Sunday at the Post

QUOTE/STORY OF THE WEEK...

WELCOME TO THE START OF THE NFL SEASON…

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” -- Teddy Roosevelt at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

Let us honor the group who founded the National Football League in Canton, Ohio, on Sept. 17, 1920, at Ralph Hay's Hupmobile dealership:

Akron Pros:  Frank Nied, Art Ranney

Canton Bulldogs:  Ralph Hay, Jim Thorpe

Cleveland Tigers:  Stan Cofall, Jimmy O'Donnell

Dayton Triangles:  Carl Storck

Decatur Staleys:  George Halas, Morgan O'Brien

Hammond Pros:  Dr. Alva Young

Muncie Flyers:  Earl Ball, Cooney Checkaye

Racine Cardinals: Chris O'Brien

Rochester Jeffersons:  Leo Lyons

Rock Island Independents:  Walter Flanigan

Representatives of more than 20 NFL clubs met at the Hollenden Hotel in Cleveland on June 24-25, 1922, to address a full agenda. Among the several amendments to the two-year-old league’s constitution was the official change of the league’s name from the American Professional Football Association to the National Football League.

Jim Thorpe, when inducted into the first class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said: “My grandfather was a footnote. Until today.”

THINGS I HEARD AROUND THE NFL LAST WEEK

“I'm not claiming that football is the nation's salvation in this area, but it's one of them, one little thing that apparently has captured the imagination of a large sector of our society. But when football can't be a relatively pure outlet, a fun thing, then it hurts itself.” -- Pete Rozelle, NFL commissioner, 1960-1989

1. Expect to see some veteran signings this week since teams will not have to guarantee the entire year’s salary of any vested veteran.

APBrowns head coach Eric Mangini

2. Everyone I talked to in the NFL last week couldn’t find any benefit to Eric Mangini’s decision not to make a formal announcement about his starting quarterback. Keeping the Brett Favre injury from opponents is understandable, but keeping the starting QB decision a secret in Cleveland is not. It’ll be interesting to see how this benefits the Browns today.

3. Speaking of talking to everyone, no one, and I mean no one, in the NFL or who works around the NFL can understand what’s going on with Michael Crabtree and his poor decision to continue his holdout. He is not guaranteed to be picked in the same spot next year, nor do the rules allow him to be traded to another team. Adding to his decision to not play, Crabtree can’t work out or talk to any team until the week before the draft next year. Trust me, the 49ers will monitor this situation and be on guard for any team that may tamper with Crabtree or his agent, Eugene Parker.

APWhen is Crabtree going to finally sign?

4. The Cowboys and DeMarcus Ware had talks last week about a new deal, and I suspect, based on the motivation of the Cowboys to get a deal done, they’ll have one in place very soon.

5. The Shawn Andrews situation keeps getting stranger and stranger. The Eagles removed him from their PUP list, which means that he has passed their physical. Now they’re on the hook for his entire salary this year, which is a modest $750,000. Had that number been $3 or $4 million, I wonder if the Eagles would have passed him. How they did not play him in week four of the preseason is beyond me, but now he’s not playing today, nor did he play last season. Rusty might be an understatement.

MY VIEW OF THE GAMES...

“You can learn a line from a win and a book from a defeat.” -- Paul Brown, Hall of Fame coach for the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals

SEASON     PLAYOFF TEAMS NOT IN PREVIOUS SEASON’S PLAYOFFS

1996          5 (Carolina, Denver, Jacksonville, Minnesota, New England)
1997          5 (Detroit, Kansas City, Miami, New York Giants, Tampa Bay)
1998          5 (Arizona, Atlanta, Buffalo, Dallas, New York Jets)
1999          7 (Detroit, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington)
2000          6 (Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, New York Giants, Oakland, Philadelphia)
2001          6 (Chicago, Green Bay, New England, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Francisco)
2002          5 (Atlanta, Cleveland, Indianapolis, New York Giants, Tennessee)
2003          8 (Baltimore, Carolina, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, New England, St. Louis, Seattle)
2004          5 (Atlanta, Minnesota, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Diego)
2005          7 (Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, New York Giants, Tampa Bay, Washington)
2006          7 (Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, New Orleans, New York Jets, Philadelphia, San Diego)
2007          6 (Green Bay, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington)
2008          7 (Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Miami, Minnesota, Philadelphia)

