BILL WALSH: 1931-2007

 

“Bill pushed us all to be perfect. That’s all he could handle as a coach, and he taught all of  us to be the same way.”

-Joe Montana

“For me, Bill was like a father. I could talke to him about football, about relationships, about the business of being a professional athlete. He even hand the same body language of disapproval that my own father had: that stern look, that crossing of the arms, that raised eyebrow. It said it all to me. I never wanted to let my father down and now I never wanted to let Bill down. He knew when to turn on the emotion, when to keep it light, and when to raise his voice. And did I mention that he was a true genius?”

-Jerry Rice, in his autobiography “Go Long: My Journey Beyond The Game and The Fame”

“In the recent or modern history of the NFL, no coach has been more influentional and innovative than Bill Walsh. That includes his coaching on the field and his thoughts and action on how franchises can work together to win  championships. His influence is espically seen on the offensive side of the ball. We should call what many teams currently run exactly what it is– the “Walshinan Offense.” His mark on the NFL is also seen by the “Walsh Tree”. He doesn’t  get enough of credit for the work he did behind the scenes to advance his assistants. He was tireless in promoting his fellow coaches. Like others, I could never repay him for how he helped me. The best we can all do to salute Coach Walsh is to do the same for our fellow coaches.”

Former 49er Assistant Director of Public Relations and Current Baltimore Ravens Head Coach, Brian Billick

Today, the football world  lost a legend and the San Francisco 49ers have lost an innovator, mentor, patriarch, coach and friend.

Legendary Coach Bill Walsh died this morning following a three year battle with Leukemia. Walsh was 75 years old.

Where do I begin? Words cannot do any inkling of justice to describe and express the massive impact that one William Earnest Walsh had on the game of football. This was a man who defined and refined the modern era of the NFL with the creation of the West Coast Offense. Not only did that system help Walsh to a 102-63-1 record and three Super Bowl titles (XVI,XIX,XXIII), but the system inspired many teams to upgrade their offense and attempt to use the percise and meticilous set of  short passing plays. As great as those stats may sound, they are nothing compared to what Walsh did for coaching.

Twenty years ago, Bill created the Minority Coaching Fellowship program, helping minority coaches break into what was considered to be a lilly white profession.  Coaches such as Marvin Lewis, Dennis Green, Herm Edwards, Tyrone Willingham, and Tony Dungy, are alums of this program.

Away from the field, Walsh was seen as a father figure to many of his players. Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, and Merton Hanks proudly stated thsee sentiments at one point or another. All four of these players and many more said that Walsh was concerned about not only the player but the person.  Even when the playing days ended for members of his teams, Walsh was concerned with their lives outside of pads and cleats. From 1979 to 1989, everything that the 49ers did during that time was first class, and Bill Walsh had everything to do with that.  In tribute to the greatest football coach and front office man of all time, I want to end this entry with the play that signaled the dawn of the Niner Dynasty and  Footage from Super Bowl XXIII

 

RIP, Genius!

Pacman Wrestles?

 

Well, It looks like Pacman Jones will be making it rain in the squared circle.

According to Nashville’s WTVF-5, Jones is on the verge of signing a contract with Total Nonstop Action  Wrestling (TNA). This deal will be official tomorrow at the earliest. It is said that the disgraced Titans CB will play some sort of role but he won’t be wrestling, and he won’t be a heel (villian).

So if he’s not wrestling or playing a villian, then what will he be doing? Will he throw money in the ring at organization’s  next pay per view? If TNA could sign him, why not find him somthing to do?  If it were me, I would have Jones in the ring wrestling. He might as well be wrestling because he is suspended for the entire season and I’m not sure if Tennessee wants him back.

Honestly, I believe that this is a mistake wating to happen because it is possible that Jones could rehabilitate his image and get back to business. However, he may not be taken seriously after this stunt.  If I were Pacman, I would do some training and study on my own. I would do every and anything possible to have a connection to the game without training camp and the regular season. I would make sure the football media would get news of me working out, studying and staying out of trouble.  After the season, I would then meet with Titan officials about the plans for the team. If I’m not in those plans, I would ask for a realase/opt out of my contract.  Basically, I would do everything in my power to rebuild my image to make me marketable for other teams.

