Since many of the employees at Philly’s Best actually are from Philadelphia, I asked who they were rooting for in the Super Bowl. Considering that the Steelers are cross-state rivals but the Cardinals defeated the Eagles to make it to the big game, this decision could very well be a crisis of conscience.

Unequivocally, the answer was Arizona.

Our own P.K. is originally from Philly–P.K., do you agree?

• February 4, 2009 -- Super Bowl Penalty Flags (6)
• February 2, 2009 -- Super Bowl Recap (5)
• February 1, 2009 -- Fierce And Nerdy: Super Bowl Preview (0)
• January 30, 2009 -- Super Bowl 43: Punditry Schmunditry (3)
• January 16, 2009 -- NFL Playoff Picking (3)

I think most NFL coaches deserve to be fired.

This may sound like a Monday morning quarterback rant on steroids, but week in and week out I am amazed by some of the mistakes they make.

I have no problem with a coach who has a losing record. That is not grounds for firing. And I appreciate that NFL coaches have a monumental job keeping a group of athletes focused, motivated to destroy their bodies, and on occasion out of jail.

I simply cannot believe they can make such blunders with clock management.

You get paid millions of dollars to win a football game. Quite often this comes down to running out the clock, or getting a field goal team on for a kick. It seems like every week I watch a coach blow this. (And I don’t even watch a lot of games)

Just last week, we saw the Steelers miss an opportunity to get a field goal before the end of the first half. I’m not sure who made that call to throw to the middle of the field, but if Baltimore didn’t get that stupid penalty on their last punt return (starting them at the 15 instead of the 40) and avoid that game breaking interception, that game could easily have ended 17-16 Ravens. Mike Tomlin would have had a long off season thinking about not getting that field goal.

What about Ken Whisenhunt trying to run out the clock at the end of their victory against the Eagles? He runs three plays. On the first one, Warner nearly trips and fumbles on the hand off. They don’t get the first down and end up punting with a few seconds left.

I believe it wasn’t even necessary.

Instead, have Warner go back and just wait a few seconds before kneeling down. Hell, have him run backwards ten yards three times. It would have successfully run out the clock without them ever needing to punt. That is a lot less risk than a long snap, a punt, and the possibility of a penalty on a Hail Mary.

Okay, one more.

The week before, the coach of the Titans (vs. the Ravens) didn’t use one of his timeouts early enough. He could have saved 40 seconds by calling the time out while the Ravens had the ball, instead of saving maybe 10 seconds calling it while he had the ball on his last series. Would those 30 seconds have gotten them down the field? Who knows, but you’ve had your team busting their butts all game, and as a coach you deserve to give them every chance to win. I’m amazed how often coaches don’t.

I realize it might be a little easier for me sitting back on my sofa to make these assessments. The coach is trying to get a lot of things done. It’s tough. Sometimes you have a wide receiver screaming in your ear about something or other. Maybe you’re thinking about how you’re going to dodge the Gatorade shower (haven’t we had enough of these?). This does make it difficult to multiply the number of downs by 40 seconds (plus the number of seconds you can spend per play).

So, rather than complain further, I’ve decided it’s time to do something about this. I’m going to market a little device coaches can attach to their wrists. You enter the amount of time left, the number of timeouts your opponents have, and your field position, and it will tell you the best way to run out the clock. It even takes into account the 2 minute warning! (We consulted a rocket scientist for this one.)

You can order one now for $19.95 at http://www.ukankoachinthenfl.com .  Act now and we’ll throw in free the “Challenge Flag Cost Benefit analysis software.”

Not a bad investment to save your million dollar a year coaching job in my opinion.

ukankoachinthenfl.com gear is copyright/trademark Allan Gross 2009. All rights reserved.

P.S. If you went to the website, then you really can be a coach in the NFL.

• January 12, 2009 -- Divisional Round Dish (0)
• January 16, 2009 -- NFL Playoff Picking (3)
• February 1, 2009 -- The Big Question (0)
• December 14, 2008 -- Playoff Picture Still Murky (0)
• February 4, 2009 -- Super Bowl Penalty Flags (6)

I picked the Eagles over the Giants based on my belief Eli Manning is the most overrated quarterback in the game. Give me Plaxico as a target and I’ll get him the ball. Eli’s arm is mediocre and he has the face of the spoiled kid who would pout if he didn’t get to play quarterback.

