2008 NFL Season

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:35 pm

I hate waiting the two weeks. I go into a premature withdrawl.

Im reffering to the football not the booze

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:23 pm

Nice piece on The Terrible Towel:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs2 ... d20/garber

Here we go, Steelers, here we go....

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:39 pm

XXXIV wrote:I hate waiting the two weeks. I go into a premature withdrawl.

Im reffering to the football not the booze

The buzz for this game is minimal, by Super Bowl standards, if you don't live in Pittsburgh or Phoenix.

I've never understood the off week between the conference championships and Super Bowl. It's designed to build hype; instead, it kills momentum and buzz. It also has the negative effect of removing players from their weekly routine and rhythm, often resulting in sloppy play early in the Super Bowl.

It's hard to criticize a league as successful as the NFL, but the off week is a mistake.

Take care,
PK

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 2:06 pm

The two weeks is a little bizarre but not nearly as brutal as the ncaa 'champ' schedule.

My "wish list" item is to move the Super Bowl to Saturday. It'd be nice to keep the party rolling after the game & sleep-in the next day...

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 2:07 pm

pk500 wrote: The buzz for this game is minimal, by Super Bowl standards, if you don't live in Pittsburgh or Phoenix.

My turn to respectfully disagree, PK...Steeler Nation is everywhere!

But I am looking forward to next year when they move up the Pro Bowl to the week before the game...this 2 week wait with nothing in between has been killin' me.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 2:13 pm

I thought those prop bets Mike and Mike were talking about this morning were interesting... how long the national anthem will take (over/under was 2 minutes), how many times John Madden mentions food (over/under 1.5), and who will score more points this Sunday, the Steelers or LeBron James vs. the Pistons.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 2:26 pm

NBC rejects PETA's super bowl ad...who says there aren't good reasons to become a vegetarian?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/2 ... 61180.html

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:42 pm

NFLPA Must Pay $28 million For Madden Royalties
Players union loses class-action lawsuit over whether retired players get royalties.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3172527

The Madden franchise has been good to a lot of people. The NFL, NFL Players Association and ESPN have all shared in the franchise's annual windfall. But until now, one group has been left out of the party - retired players.

That's changing now though, according to a report on Bloomberg (via Gamesindustry.biz). The NFLPA has lost a class-action lawsuit filed by more than 2000 NFL players over whether they get a share of the royalties from trading cards, videos games, and must now pay the retired players $28.1 million.

The union had previously argued that only active players were covered by its agreements with EA and others. But with the new agreement, it looks like retired players will be able to add a nice bonus to their NFL pension checks.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:03 pm

Rodster wrote:NFLPA Must Pay $28 million For Madden Royalties
Players union loses class-action lawsuit over whether retired players get royalties.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3172527

The Madden franchise has been good to a lot of people. The NFL, NFL Players Association and ESPN have all shared in the franchise's annual windfall. But until now, one group has been left out of the party - retired players.

That's changing now though, according to a report on Bloomberg (via Gamesindustry.biz). The NFLPA has lost a class-action lawsuit filed by more than 2000 NFL players over whether they get a share of the royalties from trading cards, videos games, and must now pay the retired players $28.1 million.

The union had previously argued that only active players were covered by its agreements with EA and others. But with the new agreement, it looks like retired players will be able to add a nice bonus to their NFL pension checks.

The key part of this is that it's the appeal which has been upheld in the players' favor (I love it...especially since the NFLPA's lawyers arrogantly predicted it wouldn't be upheld a couple of months ago):

"Jan. 28 (Bloomberg) -- The National Football League Players Association will be required to pay its retired members $28.1 million in a dispute over royalties from licensing agreements with companies including video-game maker Electronic Arts Inc. after losing its appeal of an earlier ruling.

Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court of Northern California upheld a San Francisco jury’s November decision that the players’ union breached its fiduciary duty to the retired players and violated terms of its group licensing agreements."

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... 0&refer=us

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:40 pm

By the end of the season, there's such attrition due to injuries that the extra week off can't hurt.

If there was any evidence that TV rations are hurt by the extra week, they'd change it right away.

For a couple of seasons, they got rid of the extra week and then reverted.

It's fine, because after the Superbowl, you're kind of in a dead zone for sports, comparatively speaking.

fletcher21 · Post by **fletcher21** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:39 pm

I agree with pk. This Super Bowl has a lot less excitement behind it.. There are only a handful of "stars" this year. Fitzgerald, big Ben, Boldin, maybe Hines Ward and that's about it.. I'll watch like always, but the Super Bowl has kinda lost it's luster to me.. I remember back in the mid 90's watching the Cowboys and 49ers dynasties, and those games were as good as it gets. Blowout or not. I've been underwhelmed with the last few Super Bowls, especially the commercials. But maybe the fact I'm not 15 anymore has something to do with that. I'm sure the league is not exactly thrilled with this matchup. Steelers are a nice draw, but the Cardinals are pretty much unknowns outside of Arizona. Fitzgerald is becoming the #1 wr in the game, so I'm sure they'll play off that.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 11:31 pm

Fletch, you don't consider future hall of famer Troy Polamalu to be a "star"?Or defensive player of the year James Harrison, who may be the scariest player on the field? Or Santonio Holmes, who's as electrifying as anyone outside of Fitzgerald? Or Kurt Warner, who has as compelling a story as just about anyone I can remember? I would think most football fans can't wait to see the high powered Cards' offense going up against one of the best (to this point) defenses of all time.

