The city and fans of Cincinnati should be ashamed of themselves for allowing a football team, coaching staff, and fan base to behave as it did tonight. I tuned in to watch AJ McCarron, AJ Green, and a few other SEC players, likely future stars, and the current stars, such as Big Ben. People who play with heart and for the love of the game; who get back on the field after being injured. People like McCarron who was making the most out of his third start and only getting this big stage because the true starter, Andy Dalton, was injured.
Instead, I was reminded why I stopped watching professional sports: many of these guys are overly paid to induce violence. Anyone who can be seen on the sideline smiling while their team is losing is not a competitor. This can be see any week in the NFL. Perhaps it is that smile instead of passion and competitiveness that is the reason one's team is losing. Losing is supposed to hurt - not be something for which you smile.
What Vontaze Burfict did in the last offensive play by the Steelers should be reviewed by league officials and he should be barred from the game. That was nothing short of assault, of cheapness, and savagery, and had his intentions been successful, another player would have been severely injured. Severely. Watch the replay.
So, Burflict and Jones, you can sleep tonight, or party, or go get another tattoo or whatever it is you like to do, but do it knowing you cost your team a rare...a RARE...chance to advance in the playoffs. You cost a rookie QB who is only playing because the starter is injured, and second-year WR Green, and the others who hustled and blocked, what was a great comeback drive.
Burflict should have been benched early in the game as anyone could see he was eventually going to be a detriment to his team. I guess winning at any cost is acceptable to Marvin Lewis, so he rolled the dice. I hope they roll in your favor when your contract is reviewed. While I understand that winning is important, you have a sideline of capable people to replace that one individual. If your team relies on one person to win, you are in trouble.
How about trying to win one the way AJ and AJ did? Or with courage as Big Ben did? How about with focus as the kickers had to do in those conditions? How about with patience as a stadium full of wet fans sat waiting for an outcome? With actions such as seen tonight by the NFL, the fights of the NHL, and fake violence and real attempt at sexiness of the WWE, video games such as Grand Theft Auto, and less and less authoritative involvement by two-parent households, it is no wonder our world is going to hell and the future is dimmer.
To those fans who cheered and threw things while Big Ben was being carted off: I hope someone posts your actions on Facebook. If they will send them to me, I'll post them on the three blogs I own.
To the owners and management of the Bengals: Does your coach not have control of his team? Disregard, I know the answer to that one. You had must have held your heads down in shame throughout much of this game. You could not see the field for the rain, and between clouds you saw people on your payroll act uncivilized. And when you closed your eyes to pray for a chance at victory, you heard your fans cheering a hurt player. The next time you are writing million-dollar checks to these players, please send me one for a couple hundred thousand. You see, I am permanently on the IR list and need help with my bills. Before that, I was busting my ass at a 9 to 5 job for a few hundred bucks a week. I did it with pride, compassion, and competitiveness and did not have to put a hand on anyone.
To Tomlin: where is the leadership and control of your COACHES? More than a couple of times were they involved in the game - the last one being on the field in the midst of Bengal players when the last flag was thrown.
To AJ and AJ and the other young men on the Bengals' team: Ask to be traded. The playoffs are not worth being associated with these kinds of people. Besides, look at the Bengal's history in the playoffs. I realize this is your greatest chance to start, but please do not let this override your dignity.
I am sure that McCarron was exposed to more discipline, professionalism, and self-control when playing under Saban than he is seeing in the NFL.
Any 9 to 5 employee would play professional sports for their current salary and play like hell to win. These over-paid thugs, some with hair that hides their names on their jerseys, that predominantly make up the NFL are not deserving of the money they get and most will file bankruptcy before they are 40 years old.
Sorry AJ and AJ. I wanted you to win since you were in the light.
Ben, you have overcome more than a shoulder injury and I hope to see on the field next week. It is through hard, honest work that one is successful (wins, in your case) and that is why you won tonight. Congratulations.
No comments :
Post a Comment