Toting Heisman, Great Football Mind Bad Coach?, How Are You Better Off?

Toting Heisman
Johnny "Football" Manziel, the Texas A&M QB made a visit to the NYC man cave today with Heisman Trophy in tow. From the not so obvious, he said he would like to keep the Heisman next to him in his bed forever, and that it would be ok to let his offensive linemen each have it for a day there was a warning from Dan to not let team mates play "hide the Heisman." Thinking the last item may create a small challenge considering the size and shape of the trophy and that it weighs about fifty pounds.

This was either the best or the worse stop of Johnny's day

Great Football Mind, Bad Coach?
Does Tony Dungy think Peyton Manning, who seeks perfection in himself and others, would be a good coach or analyst? Coach? No, he has a hard time understanding why others don’t put in the time and effort that he does. Analyst? Yes, but he would need to learn and understand that there are time limitations to what can be said and done. So if Peyton became an analyst after his playing days were done, what network would better suit his personality and style? NBC, ESPN, CBS, FOX or NFL Network? Or could Peyton alter his way of thinking and become a good coach? He’s had to make adjustments since his injury and leaving the Colts, so maybe he could learn to be more accepting and become a coach.

Is the suit and tie uniform the best fit for
Peyton after playing is done?

How Are You Better Off?
That’s become a question of late. Are you better off using the car service of the NFLPA or Player Protection and not risk a DUI or accident involving yourself or others that could result in damage, injury or worse? Or do you continue to take the "this is more convenient, I’m worried about my car, I can make it, I don’t want to take a chance that someone else will know and effect my contract or future negotiations" approach? Any anti-drunk driving organization would have no problem answering that question. But how about you? Take a walk in all the different pairs of shoes and there are more hard questions than easy answers.

If you have rules that are set by your employer whether it be the NFL or McDonalds, and you make the choice to not abide by those rules, you pay a consequence. It may be a reprimand, a slap on the wrist, it could effect future promotions or raises, it could become public knowledge, it could mean losing your job. Are those things worse than injury or death to yourself or others?

Would you reach out for help?
Would you help an outreached hand?

People celebrate. Everyone knows and accepts that. What they don’t accept is when you don’t make the responsible choice when you over celebrate. That doesn’t only apply to athletes and celebrities, but to everyone. If you are excessive in the amount of times you celebrate, is it wrong that someone is concerned about your welfare and speaks with you pre-emptively? Could that conversation serve as a needed wake up call? Or is that something that you turn a blind eye to? Do you not want to deal with grievences by a union or a legal representative if you fine, sit or cut someone? When does safety of yourself and others come together with personal freedom? When does common sense amongst all parties become most important? When do the options and services available to you really become confidential and not confidential to a point? What does it take to realize you’re not invincible? This is the culture we live in and this is just a small sampling of many other questions and answers no one seems to agree upon.

What we can celebrate is that as of Sunday, seven NFL players turned in their personal guns last week. One of those players, who had multiple guns, said he no longer trusted having them. Maybe more people will follow these players leads now that the word is out. One more question: Why would you want to go somewhere that you didn’t feel safe if you didn’t need to?

Work together to find a peaceful middle

Unexpected Apology, Appreciated & Blessed, Super Bowl Side Trip

Unexpected Apology
After the show yesterday, Dan listened back to the broadcast after feed back from the audience and talking to Paulie and Seton had revealed to him things he didn’t like hearing.  After he heard the replay he felt things weren’t as tightened up and professional as he wanted the show to be and for that he apologized. He wants to be proud of this show and something his audience is proud listening to.  If his NBC gig were to go away tomorrow, he still wants this show to be here. Dan, apology unexpected and accepted. You’re only human dude.  Remember, you audience tunes in for that side of you too. 

Here stands a professional human.
Was he wrong speaking how he felt?

Appreciated and Blessed
Who do you go to when you’re the one that everyone comes to for answers?  That’s a question that Deion Sanders, NFL Network, had to deal with and he didn’t have the answer and suicide contemplation and attempt was the conclusion he came to at a time he felt he had no where to go.  Because of that experience Deion can relate in part to Jevon Belcher.  Deion was in the midst of his first divorce, the only people he felt loved him were his kids and they were being taken away from him.  After a Reds game in Cincinnati, he ran his car off the road. He found strength to move forward from the Lord and his strengthening faith afterwards. Even though he thought so then, it was not his time. At the conclusion of the interview Deion said to Dan, You’re a good man and I appreciate you, God Bless You.  Did Deion listen to the show before coming on?  Did he know that Dan had been struggling with his own issues?  Did what Dan and Deion talk about, Brady Quinn’s post game remarks, when you ask someone how they’re doing, do you mean it?  If you tell them you’re ok, are you telling the truth?  Stop and think about that if you haven’t already.  Also, if someone says God Bless You out of the blue, how does that make you feel?  How do you react? The beauty of this show is that it isn’t scripted.  Not for Dan or the Danettes and not for the guests.  Just one of things viewers and listeners love about this show and why they keep coming back.

