NFL Playoffs

[Wook]

Wow....

Philadelphia showed no mercy. They basically turned the Cowboys into their own personal rag dolls. dayum.

Miami got in as much because of Brett Favre as they did their own merits but that's how it swings with Brett. Either way the prissy bitching from NE is due to begin in 3...2...1...

Cassell isn't going to be in NE next year I don't think. The pats aren't going to pay big bucks for 2 QBs and I don't see them dumping Brady like they did Bledsoe so I'm figuring on Cassell landing in someplace in need of a QB next year.

But the most important news of all IMHO...

The Lions went 0-16. :sacool:

The GM is gone, the coach will probabbly be fired before noon my time tomorrow, and this has me hopeful for the first time in a long time. In terms of record it isn't possible to be worse than this so there's really nowhere to go but up.

Yes I'm happy they went 0-16. :sawink2: I'm hoping it's something of a wakeup call to the Ford Family. Obviously they've got other problems on their mind right now but I'm hoping they find a competent GM who then finds a competent Coach...

Right now they've got Calvin Johnson, Orlovsky, and Kevin Smith so I think they've got a good QB, WR, and RB to begin building around. They've got the #1 overall pick and a 2nd 1st round pick. They've got the opportunity to make some solid moves on multiple fronts.

Hope springs eternal.

[silverwhisper]

philly looks dangerous.

[Starhawk]

Cassell isn't going to be in NE next year I don't think. The pats aren't going to pay big bucks for 2 QBs and I don't see them dumping Brady like they did Bledsoe so I'm figuring on Cassell landing in someplace in need of a QB next year.


Mmmmm, I dunno. SportsCenter was running a crawl headline indicating that Tom Brady's knee rehab is massively behind schedule. A paraphrase: "Two of his ligaments are still loose and scar tissue from infection remains in place; may cost Brady his 2009 season."

The Patriots have already shown (with Bledsoe) that they don't abide by the NFL custom of giving an injured player a shot at getting his job back. I could see New England sticking with Cassel, who has done a pretty damned good job in Brady's place. How many years younger is Cassel? And NE could probably ask the moon for Brady in a trade, unlike jettisoning Bledsoe. Could you imagine what the Lions, Browns, Chiefs, or (maybe) Titans would give? Yeesh.

That said, the Super Bowl losers' curse continues. :go:

[Starhawk]

Right now they've got Calvin Johnson, Orlovsky, and Kevin Smith so I think they've got a good QB, WR, and RB to begin building around. They've got the #1 overall pick and a 2nd 1st round pick. They've got the opportunity to make some solid moves on multiple fronts.

Hope springs eternal.

You know, I can't argue with this. I only watched the Lions play vs. my Colts, and I thought their offense moved the ball quite well. All three of the players you mentioned looked like keepers to me. I think there are several teams in the NFL that the Lions would have beaten the pants off of (I'm looking at you, Cleveland Browns) had they played. Talk about a rough year, though. It will be interesting to see what they address in the draft.

[Wook]

You know, I can't argue with this. I only watched the Lions play vs. my Colts, and I thought their offense moved the ball quite well. All three of the players you mentioned looked like keepers to me. I think there are several teams in the NFL that the Lions would have beaten the pants off of (I'm looking at you, Cleveland Browns) had they played. Talk about a rough year, though. It will be interesting to see what they address in the draft.

Before the draft ever gets here they have to make their moves at Coach and GM. I'm hoping against hope that said coach is Schottenheimer or Cowler. Both have good records of rebuilding solid franchises.

[Detritus]

I gotta admit I have trouble seeing either of those guys coaching 8+ games a year in a dome.

[Wook]

I gotta admit I have trouble seeing either of those guys coaching 8+ games a year in a dome.

Perhaps. Someone of that caliber though.

And oh btw...

It appears that San Diego wanted into the playoffs this year...

[Starhawk]

It appears that San Diego wanted into the playoffs this year...

I hope they enjoy their brief stay in the playoffs. *crosses fingers and hopes*

[Brother Brian]

Pissing from NE?

That's the way the tiebreaker crumbles. I've made my rant about OT, which is really the only complaint we have that's valid, and to say it cost us the season...yeah, no thanks.

As for Brady / Cassel

Brady's rehab is behind schedule, and to be honest, he completely showed himself not to be a team first guy. Drew Bledsoe gets hurt, has his frickin aorta sheered in what was compared to a car accident type injury at the time.

