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‘FOOTBALL IN CHAOS’
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The World is on Fire.
You knew that, Trump, the election, the border, Ukraine, Israel.

The Sports World is on Fire too.

In a 2-hour span on Wednesday, the football world was turned upside down.

Pete Carroll was removed in Seattle.
Nick Saban quit in Tuscaloosa.
Jon Gruden is in New Orleans.

It’s as if an earthquake hit football and the after-shocks are likely to continue.

SEATTLE…14-years of excellence with the Seahawks was replaced by controversy, injuries, a defensive meltdown and questions as to whether Pete Carroll was tuned out by a talented roster.

He rebuilt his franchise twice.  He dealt away a legendary QB.  Age, injury, the salary cap shredded the Legion of Doom Super Bowl defense.  And now he has been removed as head coach, hours after saying he intended to coach next year.

Hard to believe he would not go out on his own terms, or that ownership wanted  to dictate this type of change.

He becomes a hot candidate somewhere else.

TUSCALOOSA…This came out of nowhere, Nick Saban retiring after this illustrious career with Alabama.

But maybe we should not be shocked.

Look around the landscape at name coaches fed up with what the NCAA in football and basketball has become.

Saban didn’t like the transfer portal, had reservations about the money funnelled towards all players, and openly spoke about it.

His history writes 6-NCAA championships with the Tide.  11-SEC titles with Alabama.  4-Heisman Trophy winners.  44-first round NFL draft picks.

You could say the ‘old timers’ are exiting the building and you might not be wrong.

A year from now the college landscape (portal-money) will be changed, but football has lost its leader and its social conscience.

NEW ORLEANS…He wants to come back, and it looks like he is coming back, Jon Gruden’s return from disgrace.

The Saints discussing a possible deal that allows him to become either an Offensive consultant or the actual Offensive Coordinator, guiding his former Raiders QB-Derek Carr going forward.

Still to be determined, what happens to the Gruden lawsuits against Roger Goodell and the NFL over the leakage of Emails sent by Gruden to old friend Bruce Allen, who was President of the Washington Redskins at that point.  Emails that ripped the Commissioner, the way the NFL operates, hiring of minorities and more.

And once the aftershocks of this football earthquake settle, you wonder, who winds up going where.

Is Jim Harbaugh now the only hot candidate out there?
Is Pete Carroll a right fit for another NFL team?
Is Bill Belichick about to exit New England and where does he head?

Does Alabama raid another school (Clemson-Swinney) to replace Saban?

The sports football world does seem on fire, just days before the playoffs begin, and days after the National Championship game was played.

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“NFL–WHAT WOULD YOU DO”
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Let the bidding begin.
Let the interviews begin.
Let the hiring begin.

Who would you hire if you were the Chargers, to fix what has been so wrong, for so long?  Unqualified leadership.  Inexperienced head coaches.  The cheapest hire possible.

The Spanos Family may argue all this is unfair, but they cannot argue they have missed on 3-straight hires.  You have not forgotten Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn, Brandon Staley.

They cannot discount their record since they bought the franchise (314-346) either.

They now have a unique opportunity to hire the legendary head coach of the New England Patriots, the one with 6-Super Bowl rings, in Bill Belichick.

They could hire the hottest college coach in modern day football in Jim Harbaugh.

The price tag won’t be cheap, for New England owes Belichick (25M) on the final year of his deal.

Harbaugh has been offered a (12.5M) per year, top of the line pay, for Harbaugh to stay in Ann Arbor.

The track record for both is of staggering results.

Belichick’s teams play as relenting a defense as there is in the NFL. It may take a unique player to adjust and execute his system, but he gets them, he teaches them.

Belichick’s sales pitch to lure veterans to come play for him has a history of good short order acquisitions.  Look what Corey Dillon, Randy Moss, Junior Seau, Rodney Harrison, Mike Vrabel brought to Foxborough.

His track record as a GM has been littered by failed draft picks, blown free agent purchases, and struggles to find the right QB.

