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12/28/2004 Archived Entry: "MNQ - 12/27"

Posted by steve @ 12:36 AM EST [Link]

MONDAY NIGHT QUARTERBACK: What a sad weekend and what a happy one.

Sad, of course, because we lost Reggie White on Sunday morning at the age of 43. As I mentioned on Sunday, although I am a Chicago Bears fan, I always admired White. The man was a warrior on the field and widely respected off of it. Forty-three is just too young for a husband and father to die. Our thoughts go out to the White family who can take some comfort that no one will ever forget the Minister of Defense.

Most of you reading this will remember White during those early years with Green Bay when he played like a man possessed. As someone stated this weekend, sometimes White got his man simply because he terrified them into immobility. I can't remember any other player in my life who so easily penetrated offensive lines and hunted quarterbacks down. Not Bruce Smith or Deacon Jones -- no slouches themselves, not nobody. And not only was he a sack specialist, but runners didn't particularly enjoy their meetings with Reggie either. He was quite simply the best defensive lineman to have ever played.

On a happier note, as expected Preston Manning set a new record for touchdowns during the regular season with 49. Manning has one more game in which to pad his new record and we wouldn't be surprised if he ended up with more than 50. Once again Manning showed the class act that he was by refusing to stop the game to honour the new record and kept his mind on tying the game with a two-point conversion, not celebrating the touchdown. Not only has he set a new mark for touchdowns, it appears he will also set a new season record for highest quarterback rating, beating Steve Young's mark of 112.8.

All I can say about this weekend was it seemed every team I picked tried their hardest to lose the game. As I write this the Philadelphia Eagles are not only not covering the six point spread I gave them, they're losing to St. Louis. Also messing up my pool sheet were Jacksonville, Tampa Bay and Washington -- which was winning with just minutes left in the game but decided to give it up to Dallas.

Say what you will, this was a weird weekend. It was one where I picked Miami to win against Cleveland, Atlanta to lose against New Orleans and Seattle to beat Arizona. Most other weekends I would have picked the other way but considering the unpredictability of some teams this year you could just throw darts at a board and probably do as well.

How about those Bills? They start the season 0-4 and now have just notched their sixth consecutive win. They may become just the second team to start 0-4 and enter the playoffs. It didn't hurt that Baltimore, Jacksonville and the New York Jets all lost.

Week 1 - 8 out of 15
Week 2 - 11 out of 16
Week 3 - 9 of 15
Week 4 - 7 of 14
Week 5 - 7 of 14
Week 6 - 9 of 14
Week 7 - 6 of 14
Week 8 - 8 of 14
Week 9 - 8 of 14
Week 10 - 9 of 14
Week 11 - 13 of 16
Week 14 - 12 of 14
Week 15 - 10 of 16
Week 16 - 12 of 16
Week 17 - 10 of 16
Week 18 - 11 of 15 (Friday night game not included)

%: 63.2 (150 of 237)

It's hard to believe but I have never picked a Buffalo Bills cheerleader as our ESR CotW! You'd think during their run I would have at least given the Jills a glance but the team just sneaked up on me this year. To remedy that gross oversight, this week's CotW is Amanda (First row, second from the left). Unfortunately the Bills website gives but the barest of information about its cheerleaders but I can say two things about Jill: She was born in 1985 -- I'm always terrified when I meet women born in years that I remember well, and I'm only 33 -- and she looks like several women I've fallen for with bad results. Always a bad combination personally but a great choice for our Cheerleader of the Week.

Replies: 2 comments

I hear you about the 1985 thing. There is nothing worse than meeting any adult, especially an eligible female, who is born in a year you actually remember happening.

I haven't been following the Bills that closely this season - how is Bledsoe looking?

Posted by W. James Antle III @ 12/28/2004 07:50 PM EST

Considering all the bars I favor are growing younger every weekend, it's a problem I'm bumping into more often. I'm not a bad looking guy but young women out of my reach -- well, assuming I was the type to try and date 19 year olds, ha ha.

Drew Bledsoe is looking like Drew Bledsoe. His numbers are alright but he remains the statue in the pocket. Frankly, the reason they're doing so well right now is Willis McGahee. Don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing Bledsoe...he can still throw that ball.

Posted by Steve Martinovich @ 12/29/2004 12:47 AM EST