Average Team Age of Active NFL Rosters (as of Sept. 10, 2009)

                                            Yrs.            Days

Green Bay Packers                 26              78
Indianapolis Colts                    26             145
Kansas City Chiefs                 26              158
Carolina Panthers                   26              162
Tampa Bay Buccaneers          26              185
Miami Dolphins                       26              217
St. Louis Rams                       26              222
Cincinnati Bengals                   26              241
Jacksonville Jaguars                26               299
Philadelphia Eagles                 26               308
Oakland Raiders                      26               325
Baltimore Ravens                     26               325
New York Giants                      26               336
Houston Texans                       26               338
Buffalo Bills                             26                342
Dallas Cowboys                       26                343
San Diego Chargers                 26                360
Chicago Bears                         27                 26
Denver Broncos                        27                71
Cleveland Browns                     27                93
New York Jets                          27                115
Tennessee Titans                     27                 118
Seattle Seahawks                     27                162
Atlanta Falcons                         27                174
Minnesota Vikings                     27                175
Pittsburgh Steelers                    27                198
Detroit Lions                              27                244
San Francisco 49ers                  27                245
New England Patriots                 27                246
Arizona Cardinals                       27                279
New Orleans Saints                   28                  23
Washington Redskins                28                  29

These are some of the players suspended by the NFL heading into this season:

Browns WR Donte’ Stallworth: suspended for 2009 season (substance abuse and personal conduct)

APPace is out for the first four weeks.

Jets LB Calvin Pace: 4 games (substance abuse)

Buccaneers S Tanard Jackson: 4 games (substance abuse)

Saints K Garrett Hartley: 4 games (substance abuse)

Saints DEs Charles Grant and Will Smith: 4 games (substance abuse; both suspensions still pending)

Bills RB Marshawn Lynch: 3 games (personal conduct)

Giants LB Michael Boley: 1 game (personal conduct)

Jets DE Shaun Ellis: 1 game (substance abuse)

Colts DT Ed Johnson: 1 game (substance abuse)

NOTES AND WEATHER FOR THE GAMES TODAY….

Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, 76 degrees, 50-percent chance of rain

Don’t discount the heat and humidity in this game as depth will play an important part in deciding the outcome. The Cowboys’ starting offensive line is all over the age 30 and at times has struggled with its conditioning in the past. Will be interesting to monitor during this game.

APFelix Jones

Felix Jones had 8.9 yards per rush on 30 rush attempts last season. The Cowboys were 4-1 when Jones had at least one rush attempt and won all four games in which he scored a TD. More Jones and more Tashard Choice in this game will make the Cowboys’ offense more explosive.

Bucs quarterback Byron Leftwich must think fast and react fast in the game. The speed of the Cowboys’ front will be a problem for him, and he’s 1-5 in the last six games he has started.

Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals

Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, 85 degrees, 20-percent chance of rain

The wild card in the game for the Bengals will be who’s going to cover Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Marshall requires a good cover man, but one who can also tackle. I hear he had a very good week of practice. He’s second in the NFL with 206 receptions over the past two seasons.

The Bengals were 4-0-1 last season when Cedric Benson had 20 or more rushing attempts and 3-0 when he had more than 100 yards rushing.

Carson Palmer missed 12 games with an elbow injury last year and lost all four of his starts. Prior to last year, Palmer had back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons. The Bengals averaged just 12.8 points per game last season, last in the NFL and third fewest in franchise history.

If Palmer is right and the Bengals can protect -- both big ifs – they’ll move the ball on the Broncos.

