Tag: Miami Dolphins

It’s hard to defeat the Chiefs with a loser mentality

Results say Kansas City has way more substance than luck and wild conspiracy theories

By now, we have heard all of the excuses (and conspiracies) for why the Kansas City Chiefs have become the dominant force in the NFL. If it’s not the league telling the officials to be favorable towards the Chiefs, it’s the thirst to keep Kansas City in the spotlight. Everyone knows pop star Taylor Swift, who’s currently the girlfriend of tight end Travis Kelce, brings a whole new audience the NFL might not have otherwise (the Swifties), and the networks have to make sure they get Swift’s reaction to every Kelce catch, adding fuel to the fire of haters everywhere. Regardless of the crazy reasons thrown out to the world of gossip, there’s no denying the results on the field. Kansas City is on the way to their seventh straight appearance in the AFC Championship Game, with a third consecutive Super Bowl title still in play. With that amount of success, there has to be some skill making that happen, and most importantly, consistency in the leadership positions to continue building upon.

Of course, leadership goes filters from the top down, but on the field of play, it helps to have one of the best coaches ever in Andy Reid. Not too long ago, Reid was known as a coach who couldn’t win the “big one” during his days with the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, he’s creeping up on the all-time wins list, securing his 300th when the Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional round last weekend. At quarterback, Kansas City has Patrick Mahomes, who is the best in the league, and like Reid, is becoming one of the best ever at his respective position. Together, Reid and Mahomes have set the foundation for the rest of the roster to be constructed, which is saying a lot considering how quickly people want change when the first sign of adversity hits. One more thing, the Chiefs’ defense has become the strongest part of their team. Math can be a difficult subject, but hall-of-fame head coach, combined with great QB and defense, equals championship formula.

This isn’t breaking news about Kansas City being the standard in the league, but attempting to beat them becomes much tougher when a loser mentality enters the equation. The Texans, after being sent home by the Chiefs, made it clear they felt they were going into the game feeling like they had to beat Kansas City and the officials. There were a couple of controversial calls in regard to contact on Mahomes, but simply put, Houston is not good enough to beat a team on a championship level. When a team goes into something with a built-in excuse, they’re probably already defeated before the game starts. When the inevitable loss happens, the blame goes on everything else besides where it should go, on themselves. The Texans had plenty of opportunities to potentially win the game, but simply didn’t make enough plays. C.J. Stroud being sacked eight times has nothing to do with officiating, and everything to do with the offensive line getting whooped in the trenches. The inability to cover Kelce, who had seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown, falls on a bad defensive game plan letting the Chiefs’ main target get wherever he wanted on the field. All of that gets forgotten in the cesspool of excuse-making, but that’s what happens when people don’t want to face the reality of not being ready for prime competition.

Clearly, being a cooked team isn’t part of the formula to beat Kansas City, but what is? Belief tops the list, but there’s also evidence that says it’s possible. The Cincinnati Bengals were able to come into GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and beat the Chiefs during their run to the Super Bowl in the 2021-’22 season. Big picture says Kansas City has the championship rings for the last two seasons, but a deeper dive says a few plays could have literally altered history. In the 2022 run, their margins of victory were seven (Jacksonville Jaguars), three (Bengals) and three (Eagles), respectively. 2023 was more of the same. After beating the Miami Dolphins 26-7 in a rare wild card appearance, the wins were by three (Buffalo Bills), seven (Baltimore Ravens) and three (San Francisco 49ers). In other words, the Chiefs haven’t been an unbeatable freight train that blows out everyone who steps on the field with them. More often than not, teams have chances to make the money plays, but Kansas City beats them to the punch.

So here we are, in the NFL’s version of the Final Four, and we’re asking the same question we have for years about anyone having what it takes to dethrone the Chiefs. The Bills will get another shot Sunday evening, and they believe the team they’re bringing to Kansas City this time is the best equipped for the task. The mentality alone give them a better chance than Houston ever had, and belief is a powerful thing. Something else that probably won’t be heard when Buffalo’s players get interviewed leading up to the game is built-in excuses. Whether they can break through Chiefs Kingdom or not is another question, but if the Bills lose, it won’t be because the belief wasn’t there. Losing is never an easy thing to deal with, but having a loser mentality before stepping onto the field makes it worse. That’s something the Texans have to face, and if they stay with the status quo, it’s difficult to see where they can get past winning the AFC South.

