The Pro Bowl Snub of 2009

The Pro Bowl rosters have been announced, with the spots being filled by the best of the best. But is it really filled with the best players? The last I checked, the Pro Bowl was for all-star players and the best players at the position. The fans who vote on the rosters, always manage to miss a couple players who deserved spots. This year, there were a few players who may be the best at their position in their league, who are not on the teams.

The NFC's biggest snub is easily DeAngelo Williams. The NFC running back slots were filled out by Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner, and Clinton Portis. Peterson and Turner earned their spots, but Portis? Yes, Portis does have more rushing yards with 1,337, while Williams trails with 1,229. The yard difference is just 108 yards, but the big stat is total touchdowns. DeAngelo has reached the endzone 16 times, where Portis has only reached 7 times. Williams also has not fumbled the ball this year and Portis has fumbled twice. Portis has had 291 attempts this year, averaging 4.6 yards per rush. Williams has only rushed 224 times, but averages 5.5 yards an attempt. Williams is also on a team that is battling for the number 1 seed in the NFC, where the Redskins are hopeless.

Pro Bowl voting has quickly become a popularity contest, instead of what it should be, the selection of the best players at their respective position.

Is there another Pro Bowl Snub? If so, let me know.

A Tough Decision

Just like all Ravens-Steelers matchups, it was a chess match between Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh. The Ravens led throughout the game, until a Joe Flacco fumble, began the last minute drive for the Steelers.

On a crucial play, Roethlishberger bought as much time as he could, until he found Santonio Holmes on the goaline, pulling in the reception. But was he in? The ruling on the field was No Touchdown, but the booth reviewed the call. As the refs reviewed the play, viewers saw replays showed the ball never actually crossed the line, and was just too close to over turn. But this didn't bother the refs, who reversed the original call, and gave Pittsburgh the TD.

This was a heart breaking loss for the Ravens, but an even more angering loss. It is not a good decision to over turn a call that just seems to have no clear evidence, especially in a critical game like this. It just wasn't right what the refs did. No ref should ever decide an outcome.

The Battle For AFC East Supremacy

The Jets, Dolphins and Patriots all are 9-5 and competing to be the top dog in the AFC East. Brett Favre has shown why he doesn't need to retire, while Matt Cassel and Chad Pennington have really found their groove. With 2 games remaining, these teams will have to treat these games as if they are playoff games, because if one of these teams lose, it will be very difficult to win the division. To make the situation clearer, here is a breakdown of the teams and what lies on the road ahead.

New York Jets

Remaining Schedule: @Seattle, vs Dolphins

Player 2 Watch: Thomas Jones, RB

How They Will Finish: The Jets will take care of buisness in Seattle, but will suffer a heart breaking loss to the Dolphins.

New England Patriots

Remaining Schedule: vs Arizona, @Buffalo

Player 2 Watch: Randy Moss, WR

How They Will Finish: In a slugfest agains the Cardinal, the Patriots will pull away victorious. At Buffalo, they will play a close game, just passing by the Bills.

Miami Dolphins

Remaining Schedule: @Kansas City, @NYJ

Player 2 Watch: Chad Pennington, QB

How They Will Finish: With an easy game against KC, they will clean house at Arrowhead Stadium and put a beating on the Jets.

The Patriots and Dolphins will finish 11-5, with the Jets in 3rd at 10-6. In the tie-breaker, the Dolphins hold the edge and complete an extraordinary turn around from last season.

The Heisman Curse?

Congratulations Sam Bradford on winning the 2008 Heisman trophy, but history is not in favor of the Sooners and Sam Bradford's future. History suggests that if you win the Heisman and are playing in the National Championship, you are going to lose. Since the BCS was estabilished in 1998, Heisman Trophy winners have played in 3 of the 6 games, all of them being quarterbacks (Jason White, Eric Crouch, and Chris Weinke), and all 3 of their teams lost in the championship by more than a touchdown. All of whom have played poorly, especially Chris Weinke, who couldn't lead his high powered offense to a single point.