The Bengals are more physical on defense this year than they’ve ever been in the past. They’ll need to be today.

Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints

Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans

The Lions will be well-prepared on offense to attack the Saints. Lions head coach Jim Schwartz knows the Gregg Williams scheme of the Saints as well as anyone.

APStafford makes his NFL debut today.

The Lions must win first down, which is the key for any young quarterback. They must find ways to keep Matthew Stafford out of second and long.

The Lions have lost 12 consecutive road games and haven’t won on the road since Oct. 28, 2007, at Chicago (a 16-7 victory). The Lions are an NFL-worst 31-97 since 2001.

The Lions had a lead in the fourth quarter in four games last season, and five of their losses were by eight points or fewer.

The Saints lost five games last year by a total of 13 points. If they find a way to get a defense ranked in the middle of the NFL, they win the NFC South.

The Lions are a long way from having a good defense. They’re going to play it soft and know the Saints are going to move the ball down the field. The key is playing well in the red zone.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

The Jaguars have rushed for 100-plus yards in 13 of 16 meetings against the Colts (152.5 rush yards per game against the Colts).

Best W-L in September
SINCE 2000

                       W-L
Colts               23-6
Broncos          22-10
Giants             19-11
Seahawks       19-11
Buccaneers    18-12

Peyton Manning is 11-4 career vs. the Jaguars with 29 TDs, 10 INTs since the start of the 1999 season (Manning’s second season).

Indy is struggling at left tackle with Tony Ugoh not working out. Charlie Johnson is now the starter. The Colts know they must give Johnson help in protection.

The challenge for the Jags will be with their two young offensive linemen, Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton, starting on the road against a very athletic Colts front.

Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens

M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, 82 degrees, 10-percent chance of rain

The Ravens are 52-20 at home since 2000, the third-best home record in the NFL behind only the Colts and Patriots. The Ravens were 6-2 at home last season.

APWill Cassel be able to play today?

The Chiefs should only play Matt Cassel if he’s healthy because they’ll need movement from the quarterback playing behind this line and against the Ravens’ front.

The Ravens will attack the Chiefs with everything as the Chiefs do not have the ability to challenge on the outside. Always rush five against a bad line, and the Ravens will attack this line.

Aaron Rodgers has made marked improvement for the Packers, but Joe Flacco has made similar improvement. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is now using more and more of the passing game. This makes the Ravens a dangerous offensive team and not one-dimensional at all.

Ray Rice of the Ravens is hard to tackle, and I expect him to play well against the Chiefs today.

Cameron can attack the secondary of the Chiefs. This is a bad matchup for the Chiefs, who have very little pass rush.

Fewest Sacks in 16-Game Season
SINCE 1960

'08 Chiefs       10<<
'81 Colts         13
'08 Bengals     17
'08 Browns      17

12 NFL players had at least 10 sacks in 2008

Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons

Georgia Dome, Atlanta

Miami is not all about the wildcat; the Dolphins can move the ball on offense as well.

Dolphins’ Offense by Formation 2008 Season

                          Wildcat         Other
Plays                     91<<           874
Yds. per Play        6.4               5.7
Yds. per Rush       6.1               3.8
TD                          8                 38
TD Pct.                   8.8              4.3

The Dolphins are very physical on both sides of the ball. They present a huge challenge to the Falcons’ offense and defense.

The Dolphins’ defense allowed just two offensive touchdowns this preseason.

Second-round rookie CB Sean Smith from Utah has earned a starting job after two INTs this preseason and has looked very impressive.

The Falcons were 8-0 last season when allowing 21 points or less and 3-5 when they allowed more than 21 points. They were 2-4 when John Abraham did not get a sack.

Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, 70 degrees, 20-percent chance of rain

Eric Mangini takes over a Browns team that was shut out in its final two games last season. The Browns ended last season with an NFL-record 24 consecutive quarters without an offensive TD. They haven’t scored an offensive TD since Jerome Harrison’s 72-yard TD run in the fourth quarter of their Nov. 17 win against the Bills.

