The NFL Overtime Debate

After years of wailing from owners, players and fans alike, the NFL is set to vote on a possible change to its unpopular postseason overtime rules. In a week, owners are set to discuss this issue and make a definitive decision as to whether to keep the rules as they are, or to change to a more popular set of statutes.

As the rules stand, the team that wins the overtime coin flip receives the ball and has the chance to score; whichever team scores first wins, a.k.a. sudden death. The proposed new rules-again, only for the postseason-would require that each team get one possession with the ball, so that if the coin toss-winning team scores a field goal first, their opponent would have the chance to answer. If both teams have their chance to score and the score is tied 3-3, sudden death rules would be put into place.

The current rules were put into place in 1958, and at first were very fair statistically. Both sides of the coin flip had an equal winning record percentage-wise, largely due to the lack of talented field goal kickers in the league at that time. Nowadays, the league has its share of Adam Vinatieris and Matt Stovers that can win a game in one swing of their legs.

Evidently there are pros and cons to both sets of rules. The proposal is essentially saying that field goal kicking should not decide a postseason game. Although I do agree that most of a football game should be decided by grit, big plays and consistent effort for 60 minutes, there is something to be said for that last minute field goal. The field goal is one of the most clutch and exciting moments that any postseason game can feature. Super Bowl winning and playoff game winning field goals are chances for guys that get little recognition throughout the season to make a lasting impact on their team’s success; whether you support this fact or not, it stands true.

The proposed rules would also deemphasize any defensive effort in postseason overtime play. You’re telling me that a team can’t keep its opponent from reaching the 35 yard line on one drive when the game depends on it. If a defense can’t do that, should they really deserve a win? Even, or perhaps especially, in the postseason efforts on both sides of the ball should be emphasized at all points in the game, and overtime should receive no exemption. Changing the rules gives more power to offensive firepower rather than a team’s ability to stop the latter.

In the current situation, if the loser of the coin toss can force its opponent to go three and out on their overtime drive, it wins takes over the advantage in that particular overtime. The team instantly gets better field goal percentage, and laces up to face a defense that is demoralized by their offense’s failure to score. As it stands, the sudden death coin toss puts an equal emphasis on the offensive, defensive, and special teams units of each team, subsequently rewarding a team for having a balanced attack.

If a team is balanced and has a great field goal kicker, offense, and defense, they probably deserve to win the game. Whereas that team’s opponent might be a little less balanced, and maybe got to overtime on a few lucky big plays.

I’m not saying that the current set of rules is perfect by any means. There is something to be said for each team having chance to score, and maybe there should be a place for that in overtime. However, the fact that so many teams score on the first possession isn’t a flaw of the rules, it’s a flaw of team balance. And shouldn’t the more balanced team, the team that can stop a drive or kick the field goal, win? If anything, the current rules should be kept for the postseason, not besides it.

Panther Expectations

Does anyone really know what to think of the Pittsburgh Panthers men’s basketball team come the month of March?

Come that fateful tournament that every team aspires to conquer, the Pitt squad always seems to disappoint the fans, the spectators-heck pretty much any expectations facing the team.

Last year is undoubtedly the first instance to come to mind for most fans, given the proximity of the disappointment in their minds, and also the perfect example it serves to make. That Panther team had all the components to claim itself the best team to ever prowl the Oakland streets. It had the post presence in All-American Dejuan Blair and old man Sam Young. It had the clutch shooting and veteran ball-handling of Levance Fields and it had the spunky bench play of swisher Ashton Gibbs and headband-man Gilbert Brown. Don’t forget Tyrell Biggs baseline jumpers and drives. It’s not like the players were flukes. Young and Blair have moved on to successful rookie seasons in the NBA, playing the roles of “draft steals” as they surprise their teammates and opponents. It’s not like Jermaine Dixon, Brown and Gibbs aren’t continuing to play at a high level on the current Pitt Team. It just seems like when faced with high expectations, this Pitt team cannot live up.

But this year is a different story. I know what you’re thinking, Pitt Fans say this every year. Every year we, the zoo, pick the Panthers as the dark horse that will live up to the hype. Well this year, there is no hype. No one is talking about Pitt competing beyond the sweet sixteen in the big dance, and why should they deserve that talk? If last year’s team couldn’t get it done, then why this team?

