“What’s the difference between a puppy and a sportswriter? In six weeks the puppy stops whining.”

- Mike Ditka -

Bottom of the Bird Cage 3/17

It’s the 76th day of the year and the only one where everybody is Irish for a day. A shamrock salute to those who wore No. 76 with distinction in the red and gold: Mo Moorman, John Alt, John Tait and others.

St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, died on March 17 in either the year 461 or 493. That there is such a difference in the choices is a pretty good indication of the Irish ability to remember things. Hey, don’t get rash, half of the blood coursing through my veins is green. Let’s have a beer.

On March 17, 1776, the day that British forces under General Sir William Howe evacuated Boston during the Revolutionary War, the password of the day at General George Washington’s Continental Army encampment was “Saint Patrick”. The date is observed as Evacuation Day, an official holiday in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA. Massachusetts has the most Irish ancestry of the United States in terms of percentage of total population.

As you go through the day, skip the green beer and remember some of the great Irish toasts and sayings:

  • May you die in bed at ninety-five years, shot by a jealous husband (or wife).
  • Here’s to a long life and a merry one, a quick death and an easy one, a pretty girl and an honest one, a cold beer – and another one!
  • An Irishman is never drunk as long as he can hold onto one blade of grass to keep from falling off the earth.
  • There are many good reasons for drinking, one has just entered my head. If a man doesn’t drink when he’s living, how in the hell can he drink when he’s dead?

From the Denver Post:
And on the first day at Dove Valley without Jay Cutler, the Broncos began talking about their star quarterback in the past tense. “You knew he was a great competitor,” Broncos receiver Eddie Royal said. “You always saw it in his eyes that he wanted to win. He came to practice prepared every day. You knew what you were getting out of Jay.”

Royal followed up by saying he didn’t mean to imply the Broncos quarterback has already left the building. But Cutler’s permanent departure is becoming more likely after he was not in the building at 8 a.m. Monday when Josh McDaniels led his first team meeting as Broncos head coach.


Cutler has formally requested a trade, primarily because he doesn’t want to play for a coach who considered a deal that would have made Matt Cassel the Broncos’ new quarterback. Cassel instead wound up with Kansas City, and there’s a decent chance Cutler won’t be the Broncos’ quarterback in 2009, either.

MORE

As each day passes, the Broncos and Cutler get further away from being able to live together. If his teammates are already talking about him in the past tense, it would seem a good opportunity for the new Denver regime to move forward and make a deal.

Josh McDaniels and the new GM Brian Xanders won’t be remembered for the Cutler situation if the deal they make to get rid of him produces a winning quarterback. Let’s face it, while Cutler is obviously being a bit of a baby with all of this, it was McDaniels/Xanders who opened the door because they wanted to wheel and deal and get Matt Cassel.

They were too late to that party; let’s see if they can make something of the mess they helped create in Denver.

From San Francisco Chronicle columnist Gwen Knapp:
The Raiders really don’t know how to hold a lead. Their best defense against Lane Kiffin was letting him talk. They could count on their former coach to fumble over and over and over again. In just 3 1/2 months as the University of Tennessee’s head coach, he had become the Vince McMahon of the SEC, so outrageously arrogant that he made Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban seem like church deacons by comparison.

More improbably, after the first wave of Kiffin-isms in Knoxville, commentators all over the Web started to ask: “Who ever thought Al Davis would end up looking like the sane one in this relationship?”

That momentum came to a halt Friday, when the Raiders publicized documents in advance of this week’s depositions for an arbitration hearing over the unpaid portion of Kiffin’s salary. In a letter sent to the university in January and released Friday, the team complains that Kiffin and the Vols’ athletic director “went out of their way to laugh at the Raiders” during Kiffin’s introductory news conference.

The line immediately summoned visions of Oakland’s Capt. Queeg, rolling steel balls between his fingers as he rails about missing strawberries. Kiffin’s antics are really just a spinoff of a long-running “Caine Mutiny” production. No matter how much the Raiders or Al Davis resent Kiffin or deem him traitorous, they have to remember their role in cultivating his career.

MORE

People ask all the time, where does all the good fiction come from? It comes from real life. There are so many strange and weird things happening right around us that getting creative and making up a plot is unnecessary. All one really has to do is change the names to protect the innocent, or the guilty.

Really, what fiction writer would make up this battle between the Raiders and Kiffin. Here’s a Hall of Fame figure in football history, one of the icons of the game and he’s making it personal with a brash, fairly smarmy, up and comer who adds to his personal pile of stupidity almost every time he opens his mouth.

Fiction, we don’t need no stickin’ fiction!

From the Knoxville News-Sentinel:
Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin secured a historic prospect when tailback Bryce Brown announced he would be a Vol on Monday. UT touted the latest member of its 2009 class as the “highest-rated player to ever sign with Tennessee” in a news release. Brown is rated as the top prospect in the nation by Rivals, the second-best by Scout and eighth-best by ESPN.

