Hard Knocks on Defense

Watching the Redskins each week is part of my cardio exercise for the week. I can run for miles on the treadmill but all that running doesn’t get my heart rate as high and low as watching the Redskins; the defense causing a high heart rate and the offense bringing my heart rate to a low.

Obviously, the NFL stat guy isn’t watching the Redskins on Sunday. Washington is ranked last in the league in yards allowed- it’s a good thing games are won by how many points a team scores and not by how many yards are given up. Shanahan’s new 3-4 defense may look disappointing on paper but have you looked at the damage the defense is causing to opposing teams offense? In the past four matchups the Washington defense has not only impacted the game but also the active roster of the opposing team’s next game.

Eagles QB, Michael Vick hasn’t played a down since he was sandwiched by DeAngelo Hall and Kareem Moore and he is still suffering from a rib cartilage injury. It was later reported that running back LeSean McCoy played through a broken rib and both Riley Cooper and Asante Samuel experienced mild concussions.

Packers tight end, Jermichael Finley was carted off in the fist quarter with knee injury and he is out for the season. Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion.

The Colts and the leagues top receiving tight end, Dallas Clark, has been placed on injured reserve and he will undergo surgery on his wrist this week. A bye week doesn’t look like enough time for running back Joseph Addai’s shoulder injury to recover from hard hit by London Fletcher.

The Ego of Chicago’s QB Jay Cutler may have taken the worst beating of all as he threw four picks to DeAngelo Hall and the Bears were 0-0 on 4th downs at Soldier Field.

Talk about Hard Knocks…. Have you seen the size of LaRon Landry’s biceps? With 158 consecutive starts, London Fletcher hasn’t missed a game start since 1998. Both Landry and Fletcher are in the leagues top five for most tackles. DeAngelo Hall leads the league with five interceptions and Brian Orakpo is fifth in sacks.

When you consider a team with a 4-3 start, ranks eighth in the league for toughest schedule, a new coaching staff and basically a brand new team playing in the NFC east, I say-Hail Yeah!

So to the NFL stat guy: yards given up affect your fantasy points. Points scored affect the outcome of the game.

Racy Move

On Tuesday, CNBC published The Q Scores Co-a general polling company, which ranked LeBron James as the sixth most-disliked athlete in American sports. According to the report, James is considered a positive public figure by only 14 percent; a 77 percent decline from when he was with Cleveland. CNN correspondent Soledad O'Brien asked if race played a role in the decline of the LeBron James brand. James responded with “I think so at times. It's always, you know, a race factor." Maverick Cater, the 28 year-old who is the CEO of the LBJ brand said race "definitely played a role in some of the stuff coming out of the media, things that were written for sure."

Sounds like these kids have a lot to learn. LeBron and his camp blame race for his decline while the rest of us on planet Earth blame “The Decision” for his popularity decline. Most blame him for how he made the decision and not really the outcome of his decision.

LBJ: Stop playing the race card and start learning how to dribble.

The whole idea of The Decision- LeBron’s free agency announcement plus the circus in American Airline Arena- was it expected; yes. Was it ridiculous; Yes! Did we all watch; YES! We allowed the brand of LBJ to be created and now with this race card comment…. did we create a monster; Yes!

I’ve always been a LeBron fan even with his decision, but the race card. C’OME ON MAN! At this point we all know LeBron is one of the most dominate athletes in the NBA, but with this whole media debacle and hype in Miami the Heat is on and a Championship ring might be his only shot to save his throne as KingJames.

Incase you want to know who the other disliked athletes are:

When I saw the other top five disliked athletes, I laughed at all but one. I completely agree with Michael Vick being on the list and I can see why Tiger Woods is on the list for now, but he won’t retire from golf on and still be on the list. Terrell Owens, Chad Ocho Cinco and Kobe Bryant are all on the list because they are hated for being great athletes with a comedian personality or for delivering a great one liner to the media-"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess."