observations from the NFL weekend

a. You probably cannot dispute that Peyton Manning has the biggest influence of any player in a game, especially seeing what is happening on the Colts without him this year. But with those players that are actually on the field, nobody makes a bigger influence in a game than Devin Hester. His kickoff and punt returns are electric and can put instant points on the board. Even if he doesn’t score he often gets way down the field. Often kickers shank the ball out of bounds just to keep it away from him, giving Jay Cutler and the Bears incredibly generous field position to begin nearly every drive. As we saw in the opening of the Bears/Vikings game, his speed can make a huge influence on the offense, especially teamed with Jay Cutler’s incredible arm. After the Vikings had a great touchdown drive that looked like it may carry some momentum just after halftime, Hester returned the kickoff the distance and the Vikings didn’t show up after that. Devin Hester’s name is on the short list of NFL superstars.

b. Because kickoffs moved up, nearly every kickoff is going into the endzone. Contrary to the primary objective of the rule's principle, more and more players are returning the kick from the endzone. If you are Devin Hester, Ted Ginn, Percy Harvin, Darren Sproles, Joshua Cribbs or Percy Harvin then yes, I have no issue with that. But see Giants’ Daniel Thomas taking a kick out of the endzone, gets tackled around the 17, and there is a penalty that pulls the ball back to the 8 yard line. Instead of the 20, Eli has to start at the 8. Same thing in the Cowboys/Patriots game. In the second quarter the Cowboys return man took it out of the endzone, made it only to the 19, and an illegal block penalty gives Romo the ball at the 7 instead of 20. It happened for the Dolphins, and it happens for pretty much every team. Why? You have a better chance of 1) getting tackled before the 20, 2) the receiving team getting a penalty, and 3) someone getting hurt than breaking off a big run. Coaches need to tell their return men to quit being heroes.

c. I don’t like to blame the referees, but they really blew it early in the Monday Night Jets/Dolphins game and it completely changed the game. On a 3rd down play Matt Moore threw to Marshall, who was clearly hit, grabbed, and interfered by Darelle Revis. It should have been first and goal Dolphins from the 1, Fins ready to go up 10-0. Instead there was no flag, Revis ran all the way back, and the Dolphins didn’t score a touchdown the rest of the game. The way the pathetic Jets offense was moving, that could have been the difference. The refs blew another game a few weeks ago at the end of the Bears/Packers game.

d. Speaking of the Dolphins, receiver Brandon Marshall made headlines last week with his knucklehead comments that I referenced in my blog. No, he didn't start a fight, kick a ball, or get ejected. Ran out of bounds on a clear touchdown (they settled for a field goal), drops a ball in the endzone (0:30), misses another ball in the endzone (1:45) (they settled for a field goal), and he got outplayed by Revis in the endzone that went the other way (see above). He sure didn't play like a monster on the field, but he certainly gave coach Sparano a monster headache. All that talk about playing physical and with heart and that was the performance from him? What a joke.