But, someone just had to be Pacman.

Strahan Retiring?

According to NFL Live, Giants DE Michael Strahan failed to show up to the team’s training camp. Reports say that this isn’t about a contract dispute-its about retirement. Strahan is said to be dissasitified and fed up with the Giants’ mediocrity.

However, there are some naysayers that believes this is a desperate attempt for a new contract. There were recent reports that the 14 year vet was going to hold out because the $4 million that he was slated to make this season is not enough.  Acutally, he’s right. I  mean, he lost $15.3 million plus an extra $18,000 per month in child support to his ex wife Jean, and he needs to recoup or else move in with one of his teammates or Dr. Ian. Since Dr. Ian and his wife are proud parents now, I guess Mike will be better off with teammates.

Another twist in this story is broadcasting opportunities. Currently, there are a few offers on the table for Strahan, and he can make actually make more brocasting  than playing for a team that is probably  going no where this year.  With that said, retirement for Strahan is a logical and sensible choice.

If Strahan retires, there are some Giant officials who believes that his career is hall-of-fame worthy. Granted, he’s a seven time Pro Bowler and he holds the single season record for sacks*, but on the other hand there are guys with healthy resumes that are not currently in the hall of fame. While Strahan is/was a great player, I’m not so sure if he’s a hall of famer.

I wonder when football fans think of Michael Strahan, what will they remember? I have a couple of ideas.

  22 1/2 ’sacks’? How could Strahan ever repay Brett?

How could anyone forget this classic!

The Plot Thickens

 

 Well, now isn’t this just special and precious?

For the first time in 21 months, Kansas City Chief mainstay Priest Holmes will grace a football field when he reports to training camp in two days. This sudden and shocking development adds some extra spice in the Chiefs’ contract talks with Larry Johnson.

Currently, Johnson is threatening the team with a hold out  if  he doesn’t get a new contract. With Priest returning, Coach Herm Edwards and the rest of the Chief brass is betting on Priest picking up where he left off two years ago before the neck injury.  If he does, this can be a perfect out to trade LJ. However, the Cheifs will be stupid to trade LJ away.

I still stand by my statement about LJ and a new contract. However, if Priest can produce on the field and they can come to terms with Johnson, that can be the start of a strong and solid backfield tandem. If Kansas City is smart, they would be betting on this scenereo especially if this tandem was successful in the past.

Thirsty Old Man

 

According to penthouse pet/model Kimberly Williams, NFL Hall Of Famer Marcus Allen would not leave her alone. She told Steppin Out Magazine that based on a few phone calls, Allen ’seemed like a really nice guy’. That was until she found his myspace page filled with chicks showing grattitude for “lunch”. Williams also discovered that Allen is a regular at the Playboy Mansion.   After those discoveries, Kimberly pulled away and Marcus blitzed her with 15 phone calls a day and text messages.

Williams said that Allen sent her a text where he said “Where the hell are you Kimberly?” and he also blew up at her for being nude on Howard Stern.

 Isn’t that some crazy stuff? Marcus, she don’t want you! Go back to  Hugh’s crib or back to your myspace and find another chick worth bothering. Don’t you have any pride? Don’t you feel ashamed for chasing recklessly? Is times that bad for you ?

I don’t blame Kimberly for giving her own rendition of the Heisman to Allen. I respect the fact that Kimberly wanted to pull away after seeing all of that. I respect her for trusting her instinct. As for Allen, I noticed in the articles where your lawyer said that it was the other way around. Whatever, you know if she was the pursuer, she wouldn’t have to be doing that for long since you were smitten with her from the start. You and your lawyer concocted that story to massage your bruised ego!

Chalk it up as a loss like I said and try again.  If push comes to shove, try out as a contestant on Dancing With The Stars. It worked wonders for Jerry’s and Emmitt’s profile with women. But whatever you do, don’t act thirsty. It’s unattractive and pathetic!

