As a Colts fan, there are exactly two members of the Chicago Bears that scare me in a matchup with the Colts. IMO, the Colts’ ability to stop these two players will be key in winning the game.

• Devin Hester - makes Dante Hall look like James Mungro when it comes to returning kicks on special teams. During the playoffs the Colts’ special teams coverage has been… ummm… scary to say the least. They just about gave the AFC Champsionship game back to the Patriots when they allowed the 80 yard return by Hobbs just after tying the game. The Colts are going to have to man up on those coverage teams and keep Hester in check. The last thing they want is some quick return for a TD early in the game.
  
  Devin Hester may just cost you your job, Russ Purnell (courtesy CBS5.com)

• Bernard Berrian. The one common thread among the three teams the Colts have defeated in the playoffs is that they haven’t had a speedy, burner-type receiver to stretch the field and make the Colts pay for bringing Bob Sanders up in the box against the run. Berrian can do that. Harper (if he plays), Jackson and David are going to be facing a lot of one-on-one coverage against receivers that are better than what they’ve faced in the playoffs so far. It’s either that or drop Sanders back in coverage and let the Bears running game get going.
• 
  Marlin Jackson meet Bernard Berian. Berdnard Berian, meet Marlin Jackson. You’re going to be really good friends on Sunday. (courtesy fannation.com)

I’m not going to make any predictions (yet) but those are the two keys for the Bears as I see them. If the Colts can keep them both in check, the game should end in a Colts victory. If not… well… it may be a long day.

Don’t believe me? I give you Bear vs. Colt.

I should also add that this site appears to be the brainchild of a company in Carmel I’d not heard of before. Which is a bit surprising since I figured by now I knew someone who works for every company in the metro area that can remotely be considered a “technology company”.

It was a highly-anticipated off-season for Major League Baseball. We’ve seen Barry “I Should Be Allowed To Play Left Field With Two Guys Who Look Like Larry And Moe” Bonds be insulted by a one-year, $16ish-million contract offer (EDIT: which, it turns out, got thumped down by the Commissioner’s office anyway). We’ve pretended to be entertained by seeing Roger Clemens waffle about his future surroundings again. We’ve seen the Red Sox become the latest victi-er, winners of the J.D. Drew Lottery. Most recently, we’ve seen Scott Boras make another terrible, me-first money decision which will allow the recently-revived career of Jeff Weaver wilt and die in a Seattle spotlight.

“Sixteen million?!? Look at my, um, naturally-inflated head… I spend $16 million on hats alone! Larry, throw this damn ball back to the infield for me, and hit the damn cutoff man this time!” (image courtesy of bobbler.net)

In short, there’s been no shortage of excitement (real or imagined) this winter for a sport that isn’t even being played. So after this flurry of winter activity, what’s left out there for the club who’s late to the party? (We’re looking at you, Pittsburgh.) To help any General Managers who are looking for some advice on who to bring in on a minor-league deal, here are the last of the notables:

Brian Jordan, OF/1B. We all appreciate what you tried to do for Atlanta last year as a lefty-hitting specialist and defensive replacement, Brian. Please stop now. Like 99% of the guys who make The Show, you were at your peak between the ages of 28 and 33. You’re 39 now, similar to your bat speed. Please, please stop.

Eddie Guardado, RP, and Todd Hollandsworth, OF. Two guys who finished up last year with Cincinnati. They’re a little longer in the tooth than you’d like (36 and 33, respectively), but they’re both left-handed where it counts, and have been role-players for most of their careers, so you shouldn’t have to break the bank for either. There are some lingering injury questions with Everyday Eddie, but I’d still take a flier on either/both, if the price was right.

Ron Villone, RP. Villone was the Swiss Army Knife of the Yankee bullpen, filling the roles of long-reliever, left-handed specialist, and left-handed set-up man. He started the year a little shaky, came on strong in the summer months but managed to lose Joe Torre’s confidence again with a horrific August and September. Granted, it often takes a rubber arm to survive a Torre Bullpen (I still say that Scott Proctor should sue him for abuse), but Villone only tallied about 80 innings in his 70 appearances. At 37, I don’t imagine he’s going to suddenly find more endurance. If he does, expect a cheap Ron Villone-bobblehead joke in this space next winter. Still, if I were short on lefties, as many clubs are, I’d send him a letter.

