25 comments MMQB Review: Late, Late Edition

Last night after Sunday's NFL games I knew this was going to be a potentially unbearable MMQB from Peter King. Brett Favre led another comeback, the team Peter recently discovered in New Orleans is playing like they are unstoppable and he doesn't even need a good excuse to mention how good New England is this week because they played incredibly well Sunday. What confuses me is that it took Peter longer to post his MMQB this morning. He is talking about great of a quarterback Brett Favre has been, doesn't he have a standard template he uses for things like this? "Brett Favre is grizzled, doesn't care about stats, does whatever it takes to get his team to win, this is why he came out of retirement, these are a great bunch of guys, he's really showing those who thought he was done, I wish that I could spend every day with him."

For the record again, I never said Favre would stink 6 games into the season, I said come the end of the year when he gets tired I will be interested to see how he plays. Regardless, these are topics I thought Peter could cover without taking extra time to write about them but I guess I was wrong. How am I supposed to be able to have the time to mock Peter if he can't get his MMQB out on time? It's really not fair to me and my schedule. He needed some extra time to think about the proper way to fawn over his favorite players and teams I guess.

NEW YORK -- We usually start with the winners in this space every Monday, and we'll get to them soon enough. But today, there's something so compelling about the Washington Redskins I've got to start there.

"Compelling" meaning "they are located near where I live so they are more interesting because I pay more attention to them than any other crappy team in the league."

"Jim's doing too much,'' Cerrato told me. "He's coaching the quarterbacks, putting the game plan together, calling the plays, coaching the team. We need Jim to coach the team, to do what a head coach does. It's been 14 games now [the Redskins are a toothless 4-10 since last Halloween], and we've got to do something.''

I like how Zorn is doing too much and the team is winless, so they want him to do a little bit less and they will hope the team will actually win games. It's almost like the coach is part of the problem.

I expect Washington to give this new play-calling thing three or four weeks, and when that doesn't work, then Zorn will be dismissed. I was told Sunday night that the logical in-season successor, defensive coordinator Greg Blache, doesn't want the job,

For nearly every coordinator under the age of 55 in the NFL, a head coaching gig is the ultimate prize they each strive for. For a coordinator to not want an interim job because he is afraid it will mess up his chances to get another head coaching job says a lot about how good Blanche thinks the Redskins are.

I personally don't believe the Redskins are in as bad of shape as everyone thinks they are. They need a new coach and a quarterback, but there is talent on that roster. Some smart coach will take over and go 8-8 with them next year I bet.

Speaking of big-name coaches, it wouldn't surprise me if Dan Snyder had dinner with one of them this weekend. Jon Gruden will be in town to do the Monday night game for ESPN. Jon Gruden wants back into football. Jon Gruden can coach quarterbacks.

Can Jon Gruden coach quarterbacks? Or is this just a rumor based on the fact he won a Super Bowl with Brad Johnson as his QB? I feel like Gruden always wants veteran quarterbacks and he doesn't actually teach young quarterbacks well. Brad Johnson, Jeff Garcia, Rich Gannon...there is a difference in having a young quarterback to coach and an old quarterback to coach. I don't know about Gruden and his success in coaching young quarterbacks really.

It seems as if Gruden is a coach who more accumulates young quarterbacks than actually develops and teaches them well.

I turned to Tony Dungy in our NBC viewing room at Rockefeller Center and said, "The Giants are going to have to go for it on fourth down for the rest of the game. They just have no hope of stopping Drew Brees.

Great story by Peter.

In the spring, I power-rated the Saints as the 24th-best team in football. I thought there was no hope for their defense. "Twenty-fourth!'' Sean Payton said to me a few months ago in amazement. Talk about one I wish I had back. The Saints aren't the best defense in the game, but they make up for any lack of talent by playing with an edgy attitude with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams sending rushers from anywhere.

Literally anywhere. They cut holes in the floor of the dome and have pass rushers pop through the floor of the dome to sack the quarterback. Yesterday, Jonathan Vilma swung from a rope on the ceiling and chased down Eli Manning and cause an incompletion. Later Sedrick Ellis hit Brandon Jacobs for a loss in the parking lot after the game. These Saints are relentless and Peter noticed.

Then Peter turned to Tony Dungy and said, "these Saints play with an edgy attitude because of Gregg Williams by sending rushers from anywhere" and then told us about this one sentence conversation in his MMQB.

I think a Minnesota-New Orleans NFC Championship Game would be one of the most anticipated football games of this era.

This would be one of the most anticipated games by Peter King. White quarterbacks who fling the ball around the field with abandon are a big turn-on for Peter. I wonder if by "era" Peter means the "Derek Jeter is the best baseball player of my lifetime" time span, which is actually only over the last 20 years or "era" means an actual era which should span a lot longer than 20 years in my mind.

