Although living in the second most populated city in the country, we media and fans in Los Angeles have been without an NFL team since the Rams and Raiders left for St. Louis and Oakland, respectively, after the 1994 season.

Since then, there have been numerous failed attempts to either build new stadiums and/or renovate existing ones in order to lure back an expansion team (the last attempt went on to became the Houston Texans).

Since that loss to Houston, more attempts to lure a team back to a refurbished L.A. Coliseum and Rose Bowl flopped and although California’s current budget crises makes it nearly impossible for a publicly-funded stadium to be built, the rumors still persist.

Why does the NFL want a team in Los Angeles?

Money, of course, and the “City of Angels” offers the league plenty of potential there as one of the hugest media markets.  But more specifically, a Super Bowl in L.A. could be a big financial windfall − think of all the parties that would be held in the shadows of Hollywood.  There hasn’t been a Super Bowl hosted on the West Coast since 2003 in San Diego, and the three current stadiums in California are all old and don’t offer the modern amenities and luxury boxes of new stadiums like Jerry’s $1.2 billion house in Dallas.

In the past few years, developer Ed Roski, via his Majestic Realty Co., has proposed building an $800 million stadium on vacant land in the City of Industry, a suburb located 22 miles east of Downtown.  Roski got clearance from the City Council in 2009, and is waiting to begin construction until he’s a majority owner of an existing team that he can relocate to the Southland.

Enter Earvin “Magic” Johnson, one of L.A.’s most beloved athletes.  Recently, the former Lakers great and entrepreneur started a major buzz when he suddenly sold his ownership stake in the Lakers, as well as 105 Starbucks franchises that he owned.  Much speculation ensued and the buzz got another shot in the arm when later that month Johnson announced on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” that he was joining a group headed by AEG to build a stadium Downtown in order to bring an NFL team back to L.A.

To make things even more interesting, a recent report from Toronto radio station FAN 590 that AEG founder Phillip Anschutz was about to purchase a 35 percent ownership of the Chargers.  The team later denied this story, but it caused a stir.  Could the Bolts be coming back to their original home?

Another report claimed that both stadium groups contacted the Minnesota Vikings about possibly moving the team to L.A.  Team owner Zygi Wilf has been lobbying unsuccessfully for a new stadium in the Twin Cities, and last Sunday’s collapse of the Metrodome roof might make relocation even more enticing.

On Wednesday, AEG president and CEO Tim Leiweke unveiled three proposed stadium designs, which would be built on the current site of the Los Angeles Convention Center.  This plot of land butts up against the intersection of the 10 and 110 freeways and is adjacent to Staples Center, L.A. Live facility and two new hotels.

Yes, the designs look great and it makes sense to have a stadium centrally located near the city’s expanding entertainment complex but as my wife pointed out when I told her where the proposed stadium would sit, “There’s no room there!”  Imagine the traffic nightmare it would cause for a Monday or Thursday night game; it would be horrific, even by L.A. standards.

One other interesting twist – both AEG and Roski worked together to build Staples Center in the late 1990s, a move that spurred the revitalization and development of Downtown L.A.  It seems fitting for these two to join forces once again and the league would clearly prefer the downtown location, due to its centralized location and proximity to expanding public transportation.

For now, it will be a high-stakes game of poker to see who bluffs and who breaks ground first.

Will the two forces align?  Probably not until someone’s hand is forced.  And gauging by the conversations I’ve had with various people “in the know” on both projects, my educated guess is that the downtown site is the slight leader in the clubhouse.  But this is L.A., and we’ve been down this road many times before.

Until then, L.A. looks to be left in a holding pattern and used as a potential source of leverage for teams seeking new stadium deals.  No team is going to announce a move to a city without an existing stadium–talk about lame duck.

In addition, don’t expect the league to make a move before a new collective bargaining agreement is reached with the players.  Commissioner Roger Goodell’s sole focus once the Super Bowl ends will be averting a potentially devastating lockout for a league that has been dominating the ratings over the recent years.