And once he was cleared to do so, (like a week later), he was at practice and games, working with Brady, and offering moral support. When he didn't get his job back, he did the same exact thing. Bledsoe may have never reached his potential as a player, but as a good man and teammate, he's in the hall of fame.

Brady caught a flight to California. My brother who works security for the Patriots said that the scuttlebut is that when his contract ends, there's no way he stays in NE.

If that scuttlebut is right, it makes sense to throw the franchise tag on Cassell for next year, and make a move to trade Brady while you can.

[silverwhisper]

i just want to say that i watched the drubbing philly administered on dallas. pauly, i'm really, really sorry, man. that was painful. even for an inveterate dallas hater like me.

[voodazel]

Wow....


But the most important news of all IMHO...

The Lions went 0-16. :sacool:

The GM is gone, the coach will probabbly be fired before noon my time tomorrow, and this has me hopeful for the first time in a long time. In terms of record it isn't possible to be worse than this so there's really nowhere to go but up.

Yes I'm happy they went 0-16. :sawink2: I'm hoping it's something of a wakeup call to the Ford Family. Obviously they've got other problems on their mind right now but I'm hoping they find a competent GM who then finds a competent Coach...

Right now they've got Calvin Johnson, Orlovsky, and Kevin Smith so I think they've got a good QB, WR, and RB to begin building around. They've got the #1 overall pick and a 2nd 1st round pick. They've got the opportunity to make some solid moves on multiple fronts.

Hope springs eternal.

http://i42.tinypic.com/2822ude.jpg

[carmachu]

Pissing from NE?

That's the way the tiebreaker crumbles. I've made my rant about OT, which is really the only complaint we have that's valid, and to say it cost us the season...yeah, no thanks.

I dont think he means you in specific. I think, muchlike you mentioned in an earlier thread, the fans that were screaming conspiricy theory for moving the jets game fans....those will probably be pissing and moaning.

[Wook]

I dont think he means you in specific. I think, muchlike you mentioned in an earlier thread, the fans that were screaming conspiricy theory for moving the jets game fans....those will probably be pissing and moaning.

Bingo.

I don't expect you to bitch BB. But being the first 11-5 team not to get in while a 8-8 team does get in is bound to provoke epic QQ from the NE area.

[silverwhisper]

voodazel, that pic is hysterical!

[Brother Brian]

Bingo.

I don't expect you to bitch BB. But being the first 11-5 team not to get in while a 8-8 team does get in is bound to provoke epic QQ from the NE area.

Yeah, it sucks that in most sports, the 1,2,3,4 or whatever best teams don't get in because of divisional allowances. But it happens. Going to a straight "wildcard" format is equally unfair, since divisional strength is different.

Do I think the Pats are better than 3 or so playoff teams this year? Yes.

Does that matter much? No.

[Detritus]

Right now they've got Calvin Johnson, Orlovsky, and Kevin Smith so I think they've got a good QB, WR, and RB to begin building around. They've got the #1 overall pick and a 2nd 1st round pick. They've got the opportunity to make some solid moves on multiple fronts.
Just to clarify, Orlovsky and Smith are probably going to turn out to be solid at their respective positions, but Johnson is truly a transcendent talent at WR. Check out the stats:

http://www.nfl.com/teams/statistics?team=DET

He caught 12 of his team's 18 TD passes, and was the only guy on the team to have more than 1 TD reception, and that was despite having a pretty bad QB situation for much of the season, and being literally the only game in town in the Lions' passing game after they traded away Roy Williams. He scored 12 of the Lions' 28 offensive TDs. A competent NFL offense should be able to crack the 40 TD mark in a full season.

He's already approaching Larry Fitzgerald/Andre Johnson territory, except he's faster than either of those guys. He's got a Jerry Rice/Randy Moss-type ceiling. If he stays healthy, he should be the preeminent WR in the NFL in the 2010s, maybe along with Fitz, AJ, and possibly Greg Jennings.

EDIT -- Forgot about Brandon Marshall in the next decade's super-awesome WRs.

EDIT 2 -- Oh, yeah, that Colston guy could be pretty good, too. Fuck, there are a lot of good young WRs out there. I haven't even considered a possible return to his 2007 form for Braylon Edwards. But Calvin could still be better than all of them.