No I didn't miss week 7 because I was lazy or I was busy with other activities (Got to see the Great White Exhibit at Monterey Bay Aquarium last weekend!) Week 7 was in fact my bye week. A lot has happened since my last TDAY post, so lets get started!
1. Tebow Mania in Trouble!?- After an amazing come from behind victory against the Dolphins, Tebow struggled and looked very much an amateur in a 45 - 10 loss to the Detroit Lions. "Tebowing" has taken over the internet, and now many have been quick to point at the downfalls of the superstar. Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports stated, "Tebow has so much to work on that the Broncos might not be able to fix him. He can’t stay with a first read in the passing game and has no ability to get to the second read. His pocket awareness is absent and there’s no quick remedy. Tebow may have to be cut and made a reclamation project by some other team. It’s been only two starts in 2011, but some things are painfully obvious." Yeah, Tebow has struggle a lot in his two starts against the Dolphins and Lions, but is it justifiable to jump off the band wagon so soon? I say Nay Nay! True Tebow is a "Work in Progress" and is not yet at starting QB caliber, but I have seen quite a few things about him that makes me think this kid has what it takes to succeed if we are patient and allow him to develop. Tebow has a leadership quality that makes teammates and fans want to follow him into battle and want to see him succeed. His numbers for the most part have been putrid to say the least, but he still managed an amazing 4th quarter comeback that many would say was Elway worthy. And when you get sacked 7 times, that's not the fault of the QB, that's the fault of an offensive line that cannot protect him. It doesn't matter if your a Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, if your linemen cannot protect you, you will fail. The Broncos offense is pretty bad to say the least, they got rid of one of their premier receivers in Brandon Lloyd, (Who had a pretty good day in St. Louis in helping them get their first win) But the point I'm trying to make is, it is too early to cast judgment and harsh criticism on Tebow. It may be true that he will be better off being cut or traided to a different team who knows how to better utilize his talent down the line. But you cannot put all the blame on Tebow for this loss. I cannot say whether if Tebow will or won't Succeed in this league, but I still have faith that this young QB can break through. With time, proper coaching and a good support cast, this guy has the tools to be something special. Don't Give up Tebowmania! Continue your support, there will be more ugly games to come, but mark my words, he will be something great in this league.... Eventually.
2. The Race to 0-16- Initially I was planning on including the St. Louis Rams in this topic, but they pulled off arguably the biggest upset of the season so far with their win over NFC South leading New Orleans Saints, but going into the weekend we had three winless teams, now there are two remaining. The Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins have been horrendous this season, and remain the two remaining winless teams. I'm sure the 0-16 Detroit Lions Squad would love to have some company as the worst team ever, but what are the odds of us seeing another 0-16 team so soon? Are the Colts and Dolphins really that bad that they can both end the season winless? The Miami Dolphins came SO close to joining the Rams in the departure from the Winless zone, but a come from behind victory by the Giants leave them still seeking that first 1 in the W column. Looking down the line I see two games that stand out as potentially winnable games. After playing a re-energized Chiefs team on the road next week, they come home to play a struggling Washington Redskins franchise who after starting the season first in their division, they have fallen to 3-4, and due to tie breakers, last in the East. Don't know if they will go back to Rex Grossman or stick with Beck by then, but despite that, the Redskins are a wounded Duck, and with a near win over the Giants today, and with so many other close games, the Dolphins can easily get their first win at home against Washington in my books, if not, they get the Raiders (Also a home game) three weeks later. Don't know if Campbell will be back by then, or if Palmer will be more comfortable in the Raiders offense by then, but based on their horrible loss to KC last weekend, they look like a team that belongs in the same category and Miami and Indianapolis. Two very winnable games IMO. The rest of the way is paved with very very difficult games against a recharged Eagles team, Dallas, and the rest of the AFC East, (All with winning records) The Indianapolis Colts on the other hand... well... they still get Jacksonville twice, and a home game against 2-6 Carolina. But the rest of the season doesn't look favorable without Peyton Manning. They have to go on the road against the Patriots and Ravens, and play the Titans and Texans, (Both they have lost too already) I have to say the odds of the Colts going winless is much more realistic. I think only 1 team if any will finish winless, the Dolphins are playing good, tough football and have the drive to actually win... I'm not seeing that from the Colts. If Andrew Luck comes out of college into the Draft, I think the Colts are in the best position to nab him. What about Peyton Manning? He's 35 now, 36 before he returns to Football, even he knows he can't play forever. Give Luck the Aaron Rodgers treatment, spend a few seasons behind Peyton, and in a few seasons when Manning retires, Luck would be a force to be reckoned with I guarantee.
3. Gronkowski/Jones scandal!- Some of you may be aware of the photos taken last week of New England's Tight End Rob Gronkowski and Adult star Bibi Jones in his Jersey. The Patriots Organization viewed the images of one of their stars posing with a porn star as a black mark on their organization and were humiliated by this. Others criticized Gronkowski by saying, "He is a professional, and he needs to act like one!" I'm going to play on the opposite side of this one and say, LIGHTEN UP PEOPLE! I don't know if Rob and Ms. Jones are friends, acquaintances or other, but it's not like he was posing in a picture with Ghadaffi, or was actually in a porno with Bibi Jones. It was just a picture. Sure Rob was shirtless, but with Bibi posing in his jersey, I say that is some awesome advertisement and endorsement for my team. Among pretty much all of my friends, if I was in a photo with Bibi Jones the result wouldn't have been negative, I know the reaction from my friends would have been filled with Kudos. Overall, Rob, you have no reason to be embarrassed or feel the need to apologize. Posing in a photo with a porn star is nothing compared to what many other NFL stars have been caught doing. I saw the pictures and thought they were completely harmless. People need to lighten up, get off your back, and accept that you have the freedom to be friends with whomever you like, (Though a line does need to be drawn somewhere, I don't think Porn Star crosses that line) And to Miss Bibi Jones, I doubt you are reading this or would even hear of this post. But I would feel no shame in having my picture taken with you, and I for one would be thrilled to be in a photo with you. I have no personal Jersey for you to wear. But perhaps you can pose with my Gnome friend.
PLAYER SHOUT OUTS
The Entire St. Louis Rams team- The St. Louis Cardinals pulled off an amazing come from behind shocker in the World Series. And if St. Louis didn't have enough to be ecstatic about, the Rams pulled off their first win of the season, not just their first win, but in my opinion the biggest stunner of the year! After the Saints crushed winless Indianapolis 62-7 the week before, they humbled the Saints with an amazing win. Every member of the Rams deserve a Shout out this week for coming together and getting their first win, especially against a Saints team some experts claimed were the only NFC team that could potentially challenge the Packers.
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