaches available want total control which Jerry is not going to give up.

This football game is huge and not just for the guys in purple. The Cowboys are playing for the future of their franchise as well. Adversity does not build character it reveals it so I guess we will all learn all bout them Cowboys on Sunday.

For Vikings it is all or nothing

Sun, 17 Jan, 2010 02:34:27 GMT

The Minnesota Vikings are a franchise either on the brink of greatness or at the precipice of their biggest fall in franchise history. This organization went all-in on Brett Favre as the guy to get them over the hump and bring them their first Lombardi trophy. Of course football is a team sport so Favre can’t do it all but the Vikings were a team with everything but a championship quality QB. The Viking Coach, Brad Childress was on the verge of being fired after his experiment with Tavaris Jackson did not produce the results he hoped so Childress pulled the Favre card. So far Childress looks like a genius but here are a few potential problems:

For all the great things Favre has done he has also shown a tendency to throw that dumb pass in the most critical games. Granted Favre has looked great all season but it is now crunch time. Anyone remember what happened the last time Favre was in a crucial playoff game?
What happens if the Vikings lose? Will Favre retire again and set this franchise back another 2-3 years?
What happens if the Vikings win it all? Will Favre retire again and set this franchise back another 2-3 years?

Ladies and gentlemen these are the questions that must be asked when you place all of your hopes on an aging gunslinger that can’t make up his mind. My gut feeling is if the Vikings win the superbowl Favre is done for good as there is no better time or stage to exit the game. The real fun or horror depending on your perspective starts if the Vikings fail to win it all. Then the Favre watch begins…again. I don’t know about you but I am so tired of both the NFL network and ESPN becoming the 24/7 Favre networks. The Vikings gamble has paid off thus far so it will be interesting to see the end game.

Is Haynesworth right?

Fri, 15 Jan, 2010 05:04:05 GMT

Problem: Your defensive line cannot generate a consistent and productive pass rush thus your opponents light up your secondary like sugared up kids blasting a piñata.

Solution: You go out and sign the most dominant defensive lineman in the game in Albert Haynesworth.

Tangible Results: The Redskins defensive line showed vast improvement with Brian Orakpo and Andre Carter registering double digit sack totals. Haynesworth’s presence did improve the defensive line dramatically.

What we did not know – Haynesworth was really upset with the Redskins defensive coaches because they were not playing him in the manner he was used to. In Tennessee all Haynesworth had to do was penetrate and disrupt but here he complained about too many run gap responsibilities. Obviously some are going to say Haynesworth should do what he is told to do but if you brought the guy here for 100 million dollars because he is the best in the league at what he does it only makes sense to place him in a position to be successful. We have two years of proof in Tennessee that Haynesworth is a dominant player so who was wrong here Greg Blache and staff or Haynesworth?

Jim Haslett’s first Challenge - NFL Insider and former Redskin beat reporter, Jason La Canfora reports that grumblings have already started within the Redskin locker room (view video here) with regard to the possible shift to a 3-4 defensive alignment. The good news is the Redskins with a few additions can play both the 4-3 and the 3-4. The bad news is where does Albert fit in a 3-4? Everyone assumes nose tackle but not so fast. Albert wants to penetrate and destroy but the job of a nose tackle in a 3-4 is to hold the point of attack and occupy as many blockers as you can. Even if they moved him to defensive end the job is to hold the edge and occupy blockers. Unless Albert loses roughly 200 pounds and becomes a linebacker he will not be a happy camper in a 3-4.

Jim Haslett’s second Challenge – will be Turning “Fat” Albert into “Fit” Albert. We all saw Haynesworth dominate when he was in the game but the problem was keeping him in the game. Haynesworth was rotated regularly in Tennessee to maximize his effectiveness but I’m thinking this guy should spend the summer getting into much better shape.

Relief in the form of an uncapped year – If the Redskins are bound and determined to make a complete shift to the 3-4 rather than using it as another package then are they content to deal Haynesworth or cut him. The only salvation is they may be able to survive this expensive move in an uncapped year. I like Haynesworth and what he brings to the table. I love the fact that he is mean and he wants to destroy opposing QBs. Since he has proven himself a dominant player I believe it is the job of the coaches to place him in the best position to succeed. The Redskins have not had someone this dominant on their defensive line since Dexter Manley. Smart coaches do not shove systems down players’ throats. Smart coaches make the best of what they have. I tend to side with Big Al on this one. He was brought here to do what he does best and now people want him to change into something else.

Jim Haslett's hiring raises questions

Wed, 13 Jan, 2010 04:10:22 GMT

We were told that Redskin Head Coach, Mike Shanahan spent his time watching games during his year away from football. Shanahan said he visited teams to see what they were doing to get a better feel for things he could not see as a narrowly focused coach. This begs the question of why he hired Jim Haslett as Defensive Coordinator. A simple glance of Haslett’s resume reveals nothing that says he is capable of building a consistently effective defense, let alone a dominant one. As I go through his career starting with his stint as an Assistant Coach at the University of Buffalo in 1988 up to his last gig as head coach of the Florida Tuskers of the United football league I see nothing of note.

Since I am not one to complain without offering solutions the following Coaches are people I would have at least brought in or contacted:

Vic Fangio – Linebackers Coach, Baltimore Ravens - #1 ranked defense.
Clarence Brooks – Defensive Line Coach, Baltimore Ravens – #1 ranked Defense.
John Mitchell – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive line Coach, Pittsburgh Steelers - #5 ranked defense.
Pepper Johnson – Linebacker Coach, New England Patriots - #2 ranked defense.
Jim Washburn – Defensive Line Coach, Tennessee Titans - #28 ranked defense (but historically much better)
Romeo Crennel - Took Chiefs Job
Jack Del Rio - Stayed in Jacksonville

The biggest difference between the guys on my shortlist above and Jim Haslett is all of the guys on my list are winners while Haslett has not won anything of note. That is not to say Haslett cannot be a winner but the Redskins need to surround themselves with guys that can lead from the front. If Shanahan made his rounds, checked the stats and actually watched games it makes me wonder how he settled on a guy that was coaching in the UFL over the guys actually getting it done on very good defensive teams. The stats and resumes are there for your review would you have picked Haslett?

Bengals attempt to keep Zimmer with Redskins lurking

Sun, 10 Jan, 2010 12:51:45 GMT

NFL.Com Sportswriter Steve Wyche reports that the Cincinnati Bengals opened up negotiations in an attempt to keep their Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer. Zimmer, by all accounts has done a fantastic job with the #4 overall ranked Bengals defense even with injuries to key players. Rumors started flying the moment Mike Shanahan took the Redskins job that Zimmer was on the top of Shanahan’s Defensive Coordinator list. The problem for the Bengals is twofold.

The first problem is the Bengals organization is notoriously cheap. The second problem is Dan Snyder is far from cheap. For the Bengals this is like trying to outbid the Yankees in terms of pocketbook depth. This appears to be a situation where the Bengals front office may have already shot themselves in the foot. If they thought Zimmer was so good why didn’t they lock him up earlier? Especially since they had to know that any coaches that experience dramatic success like Zimmer will be in demand.

Now that Zimmer knows he is being pursued by the free spending Redskins he’d be a fool not to listen to offers. The Bengals could have avoided this situation entirely.

Wizards turn to Jamison in troubled times and he delivers

Sat, 9 Jan, 2010 08:18:08 GMT

You never know how valuable a good leader is until you either have a bad one or an empty suit posing as a leader. Gilbert Arenas showed everyone he clearly did not understand how serious everyone else was taking his gun shenanigans. His tweets, his TV interviews and finally the picture of him making the gun gestures during the pre game announcements was the final straw for NBA Commissioner Stern.

Lost in all of this was the fact that one of the greatest men I’ve ever met, Abe Pollin hated guns so much that he changed the name of his NBA franchise. In fact had Abe been alive I have zero doubt he would have cut Arenas on the spot contract or not. Pollin spent his life helping the people of Washington DC so to tarnish his legacy like this is the real criminal act in my opinion. So how do you fix this? You separate yourself from everything Gilbert Arenas and you follow the lead of a man that Abe Pollin loved like a son for good reason in Antawn Jamison. I originally disagreed when the Wizards re-signed Jamison citing the fact that he is in the twilight of his career and he was never was known for playing stellar defense. Last night’s performance by the Wizards Captain both before and during the game allowed me to see what Abe Pollin saw in him. Jamison gave a pre-game address to the crowd in which he said the Wizards team was embarrassed by the events of this week but vowed that this team will correct it and move forward. Jamison is a standup guy that leads from the front both in word and in his actions. If there is any player the Wizards and their fans can look to as the “anti-Arenas” it is the 11 year veteran. For the record I do not think Gilbert Arenas is a horrifically bad guy. I think he is very quirky and he handled this situation poorly. In terms of basketball Arenas is a terrific scorer but not someone I would have paid 111 million dollars. Any player that gets that much money has to be a leader and willing to do everything to win. Arenas got angry when Former Coach Eddie Jordan asked him to play more defense. Are you kidding me?

The Wizards are not a very good basketball team right now and things could get a lot worse since their best player is suspended indefinitely. The Wizards can turn adversity into advantage by using everything in their power to void Arenas contract. Hopefully the Wizards will have Jamison to guide them from this mess back to some form of respectability.

New Redskins coordinators by the numbers

Thu, 7 Jan, 2010 05:48:52 GMT

The selection of coordinators says a lot about what a head coach is looking for. It appears Kyle Shanahan is a lock to be offensive coordinator. Mike Shanahan is targeting Mike Zimmer to run his defense.

Kyle Shanahan – If apples do not fall far from the tree then the Kyle and Mike Shanahan combo will do great things in Washington. Mike has long been considered an offensive mastermind so does it really surprise that Kyle Shanahan goes to Houston and produces the #1 ranked pass offense and the 4^th ranked offense overall? To be fair Kyle has the 30^th ranked run offense in Houston but that can be contributed to injuries at the RB position. The Good news for Kyle is his dad loves to pound the rock so they should form a pretty lethal tandem in terms of balanced production.

Houston Texans 2009 Passing offense – 290.9 yards per game - 1st Ranked

Houston Texans 2009 Running Offense 92.2 yards per game - 30^th Ranked

Offensive Philosophy – West Coast Vertical

Mike Zimmer – In two seasons in Cincinnati Zimmer has done a nice job improving what was a God-awful Bengals defense. Zimmer brings the ability to successfully implement both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes. Another benefit of Zimmer’s defenses is they produce playmakers. Some notables include DeMarcus Ware, Keith Rivers, Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph. His Cincinnati Bengals defense has some big challenges headed into the playoffs but Zimmer can be credited for righting the ship on that side of the ball. Coach Shanahan took his season out of football to travel around to different teams and study them. He stated that he prefers the 3-4 schemes but Washington’s defensive roster is full of 4-3 players. It should not surprise that Shanahan targeted Zimmer who can coach both schemes pretty well.

Cincinnati Bengals 2009 passing defense - 203.1 yards per game allowed – 6^th Ranked

Cincinnati Bengals 2009 rushing defense – 98.3 yards per game allowed – 7^th Ranked

Defensive Philosophy – Multiple Schemes – Bend but don’t break

Based on the numbers Shanahan would like to develop a very potent offense and a play making defense that bends but does not break.

