There are some feelings of doom & gloom out there among the Falcons faithful. You guys gotta shake this off! Heck, I gotta shake it off!! I have been doing some thinking, soul-searching and research. You guys, we are not the first team to have this happen!!
Ok, we lost to Carolina. Yup, it sucked!
Let us, for a moment, go back in time! (I wish I could insert a cool sound effect here! A whooshing sound or the "Back to the Future" sounds but... Just pretend!.) We are going WAY back to... 2009! Yes, the year the Saints went all the way. Don't curl your lip or stop reading, there is a reason for mentioning them!
On December 27, at their dome with Brees as their QB... The Saints lost to the Tampa Bay Bucs who (prior to that week) had only won 2 games all season.
On December 9, the Falcons lost to Carolina who had also only won 2 games! (not at our house, thank goodness!)
We all know what ended up happening in the 2009 season and that's kinda my point - the Saints stumbled and picked themselves back up. If they can do it, our Falcons are MORE than capable of doing it!!
For anyone who says, "yeah, but..." Let's look at 2010!
Our date is December 12, 2010 The Packers lost to Detroit - another 2-win team! (Yes, Rogers went out with a concussion in the first half of the game but the Packers didn't even manage a single touch-down in that game!) Yet the Packers went on to win the Super Bowl!
How about one more? 2011 New York Giants. Remember the November melt-down? If that wasn't ugly enough, they also lost on December 18 to the Redskins. Prior to this game, the Redskins had won 4 games (double our other examples but still...) and Eli Manning was QB for the Giants.
Guys, I can keep researching and see just how much of a pattern exists but... Once is a fluke, twice a coincidence but three times is a pattern! I could keep beating this horse but... This exact pattern repeats itself every year starting in 2006!! (that's as far as I tracked) Please don't give up on the Falcons. If history holds this year, we are simply following the pattern for success!!!
Now, at the time of these losses, each of these teams knew that they were playing in the post-season - just like the Falcons. Do you think that concerns over injury play a part in these late season games? And I'm talking a subconscious fear - not something that they may even be aware of! These guys work damn hard just to GET to the play-offs, they want (maybe need?) to be a part of the team on the field. I don't blame or judge them! Maybe it's that sense of relief? Phase 1 has been successfully completed (getting TO the playoffs) so they are collectively breathing a sigh of relief? I don't know why or how to explain it but... It has happened quite a few times!
This week we play the New York Giants. Believe it or not, they are a whole lot like us! When they have a bad game - they really have a bad game! Unfortunately, the same can be said of us. Usually, either the offense or defense can rescue the game but against Carolina... Both sides had problems. Honestly, we have yet to play a game where both offense and defense were playing hot! It's gotta happen! If it happens in the play-offs... Even better!!
The only thing that people will remember and talk about will be our success or (God forbid!) failure in the post-season! That is when it counts, when it matters, when it will be remembered!
So... Just some things to think about on a gloomy, cold, depressing afternoon. I'll check back with more thoughts, ok?
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
Week 14 NFL Thoughts - aka Help Wanted!!
Welcome to week 14!! Things are getting really exciting and... Really confusing. It's getting harder and harder to know for which teams to cheer for. (Using proper grammar isn't easy but... I try!) I am going to do my best to help us all with this and just spell it out. Some of these may, probably WILL go against our natural instincts but... We must persevere and rise above it! We must once again "man up"!
First, we must address an issue! Which one of you was NOT cheering on the Bears? I am fully aware that the game wasn't on TV but... I DON'T CARE!! Guys, our success will be more complete if some other teams step-up and do their part! We, as fans, must do whatever we can to support our Falcons. Even if it means cheering for someone we would rather not, Falcons fans must unite!!
San Francisco
Green Bay
New York Giants
Chicago
These teams MUST lose this week. Blah, blah, tie game, blah... Let's just not even go there. We want all four of these teams to go down this week! See how easy that was? Black and white - they lose, we win!
The only one that really makes me feel sick is the Giants. Hopefully the Redskins beating them will be enough because I'm not sure... SCRATCH THAT!! I cannot and will not cheer for the Saints under any circumstances! NOT GONNA HAPPEN! I know that a Giants loss is what the Falcons need but... The mere thought of cheering for the Saints makes me sick! The Giants did lose to the Redskins! Is this enough?!?! Please?
So... What's happening this week?
The Falcons play Carolina! This may not be a popular opinion but... I don't think this game is a "gimme". Don't get me wrong, I am certain we can win this but Carolina always ups their game when they play us. For that matter, 7 of their 9 loses have been by six points or less. A blow-out win would would be awesome! but... it's just not guaranteed. The great thing is that our guys are playing well - at times, fantastic! - and we have faced Carolina once this season. Divisional games are always a little different and I expect no less this time. Added to that, Carolina has very little (if anything) to lose at this point in the season - that can be dangerous! Or... Maybe they want us to go to the Super Bowl and will treat this like a practice game! : D
The next very important game: Miami - San Francisco - we need Miami to man up here! Looking at their record, most of their games have been very, VERY close! (ok, except for that game against the Titans and... WTF happened there?!? They lost to the Titans by 33 points! Yikes!!!) I do understand that the Dolphins have issues but we are going to hope for one of those "strange things happen" moments!
Bears - Vikings - The Vikings (insert sigh here) are really not the ones I want to pin any hopes on this week. Good news? They have Adrian Peterson! Unfortunately, there's just not much more good news to be had. Given their last two games... They are gonna have to shake it off, man up and play ball!
Green Bay - Detroit - Are you kidding me? I know I just made some harsh comments about the Vikings but... Probably should have saved them for here. I'm not a Lions fan but even I've noticed that they've got issues! I mean... Suh? Ugh!! See, this is what I meant by 'distasteful' - cheering for Detroit leaves a bad taste in my mouth but... I can and will do this for my team!
A win by Miami combined with our win over Carolina will ensure a first week bye for our Falcons. This, to me, seems to be the best bet. Otherwise it takes our win and loses by Green Bay and Chicago. Yup... Go Dolphins!!!!
Now for other things that caught my eye:
Eagles - Bucs - I am VERY interested in this one! It would be great to see the Bucs shut down in this one. I stand by my statement that Freeman is inconsistent. Do the Eagles have what it takes to win this? I don't know but they were almost unrecognizable in that game with Dallas - in a good way!!! Why not cheer for the Eagles?
Giants - Saints - I want the Saints out of this thing! I don't want them in the playoffs at all! Their season can end right here, right now for all I care!! Hopefully the Monday night loss for the Giants is enough to help the Falcons because I REALLY want the Saints to lose AGAIN!! I know what I said about cheering for teams we'd rather not but cheering for the Saints is simply too much to expect! You are given a pass, as well. Come to think of it, cheering for the Saints is treason!
Jets - Jaquars - believe it or not, there are quarterbacks who have thrown MORE interceptions than Mark Sanchez! Sanchez is at 13 but Brees is at 16! The difference? Brees has also thrown 31 touchdowns!!! At this point, Sanchez has thrown... 12 touchdowns. Yup, more interceptions than touchdowns! And if you add in his fumbles? YIKES!!! I guess Ryan has his reasons for sticking with Sanchez (8 million of them in fact!) but... Speaking from personal experience, the loss of self-confidence is SO hard to overcome. Since October, the Jets have won 2 games under Sanchez and they were solid wins - really! But the losses were just as solid. Right now, MS is taking heat from every side AND he watched from the sidelines as his team came to life under his replacement. I honestly don't know if he has the self-confidence to take the field and take command of that offense! This is just a no-win-situation and playing football with "hope" as your driving force seems foolish. But... That's just me.
Cardinals - Seahawks - hey, guess what! The Cardinals won 4, lost 4, lost 4... Wouldn't it be hilarious if they won their last 4?!? What? I didn't say it was gonna happen or even that it was possible! I just said it would be funny!! Now that would be the shock of the entire season!
So.... Hmm... That really covers all the highlights for me. I know there are more but these are the ones that interest me.
My final item of business is a HUGE shout out to Ovie Mughelli! If you haven't tuned into his show on 92.9 The Game in Atlanta on Sunday's... You should!! I always liked him as a football player and it's so cool to hear his perspective on the Falcons this season! He's articulate, insightful, funny and charming! It really bummed me when the Falcons let him go, so knowing that he's moved into something that he's good at and seems to really enjoy is awesome. Since I have absolutely NO HOPE of realizing "plan A" - sitting down and chatting with Roddy, Dunta, the D Block or any of my favorite Falcons... Being able to hear Ovie or even call in and ask him a question is a pretty good "plan B"! (That's not to say I'd turn down the chance to make Plan A work! I would be more than happy to chat with any of the guys and promise to share what I learn with you guys!!! I mean... my schedule is fairly open right now! Just sayin'!)
NOPE, ONE MORE THOUGHT!!!
For the record, it is MORALLY wrong to turn on the air conditioner in December!! I don't care if it hits 80 degrees, you can't turn on the air! Seriously, NOT ok!!! It doesn't even remotely feel like Summer, you are just being a WUSS!!! Man the F up!!! You know who you are!!
First, we must address an issue! Which one of you was NOT cheering on the Bears? I am fully aware that the game wasn't on TV but... I DON'T CARE!! Guys, our success will be more complete if some other teams step-up and do their part! We, as fans, must do whatever we can to support our Falcons. Even if it means cheering for someone we would rather not, Falcons fans must unite!!
San Francisco
Green Bay
New York Giants
Chicago
These teams MUST lose this week. Blah, blah, tie game, blah... Let's just not even go there. We want all four of these teams to go down this week! See how easy that was? Black and white - they lose, we win!
The only one that really makes me feel sick is the Giants. Hopefully the Redskins beating them will be enough because I'm not sure... SCRATCH THAT!! I cannot and will not cheer for the Saints under any circumstances! NOT GONNA HAPPEN! I know that a Giants loss is what the Falcons need but... The mere thought of cheering for the Saints makes me sick! The Giants did lose to the Redskins! Is this enough?!?! Please?
So... What's happening this week?
The Falcons play Carolina! This may not be a popular opinion but... I don't think this game is a "gimme". Don't get me wrong, I am certain we can win this but Carolina always ups their game when they play us. For that matter, 7 of their 9 loses have been by six points or less. A blow-out win would would be awesome! but... it's just not guaranteed. The great thing is that our guys are playing well - at times, fantastic! - and we have faced Carolina once this season. Divisional games are always a little different and I expect no less this time. Added to that, Carolina has very little (if anything) to lose at this point in the season - that can be dangerous! Or... Maybe they want us to go to the Super Bowl and will treat this like a practice game! : D
The next very important game: Miami - San Francisco - we need Miami to man up here! Looking at their record, most of their games have been very, VERY close! (ok, except for that game against the Titans and... WTF happened there?!? They lost to the Titans by 33 points! Yikes!!!) I do understand that the Dolphins have issues but we are going to hope for one of those "strange things happen" moments!
Bears - Vikings - The Vikings (insert sigh here) are really not the ones I want to pin any hopes on this week. Good news? They have Adrian Peterson! Unfortunately, there's just not much more good news to be had. Given their last two games... They are gonna have to shake it off, man up and play ball!
Green Bay - Detroit - Are you kidding me? I know I just made some harsh comments about the Vikings but... Probably should have saved them for here. I'm not a Lions fan but even I've noticed that they've got issues! I mean... Suh? Ugh!! See, this is what I meant by 'distasteful' - cheering for Detroit leaves a bad taste in my mouth but... I can and will do this for my team!
A win by Miami combined with our win over Carolina will ensure a first week bye for our Falcons. This, to me, seems to be the best bet. Otherwise it takes our win and loses by Green Bay and Chicago. Yup... Go Dolphins!!!!
Now for other things that caught my eye:
Eagles - Bucs - I am VERY interested in this one! It would be great to see the Bucs shut down in this one. I stand by my statement that Freeman is inconsistent. Do the Eagles have what it takes to win this? I don't know but they were almost unrecognizable in that game with Dallas - in a good way!!! Why not cheer for the Eagles?
Giants - Saints - I want the Saints out of this thing! I don't want them in the playoffs at all! Their season can end right here, right now for all I care!! Hopefully the Monday night loss for the Giants is enough to help the Falcons because I REALLY want the Saints to lose AGAIN!! I know what I said about cheering for teams we'd rather not but cheering for the Saints is simply too much to expect! You are given a pass, as well. Come to think of it, cheering for the Saints is treason!
Jets - Jaquars - believe it or not, there are quarterbacks who have thrown MORE interceptions than Mark Sanchez! Sanchez is at 13 but Brees is at 16! The difference? Brees has also thrown 31 touchdowns!!! At this point, Sanchez has thrown... 12 touchdowns. Yup, more interceptions than touchdowns! And if you add in his fumbles? YIKES!!! I guess Ryan has his reasons for sticking with Sanchez (8 million of them in fact!) but... Speaking from personal experience, the loss of self-confidence is SO hard to overcome. Since October, the Jets have won 2 games under Sanchez and they were solid wins - really! But the losses were just as solid. Right now, MS is taking heat from every side AND he watched from the sidelines as his team came to life under his replacement. I honestly don't know if he has the self-confidence to take the field and take command of that offense! This is just a no-win-situation and playing football with "hope" as your driving force seems foolish. But... That's just me.
Cardinals - Seahawks - hey, guess what! The Cardinals won 4, lost 4, lost 4... Wouldn't it be hilarious if they won their last 4?!? What? I didn't say it was gonna happen or even that it was possible! I just said it would be funny!! Now that would be the shock of the entire season!
So.... Hmm... That really covers all the highlights for me. I know there are more but these are the ones that interest me.
My final item of business is a HUGE shout out to Ovie Mughelli! If you haven't tuned into his show on 92.9 The Game in Atlanta on Sunday's... You should!! I always liked him as a football player and it's so cool to hear his perspective on the Falcons this season! He's articulate, insightful, funny and charming! It really bummed me when the Falcons let him go, so knowing that he's moved into something that he's good at and seems to really enjoy is awesome. Since I have absolutely NO HOPE of realizing "plan A" - sitting down and chatting with Roddy, Dunta, the D Block or any of my favorite Falcons... Being able to hear Ovie or even call in and ask him a question is a pretty good "plan B"! (That's not to say I'd turn down the chance to make Plan A work! I would be more than happy to chat with any of the guys and promise to share what I learn with you guys!!! I mean... my schedule is fairly open right now! Just sayin'!)
NOPE, ONE MORE THOUGHT!!!
For the record, it is MORALLY wrong to turn on the air conditioner in December!! I don't care if it hits 80 degrees, you can't turn on the air! Seriously, NOT ok!!! It doesn't even remotely feel like Summer, you are just being a WUSS!!! Man the F up!!! You know who you are!!
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Other Post Week 13 Thoughts
Ok, do you people realize just HOW MUCH the NFL collected in fines just this week? My total is just shy of $250k THIS WEEK and I don't know how much was charged in the rugby-type battle from the Bengals game! That s a WHOLE LOT of money!! Apparently, according to a few sources, the NFL donates this money to charity. My next question becomes... How do I become an NFL sponsored charity?!? I mean... Dang! That is one weeks worth of fines! They must take in millions over the season. Sorry, I had to get that off my chest.
Hey, I need a bit of help here. Can someone please explain what the Hell this is supposed to mean?!? Let me put it in context for you. After the Saints loss to the Falcons, lots of questions were asked about Drew Brees and his record setting performance. (What? It was a record HIGH interceptions!!) The Saints "coach" Vitt, answered with this:
"When you have a great quarterback on your team, great quarterbacks can't have a conscience," Vitt said, via The Associated Press. (this is a DIRECT quote!)
Ok, one word has me scratching my head: conscience. I always understood the word to mean: knowledge of right and wrong or personal knowledge of the rightness or wrongness of behavior. Am I confused about the meaning of the word? Wouldn't you WANT a quarterback who has that sense of right and wrong? Don't you want players who see the consequences of their actions? Or.... Is Vitt just a flaming IDIOT who uses big words that he clearly doesn't understand in order to sound like he has more than two functioning brain cells?!?!? I just really DON'T get it?!? Anyone? Ideas? Opinions?
Wait a minute.... Damn! I am an idiot! He is speaking for the New Orleans Saints, an entire team that CLEARLY lacks a conscience and, in fact, does not understand the difference between right and wrong! (ok, that was fairly bitchy of me but... I'm ok with that! By now, you all know that I embrace my hatred of the Saints!) **Bwahaaaa! My autocorrect fixed it when I misspelled "Saints", it put "STAINS" hmm.... the New Orleans Stains.... has a nice ring to it!!! : D
I am SERIOUSLY PISSED!!! Why are no Atlanta stations showing either the Bears or the Broncos games?!?!? THE ONLY games I really care about today are NOT being shown! I am forced to follow along on-line which is no where near good enough. Grrrrr!!!! This about as satisfying as reading the script of a PORNO!!!
Green Bay-Minnesota - Only one thing really jumped out at me in this game and it prompted me to do some research. Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 39 (yes, thirty nine) times this season! That averages to 3.25 times per game! I had noticed that he's spent a whole lot of this season on the turf but... Damn! He is the most sacked QB in the NFL in 2012.
Cardinals-Jets - At 10:53 in the second quarter, Mark Sanchez just threw his 3rd interception of the game!!! Really?!?! Three interceptions in 20 minutes, seven seconds. That was 3 interceptions in 5 possessions! Out of 9 passes, 3 were interceptions! (do you see how bad it really was?) Just... Wow! And at the end of the 3rd quarter, the score is 3-0 Arizona. Oh. My. What a thrilling game. (yup, sarcasm alert!) Oh my gosh!!!! That was McElroy!! The Jets just scored!! A touchdown, too, not a field goal!! Sanchez is on the bench! About damn time! And WOW! Look at that!! The Jets actually won the game! Why has this kid not been given a chance before now? That's not sarcasm, I really am curious! I don't mean to overstate things or make it sound like he can save the Jets but... At least the team showed signs of life, for a change. Now, I realize that football is not a democracy and "majority rules" has no place in the game but... Damn! Ryan needs to bench Sanchez and let McElroy give the Jets what little dignity he can for the rest of the season.
Oh Lord!! The Bears game is KILLING ME!!! Over-time has started. Ugh... Please excuse me while I go wash my mouth out with soap. The Bears lost. Not. Happy.
The Rams and 49ers are also in OT. First, I really LOVE the throw-back uniforms of the Rams. This is how I always think of them. Having said that, I want this kid from San Fran to win. He has taken a whole lot of crap this week but, by all accounts, he is a really good kid! And.... Nope. The Rams took that one. I would seriously consider sticking with those uniforms!
As expected, I did NOT win the lottery and the Titans did NOT win their game. Anyone shocked by either of these? Yeah, didn't think so.
Denver-Tampa Bay - a Big THANKS go out to the Denver Broncos! ( Happy Dance Time! ) At least THIS game went the right way!! The Falcons have clinched the NFC South Title! ( More Happy Dancing!!!)
Steelers-Ravens - Dang. I wanted the Steelers to lose. Ah well... At least it's not Big Ben's win.
Eagles-Cowboys - What is WRONG with me? Why do I do this to myself? Cheering for the Eagles this season is like eating at a Chinese buffet - you know that its going to end badly but... You just can't help yourself!! Maybe it's my strong dislike for Romo/Jones? Maybe I just have masochistic tendencies? At any rate, the Eagles are up 14-3 in the second quarter. Even knowing its wrong, I am cheering for the Eagles. Feel free to smack me the next time you see me. In an attempt to find something good, some positive from those hours of my life that can NEVER be recovered... I think Nick Foles actually has potential! The team responds with him under center and, in fact, looked remarkably like a real football team!
**Breaking News from Monday - Foles has been named the starting QB for the remainder of the season. At this point, I am surprised to feel a bit of... Sympathy(?) for Vick. The thing is... This is fairly self-inflicted and NOT unexpected. So... Why is he out? Is it the injury? Ability? Money? Coaching? Probably a combination of all of them! The Eagles looked completely different with Foles! Maybe that's reason enough.**
Giants-Redskins - this is our Monday night game but... I'm not gonna hold this until after the game. I've gone on long enough today and would rather you guys not get sick of me! We can touch on this after-the-fact!
**Warning - things are about to take a more serious tone. Don't wanna bring anyone down but...**
I am quite often bitchy and sarcastic in my weekly thoughts and, usually, I'm ok with that. At this point, however, neither of those are appropriate. I am just heart sore over the situation in Kansas City. No, Jovan Belcher was not one of those familiar players nor was I ever a Chiefs fan. That really doesn't lessen the impact of the situation. It's just tragic. There are no easy answers to the questions swirling around and maybe there shouldn't be. Lives were lost. Lives were changed.
After hearing more and more details about what had happened, I began to reflect. People have jobs. They collect a salary for doing a task at a specific time on a specific day. There are people who are professional athletes - that is their job! Just like the guy who gets up in the morning and fixes heating or air conditioning systems, pro athletes get up in the morning and report for work. The fact that they earn large sums of money and do their work in front of a national audience doesn't change the fact that they are doing their job. And, just like everyone else who gets up and goes to work, they have problems and stress in their lives! Sometimes I forget that. I am ashamed to admit that I forget that these are just people living their lives while doing a very high profile job. (I mean, do you ever think about the fact that Michael Vick has 3 kids? Anyone with kids KNOWS that being a parent is stressful! AND he plays for the Eagles!! Talk about a stressful life.) We know and (sometimes) admire them for the work that they do but that doesn't mean that we KNOW them. We know their work and the persona that they present to the public. As you know, I am a huge football fan! I get so wrapped up in my love of the game that I forget that these are just people who are doing their jobs and living their lives.
Hey, I need a bit of help here. Can someone please explain what the Hell this is supposed to mean?!? Let me put it in context for you. After the Saints loss to the Falcons, lots of questions were asked about Drew Brees and his record setting performance. (What? It was a record HIGH interceptions!!) The Saints "coach" Vitt, answered with this:
"When you have a great quarterback on your team, great quarterbacks can't have a conscience," Vitt said, via The Associated Press. (this is a DIRECT quote!)
Ok, one word has me scratching my head: conscience. I always understood the word to mean: knowledge of right and wrong or personal knowledge of the rightness or wrongness of behavior. Am I confused about the meaning of the word? Wouldn't you WANT a quarterback who has that sense of right and wrong? Don't you want players who see the consequences of their actions? Or.... Is Vitt just a flaming IDIOT who uses big words that he clearly doesn't understand in order to sound like he has more than two functioning brain cells?!?!? I just really DON'T get it?!? Anyone? Ideas? Opinions?
Wait a minute.... Damn! I am an idiot! He is speaking for the New Orleans Saints, an entire team that CLEARLY lacks a conscience and, in fact, does not understand the difference between right and wrong! (ok, that was fairly bitchy of me but... I'm ok with that! By now, you all know that I embrace my hatred of the Saints!) **Bwahaaaa! My autocorrect fixed it when I misspelled "Saints", it put "STAINS" hmm.... the New Orleans Stains.... has a nice ring to it!!! : D
I am SERIOUSLY PISSED!!! Why are no Atlanta stations showing either the Bears or the Broncos games?!?!? THE ONLY games I really care about today are NOT being shown! I am forced to follow along on-line which is no where near good enough. Grrrrr!!!! This about as satisfying as reading the script of a PORNO!!!
Green Bay-Minnesota - Only one thing really jumped out at me in this game and it prompted me to do some research. Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 39 (yes, thirty nine) times this season! That averages to 3.25 times per game! I had noticed that he's spent a whole lot of this season on the turf but... Damn! He is the most sacked QB in the NFL in 2012.
Cardinals-Jets - At 10:53 in the second quarter, Mark Sanchez just threw his 3rd interception of the game!!! Really?!?! Three interceptions in 20 minutes, seven seconds. That was 3 interceptions in 5 possessions! Out of 9 passes, 3 were interceptions! (do you see how bad it really was?) Just... Wow! And at the end of the 3rd quarter, the score is 3-0 Arizona. Oh. My. What a thrilling game. (yup, sarcasm alert!) Oh my gosh!!!! That was McElroy!! The Jets just scored!! A touchdown, too, not a field goal!! Sanchez is on the bench! About damn time! And WOW! Look at that!! The Jets actually won the game! Why has this kid not been given a chance before now? That's not sarcasm, I really am curious! I don't mean to overstate things or make it sound like he can save the Jets but... At least the team showed signs of life, for a change. Now, I realize that football is not a democracy and "majority rules" has no place in the game but... Damn! Ryan needs to bench Sanchez and let McElroy give the Jets what little dignity he can for the rest of the season.
Oh Lord!! The Bears game is KILLING ME!!! Over-time has started. Ugh... Please excuse me while I go wash my mouth out with soap. The Bears lost. Not. Happy.
The Rams and 49ers are also in OT. First, I really LOVE the throw-back uniforms of the Rams. This is how I always think of them. Having said that, I want this kid from San Fran to win. He has taken a whole lot of crap this week but, by all accounts, he is a really good kid! And.... Nope. The Rams took that one. I would seriously consider sticking with those uniforms!
As expected, I did NOT win the lottery and the Titans did NOT win their game. Anyone shocked by either of these? Yeah, didn't think so.
Denver-Tampa Bay - a Big THANKS go out to the Denver Broncos! ( Happy Dance Time! ) At least THIS game went the right way!! The Falcons have clinched the NFC South Title! ( More Happy Dancing!!!)
Steelers-Ravens - Dang. I wanted the Steelers to lose. Ah well... At least it's not Big Ben's win.
Eagles-Cowboys - What is WRONG with me? Why do I do this to myself? Cheering for the Eagles this season is like eating at a Chinese buffet - you know that its going to end badly but... You just can't help yourself!! Maybe it's my strong dislike for Romo/Jones? Maybe I just have masochistic tendencies? At any rate, the Eagles are up 14-3 in the second quarter. Even knowing its wrong, I am cheering for the Eagles. Feel free to smack me the next time you see me. In an attempt to find something good, some positive from those hours of my life that can NEVER be recovered... I think Nick Foles actually has potential! The team responds with him under center and, in fact, looked remarkably like a real football team!
**Breaking News from Monday - Foles has been named the starting QB for the remainder of the season. At this point, I am surprised to feel a bit of... Sympathy(?) for Vick. The thing is... This is fairly self-inflicted and NOT unexpected. So... Why is he out? Is it the injury? Ability? Money? Coaching? Probably a combination of all of them! The Eagles looked completely different with Foles! Maybe that's reason enough.**
Giants-Redskins - this is our Monday night game but... I'm not gonna hold this until after the game. I've gone on long enough today and would rather you guys not get sick of me! We can touch on this after-the-fact!
**Warning - things are about to take a more serious tone. Don't wanna bring anyone down but...**
I am quite often bitchy and sarcastic in my weekly thoughts and, usually, I'm ok with that. At this point, however, neither of those are appropriate. I am just heart sore over the situation in Kansas City. No, Jovan Belcher was not one of those familiar players nor was I ever a Chiefs fan. That really doesn't lessen the impact of the situation. It's just tragic. There are no easy answers to the questions swirling around and maybe there shouldn't be. Lives were lost. Lives were changed.
After hearing more and more details about what had happened, I began to reflect. People have jobs. They collect a salary for doing a task at a specific time on a specific day. There are people who are professional athletes - that is their job! Just like the guy who gets up in the morning and fixes heating or air conditioning systems, pro athletes get up in the morning and report for work. The fact that they earn large sums of money and do their work in front of a national audience doesn't change the fact that they are doing their job. And, just like everyone else who gets up and goes to work, they have problems and stress in their lives! Sometimes I forget that. I am ashamed to admit that I forget that these are just people living their lives while doing a very high profile job. (I mean, do you ever think about the fact that Michael Vick has 3 kids? Anyone with kids KNOWS that being a parent is stressful! AND he plays for the Eagles!! Talk about a stressful life.) We know and (sometimes) admire them for the work that they do but that doesn't mean that we KNOW them. We know their work and the persona that they present to the public. As you know, I am a huge football fan! I get so wrapped up in my love of the game that I forget that these are just people who are doing their jobs and living their lives.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Post Week 13 Falcons Thoughts!!
Ok, I just CAN'T leave this one alone. Maybe I have issues but...
For those who did NOT see the Jets play on Thanksgiving, it was... EPIC!! My favorite moment was when Mark "I've got photos" Sanchez was under pressure so he opted to keep the ball and slide to the ground. He ran into his own player's very... Um... Solid ass and promptly fumbled. THAT was funny enough but the comment afterward.... PRICELESS!!!!
"It's embarrassing," Sanchez said. "You screw up the play, and I'm trying to do the right thing. It's not like I'm trying to force something. I start to slide, and I slide right in the worst spot I possibly could: right into Brandon Moore."
Those last two sentences... Wow! Yes, my twisted little mind went THERE! What?!? Like yours didn't?!? Go back and re-read them. Better, read them out loud! I'll wait....
I usually wait until after the Sunday games to do this but.... REDEMPTION!! VICTORY!!!
Thursday Night: Words cannot express my happiness at this moment!!! It has been a very long time coming and couldn't have happened at a better time!! WE BEAT THE SAINTS!!!!!!!!
