Day of the Rising Stars

While Sunday may have seemed like any other week in the NFL, for a few young quarterbacks, it wasn't. Yes Sunday had an upset with the Bengals defeating the Super Bowl Champ Steelers and had a Cinderella fall when the 49ers lost to the Vikings on a last second play, but the big stories of the day was where history was made by young fellas at the quarterback position. 

It hadn't been since week sixteen of 2007 that the city of Detroit had seen the Lions win a football game, but Sunday that streak was ended. However the guy who dug them out of their hole was not the guy who got them in it, but rookie quarterback Matt Stafford. When the streak started and continued last season with an 0-16 record, Stafford was the quarterback of the Georgia Bulldogs. The Lions drafted him number one for the very reason of him to be the savior that brings them out of the worst losing streaks in NFL History. Stafford stepped up into the clutch and did something that hadn't been done for two years; he won as a quarterback for the Detroit Lions. 

When Donovan McNabb broke a rib during Philly's week 1 rout of the Carolina Panthers it made way for third year player Kevin Kolb. In his first start the Eagles suffered a tough 48-22 loss to the Saints, but Kolb however had a solid game with 2 touchdowns, three interceptions and 391 yards passing. On Sunday, Kolb in his second game threw for 327 yards and 2 more touchdowns and this time left no margin for error as he did not turn over the ball once, as the Eagles rolled over the Chiefs 34-14. When Kolb threw for 300 yards for the second week in a row, he became the first quarterback of all time to throw for 300 or more yards in their first two starts. Not Elway, Marino, Aikman, Brady, the list could go on forever, can say that they did that. 

The last of the young quarterback headlines was Mark Sanchez, the rookie out of the University of Southern California. Sanchez joined the Jets at the same time as first time Head Coach Rex Ryan and together they have created a New York Drama. At first Sanchez was fighting for the job with Kellen Clemens, but he proved in the pre-season that he was the man for the job. Now Sanchez comes into the league beats up on everyone's surprise team Houston Texans, beats divisional rival New England at home, and then on Sunday beats Tennessee at home throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for one. Welcome to the league Mark Sanchez, not only have you proved a lot of critics wrong but in the process you have become the first NFL quarterback of ALL-TIME to win your first three starts. Starting that Hall of Fame resume early?

While Sunday was just a normal week in the NFL, these three quarterbacks showed why they are already becoming household names. Chalk one up for them, and the future of pro football. 

JD

I Got His Autograph..Am I a Bad Person?

A friend of my family has luxury suite season tickets for the Eagles, so my dad and I made the hike to South Philadelphia to see the Eagles play their home opener against the Saints. After Sunday, I think it is safe to say that the Suite Level is full of "important people." My dad tapped a guy on the shoulder to ask how much a hat was at a souvenir stand, and the face that stared back at us was Sixer guard Willie Green, just minutes after we got off the elevator with former Sixer Aaron Mckie and his family. Even I was almost starting to feel important, almost. When we got to our suite, due to our lack of a sharpie, we were "autographless." After smiling, nodding, and shaking hands with people that I didn't know but had to act otherwise, I was handed a ticket by the suite holder that had Michael Vick's signature on it, wow. I thanked the guy for the autograph and retreated to my seat not really knowing how to feel. If I felt excited I could easily be labeled as a "dog-hater," and if I felt nothing I was not fulfilling my duties as a Philadelphia Eagles fan. But when I sat down to decipher on how I felt about the "dog killers" signature that I held in my hand, it took me into a much deeper thought on the subject.

Let's make this first part quick. I am all for Michael Vick playing football again. I am a person that believes in forgiveness, and as someone who has devoted their whole life to football Michael Vick deserves to play football again despite going to jail. He tortured and killed many dogs and I recognize that as a horrific crime, but he has paid his debt to society. Now in anticipation for Michael Vick's return to the football field on Sunday, I would like to address something that has gotten completely lost with the whole story; the fact that he is still a football player. 

