Ranger Fans, Please Stop Your Crying

Yes, Jarkko Rutuu is a complete asshole and deserves to someday be on the receiving end of those elbows to the head that he likes to dish out but Ranger fans, please stop crying about what took place last night in the shootout against the Senators. If you missed it, I will recap. Jarkko Ruutu was the second Senator to take a try in the skills competition the NHL likes to use to decide games. The puck floated off the end of Rutuu's stick as he approached the net. Rutuu chased the puck and then fired it from a bad angle at goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Well guess what Ranger fans, it was completely legal.

According to the rules of the NHL, when Rutuu lost the puck off his stickand it wasn't considered a shot. Therefore, the puck is live until it comes to a complete stop or the puck completely crosses the goal line. Rutuu never stopped his forward progress, allowing him to legal fire a shot at the net. So all you Ranger fans that have been crying over the Rutuu, calm down.

If you didn't see it, this is the shootout between the two teams. Rutuu gets the puck around 1:40 into the video.

Marty Hurt - Not A Bad Thing

Hear me out because the title of this post would make one think that I am putting Marty Brodeur down but I am not. For years I have felt that the Devils Organization has put so much faith in Marty's ability to escape injury they've never sat down and said "what if". Now we don't know what Marty's injury is all about so there is a lot of speculation out there. The Devils are saying its an "elbow bruise" but that can mean anything. If you look around the Internet, you'll find rumors that range from a hyperextension to a torn biceps tendon. From the looks of how he acted in the moments after suffering the injury, I would bank on it being a hyperextension.

It looks like Clemmenson will be taking Weekes seat on the bench for the next few games and Weekes will take Marty's spot in between the pipes. I have a lot of confidence in Kevin Weekes. There was a time where I hated seeing Weekes in the opposing goal because he ofter made some spectacular saves.

Hopefully, Marty Brodeur isn't out for an extended period of time but hopefully Lou is sitting in his office this morning, realizing that Marty is getting on in years and that franchise goalies like Marty don't grow on trees.

On a side note, congratulations to Nicklas Bergfors on his first NHL point.

Thoughts on the 'Boys

Ok, so the Cowboys season hasn't gone exactly as planned. I've been worried since week 1 what an injury to Tony Romo would to this team. I've never had confidence in Brad Johnson and after his performance on Sunday against the Rams, I can't say that I feel good about him playing this weekend. At the same time, I'm not really feeling good about putting Romo in the game either.

The coaching staff inability to get T.O. involved in the game is starting to worry me. Lets be honest, as a Cowboy fan, I am always waiting for the other shoe to drop with T.O. Sure, he's grown up a bit from his days in Philadelphia but he's an emotional guy and I feel always 1/2 a step from a meltdown. I thought we were starting to see it on the sidelines on Sunday but I thought he handled his press conference well.

As for the Wade Philips watch. Yes, he's on the hot seat this season, every knows that. I'm sure the temperature of that seat is a little hotter now, especially since we play NY in 2 weeks and are currenty 2 games behind them in the wins column. I'd expect Philips to make it through the season but if this season doesn't translate into at least a win in the playoffs (and right now the playoffs seem like a dream) then I'd expect him to go. Question is, do you give it to Garrett, the man who can't seem to get T.O. involved? I personally would take Nolan, who was fired last night in SF. He's a good coach, a respectable coach and might have the right demenior for this team. Nolan wasn't the problem in SF.

I'm not ready to throw the season in the toilet just yet. Sure, if the Cowboys lose the next 2 and go into the bye week at 4-5, going 6-1 the second half of their schedule seems nearly impossible. Lets just hope the Cowboys over looked the Rams, thinking about the 2 hard games they are supposed to play without Romo.

Week 1

Week 1 is in the books and all that most people will remember about week 1 of the 2008 NFL season will be the Tom Brady injury. Sure, its shocking when someone like Tom Brady goes down but unfortunately it happens. It reminds us that we are all one hit away from having our season turned upside down. We all have that guy that we can't afford to lose and unfortunately for the New England Patriots, they lost THAT guy.