I told you guys not to give up on Bryant!!! (REDEMPTION!!) I told you not to hate on Turner!! And as for the "D Block"? I LOVE THOSE GUYS!!! Are you kidding me? Moore (x2), Babineaux, Spoon and DeCoud!!!! And Peters - it might have been cancelled by a penalty but I count your interception in my book! ; D That was what we needed and Big John? Couldn't have done it without you and Biermann!! Heck, the entire Defense!! Hey, have you guys ever noticed that Dunta Robinson looks like a Predator when he makes those flying tackles? Seriously!!!! Just watch one of the Predator movies sometime, they come on cable all the time, you'll see what I mean!
For now, I must find a way to settle down and actually sleep tonight. I am totally wound up and can't stop replaying every one of those 5 INTERCEPTIONS!!
Friday morning: As expected, it took forever to fall asleep and once I did - I had bizarre football dreams. Yikes!
I am sitting her watching NFL network and they are re-hashing the game! I love seeing the highlights! Man, that William Moore pick in the 4th quarter was INSANE!! So many great moments: the Gonzalez touchdown catch, the return of Turner, that very crucial first down by Jaquizz, that kick by Bryant!!! It's phenomenal to watch highlights of a victory over the Saints!
Ok... I was recently asked, "why can't the Falcons offense and defense BOTH have a solid game? It's one or the other!" Believe it or not, I'm ok with this! This shows me that the Falcons have yet to peak. In years past, we have peaked too soon and when the post-season hits... We're spent. This whole season has been different. Each game, we continue to build and improve. If we can hit our stride and peak in the post-season... Well, I don't wanna jinx anything but you see where I'm going! This has been such an amazing ride and... It ain't over yet!!!
One last comment about this game: the Falcons did NOT ruin the Saints season! Much as I would love for us to take credit for it, it wasn't us. The Saints did this to themselves!! I stand by my week 9 thoughts - Drew Brees is TOTALLY to blame here!! His selfish, money hungry, arrogant actions in the off-season ensured that the Saints would start in a very deep hole. You can go back and read it, I won't redo that whole rant. Brees ruined this season! He should win the Douchebag of the Year Award!!! (Does this exist? I'm gonna start a petition!! Although... Sanchez is giving him some competition.)
Please remember that there are some important games Sunday! We are all Bears and Broncos fans this weekend - don't fight it! I have a feeling that the Falcons players will be watching just like the rest of us. Oh man! Now I want to watch WITH them!! Oh, oh!! I wanna watch with the D Block crew!! How fun would THAT be?!?!? If anyone has a connection... Please?!? Name the place and I will be there! : D Call me?
I will be back Monday or Tuesday and we shall see what's what. I just couldn't resist an early note about the AWESOMENESS that was Thursday Night Football!!!
Oh, my spell-checker is MIA so... Sorry in advance for any oops!
For those who did NOT see the Jets play on Thanksgiving, it was... EPIC!! My favorite moment was when Mark "I've got photos" Sanchez was under pressure so he opted to keep the ball and slide to the ground. He ran into his own player's very... Um... Solid ass and promptly fumbled. THAT was funny enough but the comment afterward.... PRICELESS!!!!
"It's embarrassing," Sanchez said. "You screw up the play, and I'm trying to do the right thing. It's not like I'm trying to force something. I start to slide, and I slide right in the worst spot I possibly could: right into Brandon Moore."
Those last two sentences... Wow! Yes, my twisted little mind went THERE! What?!? Like yours didn't?!? Go back and re-read them. Better, read them out loud! I'll wait....
I usually wait until after the Sunday games to do this but.... REDEMPTION!! VICTORY!!!
Thursday Night: Words cannot express my happiness at this moment!!! It has been a very long time coming and couldn't have happened at a better time!! WE BEAT THE SAINTS!!!!!!!!
I told you guys not to give up on Bryant!!! (REDEMPTION!!) I told you not to hate on Turner!! And as for the "D Block"? I LOVE THOSE GUYS!!! Are you kidding me? Moore (x2), Babineaux, Spoon and DeCoud!!!! And Peters - it might have been cancelled by a penalty but I count your interception in my book! ; D That was what we needed and Big John? Couldn't have done it without you and Biermann!! Heck, the entire Defense!! Hey, have you guys ever noticed that Dunta Robinson looks like a Predator when he makes those flying tackles? Seriously!!!! Just watch one of the Predator movies sometime, they come on cable all the time, you'll see what I mean!
For now, I must find a way to settle down and actually sleep tonight. I am totally wound up and can't stop replaying every one of those 5 INTERCEPTIONS!!
Friday morning: As expected, it took forever to fall asleep and once I did - I had bizarre football dreams. Yikes!
I am sitting her watching NFL network and they are re-hashing the game! I love seeing the highlights! Man, that William Moore pick in the 4th quarter was INSANE!! So many great moments: the Gonzalez touchdown catch, the return of Turner, that very crucial first down by Jaquizz, that kick by Bryant!!! It's phenomenal to watch highlights of a victory over the Saints!
Ok... I was recently asked, "why can't the Falcons offense and defense BOTH have a solid game? It's one or the other!" Believe it or not, I'm ok with this! This shows me that the Falcons have yet to peak. In years past, we have peaked too soon and when the post-season hits... We're spent. This whole season has been different. Each game, we continue to build and improve. If we can hit our stride and peak in the post-season... Well, I don't wanna jinx anything but you see where I'm going! This has been such an amazing ride and... It ain't over yet!!!
One last comment about this game: the Falcons did NOT ruin the Saints season! Much as I would love for us to take credit for it, it wasn't us. The Saints did this to themselves!! I stand by my week 9 thoughts - Drew Brees is TOTALLY to blame here!! His selfish, money hungry, arrogant actions in the off-season ensured that the Saints would start in a very deep hole. You can go back and read it, I won't redo that whole rant. Brees ruined this season! He should win the Douchebag of the Year Award!!! (Does this exist? I'm gonna start a petition!! Although... Sanchez is giving him some competition.)
Please remember that there are some important games Sunday! We are all Bears and Broncos fans this weekend - don't fight it! I have a feeling that the Falcons players will be watching just like the rest of us. Oh man! Now I want to watch WITH them!! Oh, oh!! I wanna watch with the D Block crew!! How fun would THAT be?!?!? If anyone has a connection... Please?!? Name the place and I will be there! : D Call me?
I will be back Monday or Tuesday and we shall see what's what. I just couldn't resist an early note about the AWESOMENESS that was Thursday Night Football!!!
Oh, my spell-checker is MIA so... Sorry in advance for any oops!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Early Week 13 Thoughts
Hello, friends!! My beloved Falcons play early this week so... Here we go!!!
First, a little business to take care of for the week. As a group, we must bite the bullet and cheer on some teams we might, under normal circumstances, prefer to see lose. I know, it sometimes hurts but... It's for the best.
Denver needs to beat Tampa Bay - Go Denver! Go Manning! (it gets easier after a few times)
Chicago needs to beat Seattle - Go Bears!!! (come on, you can do it!)
On any other day, we can all spread as much hate and ill will towards these teams as we want but NOT THIS WEEK! This week, their success is our success! We secure the NFC South and a playoff spot with these wins so... Man up and work with me! Wear your lucky underwear, sit in your lucky football spot, do your lucky rituals... Whatever it takes! So, wins by Atlanta, Chicago and Denver are what we want! Now, apparently there are still ways for this to work with tie games but... The whole "tie game" things is an abomination! (it's just WRONG! Who thought a tie was ok? Idiot!!)
Ok, Falcons - Saints -
I read an article on the NFL web site that was total BS!! It claims that the Saints don't see the game with the Falcons as a rivalry game - just a divisional game. HA!! RIGHT!!! Want me to pull your finger, too? Sorry but... TOTAL RIVALRY!! On the field, off the field, fans and players alike, this game matters!
Back in Week 10, I gave my thoughts on rivalries. Still applies! Go ahead and throw the books out the window because you just never know what's going to happen. Take our last meeting (I would rather not but it does prove my point) we should NOT have had a game like that given our record and the players on the field. Heck, THEY shouldn't have either! You just never know when these long-standing feuds come into play.
As far as this game goes....it should NOT surprise anyone that I think the Falcons have this one. Yes, I always think they're going to win but I think there's a little bit more WANT on the Falcons side. I think my guys have something to prove - to themselves and their fans! It is PAST time that we shut them up and show them who's top dog (or Bird!) this year!
This week I have heard and read some Falcons hate - it makes me sad :" (
Let's NOT give up on Matt Bryant! Everyone goes through a rough patch and makes mistakes on the job. I know that I have! (Are you kidding? I broke my foot on the SOFA! It was a total fluke - I've kicked things before without this kind of damage but I hit it exactly wrong this time.) I refuse to give up on Bryant!!! Other people are hating on Michael Turner. I get this. He has not been as explosive or dynamic as in years past. But, guys, that's why they brought in Jaquizz!! Turner is getting less ball time and I would imagine its hard to get into a rhythm with such sporadic play time. I also think that teams have had ample time to prepare for Turner's style of playing. They know that he's like a bowling ball and have learned how to stop him before he gets going. Jaquizz is still a bit of an unknown. He's a sneaky little guy and he's damn hard to bring down - heck, he drags people down the field with him!! You know something else? I think players are really surprised by how short he actually is! Yes, they see him on film and watch how he plays so they think they get it but then... They see him on the field! I think they are surprised by his size in person! I've got to imagine that they start to think "he's not that tough, I can take him! He's tiny!" Then... He does his thing and shocks them all! Knowing something is one thing but until you see it with your own eyes... Yeah, I really like this kid!!
Ok, we've covered 3 games! Ok, sort of.
Tampa-Denver could be a tough game. Tampa can and are playing football and now, they are fighting for the post-season. Historically, they are bad year/good year/bad year team and the pattern allows for this to be a good year under Freeman. I just don't think he is consistent and Manning has proven that he can do the job. Putting my personal feelings for Manning aside, I think he has the skills, experience and consistency to put Denver on top of Tampa. I sincerely hope so, at any rate!
Chicago-Seattle - I really hope the Bears are healthy and can pull this off! I'm not usually a Bears fan, don't keep up with them to be honest. I have also admitted that I sometimes completely forget about Seattle. (Sorry, can't explain it.) I do know that Seattle has played quite well this year but we want Chicago to win! End of story!! Well, almost! Isn't Seattle facing some tough suspensions? This could play a part and it's a but early but... GO BEARS!!
Houston-Tennessee - ok, so the odds of the Titans winning this are about as good as me winning the $550 million PowerBall but... IT COULD HAPPEN!! Ok, me winning the lottery is probably a better bet given the choice. It would be awesome to see Houston lose but it is highly unlikely.
Eagles-Cowboys - gosh, I really, REALLY want the Cowboys to lose. Sorry, Jason Garrett, I really like you but... I have no use for the great Man-love duo of Romo&Jones or should that be Jones&Romo? Wonder who gets top... Billing!!! Oh. Sorry. Is that bitchy? My bad!!
Pittsburg-Baltimore - I really want to say something about this!!! If Ben R's injuries are as serious as they say, if he has a dislocated rib in a dangerous place... THE NFL CANNOT ALLOW HIM TO PLAY!!! It is stupid and a huge liability! I couldn't care less how much he WANTS to play! Heck, I want to play in the NFL!!! His injury is worse than career ending - it is potentially LIFE ENDING! It is wrong to expect any defensive player to hold back or pull his hits OR to accept the burden of killing another player by doing what he's paid to do!! It is unfair to put that burden on anyone - the Steelers O line or any defensive player! I cannot imagine that he will play but... They don't ask me. Hopefully they will ask someone with more than two functioning brain cells!!
Cardinals-Jets - yes, folks, the New York Jets are still playing football games! I know, shocked me too!!! Gotta say, I think the Cardinals have this one. I'm just so over the Jets. One of Savannah's friends (Brian) made the following comment, which I just LOVED!! "As a Jets fan, watching a game is like getting kicked repeatedly in the balls and then, when it's over, it's just you and the pain." Yup, sums it up quite nicely!!
Speaking of getting kicked in the balls... What do you think the NFL does with all the fines they collect? Suh is going to throw another $30k into the kitty for "oops! Were those your balls?" Is this a beer fund? Christmas party fund? A golden toilet for Roger fund? I mean, they are just raking in the cash so I wanna know what they do with it? I haven't heard the fines for the other fun & games from week 12 but... They could throw a SERIOUS party with just what they've collected so far!
So... That's about all I've got for now. I'm doing much better with my foot and back in a football frame of mind! It is getting kinda tough though. We are coming to the end of the season. :" (
I don't want to bring anyone down but... We gotta enjoy it while we've got it!! Our game is Thursday but that doesn't mean Sunday is ruined! There are some important games Sunday! Tune in!! Like I said, pull out your lucky underwear! Clear off your lucky spot for watching the game! Do what you gotta do but let's all cheer on our Falcons!! And, like it or not... We are cheering for the Bears and the Broncos! Man up, folks! It's for the best!!
First, a little business to take care of for the week. As a group, we must bite the bullet and cheer on some teams we might, under normal circumstances, prefer to see lose. I know, it sometimes hurts but... It's for the best.
Denver needs to beat Tampa Bay - Go Denver! Go Manning! (it gets easier after a few times)
Chicago needs to beat Seattle - Go Bears!!! (come on, you can do it!)
On any other day, we can all spread as much hate and ill will towards these teams as we want but NOT THIS WEEK! This week, their success is our success! We secure the NFC South and a playoff spot with these wins so... Man up and work with me! Wear your lucky underwear, sit in your lucky football spot, do your lucky rituals... Whatever it takes! So, wins by Atlanta, Chicago and Denver are what we want! Now, apparently there are still ways for this to work with tie games but... The whole "tie game" things is an abomination! (it's just WRONG! Who thought a tie was ok? Idiot!!)
Ok, Falcons - Saints -
I read an article on the NFL web site that was total BS!! It claims that the Saints don't see the game with the Falcons as a rivalry game - just a divisional game. HA!! RIGHT!!! Want me to pull your finger, too? Sorry but... TOTAL RIVALRY!! On the field, off the field, fans and players alike, this game matters!
Back in Week 10, I gave my thoughts on rivalries. Still applies! Go ahead and throw the books out the window because you just never know what's going to happen. Take our last meeting (I would rather not but it does prove my point) we should NOT have had a game like that given our record and the players on the field. Heck, THEY shouldn't have either! You just never know when these long-standing feuds come into play.
As far as this game goes....it should NOT surprise anyone that I think the Falcons have this one. Yes, I always think they're going to win but I think there's a little bit more WANT on the Falcons side. I think my guys have something to prove - to themselves and their fans! It is PAST time that we shut them up and show them who's top dog (or Bird!) this year!
