I am not really sure how to start this post. Most preseason posts will include predictions about the season, what players will do well and what player will struggle. That is not really my style or the type of topics that I write about.
Here are the hot topics for MMK...kickers, rules and laws, retirement, and rookies.
Kickers--Yes, kickers are athletes too. I know that most people laugh about kickers and think that they are only important at the end of the game. But I would like to point out two people, Chad (Johnson) Ochocinco and David Buehler. Every football fan knows Chad Johnson as the brash wide receiver with a lot of talent. The guy with a big mouth and great hands. He can also kick a football!! Chad comments that soccer is one of his favorite sports. As a former kicker, I can say that his form was not great, but he was successful with good height and distance on the kick. He also kicked off to begin the 2nd half, kicking the ball to the 10 yard line. This is not an easy thing to do on a first attempt.
While you may know #85, few of you may know David Buehler. Buehler was the kicker for USC last year and proves that kickers are not just heady players. He is an athlete and proved it at the NFL combine by benchpressing 225 pounds 25 times and running the 40 yard dash in 4.56 seconds. Both of these were better than stand out star Rey Maualuga. Yes, I know that Buehler is 6'2" and 230 but this is still impressive and makes a former kicker smile.
Another hot topic this off-season and preseason has been the signing of Michael Vick. After serving two years in federal prison for dog fighting, Vick was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles. In no way am I excusing what he did or condoning dog fighting. I think that the act is vile and inexcusable. But at the same point, I don't think that he should be kept from rejoining the NFL. In lack of better terms, "he did the crime, he served his time". Vick has talent and abilities that less than 1% of the population have and he should be able to use them. Let the man play.
If we are talking about laws and rules and those who break them. Let's talk about Donte Stallworth and Plaxico Burress. Stallworth got drunk and killed a pedestrian with his car. He spent 30 days in jail. Vick spent two years in prison and paid his fines, but Satllworth served a month. Why aren't people boycotting him? Why aren't there any fans holding signs of men? I know that Vick viciously killed dogs but Stallworth killed a man. I am not saying a human life is more valuable than a dog's life but I don't see anyone yelling about Stallworth. Plaxico Burress took an unregistered loaded gun into a nightclub. He shot HIMSELF. I guess he isn't so smart. He broke the law and he will be going to jail for two years. Will people be trying to keep him out of the NFL in 2 years? I doubt it.
When you talk about retirement and the NFL, the first name to come to mind is Brett Favre. Well he's back. He signs with the Vikings and in less than a week is taking the majority of the snaps with the first team offense. Some of you (including my wife) keep saying "make up your mind, is this story really still going on". I don't feel sorry for Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels. If you had proven yourselves as an NFL starter, you wouldn't have this problem. Favre is one of the greatest QBs of all time and he shouldn't be stopped from playing again. He has a weapon for an arm and will help the Vikings.
And for the sake of my father, Tedy Bruschi announced his retirement this morning. This is a guy who has worked hard for 13 seasons, overcoming injuries and a stroke to play football on Sundays, make 2 Pro-Bowls and win 3 Super Bowls. I could write out a bunch of stats for him, but I won't. I think that his career speaks for itself. He was a good player and a great man for the Patriots organization.
With the Favre and Bruschi stories, it makes me think about the rookies in the NFL and holding out. Michael Crabtree has not signed a contract yet and Andre Smith signed this morning. I understand that the NFL is a business and that you need to make money, but in my opinion rookies should feel that playing is the most important thing. Money should be regulated so that you know what you are getting. Making it to camp to learn the playbook, figure out the speed of the NFL and realize the physicality of the league are more important to a rookie than the money. You are going to get millions...PLAY FOOTBALL.
With college football starting this week and the final preseason games in the NFL approaching, football is here!!!
