General NFL discussion thread

[thefreakytiki]

Little aside...I was actually the opening act for Clayton at an ESPN Pittsburgh fantasy football convention a few years ago. Got to chill with him in the speaker lounge and he was a righteously cool dude. At the time, he was paired up with Sean Salisbury and he was quite candid about his feelings on the matter.

Duuuuuuuuude!  Why have you never told me about this?  I coulda hooked you up big time!

For what it's worth Pgh sports talk radio is tearing apart Peter King for the article.  You wanna talk about galvanizing an already solid fan base... Sheesh.


The Tiki

[Jeremy G]

At the time, he was paired up with Sean Salisbury and he was quite candid about his feelings on the matter.

I would like to hear more of this story.

[judekill]

Superbowl prediction- Champs Green Bay
                              Final Green Bay 42-Pittsburgh 21.
                              MVPRodgers-throws 4 TD's.
                              side note Ben-3 TD's (2 in the 4th quarter)

[kinetic]

So what's the general consensus regarding favouritism for the Super Bowl?
From what little I have seen, people are backing Green Bay as the champs. I'm not so sure. Then again, I'm not up on injuries etc.
I'll go with Pittsburgh 27 - GB 24

[thefreakytiki]

I'm gonna kick this Superbowl guessing game up a notch.  Pick the...

The winner
The score
The Superbowl MVP


- Steelers
- 21-17
- Rashard Mendenhall


The Tiki

[BillyZ]

I'm gonna kick this Superbowl guessing game up a notch.  Pick the...

The winner
The score
The Superbowl MVP

Packers
27 - 20
Aaron Rodgers

[Wood]

I sincerely hope we see the Packers win because I really don't want to spend the next decade hearing how "Big Ben is as good as Tom Brady  ", but I think this game is as close to a pick'em as we've had in the Super Bowl in ages.

[thefreakytiki]

I sincerely hope we see the Packers win because I really don't want to spend the next decade hearing how "Big Ben is as good as Tom Brady  ", but I think this game is as close to a pick'em as we've had in the Super Bowl in ages.

You really hate Ben don't you?   

I hear alot of Ben vs Brady talk up here in Boston.  Most of it is very defensive.  My reaction has always been "Why can there only be one GREAT QB?".  Both are very very good and also very very different types of QBs.


the Tiki

[Wood]

You really hate Ben don't you?   

I hear alot of Ben vs Brady talk up here in Boston.  Most of it is very defensive.  My reaction has always been "Why can there only be one GREAT QB?".  Both are very very good and also very very different types of QBs.


the Tiki

There can be multiple great QBs, it's just that Ben isn't one of them. It's kind of funny because he's turning into the second incarnation of Terry Bradshaw. A guy who was on such a great team that he's going to end up with a lot more bling than some of his more talented contemporaries.

[thefreakytiki]

There can be multiple great QBs, it's just that Ben isn't one of them. It's kind of funny because he's turning into the second incarnation of Terry Bradshaw. A guy who was on such a great team that he's going to end up with a lot more bling than some of his more talented contemporaries.

So your saying Terry Bradshaw wasn't a great QB?

Wood, you may find this blog article interesting...

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/36773/page/espntexas/what-if-rivers-was-a-steeler


What if Rivers was a Steeler?
By Bill Williamson

What would have happened had Ben Roethlisberger been the No. 4 overall pick of the 2004 draft and ended up in San Diego while Philip Rivers went at No. 11 to Pittsburgh?

Would Pittsburgh be on the verge of its third Super Bowl ring since that draft with Rivers? Would San Diego be a Super Bowl winner if it took Roethlisberger instead?

I asked Gary Horton and Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. the question. Interestingly, both Horton and Williamson think the Steelers would be as good with Rivers as they are with Roethlisberger. And neither thinks the Chargers would be as good with Roethlisberger as they were with Rivers. They think Rivers is a good fit for both teams, while Roethlisberger is better suited for the Steelers than the Chargers’ offense.