Wait. Hold on. Isn’t that what everyone believed at the beginning of this year? When Pitt was out of the top 25 with only one remaining starter on its team, was anyone really expecting them to break into the AP rankings, or even reach the tourney.

Here we are, with the Panthers in the top tier of the tourney with a deserved three-seed. After all, these cats beat three teams in the top five this year, going 13-5 and finishing 2^nd overall in the conference. Now they did have some flukes along the way, but don’t discount the injuries that they suffered. Losing Jermaine Dixon (the only returning starter), at the beginning of the year and in the middle of the season, was a big blow to the Panthers. When Dixon was fully healthy and played his needed minutes, Pitt lost only four games including the Notre Dame Conference Tournament game.

And yet now we seem more comfortable giving Pitt no expectations, predicting that Pitt won’t even reach the elite eight. They proved us all wrong earlier in the season, but that too was without expectation from any Pitt fan.

Ron Cook wrote a great article saying he will be disappointed if Pitt doesn’t win a game in this year’s dance, and I don’t disagree at all. In fact, I’ll be disappointed if the Panthers don’t reach the elite eight. But please, don’t spread this thought around. After all, it seems that the quieter the Zoo is, the better this team has and will play. The less expectation that Dixon and his squad faces from the fans and media, the more likely this group will go further than any other Pitt team has gone in the dance. What a crazy thought, the team with the least post presence in stubborn Gary McGhee and freshman Dante Taylor, least experience with only one returning starter and possibly least amount of overall talent, could take the trophy home.

That doesn’t mean they’re going to get past the first round against Oakland. In the end, we might be looking at the same old Panthers.

Eye of the Tiger

Tiger Woods is finally returning to the original source of his fame.

After months of embarrassing accusations and shocking revelations about his personal life, Woods has announced he will return to golf in the biggest and best way possible: At historic Augusta for The Masters Tournament. He’s certainly not out of the dirty mess that is not being labeled sex addiction, but he’s doing what he does best. He’s doing what he loves. Tiger is just going to play golf.

Many believe that athletes should only be athletes, and should be covered as such by the media that constantly surrounds them. But when Tiger portrayed himself as a public figure of chastity, the good guy of sports, and the successful problem-free family man, there is no question that the media had full right to exploit his blatant failure to live up to those qualities. Let’s face it; Woods was too busy popping up red flags to instead of focusing on the yellow flags that made his public figure what it is today.

And now, all that Tiger wants and needs to do is return to being an athlete; a public figure without expectations, other than to compete at the top level in professional golf. Of course, the media isn’t going to cover him as a problem free athlete at first. In fact, they’re going to do just the opposite. The cameras will zoom up on the sweat dripping from his face, the announcers will discuss the changes in his physical appearance and golf skills and the newspapers will critique his choice to rebound at the biggest tournament in golf.

But when things go wrong for athletes, the best thing for that athlete to do is return to their sport. Instead of being swallowed by the controversy, the attacks and the embarrassment, the only way to silence the critics is to go back to being athlete, and prove everyone wrong along the way.

Hey Tiger, maybe take some advice from Mr. Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben was accused of rape right before the start of the 2009 NFL season, but instead of getting caught up in the case, he went out on the field and performed at a top level; if anything, he was the best part of his team. Instead of talking about his alleged rape case, the media were talking about his great performance, his improvement and his commanding leadership of his team.

Kobe Bryant is perhaps a what-not-to-do portrait of Tiger’s situation. After an accusation similar to that of Roethlisberger, Kobe got caught up in the drama and media coverage. Impatient screamed from his game face, and his focus was clearly not on basketball. Fights between Shaq, Coach Phil Jackson and Bryant were common, and his struggles seemed to drown his ability to go back to being athlete. It took a while for Kobe to go back to just playing ball, but as soon as he did Bryant went back to being the LA hero, the admired hoopster, and arguably the best player in the game.

If Tiger struts onto the course and remains competitive in the tournament, who is going to care what did in the past? That is not to suggest that what he didn’t wasn’t wrong, or shouldn’t be scolded, but what can you say about an athlete when he or she goes out and does their job effectively.

