To Be Undefeated Or Not Undefeated

The wacky world of the NFL. There are teams scrambling in the middle still trying to get in the playoffs.

The top two Teams in the AFC took different roads this weekend.. San Diego no longer needing to win to be in the playoffs but needed to win to earn the #2 seed and a home playoff game in round two. The Chargers went all out for three quarters and secured victory before they pulled Philip Rivers and other valuable players.

Today with an undefeated season still a possibility Indianapolis chose to pull Peyton Manning and their valuable players early into the third quarter with only a 15-10 lead. The second team could do nothing and the New York Jets are back in the playoff picture and the Colts are no longer undefeated.

The NFC is more muddled tonight after New Orleans laid a egg against the Tampa Bay Bucs. The Saints no longer seem to be on a straight road to the Super Bowl. Minnesota right now #2 in the NFC has lost two of three games and the playoffs in the NFC may be falling to the best team in the NFC last year in the Cardinals.

The AFC has New England who can wins big at home and gets killed on the road. Cincinnati has a really good defense but can't score.

The NFC Philadelphia just doesn't thrill me and Dallas keeps hanging around.

Let's turn our attention to high school basketball. Nash County basketball tournament starts Monday at 2.00pm. The Lady Gryphons open up play at 2.00pm against Nash Central. The Gryphon boys don't hit the court until 6.00pm.

As of right now Rocky Mount does not have another home game until in basketball until January 21st. However there is a makeup game with Rose that will be a home game when ever the date is set up. That seems like a long time but there is a week of exams in there in which there will be no basketball.

Tar Heels Lose In Charlotte.

This entire football season the Tar heels lived by their defense. Tonight once again needing the defense to win the Heel's defense gave up a fourth quarter drive and eventual field goal and Pittsburgh beat North Carolina 19-17. This one game was a snap shot of Carolinas season.

Carolina seemed very lucky to be even in this game at the half as Pittsburgh dominated most of the first quarter but only had a field goal.

Stephan Virgil's career at Virginia Tech is over. Virgil has been ruled ineligible for the Orange Bowl games because of academics. The 2005 Rocky Mount graduate was just voted on this web site the top Gryphon football player of the decade.

The Nash County basketball tournament starts Monday at Northern Nash. The 5-2 Lady Gryphons begin play at 2.00pm Monday against Nash Central while the 6-1 Gryphon boys play Nash central at 6.00pm.

Shocking news tonight out of Gainesville Florida that Urban Myer will resign after the Sugar Bowl because of health reasons. This is about as shocking when I heard Lou Holtz had signed on with the New York Jets way back in 1975. I remember to this day what I was doing when I heard Holtz was leaving the Wolfpack. I was at a stop light waiting on traffic at Military Circle Mall in Norfolk Virginia when the news came across the radio that Holtz was gone.

The NFL is down to 2 games for most teams and the playoffs will be on. There is a push on in the NFL to make sure players and concussions are looked after more than ever.

Brian Westbrook has been out of action for the Eagles for nearly a month now. There is talk that because of the concussions the Eagles are going to retire him at the end of the season. I find this curious that he has been activated for the Eagles game Sunday. If he is having such problems with his concussions why would they activate him to play tomorrow.

This just seems to me to be looking out for the next game over the health of a player.

Friday Night's NFL game on the NFL Network the Chargers walloped the Titans. Growing up I was always a Washington Redskin Fan. I have been to RFK many times and bounced up and down when "Hail to the Redskins" was playing. When the Panthers were born I switched to our home state team. The moment Philip Rivers became a Charger I have split my allegiance between the Panthers and Rivers.

I know this is a homer talking about his player but right now is there a better player in the NFL than Philip Rivers. If I had to guess that Peyton Manning will win the MVP award with Drew Brees second. Neither of those two players have had the two year run that Rivers has going. He was the top rated passer in then league last year and after Friday Night's game he move to second this year behind Brees.

Rivers four years as a starting quarterback he is second on the all time list of quarterback ratings only Steve Young is Better. Rivers has lead the Chargers to the highest scoring average in the first 60 games starting of any quarterback in history 29.8. Of course the 18-0 record in December which is the best of all time in NFL History. If the Chargers win the Super Bowl all those records will mean a lot more.

