There's already talk of Lovie Smith getting the job, not sure he's a good fit but there's not really any other nfl coaches on the market unless they want to nab one off another team
Can't say I didn't see that one coming after last night. So now the texans will probably have the first pick in the draft and a new regime. Hopefully they can get a good coach because with their talent and a T.Bridgewater or another one of the handful of good QBS coming out this year they could be amazing and perennial challengers.
On an aside rough life for ole Gary. Mini-stroke then fired a month later ;(
There's already talk of Lovie Smith getting the job, not sure he's a good fit but there's not really any other nfl coaches on the market unless they want to nab one off another team
Sucks. Sure it was the right move, but there had to be a better way. If the pick wasn't thrown and they finished with a touchdown...
There's already talk of Lovie Smith getting the job, not sure he's a good fit but there's not really any other nfl coaches on the market unless they want to nab one off another team
Sucks. Sure it was the right move, but there had to be a better way. If the pick wasn't thrown and they finished with a touchdown...
Yeah definitely the right move but I personally feel like the pulled the trigger a bit early (ie pre Week 17)
Schaub seemed like he played better than Keenum did though, but their QB position seems a bit messy but the draft and most likely #1 pick should help
In other news Rodgers has been ruled out for the Packers against the Falcons as well as Cutler and Briggs for the Monday night game against the Cowboys
Also rob gronkowski probably done for the season with a blown out everything in his knee. This patriots season has been sweeeeeeeet injury wise. Still 9-3 probably 9-4 after this game is pretty sweet.
Yah I agree aff. On the one hand it sucks to see my team win that way. On the other hand this feels like a make up call for the Carolina game so while I feel your pain it's almost just equalizing things out. Either way pats are 10-3 and your team got robbed.
Chancetragedy wrote: Yah I agree aff. On the one hand it sucks to see my team win that way. On the other hand this feels like a make up call for the Carolina game so while I feel your pain it's almost just equalizing things out. Either way pats are 10-3 and your team got robbed.
Edit:blame the NFL I am
I hope Tom Brady breaks his ankle, or screws up his face in some horrible Boston baked bean or clam chowder incident, just enough to maim him long enough for his super model wife to leave him. That'd be all the karmic justice I need.
With the way this season is going? That's happening in two weeks against the ravens lol. The pats have lost like half a dozen of their best players. To keep winning like this is crazy. It's going to run out of steam eventually I just hope that comes feb. 3'rd.
haha refs for screwing the hell out of the Hawks-Niners game. Fumble? No, we'll BS our way through the explanation. Holding on Niners? No, don't throw the flag.
Dumbasses.
TheSGC wrote:haha refs for screwing the hell out of the Hawks-Niners game. Fumble? No, we'll BS our way through the explanation. Holding on Niners? No, don't throw the flag.
Dumbasses.
Forward progress had stopped, Head official over rules side judge ergo no fumble or challenge available. And Seattle got away with a face mask call on Aldon Smith: goes both ways
helgrenze wrote:The weather in Philly is KILLING me.
At least Peterson and Bush aren't hurting me in this match.
Thankfully the rest of my team is pulling me through it
TheSGC wrote:haha refs for screwing the hell out of the Hawks-Niners game. Fumble? No, we'll BS our way through the explanation. Holding on Niners? No, don't throw the flag.
Dumbasses.
Forward progress had stopped, Head official over rules side judge ergo no fumble or challenge available. And Seattle got away with a face mask call on Aldon Smith: goes both ways
helgrenze wrote:The weather in Philly is KILLING me.
At least Peterson and Bush aren't hurting me in this match.
Thankfully the rest of my team is pulling me through it
No, it hadn't. Replay showed that pretty damn clearly. Head Official BS'd his way through the explanation just for gaks and giggles. There were faaaaaaar more non-calls on the Niners than on the Hawks. Holding on Lane on Kaepernick's first down redzone run. Holding on Mebane on Kaepernick's first down throw to Davis before Davis went and scored the TD. The absurd penalties on grabbing faskmask on Lane as a gunner. I can keep going.
Chancetragedy wrote: Yah I agree aff. On the one hand it sucks to see my team win that way. On the other hand this feels like a make up call for the Carolina game so while I feel your pain it's almost just equalizing things out. Either way pats are 10-3 and your team got robbed.
Edit:blame the NFL I am
I hope Tom Brady breaks his ankle, or screws up his face in some horrible Boston baked bean or clam chowder incident, just enough to maim him long enough for his super model wife to leave him. That'd be all the karmic justice I need.
That's an awful thing to wish for and you should feel ashamed and bad for typing it for us to read.
Chancetragedy wrote: Yah I agree aff. On the one hand it sucks to see my team win that way. On the other hand this feels like a make up call for the Carolina game so while I feel your pain it's almost just equalizing things out. Either way pats are 10-3 and your team got robbed.
Edit:blame the NFL I am
I hope Tom Brady breaks his ankle, or screws up his face in some horrible Boston baked bean or clam chowder incident, just enough to maim him long enough for his super model wife to leave him. That'd be all the karmic justice I need.
That's an awful thing to wish for and you should feel ashamed and bad for typing it for us to read.
I don't feel ashamed, except about the ankle injury, the beans and chowda incidents remain, because honestly if you maim your face on food, you should have let it cool before eating it. But the biggest reason why I don't feel ashamed at all is because Tom Brady was given that game on a silver platter by the officials.
1) Intentional Grounding not called on Tom during one crucial play (while he was in the tackle box), but called on Campbell when he was outside the numbers, this is inconsistent penalty calling, in favor of the Patriots.
2) Poyer hitting Edelman in the shoulder with his shoulder (which is a totally legal and clean hit according to the rules for unnecessary roughness - hitting a defenseless receiver) and getting an unnecessary roughness call. This is really bad penalty calling. I'm fine with the touchdown, it was a clean pass, clean catch, but a gakky penalty that set the Patriots to practically walk the ball across the goal line. Defensive players hands are tied, they're told get them to juggle the ball, knock it out of their hands, make a tackle so there are no yards after the catch. Several years ago defensive players were taught to aim high with those type of hits because it forced the receivers to make clean catches and to hold on to that ball, but this has since changed 2011 when Colston of the Saints was basically knocked out by Curtis Lofton (coincidentally they are teammates now) which called for the NFL to clarify the hitting a defenseless player rule (even though Lofton's hit was helmet to helmet). Anyone watching that game could see Poyer made a clean hit, and everyone knew that the onside kick was coming after the touchdown. But that penalty gave the Patriots a huge advantage. Besides starting the kick on the 50 yard line, it would have either pinned the browns in their own zone, or it gave the pats great field position (which it did). If the browns got the ball, it would have been the game. They failed to do that, Fozzy should be practicing that play until he's blue in the face and doesn't screw it up.
3) Which leads us to the Pass Interference call against Darren McFadden. Both players were fighting all the way down the field, and things like that had been getting no-calls all day, and yet when it matters for the Patriots, Browns get flagged for an interference. McFadden made a play for the ball (you notice how his arms went out stretched at the same time Boyce's arms did? that's him making a play for the ball), he didn't hook the arms, or restrict Boyce in anyway from trying to make that catch. Even a former VP of officiating said that wasn't DPI.
I will say this though, while that hit was clean on Gronk, I do feel sorry for him, torn ACLs suck.
Alf, poor officiating seemed to be the order of the day on Sunday.
DPI against the Vikings on a play that SHOULD have been a game winning interception, thereby allowing the Ravens to score and win the game.
Several calls/no calls in favor of the 49ers. There were some good calls in this game as well. Yet, I do find it funny, when a player is taunting someone, and an official puts his arm on you to say "stop that" and that player SLAPS the officials hand down, that should be a penalty (and possibly an ejection, as you simply DO NOT touch an official), yet this is exactly what Anquan Bolden got away with in that game.
Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote: Just @ Point 3, McFadden does make a play for the ball but he never turns his head which is probably why it was flagged incorrectly
I agree that's probably what will be used to justify the call, but everyone in the national media (so not just Cleveland sports folks) were saying that was not pass interference.
Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote: Just @ Point 3, McFadden does make a play for the ball but he never turns his head which is probably why it was flagged incorrectly
I agree that's probably what will be used to justify the call, but everyone in the national media (so not just Cleveland sports folks) were saying that was not pass interference.
Bah... I knew the Patriots were cheaters since the 2001 Superbowl (where the Rams receivers were repeatedly raped ).
Alpharius wrote: The Browns, and their fans, get what they deserve!
I wouldn't worry about the Patriots too much though - they aren't going anywhere in the playoffs.
After that ACL blasting borderline hit on Gronk, especially.
So the Browns deserve to get cheated out of a game where they played 4 quarters better than Tom Brady?
I'm sorry, if you have issues about that hit on Gronk, you can send a letter to Bob Kraft, and I'm sure he'll get his golf buddy Roger to change the way defensive players can make tackles. Gronk is 6ft 6, 270 pounds. Ward is 5ft 10, 200 pounds. You don't tackle a guy that much bigger than you traditionally, you have to turn his largest advantage into his biggest weakness. You hit him low with your shoulder (so it's not helmet contact), and you topple him end over end. If you try to wrap him up he's going to get yards after the catch, if you hit him high, you're probably going to be flagged for a personal foul, give up an extra 15 yards and face a hefty fine. The NFL has taken a 'stand' on concussions and helmet to helmet contact, and the cost of these changes is a massive spike in ACL injuries. As of October 23rd, there were 30 ACL injuries in the 2013 NFL season, now these are just ACL injuries, not tears. That's more than 2011 (25), and almost more than 2012 (32). As of December 5th, there have been 39 ACL injuries in the NFL, so with Gronk and Tyrann Mathieu, that's 41 ACL injuries in the NFL this season. This is the NFL we live in, if you want to remove these injuries, give the boys a belt of flags or play 2 handed touch, if you still want to see the NFL with the bone crushing hits that these defensive players can cause, then you have to realize that these hits are going to keep increasing as long as the NFL insists on forcing defensive players to go lower and lower. Any injury is terrible, but that was far from a borderline hit.
I agree - when you tel people not to hit high or get fined, they'll hit low. Never mind that hitting low ends careers, while hitting high -might- cause a concussion.
That said - The Browns lost because they put themselves in a position to lose. If you cannot recover an expected onside kick, you deserve to lose. The odds are so stacked against the kicking team in that situation that it's a major gaffe to allow it. (unexpected onsides are the only ones that should ever work).
The Seahawks lost because they were outplayed, not out-reffed. For a team that used tricky architecture to manufacture a home field advantage, they're pretty whiny when they play on someone else's field.
I'm heading to Soldier Field tonight - I've got battery powered socks, long underwear, fleece-lined pants, a thermal shirt, sweater, sweatshirt, and winter coat, and those little hand warmer things, plus a fur-lined hat, and I'm still going to freeze my ass off.
Alpharius wrote: You should a bit sensitive on that subject - almost like you know that hit was shady...
What Ward's hit on Gronk? No I'm sensitive about the fact that for 4 straight quarters the Browns embarrassed the Patriots at home. If you weren't watching the game, and I had said, "So one of the teams just scored a FG near the end of the third quarter." You'd assume I was talking about the Browns right? And then calls started going against the Browns, calls that shouldn't have been called. When practically the entire national media scene is saying Ward's and Poyer's hits were clean and McFadden didn't commit pass interference, you can't help but wonder what zebra striped divine intervention helped the Patriots win. The Browns should be 5-8 and the Pats should be 9-4
Your team deserved to lose because they couldn't close out the patriotswith a 17 point lead in the 3rd. and your idiot 3rd string special teams running back couldn't corral an onsides kick.
Your team benefitted from more than 1 call in their favor yesterday so take off your rose colored glasses and try and be reasonable here. I'm sure your ticked off your team has talent but still sucks. That's really no excuse for this tantrum.
And I'm hoping the patriots are cheaters crap is a joke because I thought you guys we're more knowledgable than that.
Alpharius wrote: You should a bit sensitive on that subject - almost like you know that hit was shady...