I bet the league will be thrilled with the tv ratings this one gets.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 11:34 pm

I think Warner, Roethlisberger and Ward will one day be HoFers too.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 11:44 pm

What's not to like about a team who likes to throw 3 or 4 forty-yard bombs a half?

I'm glad we have no cowboys, pats, or mannings this year. (disclaimer:I am an az fan)

edit: I remember people shrugging their shoulders over the Rams & Titans superbowl, and that was a great game!

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:00 am

Warner is a lock for the HoF. Fourth on the career QB rating list, at least one SB victory and three SB appearances.

I also don't get the "this game doesn't have a lot of appeal" arguments. Either you like football or your don't. I wouldn't care if it was the Texans vs. the Cardinals, it's the NFL championship. What annoys me about the Super Bowl is all the non-football crap that comes with it, not the game itself.

For years, the games were usually blowouts, but lately they have been pretty close. I think this will be an interesting matchup and a good contrast in styles.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:26 am

I never said the game lacks appeal; I said it lacks pre-game buzz. There's a difference.

There just doesn't seem to be the usual amount of talk about this game, and maybe that's a compliment to this team. There's no moron like TO, asshole coach like Belichick, Hollywood media darling like Brady or major controversy on either team, which is a good thing. But it does seem to keep the game a bit under the radar by Super Bowl levels.

Of course I'm watching the game. I think it's a football lovers' delight, the Cards' O vs. the Steelers' D. Plus Fitzgerald is worth watching at any time.

My point is that there doesn't seem to be the usual circus surrounding this Super Bowl. I should have used that term.

Take care,
PK

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:07 am

pk500 wrote: My point is that there doesn't seem to be the usual circus surrounding this Super Bowl. I should have used that term.

To that, I agree PK. And I think that's just the way that these low key coaches Tomlin and Whisenhunt, and the fans of both teams, like it.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:04 pm

The media (esp Radio & Print) have drastically scaled back the amount of people sent to Tampa this year. Some of the people I know (radio), who were there all week, said it was like a ghost town until yesterday. This is the first year where I don't feel as over saturated as usual...

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:42 pm

pk500 wrote:I never said the game lacks appeal; I said it lacks pre-game buzz. There's a difference.

There just doesn't seem to be the usual amount of talk about this game, and maybe that's a compliment to this team. There's no moron like TO, asshole coach like Belichick, Hollywood media darling like Brady or major controversy on either team, which is a good thing. But it does seem to keep the game a bit under the radar by Super Bowl levels.

Of course I'm watching the game. I think it's a football lovers' delight, the Cards' O vs. the Steelers' D. Plus Fitzgerald is worth watching at any time.

My point is that there doesn't seem to be the usual circus surrounding this Super Bowl. I should have used that term.

Take care,
PK

I think I'm going for a hike Sunday if it doesn't snow...that's how much I don't care about this game!

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 8:55 pm

I have liked how the NFL Network has showed complete SB games every night this week...Some classics like XXXIV on monday

Steeler fans can enjoy watching their victory over the Rams in SB XIV at 9 eastern tonight on the NFL network. featuring my least favorite 4th qtr ever.

I really really... really... hate you guys.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:20 pm

Classic interview with Tony Dorsett...

http://www.tampabays10.com/video/default.aspx?aid=77599

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:53 pm

Unless they can make several explosive plays, which is asking a lot game after game, the Cards will have to continually protect Warner, because their running game has been s*** and they're going against the top run defense.

Maybe Whisenhunt learned something from the practices when he was with the Steelers.

Or maybe the Steelers fall into the trap of covering Boldin with nickel backs or safeties or LBs like a lot of other teams have when he lines up in the slot.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:58 pm

XXXIV wrote:I have liked how the NFL Network has showed complete SB games every night this week...Some classics like XXXIV on monday

Steeler fans can enjoy watching their victory over the Rams in SB XIV at 9 eastern tonight on the NFL network. featuring my least favorite 4th qtr ever.

I really really... really... hate you guys.

I've loved watching the full games, too, 34...I caught the 2nd Steelers-Cowboys SB last night and loved it. I've always loved watching the classic 30 minute highlight shows, but I forgot how much you miss by not seeing the whole game.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:02 pm

GTHobbes wrote:I've loved watching the full games, too, 34...I caught the 2nd Steelers-Cowboys SB last night and loved it. I've always loved watching the classic 30 minute highlight shows, but I forgot how much you miss by not seeing the whole game.

Good game last night. I was hoping Rod Perry would get to that ball to Stallworth but he just missed it. Grats to Steeler fans.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 4:21 pm

The letter from Bob Hayes was very cool( I cant say sweet)...

Edit: ya, I can...It was sweet.