Wolf
100% Texan
In the first game of today's NFL doubleheader, half of the Super Bowl pairing will shake out in what figures to be a terrific regular-season rematch as the powerful Indianapolis Colts take on those upstart Houston Texans.
Gary Kubiak's team, remember, almost beat Indy twice, but Mr. Unreliable Kris Brown missed a 42-yard field goal as time expired in a 20-17 loss, and Houston blew a 13-point halftime lead in the second meeting ...
Oh, wait.
Matt Schaub and three teammates are playing in next Sunday's Pro Bowl, and the rest of the Houston team, well, they're already working on their backswings.
Peyton Manning and friends are facing the New York Jets, not the Texans. The Jets arrived at this point in part because the Jets played and beat a largely disinterested Colts team in Game 15.
And that's a glaring problem the NFL needs to correct.
Of course, the Texans have their own mistakes to correct like Brown, that running game, etc.
this is crazy.
http://www.statesman.com/sports/pro...-honest-in-late-192725.html?cxtype=rss_sportsThe league cannot fine teams for resting their starters for the upcoming playoffs, but it can and should load incentives onto these regular-season finales to make it hard for playoff-bound teams to not try their hardest and play their best to win these games.
Cash bonuses won't work. Neither would trips to Disneyland. Roger Goodell probably can't offer inducements like a chance to become full-time host of "Tonight Show" on NBC.
The only reasonable solution is draft picks. Big-time, change-the-franchise draft picks.
If a team goes 16-0, award it the first pick of the next draft. You know, the one before the Lions and Rams every year. Had the Colts won, they might be prepared to pick Ndamukong Suh this April.
If a team goes 15-1, award it a supplemental pick at the end of the first round. That equates to the first pick of the second round. Last year that was safety Louis Delmas, who only started all but one game for the Lions, made 94 tackles and returned one of his two interceptions 101 yards for a touchdown. In other words, an impact player.
Even if a team goes 14-2, give it an extra pick at the end of the second round. Last year that pick produced Shonn Greene. You might notice him in today's Jets-Colts game. You know, the one the Texans should be playing in instead.