Rules are in place for a reason. To create order and prevent chaos. To right a wrong that’s been in place for so long. That was the reason the NFL implemented the “Rooney Rule” as it’s called today. It was established in 2003 and named after Steelers owner Dan Rooney (pictured left) to help with the hiring of minority candidates being interviewed for head coaching and front office positions. It is not to force teams to hire minority candidates, but to get their names in fold for the positions.

The stats don’t lie. In 2003 there were only two minority head coaches. Tony Dungy (Colts) and Herman Edwards (Jets). As of today there are now six. There is a lot of speculation as to whether the rule should still be around or if it should be expanded. Many feel it is doing enough to satisfy its intention. I’m one to believe that the rule is doing good, but at the same time, it seems there are quite a few teams breaking this rule.

Now this year is not the first year the rule has been broken. In the rules first year, the Detroit Lions were fined 200,000 dollars for not interviewing a minority candidate when they hired Steve Mariucci. This year the Washington Redskins, who before firing Jim Zorn, interviewed assistant Jerry Gray for the head coaching position to satisfy the rule. Soon after, Zorn was fired and Mike Shanahan was hired. Does that satisfy the rule? No and no. Later on, the Seattle Seahawks fired Jim Mora Jr. and immediately it was reported they were after Pete Carroll of USC. Before they announced they had Carroll, they went to Minnesota to interview the Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Frazier appeared to have no chance at the job, but they did interview him. Does that satisfy the rule? Yes and no.

To explain the Redskins case, to interview an assistant before you fire the head coach is pretty bad. To do it only to prevent the NFL from coming down on you for not interviewing a minority candidate is worse. They knew they pretty much had a deal in place with Shanahan, but according to the rule they did interview a minority candidate. The Seahawks knew who they wanted, but they interviewed someone from another team. They get more of a break here, but they still acted as if it was an inconvenience to interview Frazier.

With all that is said about the rule and what teams do to either comply or avoid it, the rule does need to stay. To say that it needs to be expanded is ludicrous. The only way you can expand it is by making the interview process longer and more obvious than it already is. It would either force teams to interview a certain number of minority candidates or you must hire a minority candidate. To get rid of it would do a disservice to the idea that there are other names out there that are just as good as the prominent ones. I’m not referring to race, but coaching ability. It’s to help the minority candidate, but it really helps everyone. The coordinators on offense and defense are stepping stones for a head coaching position in the NFL no matter race.

When you get interviewed and that GM/Owner thinks you did a good job, even if your not hired they will tell their friends and they will tell their friends and so on. People in management positions will hire those for which they know most of the time. If they don’t know you, but were told by others they know of your skills, they will consider hiring you. It’s not what you know, but who you know. That is said in today’s job world constantly. The rule is here to stay, but it must be closely watched by the league when cases like Washington and Seattle use it in their favor to try and avoid scrutiny.

NY Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Breakdown: The only difference in this game is that instead of playing in New York, they are playing in Cincinnati. That and the week before doesn’t matter now. The Bengals had nothing to play for even though the Bengals played most of their starters. The Jets do have statistically the best rushing and total defense in the NFL. Stats don’t always help you get to the Super Bowl though. The Bengals will have a fresh Cedric Benson. The home crowd in their favor. The Jets do have that swagger that was missing in the middle part of the season. However it won’t help with a rookie quarterback in Mark Sanchez. Don’t get me wrong he is gonna be good, just not this year. The Bengals don’t have all the momentum, but they do have enough weapons and a good defense to offset the Jets statistical advantages. Bengals win a close one.

Matchup to watch for: Chad Ochocinco Bengals WR vs. Darrelle Revis Jets CB

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys

Breakdown: This is what Cowboys fans have been waiting for. A winnable playoff game. Not to say the Eagles won’t show up, but as much as I hate to say it, the Cowboys have looked pretty good. Quarterback Tony Romo has been phenomenal. He is being given all the credit for their December success as he should. I think more should be awarded to the defense. They beat the Saints in New Orleans and shut out the Redskins and Eagles to finish the season. Not an easy thing considering their history in December. The Eagles are a much younger team than their many predecessors. Andy Reid has his work cut out for him to figure out the Cowboys attack after being shut out last week. Quarterback Donovan McNabb needs to not rush the offense in a pass happy scheme. Running the ball will help you win more than trying to shoot it out with the Dallas offense. Alas it will be too much for the Eagles which were in striking distance of a first round bye. Cowboys win in a shoot out.

