Finding Some ‘Fins: Will Tactical Gambles Pay Off For Miami’s Once And Future Regime?

I should start out by saying that it’s difficult to evaluate this draft without factoring in Kenny Stills, the former Saints wideout landed by Miami for the price of its third-round choice. Of course, that means you have to consider Mike Wallace leaving for the price of a fifth-rounder, but both are certainly worth mentioning for context.

In comparison to last year’s draft, which featured picks from North Dakota State, Liberty, Coast Carolina, and Marist, this year’s haul focused on traditional football schools. The hope here is that translates to better tape against better competition, with more accomplished football men providing better evaluations. On the flip side, this draft felt heavy on the boom-or-bust picks, with more selections with medical or character concerns.

In the fifth round, Miami netted four selections in the span of 12 picks, and that is likely where this draft will stake its reputation. To me, the key to the draft is fifth-rounder Jay Ajayi, one of college football’s very best running backs who slipped due to a troubling knee condition but could end up being the stealiest of steals.

Anyway, here's the rundown: 

First Round (14th overall): DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

It’s no secret that Miami needed a big-bodied red zone threat, and with running back Todd Gurley and cornerback Trae Waynes already off the board, this became a surprisingly easy pick for the ‘Fins. At 6-3, 210 pounds, Parker rounds out the Miami receiving corps that now features deep speed (Stills), slot quickness (Jarvis Landry), veteran route-running (Greg Jennings) and the ability to win contested balls in tight spaces (Parker). This choice reminded me a bit of the year Miami drafted Ryan Tannehill, in that there was very little drama and a broad consensus. Now, it will be up to Tannehill to help make the most out of Parker’s dynamic skill set.

Second Round (52^nd overall): Jordan Phillips, NT, Oklahoma

After trading back with Chip “Mad Scientist” Kelly and the Iggles, Miami opted for a luxury pick in this underachieving man-child. Knowing that it didn’t have a third-rounder, the Dolphins elected to choose a dude with weight issues and a pre-existing back injury at an already-deep position. Some of the hyperbole surrounding him reminds me of Darryl Gardener, whose Miami tenure was filled with highlights and lowlights. I don’t hate this pick, but it did have me scratching my head some.

Fourth Round (114^th overall): Jamil Douglas, OG, Arizona State

It’s hard to shake the feeling of desperation that surrounded this pick. Miami needed a guard prospect, and with most of the consensus guys off the board, it reached for a guy who was a burglar and whose play has been characterized as “going through the motions.” He does appear to possess some position flexibility and tools to work with, but this marked a second straight underwhelming selection for me.

Fifth Round (145^th overall): Bobby McCain, CB, Memphis

Using a fifth-rounder gained in the trade with Philly, the ‘Fins went pure playmaker here, tabbing a slot corner with kick-return ability. Though Miami’s needs lie at perimeter corner, you can never have enough nickel guys, and McCain has a reputation as a ballhawk to offset his lack of size. I’m decidedly a fan of this move in this spot.

Fifth Round (149^th overall): Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise State

Bone-on-bone knee deterioration certainly doesn’t sound like a medical file you want associated with, say, an NFL running back. However, acknowledging that doesn’t preclude this being a tremendous choice with one of four fifth-round options. Ajayi is a versatile, physical back who could prove to be a worthy complement to—and even a potential replacement for—Lamar Miller. Some hefty “ifs” involved here, but a really nice get for the Dolphins … and the kind of pick that can push a draft from good to great.

And don’t forget—this is the pick Miami got from Minnesota in the Mike Wallace trade. Though there was fault on both sides, the reality is the Dolphins weren’t constituted to get the most out of Wallace’s unique skills. So if they could jettison his salary and land a starting-caliber running back even for a couple of years, it could end up being a strong move for Miami after starting from a position without much leverage.

Fifth Round (150^th overall): Cedric Thompson, FS, Minnesota

Thompson was a guy who seemed to be linked to Miami throughout the evaluation process, so he wasn’t much of a surprise in this spot. Not the biggest or most instinctual safety, but he’s got stellar measurables (4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 40.5-inch vertical. 4.28 second in the short shuttle). A solid developmental free safety with the type of athleticism that special teams coaches clamor for? That makes him a low-risk, high-reward choice at this spot in the draft, and another strong fifth-round pick for the ‘Fins.

