Posted on: February 15, 2008 12:23 am
My Thoughts On Pacman Jones
The fact of the matter is, my opinion holds no weight anymore. The subject has become so grossly over-discussed that there is no black and white areas, there is only gray. I support Pacman Jones. The kid may or may not have done something, but i DO know he hasn't been convicted of anything. Throw as much legal jargon at me as you please, but this is not about the law, it's about the NFL. He hasn't been convicted of anything and has a marginally clean slate as of now. Will he be reinstated? Sure. Before the draft? Possibly not. I hate throwing conspiracies out, but Goodell certainly has a disdain for Pacman. And now what has happened? This has become a war. Pacthug versus Pacman. Pukeman vs Adam Jones. I want it all over. I want it to be done when this season rolls around and i want this to mark the moment Pacman starts his career as a top 3 Corner/Returner. The man has talent. The man had baggage for a while, but now all he has is talent again. And This is overshadowing more important things like the War in Iraq, the Genocide in Darfur, or at least, THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES. Let's talk sports, but let's try to keep things civil. Putting Pac's past behind us is a good step. Now Spygate, that's another issue....
Category: NFL
Posted on: February 9, 2008 8:39 pm
Edited on: February 9, 2008 11:49 pm
Insight Into Conspiracies, At Least Personally.
That's the beautiful thing about conspiracies. Nothing is sacred, not even the biggest upset in NFL history. Now we certainly can't replay the game, and the Giants won. If that were the Pats drive, they'd be talking about a tainted perfect season.(referring to the ~50 seconds of time the Giants were "given" during the final minute 1:35 of the game, during which they scored the winning TD) What this truly becomes is an issue of people being more vigilant than before. Maybe there are discrepancies in the '72 season. But this is even more proof that nothing is sacred in sports anymore. We LOOK INTO steroids, when before, we'd just sit in awe, as 6-7 year olds, staring up at the television as teams dominated the NFL. And you know what? Those were simpler times. When we took things at face value. It shows the beauty of what was, but the significance of what is. We don't respect the dynasties, we tear them down. You know why there aren't any big dynasties since teams like the Bears of the 80s or the steel curtain of the 70s? because we stopped looking at football as a game and started looking at it as an investment. We invest our valuable time into this game and if we're given an excuse to lobby for a "refund," we will. Time is money these days. And lord knows we don't want to waste our money on something that isn't to our satisfaction.
Category: NFL
Posted on: February 1, 2008 8:26 am
Edited on: February 1, 2008 8:28 am
Super Bowl Musings - Friday - Super Bowl Trivia
Another day, another massive ice storm taking over the northeast, right? I didn't have time to type this up last night, so I'm typing this on borrowed time from Jack Frost considering my meeting with the Sandman last night... Anyway, as the ice surround my western Pennsylvania abode, I'll list some of the more interesting Super Bowl Trivia or oddities. Bring it up to your friends as Shuless Joe has advised, this sunday. It's less than 72 hours away!
The following trends occur regarding Super Bowl games:
- Teams scoring 30 or more points are currently 21-1 (.955). (Only such team to lose: Dallas in XIII.) Teams scoring fewer than 20 points are currently 4-31 (.114). (Last such team to win: Pittsburgh in IX.) More specifically, teams scoring 32 points or more are undefeated (18-0) and teams scoring fewer than 14 points are winless (0-17).
- Field goals have been converted in all but two Super Bowls (VII and IX).
- Teams leading at halftime are 32-7 (.821) (two Super Bowls, XXIII and XXXIX, have been tied at halftime).
- Teams shutout in the first half are 0-11; teams shutout in the second half are 1-7 (.125). (Only such team to win: Miami in VII.)
- Higher seeded teams are 13-11 (.542) and NFC teams are 6-2 (.750) in Super Bowls matching same-numbered seeds, which thus far have always been #1 vs. #1. Playoff seedings were first instituted in 1975.
- When the game matches two teams that played each other during the regular season, the team that lost the regular season meeting is 6-5 in the Super Bowl, including 4-1 the last five times this has happened. This record will be tested shortly, as this year's contest between the New England Patriots and New York Giants is a rematch of a game played on the final weekend of the regular season, won by New England.
- 1969-81: AFL/AFC, 11-2
- 1982-97: NFC, 15-1
- 1998-Present: AFC, 8-2
- 13: NFC, 1985-97 (AFC's longest is 5, 1973-77)
- 1960s (I-IV): tied, 2-2
- 1970s (V-XIV): AFC, 8-2
- 1980s (XV-XXIV): NFC, 8-2
- 1990s (XXV-XXXIV): NFC, 8-2
- 2000s (XXXV-XLI): AFC, 6-1
In the history of the Super Bowl, the following "firsts" have yet to occur:
- Snowy Weather - While Super Bowl XLI was the first to feature rain, snow has yet to fall during the game. This is highly unlikely (barring a freak occurrence in Arizona, Florida or Southern California, or a malfunctioning retractable roof) since the NFL schedules the game only in stadiums that have roofs or that have warm, dry winter climates.