APBrett Favre returns to the NFL today...again.

The Browns must throw the ball to run the ball in this game. Their offensive line can handle the power of the Vikings, and if they can catch the ball at wide, the Browns will throw the ball.

Last year, Brett Favre was the 31st worse quarterback in the NFL in completions of passes of over 20 yards.

The Browns had no offensive TDs in their final six games last season (all losses) and were held under 200 total yards in their final five games.

Philadelphia Eagles at Carolina Panthers

Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C., 86 degrees, 10-percent chance of rain

The Panthers are a big-play offense, run or pass. They must make big plays, and most of them will come from Steve Smith and DeAngelo Williams.

The Eagles must take Smith out of the game as the Panthers do not have a great second option. They have more blockers at wideout than they have playmakers, other than Smith.

The Panthers were third in rushing last season and second in red zone efficiency, converting 65.3 percent of their red zone opportunities into TDs.

The Panthers allowed over 30 points in five of their last seven games last year. All this talk about their lack of a run defense in the summer was justified, but they were bad last year down the stretch. They ranked 20th in the NFL in run defense in 2008.

The Eagles’ offensive line is not where it needs to be — yet. For the Panthers to win, they must find a way to create pressure from the edges. Julius Peppers and Everette Brown must play lights out.

I expect an explosive game as both defenses have not looked effective all summer.

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals

University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.

Turnovers were the key last year as the 49ers committed eight turnovers in their two meetings compared to no turnovers for the Cardinals.

APBeanie Wells

49ers starter Shaun Hill is 7-3 career as starter but just 2-3 on the road. He must protect the ball. The 49ers can’t give the Cards extra possessions.

The Cards will be able to run the ball from the spread formation, and Beanie Wells might be the key to their success. He’s a big back who can break tackles, but he needs to stay healthy.

The 49ers improved to 13th in total defense last season after ranking 25th in 2007 and 26th in 2006.

The Cardinals were 6-0 vs. the division last season and have won seven consecutive divisional games (they haven’t won eight divisional games in a row since 1975-76). The Cardinals are 14-4 at home, including playoffs, under coach Ken Whisenhunt.

St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks

Qwest Field, Seattle, 76 degrees, 10-percent chance of rain

Matt Hasselbeck is 8-3 career as a starter vs. the Rams with 16 TDs, 7 INTs. He has 10 TDs, 4 INTs in winning his last six starts vs. the Rams. Hasselbeck was impressive in the preseason: 71.7 completion percentage, 414 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT, 111.7 passer rating.

Protection will be the key for the Rams playing in noisy Qwest Field. They will struggle to run the ball and protect early in the game as they get used to the noise.

The Rams must find a way to play run defense this year. Last year, it was too easy to get rushing yards on them. Not sure if they have the talent to match up well.

Washington Redskins at New York Giants

Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J., 80 degrees, 20-percent chance of rain

Jason Campbell is 16-20 career as starter but 0-4 as a starter against the Giants. He was sacked four times in his last meeting vs. the Giants and was also the Redskins’ leading rusher in their last meeting (five rushes, 38 yards).

Giants Fast Starts

Under Tom Coughlin

                Started       Finished
2008           11-1             12-4
2007             6-2             10-6
2006             6-2               8-8
2005             6-2              11-5
2004             5-2              6-10

Coughlin: 51-36 as Giants head coach, including playoffs.

APThe Giants will need Bradshaw to make some plays today.

The Giants’ defensive line looks good on paper, but can it play well in this game against a suspect ‘Skins line?

Brandon Jacobs has 317 rushing yards in his last three games vs. the Redskins. Ahmad Bradshaw of the Giants might be a good change of pace in this game.

Santana Moss must find a way to make a big play in his game. The Redskins’ offense must find down-the-field throws to be able to score points. Moss has eight TDs in nine career games against the Giants.

Can the Giants’ receivers not drop the ball and, most importantly, run with the ball after the catch? Yards after the catch will be key.