He developed Tom Brady, and we know the end result of Trophies and Parades.  Granted, as the league changed, and free agency became important, the Pats coach-GM did not do well.  Since Brady’s exit, the Patriot Way has gone (28-38) so things are off the track

Harbaugh’s resume includes a (49-14) record with the 49ers, the grooming of Colin Kaepernick, and success till it all ended in a front office feud.

His arrival at Michigan brought mixed results early.  He nearly lost his job  in 2020-when he went (2-4) in a Covid season.  Instead, he made assistant coaching changes, reopened national recruiting doors, and voila, a National Championship at Michigan.  He gets the ring with a (76-26) record in Ann Arbor.

His ability to coach offense, defense, sales pitch his players, and hold things together has been remarkable, considering  the turmoil all around him.  Whether  it is the transfer portal, the NIL, the sign stealing issues, or alleged Covid violations, his Wolverines were resilient in the face of everything around them.

And he beat Penn State,Ohio State, Alabama and Washington.

So the Chargers, who may have the best job open, with QB-Justin Herbert, a young offensive line, and gifted players, have a real shot at hiring either one of these guys.

Of interest will be if Belichick wants the same power structure he has in New England?  Or will Harbaugh want final authority on his roster?  Will John Spanos answer to the new coach.

Of course the Bolts have salary cap issues, so there may be roster changes to, when you consider they could be 40-to-60M over the cap.

And a bigger question, can you trust Team Spanos to make the right decisions?
These are the people who fired a Hall of Fame GM (Beathard), a Hall of Fame coach (Coryell), a Super Bowl coach (Ross), and a 200-win coach (Schottenheimer).

The Bolts need a leader on the sidelines, to go with the leader in the huddle.
Justin Herbert deserves more than he has received with the Chargers.

Belichick-Harbaugh.  Can’t go wrong with either one, unless the Spanos team gets cold feet, gets cheap, fails to re-imagine how to run the franchise.

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“HAIL TO THE VICTORS”
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It was a dominant  performance from start to finish.
Michigan’s offense early.  Michigan’s defense the rest of the way.
The Maize & Blue won the College Football Playoffs over Washington (34-13)

Michigan validated its (15-0) season, at first by taking out then unbeaten Penn State.  They drilled Ohio State in their rivalry game.  They won the Rose Bowl against Alabama.

And then they did it all with the ball, and taking the ball away, in a bruising win over the Huskies.

True champions  in every sense, from the passion play coach Jim Harbaugh, to his vibrant coordinators, to the power run game, the slingshot quarterback, and the mauling defense.

It started with the two explosive runs by Donovan Edwards.  It finished with 2-TD runs by the feisty Blake Corum. In between, Michigan’s defense declared it open season on the Huskies legendary QB-Michael Penix.

There were chess game moves during the game.  The Huskies, blown out early, trailing (17-3), changed the defense, blitzed gaps, forced 3-and-outs, and dragged the team back to within a touchdown.

Credit given to the Dogs defense which went 8-straight possessions without letting UM into the end zone.

And Penix went to a tempO offense, throwing slants and outs to complete passes,but that meant longer drives, and they could not piece all that together into TD drives.

When they were done Michigan mashed the Washington QB.  The Huskies were (0-11) on 3rd downs..

It was a night of Michigan monster plays, not just the 41-46 yard TD runs, but another 59-yard burst and then a 40Y-catch by a tight end, then the game ending 81-yard interception return by Mike Stainristal to seal the win.

Washington never hit the big plays like they did all season long.  Chunk plays went away.  The heat on Penix was so hot, he overthrew 2-wide open wide receivers.  It didn’t help that Michigan’s secondary could have been called at least 3-times for defensive holds on deep pass patterns, but no flags were thrown.

On this night, brute strength stomped the pastry like offense, and Michigan stormed to victory.  Michigan rumbled for (303Y) on the ground and finished the night with (443Y) overall.  Penix was sacked just once, took 11-hits and was pressured 8-times.  The cumulative pounding led to the turnovers.

Don’t think anyone else in the nation could have beaten this machine that Jim Harbaugh put together.

Hail to the Victors.  Michigan’s men marched to victory.

