Gryphon
Merge Ahead
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by Senior writer Paul Attner
The Sporting News (Attner's SportingBlog)
November 9, 2006
Observations at the halfway point:
Biggest flop: Terrell Owens' impact on the Cowboys. I thought he would enable them to move from pretender to an almost sure Super Bowl team. It hasn't happened. The Cowboys' defense hasn't helped but Owens is not coming close to registering the impact he had in his first year with the Eagles.
Give him credit: For all his prickly ways, many of which are even over the top for a confirmed control freak, Tom Coughlin does know how to win. His Giants are far from perfect but he's got them competing for a title even without him displaying any discernable people skills.
Fun to watch: Champ Bailey is not impregnable -- he occasionally gets beat for a big play -- but he is one of the few cornerbacks in the league who really seems to be practicing his craft at a high level. This league once was full of great corners. Bailey at least still qualifies for that label.
Give him the ball: For whatever reason, Marty Schottenheimer now is employing LaDainian Tomlinson as he should do every week. You've got the best running back in all of football; don't limit his touches. LT hopes to rush for 2,000 yards in a season before he retires. He can do it, but only if Marty cooperates.
What was he thinking? Edgerrin James says he didn't go to Arizona for the money. But now that he wonders out loud "what was I getting into" by signing with the Cards, you can only believe he was blinded by the largeness of his contract. With his vision thus clouded, he forgot momentarily that these are, after all, still the Cardinals.
Dress code: Too bad the league doesn't have a dress code for its head coaches. It will be the only way we will get Bill Belichick out of those sweatshirts. It once was nice to see the coaches in shirts and ties; it gave a look of distinction to their profession.
Tell me who's good: OK, name me an NFC team that really scares you if you're an AFC Super Bowl contender. The Bears are vulnerable at quarterback; the Giants need Tiki Barber at full throttle every game; Philly can't win close games; the Cowboys don't know how to win; Atlanta isn't sure which Michael Vick is going to show up; Carolina used to be good; and Seattle won't repeat without a healthy Shaun Alexander. You wonder if any of them have a chance against the AFC.
Painful to watch: Andrew Walter trying to play quarterback in the NFL.
Joy to watch: The pinpoint accuracy of Peyton Manning. Lots of recent quarterbacks have built gaudy accuracy percentages on the strength of high-percentage short passes from a West Coast offense. Manning is throwing downfield, a lot, and rarely seems to miss. It's almost surprising when he tosses an incompletion.
The Sporting News (Attner's SportingBlog)
November 9, 2006
Observations at the halfway point:
Biggest flop: Terrell Owens' impact on the Cowboys. I thought he would enable them to move from pretender to an almost sure Super Bowl team. It hasn't happened. The Cowboys' defense hasn't helped but Owens is not coming close to registering the impact he had in his first year with the Eagles.
Give him credit: For all his prickly ways, many of which are even over the top for a confirmed control freak, Tom Coughlin does know how to win. His Giants are far from perfect but he's got them competing for a title even without him displaying any discernable people skills.
Fun to watch: Champ Bailey is not impregnable -- he occasionally gets beat for a big play -- but he is one of the few cornerbacks in the league who really seems to be practicing his craft at a high level. This league once was full of great corners. Bailey at least still qualifies for that label.
Give him the ball: For whatever reason, Marty Schottenheimer now is employing LaDainian Tomlinson as he should do every week. You've got the best running back in all of football; don't limit his touches. LT hopes to rush for 2,000 yards in a season before he retires. He can do it, but only if Marty cooperates.
What was he thinking? Edgerrin James says he didn't go to Arizona for the money. But now that he wonders out loud "what was I getting into" by signing with the Cards, you can only believe he was blinded by the largeness of his contract. With his vision thus clouded, he forgot momentarily that these are, after all, still the Cardinals.
Dress code: Too bad the league doesn't have a dress code for its head coaches. It will be the only way we will get Bill Belichick out of those sweatshirts. It once was nice to see the coaches in shirts and ties; it gave a look of distinction to their profession.
Tell me who's good: OK, name me an NFC team that really scares you if you're an AFC Super Bowl contender. The Bears are vulnerable at quarterback; the Giants need Tiki Barber at full throttle every game; Philly can't win close games; the Cowboys don't know how to win; Atlanta isn't sure which Michael Vick is going to show up; Carolina used to be good; and Seattle won't repeat without a healthy Shaun Alexander. You wonder if any of them have a chance against the AFC.
Painful to watch: Andrew Walter trying to play quarterback in the NFL.
Joy to watch: The pinpoint accuracy of Peyton Manning. Lots of recent quarterbacks have built gaudy accuracy percentages on the strength of high-percentage short passes from a West Coast offense. Manning is throwing downfield, a lot, and rarely seems to miss. It's almost surprising when he tosses an incompletion.
