Football thread

[Taryn]

Bro, I love you to death, but I hate to burst your bubble... it will be the Seahawks and the Chargers, because we all know that the Pats are going to choke to death before they get past the final playoff game... either that or half their team will be taken down in injuries due to really pissed off opposite team mates who KNOW that another coach deserved that award... ~snickersnorts~

but all in all, if the Chargers could beat the Colts, they can take down the Pats, because we all know the Pats already think they are at the bowl and won't put their all into the game...

[Amber]

I'm still holding out for a Play off Miracle.  I don't care who wins in the west (the Raiders were long out of it, and they would be the only ones I would root for anyway...by default you understand..Beau IS a Raiders fan), but the Play Off Miracle I'm holding out for, is the Steelers going all the way to the Super Bowl.  They didn't have a perfect season by any means, and they are a long way from the Superbowl at this point, but...BUT... it has happened before where they haven't done well in the regular season and have come out sparkly and shiny in Post Season games, and even won the Superbowl after pulling the proverbial rabbit out of their hats.  I can still hope...but then...Cowher was in charge then, and I don't know much about the new coach (except he looks a lot like Omar Epps -weird-)  I'm sure the new guy wants it pretty badly, his first year coaching a team, and he goes all the way to the Superbowl?  It would be awesome.  I want to see it, so I'm just praying for a miracle.  It's the least I can do to support my babies.  Though I do have to wonder, seeing the last two seasons...if Jerome Bettis really was the heart and soul of the Pittsburgh team.  Oh well.  Here's hoping.

[RAGNAR]

Browns will listen to offers for Derek Anderson

Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel said this week that the team would be willing to listen to trade offers for quarterback Derek Anderson according to a report in the Denver Post.

Expect Crennel to get plenty. Teams that will be looking for quarterbacks include Miami, Kansas City, Baltimore, Carolina, Atlanta, Minnesota, Chicago and San Francisco. Anderson, a restricted free agent, has to be on the wish list of many teams after a breakout season for the Browns, who nearly made the playoffs.

Anderson should remain on the Browns' wish list, but Crennel's proclamation means the team likely is leaning toward going with Brady Quinn, who was drafted in the first round last year. Quinn is a fine prospect, but Anderson has shown he can lead the team.

Source: Denver Post


MY Opinion....

I have to sit back and scratch my head at this. Do I think Quinn is ready willing and able to step into the driver seat for the Browns? Hell yes. Would I be so quick to get rid of the guy that has stepped up and taken the Browns a long way this season? Hell no.

I have to ask.... what is Crennel thinking besides how great a couple dozen whoppers and fries would taste about now. I don't credit the team's success to him.... I cedit it to the players who actually pulled it together this year. For a change they were not the usual "Mistake by the Lake".

Though I am quite confident my Notre Dame powerhouse Brady Quinn is more than up to the challenge, we all know that all it takes is one hit..... one mishap.... and he could be finished for the season. Then what? Lose the remainder of the season? Another year of failure to stack atop so many of the past?

Come on Crennel... quit thinking about chowing down whole Arby's franchises at a single sitting and get your head back in the game. You have a chance at Making the Browns a team the fans can be proud of again. Focus on that for a change.

Work on retaining both QB potentials and let the battle it out for starting position. Then you have the bases covered and can swap them out whenever needed.

[RAGNAR]

Jaguars @ Steelers

In coaching experience you have to give it to the Jags. Running the ball has to go to the Jags with Willie Parker out for the season for the Steelers. Both teams love to run the ball. Home field advantage goes to the Steelers. Size and speed they are about equal overall. Both teams are well met in the smashmouth football category. I think in order for the Jaquars to win, they will have to shut down the running game for the Steelers. Even though Davenport is no willie Parker, he is still quite a threat and can bring down a world of pain with his running game. So shut him down and force Big Ben to have to throw and the Jaags will dominate since the Steeler line has been less than stellar this year in QB protection. It seems all the pros are predicting a Jaquar win. I have to buck the system and go with my beloved Steelers. When my Steelers bring their "A game"... there are few, if any that can take them. The only issue being, they haven't been bringing their 'A game" much this year. Anyway.... Steelers to win.