Look beyond the large print, it's the small that says it all.

New Bdubs Tagline
No one does a live commercial read like DP and today was no exception.  Dan was relating the “protect the football” line with real life situations i.e. McLovin’s invite to Dan last weekend to watch the
game with him while he watched his two young daughters.  Of course Dan said no.  Dan doesn’t want to wait in line for the bathroom and wants to be able to scratch himself when he wants to, “Buffalo Wild Wings, you can scratch if you want to.” Loved this with laughter.  Bdub should have loved it too.  McLovin has a hall pass this weekend and asked to watch the games with Dan.  Response: NO

BDubs, you can scratch if you want to

Super Bowl Side Trip
Archie Manning left the door open and Dan and the Danettes are going to walk right in.  Dan and the Danettes will be on the road once again Super Bowl week and this year it’s in New Orleans.  Home of Archie Manning.  Who does Dan have a preoccupation with?  Archie’s son, Peyton.  As Dan has told us before, when Archie let Dan come over to the house, and go in Peyton’s room, he jumped on the bed, and curled up on the football sheets.  Archie said, you know where I live and that they could come over.  Does he understand that having Dan come over is one thing.  Having frenzied Broncos fan Fritzy is another. Guess we’ll need to stay tuned until February to find out how the Danettes embarrass Dan on this Super Bowl side trip.

The possibilities of what could
go wrong are scary

Dan on the Defense, Bob Costas & Jason Whitlock, & More

　
Whispering Buy Now
Clever marketing of the DP gear by running clips from the day Seton was mocking Dan by wearing different items after being scolded for not wearing DP gear to work when he was told to. Whoever’s idea this was for marketing product with humor and not hitting us over the head with "buy this item now" flashing at us over and over again like a Christmas commercial, thank you. By the way, if you put save10 in the promo box at check out you get 10% off your merchandise purchase. Just thought you should know.

Order by December 10th to guarantee
Christmas delivery!

All I Want For Playing Is….
What do you give the football student athlete who’s playing in a bowl game? Apparently it’s a Helen of Troy Hair dryer, a belt buckle, and a lapel pin. Paulie offered up info on bowl game gift bags thanks to a Sports Business Daily report. For the full list including date, time, location and TV station for the bowls and the full article of what all of the swag means visit:


http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2012/12/03/In-Depth/Bowl-gifts.aspx

Hottest Item of 19 different bowl games
Fossil watches

When Bold Predictions Go Bad
An I team investigation today from a prediction that was made in March of this year by McLovin during an ATG segment. He stated that the Denver Broncos with Peyton Manning would not make the play-offs and that if they did, he would gracefully move aside for a beautiful woman to sit in his seat. Well, McLovin, time to pay up. Instead of a beautiful female filling his seat, he’ll either have to get a crew cut or play the "to be made" wheel of punishment. Punishment to be determined on Thursday with execution on Friday. Of course McLovin wouldn’t commit to which direction he was going to go with his punishment because he had to talk to Dan after the show about it. Excuse me sir, my wineglass needs to be filled.

Time And Clarity
What was missing from Bob Costas’ commentary during half time on FNIA? Time and clarity. What was also missing for the audience was an understanding of what he was given to work with. He and the rest of the half time team, Dan, Tony and Rodney, were given direction as to who was covering what angles during the half time show of the Kansas City tragedy. From listening to a better explanation of what was going on behind the scenes I better understand why Costas said what he said and how he said it. Yes, he believes in what he said and isn’t backing down in that. How he said it in the short amount of time he was given, he does wish could have been different so he could have spoken more clearly or have been able to clarify the statements he had said. He broke his own rule by not saving this touch topic for a time and a place where he had the proper amount of time to present the position the way he would have liked. He was put in a tough spot and by paraphrasing the words of Jason Whitlock on gun control, it was a heavier statement than what was expected in a format of a halftime segment. Be careful of your criticism until you walk a mile in their shoes.

