Free with every column: stupidity!

Sports Illustrated columnist Dr. Z proved my point in his power rankings. First, he bashed the CBS crew doing the game between the Bengals and Patriots for not mentioning that the Patriots were playing a 4-2-5 defense with newly signed Hank Poteat as the starting nickelback. Dr. Z writes in the column "you'd never know it from CBS' No. 1 announcing crew because they don't bother with trivial details such as this, but the Pats opened against the Bengals in a 4-2-nickel". Perhaps Dr. Z should get his memory checked because the team most definitely did divulge that information. I was tuned into the game and remember that little tidbit. Many of the announcers are just about worthless, but at least get your facts right when you are bashing them.

The second issue I have with his column is his assessment that "[Saints LB Scott] Fujita's foul [on Panthers WR Stever Smith], while potentially more dangerous than what Haynesworth did, was on the other side of the field, away from the play, and not noticed by many." He may be on to something that it wasn't as readily noticed by the masses. However, to say that it was potentially more dangerous, is absurd. Fujita could have put Smith out for the year with a broken leg or blown out knee. So, Fuijta should be suspended, and a suspension of five games seems like a suitable penalty. Haynesworth stepped on Gurode's exposed face twice with cleats. He took spikes to another player's face, with quite a bit of force behind the spikes. He could have ruined Gurode's career by puncturing an eye. Career vs. season, I'm going with Haynesworth's as the more dangerous act. Plus, while I'm not going to make excuses for Fujita and think he should be punished, he dove at Smith's legs once (at least as far as I know). Haynesworth stepped on Gurode's face twice! It's possible that Fujita figured out after his first dive that maybe he shouldn't do that any more. Haynesworth's brain didn't check in and tell him that he shouldn't keep after it ... that's dangerous.

Leaving Dr. Z alone for a bit and moving on to other football action from last week, I'm a little put off by all the criticism of NY Jets Head Coach Eric Mangini. That game wasn't on in my home market, and while I have a new 2006 Nissan Pathfinder and a new waverunner, I haven't convinced my wife that we need NFL Sunday Ticket, yet. So, I'm saying I didn't see the game. But, it seems like Mangini was taking a lot of risks. Sometimes, risks work out (onsides kick), sometimes they don't (4th and goal interception instead of taking the FG). Sure, you have to be smart about when you do certain things, but if they had scored a TD on 4th and goal, everyone would be praising Mangini for that. If they hadn't recovered the onsides kick, everyone would be bashing him for that. He was taking risks because that is what he felt gave his team the best chance to beat the Indianapolis Colts. I'm not going to second guess him because he put them in a great position to steal that game. You have to ignore the actual result when analyzing calls, and I don't think that is being done nationally in this instance.

---

Related:

• Go for broke