An Iron Clad Statement

The Pittsburgh Steelers opened training camp Tuesday, and they did not only open their camp, they busted the camp wide open! According to steelers.com, the first practice was very physicial filled with tons upon tons of hitting-and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Coach Mike Tomlin told the press that the team will be participating in five straight two-a-day sessions.  To me, Tomlin and the Steelers are definitely making a statement, and the statement is: “We’re Back and the rest of the AFC North is going to have some problems.”

Honestly, this is the attitude and the tone that a team in the AFC must set.  The AFC is the toughest and harshest conference in football where even the weakest team can explode at any time. I believe that Tomlin is taking the right approach here because the fans and the city will not tollerate a losing season, and will  quickly pine for Bill Cowher if the team flops.

Update: L.J. Prepared to Hold Out!

I wonder what kind of 2007 would the Chiefs have without this? :

According to NFL.com,  a season without Larry Johnson could be a reality if there is not a new deal on the table. Like I said in my last entry about this, Johnson deserves a new contract because he played prolific football for the past two seasons. The second best running back in the AFC and in the league should be receiving money that coincides with  his NFL elite status, period!

To free up some cap room, Kansas City should wave Priest Holmes and restructure some deals. Regardless, of method, the Cheifs should and better get this deal done becasue going through the AFC without one of  your few weapons is a recipe for disaster.

The Bucs’ Pointless Meeting With Culpepper

      

It looks like the plot thickened last week for the Bucs’ quarterback stable. On Thursday, the Bucs for whatever reason, met with free agent Daunte Culpepper.  If that’s not bizarre enough, the meeting did not take place at the team’s training facility, and no additional details of the meeting were disclosed.

This was a pointless meeting because the problem is not under center. Not too long ago, the Bucs pushed aside Chris Simms for Jeff Garcia, and now they are eyeing  Culpepper? I wonder if Chucky Gruden have a quarterback fetish? That is the only logical reason I could come with for this meeting.

Tampa Bay is not stunning at quarterback but solid-Simms is resilent, Garcia has the savy, and Gardowski can and should be taking notes from those two. Adding Culpepper will only add a nerve wrecking quarterback controversy, and we all know how ‘fun’ they are.

What the Bucs should do is address their needs at wide receiver and figure out how to resign Mike Alstott after the end of the season.  Chasing after Culpepper is just greedy.

WHO MADE WHO GREAT?

  

In the spirit of training camp and their 25th anniversary, a pannel of NFL reporters and editors from USA Today made a list of the top 25 players of the past 25 years.  Greats such as Terry Bradshaw, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Lawrence Taylor, Walter Payton, and Reggie White are on the list. Current players such as Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Ray Lewis, Peyton Manning, and LaDainian Tomlinson grace the list as well.  For the most part, readers do not really have a problem with who’s on the list. They have a problem with  who should be where on the list.

For example, there are those who feel that Barry Sanders should be ranked higher than Emmitt Smith or Steve Young should be ranked higher than #24.  While the list was winding down, it was a given that Jerry Rice and Joe Montana was going to be in the top two. This morning, USA Today named Rice the second greatest football player during the past 25 years. Needless to say, the USA Today fourm is divded on this issue because both men make a strong case to be number one.

Poster “Terry921″ wrote an interesting statement. He said, and I quote: “Joe Montana was the most clutch QB I have ever seen. You were never out of the game when he was in the game. Sure he had great players but he made them great.  Elway, Marino, and Manning are great but they don’t have the rings that Joe has.”

