MY FAB FIVE

****Disclaimer: We are now in the month of August. This is significant because NFL training camps have officially started, and the football season is quickly approaching. I am going to be completely honest with you, I LOVE FOOTBALL!!!! This means that until next February when the Eagles and Patriots meet in the Super Bowl, about 92% of the entries on this blog will be football related (primarily NFL, but I will talk about the kiddies running around on campus as well). Basically, what I’m saying is that it’s time to GET INTO FOOTBALL MODE, and no one will bring you football insight and opinions better than STRAIGHT CASH HOMEY!!!!****

Before I start, I would like to apologize to my regular readers for leaving you hanging for so long. I know that it has been a month since my last post, but it has been quite the busy month. I celebrated a birthday (thanks to my wife for a wonderful dinner and my family for celebrating with me). I also finished another semester of my MBA Program (the workload for summer classes is intense to say the least), and I have changed jobs (which we all know is a job in itself). The last month was definitely worth all of the hard work, because I am one semester closer to my Master’s Degree and I absolutely love my new job. Thank you for your patience and I will try to keep the prolonged absences to a minimum in the future, because I MISSED YOU GUYS!!!!

NOW, LET’S GET TO IT!!!!

There are 1,696 active players each week in the NFL. The fact that these select athletes are playing on Sunday’s tells you just how good they are. Now everyone in the NFL is not a superstar or even a great all-around player, there are those who are role players that simply do a particular job well enough to earn a living at it. For example, Kevin Faulk (of the New England Patriots) has been a third down back for virtually his entire career. This is because he is excellent at picking up blitzes, running draw plays, and catching screen passes. Being able to do these jobs well has allowed him to earn a great living as a NFL player for the past decade or so. There are also players like Keith Brooking (formerly of the Atlanta Falcons and now of the Dallas Cowboys) who has become the best tackler beyond the first down marker in the entire NFL. His role is to get burned by all running backs and tight ends that he has the misfortune of covering and waiting until a player gets the first down and then tackling them. He does it so well that he has made a living doing this for the last ten years.

There are also those players that I consider to be very good players. These players cause opposing coaches to account for them in their game plans, and will have long productive careers and even make multiple Pro Bowls. These players include such guys as Reggie Wayne, Hines Ward, Clinton Portis, Lance Briggs, and John Abraham just to name a few.

Then there is the group of players that are basically walking Hall of Famer’s. These players have Hall of Fame credentials and it is just a matter of time until they are enshrined in Canton. Examples of players that fall into this group are Ray Lewis, Terrell Owens, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Tony Gonzalez.

These are only examples of the players that I believe fall into these specific categories. There are many more that could easily be put into each. Also, you may have noticed that I have not included any quarterbacks (nor will I include any in the list that follows) because it is virtually impossible to compare the quarterback position with the other positions on the field. They are just measured differently than everyone else. However, I will be doing my annual quarterback rankings before the season kicks off.

You may have wondered why I didn’t mention certain players as my examples of future Hall of Famer’s. They were omitted because they are not only future Hall of Famer’s but they are also THE TOP FIVE PLAYERS IN THE LEAGUE TODAY (regardless of position, but not including quarterbacks for the reasons mentioned above). I know that this will be a controversial list because I am choosing only five players out of the entire league, and some of you will certainly disagree. That being said I AM STANDING BY MY LIST, and I invite you to challenge it. However, if you disagree, you must tell me why and who you would take off of my list. I look forward to your feedback.

Now, the moment you have all been waiting for. STRAIGHT CASH HOMEY’s TOP 5 PLAYERS IN THE NFL ARE:

#5 DeMarcus Ware (Outside Linebacker – Dallas Cowboys) – He is simply a beast and the unquestioned best outside linebacker in the NFL. He has played 4 seasons and has 53.5 SACKS! For those not good at math, that is an average of 13.375 per season. He had 20 IN 2008 ALONE! The best thing (or worst thing if you play quarterback) about this guy is that he is only 27 years old, which means that he is just entering the prime of his career. He is a sure fire Hall of Famer, and has a serious chance at passing career sack leader Bruce Smith on the all time sack list. He currently has 9 more sacks that Smith had after four years. Also, Bruce Smith never had more than 19 sacks in a season, and he only did that once. So barring injury, I like DeMarcus’ chances. (Play the video below to see DeMarcus in action).



To be perfectly honest, I briefly considered Shawne Merriman for this spot. Then I remembered this (see video below) and quickly remembered that DeMarcus is better.




