Slantedamus

Well, I was looking for something I wrote in the past just now - and I came across several things that I said much earlier in the year that happened to make me look like I might just have a clue every once in a while. I was looking for the first time I thought Cowher might leave. I thought about it on June 30th and even mentioned Russ Grimm as the replacement I'd like. That wasn't close to being an actual prediction as much as it was a "what if" exercise. The real good stuff was about players and the money they were pulling down. Cases in point:

When Antwaan Randle El left for his $31 million over 7 years with $11.5 guaranteed - I not so boldly predicted that he wouldn't have 60 catches and wouldn't last 4 years. He ended the season with 32 catches for 351 yards and 3 tds. For punt returns, he averaged 8.8 yards per return and scored 1 TD. That was good enough for 20th in the league and 11 places behind Santonio Holmes who was 9th.

On November 19th I strongly disagreed with Peter King who was praising Nick Saban and calling him one of the 5 best coaches in the league. Right. If 27 other coaches resigned maybe. Maybe.

On February 12th I was lobbying for Kimo to not be resigned since "The Diesel" was coming around. Kimo got $9 million for 3 years from the Jets.

During the offseason I made fun of the Panthers for signing DeShaun Foster to a 3 year deal worth $14 million. He put up 897 yards and 3 TDs. An undrafted free agent rookie could have done that.

I made fun of the Titans for paying David Givens $24 million over 5 years with $8 million up front. True, he got hurt in game 5, but through those 5 games he had a scorching 8 catches for 104 yards and 0 TDs. Nice work from your big free agent.

I opined about The Edge skipping mini camps with the Cardinals after signing a 4 year deal for $30 million making the point that he never faced 8 men in the box as a Colt due to their prolific passing game. Maybe he'd like to practice that. He had his 7th worst average in 8 seasons finishing with a stunning 3.4 yards per attempt and 6 TDs. Out of all running backs in the league with a minimum of 100 carries - he finished 43rd....and it cost the Cardinals$7.5 million dollars.

I made fun of Ashley Lelie acting like a prima dona before he's really done anything. He shut me up though with 28 catches for 430 yards and 1 TD in 15 games. Nice going.

And who could forget Nate Burleson - getting $49 million over 7 years from Seattle because they were mad the Vikings signed away Hutchinson? Even though it's structured to be more like a 3 year $10 million dollar deal, is that worth the 18 catches for 192 yards and 2 touches he put up? And he appeared in all 16 games - starting in 7. You paid a guy that much who couldn't even START for you?

I also said this about the Colts on September 11th after watching the Manning Bowl: When the Colts play someone that can run with power up the middle and keep 8 men out of the box with the passing game, they are in trouble on defense. That being said, they are also a threat to put up 42 on any given week and could still win with giving up 200 on the ground. I watched the Denver game in week 1 also and thought that Jake would be carrying the clip board before long. Big surprise there.

Of course I didn't get anything wrong......well, I maybe said I thought we'd repeat. He He. Maybe called Peter King crazy because he didn't have the Steelers in the playoffs before the season started. He He. I'm sure there's more, but why dwell on the negatives?