Bernie Williams, OF. I’d like to see Bernie back in pinstripes this year. He showed that he’s still got a little bit left in the tank, and can contribute. He put up better numbers in 2006 than he did in ‘05, stayed pretty consistent through the whole year, and was dangerous with men on base. Plus, he’s a switch-hitter who’s pretty effective against both lefties and righties. Negatively, he’s a complete liability in the outfield, regardless of which spot he’s playing. If he were interested in being anything but a Yankee, some National League club would’ve given him a home and a prized first-hitter-off-the-bench, Lenny Harris-style gig by now. As a fan, I hope the Yankees come around and bring him back for one more run at a ring. If not, it was a great run, Bernie. Thanks for everything.

Bernie Williams ripped a double against Toronto in what may have been his last regular-season at-bat in a Yankee uniform, October 1, 2006. (image courtesy of Newsday)

Bruce Chen, SP. In stops with Atlanta, Philadelphia, the Mets, Cincinnati, Montreal, Boston, Houston and Baltimore since 1998, Chen has managed to pile up 35 wins. As a starter. However, he’s left-handed, and some dipstick is going to bring up that Leo Mazzone said he had a “live arm” and “good stuff” back when he was with the Braves. I’m sure he’s a heck of a nice guy, and we already know how worldly he must be, but under no circumstances should your favorite club be giving this man a job. Not as a pitcher, anyway.

Tony Armas, Jr., SP. The right-handed equivalent to Chen, with a few more wins, a few less stops, and a more famous dad. Avoid him.

Joe Randa, 3B, and David Bell, 3B. Again, here are two guys who are a little older than you’d like (37 and 34), but can help your team out in the short term. Randa’s still a little bit better overall as a hitter and fielder, but Bell has more power. A team with a hot third-base prospect they don’t want to rush to the majors (or a team with no plan in place whatsoever) would be wise to make an offer to either of these guys.

Mark Redman, SP. Another left-handed pitcher, but the only 2006 All-Star on this list. Hey, his 5.71 ERA notwithstanding, anyone who won 11 games for last year’s Kansas City squad can’t be that bad. In June, Redman was 5-0 with a 3.74 ERA (which led to his selection as the All-Star rep for the hapless Royals), but fell apart afterwards as injuries took their toll. He gutted out 167 innings in ‘06, so I can think of worse options for teams needing a long reliever or spot starter. Trouble is, that’s a major adjustment for a guy who’s been a starter his entire career. He’s also looking for his seventh employer since 1999. Still, he’s won in double digits four times since then, so you know he’ll keep your team in the game. I’d give him a shot.

Ronnie Belliard, 2B. I’m kind of curious as to how Belliard is still unemployed. Granted, he didn’t do much during his stint in St. Louis last season, but he hadn’t tailed off too much production-wise before he was dealt. I tend to think he’s a better offensive option than most teams have at second right now. Of course, he’s also Baseball’s Fattest Middle Infielder, so if he turns out to be this generation’s Carlos Baerga (no thought given to conditioning equals washed out by 32), I won’t look all that smart. Really, I’m just not ready to let go of Baseball’s Fattest Middle Infielder.

ESPN.com lists Ronnie Belliard at 5′8″, and 197 pounds. C’mon, Ronnie… both feet on the scale. (image courtesy of mlb.com, obviously)

Ricky Ledee, OF. It seems like only yesterday that Ledee was the Next Great Yankee Outfielder… at least, that’s what the Bronx Hype Machine wanted us to believe. Still, since leaving the Yankees in 2000, Ledee’s made a nice career for himself as a reliable left-handed pinch-hitter/fifth outfielder for a few different clubs, last year’s brief stint with the Mets not withstanding. Bench guys always have crummy stats, so don’t let that fool you. He’s probably good in the same role for a couple more years, if you’ve got a few bucks to spend on outfield depth.

Gabe Kapler, OF. The former “five-tool, can’t-miss” Tigers farmhand, well, missed. Perhaps if he’d concentrated more on baseball than his much-publicized love of bodybuilding, that might not have happened. Can’t field, can’t hit, runs pretty good. The Boston girls think he’s “dreamy.” Pass.