If Tiger proves he can consistently compete again in professional golf again, everything about his personal life will eventually be dissolved from the public’s perception. As long as he stays away from unbecoming actions and controversial issues, and continues to push his career into places golf has never witnessed, everything will be in fine swing for Tiger. After all, he is Tiger Woods. He is one of the best to ever play the game, and that should always come first.

Back on the Right Foote

After a season that clearly lacked veteran leadership, work ethic and consistency, the Steelers have made a move to return to their old ways: they've brought back their old players. Along with re-signing safety Ryan Clark and Casey Hampton to big deals, the Steelers signed beloved WR Antwaan Randle El and in recent news, LB Larry Foote to new deals this year.

All of these players, save Clark, were drafted and molded by the Steelers Organization, and each of these veterans has proven their value to the team-evidently enough to deserve a contract to come back.

It is also noteworthy that the two guys returning after they've played for other teams, Foote and Randle El, are guys that left the team directly after they won the super bowl; Randle El left after the 05 SB, while Foote departed after the 08 SB. It is evident that these guys were key starters during our super bowl runs, and following each of their departures the team had disappointing seasons, missing the playoffs on both occasions. I'm not saying that their respective absences were the main reason for the bad seasons, but rather that they were important components to the Steelers.

Foote immediately adds needed depth to the linebacking corps for the Steelers. Before Foote signed, only Keyaron Fox showed any ability to start at the linebacker position for the Steelers. Foote was originally drafted to eventually replace James Farrior at ILB once the defensive captain grew old, but after a dominating performance in the 2008 season, Foote's value declined with a younger and faster Lawrence Timmons waiting in the wings.

But as Timmons replaced Foote this year, Farrior began to show is age and had one of his worst seasons as a Steeler. Timmons also didn't have the year that the organization expected him to, as it took him a while to warm up to his starting role.

Farrior wont lose his starting role completely, but Foote is young enough and talented enough to replace Farrior once the veteran is too old to play every snap. It also gives Farrior the needed competition to push him to play at his highest level again, something that forced #51 into a monster season in 08.

Randle El adds some nice depth to the receiving corps, and it injects some needed spunk and leadership to the locker room. The speedy smiler was never adequately used by the Redskins, and I don't blame him for returning to an organization that appreciates and utilizes him. He'll be a great compliment to the speed of Wallace, while providing a dependable set of hands in the slot if Ward starts to age. His signing can be directly linked to the failure of Limas Sweed as a receiver. He has the hands, the speed, and the leadership that Sweed will never provide. He can also mentor Wallace and Holmes, and provide competition for both of them while Ward's on-field presence declines as we all know it will unfortunately do this year.

Resigning Hampton and Clark is a no-brainer for the team, as the two were some of the few dependable starters on the defense, and will continue to provide the needed buffer to defend the run and pass.

I know what you're thinking, this isn't the Steeler way to do things. In my last article, I pointed out that the Steelers are operating in a much more flexible manner than usual in this year's free agency period. Most of this, of course, is due to the uncapped year that the league is facing. But one thing to remember, is that the Steelers arent' going overboard.

They didn't sign Willie Parker to a new deal, and hesitated to resign several other Steelers including WR Limas Sweed, OG Darnell Stapleton, and veteran DB Deshea Townsend. The Black and Gold have publicly stated their intentions to impose their own cap on the year, in order to create a safety net should a cap be put into place next year.

The Steelers are in good shape. Their moves make the clear statement that the organization intends to make yet another run at a championship this year, but they have the brains and instinct to bring back the right players with the right mindset, while imposing their own guidelines to ensure success in the future. Kudos the the Black and Gold

Strategies for Free Agency

*Originally Printed in The Dickinsonian

Every year as the free agency period begins to approach in the NFL, fans gear themselves up to see what exciting changes their respective teams might undergo. Whether it’s the addition of a flashy starter, the last-minute resigning of a loveable player, or the depth-solidifying addition of a couple dependable backups, football free agency gives that final adjustment that teams make to compete in the upcoming season.

Of course, the period could also be hell for a team, if they’re unable to hold on to any of their players, don’t have the money to bring in the big names, or miss out on those much needed yet overlooked dependable bench players. This begs the question: why do teams rely on free agency so much?