Look on the bright side, L.A. sports fans – at least we won’t have to deal with league blackout rules, and we’ll still get to see the best Fox and CBS games every Sunday.  Enjoy the Eagles-Giants and Jets-Steelers this week.

Used with permission of the author.

Chris Lardieri runs the “West Coast View” column for Sports Climax. A veteran to the keyboard, Chris also covers the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com and has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. Follow Chris on Twitter for more sports observations.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Unlike its counterpart in the NFC, there is an interesting race shaping up for the AFC West title.  After the San Diego Chargers thrashed the Kansas City Chiefs 31-0 on Sunday, the Chiefs (8-5) now only hold a one-game lead over the Chargers (7-6).  The surprising Oakland Raiders sit just two games back with a 6-7 record, and still have a realistic shot at the title.

And what’s made this race so interesting in December?  Besides the usual late-season rally by Norv Turner’s squad, we can thank Matt Cassel’s appendix. The Chiefs quarterback underwent an emergency appendectomy last week and missed the Chargers game.  Backup Brody Croyle (he of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” fame) got the start, and the results speak for themselves.  Not the greatest time for an appendix to go.

Cassel practiced Wednesday, but his status for Sunday’s game against the Rams in St. Louis is uncertain.  Should he miss this game, the good news is that the Chiefs last two games are at home – against the struggling Titans and division rival Raiders.

All this makes for a compelling Thursday night game, as the Chargers host the San Francisco 49ers (who are still mathematically alive in the anemic NFC West race).  Just make sure to mute your TV – the banter between the NFL Network tandem Matt Millen and Joe Theisman is enough to kill brain cells.  After tonight’s game, the Bolts hit the road for their last two games – against the Bengals and Broncos; both winnable games.

And don’t count the Raiders out just yet either. While their road is tougher – home against the Broncos and Colts, then on the road at Arrowhead, if all three teams end up with 9-7 records, the Raiders, provided they beat the Chiefs, would win the tiebreakers. At the very least Tom Cable’s squad could play the role of spoiler.

Overall it’s been a rare good season for Raider fans: a potential 8-8 record, the emergence of Darren McFadden as an every-down running back, the development of Jason Campbell as a serviceable quarterback, a sweep of the hated Chargers and no assaults on fellow coaches by coach Cable.  Is Al Davis REALLY running this team?

Back to reality, if the Chiefs lose one of their remaining three games and the Chargers run the table, the Chargers would win the title based on two tiebreakers (better division record, better record against common opponents).

It all makes for an interesting race.  Regardless of who wins the AFC West, you should immediately jump on their bandwagon – their likely opponent in the Wild Card round could very well be the loquacious Rex Ryan and his lovable New York Jets.  Too bad they can’t bring Sal Alosi and the most famous (or infamous) wall this side of Pink Floyd…

Used with permission of the author.

Chris Lardieri runs the “West Coast View” column for Sports Climax. A veteran to the keyboard, Chris also covers the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com and has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. Follow Chris on Twitter for more sports observations.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

It’s the holiday season, a time for cheer, happiness and good will.  But you wouldn’t know it lately with all the outrage in the air.  The political fallout over the publication of classified government documents on the WikiLeaks website.  The Yankees playing contractual hardball with Derek Jeter.  The early struggles of the “Dream Team” Miami Heat.  Derek Anderson flipping out after yet another Arizona Cardinals loss.  But these pale in comparison to one developing story.

Could a team with a losing record actually win an NFL division title?

The answer is “yes” and the division is the NFC West.  As of today, the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks are tied for the “lead” with 5-6 records.  The once left-for-dead San Francisco 49ers trail by just one game with a 4-7 record, while the Cardinals bring up the rear at 3-8.  Nothing like parity, eh?