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“A WILD FOOTBALL WEEKEND”

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They finish up a historical college football season with Monday Night Football, Michigan-vs-Washington.

The NFL finished up its regular season on Sunday night with the post season starting next Saturday.

Throwing deep opinions down the football field at this hour.

MICHIGAN-WASHINGTON…Assume this is Jim Harbaugh’s final game for the Wolverines before he chooses which NFL job he wants.  Maybe he leaves Ann Arbor one step ahead of the sheriff, as the NCAA arrives to probe recruiting violations during the Covid Blackout period.  His parting give could be the NCAA championship.

KEYS TO GAME..Loads of questions to consider.
..Will Washington go to spread formations to take the push out of the pass rush
..Can Washington protect Michael Penix against a fierce rush
..Will Washington go no huddle to wear out Michigan’s rush
..Will Michigan play power ball with BJ Corum-Don Edwards-keep Penix off field
..Will Michigan’s motion formations unravel the Huskies defense

WHO WINS…Think Michigan defense is too much for the Huskies to cope with.

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CHARGERS-CHIEFS…That was awful, unwatchable and a well deserving finish to a bad Bolt season, this last second (13-12) loss to KC, in typical Chargering fashion.  Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy that Dean Spanos.  The game was a matchup of backups since so many players sat out.  Easton Stick might make a good CFL-QB.  He actually played well with some (320Y) all purpose offense, but they did not score any TDs.  In fact the Chargers have not scored a TD in 10-quarters, and scored just 1-offensive TD in the last 3-games Stick started.  The Bolts finish (5-13), get a high draft pick but they are a mess in the front office and have roster and cap problems everywhere.  Good luck with all that.

RAIDERS-BRONCOS..They finish upbeat with a 5-sack outing in beating a bad Denver team.  Big question, the lockeroom wants Antonio Pearce retained after a (5-4) finish to the season.  What does Mark Davis do?

BILLS-MIAMI..Josh Allen made horrid throws, killing 2-TD drives and then fumbled, but came back to make so many big run plays in the final quarter for the win-aided by a 96Y punt return TD…. Dolphins look amped for the playoffs, despite injuries over the last couple of weeks…but there is a glaring number, they are just (1-5) against good teams this year.  So who is better,  Buffalo or Kansas City?

PATRIOTS-JETS..The weather was miserable, so was the way Bill Belichick’s team finishing up (4-13) and so was the coach in his final press conference, dour and in the dumps.  What a mess he leaves behind.  What a call Bob Kraft must make.

HOUSTON-COLTS…What a season, what a QB (CJ Stroud), what a WR (Nico Collins), what leadership job (DeMeco Ryans).  See the Texans in the playoffs next weekend.

STEELERS-RAVENS..Is your team improving?  Guess you can say discussing Pittsburgh.  Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season.  What a coaching job to fix this team after its sorry start.  Likely 1-and-done but they got to the playoffs.

BENGALS-BROWNS..Cleveland sat alot of people and had hurt people out too, so Cincinnati got a meaningless win.  The Bengals can watch the Browns on the playoff field next weekend.

LIONS-VIKINGS..Great season, but they got two key guys hurt on Sunday.  The tooth ache of a season is over in Minnesota, with the QB injuries wrecking the season.

JAGUARS-TITANS..Epic cave in by the Jags because Trevor Lawrence had 3-different injuries in 4-weeks and looked to be a shell of himself.  For once this year, Derek Henry and Ryan Tannehill played like they used to in Nashville.  Both are likely to leave

SAINTS-ATLANTA..The Falcos rebuild stalled, and three years into the Arthur Smith regime, they still don’t have a quarterback.   He might not have a job either.

TAMPA BAY-CAROLINA…Bryce Young threw TD passes in just 1-game over the final seven weeks of the season.  They have such a long road back to fix the Panthers.

GREEN BAY-BEARS..Jordan Love completes a dazzling neon light season, blowing by the first year stats that Brett Favre-Aaron Rodgers compiled their first seasons in Green Bay.

EAGLES-GIANTS…This is bad, the collapse into the sewer by Philadelphia  They were (10-1), now they lost 5-of-6 and the QB injured a finger and a top WR has a knee injury.  Not who they used to be, dominant.

