NFL Picks of a Thoughtful Fool, Week 17 - Page 5

Other Notes

• In the likely instance that the Bengals don't make the post-season, they have the special torture of being able to point to one single moment that cost them their berth. No, it's not fair or accurate but there it is. When Brad St. Louis looks in the mirror, Bill Buckner is looking back. Worse still, that final drive for the touchdown was one of the finest I have ever seen. Carson Palmer must feel like a guy who is about to score with one of the hottest chicks ever, only to have some dweeb interrupt to say her Mom called and said she had to come home 'cause it's a school night.

• Speaking of the Bengals, they recently put former Iowa State defensive lineman Jason Berryman through an exploratory workout. Berryman sat out the 2004 season as he was serving 6 months in jail for theft and assault. The Bengals should be a perfect fit.

• Did the Bears sleep through the Lions game? Normally I'd say yes, but it turns out their performance fits a disturbing trend. From Aaron Schatz, DVOA Poobah:

The Bears had an above-average defensive DVOA in every single game until three weeks ago. Not only have they had below-average defense for three straight weeks, but each game is worse than the previous one.

Like I said last week, they are a very beatable top seed.

• Miami played Chet Lemon at QB in the second half Monday night (that's a joke for any old Detroiters) and will likely start him on Sunday. If he plays well, speculation is that either Harrington or Culpepper will need to update his resume.

• Tom Coughlin is a disaster. This guy is world renowned disciplinarian, whose team plays like a Madden team controlled by a spastic. It's been obvious for a while now that he is unclear on the difference between disciplined and draconian, and he usually gets it wrong. This contributes to the bad atmosphere and sniping on the team. But this business of replacing the offensive coordinator in Week 17 is beyond the pale.

There are two things to say about this. One, it smacks of desperation. He's bet his remaining bankroll on one spin of the wheel. If the Giants win he can go before the Giant higher-ups and plead for his job saying he figured out the problems and he's ready to win next year. Accorsi or Casserly or whoever happens to be GM, would be an idiot to buy that, but what does he have to lose?

Article Author: David Mazzotta

David Mazzotta is author of the comic novels Apple Pie and Business as Usual.

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