N.f.l. 2012 (1 Viewer)

[Combat]

I did watch a little of the Pro Bowl and, yes, it was pretty bad. I think the problem is that they don't want anyone getting hurt so it becomes a meaningless exhibition. I didn't watch the NHL All Star game last night but heard that one of the Rangers forwards scored against his own goalie (because the players were divided into Swedes and Eastern Europeans) and then pretended to fire an imaginary rifle against him. The Rangers coach said that will cost him money. At any rate, that too was a meaningless exhibition, 12-9. The only meaningful all star game is the baseball one because I think the players take it seriously.

Any predictions on the Lingerie Football League? Those are some tough gals.

 

[glossman]

Any predictions on the Lingerie Football League? Those are some tough gals.

I didn't dare ask, so I Googled it......^&grin:tongue:.....:wink2:

Raymond.{sm4}

 

[lancer]

My son and I watched about 5 plays of the Pro Bowl and were left laughing so hard we just couldn't watch anymore. It was the line blocking that sent us over the edge. The line men seemed to just stand up on the snap and do nothing more than trade insults. What a money-grubbing bad joke the Pro Bowl has become. What's the point other than the money? The only players who break a sweat are the DB's getting out of the way of the receivers. It is a disgraceful waste of time for all, viewers especially. -- Al

 

[Louis Badolato]

Just a few interesting facts about my favorite team:

Tim Mara, a legal bookmaker, bought the Giants franchise from the NFL in 1925 for $500. He is paraphrased as saying an empty apartment in New York is worth $500. After initially falling in debt $43,000, he wisely booked a game against the Bears, with the most famous football player of the time, Red Grange, the "Galloping Ghost", and made $173,000 in receipts from that one game in the 1925 season! $130,000 profit in less than a year - not a bad return on a $500 investment.

Giants two way end/tackle and U.S. Marine Lt. Jack Lummas was awarded the Medal of Honor postumously for single handedly taking two Japanese machine gun positions on Iwo Jima before having his legs blown off by a landmine. The medic tending to him as he died quoted him as saying "well, looks like the Giants lost the services of a pretty good end." What a man, an American, a Marine and a Giant! When I learned this, he immediately vaulted past Lawrence Taylor to become my favorite Giant, all time.

Great Giants Hall of Fame iron man center/linebacker Mel Hein, who played in the 30's and the 40's never missed a minute of a game for 17 seasons. Not a single minute! He only called a time out for injury once, when he had his nose broken, put it back in place on the sideline, and came back in the game for the next play. Can you imagine how tough NFL players were back then?!

The first African American to play in the NFL, in 1948, one year after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball, was Giants Hall of Fame defensive back Emlen Tunnell, who had 79 interceptions in his Hall of Fame carreer. He won a title with the Giants in 1956 before he was stolen away by former Giants offensive coordinator Vince Lombardi to win a couple of titles with Green Bay in the early 1960's.

The first true passing Quarter Back in the NFL (who played for the Giants from 1929 through 1931) was a little 175 lb. jewish kid from Cleveland, Bennie Friedman.

The Giants won two championships against the Chicago Bears, in 1934 (the Bears were undefeated prior to the title game) and 1956, thanks to wearing sneakers instead of cleats on the frozen field of the Polo Ground and Yankee Stadium. The man responsible for the first victory was Abe Cohen, the Giants uniform tailor, who had the keys to a local University (I forget whether it was NYU or Fordham) basketball locker room, where he also took care of the uniforms, and brought back 9 pairs of sneakers at halftime. The sneakers were provided for the second game by Giants Hall of Fame defensive end Andy Robustelli, who owned a sporting goods store in Connecticut.

Giants defensive back, later player coach then defensive coordinator Tom Landry invented the 4-3 defense to suit the talents of the Giants incredible defense consisting of Hall of Famers Sam Huff, Rosie Grier, Andy Robustelli, Emlen Tunnell as well as Jim Katcavage and Dick Modzelewski.

The first fans to chant "Dee-Fense - Dee-Fense" were the Giants fans in Yankee Stadium in 1956.

Including the Super Bowl Sunday, the Giants have played in the most playoff games (36), the most championship games (19), and have the opportunity Sunday to win their 8th Championship (1927, 34, 38, 56, 86, 90, 2007 and possibly 2012), putting them 3rd behind only the Packers (13) and the Bears (9).

 

[Combat]

Time to pick 'em. I'm 0-3 with the Giants in the playoffs. Picked them to lose each game. So I'm doubling down on the Super Bowl. I can't see Brady and the Pats losing twice to Eli in the big game. The Giants had a great playoff run but were a 9-7 team. I expect to see that team against the Pats.

