Sez Me …
For NFL teams, the long and winding drive has reached the halfway point of their destination. For some in the caravan, the ride is over.
There are no Rosie Ruizes involved in this marathon. If you can’t run, you can’t hide.
Anyway, League “insiders” are handing out midseason awards as if they were M&Ms on Oct. 31.
So why not me? I may not be an insider, but I’m something.
Today, let’s concentrate on MVP.
This is the most misunderstood award, because it doesn’t have to go to the best player, but almost always to a quarterback. All too often people say MVP should go to the QB whose team wouldn’t be nearly as good without him.
So I ask, what team would be better without their star quarterback? Not one.
Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, who already has won it twice, is the halftime MVP leader. He shouldnt be. The Ravens have lost three games and were a few horrible officiating blunders in Thursdays game against Cincinnati game from making it four. No denying his greatness, but he’s not winning a Super Bowl with that defense.
Detroit’s Jared Goff is having a better year on a better team. He has been amazingly accurate, and the Lions may be the best because of him. But he’s not MVP. Not yet.
OK, let’s stop here. The MVP is Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs, while not overwhelming, are unbeaten. And, while their defense is very good, they are what they are because of Mahomes. Because he wins games.
Too many teams make the mistake of forgetting who he is. The Chiefs are down quite often in fourth quarters, but coaches who have no idea of clock management forget their opponent. It happens all the time. It happened last week in their game vs. Tampa.
The Bucs, after scoring a late touchdown and down by a point, chose not to go for two and played for overtime. Perfect. The game went to OT, the Chiefs won the toss, and Mahomes won the game.
To me, the MVP should be MDP, Most Dangerous Player. And there is no one close to being as dangerous as Mahomes … when the game is on the line. If he gets behind, and the game is in reach, he’s going to be the first across the finish line. It doesn’t hurt when opposing coaches continue to give him opportunities.
They give out an Offensive Player of the Year award. Maybe that’s Jackson. Maybe it’s Goff, who’s having the cleanest year in the history of his position.
The Chiefs have won three Super Bowls, two straight. And while Mahomes hasn’t been particularly great in all of them, he’s the reason why they got there.
I hate the way the Chiefs do business and how they get most of the calls. That’s how it is, and that’s a league office problem.
Mahomes is the greatest coaches’ problem, a problem the brains and nerds continue to — for whatever stupid macho reasons — ignore. It’s nonsense. It’s inexcusable.
“Oh, our defense was playing well. We thought we could stop them.”
No, you couldn’t. You can’t. You haven’t. There is a huge sample size saying otherwise.
Patrick Mahomes is and has been MVP. Until he isn’t. …
Defensive Player of the Half-Year? T.J. Watt. …
John Harbaugh wanted to give game balls to officials who missed so many calls at the end of Ravens-Bengals, but the NFL told him he’d have to do it secretly, by mail, not in the locker room.
How much longer can this crap go on? The Zebras cannot continue to decide outcomes of games. …
I have a serious idea. Every play in the final two minutes automatically is reviewed. …
The Bengals went for two. Smart, not wanting to give the ball back to Jackson. …
How do you miss a facemask on a QB? The referees watch this stuff. It’s what they do. …
Al Michaels on officials calls: “Too many games end this way. They just do.” …
Ja’Marr Chase was asked if he was open in the end zone on that final two-point try by Joe Burrow. “I’m always open.” He wasn’t. …
Buffalo’s new NFL stadium will be ready by 2026. San Diego? It’s possible our new Ocean Beach Pier will be done by then. …
It remains a mystery, but, nevertheless, Travis Kelce will retire as he was born. Uncovered. …
If you noticed the what-could-have-been-very-important no-call on the Chiefs right tackle vs. the Bucs, and the phony face mask call on Tampa that wasn’t close, then you know. K.C. gets away with stuff. And, in that it doesn’t involve money, the NFL doesn’t care that outcomes are affected.. …
It’s nuts. The Titans gave the Chiefs DeAndre Hopkins for a fifth-round pick? Why does the opposition continue to make K.C. better? Isn’t the officiating enough? …
Asked if he was surprised Todd Bowles didn’t go for two, Andy Reid said: “No, but I’m glad he didn’t.” …
Rams receiver Puka Nacua cries before every game. So does Mike McCarthy. Before and after. …
A rumor being batted around is that the Mets will pay Juan Soto more than the $700 million the Bums gave Shohei Ohtani. This officially will make Soto the second-most overrated baseball player in history. Just behind Derek Jeter. …
Derek Carr has become the first NFL quarterback to lose to all 31 teams? Make it 32. That doesn’t include the times he’s beaten himself. …
The Saints have fired head coach Dennis Allen. Again. They one day will bring him back. He’s the Billy Martin of football. …
Did Detroit safety Deion Branch deserve to be excused from the game for that helmet-to-helmet in Green Bay? Naw. NFL being extreme. …
Goff has completed at least his first 10 passes in four straight games. Even in a Green Bay downpour. Never heard of such a thing. …
Saquon Barkley’s 180-degree backward hurdle was successful, my favorite football play of the season. He’s from the University of Outer Space. …
The Aztecs getting their butts kicked at home vs. mighty New Mexico? Just a horrible loss. Whatever they’re working on isn’t working. Aztec Slow. …
Penalties? The Aztecs play flag football. …
How about fair-catching a Lobos punt at the 2? Montezuma got Montezuma’s Revenge. …
RIP, Quincy Jones. A genius. A giant. Quincy Joneses never are replaced. …
Marty Caswell, here’s to a deserved new gig. ..
If only all of Steve Garvey’s kids voted for him. But maybe they all live out of state. …
No chance The Garv threw the election. He never could throw anything. …
Joel Embiid got a three-day suspension for shoving a Philadelphia columnist. Mega-million athletes never have gone after me. Much to the chagrin of my lawyer, and one of the reasons why I still have to work. …
Stephen A. Smith says if he knew he’d have a chance he’d run for president. So he doesn’t have that to worry about. But, just think, in that he continuously screams, there would be no problem with campaign microphones. …
Making the rounds on Unsocial Media: What borders on stupidity? Mexico and Canada.