Mystery of Brian Billick

In 1998, Brian Billick was the offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, who scored more points in a season than anyother team in NFL history. The high flying Vikes had Randall Cunningham throwing bombs all over the place to Cris Carter, Jake Reed, and some rookie named Randy Moss. Billick was heralded as an offensive genious, and was quickly hired as the Baltimore Ravens' head coach that offseason. Despite winning a Super Bowl in his second year, Billick has never brought his offensive prowess to Baltimore. Even that Super Bowl team had a stretch of five games in which they were unable to score a touchdown. That team won because it had one of the best defenses of all-time.

Last night's performance vs. Pittsburgh was symbolic of how the Ravens' offense has been under Billick. They cannot move the ball a lick in the big spot, and have become a turnover factory. The defense has clearly taken a step backward, and cannot overcome big offensive mistakes. Clearly Steve McNair is aged, and not the MVP type quarterback he was all those years in Tennessee. You can blame his injuries if you want, but got hurt a lot during his best years. The quarterback position has been a big problem for Baltimore. Tony Banks, Trent Dilfer, Elvis Grbac, Jeff Blake, and Kyle Boller are the other starters Billick has had during his tenure. McNair is the best quarterback Baltimore has had under Billick, and even he could only muster up 6 points in the AFC Divisional Game vs. Indianapolis last year.

But is it really the quarterback position? Billick's Vikings scored 556 points in 1998, but over his eight years in Baltimore none of his teams have been able to reach 400 (average 25pts a game). That includes the 2003 season when Jamal Lewis ran for 2,066 yards (2nd alltime). So fans can blame the quarterback all they want, but Billick's offensive mind has been exposed for what it really is in Baltimore. He clearly got lucky in Minnesota having a strong armed Cunningham who could carve up defenses hurling ropes to Moss and co. In my opinion, Billick will be on the hot seat if this team doesn't turn it around. After a 13-3 season, they have been a huge disappointment this season. He has had great defenses to cover up his inept offenses, but this year, Billick is being exposed for what he really is.

By the way, is there any coach in football with a bigger ego? The man clearly loves himself too much.

Pat Morgan

Pats Rally to Defeat Colts; Let Undefeated Talk Begin

It seemed midway through the fourth quarter that all the postgame talk would be all about how the Indianapolis Colts defense shut down Tom Brady and company, and thus ended New England's chance at having an unbeaten season. They were absolutely superb for three and a half quarters, but you can only hold the potent New England Patriots offense down for so long.

Brady's 55-yard pass to Randy Moss with about nine minutes left was what changed the whole game. The Colts had not allowed a big play like that the entire game. Brady then found Wes Welker to bring the Pats within a field goal, and then four minutes later he found Kevin Faulk for the go ahead TD. All of a sudden, Brady had his 3 TD passes and another sexy stat line. The Colts had another chance, but Peyton Manning fumbled to give the ball back to the Pats. Wes Welker sealed the deal with a 3rd down reception. Welker has been the unsung hero on this Pats team. Remember last year Troy Brown dropped the same type 3rd down pass that would have sealed the AFC title for New England. Bill Belichick should send Nick Saban a championship ring for giving him tips to get Welker as he departed Miami last year.

This is a demoralizing loss for Indianapolis. They played smash mouth football for 50 minutes, and had the Pats making mistakes left and right. Brady was rattled by throwing two picks, they committed a team record number of penalties, and Joseph Addai was running all over them (ended up with 226 total yards). With a win today, they would have slienced the entire sports media who have been praising the Pats all year and seemingly ignoring the Colts. Most importantly, this loss probably means that the AFC Championship Game will be in Foxboro. For that game to be at the RCA Dome, the Colts would have to go unbeaten the rest of the way, and hope the Patriots lose two of their final seven games. I don't think they will win a playoff game in Foxboro, but they should have Marvin Harrison in a rematch. Could they win? Yes.