My reaction to that statement is this: When it comes to the San Francisco teams in the early 1980’s to mid 90’s, the reason for the Niners’ success is not in black in white. The answers are in  funky shades of grey! I am inclined to know just how did Joe Montana make offensive linemen like Guy McIntyre and Jesse Sapolu great? How did Montana make Jerry Rice and Roger Craig great? I am so waiting on the memo on how Joe Montana’s brand of magic rubbed off on defensive beasts such as Ronnie Lott, Keena Turner, Eric Wright, and even Charles Hailey’s crazy ass.  Now don’t get me wrong, Montana is the one of the greatest signal callers ever if not the greatest but, how exactly  did he upgrade this talented stable of stars? Here is my take:

Every hardcore football fan know that the relationship between Quarterback and Wide Receiver is the most dependent in the sport. Eight times out of ten, you cannot have a great QB without a great WR and vice versa. In the case of Montana and Rice, they made each other great. Indvidually, I believe that they would have eventually been great but they would have had a hard time winning a Super Bowl. Hypothetically, would Montana would have won Super Bowls with Elway’s Broncos, Everett’s Rams,  Fouts’ Chargers, or even Bartkowski’s Falcons? The closest Joe would get to Super Sunday would be with  Dan’s Charger teams. Now Joe could probably get to the Super Bowl with John’s receivers but I’m not so sure that history would be different.

Would Rice have three rings catching balls from Ken O’Brien, Wade Wilson, Steve Peuller and Danny White (this would have been reality if Dallas drafted Jerry in 1985), and Tony Eason? While Jerry would have been a great receiver due to his work ethic, I don’t believe he would have made it to the Super Bowl with these guys. So therefore, these guys benefited each other.

In the case of Montana and Lott, I would say that Lott made Montana better. Since Montana was playing against the best safety in football every day since 1981 until  Lott went to the L.A. Raiders via plan b free agency in 1990, he was bound to learn the ways of the defense. So to say that Montana made Lott or anybody on the defense better is absurd.

To be technical and honest, Coach Bill Walsh made all of them great! It was Walsh who in 1979 drafted a “gutty, gambling, cocky type who doesnt have great tools but could start” in the third round. It was Walsh who picked a then 6-3 203 standout safety from USC and molded him to one of the most feared defenders ever in the game. Walsh also was the one who was watching college football highlights  in his Houston hotel room in 1984 before the 49ers game with the Oilers on the following day, when he saw highlights of a tall, lanky, and fast kid from Mississippi Valley State University owning the competition and picked this same kid the follwing April.

Bill Walsh took all three of these guys and a few other and made them champions three and four times over. Bill Walsh built an entire offense around that gambling, cocky type quarterback, a high stepping, pass catching halfback, and a deceptive speed having , brick catching wide receiver and made them legends. While the players were great as they were, Bill Walsh upgraded all of them.  However, Bill Walsh had nothing to do with the following, LOL

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Goodell Should Ground Vick!

On the heels of Michael Vick’s three-charge federal indictment,there actually have been talks about him going to to training camp and actually playing this season.  If this happens, Comissioner Goodell would be labeled as a hypocrite.

Remember folks, Pacman Jones have not been charged with anything as of yet and he is suspended, while Vick is eligible to play at this point. If Goodell suspend Jones and anyone else who may break the conduct and drug policies, he should suspend Vick for the entire season! No one should be immune to the recent crackdown on character in the league.

While watching ESPN’s NFL Live, one of the reporters mentioned that Goodell is discriminating against positions. Honestly, this guy may be right. You see, the quarterback is considered the most glamours yet difficult postion to play in the NFL. When the indictment was known, the league issueed the following statement:

“We are disappointed that Michael Vick has put himself in a position where a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against him. We will continue to closely monitor developments in this case, and to cooperate with law enforcement authorities. The activities alleged are cruel, degrading and illegal. Michael Vick’s guilt  has not yet been proven, and we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts. This matter will be reviewed under the League’s Personal Conduct Policy.”

Okay, where was this statement when Pacman was “making it rain”? Where was this statement in the midst of Urlacher’s paternity issues? Where was this statement in all of the misadventures of Tank Johnson?  Doesn’t these incidents tarnish the NFL’s image too?

I guess Jones, Urlacher, and Johnson do not deserve this kind of scolding because they are not quarterbacks.  You cannot make differences in positions. All of them must follow the policy or get suspended, end of story!