In a week where Cincinnati Bengals’ LB Vontaze Burfict made headlines for mixing in some submission holds with his tackles against the Carolina Panthers last Sunday, I thought it would be nice to draw attention to another item I saw this week which received slightly less attention.
A radio show host Tampa, a former Bucs’ player who doesn’t deserve to have his name appear in my column, criticized current Buccaneer Gerald McCoy for his habit of helping opposing players up after plays. McCoy’s response impressed me. Rather than going on an angry tirade against the former player, or taking to Twitter to make some ill-considered comment, McCoy defended himself by focusing the attention… on himself. Here’s McCoy, saying it as well as it can be said:
“If people really pay attention, then you would also notice that when someone on the opposing team gets hurt, most of time there’s one person who walks on the field and says a prayer, and that’s me… That’s who I am and that’s who I’m going to be. If you don’t like it, get over it. I’m going to help people up because I’m a good sportsman and because football is temporary; sports is temporary. People have families and kids, wives. And 10 years down the line … what about that guy who you’re so concerned about how hard he’s going and he can’t play with his kids because he’s out there killing himself? That’s what I’m concerned about.’’
I was particularly struck by, “… football is temporary; sports is temporary…” McCoy’s candor and self-awareness is extraordinary, particularly in the world of pro sports, where too often the win-at-all-costs ethos dominates. I may not be a fan of the Buccaneers, but I definitely just became a Gerald McCoy fan.
Sunday
Falcons at Ravens
After teasing a resurgence by beating up on a couple of bad teams, Atlanta has reverted to last season’s form and looks terrible, especially on defence. This is particularly bad news, since Baltimore’s passing offence is playing especially well. Winner: Ravens
Titans at Washington
Tennessee barely held off Jacksonville at home last week, and now must go on the road to face a Washington team that at times flirts with competency. Winner: Washington
Seahawks at Rams
Seattle is going through a bit of a rough patch now, particularly with some injuries to key personnel on defence. The Seahawks’ offence has underperformed in recent weeks as well, but should be able to get itself on track against a Rams defence that has been unable to mount anything resembling a decent pass rush yet this season. Rams’ QB Austin Davis should make things interesting though. Winner: Seahawks
Browns at Jaguars
The Browns didn’t just beat Pittsburgh last week, they hammered them, and are starting to look more and more like playoff contenders. Contenders win the games they’re supposed to win, and, let’s face it, if your opponent is Jacksonville, you’re supposed to win. Winner: Browns
Bengals at Colts
Whither the Bengals’ once stout defence? Since Cincy’s bye, they’ve given up a total of 80 points in two games. Do they miss Mike Zimmer that much? In the context of the back-to-back terrible performances, Burfict’s UFC-esque antics against Carolina smack of desperation. It’s a good thing for the Bengals that their offence has been playing extremely well, because they’ll need to win in a shootout against Andrew Luck at home. Should be a fun one to watch. I like Luck in shootouts. Winner: Colts
Vikings at Bills
Detroit’s pass rush made life miserable for the Vikes’ Teddy Bridgewater last week. Buffalo’s defensive front might not be quite as good as the Lions’ but it’s still good enough to pressure the rookie QB into another sub-par performance. Kyle Orton and the Buffalo offence need only keep things steady and simple to take this one. Then it’s off to lululemon to re-enact the “burning of Sal’s Famous” scene from Do The Right Thing. Winner: Bills
Dolphins at Bears
Miami certainly has the pass rush to give Jay Cutler all he can handle on Sunday, but there’s too much talent on this Chicago offence for the Dolphins to handle. Winner: Bears
Saints at Lions
Fans expecting to see a much better version of the Saints than the one that barely beat the Buccaneers in OT before the bye were no doubt startled by recent talk regarding Jimmy Graham’s shoulder injury and its concomitant threat to his availability and/or effectiveness. The Saints have struggled, and are facing a buzzsaw Detroit defence. The Lions’ offence, itself in a bit of a rut, should be able to regain some of its lustre against a bad Saints defence. Winner: Lions
Panthers at Packers