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis, 80 degrees, 10-percent chance of rain

Jay Cutler will be the 23rd different starting quarterback for the Bears since 1990, most in the NFL. The Bears have not had a Pro Bowl QB since Jim McMahon in their 1985 Super Bowl season, the second-longest active drought in the NFL.

APCutler vs. Rodgers is must see T.V.

The Bears must get a good game from right tackle Chris Williams, who has to play better than he did this summer.

This is the second straight year the Bears are opening the season on Sunday night. The Bears statistically have the easiest schedule in 2009.

Devin Hester didn’t have a return for a touchdown last year, but he just needs to create field position for the Bears’ offense, not always score.

The Packers have wideouts who can run with the ball after the catch. This will stress the Bears’ secondary.

Whichever team’s defensive line plays well tonight will win. The defensive lines will control the game.

BOWEN’S BOAST....

“On any given Sunday any team can beat any other team.” -- Bert Bell, NFL commissioner, 1946-1959

Bell was the man behind the league office taking over the scheduling of games. Bell was also responsible for the NFL college draft, which started in 1936.

THOUGHTS FOR MATT “I LOVE ME SOME TEXANS” GAME

New York Jets at Houston Texans

Reliant Stadium, Houston, 87 degrees, 30-percent chance of rain

1. Losing Shaun Ellis and Calvin Pace will hurt the Jets’ pass rush in this game. Where will the pressure come from? Ellis had eight sacks and Pace seven; that’s 15 of the team’s 40 sacks.

APBowen needs a big day from Andre Johnson.

2. Darrelle Revis is playing as well as any cover man in the NFL. Why waste him on Andre Johnson? He needs to play over Kevin Walters and take him out of the game. The Jets’ secondary will have to have its best tackling game of the young season. It’s playing a team that doesn’t drop passes, ranking first in the NFL in that category and fourth in yards after the catch.

3. Too worlds collide, the Texans last year turned the ball over in the red area ranking 31st in the NFL and Rex Ryan always prided his defense on their ability to make plays in the RZ.

4. This game is all about protection. Can the Texans handle the pressure and protect? Last year when you blitzed the Texans, they ranked fifth in the NFL in quarterback rating against the blitz.

5. Baltimore under Rex Ryan held the Texans to 13 points last season. Texans was 6-2 at home last year. The Texans had 200 yards at the half. SageRosenfels was the starter and threw three interceptions in the second half. They had no running game whatsoever. The Game was 19-13 until the turnovers started.

6. The Texans are a bad tackling team in the secondary. Are they going to be able to get Leon Washington to the ground? Washington is the key to the Jets’ running game success. With Mark Sanchez, the Jets have to get ahead in the count in order to keep the pressure off. The Jets were the best team in the NFL last year gaining four yards rushing on first down; the Texans were the 31st in the NFL in allowing four-plus yards.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

“Attitude is the whole thing in football. Every team has the talent and the coaching. Motivation makes the difference. The teams that win stay healthy and interested.” -- Sid Gillman, Hall of Fame coach with the San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Rams and Houston Oilers

Down at Armour's Hotel, an historic building that boasts Tennessee's only mineral baths, the dinner bell was ringing. Up the hill at the football field, tears were flowing. Happy tears. On Aug. 21, Red Boiling Springs finally won a football game, ending a 61-game losing streak that dated to 2002.

This video tells the story of a town that had to overcome so much along with a seven-year losing streak.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

“The greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.” -- Vince Lombardi, Hall of Fame coach with the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins

“The Official Vince Lombardi Playbook: * His Classic Plays & Strategies * Personal Photos & Mementos * Recollections from Friends & Former Players,” by Phil Barber

I’m often asked and flattered by the question if I’m any relation to Vince Lombardi. I am not related to Coach Lombardi, but he has been my lifelong inspiration in my love of the game. I have read and reread every book on him that has ever come out and might shed some light on his life. I have been to his home in Green Bay with Ernie Accorsi, where the woman who occupied the home was so kind that she actually invited us in for the grand tour. (I wanted to see the basement, where all the parties after home games were held for the staff.)