TSD Quick Hitters: Good Washington - Bad Washington

Thu, 7 Jan, 2010 03:33:06 GMT

What an interesting week for Washington DC Sports:

Good Washington: Mike Shanahan becomes the Vice President and Head Coach of the Washington Redskins. In what could be described as the worst kept secret in the history of secrets Shanahan comes to Washington and gives the Redskins the best coach in the NFC East. Shanahan is a welcomed site given the utter incompetence Redskin Nation has witnessed. This is definitely a step in the right direction.

Bad Washington: Gilbert “six-guns” Arenas suspended after showing a cavalier attitude about the guns charges pending against him. Arenas statements, actions and tweets gave every indication that he either has no clue how serious this is or he doesn’t care. Finally David Stern stepped in and sent Arenas home without pay. If I were the Wizards I’d be looking for any way possible to void his 110 million dollar contract. In case you did not know Abe Pollin hated gun violence so much that he changed the name of his NBA franchise from the Bullets to the Wizards. Abe was one of the best men on the planet so this whole situation is shameful.

Good Washington: Alexander Ovechkin was named Captain by his teammates in the “duh” move of the century. Ovechkin avoided the “C” before because he wanted to improve his English. According to his teammates he is a vocal leader in the locker room and the vote was unanimous. Ovechkin is the best hockey player on planet earth so he really does not have to say much except follow me. If the players just mimic his work ethic alone they will win multiple Stanley Cups.

Bad Washington: Jason Campbell blasts Clinton Portis over radio comments. I’ve listened to Clinton Portis enough to know where he is coming from. All this season he has done nothing but defend Jason Campbell during his Radio segment on ESPN 980’s John Thompson Show. That said, his latest comments were twisted by the local media that has turned Portis into the poster child for everything that is wrong with the Redskins. I’ve listened to Portis comments several times and I did not come up with a hint of him throwing Jason Campbell under the bus as some suggested. Portis talked about how Jason Campbell is not a fiery leader but who didn’t know that? None the less this information was given to Jason Campbell and boy did he respond with fire. It has been reported that Portis and Campbell talked about this and squashed it but this was caused by media members who just don’t like Portis so they twisted what he said. Shanahan needs to nip this in the bud.

Good Washington Kinda: Caps big-time defensive prospect John Carlson was arguably the best player on the ice during the Gold medal game of the Hockey Jr. Championships. Carlson scored the game winning goal in overtime silencing the entire nation of Canada and ending their 5 year championship streak. Carlson was already considered the Caps hottest prospects and now we can see why. In a clutch situation with an entire nation against him he played the game of his life. The Caps are already considered one of the most talented teams in the NHL so it is nice to see we have guys in the pipeline that will make the team better. Kudos to George McPhee and the scouts of the Washington Capitals!

Breaking News: US Juniors upset Canadians in gold medal game!

Wed, 6 Jan, 2010 10:37:20 GMT

So you're playing the biggest hockey game of your young life in an arena packed with opposing fans. Oh, by the way the entire country of Canada is watching and rooting for their boys. Such was the case of the David like US Junior Hockey team as they sucker punched Goliath; the overwhelmingly favored Canadians and won the World Junior Championship. There will be a lot of crying in the beers tonight from our friends to the north.

The Canadians battled back from a 5-3 deficit late in the third period to force overtime. The US team had already lost to the Canadians a couple of times after holding leads so things looked pretty bleak heading into overtime. It was the terrific shot of the Washington Capitals prized prospect, John Carlson on a two on one break that silenced the entire country of Canada in the blink of an eye. The Canadians won 5 straight World Junior Championships coming into this gold medal game. The US Team had also given up several leads in losing to the dominant Canadians. Canada's junior hockey dominance ended tonight thanks to a gutsy effort by the Americans in an unfriendly arena.

Breaking News: Shanahan Redskin hire is official

Wed, 6 Jan, 2010 02:53:19 GMT

Both ESPN and the Denver Post reports Mike Shanahan has signed a 5 year deal worth roughly 7 million per season. The press conference and official announcement is scheduled for 2pm Wednesday at Redskins Park.

Six questions Redskins Nation has for Shanahan

Tue, 5 Jan, 2010 06:37:25 GMT

In the midst of all the change happening at Redskin Park questions remain about the future of this franchise. On paper Mike Shanahan represents a significant upgrade as a coach but his hiring does not guarantee success. With that thought in mind I came up with the following six questions Redskins fans should be asking the new coach:

Is Shanahan motivated? – On that note I feel pretty good because Shanahan was fired. The last time Shanahan was fired in Oakland he proceeded to run up scores on people with his Broncos and dominate the league for next three years. Shanahan has a mean streak and I think we need more of that around here.

Who is his Defensive Coordinator? – Lost in all of the Elway talk the defensive collapses were the likely cause of his downfall in Denver. I would be genuinely worried if Shanahan brought in anyone from the Denver days. We can only hope that Shanahan has learned a lesson about picking defensive coordinators from his mistakes.

What is his QB plan? – It appears Kyle Shanahan will be the Redskins Offensive Coordinator so it will essentially be up to him to determine if he can work/win with Jason Campbell. If they determine that they cannot I expect the Skins to use the 1^st round pick on a lineman and then select a QB in the second round. Kyle Shanahan did work with Sage Rosenfels in Houston so don’t be surprised if you see him back here around training camp time just because of scheme familiarity. Rosenfels is currently the 3^rd stringer QB in Minnesota.

What is his offensive Line Plan? – This is the “duh” question on everyone’s mind as the Redskins offensive line is beyond tragic. Given all of the exotic blitz schemes used by the Cowboys, Eagles and Giants perhaps a smaller more adaptable line might be the way to go. In the zone blocking scheme Shanahan just wants to get a hat on a hat just long enough to get the runner through the hole.

Can Shanahan adapt his scheme? – The downfall of many NFL head coaches (even some good ones) is their inability to adapt to what they have. Joe Gibbs is the only coach that won three super bowls with three different QBs proving you do not need a “franchise” QB. Shanahan is a west coast guy but if the team is better suited for something else can he change to win?

What will he do differently than he did in Denver? – Regardless of all the good things we hear about Shanahan this week he got fired in Denver. He failed miserably as both coach and GM so will he be in charge of personnel again here? Has he spent this season studying defenses and what he would like to employ here? What is he going to do differently to ensure he does not fall into the same rut he did in Denver?

Arenas gun gaffe headed to federal grand jury

Tue, 5 Jan, 2010 02:05:59 GMT

Some of you might remember me screaming at the top of my lungs not to re-sign Gilbert Arenas. I like Gilbert’s quirky personality and his willingness to go to inner city playgrounds to give kids hope. The following are things I do not like about Arenas:

He is a one dimensional player unwilling to grow his game
He is not a leader
He does not make anyone better

Other than that, he is a nice player good for giving you your money’s worth on a given night. Those are the points I brought up as the Wizards pondered Arenas last contract. Of course the Wizards signed him and he immediately got hurt again. His return has not made the Wizards much better on the court and now Arenas may face a federal Grand Jury for an incident involving a weapon. Keep in mind that late Wizards Owner, Abe Pollin changed the team’s name from the Bullets to the Wizards in order to distance the team from the horrific violence taking place on DC streets. I knew Abe Pollin well enough to know he would be so incredibly embarrassed by all of this.

The question now is what does the Wizards organization do now? How can they sell this to an already disgruntled fan base? The only good news I can offer is that Washington Capitals owner, Ted Leonsis has experience cleaning up messes and starting over. The Wizards appear to be a franchise in desperate need of a start over.

Breaking News: Jim Zorn fired as house cleaning begins (updated)

Mon, 4 Jan, 2010 03:13:07 GMT

The much anticipated organizational housecleaning at Redskin Park began today with the firing of Jim Zorn. An official statement The Washington Post reported that Jim Zorn left the building at 4:45am an official statement came later this morning. The era of Bruce Allen as General Manager and decision maker has begun.

Media speculation has centered around Mike Shanahan but all appears to be quiet on that front as well. The only word on that front was Former Broncos safety, John Lynch who has a gut feeling Shanahan is coming to DC.

Jim Zorn deserves praise for taking the high road and being professional throughout this process. If he ever writes a book or pamphlet about his time in Washington I’d love to read it. On that same note Jim Zorn deserves no special treatment because this team looked absolutely horrid under his watch.

For Redskins nation this is just the beginning of what promises to be another very interesting off season in Redskin Nation. A press conference is scheduled for 12:30.

The Ten Commandments of winning in the NFL

Sun, 3 Jan, 2010 06:24:37 GMT

As a more seasoned fan of the Washington Redskins I've experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows. The following list of commandments comes from lessons learned through over 35 years of watching football:

Thou shall have one focus – Only one team can hoist the Lombardi Trophy which makes everyone else that did not win losers. Everything the organization does should reflect a commitment to win.

Thou shall make team building the priority over marketing – For example one of the benefits of going away for training camp is players have no choice but to concentrate on perfecting their craft. They are away from the day to day distractions and they can bond as a team. I would gladly exchange the fan days at the team facility for a better team that is on one accord going into the season. There is no better marketing strategy than winning.

Thou shall hire the best football people possible and allow them to do their jobs – Marketing/business genius does not translate into football genius. Winning owners hire football guys and remove themselves from the equation. Winning teams hire good coaches that bring out the best in the players they have instead of trying to turn the players into robots thus negating the very talents that got them to the NFL.

Thou shall draft well – It is no coincidence that the teams that draft well and keep their own players the longest are the teams winning championships (see..Patriots/Colts).

Thou shall build smart – The chances of your team winning a championship are greatly diminished if you are weak on either the offensive or defensive lines. Conversely, the stronger you are on the lines the less spectacular and expensive your skill players need to be. Football games are either won or lost at the line of scrimmage so if you want to win that is the best place to keep focused. If you draft what you think is a franchise QB while your line stinks do not be surprised by the negative result.

Thou shall utilize cyclical replacement – Is what separates the one hit wonders from the NFL dynasties. Cyclical replacement is a system a winning GM uses to keep a team consistently competitive. It requires the GM to know what he wants to pay for each position to avoid overpaying. By not overpaying he has enough money to acquire quality depth across the board so no positions are left hanging in the wind. The GM also gets rid of aging starters on the decline. The idea is to draft a young player and allow him to learn under the starter until he is ready to compete for the job. The young player should be groomed enough to either compete for the job or not hurt the team if pressed into service due to an injury. You often hear the Indianapolis Colts players and management use the term "next man up" which is actually cyclical replacement. If done well this system will keep your team young, hungry and competitive. If done poorly or not at all you will go from year to year trying to patch holes while losing.

Thou shall not overpay players – Football is a team sport and there is not one guy that can go out and win a game by himself no matter what his talent level might be. The day Peyton Manning can block for himself while both throwing and catching his own passes I will gladly change my mind. Until then if a player is demanding so much money that it handicaps the other parts of the team then the player is simply not worth it. Never place all of your eggs in one basket no matter how tempting the player seems.

Thou shall leave the egos at the door – So what you drafted a guy in the 1^st round but the 5^th round guy is better. If the goal is to win a championship then the 5^th rounder should start and play. Do not allow your ego to stop the team from winning because the staff/front office refuses to admit they screwed up. No one gets every draft pick right otherwise Tom Brady would not have been drafted so low.

Thou shall stay ahead of the game – The game of football is constantly evolving so you can never rest on what you have or think that your system is unsolvable. In this age of free agency nothing is secret for long. Film study reveals your strengths and weaknesses so you must keep evolving and changing as the game changes.

Thou shall win in the winter – Look no further than our friends in Dallas if you want to see what I mean. They always start the season looking like world beaters only to fold like a cheap tent in an F-5 tornado come playoff time. A football season is a marathon and not a sprint but timing is important. I'd much rather be on a hot streak in the winter months more than in September-October. A season is a process and towards the end of the process you should be getting better.

