NFL: Thank You for the Pro Bowl

There really was only way to improve the Pro Bowl. Moving it to the weekend right before the Super Bowl Sunday: simply brilliant.

A gathering of N.F.L. superstars a month after the conclusion of the regular season, strapping up the pads one more time to play in a game with utmost meaning – to be determined.

Many have suggested that like Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game, the winner of the Pro Bowl should be determine home field advantage in the Super Bowl. There of course would be no better way than this to decide who should wear the home and away jerseys in a neutral stadium in a neutral city. The home field advantage is obviously one thing, but the drag of wearing road whites – simply unbearable. I would hate the thought of calling heads or tails if donned the away team, too.

Fortunately, as the importance of the game has seemingly risen over the years, the game’s level of play and excitement surrounding it has appropriately escalated. From Honolulu to Miami, second-stringers to third-stringers. Next up: defense optional.

Oops.

The move to before the Super Bowl this season is a test run, as if the previous tradition of the week after the big game was a failure. It is now planned for right in the beginning of media week, so the attention can be drawn off of the quarterback comparison between Big Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers, or which defense will bring more heat on third downs, or who among Clay Matthews and Troy Polamalu have better salads.

Instead of that nonsense the attention can be focused on a game, one that will weigh heavily on the outcome of the Super Bowl in 2012. Therefore, it is only logical that the two likely candidates for N.F.L. M.V.P., Tom Brady and Michael Vick, will play field general for their respective conferences in this crucial contest.

Oh, Brady has a sore shoulder? Or is it a sports hernia? No. Wait, a foot? Has got to be the foot!

http://backseatcuddler.com

It seems like this cat has a new injury every time he gets voted on in. It must a coincidence he gets hurt before his annual trip to Honolulu. Oh well. I’m sure there are better things to do at homeanyways.

But even if Brady could play, there’s still too much of a chance the perplexing Pro Bowl defenses would stifle him. Two defensive gurus, Mike Smith of the Atlanta Falcons and Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots, will be licking their chops to go after opposing quarterbacks. House blitzes, press coverage; they might even find a way to block a punt or two.

Offensively, there is no doubt it will be a show. We saw what The Hoodie was able to do with scrubs like Deion Branch, Danny Woodhead and two rookie tight ends. Now factor in that he can really go with some unorthodox formations – three wide-outs, of course lining up on the same side, and of course no players shifting. That would be chaotic.

So this year, when you’re turning on the tube to catch the always exciting, never predictable game of chess that is the Pro Bowl, try to pretend like it is not The League’s gift of an extra week of playoff games. Then, it will all make sense. That’s why you voted your favorite left guard in.

Sam Spiegelman
samspiegs@aol.com
Twitter: @samspiegs
samspiegs.blogspot.com

Connecticut: Tell Robert Burton There's A No Return Policy

Have you heard the one about the booster wanting his money back? Oh my God, it's a classic.


Robert Burton's name is imprinted on the Connecticut football team's training complex. Years back, he donated $2.5M to build the facility. Now he wants his money back.


This cat is unhappy with the school's hiring of former Cuse coach Paul Pasqualoni to replace Randy Edsall after he jet Storrs for College Park, literally.


“We want our money and respect back,” Burton wrote in his letter to Jeff Hathaway, UConn's Athletic Director.


Well, Bob, you can have your money back. But your respect is non-refundable.


I am sure all of your contributions were well appreciated in Storrs. And I am very confident you feel very responsible for the emergence of Connecticut football  into national relevance over the past decade, too. After all, all the checks are signed with your name.


It's not like Edsall deserves any credit for anything.


Every school needs a Burton, at least money-wise. Even if the UConn program doesn't parallel those of Texas or Florida or Southern Cal, even the most minute versions of Phil Knight can pay dividends. But I don't recall Knight having the final say on the Chip Kelly hire when Oregon was looking for a head coach two years ago.