Great teams that stay competitive every year, such as the Patriots, Steelers and Colts, put themselves in a position where they don’t need to rely on free agency. These teams have the depth, the coaching, and the veteran leadership to compete for a super bowl year after year. And yet even these teams recognize the value of free agency to add a spark to their team, whether it’s depth to their already stocked benches, and proven starters for their pro-bowl filled roster.
But for teams that are on the bubble of playoff material every year, it’s free agency that they need to rely on most, making this period the most publicized stint in the NFL offseason. Still, one would think that teams wouldn’t rely on a 32-team free-for-all to snag much-needed players, instead of building patiently through the draft.

Free agency does have one large advantage, in so far as teams know that a player can perform on an NFL team before they sign him. The draft can only be based on college performance and combine results, whereas free agents have already made a name for themselves on pro grass.
On the other hand, coaching changes, role adjustments and team chemistry disrupt the notion of a smooth transition between football teams. Randy Moss, for example, was one of the best receivers in the NFL before being shipped off to Oakland. His play dropped steeply to the point of seemingly no return; yet his return to stardom with the Patriots in 2007 was just as triumphant as his slump was disastrous two years prior. It is simply not guaranteed that a player will perform at a certain level based on their prior performance.

The irony in this situation is that no-name players continue to emerge from these organizations, yet it is the inconsistent teams that throw money at them come the free agency period. If these teams such as the Redskins, Cowboys and Dolphins actively spend money on these players, shouldn’t they realize that it was the draft that started the successful cycle that they are, by reliance on free agency, not a part of? That’s quite the deep thought, but in concise rewording: if the blue print is put so obviously, why not follow it?

Maybe it’s the bad coaching, poor management, or unstable ownership that makes teams shaky come draft time, and dependent come free agency. But in this case, it looks like teams might need to look a little higher in their structure to make the needed changes on the road to becoming a consistently competitive franchise.

Every year, it seems like the Redskins make a poor move that throws money at big names, with close to no return on the field; Albert Haynesworth is the most recent example, with Jeremiah Trotter and Deon Sanders lingering in the past.

Every year, Steelers fans hesitate to check up on their team’s free agency action. Instead, they prepare to lose their favorite players to less competitive teams and take a deep breath knowing that the Black and Gold will compete regardless. The Steelers have watched players such as Joey Porter, Alan Faneca, and Larry Foote walk from their team without hesitation.

What’s the difference between these teams? The Steelers, Colts, and Patriots have backups that are ready to take over. You might’ve heard of Joey Porter’s back up, James Harrison: he won the Defensive Player of the Year award and completed the longest play in super bowl history in 2009.

This year, however, things seem to be changing in the patterns of NFL teams. The Steelers just resigned Ryan Clark, as a part of one of the biggest days in the team’s free agency history. They signed four veteran players, including ex-Steeler Antwaan Randle El, to add significant depth to their team. Yet the Redskins have remained silent this year, vowing to start depending on the draft to get their needed talent. It will certainly be interesting to see what happens to both of these teams in the 2010 season, because they have completely reversed their roles in free agency.
Regardless, besides coaching and management, the movement teams make during free agency significantly impacts their consistency over the years. It seems that the less free agency, the better success teams have had in the past decade. Could the next decade be the same way? Only time will tell.

The Big Dance; The Glory of March Madness

*Originally printed in The Dickinsonian Issue Feb. 25 Issue
It’s March 5, 2006, and the madness has reached its unmatchable peak. Sweat drips down the wide grinning faces of the George Mason men’s basketball squad as they realize the glorious giant-killing that they have just accomplished. A no-name basketball team from the Colonial Athletic Association just conquered two storied programs, North Carolina and UConn, back-to-back in the NCAA tournament and Fairfax, Va. is going nuts.

The glory of college basketball can’t be better displayed than in that picture. In that one shining moment of exhausted glory, GMU can scream to the world that they’re heading to the Final Four.
This story has been written out almost as much as the USA “Miracle on Ice” or the Tiger Woods affair, but it doesn’t change the message the GMU squad illustrated so clearly about their sport in that moment of triumph: college basketball is an amazing sport, and March Madness is the most exciting stint of time that any sport could ever wish for.

Unlike the NBA, with its repetitive match-ups and manipulative star trading, college basketball relishes in the unexpected. It isn’t a seven game matchup pinning an over-paid squad against a mediocre team with “upside.” College basketball bathes in the waters of not knowing who is going to upset a powerhouse, what star is going to lead their team to national spotlights and which team is going to dance. Dance all night long.

