When it's about the game

I'm a 49ers fan.

This post has nothing to do with that.

Today, Alex Smith made a very uncommon decision for a professional athlete - one that wasn't driven by money. By restructuring his contract with the 49ers, Smith effectively forfeited a substantial sum of money to stay in San Francisco. With plenty of other teams still interested in the 24 year-old and willing to ante up with more green, Smith ultimately made his decision because of the fact that he "just wanted the chance to compete." It wasn't about the money. It wasn't about a hometown discount. It was about the sport.

Say what you will about his first four seasons or his future in the NFL. Say what you will about the 49ers and their upcoming QB controversy. But you've got to love to see an athlete bring his/her heart to a professional sport. It's what makes college sports engaging. It's what makes watching the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series exciting. The teams and athletes with the desire to prove that they can compete at the highest level remind us why their sport continue to captivate.

Kudos to Alex Smith for showing some maturity and some respect for the game. And Kudos to the 49ers for sticking with a guy that hasn't worked out in the past but is ready to fight for a job.

- KLB

NFL Brief- Week 13

Hope every member of The Suite Spot faithful enjoyed their Thanksgiving, ate a lot of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, pies and whatever your favorite dish might be not mentioned. That said, after attacking my second helping of all the fixings I headed to the downstairs of my grandparents house to watch the traditional turkey day Lions game. It took me only 25 years to figure out why they put the Lions on Thanksgiving. Tryptophan folks, tryptophan!!! This amino acid that has been proven to cause drowsiness is the perfect supplement to a healthy nap for any Lions game. When I turned the game on it was the beginning of the second quarter, the score was already 21-3 in favor of Tennessee. I knew the game wouldn't be close, but please at least let me catch up with family I haven't seen for a year before I turn out the lights. The Lions ARE THE TRYPTOPHAN of the NFL, and its a shame that the people who schedule games haven't figured this one out for any part of the last 15 years, maybe they have been in a sleep-induced coma? Maybe I'm mad, or maybe I just want to enjoy football a little more after such a delicious feast.

I don't even want to give Plaxico Burress any ink here, but is it necessary to have a gun in a nightclub, and own it without a permit. Obviously you shouldn't have a gun in your pocket if you don't know that there is a safety button that will prevent it from "accidentally" shooting yourself in the foot. A player like this should be fired forever. If I, working for any other company was caught doing things criminal, my employer would have the right to can me, the NFL should do it right now, fire Plaxico and use this as a precedence. Criminal behavior should be allowed in the NFL as much as O.J. Simpson should have walked. There is no place for it.

On a lighter side--- this week's power of 5

1. Giants- will find a way to win with/without Plax
2. Titans- running game and defense too strong
3. Steelers- Best run D in the league, and a secondary to go with it
4. Panthers- Stewart and Williams proving to be a deadly 1-2 punch at RB
5. Dallas- With Romo back and D getting healthier, watch out

As always please check out the website, http://the-suite-spot.blogspot.com/ and thanks for supporting

Big Blue Makes Due

There are some who claim that the so-called best team in the NFL is the team with the best record. Others would say that it's the team who is playing the best football right now. Still others would insist that until the defending Super Bowl champion loses a game, then they are the team to beat. Luckily, one team has cleared up this debate. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 New York Giants are, for the first time in the Super Bowl era, the clear-cut best team in the NFL. Breathe that in. Now hold it. Hold it. Now let it out. Feels good. 

Keep in mind the Giants' ridiculous 44-6 romp over Seattle came without perhaps the team's best player, mercurial wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who was suspended for breaking team rules. Nonetheless, the Giants attack was a varied and dominant as it's ever been. Now, this string of success and good fortune is bound to run out, but on this day, the entire NFL looks up at Big Blue. Carl from Aqua Teen Hunger Force always says that the Giants are #1. At this moment, he is right. 

NFL Brief- Week 1

Well the first week of the NFL season couldn't have been much better... especially if you are a fan of any other team other than the Patriots. Crushing news to a team that won 18 games and lost one big one as their leader, Tom Brady, suffered a season ending knee injury. Career backup Matt Cassel, who has been a backup ever since leaving high school stepped in and helped the defending AFC champions to a 17-10 victory over the Cheifs.

Brett who?-- while the Jets welcomed Brett Favre en route to a one touchdown victory over the Dolphins, Aaron Rodgers started his tenure as the Packer's QB with a primetime performance. A very economical 18-22 passing , 2 TD's and one Lambaeu Leap helped the Pack beat the division rival Vikings in our first monday nighter of the season. Green Bay faithful can start buying #12 jerseys with some confidence now. The second MNF football game proved to be Royal coming out party, Eddie Royal. The rookie from VA tech hooked up with Jay "chicken" Cutler for 146 yds and a TD as the Broncos decorated the Rrrrraiders 41-14.

NFL Brief- Week 2

Week 2 brought us some suprises and some great matchups...