So if the most recognized booster in the game today isn't choosing coaches, what makes you think you have the right to? Former Terp and Under Armour C.E.O. Kevin Plank was likely campaigning for his friend Mike Leach to take over Maryland football, but A.D. Kevin Anderson opted for your boy Edsall. Did Plank go and take away the team's uniforms?


But you went ahead and took the low road, an illustration of your character. 


Take away the player's scholarships. Refuse to advertise with the program. Stop helping the business school; send your managers elsewhere. 


And while your at it, say goodbye to your luxury box. It's better off empty than with you sipping Mike's Hards on Saturdays.


You're upset because you were not consulted for the head coaching hire. Get over it. You are not an expect, despite what you think. I understand you were drafted by the N.F.L.. But if you haven't noticed, they no longer have 19 rounds; it's for a reason, Bob. 


Pasqualoni hasn't coached a down in Rentschler Field and already you're disgruntled. One of your kids played for the guy at Syracuse, and your other is a former Huskie. Congratulations, now your own sons probably think you're a jerk.


As you keep waiting for your $3M check in the mail, consider this: you have given over $7M to Connecticut. Knight had a new basketball court built for his school a few weeks ago...it cost $220 more than your donations. 


Being a booster does not automatically incorporate you into the school's brain trust. It simply means you are supporting the school, offering them financial assistance for them to succeed. 


You're not even a UConn grad; you went to Murray State. So why don't you bring your checkbook there. I hear their looking for someone to fill their booster, head coach and athletic director jobs. You sound like the guy for the job.




samspiegs@aol.com
Twitter: @samspiegs

Top Five Reasons You Do Not Want to See an N.F.L. Lockout

Have you seen a lot of these Tweets today? The N.F.L. Lockout website has launched a campaign for all of its fans and players alike to sign a petition to stop the potential work stoppage. 

The N.F.L. superstars and Twitter aces haves taken to their laptops and iPhones to get the message across.

The effort is understandable, but is this the best way to exhibit the sense of urgency this problem really calls for? 

An N.F.L. lockout would be detrimental to society. Men everywhere would be clueless to how to spend their weekends. Sunday would become merely just another day of the week, simply the day before we all head back to work Monday.

In a purely gratuitous effort, I have shed some light on the situation. Here are the top five reasons why the N.F.L., specifically its fans across the globe, cannot suffice if there is no football next season.  

5. You will lose weight

Of course this sounds excellent to fatties everywhere. No Sunday, no beers, no planting yourself on the coach from noon 'til midnight and unfortunately no more artichoke dip. You could find yourself so bored to the extent that hitting the weights or the stair-master is a more plausible option.

watchmojo.com

This is not 'The Biggest Loser' -- there is no Jillian Michaels on your tail making sure you live to see another day.

Better said, this is you losing your manhood. Sundays are meant for beer and wings, not celery sticks and Vitamin Water -- just ask Yao Ming. 

Soon enough your Sunday workout will turn into a social occasion between you and your new gym buddies -- you know, the guy with those goggles and the always-handy towel, wearing a sweatband around their crown and more often than not those old school headphones. 

It really makes you appreciate your beer belly now, doesn't it?

4. You may realize you are not on God's good side


Without football, there is no purer way to spend a Sunday by reverting to your inner Sunday School student and returning to the house that God built. No I'm not talking about Soldier Field; I mean church, dude. 


Let me be a messenger from up above -- God sees all, and he is aware that you are going to church just because you have lost your top priority on Sunday. And plain and simple he will not approve.


You can't just trade touchdowns for The Old Testament, blitzes for The Bible, play action passes for prayer. 


3. You will  become a better spouse/boyfriend


Again, I am sure this sounds wonderful -- falling in favor with your loved one and perhaps reaping all the benefits that come along with that.


But let me remind you, it is far from as fantastic as it may sound.