Fifth Round (156^th overall): Tony Lippett, WR, Michigan State

Well, if you’re going to draft a dude only to switch him to a new position, this is the spot to do it. Lippett was a productive wideout for Sparty, but the Dolphins reportedly envision him as a corner. It’s impressive to start at both positions against top college competition, and Miami obviously saw something in Lippett to make them think there were tools there worth exploring.

With four fifth-rounders, I couldn’t help wondering whether it made sense to flip one for Zac Stacy of the Rams, but once Ajayi was available, that resolved itself. I also found myself wondering whether it was worth using the final fifth-rounder on LSU’s La’El Collins on the chance that he is innocent—but I do obviously understand why using a fifth-round pick on someone with a possible connection to a murder would be, er, tricky.

Anyway, as I mentioned, Lippett is most certainly a gamble, but one that Miami was in a position to afford.

Summary

The post-hoopla draft grades have been largely kind to the ‘Fins, and it will be interesting to see how the talent landed by the new evaluation duo of Mike Tannenbaum and Dennis Hickey is handled by holy-crap-how-is-he-still-here coach Joe Philbin. 

I’ve long been concerned about Philbin & Co.’s inability to not only develop players, but have a viable vision for how they see a player growing into the Miami system in terms of role and accountability. While I’d love to see Philbin prove me wrong, the overriding sense I have is that the next coach will be tasked with assessing and developing Miami’s Class of 2015.

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXXVIII: “Mad Men” Careens To A Sobering Conclusion, Plus ‘Fins Weather The Storms

A punchline is what Don’s become?

As the '70s arrive for some?

An uneven stretch run

For an epic series almost done

“Mad Men” needs some focus and rum

A bust of epic proportions

Says a lot, considering ‘Fin abortions

Dion Jordan suspended yet again

His career over before it began

Will there ever be a change in draft fortunes?

They took difficult shots

And yes, they took lots

But Lacey as a fit was fantastic

Washington brought energy spastic

Unexpected choices for State kinda rots

A relatively weak season three

Ended with the Underwoods up a tree

A highlight was Doug

His story not swept under the rug

“House of Cards” fading, but still can’t quit ye

A big receiver fit the bill

So they took Parker from Louisville

He was a nice scoop

To round out a nice group

No more excuses, Tannehill

Last time …

Vetting the Vets: ‘Fins Actually Make Right Choice In Free Agent Receiver Pool

With Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, and Brandon Gibson ushered out the door in the turnstile that is the Dolphins receiving corps, Miami had a desperate need for a veteran presence to bolster breakout candidate Kenny Stills, promising Jarvis Landry and journeyman Rishard Mathews.

The braintrust of Mike Tannenbaum and Dennis Hickey narrowed their focus to a group of three free agents at varying stages of their careers in the NFL: former San Francisco wideout Michael Crabtree, ex-Viking Greg Jennings and one-time Dolphin Wes Welker. While each has made significant contributions in the league, there were major reasons why they were still available deep into the offseason.

For Crabtree, injuries and ego were the limiting factors. Much like Keyshawn Johnson, Crabtree is a guy who deemed himself a No. 1 receiver but never brought the production to bear out that anointment. In the often-fragile Miami locker room, would bringing in an often-injured receiver with an overinflated sense of skills and overinflated contract demands be counterproductive?

In Jennings, you’re looking at a 31-year-old wideout whose best days are behind him. Would what he has left and possible leadership skills outweigh the diminishing returns of a skill-position player on the decline?

For Welker, a litany of recent concussions has cast his NFL future in doubt. Would a 34-year-old with consistent and troubling medical concerns coming off his worst season in a decade who happens to play at a position of strength (the slot, where Landry operates) find any fit at all in Miami’s system?

After doing their due diligence and vetting each candidate, the Dolphins took their time. They analyzed fit, salary cap, intangibles, familiarity, and availability, then made their pick. Two weeks before the draft, Miami announced the signing of Jennings to a cap-friendly, limited-risk deal. In return, the ‘Fins got a player with a couple of good years left who has a familiarity with Joe Philbin from their time with the Packers and is a respected presence in the locker room. 

