National Football Post Diner News

10 Dec 2008

QUOTE:  “Knowing Yourself ...We also seldom know what gifts we are not endowed with. We will have to learn where we belong, what we have to learn to get the full benefit from our strengths, where our weaknesses lie, what our values are. We also have to know ourselves temperamentally: "Do I work well with people, or am I a loner? What am I committed to? And what is my contribution?"  Peter Drucker

FROM DAN STEINBERG OF THE WASHINGTON POST…So we officially have a chemistry problem. Clinton Portis unloaded on Jim Zorn during today's John Thompson Show appearance, over and over again. He swore, he suggested maybe he should go on the injured reserve, he offered to become a cheerleader, and he said this, when asked what adjustments should be made." We got a genius for a head coach, I don't know, I'm sure he on top of things. He's got everything figured out. Hey, that's up to him. All I can do is when he calls a play is go out and try to execute to the best of my ability." And then later, on the big picture, he had this to say: "I don't know where it went wrong, all I know is it's going wrong. So, you know, maybe I'm the problem. Maybe I'm the problem since I don't practice, since I'm the only person that don't practice and come out and play and try to give it what I've got, maybe I'm the problem. So I might need to be on IR." Zorn's response, an hour later, to Portis' claims that he was benched? "Well, any time you don't go in, that's the way you feel," Zorn said. "And he is a big part of our offense and he's sitting on the bench, he's got to feel like he's benched, I don't blame him for that." And Zorn on the IR question: "No, I think he's gotten himself healthy, I think he felt a lot better after this game and I'm looking forward to having him out there on every snap, practicing [and] getting ready for the Cincinnati Bengals so we can use him as our every down back." And lastly, Zorn on the practice issue: "It wasn't that we weren't getting the running ability, he was doing great things, his effort was high. He would tell you this and I agree with him wholeheartedly, that when he is playing the game he's giving you his best effort and I've said this over and over again, he's very wicked on the playing field, he's what you want....Each week I felt like in certain parts of the game he was getting out on routes but it wasn't exact and quick. And I thought, 'OK, here's an opportunity for us to get Ladell in, who HAS practiced.' And he knows it just because he's rehearsed it and rehearsed it. I think [Portis is] a confident player and he would believe he can do it without reps, I just made the decision not to give him that chance.

This is going to be a defining moment in the head coaching career of Jim Zorn -- how he handles Clinton Portis and how the team sees him handle Clinton Portis.  Everyone will be watching the situation.  Zorn cannot be happy with his offense; he has scored one more point than the Detroit Lions this season, and that is not what he was brought into Washington to do.  The classic West Coast version of offense that Zorn runs is not going to fool or confuse anyone.  The play calls, as one coach told me last week, read like an open book from down and distance.  This might work for Mike Holmgren, who has won a Super Bowl, but a new coach has to insert his own spin and flare into the offense. 

This outburst by Portis is, on one hand, self-indulgent. On the other, it sends a message that not everyone is buying into Zorn’s version of the West Coast offense.  Portis is being self-indulgent by letting everyone know the failure of the offense does not rest at his feet, and the fact he was willing to expose his feeling in public heightens the unrest that must be going on in the building.  I could sense from watching the game the other night that the interaction between Zorn and offensive line coach Joe Bugel was a little testy just before the half.  In fact, I even texted our man Ray Gustini to ask his thoughts.  Zorn has to be direct and honest with Portis, and he cannot think that not playing him will send a message.  Zorn must send the message directly and must get control of his team right now.   This kind of bickering is not good for the Skins; it might be good for GM Vinny Cerrato’s radio show, but it’s not good for winning a championship. 

FROM TOM KOWALSKI OF THE DETROIT MILIVE.COM…It is a testament to the dire nature of the Lions’ defense that veteran cornerback Brian Kelly could be "good' enough to start 10 games for the team and then get cut with just three games to play.  Kelly had started eight straight games before getting benched and not playing a single down against the Minnesota Vikings. Kelly was one of many disappointing free agent signings this season and it was a costly mistake by the Lions, who are believed to have paid Kelly more than $4 million this season (Kelly had signed a three-year deal in the off-season). Kelly did not have an interception this year and, according to team stats, knocked down just one pass. The Lions did not give a reason why Kelly was released. On Monday, Kelly said he didn't have any answers for his benching and that all questions should be directed toward the coaching staff. Kelly's release leaves the Lions thin at the cornerback position. Travis Fisher is expected to continue starting for Kelly and that leaves just two backups -- Keith Smith, who has missed the last four games with a groin injury, and second-year player Ramzee Robinson, who has very little experience.  Smith said Monday that he's hoping to practice on Wednesday, but doesn't know how close to 100 percent he could be by Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts.