NFL Week 17 Picks Challenge!

Tue, 29 Dec, 2009 06:15:05 GMT

TSD won week 16. Can you claim NFL supremacy for the last week of the regular season?

The Rules and Scoring:

You are allowed to change your picks until noon Sunday (EST)

Loss = 0 point
Win = 1 point
Tie = .5 point
TSD Game of the week = +4 points win or -4 points loss
AFC and NFC Rivalry Games of the week = +2 win or -2 loss
Upset Special +7 points (must pick one upset game)
Cupcake Game rules: A game your team should win easily is a cupcake game. (Required)

If your team wins by 21 points or more +7 (+8)
If your team wins by 14 points or more +4 (+5)
If your team wins by 10 points or more +3 in addition to your 1 point (+4)
If your team loses the game -3
If your team loses the game by 7 or less points -4
If your team loses the game by 10 points or more -7

Tie break procedure – Pick one game and give a score. Closest to the score without going over wins. (required)
50 Burger Bonus – If a team you pick wins and they score 50 or more points +2
Shutout Penalty – If a team you pick loses and they are shut out -2
Monday Night Madness scoring - +2 win or -2 loss
Exacta bonus – If you guess the exact score/total points of your tie break +3

YOU CANNOT Alter the TSD game of the week

NFL Game odds for the Week – Check here to see who is favored in this week’s games

Colts at Bills – TSD Pick - Colts

Pittsburgh at Miami – TSD Pick – Pittsburgh

New England at Houston – TSD Pick – New England (AFC Rivalry)

New Orleans at Carolina – TSD upset special - Carolina

New York Giants at Minnesota - TSD pick – Minnesota

Atlanta at Tampa Bay – TSD Pick – Tampa Bay

San Francisco at St. Louis – TSD Pick – St. Louis

Jacksonville at Cleveland – TSD Pick – Cleveland

Chicago at Detroit – TSD Pick – Chicago

Philadelphia at Dallas – TSD Game of the week – Philadelphia

Kansas City at Denver – TSD Pick – Denver

Washington at San Diego – TSD Pick – San Diego (Cupcake)

Tennessee at Seattle – TSD Pick – Tennessee

Baltimore at Oakland – TSD Pick – Baltimore

Green Bay at Arizona – TSD Pick – Arizona (NFC Rivalry)

Cincinnati at New York Jets – TSD Pick – Cincinnati

TSD grabs the week 16 NFL picks crown!

Tue, 29 Dec, 2009 05:52:33 GMT

Week 16 was full of some surprising results! TSD grabs week 16 thanks in large part to a large cupcake win that negated losing both rivalry games.

TSD - 14 Points

Tracy - 3 points

We are at the end of the season so make your mark by winning week 17!

Week 16 NFL Pick Challenge!

Wed, 23 Dec, 2009 02:58:17 GMT

Corey G stomped everyone else out in week 15 to claim NFL Pick Supremacy. Can he repeat or will you dethrone him in week 16? Make your picks and check back Tuesday to see who the week 16 Champion is.

The Rules and Scoring:

You are allowed to change your picks until 7pm Friday (EST)

Loss = 0 point
Win = 1 point
Tie = .5 point
TSD Game of the week = +4 points win or -4 points loss
(new) AFC and NFC Rivalry Games of the week = +2 win or -2 loss
Upset Special +7 points (must pick one upset game)
(new) Cupcake Game rules: A game your team should win easily is a cupcake game. (Required)

If your team wins by 21 points or more +7 (+8)
If your team wins by 14 points or more +4 (+5)
If your team wins by 10 points or more +3 in addition to your 1 point (+4)
If your team loses the game -3
If your team loses the game by 7 or less points -4
If your team loses the game by 10 points or more -7

Tie break procedure – Pick one game and give a score. Closest to the score without going over wins. (required)
50 Burger Bonus – If a team you pick wins and they score 50 or more points +2
Low Score Penalty – If a team you pick loses and they are shut out -2
Monday Night Madness scoring - +2 win or -2 loss
Exacta bonus – If you guess the exact score/total points of your tie break +3

YOU CANNOT Alter the TSD game of the week

NFL Game odds for the Week – Check here to see who is favored in this week’s games

Chargers at Titans – TSD Pick – Chargers

Buccaneers at Saints – TSD Pick – Saints NFC Rivalry

Chiefs at Bengals – TSD Pick – Bengals

Jaguars at Patriots – TSD Pick – Patriots

Panthers at Giants – TSD Pick – Giants

Texans at Dolphins – TSD Pick – Dolphins

Seahawks at Packers – TSD Pick – Packers Cupcake

Raiders at Browns – TSD Pick – Cleveland

Ravens at Steelers – TSD Game of the Week – TSD Pick – Steelers

Bills at Falcons – TSD Pick – Falcons

Rams at Cardinals – TSD Pick – Cardinals

Lions at 49ers – TSD Pick – 49ers

Broncos at Eagles – TSD Pick – Eagles

Jets at Colts – TSD Pick – Colts AFC Rivalry

Cowboys at Redskins – TSD Upset Special – Redskins

Vikings at Bears – TSD Pick - Vikings (28-10)

Make your picks and check back Tuesday to see who won. Happy Holidays from TSD!

Corey G is King of Week 15!

Tue, 22 Dec, 2009 05:07:10 GMT

Corey G destroys all challengers to capture the week #15 Picks crown. Here is the breakdown..

Corey G - 22 Points

TSD - 15 Points

Tracy (golden Terd) -1 point

Only two weeks remaining to make our mark!

What do Tiger Woods and Clinton Portis have in common?

Wed, 16 Dec, 2009 07:44:17 GMT

Tiger Woods enjoyed an 85% approval-popularity rating until he was exposed. Now those same polls have Tiger at 35-33%. Clinton Portis probably enjoyed the same type of popularity until the Redskins imploded. Now both are vilified, granted for much different reasons but Clinton's drop in popularity within Redskin nation is equally astonishing.

If you’ve watched the Washington Redskins this season you know that the offensive production level is directly attributable to the health and play of the offensive line. A couple of weeks ago people were ready to part ways with Jason Campbell but now that the O-line is playing better Campbell is looking like a keeper and the Skins best hope going into 2010. Unfortunately Clinton Portis is not receiving the same benefit of the doubt.

I can already hear the Portis haters pointing out that his replacements seem to be performing better in Clinton’s absence. To that I would respond with the following numbers:

1,315 yards -2004
1,516 yards - 2005
523 yards - (injured) 2006
1,262 yards – 2007
1,487 yards – 2008
494 yards – (injured) 2009

Those numbers do not lie and they clearly show Portis was the most reliable offensive weapon until recently. Just like Jason Campbell, Portis depends on the O-line to make it possible for him to produce. I find it hard to judge Portis when he was playing with a very bad O-line. By comparison his replacements have played with the benefit of improved line play. If you are going to Judge Portis fairly you can’t take the last couple of weeks completely out of context. No one can say how well or poorly Portis would have performed with this improved O-line.

I also need to remind Redskins Nation that prior to this team implosion Clinton Portis, Santana Moss and Chris Cooley were the MVPs of this team. No one can question Portis talent or his heart so what is it that turned everyone so sour on him? If it is his salary then Snyder, Cerrato and Gibbs paid him so is this misplaced blame?

Portis needs to get down to his Denver playing weight of 205-210 pounds to see if he can get that breakaway speed back. Remember that it was Joe Gibbs that asked Clinton to gain weight in order to be more durable. Clinton did it for the sake of the team but in doing so he lost the one cut and gone speed that scared opponents. With the emergence of the other backs if Clinton does return he will likely be asked to give up some carries but it sounds very premature to right Portis off.

We know things are bad in Redskin country and no one is denying that but you do not dump the guys that can make a difference. I know a lot of people just don’t like Portis for whatever reason but he can play. If there is an uncapped year he may likely be gone but if next year is capped the Skins can’t afford to dump him. Some people may never forgive Tiger for what he did but if Clinton Portis can come back and produce at a high level all of this anti-Portis sentiment will be long forgotten.

Redskins should give Tryon his "right now" moment

Wed, 16 Dec, 2009 11:17:44 GMT

Remember when this rookie from Arizona State came to Washington talking trash? Like many clueless rookies Justin Tryon was quickly overwhelmed by the game and humbled. So much so that his mother contacted NFL Hall of Fame Cornerback Darrell Green and asked him to help. Darrell Green tutored Tryon over the summer and proclaimed the similarly sized and almost as speedy Tryon ready for a breakout season. Many wrote Tryon off after he struggled but if Darrell Green works with a kid and gives someone his personal stamp of approval I’ll take that recommendation every time. In fact I wish Devin Thomas would spend a summer with Gary Clark and Malcolm Kelly would sit at the feet of the master in Art Monk. I’d be willing to bet they all would be better players and better men for it.

Anyway back to the topic at hand. Tryon has shown vast improvement from where he started and he has the one asset you cannot teach in game changing speed. The Redskins who are having all kinds of problems with Randle El as the punt returner should give Tryon a shot. Darrell Green often spoke about “right now moments” which he used to ascend to greatness and for Tryon this could be his moment. Players often speak of fear and confidence being contagious. The cocky and trash talking Tryon appears to be the type of guy that will take off if he experiences some success on the field. The Redskins are 4-9 and they know what they have (or should I say don’t have) in Randle El so why not turn the kid loose? They might find something they definitely need that is already on the roster.

Week #15 NFL Champ or Chump Challenge!

Tue, 15 Dec, 2009 02:47:00 GMT

With two weeks remaining in the regular season who can claim week 15 supremacy? Make your picks and find out if you are a champ or a chump!

The Rules and Scoring:

Loss = 0 point
Win = 1 point
Tie = .5 point
TSD Game of the week = +4 points win or -4 points loss
(new) AFC and NFC Rivalry Games of the week = +2 win or -2 loss
Upset Special +7 points (must pick one upset game)
(new) Cupcake Game rules: A game your team should win easily is a cupcake game. (Required)

If your team wins by 21 points or more +7 (+8)
If your team wins by 14 points or more +4 (+5)
If your team wins by 10 points or more +3 in addition to your 1 point (+4)
If your team loses the game -3
If your team loses the game by 7 or less points -4
If your team loses the game by 10 points or more -7

Tie break procedure – Pick one game and give a score. Closest to the score without going over wins. (required)
50 Burger Bonus – If a team you pick wins and they score 50 or more points +2
Low Score Penalty – If a team you pick loses and they are shut out -2
Monday Night Madness scoring - +2 win or -2 loss
Exacta bonus – If you guess the exact score/total points of your tie break +3

YOU CANNOT Alter the TSD game of the week

You are allowed to change your picks until 5pm Thursday

NFL Game odds for the Week – Check here to see who is favored in this week’s games

Jaguars at Colts – AFC Rivalry - TSD Pick – Colts

Cowboys at Saints – TSD Pick – Saints

Bears at Ravens – TSD Pick – Ravens

Dolphins at Titans – TSD Pick – Titans

Texans at Rams – TSD Pick – Texans

Patriots at Bills – TSD Upset Special – Buffalo

Cardinals at Lions – TSD Pick – Arizona

Browns at Chiefs – TSD Pick – Browns

Falcons at Jets – TSD Pick – Jets

49ers at Eagles – TSD Cupcake game - Eagles

Raiders at Broncos – TSD Pick - Broncos

Bengals at Chargers – TSD Game of the Week – Chargers

Packers at Steelers – TSD Pick - Packers

Buccaneers at Seahawks – TSD Pick - Seahawks

Vikings at Carolina – TSD Pick – Vikings

NY Giants at Redskins – NFC Rivalry - TSD Pick – Redskins (31-21)

Make your picks and check back Tuesday to see how you did!

