What was that?

[Roland Hearn]

I just got to see the last 1:30 of the Monday night football game. I saw the best part, I think. Could someone please tell me what happened? I could see it was wet but man 0-0 for nearly four quarters.

The last desperate attempt of Miami convinced me of one thing if any NFL team invested in a Rugby or Rugby League coach to teach how to actually lateral for about one season that team would be unbeatable. I was rolling on the floor laughing at the ridiculous attempts at lateral passes. If they knew how to line up and pass properly they could have won that game in that last play, that defense was all over the place. I think a team that could do that properly would take every other team by surprise until they worked out how to defend against it which they would but you could win a super bowl in the mean time.

[Billie Goodson]

They play high school (four on Friday they said) games, college and finally the Steelers on the same field. They had put down a new layer of sod after either Friday or Saturday. The new layer was subjected to a mini-monsoon they way it looked. They delayed the start of the game over 1/2 hour because of the field. The ground crew had tarped the field, but, the volume of water was too great and the field got soaked from the water that got in through the seams. One punt hit and stuck and left what looked like a nice 9-iron divot in the turf. Let's just say conditions were less than optimal for the Steelers, but, Miami had maybe their last chance (except for one remaining game against the Jets) to win a game this season. Ricky "Light em'up" Williams did play but left after he got stepped on pretty hard on a carry where he fumbled (before he got stepped on).

Ricky could be the league's only five-time drug policy offender by the end of November. There is still time.

[Ryan Scott]

Ricky could be the league's only five-time drug policy offender by the end of November. There is still time.


Is the 5th time a lifetime ban or is it always just a year off three on out?

[Billie Goodson]

There is nothing past stage three. Minimum one-year, reinstatement by commissioner. Remember, he could have come back sooner, but, he tested positive again in the spring. I don't know if you can really blame him -- he gets away with it, so why should he change?

[Ryan Scott]

It is just pot. It's not like it's a performance enhancement. If anything, the smoke hurts his ability to breathe well.

[Billie Goodson]

It violates the rules under which he participates. You can argue "just pot", but "just in his contract" takes precedence. Sometimes there are simply rules one must agree to abide by in order to belong to a group. He does not have to play. He is free to seek gainful employment outside of the body of the NFL Players Association. Membership is not a right.

[Ryan Scott]

No, but he's complied with his contract and his employer has chosen to honor it despite his previous issues. He's abided by the NFL drug policy and hasn't seemed all that concerned about it. He might be a bad teammate and not the smartest guy in the world, but he's done everything they've asked of him and the Dolphins continue to reward his selfishness.

[Roland Hearn]

They play high school (four on Friday they said) games, college and finally the Steelers on the same field. They had put down a new layer of sod after either Friday or Saturday. The new layer was subjected to a mini-monsoon they way it looked. They delayed the start of the game over 1/2 hour because of the field. The ground crew had tarped the field, but, the volume of water was too great and the field got soaked from the water that got in through the seams. One punt hit and stuck and left what looked like a nice 9-iron divot in the turf. Let's just say conditions were less than optimal for the Steelers, but, Miami had maybe their last chance (except for one remaining game against the Jets) to win a game this season. Ricky "Light em'up" Williams did play but left after he got stepped on pretty hard on a carry where he fumbled (before he got stepped on).

Ricky could be the league's only five-time drug policy offender by the end of November. There is still time.

Wouldn't there be some kind of policy regarding minimum standard of the playing surface? It just seems extraordinary in this day and age to have the playing surface be that bad it creates what must have been, pun somewhat intended, a very messy game.

[Ryan Scott]

Wouldn't there be some kind of policy regarding minimum standard of the playing surface? It just seems extraordinary in this day and age to have the playing surface be that bad it creates what must have been, pun somewhat intended, a very messy game.

All of the sports talk radio today was saying that Pittsburgh has been putting off getting field turf for a while now and this will probably be the last straw. The NFL could say something, but the Steelers are a good franchise; they'll get it done before they're told to do so.

