NFL Quarterback Rankings 2010 - Reset

Before the start of last season, The Daily Hat Trick, evaluated the starting quarterbacks of each NFL team. Next week, we will look at the updated rankings for 2011. Those rankings and evaluations are still being finalized, in part because some NFL teams have not settled on a clear starter. Today, we will rewind back to last year for some perspective on where each of these signal callers, as well as the teams, were a year ago.




With preseason NFL football starting in days, this is as good a time as any to evaluate the QB landscape in the National Football League in 2010. The names near the top are quite familiar to even the casual football fan. However, there are a lot of BAD quarterbacks in the NFL. Today, we examine the good the bad and the ugly.

TOP TIER

1) Peyton Manning, Indianapolis
2) Drew Brees, New Orleans
3) Tom Brady, New England
4) Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings

Peyton Manning, when he retires, may be remembered as the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL, possibly the greatest player in the history of the NFL. In my opinion, going into 2010, Peyton Manning is the most valuable player in the game of football. The Indianapolis Colts will go as far as he goes, which is usually in or close to a Super Bowl.

Drew Brees has risen to the top among NFL quarterbacks over the last four seasons, putting himself at the forefront by leading the historically abysmal New Orleans Saints to their first World Championship in Super Bowl XLIV this past February. He will pose a challenge to Peyton Manning's reign at the top of the QB mountain.

Tom Brady is on the elite bubble. After missing the entire 2008 season with a knee injury, Brady gradually returned to form in 2009. Brady appeared to get off to a very slow start last season, but by mid-season, he was dissecting defenses and making opponents pay for mistakes as he always has, highlighted with a near 60 point shellacking of the Tennessee Titans. The swift (and punchless) exit from the 2009 Playoffs by the Patriots was attention-grabbing, as Brady had not made such a swift and unceremonious exit from the playoffs in his career, and the Patriots had not lost a home playoff game since the late 1970s! Is the Evil Empire that is the Bill Bellichick/Tom Brady era New England Patriots about to fall?

The Ol' Gunslinger, Brett Fave...I am working with the assumption that he will be back in Minnesota this season. When in doubt of whether or not the Gunslinger will call it quits, assume he will not. If Favre looks like a liar, then he will not retire! Assuming Favre plays, there is no indicator that he will not be the seemingly unstoppable force he was with the Vikings in 2009. Can we say, "Pants on the Ground,"?


Teir 2

5) Philip Rivers, San Diego
6) Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh
7) Donnovan McNabb, Washington
8) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay

Philip Rivers appears to be getting better every year. And, for the moment, it appears as though the San Diego Chargers may have gotten the slightly better end of the 2004 draft day trade with the New York Giants for Eli Manning that enabled the Chargers to acquire Rivers. Rivers is developing more into an elite QB with each passing season and has already evolved into a strong, respected leader in the locker room.

If Ben Roethlisberger can stay out of trouble and get his life in order, the sky is the limit for Big Ben and the Pittsburgh Steelers. As it stands, even with Roethlisberger likely missing the first four games of the season, 12 games of Roethlisberger is more desirable than 16 games of most quarterbacks in the National Football League.Drink Like a Champion, Ben!

Donnovan McNabb may be in his mid-30s, but he still has a lot to offer the Washington Redskins and the team will be better off for him. Aaron Rodgers is a fast-rising star and if he can quicken his release and the Green Bay Packers' offensive line can help keep Rodgers from being sacked and out of the Eat Grass Club, the Packers are a legitimate Super Bowl contender under Rodgers' leadership. Having your quarterback's "pants on the ground" 50 times in any season is a recipe for having to buy a ticket to get to the Super Bowl.

Tier 3

9) Eli Manning, New York Giants
10) Carson Palmer, Cincinnati

Eli Manning and Carson Palmer are very good quarterbacks with the potential to lead their teams to Super Bowl XLV. They exhibit moments of elitism and if their respective supporting casts know and effectively execute their roles, both Manning and Palmer, especially with the addition of Terrell Owens alongside Chad Ochocinco at wide receiver, may take their teams deep into the playoffs.

Teir 4

11) Tony Romo, Dallas
12) Matt Ryan, Atlanta
13) Matt Schaub, Houston
14) Vince Young, Tennessee

Of these four, three have demonstrated that they possess the potential to have a breakthrough year in 2010 and one has demonstrated the potential to dump his girlfriend in an IHOP parking lot if she presses him with an ultimatum. Former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Bill Parcells said it best, after Tony Romo's first career start in 2006: "Look fellas, let's not put him in (home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame) Canton (Ohio) just yet."

I hope she enjoyed that Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity, because it was her last as the future Mrs. Romo

Romohandedly put his team on his back and take over a football game. Romo appeared to break out of his December/January slump in 2009 and it is not out of the realm of possibility for him to help the Cowboys reach the Super Bowl. But Romo will need to bring his best performance every week on every play, especially as the days grow shorter and the nights grow colder during the season.

Matt Ryan, Vince Young, and Matt Schaub all have the potential to have their best seasons ever. Their teams will go as far as they can take them. I believe that the odds are favorable that at least one of these guys will be playing in the post season.

Tier 5

15) Jay Cutler, Chicago
16) Chad Henne, Miami
17) Joe Flacco, Baltimore
18) Mark Sanchez, New York JetsThe bottom of this tier is on the way up and the top of this tier may be on the way down. Jay Cutler could not have been a bigger disappointment in his first year with the Chicago Bears. He showed signs of being the Jay Cutler that the Bears thought they were getting near the end of last season, as the Bears weren't who we thought they were and we watched them hang on a hook in 2009. Chad Henne, Joe Flacco, and Mark Sanchez all have the opportunity to help their teams make playoff runs. How great that opportunity is and how deep those playoff runs can be will depend entirely upon how much those players have developed during the offseason.