Matchup to watch for: Donovan McNabb Eagles QB vs. DeMarcus Ware Cowboys LB

Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots

Breakdown: Baltimore couldn’t be happier with how the playoff seeding ended up. They get another shot at the Patriots. They met earlier in the year in New England that many would consider a one sided affair. Not by the score, but by the way the game was officiated. It was the most blatant attempt by the NFL’s referees to protect one of the games premiere players, Tom Brady. The Ravens could care less this time around. It will be a different crew and a different mind set. They will look to play smash mouth football. The Patriots will be without leading receiver Wes Welker, who went down with a knee injury last week. The Ravens will look to exploit that with constant pressure and double teams of opposite receiver Randy Moss. The Patriots will have a lot to prove most of all on the defensive side. Whether or not they make a run at the Super Bowl will run heavily on the defense. If the Ravens score more than 20 points, the Patriots could be in trouble. Ravens win in a brawl.

Matchup to watch for: Ray Rice Ravens RB vs. New England front seven

Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals

Breakdown: The Packers are the hottest team in the NFC entering the playoffs. They won 7 of their last 8 games to clinch one of two wild card spots. Like with the the first playoff matchups this weekend, this one was played the week before. Can we take anything from it? No. Will the result be the same? No. Are these the same teams? Yes. Aside from Matt Leinart playing for Kurt Warner, these are the same teams playing each other. The result was disastrous for the Cardinals, who have played horribly at home this year. The Cardinals are in even more trouble with an injury to one of their wide receivers Anquan Boldin. The Packers know this of course and will double if not triple team Larry Fitzgerald and force Warner to rely on someone else. The Arizona run game, which has been slumbering all year needs to have a big game against a Packers defense that constantly attacks until the whistle blows. The Packers are just as frightening for the Cardinals on the offensive side. Aaron Rodgers is looking to continue his hot streak against a struggling Arizona defense. The Packers win in a blowout.

Matchup to watch for: Charles Woodson Packers CB vs. Larry Fitzgerald Cardinals WR

The NFL season is officially over. The playoffs will begin in a few days and we will have a new champion to crown. The defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers are not in the playoffs. They are the sixth Super Bowl winner that didn’t make the playoffs the following season. There were many great stories this year and many disappointing teams that didn’t live up to their potential. Either way it was a great season. Aside from the embarrassing showing of a few teams in the last two weeks, uhhem…the Colts…cough, cough. To go off topic for a second, how do you bench everyone when your winning in Week 16 and keep them out there in a blizzard to pad some stats in Week 17? If you have the answer please let me know. I haven’t been on the radio for almost a month, so I had to get that out. I give you the ones worthy of personal hardware for the 2009 NFL season.

Awards

MVP: Peyton Manning Colts
4,500 Passing yards, 33 TD’s Record 14-2

I know. I just criticized them, but it wasn’t his decision to sit. I’m sure of it. His body language told me all I needed to know. However, it can’t be denied how important he is to this team. Just look what happens when you put someone else out there. It doesn’t even have to be Curtis Painter (Who?). The Colts are not the same without Manning. Eight of their wins were come from behind wins. Yes, eight. Remember the Monday night game against the Dolphins. The Sunday night game against the Patriots. Granted Belichick helped, but Manning still had to get the Colts the go ahead score. Also the Thursday night game at Jacksonville to go 14-0. A classic shootout that showed there is no one that can stop the Colts when Manning is on his game. Do I really have to keep going? I could you know.

Defensive Player of the Year: Charles Woodson Packers
74 Tackles, 9 INT, 3 TD’s Record 11-5

I originally had Darren Sharper of the Saints as the Defensive Player of the Year. That was when there was still 4-6 weeks left in the season. In that time Woodson really took off. Literally, he and the Packers defense were winning games not Aaron Rodgers and the offense. Winning 7 of their last 8 games to storm into the playoffs as a Wild Card representative. That is thanks in large part to the defense. Woodson no longer has the speed, but is a crafty veteran who knows how to read the quarterback and jump the receivers route. That helps especially when the starter opposite him, Al Harris, went down with a knee injury just when the streak started. Funny how great players show up when they’re needed most.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin Vikings
60 Rec., 790 yards, 6 TD’s Record 12-4