Getty Images

Consider this: going on regular trips to Bed, Bath and Beyond; starting up a lovely tomato garden in the backyard and becoming her foremost source on how well she looks in her pants suit.  


You used to love to watch your fantasy team rack up the points and talk smack to your brethren about how you knew Arian Foster would be the sleeper of 2010, or that your relentless pursuit of Peyton Hillis on the waiver wire was something you had planned to do all along and that is why you won your league.


Now you talk about how quickly your seeds are sprouting. You can't help but brag about how wonderful it is to get a delish salad and fruit daiquiri at The Cheesecake Factory. Oh, and those trips to the gym -- yeah, now your new workout buddy has become your girl.


Enjoy pilates bro.


2. You will begin to love bowling


Maybe you won't turn down the wrong path of exercise or a girls' day on the town. Perhaps sticking with the tube will remain your top options.


But with no Fox or CBS or NBC at nighttime, you'll fall in love with the ESPN's Sunday afternoon special -- the PBA Tour.


Before long, you can boast to your friends that you are now the foremost expert in everything bowling -- The master of the lanes, the king of the pins, the sultan of strikes.


If you're comfortable with that then so be it. 


1. Your son will follow in your wife's footsteps


You are no Troy Aikman, no Peyton Manning, not even an Eli Manning for that matter. But when it comes to your son, your offspring, you expect to be the one who molds them to be the athlete in your favorite quarterback's image.

nflgridirongab.com

How many hours have you spent watching the throwing motion of Brett Favre mumbling to yourself, "Man, I could do that."


Without the N.F.L. though, your son doesn't know who Favre or Manning is. They see you watch the P.B.A. Tour or plant damn tomatoes on Sundays. For goodness sake, they are begging to accompany you to the mall.


What kind of role model have you become, you monster.


Your son thinks your garden is bad ass, and he's asking for a pair of bowling gloves for Christmas. 


Now tell me this: do you really want to see the National Football League disappear? 




samspiegs@aol.com
Twitter: @samspiegs

It's Only Right N.Y. Jets Must Travel Through Pittsburgh to go to Super Bowl

Brady, Manning and Roethlisberger -- combined 32 playoff victories with Brady leading the way with 14 and Big Ben and Manning with nine apiece, and six Super Bowls in all.

The win was the second of a three-game series in the 2010-2011 N.F.L. season against A.F.C. East foe New England, the third in Mark Sanchez's two-year career. A little over a month earlier the Jets were embarrassed in their regular season series finale in Foxborough 45-3. But on this day, head coach Rex Ryan continued to live up to his defensive resume and stopped one of the all-time greats, Tom Brady.

www.worldcorrespondents.com

When the N.Y. Jets shocked the world Sunday evening by defeating the New England Patriots 28-21, it was Gang Green's all-time winningest post-season quarterback completing his fourth win in the N.F.L. playoffs, all of which have come on their opponents' turf. 




Eight days earlier, Sanchez and Co. traveled to Indianapolis to face off with Peyton Manning and the Colts. A win in Indy granted the Jets the right to play in today's divisional playoff game. 

AP

Now the Jets must once again pack up and hit the road, this time to familiar Heinz Field, better known as 'The Big Ketchup Bottle' to some. Coming off a second half comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers and their leader, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, look to even the series with New York after the Jets pulled off a road upset against them earlier this season.




Since H.B.O.'s Hard Knocks series, the Jets have anointed themselves Super Bowl champions. In order to live up to their own expectations though, they must travel the path through Pittsburgh and  a two-time winning quarterback. 


If the Jets want to proclaim themselves as 'the team to beat' so be it. Next week they will face a proven winner, yet again, this time for the right to march on the Super Bowl.


But like the Jets proved on this day, the past does not precipitate the future.


samspiegs@aol.com
Twitter: @samspiegs

New Jersey: We Got a Situation

In the latest installments of the Carmelo Anthony-to-the-Nets saga, reports have surfaced stating if the New Jersey Nets management doesn't keep their mouths shut then the trade talks will stop, and the Denver Nuggets will pursue  a trade with their Tri-state area rival New York.