I think, when you want to know how not to build a team in any phase, look at the 2008 Detroit Lions.  There is much to learn from studying this team, and sometimes the lessons of what not to do are as powerful as the ones that teach what you should do.  The Lions as an organization bought into the whole Rod Marinelli concept of “I need my guys to win,” not “I need good players to win.”  The talent of the players was not a concern. The prevailing factor in making personnel decisions was attitude and knowledge of the system.  Everyone in the front office shares the burden of putting this plan into action.  Loyalty does not mean you just nod and take orders. Loyalty is a willingness to share you opinion and be brave enough to stand up for your beliefs.  Clearly, no one in the Lions’ front office stopped Rod from bringing in these players.  All they probably said was, ‘Hey, the head coach wants this guy, and he coached him. Let’s bring him in.’ And that’s how you end up in this mess.  That’s why you trade a dominating defensive lineman like Shawn Rogers so you can play Chuck Darby. 

FROM NICK WILLIAMS OF THE TAMPA TRIBUNE…Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant's career night at Carolina sent a message to opposing teams, and perhaps his own organization. He's the established go-to guy. With nine catches, Bryant pulled in 200 receiving yards and two touchdowns, including a one-handed grab as he was diving into the end zone in the fourth quarter. Veteran receiver Joey Galloway, meanwhile, did not play Monday. Today, Coach Jon Gruden said Bryant's success has diminished Galloway's impact on the offense. The two play the same position, split end, and Gruden is not about to take Bryant out of the lineup. Using both at the same time, Gruden said, is not a good option, either. "It sounds easy, sounds achievable, but Joey is not the kind of guy right now, in my opinion, that's comfortable coming off the bench and playing 18 to 20 plays a game," Gruden said. "He's a guy who functions better when he's playing. Being a third receiver, a guy who comes in and plays situationally, is not for everybody. It's something he's never done. It's hard." Bryant, 27, is in his sixth season. Galloway, 37, is in his 14th and hasn't played much this season because of a variety of injuries that have plagued him since the end of 2007.

I don’t think anyone in the NFL is surprised by the success and talent Antonio Bryant has displayed this year, but what I am sure most are surprised about is that he has not had any off-the-field problems.  Bryant is not a bad guy, but he has had some emotional issues to manage, and those problems have crossed the lines and affected his career.  But his talent has always been top rated.   I would think, though, that at some point in the next few weeks the Bucs are going to need Joey Galloway to make a contribution and make plays.  His speed and his play-making ability are needed in this offense, and as teams start to press and mix it up with Bryant, the ball will need to go somewhere else.  And as good as Bryant looks, there is always the possibility he might have a slight meltdown.  I hope Bryant keeps it going, but I would not put Galloway out to pasture just yet. 

FROM MARK CURNUTTE OF THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER…In losing 34-3 to Baltimore and 35-3 at Indianapolis, the Bengals have lost two games in a row by 30 points for the first time in 41 years as a franchise, the Elias Sports Bureau confirmed Tuesday. In losing by 31 and 32 points, the Bengals also narrowly escaped setting the franchise record for the most lopsided loss, which is 37 points. Chicago defeated the Bengals 44-7 in 1986, and the Bengals lost at Baltimore 37-0 in Week 3 of the 2000 season. The 2008 Bengals will play host Sunday to the Washington Redskins, who, at 7-6, are hoping to win out in their final three games and sneak into the NFC playoff field. The Bengals, now 1-11-1, were the first AFC team eliminated from playoff contention. That honor was bestowed before Thanksgiving. On Nov. 30, in the loss to the Ravens, the 2008 Bengals team became the 16th in franchise history to lose double-digit games in one season. The game Sunday against the Redskins is the final one of the season for the Bengals against an NFC team.