Teir 6

19) Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle
20) Jason Campbell, Oakland
21) Matt Leinart, Arizona
22) Matt Cassel, Kansas City
23) Kyle Orton, Denver

All of the teams of the Tier 6 quarterbacks, except for the two time defending NFC West Champion Arizona Cardinals, are playoff longshots. Based on past performances, there may be some upside for these quarterbacks, except for Matt Hasselback, who turns 35 next month, but that upside appears to be limited. None of these quarterbacks have demonstrated the ability to rise to the ranks of the elite NFL quarterbacks.

Tier 7

24) Alex Smith, San Francisco
25) Matt Stafford, Detroit
26) David Gerrard, Jacksonville
27) Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia
28) Sam Bradford, St. Louis

Matt Stafford and and Sam Bradford have enormous upside. They just need to develop and demonstrate their potential. Alex Smith may have escaped the jaws of the "bust" label with a respectable campaign in 2009, and he is capable of helping his team win in any given week, but I believe that Smith shooting for a Pro Bowl is like shooting for the stars. The San Francisco 49ers can win with Alex Smith under center, but the keys to victory will be running back Frank Gore, tight end Vernon Davis second year wide receiver Michael Crabtree, a defense anchored by superfreak linebacker Patrick Willis and Head Coach Mike Singletary. Smith is just a tool in the chest, not the centerpiece of the blueprint.

Tier 8 (A.K.A Tear Tier, A.K.A. Toilet Tier)

29) Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay
30) Matt Moore, Carolina
31) Jake Delhomme, Cleveland
32) Trent Edwards, Buffalo

Josh Freeman and Matt Moore may amount to something in the NFL. It could happen. Jake Delhomme and Trent Edwards should enjoy their 15 minutes, because they are almost up! They likely will not be worth watching, hence are not worth your time reading, and therefore not worth my time to write about them further.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL???

Super Bowl XLV Reflections

1

The 2010 NFL Season has concluded and the Green Bay Packers are the Super Bowl Champions. The first champion of the 2010s, the Packers ran a gauntlet in December and January to reach the big game. Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy and his team outplayed, outcoached, and outmanned a Pittsburgh Steelers team than many had begun to crown after Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s return from a four game suspension in October.

I could go over stats and Xs and Os but who cares? It does not change the Packers win. And other than the turnover battle, stats and schemes tell very little of the story of this championship contest. Pittsburgh turned the ball over three times, including a Nick Collins interception returned for a touchdown while Green Bay did not turn the ball over.

However, there were a number of noteworthy and telling points in Super Bowl XLV. There were not many “turning points” in the game in the traditional sense. The Packers never trailed. However, there were a number of “defining moments” that played a major role in determining the outcome of the game.

Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers

One of my all-time favorite NFL head coaches, Jim Mora, Sr. (Saints, Colts) often said, “The only statistic that matters is ‘turnovers’.” That appeared to ring true in Super Bowl XLV. One of the most significant determinants was a turnover that did not happen. Early in the game, Tramon Williams of the Packers muffed a punt when a teammate inadvertently made contact with him. Williams managed to recover the ball when it appeared that a Steelers player was able to touch the ball on the ground first. Green Bay responded soon after by scoring a touchdown. Less than a minute later, Collins scored a touchdown off of a Roethlisberger interception. The Steelers were in a big, early hole. The Steelers, who lost by a touchdown, dug a crater sized hole by losing the turnover battle and did nothing to bridge the gap of the impact of the turnover battle on the game by turning the ball over two more times.

Nick Collins celebrates a pick six. 2

Quarterback Battle

Big Ben usually thrives on defensive pressure and makes opponents pay. Not in the Super Bowl, though.... 3

Super Bowl XLV MVP Aaron Rodgers had plenty to smile about, hi-fiving a fan in celebration. 4

Roethlisberger was efficient and adequate. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sharp and clutch. This, frankly, was the opposite of what I expected to see. Rodgers looked like the signal caller who had been to the Super Bowl and won twice before. Roethlisberger, while not bad overall, never appeared to be able to raise his level of play above that of everyone else on the field. The bottom line is that Aaron Rodgers and his teammates, when they had to make a play, made plays to sustain drives, nearly every time the situation arose. The Steelers only appeared to connect in pivotal situations after halftime, and not when the game was on the line in the final minute. Games between evenly matched teams are almost always decided by a clear winner at the quarterback position and, if football were boxing, Aaron Rodgers won by unanimous decision.

Too Big a Hole; Too Little, Too Late

Pittsburgh fell too far behind too quickly to have any more than a slim chance to win the Super Bowl. The record for the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history is held by two teams, tied for the record of 10 points; the Washington Redskins came back to beat the Denver Broncos in super Bowl XXII and the New Orleans Saints, a year ago, came back from the same deficit to beat the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. The Steelers fell into a 14 point hole in the first quarter, growing to an 18 point gap just before the two minute warning in the first half.

Unlike regular season games, playoff games, especially the Super Bowl, involve the best of the best teams. The gaps in talent between any two playoff teams facing each other are usually very slim. When one team falls into an early hole, even if it outplays its opponent down the stretch, it is extremely difficult to completely bridge the early gap in the score because the opponent is not going to lie dormant.

