Tiger's Back

This past weekend Tiger Woods did something that he hadn't done in almost 3 years; he won a PGA tour event.  With his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Woods has added a spark to the question that many people have been asking for the better part of the last 6 months.  Is Tiger Woods back?  The simple answer to this question is no.  He isn't back for 2 reasons which lye on separate sides of the argument.  The most common reason is that he isn't back because he has only won 1 tournament and that isn't good enough to say that he is fully back.  The more unconventional reason is that he isn't back because he hasn't gone anywhere.

3 years ago we saw Tiger's world blow up in his face.  His personal life was riddled with scandal and it all happened in the view of the public.  As often as we all saw Tiger on TV we were never allowed into his personal life before the night of his car accident.  It is the collapse of his personal life that makes people feel that  Tiger collapsed as a golfer as well.  I don't doubt that it had an affect on his game, but the biggest obstacle That Woods had to overcome was his physical health.  So, that mental edge that people said he lost probably never went anywhere, he just couldn't back it up with his performance on the course due to injuries.

Once Tiger Woods was declared fully healthy, meaning that he was able to train instead of rehab, his game seemed to still be a little off and the talk of his continued struggles persisted.  We were then informed that Tiger was in the middle of a swing change.  Whenever Woods had gone through a swing change before he would struggle with winning tournaments for an extended period of time.  He looked off and though he had some really good days he would be unable to put several good rounds together.  That is exactly what we have seen for the last few months.

I am one of the few that say Tiger really hasn't gone anywhere.  I understand that an almost 3 year gap between wins is significant, but it wasn't a collapse of Woods' game that was the culprit, it was his body.  Now that his body is right, and he is more comfortable with his new swing, Tiger has been in contention in the last few tournaments and finally won last weekend.  Is he back to where he was before the injuries?  Probably, but while 1 win is a good, Tiger has a higher standard.  The Masters will be a better display of the state of Tiger's game and if he is in contention then he should be labeled as officially back in everyone's eyes.

Sean Peyton's Suspension is Overkill

The NFL has rendered a verdict and sentence in the Saints "bounty" program case.  Guilty!  Sean Peyton is the sacrificial lamb in this instance with his season being over before it starts.  He has been suspended without pay for the entire 2012 season.  This sentence is more than anyone thought would happen and honestly more than is warranted.

The "bounty" system in New Orleans, though maybe on a grander scale, occurs on every team throughout the league.  Defenses have been targeting positions and players since this game was developed.  Mario Williams was just signed to a huge contact because he is one of the best players in the league at targeting QB's.  The defensive game plan of every team is to eliminate the starting QB of the other team.  Yes, eliminate them as a threat.  That means constantly hitting them and making them uncomfortable in the pocket and all over the field.  The mindset is simple, it is easier to defeat the backup than it is the starter.

Now, with that said, the defenders in the NFL go about this business in a clean fashion for the most part.  The stats on the Saints show that they haven't been dirty over the last 3 seasons.  They rank in the middle of the pack for personal fouls and from what I know they haven't injured more players on average than any other team.  So, if they weren't dirty in their pursuit of winning games and executing their game plan then what is the real issue?

The issue is the deceit of the organization to the league and the issue of non-contractual incentives.  Both are bad and warrant suspensions and/or fines.  I have no problem with the NFL handing down harsh punishment for the "bounty" cover-up, but suspending any one for a year is absurd.  Peyton didn't put any "bounties" on anyone.  Did he know it was going on?  Yes, but like I said earlier, it goes on in every locker room and installed in every game plan.

I understand that Roger Goodell wants to protect players and I respect the efforts he has made in certain areas.  This reaction to the Saints targeting players for big hits is absurd.  The targets are the same for every team and there is no amount of money that will change the intent of the defense.  They want to hurt people and make them want to quit during the game.  1 year is to long for a situation that was blown out of proportion in the media and exacerbated by the league. 

Manning Impressive in First Appearance

Yesterday I watched the press conference that introduced Peyton Manning to Denver.  It was an hour long session that had written statements and an extensive question and answer period for both Manning and John Elway.  At the end of the conference I was more impressed with Manning than I was before he made his way to Denver.