My pick is New England 27 NYG 20.

 

[Peter Reuss]

The only meaningful all star game is the baseball one because I think the players take it seriously.

All-Star games are all about showcasing individual talent. Baseball is a sport that is able to do that since it abounds in one on one match-ups. What hitter wants to shown up by a pitcher (and vice versa). In football people get 'lost the shuffle.' Who's going to see (or care) whether the center blocks the noseguard? Football...hockey...and even basketball are team sports where team dynamics are important. All-Star games know nothing of team dynamics.

Maybe they should just turn it into one massive Punt, Pass, & Kick competition

 

[Peter Reuss]

For the game on Sunday I'm pulling for a tie, resulting in a Coughlin vs. Belicheck grudge match at mid-field. THAT I would find entertaining...

 

[johnnybach]

Maybe they should just turn it into one massive Punt, Pass, & Kick competition [/QUOTE]

Are you suggesting re-inventing Rugby Union? If so, well done - you will enjoy it ! johnnybach

 

[jazzeum]

Looking at Sunday's game, strictly by the numbers, the game appears to favor the Giants. I thought the Giants had a chance against GB because the Packers' D was terrible. The Pats' D is just as bad. Even if you shut down one of the three Giant receivers, the other two succeed. The Giants D could be too much for the Pats O line. Even if the Giants front line is contained, Gronkowski is not 100%. That's a big problem. Notwithstanding, the Pats will score. Will the Giants score more?

Giants 9-7 record is deceiving. Forget the regular season. In their playoff run, the Giants have looked good. They got hot at the right time and that's all that counts. If the Pats fall behind as they seemed to do at times this year, it could get ugly fast.

Alternatively, I just can't see Brady having two bad games in a row. Also, don't discount revenge as a factor. Moreover, Brady and Bellichek need this game to cement their reputation. On top of that I don't think the Pats are getting any respect and the Giants are the fashionable pick. Don't discount that as motivation either.

Who wins? I have no idea.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Looking at Sunday's game, strictly by the numbers, the game appears to favor the Giants. I thought the Giants had a chance against GB because the Packers' D was terrible. The Pats' D is just as bad. Even if you shut down one of the three Giant receivers, the other two succeed. The Giants D could be too much for the Pats O line. Even if the Giants front line is contained, Gronkowski is not 100%. That's a big problem. Notwithstanding, the Pats will score. Will the Giants score more?

Giants 9-7 record is deceiving. Forget the regular season. In their playoff run, the Giants have looked good. They got hot at the right time and that's all that counts. If the Pats fall behind as they seemed to do at times this year, it could get ugly fast.

Alternatively, I just can't see Brady having two bad games in a row. Also, don't discount revenge as a factor. Moreover, Brady and Bellichek need this game to cement their reputation. On top of that I don't think the Pats are getting any respect and the Giants are the fashionable pick. Don't discount that as motivation either.

Who wins? I have no idea.

Yoou are scaring me, Brad, because I am in complete agreement with everything you said. To me this game is too close to call, and like the game earlier this season, may come down to who has the ball last. You can never discount a team with Bellichick has the head coach, Tom Brady as the QB, Wes Welker as the slot receiver, and the a monster in the middle like Wilfork on defense.

On the other hand, as good as Light and Mankins have been at keeping Brady's jersey clean against everyone else, the Giants have consistently hit him, and sacked him 9 times in the last three games they played.

The Giants have a coach in Coughlin who cut his teeth next to Bellichick as a Giants assistant under Parcells, and knows his defense as well as anyone not in a Patriots Jersey. Slight edge to the Patriots at head coach, but unlikely that Coughlin will be unprepared for Bellichick's favorite playoff schemes, the "bullseye" defense (where the Pats defenders target the other teams best RB/receiver - for example the Rams Marshall Falk - and take him out of the game) or the "Big Five" where the Giants under Bellichick or the Pat's play 5 defensive backs all outside the box in coverage and dare the other team to run (a la super bowl 25 against the Bills).

Right now, this season, with these weapons Eli Manning can score with Brady, so to me, while Brady is clearly the better QB overall, in this game, with these weapons, and these defenses, the QB position is a wash.

To me, Cruz and Welker are a wash in the slot. Both will get their catches and play a big role.

I see Gronkowski as being healthy enough to play, but just hampered enough that while he will make catches, I don't see him breaking any big plays.