Seriously? Every article I've read about it (and if you want to pick just one, Barnwell on Grantland covers this hit in some detail), says that it's a completely legal hit. In fact, here's Barnwell's take:
First, to be clear: Ward's hit was not dirty. In fact, the problem with the hit was that it was the only real option he had to make a clean hit whatsoever. The NFL has successfully legislated out of the game the hit up high during plays up the seam, and both quarterbacks and offensive coordinators know that. The pass up the seam to an athletic tight end or a bigger wide receiver is a more popular play than it has ever been before because of that; teams don't worry about the consequences of laying out their receiver because they know defenders have been told repeatedly to avoid going high. Ward's timing in making a play on the ball is sound; if he were to go high to try to jar the ball loose, he would have been given a personal foul penalty and fined by the league. If he tries to make an arm tackle, Gronkowski runs right by him. Ward's only way to make a play there is to try to go low with his tackle.
In this case, Gronkowski is vulnerable and laid out, but it's by a shot to his legs that Gronk can't protect himself from, not by the traditional shot to the head. I don't know how you tell Ward that he can't hit Gronkowski high or low in that situation without basically suggesting that Gronkowski is allowed to waltz into the end zone for a touchdown anytime he catches a seam route. Ward had no intent to injure Gronkowski on the play, and yet the only hit he could really get off was a very dangerous one. There's no simple solution to that quandary, just the reality that it's impossible to make professional football with 240-pound athletes a safe game.
Chancetragedy wrote: Don't be such a baby alf. Your team deserved to lose because they couldn't close out the patriots and your idiot 3rd string special teams running back couldn't corral an onsides kick.
And I addressed that, Fozzy should be practicing that play until he can do it in his sleep. It was a great kick by the Pats kicker and a terrible pickup by Fozzy, but without that crappy call against Poyer, the Patriots would have been starting on their 40 yard line instead of the Browns 40 yard line.
Your team benefitted from more than 1 call in their favor yesterday so take off your rose colored glasses and try and be reasonable here. I'm sure your ticked off your team has talent but still sucks. That's really no excuse for this tantrum.
Which ones, because I honestly have been trying to find the penalty breakdown of the game because I know there were a few that were in our favor (like the one Intentional Grounding penalty on Brady). Sadly, none of them had the impact as those two did at the end of the game.
And I'm hoping the patriots are cheaters crap is a joke because I thought you guys were more knowledgeable than that.
I would have rather have seen the Browns blown out by the Patriots at least then I'd feel better because my team took a dump on the field and earned that loss instead of having the Patriots be given the win.
Also, I too enjoy having my character being personally attacked, thanks for calling me a baby dude.
Alpharius wrote: I can't believe you're taking that tack Red - shameful!
What tack? I can't believe you're questioning my tack, rather than addressing the issue.
Seriously - if you believe the play was dirty, look at it again, even in slow motion, and tell me how Ward is supposed to stop Gronk in stride, being 65 pounds lighter, without drawing a flag for an illegal high hit. I like Gronk, and I like the Patriots, but I cannot see how anyone would say this hit was dirty. The defender has a right to make a play, and when you take away the high hit, that play has to be made low.
Alpharius wrote: Straight on at that speed at the waist/chest instead of right at his knee?
It isn't that hard to see that.
Eliminating "High hits" don't preclude safer tackles than knee blasters.
EDIT - spellin'
Really? Have you ever tackled someone - someone that much bigger than you with a lot more forward momentum? You hit high to hit above the center of mass. You hit low to hit below the center of mass. If you hit the center of mass, you bounce off, especially when you're giving up that much weight.
@alf I edited the baby comment out pretty quickly I was definately out of line with that one sorry dude. Sincerely.
Also I can think of a major call the browns benefitted from and that was the first play if the game when Hightower stripped little but they claimed the play was dead even though you clearly heard the whistle after the ball was out on the replay.
@redbeard he could have EASILY tackled him 6-8" higher around the thighs and wrapped the legs instead of launching at his knees. Just because Gronk is big doesn't excuse launching at his knees. That's a bad excuse. Is tj ward a dirty player for that hit? Nope, was he intentionally being dirty with that hit? Idk probably not. But I'm not buying this crap of "we can't hit high so well go for the knees" stuff. And I'll be the first to admit I'm totally biased about it because our SB chances have taken hit after hit due to injuries to our star players. And it's to a frustration point that you guys should understand rooting for the browns.
6" higher? Wow, now you're really grasping at straws. At the speeds these guys are moving, with each of them making their moves unaware of exactly where the other's move will take them?
No, sorry, I'm not buying it. I get that you're disappointed, and I feel bad for Gronk, who I like. But, I've seen far too many plays where the defender has tried to avoid hitting a guy in the head, only to see the other guy duck low, or start to slide, and they end up hitting him in the head anyway. Stuff happens at these speeds, and your choices aren't quite as precise as making the hit six inches higher or lower. The NFL rules that you can't hit a guy high, so you go low. It's a completely legal play, a defender trying to stop a much larger, faster opponent. It's unfortunate that it ended up hurting the guy, but I think it's unfair to say that Ward was trying to hurt Gronk, or that the play was cheap, dirty, or whatever.
Anyway, I'm done posting about it. I haven't seen a single article on this that disagrees with what I'm saying, pretty much the entire sports media is in agreement, and it's just a few of you Bostonians with a vested intrest that think otherwise. If anyone is to blame, it's the NFL's "safety" rules and their emphasis on protecting heads over knees.
Which is why on the last page I said I'm blaming the nfl ;p. We don't see eye to eye and that's fine. I'm not trying to change anyone's point of view. Just expressng my useless opinion on a message board.
Really? Have you ever tackled someone - someone that much bigger than you with a lot more forward momentum? You hit high to hit above the center of mass. You hit low to hit below the center of mass. If you hit the center of mass, you bounce off, especially when you're giving up that much weight.
I have. And in rugby no less. Head/body position + technique trump size every day of the week. Granted, the point of a tackle in rugby is a little bit different than football, but my point is still the same. Oh, and I didn't have the "luxury" of those injury producing plastic girly things the guys in the NFL wear
I didn't watch the patriots game, so I'll take the word of those who did, in the assumption that the Refs gave the win to the Pats, especially as I watched the Minnesota/Baltimore game, and basically the same exact thing happened. The only difference is, I suppose the refs didn't want to give Minnesota an interception, so they called a phantom PI on the play, which resulted in the Ravens getting a touchdown a couple plays later. All in all, it seems that it was not NFL officiating crews' best week.
Really? Have you ever tackled someone - someone that much bigger than you with a lot more forward momentum? You hit high to hit above the center of mass. You hit low to hit below the center of mass. If you hit the center of mass, you bounce off, especially when you're giving up that much weight.
I have. And in rugby no less. Head/body position + technique trump size every day of the week. Granted, the point of a tackle in rugby is a little bit different than football, but my point is still the same. Oh, and I didn't have the "luxury" of those injury producing plastic girly things the guys in the NFL wear
I will say this, rugby players do indeed know how to make a tackle. Boise State has turned to their local rugby players to teach safe tackling techniques, and they've been pretty receptive to the training and I think have made fewer missed tackles this season. Though I think an article I've seen on the 'trading of secrets' if you will is a little bit different in the two sports. In American football, every inch matters, but in rugby it's not as important unless you're near the goal line (I'll admit my knowledge of Rugby is worse than my knowledge of soccer), so proper tackling is taught in rugby because you can afford that little give and take with a tackle, unlike football where things like "yards after catch" and "yards after contact" are important stats to look at when seeing how effective a player can be.
I will say this, rugby players do indeed know how to make a tackle. Boise State has turned to their local rugby players to teach safe tackling techniques, and they've been pretty receptive to the training and I think have made fewer missed tackles this season. Though I think an article I've seen on the 'trading of secrets' if you will is a little bit different in the two sports. In American football, every inch matters, but in rugby it's not as important unless you're near the goal line (I'll admit my knowledge of Rugby is worse than my knowledge of soccer), so proper tackling is taught in rugby because you can afford that little give and take with a tackle, unlike football where things like "yards after catch" and "yards after contact" are important stats to look at when seeing how effective a player can be.
Nah... It's partially down to the fact that in American Football, the ball only has to cross the goal line in order to score, whereas in Rugby, the ball must "have downward pressure applied" to it, while on the ground past the Try line. Also, in football, once the tackle is made, everything is reset, so the tactics of moving down the field are a bit different than rugby, where play simply moves to another phase and the tactics and strategies of play from the tackle or ruck are different as well.
Increasingly, I have seen in rugby union stats such as Line Breaks, Meters made, etc. become big things (as they are quite similar to both YACs in football)
I think that the reason Boise State is playing a game of "Fewer missed tackles will equate to good things for us" is because, with the play resetting, that gives them another opportunity to get a fumble, interception, etc. Plus, if they make a good solid hit, but are unable to instantly take the ball carrier down, they will get support from their teammates, who are taught (as I was playing football back in the day) to go for the strip. Basically, first man wraps/attempts the take down, and any additional players that come support are going for the strip/tackle.
Some crazy football played this week... Blizzard Bowl in Philly, 5 TDs in 2 mins in Balti, 100 TDs in a week (first time in NFL history), Chicago scoring on their first 7 possessions....
In FFL news, I got bruised in the snow game, Ah well.
helgrenze wrote: Some crazy football played this week... Blizzard Bowl in Philly, 5 TDs in 2 mins in Balti, 100 TDs in a week (first time in NFL history), Chicago scoring on their first 7 possessions....
In FFL news, I got bruised in the snow game, Ah well.
Chicago scored on all 8 possessions (5TDs 3 FGs) excluding the kneel down at the end
And I only got saved by Josh Gordon and the Cards D , on to face Kronk
Thank you chargers . If The patriots win on Sunday and they're the #1 seed in the AFC. And after all the key injuries they probably need it to have any chance of making the Super Bowl.
Really? Have you ever tackled someone - someone that much bigger than you with a lot more forward momentum? You hit high to hit above the center of mass. You hit low to hit below the center of mass. If you hit the center of mass, you bounce off, especially when you're giving up that much weight.
I have. And in rugby no less. Head/body position + technique trump size every day of the week. .
I think Atwater would disagree with both of you. It just takes pure awesome to tackle.
Hmm.. thanks to the TNF football result I stand a chance at slipping past Kronk and his team of death, problem being I need to decide who to start at RB (Jackson, Peterson, Bush or Ellington)
Spoiler:
The result also means the first barrier of my accumulator fell
San Diego @ 15/4
Bengals @ 20/29
Ravens @ 23/10
Patriots @ 5/6
Redskins @ 9/4
£1 pays out ~£150
Jacksonville, which is a better match up than the Lions and Ravens.
Plus, Bush has been kept out of the last 3 games for various reasons. They did allow him to practice on Friday.
Damn what a heartbreaker the pats vs dolphins was. That's probably our only chance at the #1 and now were more likely to have the 3 if Cincinnati doesn't lose. Without a bye/some home field this pats teams is gonna have a super hard road ahead.
TheMeanDM wrote: Rams are like a schizophrenic Jeckyl and Hyde...hard telling which team you will get to show up week to week.
It's sadly looking to be the case with the Saints now that the regular season is winding down. I hope they have their crap back together for the Panthers game coming up.
Ah.. so Peterson gets hurt by his heel, the only place where he has a weakness! Was amazed the Vikings won without him actually, although no doubt it was helped by there being no Ponder and the Eagles seemed a bit lacklustre.
But.. does no-one want to win the NFC East this year? That Cowboys-Packers game was the biggest case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory that I have ever seen. I can't understand why they backed off of Flynn, the guy seems eminently sackable, but it allowed him to find his rhythm and get into the game. I'm guessing there were a lot of questions asked in Dallas about what happened in that game, the play calling seemed really poor.
What about the game this weekend between Saints and Panthers? What the hell happened with the Saints last weekend, was it just them being bad on the road?
Hey I would rather the Eagles have a bad game like last week than have one vs Dallas.... or Chicago. They seem to have the ability to bounce back after such a loss.
I think Dallas loses the battle of the imploding teams. Washington is looking to shop Cousins, so maybe they pull out the stops.
So I wonder what coaches are done after the year and who's gonna win coach of the year. I'd say lovie to the titans, and Rex Ryan to the lions. IMO these would be great coaching moves for their respective franchises. If Jim Schwartz or lovie smith are back next year I'd be astonished. I think Ryan could do WONDERS for that Detroit defense and lovie coaching up the young guys in tenn would be good for them I think.
As to coach of the year Bruce Arians, Bill Bellichik, Ron Rivera, and possibly mike Tomlin are in the conversation. My front runner if they make the playoffs is Bruce but Bellichik is havig a helluva season as well.
