Goodell Crucifies Saints

The punishments dispensed by the NFL seem harsh. Head Coach Sean Payton has been suspended without pay for the entire 2012 season. Saints' GM Mickey Loomis has been suspended for 8 games. Asisstant Joe Vitt has been suspended for 6 games. Former Saints' Defensive Coordinator (now working for the Rams) Gregg Williams has been suspended indefinitely. The Saints will forfeit their 2nd round picks in 2012 and 2013 (they do not have a 1st round pick this year). They've also been fined $500,000.

That seems intense. And I'm sure some will compare this to the NFL's lack of suspensions after SpyGate.

However, guys like Williams didn't cooperate with the investigation into this. And he's even admitted to attempting to obstruct it.

Furthermore, the Saints violated salary cap rules with these bounties. You can't do that. It's explicitly against the rules. There's no gray area, no need to send memos to remind the coaches. You can't give someone an under the table bonus for an interception. This isn't college football.

Finally, I think these bounties had more impact on games played on the field than tapes of opposing signal-callers that were viewed after the game was played. Call me crazy.

The punishments seem harsh. But do you think any team will allow such a bounty program to exist after today? Do you think any Head Coach will just shrug and move on with his business? This punishment is about deterring teams from doing this in the future. And I think in that respect, it will be very effective.

Big hits are part of the game. They're supposed to send messages. Goodell and the NFL sent a very loud, very clear message today.

T-E-B-O-W TO JETS JETS JETS

Tim Tebow is going to the New York Jets. The Jets traded a 4th round pick to acquire the Denver QB. And I can't stop giggling.

The idea of Tim Tebow's religiously laced pep talks intertwined with Rex Ryan's overuse of profanity makes me wish the Jets were back on Hard Knocks. America's new odd couple. And they're in the New York market. How perfectly hilarious is that?

Will Tebow replace Sanchez? I don't know. We all know (thanks to the hyper-vocal Jets' lockerroom) that some of the Jets players question their QB. And as a Patriots fan, I really don't care if the Jets' crappy, overrated QB is Mark Sanchez or Tim Tebow. Neither one is very good.

A 4th round pick is not an expensive price to pay, though. And on the field the Jets have improved. They can utilize Tebow's athleticism in gadget plays and short yardage. But it still makes me giggle. Tim Tebow, in that locker room, with the likes of Antonio "Father of the year" Cromartie. Talk about a saint among sinners.


*****UPDATE*****
There are reports that the deal for Tebow also includes 6th and 7th round picks.

Tim Tebow Will Not Become a Patriot

It amazes me that people still don't get it. Every time a "versatile" player like Tim Tebow or Pat White becomes available, there are always murmurs and whispers that he'll wind up with the Patriots. "They love versatile players in New England."

It's true that Belichick and the Patriots do value players who can play multiple positions. What morons inside and outside of 495 fail to understand is that those "versatile" players must still be good at one primary position. Mike Vrabel, for instance, was not acquired for his pass-catching skills. He was a very good linebacker. So the Patriots acquired him to play linebacker. The 12 TD catches were a welcome bonus, but if he couldn't carry his weight on defense, he wouldn't have made the team.

Vrabel wasn't acquired for his versatility. He was acquired to play linebacker, and the Patriots took advantage of his ability to catch the ball.

Tim Tebow doesn't have the ability to start at any position for the Patriots. Even if you don't think he's a lousy quarterback (which he is), the Patriots are all set at that position. And at tight-end. And at wide receiver. What would Tebow's primary function be?

The closest player to Tim Tebow on the Patriots' roster is Julian Edelman. Edelman was a running QB in college, and was then converted to a receiver, and was then converted to a DB. Morons might argue that he's a guy that doesn't have a primary function on the team, he's just a versatile athlete that can contribute in multiple ways. Sort of like Tebow. Only Tebow is more athletic.

That's all true, but Edelman was acquired with a 7th round draft pick. His cap number is $635,295. I'm sure the Patriots would jump at the opportunity to get Tebow if they only needed a 7th round pick to trade for him and could pay him under $700k. Tebow's cap number is $2.7 million. And I think the Broncos will ask for more than a 7th rounder.

That's a lot to pay for a bench player that comes in for trick plays. Too much. Belichick could find ways to use Tebow's abilities, but not for that price.

Tebow is one hell of an athlete, but versatility alone doesn't get you a spot on the Patriots' roster. Players need to have a primary function on the team. And their value needs to exceed their cost.

That is why, thankfully, Tim Tebow will not be playing his home games in Foxborough.