For what Miami needed in terms of leadership for a young receiving corps, a proven route-runner for an ascending quarterback, and a known commodity for the right price, the front office landed the right guy—giving the team flexibility in the draft and reliability at a position of need.

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXXVII: Spieth Humiliates Augusta National, Plus When Will Don Draper Start Swinging Back?

Tiger’s involuntary bequeath

The title to Jordan Spieth

Trounced the field at the Masters

His ascents just got even fasters

He and Rory could be a rivalry with teeth

“True Detective” trailer

Couldn’t really be any fail-er

Casting choices gone wrong

Gonna pay for it for long

Can Fukunaga find a way to tailor?

The draft is quickly approaching

Insanity the ‘Fins usually encroaching

A receiver or running back, perhaps indeed

Or a corner or guard, both needs

But does it really matter, with the coaching?

“True Detective” captivated

“The Jinx” agitated

Now “Silicon Valley” is back

Plus “Veep” returns to attack

With HBO, no one’s equated

Don getting beaten down

By women all around

Loneliness pervades his pores

The ad life, it only bores

Will he skip New York town?

Last time …

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXXVI: “Better Call Saul” Chicago-Sunroofs Its Way To End Of Remarkable Season One, Launching Hotbed of TV News

Fate, Jimmy couldn’t duck it

After Marco kicked the bucket

Took a deal to fill his coffer

Then got a plum job offer

Saul Goodman was born and said “Fuck it”

Coulda been one for the ages

Instead, Wisconsin rages

Duke’s rookies led the way

But the refs held full sway

Handed it to the Devils for higher wages

Mortality the theme of the day

As hemlines rise and sideburns sway

Don wonders what it all means

Legacy’s worth a hill of beans

“Mad Men” time is slipping away

While the media reported on Tiger’s smile

They missed real stories by a mile

At 21, Spieth made every birdie

At 65, Watson’s game is still sturdy

The Masters opened in fine style

TV is gonna get bolder

With the return of Scully and Mulder

For six epis, anyway

Good material in the NSA

Conspiracies and “X-Files,” shoulder to shoulder

Last time …

“Content Strategy For Mobile” Seeks To Help You Paddle With The Mobile Wave Instead Of Against It

"Writing this way isn't just good writing for mobile. It's good writing for everyone."

For many companies, navigating the treacherous waters of mobile marketing and responsive design can be akin to tackling Bells Beach on a Boogie Board. Though “Content Strategy for Mobile” would seem to describe a book of relatively narrow focus, Karen McGrane’s work covers a lot of ground related to best practices in web writing. Taken as a package, she delivers the board, wax, and leash necessary to at least be competitive in the mobile swell.

Setting the tone early, she highlights the distinction between users and readers right from the start. McGrane points out that the user is unpredictable, while the reader “is us.” Most importantly, she goes to great lengths to emphasize that mobile is not a trend and can be ignored only at the risk of lost business. As a result, it’s simply bad practice to identify desktop-only content.

"You are in the content publishing business. It is your mission to get your content out, on whichever platform, in whichever format your audience wants to consume it. Your users get to decide how, when, and where they want to read your content. It is your challenge and your responsibility to deliver a good experience to them."

As we’ve seen elsewhere, McGrane argues for us to “stop thinking about ‘pages’ and start thinking about ‘packages,’” which facilitates the process of guiding the user to where they want to go. In addition, many organizations conflate the words “content” and “copy” to mean the same thing, so it’s important to remember the differences, which this book points out.

The author delves into ever-evolving user behavior, noting that it is difficult to draw conclusions based on identifying someone as a mobile user; we simply don’t know for sure how it changes their behavior. In essence, making the choice to use a smaller screen doesn’t mean that the reader is adopting an expectation of inferior or lesser content.

Personally, I wasn’t aware of the demographic breakdown of Internet access—that billions of people all over the world can only access the Internet through their mobile phones and that nearly 90% of Americans without a high school diploma don’t have a broadband Internet connection. McGrane points out that some companies actually have a moral obligation to create a mobile experience in order to reach those who need their services most.

The author advocates for the pursuit of content parity (“the same content where it’s feasible, and equivalent content where it’s not”) and a mobile-first strategy, as well as both qualitative and quantitative assessments of content in the leadup to site redesign. This is inevitably going to lead to some difficult conversations with owners of existing content, who want to apply niche needs to the broader site.