Also clearly chip kelly is the revolution ;p. and if it wasn't for paymeaton manning setting the TD record I'd vote for Foles as MVP. He has 25 TD's and 2 ints in 10 games. If you push that out to a whole season it's like 42 TD's and 4 picks...
Ah well, will be even sweeter if we get in on the last day that way . Doubt it, though... Flacco didn't throw well with the knee brace in the first half and we looked rather awful. Maybe it will fire them up for next week?
The Ravens have tiebreakers over the Dolphins or the Chargers alone, but if we all win next week, 3way ties have a different tiebreaker and the Dolphins would be in.
Cincy will be hyped to beat us to improve their seed, meanwhile Chargers face Chiefs who have nothing riding on this game at all.
That was the worst Bears performance I can recall. To make matters worse, I benched the Eagles D in my fanasty superbowl, because the Bears had been putting up big numbers. I'd have won by now if I played them.
Ah well, will be even sweeter if we get in on the last day that way . Doubt it, though... Flacco didn't throw well with the knee brace in the first half and we looked rather awful. Maybe it will fire them up for next week?
The Ravens have tiebreakers over the Dolphins or the Chargers alone, but if we all win next week, 3way ties have a different tiebreaker and the Dolphins would be in.
Cincy will be hyped to beat us to improve their seed, meanwhile Chargers face Chiefs who have nothing riding on this game at all.
Good quarterbacking and going 7-4 since the horrific start is how. They were tantalizingly close to being in the mix for the division title -- consider Brown's foot out of bounds vs. the Dolphins, Suisham missing two easy FGs vs. the Raiders, the very close 2nd game vs the Ravens.
Don't get me wrong -- it certainly isn't a good Steelers team, and the defense mostly stinks. But it's a competitive team that's improved and stuck around. The Ravens and most of the AFC don't have any room to talk. It's a bad conference this year.
Yah it's the top 4 in the AFC and then everyone else. This year has been crazy frustrating for a lot of teams with injuries across the NFL. A lot of stars missing is causing the teams with any sort grit to stay afloat longer.
It's true. Having half your starters out with injuries hurts, especially when its all your depth at one position, and half of those out were pro-bowlers.
Still, I can't help but think, where is the tackling. I've seen other teams do it. I couldn't even begin to count the number of missed tackles yesterday. Guys were in position to make plays, and simply didn't make them. Absolutely disgraceful.
Part of me hopes that they don't make the playoffs, because then I don't have to pay to watch them lose to the 49ers or Saints.
Chancetragedy wrote: So I wonder what coaches are done after the year and who's gonna win coach of the year. I'd say lovie to the titans, and Rex Ryan to the lions. IMO these would be great coaching moves for their respective franchises. If Jim Schwartz or lovie smith are back next year I'd be astonished. I think Ryan could do WONDERS for that Detroit defense and lovie coaching up the young guys in tenn would be good for them I think.
Rumor has it that if Dallas misses the playoffs Jerry may be dropping the F(ired) Bomb on Garret.
Redbeard wrote: It's true. Having half your starters out with injuries hurts, especially when its all your depth at one position, and half of those out were pro-bowlers.
Still, I can't help but think, where is the tackling. I've seen other teams do it. I couldn't even begin to count the number of missed tackles yesterday. Guys were in position to make plays, and simply didn't make them. Absolutely disgraceful.
Part of me hopes that they don't make the playoffs, because then I don't have to pay to watch them lose to the 49ers or Saints.
I probably won't even watch the green bay game as both the teams will make a first round exit
Chancetragedy wrote: So I wonder what coaches are done after the year and who's gonna win coach of the year. I'd say lovie to the titans, and Rex Ryan to the lions. IMO these would be great coaching moves for their respective franchises. If Jim Schwartz or lovie smith are back next year I'd be astonished. I think Ryan could do WONDERS for that Detroit defense and lovie coaching up the young guys in tenn would be good for them I think.
Rumor has it that if Dallas misses the playoffs Jerry may be dropping the F(ired) Bomb on Garret.
Didn't jerry already publicly say Garrett wasn't going anywhere? That would be hilarious.
My list of coaches that should be fired is as follows Schwartz, lovie smith, Rex Ryan, Schiano, munchak(was he already fired?), Kubiak is gone already, and as weird as this one is with them as the 3rd seed is I think Marvin Lewis should be fired.
Edit:and every referee crew besides Steratore's need to be let go. I'm fricken sick of football becoming the new basketball with the amount of influence referee's have on games. Keep the flags in your pockets jerks.
Hmm that's interesting. It totally makes sense with how good mccown played. Cutler is pretty set in his ways and just doesn't seem like he cares so it also makes sense trestman hasn't gotten to him. Isn't trestman super super smart? Like a lawyer or mathematician or something from a really prestigious school?
I thought he was a stock broker when he dropped out of coaching initially before heading to the Allouettes and revitalised Anthony Calvillo's career.
Actually in 95&96 he was the QB Coach/OC for the 49ers
Chancetragedy wrote:
Edit:and every referee crew besides Steratore's need to be let go. I'm fricken sick of football becoming the new basketball with the amount of influence referee's have on games. Keep the flags in your pockets jerks.
You are aware that not throwing flags can have as much, if not more, influence on a game than throwing them can, right? Should the refs allow the o-line to hold? Should d-backs be allowed to interfere with passes?
Trestman seems like a pretty good offensive coach - barring last night's game, the Bears offense has looked better than it has in all the time I've been really following them. I think they already passed several single-season records.
The defense looks a shambles, but as mentioned before, when more than half of your starters take season-long injuries, including most of your pro-bowlers, and all your depth at one position, you're going to suffer. I'd like to give Mel Tucker one more year as d-coordinator. The young talent (like Bostic) can only get better, and maybe we focus on the defensive side in this year's draft.
I would say keeping the flags in their pockets for a lot of Ticky tack stuff isn't influencing the game at all redbeard. Sure call the aggregious stuff as that's what they're their for. But when you have a game like yesterday's pats vs ravens game where there was a flag on what seemed like every other play in the first half most of which were very Ticky tacky it's going to far. When you have a game that had 17 penalties for almost 200 yards from a game that included a team that's near the top of I penalized teams in the league that's going to far. Teams can't get into rhythm and the game becomes almost unwatchable. And I know it's something that's not going to go away but it's just crazy infuriating, almost as much IMO as the NFL's crusade to reduce concussion which isn't actually reducing concussions and is causing more lower leg/knee injuries around the league...
Chancetragedy wrote:
Edit:and every referee crew besides Steratore's need to be let go. I'm fricken sick of football becoming the new basketball with the amount of influence referee's have on games. Keep the flags in your pockets jerks.
You are aware that not throwing flags can have as much, if not more, influence on a game than throwing them can, right? Should the refs allow the o-line to hold? Should d-backs be allowed to interfere with passes?
It's really more a matter of "how much should they allow to go on" because, play by play, I personally was able to spot Arizona's O-line holding on EVERY SINGLE PLAY they had on Sunday. It stands to reason also that Seattle's O-line did much the same, but as that's my team, I didn't see it
On the whole though, I agree, the officiating seems quite a bit poorer this year. Some games it's quite clear and obvious where the officiating brought about the result, and some where its much less obvious to non-existent.
Also, never get rid of Ed Hochuli.... we need those arms on the field
I thought about eddy Hercules when I posted everyone but steratore's crew. Since I reserve the right to back track I agree never let go of Hocculi he's too much comic relief in his long winded explanations and his guns flexing all over the place.
I don't think we've talked this much about the Eagles in the office all season. Bring on the Cowboys!!!! Even if we lose, this has still been an amazing season compared to what it could have been, but that being said, I hope we destroy them and hold Dallas to under 21 pts.
TheMeanDM wrote: Apparently, Romo is "day to day" and will have surgery in the off season.
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So how in the hell can you get 4 INTS and still L O S E ! ! ! ? ? ? ! !
Now granted, Arizona is playing tough this year, and have been on a great run the past few weeks....
But seriously?!? Horrible, terrible, offensive day for SEA.
This had better be the wakeup call that they need to carry good momentum forward into the playoffs.
They'd better get their crap together and stomp a mudhole in the Rams next weekend.
Take care of business, and the rest will take care of itself.
As of the past 3 games, they do not look like a team that will make it to the Super Bowl because they couldn't win the tough, close games.
While they certainly didn't overly help themselves offensively, I personally think that refs were "helping" the Cardinals a bit too much.... what with the INT towards the end of the game, a few penalties, and non-penalties, etc
But, they have played far better many times over this season....and thus they should not have put themselves in the position of letting terrible refs decide the game.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Damn...at the half I thought maybe the Falcons would pull one out tonight.
The Cowboys roster is getting a bit older in response to Tony Romo's herniated disk. Dallas has signed 41-year-old Jon Kitna to backup likely starter Kyle Orton on Sunday against the Eagles, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The somewhat bizarre move comes after the Cowboys tried to workout veteran David Carr and journeyman John Skelton. Carr had been stuck at an unknown airport due to flight delays, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. Skelton, Caleb Hanie and Tyler Thigpen were all set to work out for Cowboys officials, but were sent home by the organization, according to Rapoport.
Kitna has not appeared in a game since 2011 and has not started a game since Christmas of 2010. The veteran had a 15-year career in NFL prior to his one-season hiatus and has played for the Seahawks, Bengals, Lions and Cowboys. Kitna was serving as a math teacher and football coach at his high school alma mater prior to the Cowboys signing, according to the Seattle Times.
The Cowboys have still not officially ruled out Romo for Sunday's game, but this just another sign that Orton is likely to get the call.
Ah well, will be even sweeter if we get in on the last day that way . Doubt it, though... Flacco didn't throw well with the knee brace in the first half and we looked rather awful. Maybe it will fire them up for next week?
The Ravens have tiebreakers over the Dolphins or the Chargers alone, but if we all win next week, 3way ties have a different tiebreaker and the Dolphins would be in.
Cincy will be hyped to beat us to improve their seed, meanwhile Chargers face Chiefs who have nothing riding on this game at all.
Good quarterbacking and going 7-4 since the horrific start is how. They were tantalizingly close to being in the mix for the division title -- consider Brown's foot out of bounds vs. the Dolphins, Suisham missing two easy FGs vs. the Raiders, the very close 2nd game vs the Ravens.
Don't get me wrong -- it certainly isn't a good Steelers team, and the defense mostly stinks. But it's a competitive team that's improved and stuck around. The Ravens and most of the AFC don't have any room to talk. It's a bad conference this year.
As a Ravens fan... I totally agree with you! Doesn't keep me from hoping they go 7-9 on the season, though
Ah well, will be even sweeter if we get in on the last day that way . Doubt it, though... Flacco didn't throw well with the knee brace in the first half and we looked rather awful. Maybe it will fire them up for next week?
The Ravens have tiebreakers over the Dolphins or the Chargers alone, but if we all win next week, 3way ties have a different tiebreaker and the Dolphins would be in.
Cincy will be hyped to beat us to improve their seed, meanwhile Chargers face Chiefs who have nothing riding on this game at all.
Good quarterbacking and going 7-4 since the horrific start is how. They were tantalizingly close to being in the mix for the division title -- consider Brown's foot out of bounds vs. the Dolphins, Suisham missing two easy FGs vs. the Raiders, the very close 2nd game vs the Ravens.
Don't get me wrong -- it certainly isn't a good Steelers team, and the defense mostly stinks. But it's a competitive team that's improved and stuck around. The Ravens and most of the AFC don't have any room to talk. It's a bad conference this year.
As a Ravens fan... I agree with you! Doesn't keep me from hoping they go 7-9 on the season, though
The Cowboys roster is getting a bit older in response to Tony Romo's herniated disk. Dallas has signed 41-year-old Jon Kitna to backup likely starter Kyle Orton on Sunday against the Eagles, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The somewhat bizarre move comes after the Cowboys tried to workout veteran David Carr and journeyman John Skelton. Carr had been stuck at an unknown airport due to flight delays, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. Skelton, Caleb Hanie and Tyler Thigpen were all set to work out for Cowboys officials, but were sent home by the organization, according to Rapoport.