Now that's a situation.


The first rule when you're in the Garden State is never threaten your Jersey Shore house-mates, I mean N.B.A. franchises. Do you think telling the Nets' multi-trillionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov to keep quiet or else will go over well with the Russian? Haven't you seen Rocky IV? Please.

NJ.com

The Nets are the second greatest thing in the state of New Jersey next to the shredded mid-section of Mike "The Situation." They will not be told what to do or what not to do. If they want to talk about a potential Melo blockbuster, they will. If they want to re-acquire Vince Carter from the Phoenix Suns, they will. If they want to change the name of their franchise to the Brooklyn New Yorkers, well, you know.


Regardless of how absurd the Nets' notion of how prominent they view themselves is, their relentless pursue to instate Anthony as the centerpiece of the team for years to come is simply unexplainable. It's more selfish than Vinny smooching with Snooki and then hooking up with her best friend Ryder in Season 2. It's more ridiculous than Sammi and Ronnie seizing the upstairs bedrooms and The Situation having to take on the role as the third wheel. For goodness sake, it's more senseless than the newest member of the crew Deena stripping down to nothing but a cowboy hat on her first night at the house.


That's why the Nets could never be  a member of M.V.P. (Mike, Vinny, Pauly D). They have no sense of planning head, working together or dodging grenades. They wouldn't last a single day doing a classic G.T.L. And this is why...


In examining the trade, here are the potential acquisitions, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

Aside from dropping the contracts of Johan Petro and Troy Murphy, the Nets are willing to part ways with Devin Harris, the main acquisition in the Jason Kidd-to-Dallas deal a few years ago, their big free agent signing during the strike out of an off-season Anthony Morrow and third overall draftee Derrick Favors, considered the top power forward in the most recent N.B.A. Draft.

That leaves Brooke Lopez and some cat named Kris Humphries on the team. Well, at least Kim Kardashian will still be a fan.

Essentially, the Nets are trading away half of their roster for a super-stud who does not want to be confined to the swamps of Jersey. The point guard of the future; gone. The power forward to build around; gone. Any chances of rounding out an adequate starting five; gone.

And any chances of adding more first-rounders -- of course, in like 2015.

There's rumors that Prokhorov and minority owner Jay-Z are confident that if they can trade for Melo, they can meet with him and convince him that being a Net (or a New Yorker, ironically) is ideal for his future in The Association.

KimKardashianVideo.org

Interesting.

Given Melo's long-time interest in joining the Knicks across town, it's hard to sell a team that has 10 wins gives him a better chance to win a championship than the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, and of course combine for yet another Big Three. 

Not only that, but I'm sure Anthony sees the Blue and Orange is a far superior team. Both the Knicks and Nets have some of the top Jewish ballers in the league, no disrespect to Omar Cassipi. But are you really going to pick Jordan Farmar over Amar'e Stoudemire?

By heading to Jersey, he's assuming the responsibility of revitalizing an entire franchise. In the Big Apple he's taking the place of Danilo Gallinari. And while no one wants to live up to the reputation of the Italian Stallion, I'm confident Melo is willing to take a stab at it.

And once again, going to Jersey immediately causes a situation. You've seen how quickly Angelina fell from grace at The Shore -- same goes for Sammi now. You don't want the league to suffer if Nets fans do the same with Anthony; do you?

samspiegs@aol.com

Twitter: @samspiegs

Ravens Harbaugh Talks Chiefs, Joe Flacco and Breaking Ben Roethlisberger's Nose

Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh covers it all during his weekly press conference, from the short week to winning the time of possession battle, including a comparison of his quarterback to Big Ben (Sam Spiegelman/Baltimore Sun).