Game of the week- Eagles Vs. Cowboys This game was on the menu but should have been treated as monday's special. This entree showed a whole lot of offense, akick return for a TD, lack of Defense, and a rookie mistake of near epic proportions. Terrell Owens stole the show with 3 catches for 89 yards, 2 scores, and a 2 bird flapping endzone taunts as the Cowboys bested the Birds, 41-37. Eagle rookie Desaean Jackson, WR out of Cal showed his age and young arrogance on what looked to be 60 yard TD catch until a Wade Philips red flag showed that the young buc threw the ball out of his hands in celebration before crossing the goal line. Though they scored on the ensuing play, fate was sealed and Dallas became one of only 10 undefeated teams only two games into the season.

Elsewhere- A few upsets this weekend as the Niners beat the Seahawks 33-30 on an overtime field goal. J.T. O'Sullivan looked impressive (yes that wasn't a typo) with an accurate 20-32 day for 321yds and a score. The Reskins upset the saints at home, and the Broncos looked impressive taking down San Diego on a late 2 pt conversion to win 39-38 over a team that in the preseason was looked to win the division if not more.

Week 3 matchups of note-- Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, Jacksonville at Indi, and NFC powers Green Bay head to Cowboy stadium to take on Dallas...

NFL Brief- Week 3

Extra, Extra, Read all about it... 2008- The year the NFL passed on the torch. With three weeks complete in the NFL season nobody is talking about Tom Brady (injured), Peyton Manning (winless at home), or Brett Favre (washed-up). The new crop of young QB's has finally come to harvest. Philip Rivers (#1 passer rating), Eli Manning (3-0), Tony Romo (3-0), Aaron Rodgers (Brett who?), and Jay Cutler (3-0) lead a new crop of young NFL players taking this league to another level.

To the game of the week... Jacksonville at Indi. Peyton Manning looked better, but still showed signs of rust and Josh Scobee Dooby Doo hit two late field goals to help the Jags pass the Colts 23-21. The Colts may be homesick, they are winless at their brand new Lucas Oil Stadium (including preseason). RCA dome where have you gone??? With injuries clearly still plauging the Colts defense, Maurice-Jones Drew and Fred Taylor lit up the Colts defense as both rushed over 100 yards and MJD tallied a TD. The Colts get a much needed bye next week while the Jags return home to play the Texans.

Elsewhere-- The Super Bowl Champion GGGGGG- Men (sitll pains me to say that) took Overtime to beat the Lowly Bengals and remain undefeated. Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson should worry less about his name and more about not dropping passes. A dropped catch near the goal line in the 4th quarter made the Bengals kick for 3 and the tie 23-23 instead of going up 4 on the New York Football Giants. That kick forced overtime, where the Giants won with a 22 yard pooch of the boot of John "Circus Folk" Carney.

Undefeated teams through week 3-
NFC- Dallas, G-Men
AFC- Buffalo (not a typo), Baltimore, Teneessee, Denver

NFL Brief- Week 4

Pretty sure Brett Favre read last weeks recap every night before bed, and used it as motivation for Sundays career high 6 TD performance. Last week I wrote, "With three weeks complete in the NFL season nobody is talking about Tom Brady (injured), Peyton Manning (winless at home), or Brett Favre (washed-up)." Rumor has it in the post game press conference, Favre was quoted as saying, "This game is dedicated to Mark Hebert who recently called me washed up!" Brett, I take it back, for this week at least. This game that showed an extreme lack of defense, gun-slinging throws, and TD after TD, only to have late in the fourth quarter, one of my favorite players, WR Anquan Boldin getting knocked unconcious on a hit that has caused Jet Safety Eric Smith a 1 game suspension and a $50,000 fine. Boldin is home resting after being decorated in the end zone.

Elsewhere, in what I thought was the game of the week and aslo the worst coached game of the season.. DAAAAA Bears vs. the E-A-G-L-ES Eagles Sunday nighter from Solider field. The Eagles, without stud RB Brian Westbrook (Ankle), Starting TE L.J. Smith (back), and the Big Kid RG Sean Andrews (depression or some other physical ailment), failed to score on the goal line with 4 tries and the Bears hung on behind Kyle Orton to beat the birds 24-20. Coach Andy Reid should take a brunt of this loss, as a questionable first half touchdown by Greg Olsen should have been challenged as it appeared by the time he got possesion of the ball he only managed to get one foot in the endzone. His second mistake was running the ball on consecutive downs on the goal line without even one play action pass play to get the stingy Bears D to bite. Instead they rushed the ball up the gut on consecutive plays and got stuffed like a thankgsiving turkey on each try. Tough loss for the birds, big win for DAAA Bears.

Patriots were off this week-- so I was at peace going undefeated.

Undefeated teams--- GGGG- Men, Titans, and the Bills cause we all know, "No body circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills."

Big Games next week- Stellers at Jaguars and Washington at Illadelphia (not a typo, just get your thug on)