So Carlos Beltran has decided to duel with Jimmy Rollins over which team is the team to beat in the National League East? Excellent - it's cool to know that the Phillies are even under scrutiny for this. What Phils fan would have believed that they would be the yardstick of the NL East?
Rollins was widely mocked when he made this same proclamation about the Phillies a year ago. And then they went out and won the NL East, as the Mets famously flamed out...which made the Phillies division crown all the sweeter.
But now the Mets have Johan Santana and one can understand Beltran's enthusiasm. Still - even with a suspect pitching rotation, the Phils are still the defending NL East champs, and have enough bats to make teams sweat.
Oh yeah - the Braves still play in that division, too...as Chipper Jones has reminded everybody.
So I will refrain from crowning the Mets just yet. I hope the regular season is as interesting as pre-spring training and spring training has been.
And the Mets and Phillies will have 19 chances to make their point. Nice to have a heated baseball rivalry that doesn't involve the overexposed and endlessly annoying Yankees and Red Sox. Enough of them. Let's hear some noise for the NL East.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Myron Cope - A Terrible Towel Man
SteelerNation mourns a friend. Myron Cope, inventor of the awesomely cool and pitifully imitated Terrible Towel has died. In addition to bestowing the greatest team and fans in sports with the equally great Terrible Towel, Cope was the voice of the Steelers.
He was their broadcaster starting in 1970, and continued in that role until 2004. It makes me a bit sad that I never lived in Pittsburgh, and therefore never heard a game called by Myron Cope. I can refer to archival material, but I'm sure Pittsburghers would tell me that's not the same.
Farewell Myron Cope - and thanks for the Terrible Towel....long may it wave.
He was their broadcaster starting in 1970, and continued in that role until 2004. It makes me a bit sad that I never lived in Pittsburgh, and therefore never heard a game called by Myron Cope. I can refer to archival material, but I'm sure Pittsburghers would tell me that's not the same.
Farewell Myron Cope - and thanks for the Terrible Towel....long may it wave.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Rowand And The Phils - A Cautionary Tale
A lot of times, when the Phillies allow a popular player like Aaron Rowand to leave town, PhilsNation scratches its collective head. Sometimes there are obvious mitigating circumstances, and that's all well and good. We'd still like to see that the Phils had ponied up the dough.
In the case of Rowand, however, I'm with the Phillies. He got $60 mil for 5 years ($12 mil per year for those who don't feel like doing the math) from San Francisco. That doesn't sound like so much, does it? In baseball terms, that's pretty cheap.
But considering that Rowand is coming off a career year, and there's no indication that he'll ever be able to again have the kind of year he had in 2007, I think the Phillies were wise to tread cautiously here.
They've made some big, costly mistakes in recent years. They signed Len Dykstra, Darren Daulton and Gregg Jeffries to big money, multiyear contracts and got badly burned on all three. In my humble opinion, they got the cumulative total of one good year from the three players. And Daulton and Dykstra remain two of the most overrated Phillies in the team's history.
So - let's forget about what might have been. If Rowand hits 30 homers, drives in 120 and scores 100 runs - then maybe Phils fans can be disgruntled. But how likely is that? If it does happen - hats off to Aaron Rowand. If it doesn't - the Phils just managed to find a better way to save $60 million bucks.
And they'll need it. They still need pitchers. Maybe some of that Rowand money can be used for that purpose down the stretch. Or next year.
In this case, I think the Phillies did the right thing.
In the case of Rowand, however, I'm with the Phillies. He got $60 mil for 5 years ($12 mil per year for those who don't feel like doing the math) from San Francisco. That doesn't sound like so much, does it? In baseball terms, that's pretty cheap.
But considering that Rowand is coming off a career year, and there's no indication that he'll ever be able to again have the kind of year he had in 2007, I think the Phillies were wise to tread cautiously here.
They've made some big, costly mistakes in recent years. They signed Len Dykstra, Darren Daulton and Gregg Jeffries to big money, multiyear contracts and got badly burned on all three. In my humble opinion, they got the cumulative total of one good year from the three players. And Daulton and Dykstra remain two of the most overrated Phillies in the team's history.