This week I have heard and read some Falcons hate - it makes me sad :" (
Let's NOT give up on Matt Bryant! Everyone goes through a rough patch and makes mistakes on the job. I know that I have! (Are you kidding? I broke my foot on the SOFA! It was a total fluke - I've kicked things before without this kind of damage but I hit it exactly wrong this time.) I refuse to give up on Bryant!!! Other people are hating on Michael Turner. I get this. He has not been as explosive or dynamic as in years past. But, guys, that's why they brought in Jaquizz!! Turner is getting less ball time and I would imagine its hard to get into a rhythm with such sporadic play time. I also think that teams have had ample time to prepare for Turner's style of playing. They know that he's like a bowling ball and have learned how to stop him before he gets going. Jaquizz is still a bit of an unknown. He's a sneaky little guy and he's damn hard to bring down - heck, he drags people down the field with him!! You know something else? I think players are really surprised by how short he actually is! Yes, they see him on film and watch how he plays so they think they get it but then... They see him on the field! I think they are surprised by his size in person! I've got to imagine that they start to think "he's not that tough, I can take him! He's tiny!" Then... He does his thing and shocks them all! Knowing something is one thing but until you see it with your own eyes... Yeah, I really like this kid!!
Ok, we've covered 3 games! Ok, sort of.
Tampa-Denver could be a tough game. Tampa can and are playing football and now, they are fighting for the post-season. Historically, they are bad year/good year/bad year team and the pattern allows for this to be a good year under Freeman. I just don't think he is consistent and Manning has proven that he can do the job. Putting my personal feelings for Manning aside, I think he has the skills, experience and consistency to put Denver on top of Tampa. I sincerely hope so, at any rate!
Chicago-Seattle - I really hope the Bears are healthy and can pull this off! I'm not usually a Bears fan, don't keep up with them to be honest. I have also admitted that I sometimes completely forget about Seattle. (Sorry, can't explain it.) I do know that Seattle has played quite well this year but we want Chicago to win! End of story!! Well, almost! Isn't Seattle facing some tough suspensions? This could play a part and it's a but early but... GO BEARS!!
Houston-Tennessee - ok, so the odds of the Titans winning this are about as good as me winning the $550 million PowerBall but... IT COULD HAPPEN!! Ok, me winning the lottery is probably a better bet given the choice. It would be awesome to see Houston lose but it is highly unlikely.
Eagles-Cowboys - gosh, I really, REALLY want the Cowboys to lose. Sorry, Jason Garrett, I really like you but... I have no use for the great Man-love duo of Romo&Jones or should that be Jones&Romo? Wonder who gets top... Billing!!! Oh. Sorry. Is that bitchy? My bad!!
Pittsburg-Baltimore - I really want to say something about this!!! If Ben R's injuries are as serious as they say, if he has a dislocated rib in a dangerous place... THE NFL CANNOT ALLOW HIM TO PLAY!!! It is stupid and a huge liability! I couldn't care less how much he WANTS to play! Heck, I want to play in the NFL!!! His injury is worse than career ending - it is potentially LIFE ENDING! It is wrong to expect any defensive player to hold back or pull his hits OR to accept the burden of killing another player by doing what he's paid to do!! It is unfair to put that burden on anyone - the Steelers O line or any defensive player! I cannot imagine that he will play but... They don't ask me. Hopefully they will ask someone with more than two functioning brain cells!!
Cardinals-Jets - yes, folks, the New York Jets are still playing football games! I know, shocked me too!!! Gotta say, I think the Cardinals have this one. I'm just so over the Jets. One of Savannah's friends (Brian) made the following comment, which I just LOVED!! "As a Jets fan, watching a game is like getting kicked repeatedly in the balls and then, when it's over, it's just you and the pain." Yup, sums it up quite nicely!!
Speaking of getting kicked in the balls... What do you think the NFL does with all the fines they collect? Suh is going to throw another $30k into the kitty for "oops! Were those your balls?" Is this a beer fund? Christmas party fund? A golden toilet for Roger fund? I mean, they are just raking in the cash so I wanna know what they do with it? I haven't heard the fines for the other fun & games from week 12 but... They could throw a SERIOUS party with just what they've collected so far!
So... That's about all I've got for now. I'm doing much better with my foot and back in a football frame of mind! It is getting kinda tough though. We are coming to the end of the season. :" (
I don't want to bring anyone down but... We gotta enjoy it while we've got it!! Our game is Thursday but that doesn't mean Sunday is ruined! There are some important games Sunday! Tune in!! Like I said, pull out your lucky underwear! Clear off your lucky spot for watching the game! Do what you gotta do but let's all cheer on our Falcons!! And, like it or not... We are cheering for the Bears and the Broncos! Man up, folks! It's for the best!!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Post Week 12 Thoughts
Wow!! What a wild and wacky day in the NFL!!
My Falcons found a way to put up another "W"! Remember my whole thing about rivalries? I mentioned that a strong rivalry will change everything and the stat book gets thrown out the window. The Atlanta-Tampa Bay rivalry is not quite up there with our Saints deal but... It's there and it's real! They hate us. I mean, they HATE us!! I knew it was gonna be a battle and it really was. I'm not gonna do a blow-by-blow as I imagine you guys watched it but remember how loud it got during the game? It wasn't even sold out! It is a division rivalry and it's always a battle with them! Heck, even when we play the Panthers, its a tough game! It comes down to the division rivalry thing - at least that's what i say! Anyway.... Given the media reports, I'm just gonna say that I'm ok with the hate and doubt. Our guys know what's what. They know what they have to do. I am tremendously proud of them for fighting it out and putting up the Win. I'm actually ok with the lack of "fear" by our opponents. Let them come into our house feeling like the Falcons are not serious opponents. That's just fine! We know how to win and it doesn't matter if it's one point or 20 - the WINNER IS THE WINNER!!
And, by the way, let's not hate on Matt Bryant. I know some of you are fed up with him and say he's been inaccurate lately. I get it! Guys, he has been golden for us for SO long! I, for one, still think he's got it and can come out of this slump. Don't hate!! And you know... It was a great game to watch! Tampa played a tough game and put up one hell of a fight! I have not really warmed up to Assante Samuel... Until now! He played a GREAT game!! You could see he was hurting but he worked hard out there. Also... JAQUIZZ!!! Do you guys remember that he was picked 145th in the 5th round of the 2011 draft?!?! Talk about a STEAL!! Every other team in the NFL had the chance at him but he's OURS!!! I really LOVE this kid!
The Saints lost. Let me repeat that... THE SAINTS LOST!! This makes me quite happy! : D
All that crap in the media (the Saints can score at will, the Saints are on their way, the Saints are making a play-off run) seems to have filtered to the players because they seemed shocked by the loss. You know, they are VERY poor losers. Yes, I am talking about DT Bunkley kicking Boone in the head. Dude, this is not rugby! You cannot get away with that crap! But he's not the only one! The entire Saints bench was full of guys who looked like they wanted to do the same or worse! I get it, no one likes to lose but... Damn! I still think the Saints are a bunch of thugs!
I had said that I wanted Baltimore to lose but... 4th down and 29 yards? Who goes for that?!? Are you kidding me?!?! That was insane! Gotta give credit where credit is due! Wow!
I tried to stay up for the Packers-Giants game and managed to watch most of it. Gru (Rogers) was having a very bad night! Looks like the bye week did the Giants a world of good! The Giants looked good and that was a solid win.
You know I just mentioned rugby (which I have, believe it or not, been watching!) and I gotta mention it again. The 4th quarter of the Bengals-Raiders game REALLY looked like what I've seen in the Springboks-Australia matches! Looks like the big guys at the NFL have a busy day ahead of them! Between this brawl, Bunkley with the Saints and the ever-popular Suh kicking Schaub square in the crotch... Damn guys!! Of all these, I gotta say the ball-shot by Suh is the worst. Isn't there some rule about one guy kicking another in the balls? Don't they revoke your "Man Card" for that? Do not pass Go, do not collect $200!!! I don't even have balls but even I cringed when I saw that!! The NFL will be collecting hefty fines this week!! When I spoke with my Rugby loving son about this he was stunned that players will have to PAY for these stunts. "Are you serious?" Yes, son, there are fines! His response? "That makes my butt hole hurt" Um.... Ok son.
Well, it's a short week for my guys. They go into it on another WIN and, hopefully, feeling good. I very sincerely hope that Assante is ok and gets some rest. I hope the Swamp suckers are feeling sorry for themselves and suffering. We need to win this one!! I don't care about the standings or the play-offs or... ANYTHING!! I just want the Falcons to beat the Saints!! Any other loss for the rest of the season can be tolerated as long as we BEAT THE SAINTS!!! I want Big John to put Brees on his ass!! I want Dunta to intercept passes! I want Babinueax and Spoon to push through the line and make their presence known!!! I want Matt Ryan to connect with EVERY receiver from White, Jones & Gonzalez to Douglas and Snelling!! I want JAQUIZZ to keep doing what he does!! IT'S TIME!!! Let's do this!!!
Ok. Thanks for reading! I seem to be back in the proper football frame of mind!! Be back soon!
My Falcons found a way to put up another "W"! Remember my whole thing about rivalries? I mentioned that a strong rivalry will change everything and the stat book gets thrown out the window. The Atlanta-Tampa Bay rivalry is not quite up there with our Saints deal but... It's there and it's real! They hate us. I mean, they HATE us!! I knew it was gonna be a battle and it really was. I'm not gonna do a blow-by-blow as I imagine you guys watched it but remember how loud it got during the game? It wasn't even sold out! It is a division rivalry and it's always a battle with them! Heck, even when we play the Panthers, its a tough game! It comes down to the division rivalry thing - at least that's what i say! Anyway.... Given the media reports, I'm just gonna say that I'm ok with the hate and doubt. Our guys know what's what. They know what they have to do. I am tremendously proud of them for fighting it out and putting up the Win. I'm actually ok with the lack of "fear" by our opponents. Let them come into our house feeling like the Falcons are not serious opponents. That's just fine! We know how to win and it doesn't matter if it's one point or 20 - the WINNER IS THE WINNER!!
And, by the way, let's not hate on Matt Bryant. I know some of you are fed up with him and say he's been inaccurate lately. I get it! Guys, he has been golden for us for SO long! I, for one, still think he's got it and can come out of this slump. Don't hate!! And you know... It was a great game to watch! Tampa played a tough game and put up one hell of a fight! I have not really warmed up to Assante Samuel... Until now! He played a GREAT game!! You could see he was hurting but he worked hard out there. Also... JAQUIZZ!!! Do you guys remember that he was picked 145th in the 5th round of the 2011 draft?!?! Talk about a STEAL!! Every other team in the NFL had the chance at him but he's OURS!!! I really LOVE this kid!
The Saints lost. Let me repeat that... THE SAINTS LOST!! This makes me quite happy! : D
All that crap in the media (the Saints can score at will, the Saints are on their way, the Saints are making a play-off run) seems to have filtered to the players because they seemed shocked by the loss. You know, they are VERY poor losers. Yes, I am talking about DT Bunkley kicking Boone in the head. Dude, this is not rugby! You cannot get away with that crap! But he's not the only one! The entire Saints bench was full of guys who looked like they wanted to do the same or worse! I get it, no one likes to lose but... Damn! I still think the Saints are a bunch of thugs!
I had said that I wanted Baltimore to lose but... 4th down and 29 yards? Who goes for that?!? Are you kidding me?!?! That was insane! Gotta give credit where credit is due! Wow!
I tried to stay up for the Packers-Giants game and managed to watch most of it. Gru (Rogers) was having a very bad night! Looks like the bye week did the Giants a world of good! The Giants looked good and that was a solid win.
You know I just mentioned rugby (which I have, believe it or not, been watching!) and I gotta mention it again. The 4th quarter of the Bengals-Raiders game REALLY looked like what I've seen in the Springboks-Australia matches! Looks like the big guys at the NFL have a busy day ahead of them! Between this brawl, Bunkley with the Saints and the ever-popular Suh kicking Schaub square in the crotch... Damn guys!! Of all these, I gotta say the ball-shot by Suh is the worst. Isn't there some rule about one guy kicking another in the balls? Don't they revoke your "Man Card" for that? Do not pass Go, do not collect $200!!! I don't even have balls but even I cringed when I saw that!! The NFL will be collecting hefty fines this week!! When I spoke with my Rugby loving son about this he was stunned that players will have to PAY for these stunts. "Are you serious?" Yes, son, there are fines! His response? "That makes my butt hole hurt" Um.... Ok son.
Well, it's a short week for my guys. They go into it on another WIN and, hopefully, feeling good. I very sincerely hope that Assante is ok and gets some rest. I hope the Swamp suckers are feeling sorry for themselves and suffering. We need to win this one!! I don't care about the standings or the play-offs or... ANYTHING!! I just want the Falcons to beat the Saints!! Any other loss for the rest of the season can be tolerated as long as we BEAT THE SAINTS!!! I want Big John to put Brees on his ass!! I want Dunta to intercept passes! I want Babinueax and Spoon to push through the line and make their presence known!!! I want Matt Ryan to connect with EVERY receiver from White, Jones & Gonzalez to Douglas and Snelling!! I want JAQUIZZ to keep doing what he does!! IT'S TIME!!! Let's do this!!!
Ok. Thanks for reading! I seem to be back in the proper football frame of mind!! Be back soon!
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Week 12 NFL thoughts - sort of...
Hi everyone! So... I'm gonna start with an apology. I had planned to do something in anticipation of the Thanksgiving games but, well, it didn't work. I spent the day in the urgent care place because I did something STUPID! Wednesday night, I was doing cooking prep work for the big Turkey Day Dinner and dashed into the living room, for whatever reason, and NAILED the leg of the sofa with my (almost) baby toe. I broke my toe and the Proximal Phalange - the first bone into the foot. As a result, I was forced against my will to get it checked out. Just because I couldn't walk and cried a lot and my foot turned purple and green... Totally over-reacting on their part!!! But... I guess that's what family does and you gotta love them!
So... I watched the Lions-Texans game in the doctor's office. I really wanted the Lions to win but... They were determined NOT to do so! That overtime?!?! What was that? Ugh... It was just a mess! Note to Coach Schwartz: Prior to Smitty's incident last week, I don't think anyone knew the rule about throwing the challenge flag on an automatically reviewed play. After it happened, I figured every coach in the NFL was talking about it! Did you not get that memo? Your own fault!! Yes, it cost you the game.
Washington-Dallas: thank you, RGIII! I was more than ready for Jerry to lose in the Jerry-Dome! One question: why didn't the Washington player (sorry, I've forgotten his name) go into the end zone on the off-side kick? Was it just to maintain possession through the end of the game? Had it been me, I would have taken the points despite leaving 12 seconds on the clock but... They won so its all good!
New England-The Jets: Wow! That was... Damn. I don't really think anyone expected The Jets to pull that out so... No shocker. There were some VERY funny moments! I particularly liked when the ball came flying out like it had been a greased turkey! Good stuff!! Oh! And fumbling because you face-planted into an offensive lineman's ass?!? Priceless!!
