NFL Football

[Vrede too]

No, I'm 90% on board with Fields, he's actually shown a lot and I think the Bears are actually moving in the right direction (they're 5-2 in their last seven games) and the playoffs are achievable next year. I am hoping the Bears can trade out of the #1 pick and still get Harrison. That leaves slim pickings of two or three teams that might want to make that deal. For example if the Bears moved to the third spot (New England, Washington?) and also got their second and third round pick, cool.

The Bears also have their own first round pick in addition to Carolina's, could be a good draft.

Ah, thanks. One of tonight's analysts thinks that Washington WR Rome Odunze was more deserving of the Fred Biletnikoff Award than Harrison. If not Harrison maybe the Bears can figure out a clever way to pickup anticipated first round selection Odunze
Tonight in the first half:
4 REC 84 YDS AVG 21.0, LONG 52
Season so far:
81 REC 1,428 YDS 17.6 AVG, 13 TD LNG 52
2 CAR 37 YDS 18.5 AVG, 1 TD LNG 23, 0 FUM
https://www.espn.com/college-football/p ... ome-odunze
Not bad.

I dislike that healthy Harrison opted out of his Bowl. 7 Ohio State got shamed by 9 Missouri 14-3.

[GoCubsGo]

Not bad.

I dislike that healthy Harrison opted out of his Bowl. 7 Ohio State got shamed by 9 Missouri 14-3.

Not bad at all, viable second option.

FWIW, Caleb Williams opted out too.

You sorta can't blame them.

[Vrede too]

Not bad.

I dislike that healthy Harrison opted out of his Bowl. 7 Ohio State got shamed by 9 Missouri 14-3.

Not bad at all, viable second option.

FWIW, Caleb Williams opted out too.

You sorta can't blame them.

Caleb Williams wasn't missed:

USC's Moss throws Holiday Bowl-record 6 TD passes in 42-28 victory over No. 16 Louisville

Heisman winner Jayden Daniels opted out. His replacement, Garrett Nussmeier, had a good game and LSU barely won 35-31 on a TD pass with 3:08 left.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/b ... /401551778

The other Heisman candidates:
Michael Penix Jr - playing tonight. Granted, it's different when striving for the Championship. 430 yards and 2 TDs
Bo Nix - crushed Liberty today with 5 TD tosses
Marvin Harrison Jr - opted out

Fwiw, Odunze is up to 6 REC 125 YDS 20.8 AVG
He leads all receivers in the game.

I sorta can blame them.
viewtopic.php?p=193072#p193072

Does it get worse? UNC going to the Mayonnaise bowl is bad enough, but it has to be the "Duke" bowl?

Yes, it gets worse.

North Carolina QB Drake Maye entering NFL draft

... Maye, a redshirt sophomore, started all 26 games of his career during the past two seasons at UNC. He told ESPN that he will not play in the Duke's Mayo Bowl against West Virginia. He'll leave school with a 17-9 record as a starter....

First, the Duke's Mayo Bowl is made for a guy named Maye.

More seriously, I get the fear of injury and consequent hit to the wallet, but UNC gave him the chance to make all of this money and his teammates made it possible. It's even worse that the Bowl is in Charlotte where many North Carolinians would have had the chance to watch his finale. I'm disappointed.

UNC got shamed by WV 30-10.

I think there ought to be a cost to opting out. Since anyone that does will be signing a big NFL contract maybe they should have to refund their scholarship for the year.

[GoCubsGo]

Kind of hoping the other Achilles goes.



Jimmy Kimmel Slams Aaron Rodgers’ Claim About Jeffrey Epstein Connection: ‘Your Reckless Words Put My Family in Danger’

[Vrede too]

A couple of these drops would've secured victories and we'd be in the playoffs.

Yeah, Harrison, Odunze, someone, anyone.

[Vrede too]

Probably all we need to know as to who's at fault.

Report: NFL officiating crew that oversaw controversial Lions-Cowboys ending 'downgraded' for postseason
The same crew was involved a controversial no-call in a Week 13 game between the Chiefs and Packers

NFL video reminds players to 'clearly' report as eligible receivers

... "It is the responsibility of the player to be sure that change in status is clearly communicated to the referee by both a physical signal, with his hands up and down in front of his chest, and to report to the referee his intention to report as an eligible receiver," NFL senior vice president Walt Anderson said in the video.

