Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher is a favorite around the Grill Room, but what in the hell was he thinking (or drinking) the other night when he showed up at a fundraiser wearing a Peyton Manning jersey?!
And don't bring that sports-fans-are-maniacal-and-need-to-lighten-up-a-little crap around here, to excuse the coach's bizarre behavior. Yeah, sports fans are often completely and ridiculously over the top, but whether that's right or wrong has nothing to do with it. They just are and always have been. It's best we accept this as fact and move on.
Without these maniacal fans, sports as we know them, would dry up and go away. It's that simple.
So if I am a Titans fan, and I have lost hard-earned cash, and hair supporting this football team, I deserve better return on my money and loyalty than to see the guy who is coaching my team wearing a rival's jersey.
Tennessee is frickin' 0-6 this year, just lost, 59-0, and the guy who's job it is too pull them out of this mess, is yucking it up and making jokes at his team's expense?!
As the longest-tenured coach with one team in the NFL, and generally a stand-up guy, Fisher has earned a pass for this indiscretion, but he better know he's treading on very thin ice here, or the joke just might ultimately be on him.
And while you're chewing on that one, there are few other questions that are gnawing at us, starting with the never-ending nonsense in our nation's capital...
Even in a corrupt, sleazy city like Washington, don't you marvel at just how bad things are going for its football team? Here's why we're asking: Because the classy Steve Largent is the latest to weigh in on the dysfunction that passes for a football team in D.C. The Hall-of-Fame receiver, was throwing lightning bolts at Redskins owner Dan Snyder during a radio interview earlier this week in Seattle.
Largent who used to catch passes thrown by Jim Zorn, the poor guy who is coaching the 'Skins, said, among many other things, "...in my opinion, and this is just totally my opinion -- Jim has never said this, never implied this -- I think what Daniel Snyder was trying to do (when he relieved Zorn of his play-calling duties) was to force Jim to resign so he was not liable for his contract any longer. And Jim is just not going to do that."
And Largent went on...
"[Zorn] inherited everything that he has to work with today and yet all the blame is being laid on his feet because he can't make them a Super Bowl champion, which I could have told you two years ago, they don't have a Super Bowl-quality team," Largent told KJR radio. "And so it doesn't matter how good a coach you have, you are not going to get there with the players the owner gives you.
"I know it's frustrating for Jim. He is making the best of it."
And on...
"I don't know what a Dan Snyder coach looks like and I don't think Dan Snyder knows what a Dan Snyder coach looks like, and that is fairly obvious now as he has been through about six head coaches in 10 years."
Largent's harsh assessment of the Redskins follows last week's roasting of the team by former players. Except the outspoken Redskins' retirees seemed more interested in putting most of the blame at Zorn's feet rather than at the owner's, who in some cases signs their paychecks. They're all class in D.C., I tell ya.
Will ESPN see the forest through the trees when it televises Monday night's tilt between those hapless Redskins and the Eagles? Here's why we're asking: Because, bluntly, too often the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is all about the entertainment, at the expense of the programming, and viewers' intelligence.
Let's hope they don't play patty-cake with Snyder and his gang, or worse, ignore the whole sad affair altogether, and instead use their bright light to expose this sad circus, rather than play a part in it.
Is the Southeastern Conference looking down the barrel of a major scandal? Here's why we're asking: Because the news that the Southeastern Conference has suspended the officials who worked (over) last weekend's Arkansas-Florida game has the potential to become a full-blown tsunami.
Nothing, not even the average fan's waistline, is bigger in the South than college football. If there is even a hint that refs could be affecting the outcome of games with their whistles in order to fatten their wallets, it could get very ugly.
This is the second time this officiating crew made an awful call that directly impacted the outcome of a game. They also threw a flag in the Georgia-LSU game that set LSU up with great field position following a late TD by the Bulldogs.
The same kind of questionable call helped Florida to its win over the underdog Hogs last Saturday. In fact, the argument could be made the officials were inordinately leaning the Gators' way the entire day.
To be clear, we have no knowledge there has been any provable evidence, other than the shoddy officiating, that the fix was in on these games. However...If the SEC says they aren't looking into that possibility, they are completely full of it. They better be, because something smells around here.
