NFL 2011

[Johny Cee]

I'm surprised you can even type at this point, JC.  

Also, I suppose that this ends any discussion of how shitty Eli is.   

Gets worse....  before the game, we decided to pick something ridiculous to chug a beer.  We decided on?  A safety.  FUUUUUCCCCCKKKKK.

[naum]

Limbaugh Picks a Super Bowl Winner

[Trippy]

Oh good another reason to hate the Patriots

[Trippy]

I'm surprised you can even type at this point, JC.  

Also, I suppose that this ends any discussion of how shitty Eli is.   

I was actually looking at his stats after the game and man I didn't realize just how mediocre his career stats have been so far. He had a great year this season but we'll have to wait and see if next season he reverts back to his previous form or if he's really a better QB now.

[Sjofn]

Yeah, right.  Just like if the Giants lose their opener next year, some people will be calling for Coughlin's head.

It's part of the fanbase's charm.

Also:

 

[Surlyboi]

Oh. Fuck. Yeah.

As a Jet fan, I have to hate the Giants. Of course, as a New Yorker, I hate Boston even more. Enemy of my enemy and all that shit.

Did anyone else notice Brady seemed to be wearing eyeliner?

[Sjofn]

I have always been amused by the Jets/Giants dynamic. Every Jets fan I know (except my mother) HATES the Giants and their fans. Giants fans, on the other hand, barely remember the Jets exist outside of any games they happen to play against them. It's this totally one-sided hatred, and I can't say I blame the Jets fans, but it is adorable. 

I always feel warmly towards the Jets, personally, even when they are SUPER OBNOXIOUS (Rex Ryan is an asshole, see). I find them utterly impossible to hate.

[Surlyboi]

Well, the Jet fan hatred comes, more-or-less from the fact that a lot of Giants fans tend to hear you're a Jet fan and then laugh at how sorry the team has been since pretty much '69 and laugh at you for being a fan of such a sorry team.

I don't really -hate- the Giants, but it's required in the contract I sign that I at least have to profess to hate them occasionally. And like I said, any team the can repeatedly humiliate the Pats in the Super Bowl does definitely get points in my book.

And yes, Rex is an asshole, but it's a motivational tactic that seemed to work for a couple of years, until he started going soft on his players and not holding them accountable for a litany of fuckups this season.

[Sjofn]

I would more expect a condescending sort of, "Aww, you root for the Jets? That's adorable!" sort of thing than straight up mirth. Still a reason to hate, of course. 

The worst part for the Jets, I assume, is they get a bunch of spillover "GRAAAH I HATE NEW YORK TEEEEEEEEAMS" hate from people who don't understand that the only reason New Yorkers don't consider the Jets THE red-headed stepchild of New York Sports Teams is because the Islanders still exist (and the Mets probably beat out the Jets too).

[taolurker]

Wish this was mine...


Also, I think Surly's description of the Jets/Giants rivalry is accurate, except maybe for the Meadowlands football stadium previously being named "Giants Stadium". I too am a Jets fan, and the constant harassment from the Giants fans used to also include "Why do the Jets play in Giants Stadium? They can't even get their own field". Now that it's MetLife stadium, that isn't as much of a problem, and I was a fan since they played in Shea Stadium (which was also where I first saw the Jets play).

[Paelos]

Giants won the game because they had the more balanced team. Which again, reminds us that all the looooooove about "Year of the Quarterback" bullshit is exactly that. Bullshit. If you have a solid defense, a quality running game, great special teams, and a QB that doesn't make mistakes? You will beat teams in the NFL. There's no one facet of the game you can ignore and hope to be successful. The Patriots ignored their defense, and it cost them in the long run yet again.

Also, any time your D can get 2 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, and 7 pass deflections? Yeah, you're going to shut down an offense for the most part.

[HaemishM]

I think they may well have been one of the most boring Super Bowls I've watched since San Fran put up 55 points against Denver. I never really doubted the Giants would win for some reason. Goddamn you, Football Gods, for making me have to acknowledge Eli Manning as one of football's greats (even though neither of his Super Bowl wins have been that great statistically). He has shown a tremendous amount of poise in the big games and that counts for a lot. Until the Blackburn interception and the Manningham catch on the sidelines, there really wasn't anything in the game to get too excited about. It was a well-coached, well-played game, it was just boring. The Pats receivers forgetting how to catch the ball was a nice bit of  .

The officiating was SO GODDAMN BAD. Look, I understand for the Super Bowl, you want to let players play so that the flow of the game isn't constantly interrupted by ticky-tack pass interference calls. Now, how about you keep those rules in place for the REST OF THE GODDAMN SEASON, YOU MOTHERFUCKING MUPPETS. Seriously, there were at least 3 no-calls that would have been spot fouls during the regular season, so why aren't they called now? Because the game is on the biggest TV stage of all? Fuck you. Be consistent.