Does the game video show Decker making hand gestures? The article doesn't say.

But two other Lions offensive linemen -- tackles Dan Skipper and Penei Sewell -- also approached Allen in an attempt to confuse the Cowboys on who ultimately would be the eligible receiver. Allen did not appear to acknowledge Decker and instead declared Skipper as eligible. As a result, Decker was ineligible and had committed illegal touching when he caught what would have been a go-ahead 2-point conversion with 23 seconds remaining in the game.

Because Skipper lined up at right tackle as an eligible player, and next to tight end Sam LaPorta, the Lions also committed an illegal formation foul on the play....

[Vrede too]

How long has it been since the Cleveland Browns were champions?

Ex-QB Frank Ryan, who led Browns to last NFL title, dies at 87

They won the NFL in 1964. The Browns, along with the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, have never appeared in a Super Bowl (began 1966).

Back to the article, Ryan spent "his offseasons getting a doctorate in mathematics". This intellect makes his end that much more tragic:

... Ryan's family said in a statement that he died while being cared for at a nursing home in Connecticut. He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and the family said chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) "is suspected to have played a role in the progression of the disease."

Ryan donated his brain to Boston University's CTE Center for study....

In the 1964 title game, Ryan threw three touchdown passes to wide receiver Gary Collins as the Browns shocked Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas and the heavily favored Baltimore Colts 27-0 on Dec. 27.

Aside, Unitas and the heavily favored Colts were also upset by "Broadway" Joe Namath and the Jets on January 12, 1969. They finally won January 17, 1971. Johnny U was injured in the 2nd quarter and the sloppy game (the Colts committed a total of 7 turnovers, the Cowboys 4) was completed by Earl Morrall.

Back to the Ryan article:

... with Ryan and Hall of Fame running backs Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly, the Browns were a perennial power in the early-to-mid 1960s.

Just months after winning the '64 title -- the last for any of the city's three major professional teams for 52 years until the Cavaliers won the NBA crown in 2016 -- Ryan got his Ph.D. from Rice, where he played college ball in his home state of Texas.

He went on to teach math at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland and later at Yale and Rice. Ryan is also credited with helping create an electronic voting system that modernized the U.S. House of Representatives.

A three-time Pro Bowler with the Browns, Ryan spent seven seasons with Cleveland, compiling a 52-22-2 record as a starter. He led the league in passing touchdowns in 1964 and 1966.

Although Cleveland rode its ground game with the great Brown and later Kelly to many wins, Ryan was one of the league's top passers and threw at least 25 TD passes in three seasons. He also played for the Los Angeles Rams and Washington before retiring after the 1970 season.

Ryan also served for 10 years as athletic director at Yale.

During his 13-year playing career, Ryan passed for 16,042 yards and 149 TDs while going 57-27-3 as a starter....

RIP

[O Really]

How long has it been since the Cleveland Browns were champions?

Ex-QB Frank Ryan, who led Browns to last NFL title, dies at 87

Well, yeah, but aren't Ravens really Browns?

Maybe it's just the city of Cleveland that's the jinx.

[Vrede too]

How long has it been since the Cleveland Browns were champions?

Ex-QB Frank Ryan, who led Browns to last NFL title, dies at 87

Well, yeah, but aren't Ravens really Browns?

Maybe it's just the city of Cleveland that's the jinx.

I edited in a diversion above about the Baltimore Colts - winners in 1971 then nada until February 4, 2007 as the Indianapolis Colts.

The Ravens are Ravens, period, dontcha go calling them no Browns Winners 2001 and 2013, they're due for a 2020s win. Anyhow, Cleveland was definitely accursed. Ryan article again:

... Just months after winning the '64 title -- the last for any of the city's three major professional teams for 52 years until the Cavaliers won the NBA crown in 2016 -- Ryan got his Ph.D. from Rice, where he played college ball in his home state of Texas....

The football curse remains.

[Vrede too]

Ravens to sit MVP favorite Lamar Jackson against Steelers

Just like 2019, the Baltimore Ravens will rest NFL Most Valuable Player favorite Lamar Jackson in the regular-season finale.

This means Jackson will have at least a 19-day break before playing in the AFC divisional round.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh announced Wednesday that Jackson would not play Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a game that has no playoff ramifications for Baltimore. The Ravens (13-3) clinched the AFC's No. 1 seed and a first-round bye last week, but the Steelers (9-7) need a victory given that they have a 21.6% chance of reaching the postseason, according to ESPN Analytics....