Let’s examine the remaining schedules.  The Rams travel to Arizona to play the Cardinals this week then face the defending champion New Orleans Saints at the Superdome, followed by home games against the resurgent Kansas City Chiefs and 49ers.  It culminates with a Week 17 showdown at Qwest Field against the Seahawks, in what could very well decide the division “title.”

The Seahawks get a gift this week against the one-win Panthers at home, then face the 49ers at Candlestick next week, followed by a home match-up with the best team in the NFC, the Atlanta Falcons.  Week 16 brings a visit to Tampa to face the surprising Buccaneers, followed by the season finale in Seattle against the Rams.

The 49ers have a more uphill battle, especially given the fact that running back Frank Gore is out for the season.  After facing the Seahawks this week, they travel to San Diego to play the red-hot Chargers, then face the Rams on the road, and wrap it all up against the Cardinals in San Francisco.

Hard to predict how it will all pan out, but it doesn’t look like any of the three teams will run the table or finish with a winning record.  And we won’t bore you with the possible tiebreaker scenarios, either.

You mean to tell me that you’re still not excited?

No NFL team has ever won a division with a losing record.  The last team to win a division with an 8-8 record was the 2008 San Diego Chargers.  Ironically, they won their home playoff game against the 12-4 Indianapolis Colts in Tony Dungy’s last game as head coach.  (Perhaps Dungy’s criticism of Norv Turner earlier this year on NBC was the result of pent-up anger over this overtime loss, but we’re still checking on that.)

As if that wasn’t bad enough, one of these teams will actually get to host a home playoff game against an NFC Wild Card team.  I’m sure the Giants, Packers, Saints and Packers will all be thrilled about this.  And I bet Jerry Jones will soon petition Roger Goodell for realignment that moves the Cowboys to the NFC West.

Come to think of it, TCU should forget about joining Big East and call Goodell.  They could win at least nine games…

Used with permission of the author.

Chris Lardieri also covers the NFL for Sports Climax and the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com.  He has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. He previously wrote for 1766, the Rutgers Alumni Magazine, and popular blog, ‘The Outer Loop’.  Be sure to follow Chris on Twitter for more MLB and sports observations

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Now that the Cowboys seem to have gotten their house in order for the time being, the top “Sig-Alert” in the NFL is the Vikings.  As outlined previously, this has been quite an eventful 2010 in Minnesota.  Yet another drawn-out summer “Should I stay Or Should I go” from Brett Favre.  An injury to Sidney Rice.  Bickering between head coach Brad Childress and Favre.  The re-acquisition of Randy Moss.  The sudden release of Moss, which didn’t go over well with owner, Zygi Wilf.  A 3-6 record.  Finger-pointing and whining not seen since “16 and Pregnant” – who’s to blame?

“Chilly,” that’s who.  First and foremost, his likely demise began when he played the role of chauffer for Favre during his 2^nd annual retire/un-retire debacle in 2009.  As if that wasn’t bad enough, Childress flew down to Favre’s home Mississippi and practically begged him to play in 2010.  Yet, he acts shocked by Favre’s ego-trip − questioning of his play-calling, arguing on the sidelines and criticism during press conferences.  In the process, he’s lost control of the team and left the locker room in near-mutiny state.

The job is called head coach for a reason.  You’re the boss.  But when you hitch your wagon to one player, making a separate set of rules and cow-towing to said player, things almost always implode.  The bottom line?  You are Brett Favre’s marionette, and he’s been pulling your strings all along.  So we don’t feel bad for you.  Do you think Bill Parcells or Bill Belichick would ever tolerate this?

And Favre deserves an assist, too.  His act got tired after the 1^st annual “I quit/No I don’t” charade with the Packers and Jets.  Now, it’s even more sickening.  We find it ironic that he’s so quick to blame his puppet, yet he’s never at fault.  He’s the biggest diva in sports − LeBron should have sent you a thank-you card by now − and you’re just behind Mariah Carey and Kanye West in this week’s overall DCS (Diva Championship Series) rankings.  Now stop throwing bad interceptions and retire.

