tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Tuesday’s Thoughts

While wondering if Phil Simms has ever admitted that he is wrong, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* There were some very good NFL games over the weekend, much better than the wild card games. You just have to love the play of Russell Wilson. This kid is exciting to watch. A third round draft pick out of Wisconsin who is undersized according to all of the draft gurus. That's why you have to wonder how much is luck involved when drafting a quarterback.

* Too bad Wilson has Pete Carroll for a head coach. What was Carroll thinking with a 3rd and 1 in the red zone and you leave Marshawn Lynch on the bench?? To make matters worse, down 13-0 with five minutes left in the second quarter, Carroll decides to go for it on fourth down and runs the same play and is stopped!! If he gets the field goal, the Seahawks are up 31-27 at the end of the game and Atlanta must score a touchdown. Instead they get a field goal to win the game. A field goal after Matt Bryant missed his first try but the play was dead because Carroll was cute and called time out. Nice job, Pete. You cost your team the game twice.

* It was so evident that Matt Ryan and Mike Smith were shaking big time. Smith's reactions on the sidelines were that of a panicked head coach. What I could not understand was why he decided to go with gimmick end arounds and flanker screens when Michael Turner was having a decent day. While you need to be aggressive in these playoff games, you don't need to be stupid.

* Heard an interesting stat on Peyton Manning yesterday: he is 0-4 in cold weather playoff games.

* I have to grudgingly give credit to Joe Flacco on his performance against the Broncos but what was Rahim Moore thinking.

* Isn't it funny how members of the sports media are railing away at Lance Armstrong, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire for using illegal substances yet they idolize Ray Lewis even though he was involved in a double homicide, took a plea and paid a cash settlement to the victims' families?

* Kudos for the USA Today for having a story in their weekend edition on how the families of the two victims feel when they here all of the praise given to Lewis.

* I wonder if Hal Steinbrenner has any clue as to the strength of his team's farm system?? In an interview last week, Hal said that the system's young talent will have to step up to ensure that the team will remain at the top while getting the payroll to $189 million. He further went on to say that the team will continue to vie for a championship. Really Hal??? And I fell off a turnip truck.

* Maybe Hal needs to read Bill Madden's column that was in Saturday's NY Daily News (below). It's the first time I've seen someone in print question the Yankees player development program.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/columnists?columnist=2.1058

* Is Andy Pettitte kidding me or what? The 40 year old lefty pitcher is playing for Team USA in the ridiculous World Baseball Classic. While I understand the desire to represent your country, Pettitte is 40 years old and any type of injury will throw the Yankee rotation in a downward spiral. The rotation needs to be relatively healthy all year in order for the Yanks to have a shot at making the playoffs, let alone winning the AL East.

* Just loved Brian Burke's press conference on Saturday. Burke was as forth right as always and didn't back down from anything. I agree with him that if James Reimer had not been injured with a concussion in October 2011, last season would have turned out differently. Loved when he told Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun, " Steve, the best thing about today is that I won't have to speak to you anymore." Classic Burke.

* While the media continues to speculate what the reasons were for Burke's dismissal, my question is: why don't they get someone from Bell and/or Rogers to answer that question?? Probably the reason for that is that Bell and Rogers employ most of the media.

* Dave Nonis is in a no-win situation when it comes to trading for Roberto Luongo. Some will say he gave up to much and others will say he threw away the season. The best case scenario is that Reimer bounces back from the concussion and plays like he did in 2010-11 and in the four games prior to the concussion.

* David Stern should have his head examined for scheduling a game in London, England. He obviously took a page from Emperor Bettman and Roger Goodell. All three of them are morons.

* Can't wait to see Iman Shumpert back in the lineup for the Knicks.

* Niagara University's hockey team has climbed to 15th in the national rankings. Wonder if the gasbags at GR550 will notice.

* King Gasbag Howard Simon was admonishing fans for complaining about the hiring of Doug Marrone. The funny thing is that he and the rest of the gasbags at GR550 will be the first ones to jump on the new coach's back when the team loses its first game.

* And finally, best of luck to ESPN sportscaster Stuart Scott in his battle with cancer.