| 15 September 2009
#10 - Eric Mangini Not Declaring his Starting QB
This guy continues to look like a fool more and more each day. I don't know if he's trying to replicate Bill Belichick's demeanor, but not declaring the starting QB was just dumb. In this day and age, everyone knew the information was going to come out immediately and it's not like we can't see who's taking first string reps in practice. Was it really much of a secret that Brady Quinn was going to be the starter? I think most people knew that last year. I guess he's secret didn't pay off because the Browns got trounced by the Vikings and Brady didn't look amazing.
#9 - Giants Letting in a Fake FG Touchdown
Now everybody can get fooled by a trick play once in awhile, but when you have a defense as solid as the Giants it really shouldn't happen like this. Not only did the completely fall for the on purpose whiff of a kick, but they let Hunter Smith easily run into the end zone for a rushing TD late in the first half. It can happen to anyone, but it shouldn't happen to the Giants.
#8 - Donovan McNabb Breaking a Rib
Congratulations to Donovan McNabb. After having a 21 point lead and easily destroying the Carolina Panthers the entire game, you decide you have to get that rushing TD and slam into a couple defenders and break a rib. Not the brightest move when your backup quarterback is Kevin Kolb. Not only did you break a rib, you got Jeff Garcia signed, Hank Baskett on the trading block, and Philly fans hoping for Mike Vick to be the starting QB in week 3. You're a genius!
#7 - Al Michaels Announcing
This guy is an utter moron in the booth. Not only does he not know what is going on most of the time and misspeaks many of the players' names, but he keeps on telling coaches who have no more challenges to try and challenge the play. Numerous times on the Thursday night game and the Sunday night game that he was telling coaches to challenge when it was under two minutes in either half and Lovie Smith used both his challenges and he kept bringing up that he was surprised Lovie didn't challenge this play, or this play, or this play. Can't we just use a John Madden holograph in the booth and have Frank Caliendo just announcing it in the Madden voice the whole time?
#6 - Hines Ward Fumble
Hines is lucky that the Steelers got the ball back in OT and won the game because he looked like a complete screwup at the end of regulation on Thursday night. After making a nice catch and gaining extra yardage, he just had to keep struggling and needed to go for the unnecessary touchdown late in the game and ended up getting the ball stripped. He really should've known that the smart play would've been to go to the grass anyway so that they could burn the remaining time off the clock, kick the field goal, and get the win.
#5 - Charlie Weis Playcalling
The Irish had the win in their pockets until Charlie Weis decided to bring about his brilliant play calling. I guess this offensive genius who took back over play calling duties this year forgot about time management. The Irish had the ball with 2:20 remaining and basically needed Michigan to burn all their timeouts and the game would be extremely hard for Michigan to win with a TD or at best they would have to try a tough FG to tie the game. Instead, Chuck decided to run for a nice first down, get Michigan to waste one timeout, and then decided to throw for three incomplete passes, punt the ball, and have Michigan drive down the field for a win. I'm so amazed how bad coaches are at time managment at times. It's a shame for the players.
#4 - The Bengals Safeties
The Broncos got a fluke play to win the game over the Bengals when every person on the Bengals secondary decided to try to lay out Brandon Marshall on the hail mary bomb. They got more than they bargained for though as Leon Hall went for hit and deflected the ball right into Brandon Stokely's hands who then ran for an 87-yard touchdown run while also pulling off the Madden move to burn clock at the end of the game. The first rule of any safety is never to let the last receiver past you. They let Stokely past them.
#3 - The Bears Long Snapper
It was one of the oddest plays of the weekend when Chicago Bears long snapper, Patrick Mannelly, decided it was smart to call an audible on a punt attempt when it was 4th and 12 and snap it directly to Garrett Wolfe who ran it for about 5 yards. I guess the Bears thought there were twelve guys on the field and wanted to try and get a free play. I don't know why you'd try running the ball if the Bears had twelve guys lined up on the line of scrimmage though. Either way, the play was a dud and the Packers scored a touchdown after the Bears fell for a play action on 3rd and 1 and Aaron Rodgers bombed a pass up to Greg Jennings for the go ahead score. Jay Cutler threw four interceptions so he's an idiot as well.
#2 - The Carolina Panthers Organization
After witnessing Jake Delhomme totally combust in the playoffs last year by throwing five interceptions, the brains behind the team decided to not only keep Delhomme, but to also give him a new 5 year contract worth $45 million. In his first game back from the miserable playoff experience, Delhomme picked up where he left off by going 7/17 for 73 yards. He actually had four more completions, but those were to the Eagles defense. He also decided to fumble the ball over as well before he got booed off the field and backup Luke McCown came in and got injured. Third stringer Matt Moore got his chance to shine and he threw a pick as well. The only thing smart you could do this season is to make sure Delhomme is thrown in on a package trade deal if you have to get rid of Julius Peppers.
#1 Leodis McKelvin's Fumble
Honorable Mention: Jacksonville Jaguars Wildcat formation in attempt to get the two-point conversion to tie the game. Dan Ryan of UCONN for committing a holding call in the end zone to give UNC a safety and a two point victory with a 1:30 left in the game. Jim Tressell for playing so conservative that he just kept giving the ball back to USC to have chances and chances to win the game. They did.
