Sports Agenda For Friday (3/09/12)
Big Story:
Are you sick of Peyton Manning yet? If you're not, don't worry, we'll make you that way shortly. Plus, the Heat have the night off, the Panthers started a website for the playoffs a little too soon, and grapefruit league baseball is in full swing.
Peytonpalooza Day 3:
I'm sorry, but this Manning coverage has gotten completely out of control and over the top.
Now let's look at this for a second objectively okay?
Peyton is 36, which in NFL years is akin to being on Social Security.
He's coming off between four and five neck surgeries and he's still hoping nerves regenerate in his arm to help give him zip on his passes.
Now, we've gone over the top hoping beyond hope he signs with the Miami Dolphins.
Why?
All he will be is a band-aid for the team that has a gash six inches wide at the quarterback position.
It just shows how little thought the team gives to the long-term planning.
It comes from the top too.
Think about it, who will gain the most if Manning signs with the Fins?
The marketing will sell itself down here and Stephen Ross will laugh all the way to the bank.
This owner isn't about improving the franchise.
If he was, he'd have fired Jeff Ireland long ago.
Ross is in it to make gobs of money, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Except for the fact that other teams plan long-term and make gobs of money over decades, while the Fins fans still cling to something that happened 40 years ago.
Peyton will give you at most 3-4 years.
The team still will have to draft a replacement quarterback, but assuming you do well with Manning, you'll draft in the 20's.
Yes, you can talk about landing Tom Brady in round 6 or Aaron Rodgers at the end of round 1, but those are aberrations.
Yet, all we can talk about is Peyton Manning, Peyton Manning, Peyton Manning.
The funny part is, I'm actually a huge Peyton and Eli Manning fan.
I've always cheered for them dating back to their days at Ole Miss and Tennessee.
But what exactly have we become in local media?
When we stalk people so hard that that they pull over and offer an interview to get us to leave them alone.
Is the story worth that?
Is it worth giving up everything and turning into WTMZ?
Is it worth turning into the paparazzi media?
News people often ask why people don't watch the local news, I give you example A.
As far and Manning and the Fins, I still think it's more than likely going to happen.
It just makes too much sense, and he's not going to play in the NFC.
That leaves basically the Dolphins, Chiefs, and a bunch of other quarterback-starved teams.
But KC is COOOOLLLLLDDDD in November-January, trust me I used to live near there.
I expect a deal to get done by early next week.
Why? Because unrestricted free agency begins when the NFL Calendar begins, and a team that signs manning needs to know exactly how much cap room they have heading into free agency.
Keep an eye on where Reggie Wayne is, it could tip you off to where Manning is heading.
Heat: (off Friday, next game Sat. vs. Indiana)
The Heat are off Friday, which they needed after a close game against the Hawks.
I think Atlanta is one of the few teams that can get up and down the floor with the Heat in transition.
That's saying something too, because the Heat are the best transition team in the NBA, period.
LeBron is averaging 27.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.76 steals per game.
Can we just give him the MVP already?
Seriously, there is no one playing better basketball than him.
I feel bad for the guy, mainly because no matter what he does, it's wrong.
But he still can overcome it and continue to give the Heat everything they need on a given night.
Panthers: (@ Pittsburgh Penguins, 7:00 p.m., Fox Sports Florida)
Ouch.
That's a heckuva way to come off a three night rest.
You get blanked by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Yknow, when the Panthers started their playoffs website I thought to myself, they may regret starting it that soon.
Now they travel to Pittsburgh, who's got the second best record in the Eastern Conference.
On the bright side, they do get four straight games at home next week.
Course that also includes a matchup with the Bruins.
So they can maybe go 3-1 at best.
Still, they are two points ahead of Washington and Winnipeg.
Or, one Panthers loss and a win by either of them away from being tied for the lead in the Southeast Division.
Yikes.
Marlins: (vs. Washington Nationals, 7:05 p.m.)
The Marlins knocked off the Mets last night.
Course that is like beating Sister Mary's School for the Blind, so yknow.
Nevertheless, the Marlins got some work in for Big Z, Carlos Zambrano and he pitched, well, he pitched.
Still, the Fish need to get their offense going after scoring just 1 run against the Tigers and Mets this week in split squad play.
Yikes, that's just one more run than I scored those nights.
Okay, for today, look for mucho Peyton Manning coverage, because well, there's not much else going on. The Canes move on in the ACC Tournament. And all the local sports that's fit to write.