The question now is can the Patriots go undefeated? They have their toughest game by far out of the way, and face an upcoming schedule where the toughest games might be at Baltimore and when they host Pittsburgh in back-to-back weeks in early December. Their bye also comes at a great time, because had they had to play next week after a tough game like this they might have suffered a let down. The Pats probably have a better than 50/50 chance to go unbeaten, and I think they will. They played a terrible football game for 50 minutes today against the Super Bowl champions and still won. Unlike the Colts of years past, this Patriots team will embrace going undefeated. Even if they clinch the AFC by mid-December, they host the Jets and Dolphins in Weeks 15 & 16. Stiff competition right there! They travel to the Meadowlands to play the Giants in Week 17, but if they make it into that game at 15-0 you think they will play very hard to get that victory and make history.

By the way, the NFL is going to be in a great situation when the Patriots visit the Giants in Week 17 that will be seen exclusively on the NFL Network!

Pat Morgan

Navy Sink Notre Dame to New Low

For the first time since Roger Staubach was the quarterback, the Navy Midshipmen have defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Midshipmen prevailed in triple overtime, 46-44. They stopped the Irish's two point conversion attempt, as they attempted to tie the game and head to a fourth overtime. The Naval Academy will be rocking in Annapolis tonight!

Things in South Bend have been bad this year, but this may be the lowest point this program has ever been. Charlie Weis probably figured this would be a rebuilding year after losing Brady Quinn and others, but it has gone beyond that as the team sits at a horrendous 1-8. Good thing for Weis that the Irish athletic director bought into his early success, and gave him a contract extension through 2015.

I would have to say that Weis's early success was overrated anyway. Granted he took the team to two straight BCS Bowls, but Notre Dame was rocked in both appearances. They also went to these bowls with one of the best college quarterbacks at the time. Plus, any Notre Dame team with just two losses is most likely going to be given a BCS bid simply because they are Notre Dame. If strength of schedule decided whether they would get a BCS bid or not, I would think they would be making reservations for the Continental Tire Bowl rather than the Sugar Bowl. Weis's best win was at Michigan in 2005, and that Wolverines' team finished a resounding 7-5.

I'm not saying I don't think Weis is a smart man. What he did as an offensive coordinator for the Jets and Patriots was excellent, but we are going to learn a lot about his head coaching abilities as he attempts to pull this Notre Dame team out of an embarrassing season. How will this recruiting class play in year 2 and 3? Will they be able to make it back to a BCS Bowl? Lots of questions of how this Notre Dame team will respond the next couple of years.

Pat Morgan

What? No Way! MSU Loses to *cough* Grand Valley State

The state of Michigan may come to an agreement to not allow their big D-I colleges play Division II teams anymore. In September, the Michigan football team lost to Appalachian State. And just last night, the Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team was upset by the Grand Valley State Lakers (At least one Lakers team had a good night). This is the most exciting thing to happen to Grand Valley since Tony Danza took his short lived talk show on location to the Grand Rapids campus in 2005.

Unlike UM football, Michigan State's season is far from ruined, as rankings mean garbage in college hoops. However, it is embarassing to lose to a school that sounds like a community college. Yes, this is the biggest game on the Grand Valley schedule, and they also have to hear about this MSU juggernaut everyday being just an hour away from Lansing in Grand Rapids. Plus, they almost beat them last year, but even if the Spartans were not awake for this exhibition, you figure they may have woken up in the first or second overtime. Jason Jamerson (does he major in adult films?), led Grand Valley with 19 points.

I said a week or so ago when the Coaches Poll was released that MSU seemed to be ranked too high at number 8. This game verifies my feel, but Tom Izzo will get his Spartans together. The Big Ten will be down with Ohio State and Wisconsin depleted, and fortunately, unlike college football, a loss like this does not kill or let alone even hurt your chances to win a National Championship. While very embarrassing, it does not nearly equate to the loss the Michigan football team experienced to Appalachian State.

Pat Morgan

Bonds to Forego Hall if Asterisk Ball Goes on Display

Barry Bonds continued his postseason whimpering yesterday, when he stated he would boycott the Hall of Fame if they display his record-breaking homerun baseball that is set to be branded with an asterisk.

Fashion designer, Marc Ecko bought the ball this summer, and put the fate of the ball up to a vote. The three choices were either send the ball to Cooperstown as is, send the ball to Cooperstown with an asterisk, or to shoot the ball into orbit. Well, the fans voted for it (myself included) to be branded with an asterisk. This pretty much puts to rest that, in the court of public opinion, Bonds is guilty of steroid use.