Kitna has not appeared in a game since 2011 and has not started a game since Christmas of 2010. The veteran had a 15-year career in NFL prior to his one-season hiatus and has played for the Seahawks, Bengals, Lions and Cowboys. Kitna was serving as a math teacher and football coach at his high school alma mater prior to the Cowboys signing, according to the Seattle Times.
The Cowboys have still not officially ruled out Romo for Sunday's game, but this just another sign that Orton is likely to get the call.
I love to hate the Cowboys... comes so natural as a AFC Ravens guy. The more of a mess they are the more content I am...
The Cowboys roster is getting a bit older in response to Tony Romo's herniated disk. Dallas has signed 41-year-old Jon Kitna to backup likely starter Kyle Orton on Sunday against the Eagles, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The somewhat bizarre move comes after the Cowboys tried to workout veteran David Carr and journeyman John Skelton. Carr had been stuck at an unknown airport due to flight delays, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. Skelton, Caleb Hanie and Tyler Thigpen were all set to work out for Cowboys officials, but were sent home by the organization, according to Rapoport.
Kitna has not appeared in a game since 2011 and has not started a game since Christmas of 2010. The veteran had a 15-year career in NFL prior to his one-season hiatus and has played for the Seahawks, Bengals, Lions and Cowboys. Kitna was serving as a math teacher and football coach at his high school alma mater prior to the Cowboys signing, according to the Seattle Times.
The Cowboys have still not officially ruled out Romo for Sunday's game, but this just another sign that Orton is likely to get the call.
I love to hate the Cowboys... comes so natural as a AFC Ravens guy. The more of a mess they are the more content I am...
And they still haven't "officially" ruled out Romo.... I do wonder if they unleash their thugs like they did the last time..... Dallas would really rather see the third stringer again, but Vick is the current #2 in Philly.
TheMeanDM wrote: But, they have played far better many times over this season....and thus they should not have put themselves in the position of letting terrible refs decide the game.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Damn...at the half I thought maybe the Falcons would pull one out tonight.
Yeah....
Not gonna happen tonight :(
Coaching staff + scheme man. They assume they can just let Russ scramble then make some miracle pass at least five times a game. Doesn't work when you have a disciplined defense. Bevell and company better get their gak together, and FAST.
The Cowboys roster is getting a bit older in response to Tony Romo's herniated disk. Dallas has signed 41-year-old Jon Kitna to backup likely starter Kyle Orton on Sunday against the Eagles, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The somewhat bizarre move comes after the Cowboys tried to workout veteran David Carr and journeyman John Skelton. Carr had been stuck at an unknown airport due to flight delays, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. Skelton, Caleb Hanie and Tyler Thigpen were all set to work out for Cowboys officials, but were sent home by the organization, according to Rapoport.
Kitna has not appeared in a game since 2011 and has not started a game since Christmas of 2010. The veteran had a 15-year career in NFL prior to his one-season hiatus and has played for the Seahawks, Bengals, Lions and Cowboys. Kitna was serving as a math teacher and football coach at his high school alma mater prior to the Cowboys signing, according to the Seattle Times.
The Cowboys have still not officially ruled out Romo for Sunday's game, but this just another sign that Orton is likely to get the call.
I love to hate the Cowboys... comes so natural as a AFC Ravens guy. The more of a mess they are the more content I am...
Wait, why do you care about them? They're not in our division or even our conference! Seems to come much more naturally to the Redskins fans here to hate them, since they're in both
I love to hate what the cowboys have become... I was such a bandwagoner as a kid and they were my favorite team growing up outside of the 9ers ;0. Now I got nothing but pride for Boston sports which is sort of like bandwagon jumping but I like the teams when they were/are bad too.
My most hated team in the nfl has to be the broncos since forever. Hated shanahan/elway and it's been too easy to hate them over the years with mcdaniels then tebow then Peyton/fox/delrio.
Chancetragedy wrote: I love to hate what the cowboys have become... I was such a bandwagoner as a kid and they were my favorite team growing up outside of the 9ers ;0..
What? How dare you sully the red and gold! Truth be told; I'm married to the Niners, they are the mother of my children and my soul mate. The Raiders, however, are the cheap the mistress I keep in an apartment across town.
RiTides wrote: I think he meant the Raiders are his "second team"
I wonder if Romo's injury will spur the Cowboys to play well, or just doom them?
On second read your right, I think that's what he meant too. Man my reading comprehension lately is coming apart at the seams.
And there is a 0.00 chance they are keeping romo off the field for this game if he was able to go. My guess is he knew he wasn't going to play almost immediately after getting checked out but the cowboys were just trying to make life harder for the eagles giving them a feint that romo would play. For some reason the people running he cowboys believe in romo being "Clutch". It wouldn't surprise me if orton plays well though as he played pretty well in Denver with mcdaniels for a year so we know he can be pretty good in spurts. His problem has always been consistancy.
bbb wrote: Part of me wonders if this is just a ploy to keep him off the field so he won't choke and cost them the game...
Nah, then they'd play him the whole game before pulling him at the start of the 4th In all seriousness, Orton is a decent second string, but the Iggles are fired up and playing well. Dallas is going home disappointed and Jerry is allegedly gonna "clean house" in the offseason.
The Cowboys roster is getting a bit older in response to Tony Romo's herniated disk. Dallas has signed 41-year-old Jon Kitna to backup likely starter Kyle Orton on Sunday against the Eagles, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The somewhat bizarre move comes after the Cowboys tried to workout veteran David Carr and journeyman John Skelton. Carr had been stuck at an unknown airport due to flight delays, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. Skelton, Caleb Hanie and Tyler Thigpen were all set to work out for Cowboys officials, but were sent home by the organization, according to Rapoport.
Kitna has not appeared in a game since 2011 and has not started a game since Christmas of 2010. The veteran had a 15-year career in NFL prior to his one-season hiatus and has played for the Seahawks, Bengals, Lions and Cowboys. Kitna was serving as a math teacher and football coach at his high school alma mater prior to the Cowboys signing, according to the Seattle Times.
The Cowboys have still not officially ruled out Romo for Sunday's game, but this just another sign that Orton is likely to get the call.
I love to hate the Cowboys... comes so natural as a AFC Ravens guy. The more of a mess they are the more content I am...
Wait, why do you care about them? They're not in our division or even our conference! Seems to come much more naturally to the Redskins fans here to hate them, since they're in both
In some crazy scheme in combining two professional football leagues the Cowboys ended up in the NFC... so there's a chance they could make it to the Championship game which turns out they would be facing a AFC team... I preload the hate. Did I mention the only good NFC team are the ones with a losing record?
Oh come on now, it's ok to have an alternate conference team. Having a second "favorite" team in the same conference definately isn't proper though and that I agree with 100%. Although there are always exceptions I think.
Chancetragedy wrote: Oh come on now, it's ok to have an alternate conference team. Having a second "favorite" team in the same conference definately isn't proper though and that I agree with 100%. Although there are always exceptions I think.
I guess if I had to admit a "favorite" NFC team under extreme torture I wouldn't mind seeing the NYGs in the Super Bowl as long as they lost to the Ravens! I really like Coach Coughlin specifically.
Nonononono... The AFC is a gateway conference. It starts with the AFC, a AL baseball team next, then a West coast Basketball team....
One day you are driving around with stickers for the Cowboys, Lakers, Red Wings, and Yankees on your car.
helgrenze wrote: Nonononono... The AFC is a gateway conference. It starts with the AFC, a AL baseball team next, then a West coast Basketball team....
One day you are driving around with stickers for the Cowboys, Lakers, Red Wings, and Yankees on your car.
helgrenze wrote: Nonononono... The AFC is a gateway conference. It starts with the AFC, a AL baseball team next, then a West coast Basketball team....
One day you are driving around with stickers for the Cowboys, Lakers, Red Wings, and Yankees on your car.
I got nothing...
Seriously I'm trying to come up with a retort but he's right haha. The only defense I have is with the exception of the cowboys those other 3 teams are are hated rivals of Boston sports ;p.
And seriously that was a pretty great point.
And p.s. byte I hate you forever for liking the fricken giants;0 God do I hate that team more than just about any team in football.
helgrenze wrote: Nonononono... The AFC is a gateway conference. It starts with the AFC, a AL baseball team next, then a West coast Basketball team....
One day you are driving around with stickers for the Cowboys, Lakers, Red Wings, and Yankees on your car.
Thank God I "grew" up then Used to be a Raiders fan, Used to be a Wings fan.... never did like Basketball.
Sadly, I am still a Yankees fan (what can I say? growing up the only baseball games on in my broadcast market on basic antenna channels were when the Yankees were playing the Mariners, Angels, Giants, Dodgers, or Padres... or basically if they were playing on the West Coast)
helgrenze wrote: Nonononono... The AFC is a gateway conference. It starts with the AFC, a AL baseball team next, then a West coast Basketball team....
One day you are driving around with stickers for the Cowboys, Lakers, Red Wings, and Yankees on your car.
I got nothing...
Seriously I'm trying to come up with a retort but he's right haha. The only defense I have is with the exception of the cowboys those other 3 teams are are hated rivals of Boston sports ;p.
And seriously that was a pretty great point.
And p.s. byte I hate you forever for liking the fricken giants;0 God do I hate that team more than just about any team in football.
...about that, if I had to pick an NFC team... is it late to ask for penance?
And war0ne how could it NOT be the patriots winning the SB this year in MetLife stadium? It would literally make up for every awful thing the giants and jets have managed to squeak bye against the patriots the past couple year ;p. it would definately ease the pain of 18-1 that's for sure.
And RiTudes it was actually the giants who were Goliath in the first Super Bowl. They had the entire NFL conspiring with them to not let the "cheatriots" win undefeated. The NFL gave the entire New England defense the flu and the refs GAVE the game to the giants with non holding calls and immaculate receptions./terrible joke sarcasm.
And war0ne how could it NOT be the patriots winning the SB this year in MetLife stadium? It would literally make up for every awful thing the giants and jets have managed to squeak bye against the patriots the past couple year ;p. it would definately ease the pain of 18-1 that's for sure.
Like the 2004 Red Sox did to the Yankees, you can never retake back what 2008 gifted the Patriots. They were undefeated until the final minutes of the Super Bowl.
Conspiracy theory or not, the Giants were certainly not expected to win except for those who wanted to shove the Patriots faces in a collective humble pie.
Yeah, sorry, the Patriots are NOT winning the SB this year.
I'm fairly certain that the Seahawks will take care of the Rams on Sunday, which means the road to the SB on the NFC side will go through Seattle. Then, between Seattle and whoever shows up for the AFC, it's a matter of which team plays better in the cold/snow (since they idiotically decided to have the game in an outdoor stadium at a location notorious for snow during that time of year.....
Ensis Ferrae wrote: Yeah, sorry, the Patriots are NOT winning the SB this year.
I'm fairly certain that the Seahawks will take care of the Rams on Sunday, which means the road to the SB on the NFC side will go through Seattle. Then, between Seattle and whoever shows up for the AFC, it's a matter of which team plays better in the cold/snow (since they idiotically decided to have the game in an outdoor stadium at a location notorious for snow during that time of year.....
Nah... the RAMs will spoiler that.
I also have no sympathy for the Cheatriots for what they did in 2001. The fact that the NFL destroyed those tapes to me validated that it was bad.
Ensis Ferrae wrote: Yeah, sorry, the Patriots are NOT winning the SB this year.
I'm fairly certain that the Seahawks will take care of the Rams on Sunday, which means the road to the SB on the NFC side will go through Seattle. Then, between Seattle and whoever shows up for the AFC, it's a matter of which team plays better in the cold/snow (since they idiotically decided to have the game in an outdoor stadium at a location notorious for snow during that time of year.....
Nah... the RAMs will spoiler that.
I also have no sympathy for the Cheatriots for what they did in 2001. The fact that the NFL destroyed those tapes to me validated that it was bad.
Not to mention, the ref's invented rules to ensure that those people won that year.... bloody tuck rule.... ( I may no longer root for the Raiders, but I'm still holding that grudge, until the NFL strips that title away as the Superbowl shoulda been the Raiders and Rams, or whoever that NFC team they played was)
Ensis Ferrae wrote: Yeah, sorry, the Patriots are NOT winning the SB this year.
I'm fairly certain that the Seahawks will take care of the Rams on Sunday, which means the road to the SB on the NFC side will go through Seattle. Then, between Seattle and whoever shows up for the AFC, it's a matter of which team plays better in the cold/snow (since they idiotically decided to have the game in an outdoor stadium at a location notorious for snow during that time of year.....
