It's All About the BENjamins Baby (Steelers)

Before I get started, let's be clear that I LOVE being a woman. I love the make up, the clothes and of course, the men. We're strong, independent, sexy, all that jazz. Sure there's that monthly, leaky disaster but I'll appreciate it the most when I want (and don't want) to have kids.

While I love my womanly splendor, I have wondered what it would be like to be a man. The testosterone, the dingly dangly, - it fascinates me. Not to the point where I want a sex change or anything, but it's enough to make me wanna be a man for a day, or 8. Probably TMI, but hey, we're all friends here right?

I'm only bringing this up because I know there are certain things I can't do - dunk on a regulation NBA basket, hit a homerun outta Yankee Stadium or throw the Super Bowl winning TD pass. While I envision myself one day living in the lap of luxury with champagne wishes and caviar dreams, I wonder if I'll be ever be able to do it big. Like Ben. Ben Roethlisberger signed a monster contract with the Steelers just over a week ago. The specs? 8-years, $102 million contract, $36 million guaranteed.

Roethlisberger is still a young guy at 26, and it's clear that the Steelers don't want him going anywhere during his best years. While it seems like forever ago, Pittsburgh did win Super Bowl XL in '06. Roethlisberger said he wanted to be "like the Dan Marinos, like the John Elways, guys who played with one team their whole career." The Steelers share the same sentiment.

Well, at least until he's 33. Then we'll see if the he's still physically able to play, and if the Steelers would want to sign another contract with the guy. I don't mean to throw salt his game but guy has been messed up quite a bit over the past few seasons, some his own fault others inevitable. There was the appendectomy, several concussions and that horrific motorcycle accident where he broke his jaw and nose, split open his head and lost several teeth due to him being reckless and not wearing a helmet. He recovered really well from that accident after being in critical condition and scaring the bejeesus out of every Steeler's fan and upper management.

I think it's pretty safe to say everyone wants to be rich. For some rich means $60K a year, for others it's $8,50o,000. But when you see monster deals like this one, including ARod's 10 year, $250 million contract, you can't help but wish you could throw a football or swing a bat at the level that these guys can. I mean sure I could start a business or cure cancer, but that shit is mad hard! Athletics aren't the cakewalk that some may think, but people play sports. I wanna PLAY!!

I mean, here I am struggling to pay tuition so I can get this coveted degree when a lot of these guys didn't even finish college! And hey, that's not a knock because I'm not a hater and to each his own. It's like Petey Pablo says in that song, "Shout out to Seagram's Gin, cuz I'm drinkin it and they payin me for it." If the career path you choose is willing to reward you handsomely for your efforts, then by all means, get that guap. For others, income isn't a driving factor. The emotional and intellectual payofff is worth more than any dollar amount.

Kudos to you guys, but I would be a fool to say that. I know myself, and even with the best job in the world I NEED THAT CAKE!! Sure it's not only about the money, but damn if I could make $100 mil!?! Please, you couldn't keep me off the field...

And oh yeah, shout out to Ben Roethlisberger for doing it big willy style. That's monster money. I love it.

Warren Sapp - Retires

Now this is a retirement we all saw coming. In January, just before the Raiders final game of the season, Warren Sapp announced on his website 2 simple words, "I'M DONE!" And today he filed the paperwork with the Oakland Raiders making his departure official.

The 13 year veteran cited declining physical skills as the main reason behind his decision to end his NFL career. Sapp rebounded after a few declining seasons and racked up 10 sacks in 2006. Though he started every game this season, he had only 2 sacks, his lowest total in his NFL career. Sapp finished with 573 tackles, 448 of them solo, 30 deflected passed and 19 forced fumbles. His 96.5 career sacks, second overall for a defensive tackle, and 28th overall for defensive linemen.

The defensive tackle was drafted out of Miami in 1995 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sapp spent mostof his best years in TB and developed the nickname "QB Killa." He had a knack for dirtying up the jersies of opposing quarterbacks. In 2000, Sapp racked up a staggering 16.5 sacks and 52 total tackles, both career highs. Sapp was voted into seven straight Pro Bowls (1997-2003) and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1999. Sapp registered 2 tackles and 1.0 sacks when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Raiders in Super Bowl XXVII.