Take your pick
For informational purposes only...some picks for Week 7 action around the NFLbrought to you by folks who most likely know as much about the game as you do: ESPN YAHOO! CBS Sports CNN/SI NBC SportingNews AP
This Week's Grill Room NFL 100-PROOF lock:Philadelphia over Washington, minus-6.5: Well, we're not sure what to say. We've made a mess of things the last two weeks, and now you are wondering why you even frequent this joint. We figure the only folks more embarrassed than the staff at the Grill Room, are the Philadelphia Eagles, who somehow found a way to lose at Oakland last Sunday. Well, we figure the best way to start feeling good about ourselves again, is to bet on Philly feeling good about itself again after a rock 'em, sock 'em trip to the nation's capital. The Eagles soar, 34-10.
(Season record: 3-3)
Tape it up
To get the latest on all the aches and breaks around the NFL go here.
TV Time If you can't stop by the Grill Room, here's the college and pro football fare that's cooking on the tube this weekend: (For our U.S. military viewers and their families overseas the games American Forces Network will be showing are in bold.)
COLLEGE:
Friday, Oct. 23 Rutgers at Army, 8 p.m., ESPN2
Saturday, Oct. 24 Minnesota at Ohio State, Noon, ESPN Illinois at Purdue, Noon, ESPN2 Georgia Tech at Virginia, ACC Indiana at Northwestern, Noon, Big Ten Network Connecticut at West Virginia, Noon, ESPNU S. Florida at Pittsburgh, ESPN-GP Oklahoma State at Baylor, 12:30 p.m., Versus Iowa State at Nebraska, 12:30 p.m., FSN Tennessee at Alabama, 3:30 p.m., CBS Boston College at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., NBC Michigan at Penn State, 3:30 p.m., ABC Clemson at Miami, 3:30 p.m., ABC Oregon at Washington, 3:30 p.m., ABC Oklahoma at Kansas, 3:30 p.m., ABC Louisville at Cincinnati, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU Wake Forest at Navy, 3:30 p.m., CBS CSN Air Force at Utah, 4 p.m., Versus San Diego State at Colorado State, 4 p.m., Mtn. Vanderbilt at South Carolina, 7 p.m., ESPNU Iowa at Michigan State, 7 p.m., Big Ten Network Florida at Mississippi State, 7:30 p.m., ESPN Auburn at LSU, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2 TCU at BYU, 7:30 p.m., Versus SMU at Houston, 7:30 p.m., CBS CSN Texas at Missouri, 8 p.m., ABC Oregon State at USC, 8 p.m., ABC UNLV at New Mexico, 8 p.m., Mtn. Arizona State at Stanford, 10:15 p.m., FSN Fresno State at New Mexico State, 10:15 p.m., ESPNU
NFL: Sunday, Oct. 25 (Byes: Baltimore Denver Detroit Jacksonville Seattle Tennessee) Chicago at Cincinnati 1 p.m., FOX Green Bay at Cleveland 1 p.m., FOX San Francisco at Houston 1 p.m., FOX San Diego at Kansas City 1 p.m., CBS Minnesota at Pittsburgh 1 p.m., FOX Indianapolis at St. Louis 1 p.m., CBS New England vs. Tampa Bay at London 1 p.m., CBS Buffalo at Carolina 4:05 p.m., CBS N.Y. Jets at Oakland 4:05 p.m., CBS Atlanta at Dallas 4:15 p.m., FOX New Orleans at Miami 4:15 p.m., FOX Arizona at N.Y. Giants 8:20 p.m., NBC
Monday, Oct. 26 Philadelphia at Washington 8:30 p.m., ESPN (All times EST)
There was a time when the Washington Redskins actually went about their business on and off the field in a classy, dignified manner, and expected to compete for championships year in and year out. They were a model organization that did things the right way, even if they represented a city that has so often had it wrong.
I guess, then, it's mighty decent of these current Redskins to lower themselves several notches, so they no longer stand out in Washington's sea of dysfunction.
