Seriously, it has to be frustrating. The Eagles make their mad dash to win the division and grab the third playoff seed … and they still have to play the goddamned Giants in the first round.
We’re gonna get right to predictions on this one, so that we do not further frighten young AJ Daulerio, who has already painted his face green.
• Cool Standings: Eagles.
• Football Outsiders: Eagles.
• Harmon Forecast: Eagles.
• Paul Zimmerman: Eagles.
• Peter King: Eagles.
• Kissing Suzy Kolber: Eagles.
• Deadspin: Giants. Sorry, Daulerio: The Giants have that baseball Cardinals feel, we think. Plus, sprinting like crazy into the postseason and then losing at home to the Giants … doesn’t that sound like something the Eagles would do?
We can’t be the only one who likes Seattle, can we? Let us know in the comments …
To think about this game, we like to compare not Eric Mangini and Bill Belichick, but, in fact, Mangini and Tom Brady. We think there might not be too physically different human beings on the planet. One of these days, Mangini should just eliminate the middleman and coach in a mumu.
We’re impressed to see the Jets here, and they’re the official Deadspin team throughout the playoffs. (We need somebody, after all.) This of course means they’re toast. At least according to, oh, everybody.
Oh boy, another position for Pete Carroll to consider. Not that there’s anything funny about a guy losing his job, but what amused us about the sacking of Art Shell on Thursday was that Al Davis is going to make him stick around and do office work during the final year of his contract next season, when Shell is due to earn $2 million.
“While Art will no longer serve as head coach, he and Mr. Davis have discussed and will continue to discuss opportunities for Art to remain a valued member of the Raider organization,” read a Raiders press release.
In other words, um Art, could you sweep up any broken glass or other loose debris you see around the Raiders organization?
We also have to wonder if Davis and Shell have a budding Billy Martin/George Steinbrenner thing going here. The first time Davis hired him was in 1989, replacing Mike Shanahan. Shell was canned in ‘94 after taking the Raiders to a 9-7 record … which must be looking pretty good in retrospect. Oakland was 2-14 this season. Top replacement candidates? Hard to say: They won’t stop running long enough to be clearly recognized. OK, the San Francisco Chronicle is naming Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, former Giants coach and Raiders assistant Jim Fassel, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera and Fresno State coach Pat Hill. So Art Shell, finally gone. It’s like he just got here; we never had time to say goodbye.
I’veharpedonthisforever, even going so far as to start a site and a petition – Elect Art Monk — dedicated to the movement. Yet it still regrettably bears repeating, the time has come for Art Monk to get into Canton. The class of ‘07 is weak, Peter King has seen the light and now Monk for the Hall comes correct with a 21-minute video showing beyond a shadow of a doubt that enshrinement is overdue.
FanHouse describes it as “an incredible collection of video highlights” and its just that. The clips include footage from 81’s rookie year all the way to Monk as a Jet in ‘94. There are quotes laced throughout the piece and arguments and counterarguments addressing any issues that would keep the Artist out of Canton. My favorite bits are of Monk steamrolling DBs rather than going out of bounds and of Money spiking the ball after touchdowns. The man was brilliant at both. And the highlight that gives me the most tingles is the MNF broadcast from October of ‘92 when Monk breaks Steve Largent’s receptions record. I was a 15 year-old in the stands that night and had no doubt my hero was one of the greatest of all time.
The video is so good, and I’ve been so lax with my duties that I’m bequeathing the electartmonk.com domain over to monk4thehall.com. It may not do much for the cause, but it’s the right thing to do. I just hope that their video gets a showing before the Board of Selectors. If so, this man will not be denied his due any longer.
With the apparent trade of Randy Johnson yesterday back to the Diamondbacks, it becomes clear that something terrifying and disconcerting is happening: The Yankees are continuing to make prudent, measured moves with an eye on the long term. We’re through the looking glass, people.
The trade, which we think will require Johnson to grow back the mullet (he kind of has to; we demand it), is being mostly accepted by Yankees fans — with a few exceptions — probably because Johnson had the worst years of his career as a Yankee. (And also sired some, uh, fascinating specimens.) Diamondbacks fans are happy with the deal too, particularly when you compare it to the last trade with the Yankees for Johnson, proving the D-Backs came out ahead. It kind of looks like everyone’s expecting Johnson to pitch until he’s 50 anyway, so hey, why not?