Broncos have only themselves to blame for Wilson debacle

Things were destined for failure once Denver decided to trade for the beleaguered QB

In football, it’s no secret everything is centered around who a squad has playing the quarterback position. When this assessment is seen or heard, laughter is what comes to me at times, because this sport is the ultimate team game that needs so many moving parts to come together. At any rate, QB has become arguably the most important position in all of sports, and who’s there could be the difference between a team winning or losing at championship levels. In the summer of 2022, the Denver Broncos felt they had assembled a roster ready to compete for a Super Bowl title, and quarterback was the missing piece to their puzzle. With that in mind, the Broncos decided to go all-in on their search, and Russell Wilson was identified as the man who could lead the franchise back to the promised land.

Knowing my personal feelings are not important for this article, I could go on and on about how much I disagreed with this move. I never thought Wilson was a QB who could put a team on his back and bring titles home. It’s understood he won a championship with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013, but the identity of that particular squad was a strong running game (Marshawn Lynch) and a great defense led by the “Legion of Boom” secondary (Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas among others). When the Seahawks decided to give more responsibility to Wilson, there were moments where the QB played at an elite level, but at the end, Seattle never made it past the NFC divisional playoff round since the 2014 season (the fateful Malcolm Butler interception in SB XLIX). After 2021, it was apparent Wilson’s time in the Pacific Northwest had run short, and the Seahawks brass, namely head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider, were open for business. Now, it was just a matter of who was willing to trade with them and acquire the QB. This is where Denver comes back into the story.

Let’s not forget the Broncos felt they were a quarterback away from truly being championship contenders, and getting Wilson was seen as a significant upgrade from the combined play of Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock. Therefore, Denver decided to do a deal with Seattle, where Wilson would come to the Mile High City in exchange for the 2022 and 2023 first- and second-round picks (and players to include Lock). To show how serious they were in this investment, the Broncos gave Wilson a five-year, $245 million extension (There was a season left on the four-year, $140 million contract signed with the Seahawks in 2019). In the NFL, the trend is to do what’s possible to win right now, even if it means getting rid of future assets. What Denver said was they were good enough to win right now and in the future, and Wilson was the man who would lead them there. As everyone knows by now, those dreams haven’t come close to becoming a reality.

2022 was a nightmarish season for the Broncos, finishing 5-12 in a campaign that saw first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett get fired before the finale. As for Wilson, the argument could be made for the QB taking a step back from the 7-10 record in 2021. Everyone knows the quarterback probably gets too much credit and/or blame, depending on the final tally, but if that’s the standard, there wasn’t much good Wilson brought to Denver. If anything, it was drama, from reports of teammates not getting along with him, to his rumored accommodation of having his own office. Yes, all of the off-field stuff matters to an extent, but on the field, Wilson looked like a player who has seen his best days. In a word, washed was a common term to describe his play, as he threw 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 games. Needless to say, changes were in store for the Broncos, and Sean Payton was brought in to steady the ship at head coach. Things started off ugly this season, with the team beginning 1-5 (which includes giving up 70 points to the Miami Dolphins in Week 3). To their credit, Denver recovered to give themselves a puncher’s chance in the AFC playoff picture, but after a disappointing 26-23 loss at home to the New England Patriots on Christmas Eve, hope was all but lost. Soon after, Payton would come out with the announcement Wilson was being benched for the final two games, saying they needed a spark to win. So the man of choice to replace Wilson is Jarrett Stidham (sounds suspect), and now, the stage is set for an offseason mess.

Thinking logically, it’s probably fair to say Stidham isn’t giving the Broncos a better chance of winning than Wilson. At the same time, all indications say the squad is looking at the contract they gave to Wilson, and are seeing a huge mistake based off the results of the last two seasons. Apparently, Denver wanted the QB to adjust his contract, or risk being benched, which happened after the Broncos’ playoff hopes took that deafening blow from the defeat to the Patriots. In other words, this rocky marriage looks like it’s headed for a messy end, and Denver is about to take a nice-sized cap hit if and when they decide to cut Wilson (unless they can find someone to trade with). Clearly, the return on investment hasn’t been matched on the field, but this whole situation could have been easily avoided if the Broncos didn’t fall victim to the vaunted quarterback chase. For this debacle, Denver should look at themselves in the mirror if they want to place blame, and because of this move, the franchise might have lost a few years in a supposed championship window that could have been a mirage all along.