Nah... the RAMs will spoiler that.
I also have no sympathy for the Cheatriots for what they did in 2001. The fact that the NFL destroyed those tapes to me validated that it was bad.
Not to mention, the ref's invented rules to ensure that those people won that year.... bloody tuck rule.... ( I may no longer root for the Raiders, but I'm still holding that grudge, until the NFL strips that title away as the Superbowl shoulda been the Raiders and Rams, or whoever that NFC team they played was)
I'm gonna say this and I sort of think your joking but can't be sure, but really ensis this isn't meant to blast you as I hear this garbage all the time but learn your NFL history the fething tuck rule WAS NOT MADE FOR THE PATRIOTS IN THAT FREAKING GAME. In fact the tuck rule was made in like '98 and screwed the pats out of a victory earlier that year which is one of the reason Bellichik even knew to bring it up. And had it not screwed the pats they probably wouldn't even have played Oakland. It's the same fething thing about the no hits to QB's knees which is not the GOSHDANG Brady rule it's the fricken Palmer rule and was instituted 3 years prior to Brady getting pollard'd
And war0ne I meant that as a joke I don't believe there was a conspiracy at all and the giants beat the pats fair and square in '08.
I'm gonna say this and I sort of think your joking but can't be sure, but really ensis this isn't meant to blast you as I hear this garbage all the time but learn your NFL history the fething tuck rule WAS NOT MADE FOR THE PATRIOTS IN THAT FREAKING GAME. In fact the tuck rule was made in like '98 and screwed the pats out of a victory earlier that year which is one of the reason Bellichik even knew to bring it up. And had it not screwed the pats they probably wouldn't even have played Oakland. It's the same fething thing about the no hits to QB's knees which is not the GOSHDANG Brady rule it's the fricken Palmer rule and was instituted 3 years prior to Brady getting pollard'd
And war0ne I meant that as a joke I don't believe there was a conspiracy at all and the giants beat the pats fair and square in '08.
Well, the basic fact is that it's apparently only the Patriots who have ever even had the "Tuck Rule" come into play, which screams utter BS to me. I've been watching NFL football for over 20 years, and that one game was seriously the ONLY one in which this supposed rule was brought up.
But, it would also seem that referees have forgotten about the QB slide rule, as I've seen no less than 10 plays this season alone in which a QB slid, was obviously sliding and still had a defensive player dive into or otherwise hit the QB, in the slide.
Really enjoyed the monday night 49'ers Falcons game. As a 49'ers fan glad they won and their season didn't come down to an away game at Arizona, but also have to wonder how on god's earth the Falcons are 4-11? They seemed like a pretty solid team - biases aside, that pick-6 at the end of the game was fortunate and I was fearing the worst, the score didn't really reflect the game.
Pacific wrote: Really enjoyed the monday night 49'ers Falcons game. As a 49'ers fan glad they won and their season didn't come down to an away game at Arizona, but also have to wonder how on god's earth the Falcons are 4-11? They seemed like a pretty solid team - biases aside, that pick-6 at the end of the game was fortunate and I was fearing the worst, the score didn't really reflect the game.
Falcons have a lot of talent on their roster, they just havent been able to really put it all together this year. Regardless, we really looked passed them last week and that game was closer than it should have been. As long as you have a really solid quarterback like Matt Ryan, you're gonna be competitive.
The patriots just happened to be the most visible beneficiary of the tuck rule it was not a new rule that was instituted for them however. And in fact I think in that instance it was the incorrect call but they had to call it consistently. But don't tell me it's the Brady tuck rule because that's such a cop out and completely misinformed and incorrect.
As to the QB slide rule didn't they change that in the off season because of all the mobile read option QB's coming out? I could totally be totally wrong and off base but I thought they changed the rules that running QB's are allowed to be blasted now regardless of sliding. Like I said I could totally be wrong about this one.
Edit:yah the falcons have talent didn't they win 13 games last year with largely the same roster minus injuries?
As to the QB slide rule didn't they change that in the off season because of all the mobile read option QB's coming out? I could totally be totally wrong and off base but I thought they changed the rules that running QB's are allowed to be blasted now regardless of sliding. Like I said I could totally be wrong about this one.
I copied this bit of text from the NFL website's rule book:
(d) running, diving into, or throwing the body against or on a runner who has declared himself down by going to the
ground untouched and has made no attempt to advance, or falling upon any prostrate player either before or after the
ball is dead (see 7-2-1-d);
I cannot find explicit language protecting QBs in the slide, but if they DID get rid of the specific language, in my mind, it should still be covered by that bit of rule in the Unnecessary Roughness section. As a runner who is in the act of sliding, in my mind has declared himself down. Perhaps they got rid of the particular rule because guys like Drew Bledsloe, and Boomer Esiason just couldn't master the simplest of sliding actions?
In serious tones now, other than the Patriots, i can see the Bengals (if their offense shows up) contending for the AFC Title, even with their slew of defensive injuries. They have beaten the Patriots, can match up ok against the Broncos (they gave up 42 to DALLAS!!!! ), but only if their offense comes ready to play.
In serious tones now, other than the Patriots, i can see the Bengals (if their offense shows up) contending for the AFC Title, even with their slew of defensive injuries. They have beaten the Patriots, can match up ok against the Broncos (they gave up 42 to DALLAS!!!! ), but only if their offense comes ready to play.
Am i crazy or what?
If they play well in cold weather, then they could fairly well beat the Broncos if they meet, and we know that the cold has been Peyton's achilles heel. There's also that "playoff magic" that springs from somewhere, so just about anything is possible
Well, the factory of sadness is officially closed, and the word is that the Chud is getting fired. Didn't the guy only have 2 years? Helluva quick turn around.
Additionally, watching Aaron Rodgers play today so far, even rusty, reminds me of how very much better he is than Andy dalton.
kronk wrote:Apparently Byte and I have some sort of game this week or something. Best of luck!
Yep! Best of luck!
Chancetragedy wrote:Best of luck to you both for the crown!!
Thanks!
Congrats on the win, Byte! I've been traveling, or I'd have told you earlier.
Great season everyone!
TheMeanDM wrote:Definite congrats to Byte for the win in the league this year. Lots of fun, even though my team greatly under-performed in the most critical of times.
* * * *
Thanks to you both! Loads of fun getting through the season.
Should be awesome and I'll be able to watch tv by then hopefully. I bet tonight's game between Philly and Dallas is gonna be a barn burner too. Screw you comcast ;(
Also sorry bears bros that seemed like a brutal way to lose ;(.
Blount had 145 return yards and 189 rushing yards...
Like I said in the World Series thread for baseball I cannot believe how blessed I am as a Boston sports fan. It really puts things in perspective sometimes. Cannot wait for the playoffs now! With this rushing attack and tom Brady this could be awesome. Bellichik and Brady have been to the Super Bowl 5 of the 7 previous times they've had a bye... This is their 8th time in 13 years having a bye and their 13'th straight winning season.
;p. carrying over bitterness from the WS? Jk whembly everyone gotta hate someone I can't really blame you. It's the same reason I will always root against the giants for forever.
The Playoffs this year are gonna be crazy. The NFC is so loaded and the AFC isn't, so it's gonna be pretty evenly matched all around. Until the Super Bowl probably.
Nah... bitterness since spygate in 2002. I can't bring myself to "hate" on the Redsoxs... they were a fun team too...
Jk whembly everyone gotta hate someone I can't really blame you. It's the same reason I will always root against the giants for forever.
Totally understand bro!
The Playoffs this year are gonna be crazy. The NFC is so loaded and the AFC isn't, so it's gonna be pretty evenly matched all around. Until the Super Bowl probably.
The NFC goes thru Seattle now... that stadium is something else.
cincydooley wrote: Well, the factory of sadness is officially closed, and the word is that the Chud is getting fired. Didn't the guy only have 2 years? Helluva quick turn around.
Additionally, watching Aaron Rodgers play today so far, even rusty, reminds me of how very much better he is than Andy dalton.
It's official Chud is fired after 1 season as head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Apparently less than a year ago, Chud was "their guy", now he's out the door.
And I was glad to see that Jimmy Haslam III was able to tear himself away from his legal preceedings to watch most of the Browns/Steelers game, apparently he left with 6 minutes still to go in the 4th quarter. I don't really blame him, but he's just as much to blame for this as the guys down on the field.
Yah Seattle looks like a wagon whembly. Should be spectacular next week with GB at San Fran and I'm pumped on KC vs Indy. I still can't believe Carolina started 1-3 and got the 2 seed. Looks like they've really taken king of the south from NO for a year.
Actually, SF (5th seed) travels to GB (4th seed) for the game. Hopefully Kap has issues with the Frozen Tundra and cold weather.
It pains me to say "Go Pack!"...ouch...yep..I think I pulled something saying that.
* * * *
Why would Langford not be a member still? The hit was completely accidental as he was making a sweeping gesture with his arm and the ref just happened to be coming up behind him from that direction. He wasn't even looking that way to see the ref there.
I think the ref (Triplett) over-reacted with the ejection..but...whatever.
I'm still in disbelief that KC found a way to blow that game. Steelers would have been the first team in over 20 years to start 0-4 and make the playoffs. Still, the lesson is to not start 0-4.
Regarding Chudzinski's firing, I figure there's more to it than just a 4-12 record. Nothing juicy, just probably some philosophical differences, etc. that the FO felt they couldn't resolve. If I was a Cleveland fan, I'd try to trust Joe Banner. He has his warts, but he did a really good job in Philadelphia. And the Richardson trade looks like a coup now. Or at least a decent recovery after a poor draft pick.
Interesting.... Nola heads to Philly....
Philly wins, they go to Carolina., meaning they wouldn't face Seattle until the NFC Championship Game.
That could be a very interesting match up as Philly primarily uses hand signals and signs to send in plays.
Also, who else thinks Washington's FO is kicking themselves for trading away their first round pick (#2 overall) for this year? I imagine the Rams are thinking 'Hey 'Skins.. Thanks for the crappy season. BWAhahahahaha....'
Yah the skins are probably kicking themselves now. But they couldn't have known how RGIII was gonna go down like he did. If he played this year like he did last year they probably wouldn't have been #2 overall and wouldn't have minded so much. But it's still a kick in the butt.
I think that Green Bay hosting San Fran (that was my bad) is gonna be the game of the weekend. Although the philly saints game could be awesome too.
I'm happy the Eagles won, but I'm not happy about how close it was. This has been a very interesting season to be an Eagles fan and I can't believe we're at 10-6 and in the playoffs...crazy...
gorgon wrote: I'm still in disbelief that KC found a way to blow that game. Steelers would have been the first team in over 20 years to start 0-4 and make the playoffs. Still, the lesson is to not start 0-4.
KC was resting most of their starters. You should be in disbelief because of how bad the officiating was at the end of that game. Watch the replay of the kick. San Diego illegally overloaded the line with 7 to the side of the center. That's a 5 yard penalty and rekick that wasn't called even though it was glaringly obvious. Then there was the stripped ball that was taken before forward progress was halted, and then there was the illegal contact call that should've been a PI, because the ball was in the air. Steelers fans should be pissed.
Did anyone see the NFL memo stating they messed up and didn't call a flag on the missed succop field goal at the end of regulation in the KC/SD game yesterday? Apparently San Diego had an illegal overload on one side and Pittsburgh got potentially screwed out of the playoffs because it.
Also, who else thinks Washington's FO is kicking themselves for trading away their first round pick (#2 overall) for this year? I imagine the Rams are thinking 'Hey 'Skins.. Thanks for the crappy season. BWAhahahahaha....'
As a Rams fan... lemme say this:
BWAhahahahaha....
I'm a Giants fan, I thankfully missed this thread until now. It was not a good season...
I think I'm rooting for the Packers or Panthers now. I hate the Eagles and Saints, I have mixed feelings for the Seahawks and 49ers.
I don't care much about the AFC. Kinda rooting for Broncos so Peyton can catch up to his lil' bro. Or maybe the Bengals because I like tigers and their helmets are cool.
Should be a bunch of good games coming up though. I think both NFC games will be close.