Off Color Commercials

This has nothing to do with the game itself, but the commercials in the Super Bowl broadcast are often one of the more interesting elements of the event. I saw more slapstick and toilet humor, with cans of Pepsi Max being hurled by jealous girlfriends and into groins and teleflorists using breast jokes to sell flowers. Yes, such low common denominator humor is as old as time and will always garner someone’s attention, but commercials of Super Bowls past have involved far more creativity with far fewer technological tools available to produce them.  

Love hurts. 7

Madden NFL 11

It Is Better to Receive than to Give the Ball Away

Rashard Mendenhall's big fumble in the fourth quarter may have been the separator put the Packers out of reach of the Steelers. 5

Packers wide receivers Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson were not perfect. As a team, the Packers had several dropped passes. Football, however, is a game in which there will typically be over 100 plays from scrimmage, yet, often, a small handful of plays can swing the momentum and influence the outcome of a game. The Nelson dropped a couple of passes that could have crippled the Steelers, yet he made up for missed opportunities by redeeming himself with big plays. Greg Jennings made two clutch catches, for touchdowns, that put multiple score space between the Packers and Steelers.

The Steelers, on the other hand, came very close, on numerous occasions, to relieving the pressure of its scoring deficit to the Packers, but could never cut the margin to any less than three points. Too many times, the Steelers could not convert on third down. Too often, a receiver was slightly overthrown downfield. Too often, the Steelers gave the ball to their opponents before it could get its motor revved.

The Difference Between Champions and Runner Ups

When the game was done, the Packers were six points better than the Steelers. Both teams fought hard. Both teams could have had a different outcome had they executed certain plays differently than they had, a better outcome for the Steelers, a worse outcome for the Packers. However, football is a game of inches and there are no do overs in the postseason. When the rubber hit the road, the Packers had enough to stand out above the Steelers and stand out from the rest of the NFL.

Dynasty?

Every time a new Super Bowl Champion is crowned, the sports media quickly speculates on whether or not that team can repeat. The NFL has had three different champions in the past three seasons, the Packers, Saints, and Steelers with young nuclei that will remain intact for several years to come.  In addition, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have, minimally (barring serious injury), three high-level seasons remaining in their careers, if not more.  There is also a team that plays its game in New Jersey coached by a big colorful character named Rex Ryan with enormous championship potential, dynasty potential. Let us also not forget about quarterbacks Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers and Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons. These rising stars are capable of leading teams to a championship. Finally, the Baltimore Ravens, while racing against Father Time in some positions, appear to be at the doorstep of returning to the Super Bowl.

There have only been eight repeat Super Bowl wins by seven franchises in the history of the NFL (’67 Packers, ’73 Dolphins, ’75 Steelers, ’79 Steelers, ’89 49ers, ’93 Cowboys, ’98 Broncos, ’04 Patriots). The prospect of any team repeating in any sport, ever, is a bleak one due to the competitive nature of professional sports, particularly in the NFL, in which there is a salary cap and larger market teams cannot simply spend at will to force smaller market teams out of contention (cough…baseball…cough).

While I think it is very possible that this team of Packers could win another championship in the next 5 years, the Saints, Steelers, and the aforementioned teams are equally viable. The odds of a Packers repeat, no matter what improvements are made in the offseason, are not probable. What I do expect from the Packers, along with the other major players mentioned, is that those teams will be a competitive force with the potential to reach the Super Bowl in each of the next several seasons.

6

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1) Image from homedepot.com
2) Image from huffingtonpost.com via Associated Press
3) Image from abc24.com
4) Image from businessinsider.com
5) Image from espn.com
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And Then There Were Two

Good Monday morning, Hat Trick readers! Today, I have a comprehensive, Xs and Os break down of some big matchups in the National Hockey League. We are going to cover a little Australian Open this morning (in which Americans have been ridden out on a rail). Also, we will touch on some Euro league soccer.

Anyone for tennis? 1

PSYCHE!

Obviously, football is not the only thing, but it is everything right now. The conference championship games were unusual, but entertaining. When the dust finally settled, as many, myself included, expected, the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers survived and advanced to play in Super Bowl XLV in North Texas in two weeks.

Both victors bent, but did not break after jumping out to comfortable, multi-score, early leads. The Green Bay Packers did not reinvent the wheel. They played their game and did not make mistakes. Eventually, even the best defenses, including that of the Bears, will leave a small window of opportunity and Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were able to squeeze through when the opportunities presented themselves. Offense gets a “C”; defense gets a “B”; coaching gets an “A” for the Packers. Defensive tackle BJ Raji gets a 7.5 for his end zone jiggle.

Teach me how to "Raji"...teach-teach me how to "Raji"! 2

This game was unusual on a number of fronts. The road team, a sixth seed, was favored in this game. In spite of the cold weather, I was surprised to see that there were only 14 points scored between both teams in the first three quarters of play. However, the most unusual outcome of this game is that the biggest story of the 2010 NFC Championship Game had nothing to do with anyone on the winning team.

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was ineffective for much of the entire day. In the third quarter, Cutler was removed from the game and replaced by Todd Collins. Cutler suffered an unspecified knee injury at some point prior to his removal. Cutler was seen on the sidelines walking, without crutches, triggering a multitude of critical remarks from current and former players and the media. An image of fans burning Jay Cutler’s jersey, after the game, was broadcast on television. Good thing he did not announce he was taking his talents to South Beach. They may have burned his house down!