There you have it. GMs dazzled by my knowledge and prowess can contact me via this website. Thank you.

No sooner did I write that alert readers should send for paramedics if I wasn’t heard from by the Thursday after the AFC Championship Game, than the Internet connection at my apartment went ker-blooey. Of course, I didn’t have to send any paramedics away, so all of you can screw off. I love you, too.

Anyway, the extra week of rest between the NFL Conference Championships and the Super Bowl might be great for the teams involved, but it’s hell for the fans. It means an extra week of half-stories and homers, like how the losers of “American Idol” made themselves look like jackasses in a sing-off with Colts tight end Dallas Clark.

“All right now… Dylan, you sing ‘Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream,’ then Peyton, you come in and start when he’s on the second line, and then I’ll come in third. Man, singing in a round is gonna be the best touchdown celebration EVER! Fifteen yards, here we come!” (image courtesy of usatoday.com)

My week was made today when a Chicago homer from work said that the Colts’ use of defensive lineman “Touchdown” Dan Klecko was unfair, and should suddenly be illegal for the Super Bowl. Look, whichever side of the fence you’re on about it is fine. I’ve heard that it’s “silly” to put the football in the hands of a player who isn’t used to handling it, or “inspired” to flex the strengths of your roster that way, but “unfair?”

Madness.

I simply walked away from this comment, as I imagined that calling this person so much as a “doo-doo head” would send him mewling home to his mother, much like a hangnail, paper cut, or baby that cried too loud in the vicinity of his tender ears. Not that I’m biased in this regard, as this is Indianapolis and the Colts’ homers have been out in force and are just as annoying, but that guy took the cake.

“Unfair.” It still rings in my ears, and makes me laugh and cry, all at once.

Play the game already. My head’s starting to hurt.

Yes! Hockey! it really does exist and tonight is the All-Star Game. Since I’ll be watching anyway, why not live blog it? (And fittingly enough, my heat went out in my apartment.)

(more…)

I know, I miss the banner graphic too. The WordPress upgrade I just did seems to have fiddled with my theme. I’ll hopefully have it all back to normal tonight.

Update: Fixed. Wasn’t as serious as I feared.

…it might just look like that for a couple weeks now and then (save Jamie representing the Bears, of course)

I could write about my experiences watching the game in downtown Indianapolis, cheering like a madman and hugging strangers after the Addai touchdown and the Jackson INT. Or how great it was to see so many people come together on the Circle at the heart of the city to honk their horns and high five strangers and cops and whoever was around. It was probably the best night as a sports fan I’ve ever had.

But instead I think I’ll just write about a few little things that have been missed in the hubub.

• I give you two points, for you and your gallant crew. How important was that two point conversion to Marvin? if they had just gone for the point after, that last Patriots drive would have been a “field goal sends it to OT” drive and Brady would not have had to force that pass that Marlin Jackson intercepted to seal the game. And if they had failed to convert the 2 point play, end of the game would have been “field goal wins it.” Instead, it was Colts by four, forcing the Patriots to drive for a touchdown or bust. Great call by Dungy to go for it, and great catch by Marvin to make it happen. Why hasn’t this been talked about more?
  
  Taking a cue from Khan, Tony Dungy gave two points to the gallant crew of the Colts. (Image courtesy treknews.de)

• Ellis Hobbs, I thank you. Your faceguarding of Reggie Wayne in the endzone put us at the 1 for a desperately needed score. (Side note to any Pats fans who thought it wasn’t interference: he never looked back for the ball and blocked the receiver’s chance to catch. Even if he doesn’t touch the receiver, that’s interference.) I’m not a fan of Greg Easterbrook or his Tuesday Morning Quarterback column but a crazy interesting stat came out of today’s column.That Ellis Hobbs interference penalty was the first pass interference penalty called against the Patriots in 11 quarters of playoff football against the Colts. No interference penalties called in the 2004 AFC championship. No pass interference penalties called in their 2005 playoff game. None called until that 3rd quarter interference by Hobbs.How the Patriots, known for mugging receivers off the line (especially in the playoffs) could go 11 quarters of playoff football without getting called once is beyond me. But I thank Ellis Hobbs for making his so obvious it had to be called.