On to Sunday!
This is a tough week for me. For example, I SHOULD be cheering for New Orleans to knock SF down a spot or two but... NOT GONNA HAPPEN!! I can't do it! I still want NO to lose. That's just the way it is and I'm not sorry for it!
I would LIKE for Baltimore to lose but... They are playing SD. It really could go either way. Let's pull for SD, ok?
Green Bay-New York Giants: Who to cheer for in this one? I don't know which outcome would help the Falcons or if it matters one way or another? NY is at the tail-end of their November Meltdown but it's (ugh!) Green Bay. I always enjoy seeing them loose. Although, gotta give credit to Gru (Aaron Rogers, you know) he handled the press with humor and grace last week. He was kinda funny. This is a "whatever" game for me.
As I have mentioned, I hope New Orleans loses. I hope it's painful and embarrassing. I hope they suffer!!! Need I say more?
The only game that is really important is.... THE FALCONS!!!
Ha! Obviously, right?
I still do not know what happened last week. My only thought is that the Falcons need to play this game THEIR WAY!!! Our offense has had great games! Our defense had a Fantastic game last week! We need to combine the two and get this done. Matt Ryan never flinched last week and, God knows, I would have been a blubbering mess had I been him! I give him full 100% credit. He never gave up, never let his teammates give up! That is a sign of true leadership.
The only thing bothering me is our injuries. We NEED Spoon, Jones and even Samuel (although he worries me occasionally). Our back-up guys have done well, I'm not taking anything from them but... I really miss Spoon!!! :" (
I'm really sorry this week's note is so... Blah! Today is the first day I've felt even half-way normal. I have learned a tough lesson - toes are important!! And a broken toe really HURTS!! Oh, I also curl my toes when I sneeze which just about killed me! I promise to do better next week and be back to my pithy, slightly sarcastic self!! Thanks for reading and being patient with me. You guys are awesome!!!
PS - my proof reader is out and about and I am taking pain pills - no promises on my spelling! You know I have issues seeing what I want it to say rather than what it REALLY says! : D
So... I watched the Lions-Texans game in the doctor's office. I really wanted the Lions to win but... They were determined NOT to do so! That overtime?!?! What was that? Ugh... It was just a mess! Note to Coach Schwartz: Prior to Smitty's incident last week, I don't think anyone knew the rule about throwing the challenge flag on an automatically reviewed play. After it happened, I figured every coach in the NFL was talking about it! Did you not get that memo? Your own fault!! Yes, it cost you the game.
Washington-Dallas: thank you, RGIII! I was more than ready for Jerry to lose in the Jerry-Dome! One question: why didn't the Washington player (sorry, I've forgotten his name) go into the end zone on the off-side kick? Was it just to maintain possession through the end of the game? Had it been me, I would have taken the points despite leaving 12 seconds on the clock but... They won so its all good!
New England-The Jets: Wow! That was... Damn. I don't really think anyone expected The Jets to pull that out so... No shocker. There were some VERY funny moments! I particularly liked when the ball came flying out like it had been a greased turkey! Good stuff!! Oh! And fumbling because you face-planted into an offensive lineman's ass?!? Priceless!!
On to Sunday!
This is a tough week for me. For example, I SHOULD be cheering for New Orleans to knock SF down a spot or two but... NOT GONNA HAPPEN!! I can't do it! I still want NO to lose. That's just the way it is and I'm not sorry for it!
I would LIKE for Baltimore to lose but... They are playing SD. It really could go either way. Let's pull for SD, ok?
Green Bay-New York Giants: Who to cheer for in this one? I don't know which outcome would help the Falcons or if it matters one way or another? NY is at the tail-end of their November Meltdown but it's (ugh!) Green Bay. I always enjoy seeing them loose. Although, gotta give credit to Gru (Aaron Rogers, you know) he handled the press with humor and grace last week. He was kinda funny. This is a "whatever" game for me.
As I have mentioned, I hope New Orleans loses. I hope it's painful and embarrassing. I hope they suffer!!! Need I say more?
The only game that is really important is.... THE FALCONS!!!
Ha! Obviously, right?
I still do not know what happened last week. My only thought is that the Falcons need to play this game THEIR WAY!!! Our offense has had great games! Our defense had a Fantastic game last week! We need to combine the two and get this done. Matt Ryan never flinched last week and, God knows, I would have been a blubbering mess had I been him! I give him full 100% credit. He never gave up, never let his teammates give up! That is a sign of true leadership.
The only thing bothering me is our injuries. We NEED Spoon, Jones and even Samuel (although he worries me occasionally). Our back-up guys have done well, I'm not taking anything from them but... I really miss Spoon!!! :" (
I'm really sorry this week's note is so... Blah! Today is the first day I've felt even half-way normal. I have learned a tough lesson - toes are important!! And a broken toe really HURTS!! Oh, I also curl my toes when I sneeze which just about killed me! I promise to do better next week and be back to my pithy, slightly sarcastic self!! Thanks for reading and being patient with me. You guys are awesome!!!
PS - my proof reader is out and about and I am taking pain pills - no promises on my spelling! You know I have issues seeing what I want it to say rather than what it REALLY says! : D
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Correction/Apology!!!
Wow! Sunday's embarrassing display by my beloved Falcons upset me so much, I had my own embarrassing display! I am SO sorry!!
I need to make a correction!!!!!!!
We are NOT the Turkey Day game and are NOT playing New Orleans this week!
Sorry about that. I honestly don't know how I got so mixed up? Brain damage suffered during the Cardinals game is a possibility. Might have gotten a concussion? Hey, Michael Vick was "woozy" and "foggy" a week later, why not me?!?
Ok, we play Tampa on Sunday. Please forgive my little oops! It was an accident!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Post Week 11 Thoughts
What in the world happened this week? I am quite sincerely baffled.
To quote a friend: "that was the ugliest win I've ever seen". This applies to:
Atlanta Falcons
Green Bay
Houston (over-time? Really?!?)
Dallas
What is the world coming to when I am forced to congratulate the JETS on a solid win?!? Ugh... I feel sick.
Ok. I can actually give HUGE CREDIT to the Falcons "D" Block. Those guys worked their collective asses off!! Big John had the game I've been waiting for! Jonathan Babinueax? Damn!! That was awesome!!
My grandmother always said, "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all". In honor of her, I am not saying a single thing about the offense. It's for the best, really. Wait!!! I thought of a nice thing!! Thank God for Jaquizz Rogers!! His run at the end saved us! WooHoo! One nice thing.
I love the Falcons. I am a passionate fan and I get VERY involved in the games. Unfortunately, this was a bad thing today. At one point, I was in tears so I left the house. (I know, there's no crying in football!) My driveway looks fabulous! When I can back, it looked like we were getting it together but... Nope. I had to leave again. All the laundry is clean! Notice a theme here? I finally decided that somehow, someway me watching the game was bringing bad luck. Don't judge me!! I was not watching - we won.
This CANNOT happen again! It broke my heart and has really messed up my day. Perhaps I will feel better in the morning, at least I hope.
So, other really strange games?
What happened to the presumed "lock", Houston? They had their hands full with Jacksonville! It was an over-time win. Strange things happen in the NFL - as I have mentioned!
Green Bay - sounds like they had an Atlanta kind of day.
Dallas - I wanted them to lose.
And... Are you kidding me, New England?!? Can someone please why Gronkowski was even in the game in the 4th quarter? Did someone actually think the Colts could score 35 points in less than 15 minutes?!? I got nothing, here!!
The Steelers in those uniforms? All they needed were antenna on their helmets to complete the bumble bee look! They deserved to loose for wearing that crap, again! Guys, once was MORE than enough; give it a rest!!
Sorry, that Falcons game just really put me in a strange place. I couldn't even really watch the other games. See? They can't do that again! I LOVE football and yesterday... it just wasn't fun. I really try to give you a decent recap of what happened in the NFL but, my heart is just not in it this week. I really am sorry.
Since we play NO on Thursday (dang! We are the Turkey Day game!) I will be hitting you with my weekly thoughts early. I promise get my head back in the game!
And my final thought? Even Smitty was off yesterday!! I neither blame nor judge him. Heck, I didn't even know that stupid rule about the challenge flag and automatic reviews!! Like him, I'm going to claim it was yet another way to win IN SPITE of ourselves and try to move on.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Week 11 NFL Thoughts
Welcome to another exciting week in the NFL! Hope you have all had a good week and are ready for the weekend!! I do so LOVE Sunday! So, let's get to my ongoing commentary on NFL football:
I try to do to this in some kind of order but... It never works out. Sorry.
Lets's start with Carolina-Tampa Bay - I have been all over Cam Newton for his behavioral issues so, it's only fair that I give him credit for doing better in that area. Despite being sacked 7 times (and you KNOW that's demoralizing) Newton handled himself pretty well in the media. Yeah, he sounded a bit defeated but not nearly as bad as he has sounded before. And there were very few big headlines about him! This is a sign of improvement!!
I honestly believe that Carolina can win this one - it comes down to will they? The Bucs have Josh Freeman and he is frustratingly inconsistent. Going by history, he's due for a good year! I just have a problem with that whole bad year/good year rotation he's got going. I would like to see Carolina win this one and give the Falcons even more breathing space.
Packers/Lions - call me crazy but I'd really like to see the Lions take this one. If Green Bay continues to 'dumb down' their game, it could happen! Looks like Clay Matthews is gonna miss this one and I feel certain that Matthew Stafford is grateful for this! I know I would be were I in his shoes! A few of the "experts" are actually saying the lions have a chance so.. We shall see!
Cleveland/Dallas - last year, Cleveland went 4-12. Great news! At 2-7 right now, they are on course to be consistent!! (sorry, that was sarcasm. Couldn't help myself) It is my hope that the Cowboys Game allows the Browns to improve to 3-7!! You all know how I feel about Jerry "I know what's best" Jones and Tony "Jerry still loves me" Romo! This should not surprise anyone!!
Jets/Rams - the only reason I am remotely interested in this game is to see how the Rams respond to the horror of last week - the TIE GAME!! Yeah, those guys were stunned that a tie was even possible. It was kinda funny; both teams wandering the field looking very confused. Given that they are playingLindsay Lohan the Jets, they should have this one.
Yes, I did just compare the New York Jets to Lindsay Lohan. Come on, it's not that much of a stretch! Both seem to be on self-destruct mode, both get headlines for doing things no SANE person can understand, both make bizarre media statements and both will turn on those closest to them (family or teammates) in vicious and very public ways only to turn around and say "no one will tear us apart"!! I stand by it!!
Great news!! The Jets have made changes!! Yes, they released... Maybin? Hmm.. Ya think this is gonna fix... Um, anything?!?
OMG!!!!!!!! On NFL AM (11/13/12) Jamie Dukes, former NFL center for ATL and a few other teams, was talking about the Jets. He said, "Sanchez must have pictures on somebody and I'm sure it doesn't involve Eva Longoria". I SAID THIS!!!!! Week 9 thoughts, I said the same thing! Well, almost. Jamie Dukes was a bit more discreet (I might have said something about 'naked' and 'Coach Ryan' and possibly a 'goat') but, still.... he and I are on the same page here!! I take this as VALIDATION!!! (Seriously doing a happy dance over here!!!!)
Eagles/Redskins - Can someone please slap me? I am actually interested in this one. My only defense is that I am curious about this new kid, Foles. He showed some good things this past week! That's my story - I'm sticking to it!
Saints/Raiders - Can anyone guess who I am cheering for in this one? If you said, "the swamp dwelling rednecks" you would be WRONG!!! My hatred of this team only grows. I just HATE them!! Always have, always will.
Steelers/Ravens - so, the Steelers beat KC but... Close game, finished in OT. But... Big Ben was hurt!!!! Aww. Poor perv guy. Ok, seriously? No shits given! I hope the Ravens take this one and I'm not particularly fond of them - Ray Lewis is a thug! I think I'd have to take the accused murderer over the accused rapist - ugh.
Houston/Jacksonville - Call me crazy but I really don't see Houston loosing this one. There are teams that "fly under the radar" but I think the Jags are still sitting on the runway.
Ok, on to the main event!!
Falcons/Cardinals - I have heard some real crap since our loss to THEM. "Are the Falcons in a downward spiral?" "Did this prove that the Falcons still aren't for real?" Garbage like that. Look, the whole 'perfect season' thing has only been done ONCE in the NFL - one single time! Let's take a look back real quick. (You may all know this but... Humor me!) Green Bay won the Super Bowl in 2010 and you can't take that away. In the regular season they lost to Atl as well as Washington and Miami - and those two had pretty bad seasons! In 2011, the Giants won the Super Bowl. They also had their November melt-down. (Remember? 4 losses in a row and some were ugly!). At this point, the Falcons have lost once to our biggest rival. We lost by 4 points. I see absolutely NO reason for doubt or panic. Keep it together out there!!
Ok, we do need to get our running game going. Quizz had some very good runs but he and Turner both need to amp it up. Yes, we have the weapons when it comes to the passing game but... this loss really highlighted that lack of run and how it hurts. The other thing that hurt us were the unnecessary penalties - Yes, Assante, I am talking to YOU!! I have NO doubt that Smitty addressed those penalties and a few guys left the locker room checking for new body orifices! Going into this game, I fully expect the Falcons to win. I would like to see Turner and Rogers put up some good yardage. I also expect D-Bock to perform to their full potential!! Big John, I am waiting for you to cut loose like I know you can!
Update: in my week 10 notes, I predicted that the Jets would get most of the media attention regardless of the outcome of the Seattle game. A quick Google search of both teams for "news" resulted in :
2800 3900 Jets 'recent news' articles - 1700 Seahawks 'recent news' articles
Thanks again for reading! It's nice to be able to share these thoughts with you. Hope everyone enjoys game day and that the Falcons have a repeat of the smack-down of 2010, when we last met. Remember that game? The final score was 41-7 with Atlanta dominating, for those of you who forgot! I think every single player got field time in that game.
I try to do to this in some kind of order but... It never works out. Sorry.
Lets's start with Carolina-Tampa Bay - I have been all over Cam Newton for his behavioral issues so, it's only fair that I give him credit for doing better in that area. Despite being sacked 7 times (and you KNOW that's demoralizing) Newton handled himself pretty well in the media. Yeah, he sounded a bit defeated but not nearly as bad as he has sounded before. And there were very few big headlines about him! This is a sign of improvement!!
I honestly believe that Carolina can win this one - it comes down to will they? The Bucs have Josh Freeman and he is frustratingly inconsistent. Going by history, he's due for a good year! I just have a problem with that whole bad year/good year rotation he's got going. I would like to see Carolina win this one and give the Falcons even more breathing space.