To me, Bonds just seems bitter about how quietly his career is ending. He is obviously upset that the San Francisco Giants don't want him back, and that another team signing him is unlikely. It seems like a last ditch effort to get people to feel badly for him. He knows people view him as a cheat, he knows he has been caught, but as most guilty people do, he has fallen into a full defensive mode.

I think the Hall of Fame should display the ball. Be fair, and explain in the exhibit description why it is branded, and be done with it. If Barry has a problem with that, and does not want to be a member of the Hall of Fame (should he be elected) let him decide that. I don't think the Hall of Fame voters are going to clammer for things to be sugar coded for Barry. He will always have a cloud around him, and that is the way it is. Get used to it Barry, no one is going to ignore the steroids. Just because you said the record is legit, after the 756th homerun, does not mean it is. Believe that inside should it make you feel better. The fans clearly believe it is a tainted record, as the asterisk option won by an overwhelming amount.

Maybe Barry is already making excuses not to show at his future Hall of Fame induction ceremony. He must know in five years when the roids have worn off, he will be much smaller by then. Might just raise a flag.

Pat Morgan

Wright Would Love to Have A-Rod Join Mets

New York Mets third baseman David Wright is expected to meet with general manager Omar Minaya to discuss the possibility of giving up his position for Alex Rodriguez. Wright mentioned earlier in the year that he would welcome A-Rod and wouldn't mind letting him play at the hot corner. Rodriguez, who opted out of his contract Sunday night, is now a free agent and is looking for at least 30 million dollars a year. As a diehard Mets fan, I love this idea. Rodriguez will go down as one of the best players ever to play the game. His numbers are out of this world and he probably will break Barry Bonds' homerun record, barring any horrible injury. I know he has had his postseason struggles, but I'm not worried about that right now. I want the Mets to make the playoffs first, unlike this past season.

As for Wright, it just shows how unselfish this young stud really is. This is the position he has always played and he is willing to learn a new one to help the team. I think Wright should either move to first base or left field, but it will be hard to get anybody to take worthless Carlos Delgado's money. I haven't been impressed with Wright's arm these past couple seasons and I don't expect it to get any better. He has a strong arm, which could help him as an outfielder. The Mets have resigned Moises Alou to play left field, so if Wright were to move, I would have to say it is going to be to first base. On the other hand, Alou is bound to be hurt for a good portion of the season, so don't be suprised to see Wright patrolling left field next season if they can land Rodriguez.

The Mets were Rodriguez's first choice the last time he was a free agent. Maybe it will work out the second time around. As a Mets fan, I can only hope for the best. This past season's collapse was tough to swallow. If the Mets sign A-Rod, it might give Mets fans out there something to be happy about this offseason.

Shawn Marosek

The Great Trade That Could Have Been

A trade that would have sent Kobe Bryant to the Chicago Bulls in a three team deal fell through earlier today. The Bulls would have only had to give up Ben Gordon, Ben Wallace, and PJ Brown. Gordon would have gone to Sacramento with PJ Brown, while Ben Wallace and Ron Artest would have gone to the Los Angeles Lakers.

That trade would have been an absolute steal for Chicago, considering many thought the Bulls would have to part ways with Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, and/or Joakim Noah. Yes, Ben Gordon has been Mr. Clutch for the Bulls in the 4th quarter, but with Kobe, Gordon's time to shine would have decreased drastically. Ben Wallace has not lived up to expectations, and PJ Brown would have just been re-signed then traded so contracts would match up.

The Bulls will be a contender to win the Eastern Conference, but adding Kobe in that deal would have made them the heavy favorites. It would have also given them a legitimate chance to win the NBA Finals. Other than a lack of an offensive inside game, the Bulls biggest flaw is they do not have a consistently big scoring threat. Kobe would have given them just that. The Bulls go cold from the field quite often, so the addition of Kobe would have fixed that problem. Talks are continuing between the Lakers and Bulls, but the question is what the Bulls will have to give up? Deng? Thomas? I almost drove into a tree when I heard that deal fell through. Would have been highway robbery!

Pat Morgan