Team Jeter

I am definitely still Team Jeter and will remain on his side as I remained on Team Revis throughout his holdout. The sentiment is starting to fade for Jeter, just as many people were split on the Revis holdout. The longer this takes, the worse it gets for both Jeter and the Yankees, but if anything can be learned from Revis, it is that winning games will make people forget. Since the dispute ended and Revis returned from injury (probably due to missing so many practices), Revis has been the dominant corner that now seems worthy of his contract.

Jeter has already made bank. The Yankees have already rewarded him with close to $200 million. I have already heard/read stories of the anti-Jeter feelings. "He should realize the economic reality America is struggling with." Derek Jeter's reality is much different than America's. He works for the most financially successful sports franchise in the world. The Yankees were not hit by the recession so Jeter should not be thinking about the American public in negotiating his deal. Just because we do not make millions of dollars does not mean Jeter should be sympathetic to our feelings and take whatever the Yankees offer.

"Jeter will not mean the same to other teams as he does to the Yankees, so essentially they are bidding against themselves." This is true, but Jeter means more to the Yankees than any player does for any other team. Jeter is not only the team's captain, but the driving force pushing the team to succeed. Jeter has said the only accomplishment he is striving for is to match Yogi Berra's ring total, with ten. While that goal is extremely far-fetched given the expansion of talent, teams, and length left in Jeter's career, it just shows Jeter's determination to succeed.

"His skills have diminished as seen in his lower average, and poor fielding." I will not argue that he is an excellent shortstop. He did not deserve that Gold Glove this year, Elvis Andrus did. His range is plenty smaller than during his younger years and there is no denying that. I am more inclined to say that 2010 was an off year for Jeter. It was the "Year of the Pitcher." Many batters saw their stats decline but it was pretty surprising that Jeter could never break out and bring his number back to normal. The Yankees can definitely be viewing this season as the beginning of Jeter's decline, but I think he will come back strong next year.

All that being said, Derek Jeter will be in pinstripes in 2011. Everyone involved wants to see him remain a New York Yankee for his entire career; Jeter, the team, and the fans. He is too valuable to the team to kick to the curb and he has too much respect for the organization to take his talents to Cincinnati. The team needs to start showing a little more respect to him and concede in the negotiations at least a little bit. He wants more than three years. Alex Rodriguez is a Yankee until 2017 and that has to be in Jeter's mind.

From the beginning, I thought the team should offer Jeter a five to six year deal paying at a lower rate than he is currently receiving. I think Jeter would accept a pay decrease if offered a longer contract. The Yankees have to remember that a whole generation of fans revolve around Jeter and no one else on that team. We love Andy Pettitte and were furious when the Yanks let him take his talents to Houston, but if Jeter were to leave, they would see a stark decrease in revenue. Jeter has provided the team with 15 years of countless heroics and deserves more respect than a "take it or leave it" three year offer. Make the right decision Cashman and lengthen the offer. Do that, and then sign Cliff Lee.

Bamboozled

Donovan McNabb is a bamboozler, a trickster, and obviously a genius. He somehow convinced the Washington Redskins to agree to a five year, $78 million extension. Granted, the only team that would agree to such an atrocity would be the Redskins, the team paying $100 million to Albert "Stomp your Face" Haynesworth. Donovan has been riding a roller coaster of a year and is now laughing his way to the bank.

McNabb went from Philadelphia, a city that never appreciated him for what he was - a top 5 quarterback in his prime - to being traded to a divisional rival. That is how little the Eagles thought of his future. They risked trading him to a team they would have to play twice a year. That risk has yet to pay off thus far, as the Eagles lost their first match-up against the Skins but could get revenge tonight. The Eagles let go of McNabb and claimed Kevin Kolb was their QB of the future. Now it seems Michael Vick is their future as he could potentially be MVP and lead them to the postseason in what should have been a rebuilding year.

McNabb plays a normal seven games, losing 3, winning 4 and playing like he typically does, only seeming maybe a tad bit slower. Then in game eight, he is benched. He was given front row seats to see Rex Grossman attempt a two-minute drill and fail miserably. Head coach, Mike Shanahan then devised a new reason for benching McNabb for every new person to ask him. This was probably McNabb at his lowest, benched for "Sexy Rexy."

