Rhubarb Ruminations: Episode 8

The end of football season is almost upon us. In a week’s time, the Green Bay Packers will face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl Wow-That-Is-A-Lot-Of-Roman-Numerals. I have to go back to high school math to remember what Super Bowl number we are up to anymore. Not that it typically matters, because I can count more lousy Super Bowl games than I can count good ones – roman numerals or otherwise.

Today’s Rhubarb has a football slant to it. It’s a deep slant, just like a good post pattern – all puns fully intended, of course.

1. This year’s AFC and NFC conference championships featured games that were completely “old school”. You had some of the classic NFL teams of a bygone era – Green Bay, Pittsburgh, New York, and Chicago. With that goes some legendary rivalries. But best of all, you had games played outdoors without the perfect conditions that dome stadiums bring with them. You had game-time conditions that conference finals should be played in – snow, wind, and cold. Ah “the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field”, as NFL Films calls it. Get muddy, get dirty, let the strong survive. Now THAT is football.

2. In the “focus required” category, there is the inimitable Bud Adams. Remember, he’s the owner that moved the Houston Oilers to Tennessee. That was a decision that I could never understand, but I also don’t have millions of dollars to throw at football, either. They drafted Vince Young as the savior of their team – and rightfully so when he was, without a doubt, the greatest college football player of all time. He is a natural winner. Somehow, that was hampered by his “relationship” with Coach Jeff Fisher. One spat turned into another, and head games seemed to be the norm. Young was never given an environment in which he could excel. Fisher never did really build an offense around this franchise player on whom Adams was spending a lot of cash.

So then Bud Adams decides to let Young go. How a team could ever get rid of Vince Young, I’ll never know. But wait, the story  gets better.

Fisher has coached the team for 17 years, with little more than 4 playoff appearances and one Super Bowl appearance. His 17 years have netted him a 147 – 126 record. He has become known as “Coacho Ocho” for his 8 win seasons. I am not sure how he got to 17 years with that kind of record, but that is probably another story. The bottom line is that the Titans let Vince Young go – to keep Jeff Fisher. Now, they have let Fisher go as well.

Hello? Earth calling Bud Adams. Focus, Bud, focus. There is still time to set things on an intelligent path. Bring back Vince Young. Bring in a head coach that salivates when he thinks about creating an offense around Young. Foster his development, and watch the playoffs return to Tennessee.

3. And while we’re on the topic of the NFL, let’s look at another reality: if you are an NFL player, you are going to get injured. In 2010, 63% of all players were injured. A total of 13% of players ended up on injured reserve. Not only are more players getting injured, they are sustaining more significant injuries. When a linebacker that is 6’4” and 260 pounds (or larger) and runs a 4.6 40 yard dash (or faster), that’s a lot of force being applied to the quarterback, running back, or anyone for that matter. Force equals mass times acceleration. It is simple physics. On one hand, you can’t take away the impact, an integral part of football. But on the other hand, there has to be something done about the concussions and head injuries that are secondary to helmet-to-helmet contact.

But in the meantime, onwards to Jerry World, for what should be a great Super Bowl – if it was only being played on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field …

Photo credits: Wikipedia