I'll remember Sapp for being funny, outgoing, and full of life and personality. Back in the day, he always had something sharp or stupid to say. Sapp has been pretty quiet on the defensive end lately as you can tell by his stats, but the funloving teddy bear seems to have disappeared too. The news we've heard about the QB Killa recently was mostly negative. He was fined $75,000 for "physical and verbal actions toward game officials that drew an unprecedented three unsportsmanlike conduct penalities" and was ejected from the Raiders second to last game of the 2007 season, and ultimately, his career.

Either way, shout out to Sapp fro giving us some great years. We can only hope that we'll find other defensive lineman that can bring the same intensity and power to the game.

FLEX SCHEDULE for the NBA?

Good idea, huh? Well, I think it's a great idea because if I see one more NATIONALLY TELEVISED Miami Heat or Chicago Bulls game I'm going to flip! After great seasons last year it made sense to have these teams plastered all over the air, but these teams suck ASS now!! Miami can't hit double digit wins and Chicago is still faltering and just recently fired their head coach, Scott Skiles.

On a night when there are 10 games going on simultaneously, I shouldn't be stuck watching some wack ass game by teams that are historically significant or relevant last season. It's unfair to us fans especially since we have better teams emerging in ways we never expected. "Surprise" teams like the Orlando Magic, New Orleans Hornets, Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors are leading the pack but their televised games are few and far between.

It's even worse every Christmas with the same the Lakers vs. Miami! The Diesel is now in Phoenix with one of the top teams in the league, and Miami's dropping like flies. I would venture to say that come December 2008 SHAQ will be on television playing Kobe, DWade or Lebron. I love all 4 of those guys but come the eff on! Can I get some more Kevin Garnett? Some Chris Paul? Some Al Horford? Dwight Howard? Kevin Durant? Marcus Camby? Carlos Boozer? Baron Davis? Deron Williams? Tyson Chandler? Andris Biedrins? This list can go on and on...

So we can all agree that we're missing out with this rigid TV calendar. This is where the flex schedule would come in. The NFL already has it in play and most fans love it. Implemented last year, flexibe scheduling allows for quality and "surprise" teams to have their games aired nationally. As the season progresses, we're able to better choose which games are the best matchups, which could end up being different from when the schedules were first released. Sunday afternoon games are moved to Sunday evenings allowing for national exposure and optimum viewership. College football has done this for years and it's about time the NBA gets onboard.

The "Any Given __ Rule" applies to all sports; any given season any given team can be a contender. The NBA should allow the public the opportunity to follow these teams and players.

Ain't no fun if the homies can't watch none!

Victory for Vick - To Keep Roster Bonus

I'm Team Vick. Yeah you read that right. I don't spend my free time fighting dogs, and I don't agree with those who do. I thin it's barbaric, violent and disgusting, but I'm not interested in persecuting those who enjoy it. Mike Vick is almost 3 months into a 23-month sentence, one I find to be excessive, and won't be seen on the outside until 2009. During the entire trial, the news kept getting worse and worse; admitting to killing dogs, testing positive for marijuana, etc. Finally, a bright spot. A multi-million dollar bright spot.

A federal judge ruled Monday that Vick, the former Atlanta Falcons QB, can keep the majority of the nearly $20 million in bonuses he received from the team. No doubt Atlanta's not happy with that. The case the Falcon's were trying to make was that the roster bonus should be considered the same as a performance bonus, thereby allowing them to recoup the money. U.S. District Judge David Doty, who presided over the case, ruled that the logic behind that was flawed. Vick earned the roster bonus once he made the 80-man roster, and is entitled to keep the money. $3.75 million of the $20 mil was actually written into the contract as a signing bonus, which Doty ruled should be returned to the Falcons.

