Typically on the Sunday of a bye week, I secure a table at a local establishment, order some wings, nachos and diet soda, pull out a notepad and scribble some notes as I watch all the games simultaneously.
It’s a Sunday I really enjoy.
But yesterday was different. My space was invaded by a dozen screaming kids on the occasion of my child’s birthday. So, in other words, my bye-week Sunday was even better than usual. (Hey, stop laughing.)
I tried to keep up on what was happening around the league. As e-mailer Bill from
I didn’t see the nine hours of football I usually watch on the bye Sunday, but I saw enough to make a few observations:
–Bill Belichick, whom I think is brilliant as a head coach, looked as if he had never managed a football game before. My No. 1 pet peeve is going for two points at any point prior to the fourth quarter. The Patriots’ failed two-point attempt midway through the third quarter changed the complexion of that game. He also botched a replay challenge. (Insert timely 49ers joke here.)
–With Andy Lutzky as my witness, a year ago at this time I said Joe Flacco was the best pro prospect in college football. Man, he seems to really get it. However, the Falcons’ Matt Ryan is looking very good, too. I thought Ryan’s decision-making would really get him into problems at this level. Through the midpoint of the season, that’s looking like a major swing-and-miss on my part.
–If you ask again whom I consider the top candidate for the 49ers’ head-coaching job from outside the organization, I’ll stick to my guns and go with Inspector Gadget: Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey.
–Pleasant surprises: Titans (obviously), Falcons, Dolphins, Ravens, Bears and Cardinals. And, you know what? I thought the Giants would be hard-pressed to even make the playoffs.
–Disappointments: Chargers, Seahawks, Cowboys, Packers, Jaguars, Colts and Browns.
–The league’s only unbeaten team is getting a huge contribution from a former 49ers player – and I’ll bet you don’t even know his identity. The Titans have one of the top defenses in the league, and defensive tackle Tony Brown (49ers, 2004-’05) is a big reason why. He gets a lot less attention than Albert Haynesworth, but he’s having the best season of his career.
–How ’bout Jeff Garcia and Antonio Bryant hooking up for that big, last-minute touchdown that helped the Buccaneers to an overtime victory against the Chiefs?
And that got me thinking about the former 49ers playing around the league . . .
Here is my All-Former 49ers Team (some of these guys are actually pretty good):
Offense
WR–Terrell Owens, Dallas; Antonio Bryant,
G – Justin Smiley,
C – Jeremy Newberry,
T – Kwame Harris,
TE – Nate Jackson,
QB – Jeff Garcia,
RB – Maurice Hicks, Minnnesota.
FB – Moran Norris,
PK–Ryan Longwell,
Defense
DE – Andre Carter, Washington; John Engelberger, Denver; Corey Smith, Detroit; Marques Douglas, Baltimore; Travis Kirschke, Pittsburgh;
DT – Tony Brown,
LB – Julian Peterson, Seattle; Chike Okeafor, Arizona; Jamie Winborn, Denver; Dontarrious Thomas, Minnesota; Derek Smith, San Diego.
CB–R.W. McQuarters, NYG; Joselio Hanson,
S – Mike Adams, Cleveland;
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NFL Network’s Jamie Dukes sat down with 49ers interim coach Mike Singletary for an interview that aired yesterday. Here’s what Singletary had to say:
On showing emotion during the press conferences: “I will tone it down a little bit.”
On his disciplinary action against
On his coaching philosophy: “My philosophy comes from the respect of the game and it starts with Lombardi, Parcells and Coach Ditka. When I had the opportunity to become a head coach, the most important thing to me was to honor all of those (coaches) who came before me. … Football to me, is 11 men coming to understand what the vision is and to play as one.”
On locker-room actions being made public: “We are not in the era of ‘what is said in this room stays in this room.’ I’ve seen some things in the locker room that would blow your mind. So it’s one of those things that you have to take stock, learn from and move on.”
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Titans coach Jeff Fisher, also appearing on the NFL Network, had this to say about Singletary:
“Mike’s a very passionate person, as we all know. He’s emotional and competitive. That’s how he played, and that’s how he’s going to coach. You have to appreciate his heart and passion and the fact that he’s going to say what he feels. As he gets more experience, he may realize that just because you feel it doesn’t mean you have to say it and if you need to say it, do it when the doors are closed.”
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