Brady, Pats, treat Ravens like patsies!

I know the Baltimore Ravens have been an up-and-down roller-coaster ride of a team all season long after winning last season’s Super Bowl title, but I’m still surprised at the ease with which Tom Brady and the New England Patriots laid the smack down on Baltimore in what was a virtual must-win game for the defending champs.

The Pats treated the inconsistent Ravens like an afterthought in their emphatic 41-7 Week 16 blowout, leaving no doubt in my mind that the Ravens rare nothing more than mere patsies this season whether they reach the postseason or not. 

Harbaugh right about Patriots titles!

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh
says New England's Super Bowl titles are tainted.

I’m sick and tired of people from all walks of life, letting their true feelings be known – only to try and take it all back once they receive a wave of negative public backlash.

Such is the case with Baltimore Ravens head cach John Harbaugh, who came out last week and said the New England Patriots’ three Super Bowl titles are “tainted” because of their infamous Spygate scandal that came to light back in 2007.

The sad part in all of this is the fact that Harbaugh apparently feels pressured into taking back what he said about the Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick – even though he is 100 percent spot on with his comments about how the Pats are viewed in the court of public opinion.

Harbaugh made his comments in an interview on a Baltimore radio station.

"In the end, everything is brought before the light of day, when it's all said and done," Harbaugh said on "98 Rock" in Baltimore. "What happens, even the thing in New England, no matter whether those things had any impact on whether they won their championships or not, they got asterisks now. It's been stained.

"To me, it's never worth it. You have to figure out ways to use the rules to your advantage; you have to figure out ways to make the most of everything. We have new work rules here as far as what we can do and what we can't do with our players, and we're going to make the most of it. What we're finding is, 'Man, maybe we can do some things even better than we did before, because these rules make us focus more on some things that we didn't focus on before.' You just have to make them work for you. That's what success is in the world. You have to find a way to do things better than somebody else. But if you're cheating, in the end, you're going to get discredited. It's not worth it."

Later that day, Harbaugh tried to clean up his comments in a statement released by the Ravens.

"While on the 98 Rock show this morning to talk about the run to honor O.J. Brigance and raise funds for ALS research, I answered a question about playing within the rules and referred to the perception that the Super Bowl championships won by the Patriots and Saints have a stain. My reference was to the perception out there that came as the result of the league's actions," Harbaugh said in the statement.

"I could have been more clear that I was referring to those viewpoints. I totally believe that the Patriot and Saint coaches and players earned those championships. Bill [Belichick] and Sean [Payton] both know that."

Nice try John, but the fact of the matter is that most NFL fans, that aren’t loyal followers of the Patriots, already believe every single word you said – even though they didn’t have to be said.

Like I’ve always said since the incident took place five years ago, just think, ‘the Patriots won all three of their Super Bowl titles by an identical three points. If they gained an advantage for even one play because of their ability to ‘know’ the play or plays their opponents were going to run, then their cheating ways worked like a charm.

I see no need for anyone to bite their tongue on this issue. It’s pretty clear to me that John Harbaugh is right … no matter what transpires for the Patriots, Tom  Brady and Bill Belichick from here on out, their three Super Bowl titles will always be viewed with a ton of skepticism because of the events surrounding Spygate – and in the end, maybe that’s just what Belichick and the Pats deserve…an ‘unwritten’ asterisk next to their league titles.

Manning to Broncos doesn’t ensure anything!

Baltimore middle linebacker Ray Lewis.

Maybe it’s me Eye On Sports NFL football lovers, but I’m just not a huge believer that Peyton Manning is instantly going to turn the Denver Broncos into a legitimate Super Bowl title contender.

Yes, I know that playing in the mediocre AFC West will give him a chance to lead Denver to a division title and playoff berth every season, but I say it still doesn’t guarantee the Broncos much of anything – mostly because they’ll be trying to get past a trio of ‘better’ teams in New England, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu.

Besides, the aforementioned trio I also expect Houston and Cincinnati to be better than the Broncos moving forward into the next couple of seasons, with both teams having excellent defenses and very solid quarterbacks.

Hell, you also never know what the AFC West is going to bring each season – as Kansas City, San Diego and Oakland are all teams that could challenge for the division title.

While Peyton Manning signing with the Denver Broncos does make them a lot better on offense than they were a year ago, it certainly doesn’t ensure them of winning the AFC or a Super Bowl title. As a matter of fact, I believe Denver will be hard-pressed to win the AFC each and every season Manning remains with the Broncos.

It’s a Brees … but not for screwed-up Saints

The New Orleans Saints need to sign 

franchise quarterback Drew Brees 

to a long-term deal - immediately.

You know Eye On Sports NFL fans, some things in life are so simple that they require absolutely no thinking whatsoever.

Of course, I always say that sports mirrors everyday life in myriad facets and one of the age-old truths is that, when you have a true, Hall of Fame-caliber superstar that is equally as phenomenal off the playing field as on it, that you give him whatever he wants to remain the face of your franchise until he decides to call it quits.

Having said that pro football followers, it’s clear that the New Orleans Saints are absolutely ludicrous – and no – I’m not talking about their insane bounty-laden locker room.

I’m talking about the fact that the Saints want to keep pinching pennies when it comes to paying franchise-quarterback Drew Brees what he rightfully deserves.