According to his lawyer, Lawrence Woodard, Jr., Vick is pleased with the decision. "He's grateful for some good news, but he realizes he needs to keep doing all the right things to get back to playing football." Really? I'm a bit torn on this one. I would be happy for Vick if he's able to come out of prison, return to the NFL and be the great QB he was a few seasons back. But the truth is, does he even want to go back to the NFL? I understand a lot of the decisions they made, mainly suspended Vick indefinitely, were in the best interest of the league and its image. Vick was under complete public scrutiny, and rightfully so, with everyone from avid hunters to PETA screaming for his head, and the NFL never once came to his rescue. I feel like Vick (FIGURATIVELY!!!) was like Jesus hangin on the cross (AKA the uprights) looking up into the heavens at God (AKA Roger Goodell) screaming 'Why have you forsaken me?!' but the Lord (Goodell) just pretends he doesn't know or hear him. FIGURATIVELY!!!! Maybe a death row/governor's pardon would have been a better anology, but you get it.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement, "It makes no sense that an individual who willfully violates his contract is entitled to be paid tens of millions of dollars even though he is in jail and providing no services whatsoever to his employer." I actually agree with that, but it doesn't mean the NFL can get all pissy and try to undo what they've already done. They're acting like that irrational boyfriend that shows up at your door with an empty box after you guys break up demanding back everything he every gave you; the jewelry, the groceries, even the tampons he relunctantly bought during your "time of need." Look, my ex Malik never got back the Vickie's Secret bra and panty set he got me for my birthday even though he tried HARD, and neither should the NFL.

I'm glad the judge saw it my way. Hold ya head Michael Vick!!

Rookie Love

"Gimme gimme gimme that ROOKIE love"

You can hear Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson singing that all the way to the bank! As most of us expected, Peterson was voted, almost unanimously, Rookie of the Year. Peterson earned 46 1/2 of the 50 votes submittd by a national panel of members of the media that cover the NFL. And I must say, they got this one right! In a season where few teams had consistent, healthy, high-performing running backs, Adrian Peterson (& Chester Taylor!) definitely made his presence felt. Even after missing 2 games with a serious knee injury, he still managed to rank 2nd in the league in rushing yards with 1,341, behind LaDainian Tomlinson. Peterson also tied for 2nd with 12 rush ing touchdowns, finishing with 13 overall. In one of the best offensive performances of the year, Peterson ran for 296 yards, setting the NFL's single-game rushing record, on only 30 carries. He scored 3 TDs that game to lift the Vikings defeat the Chargers 35-17. Jamal Lewis held the record since rushing for 295 yards against the Cleveland Browns in 2003.

This is another reason why I love watching college football. Yes, it always comes back to college football. Peterson was amazing at Oklahoma and it was obvious that he could make the leap to the NFL easily. The NFL DraftTracker ranks players eligible for the draft, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. Here's what they had to say about Peterson when he was drafted in 2007:

Peterson is a tough runner who can pick up yards between the tackles and break tackles when he gets into the open field. He has the burst to turn the corner, make the first defender miss and turn on the jets when he gets a seam. While the Vikings have more pressing needs at several other positions, including defensive end and running back, Peterson was too good to pass up on.

I would say not much has changed. There's a reason why he was the 1st RB selected in the 2007 NFL Draft, 7th overall. As RoY, Peterson joins the likes of Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown and Billy Sims, who also won the award. "It's a great honor to join a list with names like those. They are guys that I looked up to growing up."

By the By:

The 3 1/2 votes that Peterson didn't get went to Joe Thomas, OT for the Cleveland Browns.