I thought the Panthers were the best team vying for the Lombardi Trophy, but the Cardinals stepped up and took the Carolina’s running game away. I kind of thought Warner was over the proverbial hill, but the guy can make a four progression read in 3 seconds.

I called the Pittsburgh game right. San Diego had too many key people hurt to match the Steelers, who finally got a running game going.

Kudos to the Poe Birds for making Tennessee pay dearly for their mistakes—and making my prediction record 2-2 for the divisional round. Johnson’s injury changed the game and Baltimores defense took over. Make no mistake, the Ravens take the ball away. They are not just being given the ball. There is a difference between a running back losing the handle and having a linebacker strip it from his mitts. Either way, Baltimore takes advantage

CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK

Overall I’m 4-4 in my playoff picks so far. I need the next three winners to give myself the title of Prognosticator in Chief. But, it’s much more likely I Dunnosquatus.

The Cardinals were impressive against the Panthners where they never have been–on defense. I’ve got great respect for Andy Reid and Donovan McNab, though. They’ve both persevered through some rough personal and professional problems. I have to go with Philadelphia. The Eagles have been here and tried to do that once in three NFC Championship tilts, but they have seen the promised land. The Red Birds haven’t flown this high in six decades. They do benefit with Whisenhut’s Pittsburgh experience and Warner’s Super Bowl performances. I just don’t think that will be enough to stop the Eagles from blitzing their way to Tampa.

EAGLES 34 CARDINALS 24

I really do hate those Black Birds but, they play great defense. However, a closer look at the Titan game does make me wonder if 17 straight weeks of intense football isn’t taking a toll on the Ravens. Tennessee turned the ball over four times deep in Raven territory. The Titans gained nearly four hundred yards on offense; Collins gouged the Raven’s secondary for 275 yards and the T-Men ran for over a 116.

Baltimore is tired. Of course, they deny it, but I think Lewis and Company will be hard pressed to beat Pittsburgh—with the resurgent Willie parker—on the road, in the cold. Rothlisberger was throwing darts and hitting bullseyes against San Diego.

If the Steelers take care of the ball and stay patient, it’ll be a Keystone State Super Bowl.

STEELERS 24 RAVENS 10

• January 12, 2009 -- Divisional Round Dish (0)
• January 24, 2009 -- U Kan Koach in the NFL (.com)! (3)
• February 1, 2009 -- The Big Question (0)
• February 4, 2009 -- Super Bowl Penalty Flags (6)
• February 2, 2009 -- Super Bowl Recap (5)

The Good:

Baltimore Ravens: Live by big plays, die by big plays. Sooner or later takeaways will fail to bail Baltimore out, but once again the Ravens proved the adage that the team that wins the turnover battle wins the game.

Arizona Cardinals: Kurt Warner knows how to party like it’s 1999. I’d love to have been the person who placed bets on the Cards hosting the NFC Championship game.

Philadelphia Eagles: First the Phillies catch the Mets, now the Iggles upend the Giants. The City of Brotherly Love has shown no warmth to the neighbors, err rivals, to the north this year.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Late points and final score aside, the Steel Curtain lives.

The Bad:

Tennessee Titans: The blown play-clock call stinks, but all the blame for losing the game falls on turning over the ball. The Titans had more than enough chance to put this game out of reach.

New York Giants: Who else thinks the MVP of Super Bowl XLII should have been Plaxico Burress? Eli is still the same quarterback he’s always been.

San Diego Chargers: I like Darren Sproles a lot, but Pittsburgh completely shut him down. Could the Bolts have possibly missed LaDainian Tomlinson any more?

The Ugly:

Carolina Panthers: Ouch. Seriously, what else is there to say?

• December 14, 2008 -- Playoff Picture Still Murky (0)
• January 24, 2009 -- U Kan Koach in the NFL (.com)! (3)
• January 16, 2009 -- NFL Playoff Picking (3)
• November 25, 2008 -- EnEfElquality (0)
• February 1, 2009 -- The Big Question (0)

