Rees cannot be Notre Dame quarterback, Hendrix, even Golson worth a shot

Tommy Rees's days as quarterback of Notre Dame should be over.

Andrew Hendrix should be the starting quarterback in Dublin on September 1st when the Irish resume against Navy for the 2013 season.

Rees has gone backwards this year and Hendrix has by far the greater potential.

The loss against FSU was unfortunately, predictable.

Turnovers and bad quarterback play cost the Irish a bowl victory and coach Brian Kelly a solid end to a disappointing season.

Rees looked like he might mature into the real deal after last season but he has back pedaled this year. Two interceptions in the end zone proved that when it come to the crunch the kid does not have it.

Hendrix at least can claim that he needed the experience and that he can improve.

Meanwhile freshman Everett Golson may not be a hopeless long shot to line up under center in Dublin.

Kelly excels with a mobile quarterback and Golson has that in spades.

What is clear is that it cannot be Rees. Though a fine young man Notre Dame will win nothing with him at quarterback.

Brian Kelly knows that now.

Bill Maher under fire for Tim Tebow Christmas tweets

Bill Maher & Tim Tebow

Comedian and television host Bill Maher is attracting some criticism following his tweet about quarterback Tim Tebow during the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills game this past Sunday.

During the game, Maher (@BillMaher) tweeted “Wow, Jesus just f----- #TimTebow bad! And on Xmas Eve! Somewhere in hell Satan is tebowing, saying to Hitler "Hey, Buffalo's killing them.”
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Maher’s graphic tweet takes on more weight when it is considered that Tebow, who had up until the game on Sunday a more than impressive season thus far, is a devout Catholic and open about retaining his virginity, even at 24 years old.

Following that tweet, Maher went on to pen two additional tweets more or less dismissing the legitimacy of Christmas and Catholicism. He made no mention on his account of the criticism that has fallen on him since the Tebow tweet.

The HBO host of ‘Real Talk’ is no stranger to controversy. The very open atheist makes his opinions clear on his show talk show, and has also come under fire in recent months for discussion of Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum and Pope Benedict XVI.

Rex Ryan is big, fat and out of control-- New York Giants' Brandon Jacobs is right

Rex Ryan is a 'disrespectful b'*****ard" New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs told ESPN after the Giants routed the new York Jets.

Jacobs is right ---but he may also called Ryan 'fat boy' according to a Newsday reporter.

Ryan is certainly setting the NFL on fire for all the wrong reasons.

He talks trash all week and never delivers is the sum of it.

How many times has he had the Jets on their way to the Super Bowl only to find a team far too good for him?

Even when he came to the Jets one of his first comments was that the team would be going to meet the president soon as Super Bowl champions.

Trash talk is great Rex, but sooner or later you have to live up to it.

Looking at the woeful Jets yesterday they have clearly gone in the wrong direction.

The promise of Mark Sanchez last year has dissolved into the truth that he is a very ordinary quarterback unable to throw deep.

Ryan insists on talking him up as the next Joe Namath however.

Its all fine unless your bluff is called.

And it certainly was on Sunday by the New York Giants.

As Tom Coughlin essentially said 'Shut up and play the game' after Ryan's midweek rants.

When they did Ryan was wiped out.

Not for the first time -- or last I think.

Two Irish coaches Tom Coughlin and Rex Ryan at heart of New York Giants, New York Jets clash

The battle of the New York Jets and Giants today is also about two Irish coaches, Tom Coughlin and Rex Ryan who could not be more different, ethnic heritage aside.

Ryan is the original 'gift of the gab' Irishman, who never met a quote he didn't like. Outrageous larger than life, full of braggadocio and piss and vinegar, Ryan is one of a kind.

Coughlin is a lot more old school.He came up through the college game, was a severe disciplinarian back then.

He studied to be a priest briefly, so you can't imagine him being caught up in the type of sex scandal Rex was last year when allegations about frisky behavior and a foot fetish appeared on a web site

He is quiet where Ryan is loud, silent when Ryan is screaming.

It was noticeable in the build up to the game that Coughlin refused every effort by Ryan to draw him into a controversy over the clash between two teams who need a win like oxygen.

Coughlin has the better record of course, having won the Super Bowl which is all that counts on a resume-- ask Andy Reid or Dan Marino about that.

Which is why I think he will win out today. He has that play-off edge and can adjust better than Ryan to adversity.

Put simply the Jets this year are a lesser team than last year.

The Giants are actually better than they were in 2010.

I expect that to be borne out but don't expect an Irish jig from Coughlin at center field if they win.

Notre Dame set to play in China against Stanford in 2013 ---- Historic game would mean major breakthrough for college football

Notre Dame may play Stanford in China in 2013 The New York Times has reported.

The Chinese game would be the first ever American football event in the world's most populated country and would represent a massive breakthrough for the Fighting Irish.