"As with any evaluation process, the art of the content audit is the art of persuasion."

“Your website structure shouldn't map to your org chart -- it should map to how users think about their tasks and goals."

Easier said than done, right? Indeed, content prioritization across platforms will necessitate a streamlined and rigid editorial workflow. This is where McGrane advocates for adaptive content, which allows for device and screen flexibility. This type of content can also be repurposed and restructured with meaningful metadata, which Jason Scott refers to as a “love note to the future.” By using metadata and categorization, then structuring content into meaningful chunks, it can be reused in myriad ways. In the author’s view, the ability to slice and dice your content—content modeling—is the key to maintaining relevance now and into the future.

"If you care about providing great design and a user experience that's appropriate for a given platform, you need to be thinking about adaptive content."

"Develop a process and workflow that will support and enable maximum content reuse with minimum additional effort. That's adaptive content: structured content that's created so that it can be reused."

To create a good user experience within any content management system (CMS), McGrane mentioned the importance of ensuring all understand the message that content management is “bigger than just the CMS.” She also made some interesting points about couple vs. decoupled CMSs, and the impact each has on the potential of multi-channel publishing. In pursuit of “future-friendly” content management, McGrane points out, content creators have to be given the tools and ease of use needed to facilitate flexible content reuse. In the same breath, she wrote that almost 60% of domains under development by American federal agencies aren’t being built with a CMS, another fact that caught me off-guard.

"Too often, people wind up fulfilling the technology's needs, as servants of their content management system, rather than having the tool support and facilitate their needs. We force people to conform to the system's needs as they fight their way through fields and dropdowns, rather than have the technology do what it does best: handle routine tasks automatically."

The author spends little time on the topic of using data gathering to influence content changes, as well as SEO ramifications. However, she does point out that partial mobile optimization that depends on linking to the desktop version is “going to break search.” From an analytics standpoint, McGrane pointed out that content choices often made based solely on gut feel, without being supported up by the metrics. She does decry the importance of having a process for data collection and analysis, as well as the positive SEO implications inherent in having no differentiation between desktop, mobile, and tablet content.

"You can't do mobile content strategy correctly until you define how you're going to measure and optimize performance."

In terms of tone, McGrane favors a straightforward, no-nonsense style. I found the book somewhat short on examples, and the author went to the well a few too many times on the “forking” pun. However, there were a number of tremendous resources shared, ranging from figures showing how to apply content inventory audits to acronym usage (COPE: Create Once, Publish Everywhere is a particularly useful one).

For those who have had the mobile wave pass them by and are caught between sets, “Content Strategy for Mobile” offers the direction—and push—to catch the next ride to shore sure success.

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXXV: Bounceback TWD Season Closes Without A Bang, Plus State Lets Elite Eight Slip Through Fingers

A brilliant fifth season did rally

Chose forgiveness instead of a sally

Morgan returns as a samurai

The Wolves are lurking nearby

Restraint the theme of the finale

Draft winds are blowing off the sound

Fin missteps are sure to abound

Tannenbaum now in charge

Of decisions small and large

Tell me again why Philbin’s around?

Betrayed by his brother Chuck

Just when he’d found good luck

The trials of Slippin’ Jimmy

Gets by on his hustle and shimmy

Saul emerges saying, “Who gives a fuck?”

Duke continues to roll

The Zags couldn’t take their toll

Handchecking continues uncalled

Offenses, in response, get stalled

Can Sparty keep them from their goal?

 

A golden opportunity lost

The Elite Eight it did cost

Cat ate some bad eggs

So he didn’t have his legs

Rally caps all over were tossed

Last time …

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXXIV: Sweet Survival To Advance To Sixteen, Plus Rick Goes All “Falling Down” On TWD

‘Nova looked past State’s team

Pack made them a has-been

March has a feeling of hope

Without a beer I can hardly cope

State flies into the Sweet Sixteen

We’re all 13 years older

But never forgot Scully and Mulder

Returning after all these years

To bring the eerie and the fears

X-Files, the expectations you’ll shoulder

The last two-way star of old

Chuck Bednarik broke the mold

They called him Concrete Charlie

His hits were pretty gnarly

He’ll live on in tall tales told

Doug’s life in shards

The Underwoods put up their guards

The White House of intrigue

Who’s against and in league?

