NFL favors proven strategies for a green Super Bowl
TAMPA - The Super Bowl isn't stuck in carbon neutral.
In its 16th year of making its biggest event an environmental windfall, the National Football League is building on a vast environmental program for this season's title game.
Among the expectations are wider participation from local organizations, more trees being planted and more cooked food being eaten. Renewable energy will be tapped for game-day usage, and it also will play a role in powering the many complementary events that stretch over the two-week span leading up to the game.
For the first time this year the league is putting into play a method of measuring the ROI of a tree.
(c) 2008 American City Business Journals, Inc. and its licensors.
Coaching Carousel to Spin Out of Control
Mark your calendars - Black Monday in the NFL is scheduled for December 29th.
As a long Christmas weekend gives way to pre-New Year's euphoria, it is possible that roughly one-third of the league's coaching staffs will be turning over, with a purge of historical proportions a distinct possibility.
Already in 2008, three coaches - The Raiders' Lane Kiffin, Rams' Scott Linehan, and 49ers' Mike Nolan - have lost their jobs, and none of their successors looks like a long-term answer at this stage.
Tom Cable has watched as the Oakland offense has regressed back to the second Art Shell era. In St. Louis, whatever emotional well Jim Haslett was able to tap into during his first two games looks to have dried up. And, in San Francisco, Mike Singletary has already dropped his pants before his players, perhaps imitating Bay Area hero Barry Bonds awaiting an injection.
Unless something drastic happens, it looks like all three of the mid-season replacement shows will be canceled.
Elsewhere, we already know Seattle's Mike Holmgren is stepping down at the end of the year, with ex-Falcons coach Jim Mora set to take over unless he pulls a Petrino and takes a college job like the one at his alma mater, Washington.
In Indianapolis, Tony Dungy appears a 50-50 proposition to coach into 2009, with Jim Caldwell ready to play George Seifert to Dungy's Bill Walsh.
Then, there are the coaches on decidedly shaky ground.
We count eight that probably shouldn't sign the three-year lease on that garden apartment before January begins.
Let's look at the unlucky candidates for termination, ranking them in order of least-to-greatest likelihood of getting the pink-slip:
8. Mike Shanahan, Denver
The problem: The Broncos (5-4) are absolutely atrocious defensively, and the whole world knew they would be, save Shanahan, it seems. The offense has some terrific young stars like Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, and Eddie Royal, but has still turned the ball over too often. The fans in Denver are fed up with Shanahan's hubris, and his unilateral decision-making on personnel.
The silver lining: The Broncos are still leading arguably the weakest division in football, the AFC West, and could win it if they find a route to 9-7. Also, Shanahan's offensive scheme is the best thing about the team, so jettisoning him could be counterproductive.
Our recommendation: Shanahan has made some strange personnel decisions and coaching hires, but he knows offensive football and has won enough games (143 since 1995) to show he can coach. Keep him, but get a real GM and blow up the defense at the end of the year.
7. Wade Phillips, Dallas
The problem: Tabbed as a popular pick to win the Super Bowl prior to the season, the Cowboys (5-4) are instead in last place in the NFC East. Owner Jerry Jones has made no secret of the fact that he expects a Super Bowl appearance, and also looks ready to replace Phillips with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett if the team underachieves.
The silver lining: Quarterback Tony Romo is ready to return after a three-game absence due to a broken finger, and the Cowboys still have a ton of talent around him. No reason this team can't get to 10 wins and make the playoffs, and as the Giants showed last year, anything can happen if they do.
Our recommendation: Unless he wins the Super Bowl, Phillips needs to be put out of his misery by an owner who clearly isn't 100 percent behind him. Phillips deserves better, but he knew the drill when he signed on with Jones.
6. Herm Edwards, Kansas City
The problem: The Chiefs (1-8) are as bad as they've been since the Frank Gansz era in the late 80's, and after Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Chargers, are now 1-17 in their past 18 games dating back to last season. Youth is being served at way too many positions to expect this team to be consistently competitive, the defensive front seven is soft, and veterans like Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez have not provided much leadership.
The silver lining: The clouds look to be parting ever-so-slightly. The Chiefs have had a chance to win each of their past three games, quarterback Tyler Thigpen looks capable of becoming the reliable quarterback that Brodie Croyle never was, and the young secondary is on the verge of maturing as well.
