The Stankoniforous Files

There were two dunks today that were just mean. They weren't in the NBA either, but in college.

Johnny Flynn, Syracuse's diminutive point guard, skied on some kid.



Johnny Flynn dunks on Mike Rosario


Gerald Henderson, lanky forward from Duke, caught a sick lob.

What happened to the Arizona Cardinals?  27-7 with a little more than 2 mins. left in the half?  Really! 

What more can be said about Fitz?  He is beasting the Panthers secondary right now, 6 catches, 151 yards and a TD.  He is abusing it so badly someone needs to call a hotline.  Imagine with Anquan Boldin was in the lineup?  Then there wouldn't be anyone to double team. 

The Cards D?  Three turnovers?  Honestly, what planet are we on right now. 

Steve Smith has 0 first half receptions.  As in none, nada, zip, cero, and nol'. 

The Panthers' D is starting the reach the point of being on the field too long. 

Think the Cardinals heard about West Coast teams not being able to win in the East? 

The Cards get the ball to start the 2nd half as well.

This post will be split between the halves.  Not to be premature but is this game over?  If the Cards advance, keep doubtin them because that is their fuel right now. 

Second half adjustments: 

Panthers:

1. Double team Fitz!  Make it blatant or not but do it. 
2. Don't force the ball to Steve Smith. 
   
3. Stay committed to the run.  The game isn't out of reach yet. 
   

Cardinals:

1. Don't force the ball to Fitz!  Utilize everyone in the formation. 
   
2. Firm up the O-line.  Warner has been harrassed a few times.
3. Stay committed to stopping the run!  It makes the Panthers one dimensional. 
   
4. Stay loose.  All the pressure is on the Panthers.  

More coming later.

---

2nd Half

Steve Smith so far: 1 grab for 35 yards. 

The Cards have forced a 4th miscount 6th (5 off INTs, 2 in the red zone) turnover. 

Start of the 4th quarter, 30-7. 

Some questions: where does this leave Matt Leinart?  Does he get his job back?

Final 33-13. The first time the Cards have been to a Conference Championship game.

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AP Photo/Wade Payne

The Ravens have advanced to the AFC Championship game and await the winner of the Chargers-Steelers.  The Ravens are indeed looking like the team no one wants to play in the playoffs.  In 2 games, they have forced 7 turnovers, with 0 turnovers committed.  That D is mean. 

Game insights

• The Titans got the memo on Ed Reed.  Alot of the routes were slants or comebacks.  They did not go deep. 
• Flacco is now officially Joe Cool.  This kid looked like he was gonna fall asleep in some of the biggest stages of the game.  First rook to win 2 NFL playoff games. 
• Ball security, gentlemen, ball security.  Put the top on the pot. 
  
• Being the #1 seed may not be that good of a thing anymore.  Momentum is hot, a week layoff is not. 
  
• Justin Gage (Mizzou player, boooo!) had a huge day.  At least 9 grabs for over a 100 yards.
• The red zone is for scoring not for turnovers.   
  

It feels eerily similar to the Ravens' Super Bowl Championship run. 

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This is the debate in the NBA. LBJ or KB? There have been good discussions namely, here.

I have to wade in here. For the longest, I was convinced that Bryant was the best player in the NBA. Kobe's will was stronger (he is strong in the Force), but after watching LBJ dismantle the Celtics tonight my vote is LBJ. Part of the mystique with James is his body size. He could literally play linebacker or defensive end in the NFL right now. He is listed at 6'8", 250 (prolly closer to 275). How do you slow down a linebacker on a fast break? That's a question NBA coaches are still trying to answer. Taking the charge? He has enough body control to avoid it.

The next problem is his vision and passing ability. Someone that big should not be able to feel and see people like he does. It has morphed into as important a weapon as his physical skills. Doubling LBJ leaves open someone that James can pass to.

I wont' continue because this has been a recurrent discussion. What say you, Sports Nation?

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  AP Photo/J. Pat Carter

What a good game, but it creates the nightmare scenario that Stank-0 mentioned.  There is a chance that there is a split national title. 

Percy Harvin was a beast (171 yards, TD).  He got quicksilver speed. 

This marks FLA 2nd BCS title in three seasons.  It also marks OU's 5th consecutive BCS bowl loss. 

OU was at their best when they went no-huddle, but the OU D couldn't stop the FLA offense. 

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This is a first for the Dismissed series.  An inductee has gotten his membership revoked.  As expected, Mangini was given another shot which he should have been. 

If anyone can give the Browns a puncher's chance of turning it around, it's Mangenius.  Here's to high hopes in Cleveland. 

UPDATE!:  Lightning has struck twice!  Lane Kiffin was hired to replace Phillip Fulmer.  Lane's father, Monte, left Tampa Bay to join him in Knoxville. 

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Remember the story about the BC head coach whom would be fired for interviewing?  Well, it happened, and Jagodzinski is out. 

Stank-0 heard another blogger hit this one on the head.  BC is only in football conversations because of Jagodzinski.  He brought Matt Ryan to the world, and now he gets canned? 

BC will be s**tted on through karma.  Stank-0 won't feel one iota of sympathy when it happens.  To the AD, who out there is better than the man you just fired?  Very very very very...very few NFL OC's or DC's will be willing to step down and take that job so what exactly is your next move? 

Sports Nation, who was wrong here Jagodzinski for hiring anyway or the AD for threatening to fire him? 

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George Gojkovich/Getty Images
Adam Jones may have squandered his last chance in the NFL.  This is the last time you will see him in a Cowboys uni and maybe any uni for any NFL team. 