[Billie Goodson]

Wouldn't there be some kind of policy regarding minimum standard of the playing surface? It just seems extraordinary in this day and age to have the playing surface be that bad it creates what must have been, pun somewhat intended, a very messy game.

There probably is a competition committee that attempts to address this issue within bounds. Since this was a first occurrence, it is hard to fault them for the situation entirely. One would think that with that many events scheduled, they would have installed field turf. However, given all of that -- Miami had a chance in this game, maybe it was an answer to prayer for them. In the long run, the conditions were equal for both teams. Any game the Dolphins are in is messy.

Ryan, he has not abided by his contract. He was ordered by a judge to repay around 8 million for his earlier walk-out. He also loses pay every time he is disciplined under the league policy. His employer (the Dolphins) brought suit to recover portions of the signing bonus he was paid. If you consider "abiding to the policy" to being disciplined under it four separate times, with a fifth failed test causing his reinstatement to be delayed -- then he is in full compliance -- he single-handedly probably keeps at least three people in the NFL offices employed dealing with his compliance. But, you are correct, the Dolphins continue to reward him with chance after chance -- but, it is the Dolphins. They fully demonstrate what it takes as an organization to not win a game. One would think the NFLPA would step in at some point and seek compensation for every player stuck within that organization.

[Roland Hearn]

Could you remind me Billy does a teams position on the ladder affect their draft choice. I know in Aussie Rules a team gets to the point in a season where the advantage of a continued loosing streak is found in their draft choices, does that translate to this situation? Would it make a difference if they won one game now?

[Billie Goodson]

Could you remind me Billy does a teams position on the ladder affect their draft choice. I know in Aussie Rules a team gets to the point in a season where the advantage of a continued loosing streak is found in their draft choices, does that translate to this situation? Would it make a difference if they won one game now?

Yes -- the teams draft position is based on the previous season performance. Right now, they would initially have the number 1 draft position for the upcoming draft barring any trades or other considerations. The current draft order if the season finished today would be:

1. Miami (0-11)
2. (T) New York Jets (2-9)
2. (T) St. Louis (2-9)
4. New England (from San Francisco) (3-8)
5. Atlanta (3-8)
6. Oakland (3-8)
7. Cincinnati (4-7)
8. (T) Baltimore (4-7)
9. (T) Kansas City (4-7)
10. Carolina (4-7)

So Miami has to win at least three games to "move up".

Interestingly, the draft order is based on winning percentage -- except that the super bowl winner will occupy the last draft position regardless of winning percentage.

[Ryan Scott]

except that the super bowl winner will occupy the last draft position regardless of winning percentage.


Unless it's the Patriots, in which case the last pick of the first round will remain unused.

[Billie Goodson]

Unless it's the Patriots, in which case the last pick of the first round will remain unused.

The draft pick might be all they lose this year....

How fitting that the '07 Pats could go undefeated and break the record of the '72 Dolphins, while the '07 Dolphins go winless....

[Roland Hearn]

The draft pick might be all they lose this year....

How fitting that the '07 Pats could go undefeated and break the record of the '72 Dolphins, while the '07 Dolphins go winless....

That was actually the point I was actually making in a thread a couple of days ago. From what I hear the '72 Dolphins meet every year to toast their success when the last undefeated team slips up. It would have to be a wake for that group to meet if another team beats their record while their Dolphins go winless.

[Mike Schutz]

Unless it's the Patriots, in which case the last pick of the first round will remain unused.

Keep in mind, my good friends, that while the Pats will forfeit their own draft pick, they also own the rights to the 1st round pick of the San Francisco 49ers. As this intrepid reporter does the advanced calculus, it looks like that pick will likely be in the top 5.

Of course, why do the Pats even need a first round pick? They picked Tom Brady with pick 199.

(Sorry, being an obnoxious front-runner does not come natural to me. But I'm learning.:bannana )