Then, inexplicably, hours before the rematch and jabber about the QB controversy in the district, news is released about the deal. McNabb certainly does not have five years left as a top five QB. I say this because he no longer is one of the five best QB's right now. He certainly won't be one five years from now. It would have made sense for the Skins to sign him for three years. That would tell the fans that they are preparing for a Super Bowl run within three years. Five years means they may take five years to make that run. Three years sends the message to the team that the time for winning is now, five years is just dramatic.

Honestly, who was going to offer McNabb a deal for five years at $80 million? The Redskins outbid themselves and drastically overpaid. I hope McNabb excels in DC. I hope he gets his ring there instead of Philly winning first. Dan Snyder didn't need to be this dramatic though. I guess that's what happens when a fanatic owns his favorite team.

Donovan McNabb is a bamboozler, a trickster, and obviously a genius. He somehow convinced the Washington Redskins to agree to a five year, $78 million extension. Granted, the only team that would agree to such an atrocity would be the Redskins, the team paying $100 million to Albert "Stomp your Face" Haynesworth. Donovan has been riding a rollercoaster of a year and is now laughing his way to the bank.

McNabb went from Philadelphia, a city that never appreciated him for what he was, a top 5 quarterback in his prime, to being traded to a divisional rival. That is how little the Eagles thought of his future. They risked trading him to a team they would have to play twice a year. That risk has yet to pay off thus far, as the Eagles lost their first matchup against the Skins but could get revenge tonight. The Eagles let go of McNabb and claimed Kevin Kolb was their QB of the future. Now it seems Michael Vick is their future as he could potentially be MVP and lead them to the postseason in what should have been a rebuilding year.

McNabb plays a normal seven games, losing 3, winning 4 and playing like he typically does, only seeming maybe a tad bit slower. Then in game eight, he is benched. He was given front row seats to see Rex Grossman attempt a two-minute drill and fail miserably. Head coach, Mike Shanahan then devised a new reason for benching McNabb for every new person to ask him. This was probably McNabb at his lowest, benched for "Sexy Rexy."

Then, inexplicably, hours before the rematch and jabber about the QB controversy in the district, news is released about the deal. McNabb certainly does not have five years left as a top five QB. I say this because he no longer is one of the five best QB's right now. He certainly won't be one five years from now. It would have made sense for the Skins to sign him for three years. That would tell the fans that they are preparing for a Super Bowl run within three years. Five years means they may take five years to make that run. Three years sends the message to the team that the time for winning is now, five years is just dramatic.

Honestly, who was going to offer McNabb a deal for five years at $80 million. The Redskins outbid themselves and drastically overpaid. I hope McNabb excells in DC. I hope he gets his ring there instead of Philly winning first. Dan Snyder didn't need to be this dramatic though. I guess that's what happens when a fanatic owns his favorite team.

You're Fired

The Dallas Cowboys officially announced the firing of head coach, Wade Phillips yesterday, and it wasn't a moment too soon. Wade Phillips was never impressive as a head coach; he led a good team to the postseason but never to the Super Bowl. A big issue in the past has been that the Cowboys have not been mentally strong, but this year, they just seem lazy. Firing Wade Phillips was necessary, not so they could have a shot at the postseason, but because the Cowboys' play has been embarrassing. This week's decimation by the Packers was the final straw for Jerry Jones.

The Cowboys had gargantuan expectations for this season. The Super Bowl is being held in Dallas, and the team, owner, and fans fully assumed that the Cowboys would be playing in that game. Now it is looking like they could be seeing a division rival play in that game, either the New York Football Giants or Philadelphia Eagles. How bitter would that taste? Given such high expectations, the Cowboys are clearly the most disappointing team of this season, and maybe ever. For a team that many expected to be playing the first home Super Bowl to be battling for the league's worst record instead is ridiculous, especially considering before Tony Romo broke his clavicle, the team was relatively injury free.

Wade Phillips being canned will do nothing for this season. Jason Garret has been the leader of an anemic offense that has a glutton of weapons. Their defense is one of the worst in football. Firing Wade Phillips was inevitable, but the Cowboys will still be the worst, most talent team of the year. Unfortunately for Garret, he will have to convince this team to win to keep his job, but this team doesn't seem to care anymore.