So word on the street is that there was another incident involving Mr. Jones. 

The June 2007 shooting occurred outside a suburban Atlanta strip club.
One of the shooting victims told "Outside the Lines" that he had a
dispute with Jones inside the strip club and that not long after he and
the two others left the club, a hail of bullets struck their car. The
NFL knew about that incident, but charges were never brought against
anyone because the victims did not see the shooter.

"Outside the Lines" obtained information that police, investigating a
separate Atlanta-area case, had been told by an informant that Jones
ordered the June 2007 shooting following his dispute with one of the
men. Police have said while the case remains open they are not actively
investigating.

Stank-0 is all about allowing some leeway to players but this is it.  Adam, you do not deserve to be in the NFL.  Let's hope you kept that TNA connect cause no one else in the L is gonna put up with you. 

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The BCS absolutely is pulling for #1 Oklahoma to prevail against #2 Florida.  You want to know why?  Because a FLA win will create a split national title.  Let Stank-0 explain. 

Anything less than an OK win allows several 1-loss teams to claim the AP title.  USC humbled Penn State and Texas just got past Ohio State.  Both of those teams could make legitimate claims to the AP title. 

So the BCS absolutely needs OU to win the National Championship game.  What say you sports nation, OU or FLA?

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No, not Ed Reed, but James Harrison.  Stank-0 thinks that Ed Reed was robbed!

The linebacker, who had a career-high 16 sacks to set a team record
and led the NFL with a career-high seven forced fumbles, beat Dallas' DeMarcus Ware
in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters announced Monday. Pittsburgh was the league's stingiest in total defense, pass defense and points allowed. Harrison was its main hammer.

"That's something that everybody in the league would love to have, to be voted the top player in the league for that year," Harrison said. "In my mind, I think I do -- and it's going to sound boring -- what the defense allows me to do and what my teammates allow me to do."

So, because he was on the league's stingiest D, he's Defensive Player of the Year? 

Harrison earned 22 votes to 13 for Ware.

Baltimore safety Ed Reed, the 2004 winner, got eight votes. Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth had five and Harrison's teammate, safety Troy Polamalu, got two.

"It couldn't happen to a better guy," Steelers veteran receiver Hines Ward said. "He's worked his tail off to get to where he is. You appreciate it more, considering where he came from and how he got here."

This is a throw away year, Peyton, the default MVP and Harrison, the wrong pick for Defensive Player of the Year.  Um, Ed Reed has so many INT TD's that Stank-0 thought he was on return duty.  Look, Stank-0 saw what Harrison did to the Patriots.  He singlehandedly took the game over.  He was the guy who took the Patriots' heart out while it was still beating. 

What say you, Sports Nation?  Was Harrison the right pick?

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This was the smartest move the Miami Wildcats could have made.  Tuna isn't goin anywhere.  To the Huizenga a Mulligan!  If it ain't broke...

Executive vice president of football operations Bill Parcells will
return to Miami next season and not exercise an escape clause in his
contract, team owner H. Wayne Huizenga said on Sunday.

Even if the ownership changes the front office will not.  Nothing gets a team on track like a stable front office. 

In other news, Matt Cassel likely isn't goin anywhere next year. 

Sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that the Patriots
will use a franchise tag on Cassel that will give the team two options:
Trade him if all goes well with Tom Brady's rehabilitation from a knee injury or keep him because all is not well with Brady.

That would mean the Patriots would have about $29 million in salary
cap space tied up in two quarterbacks, with Brady earning almost $15
million and Cassel guaranteed over $14 million.

However, the cap jumps to $123 million per team, which gives the Patriots $94 million to manage the rest of their roster.

That's an awful lot of money to have tied up.  This is a good move by the Patriots front office.  If Brady comes back, dump Cassel.  If not, keep him. 

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Icon SMI

This is strange.  The BC head coach will be fired if he interviews for the Jet's vacancy.  If this happens he will become the latest Dismissed inductee.  Allow Stank-0 to give some unsolicited advice to DeFilippo, BC's AD.  This will not end will because he will call your bluff. 

Despite the threat from athletic director Gene DeFilippo,
Jagodzinski plans to do the interview with the Jets, the sources said.
Those sources said that in the event Jagodzinski is fired, BC would
promote offensive coordinator Steve Logan to head coach.

According to the sources, DeFilippo first told
Jagodzinski on Saturday that he would fired if he interviewed and then
reinforced the school's position Sunday. Jagodzinski declined to
comment when reached by ESPN.

Instead of bluster, how about a contract extension?  Get his money up and he might be more willing to stay.  Try it.  You never know it might work.  Now, he will force your hand and you will be looking for a coach. 

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Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The man holding the football is the likely 2008-2009 Defensive Player of the Year, Ed Reed. 
The same D that has carried the Ravens all year powered them past the Miami Wildcats.  It wasn't pretty but D travels well.  Chad, son don't hang your head you played your @ss off to remind the Jets why they shouldn't have sent you packin. 

There were other games but none of them were remotely interesting.  Bolts-Colts?  Been there done that.  Cards-Falcons,  grizzled vet against a fresh faced kid.  Womp womp.  Iggles-Vikes?  Contain Purple Jesus, ball game.  Mission accomplished.  Let's move on. 

UPDATE!:  It seems that Stank-0 isn't the only one taken with Reed. 

I'm starting to think that Ed
Reed is the best defensive secondary player since Deion Sanders. I
really can't think of anyone who makes more "plays" than Primetime
himself.

[Shout out to Ed the Sports Fan]

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