The Sports Guy puts KC at 31st

[enjolras]

The article is just hilarious.

My favorite quip:

And if that's not enough, poor Herm became a summer TV laughingstock on par with Corey Haim, the Idaho senator, Parisa The Uptight Real World Roommate and Miss South Carolina.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmonspreview/070906&sportCat=nfl

[Crushaholic]

I'm inclined to believe they will be a little better once Larry Johnson gets on the field.

[NaptownChief]

This is pretty good stuff also:



(Does Herm seem like a fantastic guy? Absolutely. Would I want him coaching my favorite NFL team? Only if I was gunning for the No. 1 overall pick. The good news was that "Hard Knocks" finished on time every week -- it's the first time Herm ever finished a season without screwing up the clock.)

[DomCasual]

Ouch!

Their receivers were so bad, some random Arena League guy showed up in Episode 2 and nearly made the team. Their rookie kicker looked Kathy Ireland-level shaky in the preseason, although he's definitely the best left-footed African-American kicker in NFL history. Their best defensive player will miss the first two games following a pair of drunk-driving convictions. They put so much mileage on their franchise running back last season that he held out under the logic, "If you're making me become the next Earl Campbell, could you at least pay me up front with a giant signing bonus?" And if that's not enough, poor Herm became a summer TV laughingstock on par with Corey Haim, the Idaho senator, Parisa The Uptight Real World Roommate and Miss South Carolina.

[Broncos123]

That's about where they should end up. Then they can take JaMarcas Russell when he re-enters the draft next year.

[socalorado]

Check this out!!

13. New York Jets
I liked their offseason maneuvering and continue to like their head coach, but they have one fundamental problem that delves beyond "they're playing a tougher schedule this year," and "they only beat one above-.500 team last season," and even "statistically, by any calculation, these guys didn't have a top-12 offense or a top-20 defense last year."

Here's the problem: You can't contend for a Super Bowl if your quarterback can't throw deep. Not only does every Jets fan know this (hence, the lusty boos for Chad Pennington last month), their QB of the future (Kellen Clemens) looked good enough in the preseason that he could conceivably be effective right away. That puts Pennington in the same situation Jake Plummer found himself in after the Cutler pick last year; basically, Pennington's margin for error has been removed for the entire 2007 season, the Jets fans will be cheering or booing him on a play-by-play basis, and the situation won't resolve itself until Clemens takes his job. Which should probably happen by Week 8. As we've learned over the years, QB controversies rarely lead to playoff success unless Drew Bledsoe is the guy losing his job.

[Bronx33]

That's about where they should end up. Then they can take JaMarcas Russell when he re-enters the draft next year.


The they can start looking for a receiver or two and a running back..

[Beantown Bronco]

One of my favorite parts:

As for the Rams, I'm abstaining from writing a Rams paragraph in protest of the fact Michael Vick is getting blacklisted from the NFL, while Leonard Little continues to suit up every weekend. I don't know what's happened to this country, but I'm three years away from moving to Canada.

[epicSocialism4tw]

One of my favorite parts:

As for the Rams, I'm abstaining from writing a Rams paragraph in protest of the fact Michael Vick is getting blacklisted from the NFL, while Leonard Little continues to suit up every weekend. I don't know what's happened to this country, but I'm three years away from moving to Canada.

The fact that Leonard Little is an absolute dirtbag doesnt absolve Vick at all from what he has done.

Simmons needs to pipe up and inundate his editors with Leonard Little articles if he wants to do something about it instead of trying to get a little jab in in paragraph 612354 of an NFL preview. The guy's a freaking opinion columnist. Its not like he's conforming hismself to the role of a beat writer. HE'S PAID TO GIVE HIS OPINIONS.

It's always funny to hear media people complain about what is and what isnt a hot topic issue in their genre.

[Northman]

The fact that Leonard Little is an absolute dirtbag doesnt absolve Vick at all from what he has done.

Simmons needs to pipe up and inundate his editors with Leonard Little articles if he wants to do something about it instead of trying to get a little jab in in paragraph 612354 of an NFL preview. The guy's a freaking opinion columnist. Its not like he's conforming hismself to the role of a beat writer. HE'S PAID TO GIVE HIS OPINIONS.