So - let's forget about what might have been. If Rowand hits 30 homers, drives in 120 and scores 100 runs - then maybe Phils fans can be disgruntled. But how likely is that? If it does happen - hats off to Aaron Rowand. If it doesn't - the Phils just managed to find a better way to save $60 million bucks.
And they'll need it. They still need pitchers. Maybe some of that Rowand money can be used for that purpose down the stretch. Or next year.
In this case, I think the Phillies did the right thing.
Morning Sports Radio / Movies
I like to listen to Mike & Mike in the Morning on ESPN radio on my way to work. As long as they don't spend too much time talking about basketball, golf or NASCAR, I'll stay tuned.
Monday and Yesterday Mike Golic spent a great deal of time beating down Erik Kuselias for not having seen Gladiator. If you listen, you know how Golic can be with "manning up" and such.
Before I had to get out of the car, they were taking suggestions for a list of movies that you have to have seen to truly be a man. Golic's was Braveheart and Kuselias's was Animal House. Both respectable choices. Yes, this sounds sophomoric, and it is, but it also can be a fun and interesting exercise.
So here is a list, in no particular order, of movies that "men" really should have seen. There are obvious omissions and you'll notice a strong leaning toward 80s action movies. This is deliberate.
It's obvious that movies like Star Wars (the 70s & 80s movies), Spider-Man, Sin City, the Matrix franchise, the Bourne franchise, and more recent similar fare should be on the list. I don't get out to the movies all that often, so I am guilty of having missed some of these films. So I choose to focus on a time when I had the time and inclination to watch movies...not just once, but enough to memorize lines and scenes and regurgitate when needed.
So, without further blather...here's a partial list:
Fletch
Dirty Harry
Beverly Hills Cop
Shawshank Redemption
Heartbreak Ridge
Die Hard
Terminator
Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Reservior Dogs
Midnight Run
Unforgiven
The Usual Suspects
And here's a partial list of sports-related movies (there are so few truly good ones):
Bad News Bears
Bull Durham
Field Of Dreams
Longest Yard (the original)
Major League
Naked Gun (honorable mention)
Youngblood (not so great, but Cynthia Gibb looks good)
Rocky
The Natural
That's it for now. I'll probably expand the lists over time, but I am out of steam for now.
I hope there is vast disagreement about the lists. Maybe that will inspire someone to actually add a comment to the blog. I often wonder if anyone is reading this blog at all.
Monday and Yesterday Mike Golic spent a great deal of time beating down Erik Kuselias for not having seen Gladiator. If you listen, you know how Golic can be with "manning up" and such.
Before I had to get out of the car, they were taking suggestions for a list of movies that you have to have seen to truly be a man. Golic's was Braveheart and Kuselias's was Animal House. Both respectable choices. Yes, this sounds sophomoric, and it is, but it also can be a fun and interesting exercise.
So here is a list, in no particular order, of movies that "men" really should have seen. There are obvious omissions and you'll notice a strong leaning toward 80s action movies. This is deliberate.
It's obvious that movies like Star Wars (the 70s & 80s movies), Spider-Man, Sin City, the Matrix franchise, the Bourne franchise, and more recent similar fare should be on the list. I don't get out to the movies all that often, so I am guilty of having missed some of these films. So I choose to focus on a time when I had the time and inclination to watch movies...not just once, but enough to memorize lines and scenes and regurgitate when needed.
So, without further blather...here's a partial list:
Fletch
Dirty Harry
Beverly Hills Cop
Shawshank Redemption
Heartbreak Ridge
Die Hard
Terminator
Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Reservior Dogs
Midnight Run
Unforgiven
The Usual Suspects
And here's a partial list of sports-related movies (there are so few truly good ones):
Bad News Bears
Bull Durham
Field Of Dreams
Longest Yard (the original)
Major League
Naked Gun (honorable mention)
Youngblood (not so great, but Cynthia Gibb looks good)
Rocky
The Natural
That's it for now. I'll probably expand the lists over time, but I am out of steam for now.
I hope there is vast disagreement about the lists. Maybe that will inspire someone to actually add a comment to the blog. I often wonder if anyone is reading this blog at all.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Ryan Howard Shown The Money
Well, I think Howard got what was deserved. I'm not saying it's reasonable that he should get $10 million a year and this is considered an underpayment. In real life, it's insane. In professional sports, it's just another day at the office.