LeBron: "Good! Gooood! People aren't talking about me! Goood! They're burning Cutler's house down? Goood! People aren't talking about me. 4

Bears linebacker and defensive captain Brian Urlacher vociferously defended Cutler and Cutler’s toughness. For me, frankly, that is all I need to see. I find it ridiculous that a bunch of talking heads in the media, many of whom never played organized football at any level, have the gall to call into question the heart of one of the NFL’s better quarterbacks, a quarterback who has been sacked nearly 100 times in the past two seasons and only missed one game during his tenure with the Bears. I am disappointed that so many of Cutler’s fellow NFL player comrades called the quarterback’s heart and toughness into question without speaking to the man and having any idea what the type and extent of Cutler’s injury was. I am buying what Cutler is selling until I see lemons.



Is it just me, or does anyone else think Lovie Smith looks a little like James Evans from "Good Times"?
Lovie: "DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!"

 In the American Football Conference, the stars of sports media in the 2010 season, the New York Jets, led by their coach, the round mound of soundbites, Rex Ryan, traveled to Heinz Field to face the AFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh was favored, but, out of the gates, the game appeared to be a rout, with the Steelers scoring the first 24 points of the game. The Jets battled back and had several opportunities to tie the score or take the lead, with the Jets defense holding the Steelers scoreless after the Steelers’ initial outburst of first half points.

The New York Jets, Coach Ryan, and quarterback Mark Sanchez demonstrated, to me, that they are still not ready for prime time. The Jets are a very talented team with, who I believe is, the best “player’s coach” in the NFL. However, the Jets, early in the game, appeared to lack the type of focus demonstrated in the divisional round game at the New England Patriots.

JETS Suck! Suck! Suck! Shirt (Extra Extra Large)

I think that Pittsburgh, candidly, is a better team than New England, pound for pound, in spite of the regular season records. I understand why the Jets were fueled by intense emotion before and after the Patriots game, given the recent histories surrounding those two franchises. What I do not understand is how a coach as talented as Ryan could allow his team to play in a championship game on the road, against a tougher opponent in the Steelers, with so little focus. The Jets clearly did not suffer from a failure to prepare, as they clearly “snapped out of ‘it’” (whatever “it” was) after halftime. An unprepared team cannot snap out of anything because they would be ill-equipped to face their opponent.

 I guess he'll need a snack, and a new headset.

(Video from YouTube)

The Jets are not ready for prime time. On third and goal from inside the Steelers three yard line with a chance to cut the lead to seven points, instead of trusting the strengths of the team (the offensive line and the running game), the Jets elected to pass, nearly resulting in an interception. Sanchez had the options of checking down at the line of scrimmage, tucking the ball and attempting to run into the end zone, looking for another read, or simply throwing the ball away. In spite of playing impressively in the playoffs in his short career, I cannot help but think that a more experienced quarterback, such as his Steelers counterpart, Ben Roethlisberger, would have made a more sound decision and come away with six points after such a drive. The Jets are not ready for prime time.

Two QBs: One on the rise and one at the peek. 5

This leaves us with the two teams that have weathered the storm better than any other teams in their respective conferences. I think the playoff process got this Super Bowl correct and the two best teams to represent the NFC and AFC are playing in the big game. One team has a young coach, 38 year old Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin, who is achieving well beyond his years, shooting for his second Super Bowl championship in his fourth year as an NFL head coach. One team has an elite quarterback, in Roethlisberger, who, in spite of his well publicized personal shortcomings, knows how to win and will rely on his toughness to get his team over the hurdle, if necessary.

The other team has an emerging young quarterback, possibly playing the position, at the moment, at a higher level than anyone else. It has a group of experienced veteran receivers, particularly Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, who do not, literally nor figuratively, drop the ball. It has a cast of athletic defensive players that appear to have completely gelled as a unit and are as deceptive in presentation and crisp in execution as any defense in the NFL.

This should be a fantastic matchup. The Super Bowl is America’s signature entertainment event, and television ratings overwhelmingly support that claim. Super Bowls with bad, one sided matchups are still bonanzas for television networks and advertisers. This contest contains enough storylines, personal stories of achievement, and sub-plots to fill a series of novels. I will withhold my personal prediction of the winner (which is worth no more than the paper on which one can print it) until next week, after more of the background scouting and analysis has been presented by the media. But, to quote a memorable playoff personality, Jets linebacker Bart Scott, “CAN’T WAIT!!!”

CAN'T WAIT! 6

1,4) Image from huffingtonpost.com
2,3) Image from espn.com
5) Image from Yahoo! Sports
6) Image from frontburner.dmagazine.com

And Then There Were Four - CAN'T WAIT!

The divisional round of the playoffs, particularly in the AFC, provided the most action, drama, and thrills that a football fan could possibly expect out of one weekend of NFL playoff football. In the NFC, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears made defining statements, with exclamation points, about which two teams deserved to advance to the league's semifinal round in the 2010 NFC Championship Game. In the AFC, fans were offered two marquis matchups between bitter divisional foes with no love lost for the other, though clearly respectful of the abilities of their opponents.

So, what happened? In spite of a slough of injuries resulting in a challenging number of man-games lost due to injury, particularly in the offensive backfield, the Packers rallied late in the season to reach the playoffs as the sixth and final seed in the NFC. Their opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, coasted to the NFC's best record at 13-3 behind the signal calling of Matt Ryan, the hard nosed running of Michael Turner, swift, efficient defense, and the leadership of head coach Mike Smith.

Cheesehead (Inflatable) - Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers lived up to the lofty expectations many fans and media analysts expressed for them in the preseason. They completely dismantled the Falcons and dominated on offense, defense, and special teams. Green Bay cornerback Tramon Williams added two more notches under his belt and continued to evolve into a household name. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers continued to further silence his critics.