#4 Larry Fitzgerald (Wide Receiver – Arizona Cardinals) – I have been a huge Fitzgerald fan since his college days at Pittsburgh. He is a beast. If it wasn’t for the guy two spots ahead of him on this list, he would be the best receiver in the entire NFL. He is 6’3” and a rock solid 217 pounds. This size allows him to catch all jump balls that are thrown anywhere in the state in which he is playing, and also run through defensive backs like they are the banners that high school football teams break through before games. His hands are impeccable, possibly the best in the game. He also catches the ball with one hand (right or left, it doesn’t matter) better than most receivers catch it with two hands and their chest. The only knock on Fitzgerald is that he doesn’t have blazing sub 4.3 40-yard dash speed. Have you ever seen him get caught from behind? I sure haven’t, which must mean that he is fast enough. (Play the video below to see Fitzgerald in action).




#3 Adrian Peterson (Running Back – Minnesota Vikings) – I’ve never seen a power back that could run this fast. He actually prefers to run over defenders (the exact opposite of Shaun Alexander) than run around them. But sometimes just to keep his Madden speed rating up, he simply runs by people. He is without a doubt the best running back in the NFL. He is so good, I can’t even think of the second best running back in the NFL off the top of my head. He makes everyone else look average. It’s like he is Michael Jordan and the NFL defenses that he plays against are Craig Ehlo. He averages over 5 yards per carry, which means that he gets a first down every two carries. The most amazing thing about Peterson’s production is the fact that he plays on a team with a young (although he will be good) quarterback and basically no talent at wide receiver (Percy Harvin will be a good addition this season). So, basically he faces a minimum of 8 players and usually 9 or even 10 players in the box on every play. Yet he still dominates! He is only 24 years old, so if he can stay healthy (that is a big if considering his college career), he still has 6 amazing years left. Let’s just sit back and enjoy. (Play the video below to see Peterson in action).




#2 Randy Moss (Wide Receiver – New England Patriots) – No disrespect to Jerry Rice, but RANDY MOSS IS THE BEST RECEIVER IN NFL HISTORY! He simply has more natural ability than anyone to ever play the position. He is an inch taller than Fitzgerald, and DOES HAVE THE BLAZING SPEED! (ask DeAngelo Hall) He simply makes catches that other human beings simply do not have the physical ability to make. As far as I am concerned HE IS NOT HUMAN! He cannot be defended. I have seen him beat triple coverage to catch a pass with his forearm. Who else can do that? I’ll give you a minute to think about it……. Still thinking?....... OK, I will give you the answer. NO ONE! Oh by the way, he also holds the single season touchdown record with 23! What more can I say? (Play the video below to see Moss in action).



By the way, as the video in the top right corner of the screen shows, Randy Moss also influenced the name of the blog. (Please see the video below for more).




AND NOW, THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NFL (regardless of position, but not including quarterbacks) is……… drum roll please………

#1 ED REED (Free Safety – Baltimore Ravens) – I have never seen a defensive player control the game the way Ed Reed does. Truthfully, I don’t even know what position he plays. NFL.com lists him as a Free Safety, but you rarely see him consistently lined up in one place, yet he always seem to be lined up in the right place. If I didn’t know any better, I would think that the Ravens actually had plays in their defensive playbook called “Ed Reed Interception”, “Ed Reed Forced Fumble”, “Ed Reed Fumble Recovery”, and “Ed Reed Touchdown Return”. Whenever the Ravens need a turnover, he makes it. If the offense is struggling, he simply takes it upon himself to score touchdowns on the defensive side of the ball. If that isn’t enough, whenever the Ravens need a key punt return and they send Reed out to be the return man, he simply takes it to the house. I often wonder why quarterbacks ever throw the ball in his general vicinity. Apparently he wonders the same thing (see video below). He is also tough as nails, hits like a Mack truck, has better hands than most NFL receivers, has a nose for the end zone, and obviously understands offenses and reads routes better than most quarterbacks. He is also arguably the best receiver in the NFL once he gets the ball in his hands. He is hands down, THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NFL!!!! If you disagree (and you are entitled to your opinion), YOU ARE WRONG!!!! (Play the videos below for more on Ed Reed).





**SPECIAL SHOUTOUT: CONGRATS TO MY HOMEBOY AND REGULAR STRAIGHT CASH HOMEY!!!! READER AND CONTRIBUTOR CARL ON HIS ENGAGEMENT! I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY FOR YOU AND THE LITTLE LADY!**


AND NOW FOR MY BALLER & SCRUB OF THE WEEK


BALLER: Josh Willingham (Washington Nationals Outfielder)- As most of you know, I am not the biggest baseball fan in the world. That being said, very rarely will I honor a baseball player with my highest weekly honor as the Baller of the Week. For that to happen, he must do something truly special. This past week, Josh Willingham hit TWO GRANDSLAMS IN ONE GAME!!!! That is special and will earn you Baller of the Week status. Although Willingham is not a household name and plays for the worst team in baseball, he truly did do something special. He definitely deserves to be this week’s Baller of the Week. Where his career goes from here is anybody’s guess, but at least he has this honor that no one can take from him.