TSD Week #14 NFL Awards

Tue, 15 Dec, 2009 02:33:40 GMT

Week 14 saw the Saints pull out another squeaker versus the short handed Falcons. Meanwhile the Colts and Vikings keep rolling along. The Eagles claimed supremacy of the NFC east while the Cowboys are like a month long car wreck. You don't want to watch but they are tanking again to no one's surprise. With only two participants TSD Dominated the weekly picks again.

1st Place - TSD 25 points

2nd place - Tracy 6 points (Golden Terd Award)

TSD got the upset special with Miami, the game of the week and both rivalry games.

Five lessons from Tiger Woods exposure

Sun, 13 Dec, 2009 05:48:17 GMT

1. Self control, focus and discipline can be used to become the world’s greatest golfer but apparently it has zero to do with being a good husband and a father. Tiger likely practices his golf game every day to develop muscle memory with putts, shots etc. Marriage is the same because no one starts off with a perfect one. You have to practice daily and strive for perfection using the same discipline focus and intensity. A great marriage is even more rewarding than a great golf game.

2. The choices you make determine your fate no matter if you have one dollar or one billion dollars. Money does not change the core person. Money just gives you the method and means to either get into more trouble or do more good than someone without money.

3. While no one is giving Tiger a pass for what he’s done to himself we also need to stop this cultural acceptance of the women willing to sacrifice their principles (if they had any to begin with) for fame and fortune. All of those women knew Tiger was married so what is their excuse? This is nothing new but it seems to be accepted for some strange reason.

4. As a society we need to kill the pedestal building for celebrities because EVERYONE is human. Tiger played his part in building this untainted image of himself. As we’ve seen there are people that take absolute delight in knocking you down or exposing your humanity. Some of the most endearing public figures are the ones that admit to their flaws and move on just like everyone else.

5. Now that Tiger is exposed as both flawed and human he deserves the time and space to get his life-family in order. If TMZ and the Enquirer’s mission were to expose him mission complete. These follow on stories serve no purpose other than to fill empty air space with people seeking their 15 minutes at the expense of Tiger’s family. When is enough enough?

Redskins become a team through adversity

Wed, 9 Dec, 2009 12:05:39 GMT

A team is built on faith. You hear Ray Lewis say that to his teammates all the time that I got your back! This is important because mentally it frees a guy up to fail or succeed while trying to make a play. The Redskins are 3-9 but something good is happening here. You can see guys succeeding or failing but most importantly they are trying to make plays for the team. The most important part of team building is trust in each other.

Unfortunately you also see individualists who are so busy celebrating themselves that they are hurting the team [insert Laron Landry]. Landry’s antics would have him on the bench if the Skins coaching staff were more stable. I like Landry and I think he just needs a wakeup call so he can get back to growing his game. Through this adversity we are finding out who is about team and who is about themselves. I remember Joe Gibbs first season in which the Skins went 8-8 after starting 0-5. Jack Kent Cooke, Bobby Beathard and Joe Gibbs kept that team together and the rest was history. I know people want to blow this up and start from scratch but I would not make that decision until I see what this cast of characters can do until season’s end.

While watching the Redskins over the past four weeks I’ve seen promising improvements. The biggest improvement came on the offensive line. They have provided Campbell with decent time and space to make plays. Campbell for his part is making more plays and putting the offensive unit in a position to score points. All Campbell can do is to get the ball to the playmakers and the past 4 weeks have shown he can do it. Those who question Campbell’s ability seem to conveniently forget he was getting sacked consistently on three step drop backs just a few weeks ago. What I see with Campbell now is a guy that is not going to sweat the things he can’t control so he is playing free for the first time. I see a guy who is standing in the pocket, taking hits, gaining confidence and the guys around him are starting to respond. I also see a guy who has taken a beating and kept getting up thus earning the respect of his teammates. Campbell is by no means perfect but he has all of the tools to be successful and I would like to see him in a stable environment before I pass judgment on him. Joe Gibbs saw something in him and I trust Joe Gibbs.

Devin Thomas, Fred Davis and Malcolm Kelly are all starting to make plays. Devin Thomas in particular is starting to realize that at 6’2, 220 pounds regular sized Cornerbacks cannot contain him. While Devin Thomas is getting the majority of the spotlight Malcolm Kelly is quietly making catches that keep the chains moving.

Former Redskins Cornerback, Sean Springs said no one can cover Fred Davis in practice and he is starting to show that on the field. Fred Davis can flat out fly and he presents all kinds of matchup problems with slower linebackers and smaller safeties. The quiet fuel to this offensive resurgence for the Skins is the running backs. Rock Cartwright, Marcus Mason and Quinton Ganther are running like they are broke. There is a noticeable difference in the intensity in which they attack holes created by the O-line. That is not to take a shot at Clinton Portis but the difference is pretty clear. Clinton Portis is a heck of a football player and he can help the Skins although I'd like to seem him get back to his Denver playing weight so he can get that speed back. He bulked up at Gibbs request which made him a little more durable at the cost of what made him great.

The Redskins 4^th ranked defense has faltered a bit of late but I believe that has more to do with injuries than anything else. Young guys like Justin Tryon, Brian Orakpo and Jeremy Jarmon prior to injury showed they have much offer. What I see is a 53 man roster going through adversity and coming out of it as a team with something to build on. If you would have caught me after the Lions or Chief losses I would have been an advocate of blowing everything up. I still believe a coaching change is likely but I’m starting to believe a roster purge would do more harm than good. These guys are starting to get it and the results are quantifiable. Losing to the Saints hurt but it showed this team has the talent to compete with anyone when they play together.

Shakespeare said though this be madness, yet there be method in it. He would love the Redskins!

TSD Week #14 NFL Pick Challenge (Thursday game)

Mon, 14 Dec, 2009 12:39:41 GMT

Turner Sports Desk captured the Week #13 NFL Picks crown. Let’s see who can navigate the mind field that is the NFL for week #14. Good luck!

The Rules and Scoring:

Loss = 0 point
Win = 1 point
Tie = .5 point
TSD Game of the week = +4 points win or -4 points loss
(new) AFC and NFC Rivalry Games of the week = +2 win or -2 loss
Upset Special +7 points (must pick one upset game)
(new) Cupcake Game rules: A game your team should win easily is a cupcake game. (Required)

If your team wins by 21 points or more +7 (+8)
If your team wins by 14 points or more +4 (+5)
If your team wins by 10 points or more +3 in addition to your 1 point (+4)
If your team loses the game -3
If your team loses the game by 7 or less points -4
If your team loses the game by 10 points or more -7

Tie break procedure – Pick one game and give a score. Closest to the score without going over wins. (required)
50 Burger Bonus – If a team you pick wins and they score 50 or more points +2
Low Score Penalty – If a team you pick loses and they are shut out -2
Monday Night Madness scoring - +2 win or -2 loss
Exacta bonus – If you guess the exact score/total points of your tie break +3

YOU CANNOT Alter the TSD game of the week

You are allowed to change your picks until 5pm Thursday

NFL Game odds for the Week – Check here to see who is favored in this week’s games

The Games:

Pittsburgh at Cleveland – TSD Pick Pittsburgh

New Orleans at Atlanta – TSD Pick New Orleans

Denver at Indianapolis – TSD Pick Indianapolis (AFC Rivalry)

Buffalo at Kansas City – TSD Pick Buffalo

Detroit at Baltimore – TSD Pick – Baltimore

Miami at Jacksonville – TSD Pick Upset Special Miami

New York Jets at Tampa Bay – TSD Pick Jets

Cincinnati at Minnesota – TSD Game of the Week – TSD Pick Vikings (+4 or -4)

Green Bay at Chicago – TSD Pick Green Bay (NFC Rivalry)

Carolina at New England – TSD Pick New England (Cupcake)

Seattle at Houston – TSD Pick Houston

Washington at Oakland – TSD Pick Washington

St. Louis at Tennessee – TSD Pick Tennessee

San Diego at Dallas – TSD Pick San Diego (24-10)

Philadelphia at NY Giants - TSD Pick Giants

Arizona at San Francisco – TSD Pick Arizona Monday night bonus (+2 or -2)

Goodluck! (tell your friends)

TSD week #13 NFL pick Awards

Wed, 9 Dec, 2009 03:07:56 GMT

Turner Sports Desk goes from worst to first to win the Week #13 Picks Challenge!

What a crazy week of upsets and games that just left everyone scratching their heads. By all rights the Saints should be 11-1 but the grid iron Gods intervened. Who saw the Raiders going into Pittsburgh and pimp slapping the Steelers? Then there is the team no one can figure out in the Houston Texans. Everyone lost that game.

1^st Place TSD – 18 points

2^nd Place Corey G – 13 points

3^rd Place – Scuba – 5 points

4^th Place – SCHNYGER – 3 points

5^th Place – Ryan – 1 point

6^th Place (Golden Terd Award) – Tracy -4 points

Turner Sports Desk would like to thank Queen Tracy for exchanging last week’s victory crown for this week’s Golden Terd Award. May you wear your new crown with dignity! TSD is champ all week…carry on.

TSD Week #13 NFL Pick Challenge (Thursday Game)

Thu, 3 Dec, 2009 03:00:43 GMT

Last week Queen Tracy took the crown with much trash talking. This week the All star writers of SPN look to rebound in a major way. We have some very interesting match ups and conditions are ripe for the biggest upset of the season.

The Rules and Scoring:

Loss = 0 point
Win = 1 point
Tie = .5 point
TSD Game of the week = +4 points win or -4 points loss
(new) AFC and NFC Rivalry Games of the week = +2 win or -2 loss
Upset Special +7 points (must pick one upset game)
(new) Cupcake Game rules: A game your team should win easily is a cupcake game. (Required)

If your team wins by 21 points or more +7
If your team wins by 14 points or more +4
If your team wins by 10 points or more +3
If your team wins by 7 points normal scoring of +1
If your team loses the game -3
If your team loses the game by 7 or less points -4
If your team loses the game by 10 points or more -7

Tie break procedure – Pick one game and give a score. Closest to the score without going over wins. (required)
50 Burger Bonus – If a team you pick wins and they score 50 or more points +2
Low Score Penalty – If a team you pick loses and they are shut out -2
Monday Night Bonus - +2 win or -2 loss
Exacta bonus – If you guess the exact score/total points of your tie break +3

YOU CANNOT Alter the TSD game of the week

You are allowed to change your picks until 5pm Thursday

NFL Game odds for the Week – Check here to see who is favored in this week’s games

The Games:

1. Jets at Bills (Toronto) - Many Bills season ticket holders live in Toronto. That place will be a Bills nut-house. TSD Pick - Bills

2. Eagles at Falcons - Eagles aren't really that good but Atlanta is without Matt Ryan - TSD Pick - Eagles

3. Buccaneers at Panthers - I really want to pick the Bucs here but my gut is saying the Panthers will rebound - TSD Pick - Panthers

4. Rams at Bears - My eyes, my eyes...both teams suck - TSD Pick - Bears

5. Lions at Bengals - The Bengals lost to the Raiders so anything is possible but they will beat the Lions - TSD Pick - Bengals

6. Titans at Colts - (AFC Rivalry) - The Titans comeback party ends in Indy courtesy of Manning and crew - TSD Pick - Colts

7. Texans at Jaguars - TSD Pick - Houston

8. Broncos at Chiefs - TSD Pick - Broncos

9. Patriots at Dolphins - TSD Pick - Patriots

10. Raiders at Steelers - TSD Pick Steelers

11. Saints at Redskins - Conditions are ripe for either a 60-burger blowout or an upset. TSD Upset special - Redskins

12. Chargers at Browns - Cupcake - TSD Pick - Chargers

13. Cowboys at Giants (NFC Rivalry) - It is December so the Cowboys are waiting for the other shoe to drop. TSD Pick - Giants

14. 49ers at Seahawks - TSD Pick - Seahawks

15. Vikings at Arizona - (TSD Game of the Week) The Vikings machine gets stopped in Arizona. TSD Pick - Arizona

16. Ravens at Packers - If Aaron Rodgers can make a few plays the Packers can win this. TSD Pick - Packers (21-10)

Tiger Busted! What Now?

