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Eight in the Box

Every Friday I give you a different perspective on the week's top stoires in the NFL. Today: The Cowboy bandwagon, Tommie Harris goes to the Third Person, Ryan Grant, Holiday Leftovers, and more. Matt Bowen

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Every Friday I bring you a different perspective on the weeks top stories. Eight topics to think about as you pound down turkey sandwiches and left-over pumpkin pie... WEEK 13 EIGHT: Another Lion Beating- I'm not quite sure if this is a relevant story anymore, but I had to turn off the Lions' game in the second quarter yesterday. I was not going to subject subject my family to a garbage performance like that. I didn't think it could get any worse, and judging by the empty seats, it is safe to say that Lions' fans didn't either. Was that really Drew Henson playing QB at the end of the game? SEVEN: Take That Andy- Well, we know Donovan McNabb had a nice holiday after watching his Eagles beat down the Cardinals last night in Philly. Four TD passes folks. Now, we can listen to how this was all part of the Eagles plan to "light a fire under McNabb." Please, this was all about Donovan sticking it right back in the face of the guys wearing the expensive suits and Andy Reid. Loved it. SIX: Third Person Tommie- With questions starting to pop up about Bears DT Tommie Harris' recent performance, and his $40 Million dollar contract, Mr. Harris did what every pro athlete does--he went into the third person (T.O. style) when discussing his performance in a game two years ago. "That was vintage Tommie," Harris told The Chicago Sun Times. The only thing Bears' fans want to hear is your name being called over the PA system at Soldier Field for making a play--which has become "vintage" as well. FIVE: Role Model- Reportedly Broncos' WR Brandon Marshall is taking the "right steps" by seeking out advice for both on and off the field siutations from former Cowboy Michael Irvin. Are you kidding me? Off the field advice from Mike Irvin? I heard Robert Downey, Jr is available for one-on-one talks as well, in case the Irvin deal doesn't work out. FOUR: Cowboy Bandwagon- Yes, 8-4 is a solid record at this point in the season for the Cowboys, but let's slow that train down a little bit. Have you seen their remaining schedule folks? Steelers, Giants, Ravens, and Eagles. So, all you Cowboys fans that want to punch your tickets to Tampa take notice, becasue you can't play the Niners and Seahawks every week. It might be a long stretch for the 'Boys next month. THREE: Call For Help- Reportedly the Packers' coaching staff is now asking Ryan Grant to step it up down the stretch in Green Bay. My question: what took you guys so long? I might be going out on a limb here, but when you give a guy a multi-million dollar signing bonus--you expect him to "step it up" in August. Not in December--when you are desperate. TWO: Guarantee Game- The Steelers' Anthony Smith is back at it again. I guess he doesn't learn. The Pittsburgh Free Safety "guaranteed" another win against the Patriots--just like he did last year when he was brutalized by Tom Brady and friends. Guarantees in sports are cheapened because of guys like this--who have six total tackles on the season. Its one thing to hear this from Troy Polamalu ( who makes big plays), but when you are a role guy like I was, just shut your mouth and do your job. That always worked for me. ONE: Leftovers- Today is a great day to stand at the kitchen counter and dip some day-old turkey into a jar of mayo with one hand and sip on a cold Budweiser in the other. Heck, doing that yesterday would have worked as well. How bad were those games? So bad, that I found myself watching Its a Wonderful Life during the Eagles-Cards game last night. Thanksgiving letdown from the NFL.

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Rich Beckman
Nov 28, 2008
11:25 AM

LOL!

Yeah, Grant. If only you'd rushed for 83 more yards the Saints would've been toast!!!


Are they planning to play him at linebacker??

Kevin
Nov 28, 2008
01:41 PM

Funny how much better McNabb looks at
home, vs a crappy coverage unit w/ a
fairly healthy Westy and a rounding-
into-shape-and-able-to-seperate WR in
Curtis.

As for Tommie Harris, I just have to
shake my head. That kid showed up in
Norman, OK as a mature beyond his
years, not quite yet 18 yr old
man-child and was dominant from day
one. He's got so much physical talent
it's ridiculous.

Here's hoping he figures out to pull
his head out of his a$$, realizes that
winning is what counts and starts
using it again.

b roo
Nov 28, 2008
02:11 PM

By all accounts Irvin has really turned his life around. Sometimes it takes somebody who has been there and turned it around to get through to people in a similar situation. There are several counselors, pastors and ministers who have been to prison and been into crime who help others out once they've gotten their life straightened out. Irvin used his HOF acceptance speech as a chance to make an act of contrition, which he certainly didn't have to do in that forum. Cut him a little slack. As far as the bandwagon; click-clack, click-clack, here it comes....

b roo
Nov 28, 2008
08:31 PM

Wow, this thread died really early! I did my best to stir the pot and got nothing. Bowen can get 10,000 hits on an article and on this article the comments die at 3?! Surprising.

Jerry in Texas
Nov 28, 2008
08:43 PM

OK- from the top: the Lions stink. Again. Why? What is Miami doing right that Detroit seems unable to do?
I thought the McNabb commentary, where McNabb was getting back at Reid and the suits was pretty funny- then I remembered, I'm a Packers fan, and, perhaps, an ex-GB QB is doing just that.
On Harris- seems lately that if the Bears extend a player, the player goes into early retirement.
I'll stop at the Cowboys- expect them to post a losing record and a one-and done IF they make the playoffs. Its been their December/January pattern the last few years.

Matt Bowen
Nov 28, 2008
10:00 PM

Holidays B Roo!!! I've been drinking Bud Heavies all day with the family...

We will pick up the Cowboy talk again on Monday....

Hugh
Nov 28, 2008
10:36 PM

Drew Henson was playing QB at the end of the game? Wow, it must have been the tryptophan in the turkey, I thought it was Jim Henson!

Hugh
Nov 28, 2008
10:36 PM

Drew Henson was playing QB at the end of the game? Wow, it must have been the tryptophan in the turkey, I thought it was Jim Henson!

b roo
Nov 28, 2008
11:21 PM

Hope everybody had a great holiday. Don't pick on any of the HOF Triplets. Romo4MVP may be sleeping but I've got their back!

Scott M.
Nov 29, 2008
09:59 AM

RE: Lions. I watched more of this game than I'd care to admit in public. Was kinda like watching a really bad car accident, some times, you just can't look the other way. I truely hope they pull off the 0-16 this year so they'll go down in history because this is the worst team I can recall having ever seen hit a field. Can't run, can't catch, can't throw, can't tackle, can't block - but they have a good kicker, HOF-caliber no less! Marinelli as an HC is an absolute joke - they could grab a random body out of the stands and probably get comparable results. It ain't a wonder Culpepper ended up here - it's the only team in the league he could start for this year, he isn't even a shadow of his former self.

This team is bad on an epic scale... Front to back, top to bottom. Never in NFL history has badness ever been this complete.

Scott M.
Nov 29, 2008
10:24 AM

RE: McNabb - this game emphasizes the key problem with McNabb in Philly. It's not that he CAN'T play well. It's that more often than not, he doesn't.

mark
Nov 29, 2008
03:23 PM

Packers staff has been slow making adjustments all year. Grants lack of production has more to do with a inconsistent offensive line then anything.

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