Packers vs Bears Part III - for all the tundra! 2

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler quickly identified and exploited weaknesses in the Seattle Seahawks secondary. The Bears jumped to an early 21-0 lead and never looked back. The Seahawks played hard, physical football and Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck played like the playoff tested, veteran leader that one would expect him to. However, the outcome of this game was never in doubt and the Bears shut the door on a Seahawks season that, in all candor, should have been slammed shut at the conclusion of the regular season.

In the AFC, the four teams that each, at one point or another during the season, could have staked a claim to being the best team in the conference played for the right to prove that claim. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens gave football fans the hard hitting, no holds barred battle that was expected, with the Steelers having the intestinal fortitude to come back from an early deficit and pull out a close win at home.

The New York Jets and New England Patriots built up heavyweight championship prizefighting hype in the media all week leading up to a titanic matchup between AFC East division arch rivals. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was mostly effective, but not flawless and not at the superlative level at which he had played all season. Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was very efficient and did not attempt to play above the level needed from him for his team to win. The Jets made some mistakes but the Patriots made bigger mistakes, something rarely seen out of a Bill Belichick coached team. The result was an unlikely, unforeseen, shocking upset at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.

Jets coach Rex Ryan (left) and Patriots coach Bill Belichick (right): SETTLED in FOXBORO 3

This leads us to two of the better conference championship matchups on the menu over the past decade. The Jets and Steelers offer bone crushing, precision, heavy blitzing, squeezing, clutching defenses that make opponents feel pain and pay dearly for even the smallest miscue. The Packers and Bears are the NFL's oldest rivalry. Both teams feature quarterbacks who are trying to prove that they belong among the NFL's new generation of elite passers. Both teams feature tough defenses, the Packers with quickness and deception, the Bears with strength and discipline, and both with some degree of their opponents strongest traits.

Settled 4

The signature season in every professional sport is the postseason. The cliches that have emerged over years - separating the men from the boys, playing for all the marbles, all the chips are down, there is no tomorrow, etc. - have emerged for a reason: because they are true! NBA and NHL gradually build up the drama and theater of their postseasons with successively stronger survivors over a period of two months. The Major League Baseball postseason, with its relative brevity compared to the length of its regular season, offers fans a traditional classic fall gala in which the uber elite among its stars rise to the top and, seemingly every autumn, the most unlikely of heroes rise in the most clutch, game-breaking situations.

Settled 5

Unlike those three sports, the NFL, because of the physically taxing nature of football, can only offer a maximum or three to four playoff games per team, and a total of 11 contests per postseason (four Wild Card round games, four Divisional round games, two conference championship games and the Super Bowl). In many years past, even the most fanatic football fan could only expect the zenith of an NFL postseason to be so high. Some postseasons are loaded with predictable mismatches. This postseason has offered anything but that. Between the shocking upset of a defending Super Bowl champion by a cast of regular season losers, dramatic endings to games in the final minutes, the rise of young stars in convincing fashion, or the tension of bitter division rivals fighting tooth and nail for not only the right to advance, but for their dignity, respect and manhood, and a possible changing of the guard among the NFL's powers, the 2010 NFL playoffs have been a story for the ages.

CAN'T WAIT 1

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The Daily Hat Trick 2010 NFL Good, Bad, and Ugly Awards

"It's the most...wonderful...time...of the (NFL's) year!!! With the playoffs a-coming and analysts humming; the Super Bowl's near! It's the most wonderful time of the year!"
Too bad I could not find a musical accompaniment. The NFL's regular season is over, the playoffs are upon us. There are four more weeks of National Football League action (plus the Pro Bowl) remaining. The Daily Hat Trick will dive in and give you the in-depth, top-secret analysis of the playoffs later this week. First, I would like to take a moment, before the Associated Press steals my spotlight, and recognize the best, worst, and most hideous of the 2010 regular season in the National Football League.

Good, Bad, and Ugly Awards

The Good - Michael Vick from pariah to premier quarterback. From monster to MVP. From insufferable to inspirational. In three decades of watching this sport, I have never seen a comeback story that measures up to this one. Vick's Philadelphia Eagles team not only has a dog in the hunt, but he, single handedly is responsible for the NFC's top-seeded Bears and Falcons being on the run from said dog. Nobody but nobody wants to face this team and Eagles Coach Andy Reid and Eagles fans have Vick to thank for that (and dogs).

From sporting a "Mean Machine" jersey to this jersey,
which was sent to the Hall of Fame after a
record setting Monday Night Football performance. 3

Honorable mention deserves to go to a few people. Andy Reid for having to step out of his comfort zone (both on the field and in the media) to take the risk of giving Vick the opportunity to excel.... Peyton Manning for succeeding in the equivalent of racing in NASCAR with two bad cylinders and four bald, spare tires and STILL winning the AFC South and reaching the playoffs for a post-merger record tying ninth consecutive season (Dallas Cowboys 1975-1983).... The Detroit Lions for fighting every week, in spite of losing some extremely close games under some very questionable circumstances.


