NCAA FOOTBALL: SHOULD THERE BE A PLAYOFF SYSTEM SIMILAR TO THE NFL NOT BASED OFF OF VOTES

   Here we go! Here we go!, the big debate about the college ranking system and the BCS system. I have always wondered should NCAAF have some type of playoff system built similar to the NFL? My biggest dream was to have a ACC playoff system and of course after I graduated and left UVA the ACC added more schools and created a system that would insure a playoff between the top two teams instead of giving it out right to one school. There has always been a playoff system for the SEC schools, BIG 12 schools and the BIG 10 schools to name a few. But what if there was a system to delegate who makes it to the championship similar to the NFL with their superbowl run in NCAA football?

    I believe that having this type of system or one that's similar could eliminate the same team or teams from being in the top 5 every year and going to a championship. The NFL has a total of 12 teams fighting for one goal to when the Superbowl, i believe that should be the same way or something similar in college football. You could take the top 15 coming from the different conferences and have a playoff game until it gets down to the last two for the ULTIMATE GAME!!! the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. I say instead of leaving it up to the people, leave it up to the play of the schools to who will make that top 15 or whatever the stipulations are. This type of set up would change some of the schedules that teams have and would give the underdog a chance for the title. I know this type of blueprint would cause chaos because the way it's set up now it makes it a cash cow for the schools, sponsors and television companies that air the bowl games.

  My opinion is just that an opinion, as a former college player and football enthusiasts i think the system needs to be updated and changed to take all the earnings and continued winnings from the same schools year after year. In the NFL its very seldom that one team continues to win every year and that's what makes it that much better. 

      

TO CHEAT OR NOT CHEAT; WAS COACH TOMLIN'S QUESTION

    What a way to finish turkey day!!! While sitting and watching my home team Ravens vs. Steelers, I began smiling as I watched Jacoby Jones break to the outside on a kick-off return. As I start to cheer and yell thinking it was a touchdown, I noticed Jones cut towards the middle of the field and tackled. You hear the boo's from the crowd and the expression on Jones face was as if he was cheated out of another return for a touchdown. The thing I love about watching live sports are the camera angles and the amount of times a controversial play is replayed and you get to see what you missed because of the speed of the game. Coach Tomlin look as if he was waiting waiting waiting than NOW! stuck his foot out at the perfect time to veer Jones off course. 

   Here we are days later and after careful review a popular NFL term used to push an investigation, it was proven that Coach Tomlin intentions were to impede Jones from scoring the TD that probably would put the game out of reach for the Ravens. The crazy thing about the incident and I don't think viewers saw was the grinch like smirk that Coach Tomlin had on his face after the play was over. All that I can say is only in the National Football League.

TORN HEART, WELL ATLEAST FOR ME! REED IS BACK!

    Here we goooooo! this sunday will be hard one for me. I have my hometown team that I rep, than I have my professional team that I played for on the other side. I still yell J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS! when i see them win but when it comes to my purple birds I cawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww just as loud! I kept thinking of a way to route for both of my teams and I came up with wearing one of my Ravens shirts and my Jets hat and rotate series of cheering. My blood bleeds purple but before it changes purple it pumps green. 

      Round 2 ladies and gentlemen, and I mean the Ed Reed saga continues. Ed will be making another guest appearance to the charm city. It's ironic how in one season he has been signed to two teams that both are on the Ravens schedule. To me his road is beginning to look like Jerry Rice's road when he left the 49ers to the Raiders to the Seahawks to retire back home a 49er. So my question and some thing to ponder about is will Reed circle back home to retire a Raven where he should be or will the Jets be his last stop?

WHEN DOES WORDS IN THE LOCKEROOM PUSH THE LIMITS?

   A very very touchy topic in the NFL today and very very strong words said by Incognito. Myself being a high school athlete, college athlete and a NFL athlete I have heard words thrown around towards other players but never in the direction to degrade or belittle a team mate. I know for a fact that being on the field and going in to hostile stadiums and towns racially charged words and words to hurt you emotionally are said by fans and players from the opposing team but never by a team mate.

   In the situation of Incognito and Martin I do believe some of the things said by Incognito did push the limits of verbal trash talking and belittling because some of Incognitos attitude and words filter outside of the locker room and was recorded. One coach that I had when I was with the New York Jets Coach Herm Edwards said it best when we would have our team meetings was that what you do in the public will be seen and broadcast because of who you are and always remember someone is watching at all times. I say to say Incognito let what was allowed in the locker room to run over to the public life because his behavior was accepted in the locker room by the other players and he believed that it would be accepted in the public eye.

  As a African-American his words were disturbing but mainly from what I saw in the video of him in the bar shouting and yelling the word NIGGER over and over again in a drunken state. His behavior that was displayed in the locker room and towards Martin I believed was seen as acceptable behavior because his team mates didn't see anything wrong with it because they accepted him as an honorary African-American. That right there doesn't put the majority of the blame on Incognito in my eyes I believe the rest of the players that allowed that to take place share that blame because it created a comfortablility for Incognito to do what he did. So I posed the question just as the title of this blog states, when does words in the lockeroom push the limits?

