GarageGabs

I’m really starting to get irritated with this whole “nfl network” thing…..I won’t be able to watch the Cowboys play this Saturday…these games have always been on major networks!!  In it’s latest attempt to make the cable companies look like the bad guys, the NFL is offering cable 1 free week of nfl network programming.  Pretty much puts the cable companies in a lose/lose situation.  Take the offer and cable is forced to make a deal with the league, as fans are gonna want the opportunity to have the NFL network.  Don’t take the offer and fans will balk at cable companies skipping on a free week of coverage.

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Ok, I know the rest of the known world thinks it is a good idea for the Broncos to bench Jake Plummer and throw Jay Cutler into the mix.  Mark me down as the one who thinks it’s a bad idea.  I’ve sat back and watched the ESPN heads say how Cutler’s strong arm is going to make the Broncos offense suddenly “dynamic”.  He may have a strong arm, but if the Broncos can’t get a running game going, or play some defense, it won’t matter.

Do they honestly believe Cutler is gonna come in and play lights out?  Do they really think he can save this season?  In my opinion, the minute you bring Cutler into the game, your are conceding the season.  Folks, the Broncos are 7-4, not 4-7.  Yeah, they’ve lost 3 out of the last 5, but were those losses really on Jake Plummer?  He was efficient (not flashy) in the 34-31 loss to the Colts.  I never saw Plummer trying to cover Reggie Wayne as he burned the Broncos for 138 yards and 3 TD.  Ok, you probably can put the loss to the Chargers on Plummer.  He played a flat out BAD game, threw a late pick, and fumbled on the Broncos final drive.  Still the Broncos had NO answer for LaDainian Tomlinson as they gave up 35 points.  In the loss to Kansas City the fault was on the running game, not Plummer.  The Broncos managed an anemic 38 yards rushing in the 19-10 loss to the Chiefs.  Meanwhile, Larry Johnson SHREDDED the once stout Bronco defense for 157 yards.

So, the answer to giving up 34 & 35 points in two games, then managing 38 rush yards in another is to bring in a rookie quarterback?  SOMETHING is wrong with the Broncos defense.  Seriously, this defense was ultra stingy the first 6 weeks, giving up only 2 TD’s.  They gave up 12 TD’s over the next 5 games.  Bench Plummer?  Huh?  How many regular season passes has Jay Cutler thrown again?  What’s that you say….ZERO?  I want to know why people are SO SURE that Cutler is going to come in and play well!?  Explain that to me!  Please!  Oh, Tony Romo did it!?  Romo isnt’ a rookie, and Jake Plummer is no Drew Bledsoe.  The Cowboys were falling apart, struggling on offense, and sitting at 3-3, at a point in the season where a quick change could make a huge difference….also, there was nowhere to go but up for the Cowboys…Denver can still go down.  The Broncos are smack dab in the middle of a playoff race, despite having Jake Plummer start all their games.  Best case scenario for Cutler?  Matt Leinart.  Talented and intelligent, Leinart has looked dynamic on one series, and then looked like Heath Shuler on the next.  I expect much of the same from Cutler.
At least Cutler gets his first start at home….maybe he can hand the ball off 30 times, get a good game out of his defense, and win this game.  If he doesn’t….whoa boy.  The heat is gonna be up way high in Denver.  A loss will drop Denver back with Cincinnati, who at the moment, is playing much better football than the Broncos, on both sides of the ball.  Up next for Cutler…..AT SanDiego.

I’ve already gone on record as saying the Broncos won’t win a Super Bowl with Jake Plummer at quarterback.  However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible….unlikely, but possible.  The only reason to bring in Cutler is to prepare him for the future…..because the future obviously isn’t Plummer.  If you bring him in to prepare him, you’re gonna hit a lot of bumps in the road.  I can only guess that the Broncos are looking to next year by bringing in Cutler this year.  I got no problem with that, just realize, you’re cashing in this season.
I want to hear all the Broncos fans and national media eat crow when Cutler plays just average….or should I say….like Jake Plummer.

Seahawks plan to blitz Cutler 

Game Preview 

Rod Smith: Jake, I feel your pain 

Looks like French En Fuego Tony Parker and Desperate Housewives hotty Eva Longoria are ready to tie the knot.  I couldn’t have told you who this woman was 3 months ago, but my girlfriend has gotten me to watch Desperate Housewives this season.  All I know to say about this situation is that they both seem to be about the same size which usually works well.