SCRUB: LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Nike – This may be a little late because I have been on blog vacation, but after GETTING DUNKED ON BY Xavier's Jordan Crawford at HIS BASKETBALL CAMP, LeBron and/or the people at Nike decided to confiscate the tape of the dunk. First of all, everyone who plays basketball at a high level for a long time will eventually get dunked on. It’s like how every quarterback will throw an interception, every pitcher will give up a homerun, and I have never met a running back that never fumbled the football. Therefore it was totally weak of you to go all A-ROD (about your image) and try to hide the tape. You know that we live in the era of YouTube and camera phones, so you know someone else was recording besides the cameraman. The tape was going to eventually leak, and guess what, IT DID!!!! (Please see below). But seriously LeBron, Jordan Crawford? WOW! I could see if it was a player destined for NBA stardom, but it was Jordan Crawford! Honestly, until this happened I wouldn’t recognize him if he was on TV in uniform, with his name on the screen in a graphic below him. He got you, so let him have his moment. It was very weak of you and/or Nike to try to hide that tape.



This week, I am adding another award. You have seen the Baller and Scrub of The Week, but now I would like to award my SCRUB OF THE MILLENIUM AWARD. This award can only go to one person, and I bet you know who it is….

SCRUB OF THE MILLENIUM: Brett Favre (“Retired (maybe) NFL Quarterback”) – Come on, did you really think I was going to write this entire entry without taking a shot at my favorite Diva? If you did, shame on you and you obviously don’t pay attention to the blog. After creating a media circus and being in the spotlight all off-season, THE DIVA has decided to “stay retired”. Since throwing the interception that cost the Packers a chance at going to the Super Bowl, THE DIVA has held a tearful press conference to retire (which was very weak by the way), then decided he was bigger than the NFL and the Packers and that he wanted his old job back. The Packers MANNED UP! and decided not to allow the tail to wag the dog, and continue to kiss Brett’s rear and give him what he wanted. They were tired of his DIVA behavior. He had also contemplated retirement and had the organization on pins and needles for the previous couple of seasons before the 2008 season. Not only did they not welcome him back, they also blocked him from going to the team of his choice. Instead of playing for the Vikings, THE DIVA was traded to the Jets, where he again led the league in interceptions and missed the playoffs. Not only did they miss the playoffs, they lost to Chad Pennington (the player the Jets got rid of to make room for Favre) and the Miami Dolphins in the game to determine the Division Championship. Poetic Justice!

After the season, THE DIVA retired again. He later, decided that he wanted to play again, this time for the Vikings. Viking’s coach Brad Childress immediately ended his relationship with his current quarterbacks to go after an older woman. Poor Brad, he didn’t know that THE DIVA was a tease who liked attention, but had commitment issues. Brad should have kept his crush on the low until he was sure he got the girl, so not to hurt the feelings of his backup plans. But being head over heels like he was, he went all in, AND GOT PLAYED!!!! After having surgery and working with the Viking’s training staff and coaches during the summer, THE DIVA decided not to play after all. So now, THE DIVA IS back in Mississippi riding a tractor in a pair of Wrangler jeans, while Brad is buying candy and flowers for his current quarterbacks and telling them that he wanted them all along. Kinda like what Diddy had to do when he went back to his longtime girlfriend after Jennifer Lopez dumped him. The DIVA has struck again and it is really annoying how all of these NFL teams and media types keep fawning over this guy.

Truthfully I don’t understand all of the hype over Favre. I know that he has thrown for a gang of yards and touchdowns, but he has also thrown for a gang of interceptions (the most in NFL history). Last time I checked, he also had the same amount of Super Bowl victories as Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson (where's the love for them?). He is also almost 40 years old. HE IS DONE! If you don’t believe me, look at how last season ended. I know, some people will claim the injury excuse. But if he was injured, he shouldn’t have been playing. Also, if he was injured at 39, why do think that he will remain healthy at 40. It just doesn’t make sense. Brad Childress and the Vikings got played, and they deserved it.

THE BIGGEST DIVA IN THE NFL

By looking at the title of this entry, you’re probably thinking that I’m talking about Terrell Owens (WRONG!!!!), or Chad Johnson (WRONG!!!!), or maybe even DeAngelo Hall (WRONG AGAIN!!!!). Although all of these players are well-known Diva’s, none of them qualify as the BIGGEST DIVA IN THE NFL. That distinction belongs to none other than the tractor-riding, King of the Cheese Heads himself, Mr. Brett Favre.