Next year Jerry Jones can sign a real coach to lead the team- Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden are the usual suspects. The Cowboys clearly need a coach that can light a fire under their arses, and Wade Phillips couldn't even light the match. Cowher or Gruden would be perfect for this team. The Cowboys are like the New York Yankees in that the owners expect their teams to win and if that doesn't happen, don't expect to keep your job for too long. If the Yankees were to start their season with a .125 winning percentage, Joe Girardi wouldn't last a month, let alone half the season that Wade Phillips lasted.

Maybe next year, Gruden or Cowher can stop people from jokingly saying "How 'bout them Cowboys?" But for now, they are the laughingstock of football. That is what happens when you're the team everyone loves to hate.

Champions of the World

The Giants made easy work of the Texas Rangers, and yesterday won San Fransisco's first World Series, ever. If you read back, I wrote pitching would win the World Series, and it most certainly did. The Rangers were shut out twice, once at home, and could only muster one run in the knock out game. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathon Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner proved formidable, and Brian Wilson's beard scared away the Rangers.

Twice the Giants proved me wrong. I picked them before the season to make the playoffs, but to lose to the Phillies, and lose to the Rangers. The Phillies and Rangers have stacked lineups with household names like Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth; Vladimir Guerrero, Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton. The Giants have a team of misfits, a solid combination of rookies and veterans, but outside of their rotation, no big, scary names.

Their lack of any hitters needing to be pitched around is why I picked against them. Their pitching, I thought, was similar to Philly and Texas, so after that, both of those teams had a better lineup. I was clearly wrong about the Giants' pitching, which is exactly what Ron Washington's mistake was. He underestimated the excellence of the Giants' pitching. This team could be quite a dynasty if their young guys stay around. The pitching staff is scary good, led by Timmy Lincecum, two-time Cy Young winner.

Pitching is what this year was about, and it is why Cliff Lee will be a Yankee next year. Their biggest need is pitching and they possess the fattest wallet. There is no guarantee Andy Pettitte will continue for another season, AJ Burnett needs a pitching intervention, and Phil Hughes needs to step his game up. Cliff Lee needs to be their only focus, and not acquiring him would result in a failed offseason, and possibly Brian Cashman's job. Lee claimed he would love to stay in Texas, but if the Yankees offer a considerably larger contract, Lee will take it.

For now though, congratulations San Fransisco Giants. You ended an unfortunate drought of championship rings. Celebrate and be merry, Spring Training is only 4 months away!

Vi-King, no more

Randy Moss was just put on waivers by the Minnesota Vikings. Assuming he will be claimed, the most electric wide receiver of this generation will play for his third team in just this season. Still one of the best receivers in football, (when he wants to be), Moss incredibly was unwanted by the New England Patriots and Vikings. Now comes the waiting game to see who will sign him next. Who will take the chance on a player that requires the defenses' full attention at all times?

The Indianapolis Colts.

If Moss is still available, how good of a fit does this sound? The Colts are being decimated by injuries this year, specifically at in their receiving corps. Moss would complement Reggie Wayne perfectly as teams would not be able to double both of them. Peyton Manning has a stronghold on that locker room, as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have in New England. Moss is a competitor and going to a team in the playoff hunt will keep him in check.

There are other teams that take Moss as well, for the same reason. The Tennessee Titans may have lost their playmaker, Kenny Britt for a few games with an injured hammy, and Jeff Fisher is another no-nonsense coach. Because of the "parity" this year, there are plenty of teams that have a legitimate shot to win their divisions. Adding Moss could put them over the hump from "kind of good" to "good".

Randy Moss is the shining example of teams being wary of character issues. Dez Bryant dropped in the draft because of character issues, and he never broke a law, took plays off, or sipped codeine sizzurp. Moss has a history of taking plays off and being a whiner. The Vikings let him go to play in Oakland, where the Raiders could never bring talent around him. The Patriots gave him a shot providing he followed the strict Bill Belichick. They let him go back home to Minnesota, where he has complained that New England was better to play for.

Moss became a hall-of-famer in New England, so if it comes down to the last team on the waiver wire, he may become a Patriot again. They've proven they can not only win without him, but they can beat him, so that is no guarantee. Going into the season, it appeared that the New York Jets would garner the most publicity, but it has been Minnesota; not for winning games, but for Brett Favre and Randy Moss. Two stubborn competitors that trip themselves up more than defenses do.