SPORTS THE NEW WAY TO BRING HARMONY AMONGST PEOPLE; YAY OR NAY?

   The title of this post has puzzled my mind since i began playing organized sports in 1990. We often talk about race issues that still exist in the world and how some of those teachings have trickled down to the kids and how we as people display certain racisms and ill will towards our own race and genders in 2014 when we should be pass those ignorant ideologies. One thing that i have seen as I grew up playing sports from a youth to a professional and as a fan was people of different races come together for those 2 to 3 hours as 1 and enjoy one that time with each other.

   I have always been puzzled by a game that can eliminate peoples personal opinion about another person, group, race and gender and allow them to interact with them as though they were in the same family. Years and years ago the structure of games developed through different dynasty's were to entertain the masses and our modern version of games do the same. However, does the word sports in the modern age hold more weight than trying to bring people together to vote, to attend church, to attend a community event or rally or has the love for sports began it's reintroduction of how history's ancestors and people veiwed game's?

  My eyes have seen sporting events as the ultimate peace keeper through my time of playing and watching. I have high-fived teammates from different races, backgrounds and beliefs to high-fiving people at professional games as a fan from the same backgrounds and have enjoyed food and conversation with them. To take it a step futher and to open your mind, has Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a Dream" speech of seeing races joining together come to light finally? 

A NEWWWWWWW! ERA AND CHANGING OF THE RANKS IN THE AFC NORTH

   Hear Ye! Hear Ye! there's been a changing of the guards in the AFC north. Year after year the top two teams to roam and slaughter the AFC north has been a tug of war between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, there's been a new out look by the Bengals and the Browns.

  The Bengals began their surgents two years ago with making noise and kicking at the door by two playoff appearances in a row but falling short until this year. They have become a household name this year to win their division with strong game play week after week and sit atop the north with a 6-3 record. Their next opponent will be the Baltimore Ravens who are having a tough season thus far after an amazing super bowl winning season.

  The Cleveland Browns, who since 2007 has lost to who has been labeled the AFC north's bully the Baltimore Raven's until November 3rd 2013. The Brown's did some bullying of their own to the Raven's the entire game with a aggressive defense and a fluent offense led by Jason Campbell who went toe with the AFC north's bully. A final score of 24-18 doesn't speak nearly of how bad the Brown's actually beat the Raven's.

  So a question I leave for you to think about is has the AFC north changed it's face of the division or is this just a one year fluke?

RAVENS; WAS SUGGS RIGHT WITH IT BEING A STATE OF EMERGENCY?

  Terrell Suggs: Raven's are in a state of emergency. I posed the question in my blog title but my opinion as a ex football player I would say yesssss! Yes I'am a former New York Jet but I'am a hometown boy and the Raven's are my team and from a player/coach eye their major leak is the O-line and that trickles down from the NFL, NCAA, HIGH SCHOOL to POP WARNER. The offensive line determines what type of game your offense will have and whether your team win's for the day. I know defense wins championships and the Raven's did it with their first win. However, if you don't have some type of offense to sustain drives, eat up clock and put some type of points on the board it's similar to a ox in the old farming days you push, push and push that ox will run out of steam and that's whats happening to our D. 

   Speaking of our D, since the Broncos game no team has scored over 16 points from scrimmage on our defense. The majority of the points were field goals and the D is ranked 14th in the league which isn't bad compared to what people believed they would be. 

  Offensive wise we have to step up the running game it's def. lacking this year. I know Ray Rice is hurt and he doesn't want to sit out because he want's to be there for his team and his pride will not allow him to sit out he's a true football player. Pierce has to step up his game because it's not on the same level as it was last year. More consistency from the passing game and Flacco will help but our team over the years has been a run to set up the pass and now in the past few games has gone pass and hope the run can get us a few yards. 

  This season up to this point is a black eye for the Ravens because under 500 at the break doesn't match up to the Raven's play or make up of their team. So state of emergency yes, will they fix it we shall see.

MANNING BACK HOME, DID THE COLTS FIND THE ANSWER OR IS INDY THAT GOOD?

THE GAME OF THE EVENING THIS PAST SUNDAY. THIS WAS THE GAME OF THE SEASON TO MOST BECAUSE OF MANNING COMING BACK HOME TO PLAY AGAINST THE NEW FACE OF THE COLTS. THE FANS WERE A CLASS ACT TOWARDS MANNING AND APPRECIATING WHAT HE DID IN INDY AND MANNING THE SAME TO THE FANS.

ON THE FIELD THE COLTS DIDN'T SHOW APPRECIATION, THE DEFENSE SHOWED UP TO PLAY AND SHOWED THAT PRESSURE DOES BUST PIPES AND HAD MANNING ON THE FENCE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE GAME. LUCK SHOWED WHY INDY DECIDED TO RELEASE MANNING AND GO WITH HIM RUNNING FOR A TOUCHDOWN, PASSING FOR 3TDS AND NO INTS.