Of course, there will always be the consistent programs, the ones with five-star recruiting and comb-over coaches. Let’s put it this way: Coach K, Roy Williams and Jim Calhoun aren’t going anywhere, America. But it is within this consistency, in these giant figures of championship material, that March Madness finds its motivation. The tournament gets its true heart, its real character of madness from the power of the “what if.”

Maybe, just maybe, a sixteen seed will finally knock off a number one seed. You watch the game in hopes of being one of the many that can recall when a 12-seed no-name conquered an ACC powerhouse, and the great thing about it is that the upset is always a possibility.

Teams stacked with McDonald’s All Americans will dominate the regular season in hope of a #1 seed path to a championship, but there will always be squads waiting for that special upset. The squads in hiding have the hustle players, the players that have done everything in their ability to get their team to its position, itching to play against flashy standouts and NBA-bound one-and-dones.

The Big Dance finds its marvelous nature of spontaneous upsets by matching up the best and the worst in a 64-team amalgamation of determination; the latter mouth load echoes the true nature of this mad, mad tournament.

Of course, March Madness doesn’t have the perfect shots, the demolishing dunks or the unbeatable plays. The tournament doesn’t have Kobe Bryant or Lebron James dominating the field with their unmatchable talent. But you can’t match the hustle, determination and pure sweat that the college game evokes.

It makes you wonder why any player would want to go straight to the NBA after experiencing the passion of the college game. Of course there’s money and injuries to look after, but without the college game, we lose the true nature of the game of basketball. We lose the last second shots of out-of-breath youngsters, playing their hearts out for one trophy. We lose the anyone-can-win mentality that keeps these unpaid players coming back to no-name schools with no chance to reach the pros.

Although GMU went on to lose in the Final Four, the team is as good a story as ever about the unexpectedness of college basketball. It’s the concrete example of the hustle play that can overcome a squad of stars in any game out of the 64 matchups that the tourney presents. The NCAA tournament thrives in the upset and although GMU is still the prime example, anything can happen this year.

The sports world can’t wait to see which team is going to be the next GMU. Which player is going to be the next Stephen Curry and single-handedly upset a national powerhouse? Eyes will be watching to see that game when Kentucky and John Wall fall to a nine-seed in overtime or the second round matchup that proves to be Villanova’s downfall.
These aren’t predictions people, but upsets happen in March Madness. No one wants to miss the next George Mason, the team that will be dancing all night long.

Redskins Moving Training Camp?

*Originally printed in The Dickinsonian

Dickinson College is in the national spotlight, as speculation is stirring that the Washington Redskins NFL football team might make a return to the college for their summer training camp. Amidst the recent hiring of head coach Mike Shanahan, decisions regarding the location of the team’s summer training camp have yet to be made.

Washington Post Columnist Jason Reid quoted Shanahan in his first press conference saying, "I've done it both ways," regarding his training camp strategy. Shanahan continued, “I've had more success going outside because the Super Bowls that I've been with -- the championship teams I've been with -- most of the time we went out to camp."

The new coach also said "I kind of enjoy going away if you can get the right environment," Shanahan said. "You've got to have the right fields, you've got to have the right facility, you've got to have the right meeting rooms, and if that's possible, I would like to go to a camp.”

Dickinson College made recent renovations to Biddle Field, as 2.8 million dollars were put towards improving the facilities in 2008. No specific mention of Carlisle was stated, but given the history between the organization and college, speculation has been rampant.

The Redskins held their camp at the college from 1963-94 under the reign of legendary coach Joe Gibbs. The team left Carlisle for a short time, returning to red grass of Biddle Field from 2001-02 behind the efforts of coach Marty Schottenheimer. The team moved back to Washington under Steve Spurrier in 2003, and has yet to make another appearance.

Dickinson College Director of Media Relations Christine Dugan confirmed that the possibility is still “all speculation.” However, she maintained via email that “Dickinson remains open to the possibility of the Redskins returning and terms that are mutually beneficial.”

The potential return would spark excitement from Redskins fans, but also from Carlisle residents in general for the training camp’s prior economic impact on the college. A Dickinson College survey titled “The Economic Impact of Dickinson College,” published in 2002, found that the Redskins training camps brought 4 million dollars into Carlisle's economy.