NFL 2011

[Ingmar]

Indy feels more like a fire-the-GM than a fire-the-coach to me, but it could be a fire-both.

[Chimpy]

Indy feels more like a fire-the-GM than a fire-the-coach to me, but it could be a fire-both.

Well, they did just fire their defensive coordinator.

[HaemishM]

I really think they are going to do everything they can to not fire Caldwell and the GM, even if the team goes 0-16. I get the feeling they really like the coach and front office and are letting a lot of the losing go by without wanting to shitcan the whole thing.

[Ingmar]

I feel like the front office is really who you need to point the finger at when it comes to 'why does this team have no good players besides Manning?'

[Chimpy]

Damnit ingmar, you changed your avatar. Now I have to read who posted!

[Paelos]

Here's why I think Caldwell should be fired:

2002-2008? 10, 12, 12, 14, 12, 13, 12 in regular season wins. 5 division titles. 7 playoff victories and a Super Bowl title.

Then Caldwell shows up. 14 wins in the first season, AFC Champions, Super Bowl loss.
Next season, 10 wins, win the division, bust out in the first round of the playoffs. Things were turning here and nobody saw it.
This season, fucking disaster. 0-16 in all liklihood, which would tie the dubious honor set by the Lions in 2008.

You can't go 0-16. You can't do that and keep your job. Rod Marinelli didn't and he was the head coach for the same amount of time.

[HaemishM]

Sorry, Way - Sidney Rice done for the year. Kind of not-unexpected though. The guy now has two seasons where he hasn't been able to play a full year, and he was supposed to be their big weapon. Instead, some rookie named Doug Baldwin leads the team in catches, yards, and is tied with 4 other guys for TD's. And somehow, Tarvaris Jackson has been BETTER than Whitehurst, making that trade look like the dumbest fucking move on the planet. What'd they trade for him, a 3rd rounder? How would this have been worse than keeping Hasselbeck?

As for the Colts, the big mistakes their front office fell into were not looking for a replacement for Addai who hasn't been the same since his injuries started in his second year, and not drafting or signing D linemen with size and strength enough to stop the run. They've gotten good wideouts (Garcon, Collie, Gonzalez) who haven't been able to stay healthy enough to make an impact. I don't think tailoring their offense around Manning was a mistake, but tailoring their defense around always being ahead is what's really made that defense bad.

EDIT: I think people did see the cracks in the Colts' superiority forming last year when all their wideouts got hurt and Clark was gone for the year. Gonzalez was a #1 pick and he hasn't played a part for a season and a half. Clark only has 28 catches on 49 targets this year and is hurt again. Even Manning couldn't save their season last year.

[ghost]

I agree that you have to fire the 0-16 coach, unless it was a contrived occurrence.........   

[WayAbvPar]

- Sidney Rice done for the year.

No more than I expected. What a fucking retarded signing, along with Miller. Let's hire some really expensive ball catchers and then make them completely useless by installing a QB who on his very best day might crack the top 25 in the league. FIRE PETE CARROL PLSTIA.

[Fordel]

You fire everybody after 0-16. If you can't win ONE fucking game, then your team is broken from the ground up and needs a massive reboot.


Even god damn Miami has won a fucking game. MIAMI!

[Cyrrex]

The problem with Jim Caldwell is that the man hasn't spoken a word, blinked, farted or even breathed over the last three years.  Seriously, the guy is undead or something...he just fucking stands there.  I have a feeling that even when the game is over and the cameras are turned off, he still just fucking stands there, doing nothing, saying nothing.  Not only did the Colts lose their QB and best player when Peyton went down, they also lost their Head Coach Offensive Coordinator at the same time.  Has Jim Caldwell even performed a single coach-like act ever?

On Miami:  Those are some scrappy motherfuckers.  Say what you want about Sparano - and he probably deserves much of it - but he has those guys fighting for him. Caldwell could learn a thing or two from this guy.

Shanahan - I'd be willing to give him a couple years.  They need to figure out how to get their hands on a decent QB. 

