By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 10:00 AM ET
The first round of the RP Playoffs has concluded and 5-seed Show-Me-Mules and 3-seed RP Tittles have advanced to the semi-finals. 4-seed The Dirty Diapers and 6-seed The Bungals will play for 5th place. The byes passed and this coming week we will see league leaders Team Unibrow and Targaryen 2012 get back in action.
In the Consolation bracket Augies squeaked by Quaker Country by the tiniest of margins, .12 points to be exact. On the opposite side of the spectrum Bandits absolutely crushed WOMBATS 122-59. This week Powerful Lobbyists and Fighting Mongooses will attempt to salvage their seasons with a Consolation victory.
Overall it was a good week to be a recovering politician as our fearless leader, Michael Steele, and Rod Jetton all advanced to the next round. Only two week left! Who you got?
By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Mon Dec 10, 2012 at 3:00 PM ET
The Politics of Pigskin
Sad news again this week when Cowboys’ Jerry Brown Jr, a practice squad LB, was killed in a car accident while a passenger with teammate Josh Brent, a defensive tackle. Brent has been charged with intoxicated manslaughter and has been released on $500,000 bail. [Yahoo! Sports]
Adrian Peterson is a wonder to behold. After offseason reconstructive knee surgery he is playing at a ridiculous level and is clearly the best running back in the NFL. He is so confident in his ability and his physical health that he wants to break the single-season rushing record this year – and he could. [LA Times]
We had a high profile coaching casuality today when the Ravens fired Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron. The move has to be based on the fact that even with a lot of talent on the offensive roster the Ravens only rank 18th in total offense. [NFL.com]
Check out this amazing catch by Krin Durham, someone who you probably didn’t know unless you were a Lions fan and maybe not even then! [.gif]
This Seahawks fan accurately predicted Seattle’s 58-0 win over Arizona Sunday night in the NFL.com comments section. [screenshot]
Here is your preview of what looks to be a fantastic Monday Night Football game: Houston v. New England. [ESPN]
By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Tue Dec 4, 2012 at 10:00 AM ET
The regular season is over and I would like to congratulate Team Unibrow, managed by the offspring of the RP himself, on finishing at the top of the league.
The playoffs have now started and all teams will play in either the championship bracket or the consolation bracket. In the Championship bracket Team Unibrow and Targaryen 2012 have byes and Fighting Mongooses and Powerful Lobbyists control the byes in the Consolation bracket. Stay tuned as the playoffs will continue for 3 weeks until a Champion is decided.
By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Mon Dec 3, 2012 at 3:03 PM ET
The Politics of Pigskin
On Saturday there was a tragedy in the NFL family when Kansas City LB Jovan Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend with whom he had a 3-month-old child before committing suicide by way of self-inflicted gunshot. It is reported that he spoke shortly with KC head coach Romeo Crennel and GM Scott Pioli in the the Chiefs parking lot before taking his life. [Kansas City Star]
Somberly moving on to game action from Sunday – 37-year-old Charlie Batch picked up a win over the rival Baltimore Ravens in what will probably be his last start as an NFL quarterback. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
You may not have noticed, but Adrian Peterson, who is coming off knee surgery, is dominating the competition. [screenshot]
On Sunday Tom Brady helped the Patriots lock up their 10th division title while he has been the starting QB. He has now passed Joe Montana for more division titles as a starting QB all time. [Boston Globe]
Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck continued this amazing year for rookie QBs as they both led their teams on game-winning drives in their respective 4th quarters. [NFL.com][NFL.com]
Things finally came to a head in New York and Mark Sanchez was benched. However, his replacement was not named Tebow. In fact, it was Greg McElroy. [ESPN]
By John Y. Brown III, on Wed Nov 28, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
The name we dare not speak….because we no longer care.
A few weeks ago, I was in a conversation about who is the greatest running back in NFL history. Names like Gayle Sayers, Walter Payton, and Earl Campbell came to mind as I tried to force away the inevitable name I didn’t want to mention.
And didn’t.
And was glad because the conversation then turned to sports heroes.
40 years ago this NFL season, on the last game of the season, a running back named OJ Simpson did the unthinkable. He rushed for over 2000 yards in one season–200 yards in the 14th and final game. I remember watching the entire game at age 9 entranced…watching football history being made. I have never considered any running back to be OJ Simpson’s equal since.
I’ll say it. OJ Simpson was my sports hero then.
He was in 1973–and perhaps still is today–the greatest ever to play the running back position.
But football is just a game. Games are important…I suppose we are all playing a game of some sort or another. Some construct of competition to make us and our world a little better…or maybe just to provide a reprieve, or form of entertainment, to others.
But in life, OJ, I believe, did something even more unthinkable. And sealed his fate and place in history. Not as one of the greatest athletes of our time but one of our most infamous criminals.
