New England Weather

                 The title of my blog says I write about sports, but sometimes I will decide to write about other topics.  Tonight is one of those times.  If you live in New England, you probably are aware of the predicted snowfall within the coming hours.  Being someone who has lived here all my life, snow in the forecast is always exciting to me.  Not just because it brings the possibility of school cancellations haha, but because I love watching storm coverage on the news.  Can't really explain it, I have just always been fascinated by the entertainment aspect.   Just the Irony of reporters telling everyone to stay inside due to the wild weather, while they are outside in the middle of it all just to get a good story; makes me laugh.  The best part about it is the back and forth between the in studio reporters jokingly taunting the their own coworkers who have been assigned to report from the elements.  It's funny how life can be so complex sometimes and yet it's the little things in life that can be the most enjoyable. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAKtiWwR6hg
 This is just one example of it, there's funnier ones but I can't find them at the moment

Super Bowl XLVII thoughts and prediction

Kaepernick, Kaepernicking. 

                    It’s gotten tiring to listen to all the media coverage emphasizing this historic feat.   However I do think it will play a significant role on the field.   When I look at the two teams, they look almost symmetric.   The defenses are both tough physical run stoppers.  The Ravens have a slight dis advantage when it comes to secondary however.  Yes Ed Reed is arguably the best Free Safety of his era, if not all time; but he alone can’t do everything.  I think Michael Crabtree will be too physical for the secondary and will play a huge role for the 49ers. 
In less than an hour from now Super Bowl XLVII will be the first in which two brothers will be opposing coaches, but I’m sure you already knew that.

                I think the running backs will be shut down early, both front sevens will be too strong.    I’m predicting a shootout just because both teams and coaches are so similar that they shouldn’t be surprised at anything the opposing defense will throw at them.  I think Kaepernick will run early and that will open up the passing game.  I think late in the 4^th quarter it will be 38-35 Ravens.  Kaepernick will have to lead a comeback drive.  If he can handle the pressure I think he’ll win it with a last minute touchdown pass to Randy Moss. The score will be 42-38 49ers.  Kaepernick will be MVP

Concussions in sports

Eagles wide receiver grimacing after headshot.

                 Over the past several years the awareness when it comes to concussions in sports has grown significantly.  The National Football League has altered their rules in an attempt to prevent these injuries from occurring.  These injuries went from being referred to as “getting your bell rung” to now being taken more seriously.   Just a decade ago players would take a head shot and even some got knocked out, but they would still go back in the game.  Since then retired football players have gotten together and decided to sue the NFL because they feel the league knew about the severity of concussions but failed to notify the players.   The NFL in the past 5 or so years has become a much safer league. Helmet to helmet hit on defenseless receivers and quarterback are now a penalty and a finable offense.   That’s a step in the right direction. However there still has been cases in which a player has been concussed during a game and still returned.

           

 Miami Dolphins player taken off the field on stretcher after being concussed

             Kris Dielman who is an offensive lineman for the San Diego Chargers suffered a concussion during a game against the Jets in late October of 2011.   He even stumbled in the huddle but was still left.  On the flight home that night it was reported that Dielman had suffered a seizure as a result of the concussion.  Dielman was out the rest of the season and has just recently announced his retirement from professional football to prevent more head injuries.

            During the week 17 matchup between the Patriots and Dolphins, Miami Quarterback Ryan Tannehill hit his head on a play and took a while to get up.  When he did he stumbled and fell.  His teammate then helped him up and he still stumbled.  He finally got up but had trouble walking to the sideline.  CBS commentators Jim Nance and Phil Simms both believed he was concussed.  The cameras focused on Tannehill to see if he would get looked at by doctors.  Instead he was studying the playbook and getting coached up.  The next Miami possession Tannehill played.  A few plays later, Miami Tight End Anthony Fasano was hit in the head and was immediately taken out due to a head injury and did not return.   That begs the question of why was Fasano taken out but Tannehill left in.  Keep in mind that Miami was long eliminated from the playoffs and Tannehill was a high draft pick who is considered Miami’s franchise.  

             

 Former NFL Linebacker Junior Seau, believed to have taken his own life due to severe head trauma from playing. 

              
               Why after all of the rule changes are these players playing and risking further more serious head injury.  Not only will the NFL lose money when they are sued, the players’ lives are affected and put at risk every time they take a shot to the head and suffer a concussion.  Yes these players are making a lot of money for playing football, but an NFL career is not too long on average to begin with.  Concussions are an injury that cut careers short if not lives.  After a player retires they still have the rest of their life to live.  If a player retires at the age of forty, that’s still at least 25 more years where they have to deal with the long term symptoms of concussions. Why is it worth the risk?  When 49er’s former starting quarterback Alex Smith was asked if he regrets notifying his coaches and doctors about his concussion, he replied   “No, no, no, not at all, I mean, we’re all going to be done with this game at some point. We’ve got a lot of life ahead of us. You err on the side of caution with that head stuff. There’s no brain transplants that I’ve ever heard of. You only get one. It’s not something to mess around with.”   That is something for everyone especially athletes to think about.   

Thoughts on the Washington Redskins

Robert Griffen limping after aggravating his knee injury in the 1st quarter of the playoff game.  

             The NFL post season began with four exciting Wild Card Weekend matchups.  My favorite was the Seattle Seahawks visiting a raucous crowd in Washington D.C.   It was a competitive game, but it will be remembered by most for what happened to Robert Griffin.  I imagine a lot of viewers were yelling at their television sets when Griffin hobbled off of the field in the first quarter.   It was well known that he was battling a serious injury in his knee, and yet he continued to play late in the game until the inevitable happened.  He took a snap and his knee buckled on him without any contact from other players.  It was too late in the game for a comeback by the Redskins, that injury marked the end of their season…

              

Robert Griffin's knee buckles while handling a snap in the 4th quarter

               After the game there was a good share of Monday Morning Quarterbacking.   I was one of them.   The way I see it is, RG3 was the second overall pick and considered their franchise.  I don’t see the logic in risking a severe injury just to win a playoff game. Kirk Cousins is a capable quarterback.  He proved that during the season when Griffin was sidelined with injuries.  Cousins lead his team to a couple big wins and was a key component that brought Washington to the post season.  A big part of Griffin’s game is his speed.  A torn ACL is a career altering injury to any Quarterback, especially to one who heavily relies on his legs like Griffin.  Just look at how Brady was slow to get back to his regular self after his season ending torn ACL. 

            My guess is Cousins will be starting the season for the Redskins.  The offseason work and team resources should help develop Kirk into a better Quarterback.  He should be able to play well enough to get the team of to a good start, but I do think they need to improve their defense during this offseason through the draft and free agency.