Christmas Eve

I have just finished watching the N C State basketball game against Arizona in Tucson. State tied the game with 7.9 seconds to go only to give up a layup with .9 seconds to go. The inbound pass State heaved a 75 foot shot which hit the back iron between the rim and backboard and scared everyone in the Gym until the ball fell off.

If only State had a point guard who knew how to pass the ball somewhere besides outside the three point line to his teammates they would be dangerous, but no team that can't get the ball to the open shooters can beat anybody in close games.

Glad to see that Carolina had another home game and Roy Williams stuck to coaching in this one instead of being a rabbit eared usher. I guess all tickets were checked if you sit on the same side Roy sits on.

There seems to be a power struggle in Minnesota between Brett Favre and his head coach. This struggle seems to be affecting the team as they have now lost two out of three games.

The NFL returns for a Friday night game between the San Diego Chargers and the Tennessee Titans. Hope you have a dish to watch this game on the NFL Network.

Carolina Football will be in Charlotte Saturday to take on Pittsburgh. I think game time is 4.30. This should be a really good game if both teams show up to play.

I see that the Liberty bowl game for ECU is sold out. This could be the biggest game ECU has played in since beating Miami in Raleigh in 1999.

The Big Ten which actually has 11 teams is hinting around that they may want to add a team. Everyone thinks it will be Notre Dame but what if it were Pittsburgh or Syracuse. There just might be an opening in the Big East for ECU.

I want to wish every one a Merry Christmas. I probably will not blog again until after the Carolina Football game Saturday night.

Revenge

Earlier this month Beddingfield swept a double header away from Gryphon basketball in beating the girls and boys.

Last night at home the Lady Gryphon got even with the Beddingfield girls winning 55-41. Just a couple of weeks ago Beddingfield had won a close 45-41 game. Danita Whitaker lead the way for the Lady Gryphons with 15 followed by Alexis Farmer who added 13.

The Lady Gryphon finish up the PreCristmas portion of their schedule at 5-2. They play at 2.00pm Monday in the Nash County Holiday Tournament at Northern and they will meet Nash Central.

Beddingfield boys rained down threes in the first half and Gryphon Forward TaShawn Mabrey sat out most of the second quarter protecting two fouls. This lead to a ten point 37-27 lead for Beddingfield at the half.

The second half saw Beddingfieldg just 1-13 in three point shooting and TaShawn and Company took care of business winning 69-61. Mabrey finished with 21 points but Kenyatta Bullock tossed in two key three point shots in the third quarter while Beddingfield was missing theirs to turn the game around. Bullock finished the night with 13 points.

The Gryphons are now 6-1 on the season waiting for their next action next Monday night 6.00pm against Nash central in the Holiday tournament.

Good to see that Lindsey Thomas the Lady Gryphon #1 tennis player was named this week as the "Rocky Mount Telegram" Tennis player of the year.

The Big East has named their first All Conference football team. Last year's undefeated team placed 14 to the first team. Quite a difference this year as the Gryphons only get five sports on the first team.

Marquavis Alston three time thousand yard rusher for Rocky Mount get the Co- Offensive Player of the year award. He is joined on the offense by linemen Zeb Battle. Jordan Ford makes the first team as the return specialist.

The defensive side sees All Conference honors go to Donte Harrison and Marcus Jones.

Second team all conference goes to quarterback Collins Cuthrell and Linebacker Aaron Barnes.

Honorable Mentions finds Gryphon defensive player Nah Jerrell Graves on the team.

School ended yesterday and is now out for the holidays.

Double header Victory

Last night the Rocky Mount Gryphons were host to Hertford County in varsity basketball and both the girls and boys win.

The girls were lead by Tamishia Walker with 18 points, Alexis Farmer chippped in 14 and Tia Hudgins added 13. Those three scored 45 of the Gryphon 51 points in winning 51-31 over the Lady Bears.

In the boys action it looked like a two man show for three quarters as TaShawn Mabrey and Detrail Jenkins score forty of the Gryphon first fifty points before the outside starting making shots. At one point the Gryphons lead 65-46 but a fourth quarter rally by the Bears saw the final score at 72-65.

The girls are now 4-2 on the season and the boys upped their record to 5-1. Little time to enjoy as they are right back in action tonight against Beddingfield. Beddingfield swept the Gryphons earlier this month at Beddingfield.

Today is the last day of school before the Christmas break.