What worries you, if you are a Bengals fan, is not the bad offense but whether the team will understand what it needs to do to be better next year.  And the comment, “We will be better once we get Carson back” is not the right viewpoint.  They have to understand there are many problems to attack, and the more they correctly identify those problems, the quicker they can come back.  Palmer is critical, but focusing on just Palmer is not the right thing to do.  Palmer needs help around him to utilize his talents.  The Bengals must be aggressive and attack these problems because once Palmer is healthy and ready, the team will move the ball if it has more talent. 

FROM RICH CIMINI OF THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS…Incorporating some of Auerbach's philosophy into his own job, Tannenbaum took wheeling and dealing to a new level, bringing in Brett Favre, Kris Jenkins & Co. At 8-3, he looked like a candidate for NFL Executive of the Year, but with two straight losses, the landscape has changed.  Red-like or red-faced? For Tannenbaum, the verdict will be rendered over the next 18 days.  The $160 million project, the amount doled out for Favre and The Big Four, will be deemed a failure if the Jets don't make the playoffs. Asked point-blank Tuesday if he agreed with that assessment, Tannenbaum paused. "I'm trying to think of the best way to put this," he began. "Right now, we're in the middle of a really competitive division. At the end of the year, we'll look back at all the acquisitions and assess what we did well and what we could've done better."  Another try: Is it a playoffs-or-bust mentality, considering you moved heaven and earth (and Chad Pennington) to acquire a 39-year-old future Hall of Famer?  "The way we've built our team -- obviously, Brett's situation was pretty unique -- but with the players we've acquired, we're trying to keep the team together as long as possible," Tannenbaum said. "This is an important season, but so is 2009 and 2010. We're looking for sustained success."

I have read much of Red Auerbach’s work, and being around former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi taught me much about how Auerbach approached the team.  Accorsi loved to study GMs from other sports, and he would take bits and pieces from each and blend them into his own. Each day, working with Ernie would be a lesson in leadership and team building.   I am not sure the 2008 $160-million project of the Jets would remind anyone of the style of teams that Auerbach liked to assemble.  Auerbach had a keen eye for personnel (do you think he would have drafted Vernon Gholston?). He knew how to find talent and did not want to overpay for talent as the Jets have done this year.  There is no doubt that this Jets team has to be the Jets team for 2009 and 2010 because of all the committed cash they have guaranteed in player contracts.  And there is no running or hiding from those deals.  As bad as Alan Faneca has played the past few weeks, he is on the team for the next two years.  Keeping a team together is not the objective.  Keeping a winning team together with a young quarterback is the right objective.  And for all the money the Jets have spent this year, are they really better off?  The next three weeks won’t determine this answer, but the next 24 months will.  In this economy, I am sure even Woody Johnson, the owner of the Jets, is wondering the same thing about how he spent his money.    My favorite Red quote by the way: “I get my information from looking, not talking.” 

FROM DAVID HAUGH OF THE CHICAGO SUN TIMES…Play the percentages, Lovie. Even if the Bears plotted and planned every waking hour up until kickoff, nothing defensive coordinator Bob Babich devises will confuse Brees. That is more of a compliment to Brees and the NFL's No. 1 passing offense than a criticism of the Bears' staff. The Bears have proven they can concoct defensive schemes to slow down running backs. They can't say the same thing about quarterbacks, especially one such as Brees, who is the most dangerous on their schedule.

Brees is foolproof, and the proof is in the fools he has made out of defensive coaches who have tried to get too clever.  He blunts blitzes with quick releases that make it hard for the front four to create pressure. He is a master of spotting disguised coverages and checking into the right plays or choosing the right receivers.  "He likes to look off safeties and he's athletic enough to buy himself some time," free safety Kevin Payne said. "Unlike a lot of guys, he looks safeties off at the top of his drop and most guys do it on the way to their drops." Why devote too much time, energy or personnel trying to impede the inevitable?  On a night when conditions will be less than ideal even for the best of passing games, the Bears need to keep one of those safeties Brees likes to look off in the box most of the game. Give Brees his yards and let him dink-and-dunk his way into the Bears record book. Stay deep as the deepest and wide as the widest in the Cover-2. Under no circumstances should the Bears overcommit to blitzes or coverage at the expense of letting the Saints' running game provide the knockout blow. "With Drew Brees and that rushing attack, it's pick your poison," Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said.