Here are some of their thoughts:

Horton: “Roethlisberger gets a lot of credit for being a Pittsburgh type of guy because he’s tough. Well, Rivers is also tough. I think Rivers would fit right in with Pittsburgh. There wouldn’t be a drop-off. I’m not sure if it would work as well with Roethlisberger in San Diego. He benefits from a really good team. Rivers has to do it all in San Diego. I don’t think that’s Roethlisberger’s game. I like them both, but I really think Rivers is the type who can fit a lot of teams.”

Williamson: “I think Ben is a better player, but not by leaps and bounds. Rivers is a tremendous player. I think Rivers is a good fit for Norv Turner’s offense. He’s very precise and he’s a strong pocket passer. Roethlisberger works by the seat of his pants and he’s playground-type guy, so I don’t know he’d be a great fit in San Diego. I do think Rivers would fit in Pittsburgh, too. If Rivers was a Steeler, I think they’d have the same success. I don’t see the fact that Roethlisberger has two Super Bowl rings and Rivers doesn’t as a knock on Rivers. It’s not his fault Roethlisberger is also a good quarterback.”


the Tiki

[Wood]

So your saying Terry Bradshaw wasn't a great QB?

Wood, you may find this blog article interesting...

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/36773/page/espntexas/what-if-rivers-was-a-steeler


What if Rivers was a Steeler?
By Bill Williamson

What would have happened had Ben Roethlisberger been the No. 4 overall pick of the 2004 draft and ended up in San Diego while Philip Rivers went at No. 11 to Pittsburgh?

Would Pittsburgh be on the verge of its third Super Bowl ring since that draft with Rivers? Would San Diego be a Super Bowl winner if it took Roethlisberger instead?

I asked Gary Horton and Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. the question. Interestingly, both Horton and Williamson think the Steelers would be as good with Rivers as they are with Roethlisberger. And neither thinks the Chargers would be as good with Roethlisberger as they were with Rivers. They think Rivers is a good fit for both teams, while Roethlisberger is better suited for the Steelers than the Chargers’ offense.

Here are some of their thoughts:

Horton: “Roethlisberger gets a lot of credit for being a Pittsburgh type of guy because he’s tough. Well, Rivers is also tough. I think Rivers would fit right in with Pittsburgh. There wouldn’t be a drop-off. I’m not sure if it would work as well with Roethlisberger in San Diego. He benefits from a really good team. Rivers has to do it all in San Diego. I don’t think that’s Roethlisberger’s game. I like them both, but I really think Rivers is the type who can fit a lot of teams.”

Williamson: “I think Ben is a better player, but not by leaps and bounds. Rivers is a tremendous player. I think Rivers is a good fit for Norv Turner’s offense. He’s very precise and he’s a strong pocket passer. Roethlisberger works by the seat of his pants and he’s playground-type guy, so I don’t know he’d be a great fit in San Diego. I do think Rivers would fit in Pittsburgh, too. If Rivers was a Steeler, I think they’d have the same success. I don’t see the fact that Roethlisberger has two Super Bowl rings and Rivers doesn’t as a knock on Rivers. It’s not his fault Roethlisberger is also a good quarterback.”


the Tiki

Bradshaw was a very good QB, but he (along with many of those 70s Steelers) are some of the least impressive guys in the HOF among their positions. I really have no problem with Bradshaw being in the HOF, it's much less egregious than Lynn Swann.

[thefreakytiki]

Bradshaw was a very good QB, but he (along with many of those 70s Steelers) are some of the least impressive guys in the HOF among their positions. I really have no problem with Bradshaw being in the HOF, it's much less egregious than Lynn Swann.

OMG, are you trying to hurt me?  Are you trying to make me cry?   

(note to self: Kick Wood square in the nads when I see him next )


In all seriousness this is what a good sportstalk radio or a good barstool sports conversation is based on...