The Parade All-American rushed for more than 3,500 yards and 50 touchdowns in his last two high school seasons. “We believe the addition of Bryce Brown improves an already great class,” Kiffin said in the release. “To be able to sign the No. 1 player in the country before we even play our first game speaks volumes for our great university and this coaching staff.”

Recruiting Brown to UT was a group project. Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and running backs coach Eddie Gran led the charge, followed by Kiffin and recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron.

Brown announced his decision at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame on Monday afternoon. “It’s like a roller-coaster ride,” Brown said of the recruiting process. “I didn’t expect for it to turn out like this but some things happened that I didn’t expect. We had to come up with an alternative plan, so that’s what we did.”

Brown committed to Miami in February 2008 but said at the time he’d still take all five of his NCAA-allotted official visits. While doing so, Miami made a change at offensive coordinator, which seemed to sour Brown on the Hurricanes.

MORE

The whole Bryce Brown situation down in Wichita has a whiff of bad news and we wonder whether the orange faithful will be as excited about this signing in a year or two. The NCAA is already investigating the situation and involvement of Brian Butler, who for all intent acted as Brown’s agent through the recruiting process. A young talent who plays the system to his advantage, I have no problem with. A young talent who plays the system because he’s being manipulated by a third party looking for a pay day, stinks to high heavens.

All of folks will be watching this situation in Knoxville, maybe even Al Davis.


40 Responses to “Bottom of the Bird Cage 3/17”

  • March 17, 2009  - anonymous says:

    Fiction writing is great, you can make up almost anything. I can’t really remember the names of the clubs that we went to. It is wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago. Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life. Golden, Ripe, Boneless Bananas, 39 Cents A Pound. FOR RENT: CONDOM… ONLY US$650. Sure there have been injuries and deaths in boxing – but none of them serious. I think that the film Clueless was very deep. I think it was deep in the way that it was very light. I think lightness has to come from a very deep place if it’s true lightness.


  • March 17, 2009  - Lozphil says:

    Bob…. when do the players report to work? Any work outs going on now? Any team meetings coming up?


  • March 17, 2009  - anonymous says:

    And now, ‘My Take’, regular feature bobgretz.com with your anonymous host …’anonymous.’- that’s me! Thanks for waiting!

    1968: Sinatra was correct when he sang about it being a very good year for one KC Chiefs rookie, OG “Mighty” Maurice ‘Mo’ Moorman – the pride of Texas A&M.

    He was ‘Mo’tivated – he moved Curt ‘Mother’ Merz off the Chiefs starting offensive line at RG that season. The late Chiefs OG George Daney was, like Mo, a #1 pick that year – the Chiefs had a wealth of riches back ‘then’ – when it was all so right.

    While George became a good though not spectacular lineman, Mo scaled great heights & became in just his second season a tremendous asset to Kaycee & garnering All Star acclaim.

    Listed at 6′5 252, the actual 6′4 1′4 249 #76 Mo (later as much as 261 lbs.) was sometimes called Maurice but never the Space Cowboy- usually just sir by defensive lineman whom he came to dominate quickly aft arrival Kaycee.

    Alas, injuries and outside of football interests curtailed what became a short career. Too he was inadvertently placed on the wrong ‘injury list’, forcing Head Coach Hank Stram to spend nee send his own #2 pick to the NE Patriots in 1972 just to get them to relinquish Moorman’s rights back to the Chiefs…it was the beginning of the end of the Chiefs glorious ride fromst the mid 1960s on, till then.

    By the end of the ‘73 season Mo had had enough… he left KC then as he remains today – the finest RG in franchise history, and third only to Jim Tyre and Ed Budde as greatest Chiefs offensive lineman ever.

    Those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end…a familiar refrain.

    :-)


  • March 17, 2009  - Devildog1976 says:

    That smell? It’s me. I am doo doo. I love to play with it which means myself. Why? Because there is no one else will and I love grabbing my ankles so Josh will like me. He does. He makes me feel like a natural woman.
    It is all about me and Josh……….and……….
    THE RIGHT spot. He hits it every time 2009.
    time check 1256


  • March 17, 2009  - Josh says:

    I love it when Devildog1976 does that for me. It makes access so much easier and the smile on his face tells me he cares. I love him.

    So I will follow him. Follow him wherever he may go. There isn’t an ocean too deep, a mountain so high it can keep, keep me away from him.

    I love him, I love him, I love him, and where he goes I’ll follow I’ll follow I’ll follow.

    Do me a favor and bend over again my Devildog1976? Thanks.


  • March 17, 2009  - aggrivated a-hole says:

    i am lame and dont know how to use punctuation my understanding of sentence structure is flawed and is processed at a level near that of mental retardation i am insecure and stupid and make fun of others because i am worried that someone will see how stupid i am unfortunately that has already happened yikes


  • March 17, 2009  - lozphil says:

    All I can say is this site is on its way DOWN!!
    What a shame.


  • March 17, 2009  - Scott says:

    Schizophrenia-

    Any of a group of psychotic disorders usually characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patterns of thinking, delusions, and hallucinations, and accompanied in varying degrees by other emotional, behavioral, or intellectual disturbances.

    Sound like anyone we know?


  • March 17, 2009  - Josh says:

    Are you talking about me or my main squeeze Devildog1976?

    We’re actually one and the same person with split personalities.

    Help me/us please.


  • March 17, 2009  - ArrowheadHawk says:

    Would you be referencing our incognito friend?


  • March 17, 2009  - anonymous says:

    I want to apologize, nee plea for mercy to both Devildog1976 and Josh. If it wasn’t apparant before that the one signing in under your names ’twas I, then I want to go on record as saying that said culprit, I it was.

    My reasons for doing so were manyfold, however, I will highlight, nee, accentuate but two. The premiere being pure unadulterated jealosy. I found myself quite green with envy, jade-colored even, when I read the brilliance that twas your posts. I wished that my clearly incapable hands could type such manifestos of intellectual superiority, but alas, twas not meant to be so.
    Finally, I, like a robber, stole your identities in hopes to take some of the heat off of me loving horses so much. See, I am, in fact, of “that” persuasion, and do love the hind end of a horse more than God himself.
    I again, apologize on bended knee for my feeble attempt at humor and revenge. I realize that it tis I, who in fact have the problem, and not you.

    God bless. This will be my last post. All others who use the moniker, “anonymous”, will in fact, be imposters of the crown.


  • March 17, 2009  - anonymous says:

    Including mee who jus composted, I meen postid. I iz doo doo unlike the real anonymous who I so wish I culd right lyke bud I’m two, eye meen tew stewpidd


  • March 17, 2009  - Lukat Mapeenos says:

    All of these people who keep signing on with other people’s names are really annoying. Just wanted to say that.


  • March 17, 2009  - Josh says:

    Thanks, anonyrin.

    Apology accepted. No hard feelings.


  • March 17, 2009  - Devildog1976 says:

    It was me, not anonymous. Now bend me over again my Joshy.
    It is all about me and Josh……….and……….
    THE RIGHT spot. He hits it every time 2009.
    time check 1442


  • March 17, 2009  - Scott says:

    Yeah…I wondered how long it would take before the juvenile stupidity made its way here.

    For a time, you could come here for some intelligent debate. Now, it’s becoming like everywhere else.

    Grow up…or go away.


  • March 17, 2009  - Josh says:

    Seriously. Anyone want to talk football? Is it just me or does it seem like the Patriots have done a really good job of shaking loose top players from a few teams this offseason? I mean, Cutler in Denver and Peppers in Carolina are two blaring examples. Maybe Old Hoodie has a few tricks up his sleeve yet…


  • March 17, 2009  - Scott says:

    Oh yeah…New England could be really good this year. Unfortunatley.

    If they bring in Peppers…he and Adalius Thomas could be a freakin’ nighmare for opposing QB’s. They brought in Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs, too.

    And Joey Galloway and Fred Taylor on the offensive side.

    Plus they have the # 23, 34, 47, 58, and 89th pick in the draft. As it stands now, anyway.

    I still hate ‘em, though.


  • March 17, 2009  - Josh says:

    Here I am my Devildog1976. Here to service you yet again. Tomorrow you drive and I’ll enjoy the ride.


  • March 17, 2009  - Devildog1976 says:

    Deal!

    It is all about me and Josh……….and……….
    THE RIGHT spot. He hits it every time 2009.
    time check 1529


  • March 17, 2009  - anonymous says:

    So many of the people in the arenas here were under-privileged anyway. This is working very well for them. I’m not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president. China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese. I don’t think anybody should write his autobiography until after he’s dead. Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country. It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it. The Internet is a great way to get on the Net. Predictions are difficult, especially about the future. Too many OB/GYN’s aren’t able to practice their love with women all across the country.


  • March 17, 2009  - Josh says:

    Scott,

    I’m with you. They’re starting to look like a fantasy team!


  • March 17, 2009  - Devildog1976 says:

    No you’re with me my Joshy. You pile driver!


  • March 17, 2009  - Scott says:

    I give up…


  • March 17, 2009  - Niblick says:

    I’m going to try and get back to Chiefs football. They are going to announce a free agent signing later this afternoon. I doubt it will be anyone of the big names still left. I read Haggans resigned with Arizona, so he’s out of the picture. I don’t know anybody else we’ve had in except Engram. That was a few weeks ago. I guess we’ll just have to wait.