There can be only one possible solution for this mess – move the team to Los Angeles.  A brand-new stadium downtown (allegedly) awaits you, Zygi, and as a fellow Jersey transplant, I think you’d really enjoy it out here.  I can’t think of a more perfect place for a real-life NFL soap opera to be based, can you?  With you and the McCourts running two of the three top franchises in L.A., I’ll never run out of topics to write about.

Oh, and I almost forgot – Michael Vick is a free agent after this season, he’s less high maintenance than Favre, and he might even bring Tony Dungy along with him.

Used with permission of the author.

Chris Lardieri also covers the NFL for Sports Climax and the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com.  He has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. He previously wrote for 1766, the Rutgers Alumni Magazine, and popular blog, ‘The Outer Loop’.  Be sure to follow Chris on Twitter for more MLB and sports observations

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

It is often said that America is the land of second chances.  If you’re a doubter just look at the fates of celebrities-turned-criminals who have repaired their images and gone on to succeed after serving jail time: Michael Milken, Martha Stewart, Robert Downey, Jr. and Lindsay Lohan.  OK, maybe not Lindsay, but you get the point.

The sports world is no exception.  Star players who have had brushes with the law and managed to regain their popularity include Kobe Bryant, Alex Rodriguez, Ray Lewis and (so far) Ben Roethlisberger.  But no athlete in the 21^st century has been more vilified and reviled than Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.  Vick was the first overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2001 NFL Draft.  While he never seemed to completely live up to his billing, he was still one of the bright young stars in the league.

By the summer of 2007, it all came crashing down.  Vick was charged with running a dog fighting ring (which included the torture and killing of dogs), eventually pleading guilty to federal felony charges.  His 10-year, $130 million contract with the Falcons was voided, millions of dollars in endorsement deals vanished, he was suspended indefinitely by Commissioner Roger Goodell and he ended up serving 21 months in federal prison.  He was the scorn of animal lovers, sports fans and Americans in general.  His career, for all intents and purposes, was over.

He was then released in the summer of 2009, and earned a conditional reinstatement from Goodell.  The Philadelphia Eagles took a chance on him, and he served as a backup to quarterback Donovan McNabb and decoy at times.  This year, with McNabb traded to Washington, Vick quietly accepted his backup role to new starter Kevin Kolb.  After Kolb suffered a concussion during their opening day loss to the Packers, Vick came in and nearly rallied the team to victory.

He hasn’t looked back since.  Despite being injured in the Eagles first match-up with the Redskins last month and missing three games, Vick returned last week and led his team to a 26-24 victory over the Colts.  But his crowning moment came on Monday night, when he had six touchdowns (four passing, two running) and racked up 413 total yards in a 59-28 thumping of the Redskins.  On a national stage, Vick’s career came full circle.

But let’s not go overboard and award Vick the MVP for this season.  Yes, he’s played great, but there is still a lot of football left to play – including a tough game against the rival Giants on Sunday night.  But it is nice to see a good, old fashioned “second chance” story in sports.  And kudos to former coach Tony Dungy, who became Vick’s mentor and clearly has given him sound advice.

As both a dog owner and lover, I was (and remain) appalled by Vick’s past transgressions.  But keep in mind; he did his time in prison – a sentence far longer than some violent criminals and the masterminds of the financial collapse of 2008 haven’t even served a day in jail – and he apologized for his actions.

This also serves as another reminder of what Charles Barkley once said, “Athletes aren’t role models.”  While the Vick story is intriguing and inspiring, he ultimately is a talented entertainer and an example of how humans are imperfect.  But neither he (nor any other athlete) should be held in higher regard than the men and women defending our country and our streets, or performing life-saving surgeries.

Ultimately, the Michael Vick story epitomizes what we teach our children – we all make mistakes, but own up to them and make sure not to let them happen again.  If not, your actions have consequences.

Are you paying attention, Plaxico Burress?

Used with permission of the author.