The new version of the Redskins wouldn't know class if they were handed the book. They are run by a maniacal little creep of an owner, Dan Snyder (pictured), who's wise-guy smirk has become the face of the organization. Their undermanned and overrated team goes about its business on the field in fits and starts, and is coached by a nice guy who was placed in a position to fail by the creepy owner.
And if all that weren't bad enough for this bumbling lot, the proud ghosts of Redskins Past, have come back to pile on and haunt this team of Redskins Present.
Over the past week or so, the Riggins, Jurgensens, Huffs and Theismanns of the Redskins glory days have come forward, and in one form or another, verbally taken apart the current team.
But even this highly decorated firing squad has managed to come off half-cocked, because as they took dead aim and fired off their brutal assessments of the coach, the quarterback, and the general manager, they somehow missed the biggest target of all -- the owner.
Go figure.
Maybe the old guys' eyes aren't what they used to be, or maybe things are so bad for tortured Redskins fans that they can't even count on the proud past to help right what's wrong with the putrid present.
But while you're chewing on the Redskins' demise, there a few other things that need answering around the NFL. Like...
Has there ever been a coach that deserved a win more than Cincinnati's defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer? Here's why we're asking: Because three days before Zimmer's Bengals were to play the favored Ravens in Baltimore Sunday, he came home to find his 50-year-old wife, Vikki, had died of unknown causes. If Zimmer had taken a pass at coaching Sunday's game, or just skipped the rest of the season for that matter, nobody would have blamed him. But Zimmer made the trip to Baltimore and coached a defense that was probably the biggest reason for Cincinnati's 17-14 win over the high-flying Ravens. Zimmer got the game ball afterward, and told the team, "I just appreciate all your effort." We'll take a guess that that sentiment went both ways.
Didn't Sunday's Tennessee at New England matchup look like a real dandy six weeks ago? Here's why we're asking: Because 0-5 Tennessee has been one of the biggest disappointment of the year. Frankly, you'd be hard pressed to come up with a team that's fallen farther faster -- ever. At 13-3, Tennessee had the best record in the NFL last year. Over the past three years, the team has sported a 31-17 ledger, so this sudden futility is hard to explain. Much was made of the departure of DT Albert Haynesworth in the offseason, but the Titans' biggest loss might have been defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who bolted to take over as head coach of the Lions. Under the new D-Coordinator Chuck Cecil, the Titans are ranked 29th in the league in scoring defense. Defense has always been the bread and butter of this squad. Much more of this and their fans will want them on bread and water.
Is anybody surprised Rush Limbaugh is blaming others for his for embarrassing attempt to gain admittance into the NFL owners' club? Here's why we're asking: Because we just feel like rubbing it in. Moving right along...
Take your pick
For informational purposes only...some picks for Week 6 action around the NFLbrought to you by folks who most likely know as much about the game as you do: ESPN YAHOO! CBS Sports CNN/SI NBC SportingNews AP
This Week's Grill Room NFL 100-PROOF lock:Jacksonville over St. Louis, minus-9.5: We admit it, we played prevent-defense with our pick last week and you got burned. We were scared of the heavy road dogs, and you got mauled. Now you are wondering what you ever saw in this place.
Instead of going with what had been working all year, riding the heavy home favorites, we went back in time and served you a messy road favorite. Problem is, we went too far back in time and Hugh Millen returned to play quarterback for the Patriots against the Broncos. Tom Brady was supposed to be the headline ingredient of that selection, but went missing.
Well, no more looking back to the days of old, my dear customers. If heavy-home favorites are the dependable dish this year, then that's what we'll serve. And just to show you how serious we are about all this, we will even lay off the tempting No. 1 Giants and the points on the road against the Saints. How's that for discipline?
No, this week we're recommending the flaming-hot Jaguar Del Rio, minus-9.5 against the pathetic Rams, who occupy the bottom spot ourNFL 100-PROOF RANKINGS. The Jags have had a whole week to digest the mess they were force-fed on the road last week in Seattle. This Grill Room heavy home favorite will come out piping hot and blow you and the Rams away. Enjoy.
