Rick’s Rant

Rick’s Rant

by Richard Rogers

I’ve got a lot to get off of my chest, so every now and again, I take time to vent about all things NFL. So here it goes

Excessive Celebrations

First of all, I am a believer in limits to in-game celebrations in the NFL.  This ain’t wrasslin’, and I don’t want the game to be turned into more of a spectacle than it already is.  I have no problems with reasonable individual celebrations after a touchdown.  I thought Zeke Elliott’s leap into the giant red Salvation Army bucket was cute. Joe Horn pulling a “sharpie” out of his sock and signing the football after his touchdown was creative. But there are limits. For the life of me, I cannot understand why the NFL disallows a jump shot through the goalposts after a touchdown, but allows a player to spin the football on the ground after catching a 5 yard out for a first down.  That drives me CRAZY!  It’s stupid and makes ZERO sense.

Cam Newton can take selfies on the sidelines during the games, but Josh Norman can’t have a simulated bow and arrow out of the field of play.  Hopefully, the NFL will come to their senses with this.  If you score a touchdown, dance, wiggle, jump, run, flip; do all those things in the moment.  Don’t let it go too long, and don’t direct it at an individual player. Problem solved.

Hall of Fame

Why are players, who are Hall of Fame worthy, told that they “have to wait”?  You also hear, “it’s (insert name here’s) turn”.  If they belong in the Hall, put them in the Hall!  Why do they have to wait until after their dead or too old to get to Canton!  I won’t even go on my Joe Jacoby or Brian Mitchell rant. I’ll just say this, there’s no way in hell Don Coryell shouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he was 4-6 in the playoffs, but he should be in for his impact on the game alone.  His coaching tree is impeccable, with the great Joe Gibbs as one of his disciples.

You mean to tell me Terrell Davis couldn’t wait a little bit longer, if you’re going to play the “wait game”?  But here’s one thing I do know, if you get a job at the NFL network, you have a GREAT shot of getting into the Hall of Fame, because the main game day analysts and color guys are in.

Second Chances

People can be hypocritical.  Much has been made of Joe Mixon and the incident where he punched a woman in the face in a bar. There are questions about where, or even if he should be drafted. I loathe men hitting women, or any form of domestic abuse for that matter. But get a grip people.  Tyrek Hill of the Kansas City Chiefs punched his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach and choked her, yet I didn’t hear any Chiefs fans booing and jeering him on his way to the end zone. Ben Roethlisberger will be in the Hall of Fame. Ray Lewis is in the Hall of Fame. OJ Simpson is STILL in the Hall of Fame.  My point is, despite our moral soapboxes, professional sports is all about winning. I’m not suggesting there isn’t a threshold of where morality begins and fandom ends, I’m saying let’s not get too high and mighty.  Winning has typically been the ultimate pardon. If my beloved Washington Redskins drafted Joe Mixon, I wouldn’t bat an eye. If he’s not in jail or awaiting trial, and he’s eligible for employment, then I’d welcome him with open arms.

Rant over. Rick out.