Kaspers Korner

The Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones tend to spend money like it is water to improve the team.  They even find ways during the season to keep spending.

The Cowboys announced that it has extended offensive tackle Marc Colombo.  The deal is for four years for $22 million, and $11.5 million in guaranteed money.

It is a good thing to resign players, especially offensive, or defensive, lineman.  However, the Cowboys keep sticking bandaids on a wound that needs stiches.

Their problem is clearly their head coach Wade Phillips.  Phillips is too soft, and friendly with his players. 

When their were rumours, and acqusations, flying around the locker room, and in the press Phillips did not take control of the situation by laying down the law, and telling the players that were opening their mounth to knock it off.  What he did is blame the media for blowing things way out of proportion.

However, we are talking about Phillips, and he is one of the worst coaches in the league when it comes to dealing with problems. 

Until Jones comes to his sense, and fires Phillips, the Cowboys will be self destructive, and not get far in the playoffs.  That is if they even make it in the playoffs.

The Miami Dolphins are one win away from completing a amazing turn around from their 1-15 record last year.  So, many people are now wondering what is the key to Miami’s success?

The Dolphins turn around by many experts look at the signings of Chad Penninton as the main catalyst to their turn around.  However, the key to the turn around is the Dolphin’s head coach Tony Sparano.

The Dolphins hired Bill Parcells in the offseason to lead the Dolphins turn around in the front office.  Parcells then hired someone that he was familiar with, which turned out to be one of the best hires of the season in Sparano.

The Dolphins are tough physically, and mentally, which is a image of their head coach. That is the key to success in any franchise as the team mirror’s the mental characteristics of its head coach.

A team can have loads of talent, but are not going to use it all if they are not pushed to do so.  People get lazy, because after a while of working so hard even players want to sit back, and relax.

The football season is long, and grueling as players are working six days a week.  Five of them preparing, and the game itself.  If a coach does not set standards, and push his players, then the coach will lose.

The best example of this is the Buffalo Bills.  Before the season they were picked to sneak in the playoffs.  They even looked like a sure thing after starting the season 5-1, but head Dick Juaron does not push his players, and it shows as they looks soft at times.

The Dolphins will most likely make the playoffs, because they simply have a that will push them to their limits, and beyond.

The New York Jets were the toast of the league half way through the regular season, and then the wheels fell off the bus.  Now, it looks like the New York media is starting to make things ugly for the Jets.

The media is questioning two things about the Jets.  First, that if there is something wrong with the shoulder of Brett Farve.  Secondly, if head coach Eric Mangini, and general manager Mike Tannenbaum will be back next year for the team.

Farve has seemed to have lost strength in his arm, and when asked about it has not denied that notion at all.  He went on to stated that if there is something wrong with it, then it would be taken care of in the offseason.

That is the problem with Farve.  He is stubborn, and bullheaded.  Instead of finding out what is wrong, and then getting it taken care of he put things off till the offseason.

The reason for that is he simply does not want to end his consecutive game streak.  That clearly shows his true colors.

Owner Woody Johnson stated last March that both Mangini, and Tannenbaum will be back for 2009.  The reason being that he believes it takes tim to rebuild a team.

That notion was thrown out the window when the Jets blew a lot of money in free agency last year.  They are a win now team, and looks like they will most likely miss the playoffs.

It will take a miracle for them to get in.  The Jets are beat up, and go up against their division rival Miami Dolphins, which will be a hard game to win with the way they are playing.

The media is right if the Jets do not make the playoffs, then both Mangini, and Tannenbaum, should be fired. 

However, the owner is remaining silent for now, but that will not remain for long if the Jets do not make it.

Rumours have been flying around about former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher’s return to the National Football League.  The Steelers did the classy thing by announcing that they will not block his return to the NFL.

Cowher had one year left on his contract when he retired from the NFL.  When a coach tries to return to the NFL most teams want compensation, because the coach had time remaining on his contract.

It was unexpected, but very good news none the less.  Cowher served his one year out of football, and the Steelers have found a very good head coach to replace him in Mike Tomlin.

With the Steelers announcing that they will not block Cowher’s return the next two questions are when, and for how much.

Most likely his return would be for complete control over the football operations of the team.  Also, with the likes of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and Washinton Redskins owner Dan Snyder needing better head coaches Cowher could command of the likes of $10 million from a desperate club that wants to win.

However, according to Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney his return will most likely be sometime after 2009. 

Cowher and Rooney still have a good relationship, and talk very frequently.  His return has come up in talks between the two, and he has stated to Rooney that he is very happy with what he does.

Most likely Cowher has realized that what is more important than football is family.  You only get once to watch your kids growup, and with Cowher winning a Superbowl, he is most likely taking the time to be with his family.

Also, he is a involved on Sunday’s still by being in the studio crew on CBS.  That for now is most likely fullfilling his craving for football.

