Chan Gailey and Tom Coughlin were so stunned by their players lack of performances this week that they offered no excuses for their play. In fact, they pretty much threw them under the bus after the game. Here’s Coughlin first after his Giants dramatic loss to the Vince Young led Philadelphia Eagles :

“My question to them was, ‘Why?’ What did it take to understand what the Eagles were going to be like coming in here? You didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that team is 3-6, back to the wall, they’re going to play their butts off. To get where we want to go, we’re going to have to play harder. And better. And we didn’t.”

I mean, isn’t part of being a good coach, at any level, finding ways to get through to your players so they can understand and execute the game plan?  To coach them in such a way that they maximize their talents? Seems to me that Coughlin is kinda passing the buck on this one a bit.  Sure his team played like crap and yes they do share in the blame, but they SHARE in the blame. Maybe Coughlin should’ve found some way to actually get through to his players, surely throwing them all under the bus is not it. For that matter, neither is admitting you couldn’t get your players to play like you want, you know, like a coach is supposed to do.

How about Chan Gailey, head coach of the Buffalo Bills whose once high flying team has lost 3 straight including yesterday’s horrocious 35-8 loss to Miami:

“I wish I could give you an explanation,” said coach Chan Gailey. “I cannot give you an explanation of how we played effectively early in the year and we’re not playing effectively now. We lost that one as a team. Every phases had problems, real problems.

“We’re  not very good right now,” Gailey said. “That’s the bottom line. We’re not. If I knew exactly what the problem was, I’d solve it. It’ s obviously not one thing. It’s things that mounted up on us, and we’re not able to execute the way we were earlier in the year and the way we’re capable of.”

Chan Gailey just admitted to the world he has no idea what is happening with his own team. He has no idea why the team is losing games and he cannot stop the losing because of it. That is your fearless leader Bills players. This man just admitted 1) his team is bad; and 2) he’s not sure why. That is confidence inspiring head coaching there people. His stationary should Chan Gailey, LEADER OF MEN.

Both Gailey and Coughlin should be fired at the end of the year just for statements like these. Their job is to lead and these are hardly the statements of leaders.

I find it disturbing that this trend of making horrible music videos died at some point in the late 90s and 2000s.  I feel like a piece of me died with that trend.  Watch and enjoy ya hear?

Cushing should have gone full Romo and embraced the use of performance enhancing substances instead of issuing denials that would have made AC Cowlings shake his head. Bill Romanowski didn’t deny using them and anything else that would bring out the crazy. His play and antics on the field backed up his statements. Ain’t no one believe that he wasn’t on the juice. The NFL mic’ed up Cushing for the Texans game against the Browns. Watch this excerpt and see if you think he’s clean

If that’s not ‘roid rage, Blaine Gabbert is a servicable NFL QB. You can watch the full clip here. Watch Cushing’s teammates react to him. It’s as though they’re unsure how to deal with him. “Yeah dude, whatever you say. I gotta go stand over there now.” How long until he goes Michael Westbrook on an unsuspecting teammate who refuses to give him an exploding fist bump?

This is the picture of Arian Foster’s hamstring that he carelessly tweeted yesterday that has gotten a lot of people in an uproar. Every sports network and football blogger has seen it and determined that there is some sort of tear in there and that he is damaged goods and that no one should expect him to be any good this year.  Fantasy sports players are especially worried that this year’s consensus #1 draft pick, might be, dare I say it…damaged goods?  Well, it may or may not be true and there is just one way to find this out.

The only way to get a close enough look at his hammy to determine Arian Foster’s status for the upcoming season is to use some high tech CSI technology to get to the bottom of his MRI photo.

ENHANCE!

ENHANCE!!

ENHANCE!!!

ENHANCE!!!!

ENHANCE!!!!!

 OH SNAP!!!!!!

Nick Mangold of the New York Jets has made a habit of interrupting Mark Sanchez’ sideline interviews this preseason and this week he made sure to do it again. As far as photobombs go, this one is pretty impressive.