This book by Phil Barber is one of the best I’ve ever seen. It’s a walk down memory lane with actual notes and writing from the coach. Never-seen photos of his life and never-seen notes of his teaching methods make this book rare and a must for any Lombardi fan. I love it. Go to the link above to learn more.

Product Description from the Publisher

APThe great Vince Lombardi

Vince Lombardi was notorious for his inability to throw anything away. What that means to fans of one of football’s greatest figures finally comes together in “The Vince Lombardi Playbook” — an unprecedented collection of intimate photos; colorful reflections from players who honed their skills under Lombardi; personal mementos; and an array of his handwritten speeches, personal letters, scouting reports and photos of players.

Above all, “The Vince Lombardi Playbook” highlights the plays that made the Packers great: the feared power sweep, the halfback option pass, the textbook traps, the risky third-and-short passes and many others. Featured in diagrams in Lombardi’s original hand, with accompanying terminology and notations, these archival gems form an all-access pass onto the field and into the mind of a legend.

Americans yearn for a more simple era, when athletes made news for their sporting accomplishments, not their arrests or congressional testimony. Most sports fans are equally nostalgic for the on-field simplicity of those days. Paying homage to a legend, “The Vince Lombardi Playbook” will be treasured by fans as an irresistible piece of history.

LEADERSHIP IMPROVEMENT IDEA

“Sure, luck means a lot in football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck.” -- Don Shula, Hall of Fame coach with the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins

ARTICLES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THAT AREN’T WORTH MISSING

“My philosophy? Simplicity plus variety.” -- Hank Stram, Hall of Fame coach with the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints

Arnold Palmer “Go for it Greatness”

The Lesson of Chuck Noll by Elizabeth Merrill. Great read.

COMMENT OF THE WEEK FROM THE POST

“The biggest thrill wasn't in winning on Sunday but in meeting the payroll on Monday.” -- Art Rooney, Hall of Fame founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers

"I don't suppose the plan is for Cable to knock some sense into Seymour."

From "Mary S" posted on the story "Raiders place Seymour on left squad list"

STORIES TO SHARE

“One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive. No matter who you are or what your position is, you must keep fighting for whatever it is you desire to achieve.” -- George Allen, Hall of Fame coach with the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins

The Super Bowl…. Mark Matteson (mattesonavenue.com)

A father of a five-year-old boy sat down with a big bowl of chips and dip to watch his favorite sporting event of the year: the Super Bowl. Halfway through the second quarter, his young son was bored with his books and began asking the kinds of questions little boys ask: “Why do they wear helmets?” “Does anyone die in this game?” “When is this over?” “Can we go to the park?”

The father soon realized that he would not get to watch the game in peace unless he could find something constructive and challenging for his precocious son to do.

He looked down to see a copy of the New York Times with a map of the world covering an entire page. He reached for some scissors and cut the large page into hundreds of pieces. He handed his son a roll of tape, the cut up newspaper, and said in a warm and empowering tone, “Show Daddy how smart you are. Put this puzzle of the world together. I will time you!” He smiled to himself, knowing full well his son loved a challenge and would not stop until he finished the project. He also knew he would get to enjoy the game in peace and quiet.

Before the fourth quarter began, his son came back into the room with a self-satisfied grin on his face. The map was all taped together, not particularly neat, but a fine job for one so young. A little surprised, he asked his son, “How did you put it together so fast?” The son, obviously proud of his accomplishment and sensing his father’s appreciation, stated, “Oh, it was easy, Dad; there was a man on the other side. When I put the man together, the world was all together.”

The son was surprised by the big hug his dad gave him, followed by the declaration, “That’s right son; when the man is all together, his world is all together automatically.”

That’s a good lesson for all of us to remember.

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