Redskins @ Seahawks

The Redskin secondary seems to have finally stepped up and is having a strong positive impact. Special teams have stepped up and are having a major impact lately, especially with the ex-Steeler Antwan Randle El. The Skins are on a mission that will be hard to thwart. They are playing for their teammate Sean Taylor who was killed earlier this year at his home during an alledged breakin. The Seahwks have been a one dimensional team this year. If the Skins shut down the pass, the Hawks are cooked. I think when it comes down to it, this will be a battle of the defenses. Which team is able to stop the other. We already know both teams are scoring threats and can hurt you almost anytime. The secret to a victory here will be defense. The Skins are hot and the Hawks are not. I have to go with the Redskins to win.



Giants @ Buccaneers

Manning has not been the most stable of leaders this season... something the Giants are certainly not used to. If he plays like he did against the Pats they may have a good chance of vistory. If he plays up to what has become his norm this season, well, you can guess the outcome. Ex-Steeler Plaxico Burress makes Manning look really good with his talent at recieving. Lets see if he can keep it up. The Giants have a good front four and have a fine running game. However... Manning has turnoveritus this year and that can kill a team as fast as anything. Manning just has to keep his head in the game and stay focused. The bucs are heading into the playoffs on a not so great footing having lost three out of their last four games. The "3G" offense may make all the difference for the Bucs.... Garcia, Galloway, and Graham... an explosive trio that can bring down a world of pain the moment a defense lets their guard down. Many will disagree with me, but I am used to that... I have to go with the Buccaneers to win.



Titans @ Chargers

On Offense and defense the Chargers are shinning. When it comes to special teams... watch out for the Chargers's Sproles. He is a definite threat on his returns. The Chargers are heading into this on a six game winning streak high and they don't seem to lack confidence at all. They are hot! The Titans are playing good solid ball... but I don't think that is enough to knock the Chargers out of the running for the bowl. There is a big difference between good solid ball and the explosive plays needed at this level of play. Add to that the injuries and the overall decline in the Titan's health and even if they hang tough and play good Titan ball I think they will still fall short. Look for a Charger win.

[dilshad{property of Tira}]

Redskins @ Seahawks

The Redskin secondary seems to have finally stepped up and is having a strong positive impact. Special teams have stepped up and are having a major impact lately, especially with the ex-Steeler Antwan Randle El. The Skins are on a mission that will be hard to thwart. They are playing for their teammate Sean Taylor who was killed earlier this year at his home during an alledged breakin. The Seahwks have been a one dimensional team this year. If the Skins shut down the pass, the Hawks are cooked. I think when it comes down to it, this will be a battle of the defenses. Which team is able to stop the other. We already know both teams are scoring threats and can hurt you almost anytime. The secret to a victory here will be defense. The Skins are hot and the Hawks are not. I have to go with the Redskins to win



cheers

[Taryn]

Sorry boys and girls, but the Redskins didn't have a snowballs chance in hell to win that game... Yes, they were on a winning streak, yes they were strong in the end, and they had the power of Sean Taylor behind them, but they just didn't have enough to push through and win the game... My favorite NFC team won... the Seahawks...

[RAGNAR]

Sorry boys and girls, but the Redskins didn't have a snowballs chance in hell to win that game... Yes, they were on a winning streak, yes they were strong in the end, and they had the power of Sean Taylor behind them, but they just didn't have enough to push through and win the game... My favorite NFC team won... the Seahawks...

Fuck your buzzards.

[RAGNAR]

Jaguars @ Steelers........ 31 - 29 Jaguars

And yes... I am extremely ashamed of my Steelers.

Redskins @ Seahawks........ 35 - 14 Seahawks

Giants @ Buccaneers........

Titans @ Chargers........