The NFL there are not that many teams that are just plain better than everyone else. Each week is more of who wants it more. Last night a desperate New York Giants team clobbered a hapless Washington Redskins team playing out their season for a coach about to lose his job.

If you had no idea what their records were before the game started it didn't take long to see who had a shot at the playoffs. The Giants win 45-12.

If you didn't know it already I think the AFC has dominated this year when they have played the NFC. How can you Tell. Going into next week's action the AFC has seven teams at 7-7,two at 8-6, and then there is Cincinnati at 9-5 leading the AFC North. You also have New England at 9-5 leading the AFC East. San Diego is 11-3 and the Colts are perfect so far at 14-0.

That's 13 of the 16 AFC teams right now have at least a 500 record or better. That could only happen unless they are dominating the NFC when they play each other.

Gryphons Home twice This week

School gets out for Christmas break after Tuesday so the Rocky Mount Gryphon basketball team will play tonight and Tuesday.

Monday night Hertford County will visit as over the past several years Mike Gainey and Hertford County Athletic Director Charles Simmons have developed a very good relationship and we now play Hertford County in just about every sport.

Tuesday Rose will be in gym as the Gryphon boys will be trying to improve on their 4-1 start and the girls 3-2 record.

Next week of course is the Nash County tournament and two more non conference games next week.

I am glad Ocho Cinco finally gave up on the idea of wearing teammate Chris Henry's jersey in his honor yesterday while playing San Diego.

All of the foolishness that 85 does back fired on him in this case. If he was a model citizen and not always trying to do things to glorify himself after big plays the NFL might have said "go ahead" but it was viewed as another stunt.

You have to say bravo to Cincinnati as they put up a tremendous effort only to have the Chargers win on the last play.

I'm telling you the best team in the NFL RIGHT now is San Diego. We will see again after next week.

I know you probably were not around at the end of this dud of a game but Carolina scored 21 fourth quarter points and beat a tire looking Brett Favre and Minnesota 27-7. Since Green Bay lost earlier in the day the Vikes had already clinched at least second in the NFC. Carolina had already been knocked out of any possible playoffs by Dallas Saturday night. Both teams played like they were going through the motions.

Wake Forest beat N C State as both teams started ACC play last night. For N C State fans it looks like the Same old same old. Even though they won I don't see Wake making the NCAA playoffs unless it is changed to 96 teams by then.

One Undefeated Left

Last night Dallas went to New Orleans and with all the talk about can't win in December laid the leather on the Saints through three quarters. Cowboys hold on and win 24-17 in front of an NFL Network audience and those of us who watched it on Internet.

It just goes to show you that in the NFL you as only as good as the game today. My feelings are the Cowboys are one of those teams that when they play well are good but don't live up to their hype. New Orleans probably got caught up in the undefeated season talk.

If you missed it last night you may have missed one of the most competitive sporting events this year. The National Championship Volley ball match between Texas and Penn State. Penn State was riding a 101 match winning streak and trying to win their third National championship in a row.

All five sets were nip and tuck and Penn State won the fifth set 15-13. This was a very entertaining evening.

Speaking of Texas, Carolina loses in the Jerry Jones Dome 103-90 to Texas. All those six feet ten inch guys for Carolina were killed on the boards by the Longhorns.

Duke has something that Carolina doesn't have, guard play. Duke made a laugher of their game with Gonzaga in New York. I wonder with the weather if Duke is stuck in the Big Apple?

I do this all the time. I will go and read the opposing teams paper of their version of a game. Since I really like the San Diego Chargers I have been reading the Cincinnati Enquirer this week to get a read on what the Bengals are thinking. Of course the Chris Henry death has been in the news a lot and talk about haunted.

The Cincinnati Bengals have been in existence for 42 years. During that time they have had 33 players or former players to die. Three have been in their twenties, seven in their thirties, twelve in their forties, eight in their fifties and only three that made it to sixty or more.

The Enquirers story was about the hard luck Bengals and all the ways the players are dieing. Cancer was the main culprit but the Bengals have not had one player to die that is considered by natural causes.

Finally today on a brighter note. Rocky Mount's Tom Suiter and Channel Five were in Tarboro on Thursday to give the Vikings the Fabulous Fifteen award for 2009 in football. When you win the awards just come your way.

The annual Shrine bowl game was played yesterday and North Carolina defeated the Sandlappers of South Carolina 24-14.