By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
It
has been said that “close” only counts in horseshoes and grenades. But –
surprise, surprise – Bruce Allen thinks the term also applies to Washington’s
NFL team.
“We’ve
been in the middle of the pack the last three seasons,” the team president told
reporters Tuesday. “It means you’re close. It means you’re close to being
better.”
One
of my dear aunts was a nurse and she once explained an important distinction
regarding health. I was under the weather for a while and she asked how I felt.
“Better,” I said. She replied, “‘Better’ doesn’t mean you’re well.’”
In
Allen’s defense, Washington IS close in several ways.
It’s
one of 32 NFL franchises. It uses the same football and equipment that opponents
use. It makes a boatload of money.
Such
mistakes are part of football as two teams compete. There’s always a third team
on the field as well, its members competing against themselves in man’s never-ending
(and futile) quest for perfection.
When
Chicago’s Cody Parker missed a game-winning kick against Philadelphia two weeks
ago, he was crestfallen. He remained bent over with hands on knees for several
seconds before lineman Bobby Massie straightened him up, patted him on the
helmet and gave him a hug.
I’m
not sure which official – likely side judge Gary Cavaletto or line judge Rusty
Baynes – blew the controversial call in Sunday’s NFC championship game. But
whoever it was could use a hug, too.
Either
Cavaletto or Baynes were in the vicinity with primary responsibility to render
judgment when New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees threw an incomplete pass to
wide receiver Tommylee Lewis with 1:45 remaining in regulation. I imagine the culprit felt sick after seeing a
replay of Nickell Robey-Coleman’s blatant pass interference, a non-call that
arguably prevented the Saints from advancing to the Super Bowl.
Had
the obvious penalty been flagged, New Orleans could’ve drained the clock and
lined up for a game-winning, chip-shot field goal. Instead, the Los Angeles
Rams regained possession with 1:41 remaining and a timeout. They proceeded to tie
the score on Greg Zuerlein’s 48-yard field goal and win in overtime on his 57-yarder.
Afterward,
much of the conversation focused on the official(s) who failed to make a
no-brainer call. “I hope no other team has to lose a game the way we lost that one
today,” Saints coach Sean Payton said.
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Every
now and then, the tables are reversed, the script is flipped, and an athlete
has leverage on the system.
We
see it only rarely because the system is designed to win by default. Star athletes
are guaranteed one major choice – which college they’ll attend. After that, a
decade can pass before stars are positioned for another major lifestyle decision,
free agency.
What
happens between those mile markers is typically out of a player’s control. He
has no say in which team drafts him, and no say if he’s traded away. He’s conditioned
to cash his checks and keep the system
moving.
But
every once in a while, a player takes command of his pro career from the outset.
Which brings us to Kyler Murray, who currently is showing the Oakland A’s that
he’s in charge of his destiny and they’re spectators like the rest of us.
The
Heisman Trophy-winner – and No. 9 pick in last year’s MLB draft – has thrown
his name in the NFL draft, where he could be a first-rounder. Oakland already
has paid him a $4.66 million signing bonus that he must return if he forsakes
baseball. But first-round quarterbacks can rake in much more on their rookie
contract and signing bonuses, with the added benefit of endorsement
opportunities that are nonexistent for minor-league outfielders.
According
to published reports, Murray sought $15 million from Oakland to keep him out of
the NFL draft. News that he was waffling
on his fidelity to the A’s made an SB Nation team blogger ballistic, leading her to the
unemployment line after posting shameful tweets about Murray’s future. His
decision to enter the NFL draft has many observers worked up.
Some
question the wisdom of pursuing a sport fraught with danger to life and limb.
Others counter that he should follow his heart … and the significantly larger
payday he’d receive upfront. Baseball fans are upset. Football fans are
rejoicing.
In
one corner, we have the grizzled, wise sages, a pair of passers who have been
atop their profession for nearly two decades.
In
the other corner, we have the budding, spry newcomers, two quarterbacks who had
yet to reach kindergarten 20 years ago.
Will
veterans Tom Brady and Drew Brees pass the torch in the NFL conference
championship games on Sunday? Or will they make newcomers Patrick Mahomes and
Jared Goff wait a little longer to ascend?
We
couldn’t ask for a better set of games to determine a Super Bowl that will be
tantalizing either way. We can have the geezers in a New England-New Orleans contest
featuring all-time greats. Or maybe we get the fresh princes in a Kanas
City-Los Angeles tilt, highlighting the next wave. Or it might be a mix-and-match
pairing, something old, something new.
This
much seems clear: If points are your thing, you should prepare extra popcorn.
The real reason for shame in Alabama has nothing to do with Clemson’s rout in the college football championship game. That was just two outstanding teams in honest competition on a level playing field, with the super-talented Tigers playing extraordinarily well.
The matchup that should totally embarrass state
residents is the Alabama High School Athletic Association against senior
basketball star Maori Davenport. It’s an example of a youngster – one of the
nation’s best prep players – being steamrolled by power-hungry adults, led by
AHSAA executive director Steve Savarese.
In case you missed it, Davenport represented her
country in August and helped lead Team USA to the Under-18 gold medal at the
FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City. USA Basketball sent her a check for
$857.20, a stipend offered to players who participate in summer programs. That
was a no-no.
“It was not a purposeful error,” USA Basketball
spokesman Craig Miller told ESPN. “We didn’t realize she had high school
eligibility remaining, and it’s absolutely our mistake.”
