Sept. 14 | 1 a.m. ET
One week into the NFL season, and already three big-name quarterbacks are under fire for doing exactly what they’ve done for most of their careers. Their coaches are sticking with them — for the time being — but the situation has the potential to turn very ugly in a big hurry.
The quarterbacks are Drew Bledsoe, Jake Plummer and Daunte Culpepper. The teams are Dallas, Denver and Miami. All of them came into the season with Super Bowl aspirations. All need answers from their quarterbacks, and fast.
I doubt the teams will like the responses. These guys established long ago what they are — great talents with big arms capable of gaudy stats and big throws, but prone to give the ball away at the worst possible moments.
They’re like Colin Montgomerie — great talent and great results except when it really matters. They’ve always been that way. Oh, each has had a superior season or two some time along the way, but not one has won the big game. It’s unlikely any of them ever will.
Bill Parcells hasn’t been very communicative — or amicable — in discussing Bledsoe, who couldn’t get the ball to Terrell Owens in the Cowboy’s Week 1 loss to Jacksonville and who also threw his customary late interceptions. Parcells acquired Bledsoe for the same reason he once hired Vinnie Testaverde when the Tuna was coaching the Jets — he was the best available veteran and he had a very good arm. But, like Testaverde, Bledsoe has always found a way to lose. He’s a good guy and a solid quarterback. He’s not a winner.
The fans in Dallas want back-up Tony Romo to start. Odds are they’ll get their wish sooner rather than later.
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Then there’s Plummer. He was a great talent when he came out of college and was drafted by the Cardinals, a guy who was exciting to watch, a guy who could run and gun and make things happen. The Broncos got him in their continuing search to replace John Elway, and he’s done a pretty good job, especially last year when he finally threw more touchdown passes than interceptions.
A boxing champ celebrates, a kicker regrets, fans mourn a hero, and much more.
But in the playoffs, Plummer reverted to form, throwing the ball along with any chances of winning to the other team. The Broncos got Jay Cutler in the draft, and, after Plummer threw three picks and put one on the ground in a Week 1 loss to the Rams, there’s already a groundswell to hand the reins over to the rookie from Vanderbilt. Coach Mike Shanahan is sticking with his veteran, which means he’s also not going to get back to the Super Bowl.
Culpepper is more of the same. He led the league in passing a couple of years ago, and he’s as impressive a physical specimen as there is in the game. He’s bigger than a tight end, can throw the ball out of the stadium and can run if he has to. But he can also turn it over at a frightening rate, as he did in Miami’s opening loss to Pittsburgh. You can never blame one player for any loss, but Culpepper threw two critical interceptions late, one of which was returned by Joey Porter for the touchdown that ended Miami’s hopes.
Of the three, I give Culpepper the best chance of turning things around in a big way. Not every team can rush the passer like the Steelers, and with a bit more time, Culpepper will get better. Given the relative weakness of the AFC East, the Dolphins should be able to survive his lapses. If not, the alternative is Joey Harrington — hardly a reassuring thought.
But the Dolphins won’t win the Super Bowl. None of these teams will with the quarterbacks they have. Few things are as well established in the NFL as the necessity of having a quarterback who doesn’t make mistakes under pressure. Joe Montana was as great as he was because the tighter the situation, the calmer and better he got. Bledsoe, Plummer and Culpepper stop shy of greatness because they do not get better under pressure. They’re like Testaverde and Kerry Collins — big stats, no rings. It’s not something that a player can change. It’s what they are.
Sept. 8 | 9:45 p.m. ET
My last entry on Michelle Wie prompted a lot of mail, and not much of it supports her quest to play on the PGA Tour before she’s won anything on the LPGA tour. Every time she doesn’t make a cut, or worse, finishes dead last, she not only loses credibility, she loses fans. The curiosity factor is fading fast, and once it disappears, she’s not going to be worth the money she’s being paid.
Here’s what some of you had to say:
C. W. of Prescott, Ariz:
I think there are some golfers who may be afraid she'll beat them. Insecurity. Let her play, and best of luck to her.