Chris Lardieri runs the “West Coast View” column for Sports Climax. A veteran to the keyboard, Chris also covers the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com and has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. Follow Chris on Twitter for more sports observations.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

It’s been an eventful week for the most beloved/hated team in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys.  First, owner Jerry Jones finally pulled the plug on head coach Wade Phillips after an embarrassing 45-7 defeat against the Packers in Green Bay last Sunday night. Immediately after that move, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was promoted to interim head coach and pulled a “new sheriff in town” routine setting new rules requiring players to wear suits on game days.

While Marion Barber promptly ignored the suit rule the Cowboys ignored the bookies and responded with a 33-20 upset over the heavily favored Giants in New Jersey yesterday. 

Okay, it’s just one win, but could things be turning around in Big D?

It appears the team has clearly responded to the change in attitude.  Phillips’ “players coach” style ultimately was his downfall, as the team clearly quit on him during his last few weeks on the job.  Garrett, the former Cowboys backup quarterback to Troy Aikman during the team’s glory days and once thought to be the successor to Bill Parcells, immediately installed more discipline and seems to have won over the locker room.

The results speak for themselves so far.  Quarterback John Kitna had his best game since taking over for injured QB Tony Romo, throwing for 327 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Running back Felix Jones had 136 total yards, including an impressive 71-yard touchdown reception off a screen pass.  Rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant continues to look like an emerging star, hauling in three passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.  The much maligned (and injured) defense came up big when the Giants appeared ready to stage a comeback, forcing three turnovers – one of which was a key 101-yard interception return for a touchdown by Bryan McCann.

It was a performance so impressive that the power went out during the third quarter, causing some of Meadowlands Stadium to go dark.  (No truth to the rumor that the power lines were snipped by a disgruntled gambler to took the Giants laying 14).  Naturally, this inspired the annual ritual of drunken idiot fans beating each other up in the stands.

There is some room for optimism in the near-term.  The lowly Lions come to Dallas this Sunday, followed by the annual Thanksgiving game against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.  Keep in mind that the Saints have been up-and-down this season, and the Cowboys have a 27-14-1 record all-time on turkey day.

Let’s face it – the Cowboys aren’t going to make a playoff run in the difficult NFC East, but these last 7 games ARE their playoffs.  While the schedule gets more difficult in December, Garrett & friends will take great pleasure in playing the role of spoiler to teams such as the hated Eagles and Redskins.

And here’s an interesting thought to ponder: could Garrett end up being the NFL’s version of new Cubs manager Mike Quade?  If his team continues to play hard and string together some victories, Jones may have no choice but to hire Garrett.  After all, he does have the support of Cowboys legends Jimmy Johnsonand Aikman.

Then again, this is Jerry Jones we’re talking about here – the man who covets new, big-name coaches like Larry King does new wives…

Used with permission of the author.

Chris Lardieri also covers the NFL for Sports Climax and the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com.  He has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. He previously wrote for 1766, the Rutgers Alumni Magazine, and popular blog, ‘The Outer Loop’.  Be sure to follow Chris on Twitter for more MLB and sports observations

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Tim Tebow jerseys are the number one selling shirt in the NFL. According to a list obtained by CNBC’s Darren Rovell, the Denver Broncos rookie quarterback’s jersey was tops on NFLShop.com between April-October 2010.  As if that wasn’t surprising enough, the list revealed that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was nowhere to be found in the top 25, this first time that’s happened since his rookie season of 2004.

“Big Ben” ended the 2009 season ranked 11^th in jersey sales but his plunge has clearly been a direct result of a second allegation of sexual assault this off-season (which resulted in a four-game suspension to start this season).

Appears that fans don’t like guys who treat women like that, Ben. Especially a guy who’s name is attached to this signed police document accused of “walking out of the bathroom with his penis out of his pants”.

Tebow’s jersey appearing at the top of the list is a surprise with other star-studded talent around the league and teams like the Steelers and Cowboys having a following that spreads across the country.

