The Train Daddy is back and ready to hit you in the mouth with some serious sports knowledge in only a way that the Train Daddy can deliver. I hope all my readers enjoyed the holidays; I know I sure did. I got some great gifts, I ate some delicious grub and enjoyed the family time. The Z-Train gained a solid 10 pounds, but I will work that off. They say gluttony is a sin; well, then my entire family is a bunch of sinners, because we got down on some sexy meals.
It is the time of the year the Train Daddy loves most; the NFL post season is here and pro ball gets a lot faster and colder. All the chips are laid out: you win or go home! I love college football and I enjoy all the games, but it just doesn’t tickle my pickle like pro ball does. Maybe next season college ball will compete for my attention. It is about time college football went to a playoff system. I was so tired of someone deserving always getting left out, so I am ecstatic about college moving to a playoff system next season. But that is next season. Let’s talk NFL now!
NFL head coaches relieved of their duties after the 2012 season include (from top) Lovie Smith of the Bears, Chan Gailey of the Bills and Ken Whisenhunt of the Cardinals
Monday after the regular season ended was definitely black and not so happy for many of the coaches and owners in the league. By lunch time seven coaches and five general managers were kicked to the curb. I am sure by the time this article hits the newsstands there will be a few more names added to the list. Loyalty is a rare quality and it is an awesome quality, but for Titans’ owner Bud Adams it may not be such a great thing. I hope and pray Mike Munchak is the answer to the Titans’ problems; I just don’t believe he is. His New Year will be happy as the Titans organization stated the ball coach’s job is safe for now. Instead they took their frustration out on C.O.O. Mike Reinfeldt, who was fired. He had been with the organization since the early Jeff Fisher days. Back to the list of fired coaches on Black Monday, most surprising to me was Lovie Smith. After nine seasons and an 81-63 record the Bears coach was let go. With three playoff appearances and a Super Bowl appearance, the resume wasn’t awful. I guess after starting this season off 7-1 and failing to reach the playoffs, the owners were ready for divorce.
Romeo Crennel is out of Kansas City after one season. Hey, he left them one good thing, the first pick in next year’s draft. Bills Coach Chan Gailey was canned after three seasons going 16-32 and never getting that Bills Defense moving. The Browns also parted ways with Coach Pat Shurmur after going two seasons and posting a 9-23 record. The Chargers parted ways with Norv Turner after six seasons and the Arizona Cardinals said “peace out” to Ken Whisenhunt also after six seasons. I will say four years ago Whisenhunt did the impossible and led the Cardinals to the Super Bowl; well, more like Kurt Warner led them. The Cardinals never found their groove at offense after Warner, going 19-30 after his departure. With a solid defense in Arizona, the next head coach will need to strictly focus on the offense. The big break up happened in Philly. The longest tenured coach in the league, Andy Reid, was let go after 14 seasons going an impressive 130-93-1. No worries for Andy, with six division titles, 10 post-season wins, a Super Bowl appearance and the most wins by a coach in Eagle history, the old ball coach will land a gig quick. Black Monday can be a sad day for some; the NFL is a billion-dollar business and if you don’t put out, well you get put out!
Look, I know I stated in the last article that my pick for the Super Bowl was the Broncos and the Giants; I still stand behind Peyton and the Broncos as my favorite to take the Lombardi trophy, but man, I was wrong about the Giants and an all-Manning Super Bowl. The NFC East was the Giants’ to win and they blew it, giving the superstar kid RGIII and the Redskins a chance to punch a ticket to the playoffs; they smashed Romo and the Cowboys. I like Romo, I know he is solid, but the guy loses every important, meaningful game he plays in.
Robert Griffin III
Wild Card weekend has some solid matches. I am taking the Redskins over the Seahawks, and that matchup can go either way. Both teams are hot right now, both teams have solid young quarterbacks that have caught the attention of the football world. RGIII and Russell Wilson have been making plays all year like they were veterans. Seattle has the advantage at defense, and both teams have solid running backs in Lynch and Morris. But I’m taking the Skins, RGIII fever is too strong.
Another intriguing matchup is the Colts vs. Ravens. This one is simple for me: I am taking the rookie quarterback on the road against the Ravens D. The Train must be Crazy! Look, I don’t believe in Flacco, he wants a pay raise and I just don’t like him. He is good, but not solid, in my humble opinion. The Luck is on the Colts’ side and the kid is a true No. 1 pick and a superstar. The Ravens D is solid enough to get a victory without Flacco, but they are beat up. I understand Ray Lewis is returning, so you never know. But I’m taking the Colts. The Texans will smash the Bengals and run all over them even though the Bengals have a solid run defense. Game over Bengals! I love the matchup of the Vikings and Packers; Adrian Peterson is the MVP in my heart and the Comeback Player of the Year, give him both! I really hope the Vikings pull it out. Adrian Peterson is my favorite player in the league, he is humble and a hell of a man and a beast on the field. With all that said I still am taking the Packers. Rodgers is too much to handle come post-season.
Well that’s it, my Super Bowl pick now is the Broncos vs. Redskins; the magic of RGIII will go on. Well, the Train is out the station. That was some bold writing and predictions. Choo Choo!
NFL Playoffs:
AFC
Jan. 5-6: Bengals @ Texans, Colts @ Ravens
Byes: Broncos, Patriots (to play wild-card round winners Jan. 12-13)
NFC
Jan. 5-6: Vikings @ Packers, Seahawks @ Redskins
Byes: Falcons, 49ers (to play wild-card round winners Jan. 12-13)