In the last 20 years, only Danny Wuerffel has won the national championship game after winning the Heisman Trophy. In the past 30 years, Heisman Trophy winners have lost more than half of the bowl games they played in, not just the national championship game. Take Vince Young, the runner up to USC RB Reggie Bush. He went on and pulled a shocking upset of powerhouse USC in the National Championship. Recently, Matt Leinart and Troy Smith have both won Heisman, and both are sitting the benches for their respective teams.

So how have Heisman winners played in the NFL? There have been some great players in the NFL who have a Heisman on their shelf, but there have been some terrible NFL Heisman products. The Busts: Andre Ware, Ty Detmer, Rashaan Salaam, Danny Wuerffel, Ron Dayne and Chris Weinke. I feel that Eric Crouch and Jason White may have embarrassed every Heisman winner, made the trophy a joke among the league and these two men really believe that there is a Heisman curse.

The Elite Heisman Nominees

College football has wrapped up the regular season, now entering the bowl season. Before we get under way with the crazy bowl games, we have to award the most prolific college award, the Heisman. Awarded to the best player in college football, this may be the toughest competition in recent memory. The canidates include two BCS Championship quarterbacks, Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow, and Big 12 runner up Texas' QB, Colt McCoy. Both QB's have produced spectacluar numbers, but which one deserves the Heisman?

Sam Bradford, Oklahoma

Why He Deserves It: Bradford led his team all the way to the big dance. He has a cannon of an arm, nearing a FBS passing efficency record. He has been the general all year of the nation's highest-scoring offense, only losing 1 game to Texas, in which he threw 5 TD's.

Heisman Moment: He lead Oklahoma over Texas Tech, where he had 14 completions for 4 TD's in a 65-21 onslaught.

Colt McCoy, Texas

Why He Deserves It: He is an all around game changer. He leads his team in rushing with 576 yards, while still throwing for 3,445 passing yards and 32 TD's. McCoy also has done all this with not as much talent on offense as Oklahoma and Florida possesses.

Heisman Moment: He made a phenomenal comeback against then #1 Oklahoma. He completed 21 of his last 24 passes and guided five scoring drives in a 45-35 victory.

Tim Tebow, Florida

Why He Deserves It: Tebow is the most feared player in college football and defensive coordinators have yet to figure out how to stop him. Don't forget, he won the Heisman last year. Defenses have been gunning for him, but Tebow has yet to falter, guiding the Gators to a National Championship appearance.

Heisman Moment: He played his best in Florida's biggest games, throwing for three touchdowns in a 31-20 win over No. 1 Alabama in Saturday's SEC championship game.

Passing Yards

Sam Bradford - 4,465

Colt McCoy - 3,445

Tim Tebow - 2,515

Passer Rating

Sam Bradford - 186.29

Colt McCoy - 179.20

Tim Tebow - 176.74

Interceptions

Tim Tebow - 2

Sam Bradford - 6

Colt McCoy - 7

Completion %

Colt McCoy - 77.6

Sam Bradford - 68.3
Tim Tebow - 64.9

Defenses Faced in Top 30

Tim Tebow - 8 ( against these defenses: 63 completion %, 18 TD's, 0 INT's, 12 Rush TD's)

Sam Bradford - 2 (he faced 9 defenses ranked 66th or worse)

Colt McCoy - 0 (he didn't face a defense ranked better then 65)

The stats favor Bradford and McCoy, but Tebow has been everything for the Gators. I've never seen a man who can dominate a game in the way he does. As reigning Heisman, every defense was after him this year, but never once did he flounder. Even in the loss to Mississippi, he threw for 319 yards ( which was his season high ) , 3 total TD's and a 142 rating. The SEC defenses are much more superior then the Big 12. Three of the nation’s top five teams in scoring defense (No. 1 Kentucky, No. 2 Auburn, No. 4 Florida) and seven of the top 19 teams in total defense reside in the SEC. There is only one Big 12 team in the top 20 in total defense (No. 11 Oklahoma). The highest rated defense after that is Texas at No. 28.