The biggest honorable mention goes to Tom Brady, the probable NFL MVP in 2010. Brady, assuming there are no spycams involved, is having one of the best all-around (decision making, passing, leadership, improving the performance of his teammates, adjusting to adverse changes, etc.) seasons that any quarterback can have. "Wes Welker is coming off a knee injury? No problem. I've got Moss. Randy Moss is traded? No problem, bring Deion Branch back. Deion is washed up and I can't move the offense with him? Watch me. Danny Woodhead is too small? The defense will see me coming from a mile away? I hope they can play with binoculars so they can see us housing it from 50 yards away. "

Perhaps UGG should start making fluffy, furry cleats? 4

The Bad - The Carolina Panthers were not expected to be Super Bowl contenders, but this franchise is expected to be a well prepared challenge for its opponent, no matter who the opponent is, every week. John Fox has been one of the best coaches of his time, which goes back to 2002. So what do the Panthers do? They make Jake Delhomme into the scapegoat for its underachieving and cut him, paying Delhomme $13 million in the process. 1 Whether that was fair or not, they replace him with a completely unproven and untested Matt Moore and rookie Jimmy Clausen, who, all knew going into the season, had a LOT to learn and would not be ready to start effectively in 2010.

And John Fox, the best coach in the team's history? Fired. I think of it as euthanasia.

Fox: FIRED?!? I thought I'd never get to leave! BYE! 5 

There is not too much honorable mention to mention. Many of the NFL stories in 2010 that were "not good" were so "bad" that they were "ugly" (see below). The Houston Texans were bad. Explosive offense...possibly the worst team defense in the history of the National Football league, in spite of the presence of DE Mario Williams and LB Brian Cushing. The expectations after 2009, the first winning season in franchise history, were high and the potential for Toro the Bull to gore Blue the Colt in the AFC South was at its peek, heading into the 2010 season. After Jaxson de Ville (Jaguars) shredded Toro's hopes and dreams on a flukish Hail Mary in Week 10, the Texans became bull jerky.

FAIL! 6

Toro to 2010: "Goodbye and
good riddance! NO MORE TEXANS!" 7





The Ugly - This was the toughest Hat Trick award to decide upon. With so much to choose from - the Minnesota Vikings Favre/Chilly/Moss drama, the Vince Young/Jeff Fisher fiasco in Tennessee, the Dallas Cowboys/Wade Phillips catastrophe, the woeful and disappointing underachieving of the Cincinnati Bengals (in spite of T.O. more than pulling his weight and keeping uncharacteristically quiet) - there was PLENTY of "ugly" to choose from in the NFL in 2010. The only shock is that the Oakland Raiders are nowhere near making this season's list, yet their coach, Tom Cable, may still get the ax.

The Vikings, with Dong-gate/Text-gate/Sterger-gate (or whatever sensational label you prefer), the Chilly schism, and trading a second day draft pick to acquire Randy Moss for a MONTH and CUTTING HIM (REALLY??)...seemed to be a run away for the 2010 Hat Trick Ugly award at one point. However, even Grace Jones, Rosie O'Donnell, and Amy Winehouse had to stand, in shock and awe, at the ugliness that became the 2010 Washington Redskins.

NOT UGLY: The first Jenn Sterger photo of 2011. Sterger (right) and who really cares about the name of girl on the left? She's hot.
Who didn't see this photo coming after the word "Sterger" appeared? 8

Redskins Head Coach Mike Shanahan must have understood that owner Daniel Snyder had a long, time honored tradition of throwing money down the toilet after overpriced, underachieving free agents. But guys with gambling addictions, followers of the Wesely Snipes tax plan, and graduates of the Bernie Madoff School of Investments were sending mail to Redskins Park offering financial advice to Snyder in the wake of the $40 million Albert Haynesworth write-off. To make matters worse, Shanahan attempted to "shame" Haynesworth, for not participating in voluntary offseason mini-camps, by requiring Fat Albert to pass a conditioning test for which Usain Bolt would need to rigorously train. Fat Albert flunked his "conditioning tests" and sat his fat butt on the sidelines since he was not "allowed" to practice. Oh yeah! They sure taught him a lesson!

Ugly 9

Snyder is a known spend thrift. Haynesworth is a known attitude problem. Shanahan, while I think he handled the Haynesworth situation poorly, had a stellar reputation, going into the 2010 season. So while the situation was ugly, it was not superlative. The comic-tragic manner in which Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator, and Mike's son, Kyle Shanahan treated and handled possible future Hall of Fame quarterback Donovan McNabb, whose reputation is that of the consummate team player, leader, and class act, created one of the most unfortunate and ugly situations I have ever seen on an NFL team.

Uglier 10

McNabb was brought over from Philadelphia to help lead the Redskins back into contention. Mike Shanahan and McNabb were never on the same page. The Shanahans insulted the intelligence of McNabb, football fans, and any creature with an IQ greater than that of a walnut by trying...badly...to whitewash McNabb's benching, in favor of Rex Grossman, in the closing minutes of a loss to the Detroit Lions as a "cardiovascular" issue. Fired Vikings coach Brad Childress, who said he cut Randy Moss because he was a "programmatic non-fit", called "B.S." on that move. The Redskins appear to reward McNabb for his professionalism and patience with, what was announced to the media, as a lucrative contract extension, only for the public to find out, within 24 hours, that McNabb signed up for some magic beans and fool's gold. The final insult: McNabb is effectively made inactive (emergency QB) for the final games of the season.

Ugliest 11

A lot of media outlets have had fun, affectionately, comparing Broncos QB Tim Tebow to Jesus Christ because of Tebow's well publicized, strong Christian faith. I am not the strongest person on Bible knowledge, but turning the other cheek, enduring undeserved tribulations, perseverance, standing upright in the face of indignity...many of these themes recur in the Bible and are thought of as Christ-like characteristics. After 2010, maybe the press should give McNabb just a little "Jesus ink" like Tebow. More power to Tebow, for trying to carry out God's mission, but McNabb has certainly endured a missionary-like persecution!