I didn't run the stats, but I wonder how many major leaguers had more homers than Howard over the last three seasons? With 58 in one season, I can't imagine it's a big number.
It's true he's a young talent that hasn't been in the big leagues all that long. And it's also true that he struggled last season. But I am not worried that the Phils made a mistake. No - I think the mistake would have been to win the arbitration. They should have just given him what he asked for. In baseball money, they were getting a bargain.
Now, the hardcore stance might convince him to sign elsewhere later in his career no matter what money the Phils wave at him. Players have long memories and don't like to feel that they've been disrespected.
Again, it's not reasonable to think that $7 million per year is disrespectful. But in baseball money, compared with his peers...$7 mil, $10 mil is a baragain.
Look at the Yankees - how much is Jeter getting? And how much is A-Rod getting? And how many World Series championships have they won since 2001? That's right. The same number as the Phillies have won. Zero. Zilch. Nada.
Of course, I am not seriously comparing the two franchises. But I am saying that the Yankees - and many other teams - are not worried about how much a player is paid. They want to win. Let's hope the Phillies get this attitude. It's been too long since us fans had post season hopes. I'd like to keep that momentum going.
I didn't run the stats, but I wonder how many major leaguers had more homers than Howard over the last three seasons? With 58 in one season, I can't imagine it's a big number.
It's true he's a young talent that hasn't been in the big leagues all that long. And it's also true that he struggled last season. But I am not worried that the Phils made a mistake. No - I think the mistake would have been to win the arbitration. They should have just given him what he asked for. In baseball money, they were getting a bargain.
Now, the hardcore stance might convince him to sign elsewhere later in his career no matter what money the Phils wave at him. Players have long memories and don't like to feel that they've been disrespected.
Again, it's not reasonable to think that $7 million per year is disrespectful. But in baseball money, compared with his peers...$7 mil, $10 mil is a baragain.
Look at the Yankees - how much is Jeter getting? And how much is A-Rod getting? And how many World Series championships have they won since 2001? That's right. The same number as the Phillies have won. Zero. Zilch. Nada.
Of course, I am not seriously comparing the two franchises. But I am saying that the Yankees - and many other teams - are not worried about how much a player is paid. They want to win. Let's hope the Phillies get this attitude. It's been too long since us fans had post season hopes. I'd like to keep that momentum going.
Scott Rolen - The Blue Jay
I miss Scott Rolen. He was a great young player with a good bat and an incredible glove. He just went out and played good baseball and didn't make a scene. He left that to other players. I just wish that Dallas Green and Larry Bowa had just left him alone.
Then, with a good deal of acrimony left behind, he went to St. Louis during the 2002 season and went on to win a World Series ring. To me, this was quite a blow because it was all over the local media that he was unhappy. The inevitability of it left an empty feeling hanging in the air. And it followed on the heels of Curt Schilling's 2000 departure and eventual World Series ring. Again, the departure was with plenty of acrimony.
Philadelphia was a pretty grim place for a few years entering Y2K. It didn't help that the baseball team's two best players were gone shortly after the decade began.
There was no Chase Utley or Ryan Howard or Cole Hamels at that time. Sure, we had Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins, but that didn't make up for the loss of Rolen. Placido Polanco was pretty good, but then the Phils traded him to Detroit in 2005. All he's done since then is become a great hitter and play in a World Series.
All I'm saying is that I enjoyed watching Scott Rolen play baseball here. He even said that if things had worked out, he'd have signed with the Phils. That would be neat. What an infield - Rolen, Rollins, Utley and Howard???
But it didn't work out that way. I will look out for Rolen when the Blue Jays come to town. And for every uncatchable ball that he scoops up...I'll remember a time when he did that in red pinstripes.
Then, with a good deal of acrimony left behind, he went to St. Louis during the 2002 season and went on to win a World Series ring. To me, this was quite a blow because it was all over the local media that he was unhappy. The inevitability of it left an empty feeling hanging in the air. And it followed on the heels of Curt Schilling's 2000 departure and eventual World Series ring. Again, the departure was with plenty of acrimony.