It pains me to look at Brett Favre as a Diva, because I have always looked at him as the ultimate tough guy. He has been under center for 275 consecutive games (counting playoffs). That means that he has always been dependable and there for his team, despite injuries or turmoil in his personal life. That certainly isn’t Diva behavior. As a matter of fact, I felt honored to be able to see him play in person. I was at the Georgia Dome on November 13, 2005 to witness Favre and the irrepressible Samkon Gado beat the Atlanta Falcons. For those who play Fantasy Football, that was the game that made Samkon Gado the hottest commodity on the waiver wire (he had 103 yards and 2 touchdowns on 23 carries and also 1 touchdown reception). Although I admire Brett, and acknowledge that he is a certain first ballot Hall of Famer, I must call a spade a spade. HE IS THE BIGGEST DIVA IN THE NFL.

What makes Brett Favre a Diva? The fact that he has been contemplating retirement FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS!!!! So for three straight years, Brett Favre got the full behind kissing treatment from the media, the NFL, and most noticeably his biggest fan Troy Aikman. For a guy who is the face of a TEAM, he seems to enjoy having all of the attention on HIMSELF. The hype started early. I remember watching the NFL Schedule Release show (what can I say, I love the NFL) on the NFL Network prior to the 2005 season. They were already selling the fact that “Brett Favre’s last game” will be televised on the NFL Network. On the day of the game, they even had a live broadcast of the pre-game show from Lambeau Field, complete with the dramatic scene of Favre coming on set and giving Steve Mariucci (his former QB coach) a hug. The Diva behavior continued after the game, with his victory lap around the stadium to take in all the love from the fans (he did a great job of making it look like he was actually retiring). Then suddenly, he said GOTCHA to everyone and decided to play again. He then went through the same song and dance after the 2006 season before playing again in 2007. Then after the 2007 season he finally decided to retire.

Now, the Diva has decided that he would like more attention. There are reports that say that Favre wants to comeback. If these reports are true, Brett Favre is essentially continuing to hold the Packers hostage and making it all about him, yet again. The Packers now have their backs against the wall in the court of public opinion. Although Ted Thompson (General Manager) and Mike McCarthy (Head Coach) don’t want to be known as the people who turned away Brett Favre, it is obvious that they are ready to move on without him. As a matter of fact, one report stated that his agent contacted the Packers about a possible return, and was told that the team had already moved on. In addition to that, they also scheduled his jersey retirement ceremony for the first game of the season and drafted not one but two quarterbacks in the recent NFL draft. Also, notice that no one from the Packers has stood behind a microphone and said, “We would love to have Brett Favre back.” If the Packers really wanted Brett Favre back, don’t you think that someone would say so.

It is not unusual for a professional athlete to struggle with the idea of retiring, and there are many cases where athletes actually retire, then decide to play again. I don’t have a problem with that, because everyone should have the right to change their mind. What I do have a problem with is when a player purposely holds a franchise hostage year after year, for his own selfish reasons. Brett Favre has long been looked at as the ultimate Packer, a great leader, and a great teammate. I for one, think that perception is not reality in this case. There have been many instances where he has proven not to be a great teammate and definitely not a leader. Along with his constant waffling about retiring or playing, I also point to two instances that show the real Diva in Brett Favre. The first being his refusal to serve as a mentor to Aaron Rodgers after Rodgers was drafted in 2005. I think that this is ridiculous because he knows that Rodgers is no threat to replace MR. PACKER in Green Bay, so why not help him learn the ropes in case he is forced into action due to an injury or you ACTUALLY RETIRING. The second instance occurred after the 2004 season. Javon Walker (a then Packer wide receiver) was threatening to hold out for a new contract. After having a breakout season (89 catches, 1,382 yards, 12 touchdowns), Walker wanted to renegotiate his contract. That is when the Diva himself, broke a man-law, and interfered in another player’s contract situation by speaking out against Walker holding out and trying to get a new contract. A good teammate never does that. His comments essentially turned the whole state of Wisconsin against Javon Walker.

Brett Favre is an all-time great and certainly a delight to watch each Sunday. He is definitely the KING OF THE CHEESE HEADS. Although he is universally loved (I am a huge fan of him on the field), we must look at him as we do all other NFL players. If any other player did the things that he has done, such as hold his team hostage each year and speak out about another players contract situation, he would be vilified by all sports fans. Favre is no different.

He has really backed the Packers into a tough spot. Everyone affiliated with the Packers know that having Favre gives them a better chance to win than not having Favre, but I’m sure that his yearly song and dance is getting old. There is a simple solution to this situation that should satisfy all parties involved. They should welcome him back with open arms, but with a totally redone contract. They should give him a two-year deal at his current pay rate, with one condition. That condition is that he must return for the second year of the contract or pay back his entire salary from the first year of the contract. This will allow Favre to continue his pursuit for a second Super Bowl ring and pad his records. The Packers will also be protected against Favre’s Waffling Version 2009. He will have the option of either giving them a two year commitment or playing for free.

As much as we all like (or love in the case of Troy Aikman) Brett Favre, we must look at the situation objectively and admit to ourselves that HE IS THE BIGGEST DIVA IN THE NFL, whether he has earned the right to be or not.