Coughlin - always in the spotlight, because that's what you get for being the Giants coach.  Talent waxes and wanes on NFL teams, and I think he has certainly done a better than average job of keeping this team competitive.  I wouldn't fire him until his age starts to become a major issue.  Maybe it is already?

Reid - Fuck no, I wouldn't fire him.  Guy knows how to win football games...this year is a year of front office blunders and team chemistry issues.  He isn't blameless, but considering his history, I'd give him one more year.  Better yet, fire him and let Seattle take him.

[Paelos]

Drew Magary, one of my favorite writers at Deadspin, weighs in on Norv:

How the fuck does Norv still have a job? How was he not fired before he had a chance to call that insane Mike Tolbert sweep in overtime last week? THE WHOLE CITY OF SAN DIEGO SHOULD BE FIRED FOR NOT GOING TO THE POLICE AND PREVENTING THIS. He's undoubtedly the worst coach of the past two decades. He stands alone now. He's worse than Childress. He's worse than Fontes. He's worse than Kotite. He's worse than Andy Reid. He's the fucking SHITTIEST OF THE SHIT. His continued presence on an NFL sideline offends me as a human being.

[Malakili]

Coughlin - always in the spotlight, because that's what you get for being the Giants coach.  Talent waxes and wanes on NFL teams, and I think he has certainly done a better than average job of keeping this team competitive.  I wouldn't fire him until his age starts to become a major issue.  Maybe it is already?

As a Giants fan, I can't understand my fellow fans wanting to axe him.  He has done a pretty darn good job, I can't think of a reason to fire him.  The Giants have had subpar second halves most years, I suppose that is true, but I don't think its a big Coughlin thing.  I actually think Manning isn't a great cold weather QB - the super bowl year was the exception not the rule.   Anyway, the other question is - who is available who would do better? No one, that is who.

[Ingmar]

Drew Magary, one of my favorite writers at Deadspin, weighs in on Norv:

How the fuck does Norv still have a job? How was he not fired before he had a chance to call that insane Mike Tolbert sweep in overtime last week? THE WHOLE CITY OF SAN DIEGO SHOULD BE FIRED FOR NOT GOING TO THE POLICE AND PREVENTING THIS. He's undoubtedly the worst coach of the past two decades. He stands alone now. He's worse than Childress. He's worse than Fontes. He's worse than Kotite. He's worse than Andy Reid. He's the fucking SHITTIEST OF THE SHIT. His continued presence on an NFL sideline offends me as a human being.

How quickly we forget the Mikes (Nolan and Singletary.)

[Johny Cee]

Coughlin - always in the spotlight, because that's what you get for being the Giants coach.  Talent waxes and wanes on NFL teams, and I think he has certainly done a better than average job of keeping this team competitive.  I wouldn't fire him until his age starts to become a major issue.  Maybe it is already?

As a Giants fan, I can't understand my fellow fans wanting to axe him.  He has done a pretty darn good job, I can't think of a reason to fire him.  The Giants have had subpar second halves most years, I suppose that is true, but I don't think its a big Coughlin thing.  I actually think Manning isn't a great cold weather QB - the super bowl year was the exception not the rule.   Anyway, the other question is - who is available who would do better? No one, that is who.

No sane fan should want Coughlin gone, but it's the Giants and the NYC media market.  They have ridiculous expectations to live up to.  On the flip side, everyone just expects the Jets to be awful so even a poor to mediocre season (even if you massively underperform) is fine because the Jets are supposed to be the second stringers.

Injuries have been a recurring problem with the Giants the last few years...  last year, the WRs (Smith, Hicks, Manningham) were all out for good chunks.  Eli had the foot injury.  Bradshaw has missed big chunks of time, as well as various O-Line starters... part of the reason everyone loves Snee is he was versatile enough to cover some of the glaring injury holes.


Looking at the other coaches on that list, there is no sane reason why Coughlin should be there. 

[Paelos]

So since McNabb got cut, if you were Chicago would you take him?

[Ingmar]

Hard call. I've always liked McNabb but I think he may be well and truly done at this point.

[Paelos]

Even when your only shot at the playoffs is a crappy backup?