Whembly what's rams nation saying about how the team feels about Bradford? Do you think they make a play for bridgewater? Or do they just take someone like clowney or someone else with the second pick?
gorgon wrote: I'm still in disbelief that KC found a way to blow that game. Steelers would have been the first team in over 20 years to start 0-4 and make the playoffs. Still, the lesson is to not start 0-4.
Regarding Chudzinski's firing, I figure there's more to it than just a 4-12 record. Nothing juicy, just probably some philosophical differences, etc. that the FO felt they couldn't resolve. If I was a Cleveland fan, I'd try to trust Joe Banner. He has his warts, but he did a really good job in Philadelphia. And the Richardson trade looks like a coup now. Or at least a decent recovery after a poor draft pick.
I don't trust Joe Banner, and I probably won't until the Browns go at least 3-3 in the division and at least 8-8 on the season. When Chud was hired, he was, "their guy" they liked how he was in the interview, they liked what he could bring to the table, etc... Chud was not a terrible coach, he was just given a stick of gum, some wire and a battery and expected to either win the super bowl, or build a small explosive with which he could use to escape a Russian military camp.
What I'm saying is he's not Macgyver and had feth all to work with this year. I'm sure his firing had less to do with the wins and losses, and more with the fact that Chud was probably challenging the authority of Banner and Haslam behind the scenes. I almost miss Randy Lerner who was just willing to throw money at gak.
gorgon wrote: I'm still in disbelief that KC found a way to blow that game. Steelers would have been the first team in over 20 years to start 0-4 and make the playoffs. Still, the lesson is to not start 0-4.
KC was resting most of their starters. You should be in disbelief because of how bad the officiating was at the end of that game. Watch the replay of the kick. San Diego illegally overloaded the line with 7 to the side of the center. That's a 5 yard penalty and rekick that wasn't called even though it was glaringly obvious. Then there was the stripped ball that was taken before forward progress was halted, and then there was the illegal contact call that should've been a PI, because the ball was in the air. Steelers fans should be pissed.
Yeah, but the NFL apologized, so there's that.
I think the Steelers' wild card matchup would have been the Bengals, and that's a very winnable game. However, the Pats would likely beat them (although I think it'd be a much closer game than the earlier meeting), and the Broncos would probably steamroll them. There wouldn't have been a SB run anyway. The Steelers made a good recovery to go 8-4 after the 0-4 start, but the defense was far too inconsistent and it wasn't a good Steelers team. I feel like they're one good offseason from a playoff berth, and two good offseasons from a deep run.
gorgon wrote: I'm still in disbelief that KC found a way to blow that game. Steelers would have been the first team in over 20 years to start 0-4 and make the playoffs. Still, the lesson is to not start 0-4.
Regarding Chudzinski's firing, I figure there's more to it than just a 4-12 record. Nothing juicy, just probably some philosophical differences, etc. that the FO felt they couldn't resolve. If I was a Cleveland fan, I'd try to trust Joe Banner. He has his warts, but he did a really good job in Philadelphia. And the Richardson trade looks like a coup now. Or at least a decent recovery after a poor draft pick.
I don't trust Joe Banner, and I probably won't until the Browns go at least 3-3 in the division and at least 8-8 on the season. When Chud was hired, he was, "their guy" they liked how he was in the interview, they liked what he could bring to the table, etc... Chud was not a terrible coach, he was just given a stick of gum, some wire and a battery and expected to either win the super bowl, or build a small explosive with which he could use to escape a Russian military camp.
What I'm saying is he's not Macgyver and had feth all to work with this year. I'm sure his firing had less to do with the wins and losses, and more with the fact that Chud was probably challenging the authority of Banner and Haslam behind the scenes. I almost miss Randy Lerner who was just willing to throw money at gak.
Oh well, on to next season... I guess.
Oh I get the frustration, really. Look at how "often" my team goes through coaches. But (obviously) it doesn't appear that he really was their guy. Maybe their hearts were really set on Kelly, and Chudzinski was a fallback choice that never inspired them from the getgo.
gorgon wrote: Oh I get the frustration, really. Look at how "often" my team goes through coaches. But (obviously) it doesn't appear that he really was their guy. Maybe their hearts were really set on Kelly, and Chudzinski was a fallback choice that never inspired them from the getgo.
You've had three head coaches since 1969, so no offense I don't think you really get the frustration. And I'm sure that Kelly was their guy, but they didn't give Chud the pieces he needed to play in the NFL. Like I said, they gave Chud feth all and expected him to do extremely well. But then again I've been fairly certain (and disliked the idea) that this Front Office was playing for 2014 and forcing another season of gak down our throats.
I will admit that the Front Office made out like a bandit on the Trent Richardson trade, but let's face it, that's pretty much all they did. They signed Devon Bess who has been utter gak, and as such cut Josh Cooper, a backup WR who turned out to be better than Bess, they didn't sign a backup when Weeden, Campbell, and Hoyer were out (middle of the season). and we signed Bobby Rainey and then let him go, after he had been here for basically a week vacation.
I'm fairly certain that this Front Office doesn't know wtf they're doing, and next year will be the year that determines it.
The thing that many people don't understand is that it isn't that the Steelers stick with their coaches. The Steelers make the *right hire*, and that makes it easy to stick with him. Continuity comes from a good hire.
So yeah, in some ways it's bizarre to fire Chudzinski after a year. On the other hand, if the FO a) really wasn't enthused about him or their other candidates last year, and b) became convinced that he isn't the right guy over the course of the season, then why run the guy out there another year? Maybe it's better to move on quickly, especially if they think they have a guy they like better on the hook. Although it sounds like Houston is leading for Bill O'Brien? (For the record, I'm not sure that BOB is a slam dunk either.) I guess I can understand the FO's possible thinking on this, even if it does seem rather shocking.
There was a breakdown of the available coaching positions on Grantland today, ranking them from most to least desirable, based on a variety of things, such as front-office support, current team rosters, draft positions, and so on. The Cleveland job is dead last, and looks like it's only really going to appeal to someone who really really wants to get a break into NFL coaching. Cleveland fans shouldn't get their hopes up for any sort of a name candidate.
Automatically Appended Next Post: As a side note - are we continuing the dakka pick-em through the playoffs?
Redbeard wrote: There was a breakdown of the available coaching positions on Grantland today, ranking them from most to least desirable, based on a variety of things, such as front-office support, current team rosters, draft positions, and so on. The Cleveland job is dead last, and looks like it's only really going to appeal to someone who really really wants to get a break into NFL coaching. Cleveland fans shouldn't get their hopes up for any sort of a name candidate.
Automatically Appended Next Post: As a side note - are we continuing the dakka pick-em through the playoffs?
I don't have my hopes up, I agree with the fact that Cleveland is the probably the worst place to be a head coach atm, and honestly I would no be surprised if we have an interim head coach next year. I think the biggest thing that would prevent me from wanting to interview for the HC job is, what kind of stability does would I have in the job? If Chud was "their guy" (whether he was or not, that's what Cleveland was told when they announced his hire) and they fired him after a year, what would my chances be that on December 30th or so I would find myself without a head coaching position?
Having seen BoB at New England I doubt he'll make a better coach than Kubiak probably very similar in fact. But he is a much better offensive mind ATM. So there's that. I'm hoping mcdaniels doesn't leave. He gets crap and has made some mistakes but he's a great offensive mind and gets along very well with Brady while still having the cache to be able to challenge #12
You mean they don't think Brian Hoyer is their savior?!? ;p
Haha but seriously I see bridgewater going first to the texans then the rams will desperately try and trade the #2 to whoever will give them anything. I don't think they'll find a partner unless the texans don't draft TBW.
I'm actually curious to see what moving the draft back a month or whatever does for pick trading. I also think since their isn't really a clear cut #1 pick talent in this years draft what happens with the top half of the first round.
Chancetragedy wrote: You mean they don't think Brian Hoyer is their savior?!? ;p
Haha but seriously I see bridgewater going first to the texans then the rams will desperately try and trade the #2 to whoever will give them anything. I don't think they'll find a partner unless the texans don't draft TBW.
I'm actually curious to see what moving the draft back a month or whatever does for pick trading. I also think since their isn't really a clear cut #1 pick talent in this years draft what happens with the top half of the first round.
That, and outside Teddy, there isn't really a marquis QB on the board this year... Next year will be insane, with Marcus Mariota, and Manziel and many others coming out after next season.
Personally, I think that this is a good, eclectic group of quality draft picks. Yeah, there's no true standouts, but you have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. I mean, Ekpre-Olamu from Oregon will make a fantastic corner for just about any defensive scheme for one.
I assumed manziel was coming out this year? Did he decide to stay in school?
And don't get me wrong their is talent for sure I meant more QB talent like last year with luck/RGIII. I'm hoping the patriots draft Eric Ebron(rd1), the DT Jernigan from FSU, and maybe a center. Then hopefully people will stay healthy/get better in their second season and well be rockin.
I may have remembered it wrong...For some reason I thought during the Ducks bowl game, the commentators were talking about Manziel saying he was coming back.. but I think they were talking about Mariota, and now for some reason, I recall them saying Manziel has been quoted as "mulling it over" still.
Your right I looked it up and manziel is still undecided. I can't imagine hed stay in school after all the NCAA scrutiny he got this year. The deadline this year is Jan. 15. So well see soon enough. It'll be interesting to see what happens, you think he can go as high as second overall if he does declare this year? I kind of saw him as more of a late teens-early 20's trade bait type player.
helgrenze wrote: Well with Clowney declaring, I think the draft just got more interesting. Many teams could use a high caliber DE.
That's what the RAMs are hoping for too!
And guys...Manziel is going to delcare...
Let the bidding war for the #2 slot... begin!
Difference here is... assuming Manziel does declare.
With the number 1 pick, if Im a good front office type, I'd more than likely go for the high caliber prospect on the Defensive side of the ball... Reason being, he'll quicker adapt to the pace/mentality of the pro level game than an offensive, especially QB type player. He'll more than likely produce at least decent numbers his first year, and improve from there. The problem with putting a QB as your number 1 pick, if you are a team like the Texans, or Cleveland is that they are almost garauntee this kid will be starting. Trial by fire and all that. If he doesn't have a successful year that rookie year, often times, he'll either stagnate or decline. Some of the all time greatest QBs sat a couple seasons behind a vet to learn the system and the NFL. Of course, some got in their rookie year, and never looked back. It really is a crap shoot.
Chancetragedy wrote: You mean they don't think Brian Hoyer is their savior?!? ;p
Haha but seriously I see bridgewater going first to the texans then the rams will desperately try and trade the #2 to whoever will give them anything. I don't think they'll find a partner unless the texans don't draft TBW.
I'm actually curious to see what moving the draft back a month or whatever does for pick trading. I also think since their isn't really a clear cut #1 pick talent in this years draft what happens with the top half of the first round.
That, and outside Teddy, there isn't really a marquis QB on the board this year... Next year will be insane, with Marcus Mariota, and Manziel and many others coming out after next season.
Personally, I think that this is a good, eclectic group of quality draft picks. Yeah, there's no true standouts, but you have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. I mean, Ekpre-Olamu from Oregon will make a fantastic corner for just about any defensive scheme for one.
QBs in the draft this year include: Bridgewater, Derek Carr, AJ McCarron, Manziel, Aaron Murray (Is coming off an ACL injury?), Tajh Boyd and Braxton Miller. It's one of the deeper classes at the position, like last years was deep in OL
Lovie Smith to Tampa Bay could be a misfire though. Wasn't really impressed with his time with the Bears.
As a Bears season ticket holder, Lovie Smith allowed us to host two NFC championship games in his nine seasons, winning one of them. I can think of at least 20 other teams that would trade their performance over that time for his.
It's too easy to focus on the negative side of any coach/team. People need to be more appreciative of the good things they get. Obviously not saying Smith was perfect, but he had a lot of strengths, and we never saw the sort of defensive collapse we had this year under him.
I think Lovie became a victim of his own success, much like Reid did. You get good then other teams start sniping your support staff. Reid's down fall was the death of Johnson, he never really tried to rebuild his coaching staff after, just tried to plug the holes.
With a new start Lovie may have success, but first he really needs to clean up that locker room.
The way I see it, a lot depends on what Manziel does, If he doesn't declare, I think the Rams take Clowney with the #2.
The Jags and the Browns are next and there is enough talent for both teams at QB, though Gabbert may get the start next season... maybe.
