Don’t blame Crowder in war of words

By Adam Sweeney  |   Thursday, June 11, 2009  |  Comments( 1 )

Miami Dolphins
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Somewhere, Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano and front-office man Bill Parcells are shaking their heads. Not that the Big Tuna hasn't been known for his share of wisecracks at the expense of the media or players, but you'd have to guess that he wants his guys to maintain their focus in the offseason on, you know, actual football-related activities. If that's the case, then some people may feel linebacker Channing Crowder has committed a cardinal sin. Though, I'm not one of those people who will be casting the first stone.

Crowder has made headlines this week for his verbal battle with rookie New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, starting off the engagement by calling Ryan "the OTA Super Bowl winner." Hilarious. The comment was in response to Ryan's loudmouth antics the past few weeks, which included his Scrappy Doo impersonation as he said that Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots don't intimidate his team. Sure they don't, Rex. And Kellen Clemens is a future Hall of Famer for the Jets also, I promise. Any other embellishments you want to pass along?

Ryan couldn't resist Crowder's comments and said that he's "walked over tougher guys in fights than Chris Crowder," also implying that he didn't even know who Crowder was because he has better things to do, such as preparing for the 2009 season, and that he would have given him a beating at a younger age. This is where it went a little far. What is a head coach doing laying misguided threats at an NFL player? At some point, doesn't the league have to come in and put a stop to this? Not only is it foolish to make idiotic statements, but it also puts you on the radar for a boatload of criticism if you don't come through. Ryan had better hope he at least goes 2-2 against the Dolphins and Pats this year; otherwise he is going to be ripped to shreds.

The best comment came in response to Ryan's new-found athlete amnesia when Crowder told The Miami Herald, "Oh, Lord have mercy. What's wrong with him... Now he's talking about preparation? We play them twice this year. If he wants to be prepared, shouldn't he know the starting middle linebackers of his division rival?"

Crowder is totally on point with that statement. If you think for a second that Ryan doesn't know who Crowder is, you're wrong. And if he doesn't know who Crowder is, then he will be out the door quicker than you can say Eric Mangini.

Crowder has a lot to prove this season, as does Ryan. Both would be better off letting sleeping dogs lie and allowing the scoreboard do the talking, but if you're going to side with a person in this war of words, it has to be Crowder. Ryan should be smarter than to give opponents bulletin-board material.
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About Adam Sweeney

Adam Sweeney spent 4 years as an opinions and arts & entertainment columnist with the Lone Star Lutheran, also working with Sports Illustrated.com. Along with his work on Realfootball 365 he currently is a contributor for Film School Rejects, SLAM Online, Talkhoops.net, and C-Heads ...
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