Philadelphia was a pretty grim place for a few years entering Y2K. It didn't help that the baseball team's two best players were gone shortly after the decade began.
There was no Chase Utley or Ryan Howard or Cole Hamels at that time. Sure, we had Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins, but that didn't make up for the loss of Rolen. Placido Polanco was pretty good, but then the Phils traded him to Detroit in 2005. All he's done since then is become a great hitter and play in a World Series.
All I'm saying is that I enjoyed watching Scott Rolen play baseball here. He even said that if things had worked out, he'd have signed with the Phils. That would be neat. What an infield - Rolen, Rollins, Utley and Howard???
But it didn't work out that way. I will look out for Rolen when the Blue Jays come to town. And for every uncatchable ball that he scoops up...I'll remember a time when he did that in red pinstripes.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Poor Kyle Kendrick...
But what a great story. It's so so so much better to read about practical jokes in baseball than the HGH nonsense. And the fact that this was a Phillies prank makes it all the better.
And to you naysayers out there who shake your heads and opine that baseball players have too much time on their hands....what's your point? We know that. Baseball has always been this way. It seems odd that there hasn't been a practical joke with this elaborate a setup in a while.
It should be a fun game. Lighten up.
I remember when Bobby Valentine was ejected from a game, and then he donned a cheesy wig and reappeared in the Mets dugout. That was a riot and cemented Bobby V as my favorite Met manager of all time. It's been pretty grim and boring there since then.
Baseball needs more humor like this. I am looking forward to the next practical joke. Although I think that the players are gonna be hard pressed to top this one.
And I'm glad it was a ruse...like Brett Myers, I want to know whether or not the other guy in the trade has a good ERA. The Phils can use a guy like that.
Hot Dog!
And to you naysayers out there who shake your heads and opine that baseball players have too much time on their hands....what's your point? We know that. Baseball has always been this way. It seems odd that there hasn't been a practical joke with this elaborate a setup in a while.
It should be a fun game. Lighten up.
I remember when Bobby Valentine was ejected from a game, and then he donned a cheesy wig and reappeared in the Mets dugout. That was a riot and cemented Bobby V as my favorite Met manager of all time. It's been pretty grim and boring there since then.
Baseball needs more humor like this. I am looking forward to the next practical joke. Although I think that the players are gonna be hard pressed to top this one.
And I'm glad it was a ruse...like Brett Myers, I want to know whether or not the other guy in the trade has a good ERA. The Phils can use a guy like that.
Hot Dog!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Pitchers and Catchers
Yeah - Pitchers and Catchers. To a baseball fan, can there be any better words to hear? The Phils are the defending National League East champs, but have a tough row to hoe to repeat, especially now that Johan Santana is in New York.
So many questions:
So many questions:
- Why don't the Phils just give Ryan Howard the money?
- Can Jimmy Rollins do it again?
- Will Cole Hamels really pitch a full season now that the Phils have indicated that they'll get some chiropractic personnel?
- Do the Phils actually have any decent pitching?
Good questions, all. And no matter how pessimistic I'll sound when I'm complaining about the Phils, I'll still be following along. And I'll root, root, root for the Phillies no matter how maddening they can sometimes be.
Can any Phils fan say they are not at least thinking playoffs as the 2008 season begins? I can't believe I'm saying this, but I am thinking playoffs. And Phils management ought to take note. I can't remember the last time a baseball season began with me thinking this.
Thank goodness there will be something in baseball to talk about that doesn't involve Roger Clemens.
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Family That Injects Together...
Yikes. Could the Roger Clemens story get any more bizarre? I am now hearing accusations that Brian MacNamee injected Roger Clemens' wife with steroids (oh, sorry - I forgot that the "great" and "intelligent" Sylvester Stallone informed us that HGH is not a 'roid. Sorry - I lost my head) - at ol' Roger's encouragement. For a wives of athletes photo op in Sports Illustrated or something like that. I think it was 5 or so years ago if I remember correctly.
What's next? MacNamee injected Roger's freaking dog with HGH before entering him in Mike Vick's dogfighting kennel? Is there anything in the Clemens household that has NOT been injected with steroids? Do they have a cat or a bird? Plants? Pillows? Have the neighbors been checked? How about the folks who work at the local food store?