I KNOW MANNING OF THE PASS COULD BEAT TEAMS WITH HIS SKILL AS A QB ALONE BUT IN REALITY YOU DO NEED SOME TYPE OF DEFENSE TO AT LEAST SLOW THE OPPOSITION DOWN. I KNOW A COSTLY FUMBLE ON THE 2YD LINE STOPPED A GO AHEAD SCORE FOR THE BRONCOS BUT THAT'S FOOTBALL AND IF AND A BIG IF THE BRONCOS PASS DEFENSE AND DEFENSE AT A WHOLE CAUSED A FEW TURNOVERS AND STOPS IT MAY HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT GAME ALONG WITH PROTECTING MANNING MORE.

SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS ARE THE BRONCOS A TRUE THREAT OR ARE THEY A IN THE MOMENT TEAM TO WIN AT FANTASY FOOTBALL AND POLLS WITH?

WEEK 7 IS HERE: CLASSIC GAME AS ALWAYS BALTIMORE VS. PITTSBURGH!!!! WILL IT BE THE SAME?

                                                                    WEEK 7

    HEREEEEEEE WE GO SPORTS FANS. NO MATTER THE RECORDS IN THE PAST OR THE TIME OF YEAR THIS BATTLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GAME TO WATCH AND TALK ABOUT. YOU HAVE THE PLAY FOR 1ST AND 2ND IN THE DIVISION BETWEEN TWO, TRASH TALKING BETWEEN THE HEADLINERS ON EACH TEAM, AND THAN BOOOOOM! WE HAVE LIFT OFF.

    IT'S A NEW SEASON, NEW PLAYERS, OLD PLAYERS GONE OR HURT AND VERY DIFFERENT RECORDS AS OF NOW. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU WILL THEIR STILL BE THE SAME IMPACT OF THIS GAME ON SUNDAY AT 4:25PM?

   MY THOUGHTS ARE YESSSS, BECAUSE YOU STILL HAVE SUGGS WHO HATE THE STEELERS, CLARK AND POLAMALU, FLACCO AND ROETHLISBERGER TO LEAD THE CHARGE ALONG WITH TORREY SMITH, RAY RICE AND THE NEW FACE RAVENS TO BATTLE THE NEW FACE STEELERS.

   MY CONCERN IS THAT WITH BOTH OFFENSES TRYING TO GET A JUMP START, WHAT KIND OF HAND WILL BOTH DEFENSES HAVE TO PLAY TO BE SUCCESSFUL?

YOUTH FOOTBALL: WHERE HAS THE FUN GONE, FOR THE KID'S THAT IS?

THE NEW ERA HAS COME. WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT YOU SAY? I MEAN WE ARE IN THE AREA AND NOT JUST FOOTBALL WHERE OUR YOUTH ARE BEING SHAPED TO BE TEEN AND ADULT ATHLETES IN ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY SCHOOL. 

  

    I HAVE WATCHED A FEW YOUTH GAMES AND EVEN SOME OF THE SPORTS FACILITIES THAT I HAVE TRAINED IN SEEN YOUNG KIDS DOING THE EXACT WORKOUTS THAT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES, COLLEGE ATHLETES AND PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES DO. 

   

   TRUST ME I KNOW PARENT'S WANT THEIR KIDS TO BE THE BEST BUT PUTTING THEIR BODIES THROUGH THAT TYPE OF REGIME THAT EARLY COULD CAUSE HARM TO THEIR BODY AND COULD CAUSE THEM TO REBEL AGAINST THE SPORT.

  

   JUST A LITTLE FOOD FOR THOUGHT ALLOW YOUR KIDS TO HAVE FUN AND LEARN THE GAME THAN ONCE THEY HAVE ACCEPTED THE SPORT SHAPING OF THE NEXT RAY RICE, TOM BRADY OR ADRIAN PETERSON CAN BEGAN!!!

THE 2013 NFL: NEW LEADERS OF THE SHIELD OR IS IT EARLY?

YES YES YES!!!! The 2013 season has thrown some serious curve balls at all the football fans this year. No one in their minds would of thunk the season would of kicked off in the manner it has. We have the surging Kansas City Chiefs toting a undefeated record still through 6 weeks, the Miami Dolphins with a second place hold for now in the AFC East & and in the AFC North the Cleveland Browns with a 3rd place hold with a 3-3 record which is identical to the defending champions the Baltimore Ravens.

 You may ask why not unveil the rest of the teams? through my eyes these teams have been shaping their squads over the past years to reach this point. This point is to make believers out of their opponents in which they have. Now is this just the first half turtle race for the normal leaders of the shield minus how Denver has been playing or will more underdogs emerge?

HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM!!!

Houston we have a PROBLEM!!!! I know the football God's are puzzled and stumped right now. After the last few seasons the Texans had we wouldn't of come to the conclusion that their season would be where it is in 2013.  The people of houston are calling for Matt Schaub's head and job!!! I know he has thrown 9 interception and some very pivotal in their losses but do you sit him or let him play through the slump once he get's pass his ankle injury? or does the ROOKIE gets his turn to see if he can blast off in HOUSTON along with YATES?

I want to leave you with one thought.....The Texans lost to the Rams 38-13 and from playing football myself with a score like that how much of it was DEFENSE?