Three teams that could emerge as Super Bowl contenders

They might not grab the attention right now, but a different story could be written before too long

As the NFL season prepares to kick off Thursday night, it’s time for one more projection in a land that’s flooded with them. In the AFC, most are good with saying the Kansas City Chiefs (defending Super Bowl champion), Cincinnati Bengals or Buffalo Bills will be the conference representative in Las Vegas when February’s league showcase comes around. As for the NFC, it’s the Philadelphia Eagles (conference champs from last season), San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys who are the favorites. While it’s not out of the ordinary to hear these six teams mentioned amongst the favorites, it’s almost inevitable a squad that’s under the radar will rise to be in the mix. That’s what this article is all about, finding those squads that could be surprises, and here are three that might be fitted for the crown.

In the AFC East, there’s a lot of hype surrounding the Bills and New York Jets (with the addition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers), but the Miami Dolphins shouldn’t be an afterthought. Of course, a lot of what the Dolphins do depends on the health of QB Tua Tagovailoa, but if he’s right, the offense is as potent as there is in the league. Tagovailoa is complimented by an explosive duo to throw to in wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, good running backs in Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. and a good offensive line that continues to improve. While there aren’t many questions about the offense, the defense is a different story. Knowing this, Miami did what they could to address the doubts during the offseason, bringing in Vic Fangio as the defensive coordinator and trading with the Los Angeles Rams to get cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The latter, combined with fellow DB Xavien Howard, looks like one of the top pairs of corners on paper, while the former has been an architect of some of the best defenses in recent memory. If the defense can be on par with the offense, the Dolphins will be dangerous to deal with.

Moving over to the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers, even after all of these years, can’t be overlooked. Being objective, this division has the potential to beat each other up, but the Steelers look like they can do their share of inflicting pain. The defense, led by linebacker T.J. Watt and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, is traditionally a top unit in the league. The offensive line is a major question mark (perhaps THE major one). If they can protect second-year QB Kenny Pickett, look for him to take a significant step towards being the man in Pittsburgh for years to come. There’s not a lack of weapons in the Steel City for Pickett to spread the ball around to. Running back Najee Harris is one of the best all-around ball carriers in the NFL, and for pass-catchers, wide receivers Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, along with tight end Pat Freiermuth, can combine to give the Steelers some much-needed explosiveness to compliment their stout defense. It also helps to have Mike Tomlin, who hasn’t had a losing season since he took over in 2007, as the head coach. There is a chance Pittsburgh can get caught up in the web of the AFC North, but if they do emerge, look out.

Heading over to the NFC, how about the Washington Commanders? Sure, they have the Eagles, Cowboys and New York Giants to contend with in the NFC East, but the Commanders have the talent to play with anyone. The keys to Washington’s car has been turned over to Sam Howell, the quarterback who was selected in the fifth-round of the 2022 draft, and the team hopes he can provide stability to a position that has seen so much turnover in past seasons. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin and running back Brian Robinson Jr. are among the skill players who should help give Howell support through the tough moments. As for the defensive line, it’s possible the best group could be in the nation’s capital. Defensive end Chase Young is ready to return and join a group that features fellow DE Montez Sweat and defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. This group can stop the run, while generating pressure without help from blitzing. While there is something to be excited about on the field, it’s off the field where the most excitement might be. Billionaire Josh Harris has replaced Dan Snyder as the owner, and to say the air has cleared since that finalization would be an understatement. The hope is under Harris, the team can stop being mentioned as part of investigations into a toxic environment and workplace misconduct, which was constantly a topic under Snyder. For the first time in a while, there is true hope the Commanders can make some noise, and FedEx Field will actually be a true home-field advantage. A change in leadership could be enough to add two or three more wins, which would probably be the difference between making and missing the playoffs.