It's always funny to hear media people complain about what is and what isnt a hot topic issue in their genre.


Not only that but what some people still seem to be missing is that the rules and regulations were not like they are since Goodell took over. Any past violations are simply that. In the PAST.

[Jens1893]

Not only that but what some people still seem to be missing is that the rules and regulations were not like they are since Goodell took over. Any past violations are simply that. In the PAST.

is that why sam brandon got suspended for some **** that happened before goodell took over?

[sixtimeseight]

Only 31st? I thought there was 32 teams in the league.

[Atlas]

Eli Manning's evolving into the Don Swayze/Frank Stallone of QBs

Hilarious!

[-Slap-]

Their receivers were so bad, some random Arena League guy showed up in Episode 2 and nearly made the team. Their rookie kicker looked Kathy Ireland-level shaky in the preseason, although he's definitely the best left-footed African-American kicker in NFL history. Their best defensive player will miss the first two games following a pair of drunk-driving convictions. They put so much mileage on their franchise running back last season that he held out under the logic, "If you're making me become the next Earl Campbell, could you at least pay me up front with a giant signing bonus?" And if that's not enough, poor Herm became a summer TV laughingstock on par with Corey Haim, the Idaho senator, Parisa The Uptight Real World Roommate and Miss South Carolina.

It's unfortunate the writer chose to make light of Earl Campbell's debilitated physical condition, but in line with the casual disregard most fans hold for the welfare of former players. Campbell's brilliance and the terrible price he paid to the game, reduced to a snarky comment for some cheap laughs.

[-Slap-]

I just slogged through that whole article and it's inspired me to invent a brand new drinking game: You have to take a shot after each time Bill Simmons non-sequiturs some trite pop culture reference into the middle of a sports observation.

I recommend you read a maximum of a half a dozen paragraphs per sitting or risk all future offspring being afflicted with fetal alcohol syndrome.

[Atlas]

It's unfortunate the writer chose to make light of Earl Campbell's debilitated physical condition, but in line with the casual disregard most fans hold for the welfare of former players. Campbell's brilliance and the terrible price he paid to the game, reduced to a snarky comment for some cheap laughs.

Larry Johnson is the one that said it. The author didn't do nothing but quote him.

[-Slap-]

Point taken. Here was Johnson's actual quote: “I look at Earl Campbell, and he only played six or seven years. The way he’d run and the way I run, it’s almost similar. So I could be like that, you never know.”

[-Slap-]

They're both kind of talking around the subject of Earl's health issues. I guess people figure he can't read anymore, either. Ali has been treated the same way for the last 20 years. I just think it's tacky and somewhat disrespectful.

[BroncoBuff]

You're referring to physical injuries, of course ... but just yesterday I saw a documentary on panic attacks and agoraphobia, Earl Campbell and Kim Basinger were the two celebrities profiled. Neither could leave their house for years without severe problems. Interestingly enough, psychiatrists interviewed theorized that panic attacks/agoraphobia are a remnant of caveman days, when being afraid of danger outside the home kept you alive ... to BREED. http://www.hbo.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet?ACTION_DETAIL=DETAIL&FOCUS_ID=583159

[BroncoBuff]

Say, Detective White ... if Kim was alone back in the cave, would you "come down with" a case of agoraphobia too? ;D

[Man-Goblin]

Say, Detective White ... if Kim was alone back in the cave, would you "come down with" a case of agoraphobia too? ;D

L.A. Confidential rep.

[shakenbake]

Earl Campbell still shows up for some Texas games every now and again. Last year they unveiled a statue of him that now sits outside the stadium. They had to take him on a golf cart to the middle of the field, and then he had to be helped to his feet so the fans could cheer him. It is really sad what has happened to him. His health is so poor.
I do think however that his finances are in good shape. From what I understand he is on the Texas payroll as a special assistant to the Dean, and he has the sausage.

Oh, and KC sucks, but that goes without saying.