For those confused, these are not
the guns Whitlock said needed to be controlled

Dan On The Defense
You need to be careful what you wish for being in the public eye and living in a live, glass house for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week and that’s what Dan does, or tries to do. Does he get attacked for what he says or some of the guests he has on? Yes. When you twist Dan’s words, watch out. He will fight back. Would he change the format of what he says or who he has on the show? Highly doubtful. He doesn’t have only sports figures on and the sports figures or other genres are not limited to speaking on only what they are directly connected. If that were the case, the audience wouldn’t be able to call in because they didn’t play the game that they want to comment on. Because you do not share the same opinion of someone does not mean that you can’t respect that person or their right to own their opinion. This was the case with the Bob Costas booking. The show had on a relevant, interesting person speaking on a current topic. This is what the show tries to do every day. They color outside the lines on this show and they do it better than anyone else, fair and balanced. That phrase is overused and it drives me nuts but I’m using it, whatever. If you want sports, and only sports, this isn’t the show for you. If you want sports, plus a touch of other subjects as they relate to the world of sport, then stay tuned. Regular audience members wouldn’t want it any other way.


McLovin was right, it was better to defer conversation on this topic to someone who is experienced in balancing the issues in a live format. The gotcha culture that was now picking on Dan because they want to take a piece of what he said, and not all of what he said, is typical for a segment of society. Dan had a message for them, want to take him on, here we go. He does his homework, he’s not a reactive. Write your column live, the way he does every day, and see how that works for you. He does it every day. He was pissed and rightfully so. He found he was defending himself to many people he has had on the show. That’s sad.

DP sitting almost all alone in defense mode today

Take the wax out of your ears and listen to the entire conversation not just what you’re looking for. This applies to any topic and for everyone in any medium. Be a smart, educated listener/viewer. It seems what Dan is seeking is that his audience is thought provoked in what they learn each day they tune into the show. Can his critics say the same or are they just trying to sell their headline?

Pizza, Papa and Pot plus little Marconis

Are Peyton Manning and Papa John the driving force in getting the marijuana law passed in California and other states? What is really behind the two million free pizzas give away? Peyton Manning - better businessman becoming a franchise owner or a better quarterback? Are Peyton’s best pizza customers NFL lineman? Just thoughts to ponder.

PPJ pizza - loved by NFL linemen and those with the munchies

Stan VanGundy spoke openly about leaving Orlando, the original plan to join ESPN in studio and having his brother, Dan, at the games until ESPN decided to "go in another direction". Was David Stern involved in Stan’s ESPN demise? Welcome to NBCSN, Stan! Home of the non-mother-shippers.

Job blocker

Do you think?
Dear Chris Matthews: A natural disaster is never a good thing, ever. There’s no good place, no good time, ever. Even prior to an election. Even children know that.
 

Chris, listen to the wisdom of others for a change please

Poll question problems:
We began with: Would you rather be the POTUS or NFL Commissioner? Dan quickly tired of that and the new question became: Did your election network coverage depend on the appearance of the commentators? For Paulie and Fritzy it was a deciding factor. Then the question changed again to: If you had an extremely hot spouse and they were strongly opposing your political views, would that make a difference? Paulie and McLovin knew right away in the dating process of their wives to be political preferences and views. Fritzy said it wouldn’t matter if their views were different and Seton would never had married his wife or anyone else, no matter how hot they were if their political views were different than his. At least none of these will be stolen by other shows. Can’t we all just get along?

Time to put down our signs and come together again

How tough is it being an NFL head coach? According to Jimmy Johnson if you let it consume you, as it did him, it can cost you a marriage, family and friendships. He felt fortunate that he was able to repair the family and friendship ties.

If he asked, would you be his friend?

Big surprise day!
The Danettes took their best shots at guessing the surprise before the show. Three of the Danettes were initially declared close and then it was revealed that one did get it right. Paulie inquired if it was a physical or event surprise. Of course Dan’s response was that it was a physical event surprise. Seton was feeling good with his guess he submitted and in the end he went two for two. Big MVD points this month to date. So what was the surprise? Baby macaroni! No, that’s not right. Baby Marconis! Congratulations Danettes on your awards! Best supporting cast to a Marconi winner. May your fingers not cramp as you’re telling people you are a Marconi winner.

Whoop Whoop! A Marconi for everyone!
Thanks Dad/Dan!