N.f.l. 2010 season (1 Viewer)

[lancer]

Those Oriole teams of the mid sixties to early 70's were loaded, chock full of Hall of famers, just a machine.

Understood how you feel regarding the Super Bowl loss, saw a program on the NFL network about the team that beat the Cowboys on O'briens kick, Bubba Smith said he was on the field after the game and did not feel a bit happy, the loss in 1969 still bothered him. Mike Curtis said the same thing, 1969 stuck in his craw and still does to this day.

Just like the 2008 Super Bowl loss to the Giants will stick in the players craw and all of the fans craw until the day they leave the earth.

How they lost that game to that team and that QB is and always will be a mystery to me, I feel the way you do, they should have won that game in a walk.

That is exactly the same feeling, George. I know that the Patriot's losing that game is on the same shocking level as the Colt's losing. Those were two powerhouse teams and should never have lost. 41 years and I still can't believe we lost. I guess that's why they play the game. Just amazing. -- Al

 

[Louis Badolato]

This week has some interesting games on the slate. Obviously, for me, Eagles at Giants is the most important, as the winner of this game is pretty much guaranteed the NFC East title. Also the Chiefs (with or without Cassel) vs the Rams, both of whom are simultaneously leading their divisions and playing for their playoff lives. The Vikings are playing their first out door home game in 25 years vs the Bears, and Green Bay (with ot without Aaron Rogers) are playing for their playoff lives against the Patriots, who have emerged as the best team in the league (not that big a surprise considering Brady and Belichick).

Its interesting to see if Cassel and/or Rogers will play. I imagine they both will play, despite the fact that Cassel is less than two weeks removed from emergency surgery, and Rogers had his second concussion in 7 weeks only 5 days ago. The league talks a good game about the safety of the players being the prime concern, but when the playoffs are on the line, the players' health concerns go right out the window.

 

[lancer]

This week has some interesting games on the slate. Obviously, for me, Eagles at Giants is the most important, as the winner of this game is pretty much guaranteed the NFC East title. Also the Chiefs (with or without Cassel) vs the Rams, both of whom are simultaneously leading their divisions and playing for their playoff lives. The Vikings are playing their first out door home game in 25 years vs the Bears, and Green Bay (with ot without Aaron Rogers) are playing for their playoff lives against the Patriots, who have emerged as the best team in the league (not that big a surprise considering Brady and Belichick).

Its interesting to see if Cassel and/or Rogers will play. I imagine they both will play, despite the fact that Cassel is less than two weeks removed from emergency surgery, and Rogers had his second concussion in 7 weeks only 5 days ago. The league talks a good game about the safety of the players being the prime concern, but when the playoffs are on the line, the players' health concerns go right out the window.

Good point on the safety issue. If the NFL was concerned about player safety, the discussion about the 18 game season would go out the window and be replaced by discussion for a 14 game season. But they (the owners) will never give up that revenue. -- Al

 

[Peter Reuss]

While there will be some novelty in seeing the Vikes-Bears play outdoors in MN (I think the low that night will be 0 degrees F), the reality is the Vikes are down to a rookie 3rd string quarterback on an offense that has done nothing all year.

I suspect this will be every bit as ugly as the Vikes-Giants last Monday (which, fortunately for most of you, was not broadcast around the nation).

 

[jazzeum]

Pete,

I assume you'll be at the University of Minnesota cheering them on

 

[Spitfrnd]

LOL. Not if you live south of the Mason-Dixon Line. -- Al

Not even if you live above it now if you lived below at that time.

 

[lancer]

Not even if you live above it now if you lived below at that time.

The nightmare never goes away for the true believer, regardless of where we now live. -- Al

 

[Peter Reuss]

Pete,

I assume you'll be at the University of Minnesota cheering them on

The Metrodome seats 62,000. The Gopher's field seats 50,000. They turned it into a first come first served deal. Show up with your ticket, sit where you want, and hope you're not one of the last 12,000 who get turned away. Can you imagine the angst once the place is full???

It's the fitting end to a pathetic season. To think that a year ago we were a play away from the Super Bowl. How quickly things unravel.

 

[lancer]

The Metrodome seats 62,000. The Gopher's field seats 50,000. They turned it into a first come first served deal. Show up with your ticket, sit where you want, and hope you're not one of the last 12,000 who get turned away. Can you imagine the angst once the place is full???

It's the fitting end to a pathetic season. To think that a year ago we were a play away from the Super Bowl. How quickly things unravel.