[Beantown Bronco]

psychiatrists interviewed theorized that panic attacks/agoraphobia are a remnant of caveman days, when being afraid of danger outside the home kept you alive ... to BREED. http://www.hbo.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet?ACTION_DETAIL=DETAIL&FOCUS_ID=583159

Is that Travis Henry's excuse? He's a caveman? :wiggle:

[Beantown Bronco]

Point taken. Here was Johnson's actual quote: “I look at Earl Campbell, and he only played six or seven years. The way he’d run and the way I run, it’s almost similar. So I could be like that, you never know.”

it's almost similar?......I guess I almost know what he's trying to say.

[B-Love]

Slap before the recent pieces showing Campbell's dramatic drop off in health, "becoming the next Earl Campbell" was a phraze always thrown around to just describe the overused flame out too early RB, much like any tired Pitching staff still gets referenced back to the "Billyball Oakland A's".

I don't think he was making a smart comment about Earl's disabilities.

[~Crash~]

Not only that but what some people still seem to be missing is that the rules and regulations were not like they are since Goodell took over. Any past violations are simply that. In the PAST.

Yo say that but they went after Sam Branden for things that were in the past before rules change same with other players

[BMF Bronco]

The fact that Leonard Little is an absolute dirtbag doesnt absolve Vick at all from what he has done.

Simmons needs to pipe up and inundate his editors with Leonard Little articles if he wants to do something about it instead of trying to get a little jab in in paragraph 612354 of an NFL preview. The guy's a freaking opinion columnist. Its not like he's conforming hismself to the role of a beat writer. HE'S PAID TO GIVE HIS OPINIONS.

It's always funny to hear media people complain about what is and what isnt a hot topic issue in their genre.

No it doesn't absolve Vick, however it is a smack in the face that killing dogs will get you kicked out but killing a person wont! WTF?!

[Beej]

Here's his top 11.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmonspreview/070907&sportCat=nfl

[BMF Bronco]

anyone else relishing the fact that Houston is favored to beat KC?!

[ZachKC]

anyone else relishing the fact that Houston is favored to beat KC?!

"Relishing" something like that?

You need some more excitement in your life.

[Beantown Bronco]

"Relishing" something like that?

You need some more excitement in your life.

Just because you now have that ticket you were looking for to the Pats-Jets game doesn't mean your life is exciting.

[ZachKC]

Just because you now have that ticket you were looking for to the Pats-Jets game doesn't mean your life is exciting.

I have no idea what you are talking about.

[Beantown Bronco]

I have no idea what you are talking about.

Read the thread about the interesting ticket proposal.

[Paladin]

anyone else relishing the fact that Houston is favored to beat KC?!

Absofugginlutely!!!!!!!!!

I think they will be underdogs to about every other team they play, including the Faiders.....:sunshine:

[Bob's your Information Minister]

I'm still trying to figure out how the Chiefs went from a playoff team to one of the league's worst because they lost Will Shields.

[Beej]

Hmm, nobody's checking out his top 11? He equates Jay to a serial killer (since he's so quiet). Idiot.

Oh, I see there's another thread about this. Never mind.

[Northman]

is that why sam brandon got suspended for some **** that happened before goodell took over?

What did he get suspended for? I dont know his case. And how long before Goodell take over did it happen? If it didnt happen long before he took over maybe the rule enforcement had already begun to take effect. But like i said, im not familiar with his case.

[BMF Bronco]

I'm still trying to figure out how the Chiefs went from a playoff team to one of the league's worst because they lost Will Shields.

Who's your QB? :~ohyah!:

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Who's your QB? :~ohyah!:

The guy who was 5-3 last year. 98.0 QB rating. Any questions?

[Odysseus]

Hmm, nobody's checking out his top 11? He equates Jay to a serial killer (since he's so quiet). Idiot.

I hope Jay IS a psychotic demented little prick who loves throwing touchdowns and destroying defensive co-ordinators game plans before halftime. I hope his game is so sick that a defensive co-ordinator openly weeps during the press conference after the 37 point loss and says "Jay was being mean to me!" I hope they ask him about this and just gives a Mona LIsa smile.

[BMF Bronco]

The guy who was 5-3 last year. 98.0 QB rating. Any questions?

yes, why if he's so good is everyone, EVERYONE (outside of the KC area) conceding that your entire offense consists of LJ?

[ak1971]

My only red flag with the Broncos: Can't say I love the Jay Cutler feedback coming out of training camp. When you're repeatedly described as "quiet," "a loner" and "someone who keeps to himself," you're more qualified to be a serial killer than a starting NFL QB.

