2009 NFL Regular Season Thread

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

The way Orton was challenging down the field in the first half I felt really good about them blowing the game open in the second. I hope that ankle heals fast.

Just watching ESPN and they said he left the stadium yesterday on crutches.

[transplant99]

Bud Adams, 80 year old owner of the Titans...gives someone a, errrr, tribute at the conclusion of yesterdays game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTxHuUGG_2c

[transplant99]

Jon Gruden will not be going back to coaching anytime soon.

He has signed a multi-year extension to stay with ESPN and MNF...his role with the network will also be expanded.

He really is great in the booth, so this is good news for football fans, and not so good news for NFL teams that may have had him in their sights to come in and make their team better.

[Saint Troy]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Jon Gruden will not be going back to coaching anytime soon.

He has signed a multi-year extension to stay with ESPN and MNF...his role with the network will also be expanded.

He really is great in the booth, so this is good news for football fans, and not so good news for NFL teams that may have had him in their sights to come in and make their team better.

That's great news, Gruden could be the new John Madden if he plays his cards right. I am a little shocked that Gruden signed a long term deal as I figured he would likely have the pick of four to five coaching jobs next season.

[transplant99]

Lot less stress in the booth than on the sidelines....though im sure its a cut in pay as well.

"Working with Mike, [Ron Jaworski] and our entire Monday Night Football team is the most fun I have had in years, and I am fired up to make this long-term commitment to ESPN," Gruden said in a statement. "Monday Night Football is special and I look forward to remaining a part of it and continuing to call these great games

Word was ND was looking at him to replace Weiss as well as other NFL opportunities.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4659441

[Bobblehead]

Peter King has a really nice story about the Bengals today (more about Assistand Coach Mike Zimmerman and the sudden passing of his wife last month). And as much as you may not like the way Mike Brown does things, it is nice to know he knows when to step up.

Owner Mike Brown and business manager Bill Connolly were superb in flying both sides of the family to Cincinnati for the funeral, and arranging a dignified service, which Zimmer says he'll never forget. And his players -- Zimmer couldn't ask for a better group. The Bengals aren't the most talented. "But what makes this group special is you never have to get on them to work,'' he said. "It's great to be around guys who want to play the game and want to excel the way these guys do.''

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...15/mmqb/1.html

And most people know PK is a big fan of Belicheck, but he rips him pretty good today.

It smacked of I'm-smarter-than-they-are hubris. Let Manning, with the weight of the world on his shoulders and no timeouts under his belt, drive 72 yards in two minutes, with his mistake-prone (on this night) young receivers and the clock working against him. Sure he could do it. But let him earn it. This felt too cheap. It was too cheap. Belichick's too smart to have something so Grady-Littlish on his career resume, but there it is, and it can never be erased.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

And most people know PK is a big fan of Belicheck, but he rips him pretty good today.

The call was so bizarre, I seriously wondered if the fix was in.

[habernac]

I'm still furious this morning.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Jon Gruden will not be going back to coaching anytime soon.

He has signed a multi-year extension to stay with ESPN and MNF...his role with the network will also be expanded.

He really is great in the booth, so this is good news for football fans, and not so good news for NFL teams that may have had him in their sights to come in and make their team better.

I wonder if one of his stipulations was to make sure they don't schedule a Browns vs. Ravens game next season on Monday Night.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

The Colts are 7-0 for the fourth time in the last 5 years with last year being the only exception when Manning missed training camp.

I heard yesterday that they have won 108 games so far this decade and the record for wins in a decade is 112 held by the Niners during the 1990's. I have to think they'll easily win 5 more games this year to break that mark. I guess thats what happens when you have a guy like Peyton Manning start every game for you in that decade.

What's funny is I attended their first game of the decade - January 2, 2000 against the Buffalo Bills. They lost.

[burn_baby_burn]

Todd Haley is being ripped for going for it on 4th and 1 from like the Raiders 10 yard line in the second quarter and he won the game. Anybody who thinks they can justify what Belichik did is borderline insane.

