Seven & Out – Week #10
By Michael – Louis Ingram-Associate Editor/Director of Scouting Football Reporters Online/ Contributing Writer-Black Athlete.com
PHILADELPHIA (BASN/FRO): The teams are approaching the top of the stretch, and as always, it will be not a matter of how one starts; but how one finishes.
Meanwhile, let’s get back to rollin’ those bones. Alright, shooter - the point is 10;
The NEW ORLEANS SAINTS defeated the St. Louis Rams 28-23 and improved to 9-0 for the first time in franchise history. The Saints have scored an NFL-best 331 points, the fourth-most by a team in the first nine games of a season in NFL history.
(As the legions of fantasy fondlers masturbate at the sound of his name, I can’t find fault with 9-0; however, I can find fault with a contemptible punk like Drew Brees, who had the nerve to say the Old School retired players who helped him become a millionaire didn’t matter. With the overall offensive talent the Saints have, just about any QB could be successful with them now. So point blank – win some games in December, and a playoff game or two, and then we’ll talk. Until then, fuck Drew Brees - and the hobbyhorse he rode in on!)
Tennessee running back CHRIS JOHNSON rushed for 132 yards in the Titans’ 41-17 win against the Buffalo Bills. Johnson, who leads the NFL with 1,091 rushing yards and is averaging 6.4 yards per carry, joined Pro Football Hall of Famer JIM BROWN (1963) and Vikings running back ADRIAN PETERSON (2007) as the only players in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and average 6.4 yards per carry in a team’s first nine games of a season.
(We love Chris Johnson and the way he plays; but we have issues with the mainstream press ignoring Vince Young going 3-0 since reclaiming the starting spot; not, mind you, at the behest of head coach Jeff Fisher, but team owner Bud Adams. Hmmm - maybe the bird flipped by Adams after the victory over Buffalo wasn’t for the Bills’ fans after all).
San Diego running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns in the Chargers’ 31-23 win against the Philadelphia Eagles. Tomlinson recorded his 145th and 146th career touchdown and surpassed MARCUS ALLEN (145) for the third-most touchdowns all-time (JERRY RICE, 208; EMMITT SMITH, 175). Tomlinson, who now has 12,145 career rushing yards also moved into 12th place for most rushing yards all-time.
(And, while Tomlinson is still being unappreciated in San Diego, Andy Reid and the Eagles continue to bitch up in prime time with their spineless approach on offense; I would rather have my defense go first and 10 from the opposition’s one yard line with no points scored than kick a fucking 8 yard field goal! Meanwhile 24 carries and two rushing touchdowns for L.T. and a game where Donovan McNabb threw for 450 yards, a career record – but still loses the fucking game - Lies, damn lies – and statistics; need I say any more?)
Arizona quarterback KURT WARNER threw two touchdown passes in the Cardinals’ 31-20 victory against the Seattle Seahawks. Warner, who now has 200 touchdown passes, reached the mark in his 118th career game, becoming the fifth-fastest player in NFL history to accomplish the feat.
(While Warner is a good guy, let’s remember that the throw means nothing – without the catch. Give Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston and Ben Patrick some love, too!)
Minnesota quarterback BRETT FAVRE passed for a season-high 344 yards in his 300th consecutive start (including postseason) in a 27-10 win over the Detroit Lions. Favre’s 344 yards are the third-most passing yards in a game by a 40-year old quarterback in NFL history. He trails only Pro Football Hall of Famer WARREN MOON (409 on October 26, 1997) and VINNY TESTAVERDE (355 on September 12, 2004).
(While Favre continues to rack up accolades, we know it took Testaverde at least a decade before he became a successful pro quarterback, and Moon was a star walking in the door. As Minnesota seeks to fine-tune their potential for post-season success, they would do well to remember that #4 may make the noise, but #28 does the damage. Forget Adrian Peterson – and you can forget Miami; no matter how much swashbuckling is done).
Buffalo rookie safety JAIRUS BYRD registered his eighth interception of the season today against Tennessee. Byrd has an interception in five consecutive games and is one of only two players since 1970 with an interception in five consecutive games in their first season in the NFL. The other was Kansas City’s ERIC HARRIS in 1980 (six in a row).
(With all the noise made about young talent on the offensive side of the ball, a lot of defensive talent is taking a back seat due to the lack of publicity. Byrd has already proven to be a skilled ball hawk as a Buffalo Bill {like father, like son, right Gil?} and is a likely free agent prize-in-waiting should he remain healthy in a couple years; and Byrd is my front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Don’t let this one get away, Mr. Wilson!)
In a 41-17 win over Buffalo, Tennessee Titans head coach JEFF FISHER became the 10th head coach in NFL history to coach 250 career games (regular and postseason) with one team. The Titans’ victory gives Fisher 136 wins for his career, tying him with Hall of Famer HANK STRAM for 20th all-time.
(They should subtract the 21 games Vince Young has won; since Fisher never wanted him quarterbacking his team in the first place. Rest assured, if he’s going to win any more games for the Titans, it will be with Young under center, if he knows what’s good for him).
Well, as always – once the point’s established, if you throw a seven, you’re gonna crap out!
mike@footballreportersonline.com