Either way, maybe Peter is overexaggerating by calling this potential game one of the most anticipated football games of this era. Maybe just a little bit? Or a whole lot? I am not saying I wouldn't want to watch the game, but I think this statement is more a reflection of how much Peter likes these two teams more than a reflection of how anticipated the game would be.

I don't even know how to respond to this assertion other than to ramble about how I disagree with it. I may need a break.

(The sound of Bengoodfella leaving the attic for the first time in 2 months, going outside to breathe oxygen, choking a little on the oxygen reaching his lungs for the first time in months, and him slowly sneaking back in the house and up to the attic before his mom notices.)

Think of it: Brees and his all-world offense in one corner. Brett Favre, if he survives the year, in the other corner, with his sidekick Adrian Peterson. God, don't let any of those three men get hurt before January.

Yes, please God don't let any of these players get hurt so Peter's favorite choice of NFC Championship Games can come true. It's not even a matter of playing the rest of the year, these teams are in the NFC Championship as long as these three players stay healthy. As far as the other players on the Saints and Vikings, no one gives a crap if they even die or not. They aren't important to the team at all. It's good to see Peter openly cheers for certain teams and players to do well from week to week.

But Peterson rushed for 143 yards on 22 carries, and Favre ate the Baltimore secondary alive -- completing 72 percent of his throws with three touchdowns and no interceptions. There's no better combo platter of rusher and passer out there now, and I challenge you to think back to when there was.

Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk.

Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk come to mind, but Faulk wasn't the inside runner Peterson is.

And Adrian Peterson isn't quite the receiver that Marshall Faulk was either...not to mention Kurt Warner arguably had a much better year in 2000 and 2001 then Brett Favre could end up having this year. I say at the best it is a draw for Favre and Peterson for this comparison. Let's not get too excited Peter, the Baltimore secondary hasn't exactly been lock down all year and the season isn't even over yet. I know Peter is pumped to give some accolades to Favre and the Vikings but I think Favre and Peterson fall short from Faulk and Warner.

I am sure there are even better running back and wide receiver combinations that can match up with Favre-Peterson, but I am just not remembering them right now.

Two last points on Peterson. We were stunned at NBC Sunday to see the Vikings -- with 2:30 left in the game, trailing Baltimore 31-30, with a third-and-nine at the Ravens' 17 -- to not go aggressively for the first down. "We were a little surprised too,'' Peterson said. Peterson ran for a three-yard gain, with the Vikings happy to settle for the field goal. It was a poor call because the Ravens had scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, the Vikes looked gassed on defense, and even if Ryan Longwell made the field goal, Baltimore would have two minutes to win it.

Thank you Gregg Easterbrook. Actually, I agree the Vikings should have thrown on third down, but they got lucky and it didn't hurt them. I guess fortune didn't favor the bold here.

The Fine Fifteen

Actually it's the Nice Nineteen this week.

Then just call it the Nice Nineteen. It's your column.

2. Minnesota (6-0). Brett Favre's never been 6-0 before.

Well, that is complete justification to put Minnesota at #2 right now. I am not disagreeing, just not liking using Brett Favre's own milestones as a reason to put the Vikings somewhere in a power poll.

5. New England (4-2). Either the Tennessee Titans are Secaucus High, or the Patriots might have taken their first snowy steps back to prominence Sunday.

Back to prominence? They have already beaten #7 and #12 on Peter's Nice Nineteen. I would say they are already there. Quit underselling this Patriots team so you can write stories about how they did so well to bounce back.

9. Green Bay (3-2).Aaron Rodgers completed passes (29 of them) to nine receivers Sunday. It's fitting that 34-year-old Donald Driver was the one to lead them. Seven catches, 107 yards, giving him 602 career catches, setting the Packers' all-time record. Hallowed ground: more catches than Don Hutson and Sterling Sharpe.

I thought achieving personal milestones could get you in the Top 5 of Peter's power poll? This should at least put Green Bay at #2. It was a personal milestone!

I know, I know the Vikings deserve it.

14. (tie) Miami (2-3). Not sure how long they'll be here. Next three games: Saints, at Jets, at Pats. As that noted football analyst Scooby Doo would say, "Ruh-Roh.''

As Bengoodfella would say, "What??????"

14. (tie) Arizona (3-2). If the Cards would be consistent, I'd know what to do with them. Of course, can't you say that about every team but the top three or four in here?

"I wish the Cardinals were consistent because I don't know where to put them. Of course that goes for every team but three or four teams, so basically I have no idea where to put any of these teams."