[Ingmar]

I'm not totally convinced at this point if McNabb would actually be better is my point. The backup at least knows their playbook etc.

[Paelos]

Go Seahawks!  

EDIT: AAAAAAaaaaand Vince Young still blows. I still look back on that USC v. Texas game with him and Leinart and think, wow, WTF happened guys?

[Sjofn]

I really like Coughlin, but I also know that once the NY media decides the coach is the problem, nothing short of winning a Superbowl is going to stop them from making sure the guy is chased out of town.

The Jets thing is so true, I remember having that discussion with my father when they (the media) was hyperfocused on driving Reeves (I think it was Reeves) out. The Jets were way more awful than they should've been, and my father could not understand why everyone seemed so intent on blaming Reeves for all the Giants sins (I want to say it was a Year of Injuries) but giving the Jets coach a free pass. I was like, "Because it's the Jets, they've sucked forever, they're USED to the Jets sucking." It was the only explanation that made any sense. 

[HaemishM]

So since McNabb got cut, if you were Chicago would you take him?

Fuck no. I'm officially off the McNabb bandwagon. He couldn't succeed with a stud RB like Peterson and at least ONE receiving weapon in Harvin. Put him on the Bears with O line issues and no wideout weapons of note and he will find a way to throw the ball UNDER the ground.

EDIT: ROFL Eagles. You let Pete Carroll's bizarre Frankenstein's monster of a team obliterate you. You made Tarvaris Jackson look competent. Congratulations. Doggie Karma strikes again. 

Also, I've thought it insane for years now that every time the Giants don't win 12 games, there's this siren shrieking for Coughlin's head. I shudder to think how bad this team could have been without him. Hopefully, the Giants won't have to find out next year.

[shiznitz]

Go Seahawks!  

EDIT: AAAAAAaaaaand Vince Young still blows. I still look back on that USC v. Texas game with him and Leinart and think, wow, WTF happened guys?

Ok, I no longer have any vested interest in the season so I can just enjoy it without angst!  Silver lining and everything....plus I had Marshawn in 2 out of 3 FF leagues (not the F13 one, though).

[Rasix]

Even when your only shot at the playoffs is a crappy backup?

Crappy backup might be better than McNabb.  He hasn't shown anything resembling his former level of ability in 3 years.  Rex Grossman was a clear upgrade over him in Washington.

[Ingmar]

Marshawn must have finally found the local Applebee's.

[Johny Cee]

I get the Broncos game this week!  Probably should be a better watch than watching NE piss on the Colts...  though it is always interesting to watch the Patriots O work.

[Paelos]

I get the Falcons and the Texans. Yippie.

[Johny Cee]

I get the Falcons and the Texans. Yippie.

Aren't the Falcons and the Texans two comparable teams with some playoff hopes? 


The best part about the 1:00PM games? 

I live in Upstate NY, and the Bills are never broadcast.  No one gives a shit about the Bills even in Upstate...  for that matter I'm not sure about the city of Buffalo.  Maybe we could trade it to Canada for some better property, or fence it in to make a giant penal colony/reality show.

[ghost]

Tebow still chugging along with god power.

[Draegan]

Good thing the Refs are Green Bay fans.

[Fordel]

Well they are a very easy team to like!

[Draegan]

I think that post is considered a hold on that packers.  Next week we'll call it against someone.

[Trippy]

Nice timeout there Coach Garrett.

Edit: nice

[Tannhauser]

No one wants to win the NFC East.  Surprised to see the Fins beat the Raidas like a drum today.  Tebow cracks me up, but hey, he's winning.  Got to be a good time if you're a Broncos fan. 

Currently watching the Lions go off the rails after a good defensive first quarter.  With the loss of Atl and Chi, the Lions have a real chance at getting the wild card, but I guess they don't want it.  But the Saints are scary good and very well coached.

NFC looks really good to win the Super Bowl;  Niners, Saints and of course the Packers are awesome teams.  But there can be only one.

[Trippy]

It sounded like the Giants played hard, they just left too much time for Rodgers.

Edit: NO already has 304 yards of offense at the end of the first half.