My 2 Cents

by: Jeff

Its that time again. Time for me to give you my thoughts and opinions on anything sports related...so here goes:

Doing my usual scanning on NFL-related websites, I couldn't help but notice that Eagles' DE Jason Babin is considering going to Spain this offseason for the annual "Running with the Bulls". I heard this and immediately think that this individual has a few screws loose. He sights that his "'man card' has a few holes that need to be punched." I'm sorry, but you play a game for a living that has several factors that should fill out the 'man card' quota. #1 - You go up against gigantic human beings every day in an attempt to knock another players' head off his shoulders. #2 - The risk of injury playing this game is severe...everything from broken limbs to torn ligaments, and somtimes even paralysis. Lastly, #3 - you make MILLIONS of dollars playing this game.

Why would you risk that money, and possibly the remainder of your career to get some thrills while a bull attempts to knock YOUR head off? I realize that this is just one of the cases where NFL players are thrill seekers and will do whatever it takes to get that adrenaline rush that so many speak of. You saw it with Ben Roethlisberger and Kellen Winslow Jr. and their super-bike adventures that led to Ben breaking his face, and Winslow injuring his knee. Through Ochocinco's bull-riding adventure of last off-season and you've got one good bunch of thrill seekers there. I'm not saying that NFL players need to do nothing but lift weights, run, and sit at their house in the off-season, but what about showing some respect for your occupation? You want to run with the bulls? Wait till you retire and you don't have teammates, coaches, and an entire organization banking on your peformance to do something stupid like that.

Keeping with the NFL theme, I also couldn't help but notice on Twitter yesterday afternoon (you can follow us - @eXtraPointShow) that New York Jets beat reporters were speculating that Darelle Revis is contemplating another contract holdout. In my opinion, this is getting ridiculous! Didn't we just do this 2 seasons ago? Didn't he have the entire Jets organization holding it's breath and running around during the filming of Hard Knocks?

I feel that at some point the NFL needs to step in and put a stop to this. Do certain players out perform their rookie contracts and want to make more money? Yes, it happens every year, but when a player just got "paid" and all of a sudden wants a new deal...then I have a real problem with that player. Revis is probably the best overall cover corner in the NFL right now, but will there ever be a team that will have the testicular fortitude to say, "You know what? We just paid you 2 years ago...honor your contract or you start getting fined in a BIG WAY!" Start taking the money away from these players and you will start to see them change their attitude towards holding out for what they "think" is what they deserve. If the NFL put a policy in place that no player can hold out of their contract until the final year of the deal, then we wouldn't have the Chris Johnson issue last season, or the potential of another Revis issue this season. I love the NFL, but some of these selfish players that complain about possibly making 6.5 MILLION a year (what Revis is upset about) are making me sick.

The President of the NCAA has recently made comments regarding the potential of a NCAA Division 1 Football Playoff instead of the BCS system that is currently in place. The president, Mark Emmert, states that he has hesitation regarding such a switch due to the fear of more realignment. He is concerned that teams would be leaving conferences at a more rapid rate looking for an easier way into the 4 team playoff system that has been proposed by so many people across the NCAA landcape. I ask Mr. Emmert this: Would it be any worse than the log jam we had last year when teams were jumping ship left and right (Syracuse, Pitt, West Virginia, etc.) and moving to new conferences. Rumors are already swirling that Miami and Florida State are potentially looking to leave the ACC for greener pasture.

In my opinion, if the NCAA is going to go to a playoff system then you scrap everything. All teams will be placed into conferences based on where they are located. You wouldn't have West Virginia playing in the Pac 10, but they would be in the Big East. Example: The Big East would encompass: WVU, Boston College, Penn State, UConn, Pitt, Maryland, Ohio State, and so on. You would do the same with other regions of the country. Once you do that, you have quality competition in EVERY conference...and not only that, you can even keep the Bowl Games. The conferences would be big, so you would have to break them up into divisions and then have a championship game for the conference title. All other teams would still play in bowl games, but would have been eliminated from the national title picture. It isn't really any different than that. If you ask me, I just answered all the questions about how to put this NCAA football playoff system into place!

Thats all for now, be sure to check back for great articles / podcasts!