Player of the Weak: Anthony Smith
December 10th, 2007 at 12:16 pmBy Chris
There’s an old adage that says, “never let your mouth write checks your body can’t cash,” which is something Pittsburgh Steelers safety Anthony Smith discovered after the New England Patriots finished their systematic beatdown of the Steelers yesterday by the score of 34-13. At the center of the whipping was the guarantee issued by Smith earlier in the week when he said Pittsburgh would indeed beat the undefeated Patriots on the Pats’ home field.
As the final score revealed, Smith’s tactics backfired as New England stayed in attack mode after the outcome had been decided. As expected, Smith’s guarantee was on the minds of New England’s players during the post-game interviews and they were happy to remind Smith he was the one who had to face his teammates after running his mouth like that.
Not only did the Patriots have issues with Smith’s prognostication abilities, they also victimized him with two deep scoring passes that took advantage of his coverage skills. Pats wide receiver Jabar Gaffney, who caught a touchdown pass because of Smith’s misjudgment, had this to say:
“He basically called us out,” said Patriots wide receiver Jabar Gaffney, who caught one of four Tom Brady touchdown passes and one of the two on which the Patriots obviously went after Smith like sharks converging on chum. “He’s young. He’ll learn.”
Congratulations, Anthony. Not only did you words fire-up a team that may be one of the best ever in the NFL’s long history, your “guarantee” put you in the running for this blog’s prestigious award. During a weekend that saw the University of Kentucky basketball team play like utter **** against Indiana and the horrific performance the Ravens displayed against the Colts last night, your words of wisdom separated you from the pack.
Anthony Smith, you are this week’s winner of the Player of the Weak award. Be sure to wear this distinction with pride. Before you go, be sure and enjoy the video of Brady/Moss “flea-flicker.” Smith is number 27 and he winds up on the ground while Gaffney goes into the end zone unopposed. Hat-tip to The Sporting Blog for finding the video.
December 10th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
I don’t blame you. I would have thought the number one defense across the board would have stepped up too. So you like your chances and you think your team is good enough to end the streak. It takes 22 main guys to win not just one man to lose. You see that other teams(Ravens&Eagles) that have struggled all year challenge the undefeated Cheaters. His mouth wrote a check that his team didn’t cash. When you go into business with people, it takes a full effort from everyone. Any Given Sunday, (I read before) again to me.
December 10th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
The Steelers have been poor on the road all year. Why should they have stepped it up against the Pats?
UK’s playing like their last coach left the cupboard bare. Oh wait, he did, no wonder he bailed for Minnesota.
December 10th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
So it was Tubby that injured Meeks and Jasper while telling the new coach not to make ANY adjustments and just to stick with his philosophy, no matter if the other team is abusing it or not…
Are you trying to tell me Gardner-Webb has more talent than UK?
Another thing, how many teams outside the top 25 start two McDonald’s All-Americans besides UK? That talent thing is an excuse for Gillispie’s inability to make in-game adjustments, whether he’s doing it on purpose or not (it’s obvious he doesn’t like anyone on this team except Patterson and Coury).
December 10th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
X, when you are the recipient of two scoring bombs from Team Brady, you should just keep your mouth shut. How about not putting your team on the hook and not firing up your opponent even more than they already are? It’s a pretty simple concept: Don’t give the Pats a reason to want to beat you.
December 10th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Guess the same reason you have the number one defense across the board. It’s not like he made it up on his own.
Oh I don’t know, I guess cause the Ravens and Eagles did. So the Steelers aren’t better than two teams that won’t make the playoffs.
Oh yeah the Cheaters take everything personal. That humble pie they preach is filled with ego. Listen to the all the post, pre and everything in between.
December 10th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Something that doesn’t help since I want no part of the UK debate. Patterson is caught on youtube eating a booger.
December 10th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Or blood…
December 11th, 2007 at 10:04 am
Tubby’s players underperformed for years, All Americans or not. The precious little snowflakes are being exposed, ex. Joe Crawford.
You can adjust all you want when you have players that can make those adjustments work. A bare cupboard, and injuries, work against what the coach can do.
If Billy Clyde doesn’t like someone on the team, maybe he’s seeing things that we’re not. Except that we are seeing them, again Joe Crawford as an example.
Tubby left the program in a mess and took the opportunity to bail. Give him credit for his foresight in that regard.
December 11th, 2007 at 11:00 am
just how much of a mess would it be if Jasper and Meeks were having normal sophomore years instead of sitting and watching?
December 11th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
The ‘97 team made it to the finals despite injuries because unlike Tubby, Rick P could actually recruit players who played up to their billing. Tubby was like a divining rod for underachievers.
December 11th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
One Derek Anderson does not equal a Jodie Meeks and a Derrick Jasper. Add Ron Mercer to his list of injured players and UK doesn’t make the Final Four and maybe even misses the tournament.
2 players != 1 player.
Funny, this underachieving knock didn’t come when Hayes, Daniels, Azubuike, Fitch, Hawkins, Estill, et al were at UK… that started when he recruited McDAAs.
December 11th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Number of titles won by all of that touted talent?
Right. So if the players weren’t the problem, who could it have been? Hmmmm…
December 11th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Going by your rationale, UK has only had seven good teams. EVER.
December 11th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Yeah cause 75,93,97 and any before or after were so garbage.
Your happy Tubby is gone, so get over it. Besides that I thought Tubby couldn’t recruit. Plus he would have brought Lucas(true point) and Patterson(next Hayes). So why do you need Jasper or Meeks? Exactly! Shut up!
Billy G got you Patterson, Legion(oops), AJ Stewart(sleepy),& Mike Williams(mr. dnp).
How bad did Bobby Perry suck now? I know another bad recruit from Tubby they couldn’t use. Right!
December 11th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Chris, I think a lot of the locals would say “yes” to that!
Good teams make the tourney. Very good teams advance to the Final Four. Great teams win it all. Tubby’s teams had one great year, with players he did not recruit and he never matched.
IU was just as depleted as UK, but it looks like the Hoosiers got the right Crawford brother.
I’m just not getting the affection for Tubby. Pitino was crucified for leaving a team behind that won the title the next year, but Tubby earns nothing but love for leaving an ok team behind for the next coach and bolting before he can be tabbed with yet another underperforming recruiting class?
January 14th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
[...] guessing the words of folks like Anthony Smith do not serve as the warning they were intended… either that or San Diego’s Igor [...]