NFL Week 8

I slacked off after actually writing this column weekly last season (except for the Sage Rosencopter game). I had my bye week last week. Took some vacation days to unwind from work. Took in the Texans-49ers game and then headed out to the lake for a few days.

My bye is over and here I go again.

I started off with a Hack Roll Call but it got to long so I set it up as a stand alone column.

Going of the Rails on the Crazy Browns Train

First off, I can't help but admire the train wreck the Cleveland Browns are. They went from bad to complete dysfunction in less than one season. Owner Randy Lerner relieved general manager George Kokinis of duties. What isn't clear is the manner of the dismissal. Reports, or rumors, are that Lerner wants Kokinis terminated for cause because Kokinis wasn't achieving goals stated in his contract. Lerner is trying weasel his way out of it because he's still paying previous GM Phil Savage, former coach Romeo Crennel and the old coaching staff. If he can't get out of the contract, he's stuck paying Kokinis for four more years. Not to mention Eric Mangini and his staff if he makes the change at the end of the year.

Lerner has no one to blame but himself. He rashly hired Mangini without conducting much of a search. He hired Kokinis after Mangini hand picked him for GM. The week before the team released director of operations Erin O'brien. Mangini also handpicked O'brien.

SI.com's Dan Banks wrote an excellent column explaining the mess and quoting sources close to Kokinis and the Browns.

Son of Zeus
The anointed Son of Zeus, Vince Young, is starting again for the Tennessee Titans. Yawn. The ESPN Football Today Podcast with Jeremy Green and Pod Vader did a classic bit. To sum it up, they said Young's pass plays were to look at one WR, not go through progressions, and if he was covered to run. Don't look at options 2, 3 or 4. If he did and ended up back at one then he held the ball to long.

Quick Hitters

Ted Ginn found a bit of redemption with the Miami Dolphins. He returned two kick off returns for TDs. I've watched him play a few games and have not been impressed with him as a receiver. I think his staying power in the league will be as a return man. Maybe he can pick up being a real WR soon. He is only in his third year but he needs a lot of hard work.

The amazing thing about the Jets-Dolphins game was that the 'fins scored three TDs without the offense on the field: Ginn's two returns and a fumble returned for a TD.

The Denver Broncos finally lost a game. I'm sure SI.com's hack Andy Perlof is jumping for joy. The Ravens went away from a Joe Flacco passing attack and went back to running the ball. Flacco threw a balled control 175 yards while running the ball and playing stiff defense.

Ryan Clark and the Steelers haven't come to a decision on whether Clark will play this week in Denver. In 2007, the thin air affected Clark and his sickle celled trait. He had his spleen and gall bladder removed. Hines Ward, one of the toughest men in the NFL, says if it were him there would be no question, he wouldn't play. I agree with Ward. Playing football hurt and laying it all on the line is one thing. This is a possible life and death situation. No game is worth that. The Steelers shouldn't even be considering it...just sit him...even if it means taking the loss.

Who dreamed up this match up? Lions and Rams? I know, the NFL has a schedule formula so it was bound to happen. Either way it was a sick game...literally but at least it wasn't a Bills-Browns 6-3 fiasco. At one point it was a 3-2 game though. Ugh.

Line of the Week
Ted Ginn - 6 kickoff returns, 294 yards, 2 TDs of 101 yards and 100 yards

JeMarcus Russell Line of the Week
Kurt Warner - Doing his best Jake Delhomme impersonation, with Delhomme in the house, Warner threw 5 picks and had one fumble in leading the Cardinals to a 34-21 defeat against the Panthers.

Jack Del Rio Coach of the Week
Tom Cable of the Oakland Raiders wins the award this week. Not for being the coach of the Raiders but for the allegations of his off the field behavior. ESPN's show "Outside the Lines" documented his alleged behavior in "Women: Cable Has Violent History".

Closing Thoughts
When was the last time the NFL had this many dysfunctional teams? I'm not talking about bad product on the field but also turmoil behind the scenes. The Washington Redskins have a little Adolf Hitler in Dan Snyder. He stripped head coach Jim Zorn of offensive play calling duties. Why didn't he just cut his balls off at midfield? The Browns are a disaster with all the current upheaval. Al Davis, the Raiders and Tom Cable? Need I say more? Jacksonville can't sell out a home game to lift the local black out and head coach Jack Del Rio is an idiot. The Buffalo Bills are shifting games to Toronto and Dick Jauron is coaching a listless team. Larry Johnson tried to talk his way out of Kansas City but they called his bluff. And reports are that the Bucs coaches are way in over their heads.

The Sheriff Roger Goodell seem intent on the personal conduct policy but maybe he needs to call his deputies in and remind them that ultimately their decisions affect the health of the league. They sink or swim together...