The rookie out of Florida has just two touchdowns in 2010, both rushing scores, and isn’t even a starter.  But his immense popularity after being one of college football’s most beloved players ever appears to have carried over into the pros.  In addition, the devout Christian has a squeaky-clean image and is the anti-Roethlisberger.  Could NFL fans actually have a conscience when it comes to buying merchandise?

Tebow jersey sales are followed by Saints quarterback Drew Brees at number two, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu at three and Colts QB Peyton Manning at four.

And there is hope, sexters! Brett Favre’s Vikings jersey ranks number five overall.

Other interesting rankings include Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin at number eight, just ahead of his QB Tony Romo, who ranks 10^th.  New York signal-callers Mark Sanchez and Eli Manning, rank 11^th and 12^th, respectively.

In terms of   teams, the Dallas Cowboys rank first overall.  Could that number change as fans jump off the struggling team’s bandwagon this year?

Eagles QB Michael Vick has not yet cracked the top 25, but that could change. No word yet as to where his “Ron Mexico” jersey ranks on the fake jersey list.

You can view the entire list here.

Used with permission of the author.

Chris Lardieri covers the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com and has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. He previously wrote for 1766, the Rutgers Alumni Magazine, and popular blog, ‘The Outer Loop’.  Be sure to follow Chris on Twitter for more MLB and sports observations.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Each April, football fans emerge from their winter hibernation to watch the annual spring rite of passage – the NFL Draft.  The weeks leading up to actual reality television at its finest features an abundance of draft “experts” cackling about which college players are rising, falling or a sleeper.  The two-day affair is then concluded with the likes of concrete-haired Mel Kiper, Jr. and the like assigning letter grades to how teams did.  Not a far cry from stock-touting “analysts” on CNBC.

Let’s do a more novel approach – giving these players kudos after they’ve actually played some games. Below is a look at how the QB draft class of 2009 and 2010 have excelled or busted thus far.

And BTW, the draft class of 2008 included Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco who are both in their third year as starters after leading their teams to playoff appearances their rookie seasons. These two set the trend for teams to throw rookie QBs like the guys below, into the mix straight out of their dorms as opposed to having them spend years holding clipboards on the sidelines.

2009

Matthew Stafford, 1^st overall pick, Lions: 3 total wins, now missing time due to injuries for the third time in his career.  The strong-armed former Georgia standout has shown signs of brilliance in his young career, but that hasn’t translated into wins.  He’s got two things working against him, though –he has a porous offensive line in front of him, and he plays for the Lions (‘nuff said).  Out with a shoulder injury for the second time this season, the jury is still out on him.  Here’s hoping that he pulls a Phil Simms and peaks later in his career once his team assembles a decent line to protect him.

Mark Sanchez, 5^th overall pick, Jets: 16 wins, including 2 playoff victories.  Sanchez entered the draft much to the chagrin of former USC head coach Pete Carroll (who then abruptly bolted for the Seahawks top job one year later – ever hear of glass houses, Pete?).  The Jets swung a draft-day deal to trade up and pick Sanchez, and the move has paid off dividends thus far.  True, he plays on a squad with a terrific o-line anchored by left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and a ferocious defense, but “The Sanchize” has shown poise and is thus far the class of the 2009 crop.  The single ladies in the New York Tri-State area agree, too.

Josh Freeman, 17^th overall pick, Buccaneers: 8 wins (in 17 starts).  Freeman had some buzz before the draft after an impressive 2008 season at Kansas State, and some experts thought he might have the most upside.  After starting for just over the last half of a difficult 2009 season for the young Bucs, Freeman has been one of the key reasons for their surprising success in 2010.  Through eight games, he’s thrown for 1,722 yards and 10 TDs.  While Sanchez gets the media attention, Freeman might end up being the best of the bunch down the road.