We didn’t talk much about this, but the reason for our trip to Argentina? An attempt to further check out the genealogy of Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. (Turns out he is not, in fact, Argentinian.) It’s still pretty amazing that Romo is in the Pro Bowl; if the Cowboys lose this game, he’s gonna look awfully silly in Hawaii.
Strangely, considering how well Seattle plays at home and how poorly Dallas has played the last few weeks, most don’t seem to think that’s going to happen. Here’s a look at what the kids are saying.
• Cool Standings: Cowboys.
• Football Outsiders: Cowboys.
• Harmon Forecast: Cowboys.
• Paul Zimmerman: Cowboys.
• Peter King: Cowboys.
• Deadspin: Seahawks. The Cowboys just lost at home to the Lions, and they were actually kind of trying to win. It’s really difficult to win in Seattle, remember. We’re hoping Terrell Owens drops a game-winning touchdown pass, though we’re not sure if Bill Parcells would be more dangerous for him afterwards, or the pills.
We can’t be the only one who likes Seattle, can we? Let us know in the comments …
The platitudes people hand out when a prominent figure retires or dies can become so banal and repetitive that one ultimately finds oneself almost disliking the departed as a backlash; see Slate’s Jack Shafer’s look at how journalists covered Gerald Ford’s death, as one example. But we have to say: It will really seem strange to have an NFL without Bill Cowher coaching in it.
We were never that much into Tampa Bay wonderboy Jon Gruden’s facial contortions; he always seemed like a little kid trying to seem tough, Lucas puny growling through his glasses. But Cowher, who is expected to retire from the Steelers at a press conference later today, was a football coach sprung straight from the subconscious: Spitting, screaming, bulging, veiny, areyoulisteningtomekidicouldripyourthroatoutwithmymind. He’s every gym teacher you ever had on HGH; think Mr. Buzzcut with a mustache. And yet he somehow seemed likable, the guy a player would want to impress. None of the Bobby Knight madness; Cowher always seemed to know what he was doing, though he really could have been a bit more careful with the saliva.
There’s still a possibility that Cowher could return to coaching, perhaps even as soon as next year with the Dolphins. We kind of hope not; Cowher seems all too Pittsburgh to us. The man should never, ever wear teal.
Notes from Thursday’s games in the National Basketball Association …
• Devin Help Us. Well, the Mavericks have won 12 straight. So why do we have the feeling that they’ll bow out again after a brief playoff run? They still carry that vibe, sorry. Devin Harris scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to help Dallas extend the league’s longest winning streak this season with a 100-91 win over the Pacers. The Mavericks, who began the season 0-4, also had a 12-game streak earlier this season.
• I’ve Got A Smush On You, Sweetie Pie. Kobe Bryant scored 42 points, but it was his pass to Smush Parker with four seconds left in regulation that saved the Lakers. Parker tied the game with a lay-in, and LA went on to beat the Kings 132-128 in overtime. The term “game-tying layup” always baffled us … shouldn’t you foul him in that situation? Hard?
• Come On, Give Is A NOOCH. Richard Hamilton is one of the few people anywhere who can say that he was the leading scorer (27 points) for the Detroit Pistons in a win over the New Orleans Hornets in Oklahoma City.
• For Pete’s Sake. TrueHoop has an interesting take on the dueling Pistol Pete Maravich books that’s worth a look, if you’re up for such matters.
Seriously, it has to be frustrating. The Eagles make their mad dash to win the division and grab the third playoff seed … and they still have to play the goddamned Giants in the first round. 
To think about this game, we like to compare not Eric Mangini and Bill Belichick, but, in fact, Mangini and Tom Brady. We think there might not be too physically different human beings on the planet. One of these days, Mangini should just eliminate the middleman and coach in a mumu.
Oh boy, another position for Pete Carroll to consider. Not that there’s anything funny about a guy losing his job, but what amused us 
With the apparent 
We didn’t talk much about this, but the reason for our trip to Argentina? An attempt to further check out the genealogy of Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. (Turns out he is not, in fact, Argentinian.) It’s still pretty amazing that Romo is in the Pro Bowl; if the Cowboys lose this game, he’s gonna look awfully silly in Hawaii.
The platitudes people hand out when a prominent figure retires or dies can become so banal and repetitive that one ultimately finds oneself almost disliking the departed as a backlash; see Slate’s Jack Shafer’s 
Notes from Thursday’s games in the National Basketball Association …