What can we expect from Vick when the Eagles play the Chiefs on Sunday? We can expect boos, cheers, yes, whatever, who cares! Vick is not only a symbol of dog fighting and someone who you may see as lucky to get another chance, but in the end he is still a quarterback. I have always liked Vick as a football player. He is one of the pioneers of this new age type of scrambling throw on the run quarterback that I find interesting. My one problem is, I don't really see how he helps the Birds. With McNabb out, he will of course be good to have as a weapon who can pick up yards with his feet and through the air, but once McNabb is off the disabled list, I do not see much rationality in picking him up. When Vick was brought in during pre-season from time to time taking McNabb off the field in the process, it rattled Donovan. In the post game press conference McNabb was beating around the bush in saying that Vick being randomly shoved onto the field really wrecked the offenses rhythm. He wouldn't come straight out and say it, but us Eagles fans have known McNabb for years, we can certainly tell when he's upset, and an unhappy quarterback is an unhappy team. 

As to what Vick will bring to the table, most Eagles fans will quickly jump to saying, "The Wildcat!" Look, the wildcat is a cool type of offense that I enjoy watching; when the Dolphins use it. While a lot of teams have started to pick up this new age offense with a sprinter at the quarterback position, the Eagles are a team who are following the group but really don't need to. The offense under McNabb, the classic Eagles drop back west coast offense, is an offense that led us to the Conference Championship the year before. Why do we need Vick to an evolve an offense that is already successful. 

So when Vick takes the field on Sunday, I am not mad because he is an ex-con, or mad because I think what he did was wrong, but simply confused; because on terms of football, I just don't see the point. 

JD

Stories of Summer 2009

As yet another summer in sports is coming to a close, like every year it is safe to use the cliche, it was a memorable one. In my attempt to account for the happening happenings of the three steaming months of 2009, I bring you the first annual "Stories of Summer."

The Feel Sick Story

It has officially been proven that in Major League Baseball, money can buy happiness. When the season started Mark Texiera, A.J. Burnett, C.C. Sabathia, and Nick Swisher were all in evil pinstripes, it just wasn't clicking yet, and it seemed as though it would be just another year of wasted money for baseball's bad guys. Then the All-Star break rolled around and the Yankees started to live up to the name the Bronx Bombers once again, and the Evil Empire is officially back and better than they have been for years. Steibrenner one, sanity zero.

The Feel Pity Story

From one New York City burrow to the next, the story is sadder in Queens. The Mets have been god awful. As of September 1st they are in 4th place in the NL East, and 18.5 games behind the first place Phillies, but wait, that's not too shabby if you look at their lineup. The Mets injury list includes Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Johan Santana, J.J. Putz, John Maine, and Oliver Perez. And David Wright has just returned to full health. Omar Minaya, that is the money you could be saving with Geico, or in this case could have saved if you could see into the futre. The Mets in one summer have gone from one of baseball's biggest spenders, to one of baseball's biggest jokes.

The Feel Relieved Story

When altercations with Derrick Rose's high school SAT scores became national news the NCAA decided to take action by completely terminating Memphis's 2007-08 record setting 38-2 campaign. Now when I heard this my first thought was, thank god Mario Chalmers hit that shot to force the Finals of the NCAA Tournament into overtime, that would later lead to a Kansas win over Memphis. If that shot would have rimmed out, we would not only be taking away a season from Memphis and its fans, but we would be taking away a title. If not for Chalmers, there would be a void in the 07-08 line for NCAA Champions, a void that would only be filled by the memory of the raising of their banner, and the memory of it being taken down.

The Feel Slightly Excited Story

I'm not really a soccer guy to any extent, but I was for some reason religously tuning in to the Confederations Cup earlier this summer. U.S.A. made it through group play then took it to National power house Spain in the semi-finals, handing them their first International tournament loss in thirty some games. They moved on to lose a heart breaker to Brazil in the finals, but the U.S.A. squad showed what I'm pretty sure was some promise. With the 2010 World Cup right around the corner in South Africa next summer, I can only maybe look forward to maybe cheering for the Americans, where I thought I never would.