This wasn’t easy to pick three teams that could be sneaky Super Bowl contenders, because there are many who could fit this mold. Someone else’s list could be completely different from this one, and chances are a compelling case could be made for it. Just remember when it comes to these choices, the Dolphins, Steelers and Commanders are all picked to finish third or fourth in their respective divisions (according to most oddsmakers). The talent on all of these squads can be matched with anyone. It’s just a question whether or not everything can come together at the right time. If it does, don’t be surprised if one, or all, of these teams are in the running for title contention come December and January.

Same overhype, and probably same results coming for Jets

There’s a lot of noise coming from New York, but chances are it will be just that

It’s getting close to the start of another NFL season, and with that comes the renewed hope for teams and their millions of fans, the belief that says this could be the year where a Super Bowl victory parade can be seen in their city. Of course, there are some places that deserve the hype more than others, but a few that is going to get bulks of conversation simply because of where they reside. The New York Jets are one of those clubs, and if they weren’t in the nation’s top media market, it would be hard to imagine them receiving the hype they get every season. It’s not like their play on the field gives reason for conversation (unless it’s staying in purgatory). The Jets haven’t made the playoffs since 2010, and have had seven last place finishes in the AFC East since their last postseason appearance. Coming into this season, there’s actually championship talk centering around New York, and with hype machines ESPN and HBO’s “Hard Knocks” driving the bandwagon, that talk is going nowhere fast. Last time it’s been checked, no team has ever won a title on paper, and here are reasons why the Jets might stay that way when the season is finished.

Before diving into those reasons, let’s be frank by saying there’s more cases for belief than any other season in memory. New York has a legit quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, replacing Zach Wilson as the starter. They have a defense (led by Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner), who was one of the top units last season, returning the majority of their players. The team even have some shiny toys as weapons (with Offensive ROY Garrett Wilson among them) for Rodgers to throw to. With the Jets, the roster looks like one that can compete with any in the NFL, but the offensive line is a worrisome spot that could derail any dreams of glory days. Last season, New York quarterbacks were sacked 42 times. The QBs that were back there, whether it was Wilson, Mike White (now with the Dolphins) or Chris Streveler, weren’t that good. That’s no secret, but with the protection they were getting, there aren’t many quarterbacks who would thrive under those conditions. Wilson, in particular, has more issues on his own, but he was far from the only problem. Yes, Rodgers should be a significant upgrade at arguably the most important position in all of sports, but the offensive line better be upgraded along with him. If not, a record hovering around .500 could once again be in the Jets’ future. No QB likes getting knocked down, and it’s not uncommon for other people start getting blamed for it, especially if it’s Rodgers telling the story. When New York City is the place the drama unfolds, it’s a totally different beast. Either Rodgers gets protection, or it’s going to be open season in the tabloids.

Of course, nothing happens if things that can be controlled aren’t taken care of, but even if that does happen, there’s a lot of competition in the aforementioned AFC East that could eliminate New York. The Buffalo Bills, who have won the division the last three season, are still the favorites to win the crown once again. The Miami Dolphins, coming off of a playoff appearance a year ago, look to be formidable with an explosive offense and improvements on defense (at least through transactions). As for the New England Patriots, they’re never an easy team to face, and they seem to beat the Jets no matter when they play. Long story short, if New York wants to become the team to beat, it’s going to be tough to get through division battles alone.

Let’s say the Jets are to make it out of the AFC East as champions. If that happens, the conference as a whole doesn’t lack for quality teams that look to be in the running for a Super Bowl berth. The defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, won’t give the title up easily. The Cincinnati Bengals made it to at least the AFC Championship Game two seasons in a row. In Jacksonville, the Jaguars are young and hungry. The Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Los Angeles Chargers also figure to make some noise. New York can turn out to be a good team, but how much better is a significant question. They won seven games last year, and their win total odds are set at +9.5. Even if they go over, it still might not be enough to make it to the playoffs, not because the Jets aren’t formidable, but because there are other teams that may turn out to be better.

