nodnarb

This discussion is just plain stupid. If willis had done his job and hit that seam hard instead of dancing a step first, NOBODY would be talking about that call. Except to say how great a call it was. Can we all STFU about the 4th and 1 now? It's not why we lost.

HD, even if there's a block in the back after the int, they're not supposed to blow the whistle.

Bullschitt. This game was better coached than we've seen in 5 years. The difference in this game was the tickytack penalty calls in key situations. Two key penalties changed this game, and at least one of them was VERY suspicious. They were late flags, and game-changing plays. That first down by peerless...block in the back? WTF - Royal's push was away from the catch and the guy was sideways! It was a bullschitt call and it changed the game.

I don't have playoff expectations like I did last year, and it's rare to see a first-year D and first-year O make the playoffs. D Concerns: The idea that this D over pursues and gets caught in traps and misdirection plays. And our undersided D front might get punished up the middle, which will make life difficult for our LBs and DBs. I expect that our D will finish somewhere in and around the middle of the pack statistically, but how will they perform in clutch situations? O Concerns: This OLine will be better than last years, IF they stay healthy. But our backups have no experience, and that's pretty scary. If they can stay healthy I like these guys. They're smarter and faster and more athletic. I still think we'll finish 8-8 and earn some respect going into next season. Oh, this isn't a season thread? Sorry. Pats 28, Bills 17

"That fan" that Chris Brown is referring to in his blog today is me. I knew this would happen because Bam Childress blew everyone away at camp and picking up smith made no sense. Three cheers to my gut. (Genuflect!)

tell you what...finheaven's message board is hilarious tonight. enjoy

I have to agree that cowherd's pimping of saban has been curiously over the top, and it's sickening. What has saban done in the nfl? Last year he was really 8-8; remember the pats literally gave them that game. Come to think of it, he was 7-9, cuz Mularkey gave him one too. They didn't win that game; Mularkey lost it. Saban is a good coach and I would have been happy had TD hired him instead of mularkey but the degree of praise he's received this offseason is not commensurate with his achievements in the NFL.

WooHoo! Great point!

Bump - anybody know when this was on, and what channel? And when it'll be repeated? And what should I eat tonight?

I would NOT be surprised to see the miami offense look really, really good under mike mularkey. He was a good OC in Pitt. Trouble for us is, he's a lousy HC, and TD decided to make us his beta test house. He failed that test and is now learning from somebody that can handle the job and all that it entails. MM was over his head and couldn't control his team's chemistry. I hope I'm wrong. But so far in my football life, things that I'd like to see happen don't, and vice versa.

Yea yea I know, and I stand corrected on WHEN the schedule was originally set in terms of matchups, but WHEN you play those matchups is key. when I saw that they got indy in week 17, it tipped me over. That was a gift. Giftwrapped to Nick Saban by the NFL.

You're right about ESPN, HD. But hey, isn't it time to change that name? TUrns out you were right about TD. Who's next?

Gee, did the NFL want to write itself a Saban story? I've watched a lotta ESPN leading up to this season and if I see any more of Trey Wingo's and Sean Salisbury's jiz running down Saban's face I'm never gonna watch NFL Live again. I'm sick of their bandwagoning and ass kissing. Look at the marshmallow schedule they gave them: Sep 7 @Pittsburgh WITHOUT BEN AND HINES Sep 17 Buffalo Please God... Sep 24 Tennessee This team will suck again. Lock. Oct 1 @Houston Yawn. Oct 8 @New England Their only toughie. Oct 15 @N.Y. Jets By this time, Pennington's arm will be ennoodled. Oct 22 Green Bay Favre will have thrown 20 INTs by now. Week 8 BYE Nov 5 @Chicago I don't think Chi is going to repeat. Nov 12 Kansas City The KC offense will NOT be the same this year. Nov 19 Minnesota First year offense/defense Nov 23 @Detroit First year offense/defense Dec 3 Jacksonville They never were all that good Dec 10 New England Their second toughie Dec 17 @Buffalo Hopefully we'll be playing for something Dec 25 N.Y. Jets Cuz the Jets certainly won't be by now Dec 31 @Indianapolis Getting Indy week 17 is the biggest gift. There won't be a single starter on the field all day. I don't see how the fuggin marine mammals fail to win 11.