Wed, 2 Dec, 2009 03:51:57 GMT

It appears Tiger was indeed caught having an affair which brings all of the 3am events of the car crash into crystal clarity. Click here to listen to the audio (comes up after an advertisement). Tiger Woods joins the ranks of many women and men that step out on their marriages and get caught. The only difference is he is a multi-billion dollar athlete.

Well I can certainly understand him leaving golf alone while he gets his affairs in order (no pun intended). For the sake of his children I hope he and his wife can reconcile. Now that TMZ and the Enquirer have done their jobs and the Florida police department finished up their investigation this becomes what it should have been in the first place...a family matter. Tiger still does not need to discuss it publicly but he will certainly need to talk to his sponsors. He will likely lose some sponsors but now that it is out life goes on.

Tracy Wins the TSD week #12 Picks Contest!

Tue, 1 Dec, 2009 04:50:36 GMT

Tracy dominates the week 12 NFL Picks while TSD picks up the Golden Terd award yet again.

1. Tracy - 22 Points

2. Scuba - 19 Points

3. Double G - 12 points

4. TSD - (golden terd award) - 9 points

The queen will be in town all week. No photos please....Carry on

Drama galore for the Redskins-Saints matchup

Tue, 1 Dec, 2009 04:05:51 GMT

In my mind there are two possible outcomes when the Saints play the Redskins on Sunday. The Saints will either hang a 60-burger their 3-8 opponents or the Redskins will pull off the biggest upset of the season thus far. The Conditions are perfect for a Saints letdown/upset. They just beat down the Pats, they have a short work week and they are playing a team they should trounce easily. Despite the Redskins record they have definitely shown improved play of late. In fact, if they could have held on to a couple of 4^th quarter leads they would be on a 2-game winning streak. I saw the energy the Saints expended in that Monday night game and I do not believe any football team can remain that jacked up for two weeks.

But wait…there’s more! Just when you thought the Redskins season could not get any more interesting guess who’s coming to town next week? While I am 100% positive Saints Defensive Coordinator Greg Williams harbors no ill will towards the Redskin players I have no doubt Williams intends to make a loud statement to both Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerrato who fired him and hired Jim Zorn. Talk about Irony, Greg Williams comes back to DC sporting 11-0 versus Zorn who essentially was fired a few weeks ago but was allowed to keep his headset and look important.

On paper this game should not be aired because the United States has outlawed torture. I guarantee the Redskins will bring their “A” game because they have to know Greg Williams is coming to town with an agenda. So what would otherwise be a cupcake game has more drama than a daytime soap opera. For you folks looking to make some X-mas coin on an upset special this game has all of the conditions for a major one.

Bourbon Street Beatdown!

Tue, 1 Dec, 2009 06:06:34 GMT

First question, when was the last time you were excited about a Monday night matchup that did not involve your team? Yeah, I know right. I had all but given up on Monday night football until this matchup started to look really good as the season went along. I will come back to this point later.

Someone call the grief counselors for the Patriots because the Saints not only beat them but they embarrassed them on the NFL’s biggest stage. The Patriots are lucky quarters last only 15 minutes otherwise the Saints could have easily hung a 60 burger on them. Last night marked the first time in a very long time that a Bill Belichick team was both out coached and out executed. Of course people will bring up the Superbowl versus the Giants but the Pats were not out coached in that game as much as the Giants beat them up. Last night Head Coach Sean Peyton, Defensive Coordinator Greg Williams and Quarterback Drew Brees made the Pats look predictable on offense, young on defense and inferior in general.

If anyone had any doubts about the Saints being the class of the NFL they can safely lay those doubts to rest. They are balanced, aggressive and they are really, really good. By no means are the Patriots out of this but I think the swagger the Patriots normally walk around with was just taken at gunpoint by the Saints. That beating was so thorough I think many beads are in order.

No matter who you were rooting for this is what Monday Night Football was supposed to be. Every Monday you would like to get together with friends or family and watch the best NFL matchup of that particular week. I could not be happier for the city of New Orleans and for the state of Louisiana. If anyone deserves a champion it is that area.

The right to remain silent (updated)

Tue, 1 Dec, 2009 02:44:04 GMT

Here is what we know. Tiger Woods was in a car accident roughly 100 feet from his home. He went to the hospital and there were neither reports of alcohol nor drugs. While this situation makes everyone curious it does not need to be further explained by Woods who has done everything he is required to according to Florida Law.

The only people this story alive is the media because it is in their best interest to keep this story alive. In fact, the only reason the police are likely still seeking to interview Woods is because of media pressure. Hopefully we will not have another case of a publicity seeking District Attorney trying to make something out of nothing in order to enhance his/her career (see the Duke lacrosse case).

So what is this about? Their are a lot of people in the media that do not like the fact that Tiger Woods has almost complete control over his media access. Tiger keeps his private life private and a lot of media want him to be more accessible. Now that they think they have something on Tiger you are witnessing an all out attack to either destroy him or get him to talk on their terms.

Update:

The woman Tiger was allegedly having an affair with spoke out. Click here to read what she had to say about all of this stuff.

Thinking Strategically: How Dan Snyder can best help the Skins in 2010?

Mon, 30 Nov, 2009 04:24:23 GMT

I always thought it was taboo to quietly hope the Skins tanked this season in the hope of a higher draft pick. That was the case until I tuned in to ESPN 980’s Monday Morning Quarterback show where NFL Hall of Famer, Sonny Jurgensen said and I quote “The Redskins need to start thinking strategically about the draft and not win themselves out of a high draft pick” Sonny Jorgensen has forgotten more about pro football than most of us know so if he is thinking this now I don’t feel so bad about it. The Redskins are 3-8 and major change is coming. Since it is likely many of the current decisions makers will be replaced Dan Snyder, as the only remaining decision maker needs to step up and make the transition as smooth as possible to give the incoming regime a head start on the 2010 season.

1. Rally hard for an uncapped year – Dan Snyder is a lot of things but broke is not one of them. The Redskins can right the ship much faster with an uncapped year. I’m am not advocating he go on another crazy spending spree (we’ve seen how that works) but I would certainly recommend a heavy dose of drafting offensive lineman along with one or two proven free agent offensive lineman to stabilize that group. This is the biggest area of need for the Skins and the Skins need both starters and quality depth. Snyder along with guys like Jerry Jones and other new owners do not like revenue sharing as it allows bad owners to reap the benefits of the profitable owner’s work.

2. Get everyone on film – The Redskins need to play everyone and get them on film so the new general manager and coaching staff has something to evaluate.

3. Stop wasting time on people who will not be Redskins after this season – The time for sentimentality is over. This team is not good enough to hold on to guys just because they are good guys. Redskin football is about winning and someone has to make the tough decisions even with guys we’ve come to love. The bottom line is the Redskins charge for admission so this is business. Some of us want a high return for the investment we make so if you are happy with losing may I suggest another franchise.

4. Snyder closes his office at Redskin Park – He has tried for 10 years to have an integral part in building a championship franchise. The results speak volumes so the best thing Snyder can do for the new regime is to remove himself from the equation. Hard to spend 800 million dollars and fire yourself but if Snyder truly loves his Redskins as he claims then this is addition by subtraction.

Bottom line is Snyder can help the Skins have a fighting chance in the 2010 season if he makes the right moves right now. We can only hope that he is quietly talking to NFL experts and studying how the winning franchises have gone about their business. There are some great role models out there like the Patriots, Colts, Eagles and even the Ravens so let us hope Snyder is making the right moves to give his team a chance in 2010.

It is time to bench Landry

Mon, 30 Nov, 2009 11:14:56 GMT

Laron Landry is an ultra talented safety and I love him but he is also what I call a zero-sum player meaning Landry will either make a huge play for you or he will give up a big play. Since the safeties are your last line of defense it is very bad when your best safety is a zero-sum player. If Jim Zorn wants to send a clear message to his team that he is not a lame duck coach then he should bench one of his best players to send a message. Landry has all of the tools to be one of the best safeties in the NFL but you can tell by his play that his game is not evolving. All he wants to do is blow receivers up which would be fine if he was actually good at it but obviously he is not. Not to mention the fact that if he does land one of those monster hits he will likely be fined and suspended which actually hurts the team more than it helps.

So how do you fix this? Lock Landry in a room with tapes of Ronnie Lott and Ed Reed. Ronnie Lott was smart enough to know when to blow someone up and when to pick the ball off. Ed Reed is smart enough to know that change of possessions (picks) helps your team more than big hits. If Landry would simply play the ball instead of the man he would help his team more. For what it is worth he appears to be a natural strong safety so maybe the Redskins need to place him back at his natural position and find themselves a ball hawking free safety. The bottom line is Landry cost his team this football game today. If Landry wants to be a core Redskin and make a real difference in the future he has got to grow up and even more importantly grow his game. Maybe riding the pine for a while might place things in the proper perspective for him.

At 3-7 Redskins should identify core players

Sun, 29 Nov, 2009 03:06:47 GMT

Despite improved play of late the Redskins still find themselves at 3-7 and barring a miraculous turn around out of playoff contention. So what is the mission now? Dan Snyder is likely to clean house so the important question becomes who stays and who goes. With the potential for an uncapped year looming the Redskins can rebound faster than ever. If there is a young player on this roster that you have a question about now is the time to get some film on him versus NFL talent. It makes no sense to play veterans that are likely gone at season’s end anyway. We've already seen a few players make the case to be around after regime change. Here are some guys that will likely survive the change.

Devin Thomas – Over the past few games Thomas learned to use his size. If the Redskins coaches are smart they will figure out ways to get Thomas the ball in space because Thomas knows smaller CBs will struggle to defend him. In order for Thomas to become a triple threat he needs to really work on the mental aspects of his position as well as his approach to the game. He is the type of player that cannot be stopped if he takes the time to master his craft. he has all the tools; size, speed and grit. The upside of Thomas is a 6'2, 220 Gary Clark which is a very scary thought for defensive backs and coordinators. Thomas is a fiery kid and the Redskins need that wide receiver in the absolute worst way.

Brian Orakpo – Is doing a great job in his multipurpose roles but the Redskins would be best served to allow him to put his hand in the dirt full time and go after people. The Redskins lost to the Cowboys Sunday because Romo had too much time to make a play. Guys like Phillip Daniels and others will likely be purged next year so the Skins may as well get their young guys max film to see what they have. Orakpo is so talented that his upside is off the charts. He could be faster than Freeney, as versatile as Julius Peppers and as strong as Dexter Manley.