This isn’t an effort to rain on the optimism for fans in the city that never sleeps and beyond. It’s merely a caution, warning against getting blinded by the hype. New York has a good roster, and it’s easy to believe they could be ready to win right now with the addition of Rodgers. Of course, we’ll start getting answers soon, but don’t be surprised if the Bills win the AFC East, and it’s a struggle for the Jets to make the playoffs as a wild card. The conference is loaded with good teams, and hype machines are known to set people up for heartache. Consider this an effort to help bring realistic expectations to the table, so if (and probably when) the Jets get grounded, there should be no one saying there wasn’t people seeing things with clear eyes. The buyer beware sign is out, and now, it’s time to see how the bandwagon looks after each passing game.

Looking at myself after seeing the Damar Hamlin injury

The tendency is to look at things one way or another, but it’s okay to embrace multiple perspectives

Coming into this first week of the new year, I had a plan to write on this blog, mostly because it’s been a while since the last article. The topic was going to be about delusional NFL franchises who thought they were Super Bowl contenders. That topic might be ready for another day, but on this occasion, I want to talk about life. There will be elements of sports sprinkled in, but this is more about a deep dive into opinions, emotions and the way we process different events. Before we start having the tough conversation, let it be known this might not be the cleanest copy. This is about getting thoughts on paper, and we’ll see where it takes us.

On Monday night, I, like many in this country and around the world, watched in horror and shocked silence as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field from cardiac arrest in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. At the time, I was actually working as an associate editor for a sports website, and of course, we had to bang out the articles. You do what you can, because it’s part of the job, but I can tell you my mind was probably not with it. After my shift, which ended at midnight, I tried to go to sleep, but couldn’t because all I wanted to do was get a report on Hamlin the man, not just the football player. Even my mom, who’s a causal football fan, called to ask me if I was watching what was going on. My mind, my thoughts, my heart, everything was fixated on the hope of good news for the condition of Hamlin.

As I woke up Tuesday, I had no idea when I was going to write on the blog, because I didn’t feel it was right to. I knew I had to go to work, but it felt wrong to write about anything else. The last thing I wanted to do is seem insensitive by not following the Hamlin situation. It did help I was able to write about some of the reaction from legendary players, such as Former Bills and hall-of-fame quarterback Jim Kelly, but even with that, there was something in me that was missing as far as the passion I normally have for talking about sports. I guess the only way I can explain it is I was able to take the emotion out of it, and focus on the job. After all, that is what we’re told to do, keep our head down and continue to push through at times when we’re might not be at optimal performance levels.

Speaking of pushing through, I would be lying if I said I knew the Bills-Bengals game would be postponed, and later cancelled. This is the NFL we’re talking about, and we all know how money-driven and spotlight-hungry the league has shown to be. As catastrophic and horrifying as Hamlin’s injury was, I did think they were going to treat him, take him to the hospital, and the game would continue soon after. I understand if someone would call me morbid for these thoughts, but before the criticism comes, ask yourself this. How many times have we seen players have gruesome injuries during games, and there wasn’t even a thought of that game being postponed? Look at what happened to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa earlier this year, also in a game against the Bengals. Personally, I still can’t shake the vision of Tagovailoa’s fingers seizing up from the effects of a concussion. That, like Hamlin’s injury, was scary to watch, but the paramedics came on the field, handled Tagovailoa with extreme care, and took him to the hospital. The game went on without a thought of suspending it. I’m old enough to remember watching the moment when Detroit Lions linebacker Reggie Brown suffered a spinal cord injury in a game against the New York Jets in 1997, and Brown, like Hamlin, needed CPR to bring him back to life. Again, the game kept going without the thought of postponement.

I’m not here to compare injuries or situations. I’m just stating as scary as Hamlin’s injury was to witness, this is far from the first time athletes have been in danger of dying on the field of play. With all of that being said, I have no issues with the Bills-Bengals being cancelled because through all of the rough moments mentioned, we (myself included) have to remember these players are human beings, not unemotional robots. It can be easy to forget because players are painted as heroes, and they are capable of doing superhuman things while in action. There are some professions where you spend more time with co-workers than you do with your families. Bonds get developed over time, and they mature into brotherhoods (or sisterhoods). When one of those brothers or sisters go down, it’s an mental and emotional blow that’s hard to recover from. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see Buffalo was in no state of mind to continue that game, and it was refreshing to see the NFL take a break from their money machine to acknowledge the human element.