Damn..the only stories I hear are..'hey I saw Jay out at such and such bar last night' .... I think we might have another Elway in the making

[38yrsfan]

yes, why if he's so good is everyone, EVERYONE (outside of the KC area) conceding that your entire offense consists of LJ?

Sorry sport, but NOT everyone ...:sunshine: Let some sunshine in.

[Mountain Bronco]

Slap, give it a rest. Simons is a humerous collumist and if you don't like it don't read it.

[-Slap-]

Slap, give it a rest. Simons is a humerous collumist and if you don't like it don't read it.

You can also apply that philosophy to my posts, mammyjammer.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

yes, why if he's so good is everyone, EVERYONE (outside of the KC area) conceding that your entire offense consists of LJ?

Ignorance abounds in this day and age.

[boltaneer]

yes, why if he's so good is everyone, EVERYONE (outside of the KC area) conceding that your entire offense consists of LJ?

And he's also the guy they were trying desperately to replace with Croyle.

No one is afraid of a game manager like Huard. KC's offense has gone from a fairly high powered one to one of the most predictable in the NFL in a short amount of time.

[sixtimeseight]

The guy who was 5-3 last year. 98.0 QB rating. Any questions?

Yea, how old is Huard going to be this year? 36? 37? But yea, I'm sure this will be his "breakout year"

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Yea, how old is Huard going to be this year? 36? 37? But yea, I'm sure this will be his "breakout year"

Huard is 34.

He doesn't have to be Peyton Manning. All he has to be is 2005 Jake Plummer...and he certainly won't throw 4 interceptions in a game.

[Bronx33]

The season has yet to start bob have faith sunshine huard could easily match plummer in boneheadery with the pressure he faces.

[RkyMtnThunder]

No it doesn't absolve Vick, however it is a smack in the face that killing dogs will get you kicked out but killing a person wont! WTF?!

I understand your POV.



However, I dont believe its the morality of determining which crime is more 'severe', but the sentencing that determines the NFL's actions.

Had Little been sent to the pen for 18+ mos (as he should have IMO) then I would imagine the NFL would have acted similarly to how the reacted to Vick.

The problem is not within the NFL - but the legal system where someone could get a slap on the wrist for vehicular manslaughter.



Anyhow, back to the topic of the thread.

KC @ #31 seems about 1 spot too high IMO

[BMF Bronco]

I understand your POV.



However, I dont believe its the morality of determining which crime is more 'severe', but the sentencing that determines the NFL's actions.

Had Little been sent to the pen for 18+ mos (as he should have IMO) then I would imagine the NFL would have acted similarly to how the reacted to Vick.

The problem is not within the NFL - but the legal system where someone could get a slap on the wrist for vehicular manslaughter.



Anyhow, back to the topic of the thread.

KC @ #31 seems about 1 spot too high IMO

Nah I hear what you're saying man, it just hits a little closer to home, as I lived in the STL area when that **** bag killed that person. I saw their family on the news and I saw his non-reaction to the whole thing.

[Northman]

Huard is 34.

He doesn't have to be Peyton Manning. All he has to be is 2005 Jake Plummer...and he certainly won't throw 4 interceptions in a game.


What did Jake ever do to you?

[BMF Bronco]

Ignorance abounds in this day and age.

ahh, the good ol' personal attack by Bob when faced with the truth, imagine that!:thumbs:

[RkyMtnThunder]

Nah I hear what you're saying man, it just hits a little closer to home, as I lived in the STL area when that **** bag killed that person. I saw their family on the news and I saw his non-reaction to the whole thing.

I knew of a 23 year old co-worker that went to prison for 5 years for vehicular manslaughter. It was his 1st DUI offense, his 1st offense of any kind. He was an otherwise good person who made a tragic and unfortunate mistake. I never saw or heard from him again, but needless to say it ruined his life. Not that I have any sympathy for his mistake, but the law in AZ dropped the hammer on him.

Then I hear stories about Leonard Little...and recall the whole Vince Neil thing in the 1980s and these guys pretty much got off scott free.

Just goes to show ya what a few mil in the bank can do for you. Sickening.