When I was 31 I watched the Bronco chase with even greater intensity than the famous 1973 Bills-Jets game. Few individuals who walk among us have risen higher or fallen farther than OJ Simpson. I don’t hate him. I don’t pity him. I don’t miss the old OJ. I’m not disappointed. I’m not even numb to Simpson and his life and legacy. I am oddly indifferent. Probably more as a defense mechanism because someone I admired so much for excellence in one area of his life disappointed so grievously in a much more important area of his life. And I’ll never be able to understand why. And now no longer even care that I won’t.
OJ has has traveled the bizarre trajectory of being the most celebrated athlete to the most hated alleged criminal to the most unspeakable public personality– to perhaps the most famous irrelevant person of our era (a poetically fitting punishment). And no one even knows how to talk about that.
And maybe there’s nothing else to say. But I thought I’d try. It’s glorious in many ways to go from mere mortal to famous society icon. OJ, for a brief time, was like a mythical god among us. It’s hard being famous, too, of course. But not as hard as going from famous icon back to mere mortal. That is a treacherous path, it seems.
Maybe the ultimate story of OJ Simpson isn’t that he failed to reach his potential greatness as an athlete. But rather that he failed so horribly at finding his way back to himself when it was his turn to leave the stage and return to being just an ordinary human being. In his case that treacherous journey appears to literally have killed a lovely young lady and destroyed her family. And figuratively killed OJ Simpson, both as an icon and human being.
Stoops, one of six children born to Ron and Evelyn “Dee Dee” Stoops, attended Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio, where his father was an assistant coach and defensive coordinator.[1][2]
Mark’s brother Mike was hired as the head coach of the Arizona Wildcats for the 2004 season. Mike then hired Mark as part of his staff.[10]
On December 11, 2009, Mark Stoops accepted the job to be defensive coordinator at The Florida State University.[11]
From Seminoles.com:
The Stoops File Birthdate: July 9, 1967 Hometown:Youngstown, OH High School: Cardinal Mooney College: Iowa Family: wife, Chantel; sons, Will and Zack Coaching Background
• Mark Stoops is in his 23rd season of coaching and his third year as Florida State’s defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Hired by Jimbo Fisher in January of 2010 to replace the venerable Mickey Andrews, Stoops came to FSU from Arizona, where he spent six seasons serving the Wildcats in the same capacity under his brother head coach Mike Stoops. He is also the brother of Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops.
• Stoops transformed Florida State’s defense into one of the nation’s best in 2011. FSU allowed its opponents to run for an average of just 2.35 yards per carry, which led the nation. The Seminoles ranked fourth nationally in total defense (275.0), second in rushing defense (82.69), fourth in scoring defense (15.1), eighth in tackles for loss (8.62) and tied for eighth in sacks (3.08 per game). His secondary ranked 20th in pass defense and 25th in pass efficiency defense. The Seminoles led the ACC in eight different defensive categories. Linebacker Nigel Bradham capped off his career leading the Seminoles in tackles for the third straight year – becoming the first Seminole since Marvin Jones to accomplish that feat. He ochestrated a defense that featured one of the deepest defensive line rotations highlighted by defensive ends Brandon Jenkins, Bjoern Werner and Cornellius Carradine who combined for 20.5 sacks, 31 tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hurries and nine pass breakups. The middle of the line featured stout tackles Everett Dawkins, Anthony McCloud and Freshman All-American Timmy Jernigan who combined for 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and a remarkable 80 tackles. With nine starters returning in 2012, the Seminole defense again figures to be among the nation’s best.
• Stoops is credited with overhauling the Seminoles’ defense in his first season as Florida State’s defensive coordinator in 2010. The `Noles yielded 19.6 points per game which was third best in the ACC and 20th in the nation. The Seminoles ranked 42nd nationally in total defense after ranking 108th in 2009 and ranked sixth in the ACC in 2010 after ranking last in the league in total defense in 2009. Florida State improved its overall defense by more than 80 total yards per game, mainly by limiting opponents to 75 less rushing yards per game. The Seminoles ranked third in the nation in quarterback sacks and 21st in tackles for loss led by second team All-American Brandon Jenkins who finished with 13.5 sacks (third-most in the ACC and sixth nationally) and 21.5 tackles for loss. FSU tied with Boise State for the national lead with 48 total sacks. In the secondary, he coached Xavier Rhodes to ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and National Defensive Freshman of the Year honors.
• Stoops was instrumental in turning Arizona into one of the finest defensive units in the Pac-10 during his six-year stint. Arizona ranked 25th nationally in total defense in 2009 and was ranked among the top three in the conference in five statistical categories as the Wildcats finished with a second consecutive 8-5 season.
• Stoops built an impressive resume by developing nationally elite units, especially in the secondary. Prior to his six-year run at Arizona, he spent three seasons at the University of Miami as the secondary coach. His 2002 and 2003 units led the nation in pass defense, while the 2001 Hurricanes – which won the national championship – led the nation in pass efficiency defense, scoring defense and turnover margin.
• He spent the 2000 season as co-defensive coordinator at Houston, following a three-year run at Wyoming as the secondary coach. His first full-time college job came in 1996 when he was hired by USF to help with the start-up of the program.