Yes, it has been a disappointing season for several teams with higher goals. Leaving out my Redskins (an annual disappointment), the Colts, Vikings, 49ers, Bengals, and especially the Cowboys have all been rudely treated. That's the NFL. -- Al

 

[Peter Reuss]

It's actually what I enjoy about the NFL - going into a season everyone has hope, because you never know what to expect.

It's not like baseball, where the salaries are so variant that some teams are eliminated before opening day.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Can somebody explain for me what the deal is with Shanahan? He is benching McNabb (who has been one of the top QB in the league for the last 10 years) for Rex Grossman (I'd call him a has been, but he never was anything to begin with). To an outsider looking in, it looks like Shanahan is an ego maniac who has to clear the team of anyone he doesn't consider one of his people, even if it means the team will stink on ice.

 

[jazzeum]

McNabb is not looking too good lately from the games I've seen. Perhaps he thrived in the Eagles system but doesn't seem to be doing so here. Moreover, they are (I presume) rebuilding so maybe he doesn't fit in too well or hasn't taken well to Shanahan's system.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Personally...I'm glad...I'm a Cowboys fan and would much rather face Grossman than McNabb anyday...this is the second time he has been benched this year...remember the "2 minute remaining benching"...

 

[Combat]

Can somebody explain for me what the deal is with Shanahan? He is benching McNabb (who has been one of the top QB in the league for the last 10 years) for Rex Grossman (I'd call him a has been, but he never was anything to begin with). To an outsider looking in, it looks like Shanahan is an ego maniac who has to clear the team of anyone he doesn't consider one of his people, even if it means the team will stink on ice.

It's all a part of Dan Snyder's master plan to rid himself of all the money he has made. He may be the worst owner in sports history. And one of the most unlikeable guys as well. The skins will never win until he is gone.

 

[lancer]

Can somebody explain for me what the deal is with Shanahan? He is benching McNabb (who has been one of the top QB in the league for the last 10 years) for Rex Grossman (I'd call him a has been, but he never was anything to begin with). To an outsider looking in, it looks like Shanahan is an ego maniac who has to clear the team of anyone he doesn't consider one of his people, even if it means the team will stink on ice.

There are several factors to the benching, the main one being that McNabb just isn't fitting into the offensive scheme that Shanahan wants. McNabb wasn't Shanahan's choice to begin with, as he was brought in by the owner. McNabb has also been slow in making the adjustments to his playing style that Shanahan wants ( got a lot to do with McNabbs mechanics). To me, it seems, as you said, that Shanahan is a "my way or the highway" type of coach and McNabb just isn't fitting. We Skins fans are waiting for what should be an embarrassing game on Sunday. There are a lot of unhappy fans down here that feel that McNabb has been treated very badly and does not deserve this treatment. This team is a mess and does not appear to be headed anywhere. We shall see. -- Al

 

[Spitfrnd]

Can somebody explain for me what the deal is with Shanahan? He is benching McNabb (who has been one of the top QB in the league for the last 10 years) for Rex Grossman (I'd call him a has been, but he never was anything to begin with). To an outsider looking in, it looks like Shanahan is an ego maniac who has to clear the team of anyone he doesn't consider one of his people, even if it means the team will stink on ice.

Whoa Louis, that sounds like the typical new age sports writer comment my friend. There are way too many sports commentators these days with quick opinions based only on surface observations. McNabb WAS one of the top QBs in the league but the way he is playing this year it is not clear that he still has the skills. No question the line has him running for his life at times (too many) and yes his receivers could be better and yes there has been little help in most games from the running game. That said, his throws have been all over the place with virtually none into the receivers hands in the target zone. His QB rating right now is one of the lowest in the league, which takes some doing. Maybe he can recover and maybe this is just a bad year or maybe he is seriously on the decline and Andy Reed put one over on us, as many speculate.

I think Shanahan knows what he is doing but he doesn't have the talent yet and the injuries have been brutal. Try winning when you loose 12 first string players at the same time. The brutal truth is that the team has too many weaknesses at this time; the line is a patched up revolving door, the kickers are marginal, the receivers, except for tight end, are a work in progress at best and the running game is dependent on one injury prone new guy. On the other side of the ball, the front three are converted four players, two starting line backers have been injured, one starting corner has been injured and the other can't catch a ball that hits him in the chest and the pro bowl bound safety is also out.

Finally, this season is history and the only thing the team will get from wining games is a worse draft position. Now is the time to shake things up and see what is worth saving for the next season. Also, it is probably a kindness to spare McNabb from the pounding this line permits and as you suggest, losing Rex would not be a team tragedy. I humbly suggest it is another walk a mile and know ALL the facts situation.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Spitfrnd,

I think you are reading me wrong, I am very old school, not at all "new age". I am a firm believer that, despite all the ridiculous rule changes, a team succeeds by playing defense, controlling the ball, and avoiding turnovers.

I watch pretty much every red zone play of every NFL game every week, and I have seen nothing in Shanahan's offensive schemes (his son's brain child) that would let Tom Brady succeed, much less McNabb or (god help him) Rex Grossman. Shanahan had two great years, at the very beginning of his career, when he had Elway, a series on phenomenal running backs, and a terrific offensive line. Post Elway, he has failed to win a single playoff game. He tries to install his "system", despite the personnel he has on the team, and, as a result, he has failed in the postseason for more than ten years.

Believe me, I am thrilled my Giants will be facing Grossman in the final week of the season rather than McNabb. Rex Grossman was a turnover machine as a starter in Chicago. Given the weak offensive line, poor quality receivers, and Shanahan's son's poorly schemed offense, I expert poor Grossman will be benched too.

 

[Spitfrnd]

Spitfrnd,

I think you are reading me wrong, I am very old school, not at all "new age". I am a firm believer that, despite all the ridiculous rule changes, a team succeeds by playing defense, controlling the ball, and avoiding turnovers.

I watch pretty much every red zone play of every NFL game every week, and I have seen nothing in Shanahan's offensive schemes (his son's brain child) that would let Tom Brady succeed, much less McNabb or (god help him) Rex Grossman. Shanahan had two great years, at the very beginning of his career, when he had Elway, a series on phenomenal running backs, and a terrific offensive line. Post Elway, he has failed to win a single playoff game. He tries to install his "system", despite the personnel he has on the team, and, as a result, he has failed in the postseason for more than ten years.

Believe me, I am thrilled my Giants will be facing Grossman in the final week of the season rather than McNabb. Rex Grossman was a turnover machine as a starter in Chicago. Given the weak offensive line, poor quality receivers, and Shanahan's son's poorly schemed offense, I expert poor Grossman will be benched too.

Louis, I said the comment sounded like the new age sports commentator reviews, not that you were new age. The red zone is important but not the whole game and to understand how any team is doing and why you need to see all of the game and then some. Elway was a great talent but wasn't a great QB until Shanahan came. Whether Mike can bring the Skins around remains an open question but no coach can make up for the issues the Redskins have now at so many positions. Former great or not the simple truth is that McNabb has not been getting it done and has been throwing poorly all season. Maybe he would do better with a different scheme but he has not adapted well to the one he has and has not been making the reads quickly enough all season and he is throwing way too many interceptions. Some say it is because he is used to a read short first system versus the read deep first one that the Skins are using but the truly great QBs could make either work; just look at Elway, who changed from short to deep and the other current top 10 QBs. That said, I also agree that the offensive play calling this year has been very inconsistent and puzzling at times.

You do not need a top 10 QB to win but you do need either a consistent offense or defense with some dominant parts. The Skins have nothing in this category at this point so love them or not, I really would not expect them to win with Montana's clone at the helm. They may do worse with Grossman but it is had to imagine they will do worse than they did against the Eagles or the Giants, each with Donovan behind center. The real problem is that the Skins are reaping the consequencies of trading away their draft choices and buying over the hill free agents for so many years and that is a problem that will not get fixed quickly, no matter who is coaching or even playing QB.

 

[Combat]

What I don't understand is how he can rule out a guy playing for the rest of the season. Why not just cut him?

 

[Warrior]

There are several factors to the benching, the main one being that McNabb just isn't fitting into the offensive scheme that Shanahan wants. McNabb wasn't Shanahan's choice to begin with, as he was brought in by the owner. McNabb has also been slow in making the adjustments to his playing style that Shanahan wants ( got a lot to do with McNabbs mechanics). To me, it seems, as you said, that Shanahan is a "my way or the highway" type of coach and McNabb just isn't fitting. We Skins fans are waiting for what should be an embarrassing game on Sunday. There are a lot of unhappy fans down here that feel that McNabb has been treated very badly and does not deserve this treatment. This team is a mess and does not appear to be headed anywhere. We shall see. -- Al

I don't follow the Redskins that closely, but if I am not mistaken, didn't the Redskins resign McNabb to a huge contract AFTER wooden teeth came in as the coach; if in fact he doesn't like McNabb or feel he can run his system, shouldn't he have said so to the owner, ie, this guy is not working for the system I want to put in place.

Again, I could be wrong, but I thought that was the case.

The Redskins, plain and simple, are a train wreck of a franchise.