USA Basketball caught the blunder in November and
notified Charles Henderson High School (in Troy, Alabama), as well as the
AHSAA. Davenport’s mother wrote a reimbursement check immediately and sent it
back via express delivery, which should be where this story ends.
But, no. Savarese declared on Nov. 30 that the
Rutgers recruit was ineligible and issued a one-year suspension that ended
Davenport’s senior season after four games. And just to make sure that Savarese
wasn’t alone in his unreasonable and unwarranted abuse of power, more crazed
adults joined him and upheld the ruling in two appeals.
An AHSAA district board, and then its central
board, each agreed – by unanimous vote! – that Davenport’s one-year suspension
should stand.
The Baltimore Ravens considered the long view Sunday when they stayed with rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson instead of relieving him with veteran Joe Flacco.
Jackson
was acquired via a first-round draft pick and represents the future. Flacco hasn’t
played since Nov. 11 and is headed out of town. Pulling an ineffective Jackson
from the wild-card game against the San Diego Chargers would’ve created a dilemma
if Flacco led Baltimore to a comeback. Could the Ravens go back to Jackson in
that case?
No
matter how it turned out, benching Jackson might’ve been a crushing blow to his
confidence moving forward. His run-heavy style and shaky passing ability have
made him a question mark since he left Louisville and fended off pre-draft suggestions
of a position change. He would’ve faced renewed doubts if he was removed from
his first playoff game, even after leading Baltimore to victory in six of seven
contests down the stretch.
Coach
John Harbaugh apparently decided that turning to Flacco wasn’t worth the risk to
Jackson’s psyche or the team’s collective belief.
“I
can assure you we were considering putting Joe in the game,” Harbaugh told reporters
after the Ravens’ late rally fell short, 23-17. “Everybody was on the same page
with what we did, everybody including Joe.”
Flacco’s
feelings on the matter should’ve mattered least. But it’s hard to imagine every
player being behind Jackson after three quarters.
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
LANDOVER
– The end. Let’s start there.
Washington’s
NFL franchise fulfilled its contractual obligation Sunday and played the season
finale. However, nothing about the 24-0 loss to Philadelphia felt like a
conclusion.
Yes,
this particular campaign is done. But it’s just another sorry chapter in the
depressing tale that has unfolded since new ownership took over 20 years ago.
Only a handful have included moments like Eagles fans enjoyed, turning DeadEx
Field into a southern version of “The Linc.”
They
whooped and cheered. They chanted and danced. They epitomized a fan base that
was thirsty for another swig after guzzling a Super Bowl last season. For them,
hope abounds, and anticipation runs rampant.
Many
patrons in burgundy-and-gold need a refresher course on enjoying those
feelings. Hope and anticipation look different for Washington’s supporters,
based more on what they want instead of what they have.
The
predominant emotional current running through Washington is futility.
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Once again, it’s time to check off some items on my “TIDU List” – Things
I Don’t Understand:
*HOW PATRICK MAHOMES
CAN BE MORE AMAZING.
He didn’t play football full-time until his sophomore year at Texas
Tech. But the Chiefs’ QB has made up for lost time with highlights that defy
the laws of physics. His ability to throw accurate passes on the run and across
his body is hard to comprehend, even after repeated replays. “Arm talent” is
jargon, but Mahomes makes it plain.
He might not win the MVP, but he’s the Must Watch Player.
*WHY NFL DEFENSES WERE
COUNTED OUT.
In a pass-happy league with a slew of safety guidelines and other rules
benefiting the offense, it’s a wonder that teams like Chicago and Baltimore are
thriving. The Ravens have flipped the
calendar to 2001, with rookie QB Lamar Jackson playing the role of Trent
Dilfer. The Bears have resurrected their “Monsters of the Midway,” with linebacker
Khalil Mack as the latest unstoppable force.
Defense doesn’t win championships, but it can help.
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Generally speaking, reaching the playoffs is a good thing.
Teams
toil through training camps and long seasons to earn an invitation to the after-party.
That’s the only shot at dancing with a trophy at the end, as the Washington
Capitals demonstrated last summer.
But
some franchises have conditioned fans to be less interested in short-term
success – i.e., a postseason berth in a
given year – and more concerned with purposeful losing – i.e., better positioning
to acquire foundational players.
The
Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs each endured multiple seasons of 90-plus losses
before catapulting to become World Series champions. The Philadelphia 76ers made
losing a process and now stand among the NBA’s finest in the Eastern Conference.
Accomplishing
similar feats in the NFL is much harder (see: Browns, Cleveland), but that didn’t
stop the New York Jets from willfully nosediving
last season for a better shot in the quarterback grab bag.
In
D.C., a different groundswell is forming among fans of the NBA and NFL franchises.
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Washington’s NFL team broke a four-game losing streak Sunday, keeping its playoff hopes alive behind its fourth starting quarterback and 44th offensive line combination. The victory reminded us of the team’s resilience from time to time when least expected.
The
16-13 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars reminded us of something else,
too, which seems more unfathomable today than it did last month:
Washington’s brain trust believed Mark Sanchez was the best choice as this season’s third starting quarterback.
Josh Johnson’s performance Sunday, in his first start since 2011, and the week before, in garbage time against the New York Giants, is an indictment of the decision-makers in Ashburn. Nothing against Sanchez – who seems like a great guy and enjoyed a moment a decade ago with the New York Jets – but no team still envisioned him as an NFL QB before Washington signed him off the couch.
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