Bounty Shots

Wherever and however you are reading this today, thank you making the Gray Area Matters part of your day. This “Bounty” ordeal is getting way, way out of hand. By now most of you have heard about the Saints former defensive coordinator (now with the Rams) Gregg Williams placing bounties on star players. This broke on Friday and was an official NFL report. This is a huge deal because the year the Saints one the Super Bowl they knocked Kurt Warner (Cardinals) and Brett Favre (Vikings) out of the game. It is my opinion that any person with experience playing team sports wants to win. No one wants to permanently injure another player. However, knock them out of a game? Yes. You play harder when you are going against the best. Every person elevates their game when the stakes are at their highest. As I often quote, Herm Edwards said, “You play to win the game.”  

If that means you hit the best player a little harder, so be it. You want to slow them down any way you can. Those who say this is poor sportsmanship are the ones who crumble when the game is on the line. As a hockey player, I know people are going to take shots at me because I am good player, so I prepare for it. You prepare mentally and physically all week for your next opponent. Brett Favre doesn’t have a problem with it because he knows that is how the game is played. You don’t think every top player expect to get everyone’s best shot? They do. Example: my man, Sidney Crosby, comes back from almost a year off the ice and David Krejci goes right at him and nails him. This tested Sidney, and in this case, he was injured unfortunately. Ok, maybe that was a bad example. 

The point is that top players are going to be hit harder and tested more because they are the best. It is never going to stop. Let me be clear I am not for placing a “bounty” as in cash for knocking a player out. Incentives like sacks, touchdowns, goals, homeruns, etc. are acceptable.  Basically, I am ok with top players being pressed harder because it comes with the territory. If you have got a problem with it, run to a lesser league, for example Russia, like some NHL players (Radulov) or retire (Kurt Warner). 

My final thought for this whole “Bounty” shot idea is this. Trusts that 99% of all players do not want to hit someone and cause a long-term injury.  Money being passed for knocking players out of games is bad; no one will deny that. The professional leagues will monitor and take precautions to ensure player safety is the best it can be. Trust that the leagues and players will do the right thing with these sorts of situations. As always, thank you for making this blog of your day. Please be sure to follow me on twitter @chrisgrayarea and like the Chris Gray Area on Facebook. 

One foot, Bad Thumb, No Problem for Ben!

Wherever and however you are reading this today, thank you for making the Gray Matters part of your busy day.  Ben Roethlisberger may just be the toughest NFL player in the game. In the second quarter, Ben was knocked out of the game when a defensive lineman landed on his ankle.  The high ankle sprain injury keeps most professional athletes sidelined for three to four weeks, but not “Big Ben.” Already playing with a fractured thumb, Ben once again led the Steelers to victory.

This guy is old school.  Ben is a throwback player to the early days of football when the only way you got out of the game is if a broken bone was through the skin. Looking at his injuries over his career would lead most to believe he was a motocross rider or a daredevil.  With all the Tebow talk lately about his desire to win, people should be directing their attention to Roethlisberger. No one knows just how long he can keep this up, but I would imagine he won’t quit until he is forced to or physically cannot. Not many quarterbacks connect with their city more than Ben. Pittsburgh is known for being tough town and the Steelers embody the blue collar mentality of their city. Brad Kiesel said it best: “When Ben is hurt it just seems to work out well for us.”  It’s because he is always fighting some injury late in the season when the playoff race is in a full sprint.

Coaches and analysts say “attitude reflects leadership.” No one can deny that tough attitude reverberates through Steelers entire team. One thing is for certain. Every time an opponent lines up against Ben, he will do whatever it takes to win. The Steelers’ next challenge is against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. With a few extra days to recover, you can bet #7 will be ready come game time.

Thank you for making this blog part of your day. If you want hear more from me you can follow me on twitter @chrisgrayarea. Don't forget to like our Facebook page The Chris Gray Area as well as check out chrisgrayarea.com.

In Tebow Denver Trusts.