  • March 17, 2009  - Josh says:

    Engram would be a good pick up, I think.


  • March 17, 2009  - Niblick says:

    I just saw on another website that Kent Babb from the KC Star is speculating that it’s either Pace, Holt, or Engram. It’s a teleconference call from what I read. Maybe it will be a bigger name that I thought.


  • March 17, 2009  - Gump says:

    Bob,
    Please find a computer geek to stop people from signing in under others names. This is a football sight. Differing opinions, not juvinille(sp) attacks are what are entertaining and time-worthy about responses to your articles. Please help.


  • March 17, 2009  - Lukat Mapeenos says:

    Like that idea, Gump!


  • March 17, 2009  - Josh says:

    I would honestly be okay with any of those. I’m honestly a little surprised no one has really been after Marvin Harrison…seem weird to anyone else?


  • March 17, 2009  - Niblick says:

    Gump-I couldn’t agree more. The site has not been about opinions and Chiefs talk like it was when I first began posting. I really liked it. It hasn’t been that lately. I’m trying to at least post some Chiefs news that merits some discussion, not comedy routines.


  • March 17, 2009  - Scott says:

    Marvin Harrison’s price tag is too big, for where he’s at in his career. Sad…but true. He’ll likely have to take a HUGE pay cut to play anywhere.

    No to Pace, please. Too many injuries. Don’t want to pay some guy to sit half the time because he’s hurt.

    Holt? Now that I would like to see. I think he can still play…and he’d free up DBowe. I guess Engram would, too.


  • March 17, 2009  - DAVE. H. says:

    Wow, was I suprised when I “came” home from work today and read these “posts”……… I mean some of it is really funny! Hope its Holt, would good competition for our young receivers and superbowl experience! That would be like 2 players with SB experience not to mention Haley and Pendergast.


  • March 17, 2009  - DAVE. H. says:

    Dont you think the biggest thing with Harrison know is his character? After the shooting incident. I don’t think the coaching staff would see him as part of the right 53.


  • March 17, 2009  - Stiv says:

    Sad, the comments section is almost unreadable thanks to at least one moron maybe more.


  • March 17, 2009  - Devildog1976 says:

    Joshy, time to make me all sloshy again.
    It is all about me and Josh……….and……….
    THE RIGHT spot. He hits it every time 2009.
    time check 1755


  • March 17, 2009  - Josh says:

    Here I come dear! Make way right spot!


  • March 17, 2009  - Big Lee says:

    This article from MileHighReport confirms what I already thought about Bus Cook.

    “Try to complete this series:

    Largest rookie contract in NFL history. (Steve McNair, 1995)
    Largest contract in NFL history. (Brett Favre, 1997)
    First $100,000,000 contract in NFL History (Brett Favre, 2001)
    Record setting contract paying out the most in the first three years in NFL history (McNair, 2001)
    Largest non-QB contract in NFL history. (Randy Moss, 2001)
    Innovative contract structure involving guaranteed money for Record setting Rookie contract. (Calvin Johnson, 2007)
    ______________________________________??????
    My guess, is it was supposed to read: Largest Contract in NFL History (Jay Cutler, 2010). All by Bus Cook.

    But these kinds of deals don’t just happen. There has to be groundwork laid down, the soil has to be “cultivated” if you will, and it this kind of cultivation that leads to the desperation and knee-jerk reactions needed to sign these kinds of deals.

    You gotta believe that you are signing one of the best of all time. And you gotta feel like if you don’t do it NOW, there won’t be a second chance.

    Enter Bus Cook, and his Methods of Madness.”

    Glad he’s stirring up trouble for Donkeys, and not Chiefs.


  • March 18, 2009  - Devildog 1976 says:

    AnonyTurd; what do want to gain by all of this posting under my name and josh? This is for adults to talk about their interest in football not your own little BS sessions. Please grow up and leave this site.

    It is all about the TEAM……….and……….

    THE RIGHT 53 2009

    In Pioli we trust!!
    time check 2143


  • March 19, 2009  - Devildog 1976 says: says:

    It is all about me and Josh……….
    THE RIGHT SPOT in 2009. He hits it every time.
    Josh makes me quiver!!
    time check 1959


Leave a Reply

 characters available


Get the Flash Player to see the slideshow.

Categories

Bottom of Bird Cage
Chiefs Players
College football
Combine 2010
Commentary
Cup O'Chiefs
Defense
Draft 2010
Game Coverage
Hall of Fame
Herm Speaks
History
Mouth Of Todd
NFL Draft
NFL Review
Offense
Officiating
Other News
Pictures
Podcasts
Power Rankings
Practice Update
Q&A
Statistics
Training Camp

Archives


RSS


Pages

Home