Fred Davis – His athleticism is off the charts but his brain needs to catch up with his body and immense talent. Davis needs to concentrate on his blocking but he gives you so much in the passing game. With Davis and Cooley the Redskins can really exploit teams that like to play cover-2 in the seams. Davis upside is a bigger, faster and more athletic Dallas Clark.

Jason Campbell - I’m going to throw some numbers out because the numbers do not lie. If you compare Jason Campbell to Jay Cutler, Mark Sanchez and Tony Romo only Tony Romo has slightly better stats. Campbell throws fewer INTs but has as many TDs as the three. Campbell is second in completion percentage and QB rating only to Romo. Campbell was sacked far more than the other guys which has to make you wonder what Campbell could have done with a good offensive line and a reliable running game. The irony is the Campbell will be the best free agent QB available and all of the "good" prospects will be gone by the time the Redskins are on the clock. The Redskins are much better off with Campbell than a wide eyed rookie anyways especially with a bad offensive line.

Jeremy Jarmon – I wrote a blog a while ago talking about the bright side of the Redskins defensive bookends. Jarmon gets spot duty but he is definitely a football player. In limited duty he always seems to be around the football. This kid is only going to get better and at 3-7 it is time to turn this dawg loose. Jarmon reminds me of Charles Mann in that he is very strong and very smart. He always seems to be around the ball and he never makes the same mistake twice.

Malcolm Kelly – Technically speaking this is really his first year of actually playing. If you consider the Redskins offensive line woes and the fact that Campbell is usually on his back by his on his third read it would be unfair to rate Kelly as a bust. His maturity and approach to the game says to me he will be a player if the Skins can stabilize the line. Kelly came to the NFL knowing how to use his size. His biggest hurdle is staying healthy and learning the little nuances of the NFL with route running etc.

Laron Landry – He is a keeper but at strong safety. His desire to blow everyone up makes him a zero sum player. He will either decapitate you or he will miss you entirely. Landry needs to spend a lot of time this off season watching tapes of both Ed Reed and Sean Taylor. If he can play the ball and not the man he has all of the tools to be an NFL’s great. Until then he should stay at strong safety.

Albert Haynesworth - Silenced all of his critics with his play this season. The fact is Haynesworth makes a huge difference when he is on the field. I have not seen an offensive player yet that can stop him or even handle him. Hopefully he will be better conditioned come next season but make no mistake this guy is a core Redskin and he brings the pain which helps the entire defense.

London Fletcher - If this guy does not make a pro-bowl soon this game is a fraud. All Fletcher does is make plays and he is without a doubt one of the best in the league at his position. The question for the Skins is how much longer can he be relied upon to produce at a high level?

DeAngelo Hall - People chirped at his salary but the fact is his stats place him in the top 5 of NFL CBs. He is making plays and getting it done. Yes he gets beat every now and then but what corner can boast that they never got beat? Hall has also stepped up as a leader in the secondary.

Chris Cooley - Cooooley is a heart and soul player on this team. Not to mention he always gets open and is next to impossible to bring down with one guy. If Cooley had Fred Davis speed and height he would be the best TE in the NFC without a doubt. Cooley is a beast and the Redskins are a much better team with him.

Santana Moss - Is a "duh" choice but as Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly or even Marko Mitchell emerge Moss is better suited to be a slot WR. Why would you move your most productive WR to the slot? You can move him around and not take him out of the game so easily as teams can now. It's all about match ups and moving Moss to the slot makes defenses adjust thus opening up things for the two outside WRs. Moss has the speed to scare defenses and he has the guts to go over the middle and make the tough catches. He is a core Redskin.

The fact that none of the core players are on the offensive line is a huge problem. Some notable names not on this list are Clinton Portis and Carlos Rogers. Portis is a heck of a player but he is eating up too much Cap space for a guy that no longer has that warp speed. Carlos Rogers may just be better off with a change of scenery. Obviously he and the coaches are not on the same wave length. The Skins have talent but they suffered this year because none of it is on the O-line. In an uncapped year Dan Snyder can potentially correct that problem pretty quick although everyone perfer he go through the draft. Personally I don't care how they do it as a long as they fix it.

TSD Week #12 NFL Pick Challenge

Wed, 25 Nov, 2009 06:57:52 GMT

We have some awesome games on tap this week so make your picks and check back Tuesday to see who won. This is a short week so your picks need to be made before 10am on Thursday.

Loss = 0 point
Win = 1 point
Tie = .5 point
TSD Game of the week = +4 points win or -4 points loss
(new) AFC and NFC Rivalry Games of the week = +2 win or -2 loss
Upset Special +7 points (must pick one upset game)
(new) Cupcake Game rules: A game your team should win easily is a cupcake game. (Required)

If your team wins by 21 points or more +7
If your team wins by 14 points or more +4
If your team wins by 10 points or more +3
If your team wins by 7 points normal scoring of +1
If your team loses the game -3
If your team loses the game by 7 or less points -4
If your team loses the game by 10 points or more -7

Tie break procedure – Pick one game and give a score. Closest to the score without going over wins. (required)
(new) 50 Burger Bonus – If a team you pick wins and they score 50 or more points +2
(new) Low Score Penalty – If a team you pick loses and they are shut out -2
(new) Monday Night Bonus - +2 win or -2 loss
(new) Exacta bonus – If you guess the exact score/total points of your tie break +3

YOU CANNOT Alter the TSD game of the week

You are allowed to change your picks until 10am Thursday

NFL Game odds for the Week – Check here to see who is favored in this week’s games

1. Packers at Detroit - TSD Pick Packers

2. Raiders at Cowboys - TSD Pick Raiders (upset special)

3. Giants at Broncos - TSD Pick Broncos

4. Buccaneers at Falcons - TSD Pick Falcons

5. Dolphins at Bills - TSD Pick Dolphins

6. Redskins at Eagles - NFC Rivalry/TSD Pick - Redskins 14-10

7. Seahawks at Rams - TSD Pick Rams

8. Panthers at Jets - TSD Pick - Panthers

9. Browns at Bengals - TSD Pick - Bengals

10. Colts at Texans - AFC Rivalry/TSD Pick - Colts

11. Chiefs at Chargers - TSD Pick Chargers

12. Jaguars at 49ers - TSD Pick Jaguars

13. Bears at Vikings - TSD Pick Vikings (cupcake)

14. Cardinals at Titans - TSD Pick Cardinals

15. Steelers at Ravens - TSD Pick Ravens

16. Patriots at Saints - TSD Game of the Week - TSD Pick - Saints

TSD wishes everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving and a special thank you to our troops serving all over the globe!

Washington Loses A Hero in Abe Pollin

Wed, 25 Nov, 2009 06:21:55 GMT

Abe Pollin was the type of owner lifelong Washington DC residents like me are proud of. He did more for this city than many of the politicians. More than any money he spent he will be remembered as a man that always reached out to help others. I had the opportunity to interact with Mr. Pollin during my time as the Video Producer of the Spirit of America Pageants for the US Army held at the Cap Centre. It was during the four years of these pageants that I got to know the man. For a man of such high stature he not only remembered my name but he always asked about my family whose names he remembered as well. If you knew him he treated you like family and if you didn’t he got to know you so he could treat you like family.

Abe did things to help thousands of Washingtonians and change lives for the better. I know my life is better as a result of knowing him. My family sends our love and condolences to Irene and her two sons. DC has lost a remarkable man but I will remember him every time I venture to the Verizon Center which sits on Abe Pollin Way. There will be a lot of nice things said about Abe this week and he deserves all of it. Rest in peace my friend.

Where were the IAAF women to protect Semenya?

Sun, 22 Nov, 2009 08:11:33 GMT

It is an absolute shame that an athlete had to endure something like this. My question is where were the women in that room when this issue was being discussed? No one had the common sense to realize this was a very personal issue when the gender questioning started? Men can be unaware of such issues but I believe any woman in that room should have acted to protect this young lady.

Can you imagine your greatest achievement to date marred by allegations of cheating and the public questioning of your gender? I cannot imagine anything more insulting and potentially damaging for a young woman. The rumblings and rumors started as South African runner, Caster Semenya started blowing away her competition with regularity. Given the history of cheating and drugs in Olympic sports everyone can understand some scrutiny but questioning someone’s gender and the public disclosure of what was essentially doctor-patient privileged information was absolutely unacceptable.

The Australia’s Daily Telegraph, citing an unnamed source reported that Semenya was a hermaphrodite. The IAAF has neither confirmed nor denied the report. The IAAF still maintains their stance that they did not release this information but they are still culpable for the mishandling of this situation. The Athletics South Africa President, Leonard Chuene is the only person that has resigned as a result of this issue and a full investigation is underway. Semenya was found innocent of wrong and will retain her gold medal and prize money. How kind of the IAAF after allowing this athlete’s reputation to be dragged through the mud. At a minimum they should triple her prize money and hope she does not seek legal recourse.

I always hear the statement that women need to stick together but I wonder what happened to the women in the that room when all of this was going down?

NFC Least?

Thu, 19 Nov, 2009 08:45:52 GMT

Every year the media hype machine spins endlessly about the strength of the NFC East. Every team is in a major media market hence the hype but the emergence of the Saints, Vikings and Cardinals have shown that the true strength of the NFC is everywhere but the NFC East.

The Dallas Cowboys sit at 6-3. They are talented but as I watch them play I get the feeling that they are waiting for the other shoe to drop. As expected the Cowboys are doing well now but everyone is wondering what team we will see in December and January.

The Philadelphia Eagles are a true enigma. Offensively they are as talented as they've ever been. I remember when the gameplan for beating the Eagles rested solely with stopping Westbrook. Now they have plenty of weapons but they seem to schlep from week to week playing at the level of their opponents.

The New York Giants started the season looking like they were gonna blow through everyone. That is until their young WRs started reading their press clippings. Those young WRs hit a brick wall and the usually very good defense started springing leaks. It will be interesting to see if Coughlin can get the Giants back on track.

The Washington Redskins until recently looked pathetic and lifeless. Redskin nation resigned themselves to a 3-13/2-14 year in the hopes that Snyder would clean house, hire a real football guy and then get out of the way. That could still be the case but the Redskins showed up last Sunday and beat up a really good Denver team. Last week showed that the redskins have talent so this has to be a coaching, discipline and motivation issue besides the problems in the front office.

I believe it was Peter King that said every team in the NFC East is an enigma. They all could go 12-4 or 4-12 depending on injuries, breaks and other factors. The Giants were the closest team to being consistent coming into the season but even they have fallen short thus far. With teams like Green Bay, Atlanta and the suddenly surging Panthers in play this could be the first time in a long time where only the NFC East division winner will make the playoffs. NFC Least indeed.