Wherever and however you are viewing this today, thank you for making this blog part of your day. Tebowing is a term that has been brought up in the media and twitter trends the last few weeks. What is Tebowing? By definition it is to get down on one knee and pray, even if everyone else around you is doing something else.  Tebowmania has swept across the nation since starting quarterback Kyle Orton was replaced by Tim Tebow just a few weeks ago in San Diego.  Tebow just might be the most polarizing quarterback in the NFL next to Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles.  The main difference is that Vick is hated for dog fighting while Tebow is disliked for his strong faith in Christianity. Or is he hated for being an unconventional quarterback? Maybe he is just too good of a person? Whatever the reason, there is a clear division of those who support Tebow and those who want to see him fail.

Tebow strong in faith and character

In college, he was one the greatest players ever to play the game capturing two national championships, a Heisman trophy, and dominating the best conference in college football. Tim is now in the NFL trying to continue his success with more pressure than he ever faced at Florida. He has a coaching staff who did not draft him. No legitimate play makers to aid him in winning games.  Yet, Tebow is now 4-1 as a starting quarterback this season.  He has the support of his teammates, most notably star corner back Champ Bailey. Bailey has spoken out several times to the media expressing how special Tebow is to the team. The big question is can Tebow win a Super Bowl?

2008 National Championship

Yes, he can. With the commitment from the Broncos organization, Tebow can win. In order to win, they have to build a team that fits his style of play.   A good example is the Eagles with Michael Vick, who is surrounded by extremely fast and versatile players.  The Eagles use Vick’s ability to run and pass to the full advantage of the team. Philly will use their screen passing game to set up for the running attack. Vick can attack the line of scrimmage like he is going to run only to flip the ball to running back LeSean McCoy. Coach Andy Reid makes it simple: get the ball to your best players. Denver needs to draft fast receivers who can stretch the field vertically and a versatile back to run inside to wear the defense out. By drafting those types of players, it will give Tebow the best opportunity to be successful.

Fox must commit to Tebow's play style

With Tebow, the coaching staff knows they are going to get the hardest working player in the NFL. He wants to get better at passing the ball. He is willing to do whatever it takes to win games. Tebow is exactly what everyone wants in a quarterback as a leader and as a role model.  He just needs time to develop into a better passer. He may never be a John Elway throwing the football, but Tebow could win like him.  Most people want to see Tim succeed in the NFL and prove all the naysayers wrong.  Only time will truly tell if he will be given the opportunity to bring a championship back to Denver. Whatever side you are on, it is most definitely Tebow Time!

Thank you for making the Gray Matters part of your day. Please like our page on Facebook at the Chris Gray Area! You can always email me at chrisgrayarea.com and follow me on twitter for the latest sports updates @chrisgrayarea.  Have a wonderful rest of your day! 

A Deeper Scandal in State College!

Wherever and however you are viewing this thank you, for making the Gray Matters part of your life today.  This Penn State scandal is absolutely horrendous. I have a connection to the University having family members who graduated from there.  The first college I ever rooted for was the Penn State Nittany Lions.  Now folks, I am not a reporter. I am a blogger who wants to work as a sports caster doing radio and television.  I think I offer a different viewpoint on things while relating it to some who may not particularly care about a sport or understand.  Being that I have limited sources, this story is for ESPN or some power that can look into this much more.

Paterno with Meyer after Outback Bowl

I have a source who tells me two things that stink to high heaven. The first part is that the big time donors of PSU were required to have the donations in by November 1^st.  In previous years, the donors would send money in around tax time.  The Grand Jury Report was released on November 5^th conveniently after the University received its big money donations.

The second part has to do with Joe Paterno’s firing being planned.  According to an Alumni member, Urban Meyer has or is going to purchase I house outside State College, Pa. This was rumored a long time ago because Meyer’s daughter considered playing volleyball at PSU. The question to ask is, "Does this clear the way for Urban Meyer to become the new football coach."  This appears to be a setup by University Alumni for the past few years to get JoePa out and Urban in.