I just wanted to say that, because...y'know. We're on the eve of kickoff and the air is getting crisper out there and tis the season when a man's thoughts turn to tackling and out patterns and audibles and traps and seams and ACL tears in the knees of opponent superstars and clock management and fades and bull rushes and fire zones and that was clearly pass interference and slants and posts and quick outs and toss sweeps and torn labrums in the shoulders of opponent quarterbacks and tailgating and fake punts and blitzes and bootlegs and buttonhooks and bump and runs and personal foul and what a fuggin drive that was and holy crap can that kid fly and somebody tackle that punk and coffin corners and double teams and redzones and roughing the passer and safeties and scrambles and field position battles and fumbles and cut his ass and screens and what the hell kind of a call was that and even I knew it was going to be a run and I'm hammered and stiff arms and square-ins and huddles and gunners and interceptions and third and longs and I always knew that kid could play. Y'know? I'm feeling it. Football. Here's to us having a better time this season that we'd have expected. *clink

who?

Colts | Team may be forced to pursue a QB Mon, 4 Sep 2006 07:26:48 -0700 Mike Chappell, of the Indianapolis Star, reports if Indianapolis Colts backup QB Jim Sorgi's (shoulder) shoulder continues to be a problem or the Colts have an interest in acquiring another veteran, two might be available. Reports have the Buffalo Bills willing to part with QB Kelly Holcomb and the Tennessee Titans at least willing to listen to overtures for QB Billy Volek. Patriots | Maroney will miss Week 1 Mon, 4 Sep 2006 08:38:55 -0700 ESPN's SportsCenter reports New England Patriots RB Laurence Maroney (leg) is OUT for the team's Week 1 game.

Damn, always liked the kid. He'll probably be able to give the Pats some good intel on the offense, too. I knew this would happen with the Pats' wobbly WR corp. He has good hands, too. Patriots | J. Smith claimed off waivers Sun, 3 Sep 2006 15:40:36 -0700 Mike Reiss, of the Boston Globe, reports the New England Patriots have claimed free agent WR Jonathan Smith (Bills) off waivers. BTW: Anyone else surprised by the lack of depth on both lines? We have to hope we don't take any injuries to DT or OT.

how friggin lucky can the fins get? they'll beat the steelers in pittsburgh and then the media will be giving nick saban the virtual bukake all week long leading into our week 2 meeting in miami. And if we lose to mularkey I might have to twist the head off a puppy.

corey chavous is an idiot and the fact that espn had him on and pumped him as a "knowledgable draft guru" says a lot about the direction that espn's production values have gone. The TO Network based that week-long chavous pimp on nothing, except for maybe corey's own self adulation, which anyone with eyes can read all over his face. his picks were laughable, his reasoning for each pick was freshmanic at best, and he revealed the entire discussion as nothing more than a blatant self-serve job. So yea, I remember that.

why 53, by the way? I wonder how long it'll be before teams pitch for 55 in hopes of a compromise at 54. Many good football players are on the waiver wire.

Extremely surprised that baker and gates were cut. I thought Gates looked better than AT. Wow. And Both hunter AND odom cut...we are THIN THIN THIN at LB, folks.

the falcons just released DT chad lavalais. Interesting. I think he might fit our scheme, but who knows if the guy's a tool or not. He's a saban/lsu product who was drafted in the 5th, I believe. Might have more upside than Sape.

Reading this article gives me hope and a little bit o' consternation. I never had confidence in Mularkey, but I had confidence in Wyche. Now I learn that JP was infused with knowledge of the game but poorly coached in his fundamentals...? Why didn't they observe these things? http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060902/1018432.asp

i'm constantly amazed at the shoddy writing and reporting in the nfl world. this guy shouldn't get a paycheck for a month. GImme a fuggin break.

I agree. Greggg Williams was always too interesting in sounding intelligent and Mularkey thought he'd try to emulate belichick with obfuscation, but with mularkey, it just made him sound like a big dumb guy. I liked MIke as a person, but the HC position is over his head, period. I was bummed about the Jauron hire at first because I thought he's boring, but the more I learn of him the more I like him. He's certainly the best hire we've made in the last 6 years.