With Notre Dame due to go to Dublin in 2012 it would mean a second successive away game for the Fighting Irish in another country.

It certainly would represent a major step forward for college football and open up a potentially lucrative tie with China.

Colleges are competing against each other to open campuses in China and the success of a football game there could be huge for The Fighting Irish.

Stanford already has deep links to Asia and the fixture in China would make perfect sense to them as well.

At least Andrew Luck won't be around then to bedevil the Irish.

Other good news for the Irish was that Manti Te'o will return for his senior year. Te'o was calculated to be the 13th pick in the first round of the NFL draft and it was widely expected the Hawaiian would skip his senior year.

However, like Michael Floyd, he has agreed to stay for his senior year, which is a massive break for coach Brian Kelly.

But tight end Tyler Eifert may be on his way to the draft.

He has requested that his draft chances be assessed which is rather a surprising move.

Eifert could could hardly expect to be an early round draft pick given his limited one year in the spotlight.

End of Alex Ferguson as Manchester United crash out of European Champions league?

Sir Alex Ferguson

Manchester United crashing out of the European Champions league to Basel is the equivalent of the Green Bay Packers falling to 0-12 Indianapolis Colts .

They lost 2-1 to Basel and now face taking part in the Europa league, the equivalent of the bush leagues.

The loss calls into question the future of Sir Alex Ferguson who has reached the age where most managers have long since gone to some quiet place.
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This loss will confront Ferguson with the reality that he has a huge uphill task to rebuild this United team where newcomers have never replaced the now departed Ronaldo and Beckham.

It may well be a good time to quit while he is still ahead and the glory days still outnumber nights like last night.

On the domestic scene this United team will have great difficulty catching Manchester City and it would be rough indeed for Ferguson to see the premiership pass to his arch crosstown rivals.

There may never be a better time for Sir Alex to say goodbye than in the aftermath of this defeat.

Notre Dame's Brian Kelly's decision to stick with Tommy Rees for bowl game a major mistake

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly

Brian Kelly's decision to start Tommy Rees in the Champs bowl game against Florida State is already being second guessed.

Andrew Hendrix is seen by many now as the quarterback of the future. Rees's failings were only too evident against Stanford and his lack of a running option and deep threat means he will always be limited.

Hendrix on the other hand is an exciting runner and showed against Stanford that he can pass too.

Dayne Crist has decided to transfer his final year which explains why Kelly did not introduce him in the Stanford game.

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Given that Cris is out of the picture it is hard to see why Kelly has gone with Rees.

He has had a full year to evaluate him and while he has done well against inferior opponents, against USC and Stanford he was ineffective.

Hendrix would be a gamble but a bowl game like this is the perfect opportunity to have him find his feet and see if he can make the cut.

Florida State will be tough. They are coming off a disappointing season but have every reason to want to win this one.

It is hard to understand why Kelly sticks with Rees.

I hope on December 29th he won't live to regret it.

'Tommy Turnover' as some fans cruelly nickname him, needs to have the game of his life.

Irish players say bring on world champions Spain and top team Italy in European finals

Irish players seem undaunted after drawing world champions Spain and former World Cup holders Italy in their European championship group. Croatia is the other team in the group.

"It is a tough draw. We said before privately we would have taken the host nations but we have drawn the world champions, the current holders, and to play a team like that will be fantastic,” said midfielder Keith Andrews.

“But we’ve drawn the world champions and the current holders. You know, to pit yourself against a team like that is great but the draw could have been kinder, no doubt about it. If you can’t look forward to games like that, pitting yourself against the best players, and one of the best players to have played, there’s something wrong.”

“We’ve come together nicely over the last few years as a squad, I’m sure by the time that game comes around we’ll be fully focused and aware of their strengths.”

Wolves striker, Kevin Doyle also said he was looking forward to the challenge.

“It could have been easier, it makes you realise what you’re involved in. The reigning champions, Italy, Croatia… they’re pretty decent teams. You know it’s not going to be easy but we have good confidence over the past couple of years so we fancy out chances.”

Meanwhile Italy coach Cesare Prandelli was not pleased to have drawn Ireland.

“I wanted to avoid Giovanni Trapattoni. Spain are very strong, for the first game against them we must arrive mentally prepared.”

Ireland draw Spain, Italy and Croatia in European Nations finals

Irish national team

Ireland have received a very tough draw in Group B of the European championships facing world champions Spain , Italy and Croatia.

The fixture list is as follow:

10 June 2012

Spain v Italy

Gdansk, Poland


10 June 2012

Rep of Ireland v Croatia

Poznan, Poland

14 June 2012

Italy v Croatia

Poznan, Poland


14 June 2012

Spain v Rep of Ireland

Gdansk, Poland


18 June 2012

Croatia v Spain

Gdansk, Poland


18 June 2012

Italy v Rep of Ireland