Just in case you had a really good time on New Years Eve and your only just waking up now to begin 2012 here is everything you missed in the world of football while you were sleeping.
It is “Black Monday” in the NFL and teams have already began handing out pink slips
This morning the Tampa Bay Buccaneers relieved third year coach Raheem Morris and his entire staff of their coaching duties. As well, Steve Spagnuolo is also being shown the door in St. Louis. That leaves a number of coaching vacancies already in the league, with surely more to come. The three big names available are Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher and Jeff Fisher. Fisher is the only one who has stated his desire to resume coaching in 2012, but it will be interesting to see if any of the current jobs are desirable enough to bring Cowher or Gruden back into the fold.
Andrew Luck to be taken by the Indianapolis Colts?
With the Colts loss yesterday to the Jaguars they guaranteed the first pick in April’s draft. They are certain to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the pick, but what will happen to Peyton Manning? There has already been tons of speculation that Manning will ask to be released to avoid a season of scrutiny over playing time for Luck and himself. Where Manning will play next year will be a major story to follow throughout the off season.New York Giants Win NFC East Division
Sunday night’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants was a winner take all scenario that saw Elli Manning and company continue their explosive play on their way to a 31-14 win over the Cowboys. Manning was exceptional once again, but the real star was Giants receiver Victor Cruz who had 6 receptions for 178 yards, including a 70 yard touchdown. The Giants will now host the Atlanta Falcons next weekend.
Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos win the AFC South Division
Despite an awful performance by Tim Tebow in a 7-3 loss yesterday to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Denver Broncos still managed to clinch their division when the Raiders failed to beat the Chargers. All eye’s will be on Tebow next Sunday when he takes on the Pittsburgh Steelers in his first taste of playoff football. If Tebow plays like he did yesterday against the Chiefs pedestrian defense
he could be in for a really long day against one of the leagues best units in Pittsburgh.
Backup quarterback Matt Flynn sets Packers single game passing record
Yesterday the Green Bay Packers chose to rest some of their starters during their season finale against the Detroit Lions. The main face that was missing in the huddle was star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. However, backup quarterback Matt Flynn didn’t miss a beat for the Pack and threw for a record setting 480 yards and 6 touchdown passes in the win.
Flynn was fantastic and being that he will be a free agent in March he is sure to get paid by a team looking for starting quarterback. Flynn will be a very interesting name to follow when free agency opens.