"I just gave that team the win.''

-- Jets quarterbackMark Sanchez, after throwing five interceptions in the Jets' 16-13 overtime loss to the Bills.

But, but................his poise in the pocket. His decision making ability....I have already started chiseling his plaque for the NFL Hall of Fame...he's an attractive quarterback in the largest market in the United States...........he is the greatest quarterback in Jets history. This can't be happening! Mark Sanchez may not be a great quarterback yet?

He's a rookie. This is why I don't get all excited when I see him have a couple of good games. Once teams get a report on him, notice his tendencies and how to stop him from being efficient, it is a whole new ball game.

JaMarcus Russell, QB, Oakland.Russell removed the arrows from his back long enough to play good, but not great Sunday in Oakland. But no player in the league had been as bad in the first six weeks of the season as Russell, so his outing against the Eagles is worthy of mention here, with congratulations. Russell completed 17 of 28 passes for 224 yards, with a TD and two interceptions.

The odds of me leaving off JaMarcus Russell: 0.001%

This was not a good game for JaMarcus Russell, this was a death rattle. Congratulations though JaMarcus, for one game you were a competent NFL quarterback who still threw more interceptions than touchdowns. The Raiders defense held the Eagles to 9 points. I think that had something to do with the victory as well. Let's give the Raiders defense a little credit here and not credit Russell too much for leading his offense to a mammoth 13 points.

Goat of the Week

Dante Wesley, DB, Carolina.

As I pointed out earlier in this column, there is absolutely no excuse for launching yourself into a defenseless return man without the ball, the way Wesley did against Clifton Smith of the Bucs. The more I watched the play Sunday night, the more I was repulsed. It was barbaric.

For the record, it was barbaric, but Peter didn't mention this earlier in the column.

(Seriously, he needs to only quit mentioning negative things some teams do. Carolina ran for 250+ yards yesterday and he only writes about the negative. If you are going to ignore teams, just ignore them, don't only write the bad things they do or bad things that happen in their games.)

but many Eagle fans are ambivalent about Reid; he's turned the Eagles into consistent winners but never has led the team to a Super Bowl victory. I thought I'd compare Reid at this stage of his career to another long-term Pennsylvania coach, Bill Cowher, who also had some in Pennsylvania questioning whether he should keep his job after 10 or 11 years.

This is actually a great point by Peter. How come people tend to forget that Pittsburgh fans weren't always completely enamored with Cowher and Cowher couldn't win the Super Bowl or AFC Championship Games at home? He won 1 Super Bowl and now we have all forgotten about all of this. Bill Cowher is now considered a legendary coach and his name is attached to nearly every team that needs a head coach...it's amazing what winning one extra game (the Super Bowl) can do to a coach's reputation.

There was a time when Steelers fans were not too happy with Cowher losing home playoff games and his overall ability to be the best possible coach for the Steelers, but once Cowher won a Super Bowl, all of this has been forgotten and he is a legend in everyone's mind.

Readers of this column know I'm a faithful follower of the Red Sox. And maybe the Yankees aren't any different from many teams and many products all over sporting America. It's just that, $10 for a cup of hot chocolate, I think we'd all agree, is over the top.

In a place with $6 hot dogs, $2,000 seats, and $260 million dollar baseball players...for Peter King $10 for a cup of hot chocolate is over the top. Every man has his breaking point and we have just found Peter's. I find it interesting a guy who spends $5 daily (minimum) at Starbucks on coffee has $10 hot chocolate at a cold autumn game to be his breaking point.

(This is the point where Blogger didn't save anything I typed or edited because "an error occurred." Seriously, screw you Blogger, this isn't the first time this has happened and I don't have time to deal with this shit. It's bad enough I had to wait around for Peter to actually post his column, but now Blogger gives me problems. Sure, I'll re-write the second half of the post again, no problem.........now I feel better.)

1. U2 was good. Breathe, Ultraviolet, Walk On, City of Blinding Lights and New Year's Day sounded best to me. I liked the acoustics, relatively speaking, in JerryWorld.

Congratulations U2. You and Bruce Springsteen have cornered the market on white, middle aged people liking your band. You should feel proud. Somewhere Dave Matthews Band waits in the wings for their time to take over the crown.

4. Never, ever, ever eat airport Chinese food. I know it smells good when you pass by, but remember the last time you got it, and the sesame chicken was 70 percent breading, 15 percent inedible goo over the breading, 6 percent gristle, 4 percent tough meat, and 2 percent sesame? It hasn't changed. Walk on by.

I am just sad Peter didn't tell us about his bowel movement after he ate this food. It's so un-Peter King like.