“The proposal was romantic and perfect” 

It appears that the heat from the New York media might be getting to the New York Giants, who are in the midst of a 3 game losing streak, and host Dallas in a crucial NFC East matchup this weekend.

First, you’ve got Jeremy Shockey mouthing off at every given moment about anything under the sun.  His latest was last week when he mentioned that there was “no way in hell” the Cowboys could beat the Giants if the Giants were playing up to par.  Dallas is reportedly using the quote as bulletin board material.
Then you’ve got Tiki Barber complaining to the media that he doesn’t get the ball enough.  Apparently,  Coach Tom Coughlin pulled Barber aside and discussed the matter with him.  To think, all this time we thought Barber was a quiet guy that kept his mouth shut.  Now, twice in the past year he’s called out his coaching staff.
Finally, today, Michael Strahan shows that the stress is getting to him when questioned about Plaxico Burress quitting on plays. You REALLY, REALLY, need to watch the video on this page, Strahan is obviously pretty stressed out, but I also think it speaks volumes on the media’s role in how things are portrayed.  Strahan even mentions that the media wants to put a negative slant on things just so it is news.  Hey, anything they can do to stress out the giants is fine with me.

What I’m wondering is why we haven’t heard from wonder boy, Eli Manning yet?   Manning has been noticeably absent from most of the talk surrounding the imploding G-men, which could be a good thing….or is it?  I just get the impression that the entire team is imploding on itself while they all try to protect Daddy’s boy, Eli.  Why hasn’t there been talk of Eli slipping into another late season slide….just like he did last year.  Remember, Eli started off last season on fire with a 14-5 TD/INT (and an 84 QB rating) ratio in the first 8 games, only to finish the season with a 10/12 ratio (and a 69 rating).  Manning started off this season pretty well also, with 13TD & 8 INT in his first 6 games, but has thrown 7 INT and just 4 TD in his last 5 games.  What’s the deal with Eli?  Quarterbacks usually improve with experience, but Eli seems to get worse as the games get more important.  Early in the year, he looks like his brother, standing in the pocket, making clutch throws, then as the weather gets cold he reverts back to the mistake prone, bad decision making, Eli.

I realize Eli plays on a team slam full of veteran leadership but I think he could save this sinking ship; not only with his play on the field, but with his actions in regard to the media.  I will give him credit for taking most of the blame for his mistakes (I heard him interviewed after the Jacksonville loss, he was humble) but maybe a pissed off Eli could help the team.  Maybe an Eli acting like Michael Strahan would help the New York Giants?  The way it is now, we hear everyone complain, except the man that distributes the football.  It’s almost as if Manning tries to walk a fine PR line so as not to ruffle any feathers.  That can’t be a lot of fun.  Imagine the amazement if Eli were to stand up and yell “Why doesn’t everyone just be quiet and let’s win some football games dag-on-it!”  I know I’d be surprised.
Anyway, long story short, I wonder if Eli (or his daddy) wishes he had just stayed with the Chargers.  Remember, it was SanDiego that wanted him, but Manning and his daddy made it clear that Eli wouldn’t be a Charger.  I wonder if he looks over at Mr. Efficiency, Philip Rivers, and watches L.T. scamper into the endzone 4 times a game and wonders how he got involved with this group of characters.   Come to think of it, I don’t even know what L.T. sounds like because you never hear anything out of the guy except “touchdown”.  I hear it’s warmer in SanDiego as well, and I bet the media goes a bit easier on you.  I’ve also heard that it was discovered by the Germans in 1904, and they named it SanDiego, which of course means “whale’s vagina” in German.  Stay Classy New York Giants.

ESPN.com is reporting that Terrell Owens said “absolutely not” when asked if he would send a get well text message to now injured Donovan McNabb. I give this until the end of the day for some ESPN homer to take it and run with it, and accuse Owens of being something. What the something will be….I don’t know yet, but it’ll be something negative.

In regard to Owens, I would ask people this: First, why would a reporter even ask a question like that to an athlete? Because they want a story, they figure Owens will pop off and say something pressworthy. Second, why would Owens send him a “get well” wish? The two don’t speak, it’s well known that they don’t have a relationship anymore. I’m not sending McNabb a get well card either, and I don’t like him, but that doesn’t mean I would wish injury on the guy. Was Owens asked if he would be sending a get well card to LaMont Jordan as well? ESPN is to sports what MTV is to Music. A joke. Unfortunately, in the case of sports, ESPN is a necessary evil.

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