Behind The Scoreboard - Claude Vinson


Thursday, November 6, 2008
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Behind The Scoreboard
By Claude Vinson

Undefeated

It is hard to tell just where the impact is coming from. Are the present day fortunes of the Tennessee Titans directly attributable to shipping out “Pacman” Jones, the injury to Vince Young or Kerry Collins realizing that he is at the exact right place at the precise right time to cement his legacy in the NFL? Sure, I know that is a long question, but the Titans seem to be answering it in their own fashion.

Either Jeff Fisher has morphed into the best coach there is during the current season or the Titans are trying to emulate the movie. After Sunday the Titans are 8-0 and leading the AFC South. They also have the distinction of being the only undefeated team in the NFL. The Packers were well aware of this on Sunday and did their level best to knock the Titans off the unbeaten throne. They pushed it into overtime. And there Fisher’s expertise in late game management took over. He went for the throat in the sudden death period and turned the dagger at the right moment.

The question still circulates weekly – which is the better Manning? Eli or Peyton? And this is trite but obvious. At this point Eli is. That came from a commentator on Sunday before the Giants took on the Dallas Cowboys. Although the ’Boys were third to the Giants in the NFC East, it was a game which was very much anticipated by New York and Dallas fans (or in Dallas’ case the term might be worshippers. It seems that no matter how raggedly the ’Boys are playing their fans stick like glue!).

Obviously, the penchant for undying support has transferred to owner Jerry Jones. The biggest Cowboy wasted little time last week in effusively diffusing the rumor that Wade Phillips’ job was in jeopardy. According to Mr. Jones, they were looking at a few options but changing the head coach was not one of them. Have we heard that before somewhere?

You can now take the Cincinnati Bengals off the endangered species list. They won their first game on Sunday. They had been cast as 7-point (?) underdogs to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now the Jaguars are more confused than “Joe the Plumber.”

Just reading this one is probably thinking that yours truly is leaning heavily toward the Titans as a Super Bowl favorite. Like Jerry, I can quickly quash that. I can remember that one before not too many eons ago, the Titans were playing well and I was so enamored with the Titans that after it was all over, I had to borrow someone’s shirt.

I trust that by the time you read this, each and every one of you will have exercised his or her privilege to cast the vote of your choice. It is a matchless right.

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