Morning Reading: Football is Back
Enjoy the day knowing that football season has finally returned. All is right with the world and there are actual games being played. Sure, games that don’t count, but games all the same. A game of any kind is better than nothing. So stop pretending you’re actually following baseball. Stop believing you actually care what happens during the NBA offseason. Football is back. You have something to do for the next few months.
• Football returned with a thrilling matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys in the Hall of Fame Game. For three breath-taking quarters we saw one field goal scored in each before scoring blew up in the final frame with each team scoring an entire touchdown. The Cowboys would hold on to win it in a game that kept you on the edge of your seat.
Okay, that’s enough of that. It’s the preseason and the preseason is tough to watch even for the most diehard of fans. The players you know are typically out by halftime and you’re left with former college players hanging on to the dream. Occasionally someone steps up and shows you something, but for the most part, it’s a glorified scrimmage at that point.
The story of the night was the debut of former Cowboy wide receiver Terrell Owens in a Bengals uniform. Owens finished the night with two catches for 18 yards or two more catches and 18 more yards than either Chad Ochocinco or Andre Caldwell. Former Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Matt Jones led Cincinnati with three catches for 42 yards. Yes, it’s appropriate to refer to the Bengals as the team of second, third, fourth, and final chances.
It wasn’t pretty and was far from thrilling, but it was football and it’s back.
• Denver Broncos sackmaster Elvis Dumervil will learn his fate on Tuesday. The outside linebacker will undergo surgery which should determine if he will be able to return at all during the 2010 season. Possible replacement Jarvis Moss also hurt himself, but he could be back after only a few weeks.
• Florida fans were up in arms after Emmitt Smith didn’t mention the Gators during his Hall of Fame induction speech. I have to ask, why? It may have been nice to hear Smith go off for a few minutes about his school and let us all know how much the orange and blue meant to him. It would have been great to have him recount a story or two from his days as a Gator. But again, why be upset that he didn’t?
It was Smith’s moment. Not the University of Florida’s. Some mentioned that if Tim Tebow were to one day be inducted into the Hall of Fame that he would be sure to mention the Gators. Maybe, but he’s not Smith. And Smith had no obligation to mention anything.
What we saw this weekend was one of the greatest players in Florida history and NFL history inducted into the Hall of Fame. He could have spent 20 minutes talking and not mentioned the Dallas Cowboys and it may have been odd, but the world still would have turned. Just like Steve Spurrier didn’t owe it to Smith to ensure him he would be part of the offense when Spurrier came aboard at Florida, Smith didn’t owe it to anyone to have to mention them. It was his moment and he could say what he wanted to.
During the game last night, Smith apologized and recognized Florida, the Gators, and Urban Meyer. Most will say that he only did so because of the backlash. Others won’t care. You should be among that second group.
As a Florida fan, enjoy the moment. Be proud that one of your own is now a member of the Hall of Fame. Far too often we worry about what people say or don’t say. Smith’s actions on the field as a Gator and beyond are all the words we need.