Harvin is and will always be the steal of the 2009 draft. Everyone knew the potential of him when he was entering the draft. They were all afraid of the stability of his foot. Well, it looks fine to me. He ran all over defenses this year with impressive numbers for a rookie wide receiver. He also ran two kickoffs for touchdowns. Running the ball was a cinch racking up 135 yards on 15 attempts this year. He turned out to be the best performer in a class that had two rookie quarterbacks playing from the start and a slew of running backs that didn’t separate themselves from the pack.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Brian Cushing Texans
134 Tackles, 5 Sacks, 4 INT Record 9-7

Yes, he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year today, but I would’ve given it to him regardless. He led all rookies in tackles. Was third in sacks and second in interceptions. The USC linebacker was the best of the trio in the draft, but Clay Matthews and Rey Maualuga were just as important to their teams success as Cushing. The Texans did miss the playoffs, but Cushing, Ryans and Williams will be the backbone of that defense for years to come.

Coach of the Year: Marvin Lewis Bengals
Record 10-6

Again, who thought the Bengals would win all their division games? Marvin ceases to amaze me. When it looks like he has lost all control of the team and franchise for that matter, he manages to turn it around. He has a great offense that didn’t live up to expectations for the most part. However, he turned around that defense with the help of coordinator Mike Zimmer who dealt with personal tragedy in the middle of the season. The entire team had to deal with more tragedy with the death of wide receiver Chris Henry. They rallied to make the playoffs for only the second time in 19 years. Amazing indeed. If the Bengals can win one or two playoff games, Marvin will have another three years to work with in Cincinnati.

Stay tuned for the NFL Wild Card Preview later in the week.

Super Bowl XLII NY Giants vs. New England February 3, 2008

Even though no one wanted to admit (I did) that they wanted to see the Patriots go undefeated. You had wanted to see someone other than the ’72 Dolphins be the only team to finish a season undefeated. Popping champagne every time the last undefeated team loses and not that they all did it, but Mercury Morris in particular acted like if someone did it now, it wouldn’t be as special as theirs. Oh really Merc. Last I checked 19-0 was better than 17-0. How could you rationalize that your undefeated season was better than another if it happened?

You got a pre-cursor to this Super Bowl in the last week of the regular season. Both the Giants and Patriots were asked if they would be resting their starters. The Giants had nothing to play for. Their spot in the playoffs was already etched in stone. The Patriots were not hiding the fact that they were going for the perfect season. Both went after each other for the best game of the regular season that went in favor of the Patriots 38-35. A perfect 16-0 regular season. They still needed to win three more games to be considered the best team of all time. 19-0 was the goal for the Patriots.

The Giants went through the playoffs winning all three of their games on the road. At Tampa Bay, Dallas & Green Bay. Pretty formidable venues when it’s playoff time. They were underdogs in every single game mind you. No one even gave them a fighters chance when they got to Phoenix to play the Patriots in the Super Bowl. When wide receiver Plaxico Burress predicted victory and the score of 23-17 in favor of the Giants. The sports world was shocked. Normally predictions before a Super Bowl by a player is a sign of a blowout. Or that player who made the prediction will have his worst game ever. Well, not really.

Defense was the name, not offense for this matchup. When they first met, it was a race to the finish line with both offenses scoring 35 or more points. Your halftime score was 7-3 in favor of the Patriots. A lone rushing TD by Laurence Maroney of the Patriots was the only scoring in sight. Tom Brady was getting pressure from the Giants defensive line, which the Giants hardly blitzed the entire game. Four man front was all they needed to get pressure on the quarterback. David Tyree caught the Giants first TD pass from Eli Manning to start the fourth quarter. Brady and the Pats would answer with a TD pass to his favorite or one of his favorite targets wide receiver Randy Moss for a 6 yard connection that took up over five minutes in the fourth.

Just over two and a half minutes left for Eli to get the Giants the victory. Down 14-10, Manning was connecting to anyone and everyone that was wearing a Giants uniform. The moment came when it seemed Eli was going to be sacked, but wiggled his way out of the pocket and threw a prayer that was answered by David Tyree (pictured above). Safety Rodney Harrison who will soon be in the Hall of Fame normally makes plays on the ball, but failed to get away from Tyree’s head. Soon after Eli found Plaxico who made true on his prediction of victory catching the winning touchdown. 17-14 Giants pull off the greatest upset in Super Bowl history. Yes, bigger than Super Bowl 3 Jets vs. Colts. Perfection no more as the Patriots finish short of it. The Giants came close in Week 17, but perfected their game plan when it mattered.