Did anybody else have the misfortune of watching the Raiders and Chiefs? A game like that will sour you on watching football. Its a good thing the Sunday Night game was a classic to remind me how great a game this really is.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Todd Haley is being ripped for going for it on 4th and 1 from like the Raiders 10 yard line in the second quarter and he won the game. Anybody who thinks they can justify what Belichik did is borderline insane.

Did anybody else have the misfortune of watching the Raiders and Chiefs? A game like that will sour you on watching football. Its a good thing the Sunday Night game was a classic to remind me how great a game this really is.

I was happy to see them finally give Jamal Charles a bit more of an oppurtunity. I don't see him as an every down back, but I do think that he could be like a Reggie Bush light if they could draft about 4 more offensive lineman who don't take holding penalties every 3rd play.

[mykalberta]

Why is the call bizzare, the Colts had continually driven on the Patriots in the second half for long drives in short time.

I make the same call, you have your offence, how can they not get a bloody first down. Peter King is just bandwaggoning this like he always does. He his void of unique thought.

If he does punt the Colts likely get it at their own 40 with timeouts and the 2 minute warning.

You had to see this coming, pass on first down out of shotgun, that team is playing to win, not to punt.

[OILFAN #81]

Larry Johnson is expected to sign with the Bengals:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4660283

I'm not sure I like this for them. They are 7-2 and playing great. Johnson might be a distraction for them. At the same time, he can backup Benson so it might be good.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

If he does punt the Colts likely get it at their own 40 with timeouts and the 2 minute warning.

A decent punt would have put IND between the 20 and 30?

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Larry Johnson is expected to sign with the Bengals:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4660283

I'm not sure I like this for them. They are 7-2 and playing great. Johnson might be a distraction for them. At the same time, he can backup Benson so it might be good.

They signed Johnson because Benson got injured. At this point in the season, you probably can't find a better back on the street. Who knows maybe Marvin Lewis will be able to better control him in what is right now a winning environment. A big part of the Bengals success has been running the ball, so without Benson, it would take away a key part of their success.

[cheevers]

I kind of liked Belichick going for it on 4th down. The defense was definately gassed, plus it was only 2 yards. One of those plays where if it had been successful everyone would of been saying how brilliant he was, and how it was such a brave play call. Win and your a genius, lose and your the goat I guess.

The only thing I would have done different if I were him, is I would have thrown for atleast 5 yards, not try for a 3 yard pass. But saying that I also think the referee gave an horrible spot that really helped Indy.

[Bobblehead]

How long do hip-flexor injuries take to heal?

And the Johnson signing is for the pro-rated league minimum. Pretty easy to cut him if he becomes a distraction.

[KTown]

To everyone saying its a good call by BB, I would expect to see the Pats going for it on every 4th and short against the colts if they meet in the playoffs. Perhaps make the punter inactive, why punt at all, they could dress another player.

The colts had 1 timeout plus the two minute warning from what I gather, well it was 4th and 2 with 2:06 to play the punt would have created a stopage in play, but it would have also used the 2 minute warning so that was a wash. This means the colts would only have 1 stoppage of play in the field. I take my chances with my defence. The defence did create some turnovers in the game, the pats defence isn't hopeless.

[transplant99]

Why is the call bizzare,

If he does punt the Colts likely get it at their own 40 with timeouts and the 2 minute warning.

Likely have the ball on their 30 with 1 timeout and the 2 minute warning after one play.

There are deeper ramifications possible here as well...that being, what message did he send to his defense? Simple...he didnt trust them to stop Manning in a 2 minute drill with one timeout. All that AFTER they had already forced the Colts to punt 7 times and had picked Manning twice.

In ANY context of football...it was a stupid, arrogant, and possibly season altering call.

We all know he is arrogant, but i never thought i would see him as being stupid, and certainly never thought i would see the guy cost his team a football game...which may be the difference in who they play in the first game of the playoffs...as well as where it is played.

Stupid is actually an understatement...he was purely moronic. he was playing as if he was afraid of Manning...simply cannot coach that way. Not based on what had happened already in the game.