So lets move passed the Tom Brady injury and talk about the rest of week 1. There were certainly a lot of positive things that happened (in no particular order).

1. Dallas Cowboys - They look for real. I'm not saying this just because I am a Cowboys fan but I thought Romo looked like he was in complete control most of the game. Maybe a few too many penalties but overall a game to be proud of. It's not the regular season I worry about though, its those games in January.

2. Chicago Bears - Defense looked TOUGH. I mean their defense was the reason they made it to Super Bowl XVI and based on the performance in week 1, the D is strong once again.

3. Atlanta Falcons - For one week, they get to have their fans feel good about the future. It may not last long but they played a very strong game in week 1.

4. Green Bay Packers - The Aaron Rodgers era has officially begun. Sure, the first TD drive by Rodgers was handed to them courtesy of 3 straight defensive penalties but Rodgers threw some very nice passes. He even looked good doing the Lambeau Leep!!

5. Buffalo Bills - Buffalo was my pick to finish second in the AFC East, behind the Patriots but now with Brady done and Buffalo taking it to the Seahawks, I would certainly think the AFC East title is within their grasp.

Injuries Happen...Lets Move On!!

Now for the not so positive things

1. St. Louis Rams - They looked bad, in fact so bad it kept the Eagles from being on my positive list. It looked too easy for Philadelphia. I thought St. Louis might win 5 games this season, ive changed my mind and now say 3 TOPS!!

2. Oakland Raiders - The Broncos came into their house and smoked them, plain and simple. Another long season in store for the Raider faithful.

3. San Diego Chargers - Every time I think this team will do well, they disappoint. Every time I pick LT in a fantasy draft, he disappoints. I don't know what it is about this team but some teams, no matter how good they are on paper can't walk the walk.

4. Cincinnati Bengals - Carson Palmer looked bad, real bad. I know its early but one would have to think Marvin Lewis certainly has the attention of Ohio's Office of Unemployment.

5. Cleveland Browns - I expected more out of them but they let Romo just sit back and take all the time in the world to find his receivers. Winslow did a few things in the game, Edwards did nothing and that's not going to open things up for Jamal Lewis.

Baseball recap

Another season in the books and amazingly, another championship for the Red Sox. I'm not sure when the Red Sox went from the team that chokes to the team that dominates but I will ride it out. I'm sure if you told Yankees fans in the late 90's that there would be a time that they would have the highest payroll and not be able to get out of the first round of the playoffs for 3 straight years, they might no believe you. So, if you tell me the clock will eventually strike midnight on the Red Sox, I guess I have to believe you but until then I will enjoy the success this team brings.



Ok, everyone is talking about it so I might as well too. The A-Rod announcement during Game 4 I thought was typical of A-Rod. I've always felt A-Rod was in the game for A-Rod. By announcing that you are opting out of your contract during a game which will gather a lot of press, to me, gives some validity to those around the New York Yankees that always said it was 24+1 on that team, not 25. I hope to god the Red Sox look the other way when it comes to A-Rod. We've won twice without him on our team, thats twice more than the Yankees have since he joined them, twice more than the Rangers and twice more than the Mariners. Personally, I'd like to see him go to the National League so that the only time I ever have to see him would be during Interleague play.

I know, the Red Sox just won in 2004 but isn't it annoying that the Red Sox championship is getting over shadowed by A-Rod and Joe Girardi? Why does the baseball world just live and die on the Yankees? I don't get it. I know the Red Sox just won a couple years ago but they waited so long to win that one and this team was so different from that 2004 team. Don't that they deserver to have their moment without a Yankee stealing the headlines?

So baseball is over and its time to completely throw myself into the NFL. Afterall, my Cowboys are 6-1 and have just handed over a bucket full of cash to Tony Romo. I will admit that I am happy Boston won the World Series but for me, thats where it ends. I'm not a Pats fan, I am not a Boston College fan and I am not a Celtics fan, three teams that have a very good chance of bringing home a championship this season. Ok, maybe not the Celtice but the other two teams do.