TSD Week #11 NFL Picks Challenge (Game Thursday)

Wed, 18 Nov, 2009 10:30:40 GMT

· Win = 1 point

Loss = 0 point
Tie = .5 point
TSD Game of the week = +3 points win or -3 points loss
(new) AFC and NFC Rivalry Games of the week = +2 win or -2 loss
Upset Special +7 points (must pick one upset game)
(new) Cupcake Game rules: A game your team should win easily is a cupcake game. (Required)

If your team wins by 21 points or more +7
If your team wins by 14 points or more +3
If your team wins by 10 points or more +2
If your team wins by 7 points normal scoring of +1
If your team loses the game -3
If your team loses the game by 10 points or more -7

Tie break procedure – Pick one game and give a score. Closest to the score without going over wins. (required)
(new) 50 Burger Bonus – If a team you pick wins and they score 50 or more points +2
(new) Low Score Penalty – If a team you pick loses and they are blanked -2

YOU CANNOT Alter the TSD game of the week

You are allowed to change your picks until 5pm Thursday

NFL Game odds for the Week – Check here to see who is favored in this week’s games

1. Miami at Carolina - TSD Pick Carolina

2. Indy at Baltimore - TSD Game of the week - TSD Pick Indy

3. Washington at Dallas - NFC Rivalry - (Upset Pick) Redskins

4. Cleveland at Detroit - TSD Pick Detroit

5. San Francisco at Green Bay - TSD Pick

6. Buffalo at Jacksonville - TSD Pick Jacksonville

7. Pittsburgh at Kansas City - Steelers

8. Seattle at Minnesota - TSD Pick Minnesota

9. Atlanta at New York Giants - TSD Pick Giants

10. New Orleans at Tampa bay - Cupcake - New Orleans

11. Arizona at St. Louis - TSD Pick Arizona

12. New York Jets at New England - AFC Rivalry - TSD Pick New England

13. Cincinnati at Oakland - TSD Pick Cincinnati

14. Philadelphia at Chicago - TSD Pick Philadelphia

15. Tennessee at Houston - TSD Pick Tennessee (24-14)

Scuba reigns supreme in the TSD week #10 challenge

Wed, 18 Nov, 2009 10:09:33 GMT

Scuba crushes the competition and walks away with the top TSD weekly prize.

Scuba #1 - 22 points

TSD #2 - 14 points

Tracy #3 (the golden terd award) - 7 points

Scuba is Lord of Week 10...let all bow before him!

Belichick's gamble made perfect sense

Tue, 17 Nov, 2009 01:56:02 GMT

I for one have absolutely zero problems with Belichick's decision to keep the ball in the hands of his best player when the game is on the line. Clearly the New England's offense is better than the defense and possession is still nine tenths of the law. Why not try to end the game and keep the ball out of the hands of your opponent's best play maker Peyton Manning?

The Patriots scored 34 points to that point in the game so Belichick clearly had compelling evidence to support the idea that Indy could not stop his offense. The fact is the only problem that people have is the fact that he gambled and they lost. Had they pulled it off the talk would be about the genius of Belichick.

On a lesser team the results of this decision could have a ripple effect through the locker room. On a lesser team the defense would take this decision as a shot at them and lose confidence. I think the Pats will move on from this loss and it is highly likely that theses teams will meet again.

58 Minutes

Mon, 16 Nov, 2009 06:52:05 GMT

For close to a full game we finally saw what we were supposed to see when this season started. For roughly 58 minutes the Washington Redskins played “Washington Redskins football". For those of you that missed the 80's and the early 90's Redskin football is synonymous with running the football no matter how people are in the box, not beating yourself and out executing your opponent. Save two plays that the Redskins secondary suffered massive brain farts this was an outstanding performance against a quality opponent. Unlike in previous weeks the Redskins weren't waiting around for the other shoe to drop they went out and created their own good luck. They punched Denver in the mouth and when Denver punched back they did not fold. They stood toe to toe with an elite team and they beat them up.

The nucleus of this performance was the much maligned offensive line that kept Jason Campbell upright for most of the game while creating nice holes for Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright. Did anyone else notice the difference between Betts and Cartwright attacking holes versus Clinton Portis waiting until something opened up? Ladell Betts style of running gives the Redskins back their toughness and confidence. The beauty of the play calling was the simplicity and the fact that the Redskins stayed with what was working.

There comes a time in every football game where no matter your strategic mastery of the game you just have to beat the guy in front of you. Yesterday the Redskins squared up on the Broncos and dished out some punishment.

This victory marks the first time in a long time that the Redskins beat an opponent in all three phases of the game. Special Teams Coach, Danny Smith deserves the stones of the week award for showing Denver the play and coming right back to it after a timeout on a 4^th down and 20+ yard no less. Those that question the victory will say Orton’s absence made a difference but the obvious counter is the Redskins defense put Orton out of the game.

We got to see that Jason Campbell can run this offense when the running game slows down the opponent’s pass rush. Jason hit ten different receivers yesterday and sustained long drives. The trio of second round picks led by Devin Thomas made significant contributions yesterday. Devin Thomas is 6’2 220 pounds and he showed he can do serious damage if you get him the ball in space with usually smaller corners. Fred Davis continues to impress with his speed and ability to get open.

A lot of people were down on DeAngelo Hall but he is making plays. He is not perfect by any stretch but he is stepping forward when the secondary so obviously needs a leader. Speaking of leaders Albert Haynesworth is playing hurt, he is wreaking havoc and he is allowing his line mates to make plays. The Redskins showed us that they are not as bad as they looked earlier season. This certainly does not excuse their play of earlier or make them a playoff team but this victory should provide them the confidence they need to know that if they execute and don’t beat themselves they can beat good teams playing 58 minutes of quality football.

A ray of hope for the Redskins future

Sat, 14 Nov, 2009 03:04:25 GMT

The Redskins have done a few things right despite all of the negativity surrounding them. The two young defensive ends, Brian Orakpo and Jeremy Jarmon appear to be franchise book ends that will harass QBs for the next 10 years.

Brian Orakpo evokes memories of Dexter Manley with uncanny speed off the edge along with the ability to knock lineman in the dirt when he wants to mix it up. Orakpo had an extensive resume coming out of the University of Texas and he will be the guy giving offensive coordinators around the league sleepless nights. Orakpo is humble, ultra talented and always working to perfect his craft which will eventually make him one of the best in the NFL. The fact that he is playing out of position now will only make him better as he transitions to a hand down pass rusher.

Jeremy Jarmon is a smart kid that while not as NFL ready physically as Orakpo appears to have an upside that is off the charts. One thing that catches your eye as you watch him on film is At 6’3, 277 is the efficiency in which he works. Jarmon is a fire and forget player meaning you show him once and you don’t have to worry about it again. Jarmon’s intelligence and maturity separates him from his peers. Most rookies enter the NFL and their minds have to catch up to their sculpted bodies. Jarmon is the rare instance where his body has to catch up with his extremely sharp mind. Greg Blache who neither likes nor trusts rookies paid Jarmon a high compliment by saying he does not play, think or act like a rookie.

I can see Orakpo being the guy that gets a ton of sacks and scares the crap out of coordinators for years to come but Jeremy Jarmon is the guy that makes the critical plays at the most critical moments. Jarmon might not be as flashy as Orakpo but he will be a difference maker all the same. Although he is learning from vets now Jarmon’s maturity and his smarts will eventually make him a leader in that locker room. The Redskins have a lot of negatives we can pick apart at length but they made smart choices with their future at the defensive end position.

Caps thriving despite Ovechkin's absence

Fri, 13 Nov, 2009 04:23:40 GMT

Picture this…you lose the best player on the planet for an indefinite period and your scoring goes up? That is the reality of the offensively gifted Washington Capitals. Prior to injury Alexander Ovechkin was having the best season start of his already accomplished career. He was on a pace to break his own personal bests and some were even hinting at the idea of 50 goals in 50 games. A post whistle tangle up in a game versus the Columbus Blue Jackets changed all of that.

In an instant gone was Ovechkin’s ability to change a game and what was left was 25 minutes a night to fill and a bunch of guys even the best hockey fans have likely never heard of. One of the biggest knocks on the Caps is they are a one man team. If you shut down Ovechkin you shut down the Caps. According to the increased scoring per game during Ovechkin’s absence it looks like the Caps are learning to play without him. For the sake of the team Ovechkin should stay away and get back to one hundred percent. This will allow guys like Tomas Fleischmann, Matheiu Perreault, to grow into their games. This time is also allowing the Caps to mix a little more grit into their top six forward combos.

The Caps have notable defensive deficiencies but that could be addressed with the likely departure of Michael Nylander. Coach Bruce Boudreau and Nylander have been at odds since Boudreau arrived and it has led to Nylander riding the pine for the past couple of years. The Caps could not move Nylander due to his rather large salary but there appears to be a deal in the works with the KHL that will get Nylander off the Caps books. With the roughly 3.8 million the Caps will likely add an experienced, rugged, crease-clearing defenseman they’ve needed for some time. Lost in all of the focus on the Caps woes is the fact that they have the fewest losses in the NHL. So what looked to be a horrible month with the loss of the best hockey player on earth has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

TSD Week #10 NFL Challenge (Game Thursday)

Wed, 11 Nov, 2009 03:30:56 GMT

· Win = 1 point

Loss = 0 point
Tie = .5 point
TSD Game of the week = +3 points win or -3 points loss
(new) AFC and NFC Rivalry Games of the week = +2 win or -2 loss
Upset Special +7 points (must pick one upset game)
(new) Cupcake Game rules: A game your team should win easily is a cupcake game. (Required)

If your team wins by 21 points or more +7
If your team wins by 14 points or more +3
If your team wins by 10 points or more +2
If your team wins by 7 points normal scoring of +1
If your team loses the game -3
If your team loses the game by 10 points or more -7

Tie break procedure – Pick one game and give a score. Closest to the score without going over wins. (required)
(new) 50 Burger Bonus – If a team you pick wins and they score 50 or more points +2
(new) Low Score Penalty – If a team you pick loses and they are blanked -2

YOU CANNOT Alter the TSD game of the week

You are allowed to change your picks until NOON Sunday

NFL Game odds for the Week – Check here to see who is favored in this week’s games

1. Bears at 49ers - TSD Pick Bears

2. Falcons at Panthers - TSD Upset special Panthers

3. Buccaneers at Dolphins - TSD Pick Dolphins

4. Lions at Vikings - Cupcake game TSD Pick Vikings

5. Jaguars at NY Jets - TSD Pick Jets

6. Bengals at Steelers - (AFC Rivalry Game) - TSD Pick Steelers

7. Saints at Rams - TSD Pick Saints

8. Bills at Titans - TSD Pick Titans

9. Broncos at Redskins - TSD Pick Broncos (24-7)

10. Chiefs at Raiders - TSD Pick Raiders

11. Seahawks at Cardinals - TSD Pick Cardinals

12. Cowboys at Packers - (NFC Rivalry game) TSD Pick Packers

13. Eagles at Chargers - TSD Pick Chargers

14. Patriots at Colts - TSD Game of the week - TSD Pick Pats

15. Ravens at Browns - TSD Pick Ravens

Double G Sports wins the TSD week #9 NFL Challenge!

Tue, 10 Nov, 2009 05:50:07 GMT

Double G - 24 points (week #9 Champion)

Corey G - 23 points

Scuba - 22 points

Tracy - 7 points

TSD (Golden Terd Award) - 0 points

Congratulations to the victor and the losers are vanquished to the realm of the unworthy....

TSD-NFL Week #9 Pick Challenge

Fri, 6 Nov, 2009 11:17:05 GMT

We’ve tweaked the scoring to provide more of a risk/reward factor to your picks. Last week it was all about the upset specials and the game of the weeks. Check out the new scoring system, check the odds, make your picks, talk plenty of trash and then check back Tuesday to see if you are a champ or a chump.

