What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:
1
Apparently, the Southeastern Conference has decided that it will need some offense in the unlikely event that the BCS picks a team from outside of the SEC to play for the mythical national championship.
Alabama, reports say, has hired University of Washington offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier to run its offense. Nussmeier’s goal next year likely will be to lead the Tide to an average of two touchdowns per outing in those rare games when Alabama plays a tough opponent.
If you recall, the BCS announced that it could make some changes to its system. We already know the BCS will never require an SEC team to play a tough schedule, but it’s our guess that Alabama feared that the BCS might require a team to be able to play offense next year.
Fear not, Washington fans. Alabama promised it would not hire any defensive coaches from UW’s program.
2
The Packers rested a bunch of starters, including their quarterback, in the final week of the regular season. Then they lost in their first game of the playoffs.
So the debate continues.
Honestly, no one can definitively say one way is better than another. There are examples of teams resting starters, then making it to the Super Bowl. There are examples of teams playing hard, with their starters, in the final week of the regular season, and then losing in the playoffs.
And the NFL world would have gone crazy had Aaron Rodgers been injured in a meaningless Week 17 game.
For what it’s worth, Talking Points believes any team with a first-round bye in the playoffs should play its starters in Week 17, at least for three quarters. NFL players are not used to having two weekends off in a row, or three weeks between games.
Plus, any team that is known more for its offense than its defense — the Packers were weak defensively season — should want to keep in its rhythm.
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