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WWJD? 2   

1) Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/03/04/371139/panthers-cut-delhomme.html
2) Image from profootballweekly.com
3) Image from rootzoo.com
4) Image from thepigskindoctors.com
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7) Image from footballbabble.com
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9) Image from from dragoart.com via rekotrill.com
10) Image from redskins.com

11) Image from lehighvalleylive.com

Must See Sports - First Weekend of January, 2011

We are singing Auld Lang Syne here at The Daily Hat Trick. The new year is upon us, as is a new week of cannot miss, must see sporting events. With the last week of the regular season in the National Football League approaching, there are sure to be dramatic happenings in the world of sports in the next seven days.


Thursday, December 30, 2010

New York Knicks at Orlando Magic

Tonight is a great night for basketball fans. This game is the first of a double header on TNT. Personally, even if the matchup is not that great, the guys in the TNT studio, particularly "Sir" Charles Barkley, offer more than enough entertainment for the evening. Even the Dwyane Wade/Charles Barkley T-Mobile commercials, akin to Brian & Stewie from "Family Guy", are fun to watch ("GET ME OUTTA HERE").

The New York Knicks are a resurgent franchise, but they have still yet to crack the shells of the big boys in the Eastern Conference in spite of a recent win over the Chicago Bulls, with recent, though competitive, losses to the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. Tonight offers the Knicks another opportunity to climb another notch on its ladder of rebirth.

The Magic have been a streaky Jekyl and Hyde of late, riding a four game winning streak after having lost 8 of their prior 9 games. The Magic appear to be in "Jekyl" mode at the moment, with recent convincing wins over San Antonio, with the league's best record, and Boston, with the best record in the Eastern Conference. Orlando is at home.

Advantage: Magic

San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks

The Spurs take their NBA best record to Southwest Division rival Dallas for a battle of Texan titans of the hardwood. The Mavericks have lost two games in the last 5 weeks, winning 16 of their last 18. The Spurs have only lost four games all season. Someone has gotta go!

Spurs guard Manu Ginobli remains red hot and Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki is having another MVP-contending season. However, Nowitzki is nursing a sore knee. His playing status will be a game-time decision. No Dirk...no dice against the Spurs.

Advantage: Spurs 

I wonder if Tim Duncan had halitosis that night. 1

Friday, December 31, 2010

NCAA Men's Basketball
Kentucky Wildcats (12) and Louisville Cardinals (20)

NCAA Basketball 10

Who says New Years Eve is a dud for sports? This Top 25, intrastate rivalry should provide all of the pre-party adrenaline one could need to ring in 2011. CBS will carry this matchup of larger-than-life programs and coaches. John Calipari, who seems to continue to find a way to keep winning every season, will match wits with Rick Pitino, who, hopefully, has no clandestine dinner reservations after the game.

Rick Pitino (left) and John Calipari (right). Spare me from the mob jokes in the comments section; they're old. 2

Louisville is on its home court. The Kentucky Wildcats lost John Wall and Eric Bledsoe to the NBA draft after last season. That is all I can say for the Cardinals. Kentucky does not rebuild; it reloads. Forward Terrance Jones and fellow freshman guard Brandon Knight appear to be the 2011 version of the 1-2 punch Calipari had last season in Wall and Bledsoe. Calipari will continue reloading while Pitino may be planning for how his team can be revisiting the Top 25 after this contest.

Advantage: Kentucky 

Saturday, January 1, 2010

Rose Bowl Game Presented by Vizio
Wisconsin Badgers (5) vs Texas Christian University Horned Frogs (3)

You know, nothing quite says New Years Day like a game of FOOTBALL!!! Come on, everyone! "FOOTBALL!"

TCU plays the role of BCS Buster in the 2010 college football season as it makes yet another attempt to demonstrate to the college football world how ridiculous the exclusionary characteristics of the BCS system mke absolutely no sense, except to those profiting from it. The Wisconsin Badgers, surprising winners of the Big 10 in 2010, play in the "Granddaddy of Them All", the Rose Bowl, for the first time in 10 years.

TCU is favored by three points. I understand that the Horned Frogs are in the Top 5 nationally for points scored and points allowed. However, Wisconsin has three running backs in James White, John Clay, and Montee Ball who have combined for over 2,500 yards on the ground with a Big 10 schedule. Call me "Missouri" because TCU is going to have to "show me"!

Advantage: Wisconsin

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6) at New Orleans Saints (11-4)

Week 17 in the NFL.... Judgment Day.... It gets no bigger than this...matchup of two NFC South rivals who could either dramatically impact the NFC playoffs, with the outcome of this game, or have no impact whatsoever. The Saints come off of, what in my opinion was, their most impressive win of the season. The Saints rallied from behind in the fourth quarter on the road against the NFC-leading Atlanta Falcons. With a win over the Buccaneers and a Falcons plane crash, food poisoning, or wholesale team arrest (all of which, I would imagine, would lead to a loss by forfeit to the 2-13 Carolina Panthers), the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints would clinch homefield advantage throughout the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

The Buccaneers are in a fight for their playoff lives. The Bucs will reach the playoffs if they can beat the Saints in the Superdome (possible), the Green Bay Packers lose at home to the Chicago Bears (not likely, considering the Bears will probably be locked into the #2 spot in the NFC by kickoff), and the New York Giants lose at the Washington Redskins (not likely on paper, but the Giants have been totally inconsistent and unpredictable lately). In short, both teams may be rewarded with a win, but probably will not.

Both teams have a lot to prove. The Buccaneers, playoffs or not, have taken giant steps from their 3-13 performance in 2009. The Saints want to head into the playoffs with a full head of steam, building on the momentum of their win over the Falcons. The Saints fans and players have not likely forgotten that one of the three Buccaneers wins in 2009 was an overtime win in the Superdome, preventing the Saints from clinching the #1 seed in the NFC, at that time.

