The kids are alright

Interesting strategy by the Jaguars today to keep taking a knee in the final minute with the ball on the Jets' 1-yard line and trailing by one point. They played for the field goal and to ensure that the Jets wouldn't have any time left on the clock for a game-winning drive. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew could have easily scored on a burst up the middle, and the Jets did nothing to stop him, but he purposely slid down at the 1. Quarterback David Garrard knelt on the next few snaps, and Josh Scobee's 21-yard field goal gave Jacksonville a 24-22 victory. I usually complain when teams play for the field goal, but I see the logic in this instance. The Jets had used their last timeout, and Scobee can make that kick blindfolded and with one leg tied behind his back. Meanwhile, the Ravens exposed the Broncos as a fraud, and now everybody's joining the party. I took the Lions +16 ½ against the Vikings, so they naturally lose by 17. Story of my life. The AL and NL Rookies of the Year will be announced tomorrow afternoon. After much deliberation, I'm predicting that Detroit Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello wins the AL award after going 14-9 with a 3.96 ERA in 31 games. I favored Tampa Bay's Jeff Niemann earlier in the season, and he'll get some support after going 13-6 with a 3.94 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings. Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus has to be considered after batting .267 with eight triples, six homers, 40 RBIs, 33 steals and 72 runs scored. I probably would have chosen Oakland closer Andrew Bailey, who went 6-3 with 26 saves, a 1.84 ERA, 91 strikeouts and only 49 hits allowed in 83 1/3 innings. But I say Porcello takes home the hardware, and he's deserving of it. Brad Bergesen might have been in the thick of the discussion if he hadn't taken that line drive off his shin. He went 7-5 with a 3.43 ERA in 19 starts. It will be interesting to see whether Nolan Reimold (.279 average, 15 homers, 45 RBIs) and Matt Wieters (.288, 9, 43) garnered any votes.