· Win = 1 point

Loss = 0 point
Tie = .5 point
TSD Game of the week = +3 points win or -3 points loss
(new) AFC and NFC Rivalry Games of the week = +2 win or -2 loss
Upset Special +5 points (must pick one upset game)
(new) Cupcake Game rules: A game your team should win easily is a cupcake game. (Required)

If your team wins by 21 points or more +7
If your team wins by 14 points or more +3
If your team wins by 10 points or more +2
If your team wins by 7 points normal scoring of +1
If your team loses the game -3
If your team loses the game by 10 points or more -7

Tie break procedure – Pick one game and give a score. Closest to the score without going over wins. (required)
(new) 50 Burger Bonus – If a team you pick wins and they score 50 or more points +2
(new) Low Score Penalty – If a team you pick loses and they are blanked -2

You are allowed to change your picks until NOON Sunday

NFL Game odds for the Week – Check here to see who is favored in this week’s games

Click on the game links below to get all the individual game information you need straight from NFL.com. Good luck!

1. Washington at Atlanta –TSD Pick Atlanta (tie break score 21-10)

2. Arizona at Chicago – TSD Pick Arizona

3. Baltimore at Cincinnati – (AFC rivalry game of the week) TSD Pick Baltimore

4. Houston at Indianapolis –TSD Pick Colts

5. Kansas City at Jacksonville – TSD Pick Jacksonville

6. Miami at New England – TSD Pick Pats

7. Green Bay at Tampa Bay – (Cupcake Game) TSD Pick Green Bay

8. Carolina at New Orleans – TSD Pick New Orleans

9. Detroit at Seattle – TSD Pick Seattle

10. San Diego at New York Giants – TSD Upset Special – San Diego

11. Tennessee at San Francisco – TSD Pick Tennessee

12. Dallas at Philadelphia - (NFC rivalry game of the week) – TSD Pick Philadelphia

13. Pittsburgh at Denver -(Game of the week) – TSD Pick Denver

TSD Week #8 NFL Awards and Pick Winners

Tue, 3 Nov, 2009 04:38:50 GMT

The we’re going to win…oh wait, never mind award – The New York Jets. Guess the Dolphins didn’t get the memo they were supposed to lose (again).

The objects in the mirror are a lot closer than you think award– NY Giants were once sitting pretty on top of the NFC East but now the Cowboys and Eagles are right there with them.

The bad luck award – The Detroit Lions - just lost to the Rams at home. This was the blackout bowl and very likely that neither fan base saw the game. (Lucky them)

The Billy Bad-Ass Award (individual)

· 1^st place Brett Favre with 4TDs in his old stomping grounds

· 2^nd place Jared Allen with 3 Sacks

· 3^rd place Chris Johnson 228 rushing yards

· 4^th place Reggie Wayne 12 receptions 147 yards

The Billy Bad-Ass Award (team) – The New Orleans Saints are the team to beat in the NFC.

The WTF Award – The 49ers looked like crap the last couple of weeks and all of a sudden they take the Colts to the brink of defeat.

The Fifty Burger Award – Philadelphia Eagles who came closest to 50 points versus the Giants

The Zero-Nada Award – The Cleveland Browns – No one got blanked but Cleveland had the lowest score of 6.

And now for the Week #8 Pick Results:

The upset specials (+3) and game of the week (plus or minus 2) meant a lot this week.

1^st place - Scuba with 13 points (+3 upset) (+2 game of week)

2^nd place - Tracy with 12 points (+3 upset) (+2 game of week)

3^rd place - Double G Sports with 10 points

4^th place – Corey G with 8 points

5^th place – TSD with 5 points

Is Boudreau still effective?

Sat, 31 Oct, 2009 08:59:58 GMT

When Bruce Boudreau took over from Glen Hanlon as bench boss he unleashed the Caps offensive potential. It seemed to be exactly what the Caps needed as they took off up the standings and never looked back. Bruce’s system (as I understand it) boils down to a simple philosophy that the best defense is a puck control, high pressure offense. Judging by what I’ve seen during Boudreau’s entire tenure including our two early playoff exits the Caps issues appear to be pretty clear.

Sloppy play and decision making in their own zone – This appears to be more of a personnel problem than anything else. The Caps would say that they are 8 men deep with people in the minors ready to play at this level. I see a different picture entirely. I see some guys who consistently foul up and should not be relied upon at this level. The Caps either need to upgrade dramatically via free agency/trade or they need to give some other guys a chance to play at this level. The results are pretty clear with the current cast of characters.

The same forwards making poor decisions/turning over the puck – Yes we have some terrific and talented forwards, but if they are giving our opponents as many opportunities to score via turnovers/poor decisions as they produce then this is a zero sum game that in the end produces no benefit. Boudreau might wake the team up out of their funk if he scratched a prominent player or two whenever they cost the team. Discipline means nothing if you don’t dish it out equally even to your star players.

A tendency to favor “cute hockey” over “solid hockey” – The Caps have the wonderful problem of having an overload of talent. Talent is great but you need some grit to get you through as well. The Caps brought in Mike Knuble for this reason but the top line of Backstrom, Ovechkin and Semin still has a tendency to try and make that extra pass instead of taking the solid shot and popping in a rebound. The top line could set the example as well as the tone of games if they placed someone on that line willing to pay the price for grit-goals. Right now the Caps are a 1-line team for the most part.

Lacking of an overall commitment to team defense – I thought the Caps brought Bob Woods in to tighten up the defense but so far they actually look worse than they did last year. It is early but my eyes do not lie and neither does the video tape. If the goal is the Stanley Cup this issue has got to be addressed.

Inability to play 60 minutes of high quality hockey – This is a coaching and motivation issue. When people get comfortable they produce less. The Caps are a comfortable team and they know they have the talent to beat everyone in the NHL. The problem is they have gotten away with wins by only playing 20-50 minutes of hockey. You can see it in their play and it does not bode well for a Stanley Cup run when your team takes periods off. Coach Ken Hitchcock said if the Caps ever learn how to play with a lead they will be dangerous. Apparently that quest continues.

We have heard from the Caps talking heads say that it is too early to panic but this is the same hockey we’ve seen over the past two years. Insanity by definition is doing something repeatedly even when you know the results are not favorable. So at what point will Boudreau be held accountable for these issues? I want to believe that at every meeting/practice Coaches Boudreau, Evason and Woods are stressing more emphasis on defense, better decision making and playing 60 minutes of two-way hockey. The real question here is have the players tuned Boudreau out? If Boudreau has become white noise the Caps will continue to play this lesser brand of hockey and get away with it until they get into the playoffs and they get dismissed again.

Boudreau is a great guy and everyone loves him including me, but I would cross check my mother to win a Stanley Cup and I'm starting to wonder if he is the guy that can get the Caps over the hump. I'm sure the players love him to but they appear to be too comfortable to change their sloppy and inconsistent play. It is up to Boudreau to make them uncomfortable. If he can't do it then McPhee may need to either change the locker room or the Coaches.

Published or not Donaghy's book slam dunks NBA

Sat, 31 Oct, 2009 09:03:35 GMT

Why is a cancelled book getting so much attention? I’ve always wondered about the secret goings on with regard to NBA referees and how they call games. I’ve often wondered who the real stars are if the refs actually called fair and consistent games. Tim Donaghy’s tell all book entitled "Blowing the Whistle: The Culture of Fraud in the NBA" takes you to a place NBA Commissioner David Stern did not want any fan to go.

The first thing defenders of the status quo are going to say is to consider the source. Tim Donaghy was caught cheating and he disgraced the game so how much can you trust what he says? The 2000 pound gorilla in the room is the fact that we have precedence from MLB. Jose Canseco proved that liars and cheats aren't lying about everything. Not to mention the fact that our own legal system uses the testimony of killers, liars and cheaters to convict other killers, liars and cheaters everyday.

The fact that NBA Commissioner David Stern did everything in his power to end this investigation with just Donaghy was proof positive to me that this story had legs. Stern could have used the Donaghy problem as an opportunity to clean house, expose the problems and correct things but he the easy route. Now the media is going to make this an issue until the NBA either investigates again or Congress threatens to do it for them.

So what does this mean for the casual basketball fan? Well that depends. If your team is in a close game and they lose due to a questionable call what will be the first thing that comes to your mind now knowing what Donaghy has exposed? Another important question I have is who would the real stars be in the NBA if the refs called unbiased and even games? For all we know a guy buried on a bench somewhere might be the next superstar if the refs did not have a preset agenda.

Perhaps the NBA might have some much needed parity if certain players/teams did not get vast majority of the breaks. No matter how you slice it the NBA cannot win so the best thing to do is the exact opposite of what baseball did by trying to cover it up. Furthermore, congress has shown an interest in calling both athletes and commissioners on the carpet to provide the American people an explanation of what is happening in their respective sport. The one thing you can be certain of in sports just like everything else is referees have egos, quirks and they allow these things to cloud their judgement.

Excerpts from the book for your review (click here)

If the stars aligned for Gibbs and Norv...

Sat, 31 Oct, 2009 09:04:30 GMT

When Joe Gibbs returned on of the first people he inquired about bringing in was Norv Turner to be the offensive coordinator. I believe too many bridges were burned for that to happen but the fact that Joe Gibbs’s first choice to run his offense was Norv Turner says something. Gibbs liked Norv’s philosophy. Norv believes in big armed QBs that can make every throw, Big O-lines, play action and physically dominating your opponents. Who does that sound like in the 80s? Norv Turner does not have the chops to be a head coach but I think he is a hall of fame level offensive coordinator and obviously Joe Gibbs thought pretty highly of him as well.

Judging by Norv’s previous pupils, he would have loved to have a guy like Jason Campbell who could make every throw and could use his feet to make plays when needed. Unlike Jim Zorn Norv would not try to change a 6’5, 230 pound QB into 6 foot, 210 pound Steve Young. When did I know Jim Zorn failed as a coach? The moment I saw him trying to change the mechanics of a guy not built for his offensive scheme. As I watch Phillip Rivers thrive in San Diego with what many would describe as a marginal arm I can’t help but wonder how far along Jason Campbell would be right now in a system built on his strengths. Norv Turner could actually utilize the strengths of Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas and Fred Davis and he has the superbowl rings to prove it.

If Norv were the offensive Coordinator under Gibbs he would have asked for a bigger, younger O-line. Look at the lines Norv had in Dallas, Washington and San Diego. They were all huge and he usually had very successful running games. How much more effective would Clinton Portis be behind San Diego’s offensive line? How do you best protect a QB?

With a strong running game because it allows the QB to throw when he wants to (2nd, 3rd and short) instead of when he has to (2nd, 3rd and long). A great example is Ben Roethlisberger who benefitted from a strong running game when he first entered the league. Roethlisberger had a ridiculously high completion percentage because he only threw the ball 20 times a game. It is a proven fact that with the protection of consistent running games QBs tend to grow up faster. Look at Matt Ryan in Atlanta and how quickly he has come along with a consistent running attack. Joe Flacco is also pretty good when the Ravens are pounding the rock effectively.

So if Joe Gibbs hired Norv and implemented the offensive approach he wanted to this implosion might not be taking place right now. The Ironic thing is Norv Turner could be available again at the end of this season. So what is the quickest route back to success for the Redskins? Keep Jason Campbell because he will be the best QB available in free agency this season and the Skins will not be picking high enough to get a franchise QB. I would hire a GM/Coach that has absolutely nothing to do with the west coast anything because finding a QB to run it is next to impossible. I would hire a coach that prefers more traditional smash, gash and play action schemes like a Tom Coughlin.

I would also hire Norv Turner as Offensive Coordinator and allow him to build an offense around Campbell, Portis, Kelly, Thomas, Cooley and Davis. To me this represents the quickest possible fix on a roster that cannot change much due to salary issues. I just hope the Redskins can go back to playing Redskin football and the west coast offense just does not fit the personality of this city or the NFC East for that matter. This is why the Giants have owned this division ever since they hired Coughlin.