Our recommendation: As long as the Chiefs continue to play hard for Edwards, he's worth hanging onto. Some serious personnel re-tooling will be needed in the offseason, but this team doesn't look all that far away from competing again soon.
5. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati
The problem: At no time this year have the Bengals (1-8) looked like a team. Most of the talented players seem to possess me-first attitudes, and Lewis either hasn't been interested or hasn't been successful in changing that mentality. Also, Lewis built his reputation on defense, and the Bengals haven't had a reliable defense since he's been on the job.
The silver lining: The Bengals started their second half with a win over the Jaguars...could that be a harbinger of more good things to come?
Our recommendation: Kudos to Lewis for winning some games in his six years with the Bengals, but being better than Bruce Coslet and David Shula is not something to hang your hat on. The message has grown stale, and it is time to part ways.
4. Norv Turner, San Diego
The problem: For a second straight year, the Chargers (4-5) have talent to burn but have been listless more often than not. Sunday's narrow win over an inferior Kansas City team was another case in point, as San Diego was well short of dominant despite badly needing its first win since Oct. 12th.
The silver lining: Given the weakness of the Broncos defense, the Chargers are still the team to beat in the division. Should they wake up as they did in the final six weeks of last season, there is still time to turn tail and make a Super Bowl push.
Our recommendation: Turner's mild-mannered demeanor seems to trickle down to his team. If things fail to improve considerably, Turner should be back in the job he is suited for...as someone's offensive coordinator.
3. Brad Childress, Minnesota
The problem: Where to begin? Childress' background is on offense, but the play-calling has been questionable and 37-year-old veteran quarterback Gus Frerotte isn't permitted to audibilize. The defense hasn't lived up to its preseason reputation either, and at least part of the blame for that has to rest with Childress as well. The Vikings are 5-4 and own a share of first place, but the fans almost universally dislike Childress.
The silver lining: The NFC North is up for grabs, and the Vikings have the talent to win it. That said, Childress is such a pariah that there are some Minnesota fans quietly hoping they don't.
Our recommendation: Childress' stubbornness has been his biggest weakness, and it is hard to imagine any team enjoying long-term success with him at the helm. Childress should have proven himself as an offensive coordinator (he didn't call plays while with the Eagles) before being given a head coaching job.
2. Romeo Crennel, Cleveland
The problem: The Browns looked primed for a big year after last year's 10-6 finish, but have fallen flat. At 3-6 after Thursday night's loss to the Broncos, they're pretty much done. Crennel also doesn't seem to have great control over his team, as players have griped at one another and feuded with management while the head coach has said little and mostly deferred to GM Phil Savage.
The silver lining: Quarterback Brady Quinn played well in his first start this past week. If he can continue to ascend, Crennel might be able to make a case for staying on as opposed to the Browns starting over with a new staff and new system.
Our recommendation: We think Crennel has the potential to be a good coach, but don't think it can happen in Cleveland. In the NFL, four straight years without a playoff berth generally means your time is up.
1. Rod Marinelli, Detroit
The problem: There is no such thing as a good 0-9, but if there were, the '08 Lions wouldn't be it. No, Detroit is 1-16 in its past 17 games because there isn't nearly enough talent, particulary on defense, which is supposed to be Marinelli's specialty. The ex-Marine and Vietnam vet has clearly been worn down by the experience of coaching the Lions, as he has now taken to berating reporters on a near-daily basis. At this point, Marinelli might not last until Black Monday.
The silver lining: Only seven games left.
Our recommendation: We would actually argue that Marinelli is the best coach the Lions have had since Bobby Ross, he's just not the miracle worker needed to raise this sunken ship. The Ford family needs to purge every person with fingerprints on the football operation, including Marinelli, and start over from scratch.
Kansas.com
Mangini would like Favre to tone down risk-taking
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Brett Favre laughed as soon as he said it because he must have known how it sounded.
"Believe it or not, I'm not a gambler," Favre said yesterday.
Some context:
Jets coach Eric Mangini, speaking about 10 minutes earlier, had been talking about his quarterback's interception total, which has increased significantly in recent weeks. Favre is tied for the league lead with 11 picks, having thrown seven in his last three games, including three in Sunday's 28-24 victory over the Chiefs.
But broaching the subject for Mangini is somewhat problematic given Favre's long ago established reputation as a, well, gambler. At least on the field.