(Season record: 3-2)
Tape it up
To get the latest on all the aches and breaks around the NFL go here.
For the very latest in-depth information on the key injuries in the league such as to quarterbacks E. Manning, Stafford, Palmer and more go here.
TV Time If you can't stop by the Grill Room, here's the college and pro football fare that's cooking on the tube this weekend: (For our U.S. military viewers and their families overseas the games American Forces Network will be showing are in bold.)
COLLEGE:
Friday, Oct. 16 Pittsburgh at Rutgers, 8 p.m., ESPN
Saturday, Oct. 17 Oklahoma vs. Texas at Dallas, Noon, ABC Iowa at Wisconsin, Noon, ESPN Northwestern at Michigan State, Noon, ESPN2 Ohio State at Purdue, Noon, Big Ten Network Delaware State at Michigan, Noon, Big Ten Network Mississippi State at Middle Tennessee, 12:30 p.m., ESPNU Wyoming at Air Force, 2 p.m., Mtn. USC at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., NBC Arkansas at Florida, 3:30 p.m., CBS Minnesota at Penn State, 3:30 p.m., ABC Texas Tech at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m., ABC California at UCLA, 3:30 p.m., ABC North Carolina State at Boston College, 3:30 p.m., ABC Marshall at West Virginia, 3:30 p.m., Big East Network Houston at Tulane, 3:30 p.m., CBS CSN Colorado State at TCU, 4 p.m., Versus Virginia at Maryland, 4 p.m., ESPNU Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech, 6 p.m., ESPN2 BYU at San Diego State, 6 p.m., Mtn. Illinois at Indiana, 7 p.m., Big Ten Network UAB at Mississippi, 7 p.m., FSN Kansas at Colorado, 7 p.m., FSN Kentucky at Auburn, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU Miami at Central Florida, 7:30, CBS CSN South Carolina at Alabama, 7:45 p.m., ESPN Missouri at Oklahoma State, 9:15 p.m., ESPN2 Utah at UNLV, 10 p.m., Mtn. Washington at Arizona State, 10:15 p.m., FSN
NFL:
Sunday, Oct. 18 (Byes: Dallas Indianapolis Miami San Francisco) Houston at Cincinnati 1 p.m., CBS Detroit at Green Bay 1 p.m., FOX St. Louis at Jacksonville 1 p.m., FOX Baltimore at Minnesota 1 p.m., CBS N.Y. Giants at New Orleans 1 p.m., FOX Cleveland at Pittsburgh 1 p.m., CBS Carolina at Tampa Bay 1 p.m., FOX Kansas City at Washington 1 p.m., CBS Philadelphia at Oakland 4:05 p.m., FOX Arizona at Seattle 4:05 p.m., FOX Tennessee at New England 4:15 p.m., CBS Buffalo at N.Y. Jets 4:15 p.m., CBS Chicago at Atlanta 8:20 p.m., NBC
Monday, Oct. 19 Denver at San Diego 8:30 p.m., ESPN (All times EST)
Who says Washington doesn't hear the cries of hurting Americans all across the fruited plain? Who says it doesn't hear the calls of those desperate souls who are praying for hope, and pleading for change?
Consider the shrewd bit of politics that were engineered over the weekend when this city of losers sent the standard-bearer of its lost causes up to Detroit to give aid and comfort to a city ravaged by unemployment and even worse football.
Dan Snyder's Washington Redskins were a magnificent picture of incompetence worthy of the city they hail from, when they fell, 19-14, to a Detroit Lions football team that hadn't beaten anybody in over a year-and-a-half.
This mission of mercy won't soon be forgotten by the citizens of the Motor City, who can be excused this Monday morning if they're caught daydreaming about shorter unemployment lines, Japanese cars that get six miles to the gallon, and a responsive Washington.
There is every reason to believe that Snyder's gang will extend their program for the needy when the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the nation's capital Sunday.
Yes indeed, fellow Americans, hope has finally arrived...
Now onto a sampling of what the nation's sportswriters and columnists are saying about their football teams across every NFL city, because in the Grill Room we love the newspaper business, even if it hates itself.
