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Week
16: Norvell Must Go, ASAP! During the past six seasons, no Skins fan has been more in the tank for Norv than yours truly. Time and again, I've defended the Norvell him through tough loss after tough loss. "Norv's doing a good job...I think he's going to turn it around...I'm very confident in his ability," I'd say as I scarfed buffalo wings galore, failing to fully grasp the pure tragedy unfolding before my eyes. Let's get this straight: Norv is a tremendous offensive coordinator. If I were starting a team tomorrow, I'd want Norv to call the plays. That said, he has a stunning ability to make some extremely curious decisions, such as the move he made in the fourth quarter in Sunday's defeat to Indy. With Indianapolis leading 24-13, about four minutes remaining and the Skins facing a fourth-and-four situation from the Colts' 22-yard line, Norv elected to go for the first down instead of taking the certain three points. As luck (or lack thereof) would have it, the Skins failed on fourth down and turned it over but rallied to pull within 24-21 late in the game. If only the Mighties would've had another field goal to work with. Considering the importance of this game to the Skins playoff chances, it was so frustrating to lose to the very talented but highly overrated Colts. Peyton Manning is good as is Edgerrin James as is Marvin Harrison. However, the ever struggling Skins led them for the most of the game and nearly won the contest despite the absence of Stephen Davis, the NFL's leading rusher who missed the second half with a serious ankle sprain. The Colts will be an outstanding team, in time, but that time won't be this year or probably next. Speaking of overrated, the Colts' fans are no great shakes, either. I laughed hard and often as I heard the Indy "faithful" talk of being the "Best 12th Man in the NFL" and of building a dynasty in this remote football outpost. Please give me a break - this city could not build a sports juggernaut with Red Auerbach, Vince Lombardi, Casey Stengel and a boatload of bricks and mortar. Like the true man that he is, Chief Redskin took the blame for the defeat, citing his purchase of Honey Wheat Pitas, instead of hard rolls, for the Skins' demise. Throw in the fact that changing time zones cost us a critical hour of tailgating and you've got all the reasons you need for the tough defeat. Fortunately, things get better this week as the Skins travel to San Fran to play a Niners team that quit on coach Steve Mariucci about 15 weeks ago. If Mariucci is a Niner next year, I'll gargle Jerry Jones's backwash. This week, I'm looking at a win-win situation in New Orleans on Christmas eve as the Saints host the Cowboys. If the Saints win, the Cowboys fall deeper into their playoffless pit. If Dallas wins, the Skins, who own the Saints first-round pick, are one step closer to owning the first pick in the NFL draft. Gut feeling: the Saints win it. In other action, take Detroit over Denver, Buffalo at New England, Baltimore vs Cincy, Cleveland hosting Indianapolis, Tennessee over Jacksonville, Minnesota at the Giants and Atlanta against fading Arizona. Elsewhere, its the Skins over San Fran, Carolina at Pittsburgh, the Bears at St. Louis, San Diego vs Oakland, Seattle against the Chiefs, Tampa Bay vs Green Bay and the Jets at Miami. The Dolphins, my friends, will go into the season's last week - at Washington - needing a win to make the playoffs. By the way, last week I was 12-3. Norv, get out your notepad. Have
a different opinion? Send
me an e-mail and I'll tell you where
you've gone wrong.
Tell the Guru what you think
of his selections at AQB's Speak
Out board or e-mail
ArmchairQB.com.
1998 Crystal Balls
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My
friends, the Guru has finally come to grips with reality: Norvell
Turner must go and go quickly as coach of the Mighty Skins.
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