[RAGNAR]

Steelers need to focus on getting offensive line help

Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers are officially thinking about next season, fans can concentrate on the April draft. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said there shouldn't be much suspense.

The Post-Gazette wrote the first three rounds should go like this: Offensive lineman, offensive lineman, offensive lineman.

In the end, the Steelers weren't able to run the ball or protect quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Not all of that can be blamed on running back Willie Parker's broken leg and offensive tackle Marvel Smith's back injury.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Gee... ya think??!!!

[RAGNAR]

Faneca may have played final game in Steel City

Pittsburgh Steelers guard Alan Faneca, in his 10th year, can become a free agent in March, and most of the speculation has been that he would not be returning to the club because of what was expected to be a too-expensive price tag according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"This is the first time I've really thought about that," Faneca said after the game. "I put it out of my mind so I could focus on football. It hit me when I blew a kiss to my wife [Julie] like I always do after a game. It choked me up when I did it, so I had to hurry up and jog off the field.

"I really don't know how this goes," he said. "But I'm sure [the Steelers and Faneca's agent] will talk. I'm sure there's going to be dialogue."

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[RAGNAR]

By BARRY WILNER - AP Football Writer

NEW YORK(AP) Add Most Valuable Player to all the other accolades Tom Brady has been collecting.

The New England Patriots' record-setting quarterback drew all but one vote Saturday in romping to The Associated Press 2007 NFL MVP award in the same manner his team romped through its schedule, going 16-0. On the way to the first unbeaten regular season since Miami went 14-0 in 1972, Brady put on a performance for the ages.

"I have always been a huge football fan and will always have great respect for the history of this game," Brady said. "I am grateful to all of the voters for any consideration I was given. It is a tremendous honor and I am sure it is one that my family will one day look back on with great pride."

The eight-year veteran who already has won three Super Bowls helped the Patriots tear through the record books by throwing for 50 touchdowns. He beat Peyton Manning's league mark by one, and also threw 23 of those TD passes to Randy Moss, which lifted the receiver past Jerry Rice's record of 22.

New England scored 589 points, another record, as was the Patriots' 75 touchdowns. Brady led the NFL with a 117.2 passer rating _ no, not another record, but close to Manning's 121.1 in 2004. Only one full-time AFC starter, Jacksonville's David Garrard, had fewer than Brady's eight interceptions. And Brady threw 253 more passes than Garrard.

Brady also was tops with a 68.9 completion percentage, and his 4,806 yards were 383 more than runner-up Drew Brees of New Orleans.

Brady joins a roster of AP MVPs that includes quarterbacks John Unitas, Bart Starr, Fran Tarkenton, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, John Elway and Steve Young _ all Hall of Famers.

"I am flattered to join such an esteemed list of players, many of whom I consider the greatest of all time," he said. "I hope that I can set as great of an example for kids around the world as the previous MVPs did for me."



My Opinion.....

Uh huh... not to mention what an advantage is gained when the defense's plays are known.

He may join a roster of quarterbacks..... John Unitas, Bart Starr, Fran Tarkenton, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, John Elway and Steve Young _ all Hall of Famers..... but he will always be under a shadow that they are not.

Kids need to learn NOT to cheat.... not to be rewarded for it.

[RAGNAR]

Jaguars @ Steelers........ 31 - 29 Jaguars

And yes... I am extremely ashamed of my Steelers.

Redskins @ Seahawks........ 35 - 14 Seahawks

Giants @ Buccaneers........ 24 - 14 Giants

Titans @ Chargers........

[dilshad{property of Tira}]

sees the Skins score and nashs teeth

[RAGNAR]

Jaguars @ Steelers........ 31 - 29 Jaguars

And yes... I am extremely ashamed of my Steelers.

Redskins @ Seahawks........ 35 - 14 Seahawks

Giants @ Buccaneers........ 24 - 14 Giants

Titans @ Chargers........ 17 - 6 Chargers
 

[RAGNAR]