If you wanna see a full slideshow of the interview-bombing , head over to Brooklyn Mutt. If you want video, check out SportsGrid. We’re a full service operation here at the Deuce, we like to give you options.

Oh, by the way, Jets won this game 17-3 against the Giants.

Photo from 30fps.

Jason Garrett is starting his first full season as the head coach for the Dallas Cowboys after the team unceremoniously dumped Wade Phillips in the middle of last season. Garrett appears to be taking a much more “all inclusive” approach to training camp, unlike most of his other peers in the coaching world. Garrett is of the mindset that rookies in the NFL shouldn’t be singled out because of the mere fact that they are rookies. In other words, there will be no rookie hazing on Jason Garrett’s watch.

Via ESPN:

“It’s just something I believe in and we believe in as a staff,” Garrett said. “The young guys are part of our football team. They certainly need to get themselves acclimated in a lot of different ways, and our veteran players are in charge of welcoming them to the NFL in a real positive way.

“Also, there are some other things that go with that, but there’s not going to be anything that’s demeaning in any way that a rookie has to do. We just don’t believe in that.”

Well dang, that is just isn’t any fun at all now is it? I’m not saying you have to do some animal house type stuff to the rookies to make them “pay their dues” but, c’mon, carrying shoulder pads and tying them up to the goalpost with athletic tape are time honored “rites of passage” for NFL rookies league-wide. What is the harm in doing any of that? Those are team bonding moments that one just can’t get by doing things like singing Kumbaya fireside with some smores. I mean, is this an NFL training camp or summer camp?

The NFL has already taken away two-a-days and full pad/helmet practices out of the training camps under the new collective bargaining agreement and now the Cowboys taking it to a whole new level of wussdom with this move.

Make the kids earn their keep. None of the “hazing” that takes place in the NFL is all that bad anyway, its appears to simply be a good way for the players to build trust and camaraderie with their teammates. No physical harm, no foul, right?

I wonder how this judgment call of his will affect how Garrett’s players feel about him this season. Last season, apparently, he wasn’t making a lot of friends in that locker room:

Maybe he just needs to lighten up a little? Could probably go a long way to getting his team on his side.

(Updated at 11:30am)

The Redskins have a plan and they are sticking to it…what that plan is, who knows. Lets get right into the good, bad and uuuuuugly after two days of NFL free agency:

The Good (so far)

They finally traded McNabb

Sure the Redskins traded away a 2nd and 4th round draft pick to acquire Donovan McNabb but getting possibly two 6th round picks for a guy that whose trade value they utterly decimated over the course of last season is a rather good move.

Ok, seriously, getting ANYTHING of possible value for him would have good. They could have traded the Redskins a box of Brett Favre bobbleheads and anyone in their right mind would have been thrilled.

Ok, honestly, who are we kidding, just getting McNabb off the team is good, getting something for him is merely a bonus.

[Update] They finally traded Haynesworth

Well look at this! The Redskins accepted a 5th round pick from the Patriots in exchange for Albert Haynesworth.  Pats get another troubled athlete that Belichick should be able to get the most out of for a year or two and the Redskins actually get something of value for their troubled and highly over-paid star defensive lineman.

That this happened is rather shocking. That they got a draft pick at all for him after the season and off-season that Haynesworth had is mind blowing. What is going on at Redskins Park? How are these smart trades happening?

Could this be a year without drama for once? HAHAHA, yeah right! Still, good move Redskins!

They made 2 smart free agent decisions (so far)

Signing CB Josh Wilson isn’t the flashiest signing the Redskins could’ve made for their defensive backfield, but it is one of the smarter moves they could’ve made. For just $4.5 million a year for 3 years, they get a guy who has improved every year in the league and was good enough to start on the Ravens’ top 10 ranked defense last season. Topping it all off he’s also a local guy, having played at Maryland.

While he’s not a superstar talent at the position, he is talented and he should at least be able to do what Carlos Rogers did (or didn’t do) last season. Even if he doesn’t work out, this type of player investment, at his age and price, is exactly what the Redskins need to do to fill out their roster.