Most of the commercials were unmemorable and uninteresting. GoDaddy needs to die in a car fire. We get it, TITS. Fuck off. It wasn't that interesting the first time you did it, how many years has it been? And what happened to Budweiser? They haven't had relevant ads in a decade. Here We Go was about the only interesting Bud commercial out there. And fuck you, GE for your manipulative heart-warming bullshit. Pay some goddamn corporate taxes, you fucks, then you can gush about how you are changing lives. Fuckheads.

[Surlyboi]

In case you needed another reason to want to see Tom Brady die in a car fire-
http://deadspin.com/5880019/tom-brady-gave-all-his-teammates-uggs-to-celebrate-their-super-bowl-appearance

Speaking of which, there was a huge poster of Brady's smugly mug wearing his shitty sponsor boots in the Ugg store on 58th between 5th and Madison. That poster was mysteriously absent this morning, with only some shreds of paper stuck to the now blank space where the poster hung.

[Outlawedprod]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/7546795/tom-brady-wife-gisele-bundchen-blasts-new-england-patriots-receivers

Unfortunately no one appears to have got her excuse for why Brady committed intentional grounding while in the end zone.

[01101010]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/7546795/tom-brady-wife-gisele-bundchen-blasts-new-england-patriots-receivers

Unfortunately no one appears to have got her excuse for why Brady committed intentional grounding while in the end zone.

Incoming Yoko Ono syndrome!

[HaemishM]

I really thought that intentional grounding call was a bit dubious. As in "maybe that's what the rule says but... REALLY?"

[Rasix]

No one really seemed to argue.  It was so blatantly obvious. It was a nice deep ball, I'll give him that.

Glad the Giants won.  But I haven't really been an active Giants fan since high school. College turned me into a homer.

And in great, common sense inspired news, it looks like they're pondering killing off the Pro Bowl.  About fucking time.

[Draegan]

I have always been amused by the Jets/Giants dynamic. Every Jets fan I know (except my mother) HATES the Giants and their fans. Giants fans, on the other hand, barely remember the Jets exist outside of any games they happen to play against them. It's this totally one-sided hatred, and I can't say I blame the Jets fans, but it is adorable. 

I always feel warmly towards the Jets, personally, even when they are SUPER OBNOXIOUS (Rex Ryan is an asshole, see). I find them utterly impossible to hate.

So true.  I don't hate the Jets, I actually root for them if I see them playing.  Yet the Jets have such a little brother complex it's incredible.   

[Paelos]

I really thought that intentional grounding call was a bit dubious. As in "maybe that's what the rule says but... REALLY?"

Nothing dubious about it. You can't just fling the ball down the field to get rid of pressure.

Then again, it really had no profound outcome on the game. The reality was that Brady was having to move around way too much due to pressure, he was getting his passes knocked down, and his receivers didn't make catches down the stretch.

Also, I don't think the officiating was bad. I hate the pass interference call in the NFL as it stands. Just because you can see the half a second contact on slo-mo doesn't mean it should get a call. In fact, I think that the rules are so stacked against the corners with the bullshit "illegal contact" 5 yard rule, that you need to give them more leeway on the back end. The only thing I thought the refs might have missed was a few obvious holding calls on the Pats down the stretch, but that was mainly because the refs weren't going to call anything except running 12 out on the field.

[Ghambit]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/7546795/tom-brady-wife-gisele-bundchen-blasts-new-england-patriots-receivers

Unfortunately no one appears to have got her excuse for why Brady committed intentional grounding while in the end zone.

Because he didnt want to get strip-sacked in the endzone by the best past rushing defense in the NFL maybe?  
Personally I believe it was the smarter play.  Regardless, between Tuck lining him up and JPP bearing down on him it's likely there would have been a sack anyways.  Why risk the fumble-touchdown?

The only alternative he had was to curl up into a ball like a little bitch and take the safety that way.  But really?  Who's gonna do that at the superbowl in front of billions?  I'd rather take my chances with the refs.

As for his bitchy wife, she should've been complaining at the coaching staff for having a slow slot-midget (welker) run a fly route down the seam and expect him to run under and jumpcatch an overthrown Brady bomb.  Sure, he does it occasionally but the odds are better with an Ochocinco... who shoud've seen more action the way the game was shaping up.  The G-men had Welker and the middle of the field largely contained, and with Gronk injured it made no sense to keep chugging away at the usual strategy.  It really was a game Ocho (or Branch even) shoulda seen more touches.

I hate the Pats, glad they lost.  But they really deserved to lose this one even though technically they should've won.  Lot of close plays that would've likely ended it for the Giants (lost fumbles, missed catches, etc.).

[Malakili]

Then again, it really had no profound outcome on the game.

Well, take away 2 points and the patriots can try to get into field goal range on the last drive instead of needing a touchdown. 

[shiznitz]

I am surprised no one is talking about Bradshaw trying NOT to get a touchdown.  Yes, I know what he was trying to do, but this is fucking FOOTBALL, not chess.  If you can get in the endzone, you get in the damn endzone.

[WayAbvPar]

I disagree. If he goes down at the one foot line, they can run the clock down as far as they want, and there is no chance for a tipped Hail Mary TD.