Eli Manning Up

Ok, so everyone's talking about this Eli Manning/Tiki Barber mini controversy. So hell, here's my take on it. I was actually watching the Sunday night game with the New York Giants vs. the Baltimore Ravens. The halftime show came on and there was Tiki, a man I admire and respect with uhhh, 2 other guys. They were introducing him into the lineup of anchors we'll have this season on NBC's Sunday Night Football. I remember thinking to myself, hmm, this is a bit of a tricky situation for Tiki to be in. Halftime show of a Giants game, and now he has to talk about their performance. And trust me, the way the Giants played in the first half, there were not many praises to be doled out. So the panel gets to talkin and they ask Tiki to tell them some stories; they want the scoop on what really went on behind closed doors. What's Lil' Manny (that's what I call him!) really like? Tiki, like a kid eager to please, gave up a story about passing a weekly motivational speech onto Manning for one game and he pretty much tanked. His voice was weak, and he seemed unsure and timid. Eli responded to Barber's jabs by questioning his leadership ability, citing his retirement announcement that came in the middle of last season, distracting the team, and an occasion when Tiki called out head coach Tom Coughlin.

I'm not mad at this situation for the same reasons other people are mad. Tiki didn't say anything the media hasn't been saying for years; Eli looks meek. His demeanor is stoic, he's not very animated, and he doesn't get guys hype, on the field, in the huddle, on the sidelines or in the locker room. Eli is not his brother Peyton. I've heard people saying Tiki should just shut up and mind his business. Huh?! Football is his business! It's his (new) job to be critical of teams, and that includes the team he played for his entire NFL career. People are saying that Eli has finally said something in response to his critics. Hooray backbone!! You think after all these years in NY he's finally had decided to beat back? Nuh uh. Eli doesn't give a shit what all the other media analysts say. He cares about his job and his team, that's it. And when a former teammate, one that he thought he could trust, comes out against him with personal tales of his shortcomings and failures, Manning takes a stand. Eli's not mad that critics call him a sub par leader, he's mad TIKI called him a sub par leader. These guys were supposed to be friends, teammates at the least. When someone you look to for help to speak so negatively about you on national television, you really don't have much of a choice but to fire back and come to your own defense. And for what it's worth, I'm on Eli's side on this one.

Let's face it, Tiki is an analyst now, he's going to be dissecting teams, and it's impossible to think that everything he says will be positive. There will be some weaknesses pinpointed and some deficiencies exposed about his former team. That is to be expected. But revealing insider information? That's kinda low Tiki. When they asked him to disclose some info dirt on Manning, I expected Tiki to remain a bit impartial. Hell, let me just say it - Tiki should have kept his mouth shut! I would have respected his answer more had he given some lame story that didn't make Eli seem completely inadequate and feeble. Maybe something along the lines of him being young, and this year really being a pivotal year for him to grow and step more into that leadership role, especially with Tiki being gone. I've heard people say, Well, how come Tiki didn't say any of that while he was on the team? Duh DUMMIES!! Cuz he didn't want to belittle the guy who is supposed to be the cornerstone of their offense. In the traditional sense, the QB is the leader but we all know, including Eli, that Tiki ran that offense. It would have been in poor taste for him to lay into his QB during the week, and expect things to be all good on Sunday. That's not the way it works. He's Tiki, not T.O.

But hey, Tiki's tactlessness seems to have given Eli the motivation he needed to finally speak out. Tiki lit a bit of a fire under his ass, and for the first time, I think Manning actually felt it. Let's just hope this little flame will turn into a well-contained wild fire when he hits the field. If it doesn't, no one will be surprised. But if it does, we have Tiki to thank for it. That's Tiki for ya! Always helpin the Giants! Even after retirement.

Hate It or Love It

I have a love/hate relationship with NFL preseason games. I love em cuz it means that football, no matter how sloppy and uncoordinated, starts in August, not September. It means that I get to take a look at some of my favorite teams before the season starts, find strengths and flaws, and see how the team gels. Preseason gives you a rare look at guys who never take the field in the reg season, backups, guys who wanna make the team, and rookies. Preseason is also the time of unlikely, untimely, unexpected, devastating, too-fuckin-early-ass injuries. EVERY preseason, without fail, players get hurt. Some with tweaked ankles, others with season ending injuries. The New York Giants played the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night and OMG did we feel it! First of all, the Giants didn't look that great, yet they eeked out a 13-12 win. Baltimore's defense is sick!! The Giants lost 5, count em - 5, guys in this game. Back to back injuries, hell, I even got hurt! Some guys look like they'll be ready to go for the season opener, others are DONE for the season.