 

Thank God For NBA All-Star Game Voting

The latest N.B.A. All-Star voting  projects the following the starting five: Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard for the Eastern Conference, against Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Yao Ming for the West.


Once again, the fans got it right.


There was no chance to oust Wade or King James from the top five in voting, both are in the top three in scoring on the most profiled team in the N.B.A. Meanwhile, Howard is tops in rebounding and Rondo leads the ways in assists. 


In the Wild Wild West, Bryant is well established in his starting guard role. Paul is enjoying the best defensive year with 25 more steals than the closest player, Monta Ellis. Then factor in that Durant is looking for a second consecutive scoring title at nearly 28 points per game, and Melo stands fourth in that same race. 


So what's the big fuss? Eight out of the top 10 players seem to have earned their spot in the big game in Los Angeles come February 21. The fans clearly know what's going on and who is deserving -- right?


Yeah they know who is leading in these statistical categories, but let me hit you with the "but." Notice who these players are -- Celtics, Heat and Lakers, with the overwhelming star power of Melo, Howard and CPIII. 


Can the little guys, (not in height, but name), get some love?


Not to overwhelm anybody with statistics, because numbers are just numbers in many cases, but look at some of the ballers on the outside looking in that are getting overlooked:

• Right behind Superman in the East, Al Horford has 18 double-doubles this season. The top five is rounded out behind his Hawks teammate Josh Smith, better known as J-Smooth, as well as N.Y. Knicks Amar'e Stoudemire and Raymond Felton.
  
• In that same category in the Western Conference, none of the top six are top vote-getters. Kevin Love is the league's leader by a distance 31 double-doubles, averaging 21 points and almost 16 boards a night. That's ridic.
  
• Blake Griffin, Pau Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Steve Nash follow Love in double-doubles. That's right -- a Clipper and Grizzlie are second and third, behind a first place Timberwolve, or Timberwolf? Well, at least no one is picking favorites.
  
• King James, better known as the Jester in Cleveland, is the most well-rounded player in the East in terms of points, rebounds and dimes. In the West, it's Love and Griffin No. 1 and 2 in that rank -- Love's average is actually better than LeBron's.
  
• And how about giving some boring teams some credit? Not actually boring, but considered dull to a national audience because of their superb fundamentals. Manu Ginobili and Richard Jefferson of the San Antonio Spurs, owners of the best record in the N.B.A., and Houston's Kevin Martin are second, third and fourth in three-pointers made this year. In the lead is Golden State Warriors' Dorell Wright, but I'm sure nobody outside of Lawrence or Oakland has even heard of that cat.

Not included in my stats were Stat and Felton, who people refuse to pay attention to because they do not believe in the Knicks. Stoudemire is second only to Durant in scoring in the league by just over a point, and almost single handedly has turned the Knicks from a conference bottom-dweller to a contender.

I say "almost single handedly" because of the other free agent acquisition N.Y. got this summer -- their new point guard. Felton is second only to Rondon is assists this season, who deservingly is the No. 1 vote-getter in All-Star votes. Yet Felton's 15 double-doubles rank first among Eastern Conference point guards. Take that, haters.

In the East, the blunder that stands out the most is The Big Ticket starting at forward. For one, he's injured, and if he's healthy come February's end you know his elderly legs will not allow him to play for more than the opening five minutes. 

I'm not saying Garnett's season -- 15 ppg and 9.5 rpg -- is not worthy of All-Star honors. Because this cat plays in Boston though, he is stealing the vote of obnoxious, ignoring Celtics fans that fail to realize there are lesser names elsewhere that are more deserving of the vote.

Garnett is a 13-time All-Star -- do you think he really cares at this point in his career? He'd prefer to get his mid-day nap and the early bird dinner special somewhere in Cambridge, Mass. than suit up for another All-Star shootout. 