I approve, and so do the Steelers. Better them and the 10-6 Bills than the 9-7 Colts or Texans.

The Texans play the Colts Sat night. Both hold a tie break over Pittsburgh, so maybe it has to be either the Bills or Steelers?
The Bills play the Playoff-qualified 11-5 Dolphins Sun night, could be tough. They could still win the AFC East, though.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/standings/_/view/playoff

... The Ravens followed the same course with Jackson in 2019, when they secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC before the final game of the regular season. Baltimore sat Jackson and six other starters in the finale.

After a long layoff, Jackson and the Ravens looked rusty in a 28-12 upset loss to the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round. Baltimore was held to a season low in points, and Jackson was 31-of-59 (52.5%) for 365 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.

... In his first full season since 2020, Jackson is the heavy betting favorite to win his second NFL MVP award after throwing five touchdowns and recording a perfect passer rating in a 56-19 rout of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. During Baltimore's six-game winning streak, Jackson has thrown 14 touchdowns and two interceptions for a 109.8 passer rating, averaging 250.2 yards passing and 56.7 yards rushing.

158.3 is "a perfect passer rating" - good to know.

Jackson is considered the best player on the NFL's best team, but he could go against the grain statistically if he was named MVP. No quarterback has won the award when ranking outside the top 10 in passing yards and touchdown passes. Jackson ranks 14th in passing yards (3,678) and 10th in touchdown passes (24)....

Just 7 INTs. He's also got 821 yards rushing, a 5.5 average and 5 TDs. Maybe that's the difference?
https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/gamelog ... ar-jackson

[Vrede too]

2022 draft, round 7, no one would have predicted that Mr Irrelevant,

QB Brock Purdy among league-high nine 49ers selected to Pro Bowl

No one.

Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa were selected to their first Pro Bowl Wednesday as the starting quarterbacks for their respective conferences.

Congrats, O Really.

It's the first time the two starting QBs are first-time picks since the 1999 season when Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner were chosen.

Purdy was one of nine players picked from the San Francisco 49ers, who clinched the NFC's No. 1 seed. He was joined by edge rusher Nick Bosa, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, tight end George Kittle, running back (Panthers refugee) Christian McCaffrey, cornerback Charvarius Ward, linebacker Fred Warner and tackle Trent Williams.

The 49ers (13-3) had the most players selected. Baltimore (13-3) and Dallas (11-5) each have seven Pro Bowl players.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson, safety Kyle Hamilton, center Tyler Linderbaum, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, linebackers Patrick Queen and Roquan Smith and kicker Justin Tucker were picked from the Ravens, who secured the AFC's No. 1.

... Other NFC first-year selections besides Purdy include Rams rookie receiver Puka Nacua, Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, Eagles running back D'Andre Swift, Rams running back Kyren Williams, Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, Bears edge Montez Sweat, Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson, Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon, Falcons safety Jessie Bates III, Seahawks safety Julian Love, Ward, Bland, Aubrey, Saints return specialist Rashid Shaheed and Lions special teamer Jalen Reeves-Maybin.

Other AFC first-year selections besides Tagovailoa include Browns tight end David Njoku, Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert, Bills running back James Cook, Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold, Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, Madubuike, Queen, Hamilton, Broncos return specialist Marvin Mims Jr., Steelers special teamer Miles Killebrew and Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik.

Patrick Mahomes is the AFC's third quarterback while Matthew Stafford is the NFC's third signal-caller. Trent Williams is heading to his 11th Pro Bowl, most among the players chosen. Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was picked for a 10th time. Martin, (TayTay's boyfriend) Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner are nine-time Pro Bowl picks. Juszczyk and Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill are going for the eighth time.

Twenty-eight teams had at least one player selected and 21 clubs had multiple players chosen.

Player selections were determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches, with each group's vote counting as one-third toward determining final rosters. The NFL is the only sports league that combines voting by fans, coaches and players to determine its all-star teams....

Cool. The games are lame, but getting selected is an honor.

[GoCubsGo]

It'll be strange if he's not in the Patriot's sideline and I honestly don't think he or Kraft has actually made a decision yet. Kraft is most likely going to want changes (like an actual GM, a role that Belichick hasn't excelled in), will Belichick accept them or does he have too much ego?

