NFL Sunday Quick Bits: Nobody likes to sit the bench

No, the Super Bowl isn't until next week but there isn't a lot of news today but I thought I'd talk about a couple things briefly.

First off I want to talk about the brief tiff between Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley and WR Anquan Boldin. Reports say that the argument on the sideline were because Boldin believed that he should be out there on the field but Haley thought that Boldin wasn't at 100%. Now if this is the case, I would like everyone to get off of Boldin's back and stop labeling him as the next TO. The man obviously wanted to be on the field for the (then) biggest game of his life. I don't think that what he did was totally out of line either. Everyone and their dog knew that Warner was going to throw the ball to Fitzgerald but it wouldn't hurt to have a limping Boldin decoy for part of the quarter. In the end the Cardinals are in the Super Bowl and people are looking for news but I think this is something that has become bigger than it should've been.

ESPN recently reported that Tennessee Titans are naming Kerry Collins the starting quarterback for next year already. With the year they had this year (despite the disappointing end), Collins deserves to be the starter next year over (so far) bust Vince Young. But with the emergence of the Wildcat offense in the NFL, why isn't Fisher putting Vince in there for a possession or two and seeing what he can do? I'm pretty sure that Young can run the ball (ask USC) and hand it off. The way I look at it Vince Young is probably a larger threat to throw the ball than Ronnie Brown in Miami's Wildcat offense so it will keep defenses from loading the box as much. I'm not saying that the Titans need to change their conservative philosophy completely but how scary would that backfield look with LenDale White, Chris Johnson, and Vince Young all able to take it to the house (LenDale might need some oxygen on the way there but I know he can take it too).

Lastly, I wanted to talk about Troy Aikman going on Michael Irvin's radio show and saying that Tony Romo needs to become a better leader on this team and that is part of their recent failures. Romo took Aikman's comments in stride and immediately came out in the media and said that he would be a better leader next year. These comments seemed really off kilter to me especially when Aikman referenced Romo's trip to Cabo that occurred last year. Do I think that Romo could be a better leader? Sure, but Aikman didn't need to be the one to say this to the world. Aikman rode Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, and the Super Bowls to the Hall of Fame and all of the sudden became a god. I know that Romo would never do it but I would love for Romo to snap right back at Aikman and ask him to compare their stats:

3 Years CMP% P.Yds TD INT

Romo 63.6 % 10,562 81 46

Aikman 58.6% 7,082 31 46

Now tell me that Aikman has any room to talk and no the TD and INT totals are not typos for Aikman. I love what Aikman and Cowboys were able to do in the '90s but he doesn't need to be telling anyone how to play... Especially someone that has come into the league with more poise than he did. Romo and the 'Boys will be back next year and we will see if they can get by without the injuries and the major choking that happened this year.

- D-Rae

Sorry Herm, but we're gonna head in another direction...

The KC Chiefs have finally finished the front office cleaning with the firing of head coach Herm Edwards (GM Peterson "resigned earlier). I know that Herm was 2-14 last season and that his overall record with the Chiefs isn't that stellar either (15-34 in 3 seasons) but how can you get rid of a man when you committed to going young. Even while they were rebuilding they had better a better record than the rival Raiders. I can just imagine what went down in the meeting between new GM Pioli and Edwards:

"Hey Herm, we think that we're going in another direction." (Pioli)

"I know that we didn't have a great season but we committed to going young and we lost seven of those games by a TD or less." (Edwards)

"You have a valid point. And yes I know that you didn't have some of your most talented players for the whole season (Any QB/Thigpen was a starter!!!) but we don't believe that you are going to put us over the top." (Pioli)

 "Well if the fact that having several first and second year players being starters, close games, and Thigpen as my QB aren't good enough points to give me another chance then I don't know what will be." (Edwards)

"Thanks again Herm." (Pioli)

"Yeah your welcome... by the way do you have someone on the radar yet?" (Edwards)"

"I can't discuss that at the moment but hopefully we can find someone as dedicated as you.... Oh hey Mike, do you need something." (Pioli)

"You gotta be kidding me." (Edwards)

Ok, so Herm is out and Shanahan is most likely in. Do I think that Edwards or Shanahan should've be fired this offseason? No, definitely not and especially in Edwards case. They knew that they weren't going to the Super Bowl this year and there were some very promising bright spots on the team. WR Bowe is establishing himself as one of the best in the league and there was enough talent on the roster to give them the opportunity to win more games. With another year or two, I think that Edwards and the Chiefs could've created something really special but that won't come to fruition.

The hiring of Shanahan looks like brilliance though. He is a perfect fit for a team that has a variety of backs to put out there and he could mold what Edwards started into quite the team. If  it would've been an unproven coach (cough... Denver's new coach McDaniels) then firing Edwards would have really been questionable but I think that this combo of Shanahan and KC will work out. It doesn't hurt that Shanahan has worked for 3 out of 4 teams in the AFC West now (KC HC, Denver HC, LA Raiders HC). All I have left to say is good luck to Shanahan and I am looking forward to seeing the Chiefs/Broncos revenge game.

P.S.- Sorry Herm, hopefully you can someone who doesn't cut you when you commit to going young. Its just not right.

- D-Rae