They also resigned Santana Moss to a 3 year $15million dollar contract, which, in light of what Santonio Holmes and Sidney Rice got from the Jets and Seahawks respectively, looks like a perfectly sane contract for a player of Moss’ stature.

The Bad (so far)

They signed a undersized nose tackle that isn’t actually a nose tackle

Signing former Giant Barry Cofield is a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, the Redskins need bodies on their defensive line and signing anyone that is a “high motor” player that doesn’t seem to get injured is a welcome addition in a spot of need for the Redskins.

On the other hand, giving a 6-year, $36 million contract, with $12.5 of it guaranteed, to a man expected to play a position he hasn’t played since college 6 years ago, and is undersized for at this level, seems a little…um…foolish? That is a lotta change to just assume that he’ll fit in at nose tackle even though he’s never done it as a pro ever and is physically not made for the position. Its also a lot of change for a guy that, while a starter on a solid Giants D-line, has never really been the best guy on a line and is just “a guy”. I’d venture to say he wasnt even the 3rd best guy on their line.

Sure there will be a rotation at the nose tackle just like last year, but when Cofield is in the Redskins had better hope opposing QB’s don’t take notice and audible to a run play straight in his direction.

I guess there is something to be said for taking him away from a division rival but this move might not have been the best.

The Ugly (so far)

They signed another backup QB

As of right now, the Redskins are starting a career backup QB (Beck) and they are considering resigning a backup QB (Grossman) so what else should they do to stabilize the quarterback position for 2011??  Sign another backup OF COURSE!  In comes Kellen Clemens, signed to a 1 year deal. He has spent his whole career playing backup for the NY Jets and last year lost out to Mark Brunell. MARK BRUNELL PEOPLE!! If he couldnt start over Brunell, why on earth is he still in this league, let alone on the Redskins? Everyone in D.C. knows what Brunell can’t do at this stage in his career and if he can do MORE than Clemens then WHY WOULD YOU WANT HIM?

They wasted another draft pick

The Redskins drafted Jeremy Jarmon with a 3rd round pick in the supplemental draft two years ago when they needed help on their 4-3 front.  Since ownership decided to change coaching staffs yet again, and the new coach installed a 3-4 defense, Jarmon was deemed no longer viable and was traded.  Despite costing the team a recent 3rd round pick while being a young and promising player on a defensive line that had too few of those types he was set to be cut before they traded him away. What a waste.

It is a by-product of a short sighted ownership group and it is sad, but since they were going to cut him anyway getting something of value for him could’ve been considered goods except…

They got a WHOLE bunch of motherf*$(&* OLD wide receivers?!?!

They traded a defensive lineman going into his 3rd year for a wide reciever entering his 10th in Jabar Gaffney. Gaffney’s best two seasons in the NFL were with the pass happy Broncos the last couple years, but he still could never get over 875 yards with them…and now he’s a year older at 30 years old.

Also, the Redskins signed free agent WR’s Donte Stallworth (30 years old) and Brandon Stokley (35 years old) to contracts. [UPDATE - It appears that Stokely will not sign with the Redskins because he thinks the Redskins have too many receivers on the roster. What, being the 14th receiver is just one too many? You too good for the Redskins Stokley?!? Whatever, this is a good thing]

I seem to remember something like this happening last year with the Redskins only at the running back position. They threw a bunch of cash at older running backs Willie Parker and Larry Johnson to go along with older back Clinton Portis. How’d that go again? Oh right, Parker was cut before the season started, Johnson was cut a few games into the season and Portis got hurt.

Moss (32 years old) hopefully won’t be the Portis of this season but Gaffney/Stallworth/Stokely will certainly play the Parker & Johnson roles.

Look, just let Armstrong, Hankerson and all the other kids play and develop. Signing all these old farts to take up valuable snaps in training camp will only slow down their progress. DO IT FOR THE KIDS!

Honestly, if the Redskins just took the money they are going to allot to those 3 receivers and put it towards just one “decent” receiver like Malcolm Floyd or Mike Sims-Walker it would’ve been much better.