[GoCubsGo]

LOL

He's pretty much nailed it.

[GoCubsGo]

BTW, wow!

[Vrede too]

LOL

He's pretty much nailed it.

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1743338871037841492

Are you that passionate about Justin, the Bears and the Packers?

[GoCubsGo]

LOL

He's pretty much nailed it.

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1743338871037841492

Are you that passionate about Justin, the Bears and the Packers?

Hate the Pack, seeing potential on the Bears.

Knocking them out of the playoffs would be sweeeeeet.

[Vrede too]

Hate the Pack, seeing potential on the Bears.

Knocking them out of the playoffs would be sweeeeeet.

On behalf of you, the Seahawks or if need be the Saints, GO Bears!

Saturday, January 6, 2024

Go football:

4:30 PM ESPN/ABC/ESPN+

Steelers (9-7, -3.0) vs @Ravens (13-3)
The Ravens have the bye, Jackson is sitting out, I THINK it's either the Steelers or the Bills that advance, and I like both teams.

8:15 PM ESPN/ABC/ESPN+
Texans (9-7, -1.5) vs @Colts (9-7). Can both lose?

[GoCubsGo]

Hate the Pack, seeing potential on the Bears.

Knocking them out of the playoffs would be sweeeeeet.

On behalf of you, the Seahawks or if need be the Saints, GO Bears!

[Vrede too]

There are many possibilities in the NFC. I think:
The Saints can still take the NFC South if they win and the Buccs lose
The Saints can also still get a WC slot if they win and the Packers and Seahawks lose.
The Seahawks can get a WC slot if they win and the Packers lose.
If the Packers win they're in. GO BEARS!
The Vikings get a WC slot if they win and the Saints, Packers and Seahawks all lose
Idk what route the Buccs might have for a WC slot if they lose, if any.

There are also many possibilities in the AFC. I think:
The Jaguars win the AFC South if they win. The Texans would get a WC slot.
The Bills can still take the AFC East if they beat Miami. The 'Fins would get a WC slot.
The Steelers get in if the Jaguars lose. Fingers crossed. Yippie!

https://www.espn.com/nfl/standings/_/view/playoff

GO:

1:00 PM

CBS here
@Saints (8-8, -3.0) > not quite eliminated Falcons (7-9). 48-17, wow!

FOX here
@Panthers (2-14) > Buccaneers (8-8, -4.0). SPOILER! 0-9, figures

Vikings (7-9) > @Lions (11-5, -4.0)
On behalf of GoCubsGo a very long shot insurance policy against the Packers getting in. 20-30, Vikings are out.

@Titans (5-11) > Jaguars (9-7, -4.0). SPOILER! Go Steelers.
28-20, sweet, the Jags are done for the year.

Also:
Browns 14, @eliminated Bengals 31. Doesn't matter, but still . . .

4:25 PM

CBS here
Eliminated Bears (7-9) > @Packers (8-8, -3.0). GO Seahawks (I hope), or Saints or even unlikely Vikings.
Announcers: Love's start is looking eerily like (Kaaron's) ... Packers would be the youngest team to ever make the Playoffs.
Opps, not good news for future Bears whatever happens in today's game.
9-17

FOX here
@Commanders (4-12) > Cowboys (11-5, -13.0). Get the Eagles a home game!
10-38, not commanding anything

Eagles (11-5, -4.5) > @Giants (5-11). Go Raptors! 10-27
Birds lost 4 of last 5, tied the other one, and lost 7 of last 9, going 1-1 vs the lowly NYG, for what has to be the worst finish for a Playoff team ever. They visit the Buccs.

Seahawks (8-8, -3.0) > @Cardinals (4-12). Go Raptors!
TD and daring Two-Point Conversion with 1:54 left to win 21-20, not that it matters.

@49ers (12-4, -4.0) > Rams (9-7), though I don't think there are any Playoff implications. Deja vu - Rams TD and daring Two-Point Conversion with 4:56 left to win 20-21. It does matter in giving the Rams the #6 seed over the #7 Packers. Rams to Lions, go Lions. Packers to Cowboys, go Packers.

8:20 PM NBC
@Bills (10-6, -3.0) > Dolphins (11-5). The Dolphins are in, regardless. This is for boxing the Jags out.

[GoCubsGo]

Fucking Packers.