Hardware vs Stats.
Team player vs. Individual. 

Always good debates.



the Tiki

[thefreakytiki]

double post...

[thefreakytiki]

OK everyone, call your "neighborhood financial advisor" here are the SUPERBOWL prop bets...

Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers Total Team Points
Over/Under 21

Super Bowl XLV - Green Bay Packers Total Team Points
Over/Under 23.5

Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers Total 1st Half Team Points
Over/Under 11.5

Super Bowl XLV - Green Bay Packers Total 1st Half Team Points
Over/Under 12


Super Bowl Media Props

Super Bowl XLV Specials - What will the TV Rating be?
Over/Under Nielsen Rating 46

Super Bowl XLV Specials - Which region will have the higher local TV Rating?
Pittsburgh -140
Green Bay EVEN

Super Bowl XLV - How long will it take Christina Aguilera to sing the National Anthem?
Over/Under 1 minute 50 seconds

Super Bowl XLV - How long will Christina Aguilera hold the note “Brave” at the end of the National Anthem?
Over/Under 6 seconds

Super Bowl XLV Specials - Will Christina Aguilera wear a cowboy hat while singing the National Anthem?
Yes 3/1

Super Bowl XLV Specials - Will Christina Aguilera's hair color be anything except completely blonde when she sings the National Anthem?
Yes 7/4

Super Bowl XLV Specials - What will Fergie be wearing when she appears first on stage during the Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Skirt/Dress 1/1
Pants (Below Knees) 1/1
Shorts (Above Knees) 7/2
Thong/G-String/Bikini Bottom 10/1

Super Bowl XLV Specials - Will Fergie be dressed as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader at any point during the Halftime show?
Yes 5/1

Super Bowl XLV - How Many Times will FOX show Jerry Jones on TV during the Game?
Over/Under 3
(Wager is on the number of times Jerry Jones will appear on TV during the Game (from kick off until final whistle). Live pictures only, Any Taped Pictures or Past Video does not count towards wager.)

Super Bowl XLV – Who will FOX show first on TV during the game?
Jessica Szohr (Aaron Rodgers’ Girlfriend) -140
Ashley Harlan (Ben Roethlisberger’s Fiancée) Even

Super Bowl XLV - How Many Times will FOX mention “Brett Favre” on TV during the Game?
Over/Under 2.5
(Wager is on the number of times “Brett Favre” will be mentioned on TV during the Game (from kick off until final whistle). Live commentary only, Any Taped or Past Video does not count towards wager, must say “Brett Favre” exactly.)

Super Bowl XLV - How Many Times will FOX mention “Lockout” on TV during the Game?
Over/Under 2.5
(Wager is on the number of times “Lockout” will be mentioned on TV during the Game (from kick off until final whistle). Live commentary only, Any Taped or Past Video does not count towards wager, must say “Lockout” exactly.)

Super Bowl XLV - Who will the FOX announcers say has better hair TV during the Game?
Troy Polamalu -120
Clay Matthews -120

Super Bowl XLV - What Color will the Gatorade be that is dumped on the Head Coach of the Winning Super Bowl Team?
Yellow 3/2
Clear/Water 2/1
Orange 5/2
Lime Green 5/1
Red 15/2
Blue 10/1

Super Bowl XLV - What side of the ball will the Players that perform the Gatorade Shower be from?
Offensive +150
Defensive -200

Super Bowl XLV - Who will the Super Bowl MVP of the Game thank first?
God 3/2
Does Not Thank Anyone 2/1
Teammates 5/2
Family 4/1
Coach 10/1

Super Bowl XLV - Will a punt hit the scoreboard during the game?
Yes 10/1

Super Bowl XLV Specials - Will a Steelers player do the Aaron Rodgers Championship Belt Celebration during the game?
Yes EVEN
No -140

Super Bowl XLV Specials - Will Any Player do the Lambeau Leap after a TD?
Yes 2/1