9. Since when did it become OK for flight attendants to pass the hat for a cause? I'm all in favor of breast-cancer research and fund-raising, but on airplanes? Every leg of every Delta flight? On an early-morning Delta flight, one flight attendant told us she'd let us sleep as long as we donated enough money (chuckling), but then semi-strong-armed us ('We can do better than $315, folks!'') when the first passing of the hat didn't result in enough money for her liking. I'd be interested in your responses on this, but it struck me as a little creepy.

It's ok for Peter King to brow beat his readers and people around the NFL to donate to Dr. Z's cause every week in his MMQB, but it's creepy to have flight attendants pass a hat around for this supposed "breast cancer research." I guess that is Peter's stance on this issue. Not to mention we are a couple weeks off an interview where Peter admitted he makes a ridiculous amount of money, so really Peter doesn't come off too well here.

Ok, I will admit it is 10% creepy to do this, but I can't reconcile this with the fact Peter spent 2 months asking for contributions for the Dr. Z fund.

b. A long, long time ago -- oh, maybe four weeks -- most of us were saying the NFC East was the best division in football. We'll see how things play out this year, but right now I think the AFC North and NFC North might be better, and the NFC South is close.

The NFC South has two really crappy teams. There is no way they are one of the better divisions in football.

i. Starting strong safety for Houston Sunday: Bernard Pollard.

I thought they kicked Bernard Pollard out of the league for ruining the Patriots season last year and forcing the cancellation of the NFL season. I can't believe Pollard didn't get kicked out of the NFL and is still being allowed to play. This is the most interesting statement I have read all day.

2. I think I've got to question the Bears leaving themselves without a pick in the first two rounds for two straight drafts. I liked the Jay Cutler trade, which cost two first-round picks, a third- and Kyle Orton. But in sending their 2010 second-rounder to Tampa Bay for disappointing pass-rusher Gaines Adams

John Saunders said on Sports Reporters the Bills should trade Terrell Owens to the Bears. What does he expect the Bears to give the Bills since they don't have a 1st or 2nd round pick? I don't know if a package starting with a 3rd round pick would get the job done. Ideas are great as long as they are actually possible.

a. Wes Welker, 10 catches for 150. Ho hum.

(Using the Boston accent I can't type) Greatest receiver ever!

e. Jacksonville: 33 first downs. Maurice Jones-Drew: 33 rushes. For 133 yards.

Congratulations Jacksonville, this is the only mention you will be getting from Peter this week. He doesn't even know what state you are located in.

Also, Atlanta Falcons fans you should expect no mention from Peter about your team beating Peter's choice for the Super Bowl this year. The Washington Redskins are way more compelling than your team because they are so bad and Peter likes them more than he likes your team. Sorry, thems the brakes.

f. You think Cleveland's drop problem ended with the trade of Braylon Edwards? Wrong. Eleven more in two games weeks since the trade.

I think Cleveland has a talent problem, not just a drop problem. It's good Browns fans have nothing to look forward to since Eric Mangini seems intent on selling the entire team off and the Browns ownership is going to allow him to do this. There is really no reason why Mangini would want to know if Brady Quinn can be an NFL quarterback or not is there? Why not start him and either win games, pump up his trade value or keep losing...other than that clause in his contract giving him money if he takes 75% of the team's snaps.

a. Shouldn't every Curb Your Enthusiasm show this season feature the Seinfeld cast?

Yes, that should happen and then we should call the show "Seinfeld." This is almost as good an idea as giving Michael Strahan his own television show.

e. Congrats, Laura King, for running your first half-marathon Sunday in San Francisco. Wish we could have been there. You're an inspiration to your too-dormant old man.

I think it is sad Peter King can't tell his daughter this over email, phone, fax, text, Tweet or carrier pigeon and he has to use his MMQB to announce it to hundreds of thousands of people who don't care just to get it to his daughter.

f. After watching C.C. Sabathia plow though the Angels Friday night, one leftover thought from the sudden end to the Red Sox season:

Can we really count the Red Sox getting swept over a four day span as "sudden?"

h. I can't take these playoff off-days. Joel Sherman made a great point in the New York Post the other day: Last year, the Phils had 15 off-days in the playoffs ... and major-league teams had 19 scheduled off-days during the six-month regular season. I cover a sport that's a slave to TV. But baseball allows the momentum of the games at the most important time of year to be interrupted consistently.

This is the second time I have agreed with Peter in this MMQB. It doesn't make up for the rest of the MMQB though.

Bill Simmons is wiping the floor with me in the ESPN Pick 'Em and I am tied with Peter King. This has been a bad year for me with any competition related to this blog. I am horrible in the Fantasy Football league and I can't seem to outpick Peter and Bill Simmons.