When it comes to NFL quarterbacks, Brees is easily one of the top three signal-callers in the game today, joining the ranks of Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady as the game’s best triumvirate. Paying Brees an average of what Brady and soon-to-be-former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning make, is an absolute no-brainer, that the Saints should have taken care of a long time ago.

Now, they’ve used their franchise tag on Brees and he will make an average of about $16 million per season if he signs the deal. If not, he will hold out fr more money – and money I say he rightfully deserves after leading the formerly sad-sack franchise to its first Super Bowl title just a couple of years ago.

Now, in addition to having a mountain of bounty-related issues swirling about, the Saints have angered their team and community leader – and that was just ludicrous of GM Mickey Loomis and owner Tom Benson.

If the Saints don’t win more than eight or nine games in 2012, then don’t be surprised!

Love Him or Loathe Him – Eli Manning’s Elite!

Love him or loathe him,
you've got to admit that Eli Manning is elite.

Has everyone had enough of the ‘Is Eli Manning elite’ talk by now? I know I have – and besides – I thought it was pretty clear that Manning was elite – before he even won his most recent Super Bowl title.

Before Manning collected his second championship trophy this past Sunday, only 10 quarterbacks in league history had managed to win more than one Super Bowl – and now Manning joins that elite group – not just today’s class of elite quarterbacks.

With the win, Manning joined Bart Starr, Bob Griese, Roger Staubach, John Elway, Jim Plunkett and  Ben Roethlisberger as two-time Super Bowl winning quarterbacks. Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw both won four while Troy Aikman and New England's Tom Brady won three apiece.

More importantly, Manning has risen to the occasion at just the right time in both of New York’s Super Bowl runs which tells me he has that special quality to remained poised at the most critical times – an intangible that has ruined many a NFL quarterbacks’ career.

Love him or loathe him – Eli Manning is an elite quarterback – and not just among today’s era of signal-callers either. He’s going down as an all-time great people!

Karma’s A Bi**h Bill!

New England Patriots head coach
Bill Belichick got a big dose of karma
after cutting reserve wide receiver
Tiquan Underwood on the
eve of Super Bowl XLVI.  

It’s pretty funny how I just wrote about how wrong New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was for cutting reserve wide receiver Tiquan Underwood just 24 hours before the biggest game of his life in order to add defensive lineman Alex Silvestro from the team’s practice squad.

The only problem with Belichick’s nonsensical plan – and one that many, including myself expected – was that neither Underwood – or his replacement – Silvestro – would even see the playing field and sure enough, Silvestro never got in the game. Only two Patriots defenders didn't play in Super Bowl 46 and Silvestro was one of them.

To make a long story short Eye On Sports readers, Tiquan Underwood was released for absolutely nothing – and mostly because Bill Belichick had to show the world just how ‘ingenious’ he is.

Some random comments from around the Internet generally agree that Bellichick was wrong – and foolish for making the late switch.

Travis from Mississauga, Canada

Why not cut him last week ? You let him practice all week, fly his people in, go thru all the festivities to cut him the eve of ? I'm sorry you don't conduct business like that.... Let that man have some dignity... Very embarrassing

Luv1138 from Irvine, California

Messed up. Why hours before SB 46? The guy must be devastated. Good luck Underwood, I wish you the best.

22Thumbs UpThumbs Down1 from New York, New York

And couldn't they have just cut OchoStinko instead? He's the least useful player on the roster.

Jason from Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The hell with Bill, he has never shown any class and cutting someone the night before is uncalled for. They had 2 weeks to figure it out, so either the Pats are way behind on their planning for the game or the coach is an #$%$ clown!

Travis from Las Vegas, Nevada

That's cold blooded Belichick. That's embarrassing not only to the player but his family.

Needless to say, maybe Belichick’s thinking about karma today!

Tebow Learning the Hard Way!

Not since Jesus Christ himself walked the earth has one man caused so many people to get on one bended knee, but young Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow clearly has a lot to learn if he ever wants to become a successful passer in the NFL. Right now, Tebow’s shortcomings as a passer are quite evident. Still, I’m not putting anything past this kid, who is arguably the best role model for young athletes, nit just in the NFL, but in all of professional sports.

Patriots to Build on Dynasty?

Just like another Eye On Sports post that says the San Francisco 49ers look like they could very well win the NFC this season, I genuinely believe the same applies to the New England Patriots after seeing them demolish Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos 45-10 in their AFC divisional win on Saturday. Tom Brady and company looked like they’re going to be hard to stop – even against the Baltimore Ravens' stout defense.

Brady, Pats in Driver's Seat in AFC East

AFC East
After seeing Tom Brady and the New England Patriots dismantle the Philadelphia Eagles this past weekend, I’m back to believing they could potentially represent the AFC in this season’s Super Bowl. Then again, the Eagles are a pitiful team with no direction, so maybe this last game isn’t a very good measuring stick.

The New York Jets got a huge win by squeaking past the reeling Buffalo Bills this past weekend, but I’m going on record right now to say the J-E-T-S will not reach the AFC title game for the third straight season the way this teams offense – and quarterback Mark Sanchez – have looked this season.

The Miami Dolphins have played hard all season long for head coach Tony Sparano after getting off to an ugly start this season, but hey let’s keep it real and admit that there is no way in hell that Sparano is invited back for another season.

Talk about coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb! The Buffalo Bills had the look of a legitimate AFC playoff team through a half-dozen games this season. Unfortunately for Bills fans everywhere, Buffalo has reverted back to its formerly consistent losing ways ever since then.