Where 6-10 feels better than 8-8
Jan
5
Written by:
1/5/2012 10:47 PM
As the 2011 NFL Regular Season ended on Sunday night January 1, 2012, there were a lot of emotions flowing at that time. On one hand, My Dallas Cowboys had just lost what was essentially a playoff game at the New York Giants, ending the season at 8-8. On the other hand, you have the Carolina Panthers, also suffering a loss at the New Orleans Saints to end their season at 6-10. How can a team that finishes a season two games worse than another feel better about themselves? The answer is Expectations.
“There were two ways to be happy: improve your reality, or lower your expectations” Jodi Picoult. Maybe I along with all Dallas Cowboys fans should take this quote into the 2012 season. Many prognosticators had the All-Star Philadelphia Eagles winning the NFC East and the Dallas Cowboys and/or New York Giants battling for second place. All three of these teams had enormous expectations on them this season and only the Giants have lived up to them.
The 2011 Carolina Panthers had a rookie Quarterback in Cam Newton that many, self included, were not certain could make it in the NFL at that position. Many people had projected this team to finish with a 4-12 record, but to not be much better than last season. This team found a lot in Cam Newton, a reinvigorated Steve Smith and an exciting offense that many around the League took notice of. The team finished with a 6-10 record, but the excitement level and a belief in the future is something that has been missing from around this team for several seasons.
Now one thing that the Panthers will have in common with the Cowboys is expectations. People will have enormous expectations for both teams in 2012. Both teams seem to have found their franchise quarterbacks, pretty sound on offense, and most of the questions for both teams are on the defensive side of the ball. It will be very interesting to see what moves are made by both teams to improve their defenses. The Panthers have said they want to build thru the draft and maybe sprinkle a free agent or two in. The Cowboys have never been afraid to make a big splash, but hopefully if they go that roué, that splash performs and doesn’t sink.
OTHER RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM THE WORLD
· I I saw a first on Tuesday. South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery was ejected from the Capital One Bowl game for fighting, yet still won the award of MVP of the game. This goes against every sportsmanship video I have ever seen at a sporting event. How can the sponsor, Capital One, approve giving the award to someone that was ejected from the event? Great example for all the kids watching the game Monday.
·
The ACC is now 2-13 in BCS Games. West Virginia, currently from the Big East, has 3 BCS victories themselves. I am an ACC supporter, but this is utterly embarrassing. The ACC puts a lot of players into the NFL, yet there doesn’t seem to be a season where the ACC gets respect as a conference, and these performances in BCS games show why.
·
ACC Basketball may not be much better this year than ACC football. UNC, Duke and Virginia appear to be the Top 3 teams, and there appears to be a large drop off after that. NC State appears to be improving and may be on par with Virginia Tech, but the rest of the conference doesn’t appear to be that good. We will learn a lot more over the next 75 days of conference and ACC Tournament Play.
·
Charles Barkley should do more games for TNT. Watching & Listening to Charles along side of Reggie Miller and Kevin Harland is great. TNT needs to get him doing more games, as his candidness is very refreshing.
·
NFL Playoffs start this weekend. My predictions are we should expect to see New Orleans playing Baltimore in Indianapolis. Green Bay and New England are the other two teams I expect to see playing in the Conference Final games.
·
Happy New Years to everyone !!