Tacky Jacket Jewelry!

As part of their gift package for playing in tonight's Chick-Fil-A Bowl, Georgia Tech players will receive a ring commemorating their victory over cross state rival, the University of Georgia. Keep in mind that the Yellow Jackets had not defeated the Bulldogs for seven consecutive years. They finally find a way to slip by the Dawgs 45-42 this year, and they are getting rings for the victory. For a regular season win. Are you kidding me? Are you that unaccustomed to winning, or are you that sick and tired of losing to such a superior program that you have to denote it with jewelry? To the victor belongs the spoils I suppose, but if Tech wants it that way I have a great suggestion for them, as well as for the series. Give rings to the winning team every year, compliments of the state's governor. Then let's see who gets their fingers filled the fastest. One out of eight just will not get it done for you Tech. Triple option or not, you won't be capable of putting together a winning streak against Georgia. Come to think of it, one every now and then is probably all you will be able to accomplish. So go ahead and flaunt your self imposed reward if that is what it takes for you to have your self-esteem back. Giving it to yourself is perhaps the only way you will receive it.

There's This Popular Phrase...

Hmmmm... There really must be something to it! Just ask "The Juice".

Some Hard Hittin' Goin On!

Nick Collins of the Packers lays a little 'smack down' on the Giants Ahmad Bradshaw in last year's NFC title game. Notice the paint, stripes, and numbers flying off Bradshaw's helmet. Nothing like a little head-to-head competition! This shot made SI's Best Shots of the Year.

Breakout Stars of 2008

Matt Ryan was named by SI Galleries as a Breakout Star of 2008. This number three pick in the 2008 NFL draft has led his Atlanta Falcons to the playoffs with an uncharacteristically cool rookie demeanor. Joining him on this list was teammate Michael Turner. Interestingly, Alabama's Julio Jones made the list but not Georgia's sensational freshman receiver A.J. Green. How could you have one without the other? Go figure...

Can't a Circuit City Catch a Break?

Under NCAA rules, the Bowls are allowed to give individual players up to $500 in free gifts. This year, at least four bowls are giving Best Buy shopping sprees and/or gift cards. No love for Circuit City in these packages...but they can always try for a government bail-out!

Searels to Remain at Georgia

Of all the assistant coaches many Georgia fans felt we could afford to lose, offensive line coach Stacy Searels was the absolute last one we wanted to lose. And we may have come closer than any of us wants to know. But Coach Mark Richt has announced that Coach Searels has turned down Auburn's flirtation and will remain with the Bulldogs. The line coach is the fourth highest paid assistant on the Dawg staff at $235,400, but that figure has been increased to a higher, not yet to be disclosed, sum in order to entice Searels to stay put. I guess Christmas came a couple of days late for the Bulldogs in regard to this news!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone from An Opinion On Sports! We trust that you and yours will have a joyous holiday season. We thank all of you for dropping by this site, and we look forward to providing you with more southern perspectives on sports. Take care and God bless!

Wow! Falcons Make the Playoffs!

Dallas was in a must-win situation, as was Tampa Bay. Minnesota, the team the Falcons faced Sunday, was in that situation themselves. And the Falcons were do or die more so than the other three. The Cowboys fell to the Ravens on Saturday night, the Buccaneers lost to the Charges on Sunday early, and Atlanta downed The Vikings later that afternoon. The Falcons were the only team who went out and did what they needed to do to qualify for the post-season, and that is win. No backing in for these Birds, they flat out earned their ticket. The most encouraging remarks I read after the game by the Falcon players was that they aren't satisfied with just making it into the playoffs, they want more. There seems to be no complacency with this group. They realize you don't get the opportunity to walk this route always, and they want to make the best of it. They are a scrappy bunch of hard playing over-achievers, and perhaps no team in football runs the ball better than Atlanta. Their rookie quarterback, Matt Ryan, has played all year like a guy who has been in the NFL for half a decade. He is poised beyond his years. The defensive secondary has improved, but I really think they are a cornerback or two away from being a complete defensive unit. They also need more pressure up front. Nevertheless, I would not want to face Atlanta in the early rounds of the playoffs. They will be a dangerous foe early on. If they advance, pure adrenalin and desire will have to make up for some talent shortages for the run to continue. But you have to like the way this bunch of guys play as a team together. They really are all for one, and this flock is flying high!