Super Bowl XLV - Will B.J.Raji be on the field for at least 1 offensive play?
Yes -175
No +135

Super Bowl XLV - Who will President Obama pick to win the game?
Pittsburgh Steelers -140
Green Bay Packers Even

Super Bowl XLV -How many current NFL Players will be arrested during Super Bowl Week?
Over 0.5 +150
Under 0.5 -200

Super Bowl XLV - Which Super Bowl commercial will have a higher rating on USA Today's annual Ad Meter?
Bud Light 11/4
Budweiser 11/4
Doritos 11/2
Pepsi Max 6/1
GoDaddy.com 10/1
Skechers 12/1
Teleflora 15/1
Other 5/2

Super Bowl XLV Specials - If there is a picture of someone holding the Lombardi Trophy on the Cover of the USA Today on Monday February 7th, who will it be?
Aaron Rodgers 3/2
Ben Roethlisberger 3/1
Troy Polamalu 12/1
Clay Matthews 15/1
Mike Tomlin 18/1
Mike McCarthy 18/1
Any Other Pittsburgh Player 2/1
Any Other Green Bay Player 2/1
Any Other Person 15/1
Jerry Jones 100/1

Super Bowl XLV Specials - What will happen with the Dow Jones the day after the Super Bowl?
Market Up -140
Market Down EVEN


Super Bowl Game Props

Super Bowl XLV - What will be the result of the Super Bowl XLV Coin Toss?
Heads (Coin Toss) -105
Tails (Coin Toss) -105

Super Bowl XLV - Team to win the opening coin toss
Pittsburgh Steelers (Win Opening Coin Toss) -105
Green Bay Packers (Win Opening Coin Toss) -105

Super Bowl XLV - Team to score first in the game
Pittsburgh Steelers (Score First) Even
Green Bay Packers (Score First) -130

Super Bowl XLV - Will there be a score in the first 7min 30 seconds of the 1st quarter?
Yes (First 7 min 30 sec of 1st Qtr) -175
No (First 7 min 30 sec of 1st Qtr) +145

Super Bowl XLV - Will Either team score 3 unanswered times in the game?
Yes (3 Unanswered Scores) -180
No (3 Unanswered Scores) +150

Super Bowl XLV - Will there be a score in the final 2 minutes of the 1st half?
Yes (Score in Final 2 Minutes of 1st Half) -260
No (Score in Final 2 Minutes of 2nd Half) +200

Super Bowl XLV - Which Will be the Highest Scoring Quarter?
1st Quarter 4/1
2nd Quarter 8/5
3rd Quarter 4/1
4th Quarter 2/1

Super Bowl XLV - Will the game go to overtime?
Yes (Overtime) +900
No (Overtime) -1800

Super Bowl XLV - Longest Touchdown Scored in the Game (Yardage)
Over/Under 43.5

Super Bowl XLV - Shortest Touchdown Scored in the Game (Yardage)
Over/Under 1.5

Super Bowl XLV - Will there be a Special Teams or Defensive Touchdown scored in the game?
Yes (Defensive or Special Teams TD) +145
No (Defensive or Special Teams TD) -175

Super Bowl XLV - Super Bowl XLV - What will be the result of the first coaches challenge in the game?
Play Overturned -130
Play Stands Even


Player Odds

SUPER BOWL XLV - Odds to win MVP
Aaron Rodgers (GB) QB 7/4
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) QB 7/2
Rashard Mendenhall (PIT) RB 15/2
Greg Jennings (GB) WR 12/1
James Starks (GB) RB 14/1
Troy Polamalu (PIT) S 15/1
Mike Wallace (PIT) WR 16/1
Clay Matthews (GB) LB 18/1
Charles Woodson (GB) CB 20/1
James Harrison (PIT) LB 22/1
Tramon Williams (GB) CB 25/1
Hines Ward (PIT) WR 25/1
Heath Miller (PIT) TE 25/1
Donald Driver (GB) WR 25/1
James Farrior (PIT) LB 28/1
Lawrence Timmons (PIT) LB 28/1
James Jones (GB) WR 30/1
Jordy Nelson (GB) WR 30/1
A.J. Hawk (GB) LB 30/1
B.J. Raji (GB) DT 30/1
Emmanuel Sanders (PIT) WR 35/1
Sam Shields (GB) CB 35/1
Cullen Jenkins (GB) DE 50/1
Brandon Jackson (GB) RB 50/1
Field 15/1

