Lack of character prevails in the NFL

Let’s say you are the Cincinnati Bengals and are desperate for a wide receiver to play opposite Chad Ochocinco.

Do you go after Brandon Marshall? Terrell Owens? Antonio Bryant?

The numbers say Marshall or Owens. The attitude says none of the three.

Sure, Marshall had 101 receptions for 1,120 yards and 10 TDs for the Denver Broncos last season. But do you really want a spoiled brat who started training camp by kicking a football away from a ball boy and ended in his team’s doghouse?

Owens did have 55 catches for 849 yards and 5 TDs for the Buffalo Bills. Yet with his diminishing skills and me-first attitude, do you really want him?

Bryant had 39 catches for 600 yards and 4 TDs last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yet this is a guy who has already talked his way out of three cities.

Perhaps the Bengals should keep looking for a “team” player with less ability … but a better attitude.

On the character issue, how about the latest from the San Diego Chargers?

Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union-Tribune (who kisses up every chance possible to Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith) suggests the Chargers got rid of Antonio Cromartie due to his “lack of character.”

That being the case, how do the Chargers keep wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who has two driving under the influence (DUI) convictions in three years … among other things?

Perhaps “lack of character” gets overlooked if you are producing. Otherwise, Jackson would be going down the road with Cromartie.

Terrell Owens needs to keep his mouth shut: Again!

Terrell Owens is an idiot; but nobody needed to tell you that about the Buffalo Bills new wide receiver.

Just ask any of his past QBs going back to Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo or others.

His latest (stupid) comment involves whether NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will suspend Michael Vick any additional games following his 23-month prison term.

“It's almost like kicking a dead horse in the ground,” Owens said without thinking straight.

Well, let’s consider the facts. If not for a bunch of dead dogs in the ground thanks to Vick and his dog-fighting ring, the former Atlanta Falcons QB wouldn’t be in this situation.

Owens further went on to say that Goodell should serve 23 months in prison and suffer to see what it was like for poor Michael Vick.

Excuse me? Are we missing that fact that Vick had reason to serve in prison; Goodell does not?

If we start sending people to prison just to see what it’s like, imagine what that will do for our already overcrowded prisons.

This is not a judgment on whether Goodell should further suspend Vick. That’s his call.

This is simply a commentary on why so many people/teams have tired of Owens. Stay tuned Buffalo; you’re next!

Michael Jackson: Memories of 1993 Super Bowl (non) "Thriller"

Those of us who attended the 1993 Super Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., didn’t exactly see a “Thriller” when the Dallas Cowboys whipped the Buffalo Bills, 52-17.

But we did get to see Michael Jackson perform live at halftime; which was quite a thrill for all of his fans watching worldwide.

Besides Jackson, there were quite a few memories (good and bad) from that Super Bowl:

The game was originally set for Tempe, Ariz., but the NFL switched plans because Arizona was among 23 states not celebrating the Martin Luther King holiday back then.

Troy Aikman, now a minority owner of the San Diego Padres, was named the game’s MVP after passing for 273 yards and four touchdowns.

Leon Lett of the Cowboys became infamous when he ran backwards toward the endzone and was tackled from way behind by a hustling Don Beebe of Buffalo.

Buffalo set a Super Bowl record with nine turnovers on the way to the third of its four straight Super Bowl losses.

Then there were more memories:

Garth Brooks sang the National Anthem.

O.J. Simpson performed the pregame coin toss (this was before he killed his wife.)

It was the last Super Bowl in the Los Angeles area, since the Rams and Raiders left LA after the next year.

All in all, there were a lot of thrilling memories for a Super Bowl that was such a dud!

Will Chargers feast on Broncos?

We all know what is ... and has been ... at stake for the Chargers.

They’ve received the help they needed; now it’s time to help themselves.

The stumbling Denver Broncos seem to be a perfect post-Christmas dessert for getting into the playoffs.

Not so fast!

The Broncos do lose at home when they are expected to win (see: Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills.)

But they are most potent on the road when they are supposed to lose (see: Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets.)

If the Broncos keep up their unpredictable trends of 2008, they have a good chance Sunday Night.

Don’t count on it.

Prediction:
Chargers 31, Broncos 23

Fate smiling on Chargers:)

Ed Hochuli aside, fate has been smiling on the Chargers this year.

How else can you explain a 7-8 team that can advance to the playoffs with a win Sunday Night at home vs. the Denver Broncos?

How else can you explain the Broncos losing at home to the Buffalo Bills?

And how else can you explain the Chargers (if they are 8-8) playing at HOME against the Indianapolis Colts (12-4 or 11-5) in the wild card round of the playoffs if the Chargers win this week?

Yes, despite it all, everything really has gone the Chargers’ way this year.

After this week, two teams among Baltimore (10-5), Miami (10-5), New England (10-5) and the New York Jets (9-6) will sit home during the playoffs.

All will have a better record than the Chargers or Denver – yet the Chargers or Broncos will go to the playoffs.

The Chargers certainly did their part with a dominating 41-24 win at Tampa Bay yesterday.

But more than anything, the stars have aligned just right for the Chargers in situations they did not control.

And to think they now control their own destiny!

Chargers must focus on Buffalo ... not London

Let’s get something straight.

The Chargers shouldn’t look at it as if they’re embarking on a 10-day trip this weekend.

View it as a three-day trip to Buffalo; then a seven-day trip to London to play the New Orleans Saints.

All over local radio and TV this week, you hear questions (from media) and answers (from Chargers) about the trip to London.

Hey, what about Buffalo?

The Bills so happen to lead the AFC East with a 4-1 record and they are coming off a bye.

The last time the Chargers played a team coming off a bye was two weeks ago in Miami.

Need you be reminded what happened then?

Forget about London for now. Concentrate on Buffalo.

Otherwise, a long trip will be made even longer by a loss to the upstart Bills.

Weekend predictions:
Bills 24, Chargers 20
New Mexico 38, San Diego State 13