Melting eye balls

Someone remind me what I was supposed to be doing? I can't remember right this second. I'm too busy trying to stop my eyes from melting. Along with my brain. I swear that over the last 3 or 4 days I've watched so many clips of the 2011 draft prospects that I'm actually starting to resent football. If I have to watch another damn post route, or a DE rushing the passer, or some offensive tackle lumbering back into his pass block I'm going to go insane. Not that any of this matters, it's just nice to vent sometimes. Anyway, back to more important matters. Now do you remember a post I wrote back near Christmas about "Super Nickelbacks"? No? Well, first of all cheers for the vote of confidence. Appreciate it. Secondly, here's the link back to it. The reason I bring this up is thanks to the staff off NFL Networks "Playbook" show, who kindly (and I dare say fully unintentionally) made a video a few days ago that basically demonstrates what I was talking about, only with game film to prove the point. Here is the link to that, as NFL.com still refuses to allow the embedding of it's videos on other sites, largely because they're still technologically stuck in the stone age. The bit about William Gay and Charles Woodson at the beginning is what you're looking for. Next, another video from the aforementioned proprietor of ancient tech. This one features Wes Welker wired up at the AFC Pro Bowl practice and wearing a helmet cam. It serves multiple purposes which are of interest to me; 1) It gives fans a better insight into what it's like to be Wes Welker (or indeed any NFL wide out) running pass routes. That's something that the league and football coverage in general could really benefit from, giving fans a "players eye" view of the action, even if it's only on the practice field. It's the use of interesting/innovative footage like this that football broadcasts need to keep their product fresh. Another example is the suspended camera that runs along the middle of the field. Why this angle is only used for replay purposes and not to give us some great in game shots is beyond me. 2) This video, and another similar one featuring Michael Vick, gives us a great insight into just how bad the video editing on NFL Network can be at times. Earlier in 2010 around the time of the combine I went off on a rant several days in a row due to the chronic level of poor editing used during the live broadcasts. Instead of following the player running the drill, the cameras kept cutting away to show the next player jogging up to the start line. I see now that nearly a year later things haven't improved. 3) But of most interest, and where this whole thing was ultimately heading, is listening to Peyton Manning talk to Welker about his route and how he plans to run it, where he wants the ball etc. This gives us a superb insight into who Manning is as a player and helps to explain why he's often tagged as a "coach on the field". It also serves to demonstrate just how important the "time factor" is between a QB and his receivers. More time = more understanding, to the point where Manning and Reggie Wayne sometimes just seem to look at each other a certain way and know what the other is thinking. The same with Brady/Welker.

Prime Drama

I'll be back a little later to make the first round of my Week 6 picks, but until then I've got a little something for you. First though we have an article from ProFootballTalk.com on fines that have been dished out following week 5. I understand that the league takes the money from the players and redistributes it to a number of good causes, but it's starting to get out of hand. $5,000 for a Horse Collar tackle? As I understand it, aren't the players already punished with a 15-yard penalty? Aren't their indiscretions accounted for on game day? And now we're taking chunks out of players pockets for them as well? C'mon. This is stupid. I understand that it's fashionable to bash players for being over paid etc, and there would be little argument from me about that, but levying big fines for these fouls seems unnecessary for me. At what point do we reach where players -- most likely those on the short end of the salary scale -- end up pulling up in critical moments because of the fear of a big fine? Something has to be done about this. Now, talking of prima donna players, it's time for the head line act. Or should I say the Prime Time act. Deion Sanders. I've always had mixed feelings about Deion. The guy can be incredibly funny at times, as your about to see. But I've also seen that anytime he gets involved with a player as a "mentor" the poor player usually ends up getting caught in a whirlwind of Prime Time drama. I can also only stomach his self aggrandizement to a certain degree before I just start shaking my head. This is a prime (excuse the pun) example. Deion blowing his lid because a group of NFL Network analysts (the mysterious sounding "Blue ribbon panel") voted him as number 34 in a list of the top 100 players of all time. So where does Sanders think he should be? Number 30? Number 25? No, he wants to be in the top ten. Even more than that. He wants to be in top 5. Not that Deion rates himself that highly of course. I also love the way that he rates himself above Woodson, despite Woodsons superior numbers. I mean some of the things he was saying were funny as hell, but this was also a perfect example of just how bad Sanders can be at his worst. My only hope is that this attitude doesn't rub off on guys like Devon Hester and Michael Crabtree. Have a great day everyone.