SUPER BOWL XLV - Player to score the first TD in the game
Rashard Mendenhall (PIT) RB 5/1
Greg Jennings (GB) WR 13/2
Mike Wallace (PIT) WR 15/2
James Starks (GB) RB 17/2
John Kuhn (GB) FB 12/1
Hines Ward (PIT) WR 12/1
Heath Miller (PIT) TE 12/1
Donald Driver (GB) WR 12/1
James Jones (GB) WR 12/1
Jordy Nelson (GB) WR 14/1
Aaron Rodgers (GB) QB 14/1
Emmanuel Sanders (PIT) WR 16/1
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) QB 16/1
Brandon Jackson (GB) RB 18/1
Andrew Quarless (GB) TE 20/1
Isaac Redman (PIT) RB 20/1
Antonio Brown (PIT) WR 25/1
Mewelde Moore (PIT) RB 28/1
Donald Lee (GB) TE 28/1
Any Other Pittsburgh Player 14/1
Any Other Green Bay Player 14/1
No TD Scored In The Game 50/1

SUPER BOWL XLV - Total Passing Yards - Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)
Over/Under 240.5

SUPER BOWL XLV - Total TD Passes - Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)
Over TD Passes O 1½ (+125)
Under TD Passes U 1½ (-155)

SUPER BOWL XLV - Total Passing Yards – Aaron Rodgers (GB)
Over/Under 275.5

SUPER BOWL XLV - Total TD Passes – Aaron Rodgers (GB)
Over TD Passes O 2 (+125)
Under TD Passes U 2 (-155)

SUPER BOWL XLV - Who will record more Rushing Yards in the game?
James Starks (GB) RB +25½ (-115)
Rashard Mendenhall (PIT) RB -25½ (-115)

SUPER BOWL XLV - Who will record more Receiving Yards in the game?
Mike Wallace (PIT) WR +9½ (-130)
Greg Jennings (GB) WR -9½ (EVEN)


Historical Matchups

HISTORICAL MATCHUP - Total Passing Yards, which will be higher?
Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl XLV -29½ (-110)
Brett Favre Super Bowl XXXI (246 Passing Yards) +29½ (-120)

HISTORICAL MATCHUP - Total TD Passes, which will be higher?
Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl XLV +125
Brett Favre Super Bowl XXXI (2 TD Passes) -155

HISTORICAL MATCHUP - Completion Percentage, which will be higher?
Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl XLV -11.5% +105
Brett Favre Super Bowl (51.8%) +11.5% -135

HISTORICAL MATCHUP - Total Passing yards, which will be higher?
Ben Roethlisberger Super Bowl XLV -115.5 Yards
Ben Roethlisberger Super Bowl XL (123 Passing Yards) +115.5 Yards

HISTORICAL MATCHUP - Total Passing yards, which will be higher?
Ben Roethlisberger Super Bowl XLV ` +15½ (-115)
Ben Roethlisberger Super Bowl XLIII (256 Passing Yards) -15½ (-115)


Enjoy the silliness.   


the Tiki

[thefreakytiki]

Sunday Quandry...

Is a 75% Maurkice Pouncey better than a 100% Doug Lagursky?
Is a 75% Aaron Smith better than a 100% Ziggy Hood?

 


The Tiki

[Wood]

Sunday Quandry...