Where would Miss Manners say one should keep the syringes? Do they go on the left or the right of the plate? And they probably go in the silverware drawer right next to the knives. Definitely needle down in the dishwasher. Are they stored in the medicine cabinet next to the Tylenol????
What a freaking circus.
One thing's for sure...no matter what happens, Roger's bank account has certainly been enhanced by all these steroids. In the end, where Roger is concerned, does anything else matter?
What's next? MacNamee injected Roger's freaking dog with HGH before entering him in Mike Vick's dogfighting kennel? Is there anything in the Clemens household that has NOT been injected with steroids? Do they have a cat or a bird? Plants? Pillows? Have the neighbors been checked? How about the folks who work at the local food store?
Where would Miss Manners say one should keep the syringes? Do they go on the left or the right of the plate? And they probably go in the silverware drawer right next to the knives. Definitely needle down in the dishwasher. Are they stored in the medicine cabinet next to the Tylenol????
What a freaking circus.
One thing's for sure...no matter what happens, Roger's bank account has certainly been enhanced by all these steroids. In the end, where Roger is concerned, does anything else matter?
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Uh....Phillies Doin' Anything?
Okay, they signed Pedro Feliz - that's pretty good. Their pitching still looks a bit questionable, but I suppose they could simply go for outscoring their opponents.
In the wake of the Mets signing of Johan Santana, Feliz seems like a band-aid more than a solution. But the Phils surprised me last year, so I'll be glad to watch and see what happens. After all, if there's one refrain that Phillies fans know all too well, it's "wait 'til next year!"
It would have been nice to see some new pitchers in a Phils uniform, though.
When's opening day? It's pretty bleak for me sportswise when the Super Bowl ends. Not much interest on my end in basketball (at either college or pro level) or hockey. So it's a long wait between the end of football and the beginning of baseball. And I care about as much about Spring Training baseball as I do about preseason football...which is to say...not at all.
Play Ball!
In the wake of the Mets signing of Johan Santana, Feliz seems like a band-aid more than a solution. But the Phils surprised me last year, so I'll be glad to watch and see what happens. After all, if there's one refrain that Phillies fans know all too well, it's "wait 'til next year!"
It would have been nice to see some new pitchers in a Phils uniform, though.
When's opening day? It's pretty bleak for me sportswise when the Super Bowl ends. Not much interest on my end in basketball (at either college or pro level) or hockey. So it's a long wait between the end of football and the beginning of baseball. And I care about as much about Spring Training baseball as I do about preseason football...which is to say...not at all.
Play Ball!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Uh Oh...Didn't See That Coming...
Sorry, New England...I guess it's "Wait 'Til Next Year" time...
But don't feel bad, you're hardly alone there. And I guess all the media types will now have to find creative reasons to maintain that Brady is the best quarterback ever and that Belichick is the greatest coach ever. Not to worry - they'll be ready to go by morning.
It will also be interesting to hear what the media folks have to say about Eli Manning now. The much and often maligned quarterback has absorbed more than his fair share of unfair abuse from the New York and national sportswriters and sports commentators. Will they admit that they might have been a bit hasty in their assessment? Don't count on it.
Nicely done, Giants. Normally I'd never root for them...but this is one time I'm glad I did. I guess I'm a Giants fan for now. At least until September. Then it's back to the Black & Gold.
What a great wrap-up to the season. Amazing that 18-1 could be seen as a letdown. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving team.
But don't feel bad, you're hardly alone there. And I guess all the media types will now have to find creative reasons to maintain that Brady is the best quarterback ever and that Belichick is the greatest coach ever. Not to worry - they'll be ready to go by morning.
It will also be interesting to hear what the media folks have to say about Eli Manning now. The much and often maligned quarterback has absorbed more than his fair share of unfair abuse from the New York and national sportswriters and sports commentators. Will they admit that they might have been a bit hasty in their assessment? Don't count on it.
Nicely done, Giants. Normally I'd never root for them...but this is one time I'm glad I did. I guess I'm a Giants fan for now. At least until September. Then it's back to the Black & Gold.
What a great wrap-up to the season. Amazing that 18-1 could be seen as a letdown. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving team.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Groan - Spygate, Part Deux?