So that’s it so far…what could possibly happen next? Asomugha? Aubrayo Franklin? Jared Gaither? Stay tuned…

Your name is Toby, NFL.com:

“We don’t plan to trade Carson,” Brown said Monday at the NFL Spring Meeting. “He’s important to us. He’s a very fine player, and we do want him to come back. If he chooses not to, he’d retire. And we would go with Andy Dalton, the younger player we drafted, who’s a good prospect.

“Ideally, we’d have both of them. That’d be the best way to go forward. If we don’t have Carson, we’ll go with Andy.”

Ideally, Mike Brown would be removed from being the owner, like some other Cincinnati sports executives. Make no mistake, Mike Brown will burn this village in order to save it, Bengals fans. Start printing Super bowl tickets Cincinnati (downs scotch bottle, collapses in small pile of empty pill bottles and vomit).

Since leaving the field in 1993, Taylor has had, ahem, some setbacks. But it’s a new day, and Charlie Sheen is making out with Jimmy Kimmel, so of course LT is going to give a candid answer when asked about pleading guilty for sexual misconduct with a minor.

Just leave the money on the dresser for me, ESPN:

“I’m not the cause of prostitution. And sometimes I make mistakes and I may go out there. And I didn’t go pick her up on no playground. She wasn’t hiding behind the school bus or getting off a school bus. This is a working girl that came to my room.”

I love it. But LT, what about if the woman you are soliciting appears to be a bit young?

“You can only ask,” Taylor said. “I don’t card them. I don’t ask for a birth certificate.”

‘Nuff said.

“I’m not looking for a relationship. Hey, sometimes I look for some company,” Taylor said. “It’s all clean. I don’t have to worry about your feelings. It’s all clean. I’m not saying it’s right. It’s the oldest profession in the world.”

Say what you want about L.T. and clearly he has some problems, but at least he answers a question when he is asked, doesn’t make excuses for his behavior. I may remember this the next time I duck down in my car when I am driving by my ex-wife’s house where my kids live.

Ok, so Bill Belichick gets named to his third NFL Coach of the Year title by the Associated Press despite the 1 and done his team pulled in the playoffs.  Sure, his Patriots did have a wonderful 14-2 record and in theory the award is supposed to be award to the best team in the regular season…but that and $5000 will get you a ticket the Super Bowl to see the two head coaches that probably should’ve have placed 1 and 2 above Belichick in the coach of the year standings.

If it were me deciding things, my pick would be for Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers hands down.  His team, facing an astounding rash of injuries (16 players on the IR) and facing elimination every week since Week 16, has come together into a team that is now favored to win the Super Bowl by anywhere between 2 and 3 points.  You don’t think somewhere in there coaching might have something to do with that?  You don’t think overcoming that kind of adversity might warrant some sort of recognition?

You might say “CAHM AWWN, BELICHAWK GAWT TO FAWTEEN AHHND TWO WITH A BUNCHA NO NAMES!” and I say to that “Fuck you.  James Starks.”  C’mon, this guy was practice squad fodder and now he is performing at a higher level than any of Patriots running backs…yes even Danny Woodhead.  Its not like McCarthy is working with a team of potential Hall of Famers here.  On offense, sure there is Rogers but the only heralded receiver he is throwing to is Greg Jennings. Driver is old as dirt and the other guys are just young speedsters only now sorta coming into their own.  His best receiver, Jermichael Finley, is on the friggin IR.

The Packer’s defense is another has got to be one of the youngest defenses in the league, filled with players only in their second or third years in the league, and yet they are one of the league’s top five defensive teams.  Way to coach em up, coach.

As a matter of fact, the Packers’ entire roster averages 3.2 years of experience in the league.  That isnt a lot of experience there, there’s gotta be some solid coaching that got them to the Super Bowl this year.  Look at the Steelers roster in comparison, they average 4.5 years in the league.

In the end, the game of football comes down to championships. You tell me how Belichick was a better coach this season if he couldn’t manage to tell Tom Brady to stop flinching when there was no one around him in that Jets game.  Wuss.

Its too late now and yeah the Pack had a 10-6 record, but c’mon…he really did a better job.