The top 5 picks are Texans, Rams, Jags, Browns, and Raiders. They may try jockeying for position but for a couple QB is not a real need.
Especially the Browns... They had injuries to 3-4 QBs? That says they need O-line help, maybe a good blocking TE as well. I would trade down for additional O-line. They are carrying way too many receivers and Defensive guys.
If Manziel does declare, then let the bidding war begin. I say look to the middle of the pack starting with the #7 pick, Tampa Bay, then Vikings, Bills, Dolphins, Jets and Cards at #20 (those are the "set" picks) to get into the heavy bidding. Washington doesn't have anything chips to play with in this game so they are out.
helgrenze wrote: I think Lovie became a victim of his own success, much like Reid did. You get good then other teams start sniping your support staff. Reid's down fall was the death of Johnson, he never really tried to rebuild his coaching staff after, just tried to plug the holes.
With a new start Lovie may have success, but first he really needs to clean up that locker room.
I see what you did there... but wouldn't a medical staff be better for that job?
I disagree that it was Lovie's staff that was to blame for his issues in Chicago. After losing Rivera, he replaced him with Rod Marinelli. Mike Tice should not have been O.C., but it's hard to say that any one O.C. had success here. I think Lovie's real issue, doubly-so in the last few years, was Angelo at GM. We consistently got crap out of our drafts with Angelo at the helm, and he tried to mask that by bringing in free agents, but that's always a stop-gap measure.
Pre-2005, the current GM, Emry, was our scouting guy, and we got decent guys, who played numerous seasons either here or somewhere else. Marc Colombo, Terrence Metcalf, Alex Brown, Grossman, Tillman, Briggs, Tommie Harris, Tank Johnson.
Starting in 2005, it seems like Angelo took over with the picks, and boy did they suck. Here's the list of starters Angelo picked from 2005-2011 that are still on the team:
- Matt Forte - Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes
- Chris Conte and
- Major Wright .... Perhaps the worst safety duo in the league
- Stephen Paea and
- Henry Melton... both out DTs who unfortunately didn't play this year
- Corey Wootton
- Devin Hester - Technically not a starter, but a valuable contributor who was a completely failed experiement at WR.
Wow, 7 names.
So, with all that "talent", what was Lovie supposed to do. I wish him luck in Tampa, he's a good coach.
As for the Bears, fortunately, we're back to having a guy who looks like he can draft, with 7 of 12 guys from the 2012, 2013 draft classes playing substantial time last season.
Breaking news coming out the bears just resigned cutler to 7 years 100+ million with 50-55 guaranteed.... No source yet but it's been posted on a few nfl forums I frequent so I'm awaiting confirmation. I gotta say this really really surprises me.
Chancetragedy wrote: Breaking news coming out the bears just resigned cutler to 7 years 100+ million with 50-55 guaranteed.... No source yet but it's been posted on a few nfl forums I frequent so I'm awaiting confirmation. I gotta say this really really surprises me.
As for the Bears, fortunately, we're back to having a guy who looks like he can draft, with 7 of 12 guys from the 2012, 2013 draft classes playing substantial time last season.
The problem with the Bears is Virginia McCaskey, much as the problem with the 'Hawks was Bill Wirtz.
Red, other than the Staph infection issue, there is a lot of player issues that must be dealt with. Schiano did not control that locker room. There was a lot of player commentary that should not have been there.
helgrenze wrote: Red, other than the Staph infection issue, there is a lot of player issues that must be dealt with. Schiano did not control that locker room. There was a lot of player commentary that should not have been there.
Smith needs to walk in there and own it.
I dunno about that. I got a book for x-mas, Slow Getting Up. The author's a former borderline player - a special teamer who played for 7 seasons. He pretty much says that the idea that a coach needs to own a locker-room full of grown men is a misnomer, and his most harsh criticism is reserved for Mangini, who he says treated the players like children. The NFL isn't high school. Push-ups for being late to practice is no more appropriate than "win-one-for-the-gipper".
As for Cutler, is he worth keeping til 2020?
He's probably worth paying enough that you need to spread out the signing bonus until 2020. I think Trestman's offense will only improve in the next couple of years, assuming we keep the core pieces together. As mentioned, this was the Bears best ever year offensively, and had we not suffered all the defensive injuries, we'd have more to show for it.
helgrenze wrote: Red, other than the Staph infection issue, there is a lot of player issues that must be dealt with. Schiano did not control that locker room. There was a lot of player commentary that should not have been there.
Smith needs to walk in there and own it.
I dunno about that. I got a book for x-mas, Slow Getting Up. The author's a former borderline player - a special teamer who played for 7 seasons. He pretty much says that the idea that a coach needs to own a locker-room full of grown men is a misnomer, and his most harsh criticism is reserved for Mangini, who he says treated the players like children. The NFL isn't high school. Push-ups for being late to practice is no more appropriate than "win-one-for-the-gipper".
I dunno, seems like Coughlin in NY does pretty well owning the locker room.. Though I do agree, there is a difference between "owning" a situation and establishing yourself as the "authority figure" and what apparently Mangini was doing (i don't know so cant really comment)
There are of course, numerous ways with which to earn your players' respect without being a hardnose person. Look at Pete Carroll in Seattle. He realizes that the game of football is that, a GAME. And GAMES should be fun, so while yeah, he's getting paid to coach a group of guys play a childs game, he wants to have as much fun as he can while doing it. Being successful with that state of mind shows me that it is a plausible way of doing business, even in the NFL.
helgrenze wrote: Red, other than the Staph infection issue, there is a lot of player issues that must be dealt with. Schiano did not control that locker room. There was a lot of player commentary that should not have been there.
Smith needs to walk in there and own it.
I dunno about that. I got a book for x-mas, Slow Getting Up. The author's a former borderline player - a special teamer who played for 7 seasons. He pretty much says that the idea that a coach needs to own a locker-room full of grown men is a misnomer, and his most harsh criticism is reserved for Mangini, who he says treated the players like children. The NFL isn't high school. Push-ups for being late to practice is no more appropriate than "win-one-for-the-gipper".
As for Cutler, is he worth keeping til 2020?
He's probably worth paying enough that you need to spread out the signing bonus until 2020. I think Trestman's offense will only improve in the next couple of years, assuming we keep the core pieces together. As mentioned, this was the Bears best ever year offensively, and had we not suffered all the defensive injuries, we'd have more to show for it.
How was slow getting up? I posted an excerpt from this dude who was also a TE way way earlier in the thread and his recounting of mangini's browns camp and stuff was rediculous. I can't believe what an unbelievable joke mangini I was and I think he mentioned playing for shanahan in Denver and how much better it was.
In addition to Cutler getting the 7 year deal (Which moneywise is in line with the big 5 from last year: Romo, Rodgers, Stafford, Ryan and Flacco) The Bears also signed Matt Slauson and Tim Jennings to 4 year deals.
I feel all three are good signings, Slauson played well at LG this year and Jennings is one of the best CBs in the league despite being 5'8" iirc
And that read that Chance posted was quite an interesting one, might pick up the book at some point
The rest of the book has a similar tone (makes sense, same author). The writer goes from an undrafted free agent, attends a training camp, only to not make the cut. Goes to another camp, they keep him as a practice squad player. (His analysis of Randy Moss, and his comparison to him is pretty funny). Gets moved to the team when an injury hits someone (IIRC), gets tagged to play in NFL Europe. Gets hurt (often), but eventually makes the Broncos as a special teamer.
It's an interesting read mostly because he's a guy trying to make a living, trying to hang on, and isn't a star. His description of trying to block DEs as an undersized TE is great (something like, hit them under the chin, grab something and try to hold on)
Nice, I think I may go pick it up now as I've been looking for something to read lately that isn't fantasy. And I hate Mangini almost as much as the giants ;p
Automatically Appended Next Post: Wow what a despicable organization if this story is true. Kluwe paints war gaming figures at the very least and I believe they were 40k or fantasy figures, so he's sort of a kindred spirit to us.
Wow what a despicable organization if this story is true. Kluwe paints war gaming figures at the very least and I believe they were 40k or fantasy figures, so he's sort of a kindred spirit to us.
It sounds like a intolerant organization didn't like kluwe speaking his mind to me. Now obviously this is kluwe's writing so it's obviously gonna be biased. But at the same time I doubt that it's wrong.
And "not being a team player" is just an excuse from an intolerant person as a way to hide their intolerance in my opinion. So even if it was, it's a pretty big cop out and just a way for cowards to save face. It's not like kluwe was going out of his way to bring bad media on The Vikings. Or supporting racial genocide or something. He was supporting a pretty good cause so I don't see the problem I guess. But to each his own so whatevs.
Chancetragedy wrote: It sounds like a intolerant organization didn't like kluwe speaking his mind to me. Now obviously this is kluwe's writing so it's obviously gonna be biased. But at the same time I doubt that it's wrong.
I don't doubt that Priefer is homophobic. I mean, it should surprise no one that some men involved in professional sports are homophobic. What I doubt is that Kluwe was let go because of his support for the relevant bill. It almost certainly contributed to Priefer's performance evaluations of Kluwe, but I don't think it decided his fate.
I think his fate was decided by a poor season, and a team that has been facing many questions regarding its viability for several years.
I can agree with that. And frankly it's just a case of he said she said at this point so I probably shouldn't be making any sort of judgements. It's just one of those things that really gets under my skin I guess.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Here's a story to lighten the mood.
So, anyone thing McCarron's stock took a dip after the Sugar Bowl?
Was his stock ever very high up there?? I mean honestly, I know that he's almost NEVER talked about when talking about that team, I think he kinda gets washed out with all the supposed talent they have. But, I do think that wherever he was looking at coming off the draft board should be a bit lower now. NFL teams will have seen how rattled he got, and frankly how easy it was to do. If one is hopeful for his career in the NFL, they had better hope he goes to a team where he can ride the bench for a couple seasons (at least) behind a veteran elite QB, to really learn the game at the pro level.
What's funny is until this game I thought McCarrons grit was his biggest attribute lol. I'm of the belief now that the Alabama's "system" is so good it really isn't going to produce too many superstars. These players are so close to pro level that they really don't have any room to improve too much. How many players have come out and been stars over the last few years? It's really just julio isn't it? I mean Marcel Dareus has been good not great, donte Hightower is the same although I think he'll be great, eddy lacy and Mark Barron looks pretty good though too. Flops include Richardson, Cody, Ingram, and milliner.
So what could go wrong? Well, the one frustration with the glory era of the Bucs, and every era of the Bucs, is also Smith's problem: offense.
Tampa Bay has had startlingly few offensive playmakers throughout its history. While it takes a split-second to name stars on defense over the years – Warren Sapp, Simeon Rice, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch, Ronde Barber – it takes longer to come up with the most exciting weapons on offense. The all-time leading rusher is James Wilder (5,957), and only two others (Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott) have rushed for more than 4,000. The player with the most career receptions is … also James Wilder (430). And only three Bucs have more than 4,000 receiving yards all-time (Mark Carrier, Kevin House, Jimmie Giles). Vinny Testaverde leads in all-time passing yards (14,820), and Josh Freeman, who everyone in Tampa would like to forget, came within six yards of second all time in that category. Even the 2002 Super Bowl run climaxed in a defensive play: Barber's Pick 6 in Philadelphia to lift Jon Gruden's team to the NFC championship.
Bottom-line: it's been grim on offense.
As for Smith, he spent nine years as head coach of the Chicago Bears, and only once did his team rank in the top 20 in yards gained. His rushing offenses ranked in the top 10 only twice, and his passing offenses never ranked in the top 10 despite having Jay Cutler for four seasons. It's safe to say that if Smith had even an average offense in Chicago, he might still be there. After all, he did make the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman, which is similar to, say, making the Super Bowl with Brad Johnson.
So while back-to-the-future sounds like a good idea to any Bucs fan who has suffered through the post-Gruden era, it has a certain pitfall under Smith.
This puts pressure on Smith to bring in a strong offensive mind, reportedly like former Cal coach Jeff Tedford, to create a dynamic attack. The concern with that, however, is personnel. Quarterback Mike Glennon, who just completed his rookie season, has an NFL-caliber arm and build, but he has tended to make key mistakes in key situations going back to his college days at N.C. State. Is he the answer? Smith and whoever he brings in will have to figure that out before the Bucs draft in April.