The Feel Bad Story

When Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg with a gun that he was not legally allowed to carry last year in a New York night club, he was later arrested for illegal gun possession. A charge which never really had offenders treated harshly, was figured to be no different for the New York Giants wide receiver. However, Plaxico's celebrity status seemed to hurt him in the case, when he got two years in prison, more than anyone ever has for that crime in the state of New York. When Burress shot himself last year, he did not only lose blood to the floor of the night club, but also the first year and a half of his soon to be newborn baby's life, and possibly his football career as well.

The Feel Disappointed...Again Story

The list of Major League Baseball players who have cheated with illegal substances grew this summer. Manny Ramirez recently used, and served a 50 game suspension. David Ortiz his wing man for many years was a member of the "anonymous" 2003 survey. This only means that the number of clean sluggers in Major League Baseball is shrinking by the second, and that possibly the 2004 Red Sox, the team that lead the fight to represent everything good that baseball stands for, is now just another fluke.

The Feel Undecided Story

Michael Vick served his time in prison, and is now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Does he deserve the National spotlight after being so cruel to man's best friend? Well whether you think he does or not, ESPN is making sure he has it. The Worldwide Leader in Sports won't go more than five minutes on a segment of SportsCenter without mentioning his name, when the Eagles are playing next, and the time in which Vick is scheduled to get. Justice has been served, and whether you like it or not, Vick is a super star once again.

The Feel Confused Story

Is anybody else wondering why Michael Crabtree still hasn't signed with the 49er's? Somebody, his agent, his college coach, maybe himself, should know that the way he plays or in this case acts in his rookie season really defines his market value in the future. While all Crabtree is trying to do is give his market value some justice and get the money he thinks he deserves, he is just making it worse. If he sits out this year, like he has threatened to do countless times this 0ff-season, look for his new book on Oprah's book club list; "How to Ruin Your Career For Dummies", he is really building the life experience.

The Feel...Awkward? Story

After Alberto Contador won the Tour de France it was already known that Lance Armstrong would not be riding with Alberto or the team Astana in next year's Tour. Contador continued to sit down and give a much insulting interview regarding Armstrong. He said things along the lines of, I do not repsect Lance, and I am not impressed with Lance's story. I only felt uncomfortable debating to myself whether Contador was just being another egotistical athlete, or if he knew some dark secrets about the "True American Hero" we all think we know.

The Feel Humored Story

Never failling short of expectations, Shaquille O'neal has done it again. This time off the court, O'neal has created one of the most clever reality shows of all time; "Shaq Vs." It is a show where he challenges world class athletes to their sports, and then continues to train at that sport all the way up to the challenge. So far he has played volley-ball with Misty May-Treanor, competed in a Home Run Derby against Albert Pujols, and played in a game of football against Pittsburgh Steeler Ben Reothlisberger. While Shaq can be amusing on the basketball court to begin with, you can't help but laugh out loud watching the big guy go at it and smack talk with the world's best.

The Feel Annoyed Because Brett Favre Won't Retire Story

I tried like hell to stay away from this one, but it is always the top story of every summer. Favre is now a Viking, but this time I was actually surprised that he made his way back into the league. After his average peformance as a member of the New York Jets, I actually thought he would call it quits, but he couldn't. The question is now raised when will he actually retire? How much longer are we going to see Favre lift receivers on his shoulder after a touchdown pass, or as of late get fined thousands of dollars for illegal chop blocks; Brett thought the fifteen yards was enough, what a kid. But now a new question is raised for me, what would this game that so wants him gone, be without him? The man brings life to a football field, the man who has a full gray beard and is older than the Eagles new defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, is one of the few players left in the NFL who brings youth to the game. As I carelessly agree with everyone in saying that Brett should just retire already, and claim that I lose respect from him each time he fakes a retirement, a small part of me deep down inside wants to see number 4 out there again, for one more year, but just one more.

There you have it, the Stories of Summer 2009 has come to a close and will not be back until we have seen one more memorable summer of sports a year later. As a final shout out, I wish Adam "Pacman" Jones much luck in the Canadien Football League, I know he will do just fine.

JD