1. Darren Sproles is the best back-up running back in the NFL. Any other team (except for the Vikings) and he would be starting. A healthy LaDainian Tomlinson and Sproles is one of heck of a lethal combination.
2. Yes, he did finally win a Super Bowl ring two years ago, but Peyton Manning remains a great REGULAR season quarterback. Seriously, the voters couldn’t come up with anybody more deserving of the MVP award this year? Manning and the Colts were terrible to start this season.
3. I guess Arizona really was resting up for the playoffs those last miserable weeks of the regular season. Usually limping into the post-season results in first round disaster, but that wasn’t in the Cards.
4. Miami’s 1-15 record last year finally came back to bite them; the lack of playoff experience really showed against Baltimore. Will the Dolphins be able to keep it up next year?
5. The same can be said for Matt Ryan–his brilliant season finally crashed to an end. Unlike the Dolphins, I have no doubt he’ll be back.
6. Donovan McNabb’s benching may have been the best thing possible for both the Eagles quarterback and Philadelphia’s season.
7. Would Indianapolis have been favored if San Diego did haven’t the worst of luck their first two games and were a 10-6 team instead of an 8-8 one?

What do you think?

• January 12, 2009 -- Divisional Round Dish (0)
• January 24, 2009 -- U Kan Koach in the NFL (.com)! (3)
• January 16, 2009 -- NFL Playoff Picking (3)
• December 14, 2008 -- Playoff Picture Still Murky (0)
• November 25, 2008 -- EnEfElquality (0)

Beyond that spark of life, the Giants were frequently penalized; Burress’s replacement, Domenik Hixond dropped an almost sure touchdown on a bomb from Eli Manning; and the New York offense didn’t put any points on the board until the final couple minutes of the game. Suspending Burress was the right move for the Giants to make–but one must wonder if they are now second-guessing that decision.

On another note, Saturday Night Live had a great sketch on the Plaxico Burress situation last night. If you missed it, you can check it out here.

• January 12, 2009 -- Divisional Round Dish (0)
• December 3, 2008 -- A Tales of Two Cities (0)
• November 25, 2008 -- EnEfElquality (0)
• January 5, 2009 -- What We Learned From the Wild Card Round (4)
• February 1, 2009 -- The Big Question (0)

While even a one game difference in the standings at this point in the season can be a major obstacle to overcome in the playoff hunt, that level of parity means a vast majority of teams still have a viable chance at the postseason.  Like any season, this year has had both its surprises (the Dolphins) and its disappointments (the Chargers, who probably have been the least lucky team so far this year, and the Packers, who most likely are ruing the decision not to let Brett Favre unretire with them).  Somehow the Broncos, easily the most overrated team in all of the NFL, still have the inside track in the AFC West, despite being exposed numerous times in recent weeks.  Also, somewhat amazingly, the Patriots have kept themselves in the playoff hunt, having at various times this year shown both just how good a quarterback Tom Brady actually is (when he went down with injury) and just how good a coach Bill Belichick is (in developing Matt Cassel while leading his team to the degree of success they’ve managed to achieve without Brady).

What it all comes down to with that many teams still in competition is that the last five weeks of the regular season should be very exciting indeed.

• December 14, 2008 -- Playoff Picture Still Murky (0)
• January 12, 2009 -- Divisional Round Dish (0)
• December 1, 2008 -- December (0)
• November 16, 2008 -- Bizzare Stat of the Week (0)
• November 14, 2008 -- Cassel Comes of Age (0)

All three AP-poll ranked ACC teams lost today.  At least the most overrated conference in college football can take solace in the fact that one of the two Coach’s Poll ranked teams, Boston College, did win.  Can’t wait to see how the ACC is treated when the new rankings are released tomorrow.

Congratulations to Utah for becoming the latest BCS Buster and to Penn State for clinching a berth in the Rose Bowl.  Of course, Utah’s feast is Boise State’s famine.  Despite the Broncos remaining perfect on the season, they are now on the outside looking in due to the inequities of the BCS system, with a woeful ACC team destined to grab a spot rightfully theirs.

• December 9, 2008 -- Football Coaches Have A Sense of Humor (0)
• December 19, 2008 -- Nate’s Most Intriguing Bowl Matchups (2)
• November 2, 2008 -- Bowl Championship Series Big Craziness Shake-up (0)
• January 9, 2009 -- 2008-2009 College Football Wrap-Up (0)
• January 6, 2009 -- Running Up the Score (6)

And you thought the Eagles-Bengals tie was odd enough.

• January 12, 2009 -- Divisional Round Dish (0)
• November 25, 2008 -- EnEfElquality (0)
• February 1, 2009 -- The Big Question (0)
• January 16, 2009 -- NFL Playoff Picking (3)
• January 24, 2009 -- U Kan Koach in the NFL (.com)! (3)