SEATTLE-ARIZONA..The Cardinals go home (4-13)..Seattle ends a relly disappointing season.

RAMS-49ERS..A 10-win season under Sean McVay and now they head to the playoffs.  They have weapons, they are healthy, can they win a playoff game on the road?  The Niners rested lots of guys and now they have a bye week too.

DALLAS-WASHINGTON..The Cowboys are for real.  The Commanders are in trouble, no QB, no offense,no pass rush, and likely no coach and GM by Tuesday

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“NFL-FINAL GO ROUND”
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We get to the finish line and Saturday-Sunday games will impact the wildcard playoff race.

A brief look at what is ahead and what happens next.

CHARGERS-CHIEFS…My backup QB-vs-your backup QB.  Easton Stick-vs-Blaine Gabbert as Andy Reid rests a ton of name starters, getting ready for the playoffs.  The Bolts, under Stick and Kellen Moore’s play calls, have 1-TD in the last 8-quarters.  The Bolts have so many receivers hurt.  Might be Austin Eckeler’s final game too.  The bigger story is what happens next week, pertaining to Jim Harbaugh.

HOUSTON-INDY…What a surprise season for both.  Gunslinger Gardner Minshew and rookie CJ Stroud have had sparkling seasons.  Both teams (9-7) playing for 1st place in the AFC-South.

BROWNS-BENGALS..Joe Flacco sits, getting ready for the wildcard round, so the game is really meaningless.  Not really the ‘Battle of Ohio’ Paul Brown would want.

VIKINGS-DETROIT…QB of the week is Nick Mullens.  Such a disappointing season for Kevin O’Connell going thru 4-QBs.  Detroit needs to get thru the weekend without any injuries.

JAGUARS-TITANS…Jacksonville caught up with half the world in the AFC is at (9-7) and they are banged up.  Bigger question in Nashville, is Mike Vrabel in danger of losing his job

SAINTS-FALCONS…New Orleans has underachieved.  Atlanta has a QB mess and a possible head coaching change coming.

TAMPA BAY-CAROLINA…Miserable end to Bryce Young’s rookie season.  Some bounceback season for QB-Baker Mayfield.

GREEN BAY-BEARS…Jordan Love a breakout season despite lots of injuries to his skill players.  Who knows what the future is for Chicago QB-Justin Fields.

PATRIOTS-JETS…Bill Belichick finishes his worst season ever in New England.  They need a QB and skill players and a new GM.  What happens to the Hoodie next week, the big storyline in the State of New England.  Jets need to to find players around Aaron Rodgers, who will play in 2024.

RAIDERS-DENVER…Messy finish for Sean Payton, final time Russell Wilson wears those colors.  Lots unanswered questions for the mess Raiders football is.  Players want Antonio Pearce to return-what does Mark Davis do?

EAGLES-GIANTS…They are unhappy about what has happened to that Philly defense.  Nick Sirianni catching lots of flack.  The Giants misery grows with report RB-Saquon Bakley will become a free agent and wants to walk

SEATTLE-ARIZONA…Lousy Seahawks season on defense.  Awful lot of injuries.  Is this Kyler Murray’s final game, is there a trade coming.  Bad season in Phoenix.

DALLAS-WASHINGTON..End of the run for Ron Rivera as coach, and obvious need to go find a QB.  A 12-win Cowboys season jumps them into the playoffs.

RAMS-49ERS…The big name guys sit, so it’s Sam Darnold against Carson Wentz in a not-so snazzy QB matchup.  Great season of developing players for Sean McValy.

BILLS-MIAMI…Dolphins are (1-4) vs good teams.  Bills finally got things under control with QB-Josh Allen.  Miami has a bunch of injuries and this is a key game heading to post season for both teams.

STEELERS-RAVENS…No Lamar Jackson and alot of Baltimore starters…Chance for Mason Rudolph to play against a big time defense.

Enjoy Saturday-Sunday.  Black Monday is coming.  The Coaching Carousel starts to spin.  Michigan-Washington in Championship game.  Lots to cover.

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