2010

Sam Bradford, 1^st overall pick, Rams: 4 wins.  The top pick out of Oklahoma had his senior season cut short due to a shoulder injury, leading to questions about his durability and worthiness as a top pick.  Those questions have long been put to rest, thanks to a fine rookie season with the surprising Rams.  What’s even more impressive is that he’s doing it with a cast of journeymen wide receivers (Danny Amendola!?).  The future already looks bright for him, especially if the Rams can earn a title in the weak NFC West.

Tim Tebow – Surprise first-round pick has run in two for a score but is yet to throw a pass for the Denver Broncos. Doing his job bringing revenue to the team though with his jersey being the No. 1 seller in the NFL through the first half of the season.

Colt McCoy, 85^th overall pick, Browns: 2 wins (in 3 starts).  Bradford’s rival QB at Texas had a great college career, although it also ended prematurely via a shoulder injury in the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama.  That, combined with his height (6’1”) led to him falling to the 3^rd round in the draft.  McCoy was named the Browns starter after an 0-5 start, and he has now led the team to consecutive victories against the defending champion Saints and one of the AFC’s top teams, the Patriots.  Perhaps the comparisons to Drew Brees may be correct after all.

Jimmy Clausen, 48^th overall pick, Panthers: 0 wins (in 5 starts).  The much-ballyhooed Notre Dame recruit was considered to be a good “value” pick in the draft.  Unfortunately for him, he landed with one of the worst teams in the NFL this season – one that slashed its payroll and has a lame-duck coach, John Fox.  The jury is still out on Clausen, but at least he’ll learn how to come back from adversity and dust off his jersey often.

DISCLOSURE: Sports Climax does not purport to be an NFL draft or scouting service and this analysis is for entertainment purposes only.  Anyone else who claims to know how to predict the future after observing NCAA quarterbacks for less than a few seasons (Google Kiper/Clausen) is like a monkey throwing darts at a list of the S&P 500 claiming that they are an expert stock picker.

Used with permission of the author.

Chris Lardieri covers the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com and has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. He previously wrote for 1766, the Rutgers Alumni Magazine, and popular blog, ‘The Outer Loop’.  Be sure to follow Chris on Twitter for more MLB and sports observations.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

On this Election Day, the most shocking result is not related to any House, Senate or Governor’s race.  It’s in the NFL, where in a last-minute shocker that fooled even the most astute pollsters, the Minnesota Vikings have surpassed the Dallas Cowboys as the biggest bust thus far in the 2010 season.  And most of the fuel was thrown on this proverbial inferno in just over a week’s time. 

Let’s review:

The downward spiral began on October 24^th, after everyone’s favorite diva Brett Favre threw three interceptions in a tough 28-24 loss to the rival Green Bay Packers.  After the game, he and coach Brad Childress exchanged barbs after Childress criticized his poor decisions.  As if that weren’t enough, Favre suffered two fractures of his left ankle, and Childress was fined $35,000 by the league for criticizing officials twice after the loss.

Next, it was revealed that the NFL plans to talk to former Jets game day hostess Jenn Sterger as part of its investigation into inappropriate voicemails and texts that Favre left/sent to her in 2008.  Should Sterger’s story contradict what Favre previously told the league, it could merit a suspension from Commissioner Roger Goodell.

This past Sunday, Favre actually took the field against the New England Patriots, but was knocked out after “taking one on the chin” literally and suffering a laceration and possible concussion after a helmet-to-jaw hit.  Yet again, this was the tip of the iceberg.  After the game, recently acquired wide receiver Randy Moss gave a bizarre press conference, in which he ranted about a $25,000 fine he received from the league, criticized the Vikings coaching staff and practically gushed over his former employer, the Patriots.

The final icing on the smashed cake came on Monday, when Childress announced that the team ended their brief marriage with Moss and waived him, basically blowing a third-round draft choice for a guy to catch 13 passes in four games.  Childress does deserve credit for playing the role of corporate middle manager perfectly, as seen in his speech to his players in which he stated that Moss “is no longer with us.”  Classic Corporate American “downsizing” speak, Brad.  Ah, but there is yet another twist in this saga.