1) CB Sam Madison – Pulled Hamstring
He injured this same hamstring last season and missed about 4 weeks. Season opener? It's questionable.

2) FS Will Demps – Dislocated Elbow
He said he's had this injury before in is career and he was back in 2-3 weeks. Doctors, however, say the healing process takes more like 4-6 weeks. We'll see, but as for now, count his ass out.

3) WR Steve Smith – Concussion
He scored the only touchdown of the game for the Giants. Eli really threaded the needle with the pass he threw to Smith in the end zone. As he caught it, 2 defensive players converged on him, he caught an elbow to the head, and he suffered a concussion. He returned to practice Tuesday, and he's lookin like he should be ready to go.

4) PR Michael Jennings – Torn Achilles Tendon

Jennings caught a nice ass pass as he was going out of bounds. Somehow, someway during the scramble the shit popped. You already know how I feel about the Achilles. Damn that Achilles!!

5) C Greg Ruegamer – Sprained Ankle
Backup center, hopefully it stays just a sprained ankle.

Not only that, there was another scare on the sidelines. Third string QB Jared Lorenzen ran out of bounds on a play and stepped on RB Brandon Jacobs foot. Big ass 6'4, 285 lb Lorenzen steppin on big ass 6'4, 264 lb Jacobs foot. Jacobs ended up ok, but damn. We cannot afford to have Jacobs injured, missing games with a foot injury. We all saw what happened to Shaun Alexander last season...

For the Ravens, Troy Smith came out in the 4th quarter and as a Big Ten fanatic, it was nice to see him on the field. He looked good, and if there was more time on the clock he might have been able to lead them to a game winning score. He's fightin for the 3rd QB spot against Drew "Who" Olson, and uhh, the Heisman Winner will get it. He was 4-8 for 60 yards. Smith learning from Steve McNair? He did his thing at OSU, and his future, like his past, is very bright.

2007-2008 NFL Season Is Underway!!

So I just blinked and the summer is over and NFL preseason games startstomorrow! WTF!?! Where have you been all my life? Click here to see the entire preseason schedule. I am sooo excited for 4 straight weeks of preseason games. This is the best August I've had since, well, last August. Game 1 is tomorrow night, Sunday, August 5. It's the Hall of Fame Weekend game, Pittsburgh Steelers @ New Orleans Saints. Some preseason games will be nationally televised on NFL Network, CBS and Fox. The games will be on Thursday through Monday! In my opinion, a balla ass 5 day weekend! You get to see how teams are getting along with the moves they made in the offseason, draft and trades. See if the offense and defense gel. Who is the mighty powerhouse that will fall? What teams are sleepers? So much to look forward to, I can't wait.

The only downside to preseason is not being able to see much of the regular season starters. The QB will take a couple of snaps and then completely disappear. The running backs get a few carries, the wide receivers a few catches, then sit on the sidelines. The upside to this is being able to see the guys who never really get a chance to play. There are a lot of backups who are actually good and in some cases, better than the first string.

Last year I went to a Giants preseason game against the New England Patriots and I got to see big man Jared Lorenzen at QB. And let me tell you, I'm a fan! He also won the game for the GMen last preseason against the Baltimore Ravens. Also known affectionately as the, The Pillsbury Throwboy," Lorenzen's a third year player who went undrafted out of Kentucky. I don't know what the Giants have planned for him but I wish they would use him more. I know the G-Men are married to the idea of having Eli Manning as quarterback, and don't get me wrong, I like him too. This whole time he's been like my little baby, I just wanna pinch his widdle cheeks! Anytime people said bad things about him, I took up for him, like a big sister would. But if he can't get it together this season instead of crumbling under pressure, Lorenzen, AKA Hefty Lefty, deserves a chance. He has a good arm, and for his size, 6'4" 285, he's pretty good on his feet.