• Dan Klecko, touchdown machine. DT/FB/Badass Dan Klecko is tied for the team lead in postseason TD receptions. At 1. And that play was nothing new, it had worked earlier this year and failed earlier as well. So who’s selling #61 jerseys?

• It is possible that Mankins is on the threshold of a golden age; but if so, it will be necessary first to slay the dragon that guards the door.* The moment that Pats G Logan Mankins recovered that fumble in the endzone for the Patriots’ first TD I had this sinking feeling of “oh no, not again” and you could tell Manning did too. I wonder how much of that led to the offense’s lack of productivity in the first half. Did it get in their heads? Did Manning try to force it too much because he had visions of losses dancing in his head? Who knows. (*Yes, that is a poorly modified Bertrand Russel quote.. What of it?) Whatever happened at halftime, I hope someone got a recording of that speech.

• I could shut this place down. I could.. I could put strychnine in the guacamole. Wow, I haven’t seen a tantrum like that since 1992 when my sister was told she had to go to bed and didn’t wannnnaaaaa. Bill “The Genius(tm)” Belichick not only gave Peyton the shoulder brushoff at midfield when Manning wanted to shake his hand, but his post game interview was full of more mumbles than Milton in the basement.

• 
  Bill Belichick in the offseason. he said no salt. NO SALT! (image courtesy screensavers.com)

• To refs about to suck, we salute you. Actually, the blown calls were pretty even on both sides which is always nice to see in the playoffs. A few interferences not called here and there (both sides), the ticky tack roughing the passer made up for the obvious blows to the head that Manning was taking just a drive earlier. My only beef is still with the Jabbar Gaffney TD. it really did look to me like his heels were out of bounds when he jumped for the ball. But hey, in the end it doesn’t matter so whatever. At least Jeff Triplette wasn’t on the crew for this game.

• Fuck American Express (MasterCard fucking rules.) Peyton Manning gets the Kissing Suzy Kolber treatment and tells all those critics where they can stick it.

• Bonus Bears Comment! You know Sexy Rexy has reached cultural phenomenon status when you hear some random guys who don’t look like your typical (or even atypical) internet users in a hole in the wall Greek restaurant call Grossman “Sexy Rexy” in casual conversation. Remember: The Sex Cannon didn’t throw that pass too long - the end zone is just too damn short.

• I have been, and always shall be, your friend. Queue endless stories of Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith being OMGBFF!! I look forward to stories about pillow fights, sharing secrets in each others’ diaries and going to camp together. This will put the Genius ™/Mangina friendship angle from the wild card round to shame.
  
  Lovie… I have been, and always shall be, your friend…. (image courtesy utfp.org)

Should be a great two weeks of uncontrollable hype and media overexposure. I’ll just do my part.Note to self… two references to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan without using “Khaaaaaaaaaaaan!” has to both be a record and a failure. Do better next time.

Wow!!! What a weekend!!! Instead of writing a very long blog nobody will want to read I will write several short ones nobody will want to read.  Before these begin I will say I love the Colts but I am a Bears fan first and foremost and have personally turned on the Colts for the next 2 weeks.  Please do not disregard this analysis based on that fact, for I will be providing analysis on 2 teams I’ve watched all year long. 

We’ve mocked the media for most of the decade for loving Tom Brady and not giving the defense enough credit, well turn about is not fair play.  All day it has been how Manning finally got a signature win, played well and made the game winning drive. 

Bob Ryan noted Boston Globe columnist and ESPN personality now on bended knees for Manning (image provided by Bostonsports.com)

I’m here to tell you that the defense again played lights out and that the 34 points score by the Patriots is not indicitive of how good the defense was. 

1) A a costly Manning interception to Asante Samuel which was returned for a TD. (So take 7 of those points off the board)

2. The defense only gave up 93 rushing yards on 24 carries (35 of which came on one busted 4th down conversion leaving 23 carries for 57 yards)

3. The kickoff and punt teams gave up 280 return yards. Giving the Patriots a short field all day.  The Patriots 3 scoring drives in the second half where 21 yards for a TD, 33 yards for a FG and 29 yards for a FG.