In his place: 1. Amar'e Stoudemire 2. Josh Smith 3. Danny Granger

Getting to the West, listen to this bone I need to pick: Are fans just messing around by actually voting Yao Ming in at center for the game? Dude's been eating fried chicken and pounding brews for the last few months. Is Allen Iverson getting the nod, too?

Seriously...is China going bazerk on their Sony's and Toshiba's voting for their hometown boy? I understand the logic behind it, but they need to tune in at 4 a.m. or whatever time it is over their in Beijing and realize Yao isn't on the hardwood anymore. 

What's problematic in this situation is there is a scarcity of quality big men in the Western Conference. Sure, the East has Howard and Stoudemire, but the West is limited to a handful of true centers and a lot power forwards posing in that role.

Aside from abolishing Yao's eligibility to even play in the All-Star Game, open up the slot for the fans to vote for either a center or even a power forward into the starting five. 

Listen -- Yao would love nothing more than to enjoy his K.F.C. and Natty Light's and watch another cat take his spot in the game. 

In his place: 1. Kevin Love 2. Pau Gasol 3. Al Jefferson 

Harbaugh to Dolphins, Still Plans to Draft Luck

Did you think Jim Harbaugh would take his talents to the National Football League without his partner in crime Andrew Luck? Odds are you're wrong.


The highly tauted Harbaugh accepted the head coaching position with the Miami Dolphins today knowingly that this team puts him in the best position to select his former quarterback in the 2012 N.F.L. Draft. He noted all the weapons the team had in place was the right formula to completely fail in his first season in South Beach.


"What we have in [quarterback] Chad Henne -- I think we're going in the right direction," Harbaugh said in during his introductory press conference. "Between [Henne], all of our running backs planning to flee in free agency and the most under-performing wide receiving core in the league -- you can't pass that up. I'd be shocked if we scored seven points all year."


The 'Fins already set an impressive precedent with the 30th best scoring offense, better than all but two teams. When informed of the statistic, Harbaugh simply replied "Damn," adding, "That'll be tough to top."


Rumors swirled that both the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos also had interest in Harbaugh joining their respective staffs. 


In the Bay Area, the prospect of coaching a bruising back in Frank Gore and talented receivers in Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan and Vernon Davis proved to be too dangerous, according to those close to Harbaugh. Perhaps the offensive potential would solidify a mid-range draft pick, and even a playoff berth given the division. 


Despite Tim Tebow's presence in the Mile High city, the Broncos also were too risky of a team for Harbaugh to take a chance on. The roster featured the N.F.L.'s leading wide receiver, the always reliable Brandon Lloyd, and third-year bust Knowshon Moreno, who is living up to his first-round potential. Combine that with two young, talented wideouts in Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, who took Denver by storm with breakout rookie campaigns.


"That was something I considered, but I swear that's better than [Brian] Hartline," Harbaugh said.


Harbaugh opted for Miami after Luck announced his decision to remain at Stanford in order to finish out collegiate career and earn his degree in architecture. N.F.L. draft experts already have declared Luck the consensus No. 1 pick in next year's draft.


There is speculation, however, that the N.F.L. and the Dolphins have another challenger for compete Luck's talents in 2012. No, I am not talking about the Carolina Panthers who will be forced to ultimately start Jimmy Clausen in the coming season, or even Tennessee who has faith that Rusty Smith gives them the best option to win. In fact, neither of these teams who will rival the Dolphins 2011 aim for a winless season are the threat.


"The Home Depot is proud to announce that we will be involved in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes next spring when the talented builder gradates from Stanford," according to the press release the company made public late last evening."


"We are in the business of looking for the best builders in the nation. Luck has demonstrated he is a hard worker and has obviously shown he is passionate about the profession by electing to stay in school for another year. Luck brings exactly what we are looking for in our employees -- strength, delivery and strong vision to find customers in need."


The report also stated Luck's versatility on the field could easily translate into an employee in the aisles and at the register.


