...NFL toe stubbing issues... Opening salvo's:
Keeping with the standards and policies of secrecy akin to the Mason's, the league released their compensatory picks upon teams this week. No one is sure how you can take 15 subjective factors and ever dream to land anywhere close to a logical and level parity. One thing is for sure, the system has been so bashed by the brethren that it serves that even sniffing a 3rd round compensatory pick is akin to water walking from your fishing boat for your friends.
Having said that, I leap down from my soap box to tell you this weeks "Toe" is all about some of the intangibles associated with the NFL. Some team mantra's some league ones, but all the wonderful quirky things that a corporation called the NFL allows to transpire. Things that one would think the league would want to monitor and regulate as much as its players spiking the ball on the 20.
They said it....
"Enough, is Enough" Roger Goddel opening statement at the owners meetings
Breaking fabrication:
Revenue sharing agreement reached...... the puzzling factor from the agreement......?, that the following small market teams in an effort to remain financially competetive have adopted the policy of jersey/logo sharing. Figuring one line of uniform and merchandising shared amongst the 5 smallest markets would be a more cost effective way to do business and give them big city parity.
Out lawed phrases of the week:
"Voluntary work out no shows" - to quote Edgerrin James, "I may not have finished college but I think I know what Voluntary means"
Heart of the Matter:
Look I am a football fan, so I am all for the season lasting 365 but that is not at issue. What is at issue is teams making up conditioning schedules under the guise of being "voluntary" yet chastizing players who don't show up for those "voluntary" work out sessions. They are just doing an end run around the labor agreement, yet Upshaw didn't care to raise a flag about it.
You know what else miffs my muffins? Uniform and logo changes happening as often as underwear rotation in some mens closets. I understand that is all stuff that belongs to each individual owner, but has anyone stopped to think that it does effect league image? Why can they just make the GOD awfulest jersey changes and the league stays out of it? There needs to be a uniform approval committee owners must fly their designs past. The Bears in road cone orange, same with the Dolphins, the Lions in black, since when was black part of their 3 colors (blue-white gray)? same can be said for the Eagles....wtf happened to the chargers? the white patch around the lightning bolt that is an improvement? are you daft man? the roller derby vikes, bills, Broncos, cards and titans, pick a damn color, if you are not sure it IS NOT alright to make your jersey ALL the colors you were considering just pick one. From a distance it looks like Nascar on foot.
Crunked Says:
" I can't wait for the Colts new stadium in 08, because to keep with league trends we will need a new quilt designed jersey I am looking at our Amish community for inspiration here, maybe basic black honoring the Amish carriage will be our alternate jersey color we no more have black than does Detroit or Philly so why not? I just know it won't be anything shiny, for some reason they don't like shiny objects....."
The best-the worst-the ugliest of the week
Best
The plethera of uninformed football fans around the league, you know who I am laughing at here: the guy who posts "Why did they let so and so go, we are doomed" guy. Hey maybe you are one of them.....
Worst
The pretend-get tough policy by the owners on off field issues. Here is an idea, hold high profile atheletes to the same standards of punishment the common man gets....that would be too easy.
Ugliest As you might have already guessed its a uniform thing that is going down as the Ugliest thing this week, I have about 16 teams to choose from, but how about this, I will knock the referee's uni's, different material for them? Totally a good idea, but changing up the stripes? Why? Can they not be seen as an official? maybe they could borrow someones road cone orange jerseys to improve visibility, this ain't the National Versace League, but its getting closer.
As you might have already guessed its a uniform thing that is going down as the Ugliest thing this week, I have about 16 teams to choose from, but how about this, I will knock the referee's uni's, different material for them? Totally a good idea, but changing up the stripes? Why? Can they not be seen as an official? maybe they could borrow someones road cone orange jerseys to improve visibility, this ain't the National Versace League, but its getting closer.