The NFL is apparently trying its hand at comedy. I love this quote from NFL spokesman Greg Aiello concerning the Patriots taping the St. Louis Rams' last walkthrough before the 2002 Super Bowl: "We were aware of the rumor months ago and looked into it. There was no evidence of it on the tapes or in the notes produced by the Patriots, and the Patriots told us it was not true."
Isn't that priceless? ..."the Patriots told us it was not true." What a great defense!
"Your honor, my client is innocent. He told me the allegations against him were not true."
"Case dismissed then. All charges dropped. Your client is free to go."
Since the Patriots are 18-0 and on the verge of making history, it stands to reason that the NFL will continue to deny that they are favoring them. But anyone (outside of the Boston region) who's watched the Patriots offensive line hold on nearly every single down and not get called for it...is justified in thinking otherwise.
Patriots spokesman Stacey James had this to say: "The suggestion that the New England Patriots recorded the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough on the day before Super Bowl XXXVI is absolutely false. Any suggestion to the contrary is untrue."
Of course it is. Why would anyone doubt this? Oh, wait - didn't the team and its coach get fined for a similar allegation in 2007? But the Patriots said its not true...so obviously, it isn't! Right?
It's too bad that nothing will come of this latest spygate report. The Rams won't get another ring. And fans who are sick to death of the Patriots won't feel like justice was done. Even if Belichick and his band of merry rulebreakers are fined. Again.
Too bad "Little Bill" didn't have this videotaping idea before he lost to the Steelers three times in the same season in 1994. I think that maybe we have some insight into why he's so far and away a better coach now than he was during his 36-44 stint with the Browns.
I wonder if he has someone running tape when he plays cards or board games?
Isn't that priceless? ..."the Patriots told us it was not true." What a great defense!
"Your honor, my client is innocent. He told me the allegations against him were not true."
"Case dismissed then. All charges dropped. Your client is free to go."
Since the Patriots are 18-0 and on the verge of making history, it stands to reason that the NFL will continue to deny that they are favoring them. But anyone (outside of the Boston region) who's watched the Patriots offensive line hold on nearly every single down and not get called for it...is justified in thinking otherwise.
Patriots spokesman Stacey James had this to say: "The suggestion that the New England Patriots recorded the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough on the day before Super Bowl XXXVI is absolutely false. Any suggestion to the contrary is untrue."
Of course it is. Why would anyone doubt this? Oh, wait - didn't the team and its coach get fined for a similar allegation in 2007? But the Patriots said its not true...so obviously, it isn't! Right?
It's too bad that nothing will come of this latest spygate report. The Rams won't get another ring. And fans who are sick to death of the Patriots won't feel like justice was done. Even if Belichick and his band of merry rulebreakers are fined. Again.
Too bad "Little Bill" didn't have this videotaping idea before he lost to the Steelers three times in the same season in 1994. I think that maybe we have some insight into why he's so far and away a better coach now than he was during his 36-44 stint with the Browns.
I wonder if he has someone running tape when he plays cards or board games?
Friday, February 1, 2008
The Comparisons - Again!
So now the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is getting into the act. Trying to determine Bill Belichick's place among the pantheon of top coaches. As they say: "The only real comparisons are Vince Lombardi, who won five titles in seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers; Chuck Noll, who won four in six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s; and Bill Walsh, who built a San Francisco 49ers team that won four Super Bowls from 1981-89."
Let's look at this first from the accepted-as-gospel perspective...the one that the Post-Gazette is trumpeting. "But none of them operated with free agency and a salary cap that makes it nearly impossible for a successful team to keep all of its stars."
That's right - neither the 60s Packers, 70s Steelers nor the 80s Niners had to deal with free agency or a salary cap. They had to operate with the draft and with the players they acquired and/or brought through their systems.
For the Steelers, this means that other teams, like the Cowboys, Raiders, Dolphins, Oilers, Bengals, Browns, Rams, Vikings, et al also kept all of their players. It stands to reason that if your running back (Franco Harris) and your quarterback (Terry Bradshaw) retire...and you didn't draft someone to replace them...you're outta luck. As the Steelers were for many years.