The Saints have not swept the Bucs since 2006, and only once in the past eight years. They are hot. They are at home. They are due.

Advantage: Saints

Matt Bryant's game winning field goal in the Superdome in 2009. The Saints have payback on their minds. 3

Chicago Bears (11-4) at Green Bay Packers (9-6)

The Bears have wrapped up a first round bye and are probably cemented into the second seed in the NFC. The Packers control their own destiny for a playoff spot. The Bears will know, with certainty, whether or not their razor-slim hopes of getting the #1 seed are alive by kickoff. Regardless, the Packers have a sense of urgency, the Packers are at home (where they rarely lose in December), and Aaron Rodgers is healthy. In contrast, the Bears will probably have every incentive to rest their starters by kickoff.

Advantage: Packers

St. Louis Rams (7-8) at Seattle Seahawks (6-9)

The team that wins this game wins the NFC West and will likely host the defending champion New Orleans Saints in the first round. Yawn.... Guess...I dunno...I should pick someone. It's a sports blog. Sunday Night Football and all...somebody will watch. Sigh....

The Rams are at home...I suppose. Any good lunch specials today?

Advantage: Rams

Aren't there going to be some infomercials on TV Sunday night? 4

 Monday, January 3, 2011

Discover Orange Bowl
Stanford Cardinal (4) vs Virginia Tech Hokies (13)

Most casual fans of college football have heard of Stanford junior quarterback Andrew Luck. Should Luck declare himself eligible for the 2011 NFL Draft (assuming that there is an NFL in 2011), most analysts project that he will be the first player chosen. On Monday night, the nation will get to feast its eyes on the Luck Show.

Andrew Luck: "I'm riiiich! Biotch!" 5

Virginia Tech, champions of the Atlantic Coastal Conference, rebounded from a tough loss to Boise State and an absolutely embarrassing loss the following week against James Madison to climb to the #13 ranking and a BCS bowl appearance. Truth be told, Virginia Tech may be playing the best football of any team in the country, with the exceptions of Auburn and Oregon. Hokies senior quarterback Tyrod Taylor, the 2010 ACC Player of the Year, is playing the best football of his college career. He has always been a running threat and has thrown the ball very efficiently in 2010.

Pac-10 champion Stanford is ranked higher. Andrew Luck is likely auditioning for the Carolina Panthers in this game. However, Virginia Tech has been superb after stumbling out of the gate this season. I think the Hokies are flying under the radar and will play like they have something to prove. I have seen similar scenarios in the past in which a team like Stanford has arrived for a coronation while a team like Virginia Tech arrives for fight. Pac-10 football is soft, too.

Advantage: Virginia Tech


Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Allstate Sugar Bowl
Ohio State Buckeyes (6) vs Arkansas Razorbacks (8)

Big Ten (really, the "Big Eleven", soon to be "Big Twelve") versus SEC. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallet is likely to be a first round pick and the Razorbacks have been playing very sound, mistake-free football in the second half of the season.

Ohio State is dealing with distractions from the pending five game suspensions of several players, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor. The players sold their personal game memorabilia, an NCAA rules violation. The players will travel with the team and play in the Sugar Bowl, as the suspensions do not take effect until the 2011 season.

Ohio State dominates the Big Ten every year, but they did not even do that in 2010. They usually lay an egg in bowl games. The SEC typically dominates in bowl games, especially against Big Ten opponents. The Buckeyes have problems. The Razorbacks are playing with increased confidence. And Ryan Mallett is playing for his first contract negotiation.

Advantage: Arkansas


NCAA Men's Basketball
Connecticut (4) at Notre Dame (15)

Connecticut Head Coach Jim Calhoun tries to rally his troops after suffering its first loss loss to Pittsburgh. Notre Dame, after a convincing win over Top 10 Big East rival Gerogetown, is currently the top team in the Big East. Notre Dame senior forward Tim Abromatis and senior guard Ben Hansbrough have an opportunity to build on an impressive performance against Georgetown (20 points and 17 points, respectively). It is tough for me to pick against any team with coach Calhoun or UConn guard Kemba Walker, who scored 31 points in the loss to Pitt, but I believe in momentum, balance, and the ability of home court (especially in a big conference game) to tip the scales. Notre Dame has a golden opportunity to pull off a big upset win and garner the attention of the college basketball world..

Advantage: Notre Dame

Coach Calhoun: "Daily WHAT Trick? Who picked Notre Dame? My best advice to you? SHUT UP!" 6

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns

The Lakers are consistently inconsistent and have some obvious issues at the point guard position. Kobe Bryant cannot do everything himself. Nonetheless, the Lake Show went on the road an whipped a talented New Orleans Hornets team, dominating under the boards. The Phoenix Suns are just BAD. After beginning the year with a manageable 11-11 start, the Suns have plummeted, dropping 8 of their last 10 games.

This is one way to stop Kobe. 7

Still, Steve Nash vs Kobe Bryant makes for good television. Since the Suns are dead last in the NBA in defense (though second in offense), we should see a lot of baskets scored. Points are good! And technically, this is a matchup of the first and second place teams (Lakers: 22-10; Suns: 13-17) in the Pacific Division.

Alright, it's the only nationally televised game on Wednesday (ESPN), Kobe is playing, and I didn't have anything better for Wednesday! THERE! I admit it; this game sucks.

Advantage: Lakers

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For sponsorship opportunities, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

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