Lane of San Pedro Sula, Honduras:
The problem with Wie is she is too young to see her own shortcomings. Example of that is she is not good enough to play with the big boys and maybe not good enough to play with the big girls ... I played my best golf when I played with guys that were better than me, but I often wanted to play with someone I could beat.
Kevin of Salisbury, N.C.:
Yeah, why doesn't she stop trying to make it on the PGA tour when she can't even win on the LPGA tour? I mean come on. She is a Poster Child for multi-million dollar companies.
Roy of Newport News, Va.:
When she decides to move to the women’s tour it will show that she is growing up. She definitely is talented, but all this hype may be generating revenue for her sponsors and not really of any help to her. The sooner she plays where she can exhibit her talent the better for her.
Ginette of Columbia, Md.:
Is Michelle trying to tell us something? "Want to be a boy!!!” . . . I wish the sponsors, the parents would allow the child to be one, adulthood is close and hard enough. We are all contributing to Michelle ever so inflated ego (including me). Look at that face (Picture in the story) the poor thing looks like she could use a mother's hug. It's sad how we forget so quickly (Capriati, burnout) This young lady has great talent, let her cultivate it, enjoy it.
Joe C. of San Diego:
Tell her she needs to win women's tourneys like Sorenstam does, and then she will be ready to make a run in the men's events.
Bret of Olive Branch, Miss.:
I'll make this short and sweet. NO win means no average fan cares. The novelty of Wie has worn off because she doesn't win. At this point I'd rather watch two mules fight over a turnip, at least one of them would WIN!!
Pat of Roseburg, Oreg.:
What gives her the right to play in men’s tournaments? Michelle has done NOTHING on the LPGA level, and yes I'm aware she is only 16. I believe you should earn the right to play in the men’s tournaments. By playing these tournaments, she is taking the place of someone who may have earned the right to be there. Sponsors should not decide who plays and who doesn't.
Ed of Burkesville, Ky.:
Send her home to grow up. Then in a few years let her EARN her way to the top ... I for one am sick of seeing so much of her inadequacies when I could be watching far better players.
Steve of Newbury Park, Calif.:
For Michelle to stink up the course, and then say, "I want to play on the Ryder cup" makes her look like a silly little schoolgirl (oops, I guess she is).
Michael of Harrisburg, Pa.:
You're all wet. Wie IS a sideshow attraction and welcomes every moment of it whenever she picks up a club. How else could you EVER possibly explain WHY she wants to play against the men? ... "I'm doing it for my own self happiness" ??? What sort of trivial self-serving trash is that? Michelle Wie is nothing more than a kid who thinks it's cool to strut her stuff in front of so many "adoring" media types, feeding them her self-entitlement crap by the spoonful and laughing all the way to the bank!
S. W. of Maquoketa, Iowa
I feel the pros who think she has no business in the men's tournaments are probably scared she might one day beat them. Gentlemen check your ego's at the locker room door. Golf is a great game and the word Macho died in the 80's.
John of Dunedin, New Zealand:
Should Michelle Wie eventually make the cut in a PGA event, would her supporters then say she is the equal of Babe Zaharias?
Chris of London, England:
I think your being totally sexist.
C. Williams of Florence, S.C.
This whole Michelle Wie thing is a JOKE !!! She's no different from Anna Kournikova. Both have gotten so much hype and haven't won jack ... I can see Sorenstam playing against men, she's EARNED it! It has been GIVEN to Wie.
Jerry of Queens, N.Y.:
It's really really tragic the way her career is handled. . .
John of Pittsburgh, Pa.:
If she were a 16-year-old boy she would be on the cover of Time, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated & a Wheaties box at the same time.
Hoang of Chandler, Ariz.:
Wie just needs to read your last 2 sentences: "She just wants to have fun. The system just wants her blood." ... then send you a big thank you note. This is the best warning "advice" ever for her career.
Richard of Aurora, Colo.:
It's not Wie as much as it’s her parents’ myopic viewpoint. The kid should be allowed to mature - rather than rushing her into the adult world.
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