On the other hand, Belichick had heard the rumbling. That his team was getting by with mediocre receivers. So what did he do? He went and got a former Dolphin receiver in Wes Welker. He went and got Randy Moss. Now really - would it have been that easy for the Steelers to make that kind of an upgrade in a non-free-agent era? Of course not.
So which is more difficult? Having and maintaining a dynasty when you have no free agency? Or doing it with free agency? The Steelers won four Super Bowls in six years. The Patriots could win their 4th in seven. Impressive. But not as impressive as doing it in six. And the Steelers were never caught cheating.
I'd argue against conventional wisdom. So the football talking heads attempt to denigrate and explain away the Packers, Steelers and 49ers successes by saying they were able to maintain their teams because there was no free agency. They also had a harder road to making any improvements.
For my money, I'll say that the teams that did it during non free agency days had a tougher time. There were no Randy Mosses waiting in the wings. If you were lucky, which the Steelers (Lynn Swann) and the Niners (Jerry Rice) were, you drafted a future Hall Of Fame receiver and got many good, Super Bowl years out of him. You developed that talent. It's no accident that Swann and Rice were great players. They had all the tools and were drafted by teams that had a plan and a need.
The Patriots? They were smart enough to see that Randy Moss was unhappy. He was available for a song and they snagged him. Not too much brainpower needed here.
Oh - and those 23 touchdowns? Pretty nice, right? But it took him 16 games to do it. Rice got 22 in 12 games. 12! Moss is an excellent receiver - but let's temper the hyperbole, shall we?
And let's not downgrade the teams of the past just because the Patriots have compiled an 18-0 record against some pretty cream puff competition. Their division ain't exactly boasting other 10 game winners. What they've done is most impressive. But let's not get carried away.
Let's look at this first from the accepted-as-gospel perspective...the one that the Post-Gazette is trumpeting. "But none of them operated with free agency and a salary cap that makes it nearly impossible for a successful team to keep all of its stars."
That's right - neither the 60s Packers, 70s Steelers nor the 80s Niners had to deal with free agency or a salary cap. They had to operate with the draft and with the players they acquired and/or brought through their systems.
For the Steelers, this means that other teams, like the Cowboys, Raiders, Dolphins, Oilers, Bengals, Browns, Rams, Vikings, et al also kept all of their players. It stands to reason that if your running back (Franco Harris) and your quarterback (Terry Bradshaw) retire...and you didn't draft someone to replace them...you're outta luck. As the Steelers were for many years.
On the other hand, Belichick had heard the rumbling. That his team was getting by with mediocre receivers. So what did he do? He went and got a former Dolphin receiver in Wes Welker. He went and got Randy Moss. Now really - would it have been that easy for the Steelers to make that kind of an upgrade in a non-free-agent era? Of course not.
So which is more difficult? Having and maintaining a dynasty when you have no free agency? Or doing it with free agency? The Steelers won four Super Bowls in six years. The Patriots could win their 4th in seven. Impressive. But not as impressive as doing it in six. And the Steelers were never caught cheating.
I'd argue against conventional wisdom. So the football talking heads attempt to denigrate and explain away the Packers, Steelers and 49ers successes by saying they were able to maintain their teams because there was no free agency. They also had a harder road to making any improvements.
For my money, I'll say that the teams that did it during non free agency days had a tougher time. There were no Randy Mosses waiting in the wings. If you were lucky, which the Steelers (Lynn Swann) and the Niners (Jerry Rice) were, you drafted a future Hall Of Fame receiver and got many good, Super Bowl years out of him. You developed that talent. It's no accident that Swann and Rice were great players. They had all the tools and were drafted by teams that had a plan and a need.
The Patriots? They were smart enough to see that Randy Moss was unhappy. He was available for a song and they snagged him. Not too much brainpower needed here.
Oh - and those 23 touchdowns? Pretty nice, right? But it took him 16 games to do it. Rice got 22 in 12 games. 12! Moss is an excellent receiver - but let's temper the hyperbole, shall we?
And let's not downgrade the teams of the past just because the Patriots have compiled an 18-0 record against some pretty cream puff competition. Their division ain't exactly boasting other 10 game winners. What they've done is most impressive. But let's not get carried away.
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