“Chilly’s” decision to get rid of Moss didn’t go over well with Vikings owner Zygi Wilf.  According to ESPN’s Adam Shefter, Wilf is “angry” about Moss being waived, leading some to speculate that Childress did not consult with his boss before making the decision.

Oh, how fascinating it all is.  Did anyone foresee the Vikings and Lions having the same records after Week 8?  Somewhere, even Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips are laughing…

Used with permission of the author.

Chris Lardieri also covers the NFL for Sports Climax and the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com.  He has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. He previously wrote for 1766, the Rutgers Alumni Magazine, and popular blog, ‘The Outer Loop’.  Be sure to follow Chris on Twitter for more MLB and sports observations

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

It’s that time of year… World Series, leaves changing, windbag politicians kissing babies, pumpkins, a cool, crisp feel in the air.  What better way to warm up than by examining the annual NFL coaching hot seat?  Pull up a chair and we’ll throw some wood on this fire.

In recent seasons we’ve seen some NFL teams swing the axe early, sending coaches packing their bags as early as three weeks into the season. The NFL is a serious business and with the shortest schedule in sports, some guys have found themselves in the unemployment line while season ticket holders are barely settling into their seats.

This year’s “pink slip” candidates:

• Mike Singletary, 49ers: “Samurai Mike” first made a name for himself (and raised eyebrows) by yanking underachieving tight end Vernon Davis off the field during a 2008 game, and then dropping his pants in front of his team after said game.  Expectations were high for the 49ers this year in the weak NFC West.  But after a 1-6 start, Singletary has garnered himself a nice warm spot on the hot seat.  Don’t believe the public vote of confidence he received from owners John and Jed York, word is that the two are not pleased with their coach.  Expect former 49ers assistant Jon Gruden to be among the favorites to replace Singletary.
• Wade Phillips, Cowboys: Even before Tony Romo broke his collarbone against the QB-injuring machine known as the New York Giants, Phillips was on the hot seat.  With Romo out for at least six weeks, you can stick a fork in both the 1-5 Cowboys and Phillips’ tenure as head coach.  This is a team that many expected to be the first to have a “home game” Super Bowl this February (the game will be played in Cowboys Stadium), and owner Jerry Jones is none too pleased.  According to NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora, Jones covets the Titants Jeff Fisher and the Saints Sean Payton, but both pose potential contractual issues.  Current Ole Miss (and former Arkansas) head coach Houston Nutt could be a dark horse candidate.
• John Fox, Panthers: Fox’s contract is up, and the team is clearly in rebuilding mode.  The question is not if Fox will go, but where he’ll be coaching in 2011, CBS’s Bill Cowher is the one name continually mentioned as a replacement, given the fact that he lives in the Charlotte area.
• Lovie Smith, Bears: Chicago is another team that has underachieved this year, losing three straights after a 4-0 start. Smith hasn’t been able to do much since the team acquired QB Jay Cutler before the 2009 season.  Cowher’s name is also mentioned here as a potential successor.

Other names whose jobs could be on the line include Jacksonville’s Jack Del Rio, Cleveland’s Eric Mangini, Cincinnati’s Marvin Lewis, Minnesota’s Brad Childress and San Diego’s Norv Turner (although he could save himself with yet another late-season rally).

On the bright side, there are a few coaches who have remained off the hot seat thanks to their teams’ improved play.  They include Steve Spagnuolo of the Rams, Raheem Morris of the Buccaneers and Jim Schwartz of the Lions; a team that is playing far better than its 1-5 record indicates.

It’s still early but remember, it’s the NFL and some of these seats will only get hotter.

Used with permission of the author.

Chris Lardieri covers the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com and has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. He previously wrote for 1766, the Rutgers Alumni Magazine, and popular blog, ‘The Outer Loop’.  Be sure to follow Chris on Twitter for more MLB and sports observations.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC