QuoteWeek Fourteen NFL Football Point Spread - NFL Spreads 12/7 - 12/8, 2014
Date & Time Favorite Spread Underdog
12/7 1:00 ET At Miami -3 Baltimore
12/7 1:00 ET At Cincinnati -3 Pittsburgh
12/7 1:00 ET Indianapolis -3 At Cleveland
12/7 1:00 ET Houston -6.5 At Jacksonville
12/7 1:00 ET NY Giants -2.5 At Tennessee
12/7 1:00 ET At New Orleans -8.5 Carolina
12/7 1:00 ET At Detroit -10 Tampa Bay
12/7 1:00 ET St. Louis -3 At Washington
12/7 1:00 ET At Minnesota -4 NY Jets
12/7 4:05 ET At Denver -9.5 Buffalo
12/7 4:05 ET Kansas City -2.5 At Arizona
12/7 4:25 ET San Francisco -8.5 At Oakland
12/7 4:25 ET At Philadephia PK Seattle
12/7 8:30 ET New England -3.5 At San Diego
Monday Night Football Point Spread
12/8 8:30 ET At Green Bay -13 Atlanta
Goodnight, dear Brownies. :(
They certainly tried.
Surprised the Ravens actually woke up; that kind of first half, they've usually already mailed it in.
Bengalols.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 07, 2014, 05:02:14 PM
They certainly tried.
Surprised the Ravens actually woke up; that kind of first half, they've usually already mailed it in.
Bengalols.
I guess it took them an extra quarter and a half to shake off what happened last week. But then they went and beat the poor Dolphins to death, and probably killed their playoff chances. The Cheatriots are going to probably win next week, by hook or by crook.
You'd have to have a death wish to want to play QB for the Redskins. Jesus.
Bungals. :lol:
I await Spicy's excuses.
Quote from: FunkMonk on December 07, 2014, 05:42:22 PM
You'd have to have a death wish to want to play QB for the Redskins. Jesus.
Pure brilliance. :lol:
QuoteJeff Fisher Expertly Trolled Washington By Making All Six Active Players Acquired in RG3 Trade the Captains Today
The St. Louis Rams and the Washington Redskins were involved in a pretty big trade a few years ago. Perhaps you have heard of it. St. Louis got a load of picks, and Washington got Robert Griffin III. Today, Griffin is of course on the bench in Washington, and St. Louis traveled to play them.
Jeff Fisher came up with the masterful troll move. According to Jim Thomas, he made the six players who are on the Rams active roster as a result of the RG3 trade the team captains for today's game.
The Rams won 24-0, shutting out Washington on the same day there was a story that maybe Colt McCoy would be Jay Gruden's franchise quarterback, so unfortunately, fans don't even get a single topping for free in the D.C. area.
@dcsportsbog #fullpricecheesepizza pic.twitter.com/6ESOXBf7g9
— Matt McFarland (@mattmc80) December 7, 2014
UPDATE: Even better, the official Washington Team Twitter account sent out the pre-game captain's handshake–
Captains out for the coin toss #STLvsWAS #HTTR https://t.co/rmhy9WU8yq
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) December 7, 2014
Meanwhile, in the "Geez, I wish I drafted Peyton Manning instead" file...
QuoteRyan Leaf released from prison in Montana
By Frank Schwab
December 4, 2014 5:26 PM Shutdown Corner
Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf's sad tale, from on-the-field disappointment to off-the-field troubles, can perhaps start on a path to a better ending now.
Leaf was released from prison in Montana on Wednesday and placed under the supervision of Great Falls Probation and Parole, a Montana state official told the Great Falls Tribune. Leaf's page on the Montana Department of Corrections site confirmed that. He spent about two years in prison.
Leaf was sentenced to five years in prison stemming from a 2012 case in which he was arrested twice in one weekend for breaking into homes in Great Falls and stealing prescription drugs, the Great Falls Tribune said. He was sentenced to a treatment center, but was sent to prison less than eight months later after allegedly threatening a program staffer and violating conditions of his treatment plan, the paper said.
Leaf was given a five-year suspended sentence in Texas for drug offenses but the Great Falls Tribune reported, via the Associated Press, that Leaf is unlikely to face more prison time in Texas. When Leaf was quarterbacks coach at West Texas A&M, he was accused of burglarizing a player's home in 2008, and he was found to have illegally obtained almost 1,000 pain pills from area pharmacies, the report said.
The Great Falls Tribune said Leaf was granted parole in May pending "a completion of an intensive chemical dependency treatment program," which he completed in August.
Leaf had an NFL career that is still talked about today, because he's considered one of the greatest busts in draft history. Selected second after Peyton Manning in 1998, he played just three seasons with the San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. Known for his poor attitude and poor play, he had 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. His teams were 4-17 in games he started. He vanished off the NFL radar pretty quickly, especially for a No. 2 overall pick.
Leaf's post-NFL life has obviously been pretty rocky. He's out on parole now, and hopefully things will start to turn around for him.
I understand he has a tryout with the Jets on Tuesday.
You know, I've always had a soft spot for Jeff Fisher.
So Kyle Orton ended up at the Bills.
I feel bad for the Niners. To get beat by the Raiders, in a game that will likely bounce you out of the playoffs. That's gotta hurt.
I wonder where Jim Harbaugh is going to be next season.
:lol: Dah Raidahs! I feel bad for my homeboy Orton and the Bills. They got severely jobbed by the refs. I mean... damn!
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 07, 2014, 07:02:40 PM
Pure brilliance. :lol:
It got the Skins one of their two division titles since 1991 and their only one under Snyder. More than the Skins would have done if they kept those picks.
Quote from: Neil on December 07, 2014, 08:10:08 PM
I wonder where Jim Harbaugh is going to be next season.
I am pretty sure Harbaugh will still be coaching in the Bay Area next season.
Quote from: Neil on December 07, 2014, 07:38:26 PM
You know, I've always had a soft spot for Jeff Fisher.
He sure has milked that one Super Bowl appearance into a very undeserved reputation.
Quote from: Valmy on December 07, 2014, 10:37:51 PM
Quote from: Neil on December 07, 2014, 07:38:26 PM
You know, I've always had a soft spot for Jeff Fisher.
He sure has milked that one Super Bowl appearance into a very undeserved reputation.
He did have a pretty long and strong run in Tennesee/Houston. The only difference between him and Dick Vermeil is Kurt Warner.
Quote from: Neil on December 07, 2014, 10:49:01 PM
Quote from: Valmy on December 07, 2014, 10:37:51 PM
Quote from: Neil on December 07, 2014, 07:38:26 PM
You know, I've always had a soft spot for Jeff Fisher.
He sure has milked that one Super Bowl appearance into a very undeserved reputation.
He did have a pretty long and strong run in Tennesee/Houston. The only difference between him and Dick Vermeil is Kurt Warner.
Without those two years 1999 and 2000 he has a losing record. So yeah he had a couple good teams and he has pretty much milked that forever. The Redskins at least got a winning season out of RG3 more than I can say for what the Rams have gotten with all their picks.
Unlike that portrait of coaching mediocrity, Marvin Lewis, Jeff Fisher had to deal with playing in 4 stadiums his first five seasons. He's just a smarter Dave Wannstedt, who probably should've been fired at least once during his tenure with the Flaming Thumbtacks.
But he played for Ditka, so that makes him cool.
Patriots defense played really well today. The normally stout O-line struggled, which caused a lot of problems. The run game got stuffed and Brady got knocked around so the offense wasn't as efficient as it has been. Still, it was good enough to win.
Saw this stat, pretty amazing.
http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/11078/how-sweet-it-is-leveon-bell-joins-walter-payton-in-exclusive-club
QuoteCINCINNATI -- Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell burnished his candidacy for the NFL Most Valuable Player Award by joining the late, great Walter Payton in a most exclusive club.
Bell piled up 235 rushing and receiving yards in the Steelers' 42-21 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, making it the third consecutive game in which the second-year man has accumulated at least 200 all-purpose yards.
Payton, the former Chicago Bears great, accomplished the feat in 1977. "Sweetness" had been the only player in NFL history to do so before Bell joined him.
"It's an honor to be mentioned with a guy like Walter Payton," Bell said after rushing for 185 yards and two touchdowns and catching six passes for 50 yards and a score. "I've heard a lot about him. Obviously I haven't seen a full game of how he runs, things like that, but I've seen a lot of highlights."
Quote from: Valmy on December 07, 2014, 10:55:27 PM
Quote from: Neil on December 07, 2014, 10:49:01 PM
Quote from: Valmy on December 07, 2014, 10:37:51 PM
Quote from: Neil on December 07, 2014, 07:38:26 PM
You know, I've always had a soft spot for Jeff Fisher.
He sure has milked that one Super Bowl appearance into a very undeserved reputation.
He did have a pretty long and strong run in Tennesee/Houston. The only difference between him and Dick Vermeil is Kurt Warner.
Without those two years 1999 and 2000 he has a losing record. So yeah he had a couple good teams and he has pretty much milked that forever. The Redskins at least got a winning season out of RG3 more than I can say for what the Rams have gotten with all their picks.
He had a couple of other good years too.
And since Griffin entered the league, the Rams have 20 wins. The Redskins have 16. Whether 3 mediocre seasons are better than one decent one and two terrible ones, I'm not sure.
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 07, 2014, 06:05:36 PM
Bungals. :lol:
I await Spicy's excuses.
I was too focused on the WVU game. The Bungles game didn't get my proper attention.
Anywho, it was a very competitive, evenly matched, error-free game up until the fumble. Then shit just totally fell apart and the Steelers emerged as a much better team all-around. Bengals always get the Steelers at their best, though. Watch the Steelheads go down to Atlanta and lose next week.
I viewed this game as a must-win for the Bengals. Now they're gonna have to figure out a way to win two out of their next three to secure a playoff spot.
Quote from: derspiess on December 08, 2014, 09:31:07 AM
Watch the Steelheads go down to Atlanta and lose next week.
Yup. Sybil doesn't have as many personalities.
QuoteRedskins/NFL
Thomas Boswell: At Treachery, Slime and Slander Stadium, the depths get ever deeper
By Thomas Boswell Columnist December 7 at 8:44 PM
Washington's football team may not know what the Challenger Deep is, but it is headed there as rapidly as it can plummet. At 35,840 feet below sea level, at the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean, the Challenger Deep is the lowest point on earth.
This franchise has long since passed modest reference points like lowest point on land — the Dead Sea — or mundane landmarks like last place in the NFC East, which practically has a team logo stamped on it by now. Now, you never know what indignity, self-inflicted or jammed down their throats, will embarrass this franchise.
Before the 24-0 skunking by the St. Louis Rams on Sunday at half-empty FedEx Field, one of last year's Washington team captains, London Fletcher, eviscerated defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, calling him "clueless." "How does he still have his job?" Fletcher asked, followed by accusations that Haslett was a career-long back-stabber who was no doubt at work undermining Coach Jay Gruden and shifting blame. Why doesn't Dan Snyder just rename FedEx Field? Call it: Treachery, Slime and Slander Stadium.
For the opening coin toss, the Rams sent out six players as co-captains. And who were they? The six players on their active roster that they acquired as the ultimate result of trading the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 draft to Washington so it could select Robert Griffin III. As irony would have it, quarterback Colt McCoy was knocked out of the game with a sprained neck and Washington had no choice but to play Griffin on its final futile drive. He was sacked, then couldn't convert a fourth down. Ball game.
Why would the Rams want to rub it in? Sometimes it seems half the teams in the NFL have a special reason to stick it to Snyder's team. The Rams' offensive coordinator is Brian Schottenheimer, whose father, Marty, was fired after one year by Snyder, and their defensive coordinator is Gregg Williams, the man Joe Gibbs hand-picked to be his successor but was passed over by Snyder in favor of unprepared position coach Jim Zorn.
Former Washington coach Norv Turner, now the Vikings' offensive coordinator, was given a game ball after his offense outscored Griffin and Washington with Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback last month. What is this, eternal payback? Snyder's team has an almost unique ability to inspire something like venom in otherwise respected NFL men once they depart Washington.
The tradition will no doubt continue. During this game, Haslett's son Chase struck back at Fletcher on Twitter, accusing him of trying to "ruin my father's career." Fletcher, sucked down to the level of this franchise's dude-soap-opera brawls, responded that Haslett pere had "ruined a lot of players' careers."
After the game, outside his locker room, I asked Gruden if he was surprised by this cankerous atmosphere. After thinking a few seconds, he said, "It wasn't like this in Cincinnati."
I want that on a T-Shirt for Christmas. :lol:
"It's just the same story, different Sunday," said defensive tackle Chris Baker, who accidentally provided one of the game's symbolic images. After teammate Ryan Kerrigan forced a fumble on a sack of journeyman quarterback Shaun Hill, the loose ball lay on the ground two feet behind Baker. Instead of diving to recover it, Baker was busy throwing his arms in the air celebrating. The Rams got the ball back.
"I've said we've hit 'rock bottom' before," Kerrigan said after this loss to the 6-7 Rams. "That downplays rock bottom if you keep saying it every time you play."
No, let's not devalue rock bottom, not when the calendar has turned to December. That means two things: Santa Claus is coming to town and this team, if its playoff hopes are dead, will roll over, paws up.
"You could kind of see in their eyes they kind of packed it in," said Rams defensive back Rodney McLeod, who intercepted McCoy in the first quarter.
"Last year was very similar when you watch the tape. As the season went on, things just got worse and worse," said Gruden, whose offense was as awful Sunday, shut out for the first time since 2011, as his defense was atrocious the previous Sunday, allowing 49 points in Indianapolis.
"Obviously, we are going down," added Gruden, making a hand gesture that was unsettlingly like a sinking submarine. "We've got to figure out something that we do well, very well. Right now, that's a struggle. Tough calling plays out there today. . . . We have to figure out a way to rise. Somehow."
The somehow is the tough part. "We don't have a [star] quarterback," said a team decision-maker, after watching McCoy, who threw two interceptions, run an offense that never had a snap inside the Rams' 20-yard line. "If we had enough great defensive players, we could build around defense, run the ball and try to win, 12-3. We don't. There's a lot of building that has to be done here. It takes time."
The Rams would have won by more except that kicker Greg Zuerlein missed an extra point and two easy field goals, all to the right. After the game, Coach Jeff Fisher had Zuerlein kick a ball into a locker. He made it. Cheers and laughter. When you win, it's all funny and everything's forgiven.
When you lose, dots get connected. For the second straight week, Gruden took a fourth-down gamble in the middle of the third quarter — earlier than many coaches might. In Indy, the result was a sack-fumble and touchdown return by the Colts. This time, punter Tress Way tried a designed run and was crunched two yards short of a first down, giving the Rams the ball at Washington's 35.
St. Louis quickly scored for a 15-0 lead. Then the Rams caught Washington's coaches napping. The Rams went for a two-point conversion — an obvious possibility since it would make it a three-score game. As the Rams holder passed to an uncovered tight end, Washington watched like duplicity was unlawful.
After that, the burgundy and gold did that pack-it-in thing, observing Tavon Austin, who already had three substantial punt returns, as he sped 78 yards up the right sideline to score for the coup de disgrace.
"The whole world is pointing at us," said tackle Trent Williams. Under that scrutiny, will this team pull together or tear even further apart?
"Whenever you sign a contract, you are judged on wins and losses. All you can do is try to motivate guys, figure out a way to get victories, and if you don't, you are always subject to the owners making a change," Gruden said. "I'm just going to keep coaching the way I know how, not worry about it and do the best I can."
If it works out, great. If it doesn't, he'll always have that five-year guaranteed contract and, like roughly half of the NFL, can look forward to the day when he returns to ol' Treachery, Slime and Slander Stadium with some other team and stick it to the local diving bell of a franchise as it sinks ever lower.
So basically it is a typical Washington Redskins season.
Quote from: Neil on December 08, 2014, 09:16:26 AM
He had a couple of other good years too.
And since Griffin entered the league, the Rams have 20 wins. The Redskins have 16. Whether 3 mediocre seasons are better than one decent one and two terrible ones, I'm not sure.
The Redskins would have done even worse without him. The question is does having a losing record for three years give you any place for talking shit? The Rams were the ones doing the victory dance like they have achieved something.
Matty Ice sucks. And his nickname sucks too. And tim eats puddings flavored with shit.
Quote from: Valmy on December 08, 2014, 08:20:44 PM
Quote from: Neil on December 08, 2014, 09:16:26 AM
He had a couple of other good years too.
And since Griffin entered the league, the Rams have 20 wins. The Redskins have 16. Whether 3 mediocre seasons are better than one decent one and two terrible ones, I'm not sure.
The Redskins would have done even worse without him. The question is does having a losing record for three years give you any place for talking shit? The Rams were the ones doing the victory dance like they have achieved something.
The achieved something. They turned one draft pick into a whole bunch of picks, improving their team.
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 08, 2014, 09:40:04 PM
Matty Ice sucks. And his nickname sucks too. And tim eats puddings flavored with shit.
Everybody else says he's better than Joe Flacco, though.
My turds are better than Flacco.
Go get a hobby or a mistress or something already. Even I'm bored with your boredom schtick, limpy.
Lights out, prisoner 254311.
Gotta keep working on the grill under the sink.
Quote from: Neil on December 08, 2014, 10:35:56 PM
Quote from: Valmy on December 08, 2014, 08:20:44 PM
Quote from: Neil on December 08, 2014, 09:16:26 AM
He had a couple of other good years too.
And since Griffin entered the league, the Rams have 20 wins. The Redskins have 16. Whether 3 mediocre seasons are better than one decent one and two terrible ones, I'm not sure.
The Redskins would have done even worse without him. The question is does having a losing record for three years give you any place for talking shit? The Rams were the ones doing the victory dance like they have achieved something.
The achieved something. They turned one draft pick into a whole bunch of picks, improving their team.
An achievement is winning football games. Maybe they should do some of that before doing a victory dance.
Ah, the Falcons are not so wounded as we were led to believe. So much the better.[/khannoonianlombardi]
Quote from: Valmy on December 08, 2014, 10:47:26 PM
Quote from: Neil on December 08, 2014, 10:35:56 PM
Quote from: Valmy on December 08, 2014, 08:20:44 PM
Quote from: Neil on December 08, 2014, 09:16:26 AM
He had a couple of other good years too.
And since Griffin entered the league, the Rams have 20 wins. The Redskins have 16. Whether 3 mediocre seasons are better than one decent one and two terrible ones, I'm not sure.
The Redskins would have done even worse without him. The question is does having a losing record for three years give you any place for talking shit? The Rams were the ones doing the victory dance like they have achieved something.
The achieved something. They turned one draft pick into a whole bunch of picks, improving their team.
An achievement is winning football games. Maybe they should do some of that before doing a victory dance.
Their move helped them win football games, and then the team went and won another.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 08, 2014, 11:36:00 PM
Ah, the Falcons are not so wounded as we were led to believe. So much the better.[/khannoonianlombardi]
Yeah. Maybe the Steelers' inconsistency can rear up again and have them lose. Hell, maybe they could 'unleash hell' and lose out. Although it would be best if they lose to the Falcons and Browns, and then beat the Bengals. The Ravens having a home playoff game would be nice.
LFFL #1 Team, Dirty Danes, got beat by Timmy.
I am not sure how to take this.
I needed like .54 point from Julio Jones to win and he gave me 24.45 points :)
On to Tim.
I think my LFFL team name next year may be Marvin's Midgets.
Someone apparently ran a red light and hit Cam Newton's truck. Both legs "visibly broken"according to the ever reliable Twitter, taken to the hospital.
E: (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4bsIdgIMAAa1Ks.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4bp7vbCcAEBTAX.jpg)
Photos here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2265474-cam-newton-injury-updates-on-panthers-stars-status-following-car-crash
But he's so mobile.
Damn, that sucks. I like Cam.
Quote from: derspiess on December 09, 2014, 01:13:01 PM
I needed like .54 point from Julio Jones to win and he gave me 24.45 points :)
On to Tim.
Fucking Kapernickle.
Johnny Touchdouche has been named the starter against the Bengals.
May the era of Football Jesus begins!
This is much better news for Cam than what was floating around on Twitter:
QuoteCMPD source says no injuries to Cam Newton.He did not want to be transported. Taken to hospital as a precaution.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 09, 2014, 01:52:32 PM
Johnny Touchdouche has been named the starter against the Bengals.
Marvin Lewis offended little people by calling him a midget. I'm guessing they're more offended by being associated with Manziel than the M-word.
Quote from: derspiess on December 09, 2014, 02:32:56 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 09, 2014, 01:52:32 PM
Johnny Touchdouche has been named the starter against the Bengals.
Marvin Lewis offended little people by calling him a midget. I'm guessing they're more offended by being associated with Manziel than the M-word.
No shit, I'm sure the League of Little People would want nothing to do with that goof.
Damn. Poor Cam. The guy just can't catch a break.
Looking at that truck, he could have been t-boned by a little girl on her tricycle and he would have rolled. Those jacked-up monster trucks aren't safe.
Two fractures in his lower back. He's obviously out for the year, but hopefully he makes a full recovery & is back next year.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12004613/cam-newton-carolina-panthers-involved-car-accident
Ravens signed CB Antoine Cason. Not surprised the Panthers cut him, but surprised he got through waivers. They will need him.
Burfict on IR, done for season. Everyone seems surprised. I knew when he wasn't back 2 weeks after his scope and wasn't practicing, something must have gone wrong. Same for Eifert, more or less.
Hopefully he learns during the off-season how to play physically without killing himself.
Burfict is a stone-cold nut job. I love him.
Yeah, he's a scary dude. Which is ironic given how high-pitched his voice is.
Anyway, with all the injuries I hope at least we get The Estonian back for a couple games.
Hey, AJ McCarron got activated. So there's that.
I am so fucking sick of the Red Retard. Sign Jeff Blake.
Quote from: Neil on December 09, 2014, 09:04:07 AM
Their move helped them win football games, and then the team went and won another.
Oh for Godsake.
Anyway the doom and gloom in Washington kind of catches me by surprise. Shanahan was the franchises last real hope of avoiding total failure. I would have thought resignation would have set in awhile ago. The only emotion I have been able to muster was to be incredulous they would pull a QB who had just won back to back games.
At least Snyder doesn't bother with his sniveling apologies at the end of the season anymore. Or does he? Ah well. At least people are not going to the games anymore. His constant and puzzling efforts to alienate a devoted and loyal fanbase is finally paying off. Every single longtime season ticket holder I knew got priced out long ago. One of them had had those tickets in their family since the 1940s.
Quote from: Valmy on December 08, 2014, 08:20:44 PM
The Redskins would have done even worse without him....
Quote from: Valmy on December 09, 2014, 08:53:11 PM
Oh for Godsake.
Anyway the doom and gloom in Washington kind of catches me by surprise. Shanahan was the franchises last real hope of avoiding total failure....
SO if you go with the assumption that the RGIII thing is why Shanahan was fired, you could argue that with Shanahan, those 4 draft picks and an average replacement level QB they could be better off.
Quote from: sbr on December 09, 2014, 08:56:35 PM
SO if you go with the assumption that the RGIII thing is why Shanahan was fired, you could argue that with Shanahan, those 4 draft picks and an average replacement level QB they could be better off.
If you look at it like that then I guess I would have to agree.
:showoff:
Damn Jadeveon Clowney had microfracture surgery today. The normal 9 month recovery barely puts him ready for Week 1 2015 with no offseason and to training camp.
Quote from: Valmy on December 09, 2014, 08:53:11 PM
Anyway the doom and gloom in Washington kind of catches me by surprise. Shanahan was the franchises last real hope of avoiding total failure. I would have thought resignation would have set in awhile ago. The only emotion I have been able to muster was to be incredulous they would pull a QB who had just won back to back games.
Shanahan's stupid, old school, play 'em while they're injured philosophy destroyed RGIII's promising career. He's the reason they're in this mess and deserved to be fired for that alone.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 09, 2014, 09:47:06 PM
Shanahan's stupid, old school, play 'em while they're injured philosophy destroyed RGIII's promising career. He's the reason they're in this mess and deserved to be fired for that alone.
What a joke. Snyder is the reason they are in this mess and the mess long predates either RGIII or Shanahan showing up in DC. Shanahan was simply the last big name head coach Snyder will be able to hire, and the last one with the prestige to run things his own way.
I don't disagree that Snyder is at fault for the terrible state of the franchise, just saying that Shanahan is specifically responsible for the RGIII mess.
QuoteAll-too-familiar collapse might cost Joe Philbin his job (http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/greg-cote/article4330526.html)
Everything collapsed and fell here Sunday. This Dolphins season and its playoff hopes were a stilt house supported by balsa-wood legs, and everything buckled and gave way, crashing right before our eyes in Miami's biggest game of this NFL season and therefore its biggest loss.
The impact of this 28-13 home defeat against the Baltimore Ravens felt greater than the final margin. It felt like there could be a ripple effect.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill referred to "the opportunity we let slip."
Defensive star Cameron Wake called the manner in which Miami lost this game "a little mind-blowing."
Defender Jared Odrick let fly a more visceral expression of frustration aimed at coach Joe Philbin on the sideline, caught on camera shouting angrily, "Every week!"
All around, things were collapsing ...
The Miami defense collapsed, impressively forcing three consecutive Ravens punts to begin the game and thereafter being helplessly gouged for length-of-the field touchdown drives of 97, 75, 80 and 81 yards.
The offense collapsed, jumping to an early 10-0 lead and then playing the final three quarters as if the end zone was a mysterious foreign land to which no transportation or map existed.
Playoff hopes were collapsing, too, of course, with the afternoon's result. Miami entered the game in control as the No.6 AFC seed, holding the second-wild card spot. The end of the franchise's six-year postseason drought was in the Fins' hands. It isn't now. At 7-6, even three consecutive wins to end the season might not be enough — and, all at once, the prospect of three wins in a row to end the season feels closer to laughable than plausible.
Here is something else that looked as if it might be collapsing: Philbin's future as coach.
Losses like this get coaches like Philbin fired. You have to figure this loss will weigh a ton as owner Stephen Ross weighs whether to make a change. You also have to note the irony that the coach who beat Philbin on Sunday, John Harbaugh, is the brother of the coach who could end up replacing Philbin in Miami, Jim Harbaugh.
That's getting ahead of ourselves. Philbin might still save his job if Miami wins its remaining games (at Patriots, vs. Vikings and vs. Jets) and makes the playoffs. But that notion was running away on Sunday. In a game so big, Philbin's guys did so much wrong.
The offensive line was bad, because right tackle Dallas Thomas had a nightmare, beaten for four sacks.
The Dolphins had three illegal-man-downfield penalties.
The defense put very little pressure on Ravens QB Joe Flacco.
"There were a lot of must-win plays scattered all over the game," as Wake put it in a postgame locker room beaten numb, "and we lost more of them than we won."
There is something missing in this team's DNA, lending to the idea of a franchise that has become snakebitten. The clutch gene isn't there. Whatever is the opposite of "killer instinct" seems to bedevil the Dolphins. The previous week, Miami needed a rally to best the lowly Jets. Sunday was more indicative as we saw a team that couldn't finish. Couldn't close the deal.
How many times before have I tapped a postgame dirge such as this onto my laptop, describing a team good enough to tease but just not good enough to please.
How many times before have Dolphins fans felt this same relapse of disappointment and hurt and thought all over again how hard it is to have an emotional investment in this team.
On Sunday, you couldn't help but feel for hopeful-turned-heartbroken Dolfans as they trudged defeated from the stadium while thousands of purple-clad Ravens fans stayed to cheer and serenade the home fans goodbye.
A year ago Miami was 8-6, the playoffs within grasp, needing only to win one of the final two games. Miami lost both.
On Sunday, the same thing. It's Groundhog Day.
"The frustrating thing is, it's not inability," Wake said.
Then what? Coaching? Coaching tends to be the scapegoat, the catchall, for club owners at a loss for better explanations.
By my eye, the game was lost on the opening sequence of the fourth quarter. Baltimore by then held a 14-10 lead, its first of the game, forging ahead on a series that included a ballsy fourth-and-1 gamble from its own 34, converted on a sneak by Flacco.
But Miami had wrested back momentum, sacking Flacco for the first time of the game and then driving for what looked like a sure go-ahead touchdown. It was first-and-goal at the Ravens' 4 as the fourth quarter started.
And then:
First down, Lamar Miller is buried for a 2-yard loss.
Second down, guard Shelley Smith has a false start penalty.
Second down again, Tannehill, under pressure, overthrows an open Mike Wallace in the end zone.
Third down, Tannehill is sacked in a blitz.
Now its fourth-and-16, and Miami settles for a field goal — possibly the most disappointing three points in the history of scoring.
At one point in the second half, in the midst of the Dolphins' collective pratfall, the PA system played a jingle associated with the slapstick British comedian, Benny Hill. It was the background to a fun game on the video screen, but it also served as an unintended commentary on Miami's performance this day.
Afterward Philbin — as he does far too often — opened his postgame remarks by complimenting and crediting the opponent with deserving to win.
"They coached better and played better than we did," he said.
If Sunday put on order the tombstone of Philbin's Miami career, that might be as good an epitaph as any.
That really was an atrocious performance by the Dolphins, though. Especially since after the 1st quarter I figured they had it in the bag. I'll give Flacco and the Ravens credit for playing an impeccable 3 quarters, but the Dolphins certainly helped.
So did I. Hell, even at the half I still thought they had a good shot. They held one of the best rushing offenses in the league to about 50 total rushing yards after two straight 200+ yard games. Then they disintegrated.
These past couple years the Dolphins have looked like the Norv Turner Chargers: play good ball until December, then collapse.
Had some friends go down to the game; a lot of the Ravens Roosts choose one road game a year, usually a warm city or dome late in the year, and they couldn't believe all the empty seats.
Here's a 7-5 time, jockeying for the playoffs, and the stadium's half empty. Unreal. But that's Miami for you, where one would rather parasail than sit in a hot stadium all day. :lol:
Quote from: sbr on December 09, 2014, 09:45:57 PM
Damn Jadeveon Clowney had microfracture surgery today. The normal 9 month recovery barely puts him ready for Week 1 2015 with no offseason and to training camp.
Supposedly this injury wasn't something he should have come back from so quickly or something like that. I haven't been keeping up with it though. I just know the Texans season as a whole has been WAY better than I thought it would.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2014, 11:08:44 AM
Had some friends go down to the game; a lot of the Ravens Roosts choose one road game a year, usually a warm city or dome late in the year, and they couldn't believe all the empty seats.
Here's a 7-5 time, jockeying for the playoffs, and the stadium's half empty. Unreal. But that's Miami for you, where one would rather parasail than sit in a hot stadium all day. :lol:
Last Dolphins game I went to in Miami, I think we picked up two seats for less than $20 total on Stubhub. Of course Marlins game attendance is much worse. So few people there that we got sick of being on the Jumbotron so many times.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2014, 11:08:44 AM
Had some friends go down to the game; a lot of the Ravens Roosts choose one road game a year, usually a warm city or dome late in the year, and they couldn't believe all the empty seats.
Here's a 7-5 time, jockeying for the playoffs, and the stadium's half empty. Unreal. But that's Miami for you, where one would rather parasail than sit in a hot stadium all day. :lol:
Attendance has always been bad, even in the Marino years. I grew up only seeing Dolphins road games, because the home games were almost always blacked out. I don't know what it is about South Florida, but none of the sports teams can consistently draw bog crowds.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on December 10, 2014, 11:08:46 AM
Quote from: sbr on December 09, 2014, 09:45:57 PM
Damn Jadeveon Clowney had microfracture surgery today. The normal 9 month recovery barely puts him ready for Week 1 2015 with no offseason and to training camp.
Supposedly this injury wasn't something he should have come back from so quickly or something like that. I haven't been keeping up with it though. I just know the Texans season as a whole has been WAY better than I thought it would.
I don't know what the rate is for NFL players, but 1 in 5 NBA players who get it done never play again, and the rest that do don't ever play at the same level, but do see increased performance over time.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00167-009-0765-5
Welp. That's not good.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 10, 2014, 11:16:47 AM
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on December 10, 2014, 11:08:46 AM
Quote from: sbr on December 09, 2014, 09:45:57 PM
Damn Jadeveon Clowney had microfracture surgery today. The normal 9 month recovery barely puts him ready for Week 1 2015 with no offseason and to training camp.
Supposedly this injury wasn't something he should have come back from so quickly or something like that. I haven't been keeping up with it though. I just know the Texans season as a whole has been WAY better than I thought it would.
I don't know what the rate is for NFL players, but 1 in 5 NBA players who get it done never play again, and the rest that do don't ever play at the same level, but do see increased performance over time.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00167-009-0765-5
I couldn't find any numbers in my quick search either, but I do think it works out better in the NFL. I do know that Marques Colston has had it on both knees, one in '07 the other in '12.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 09, 2014, 09:47:06 PM
Shanahan's stupid, old school, play 'em while they're injured philosophy destroyed RGIII's promising career. He's the reason they're in this mess and deserved to be fired for that alone.
I would have agreed with this assessment. Two years ago. RGIII's on field and off field antics and awfulness since that time have convinced me that the collapse was inevitable. "The Ultimate Coach" may have sped up the process and cost him some playing time, but RGIII's biggest issues seem to be mental, not physical at this point.