Both Pat Bowlen and John Elway took turns introducing the future Hall of Fame QB and both emphasized the fact that this acquisition put the Broncos in a position to compete for Super Bowls. Manning took to the podium and briefly talked about the process he took to make his decision and thanked all the teams for their interest in him.  He then followed that up by apologizing to the teams that he didn't choose for taking as long as he did to make a decision.  He actually felt bad that he might have caused teams to miss out on potential free agents in the pursuit of him.

When Manning entered the question and answer portion of the press conference he seemed to be genuinely excited to be in Denver and part of the Broncos' organization.  He made his intent clear from the beginning that he was hear to win a Super Bowl and that it would be a team effort.  The effort of winning a Super Bowl starts at the top with Pat Bowlen and John Elway.  Manning said time and time again that the organization was dedicated to winning and that he was proud to be a part of it.

Peyton Manning will be wearing the number 18 in Denver and at first I thought it was a poor move on his part.  I understand that he has always worn 18, but here in Denver that Number had been retired.  With Manning's love of the game and passion for it's history I thought that he would respect that and wear a different number.  Then Manning addressed the issue of his number in the last part of his written statement.  Frank Tripuka, Ring of Famer that wore 18, told Peyton that he would be honored if he wore the 18 jersey and told him that he should wear it.  Manning expressed that when a number is retired it should stay retired, but due to Tripuka's request he would wear it.

Manning is a great player that and no one could ever refute that.  Until today, though most suspected, most people didn't understand how classy he is as well.  He didn't have to mention the teams that didn't get him and certainly didn't have to apologize for any potential losses in free agency.  He did his best to endear himself to his new team and his new city.  He explained to everyone why he was wearing the number 18.  He didn't have to go into detail, but he wanted people to know that he wasn't going to ask for it.  It was offered to him and he felt it would be disrespectful to decline that offer.  Manning is showed Denver what they can look forward to for the next 5 seasons and it was nothing less than great.

Miami's Move is Dumbfounding

I heard today that the Miami Dolphins made a big move on their roster.  They didn't sign Peyton Manning, at least not yet, but rather made it harder for them to get him instead.  The Dolphins traded their best WR, Brandon Marshall, to the Chicago Bears.

Most of the teams in the Manning sweepstakes are doing everything they can to make themselves better.  Teams that aren't in the Manning sweepstakes are using this time to make their teams better.  Miami just took it's biggest threat and shipped him off to another city for nothing.  Yes, they get 2 3rd round draft picks, but compared to a WR that has proven himself to be productive that is nothing.  There is no guarantee that whoever they do draft will be able to produce.  They reduced their talent level and they did it before Manning makes his decision.  Why?

The Dolphins found something near the end of the season that allowed them to win games.  They weren't the best team, but they had heart and played hard every game.  Marshall, from what I can tell, was a part of that.  He wasn't on TV talking down about the people in his locker room or his coaches.  I don't think he has any serious off the field issues since he left Denver.  So, if he wasn't a bad teammate, in trouble off the field, or awful on it then I don't understand why they would give up on him when they had the potential to develop him under Manning.

There are going to be a lot of transaction in the coming weeks.  Most are going to make a lot of sense, some will be insignificant, and a few are going to be dumbfounding.  Marshall's trade to the Bears falls under dumbfounding.  I don't see how it really improved the Dolphins or their chances of getting Manning.  Maybe by the beginning of the regular season we will see what the Dolphins did when making this deal.

Manning to Denver Very Likely

Denver needs this kind of personality in it's locker room

Since yesterday Peyton Manning has been approached by 12 NFL teams that are interested acquiring his services.  The Denver Broncos are one of the teams that have approached him, but have hardly been viewed as a front runner in the eyes of most.  I am looking at the possibility through a different set of eyes and have to say that it looks really good from my perspective.

Through many hours of listening to people talk about the possibilities I have heard many things.  So, lets look at what criteria people are using to figure out where Manning is going.  It has been said that he doesn't want to play in the NFC East at all due to the fact his brother would be in the same division.  They are very close and don't want to play each other very often.  For that very same reason Peyton would rather stay out of the NFC all together and I can respect that.  Manning is also looking for a team that can win immediately and potentially contend for a championship within the next few years.  So, with that in mind, let's take a look at the situation.