Green Bay’s defence has had big trouble when trying to contain mobile QBs, and boy, was Cam Newton mobile against Cincinnati last week. I’d be more inclined to pick Carolina but for the fact that its defence hasn’t been anything to write home about lately. Aaron Rodgers is in top form, and he should be able to easily match anything that Cam can conjure. Winner: Packers
Chiefs at Chargers
San Diego survived a spirited effort by the Raiders last week, but held on for a narrow victory. The Chargers’ offence, complete with its lacklustre rushing game, will have a tough task this week, trying to solve a KC defence that can get after the passer with great effectiveness. I like the Chiefs to give the Chargers a good game, but it’s hard to bet against Philip Rivers when he’s playing this well. Winner: Chargers
Cardinals at Raiders
Wouldn’t it be cool if Oakland could build upon its performance against San Diego last week and beat the visiting Cards? I like Derek Carr, but I think he struggles against Arizona’s secondary. Carr will have to wait a bit longer for his first victory. Winner: Cardinals
Giants at Cowboys
Well, Dallas did it; they beat Seattle, just like I knew they would. The Cowboys are riding high now, 5-1, playing better than just about anyone could have predicted. Meanwhile, the Giants are coming off one of the most demoralizing defeats in recent memory, getting drubbed by Philadelphia, and losing Victor Cruz for the season in a particularly gruesome fashion. Taken all together, this looks like an easy pick. At least, that’s what I thought. (What?) I don’t know what it is, but I have a weird feeling about this one. Heading into last week’s contest in Philadelphia, the Giants were doing a lot of talking, making their shutout loss even more humiliating. According to some of the Giants players, Tom Coughlin called the players out over their trash-talking on Monday, which comes as no surprise to me, considering Coughlin’s no-nonsense, team-first attitude. There are few, if any coaches in the NFL that I respect more than Coughlin. In the past, I’ve written off the Giants several times, much to my own humiliation. Coughlin reminds me of some wise elder who has mystical powers. Coughlin no doubt knows that Tony Romo skips a day of practice to rest his back, that DeMarco Murray missed a practice due to illness this week, and that LB Rolando McClain has missed at least two practices this week. Coughlin also knows that the Cowboys are feeling pretty good about themselves right about now, and that they are playing in front of a home crowd that expects nothing less than total annihilation of the Giants. What else does Coughlin know? Who knows. I just know that this game has “It’s a trap!” written all over it. Winner: Giants
49ers at Broncos
I still say that San Fran is lucky, but that luck isn’t going to help them this week against this improved Denver defence. I would not be the least bit surprised to see the Broncos blow these guys out. Seriously. Winner: Broncos
Monday Night
Texans at Steelers
After getting pummelled by Cleveland last week, I expect Pittsburgh to play really hard this week. Still, I think that JJ Watt has a huge game playing on the big stage of Monday Night Football, and the Texans steal a close one. Winner: Texans
Mr. Silver's Picks:
Falcons
Washington
Seahawks
Browns
Bengals
Bills
Dolphins
Saints
Packers
Chargers
Cardinals
Giants
Broncos
Steelers
A radio show host Tampa, a former Bucs’ player who doesn’t deserve to have his name appear in my column, criticized current Buccaneer Gerald McCoy for his habit of helping opposing players up after plays. McCoy’s response impressed me. Rather than going on an angry tirade against the former player, or taking to Twitter to make some ill-considered comment, McCoy defended himself by focusing the attention… on himself. Here’s McCoy, saying it as well as it can be said:
“If people really pay attention, then you would also notice that when someone on the opposing team gets hurt, most of time there’s one person who walks on the field and says a prayer, and that’s me… That’s who I am and that’s who I’m going to be. If you don’t like it, get over it. I’m going to help people up because I’m a good sportsman and because football is temporary; sports is temporary. People have families and kids, wives. And 10 years down the line … what about that guy who you’re so concerned about how hard he’s going and he can’t play with his kids because he’s out there killing himself? That’s what I’m concerned about.’’
I was particularly struck by, “… football is temporary; sports is temporary…” McCoy’s candor and self-awareness is extraordinary, particularly in the world of pro sports, where too often the win-at-all-costs ethos dominates. I may not be a fan of the Buccaneers, but I definitely just became a Gerald McCoy fan.