Wildcard weekend Sunday round up

NFC - Packers 45 @ Cardinals 51 -- Let's get two things straight right off the bat. #1, the Packers have only themselves to blame for their turnovers, one of which ultimately cost them the game. #2 This was probably one of the most exciting games of football in recent memory. And now the rant can begin. 'Cos this was also the biggest joke in footballing history, an abomination that brings the otherwise excellent reputation (deserved) of the NFL officiating into disrepute. Simply put, the Packers were robbed. On both TD passes to Larry Fitzgerald, Packers CB Charles Woodson was unceremoniously knocked to the ground. This was more than interference, it was downright blatant cheating. It's surely no coincidence that the twice victim of this tactic is also considered (and rightly so) to be the Packers best defensive back. Then just to add insult to injury, on the second TD there was a call for roughing the passer.... despite the contact beginning prior to the release of the ball This just shocked me when I saw it. The NFL has a reputation for being a pass friendly/offense friendly league. But this took it to far. If a defensive player makes contact with a receiver beyond 5 yards from the LOS then they get called for illegal contact downfield. So how in the hell can they compete when receivers are slamming them to the ground? Honestly, this is just disgusting. I've ranted before about how 'pick' or 'rub' plays are supposed to be illegal and yet go completely unnoticed (Colts, Cardinals, in particular), but this truly was the icing on the cake. I'd like to talk about the Cardinals QB Kurt Warner and his amazing achievement of going 29/33 for 379 yards and 5 TDs. But I can't. To do so would dishonour the Packers defense who were robbed on two plays that resulted in 14 points. Without them, the Cardinals would be going home. I'm just still in shock. To give you an idea of how annoyed I am, think about this. All season long I've had it in for the Saints. They're over rated and make a living off of hype. But next weekend, I hope they pound the Cardinals into the floor. That's how badly I want the Cardinals to lose now. If Arizona makes the Superbowl, it'll be nothing more than a sick joke. On a more positive note, if Green Bay can keep their players and coaches in place for next season, they're going to be a seriously dangerous team. AFC - Ravens 33 @ Patriots 14 -- 10 passes. That's all Joe Flacco threw. Yet contrary to popular opinion (in the NFL & among 'spread' lovers) throwing that little doesn't mean you're guaranteed to lose. In fact, that probably guaranteed the Ravens victory. Rice and McGahee shared no less than 42 carries between them, chalking a combined 221 yards and 3 TDs. Compare that to Tom Brady's stats; 23/42, 154 yards, 2 TDs & 3 INTs. The fact is, the Patriots got taken apart. Even though Flacco threw a pick (yeah, on only 10 passes!), by keeping the ball out of his hands the Ravens reduced turnovers and controlled the ball, keeping it away from the potentially explosive Pats. And with the Ravens scoring three TDs and a FG in the 1st quarter, the Patriots were doomed to try and pass to catch up, along with the turnovers that normally go hand in hand with such a prolonged endeavour. Ah well, at least I got my pick right! So that's 3/4 pick wise this week. If it wasn't for some appalling refereeing, I'd be 4/4 so I'm happy. And now we have the fixtures set for the divisional round, as the Cardinals travel to the Saints (NFC) and the Ravens travel to the Colts (AFC) on Saturday, and on Sunday, the Vikings play host to the Cowboys (NFC) and the Chargers welcome the Jets (AFC). Should be four pretty good games. Later in the week I'll talk about momentum and on Friday I'll share my picks for the weekends action.