[Atlas]

I knew of a 23 year old co-worker that went to prison for 5 years for vehicular manslaughter. It was his 1st DUI offense, his 1st offense of any kind. He was an otherwise good person who made a tragic and unfortunate mistake. I never saw or heard from him again, but needless to say it ruined his life. Not that I have any sympathy for his mistake, but the law in AZ dropped the hammer on him.

Then I hear stories about Leonard Little...and recall the whole Vince Neil thing in the 1980s and these guys pretty much got off scott free.

Just goes to show ya what a few mil in the bank can do for you. Sickening.


Little killed a woman but people forget that about a year or two after that he got another DWI....

[theAPAOps5]

Little killed a woman but people forget that about a year or two after that he got another DWI....

Little killed a woman. OJ pretty much cut off the heads off two people. But the outrage for those weren't nearly as vehement as it is for Michael Vick who participated in killing dogs. Now I am a dog person and Vick made me sick but you would think the reaction for human death would be worse. Just a weird quirk of society.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Little killed a woman. OJ pretty much cut off the heads off two people. But the outrage for those weren't nearly as vehement as it is for Michael Vick who participated in killing dogs. Now I am a dog person and Vick made me sick but you would think the reaction for human death would be worse. Just a weird quirk of society.

We see graphic depictions of human suffering all the time. We take part in virtual slaughtering in modern video games. We watch people injure themselves severely and laugh about it on youtube. We watch graphic violence and death displayed in about every movie we see above the G rating.

We are desensitized, and that is the truth.

[Atlas]

We see graphic depictions of human suffering all the time. We take part in virtual slaughtering in modern video games. We watch people injure themselves severely and laugh about it on youtube. We watch graphic violence and death displayed in about every movie we see above the G rating.

We are desensitized, and that is the truth.


I agree We also sit by like sheep and watch our government slaughter hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis.

[DenverBrit]

I'm still trying to figure out how the Chiefs went from a playoff team to one of the league's worst just because I'm the biggest fan. Literally.
Mom, leave it in the bucket, put a crust on it and I'll munch on it later.
I love swill night.


Snacking between meals again?

[Florida_Bronco]

And he's also the guy they were trying desperately to replace with Croyle.

No one is afraid of a game manager like Huard. KC's offense has gone from a fairly high powered one to one of the most predictable in the NFL in a short amount of time.

Don't even bother debating it man, you've proven yourself to have far superior football knowledge to Bob. Ok well I guess that's not too much of a compliment considering everyone except a few people, who are coincidently Chiefs fans as well, have proven themselves smarter than Bob. Anyways, you get what I'm saying.

Everyone knows Bob is just homering out and toting the company line. He's going to pimp whoever takes the snaps regardless of whether or not that contradicts his previous view on the player.

[broncofan2438]

F u ck the chiefs

[DarkHorse30]

Simmons is picking the Jets over NE? He must be gay for Pennington.

[gunns]

No it doesn't absolve Vick, however it is a smack in the face that killing dogs will get you kicked out but killing a person wont! WTF?!

The fact is anyone that could do anything malicious to any living, feeling being for their own personal enjoyment, without regard, is atrocious.

What made Little's even more atrocious is the fact he got picked up after coming back for driving drunk again. Of course he got off, but it sounded a bit shady. You kill a woman while driving drunk and take the chance of having a couple and driving again??? He should have been banned for life for even being in the vicinity of alcohol.

[gunns]

Little killed a woman. OJ pretty much cut off the heads off two people. But the outrage for those weren't nearly as vehement as it is for Michael Vick who participated in killing dogs. Now I am a dog person and Vick made me sick but you would think the reaction for human death would be worse. Just a weird quirk of society.

I don't think OJ is a good example for making your point. The outrage after he got off grew.

People will come to the aid of another human being and would have if they could for the people Little and OJ targeted if they could have. With Vick, he used the dogs to produce his maliciousness and several people were involved and not one came to the aid of the dogs as they were used. People feel dogs are like children, total innocents, but know that people feel dogs are less so when the chance to get the human responsible, it's a huge victory of sort. If those dogs had been human Vick would have gone to prison for much longer. Both examples are a depraved indifference to a living, feeling being.

[Punisher]

what number we land in