I"m assuming the NFC rumor is true and, unless a team is willing to give up the farm, Manning will steer clear of Eli's conference.  That eliminates Washington, Arizona, Seattle, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, and Minnesota.  The AFC teams need to provide evidence that they will be able to compete at a high level and have a good chance of winning their divisions and go deep into the playoffs.  Miami can't say either of those things.  They are in one of the hardest divisions in football with the Patriots, Jets, and emerging Bills.  They have under performing stars and are going through a coaching change. The Jets are a mess in the locker room right now, evident by the fact that Bart Scott has asked for a trade and they also play in the AFC East.
Cleveland sucks and isn't a place anyone wants to be.  Houston has a QB that might have won a Super Bowl this year if he didn't get injured so I don't think they will be willing to bid very long or hard for manning.  The Jaguars are awful, going through a couching change, and under new ownership so, they're out.  The Kansas City is lacking the play makers that would make them a contender, but they may only need a few more pieces if Manning is added to the roster.

That leaves just the Denver Broncos.  The Broncos play in the AFC West, one of the worse divisions in the league.  They won the division last season with an 8-8 record and with one of the worst QB performances I've ever seen.  Not only did they win the division but they managed to get past a devastated Steelers team in the playoffs.  The Broncos have the best running game in the league, 2 legit wide receivers, and a defense that is very good and poised to get better.  Threw free agency and the draft the team will pick up another running back and possibly 2 good receivers along with a few defensive players as well.  I don't see another team being this close to a contender with the addition of just one man.

I like the fit for both Manning and the Broncos.  The Broncos make a real run last year if the had a guy that could complete 55% of his passes.  Manning completes well over 60% of his passes and with the leadership and consistent good play can make the Broncos much better very quickly.  Honestly, I think Manning would be making a mistake going anywhere else.

Duke vs. UNC Came Down to Second Chances

Last night I was all set watch one of the best rivalries in all of sports, Duke vs. UNC.  I bought a pizza, sat myself down, and prepared to watch an epic battle for the ACC title.  10 Minutes into the game I found myself trying to find something else to watch.  Duke was getting blown out and it wasn't pretty to watch.  I did watch most of the game and I noticed one thing that really separated the 2 teams, rebounding.

Basketball is a game that is won and lost on the boards.  Last night the Tar Heels won the battle of the boards and embarrassed the Blue Devils in the process.  UNC had 42 rebounds in last nights game and 13 of them were offensive rebounds.  That is 13 chances to extend a possession and potentially score points.  A better way to look at this stat is to focus on defensive rebounds in which UNC had 29.  That is 29 Duke possessions that ended without a single point.  I don't follow basketball to closely, but I know that is a lot of rebounds.

Duke was not impressive on the boards at all and on a night when they didn't shoot well in the first half that really hurt them.  The Blue Devils came away with only 7 offensive rebounds throughout the game.  UNC had twice as many second chance possessions.  Duke had 15 defensive rebounds so they were only able to keep UNC to half the number of pointless possessions that they were held to.  Dukes 22 rebounds left them short in opportunities and 18 points away form a victory at the end of the game.

18 points sounds like a real beat down, and it was, but let's look at in terms of rebounds.  18 points is 9, 2 point baskets.  So, if Duke could have gotten 9 more rebounds then it is possible the game would have been much different. 9 offensive rebounds could have led to 9 more baskets or a few 3 point baskets and some other misses.  9 defensive rebounds would have lead to at least 18 fewer points scored by UNC.  Any assortment of 9 rebounds could have given Duke a chance to win the game and ACC regular season title last night, but they were unable to come down with them.

Rebounding has always been an important aspect of basketball.  Control of the ball is the name of the game and good rebounding gives you more control over the outcome of a game.  UNC understands that and has become one of the better rebounding teams in the NCAA.  Duke will need to find a way to come away with more rebounds if they plan to win the ACC tournament or go far in the NCAA tournament later this month.