Packers/Lions - call me crazy but I'd really like to see the Lions take this one. If Green Bay continues to 'dumb down' their game, it could happen! Looks like Clay Matthews is gonna miss this one and I feel certain that Matthew Stafford is grateful for this! I know I would be were I in his shoes! A few of the "experts" are actually saying the lions have a chance so.. We shall see!
Cleveland/Dallas - last year, Cleveland went 4-12. Great news! At 2-7 right now, they are on course to be consistent!! (sorry, that was sarcasm. Couldn't help myself) It is my hope that the Cowboys Game allows the Browns to improve to 3-7!! You all know how I feel about Jerry "I know what's best" Jones and Tony "Jerry still loves me" Romo! This should not surprise anyone!!
Jets/Rams - the only reason I am remotely interested in this game is to see how the Rams respond to the horror of last week - the TIE GAME!! Yeah, those guys were stunned that a tie was even possible. It was kinda funny; both teams wandering the field looking very confused. Given that they are playing
Yes, I did just compare the New York Jets to Lindsay Lohan. Come on, it's not that much of a stretch! Both seem to be on self-destruct mode, both get headlines for doing things no SANE person can understand, both make bizarre media statements and both will turn on those closest to them (family or teammates) in vicious and very public ways only to turn around and say "no one will tear us apart"!! I stand by it!!
Great news!! The Jets have made changes!! Yes, they released... Maybin? Hmm.. Ya think this is gonna fix... Um, anything?!?
OMG!!!!!!!! On NFL AM (11/13/12) Jamie Dukes, former NFL center for ATL and a few other teams, was talking about the Jets. He said, "Sanchez must have pictures on somebody and I'm sure it doesn't involve Eva Longoria". I SAID THIS!!!!! Week 9 thoughts, I said the same thing! Well, almost. Jamie Dukes was a bit more discreet (I might have said something about 'naked' and 'Coach Ryan' and possibly a 'goat') but, still.... he and I are on the same page here!! I take this as VALIDATION!!! (Seriously doing a happy dance over here!!!!)
Eagles/Redskins - Can someone please slap me? I am actually interested in this one. My only defense is that I am curious about this new kid, Foles. He showed some good things this past week! That's my story - I'm sticking to it!
Saints/Raiders - Can anyone guess who I am cheering for in this one? If you said, "the swamp dwelling rednecks" you would be WRONG!!! My hatred of this team only grows. I just HATE them!! Always have, always will.
Steelers/Ravens - so, the Steelers beat KC but... Close game, finished in OT. But... Big Ben was hurt!!!! Aww. Poor perv guy. Ok, seriously? No shits given! I hope the Ravens take this one and I'm not particularly fond of them - Ray Lewis is a thug! I think I'd have to take the accused murderer over the accused rapist - ugh.
Houston/Jacksonville - Call me crazy but I really don't see Houston loosing this one. There are teams that "fly under the radar" but I think the Jags are still sitting on the runway.
Ok, on to the main event!!
Falcons/Cardinals - I have heard some real crap since our loss to THEM. "Are the Falcons in a downward spiral?" "Did this prove that the Falcons still aren't for real?" Garbage like that. Look, the whole 'perfect season' thing has only been done ONCE in the NFL - one single time! Let's take a look back real quick. (You may all know this but... Humor me!) Green Bay won the Super Bowl in 2010 and you can't take that away. In the regular season they lost to Atl as well as Washington and Miami - and those two had pretty bad seasons! In 2011, the Giants won the Super Bowl. They also had their November melt-down. (Remember? 4 losses in a row and some were ugly!). At this point, the Falcons have lost once to our biggest rival. We lost by 4 points. I see absolutely NO reason for doubt or panic. Keep it together out there!!
Ok, we do need to get our running game going. Quizz had some very good runs but he and Turner both need to amp it up. Yes, we have the weapons when it comes to the passing game but... this loss really highlighted that lack of run and how it hurts. The other thing that hurt us were the unnecessary penalties - Yes, Assante, I am talking to YOU!! I have NO doubt that Smitty addressed those penalties and a few guys left the locker room checking for new body orifices! Going into this game, I fully expect the Falcons to win. I would like to see Turner and Rogers put up some good yardage. I also expect D-Bock to perform to their full potential!! Big John, I am waiting for you to cut loose like I know you can!
Update: in my week 10 notes, I predicted that the Jets would get most of the media attention regardless of the outcome of the Seattle game. A quick Google search of both teams for "news" resulted in :
Thanks again for reading! It's nice to be able to share these thoughts with you. Hope everyone enjoys game day and that the Falcons have a repeat of the smack-down of 2010, when we last met. Remember that game? The final score was 41-7 with Atlanta dominating, for those of you who forgot! I think every single player got field time in that game.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Post Week 10 Thoughts
First, I gotta give thanks to two people!! Wait... before I do that, thanks to all of you who are reading this! SO COOL!! I will try keep it real and give you something fun or interesting to read! Oh, and I will have my spell-checker go over it before I post - sorry 'bout the typos : (
Which leads to my first Thank You to my beautiful daughter, Savannah!! (who happens to be my spell checker!) Really appreciate her spreading the word about my blog.
Pre-Savannah - zero readers. Post-Savannah - WooHoo!! People reading!!
Next, big Thanks to Ovie Mughelli!!! I actually called into 92.9 The Game (radio station that replaced Dave FM) when he was on-air and asked my question, "what do people expect Roddy to say?" He was super cool and shared with me that there ARE memos/meetings about the message that needs to get to the media! I KNEW it!! He also said, "it's Roddy and he has no filter" - yeah, I knew this too! How cool is that?!? (not that Roddy has no filter!) Oh!! And he tweeted me back!!! (@oviemughelli34) SO COOL!!! Super nice guy and VERY funny! If you are ever out and about in your car before the Falcons game, check him out.
Ok, time to do this. It's done. The Falcons lost their first game of the season. (lets just take a moment here) It's gonna be ok.
As usual, it was a battle - a 4 point game. As I mentioned, the rivalry aspect changes things. It really is different we we play them. Roddy White, Jaquizz Rogers, Tony Gonzalez (TD's 100 & 101!! The man is amazing!), Julio Jones, Harry Douglas and Matt Ryan - nothing but love!!! Assante Samuel? No love for you!!! NOT COOL!! Smitty had his little black book out when you pulled your little party on the field and I would not want to be you come Monday!! Awesome interception but you blew it with that penalty!!
Yes, we lost. The Falcons gotta pick up the pieces and get back in the game. D-block.... Guys, what happened? That was not what I expected from them. Spoon has GOT to get back!! Although it is NOT easy, I am trying to keep the frustration, anger and profanity out of this. GRRRR!! If had been ANYONE but New Orleans!!! Sorry, I'm ok. After sleeping on the loss, I am back in the right frame of mind. Come play-off time, it's a clean slate. As Falcons fans well know, the record through the year doesn't mean squat if you win in the post-season! Yes, we lost our first game - SO WHAT?!? If we're not perfect, it doesn't count? Damn skippy it counts! I still believe in my guys!
Jets/Seahawks - Wow! Yeah, the Seahawks just cleaned up here. The only Jets touchdown was off a fumble recovery. Damn, that's bad. Now, over the next few days my theory will be put to the test. Who gets the headlines? I still say its gonna be the Jets! Seahawks, we in Atlanta feel your pain. Early results are in: I was right!!! The big story - the Rex (no relation) Ryan/Tebow/Sanchez love triangle. Look, I think the Jets have bigger problems than who should be their QB. In fact, I put them right up there with the Eagles. This team is a mess! Is it unfair to call them the Lindsay Lohans of the NFL? Hmm... maybe but, I kinda like it!
Eagles/Cowboys - Going into this game, I knew, KNEW better than to get my hopes up with the Eagles. Things really started looking up when the rookie, Foles, came in. He looked good and I was impressed and... They got me again!! And I KNOW better!! I actually started thinking that they could win this game! (I am so ashamed) There was "some" sloppy playing by Philly. And the Cowboys were just racking up the penalties!! 13? Is that right? Seriously? This game was just painful. It is my own fault for hoping, even for a moment, that the Eagles could pull it out. You know, I learned this week that there are, indeed, tie games in NFL football - who knew? After this game, I think maybe they should just void games where NO ONE deserves to win! OK, that might be a bit harsh but... dang! That was bad!
Houston/Chicago - Yeah, it was a battle in the rain and the wind. Those guys earned their paychecks! Houston is having a really great year. Hmm... Yeah, this gives me a great deal to think/worry about.
Steelers/KC - When I said that I hope KC wins, I followed it by "stranger things have happened". Did you hear that the Titans beat the Dolphins? See! Strange things happen in the NFL!!! It's not that the Titans were the worst team this year but very, VERY few people picked them in this game. All I heard pre-game was how the Dolphins are on a roll!
I was going to hold off posting this note until after the Monday night game but... The results will NOT change my opinion of Ben R. (gag, cough, spit, throw-up) Hope they lose! Still!
So, a few personal notes: (I am debating a weekly "Quit that Crap" segment? Yes? No?)
Coach Ryan, you've been doing this a long time. It's past time you learned just how dangerous those bold media statements (positive or negative) can be! Every time you do this, the media guys start prepping for the Monday interview sessions when they get to rub it in your face. You hate it, your players hate it so... Quit it!
Aaron Rogers, I cannot believe that you actually trusted the media. And this wasn't even the sports media! You went on camera with "60 Minutes" but have you ever watched the show? They are really not known for doing positive, uplifting pieces. Even Wikipedia, that (cough) font of (cough again) information, calls the show "investigative journalism" - this is code for digging up dirt, just so you know! The insurance ads were funny, and you were sort-of, almost likable, but the 60 Minutes thing? Sorry but... Quit while you're ahead!
Emanuel Sanders (Steelers) - Let me tell you, having been pregnant (more than once) I have more than a passing familiarity with leg cramps - they seriously suck and hurt like Hell! That said, chugging Gatorade while having a calf massage is not enough to kill the pain - been there, done that, it still freaking hurts! How long was he down with that cramp? One minute? Two? Four? Pretty convenient timing, too. Nope, I don't buy it! Emanuel, you deserve that fine by the NFL and need to quit that crap!
Roddy White - some of you may think Roddy deserves a spot here but... I just can't do it!! I love Roddy! I know, no filter but... That's just who he is! I think every single family out there has THAT family member. You know the one, they show up for family gatherings and you just never know what they're gonna say or do next but everyone just sighs and loves anyway. Well, in the Falcons family... We have Roddy! Bless his heart. He just can't quit that!
To the Colts and their fans: don't you DARE quit that!! I know a whole lot of NFL players are amazingly generous with their time and money (Warrick Dunn is a prime example) but the outpouring of love and support for Coach Pagano is a beautiful thing! That locker room speech made grown men cry like they were watching "Brian's Song". Yeah, they'd better not quit that.
Ok guys, that's it! I shall return on Thrs or Friday with my Week 11 Thoughts!
Friday, November 9, 2012
Week 10 NFL thoughts
Sometimes, strange things happen in the NFL. A team with a terrible record and loosing season will play against a team with a great record and their best season ever. Usually, everyone knows how this will end but... What if there is a longstanding rivalry? What if these two teams have battled it out, year after year with close scoring games? What if the fans are just as (or even more) invested in the outcome? That's when things gets strange! Regardless of records, regardless of injuries, regardless of... anything, the game becomes a battle. Teams play better than anyone expected because it comes down to pride and settling a score. Passionate fans on both sides feed off of and into the intensity. The worst team in the NFL sometimes beats the best when long-standing rivalries are thrown into the mix. Sometimes... Strange things happen.
The Saints - I stand by my statement that this season is a joke for the Saints. Yes, they won against the Eagles - woohoo. Having watched that game, the Eagles gave them that. Once again, it was the Drew Brees show and I, for one, think it's an insult to every other player on that team! Ok, sorry. I still see weaknesses and inconsistencies on this team. Yes, he-who-annoys-me has a great arm but even the Eagles D took him to the turf a time or two!
The Saints play the Falcons this week - in NO. This is one of those rivalry situations. For 80% of the season, Falcon fans get along ok with Saints fans. Twice a year, however, all bets are off! This game will be a battle. The Saints may be having a bad season but, when they play the Falcons, expect them to put on a show. The same holds true for the Falcons. I REALLY want to win this one - and it doesn't have a damn thing to do with a perfect record! I want us to go into their house and make ourselves at home and embarrass them in front of all their drunk, obnoxious fans! "Who dat?" annoys the crap out of me!!! I honestly believe that the Falcons have what it takes to win this.
The Jets - the drama returns!! When I was in college, everyone would gather in the common rooms and watch soap operas. Different shows on different floors with guys and girls piled in watching the 'stories' (as my grandmother called them) unfold. The Jets football team this year reminds me of that time - groups of men watching the drama and debating which guy is better or pondering why one guy was chosen over another. This week, the Seahawks get pulled into it.
I have to make a shameful confession regarding the Seahawks - I have never taken them seriously. I know, they have gone to the playoffs 11 times but I always seem to forget about them. If I were asked to name the teams in the NFL, I would probably forget the Seahawks, the Titans and the Jaguars. It's nothing personal and I do feel kinda bad about it. Having said that, they are doing well this year! Unfortunately, regardless of the outcome, the Jets will get all the attention after the game. It's wrong but we Falcons fans can relate.
Cowboys - Eagles - The Eagles are such teases! You keep thinking, "here they go! They're gonna score!" but... No! They march down the field, looking good, but before your hopes are fully formed... dropped pass, interception, fumble. My new theory is that this is a real life version of "The Prestige" - the 2006 movie staring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman that had a pretty cool ending! The outcome of this game depends 100% on which Michael Vick shows up!
I have really mixed feelings about the Cowboys. I like Jason Garrett and I think he would be so much more successful if he just focused on being the head coach. I have nothing against most of the players with the exception of the hugely over-rated Tony Romo. I just really, REALLY don't like Jerry Jones. He's one of those people who does nothing more than speak yet I feel my upper lip curl into a sneer while I roll my eyes in disgust. He comes across, to me, as arrogant and condescending and I just don't like him. For this reason alone, I hope the Cowboys loose - again.
Steelers/KC - when I was growing up, the Steelers were one of THE teams in the NFL. Even as a child, I knew the names Bradshaw, 'Mean' Joe Greene, Lynn Swann, Franco Harris... You get the idea. through the 70's and early 80's, it seemed like the Steelers were ALWAYS going to the Super Bowl. You couldn't help but be impressed! That was then. Oh, I still really like some of their guys - Troy Polamalu is great and his shampoo commercials crack me up! But... Yup, there's a BUT!... I cannot stand "Big Ben". My dislike of him is right up there with Michael Vick but has nothing to do with his playing - it' personal and possibly a female thing. I know, those charges were dropped. (I'm rolling my eyes again) Don't care!!!! I hope they loose. This might or might not be the best thing for the Falcons come playoff time but, again, DON'T CARE! I realize that a win by KC is not very likely but... I don't even care!! Besides, it's the NFL, anything can happen! Come on, it's not Tinkerbell and fairy dust, it's football and... Stranger things have happened!