One day Cowher will return to the NFL, but that will not be likely for another couple of years.

The New England Patriots face the Buffalo Bills to close out the regular season.  The Patriots may have owned them for most of this decade, but this upcoming Sunday they better come more readier than ever.

Wide receiver Lee Evans on his radio show was asked how important is the upcoming game against the Patriots.  Evans responded that it is very important for several reasons, and agreed with host Jeremy White that one of them is to eliminate them from the playoffs.

The Bills are growing weary of their constant losing to the Patriots.  Also, they are looking to send a message that they are a serious team to contend with next year. 

The Patriots defense has been decimated with injuries.  Since the Patriots and Bills last played each other on November 9th the Patriots also lost linebackers Teddy Bruschi and Adalius Thomas.

Simply, the Patriots better come with their best game, because if they do not they are going to possibly lose.

Ralph Wilson might be getting heavily criticized for his judgement, and cheapness, when it comes to head coaches.  However, it is starting to come clear that they have the right guy to give the Bills the players they need to get back to the playoffs.

The Bills may have a little bit of a different structure to their front office, since they do not have a general manager.  However, their system is just right considering who is running the scouting of players, and the draft.

It has been proven that the most important part of the National Football League offseason is not free agency, or June first, when players that are cut salary can be prorated over two years, but is the National Football League Draft.

It was revealed today on WGR in an interview with Associated Press’s John Wawrow that Wilson has leaned on Tom Modrak more and more.  Which, has lead to Modrak becoming a key member of Wilson’s inner circle.

In the interview it was also revealed that Modrak really liked quarterback Jay Cutler, but the Bills had Losman at the time.  That has proven to be a fatal move by the Bills.

At the time Marv Levy was the general manager, and with new general managers comes dumping of players that they do not believe in.  However, the Bills decided to pass on Cutler, and took safety Donte Whitner.

This news should anger Bills fans even more, eventhough the Bills look to have a good quarterback in Trent Edwards.  The reason is that at that time many fans were clamoring for the Bills to take Matt Leinart.

However, the past is the past, and Bills fans should leave it be.  What Bills fans should be looking at is there should be a renewed confidence in the scouting staff of the Bills.

Especially, when next year comes around as my gut is telling me that two second day picks will play much larger roles, and be future impact players. 

The first being fourth rounder cornerback Reggie Corner.  Corner in his limited action seems to be able to hold his own, and could make starting cornerback Jabari Greer dispensible.

The another is wide receiver Steve Johnson.  Johnson in the last couple of weeks has seen more action, because wide receiver James Hardy tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the beginning of their game against the New York Jets.

The last is tight end Derek Fine.  Fine missed  a lot of the earlier part of the season with an injury.  Since then Fine has see the field a lot, and has seem to become a dependable asset in the running game with his blocking.

It will be a couple of years before we truly know that Modrak taking over full control of the draft was the best thing.  However, there have been to many good players coming in, since former general manager Tom Donahoe was run out of town.

The Buffalo Bills played two months of uninspired football before last Sunday’s game.  Hopefully, the whole team learned a lesson after the win.

That lesson being that they must come every week inspired, and hungry.  The person that needs to learn that the most is head coach Dick Jauron as it is his duty to stress how important each game is, and to get them ready to play.

The biggest question that I have about this team is what the heck are the coaches doing from Monday to Sunday leading up to that week’s game.

For several months now, including Sunday, the Bills usually get off to horrible starts.  What that means is what ever the coaching staff is doing to get the players ready for Sunday is not working.

Next week is the a crucial test for the team as the New England Patriots are coming to town to finish the season.  The Patriots are going to come ready to play as they need a win to win the division, and get into the playoffs.

If the Bills get off to a slow start again this Sunday there will be no coming back, because there are a lot of veterans on that team who know how to close games out.

If Jauron does not learn this, then owner Ralph Wilson should fire him, because he never will.

The rumours are flying about a fight that occurred on Monday December 15th of a fight that involved two Cleveland Browns players.  The team’s handling of the incident is just another example of the mess the team is.

According to Pro Football Talk.com the two players involved are defensive end Shaun Smith and quarterback Brady Quinn.  It is still not known how the fight started, but what is known that after some verbal exchanges between the two Smith punched Quinn, and then after being separated other players Smith picked up a ten pound weight and threw it at Quinn.

Things have just gone bad right from the start of training camp for the Browns.  There were high expectations, and with their implosion there is bound to be internal conflict.

Head coach Romeo Crennel has neither confirmed, nor deny the story.  So, that pretty much means that the story is true, and they are trying to keep it in house, so that they do not look bad.

The thing is that covering it up is the worst thing a organization can do.  The reason being that fans want to know what is going on, since a lot of the money the team makes is from their hard earned money.

Also, this is the age of technology, and with all the different type of media coverage it is bound to get out anyways. 

The problem is that covering it up only makes the organization look worst, because now they look like they cannot even discipline, or handle simple problems, that come up.

