Despite all of the apocalyptic chaos surrounding yesterday's horrific terrorist attack, my editors tell me that the sports page must go on.
I'm sure many of you share my same sense of disbelief at the surreal events that took place yesterday morning and can think of little else than the pain the victims of this tragedy have been forced to endure.
Instead of reading about Barry Bonds' latest historic numbers, our news publications will be filled with numbers of a much darker significance because of the cowardly actions of some fanatics.
Fanatical behavior should be reserved for those individuals brave enough to go topless in the stands of Lambeau Field during a blustery winter day in Wisconsin. Or wearing a barrel for clothing in Denver's thin, Mile High air during a January playoff game. That's how a hardcore sports enthusiast earns his title as a "fan."
Killing thousands of civilians for apparently no reason - that goes beyond cowardice. No one's a "fan" of senseless killing. The plane attacks on the East Coast took pointless devastation to an entirely different level.
As a result, every American sporting event was canceled yesterday, tomorrow's Virginia/Penn State game is postponed and the entire sporting community is mulling over canceling games planned for the rest of the week.
But, the show must go on, and it will go on. We will pick up the pieces of a country in disarray and our beloved sports world will be back to normal soon enough to distract us from our own mundane lives.
In light of these catastrophes, here are a few idle thoughts about the NFL's opening weekend to try and take our minds off of what just happened.
Capitol letdown
The only humor in Washington this week came from the joke of a team known as the Redskins. The punchline to this joke was the 30-3 shellacking handed to Washington by the San Diego Chargers and their new offensive coordinator, Norv Turner.
Turner, who was fired last year from his position as Redskins head coach, must be feeling pretty good about his good fortune in landing in San Diego. Now he finally can join everyone else in laughing at his former boss, megalomaniacal owner Dan Snyder.
Quarterback carousel
Meanwhile, one week into the season, the 'Skins still are looking for a qualified starting quarterback. Jeff George looked as unimpressive as ever in the loss to the Chargers and Tony Banks wasn't any better off the bench. The Redskins put themselves in the same boat as the Buffalo Bills by failing to retain their only proven quarterback.
Washington saw its former quarterback, Brad Johnson, give a consistent, accurate performance for Tampa Bay in holding off the Dallas Cowboys, 10-6. Johnson out-performed both Washington quarterbacks combined in every statistical passing category.
Buffalo could only watch helplessly as Doug Flutie ran the Chargers offense with expert leadership over a hapless Redskins defense. Rob Johnson, who took over when Flutie left Buffalo, continued to do what he does best on Sundays - suck. The Saints swarming defense rattled Johnson all afternoon and he repeatedly held on to the ball too long, resulting in five sacks. His three interceptions showed that Johnson still has no idea when to throw the ball even if he does have time.
Best in the west
After watching the Monday Night Football game between the Broncos and Giants, it should be painfully obvious to everyone that Brian Griese is the best quarterback in the NFL. Yes, Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb and the rest of the new quarterback club are talented, but no one makes smarter decisions, throws a more accurate pass or a tighter spiral than Griese.
The loss of wide receiver Ed McCaffrey because of a broken leg certainly will hurt the Bronco's passing game. But Griese's talent, along with the return of former MVP Terrell Davis to the backfield, will have Denver playing for the AFC Championship against the Baltimore Ravens come January.
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