Houston/Chicago - this is a BIG game! It promises to be a cold, wet game as well as a battle on the field. Each team has a 7-1 record. Each is top in their Division. Houston is top in their Conference. At this point, I need to research which outcome is better for my Falcons. I honestly don't know. Yes, that's how I will pick my favorite in this game! Don't judge me.
That's about all I've got this week. Actually, I have one more thing!!! Every single week, after every single game, players are asked the most stupid, ridiculous, meaningless questions. "How did you feel after that fumble/interception/dropped pass/missed block?" Really?!? How do you THINK he felt? What do you expect the guy to say? Some idiot reporter asked Roddy White if he thought the Falcons could go 16-0. Roddy said Yes! Of course he said yes! What is he supposed to say? Does anyone actually think he's going to say, "No, we can't do that." I find it staggering that people get all worked up over the answer without looking at the original question! Vick said he would support his coach if Reid decided to bench him. Is he supposed to say that only an idiot would do that? Had he done so, he would have been torn apart by the media and fans alike! What a STUPID question!!! People need to stop judging these players when they are on live TV being interviewed by some brainless twit who cannot think of a decent question!!!
Reporter: Your team has only won one game this season. How do you feel?
Player wants to say: How the F#*K do you think I feel? This SUCKS! I hate loosing! I feel like a total looser! Are you stupid? How would you feel?
Player actually says: As a team, we have a lot of work to do. We've played some really great teams. I believe in my team mates and know that we can turn this around.
Reporter: Young Quarterback, how did you feel when the player dropped the game winning pass?
Young Quarterback wants to say: Are you kidding? I wanted to go kick his ass! We practice that all the time and NOW his head is up his ass! Wait until I get him alone!!
Young Quarterback actually says: We fought hard out there and it was a close game. The other team's defense was tough. I'm proud of all our guys for fighting right up to the end.
Reporter: You guys played the toughest team in the league with the best record. Did you think you could win against them?
Player wants to say: Are you kidding? With our quarterback? With our O-line performing like a bunch of six-year-olds? With four D-line guys out with injuries? We all KNEW this was going to suck ass.
Player actually says: We knew going in this was going to be a tough game. All week, we worked and prepared for this game but they are a great team. Any loss is a tough loss.
Before you judge the answer, LOOK AT THE QUESTION!!!!!
Sometimes, strange things happen in the NFL. A team with a terrible record and loosing season will play against a team with a great record and their best season ever. Usually, everyone knows how this will end but... What if there is a longstanding rivalry? What if these two teams have battled it out, year after year with close scoring games? What if the fans are just as (or even more) invested in the outcome? That's when things gets strange! Regardless of records, regardless of injuries, regardless of... anything, the game becomes a battle. Teams play better than anyone expected because it comes down to pride and settling a score. Passionate fans on both sides feed off of and into the intensity. The worst team in the NFL sometimes beats the best when long-standing rivalries are thrown into the mix. Sometimes... Strange things happen.
The Saints - I stand by my statement that this season is a joke for the Saints. Yes, they won against the Eagles - woohoo. Having watched that game, the Eagles gave them that. Once again, it was the Drew Brees show and I, for one, think it's an insult to every other player on that team! Ok, sorry. I still see weaknesses and inconsistencies on this team. Yes, he-who-annoys-me has a great arm but even the Eagles D took him to the turf a time or two!
The Saints play the Falcons this week - in NO. This is one of those rivalry situations. For 80% of the season, Falcon fans get along ok with Saints fans. Twice a year, however, all bets are off! This game will be a battle. The Saints may be having a bad season but, when they play the Falcons, expect them to put on a show. The same holds true for the Falcons. I REALLY want to win this one - and it doesn't have a damn thing to do with a perfect record! I want us to go into their house and make ourselves at home and embarrass them in front of all their drunk, obnoxious fans! "Who dat?" annoys the crap out of me!!! I honestly believe that the Falcons have what it takes to win this.
The Jets - the drama returns!! When I was in college, everyone would gather in the common rooms and watch soap operas. Different shows on different floors with guys and girls piled in watching the 'stories' (as my grandmother called them) unfold. The Jets football team this year reminds me of that time - groups of men watching the drama and debating which guy is better or pondering why one guy was chosen over another. This week, the Seahawks get pulled into it.
I have to make a shameful confession regarding the Seahawks - I have never taken them seriously. I know, they have gone to the playoffs 11 times but I always seem to forget about them. If I were asked to name the teams in the NFL, I would probably forget the Seahawks, the Titans and the Jaguars. It's nothing personal and I do feel kinda bad about it. Having said that, they are doing well this year! Unfortunately, regardless of the outcome, the Jets will get all the attention after the game. It's wrong but we Falcons fans can relate.
Cowboys - Eagles - The Eagles are such teases! You keep thinking, "here they go! They're gonna score!" but... No! They march down the field, looking good, but before your hopes are fully formed... dropped pass, interception, fumble. My new theory is that this is a real life version of "The Prestige" - the 2006 movie staring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman that had a pretty cool ending! The outcome of this game depends 100% on which Michael Vick shows up!
I have really mixed feelings about the Cowboys. I like Jason Garrett and I think he would be so much more successful if he just focused on being the head coach. I have nothing against most of the players with the exception of the hugely over-rated Tony Romo. I just really, REALLY don't like Jerry Jones. He's one of those people who does nothing more than speak yet I feel my upper lip curl into a sneer while I roll my eyes in disgust. He comes across, to me, as arrogant and condescending and I just don't like him. For this reason alone, I hope the Cowboys loose - again.
Steelers/KC - when I was growing up, the Steelers were one of THE teams in the NFL. Even as a child, I knew the names Bradshaw, 'Mean' Joe Greene, Lynn Swann, Franco Harris... You get the idea. through the 70's and early 80's, it seemed like the Steelers were ALWAYS going to the Super Bowl. You couldn't help but be impressed! That was then. Oh, I still really like some of their guys - Troy Polamalu is great and his shampoo commercials crack me up! But... Yup, there's a BUT!... I cannot stand "Big Ben". My dislike of him is right up there with Michael Vick but has nothing to do with his playing - it' personal and possibly a female thing. I know, those charges were dropped. (I'm rolling my eyes again) Don't care!!!! I hope they loose. This might or might not be the best thing for the Falcons come playoff time but, again, DON'T CARE! I realize that a win by KC is not very likely but... I don't even care!! Besides, it's the NFL, anything can happen! Come on, it's not Tinkerbell and fairy dust, it's football and... Stranger things have happened!
Houston/Chicago - this is a BIG game! It promises to be a cold, wet game as well as a battle on the field. Each team has a 7-1 record. Each is top in their Division. Houston is top in their Conference. At this point, I need to research which outcome is better for my Falcons. I honestly don't know. Yes, that's how I will pick my favorite in this game! Don't judge me.
That's about all I've got this week. Actually, I have one more thing!!! Every single week, after every single game, players are asked the most stupid, ridiculous, meaningless questions. "How did you feel after that fumble/interception/dropped pass/missed block?" Really?!? How do you THINK he felt? What do you expect the guy to say? Some idiot reporter asked Roddy White if he thought the Falcons could go 16-0. Roddy said Yes! Of course he said yes! What is he supposed to say? Does anyone actually think he's going to say, "No, we can't do that." I find it staggering that people get all worked up over the answer without looking at the original question! Vick said he would support his coach if Reid decided to bench him. Is he supposed to say that only an idiot would do that? Had he done so, he would have been torn apart by the media and fans alike! What a STUPID question!!! People need to stop judging these players when they are on live TV being interviewed by some brainless twit who cannot think of a decent question!!!
Reporter: Your team has only won one game this season. How do you feel?
Player wants to say: How the F#*K do you think I feel? This SUCKS! I hate loosing! I feel like a total looser! Are you stupid? How would you feel?
Player actually says: As a team, we have a lot of work to do. We've played some really great teams. I believe in my team mates and know that we can turn this around.
Reporter: Young Quarterback, how did you feel when the player dropped the game winning pass?
Young Quarterback wants to say: Are you kidding? I wanted to go kick his ass! We practice that all the time and NOW his head is up his ass! Wait until I get him alone!!
Young Quarterback actually says: We fought hard out there and it was a close game. The other team's defense was tough. I'm proud of all our guys for fighting right up to the end.
Reporter: You guys played the toughest team in the league with the best record. Did you think you could win against them?
Player wants to say: Are you kidding? With our quarterback? With our O-line performing like a bunch of six-year-olds? With four D-line guys out with injuries? We all KNEW this was going to suck ass.
Player actually says: We knew going in this was going to be a tough game. All week, we worked and prepared for this game but they are a great team. Any loss is a tough loss.
Before you judge the answer, LOOK AT THE QUESTION!!!!!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Post Week 9 Thoughts
Sunday felt like a really slow football day but... Maybe that's just me. The Falcons game was late. Several teams had their bye. At any rate, let's see how my commentary stacked up against the reality of week 9 in the NFL.
Green Bay/Arizona - Dang!! Rogers said the SAME thing I did!! "GB is playing flat, with no juice" - YES!! I said this! Gosh, Gru, what was your first clue? Oh! Apparently they DO have cardinals (the bird) in Arizona. Not many but... some. Ok, having watched the GB game, the first quarter was more of the same sub-par, sloppy playing. 4 dropped passes? Really? By the 4th quarter, they were wide awake but... This is NOT the 2010 Packers! And contrary to my prediction.... The Cardinals seem to be doing 4 wins, 4 loses, 4 loses, 4 wins. Same result, different math. I could be wrong and haven't looked at their upcoming schedule but... That's a guess!
Carolina/Washington - how very interesting! All I can say, as I had to follow this game on-line, is that you CANNOT win with 13 penalties for almost 100 yards! Looking at the stats, Washington should have won this but... Dang! Penalties did them in! Wish I had watched this one. Was Carolina really the better team or was this a gift? Guess Cam Newton won't be sulking today. And RGIII, why do you even CARE who anyone holds up for comparison? This is a sign that you are WAY too concerned about the opinion of others and NOT focused on playing football. Are you reading your play book or the sports writers? Dude! Let it go!! This seems a great deal like princess behavior to me! Late comment here!!! Apparently I was right with my 'herpes' comparison. There was a scathing article on the NFL website by Jeff Darlington about the negativity that seems to be spreading within the Panthers. They gotta fix this!
Jets - this is their bye week so we shall have to wait until next week to see what happens with this nightmare/soap opera. I have realized something about Rex and Rob Ryan though - they are not only twins, they share a brain! What makes either of them think it's a good idea to make guarantees about the outcome of a football game? That's about as smart as guaranteeing the behavior of a teenager! Right now, I think Rex needs it more - the Jets are a mess!
Tampa Bay - hmmmmm...... I did not comment on these guys but they were playing football today - no, I mean really playing football! The Falcons play them twice so this was NOT exactly what I wanted. Can they beat us? Sure. Can we beat them? Sure. This is the NFL - on any Sunday, any team can win - heck, even KC and the Jags have won once this season!! I will have to get back to you on this.
My Falcons - 2nd quarter and something is just not right. Can't put my finger on it but my guys are off tonight. I have mixed feelings about this. For the past three years, the Cowboys beat the teams that ended up winning the Superbowl - NO, GB, NY. Then, there's the whole jinx of a 'perfect season' that I mentioned. Our defense is doing great but there's an offensive misfire. Gonna have to wait and see how this happens. Dang, I still want us to win!
At the end, we won. There were some shining moments - I just LOVE Jaquizz Rogers!! (GREAT pic of him here -http://www.atlantafalcons.com/media-lounge/photo-gallery/Falcons-vs-Cowboys---2012/f738c3bc-3142-4e91-9ccd-f0421eef7030#41fa6e47-dc16-44ee-bf47-e6ab5d1f18f2 - so small but so tough!!) Julio, nothing but love! Roddy White, what can I say? D Block? Damn!!! Those boys worked!! (Miss you 'Spoon! Come back soon!!!) My boys pulled it out! They fought so hard for that win. And I agree with Roddy, these hard fought wins are just as important as the dominating wins. Knowing that you can keep it together, fight through and overcome are so vital to win in the post-season. Did GB ever have to do that last year or did they sail through their perfect season? Research needed here!
8 wins - zero loses. This has not happened in my lifetime!!
The Saints/Eagles game is tonight so I shall comment on that later. For the first time in a long time, I am actually cheering for... The Eagles? Yeah.
This is my final Falcons thought, promise! Last week, we beat the Eagles - not scraped by, it was a decisive victory - and this week, the Cowboys. Great, the media will comment on those victories, right? Wrong. The main sports stories were all about the loosing teams. Will Vick be benched? Will Reid still have a job? Can the Cowboys turn it around? How disappointed is Jerry Jones? And who the Hell cares?!?!?!? I know, drama sells. I get it, the Falcons have yet to win in the playoffs. Yes, the boys know how well they are doing. You're right, it doesn't matter what the media says. But still... Validation for a job well done is so important! Do we have to win in the playoffs for validation? The Superbowl? (insert sigh here)
It's halftime for the Saints and Eagles. I'm just... Frustrated. The Eagles are just not performing. There were missed tackles, tons of missed blocking, dropped passes... In short, more of the same. They know, they KNOW how to play this game!! And as for the Saints? Gosh, imagine how well they would be doing if DB had actually participated in the off-season stuff! Selfish bastard! This one ended in an Eagles loss. As I said, plenty of blame to go around in Philly. Believe me, I would be the first one to blame it all on Vick but... He only gets his fair share and there's enough to go around!!
One additional Eagles comment: What the f#*k was that kick return?!? There's a video on the NFL website for all the world to see but watching it happen.... I couldn't believe what I was seeing! Poor Riley Cooper. Can you imagine his reaction when the coach said, "ok, you're gonna lay down in the end zone and hide. After the kick is caught, we're gonna do a lateral to you and you race down the field!" um..... Ok, coach. If only it had worked!!!
My final thought after week 9 - I am SO SICK of biased announcers! Yes, they have their favorites, so do I. They, however, get paid to tell what is going on in the game - both sides of the game. Luckily, I get to sit at home, scream at the TV and voice my opinions here. I am not going to name names (not Fox) but it makes me mute the TV so that I don't have to listen to their fawning and hero worship! Knock it off!! Pretend that you are impressed with good plays by BOTH teams - that's your job!!