T.O: The Movie

Terrell Owens' football career has been action packed, drama filled and egos flaring, a perfect fit for Hollywood. Whether its been with the 49ers, Eagles or Cowboys, he always brings his big ego and causes problems among his teammates. Don't get me wrong, he's one of the most physical and dominant receivers in the league, but the man has serious ego problems. He is known for throwing his QB's under the bus, just ask Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo. I never knew a man could go through so much in his young life, so why not make a Hollywood hit and documentary of T.O's life.

The opening scene would be of Owens being drafted in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. It would then go on and show him playing in his rookie year, where he primarily was a special teams player.

Then we would reach T.O's first big moment. Playing against the Packers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, Owens struggled throughout the game but ended up catching the game winning pass. Next, Jeff Garcia arrives in town. Following the 2003 season, Owens told reporters that Jeff Garcia was a homosexual. Owens was eager to leave San Franciso, but his agent missed the deadline to void his final year. The 49ers nearly complete a trade with Ravens, until Owens went against the 49ers, finally ending up with a contract with Philadelphia.

In Philly, Terrell was a living legend, the fans become so fond of his athleticism. Then T.O appeared in a skit with Nicollette Sheridan, where she removes her towel in front of Owens in the locker room. The skit was questioned among the league and fans. The Eagles went up against the Cowboys on December 19, where T.O was horsecollard by Roy Williams and severely sprained his ankle and fractured his fibula. The Eagles rolled into the Super Bowl without Owens. In a shocking turn of events, Owens went against doctor's orders and suited up for the game. He played great in the Super Bowl, 9 receptions for 122 yards in a loss. Afterwards, Owens got frustrated at reporters, saying that if this was Brett Favre playing with the injury he had, he would be praised while T.O's play was questioned.

Then comes Drew Rosenhaus. The agent would get Owens a new contract with the Eagles for the upcoming season. Owens caused controversy when he was caught saying, "he wasn't the guy who got tired in the Super Bowl." This comment was directed at Donovan McNabb who threw up on the final drive of the Super Bowl. After more remarks about Eagles management and Donovan McNabb, Owens was suspended four games without pay and then deactivated for the rest of the season. The following season, the Eagles cut ties with him.

Welcome to Dallas. Owens ended up needing surgery on his finger, which would cause him to miss his matchup against his former team, Philadelphia. After promising he would play against the Eagles, Owens overdosed on his medication. Reports came out that Owens had tried to kill himself. Owens healed and played on. In his matchup against the Eagles, the fans chanted, "O.D". Owens struggled that game in a loss to the Birds. After the game, T.O lashed out at his teammates and questioned the owners signing him. In 2007, Owens made the Pro Bowl, but suffered a high ankle sprain that ended his season. In 2008, Owens said he wants to finish his career in Dallas, who re-signed him. Recently, Owens has gone against Romo, saying that he never gets the ball and that Jason Witten is Romo's only target.

Now tell me, doesn't that sound like a perfect Hollywood movie? The best part, the T.O saga is still going on, and still there is much more to his career, possibly a Hall of Fame jacket awaits him.

Strange Injuries by Athletes

This Tuesday, the Avalanche announced that Joe Sakic broke 3 fingers in a snowblower accident. Another strange injury happened this week, to rookie point guard Derrick Rose. He needed 10 stiches in his arm while cutting an apple in his bed. The injury everyone has heard of lately is Plaxico Burress accidently shooting himself in his leg. These may sound strange, but there are much more stranger injuries suffered by athletes. A few good ones include:

• My favorite injury was suffered by Joel Zumaya, closer for the Detroit Tigers. He injured his wrist while playing Guitar Hero.
• Marty Cordova had to miss time after he burned himself in a tanning bed after he fell asleep.
• Longtime NHL goalie Glenn Healy once required close to 40 stitches after slicing his hand open while trying to replace the bag on an antique bagpipes set.
• Astros outfielder Hunter Pence missed a week of Spring Training after cutting himself when he crashed through a sliding glass door at his apartment.
• Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder suffered a fate no man wants to endure in June when an opposing batter's foul tip caromed off his groin, breaking one of Snyder's testicles.