Here’s to the return of “House of Cards”

A high-intensity TWD

Our heroes deal with PTSD

Michonne knocks out Rick

Because he’s being kind of a dick

Season finale should be a sight to see

Last time …

“The Elements of Content Strategy” Argues For Dramatically Expanded View Of The Role of Web Writers

"Content strategy is to copywriting as information architecture is to design." ~Rachel Lovinger

Using a sharp, no-nonsense style, Erin Kissane delves into the burgeoning role of content strategy and how it can apply to organizations at various stages of the process of content creation and/or redesign in “The Elements of Content Strategy.” Most poignantly, she advocates for the redefinition of content within the parameters of how useful it is to the reader and how it can help the audience meet its own goals.

Kissane delivers some solid tools to apply and offers a number of memorable analogies, as well as some really useful tables and figures. In espousing the importance of user-centered design and content, she takes aim at the corporate practice of “designing a site map to mirror an org chart,” which permeates organizations of all kinds.

In a point which should hit home with companies of any size, the book discusses ridding content of self-absorption, internal jargon and clashing mission statements—which is essential to engaging with the reader. Instead of harping on your capabilities, show your value through case studies, demonstrations and results; as Kissane writes, “give the puffery a rest.”

"One of the great challenges of content strategy -- and especially of content production -- is getting ideas from the heads of experts into the heads of content producers."

Kissane also notes that most companies struggle with “publishing everything we can” vs. “publishing everything we’ve learned that our users really need,” resulting in pages of interminable length and making everything harder to find. According to the author, balancing the needs of the client and the needs of the user is of utmost importance; they need to complement, not conflict.

In the same vein, the internal perspective is usually based on informal assumptions, aged stereotypes and limited understanding of their audience. This approach can be useful in guiding messaging, but it must be supplemented by actual analytics and user research. She reiterated that defining success measurements is imperative, which can be tricky in an area that has historically been difficult to measure.

In part to stem these issues, she points up the essential role of ruthless attentive editors, while also emphasizing the corresponding importance of editorial processes and workflows in managing content and applying strategy to it—all while keeping resource constraints in mind.

"Editors worth their salt work not for writers or publishers, but for readers."

Kissane touched on the role of writers as well. By acting as “advocates for content,” she said that content strategists can take client ideas and make consultative recommendations that are based in sound principles and realistic best practices. She also talked about the beneficial impact that content specialists can have on design decisions.

The ending got a bit dense, but …Let’s face it, we’re all suckers for bathroom humor, even in the midst of a nonfiction tome about content strategy.

"In short, we should strive to create and present content in ways that respect the fact that even when they're using the web, people need to pee."

So the real message of “The Elements of Content Strategy” is that it takes due diligence and vigilant attention to keep your content from going to shit.

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXXIII: Late Rally Keeps Pack Dancing, Plus Every Walker Hates Noah On TWD

That’s the Cardiac Pack

With an epic LSU comeback

In the words of Kenny Bania,

“That’s gold!,” Bee Jay Anya

Survive and advance, that’s a fact

HBO gave it modest billing

But “The Jinx” has been more than chilling

Producers caught Robert Durst

Showing his murder thirst

Scarier than TWD and more thrilling

Spring training has just begun

The air of hope for everyone

Then the Mets lost another star

When Wheeler’s elbow went too far

Before it starts, another season undone

What do the ides of March mean?

You had better wear green

St. Patrick’s Day once more

Celebrate all the Irish lore

One big springtime festive scene

Alexandria’s dark current scene

An idyll that’s not quite so serene

Another loss on Walking Dead

As Noah’s ripped to shreds

Honeymoon’s over for Rick’s team

Last time …

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXXII: Prepare For Suh-per Many Puns, Plus Apocalyptic Cocktail Parties

Needed an identity, true

Needed to fill seats, too

So they landed the big prize

Intensity and great size

But please behave, Mr. Suh

For some March Madness

Really means sadness

Syracuse turned wins into defeats

Because of Boeheim and his cheats

What’s coming for UNC’s badness?