It's not as if Favre came to the Jets and suddenly morphed into something other than the take-the-good-with-the-bad quarterback he had always been. There's been no bait-and-switch. To use a beaten-to-death cliche, Favre is who he is.
So Mangini used a gambling analogy in explaining some of the points he's tried to get across to Favre in looking at the spike in picks.
"You just stress, don't hit on 20, you know what I mean," Mangini said, invoking the card game Blackjack. "Like, sometimes it's OK to stay and see what the dealer has."
Mangini said that doesn't mean he's trying to restrict the improvisation that has led to some of Favre's most memorable moments.
"You're not trying to reel them in and not trying to coach them out of being a good player," Mangini said. "You're just trying to reinforce that everything needs to be a calculated risk."
And so Favre's "gambler" comment came in response to Mangini's about hitting on 20.
"I used to always take hits on 16," he said with a laugh, quickly realizing some of the more gaming-inclined in the press room knew that hitting on 16 can be, and often is, a sound if not necessary Blackjack strategy.
"Believe it or not, I'm not a gambler," Favre said. "I know it sounds crazy."
If not ironic given his proclivity for on-field risk-taking. And from listening to Favre yesterday, it didn't sound like that part of his game will change much. But that's not to say he's oblivious to the negative situations he's put the team in recently with his turnovers.
"Believe me, I'm well aware of what is expected of me, how important it is to take care of the ball," said Favre, who threw 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last season in leading the Packers to a 13-3 record. "I've played a long time and I understand that turnovers, as well as penalties; just little things. There are so many things that go into winning and losing, and I know statistically speaking, you turn the ball over more than your opponent, you lose."
A football truism, Favre pointed out, that the Jets have actually bucked the last three weeks, losing the turnover battle in two of those games, yet going 2-1. Of course, the combined record of those teams - the Bengals, Raiders and Chiefs - is 3-19.
"Can you make a living doing that?" Favre said. "Every coach, any statistician would tell you no, and I don't plan on doing that."
But Favre also hinted his approach isn't going to change drastically, either.
"I'm trying to take care of the ball and to be high-percentage passing, but also productive," Favre said. "Being 30-for-30 for a hundred yards is not very good. Points are the most important thing and so I mean, there is a fine line there."
A line Favre will continue to cross, trying to make something happen on the field, which Mangini said is part of the bargain.
"I don't think that he's become anybody besides who he's been and as I've stressed in the past, sometimes there's tremendous upsides and sometimes there's some plays that you want to have back," Mangini said. "But it's all trying to find the balance between the two and make sure that you're maximizing the upside and trying to minimize the downside."
Copyright (c) 2008, Newsday Inc.
New Gambling Scandals Surface To Haunt English Soccer Leagues
The possibility of fixed matches in English soccer grew as more data reflecting irregular gambling patterns was revealed. Three more games were added to the suspicious list after examination of wagers on the Asian market showed extremely volatile movement in the lines.
A match between Norwich and Derby was already under investigation, having been exposed for the same unusual gambling patterns in Asia. The transcontinental nature indicates a potentially large conspiracy.
The English Football Association and the Gambling Commission have already launched probes, and now the fraud unit from the city of London is looking at the cases. Two Premier League games are among the matches being reviewed.
Officials have proposed a future partnership between police, soccer management, and online casinos to watch over betting patterns and alert authorities when one side of a line receives inordinate play.
Gordon Taylor, head of the Professional Footballers' Association, said, "We need strong links between the betting firms and the sporting bodies. There's enough money in sport and gambling to be able to set up a monitoring unit that will be able to monitor this properly."
Online gambling sites have helped immensely when sports leagues have had issues regarding match fixing. Nobody has more interest in an honest game than bookies, as they are the target of fixing. Realizing the valuable input available from Internet casinos and not treating them as enemies is an important step in preventing future gambling scandals.
(c) 2005-2008 Online Casino Advisory, Ltd.
Pats' D regains confidence before facing Chargers
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Rodney Harrison didn't get terribly worried when the New England defense was humiliated by the lowly Miami Dolphins last month.
And after the Patriots got back to normal in a win over San Francisco last week, the veteran safety didn't get terribly excited.
With a long history of consistent success and a talent-laden group of players, this perennially stingy bunch doesn't stake its self-worth on any single outing -- at least not until the Super Bowl.
"Against the Dolphins, (people said) we were the worst secondary in the league," Harrison said Thursday, rolling his eyes after another sunny California workout for the road-tripping Patriots.
"Now, because we have three interceptions (against the 49ers), everyone wants to say we're the best secondary in the league," he said. "That's not the way to look at it. It's just a process that we have to go through every week."
The Patriots (3-1) are going through that process on the bumpy practice fields of San Jose State before their biggest test of the young season Sunday night at San Diego (2-3). The coaching staff played old-school rap from the speakers around the Spartans' turf before Harrison and his defensive teammates went to work on the game plan for the Chargers.
Even after getting shredded by the Dolphins and their unorthodox use of running back Ronnie Brown, the Patriots still rank among the NFL's better defenses, both statistically and in their opponents' eyes. One bad game couldn't shake the Patriots' confidence, but the way they recovered from that game gives them ample hope for the future.
"Everybody on this defense knows what we can do when we're healthy and together," said defensive lineman Richard Seymour, who returned to the Patriots' lineup midway through last season's Super Bowl run.
Although Harrison acknowledges New England started tentatively against the 49ers and maverick offensive coordinator Mike Martz last weekend, they regained their swagger almost immediately when safety Brandon Meriweather intercepted a long tipped pass while flat on his back.
It was the type of heady play the Patriots have made regularly under Bill Belichick -- and exactly what they'll need against the Chargers, who desperately need a big win to stop their season from sliding any further.
Ever since San Diego pounded an injury-plagued New England club in a 41-17 victory in 2005 to snap the Patriots' 21-game home winning streak, few teams have handled the Chargers' talent-laden offense better than New England.
In two playoff victories and a regular-season win last fall, the Patriots have allowed just 47 total points. New England saved its best defensive effort for last season's AFC championship game, holding San Diego's own injury-scarred roster to four field goals in a 21-12 win.
"I don't know how much of it has been bad blood," linebacker Tedy Bruschi said. "It's just been big games. Whether it's a playoff victory or a playoff loss, one team feels great because you get to move on, and the other team feels bad because your season is over. If anything, that's just where it ends. I respect their players."
New England kept last season's impressive defense largely intact, making just two changes among the regular starters. Cornerback Deltha O'Neal, a native of nearby Milpitas, Calif., is picking up the defense quickly after signing with the Patriots on Sept. 1 as the replacement for Asante Samuel, while dynamic rookie Jerod Mayo has bolstered the linebackers after Rosevelt Colvin's departure.
The Patriots' defense seems to be tight-knit off the field as well, with several players making plans to go out together in the Bay Area and again in San Diego, a now-familiar stop for the club. The rivalry's recent frequency has prompted emotional postgame outbursts by both clubs, but the New England defense keeps its cool most days.
"It's just another football game," said Harrison, who played nine seasons with the Chargers and still counts several San Diegans among his good friends. "They might have bad blood, but we're going into this game with confidence and not a sense of hostility or bitterness."
The Patriots also hope they get an audience with former teammate Junior Seau, the standout linebacker who's back home in effective retirement in San Diego after parting with New England in the offseason.
"Hopefully we can sneak over to his restaurant and get some free food," Harrison said.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
Light duty for Packers' Rodgers in practice
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- He'll take an injection. He'll try wearing a shoulder harness. He'll push himself through painful rehabilitation exercises.
Anything to be back on the field for the Green Bay Packers.
Despite a sprained right shoulder that limited him to a light workload in practice Wednesday, quarterback Aaron Rodgers says he'll do whatever it takes to start Sunday's game against Atlanta at Lambeau Field.
And Rodgers says he doesn't face any extra pressure to push himself because of the ironman consecutive-starts streak put together by his predecessor, Brett Favre.
"Listen, I want to play every game," Rodgers said. "I don't need that, 'Oh, you've got to play because Brett played 250 in a row.' I don't need that. I have pride in myself. I've played with some serious injuries before, so that's personal pride. I don't need any extra fuel to play."
Favre started a quarterback-record 253 consecutive regular-season games for the Packers before he was traded to the New York Jets. Right now, Rodgers' prospects for starting five in a row look iffy.
Rodgers sprained his right shoulder in last Sunday's game at Tampa Bay, and was limited to handing off a few times in practice Wednesday. Rookie backups Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm got most of the work in practice and Flynn will start if Rodgers can't.
Rodgers said the pain is getting better, but the main factor that will get him back on the field is regaining the strength in his shoulder.
"Things are, at least in the big picture, getting better," Rodgers said. "The swelling's going down. But now really, it's really about the strength. If I get the strength back, then I can throw. I'll be able to play."
The Packers are hurting beyond Rodgers' injury.
Green Bay placed defensive line standout Cullen Jenkins on injured reserve Wednesday after he injured a chest muscle Sunday. Jenkins was one of a whopping 14 players listed on the Packers' injury report Wednesday -- a list that also includes cornerback Al Harris, who is out indefinitely with a spleen injury, and cornerback Charles Woodson, who continues to play through a broken toe.
The mounting early season injuries are an unfamiliar problem for the Packers, who were relatively healthy in their first two seasons under McCarthy.
"It's just another challenge, frankly," McCarthy said. "Challenges come at you so many different ways. You have to overcome it."
And after soliciting advice from former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer, a close friend, Rodgers said he's willing to take an injection to overcome his injury.
"That (has) potential, I think," Rodgers said. "That's kind of what I was talking about. There's different options once you get to later in the week. Now, I don't know if that's the philosophy per se, if that's the main philosophy. But I talked to Trent Dilfer, and he's had 10 shoulder dislocations, and he said that was something he definitely used to get through the pain."
But Rodgers doesn't want to risk long-term damage.
"That gets into, what do you want to put into your arm? Cortisone is not kind of the typical, I think, thing used for something like this," Rodgers said. "That can be detrimental, I think to some of the ligaments in there, but dulling the pain. I mean, I don't know. I'm just talking hypothetical. Hopefully I won't have to shoot up, strength will come back in the next couple days, be able to throw Friday and go from there."
Rodgers isn't likely to throw a pass until Friday at the earliest.
"He's very positive, feels like he's improving, and I'm going to give him every possible chance to play in the game," McCarthy said.
It is the third significant injury in three-plus seasons for Rodgers. He broke his foot in a game against New England in 2006 and hurt his hamstring in practice late last year.
Rodgers played through a serious knee injury in college, played the remainder of a half after breaking his foot against New England and said he "just sucked it up" to throw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings after hurting his shoulder on Sunday.
Rodgers said pain wouldn't be a limiting factor on Sunday.
"If I don't have the strength to be able to make the throws that I know I'm capable of making, then it doesn't really matter how much pain I'm in," Rodgers said. "But if I have the strength, I think I can deal with the pain."
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
Unlikely veteran QBs meet in Nashville
In the next two weeks, Kerry Collins revisits the end of the best season of his 14-year NFL career.
That was 2000, when the current quarterback of the unbeaten Tennessee Titans was with the New York Giants, getting them to the Super Bowl with perhaps his best game ever against Minnesota, then losing the title contest with one of his worst.
The 35-year-old Collins, who has stabilized the Titans as Vince Young's not-so-temporary replacement, faces those teams in the next two weeks, starting with Minnesota in Nashville on Sunday.
His adversary this week is 37-year-old Gus Frerotte, who replaced Tarvaris Jackson last week and led the Vikings to their first victory, 20-10 over Carolina.
"It's the battle of the blue hairs, I guess," Collins says.
Collins' experience works well for Tennessee, which is winning with defense. The Titans have allowed only 29 points in their three wins, the best average in the league and the second-fewest points -- Baltimore has allowed 20 in two games.
The star has been cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who took the spot vacated by Adam Jones, the former Pacman. He leads the league with four interceptions, more pilfers than 21 of the 32 teams, and he returned one 99 yards for a touchdown last week against Houston.
The Titans also have a coach, Jeff Fisher, who makes sure his players say the right thing.
"It's still young in the season. It's just the first quarter," linebacker David Thornton says. "If we go out and lay eggs in the second, third and fourth part of the season, this strong start can really be in vain."
The Vikings laid eggs in their first two games, losing in Green Bay, then blowing a 15-0 lead to Indianapolis and falling 18-15. After five field goals and no touchdowns in that Indy game, Frerotte stepped in for third-year man Tarvaris Jackson.
"I think we've got to kind of still work out some kinks, but I think having Gus back there gave us a great change in speed as far as offense," wide receiver Bobby Wade said. "I thought we found a good balance in there, at least enough to sustain drives and score points. That's all we can really do."
Against the Titans, sustaining drives and scoring points won't be easy.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
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