Stafford & Moreno Weigh Options

Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno have petitioned to the NFL to project where they might be selected in the upcoming NFL draft. This draft committee gives a rough estimate to the collegian as to which round he is likely to be selected in. However, the committee does not try to project the actual selection number. This process usually takes as much as two to three weeks, and then the player has until January 15 to declare for the draft. Both Stafford and Moreno have said repeatedly that they have not made a decision at this time. Both the NFL owners as well as the Player's Association would like to see some type of rookie salary cap set up. This would mean that first year NFL players would have their salaries set, thus ending monetary contract negotiations for them. Some believe that could happen as early as the 2010 draft, which could mean literally millions of dollars for guys coming into the draft this coming year. You think that won't factor in tremendously in the decisions that are made in the next three weeks? The NFL is so in love with Stafford's arm that he might not be served well with another year at Georgia, but I think Moreno has so much more to show everyone with his vast talent. If he should choose to remain a Dawg, he will play behind a stronger, more experienced offensive line. He very well could have a Heisman Trophy type year. I hope we get to see that. Anyway, January 15th is not that for away. We'll know for sure then...

Mark Richt is Ready For Playoff

For a long time, Georgia's Mark Richt was o.k. with college football's postseason bowl games. However, all that has changed with him and he is ready to see a four or eight team playoff implemented to determine college football's national champion. He believes sentiment is changing along those lines with college coaches, and even with college presidents. Perhaps they are tired of having to convince pollsters to vote for their teams when it could be decided between the chalk lines. It seems as if the vast majority of college football enthusiasts favor some type of playoff system, but for purely political reasons it just can't seem to get accomplished and become a reality. Why not establish a panel of major college colleges to review the suggestions and proposals for a playoff? Let the panel of coaches study them, break them down, debate them and select what they determine is the best system for college football. Come on guys, it isn't like you're trying to re-discover the wheel or anything. It can be done rather easily, and in a way that would actually enhance the bowls rather than hurt them. And on top of that, everyone would still get their almighty dollar, and probably more than what is being raked in now. And that is already a ton! Stop all the talk. Just get it done.

College Kickoff 2009

Chick-fil-A will once again host college football's equivalent of the Daytona 500 when they match Alabama versus Virginia Tech in the 2009 Kickoff Classic. The second annual event will be played on September 5, 2009 in the Georgia Dome. Last year Alabama upset Clemson in the inaugural Kickoff Classic. Clemson was never the team preseason pundits expected them to be after that devastating loss, and Alabama never looked back. Georgia Bulldog backers are not necessarily enthused about the Crimson Tide appearing in this game again. It is a belief held by many that 'Bama gets tremendous exposure and leverage with high school recruits in the state of Georgia by appearing in such a high profiled game played in this state. It will be interesting to see if the SEC representative to this season opener begins to rotate around the conference as the annual series continues.

Durant Brooks Signs With Green Bay

The Green Bay Packers announced today that they have signed former Washington Redskin's punter Durant Brooks to their practice squad. Brooks, who is coming off of a hip injury, will battle current Packer punter Jeremy Kapinos for the starting job next season. It is ironic that Durant finds himself in Green Bay, the same team that signed Derrick Frost, the punter he beat out for the Redskin punting duties earlier this year. Frost lost the Packer job to Kapinos. Durant never got a fair shake in Washington, a mistake the 'Skins will dread tremendously because the talented punter will be in the NFL Pro Bowl one day. Brooks was a sixth round selection in the 2008 draft out of Georgia Tech.