Is a 75% Maurkice Pouncey better than a 100% Doug Lagursky?
Is a 75% Aaron Smith better than a 100% Ziggy Hood?

 


The Tiki

Yes, and probably.

[judekill]

This is somewhat off topic and somewhat related, but I find myself asking the question "Are Mass. sports fans assholes?" I am the anti-Katers&Tiki; I grew up in MA and moved out but still root for all the New Engalnd teams. I noticed in this thread a lot of Massfans bashing and was taken aback because in my experience only New Yorkers rivaled Boston fans for passion and knowledge. Today at work in New York I had the misfortune of talking sports to some guy from, who it turns out was from Boston and at first must have taken me for a New York sports fan. I began talking about my short list of Coach of the Year candidates, and after the Atlanta coach I said Belichick. I wanted to mention him first but tried to seem somewhat objective,since at this point I had mentioned I was a Boston sports fan, and had no idea where the other two guys were from. Before I could even say McCarthy the Mass douche interrupted me and said there's no way he's going to win. He didn't say it in a fun conversational way but rather a insecure confrontational way. I said sure he took a bunch of young players... I was once again interrupted by the dude when he said even louder, in a third grade, let me kill any kind of potential conversation, voice-there's no way Belichick is winning. I just stopped talking. Later on he was trying to tell me Massachusetts isn't that much colder than New York. As I was leaving I put on my Mets baseball cap and he hissed at me "mettsss". What an insecure know nothing know it all. If this is what non-natives have experienced from the MA provincials then I apologize and want to say not all of us are this bad.  Tying this into this thread Congrats to Coach Bill!!

[thefreakytiki]

A friend I know from Indianapolis once told me, "There's a reason why their called Mass-holes".

As someone who grew up in Pittsburgh and then moved to Chicago, there was never this feeling while i lived in the city of broad shoulders.  There were very friendly jabs but if your team got knocked out you would root for your buddy's team because they were your buddy. 

Maybe this was because it was Chicago and there were so many people from so many different cities it was common to know people from different regions of the US and in turn different sports allegiances.  There was a default sportsmanship to the rooting.

Know, I have lived in Boston for just under 5 years.  I live in that the belly of the beast, not some distant suburb or midstate city (i.e. Tom) but I learned VERY quickly if you are not from here and do not LOVE (not like) the Sox or the Patriots then YOU are the enemy.  All you gotta do is listen to the two sportstalk stations as a non sports fan.  They rip apart every team that isn't from here.  You don't see/hear this with the same Venom in other cities.  To be proud of your team is your god given right as an American sports fan, but being aggressive twords anothers loyalty is kinda odd to me.

Now, talking to other outsiders who live here there are a few observations that they have made that I tend to agree with...

1) The Pats and Sox have not been winning teams until the last 10 years and the fans don't know how to handle the sudden rush of crazy success. 

Now you may say that's hogwash because the Celtics and Bruins have a rich history of winning.  Ironic thing is, the fans don't seem to act the same way towards these two teams.  You only see this defensive pride towards the Pats and Sox.  The reason... Those teams have been winners before.

2) I blame a lot of the attitude on local sportstalk.  It's aggressive and mean spirited.  They may be turning it up to eleven for ratings but inevitably it takes the wonderful cult-like, pride and fun of galvanizing a fan base and instead makes it just a mob mentality.  People slowly begin to emulate these talk show hosts.

Now with all that being said, the city itself is wonderful.  I love Boston.  It's rich American history is second to none in this country.  Unfortunately, I have learned to just not talk sports with my work peers or any of my customers.  In no way am I trying to upset ya buddy, I am only typing all this out because you inquired.  I love ya man.       


The Tiki

[thefreakytiki]

Addendum:  The x factor in the whole discussion is the drunken fan of ANY sports.   


The Tiki

[Wood]

The Eagles have named Juan Castillo, our offensive line coach for the last decade, as our new DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR.  Absolutely baffling.