- An all-wild card matchup (teams who failed to win their divisions). - Nine wild card teams (since the 1970 merger) have won conference titles, but never two in the same season.
- A shutout- Every Super Bowl participant to date has scored. In three cases the offenses have been shut out while the special teams scored a single touchdown:
- Super Bowl VII: The Washington Redskins returned a fumble for a touchdown after blocking field goal attempt.
- Super Bowl IX: The Minnesota Vikings recovered a blocked punt in the end zone but missing the extra point.
- Super Bowl XXXV: The New York Giants scored a 97-yard kickoff return.
- Super Bowl VI: The Miami Dolphins finished with 3 points, the fewest in a Super Bowl.
- A punt return touchdown. - While many kickoffs have been returned for a touchdown, a punt has yet to be returned for one.
- Home Field Advantage (playing in one's own home stadium). - The closest instances to this have been Super Bowl XIV being played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena near the Rams' then-hometown of Los Angeles and Super Bowl XIX being played at Stanford Stadium which is about 25 miles south of the 49ers' home stadium, Candlestick Park. While many Super Bowls have occurred in the Miami and New Orleans areas, neither of the area's teams (the Dolphins and Saints, respectively) have ever taken advantage of these opportunities.
- Overtime - The narrowest margin of victory in a Super Bowl is one point, in Super Bowl XXV (1991). The closest instances to overtime, in which the result of the last play of the game could have realistically led to a tie and thus an overtime, have been:
- Super Bowl V: Baltimore's Jim O'Brien kicked a game-winning field goal with :05 left.
- Super Bowl XXXIV: Tennessee's Kevin Dyson was stopped one yard short of a tying touchdown.
- Super Bowl XXXVI: New England's Adam Vinatieri kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired.
- Super Bowl XXXVIII: New England's Adam Vinatieri kicked another game-winning field goal with :04 left.
- An appearance by every team. - Six teams have yet to reach their first Super Bowl: Arizona, Cleveland, Detroit,Houston, Jacksonville, and New Orleans.
Category: NFL
Posted on: January 31, 2008 12:20 am
Edited on: January 31, 2008 12:46 am
Super Bowl Musings -Thursday -Top 10 Super Bowls
Another day, another blog, and, suprisingly, another mention on While You Were Sleeping. It's uncanny how i get in there while i take 30 minutes or so to do the blog itself. It's mostly research. Anyway, as promised, today will showcase the top ten most interesting super bowls. Obviously, this will be a different take on it than just a close game effect at times, but i want to provide a good product, and that's what i'll strive to do.
Top Ten Most Interesting Super Bowls
- 10 - Super Bowl XLI - Indianapolis Colts 29, Chicago Bears 17 - This is one of the more interesting Super Bowls simply because of the conditions, records broken, and competition. It was the very first Super Bowl to have rain. Also, on a thrilling showcase of talent, Devin Hester ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown, the first time done in history, and set the tone for the game. Sadly, it didn't last long. Indianapolis found holes in the nigh-impenetrable Bears defense and the Bears simply couldn't keep up with Manning, the game's MVP.
- 9 - Super Bowl XXXIII - Denver 34, Atlanta 19 - This game earns a spot simply because of John Elway's absolutely triumphant end to his career. After a losing appearance, he came back to the big dance to win twice and earning MVP Honors in his final game. Denver's defense played well and Atlanta made a trip inside Denver's 30 7 times only to score 1 touchdown and 2 field goals. It all fell into place for Elway as Atlanta missed a field goal, threw two interceptions, and turned the ball over on downs on the other trips.
- 8 - Super Bowl XXXI - Green Bay Packers 35, New England Patriots 21 - This game slips on the list because one of the league's greatest quarterbacks only Super Bowl victory and the only case in which a special teams play earned MVP honors. Desmond Howard did so as he ran for a record 244 return yards. Brett Favre supplemented with 2 passing and 1 rushing TD.
- 7 - Super Bowl XII - Dallas Cowboys 27, Denver Broncos 10 - If there is any particular Super Bowl in which you could say it was a full defensive effort, It would be second earliest game on this list. League-first co-MVPs Harvey Martin and Randy White led a defensive unit that intercepted 4 passes and forced 4 fumbles. Dallas also shut out Denver in the first half 13-0, an interesting statistic in tomorrow's topic.