A Grossman-like Effort

What James Van Der Beek is doing to Dungy, the need for pain killers, Jerry Jones' Viagra, Kobe says he's innocent (again) and other ramblings

By Greg Wiley

Super Bowl XLI went pretty much as planned. The Colts wore down the Bears defense, Peyton Manning realized he didn’t need to do everything to win and Rex Grossman came up small on the big stage.

I heard the post-game analysis blaming the loss more on the Bears defense for not being able to make tackles, rather than the ineffective play of Grossman. I have to disagree. Yes, the Bears defense could have played better, but Grossman’s miscues cost Chicago big time. Two fumbled snaps during a crucial point in the game, a pair of costly interceptions, a lost fumble and the failure to effectively keep the offense on the field for extended periods of time, all proved too much for Chicago to overcome.

The outcome may have been different had Grossman actually shown up. Chicago’s defense held Indy’s offense to only 22 points, with the other seven coming off an interception return for a TD, and the Bears special teams did its job with a touchdown. It was Chicago’s offense that dropped the ball in this game…

You might remember after the AFC Championship Game it sounded more like a church service than a football celebration on the podium with just about all the Colts’ personnel thanking God. I was expecting much of the same on Sunday and got it when Colts head coach Tony Dungy referred to his talk with the team after Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a score. He said something to the effect that the Lord sometimes makes you overcome obstacles before you succeed. Now, let me say I don’t have a major problem with religious praise after games. It happens way too much, but religion plays a big role in the lives of many athletes and coaches and they want to share that. But I wonder what Dungy was thinking when after the game CBS aired a new episode of the drama “Criminal Minds,” in which a delusional mad-man played by James Van Der Beek starts a killing spree based on Bible scripture…

Andy Reid’s kids are in some hot water. Their actions last week have been well documented so there is really no need to go too in-depth on everything. I feel for Andy right now. Both of his sons are grown and capable of making their own decisions, no matter how poor their choices are, but as a father you always feel responsible. All parents want the best for their children and you try your best to provide everything you can. It’s tough, though. I know. I mostly work at night and on the weekends so that I can raise my three children during the day and my wife, a school teacher, is home at night.

For the average family in America, both parents have to work to make it financially. I’m not blaming this for Britt and Garrett Reid’s problems, their parents have enough money and mom was probably home, but you have to wonder if Andy Reid didn’t have to spend almost every waking hour living, breathing and eating football, might things have been different?

Legendary Cowboys head coach Tom Landry once said that if you weren’t home in time for dinner you were doing something wrong. Times have changed in the NFL and coaches are spending more and more time in the office. However, Colts head coach Tony Dungy has taken Landry’s outlook after the tragic death of his son and it seems to have worked for him on and off the field. Are NFL owners and fans putting too much pressure on coaches to succeed? There can be a better balance of work and family achieved if all sides just took a step back and realized that life is more important than sports…

Brett Favre is returning for a 17th NFL season next year. The ageless wonder announced late last week that he plans on returning to Green Bay, this after his tearful post-game following the Packers' win in Week 17 versus the Chicago Bears. I enjoy watching Favre play, but I think I'm going to need some of those pain killers he was addicted to to make it through some of his games next year. (I'm sure most of you need pain killers to make it through this article).

I don't need the pills because of him, but because of the announcers who consistently go goo-goo over him. It makes me sick hearing them tell me how special he is over and over. I know. You know. Let's save the praise until he actually retires. Favre's done this to us for the last few years, making everybody sit on the edge of their seats waiting to hear his announcement. At least this year he did the Packers a favor and announced his intentions early, not like last year when he waited until deep into the off-season to say he was returning…

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was suspended one game last week for his elbow to the nose of Spurs guard Manu Ginobili. If you didn't see it, Bryant hit Ginobili with an elbow on the follow-through of a shot late in a January 28 contest. There was no foul called on the play, but after a video review by the league, it was ruled that it was a non-basketball move. I agree with the league. Bryant, who said it was unintentional, has had temper problems in the past, fighting with Chris Childs and Reggie Miller and also elbowing Mike Miller in the chops after losing his cool. Also, how can Bryant ever be considered innocent of anything after his sexual assault case was dropped with Bryant admitting that he and his accuser had different "views" of the incident?…

I logged onto the Dallas Cowboys Web site this past week to check out the new stadium that is going to be built. Wow! Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones is planning to construct the world's largest domed structure. The stadium will seat up to 100,000, has a retractable roof, a 180-foot long video board (the largest of its kind) and retractable glass doors in each end zone. I'm starting to think that Jones is trying to make up for shortcomings in other areas? I can hear his pick-up lines now, "Hey ladies, want to see the size of my video board?"…

If anyone gets Sports Illustrated, read Rick Reilly's "Life of Reilly" that is in the February 5 issue. I liked it…

Get used to me talking fantasy baseball. I'm in a keeper league with some buddies that pays a good amount of money for the winner. Last year I was in first place for nearly the entire season until falling from the top with two
weeks left in the season. I then lost in the first round of the playoffs. Therefore, I won nothing. The good thing is that I get the fifth pick in this year's draft.

We get to keep five players and a rookie heading into the season. On February 1 my preliminary list of keepers was due (10 players). So right now I have kept Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Manny Ramirez, Carlos Lee, Brandon Webb, Ryan Zimmerman (rookie), Juan Pierre, Rafael Furcal, Bronson Arroyo and Troy Glaus. The first six are the guys I will probably keep, unless I get blown away by a trade. I would like to deal Manny or Lee, but I want a top-of-the-line starting pitcher in return. One guy (he drafts fourth) has both Jake Peavy and Roy Oswalt. I would most likely deal Manny or Carlos for one of those guys and a first-round pick draft pick.

Greg Wiley's "Week in Sports" can be found at The Phanatic Magazine every Monday.