Alba's Dark Angel Award: Week 8

The first nod for a Dark Angel this week goes to the inventors of TiVo! My son had a 2:00pm EST pop warner game today, which directly conflicted with the Seahawks-Chiefs matchup, but thanks to TiVo, I was able to see every snap when we got home. Unfortunately, I turned the TV on at the exact moment they were showing the final score, so it was somewhat anti-climatic, but it was definitely worth watching.

Next up for Dark Angel consideration was fully-spleened rookie guard Robb Sims, who was mistakenly referred to as the spleenless Chris Simms by the announcers when he entered the game. Whether he's the full time replacement at left guard, or if Holmgren will platoon Spencer and Sims to keep fresh legs in the game remains to be seen, but the offense seemed to get moving in the second quarter when he got his chance to play.

I even gave consideration this week to the much maligned Kelly Herndon, for his heads up play on the botched field goal attempt which added seven points to the scoreboard and kept the Seahawks hopes alive. However, when you're a 195-pound DB and you try to tackle Larry Johnson on the one yard line using only your shoulder, there shal be no Dark Angel Award for you, even if I am your adoptive parent!

Seneca Wallace seemed to have this week's award wrapped up, engraved and heading to his mantle, until some ill advised throws in the 4th quarter, like the dump off to Mack Strong on 4th-and-15. Maybe if I withhold the trophy, it will give him extra incentive to "try harder" next week - you know, like AVIS - and he'll notch his first Dark Angel along with his first "W" on Monday Night.

No, there's only one player in today's game worthy of a Dark Angel, and that's none other than one-hand-catching, Lawrence-Taylor-like-ball-stripping Deion Branch! As Bloof says in his piece, this cat's not just an excellent receiver, he's a FOOTBALL PLAYER, who gives you full effort on every play. It would have been poetic justice if Branch's tomahawk chop, ball strip and recovery lead to the defeat of the Kansas City Mildslurs and their 70,000 Native-American-offensive chanting fans.

Thankfully, the Rams also lost today, which takes the sting out of this missed opportunity. And even though our pourous defense made this "a defeat clutched from the jaws of victory" there's a lot to be optomistic about.

Seneca can play. Shaun comes back next week. Boulware's not the problem. Ashworth isn't completely worthless. And we may have a creative solution to the gaping void left behind by Fuchinson.

(I can't wait until next Tuesday when I can safely laugh out loud at Steeler fans for losing to the hapless Raiders!)


P.S. don't forget to look for the hidden picture of Jessica!


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