[Rasix]

I don't like putting the game in the hands of a kicker.  Ideally, you want New England to burn that last time out, but I think your chances better with the touchdown.

This is brought to you by someone that had to watch his team lose a rivalry game 2 years ago because of two blocked extra points. Fucking kickers.

[Paelos]

Then again, it really had no profound outcome on the game.

Well, take away 2 points and the patriots can try to get into field goal range on the last drive instead of needing a touchdown. 

It was the first offensive play of the game for the Patriots. It's too far away from what happened at the end to say it had almost any real effect. I can point to the fact that they had to kick a FG from the 11 rather than getting a TD as a bigger cause. Or throwing a 4th quarter interception. Or the Wes Welker drop.

[Trippy]

I am surprised no one is talking about Bradshaw trying NOT to get a touchdown.  Yes, I know what he was trying to do, but this is fucking FOOTBALL, not chess.  If you can get in the endzone, you get in the damn endzone.

You could say the same about letting him score.

[Johny Cee]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/7546795/tom-brady-wife-gisele-bundchen-blasts-new-england-patriots-receivers

Unfortunately no one appears to have got her excuse for why Brady committed intentional grounding while in the end zone.

Because he didnt want to get strip-sacked in the endzone by the best past rushing defense in the NFL maybe?  
Personally I believe it was the smarter play.  Regardless, between Tuck lining him up and JPP bearing down on him it's likely there would have been a sack anyways.  Why risk the fumble-touchdown?

The only alternative he had was to curl up into a ball like a little bitch and take the safety that way.  But really?  Who's gonna do that at the superbowl in front of billions?  I'd rather take my chances with the refs.

As for his bitchy wife, she should've been complaining at the coaching staff for having a slow slot-midget (welker) run a fly route down the seam and expect him to run under and jumpcatch an overthrown Brady bomb.  Sure, he does it occasionally but the odds are better with an Ochocinco... who shoud've seen more action the way the game was shaping up.  The G-men had Welker and the middle of the field largely contained, and with Gronk injured it made no sense to keep chugging away at the usual strategy.  It really was a game Ocho (or Branch even) shoulda seen more touches.

I hate the Pats, glad they lost.  But they really deserved to lose this one even though technically they should've won.  Lot of close plays that would've likely ended it for the Giants (lost fumbles, missed catches, etc.).

Wow.  Good to see you are consistently an insane person.

[WayAbvPar]

I don't like putting the game in the hands of a kicker.  Ideally, you want New England to burn that last time out, but I think your chances better with the touchdown.

This is brought to you by someone that had to watch his team lose a rivalry game 2 years ago because of two blocked extra points. Fucking kickers.

Doesn't necessarily have to be a kick- you can make them burn the timeout and then run another play. Unless of course it was 3rd down...I was watching from a poker table, so some of the specifics escaped me. Tynes has been money on big kicks though, and that is even closer than a PAT. But in general, I agree- playing for a kick is dangerous.

[shiznitz]

I disagree. If he goes down at the one foot line, they can run the clock down as far as they want, and there is no chance for a tipped Hail Mary TD.

Tactically it makes sense but it is loser thinking.  I am glad Bradshaw couldn't stop himself.

[Malakili]

I disagree. If he goes down at the one foot line, they can run the clock down as far as they want, and there is no chance for a tipped Hail Mary TD.

Tactically it makes sense but it is loser thinking.  I am glad Bradshaw couldn't stop himself.

Reports are that Coughlin wanted a touchdown anyway, and Eli yelled at him not to score AS he handed the ball off.   

Seriously, I think score the points and play defense. 

[Ghambit]

Ask Harbaugh of the Ravens what the better strategy is.   

[Fordel]

Yea that whole "Let them Score!" from the Pats and the "No no Don't score!" from the Giants was really bizarre to me.


It wasn't like the game was some wild west shootout, the Giants D had been handling the Patriots pretty darn well for most of that game.

[Sky]

Ask Harbaugh of the Ravens what the better strategy is.   

That was the thought primary in my mind. There's a case for running out the clock, but I think he handled it really well. Paused to run down a couple seconds, but didn't let the Pats hit him and risk a turn-over.

Chad Johnson should have had the ball WAY more.

Giants D should've been MVP.

[Paelos]

The media continues to focus on the wrong things about this game. Eli gets the MVP and the throw to Manningham gets all the airplay and kudos.

Bear in mind that the Manningham catch was a 1st down throw. And the fact that during the last drive the Patriots "defense" didn't even force a freaking 3rd down conversion. The Pats were so awful on that side of the ball, that they knew they had to let the Giants score just to get a chance.

The deep ball interception in the 4th quarter was the best play of the game, imo, and it turned the tide.

[Johny Cee]

From an MSN article:

Coach Tom Coughlin insisted ''the prize'' was still within reach. [/quote}

I keep giggling because I picture Belicheck and Coughlin sword-fighting in the parking lot, as there can be only one.