Now, owner Randy Lerner is going to have no choice, but to fire both head coach Crennel, and general manager Phil Savage that is if he wants fans buying tickets next year.  

Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys:

Ravens:  The Ravens defense is looking like the same one that got them to the Superbowl.

Cowboys:  As long as Wade Phillips is the head coach they will never win the Superbowl.  Wade is to much a nice guy.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns:

Bengals:  The Bengals got rewarded big time by giving running back Cedric Benson a second chance.  Benson may have similar stats as he did on the Chicago Bears.  However, this is the Bengals, and they do not have as good of a line, which makes his performance much more noteable.

Browns:  What a mess of a team.  They made the worst offseason move by trading for defensive tackle Corey Williams, and then made him into a defensive end in a 3-4.  You cannot change the spots on a leopard.

New Orleans Saint @ Detroit Lions:

Saints:  If the defense was not decemated by injuries the Saint make the playoffs.

Lions:  It is going to take a prayers for the Lions to win next week.

Arizona Cardinals @ New England Patriots:

Cardinals:  They packed in the season when they won the division title.   They should not even bother to show up next week.

Patriots:  I will be shocked if New England keep Tom Brady.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tennessee Titans:

Steelers:  Looks like their defense is vunerable.

Titans:  Bye Albert you definitely will not be back after Jason Jones performance today.

San Francisco 49ers @ Saint Louis Rams:

49ers:  They are nuts if they do not keep Mike Singletary as their head coach.

Rams:  You are  not going to win ball games by scoring just one touchdown when you gain almost 350 yards of total offense.

Miami Dolphins @ Kansas City Chiefs:

Dolphins: They are playing just as tough as thier head coach.

Chiefs:  IF they can get thier act together on defense they are going to be a contender for the division next year.

San Diego Chargers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Chargers:  Rivers is the MVP of the league, because of the way he has performed against such a tough schedule.

Buccaneers:  Thier crazy if they do not keep Garcia to be their starter next year.

Buffalo Bills @ Denver Broncos:

Bills:  When did Josh Reed become such a good receiver.  In 12 games 54 receptions for 576 yards.  That may not look spectacular, but considering how bad his drops were it is.

Broncos:  They got too ancy in the late part of the game, and got away from the running game, which was a mistake.

New York Jets @ Seattle Seahawks: 

Jets:  Brett Farve should have stayed retired.  His ego got the best of him.

Seahawks:  Not letting head coach Mike Holgrem comeback for one more year might cost them a shot at the playoffs next year. The team is suited for him, and not future head coach Jim Mora.

Houston Texans @ Oakland Raiders:

Texans: When you do not stop the running game you are not going to win many game.

Raiders: Looks like quarterback Jamarcus Russell is starting to figure things out.  In his last two games Russell has thrown for 478 yards four touchdowns, and one interception.

Atlanta Falcons @ Minnesota Vikings:

Falcons:  It is starting to look like running back Michael Turner cannot be stopped.

Vikings:  It looks like that Tavaris Jackson is going to be the quarterback for at least next year. 

Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins:

Eagles: Reid is going to get run out of town if he keeps getting pass happy.

Redskins: Simply get Portis the ball, and they will win.

Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants:

Panthers:  Can anyone stop DeAngelo Williams.  The stat that NBC showed of the most number of 30+ yard runs in a season is scary.  The way he is going he could be this generation’s Jim Brown.

New York:  Hixon stepping up could be the end of Burress in New York if Hixon keeps performing like this.

The Buffalo Bills went into this week with what looked as a impossible task of stopping the Denver Bronco’s offense to win the game.  The Bills did not do that, but still came away with the win.

Simply put the Broncos blew this game as they had more than enough opportunities to win the ball game.  The blame for the loss clearly goes on quarterback Jay Cutler as he made several costly mistakes.

The first one was in the second quarter he lost his cool after a running play out of a shotgun formation lost four yars.  That lead to him getting a costly delay of game penalty, which caused the Broncos kicker Matt Prater to miss by only a yard.

The second mistake came in the fourth quarter with 5:42 left in the game.  The Broncos were pressed as they needed a touchdown to tie the game, and Cutler on a third and 10 trying to make a play threw an interception. 

The last and costly mistake came on the final drive.  The Broncos was on the Buffalo 15, and Cutler had a wide open Brandon Stokely open in the endzone, but Cutler overthrew him. 

The Bills were looking to give the game away as offensive coordinator Turk Schonert called some horrible plays. 

On the Bills first drive of the second half the Bills had a third and seven from the Bronco’s 30.  Instead of a passing play Schonert tried the element of surprise as the Bills did their famous inside hand off out of a shotgun formation that went for nothing

On the very next offensive drive the Bills drove all the way to the Bronco’s 11.  On first and 10 Schonert called a reverse that went for nothing again. 

Simply, the Bills got lucky.