Agents bobbin’ and weavin’

Lotsa dude’s leavin’

Free agency is here

To mark the NFL’s new year

In the ‘Fins, I ain’t believin’

Pack got on a roll

Maybe their heads got swoll

Then Duke pounded ‘em with ease

State fell down on their knees

Can they recover from this deep hole?

 

Daryl gettin’ bicurious

Carol was scarily furious

Rick goin’ full Neandrathal

Coveting Jessie and all

Wondering if Alexandria is spurious

Last time …

No-Talent Ass Clown Reprises Role As No-Talent Ass Clown

Office Space with Michael Bolton from Funny Or Die

You're a good sport, Michael Bolton. Thanks for making my day.

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXXI: Must-See TV, The Jekyll-And-Pack & ‘Fins Ponder Suh-Per Bold Move

Of course, it’s funny and all

But nuanced to enthrall

Had tempered expectations

But it’s a sensation

Go watch “Better Call Saul”

After they pounded the cheats

Took the most embarrassing of defeats

Knock off big names

And trip up vs. lames

State’s story rinses and repeats

Little bro turnin’ 40

Has me thinkin’ “lordy”

The calendar does spin

The gray keeps creepin’ in

Life’s anything but bored-y

Going all out for Suh

Gonna cost a hundred mil or two

Might as well try

A dirty-playin’ guy

Nothing else has worked, ‘tis true

Alexandria opens its arms

To protect our crew from harms

But determining the threat

The biggest challenge yet

Can they resist Deanna’s charms?

Last time …

Buy One, Bro One

Brilliant execution.

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXX: Debbie Downers Overtake TWD, Plus Brian Williams Morphs Into Bill Brasky

Beset by give-up urges

As depression surges

A pep talk from Rick

Seems to do the trick

Until a new threat emerges

Trying to steal Beast Mode’s thunder

Is their unoriginal blunder

Call them the new Punk Brothers

Westbrook, Durant and others

Blame the media for what, I wonder?

A racing year has passed

Since I bolted a wreck fast

The vision of Magoo

And schizos in charge, too

Landed someplace I can last

Handchecking every dribble and drive

For fairness, State did strive

No, it wasn’t Cameron Indoor

But the Pack still ruled the floor

Beat Pitino to keep hopes alive

 

Bill Brasky, he thought he was

Fabricates stories, he does

Brian Williams made it all up

Should have to pee in a cup

Shoulda been shit-canned, cuz

Last time …

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXIX: An Agonizing Adieu for TWD’s Gentle Giant, Plus Stewart’s Departure Leaves A Void For Journalism

The moral authority of the team

Made him expendable, it seems

Sloppiness cost us Tyrese

Brought the gang to its knees

Will this group come apart at the seams?

A legend has slipped away

A paver of Tobacco Road, you would say

The Dean of Four Corners

Left lots of mourners

I’ll remember him from the ACC’s glory day

The Grammys, a depressing zoo

A plagiarizing, no-talent crew

A ho-chasing tool

And unoriginal fool

Kanye, they’re laughing at you

Ed Sabol personified the game

Gave the violence a name

Told a story through his art

Film gave football its start

The NFL will never be the same

Blended comedy and commentary

Shined a light on politics scary

Jon Stewart revolutionized news

To the networks, he put the screws

A huge loss for verbal thrust and parry

Last time …

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXIII: Pete Carroll Forgets To Stay Out Of The Way, Plus TWD Tries Not To Jinx Itself

The Seahawks on the verge of bling

And a back-to-back title thing

Then Carroll tried to coach

Thanks to his encroach

Handed Belicheat a sixth ring

Beat up by the league’s dregs

No rebounding and a lack of legs

Passion is lacking

The fouls are stacking

Stop the bleeding, Gottfried begs

Fans jumping ship like roaches

While other teams find good coaches

Latest scapegoat is Mike Wallace

But in this I take solace

Philbin’s last year approaches

I used to enjoy his rap

But he’s just another piece of crap

A fraud who buys ‘hos like lunch

The NFL Network’s got a bunch

This is the tale of Warren Sapp

The first half was kinda great

Will the second uphold the same fate?

“The Walking Dead” is finally back

Can they pick up on the same track?

Or will the pacing once more abate?

Last time …