In part two of looking at how lessons we have learned during the winter Olympics could impact the NFL, we have delusional Russian figure skaters (not delusional figure skaters that think they are Russian), the Jay Leno of the Olympics and a speed skater that should have taken a cue from Planes, Trains and Automobiles when his coach gave him directions.

• Olympic Lesson: There is no such thing as losing when you create the prizes: In protest of his loss of the gold medal to Even Lysacek in figure skating, Russian Yevgeny Plushenko posted a picture on his website noting he had won the ‘platinum’ in the Vancouver Olympics.
• NFL Application: Congratulations Detroit Lions: winners of the 2010 Vic Lombardi Trophy

• Olympic Lesson:  You Cannot Lose to the French- part two: Entering the final leg of a cross-country skiing relay, favorite Norway was nearly 30 seconds behind the Swedes, Czechs and French working as a pack. The final skier from Norway, tracked them all down but the Swede and took silver, relegating the French to fourth.
• NFL Application: Pierre Garçon, the 2010 wide receiver drafted about 3 rounds too early in fantasy leagues that is destined to disappoint because every team will now gear up to stop him. Just like Eddie Royal last year (or as they say in France – Royale with cheese)

• Olympic Lesson: Coaches can be your downfall. Dutch speed skater Sven Kramer had the gold medal in the 10,000 meters wrapped up when his coach sent him to the wrong lane and got him disqualified.
• NFL Application: Redskins fans, hope you paid attention to the last few years of the Broncos before you get too excited about the Mike Shanahan era. Some coaches send you to the wrong lane of ice; others draft busts (and felons) for several years straight. Either way, it’s not good.

• Olympic Lesson: Red Dawn – the remake is an omen The Russians are having a rough Olympics. No gold medals in figure skating for the first time in ages, hockey team bounced before the medal round after giving up 7 goals to Canada and women’s bobsled crash. Thank goodnesss for Plushenko’s platinum or the entire two-week event would be a failure.
• NFL Application: Adding to the uncertainty in San Diego – don’t expect a break-out year for Igor Olshansky.

• Olympic Lesson: You can’t always get what you want, but if you try some time you get what you need – part two: On Wednesday night, the South Korean women’s short track speed skating team was disqualified, costing themselves a gold medal. Thursday night, South Korean figure skater Kim Yu-Na won the gold medal in women’s figure skating.
• NFL Application: Tom Cable narrowly avoided punishment by the NFL for a myriad of assaults – both on former significant others and assistant coaches. Too bad. If the Koreans are any indication, the Raiders could have turned an official punishment into a championship. So, close to a return to a glory for the silver and black.

• Olympic Lesson: When your media darling gets hurt, the whole team is impacted. NBC’s favorite daughter Lindsey Vonn (the Jay Leno of the Olympics) fell in the Giant Slalom and when the starters sent teammate and arch-enemy Julia Mancuso down the slope with Vonn still writhing in scriptedly dramatic pain along the side of the course, Mancuso was forced to stop and start over. Her second attempt placed her in 18^th place after the first round. Vonn may be done for the Olympics and Mancuso, the defending Gold medal winner (and the Conan O’Brien of the Olympics) finished eighth.
• NFL Application: Vikings fans are you sure you want to put all of your hopes in the hands of a 41-year old quarterback who had an abnormally successful season last year? Really want to hope that he has as good or better year in 2010? You are completely confident he will stay healthy, not revert to his turnover-happy form and not infect the rest of his team with his rampant narcissism? That is your strategy? Good luck with that.

Tagged as: 2010 winter olympics, julia mancuso, lindesy vonn, minnesota vikings, nfl, oakland raiders, tom cable