Posted on December 12th, 2016
By DERON SNYDER
When you play sports’ most-dissected position for America’s most-discussed team and the NFL’s most-diagnosed owner, maintaining the proper perspective is essential to your mental health. The need is greater when you’re a rookie and your backup is an elite, 13-year veteran who’s healthy and ready to play.
Dak Prescott should’ve seen this coming. It doesn’t matter that the Dallas Cowboys were on an 11-game winning streak entering Sunday’s 10-7 loss against the New York Giants. It doesn’t matter that he had thrown only two interceptions against 19 touchdowns in 358 pass attempts. It doesn’t matter that he’s a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year and also will garner votes for Most Valuable Player.
As soon as Prescott struggled through a rough outing and actually resembled a first-year, fourth-round draft pick, there would be a question about giving Tony Romo some playing time.
It’s fair to ask, just like it was fair to ponder if Prescott should keep the job when Romo was cleared to play in Week 11. The answer then, rightfully so, was “yes.” Romo said so himself in a classy statement, conceding that Prescott “earned the right to be our quarterback.”
However, that doesn’t mean Prescott should keep the job, regardless of results.
Even though he wasn’t great in every game, the Cowboys hadn’t lost since the season opener against the Giants. He was awful in the rematch, completing just 17 of 37 passes for 165 yards and two interceptions. Whether it was New York’s defense or simply an off-night, Prescott was completely ineffective. A relief appearance by Romo seemed reasonable.
“No,” Dallas coach Jason Garrett told reporters Sunday when asked if he considered the move. “We feel good about Dak Prescott playing quarterback for us right now.”
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Posted on December 11th, 2016
By DERON SNYDER
PHILADELPHIA – Confidence was shaky, at best, Sunday as Philadelphia began a would-be game-winning touchdown drive. Washington’s defense had been less-than-inspiring most of the afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field, and now the Eagles were poised to deliver a crushing blow to the Skins’ playoff hopes.
Faith was hard to come by. But by now we should know better than to trust our gut and lying eyes. Because while it felt like the Eagles were having their way on offense – dominating the clock, converting third downs and racking up the yardage – the scoreboard told a different story. It said one crucial stop was the only thing standing between victory and defeat.
Most fans would rather see Kirk Cousins and his multiple weapons take the field for a final, decisive drive. But when linebacker Ryan Kerrigan roared in for a strip-sack that was recovered by linebacker Trent Murphy with 12 seconds remaining, Washington’s defense held up its end of the bargain in 27-22 victory.
There’s no denying that the Skins’ strength reside on the other side of the ball, where Cousins ranks among the league’s leading passers while orchestrating a Top-10 unit. Conversely, Washington’s D ranked as a middling unit in points allowed, among the NFL’s lower-third in yards allowed and dead-last in third-down conversion percentage.
The Skins hurt their cause in two of the three categories against the Eagles, but came out ahead when it mattered most.
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Posted on December 7th, 2016
By DERON SNYDER
NBA history is under assault. The assailants play the same position but go about their business in distinctly different ways, each highly effective.
Yahoo NBA writer Michael Lee summed it up perfectly in a recent tweet: “Russell Westbrook triple doubles are like death metal. James Harden triple doubles are like smooth jazz.”
Westbrook and Harden, former teammates on the Oklahoma City Thunder, have produced amazing hardwood feats through one-quarter of the NBA season, posting numbers we haven’t seen in several decades. Westbrook has been unleashed, thanks to Kevin Durant signing with Golden State. Harden has been energized after a shift to point guard under first-year Houston Rockets coach Mike Antonio.
Both have been prolific scores in the past, with Westbrook winning the title in 2014-15 and Harden finishing second to Stephen Curry last season. But they are so much more in their new circumstances, maybe enough to join exclusive lists.
Oscar Robertston is the only NBA player to average double-figures in points, rebounds and assists in a single season (1961-62). Entering Friday’s contest against Houston, Westbrook is right there with the “Big O,” averaging 31.0 points, 10.9 rebounds and 11.3 assists. He has posted triple-doubles in six consecutive games.
All other NBA players combined accounted for 11 triple-doubles through Tuesday; Westbrook has 11 by himself. In 22 games.
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Posted on December 6th, 2016
By DERON SNYDER
On an early episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” last summer, Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher summoned wideout Deon Long to the office. Turns out that Long had brought a woman to his dorm room during training camp, a violation of the Rams’ strict no-visitors policy.