Sunday
Falcons at Ravens
After teasing a resurgence by beating up on a couple of bad teams, Atlanta has reverted to last season’s form and looks terrible, especially on defence. This is particularly bad news, since Baltimore’s passing offence is playing especially well. Winner: Ravens
Titans at Washington
Tennessee barely held off Jacksonville at home last week, and now must go on the road to face a Washington team that at times flirts with competency. Winner: Washington
Seahawks at Rams
Seattle is going through a bit of a rough patch now, particularly with some injuries to key personnel on defence. The Seahawks’ offence has underperformed in recent weeks as well, but should be able to get itself on track against a Rams defence that has been unable to mount anything resembling a decent pass rush yet this season. Rams’ QB Austin Davis should make things interesting though. Winner: Seahawks
Browns at Jaguars
The Browns didn’t just beat Pittsburgh last week, they hammered them, and are starting to look more and more like playoff contenders. Contenders win the games they’re supposed to win, and, let’s face it, if your opponent is Jacksonville, you’re supposed to win. Winner: Browns
Bengals at Colts
Whither the Bengals’ once stout defence? Since Cincy’s bye, they’ve given up a total of 80 points in two games. Do they miss Mike Zimmer that much? In the context of the back-to-back terrible performances, Burfict’s UFC-esque antics against Carolina smack of desperation. It’s a good thing for the Bengals that their offence has been playing extremely well, because they’ll need to win in a shootout against Andrew Luck at home. Should be a fun one to watch. I like Luck in shootouts. Winner: Colts
Vikings at Bills
Detroit’s pass rush made life miserable for the Vikes’ Teddy Bridgewater last week. Buffalo’s defensive front might not be quite as good as the Lions’ but it’s still good enough to pressure the rookie QB into another sub-par performance. Kyle Orton and the Buffalo offence need only keep things steady and simple to take this one. Then it’s off to lululemon to re-enact the “burning of Sal’s Famous” scene from Do The Right Thing. Winner: Bills
Dolphins at Bears
Miami certainly has the pass rush to give Jay Cutler all he can handle on Sunday, but there’s too much talent on this Chicago offence for the Dolphins to handle. Winner: Bears
Saints at Lions
Fans expecting to see a much better version of the Saints than the one that barely beat the Buccaneers in OT before the bye were no doubt startled by recent talk regarding Jimmy Graham’s shoulder injury and its concomitant threat to his availability and/or effectiveness. The Saints have struggled, and are facing a buzzsaw Detroit defence. The Lions’ offence, itself in a bit of a rut, should be able to regain some of its lustre against a bad Saints defence. Winner: Lions
Panthers at Packers
Green Bay’s defence has had big trouble when trying to contain mobile QBs, and boy, was Cam Newton mobile against Cincinnati last week. I’d be more inclined to pick Carolina but for the fact that its defence hasn’t been anything to write home about lately. Aaron Rodgers is in top form, and he should be able to easily match anything that Cam can conjure. Winner: Packers
Chiefs at Chargers
San Diego survived a spirited effort by the Raiders last week, but held on for a narrow victory. The Chargers’ offence, complete with its lacklustre rushing game, will have a tough task this week, trying to solve a KC defence that can get after the passer with great effectiveness. I like the Chiefs to give the Chargers a good game, but it’s hard to bet against Philip Rivers when he’s playing this well. Winner: Chargers
Cardinals at Raiders
Wouldn’t it be cool if Oakland could build upon its performance against San Diego last week and beat the visiting Cards? I like Derek Carr, but I think he struggles against Arizona’s secondary. Carr will have to wait a bit longer for his first victory. Winner: Cardinals
Giants at Cowboys
Well, Dallas did it; they beat Seattle, just like I knew they would. The Cowboys are riding high now, 5-1, playing better than just about anyone could have predicted. Meanwhile, the Giants are coming off one of the most demoralizing defeats in recent memory, getting drubbed by Philadelphia, and losing Victor Cruz for the season in a particularly gruesome fashion. Taken all together, this looks like an easy pick. At least, that’s what I thought. (What?) I don’t know what it is, but I have a weird feeling about this one. Heading into last week’s contest in Philadelphia, the Giants were doing a lot of talking, making their shutout loss even more humiliating. According to some of the Giants players, Tom Coughlin called the players out over their trash-talking on Monday, which comes as no surprise to me, considering Coughlin’s no-nonsense, team-first attitude. There are few, if any coaches in the NFL that I respect more than Coughlin. In the past, I’ve written off the Giants several times, much to my own humiliation. Coughlin reminds me of some wise elder who has mystical powers. Coughlin no doubt knows that Tony Romo skips a day of practice to rest his back, that DeMarco Murray missed a practice due to illness this week, and that LB Rolando McClain has missed at least two practices this week. Coughlin also knows that the Cowboys are feeling pretty good about themselves right about now, and that they are playing in front of a home crowd that expects nothing less than total annihilation of the Giants. What else does Coughlin know? Who knows. I just know that this game has “It’s a trap!” written all over it. Winner: Giants
49ers at Broncos
I still say that San Fran is lucky, but that luck isn’t going to help them this week against this improved Denver defence. I would not be the least bit surprised to see the Broncos blow these guys out. Seriously. Winner: Broncos
Monday Night
Texans at Steelers
After getting pummelled by Cleveland last week, I expect Pittsburgh to play really hard this week. Still, I think that JJ Watt has a huge game playing on the big stage of Monday Night Football, and the Texans steal a close one. Winner: Texans
Mr. Silver's Picks:
Falcons
Washington
Seahawks
Browns
Bengals
Bills
Dolphins
Saints
Packers
Chargers
Cardinals
Giants
Broncos
Steelers
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