However, quarterback is not even the biggest offensive question. Although Doug Martin is a terrific young rusher, the offensive line in front of him has been inconsistent and injured. Vincent Jackson is a threat on the flank, but will be 31 years old when the season starts. Mike Williams was a disappointment after signing a big contract last offseason.
A year ago, after a 7-9 season that looked like the start of a resurrection in Tampa, Schiano gathered with his staff to discuss what the team needed to make the leap to nine or 10 wins and the playoffs. Although there were certainly issues in the secondary, most of the problems were on offense.
"We needed a complimentary wide receiver," said the aforementioned source. "We needed a kick returner. We needed a slot receiver. We needed help on the offensive line."
A year later, those needs are still largely unmet (although Williams is still young enough to pay dividends opposite Jackson). A new offensive coordinator could certainly help Glennon and the overall scheme, but that's not going to be enough. The Bucs will have to deal with Drew Brees, Cam Newton, and Matt Ryan twice each next season. They are going to have to score points no matter how good their defense becomes under Smith.
It's hard to argue with Smith's hire. The Bucs needed someone with head coaching experience and playoff experience. Smith has both. The Bucs also needed someone to calm the waters and create trust among players after two head coaches who left many divided and skeptical. Smith can do that. Overall, the Bucs needed a steady influence. Smith has it.
The drawback with "steady," though, is it sometimes drifts toward stale. That's a drawback the Bucs know all too well. It's also something Bears followers and employees recognize from the Smith era.
Then again, after letdown seasons in both Chicago and Tampa, steady might be something both franchise dearly miss.
What the heck is going on with this KCvINDY game lol. Could be 100 points scored lol. Also how many concussions has this game seen so far? Something like 6 I think, good job reducing concussions Douchdell protecting these players.
Automatically Appended Next Post: So KC scores 44 intercepting luck 3 times and still lose holy crap....
Automatically Appended Next Post: So patriots can play the colts or bengals. Please god SD can you win tomorrow ;p
Well, geeze, you have a 28 point lead in the 3rd quarter - what is smart, call pass plays to the outside, that pretty much ensure the receiver will go out of bounds if he catches it, stopping the clock complete or incomplete... or maybe do some runs and pass only over the middle to keep the clock running.
To be fair, KC had a lot of guys go down that game, but they had 28 points to give, and made every effort to ensure the Colts had the time to score them.
Yah I completely agree ;p. just turrible play calling. So who'd KC lose to concussions? Jamaal Charles, Brandon flowers, Donny Avery, and who else? I know there was at least 1 other was it justin Houston? That's like 3 of their top 6 players...
Automatically Appended Next Post: So KCvINDY has 89 total points and the saint eagles game has 3 points almost at half time. I feel like football universe is upside down right now lol. What the heck is going on this year it's the "national football twilight zone" ;p
Automatically Appended Next Post: I love how the saints are telling the refs when to throw flags and the refs are listening. Not that these are bad calls but wtf is with the refs haha.
Chancetragedy wrote: Yah I completely agree ;p. just turrible play calling. So who'd KC lose to concussions? Jamaal Charles, Brandon flowers, Donny Avery, and who else? I know there was at least 1 other was it justin Houston? That's like 3 of their top 6 players...
Automatically Appended Next Post: So KCvINDY has 89 total points and the saint eagles game has 3 points almost at half time. I feel like football universe is upside down right now lol. What the heck is going on this year it's the "national football twilight zone" ;p
Automatically Appended Next Post: I love how the saints are telling the refs when to throw flags and the refs are listening. Not that these are bad calls but wtf is with the refs haha.
I like that kind of reffing just fine as far as this game is concerned.
Chancetragedy wrote: Yah I completely agree ;p. just turrible play calling. So who'd KC lose to concussions? Jamaal Charles, Brandon flowers, Donny Avery, and who else? I know there was at least 1 other was it justin Houston? That's like 3 of their top 6 players...
Automatically Appended Next Post: So KCvINDY has 89 total points and the saint eagles game has 3 points almost at half time. I feel like football universe is upside down right now lol. What the heck is going on this year it's the "national football twilight zone" ;p
Automatically Appended Next Post: I love how the saints are telling the refs when to throw flags and the refs are listening. Not that these are bad calls but wtf is with the refs haha.
THAT has to be one of the absolute WORST sports "catch phrases" in the history of sport. Aside from that gak that Cincinatti does... WTF does that even mean? I mean, really!?
Ohh, and for the record, I also despise the sports commentators who call a team's fanbase "Nation"ie. Red Sox Nation, Patriots Nation, Raider Nation.... Well, the Raiders one is weird on its own because they drop the plural from the team name, but hey...
THAT has to be one of the absolute WORST sports "catch phrases" in the history of sport. Aside from that gak that Cincinatti does... WTF does that even mean? I mean, really!?
Ohh, and for the record, I also despise the sports commentators who call a team's fanbase "Nation"ie. Red Sox Nation, Patriots Nation, Raider Nation.... Well, the Raiders one is weird on its own because they drop the plural from the team name, but hey...
THAT has to be one of the absolute WORST sports "catch phrases" in the history of sport. Aside from that gak that Cincinatti does... WTF does that even mean? I mean, really!?
Ohh, and for the record, I also despise the sports commentators who call a team's fanbase "Nation"ie. Red Sox Nation, Patriots Nation, Raider Nation.... Well, the Raiders one is weird on its own because they drop the plural from the team name, but hey...
Eagles fan, you must be!
NEIN!!!! I am actually a Seahawks fan... Just, I've always hated that non-English gak that people come up with... actually, whatever it is, it's not really in any official modern language
Automatically Appended Next Post: I know the patriots have Shane vereen who's pretty badass but goddamn I miss little Danny Woodhead... All he does is make plays.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Pretty good game so far.
Automatically Appended Next Post: The red rocket is crapping his pants....
Automatically Appended Next Post: Does Marvin Lewis lose his job "if" the bengals lose this game? He's the new Martyball...
Automatically Appended Next Post: Is no one watching football?!? Jesus why is no one posting.
Automatically Appended Next Post: I fething hate automatically appended next posts lol.
Yah what a brutal loss. Watching New Orleans and San Fran milk the clock and end the game with field goals was pretty disappointing ends to those games to say the least.
Automatically Appended Next Post: I'm realizing more and more what a Whiney dink Jim Harbaugh is.
There's the fact they already beat the niners and lost to Seattle by 5 points, and that defense is SICK. Cam newton has a penchant for winning the big game even if it's under the radar. And I enjoy picking underdogs which they certainly will be.
Maybe they won't beat the Seahawks but they have San Fran coming across country to their house after just playing a BRUTAL game against Green Bay.
Chancetragedy wrote:
Watching New Orleans and San Fran milk the clock and end the game with field goals was pretty disappointing ends to those games to say the least.
I totally disagree with this statement. Watching a good coach work the clock and deny his opponent the opportunity to mount a comeback is good football. The Packers (or Eagles) could have used the "let them score, and get us the ball back" strategy - but they didn't. I think it was obvious to most watchers that whoever had the ball last had a huge advantage in each of those games, and so making sure you got it last was good play.
Meh I'm not saying t wasn't the smart decision. I'm just saying for how back and forth those games were they deserved a Better ending. Watching your team ice the clock for the win is awesome. Watching teams you have no stake in do it is boring to me ;p.
Edit :I'm just realizing how hypocritical this post is lol.
dogma wrote: The lack of illegal formation calls against Indianapolis hurts my brain. Their left guard clearly lined up in the backfield many times.
Honestly, I think refs' heads are swimming, and that they're under massive amounts of pressure right now. Goodell has put a lot of extra player safety judgment calls on their plates, and in some ways positioned them as the agents of culture change (and frontline defense against future litigation). Before their focus was just on stuff like holding, pass interference, etc. Meanwhile the game just seems to be getting faster and faster as more teams embrace no-huddle, hurry-up, etc. And replay is always looking over their shoulder to make them look like buffoons...except for plays that inexplicably can't be reviewed, of course.
I know there's people who say that the refs should be full-time league employees, but I don't think that'd really solve anything.
dogma wrote: The lack of illegal formation calls against Indianapolis hurts my brain. Their left guard clearly lined up in the backfield many times.
Honestly, I think refs' heads are swimming, and that they're under massive amounts of pressure right now. Goodell has put a lot of extra player safety judgment calls on their plates, and in some ways positioned them as the agents of culture change (and frontline defense against future litigation). Before their focus was just on stuff like holding, pass interference, etc. Meanwhile the game just seems to be getting faster and faster as more teams embrace no-huddle, hurry-up, etc. And replay is always looking over their shoulder to make them look like buffoons...except for plays that inexplicably can't be reviewed, of course.
I know there's people who say that the refs should be full-time league employees, but I don't think that'd really solve anything.
I know that in the past there has been (admittedly negative) talk about possibly using the Instant Replay system for penalties as well as challenging plays on the field. Honestly, seeing how the TMO works in a Rugby match, I would LOOOOOVE it if the NFL adopted this exact same sort of system. Not only does the head ref, and a specific "TMO" get to see the camera angles, so do the fans. I think that, personally, a great few defensive players would play a little better if they knew their hits could/would be reviewed in public
As someone who goes to games instead of just watching on TV, I'm really not in favour of expanding replay at all. As it is, there are too many delays, and stoppages. Adding more of these so that every possible penalty gets caught would just slow the game down inexcusably.
It has been said that there is holding on every NFL play. The extent and location of these holds is what matters. Holding on the interior of the line is rarely noticed because of where the refs are relative to the play. Even in full-speed replays, it can be hard to see.
(Watch this and see how many loops it takes you to see it)
Spoiler:
What you have to accept is that the refs are both human, and part of the game. Most of them are right well over 95% of the time. It sure sucks when your team is on the wrong side of a call, but they'll be on the other side at some other time. An obsession with perfect calls (seen only in slow-motion from a dozen camera angles) detracts from the sport.
Redbeard wrote: As someone who goes to games instead of just watching on TV, I'm really not in favour of expanding replay at all. As it is, there are too many delays, and stoppages. Adding more of these so that every possible penalty gets caught would just slow the game down inexcusably.
It has been said that there is holding on every NFL play. The extent and location of these holds is what matters. Holding on the interior of the line is rarely noticed because of where the refs are relative to the play. Even in full-speed replays, it can be hard to see.
(Watch this and see how many loops it takes you to see it)
Spoiler:
Saw it the first time round
But, if you watch a rugby match, if an official calls to the TMO for a penalty, its usually for something like a dangerous tackle of some sort. I'd personally say that, if an official is unsure of a "targetting" penalty, it would be better for the game to stop a bit (especially if they are looking at the potential penalty while the player is receiving medical attention) to get the right call than to have the game hinge on a perceived biased play, or a bad non-call, etc. I mean, I don't think that a Holding should be reviewable.. but Pass Interference? Personal Foul? Leading with the Helmet? things that have major potential for injury to players, I think, should be reviewable, and they should be able to eject players on the spot for that sort of dangerous play. Obviously, your defense is not going to play a man down because someone got ejected, but it could go a good ways to making the game "safer" as the NFL commissioner wants.
I believe though, that we've also seen that NFL coaches are HORRIBLE at challenging plays on the field, and so I don't necessarily think that they should retain that ability
I'm not really in favor of expanding replay either. As Redbeard said, if you actually attend games you learn that replay delays can be ponderous and terribly damaging to the flow of the game. And the NFL wants people in the stands...rest assured things like the near-blackouts of playoff games this past weekend gets their attention.
Honestly, I think I'd be in favor of less replay, not more. They're still blowing calls with replay in place, so what difference does it make? Limit it to coaches challenges. Similarly, with player safety I say go back to having the refs call the obvious stuff and traditional personal fouls, and let the league office worry about whether someone lowered his head before slightly making contact, etc. The players respond more to fines than anything else anyway. Cripes, let catches go back to being catches again.
I think the refs have enough to do and enough people breathing down their necks. Lighten the load on them a little and you might see better officiating overall.
I actually like replay the way it is currently instituted but I'm with you guys if were to see a change I'd rather less than more.
One major change I'd LOVE to see is make PI a tiered foul like flagrant 1 and 2 in the nba. Have flagrant 1 be 10 or 15 yards or whatever and flagrant 2 be spot foul if it's really aggregious. I'm sick of Ticky tack PI giving a team the ball 50 yards down field.
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