This story is not to create a rumor mill. Instead it is so that news sources that have more power than the Gray Matters can sniff out what is true. I have no doubt that the truth will come out sooner than later. My heart goes out to every one of the victims and to the students of Penn State.  I fully support Penn State University not the leadership responsible for cover up of Sandusky.  Nor is there any support if the release of this information was just to use JoePa as a scapegoat while forcing him out of Penn State. Yes, Paterno should have done more. He is the face of Penn State, which means he should have carried this through to the punishment of Sandusky. I am deeply upset about this entire situation. We all want the truth behind why this was covered up.  

Thank you for making the Gray Matters part of your day. You can follow me on twitter @chrisgrayarea or email me at chrisgrayarea@gmail.com. Your comments are always welcome on any story. Let us all pray to whomever we pray too for the well-being of the victims of this terrible tragedy. To those who feel the way I feel, I leave you with one last line. WE ARE PENN STATE!

The S"Cam"del Newton Story

Where ever and whatever way you are reading this today, thanks for making The Gray Area part of your busy day.  I promised to write about Cam Newton and I wanted to wait. I waited to see what ESPN would have to say four days after the draft. I got to hear Cam attempt to defend himself on Mike and Mike in the morning. And well I got what I thought would happen, they retracted most of criticism. Please note this was much to my disappointment. Not everyone just one big name in particular, which was Todd McShay. I am all for being unbiased but once you have chosen a stance defend it honorably. McShay did for the most part, but he seemed to back off  about Cam Newton being a big risk. Folks he is a huge risk for the Carolina Panthers, we are talking JaMarcus Russell sized.

Cam and  his father Cecil Newton

Someone please tell what is the difference between him and Tim Tebow? I really don’t see one. I will bet that had Tim Tebow came out after his Heisman year he would have went number one overall. So why did Cam go higher than Tebow? The answer is hype. He was horrible with Jon Gruden when he was on QB camp. And frankly how do you honestly say Herm Edwards “don’t concern yourself with off the field issues”?  He is the quarterback of a team. The leader, the one everyone is looking to for leadership. If you cannot count on him to stay out of trouble what does that say for the rest of the team?  As Colin Cowherd once said of Vince Young “your quarterback is essentially the face of a billion dollar company”. I was extremely disappointed with Carolina Panthers for selecting him number one overall.  At Florida he was caught with a stolen laptop which they knew about. The NFL and NCAA know his father tried to sell him to Mississippi State for $180,000. In three to five years his Heisman and Auburn's national title will be revoked by the NCAA with no consequences to Cam Newton.

NFL Commissioner Roger Godell with Cam Newton

Right now Newton is the worst QB in his division and I will go as far to say he will be 5 years from now. He will never be better than Drew Brees or Matt Ryan and Josh Freeman is a rising star. Congratulations to the Carolina Panthers organization you just set yourself back 5 years much like the Titans did when they selected Vince Young.   Mark my words he will not make it in the NFL and if he does I will admit I was wrong. Most people forgave Michael Vick because he served his time and fought his way back into the light. Cam Newton was smiling on draft day not because it was his dream like Von Miller, who was actually crying. It was simply because he slipped through the cracks of punishment and will now be paid as the number one draft pick.  

Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks

This article indirectly supports the NHL who punishes there players on and off the ice. When Patrick Kane got in trouble two years ago he was fined and heavily scrutinized for his offense. He kept his mouth shut and won a Stanley Cup taking his punishment like a man. The NBA and NFL baby their players for whatever reason, which frankly makes me sick. The NHL band a player for life because of repeated vicious hits on other players.  He was a highly scouted player but the league got rid of him anyway. Why? Because there are always more stars. So why can’t the two most popular sports punish the ones who violate the rules. I want to see changes, but they will probably be minimal. Money talks, the NFL will do whatever it takes to keep making that money even if that means sacrificing some of the integrity of the game.

As always you can follow me on twitter @chrisgrayarea.com, you can email chrisgrayarea@gmail.com and you can like us on facebook by searching The Chris Gray Area. Thank you for making the Gray Matters part of your day. 

-Gray Out.