Front Row.com Blog

 The legend of Tim Tebow in college football is one that’s going to stick around for a long time. A couple of BCS National Championships, records galore, and most of all unceasing national attention from the press. So it comes as no surprise that the legions of Florida Gators fans have tuned in to see what Tim Tebow can do in the NFL.

 The Senior Bowl was supposed to be a venue for Tebow to shine. But early reports on Senior Bowl practices gave a hint of trouble and his performance in the Senior Bowl is a clear indication that Tim Tebow has a long way to go to be a sure fire thing in the pro game. Tebow lost a couple of fumbles and completed 8 of 12 passes, and rushed for a handful of yards. But the Senior Bowl wasn’t really a showcase for his talents. Limited practice time, limited game plans, and limited opportunities do not make for an ideal showcase.

 Regardless of his debut, there will be plenty of interest in Tebow because he offers an intriguing set of assets. One thing Tebow can lay claim to is an intangible value of being a winner. This is a guy that has handled extreme pressure of all types and come through it smiling. But can he be an effective NFL quarterback? That remains to be seen. But with lots of physical talent and all the right intangibles, Tebow will be picked and picked early.

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 Gilbert Arenas just wasn’t thinking. I can just see him waking up in the morning and debating with himself whether or not he should bring his guns to work. Why even ask? Doesn’t every employer in the country urge their workers to come to work armed?

 I’m pretty tired of hearing about this issue. Arenas has been suspended and I assume his career is in serious doubt. Losing an NBA career over a small bet seems to me to be kinds foolish but then again what do I know. Anyway, the Washington Wizards occupy last place in the Southeast. And I don’t think they can shoot ther way out of that.

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 Kurt Warner, quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals, announced his retirement today. It probably wasn’t unexpected, since he’s getting up in age and the New Orleans Saints knocked him around pretty well. Truthfully, you have to admire the guy. He came in unheralded and won a Super Bowl, and took a lowly Arizona Cardinals team to unexplored territory.

 From the St. Louis Rams to the New York Giants to the Cardinals, Kurt Warner was always a class act and a dangerous guy under center. His retirement, in my mind, puts the Cardinals a few steps back. Is Matt Leinart ready to step up and reach his potential? I kinda doubt it. So far, Leinart has beena dud and to me seems lost on the field. Management claims that Leinart has been working hard and making progress. I guess we’ll see and Goodbye Kurt.

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 This Super Bowl in Miami should have plenty of offense. Both the New Orleans Saints and of course the Indianapolis Colts can score with the best of them. NFL fans are always looking for a shootout and this Super Bowl should give it to them.

 For the Colts, it’s a familiar situation. Manning and Wayne have been dynamic all season have displayed considerable toughness in the playoffs. Manning always seem to muster just enough points to put the Colts in a comfortable situation. Throw whatever kind of defense you can think of at him and he’ll find a way to attack it. The only way to beat Peyton Manning is to stuff the run and pressure him with a strong pass rush. If you’re not hitting him he’s beating you.

 The Saints are very similiar except for perhaps having a more diverse attack. Drew Brees is another quarterback who can pick up a blitz and make you pay. In addition the Saints seem to have found a ground game that could make the difference in the Super Bowl.

 Where are the edges? Well, the Colts have been to a Super Bowl and walked away with a win. Manning knows the routine and the distractions. New Orleans will have to handle it without the benefit of experience. On the other hand I believe the Saints have an edge in excitement and on defense. While they aren’t a shutdown bunch the Saints defense has generated enough turnovers to put them in a Super Bowl. Against the Vikings, New Orleans created five turnovers at crucial moments, allowing the Saints to win despite being outproduced in almost every aspect of offense.

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NASCAR fans got some good news today with the announcement that some of the rule are being changed. Complaints have been building about NASCAR becoming too polite a sport, that drivers weren’t allowed to be aggressive in their driving. Well, it’s been announced that this season drivers will be given more leeway to drive hard. Get ready for some bumping and rubbing in 2010. Also in the works is a change in restrictor plates, making them larger and giving drivers more power to work with. Hopefully we’ll see the results in the next few weeks as the Daytona 500 unfolds.

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 One of the interesting aspects of the AFC Championship game is that it will be a game where both head coaches are in their first year with their teams. Neither has ever led a team, and now they’re both playing for the right to win a Super Bowl. Pretty unusual situation. I guess the days are gone when it took a head coach four years to develop a playoff contender.

 For Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell the pressure wasn’t to build a team but not to screw it up. Indianapolis has been one of the best teams in the NFl the last few years under Tony Dungy. Big shoes to fill, but with Manning at the helm it had to be easier. Rex Ryan on the other hand, had to put together a team reeling from a late season slump and feeling the effects of Brett Favre flu. Having Favre bolt to the Vikings had to be an insult to the collective minds of the New York Jets but nobody is crying today with the rise of Sanchez. I thing they’re happy.

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 It seems we just left the NASCAR scene and here it is already almost in our laps. Yes that right. NASCAR tickets will be moving front and center in just a couple of weeks. NFL football is almost over, NBA basketball is well underway and the fastest growing sport is ready to kick off. This is a good time of year.   All the action is in Daytona with the Budweiser Shootout, Gatorade Duel, and Daytona 500. I guess this means that for the next month or so South Florida will be a good place to be. Bucle up and get ready with NASCAR tickets.

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 I don’t know about you but the Pro Bowl seems just a little wierd this year. While the NFL All Star Game has always been a year end thing, after the Super Bowl,  the 2010 Pro Bowl will be held in Dolphins Stadium and get this, about a week before the Super Bowl. While this means that some of the potential Pro Bowlers on a Super Bowl team won’t make the Pro Bowl I think moving the show was a good idea.

 For one thing, rather than being a wind down kind of game, the Pro Bowl should act to whet our appetites for the Super Bowl. It’s kinf of fitting that the Super Bowl and not the Pro Bowl should finish the season. Let’s end it with a bang and not a whimper. I also think moving the game to the mainland makes ut mush more accessile to the common man. No big Hawain vacation is necessary.

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 Predicting a Jets vs Colts AFC Championship would have taken a stretch. I don’t think anyone could reasonably foreseen this. heck, even the New York Jets Head Coach had his team completely out of the playoff mix just a few weeks ago.

 But after a very conving win over the San Diego Chargers the Jets find themselves headed toward a date with the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Hark back to the late season matchup between these two teams when the Colts tested their starters and ended up losing. That win helped the Jets into the playoff.

 Think anyone will be mad and question that decision should the Jets upset the Colts at home? Yeah, I think maybe.

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 Come Sunday, we’ll get the matchup that’s been anticipated all season. Vikings vs Saints tickets were almost inevitable as the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints ran neck and neck throughout the season, fighting for a #1 seed and home field advantage. the Saints managed to claim it and the New Orleans superdome will play host to it’s first NFC Championship.

 And it should be a doozy. The Vikings and Saints each carry one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Drew Brees has been stunningly good in 2009 and Brett Favre has had his best year of an NFL Hall of Fame career. Who’s got the edge? The Vikings have Adrian Peterson the Saints have Reggie Bush. No advantage to either side. Drew Brees and Brett Favre are different but both can be explosive.  Give the Saints the edge in wide reveiver talent. Give the Vikings the edge in defensive line talent. Whay may have a huge impact is the prize that both teams wanted all season, home field advantage. The Superdome will be like a rocket blastoff if the game is close. That may be enough to push the Saints over the top and give them their first Super Bowl berth.

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