Over the week, the focus went to what happens for the rest of the season, and the first two games since the Hamlin injury were played Saturday. A part of me still says all of that is irrelevant at this point, but two things brought me back to that conversation. The first is the positive reports about Hamlin’s condition, and hearing one of the first questions he asks doctors was whether or not his team won. The second is remembering what sports is about at its core. This is one of the few places where people from different backgrounds and beliefs can come together for a common bond. It’s also where we go to help heal after difficult times. Meanwhile, tributes continue to rain down upon Hamlin and his family, which shows there’s still care in the world, and lots of it.

So all of the discussions about the season, and how to feel about league decisions regarding the AFC Championship Game will keep going. As a journalist, I get it because I live in the 24/7 news cycle. This is just me sharing a deep dive into my feelings, because I believe it’s a conversation worth having. Emotions run high all of the time, and mine’s was all over the place through the week. So I waited until I was ready to share on this forum. Maybe my next article will get back to normal, but no promises. I’ll just leave you with this. While we put a lot on sports, we have to remember they are part of life, not life itself, and the humans playing it have feelings just like the rest of us. My hope is we, and the league keeps that in mind, because a little heart and compassion can go a long way. Don’t worry…I’m doing what I can to follow my own advice.

Three tips to keep sanity through sports seasons

Let’s prevent ourselves from going viral for the wrong reasons.

Before we dive in, I think it’s fair to acknowledge we all have things we are passionate about. Maybe it’s writing, reading, traveling or working out. It could also be entertainment, business or politics that gets the emotions going. One thing that’s unique about sports is it qualifies as one of the few places where all of these differences (from multiple backgrounds and viewpoints) can unite for the common goal of rooting for one team to win. All of those passions are carried over to the stadium, arena or whatever device you’re watching the game from, and similar to other walks of life, those feelings can drive people to irrational thoughts (just talking about sports in this case). Have no fear, because yours truly is here to give three tips on how to stay sane when watching your favorite team or player navigate through the roller-coaster ride called the regular season. The focus is on the NFL, but these can help through all of the other sports as well.

The first tip is to be realistic with expectations. I know every team has the goal of winning a championship when training camps begin, but there are squads who are nowhere close to achieving that goal. For example, the Jacksonville Jaguars had the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft for the past two years. While they may have building blocks for the future, they’re probably not ready to compete for titles. The Dallas Cowboys (and their fans) believe they can win the Super Bowl every year, but how long has it been since they even made it to the big game in February (over a quarter of a century, but I’m not counting)? On the other hand, the Buffalo Bills have been knocking on the door, and look like the favorite to win it all this year. There aren’t too many people I know who are more optimistic than I am, but realism has to set in at some point. As a San Francisco 49ers fan, I know there’s a chance they can win a title, but Jimmy Garoppolo is the ultimate wild card at quarterback. Therefore, I’m always ready for the back-breaking interception if and when it comes. So if fans are being realistic, the sanity can still remain. In saying that, it doesn’t mean the pain lessens during losses.

Secondly, remember regular seasons are marathons, not sprints. Overreactions from the hot take media runs rampant through every forum, but regardless of what is said or heard, no team has ever won a championship after the first week of the year, in September, or during October. The Baltimore Ravens didn’t see their season come to an end by blowing a large lead to the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. The New York Giants probably aren’t going far into the playoffs, even though they have a surprising 4-1 record. It’s fun to get into debates with family and friends, and easy to get lost with all of the opinions and data, but understand things have to play out over time. So if there’s a team you thought could make some strides in the right direction, but it hasn’t worked out that way to this point, give it time before jumping off the bandwagon commences. If there is a player who is hyped up to be the best thing since sliced bread (Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert comes to mind), can he at least lead a team to the playoffs before we rush him to the Pro Football Hall of Fame? All I’m saying is things have to develop. It’s about the big picture, not the small prism of what happens in a game.