• A proponent of zone schemes, Stoops’ pass defenses have been especially proficient and extraordinary at takeaways. The 2001 Miami team established a single-season school record with 27 interceptions and 45 takeaways. Miami’s 2002 secondary tied an NCAA record by allowing just 9.5 yards per completion. The 2003 Hurricanes were second in total defense and fourth in scoring defense and pass efficiency defense. The 1997 Wyoming secondary contributed significantly to its school-record 24 interceptions.
• Stoops recruited and developed some of the finest defensive backs in the nation over the past decade, many of who have gone on to enjoy outstanding NFL careers. Among the notable are Arizona’s Antoine Cason and Michael Johnson, Miami’s Philip Buchanon, Kelly Jennings, Brandon Merriweather, Ed Reed, Antrel Rolle, Mike Rumph, Sean Taylor, and Wyoming’s Brian Lee.
• Like his brothers, Stoops played collegiately in the secondary at Iowa for Hall of Fame coach Hayden Fry. Fry hired Stoops as a graduate assistant for the 1990 and 1991 seasons. The Hawkeyes won the 1990 Big Ten title and played in the Rose Bowl; duplicating feats Stoops also achieved as a player during a four-year career.
• As a player and a coach, he has taken part in 12 bowls, including his first season at Florida State and both of his final two seasons at Arizona.
• Before launching his collegiate coaching career, Stoops followed in his father’s footsteps as a high school football coach. He spent four years at Ohio’s Nordonia Hills as an assistant and the school’s athletic director.
• Raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Stoops played high school football at Cardinal Mooney.
Stoops’ Coaching Ledger
Year
School
Position
W-L
Postseason
1990
Iowa
GA
8-4
Rose
1991
Iowa
GA
10-1-1
Holiday
1992
Nordonia Hills
DB
1993
Nordonia Hills
DB
1994
Nordonia Hills
DB
1995
Nordonia Hills
DB
1996
USF
DB
0-0
1997
Wyoming
DB
7-6
1998
Wyoming
DB
8-3
1999
Wyoming
DB
7-4
2000
Houston
CODC/DB
3-8
2001
Miami (Fla.)
DB
12-0
Rose
2002
Miami (Fla.)
DB
12-1
Fiesta
2003
Miami (Fla.)
DB
11-2
Orange
2004
Arizona
DC/DB
3-8
2005
Arizona
DC/DB
3-8
2006
Arizona
DC/DB
6-6
2007
Arizona
DC/DB
5-7
2008
Arizona
DC/DB
8-5
Las Vegas
2009
Arizona
DC/DB
8-5
Holiday
2010
Florida State
DC
10-4
Chick-fil-A
2011
Florida State
DC
9-4
Champs Sports
Read the rest of… Meet Mark Stoops, New University of Kentucky Football Coach
By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Tue Nov 27, 2012 at 10:00 AM ET
Parity has been the name of the game in the 2012 Recovering Politician Bowl. Bandits are making their long-awaited push towards relevancy with 3 wins in a row. On the other hand former league powers Quaker Country and your hero, The Fighting Mongooses, are reeling from 3 losses in a row.
With one game left in the fantasy season and with the top 6 teams at the end of the regular season entering the winner’s playoff bracket it is anyone’s game. Remember that the bottom 6 teams will compete in a loser’s bracket so there will still be a consolation prize to win.
By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Mon Nov 26, 2012 at 3:00 PM ET
The Politics of Pigskin
The Pittsburgh Steelers are really struggling without Ben Roethlisberger at the helm. [ESPN]
The Kansas City Chiefs are the first team to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. [NFL.com]
49er DE Aldon Smith is the fastest player in NFL history to reach 30 sacks. He did so in 27 games beating Reggie White’s previous record of 28 games. [Twitter]
Peyton Manning is playing like he didn’t miss a single game instead of sitting out a whole season due to multiple neck surgeries. [LA Times]
Watch out! The Snake might be on his way back. Jake Plummer reportedly wants to get back into the NFL. [NY Times]
Martellus Bennett is a pretty funny guy (on catching a kid falling from the stands): “I’m usually a ninja, but my Spidey-senses told me he was going to take a fall, so I saved his life.” [USA Today]
The Arizona Cardinals are the first team in NFL history to lose 7 games in a row after starting 4-0. [NFL.com]
By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Mon Nov 19, 2012 at 3:00 PM ET
The Politics of Pigskin
With a healthy Ben Roethlisberger it might have been a different outcome, but on Sunday night the Ravens beat the Steelers in one of the NFL’s premiere rivalries. [ESPN]
Lots of QB accomplishments on Sunday – RG III managed to pick up an impressive perfect QB rating (158.3) on Sunday. [Sports Grid]
“Matt Ryan: 0 TD, 5 INT. He’s the 1st QB with 0 TD, 5 INT in a win since Bart Starr, 1967 Packers!” [Twitter]
On Sunday, Matt Shaub tied Warren Moon for the 2nd most passing yards in a game all time with 527. [Pro Football Reference]
Here is a wrap-up of Sunday’s action by the always great Peter King. Don’t miss his response to Chris Kluwe in “Things I Think.” [SI]
