NFL Week 8 - Moss Gone

I'm back from vacation and ready to bring up the quality of this blog for the rest of the year. I've been writing subpar columns from what I used to write in my opinion.

Moss is Gone
Randy Moss literally talked his way off the Minnesota Vikings and probably the NFL (at least for the season). The Vikings placed Moss on waivers after his one catch for 8 yards performance against the Patriots.

Last week the NFL fined Moss $25,000 for not making himself available to weekly media interviews. There is an interview clause in the standard player contract. Players must make themselves available, usually teams arrange a specific day once a week, for interviews. The moody Moss sat his day away from media day.

After the Vikings vs. Patriots game, he claimed he will only conduct interviews with himself. He went on to say how much he missed the Pats and Bill Belichick. On Monday, head coach Brad Childress informed the players that Moss no longer played for the Vikings.

Moss actually talked his way off two teams this season. The Patriots were not to pleased with his performance or his rambling, long winded, self important press conference after opening week games.

The Vikings paid a big price for Moss. A third round may not seem steep on the surface but it is. The third round usually is where teams try to fill depth on the roster and occasionally an immediate contributor. Instead the Vikings received a three game rental for Moss.

The move was just the latest in a season gone awry for the Vikings. Brett Favre started the season with his usual drama queen act. Then came the off field allegations of Favre's behavior. His on field performance nose dived from last year. The defense hasn't played at the same level as last year either. Mix in the Moss fiasco and the Vikings place second after Dallas in the underachieving category.

McNabb Benched
The Redskins are one of more storied NFL programs. That is until Daniel Snyder took over. Since then the 'skins are now pretty much a joke.

I figured the hiring of Mike Shanahan might bring some stability to the organization. Instead it's more of the same. First, while not entirely Shanahan's doing, came the Fat Albert Haynesworth fiasco.

This week Shanahan added more fuel to the burning franchise. Late in the game, old rat face benched starter Donovan McNabb and inserted the Sex Cannon Rex Grossman. The move proved an utter failure. Sexy Rex fumbled the first snap and Detroit rookie Ndamukong Suh returned it for a game ensuring touchdown.

Shanahan's reasoning in the post game presser? McNabb didn't have the two minute offense down. Oh really? That speaks volumes about Shanahan's coaching. McNabb has been a Redskin since last Easter. He's had since the with OTAs, camping and preseason as well as in season practice to learn it. Either McNabb is stupid, which isn't the case. He ran a variation of the West Coast offense for Andy Reid in Philly. Or Shanahan isn't a very good instructor.

Yesterday Shanahan backtracked from his statements. He claimed that McNabb had leg injuries and "cardiovascular endurance" issues. What? So now McNabb isn't in shape? Again I find that hard to believe.

For whatever reason, Shanahan made the decision in game that Grossman gave him the best chance to win. Hard to believe but what other reason is there other than Shanahan's ineptitude? One thing Shanahan is not know for is his personnel evaluation. After he won a power struggle over his general manager in Denver, he assumed control of all personnel decisions. He ended up getting fired and leaving the Broncos a mess on defense.

Now it looks like Snyder may have made another bad coaching hire and the 'skins continue the downward spiral.

Dallas Karma
I think I'll leave the Dallas Karma bit its own entry.

Raheem Morris Not Over His Head
Last year there was much said and written about Raheem Morris in over his head as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Many pundits thought Morris was one and done in Tampa. He fired his offensive coordinator before the season started. He fired the defensive coordinator midseason and took over the defense calls himself. Many saw that as signs of disarray and a sinking ship.

Fast forward to this year and the Bucs are sitting at 5-2 and in contention in the NFC South. It looks to me that Morris is anything but in over his head.

It's just another reason to not listen to the talking heads in the media. If they new what they were talking about they would be making money in football and not watching and making stuff up.

Stat Line of the Week
The box score of the Green Bay versus NY Jets. The Packers won 9-0 on the strength of Mason Crosby's three field goals.
1st Quarter
FG 4:41 Mason Crosby 20 yd FG
Plays: 5 | Yards: 34 | Time: 1:51
4th Quarter
FG 6:36 Mason Crosby 41 yd FG
Plays: 8 | Yards: 34 | Time: 3:58
FG 0:27 Mason Crosby 40 yd FG
Plays: 4 | Yards: 1 | Time: 2:03

Player of the Week
David Garrard
I think this selection is more indicative of how far the Dallas Cowboys have fallen than how good a player Garrard is. Garrard has been down right awful and benched this season. Yet he was an efficient 17 of 21 passing for 260 yards and 4 TDs.

JaMarcus Russell Player of the Week
Matt Schaub
Schaub played a terrible game when the Texans had a chance to sweep the season series from the Colts and claim sole possession of first place in the AFC South. Instead he didn't show up and threw a costly pick six and fumbled on his last snap of the game.

Goat of the Week
Rex Grossman/Mike Shanahan
Grossman for fumbling the ball on the first snap and Shanahan for putting in a cold quarterback in the closing seconds of the game.