Finally, keep in mind sports is part of life, not life itself. It’s understood there is a lot of money involved because of the gambling craze, but at its core, games are supposed to be fun. If you are going to gamble, please do it responsively, and let’s stay in one piece. Too many times, fans have fought each other because of game results (Philadelphia Eagles fans in particular. There was a jail at old Veterans Stadium after all). As much as we might want to think we’re part of the squad, we don’t actually play for them. Life continues, and there’s no reason to make social media clips showing people burning jerseys, or smashing televisions they spent their hard earned money on. Yes, fan is short for fanatic, but we can make sure to stay sensible through it all.

So there you have it, the three tips for someone to stay sane during regular seasons. I’m not different from the next person when it comes to passion for a team. In today’s world, it’s easy to let those emotions bubble over when our team loses, especially with the real life issues we have to face in our daily lives. A loss can send people over the edge, but sports is supposed to be an outlet from those issues. There’s still a way for us to root for our teams, sensibly. If these tips are followed, you’ll ensure calmness, and save a few limbs from breaking furniture in frustration. By the way…I’m not a psychologist, I just play one on my blog.

Props to these teams for not tanking and being who they are

It’s no secret a lot has changed as time moves on, and the world of sports isn’t any different. Gone are the days where players and teams competed every single night, regardless of the chances they had of winning, and here are the days where we wanted to reward people for giving up. It’s to the point where you see full articles describing tanking (a word used to describe being the best at being garbage) as an art. To be honest, it’s downright sad how we can even entertain such a thing, but there are examples of teams who still put competing over throwing a season (or three) away for draft picks who aren’t guaranteed to turn fortunes around anyway. These teams, two from the NFL and one from the NBA, get a standing ovation for coming out and being who they are, professionals who get paid a good amount of money to play sports.

The first team I want to applaud is the Miami Dolphins. It’s definitely understood the Dolphins finished the year at 5-11, but when we consider how they started the year, that record should be looked as wildly successful. Miami began the year losing games by scores of 59-10, 43-0 and 31-6. Combine the awful beginning with the fact the Dolphins were stockpiling draft picks, and there was talk about this team being the worst in league history. Somewhere along the line, professional pride kicked in, and having Miami on the schedule wasn’t looked at as an easy win like it was a few months ago. To top off the season, the Dolphins went on the road and defeated the defending (now former) champion New England Patriots. Much credit goes to head coach Brian Flores and his staff for having the team ready to play, where it would have been easy to do what everyone else says they should do, which is tank. All of a sudden, a bleak future suddenly looks bright in south Florida.

This may sound a little crazy considering how I have crushed this team time and time again, but I have to give some credit to the New York Jets. While I still believe the Jets get way too much airtime to be an overall trash product, they actually rebounded from a slow start to win three of their final four games and finish with a 7-9 record. I guess we would have to see if momentum carries on into next season, but maybe (just maybe) head coach Adam Gase might have a clue after all. Quarterback Sam Darnold had an okay year if you take away having mononucleosis and seeing ghosts on the field, and one would think he’ll continue to improve with more time. I don’t give the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets props often, so maybe this could be considered a weak moment from me. I’m here to say it’s not, and New York could be tough to deal with next season if everything comes together.

For the final team that gets credit for competing, I’m going to the NBA and saluting the Oklahoma City Thunder. Going into this past summer, the Thunder had the vision of building a team around their dynamic duo of guard Russell Westbrook and forward Paul George. When the free agency period began, George demanded a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers to join forces with reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, and was dealt soon after. Westbrook was then traded to the Houston Rockets, and the rebuilding project was suddenly staring OKC’s front office in the face. Quietly, the Thunder have developed a nice mix of youth and experience who give hell to the league’s elite, and they are at the seventh spot in the Western Conference. As a fan of OKC, I definitely didn’t see this coming, and maybe they don’t make the playoffs at season’s end, but the fact they’re playing this well after such a shift in direction says a lot head coach Billy Donovan and about the organization.

It’s good to see these three teams compete at a high level, but I admit writing this story is a sad case. One would think the least these athletes can do is go out and compete, but it’s not the case these days. We live in an era where throwing away seasons to get high draft picks is encouraged and participation trophies are given out as charity. For these teams to ignore all of that noise should be commended because it sends a positive message. None of these moments are promised, and we don’t know what tomorrow is bringing us. This is why we have to make the most of what we have today, and Dolphins, Jets and Thunder are examples of that characteristic.