I agree. When you play the Saints, you have to play a front and coverage that forces them to want to run the ball, and then play the run very well.  This is done with sound tackling and knowing how the Saints like to run the ball.  You cannot allow them to have their cake and eat it too.  You have to make this game in cold weather be more about the passing game, then the run game.  The Saints will struggle to catch in the cold, and they will have some breakdowns with their offensive line because of crowd noise.  The Bears cannot cover and expect to win the game, but they can rush and put pressure on Brees and make him hurry his throws.  But what happened last week was the Falcons allowed the Saints to have success with all their nickel runs, and this is not the right formula to beat the Saints.  Don’t commit to the run in design, but commit to stopping the run with tackling and a physical presence.   

FROM ROB DEMOVSKY OF GREEN BAY PRESS GAZETTE…Del Rio’s verbiage was similar a day after his team’s 23-10 loss at Chicago, but instead of talking in terms of “gap control,” Del Rio spoke of “eye violations.” “Some of the shortcomings we have defensively, we must have guys with disciplined eyes on what they’re supposed to see,” Del Rio said. “Everybody going together and reacting based on their assignment, and then it comes down to a matter of ability. When we have done that and played with good eyes and understand where we belong, I think we’ve been pretty good. When we haven’t, we’ve allowed some easy plays.” Like the Packers with Aaron Rodgers, the Jaguars went into the season pinning their offensive hopes on a young quarterback. After dumping veteran Byron Leftwich shortly before the start of last season, David Garrard led the Jaguars to the playoffs in his first full season as a starter. The Jaguars rewarded Garrard with a six-year, $60-million contract extension. But the Jaguars have been, in Del Rio’s words, “inept” offensively. They have been outscored 104-30 in their last 3½ games. Despite a respectable running game with the combination of veteran Fred Taylor and up-and-comer Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jaguars rank 21st in total offense. Garrard ranks 22nd with a passer rating of 80.9 and has 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions after throwing 18 touchdowns and only three interceptions last season, when his rating was 102.2. The Jaguars have had problems off the field, too. Receiver Matt Jones, who has a team-high 65 catches and 761 yards, was charged with cocaine possession in July and on Tuesday was suspended by the league for the final three games of the season. Near the end of training camp, backup left tackle Richard Collier was shot 14 times and left partially paralyzed.

I cannot think of a team that is going to have a harder off-season than the Jags.  They have so many internal issues, from coaching to players to their front office, that they will need someone who can help the owner make the right decisions.  Again, money and this economy will determine what course of action they take as they have a committed to Del Rio for the next three years at a high number.  They have moved Gene Smith, their former college director, into a bigger role and have phased out the role of former GM James Harris.  The Jags have to get to the bottom of their real problems.   It may be expensive to fire Del Rio, but if there are no other viable solutions, they will have to make that decision.  Money cannot make decisions, for players or coaches; fixing the real problems has to be the main deciding factor.  Because right now the team is not listening to him and has zero desire to play for him.  These problems have to be analyzed, and no decisions can be made until all the facts are in.  But one fact is clear: Del Rio and his team hate each other. 

FROM DAVE HYDE OF THE SUN SENTINEL…Legendary Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino called his father his "hero" in a simple funeral mass held Tuesday morning at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Davie. About 1,000 people attended the ceremony, including several generations of Dolphins players and officials from Bob Griese and Tim Robbie through current general manager Jeff Ireland. "He was a real down-to-earth, caring person," said former Dolphins receiver Mark Duper after the ceremony. "He used to come and joke with us all the time." Marino Sr.'s children and grandchildren participated in the mass.  “No offense, Coach Shula, but my dad was the best coach I've ever had," Marino said with a smile while looking at Shula in the front row. Marino Sr. died of cancer Saturday at his Weston home. He was 71.

That is too young to die, and I am sure the entire Marino family feels a great sense of loss.  We here at the Post want to send out condolences to the Marino family.  Dan is a great person, great player and, by his choice of words to honor his father, obviously a great son. 

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