4.  With 3:49 left in the game and down 3 points Manning had 3 straight incompletions forcing the Colts to punt.  The defense forced a 3 and out and got Manning the ball back with 2:17 setting up the much talked about drive.

5.  The defense came up with the game clinching interception against Tom Brady on the Patriots’ final drive.  Tom Brady has made a hall fame a career by leading comebacks in the Playoffs and the Colts defense stopped him twice in the last 3 minutes.

The dirty little secret that I know and I’m positive Peyton Manning knows is that the defense let him off the hook again for the 3rd straight week.  Manning played a good game yesterday but not one of the great games we’ve come to expect.  Tony Dungy deserves a lot of credit for getting this defense turned around and not only playing good but great.  As a Bears fan, I’m not necessarily worried about stopping Manning as much as I’m concerned about getting my running game going so they don’t have to rely on Grossman. 

Booger McFarland leading the Colts suprisingly new stout run defense (impage provided by booger92.com) 

Tune in next time for a player by player matchup analysis which will reveal why the Colts will need their new found defense one more time.

Go Bears!!!

 Rex Grossman your Superbowl MVP (Homer statement)

There’s really not much I can add about the Colts’ 38-34 victory over the Pats in the most amazing game I’ve ever been at in my life. Matt accurately summed up our observations from our perch in section 308 earlier. I’m still a bit baffled by the turnaround. After Asante Samuel’s interception and touchdown I couldn’t help but think “here we go again”, but the Colts would get it back together from their last drive of the first half on. Stunning. And yes, kudos to the Pats for a great game, and for the class they showed afterward.

The scene on the field of the RCA Dome after a victory that’s been a long time in coming (courtesy my cell phone)

This may just be my top football day ever after having been at this game, and also seeing the Chicago Bears get back to the Super Bowl on the strength of a 39-14 win over the Saints. But even though I grew up near Chicago and it was the Bears that made me care about sports, I’ve not lived there for 12 years, and I’ve lived in Indy for almost 8. I’m a Colts fan first and formost now, and even though I’d someday like to see another Super Bowl for Chicago, I hope it’s not this year (It’s going to be a fun two weeks though, as I was walking home from the RCA Dome my brother called me to start running Bears smack).

Oh, and one more thing… The CWAMB Super Bowl party is at my place, come see Colts/Bears on the 42″ plasma.

A few thoughts on Sunday’s AFC championship game, from my perspective, seated in Section 308 of the RCA dome.

1.) I have to say, kudos to the Pats linemen. There were times where the noise level in the dome ascended to volumes indescribable by mere words, and yet they never once jumped early. That shows a lot about the discipline of a team.

2.) On behalf of the fans in the dome, I would like to apologize to the refs for giving them hell about not calling pass interference when Reggie Wayne fell down in the end zone. From our perspective, it looked as though he was tripped, but when I saw a replay later, it was clear he just stumbled. Mea Culpa. I would ask, however, that they look up the definition of “ineligible receiver”.
3.) there is no third thing. (it was traded for a post to made later, stay tuned. or not)

4.) I was happy to see that very, very few Patriot fans found a way into the game. It says something about just how much the city of Indianapolis despises New England, when on a day where tickets were going for as much as 2000 dollars, Pats fan’s money was still no good here.

5.) Super kudos to Dominic Rhodes. I had (rightly) mocked him earlier in the season for his propensity to take the hand-off and run headlong into the first defender he saw, but losing his starting job to Joseph Addai seemed to have affected a great change in his mindset. Of all the players on the team, Rhodes has been perhaps the most instrumental to the Colts run to the Super Bowl, and adds yet another weapon opposing defenses have to worry about.

6.) Big ups to Teddy Bruschi, who has always been one of those players that I would love to have on my team, but hate to play against. After the game, he came up to Manning and congratulated him, and wished the Colts good luck in the Super Bowl. Very classy, especially when he had to be burning up inside about the close loss.

7.) The moment of sheer bedlam in the Dome when Marlin Jackson picked Brady off to end the game was something I will never, ever forget. There are moments when words simply fail to describe what happened, and this is one of them. I’m frankly shocked the Dome didn’t crumble around us, so great was our celebration.
That’s about it, from my perspective. Next Stop, Miami, and the Chicago Bears… and the longest two weeks of my life…