To me the whole game comes down to which offensive line permits their offense to run a bit, and protects their quarterback. Unlike most commentators, I see a big problem in Wilfork. Frankly, if I were the Giants, I would replace the second tight end (Bear Pascoe) or fullback (Henry Hynoski) in the backfield with their back up, but most effective, Guard, Mitch Petrus, and have him double Wilfork on every play.

The other thing that has been bothering me is the Giants defenders mouthing off. I like my teams to do their talking with their play on the field, and I hate rattling the other teams cage, especially when the other team is led by one of the top 5 QB's of all time, who already has a really good reason to want revenge on the Giants, who spoiled his otherwise perfect season. There are holes in the Giants secondary nearly as big as the holes in the Patriots secondary, and if Brady has enough time, he will pick the Giants apart.

This game is going to be close, and may be a shootout. Any (even slight) advantage in turnovers will decide this very close game. The game is just too close to pick, so I am just going to go into this game like I did in 2007: my team in the underdog, but has a chance to win. If they lose they already did way more than I expected this season (I had them missing the playoffs at 7-9), if they win this joins 2007 as one of the two most unexpected and pleasant championships in my lifetime.

 

[sammy719]

My prediction?? could care less, I'm still pissed my Ravens aren't play'n ..don't know if I'll even watch it, I'm tired of being the brides maid but never the bride (or something like that)...Sammy

 

[lancer]

My prediction?? could care less, I'm still pissed my Ravens aren't play'n ..don't know if I'll even watch it, I'm tired of being the brides maid but never the bride (or something like that)...Sammy

Hey Sammy, on the bright side, it's only a few weeks until the pitchers and catchers report.:wink2:^&grin -- Al

 

[sammy719]

Hey Sammy, on the bright side, it's only a few weeks until the pitchers and catchers report.:wink2:^&grin -- Al

Al, ya kill'n me. I'm not going to try and get excited this year about our O's, maybe if I don't watch them or pay attention they will win!!! or maybe not GOOOOOOOOOOOOO O-R-I-O-L-E-S!!!!...Sammy

 

[jazzeum]

One thing I've noticed this week and Mike Francesa on WFAN commented on this today is that no one is picking the Pats. Everyone is going for the Giants. As a Giants fan, I would be a little nervous. He also commented on how some of the Giants players are practically guaranteeing a win. I think they must have gotten too close to Rex when they beat the Jets a few weeks and caught the infection ^&grin

 

[lancer]

One thing I've noticed this week and Mike Francesa on WFAN commented on this today is that no one is picking the Pats. Everyone is going for the Giants. As a Giants fan, I would be a little nervous. He also commented on how some of the Giants players are practically guaranteeing a win. I think they must have gotten too close to Rex when they beat the Jets a few weeks and caught the infection ^&grin

Yes, everyone does appear to be picking the Giants. I remember anothr SB where everyone was picking one team to win, SB III, I think it was.:rolleyes2: We all know how that worked out. Never overlook the motivation of revenge.:wink2: -- Al

 

[MapleLeaf]

Scary ain't it nobody pics the Pats except Vegas
Ochocinco will have a big part in the victory

 

[jazzeum]

Ochocinco will have a big part in the victory

Whatever you're drinking, send some my way ^&grin

 

[Warrior]

I'm not into making predictions, I'll leave that to the experts like the hacks on NFL Network and ESPN, all of whom are going with the Giants. Looks like the whole world is picking the Giants.

The 9-7 Giants.

Who got into the playoffs at the last hour, played mediocre Atlanat team, a flat Green Bay team and had a ball bounce off a SanFran guys knee that led to the game tying score.

Great, let the whole world pick them.

Regardless of how the game plays out, I am happy that the Patriots got to yet another Super Bowl, #7 behind only the Cowboys and Steelers each with 8.

Since they hadn't won a playoff game in four years and I looked at this season as a rebuilding one, I am happy they've gotten this far, the future looks bright for another run going forward, so there you go.

Oh and don't forget one other thing; Myra Kraft is up there in heaven looking down at all of this, the patch on the jersey is dedicated to her and the season has been too......................

 

[jazzeum]

Yes, everyone does appear to be picking the Giants. I remember anothr SB where everyone was picking one team to win, SB III, I think it was.:rolleyes2: We all know how that worked out. Never overlook the motivation of revenge.:wink2: -- Al

Yes, we do, Jets 16 Colts 7

Ahh, the memories.....

 

[lancer]

Yes, we do, Jets 16 Colts 7

Ahh, the memories.....

In my case, Ahh, the nightmares...{sm2} -- Al