Gripe time: Tired of same comments

By Adam Bagni
Collegian Staff
November 8, 2006

We’re at the halfway point of the NFL season – annually the time of year when analysts and commentators make their most brazen predictions. While this year is no exception, I have to say that there are a number of issues I’m tired of hearing about already.

I’m so sick of hearing…

“The Bears are an elite NFL football team.”

Maybe I missed the memo, but the Chicago Bears are not a great NFL football team. On top of the fact that they lost handily to the lowly Miami Dolphins this weekend, there are glaring weaknesses that abound on this team.

First off, at 7-1, who have they beaten? The Bears have wins against Green Bay, Detroit, Minnesota, Buffalo, Arizona and San Francisco. Those teams are all terrible, with a combined record of 16-32. I give Chicago credit for bowling over Seattle in week four, but how can anyone throw his or her weight behind a team that was handed a freebie win two weeks later by Arizona?

What’s with all this love for Rex Grossman, too? The guy has a below-average passer rating of just over 80, and he has been intercepted nearly four percent of the time this year – one of the worst percentages among all starters. In addition, Grossman has a history of poor play and hardly any playoff experience. Choose wisely before adding Grossman to your fantasy league.

The Bears won’t make it out of the Divisional round of the playoffs, even with that stellar defense. Mark my words.

“___ should, or shouldn’t, retire.”

I guess I’m sick of hearing this in all sports, but it’s particularly prevalent this season in the NFL with the upcoming retirement of Tiki Barber and the “impending” retirement of Brett Favre.

It’s time to get off this retirement stuff. When an athlete wants to hang them up, let him do it on his own accord. No player owes anything to his “legacy” or fans. Who are we commentators to say that an individual should, or shouldn’t, stop playing a game that he loves?

I mean, come on. No one thinks of Jerry Rice as a Seattle Seahawk. No one thinks of Willie Mays as a New York Met. No one thinks of Michael Jordan as a Washington Wizard.

Let guys retire when they want to retire.

“Who is better – Brady or Manning?”

Compare the stats side-by-side, and there’s no doubt that Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the NFL. However, he’s not the most valuable.

Tom Brady has already won three Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVP trophies. Brady has won our nation’s premiere sporting event with the help of great offensive players like… umm… you know…there was that one guy that kinda helped him…

Last time I checked, Manning is 4-10 against the Patriots, including 0-2 in the playoffs.

Ask any NFL fan whether they’d prefer to have either the league’s “best” quarterback, or three Super Bowl banners.

Easy decision.

“The NFC East is a great division.”

With the way the season has progressed, there certainly aren’t many people still maintaining that the NFC East is the best division in the league. With that being said, this isn’t just a division of good teams “beating up on each other.” The Giants are a good football team – no doubt in my mind about that. Dallas, Washington and Philadelphia are all bad teams.

The Cowboys are going nowhere with that terrible offensive line and a rookie quarterback (he has been impressive so far, though; I’ll give him that). On top of that, Terrell Owens is doing nothing but creating more distractions.

Philadelphia can’t run the football like a playoff team, and they certainly can’t stop anyone else from running either. The Eagles can’t count on Donovan McNabb to be a savior on offense every game.

And finally, Washington is on its last legs with both Joe Gibbs and Mark Brunell. You won’t see either in Redskins gear next season.

The AFC West and NFC South are both much better divisions.

“Poor Shawn Merriman.”

Of all the things that have made me sick this NFL season, this is the worst. What is with all the apathy for Chargers linebacker Shawn Merriman? Merriman tested positive for steroids and was suspended for four games. Frankly, the media shouldn’t care if Merriman is a “good guy” or “well-liked around football.” Merriman cheated. Period. Why is he not being ridiculed?

Merriman might as well have gone past GO, because he’s gotten one of the most outrageous free passes I’ve ever seen in sports. If this positive test was in Major League Baseball, with a player comparable to Merriman’s impact on the NFL, there would be outrage.

I’m not as much shocked by this as I am saddened.

“Terrell Owens…anything.”

I had to conclude with at least one subject almost everyone can agree on: Terrell Owens. I would gladly stop writing if he would just go away.

bagnia1@lasalle.edu