Harbaugh and co. cannot do much about the juggernaut The Depot vying for Luck's services, but has assured he will sure his Miami Dolphins will play to their unyielding potential. To this point, he has already anointed Henne a starter, letting everyone in South Beach he is all about business.






This article is satire. All quotes, sources and content are not real.

Baltimore Ravens Speak About NFL Playoffs, Kansas City Chiefs and the future of Jim Harbaugh

Ray Rice discusses his emerging role as a leader on the team, as well as a conversation with Ed Reed vs. the Bengals. He also discusses his first go-around in the playoffs.


 


Ravens cornerback Chris Carr discusses the team's expectations heading into the playoffs, defending wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and the Kansas City Chiefs offense and the chemistry of the Ravens' secondary



 




John Harbaugh discusses the veteran leadership on his team, the progress of playoff foe Kansas City and on his brother Jim Harbaugh's Orange Bowl victory


 

Terps Fans React to Randy Edsall Hiring as Maryland Football Head Coach

 

Terps React to Randy Edsall Hire as Head Coach

It wasn't Mike Leach. It wasn't Gus Malzahn. And to the dismay of the fans up in Ann Arbor, it wasn't even Rich Rodriguez. 


On Sunday, it was announced that Randy Edsall, the head coach of the Connecticut Huskies for the past 12 years, would assume the same position with the Maryland Terrapins. 


The vacancy at Maryland came after Athletic Director Kevin Anderson decided to buy out the remainder of Ralph Friedgen's contract, a move that was imminent after former offensive coordinator and coach-in-waiting James Franklin left to become the head coach at Vanderbilt. 


Perhaps no name was more linked to the Maryland gig than former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, largely due to the ties he has to former Terp and Under Armour founder Kevin Plank. Leach interviewed this week for the position, and it reportedly went well. 


The other candidate was Auburn offensive coordinator Guz Malzahn, who also interviewed for the job this week. Malzahn became a hot commodity on the coaching market for his work this year with Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, and was offered the head coaching job at Vanderbilt. 


Both Leach and Malzahn were considered favorites for the position based on what they could bring to the table. They are both offensive-minded coaches who could change the dynamic of the Terps offense. And if Anderson wanted to energize the fan base, he would have went in that direction. 


Instead, Anderson opted for a coach who turned UConn into a force in the Big East, capturing two conference championships in seven years since its inauguration. Most recently, Edsall's Huskies appeared in the Tostitos BCS Fiesta Bowl, losing convincingly at the hands of the Sooners. 


On Twitter today, there was a tremendous amount of backlash about the Edsall hire. Fans said he was not the flashy hire they expected the university to mark, nor did they consider it an upgrade over Friedgen. In fact, there were many who called for Friedgen to retain his job...as if.


One tweet that struck me was along the lines of 'Leach, Malzahn or fail" for Anderson. If we are going by those lines, consider this the ultimate blunder.


The Terps players, on the other hand, have shown a more optimistic approach to the hire. Here were some of the Tweets they sent following a team meeting called by Anderson tonight.

There was one plea, by Maryland cornerback Cameron Chism, that echoed many of the cries from Terp Nation -- to keep defensive coordinator Don Brown as defensive coordinator. Brown was the director behind the defense's turnaround, which he said all came together in his second season in College Park.

The other Tweet that struck was that of quarterback Danny O'Brien, the ACC's Rookie of the Year and the centerpiece of the Maryland offense for the next few years. O'Brien was rumored to be considering transferring to Vanderbilt after Friedgen's contract was bought out, and many thought his relationship with Franklin would help lure his talents to Knoxville.

And O'Brien is right. Despite the disappointment scattered throughout Terp Nation on this Sunday, it would be stupid to simply stop supporting the team. 

Edsall was not the guy we expected to become the head coach, nor was he the guy we wanted to be the head coach -- for the most part. But he is here, and if they players accept him then the fans should back him...if, of course, they want a successful football team.