The Sports Rotation

Well the NFL season has finally begun (with a grueling display yesterday between Tennessee and Pittsburgh, but more on that in a second) and thank goodness because I was getting tired of the undefined questions marks during the offseason like , "Will Michael Vick play for an NFL team", "Can Jay Cutler improve the Chicago Bears offense", and "Will Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn win the job in Cleveland".  Those questions seem to have obvious answers, and I've never carried a clipboard nor have I ever broken down film for a professional team (Prerequisites that overestimate the abilities of coaches in the league...they're not rocket scientists after all).  I mean, Michael Vick rusty is still better than the majority of backup quarterbacks (including A.J. Feeley), Jay Cutler was a Pro Bowler, and the question in Cleveland is mute seeing as how anyway you look at it, they're still the Browns. 

So it comes to me as a bit of a surprise that the Detroit Lions and the New York Jets have been the first teams to take bold stands in taking away suspense and intrigue with their big question marks...the quarterback issue.  Both are starting high priced rookie quarterbacks (with Matthew Stafford in Detroit and Mark Sanchez in New York) who will face lots of scrutiny and plenty of pressure from opposing defenses.  And both the Lions and the Jets are making the right decision. 

Take for instance the Lions.  People always say that in sports if you're not going to be very good, at least be interesting.  And while will not be very good this year, especially when Duante Culpepper has a shot to be your week 1 starter.  But the do Lions have a chance to be interesting with Matthew Stafford's ability to throw the ball down the field to arguably the second best wide receiver in the NFL in Calvin Johnson.  Now also consider the Jets and their issues at quarterback.  Should we start a rookie who has shown poise and command of the huddle in practice and more importantly in game time situations during the pre season, or do you go with Kellen Clemens who I'd say isn't much better than Erik Ainge.  Not much of a no brainer in either scenario if you ask me, and again I've never carried a clipboard or broken down NFL film. 

So with the Lions and Jets being a good example of all things definitive here's five definitive things I can honestly say about the season thus far:

5.  Michael Crabtree is not worth the headache and he's only diminishing his own value. 

There have probably been two wide receivers in the past 10 years that were sure things coming out of college and they are Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson .  Neither of them came from major programs that were slated to win a championship anytime in their college careers, neither of them had superior coaching, and neither had a high profile quarterback passing them the ball.  Yet both were just physically better than anyone who tried to cover them and caught everything thrown their way.  While no one questions Crabtree's ability , let's not forget he played in a quirky pass happy offense, with a potential heisman winning quarterback.  And he can make all the threats he wants, but what player has ever gotten better by sitting out a year?

4.  Josh McDaniels is losing power in Denver

The head brass of the Denver Broncoscan say whatever they want about McDaniels power as head coach. Even with him signing off on the Jay Cutler trade the mere fact that there are rumors floating around about giving the troubled Brandon Marshall a contract extension means McDaniels is losing control over the team.

3.  Tila Tequila should not be  spokesperson for battered women.

We were promised a day of reckoning on Tuesday coming for Shawn Merriman.  And on Tuesday nothing.  We were told she would be meeting with the San Diego DA.  They say that is inaccurate.  She told us bruises take  time to show up, but as it stands there are still no accounts of further charges being filed against Merriman.  I'm not saying her account is a lie, but if I were a woman who had been brutally assaulted, the last person that I would want as my champion of justice would be Ms. Tequila. 

2.  Jason Whitlock is wrong when he says the NFL Network Should have a reality show for it's stars.

It's hard enough for the NFL to uphold its image and deal with the possibility of their multi-million dollar athletes making fools of themselves in the public arena (what with Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and a little thing known as police video) but you want them to beat tv executives to the point and capture their daily lives, intimate encounters with women, and their inner most thoughts?  I for one and glad I grew up in a time when you did not have video access to what athletes like Bill Romanowski thought about in his private life, or how what types of weird things does Dennis Rodman have in his house.  But that's just me.

1.  Fans should watch another game when the Steelers, Titans, or Ravens play against each other.

I realize that seems crazy to football fans but really, what is compelling about a 13-10 score.  Yes I know that all three are really good efficient teams.  But efficient always translates to boring, even with Ben Roetlisberger, Troy Polamalu, and Ray Lewis being involved.