He was cut on the spot and Fisher later explained the decision in a team meeting. “I’m not f—ing going 7-9 or 8-8 or 9-7 … we have too much talent here for that,” he said. “We had some 7-9 bulls— this morning and we can’t have that. Deon is gone. That is 7-9 bulls— and we don’t need that.
Fisher was right. He doesn’t need a rule-breaker to go 7-9.
He’s a master all by himself.
News broke early Sunday morning that Fisher is getting a two-year contract extension. Although the agreement reportedly was reached during the preseason, the timing was odd because he recently emerged from a public spat with Rams legend Eric Dickerson, who isn’t a fan of the coach.
In fairness, Dickerson isn’t alone. Fisher is unlikely to find many supporters outside of family and team management.
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Posted on November 30th, 2016
By DERON SNYDER
Misery loves company but the Browns are in a world by themselves. Cleveland currently doesn’t enjoy comfort from the world’s greatest salve when life doesn’t go your way, the ability to point elsewhere and say: “They’re doing worse than us.”
No other team even qualifies for “as bad as us” when it comes to Cleveland this season.
The San Francisco 49ers have lost 10 consecutive games since opening with a 28-0 pasting of the Los Angeles Rams. The Browns have lost 11 consecutive games since opening with a 29-10 defeat against Philadelphia. They enter their bye week just four games shy of completing the NFL’s second-ever 0-16 campaign.
First-year coach Hue Jackson nearly cried but quickly composed himself after Sunday’s defeat against the New York Giants. “Being 0-12 is probably … the hardest thing ever,” he told reporters in his postgame news conference. “It’s been a long 12 weeks.”
Maybe the break will help. And a familiar face might return at quarterback, which can’t hurt.
Robert Griffin III wasn’t expected to be Cleveland’s savior when he signed a two-year contract in March. RG3 was looking for a place to relaunch his career while the Browns were placing a low-risk wager for a potential high return. The experiment was put on hold when he broke his collarbone in the opener.
Now Griffin might be Cleveland’s last hope this season, the only thing standing between infamy and a victory.
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Posted on November 29th, 2016
By DERON SNYDER
Most folks never land their dream job. Some come close, working in their desired field but not with their preferred organization. Others land with their company of choice but not in the position they want.
The odds seem even longer for coaches who aspire to run the show at specific places. Positioning yourself to be a candidate is difficult enough. But actually beating out other established coaches and/or up-and-coming hotshots is a testament to hard work and good timing.
Tom Herman and Ed Orgeron completed their treks to fulfillment over the weekend, winding up with two of college football’s biggest jobs. Their journeys, like those of every coach who summits the 128-school FBS mountain, make for fascinating life studies in determination and dedication.
Herman, named head coach of Texas, had previous stops with Houston, Ohio State, Iowa State, Rice, Texas State, Sam Houston State and Texas (as a graduate assistant). Hs first job was with Texas Lutheran, in 1998, earning $5,000 and a dining hall meal card.
Orgeron was picked to lead LSU after Jimbo Fisher reportedly wanted too much money to leave Florida State and Herman opted for the Longhorns. At 55, Orgeron is 14 years older than Herman and has a resume that’s 50 percent longer. His prior stints include USC, Tennessee, the New Orleans Saints, Ole Miss, Syracuse, Nicholls State, Miami (Fla.), Arkansas, McNeese State and Northwestern State.
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Posted on November 23rd, 2016
By DERON SNYDER
If you choose to count your blessings and be thankful just one day per year – though I suggest adding another 364 – you might as well go with the last Thursday in November. That way you should get a nice meal, a day off work and, if you’re truly blessed, some time spent with relatives you don’t despise.
Weekend shopping sprees with splendid sale prices are optional.
I strive to not take my universal assets for granted, recognizing that not everyone enjoys life, health and strength; food, clothing and shelter; family, friends and loved ones. Then there’s my very own super trifecta, my wife and daughters, Vanessa, Sierra and Sequoia.
Thanksgiving also means an NFL tripleheader, big rivalries in college football and the occasional flash point in college basketball – like Fort Wayne shocking No. 3 Indiana on Tuesday. But whether victims of huge upsets or underdogs walloped as expected, everyone can be grateful that this is just sports. It’s supposed to be fun and games, not life and death.
With that in mind, I’m thankful …
*For Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. The Cowboys’ rookies have been a joy to watch and could revitalize NFL ratings. The nation was familiar with Elliott from the 2015 National Championship game. But few folks knew Prescott and none predicted the fourth-round pick would take Tony Romo’s job while leading Dallas to a 9-1 record. Now everyone knows the answer to: “Who’s Dak?”