Ok, I'm done now.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Week 9 NFL thoughts
Let me preface this by saying that I am a female who LOVES football!! Particularly pro football. Being born and raised in Atlanta, the Falcons are my team and always have been. Yes, always! As a little girl, I watched in person and on TV. I didn't always understand but the game thrilled me and that continues to this day. There's still a great deal that I still don't know or understand but my passion for the game remains. Sunday is my football day and I will watch any game that's on. Oh, and please ignore my children - who knows where they get this nonsense about my language deteriorating to rap-song levels!
Feel free to delete this or skip it but I just decided to document a few thoughts about week 9 in the NFL. I will try to keep the profanity to a minimum! Random thoughts in no particular order but things that have occurred to me lately.
The Eagles - being female, I can hold a grudge with the best of them. Being a Falcons fan, Michael Vick tops the list of NFL players that I cannot forgive. What he did (or more importantly DIDN'T do) during his time in Atlanta still burns me! But, while I can't stand Vick, he is NOT the only or even main problem with this team. I think he IS the right QB to face NO. With Vick, the Eagles can actually beat the joke that is NO this season! There seems to be a total disconnect on this team and I wonder if it has started at the top with Reid? Did the death of his son take the passion for the game and, if so, can anyone blame him? Even so, the players are simply NOT playing the game and most ( if not all) have been doing this since long before it was their job - they KNOW what to do but are simply not performing. There are big problems in Philly and enough blame to go around - Michael "Can't control the ball" Vick gets his share, just not all of it!
The 'Aints - I put the failure of this entire seasons squarely on Drew "Aren't I the Shit!" Brees. If he had acted like a franchise QB during the offseason, none of this would be happening! Coach is suspended, assistant coaches suspended, players suspended and the entire team is being being judged and picked apart by NFL fans everywhere so... What does he do? Does he step up and lead the survivors through the ordeal? Does he work on ways to minimize the damage? Does he show himself to be worthy of the largest QB contract ever awarded? NONE OF THE ABOVE!! He acts like a total asshat-douchebag creating even more uncertainty and tension within an already shat upon group of players who were doing their best to play football and earn a living. He waits until number 99 to agree to a deal that, in essence, shows every other player on the team that they are nothing more than porn fluffers paid paltry sums to ensure that the star and his glorious stiffie command the spotlight!! And the unmitigated arrogance he showed by demanding that his suspended coach be allowed to watch, in person, HIS career milestone and HIS glory moment? Words fail me, for once in my life.
The Cowboys - Jerry Jones is the Kim Kardashian of the NFL. He is a man who makes emotional decisions about things he doesn't fully understand and assumes dictator like control. People watch the Cowboys just waiting for the train wreck! I would make a better GM!!! His man-love for Tony Romo rivals the displays at a Gay Pride weekend in downtown Atlanta! Exactly how many interceptions does this man need to throw before changes are made? In 7 games, he has thrown 13 - yes, THIRTEEN!! (Giving Michael Vick some competition there!) And can someone PLEASE explain to Jason Garrett that he is the HEAD COACH!!! He is allowed, even encouraged to have an OC! They deserve to loose! The owner is also the GM and the head coach is also the OC? Yup! Save a buck paying for the proper staff and spend it to build a stadium bigger, grander and more high tech than any in existence! THAT'S a business plan! Jones would be the one to hire porn stars based on their IQ's and spend more money on the script than the cameras and lighting and then wonder why no one wanted to watch his movies! Jockstraps are more successful and useful than Jerry Jones!
Redskins - They are so enamored of their special new QB that they wore kid gloves while training. He was the pretty, pretty princess who could do no wrong! When RGIII was introduced to Spoon and Babineaux, he finally learned that he is no longer in college - this is the freaking NFL and not everyone is going to pull their punches! Yes, he has talent but without maturity and guidance he's going to be about as successful as Billy Graham at a porn convention. They need to stop fawning over this kid and letting him run whenever his balls itch! Someone must step-up and teach him how to be a star NFL QB - he has the talent but if they aren't careful, he will be the next Michael Vick with an over-inflated ego, a contract to match and a string of disappointing decisions leading down the path of loosing seasons. THAT would be a shame.
The Panthers - where do I begin with Cam Newton? Another pretty, pretty princess. His pouting, sulking and whining would prompt one to call him a little girl but that is an insult to females all over the world! My daughter was more mature at 4 years old!! Rather than leading and supporting his team, as a star QB should, he relies on them to keep him going. The saddest part? He's not playing THAT badly! The entire team is catching his negative attitude like it was herpes! And like herpes, there's no cure, only treatment! Until they get Newton under control, perhaps on medication, this team is doomed. They CAN play but... Not like this. If he can't learn to shake it off, let it go and move on... Cam Newton will NEVER succeed in the NFL and is in the wrong business!
The Jets - damn! I mean.... Damn!! What a mess!! Does Sanchez have naked-with-a-goat pictures of Rex Ryan? I really do not get it! He's like the weatherman of the NFL. No matter how inaccurate he is, he's still doing his thing with no fear of being fired! Why did they even bring in Tebow? Did they think he would attract female fans? Did they need a religious leader? Is he the fluffer for Sanchez? I got nothing. With Tebow, the Jets need to s#*t or get off the pot!!!
The Packers - I have a theory: they had an undefeated season and were the kings of the NFL!! What happened? They blew it in the playoffs. Their plan this year? Have an average season, loose some games and go back to the Super Bowl! It really seems that they dumbed down for some of the teams they played. Who knows, it might work! Without the burden of a perfect season, they can relax and play the game. Either way... I can't stand Arron Rogers and still think he looks like a skinny version of Gru from Despicable Me!
The Cardinals - I will never get used to the fact that they are now in Arizona. This is wrong. Do they even have cardinals (the birds) in Arizona? They won 4 in a row! They lost 4 in a row. If they keep this up, they will be a perfect 8-8 soon enough. That's NOT going to cut it.
My Falcons - I am torn. The idea of a perfect season IS appealing but... Look how that worked out for GB. I would MUCH rather win the the post-season than have a perfect season. I honestly believe THIS is the best my falcons have ever looked!!! They are playing TOGETHER!! Yes, Ryan is on fire but... So is Tony G, Jones, Roddy, Quizz, Turner, deCoup, Spoon, Abraham, Babineaux, Snelling and Drew Davis who I had NEVER heard of!! The WHOLE team is so tight!! There is so much respect for and by Smitty! Blank is a proper owner - he goes to the games, cheers on his team, puts the right people in the right positions and trusts them to do the job! It doesn't get much better than the Falcons this year! Everything is in place for them to have their best season ever and I am knocking on wood as I type this! : D
The thing that really bothers me is all the "yes, but..." that happens week after week in the media. If the Eagles were having this season, the sports guys would on their knees, mouths open in front of Vick, Reid and the boys! When GB did it, Rogers could have picked his nose or scratched his balls during on-camera interviews and they would have praised his technique! What is with all the hate for my Falcons? I have never heard trash talk from our boys - well, Roddy does sometimes break his leash but... He's Roddy! - and they respect each and every team that they play regardless of their record! Let me throw out a quick word of advice for Assante Samuel, if you are going to be a Falcon and play for one of the most humble, gracious coaches in the NFL... Learn to keep the trash talk to a minimum! I get it, you hold a grudge against Philly and no one an blame you but... Keep it to a minimum and be prepared to back it up!
Maybe it's best to keep flying under the radar but having been a Falcons fan for over 40 years, having sat in Fulton County stadium freezing my booty off watching Steve Bartkowski take the field KNOWING we were doomed from the start... It really bothers me that there so little respect for all that the Falcons have done under Blank, Smith and the boys. We stuck by them through the bad (the God awful sometimes) so... Is it wrong to want a little respect when things are going so well?
Ok, I am done now. Thank you for your time and attention - IF you are still reading, that is! ; D
Me!
Feel free to delete this or skip it but I just decided to document a few thoughts about week 9 in the NFL. I will try to keep the profanity to a minimum! Random thoughts in no particular order but things that have occurred to me lately.
The Eagles - being female, I can hold a grudge with the best of them. Being a Falcons fan, Michael Vick tops the list of NFL players that I cannot forgive. What he did (or more importantly DIDN'T do) during his time in Atlanta still burns me! But, while I can't stand Vick, he is NOT the only or even main problem with this team. I think he IS the right QB to face NO. With Vick, the Eagles can actually beat the joke that is NO this season! There seems to be a total disconnect on this team and I wonder if it has started at the top with Reid? Did the death of his son take the passion for the game and, if so, can anyone blame him? Even so, the players are simply NOT playing the game and most ( if not all) have been doing this since long before it was their job - they KNOW what to do but are simply not performing. There are big problems in Philly and enough blame to go around - Michael "Can't control the ball" Vick gets his share, just not all of it!
The 'Aints - I put the failure of this entire seasons squarely on Drew "Aren't I the Shit!" Brees. If he had acted like a franchise QB during the offseason, none of this would be happening! Coach is suspended, assistant coaches suspended, players suspended and the entire team is being being judged and picked apart by NFL fans everywhere so... What does he do? Does he step up and lead the survivors through the ordeal? Does he work on ways to minimize the damage? Does he show himself to be worthy of the largest QB contract ever awarded? NONE OF THE ABOVE!! He acts like a total asshat-douchebag creating even more uncertainty and tension within an already shat upon group of players who were doing their best to play football and earn a living. He waits until number 99 to agree to a deal that, in essence, shows every other player on the team that they are nothing more than porn fluffers paid paltry sums to ensure that the star and his glorious stiffie command the spotlight!! And the unmitigated arrogance he showed by demanding that his suspended coach be allowed to watch, in person, HIS career milestone and HIS glory moment? Words fail me, for once in my life.
The Cowboys - Jerry Jones is the Kim Kardashian of the NFL. He is a man who makes emotional decisions about things he doesn't fully understand and assumes dictator like control. People watch the Cowboys just waiting for the train wreck! I would make a better GM!!! His man-love for Tony Romo rivals the displays at a Gay Pride weekend in downtown Atlanta! Exactly how many interceptions does this man need to throw before changes are made? In 7 games, he has thrown 13 - yes, THIRTEEN!! (Giving Michael Vick some competition there!) And can someone PLEASE explain to Jason Garrett that he is the HEAD COACH!!! He is allowed, even encouraged to have an OC! They deserve to loose! The owner is also the GM and the head coach is also the OC? Yup! Save a buck paying for the proper staff and spend it to build a stadium bigger, grander and more high tech than any in existence! THAT'S a business plan! Jones would be the one to hire porn stars based on their IQ's and spend more money on the script than the cameras and lighting and then wonder why no one wanted to watch his movies! Jockstraps are more successful and useful than Jerry Jones!
Redskins - They are so enamored of their special new QB that they wore kid gloves while training. He was the pretty, pretty princess who could do no wrong! When RGIII was introduced to Spoon and Babineaux, he finally learned that he is no longer in college - this is the freaking NFL and not everyone is going to pull their punches! Yes, he has talent but without maturity and guidance he's going to be about as successful as Billy Graham at a porn convention. They need to stop fawning over this kid and letting him run whenever his balls itch! Someone must step-up and teach him how to be a star NFL QB - he has the talent but if they aren't careful, he will be the next Michael Vick with an over-inflated ego, a contract to match and a string of disappointing decisions leading down the path of loosing seasons. THAT would be a shame.
The Panthers - where do I begin with Cam Newton? Another pretty, pretty princess. His pouting, sulking and whining would prompt one to call him a little girl but that is an insult to females all over the world! My daughter was more mature at 4 years old!! Rather than leading and supporting his team, as a star QB should, he relies on them to keep him going. The saddest part? He's not playing THAT badly! The entire team is catching his negative attitude like it was herpes! And like herpes, there's no cure, only treatment! Until they get Newton under control, perhaps on medication, this team is doomed. They CAN play but... Not like this. If he can't learn to shake it off, let it go and move on... Cam Newton will NEVER succeed in the NFL and is in the wrong business!
The Jets - damn! I mean.... Damn!! What a mess!! Does Sanchez have naked-with-a-goat pictures of Rex Ryan? I really do not get it! He's like the weatherman of the NFL. No matter how inaccurate he is, he's still doing his thing with no fear of being fired! Why did they even bring in Tebow? Did they think he would attract female fans? Did they need a religious leader? Is he the fluffer for Sanchez? I got nothing. With Tebow, the Jets need to s#*t or get off the pot!!!
The Packers - I have a theory: they had an undefeated season and were the kings of the NFL!! What happened? They blew it in the playoffs. Their plan this year? Have an average season, loose some games and go back to the Super Bowl! It really seems that they dumbed down for some of the teams they played. Who knows, it might work! Without the burden of a perfect season, they can relax and play the game. Either way... I can't stand Arron Rogers and still think he looks like a skinny version of Gru from Despicable Me!
The Cardinals - I will never get used to the fact that they are now in Arizona. This is wrong. Do they even have cardinals (the birds) in Arizona? They won 4 in a row! They lost 4 in a row. If they keep this up, they will be a perfect 8-8 soon enough. That's NOT going to cut it.
My Falcons - I am torn. The idea of a perfect season IS appealing but... Look how that worked out for GB. I would MUCH rather win the the post-season than have a perfect season. I honestly believe THIS is the best my falcons have ever looked!!! They are playing TOGETHER!! Yes, Ryan is on fire but... So is Tony G, Jones, Roddy, Quizz, Turner, deCoup, Spoon, Abraham, Babineaux, Snelling and Drew Davis who I had NEVER heard of!! The WHOLE team is so tight!! There is so much respect for and by Smitty! Blank is a proper owner - he goes to the games, cheers on his team, puts the right people in the right positions and trusts them to do the job! It doesn't get much better than the Falcons this year! Everything is in place for them to have their best season ever and I am knocking on wood as I type this! : D
The thing that really bothers me is all the "yes, but..." that happens week after week in the media. If the Eagles were having this season, the sports guys would on their knees, mouths open in front of Vick, Reid and the boys! When GB did it, Rogers could have picked his nose or scratched his balls during on-camera interviews and they would have praised his technique! What is with all the hate for my Falcons? I have never heard trash talk from our boys - well, Roddy does sometimes break his leash but... He's Roddy! - and they respect each and every team that they play regardless of their record! Let me throw out a quick word of advice for Assante Samuel, if you are going to be a Falcon and play for one of the most humble, gracious coaches in the NFL... Learn to keep the trash talk to a minimum! I get it, you hold a grudge against Philly and no one an blame you but... Keep it to a minimum and be prepared to back it up!
Maybe it's best to keep flying under the radar but having been a Falcons fan for over 40 years, having sat in Fulton County stadium freezing my booty off watching Steve Bartkowski take the field KNOWING we were doomed from the start... It really bothers me that there so little respect for all that the Falcons have done under Blank, Smith and the boys. We stuck by them through the bad (the God awful sometimes) so... Is it wrong to want a little respect when things are going so well?
Ok, I am done now. Thank you for your time and attention - IF you are still reading, that is! ; D
Me!
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