There is no Thigpen controversy

The last couple of days have featured a lot of discussion regarding Tyler Thigpen and his quarterbacking abilities, rumors of trade talks and whether he's getting a fair shake in the QB battle. Let's address three points.

First, he's not getting a chance to compete for the top spot, despite the fact he performed admirably on a terrible team last season. Well, that's true, but did you expect anything else? The Chiefs just committed 63 million dollars to Matt Cassel. They're going to ride that horse until he proves them wrong and that's not happening in the exhibition season. In fact, it's not happening this season. Todd Haley and Scott Pioli know their prized package will be spending a lot of time running for his life this year, no matter how many trades they keep making for linemen. So this year isn't a make or break season for Cassel.

Yes, Thigpen showed he could scramble, take a hit and move the team in a hybrid offense created for him by Chan Gailey, but bottom line, he didn't win. Cassel filled in much the same way with New England and did. Yes, he had a better team around him, but Haley and Pioli want proven winners, if at all possible.

Second, the Chiefs are trying to deal Thigpen when he'd be more valuable than Brodie Croyle as the backup. That's a matter of opinion and the only ones that really count are Haley's and Pioli's. If Thigpen is going to be on the bench or not even make the team, I'm all for getting something for him. KC needs all the draft picks they can get for next season.

Third, Thigpen offers KC a better safety net should Cassel go down. Maybe so, but if I'm Haley and Pioli, I'm less worried about the backup QB than I am improving the lines, and strengthening the receiving corps. The backup quarterback is always a popular guy in every town. For once in Kansas City, I'd like to see a winning team and if that means dealing people who have value, I say do it.

So it has come to this

This may be when we realize that the end of the world is near. First there was the creation of fantasy sports leagues. Then there became the nationalization and corporate land grab involved with major companies figuring out how they could make money off of eight guys in a basement drinking beer, talking trash and watching football.

Now comes an insurance company who has determined that you need protection if your key fantasy player goes down. That's right, a Long Island insurance company by the name of Fantasy Sports Insurance, Inc. is selling fantasy league insurance on the web to protect you if Tom Brady goes down with a knee injury again.

The idea came after two insurance guys guys saw CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell say Brady's injury last year in the season opener against the Chiefs might mean a 150 million dollar shift in winnings. Fantasy Insurance will cover a designated list of top 50 players and if you've paid your insurance fee and your player misses the majority of the season, you get your league entry fee back.

Premiums will cost about 10 percent of your entry fee and a player must miss roughly two thirds of the season. The company says it has sold about 400 policies to date and expects to sell a lot more now that word is traveling fast. Oh, by the way, Lloyd's of London is underwriting the policies. And we wonder why the rest of the world is passing us up in productivity.

Is there a game going on?

I’ve been involved in covering sports and producing videos for sports for sometime now so I’m well aware of all the technology and marketing techniques that come with going to a sporting event these days. But sometimes I wonder when is enough enough?

This past weekend the Dallas Cowboys held their first exhibition/pre-season game in the house that Jerry built. The 1.2 billion dollar Cowboys Stadium that is a monument to everything that is excessive in sports. From suites that are nicer than most American homes to pizzas that cost 90 dollars to the world’s largest hi-def video display boards.

There are two center hung video boards sixty yards long in addition two end boards for fans to view highlights and every advertisement sold in the history of man. They’re impressive to say the least, but you’d think someone would have been smart enough to hang them higher than a punter can kick the football.

Yep, first game and the Titans punter clips the board. Ray Guy would have dented this thing for fun with every kick if he were still playing. Word is if they decide they have to raise the boards it will cost Jerry two mil. Maybe that’s why he snapped at reporters after the game.

Now I worked with the the Kansas City Royals providing content for their video board, which until now was the largest in the world, so I know a little about these things. Players talk all the time about the fact they find themselves watching the video board and not the game. It’s just sooo BIG! Maybe that’s why the Royals stink....nah it’s the players. The Cowboys board is so large there’s no reason to watch the game from upper deck, the video board gives you a bigger and better view.

But what are we coming to the game for? Is it for the sporting event or is it for the chance to be seen on the big screen at the sporting event. Who’s watching who? Players stare up at the board to watch themselves running down the field or trotting around the bases, fans (and I use that term loosely here) wave to be seen by their friends they’re text messaging. But is anyone paying attention to the game these days?

Hold on. I need to get another ten dollar beer to go with my sushi and then catch up with my friends over at the how fast do you throw booth. By the way, what’s the score?