*For Kirk Cousins and Robert Kelley. Washington’s answer to the aforementioned duo has us envisioning a Thanksgiving shootout. Cousins ranks third in the NFL in passing yards (3,091) and has a monster game Sunday against Green Bay. Kelley has rushed for 321 yards in three starts, for per-game (107) and per-carry (4.7) averages just behind Elliott’s (110 and 4.9). Kelley just needs to stop treating passes like they’re greased turkeys.
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Posted on November 21st, 2016
By DERON SNYDER
The game over here is called football. Unlike the international version, we don’t watch this sport for kicks.
But that’s beside the point.
We watch for long, beautiful passes, like when Washington’s Kirk Cousins hit Pierre Garcon in stride for a 70-yard touchdown Sunday night against Green Bay. We keep an eye out for lengthy, exhilarating runs, like when Skins halfback Rob Kelley burst into the secondary and raced downfield on a 66-yard dash. We tune in for the thrill of “Fumble!”, like when cornerback Josh Norman executed a patented punchout against Packers tight end Jared Cook.
Ultimately, we watch and wait for the sport’s most satisfying moment when your team has the ball, like when Cousins took a knee in victory formation after a 42-24 rout. Those are the plays that keep us coming back to stadiums and our TV sets again and again.
The conversion kick?
Not so much.
For something that’s considered an “extra” point, it adds little to the game and less to our excitement. Even with the longer attempts implemented last season – when the NFL moved kicks from the 2-yard line to the 15 – the point-after has remained the perfect time for a bathroom break.
Nothing has really changed … except the fact you might miss a miss.
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Posted on November 21st, 2016
By DERON SNYDER
LANDOVER, Md. – For a franchise that won the NFC East last season and five of its last seven games entering Sunday night, Washington had a lot to prove as the Green Bay Packers visited FedEx Field.
The national TV audience – or whatever portion still watches NFL games – had been unimpressed recently whenever the burgundy and gold took center stage. Locals hadn’t been thrilled with the primetime showings, either.
But at least our idea of the franchise’s standing is based on weekly observations instead of occasional nights in the spotlight.
Sunday was Washington’s chance to prove these aren’t the same old Skins, an opportunity to show they’re for real against an established, albeit limping, NFL power. Green Bay has reached the playoffs in seven consecutive years but flew in with a three-game losing streak. The Packers departed on the wrong end of a 42-24 blowout as Washington avenged last season’s loss in wildcard round.
The Skins picked a great time to play their best game. That’s usually not the case when they’re part of the only show on the dial. Washington had lost 20 of its last 25 night games and six of eight appearances on Sunday Night Football. It’s no wonder the team’s national reputation is middling, at best.
But nothing about Sunday’s performance was run-of-the-mill.
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Posted on November 16th, 2016
By DERON SNYDER
For the rivalry’s sake and the prospects for its continuance, a split would’ve been much better. Instead, the reward for Georgetown coach John Thompson III agreeing to renew the intra-DMV clash with Maryland is two losses by a combined five points.
Here’s hoping he isn’t dissuaded from doing his part to make Hoyas-Terrapins an annual affair.
Tuesday’s game perfectly demonstrated one reason Thompson might be averse. Georgetown was the home team, but Maryland’s fans were louder by the end of the game. With a student body twice as large – and an alumni base that’s presumably just as disproportionate – Maryland is unlike typical visitors the Hoyas host in downtown D.C.
While Verizon Center doesn’t become a hostile environment for Georgetown when Maryland is in the building, it’s not much better than a neutral site, either. Certainly it doesn’t compare to the Terps’ home court advantage when they host the Hoyas at Xfinity Center on the College Park campus.
The Hoyas could’ve been on the road Tuesday as they blew a nine-point lead in the final 2:21. Half the crowd (or more) wouldn’t cheer wildly if Georgetown melted down against an out-of-town, non-conference foe early in the season. But that’s what happened as Maryland cut into the margin and eventually went ahead on Melo Trimble’s free throws with seven seconds remaining.
This is the second consecutive “Maryland at Georgetown” contest that ended with a one-point victory in a building the Washington Wizards call home. Granted, the last one was in 1993, when the Terps won on Duane Simpkins’ last-second shot in overtime at the USAir Arena. But 2016 might have the same effect on JT3’s taste for the rivalry as 1993 had on his father, Big John, who never scheduled Maryland again.
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