11/05/24
November 16, 2009
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
Maurice Jones-Drew did something epic in the 24-22 win over the New York Jets Sunday. With under two minutes left and the Jacksonville Jaguars at the 14 and driving for a go-ahead score, the Jets decided to let the Jags score a touchdown so they had time to attempt a come back. Jones-Drew takes the ball, runs towards the end zone as the defenders comically find ways not to tackle him, and he takes a knee at the 1. Video.
"Coach said take a knee, so sorry to my fantasy owners, I apologize," Jones-Drew said. "I had myself today, too, so it was a tough call, but whatever it takes to get the victory."
Jones-Drew isn't kidding about having himself on his own fantasy team. He said in a local interview earlier this year that the owners in his league draft him because they know he'll give up anything in trade to get himself.
Also, hearing Dick Enberg call that game was a treat. He's been doing NFL games since 1975 and doesn't appear to have lost anything over that span.
posted by rcade at 10:37 AM on November 16, 2009
That seemed really crazy to me because they were behind at that point. You would think you take the sure points if you can get them. It worked out because the field goal was good and all that, but it seems risky.
posted by bperk at 11:06 AM on November 16, 2009
Mediocre week so far, but we hit our Lock and that brightens up everything. 7-7 against the spread and 8-6 straight up, but we're up for the week, despite the Raiders sinking our Trifecta. Maybe they are smart enough to lose on purpose.
We sure hope Jim Zorn designed this fake field goal/punt hybrid. That's a job saver right there, folks.
Pull for the Quinn tonight!
Trifecta: San Diego, Oakland, Tennessee
2009 Week 10 Hoser Picks (pending Monday night):
2009 Season Hoser Picks
2009 Week 10 Money Spent: $0
Lock of the Week: San Diego
Straight Up: 8-6
Against The Spread: 7-7
Lock of the Week: 1-0
Trifecta: 0-1
Money: $330
Straight Up: 99-42
Against The Spread: 79-63-1
Lock of the Week: 5-5
Trifecta: 3-7
Money: $1,820
2009 Week 10 Money Made: $0
2009 Season Money Spent: $185
2009 Season Money Made: $200
2009 Total: $15
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:58 AM on November 16, 2009
That seemed really crazy to me because they were behind at that point. You would think you take the sure points if you can get them. It worked out because the field goal was good and all that, but it seems risky.
This goes hand in hand with the Belichick thread. If teams that need a touchdown, with two minutes left, get it 53% of the time, don't give them the ball. I have to believe that 19 yard field goals go through about 99% of the time.
posted by tron7 at 12:44 PM on November 16, 2009
Bperk: I wondered about that too, but Josh Scobee is a good kicker who has only missed from under 30 yards once in his six-year NFL career.
Since today is all about the odds, the odds of him missing the kick were 3 percent (41 made, 42 attempted). Surely the odds of the Jets scoring a touchdown were higher than that.
posted by rcade at 01:05 PM on November 16, 2009
Also, hearing Dick Enberg call that game was a treat. He's been doing NFL games since 1975 and doesn't appear to have lost anything over that span
Assumes that either:
A. His dementia pre-dates 1975 or B. You like hearing players mis-identified as retired players and hearing any incomplete pass within 10 feet of a defender described as "almost picked off!"
I kid. Somewhat. I still like Enberg on tennis and he has a fantastic set of pipes, but I think CBS assigns spotters they want to fire to Enberg just to make them quit.
posted by yerfatma at 01:08 PM on November 16, 2009
Mark Sanchez did something epic as well: after the game, he put the kibosh on the inane, insipid questions from the press by reading from a prepared statement. The statement was basically an itemization of all of his feelings and his opinions concerning all of the key plays of the game (plays he made and plays where he screwed up).
Absolutely wonderful. Well-played, Mark. Way to nip that shit in the bud.
posted by JButton at 01:22 PM on November 16, 2009
I'm happy that Jon Gruden, for the time being, will be staying with MNF for the time being. He's one of my favorite announcers in the game.
posted by jmd82 at 01:38 PM on November 16, 2009
The Bengals have reportedly signed Larry Johnson.
posted by dfleming at 01:59 PM on November 16, 2009
Are you sure, JButton? If Sanchez is resorting to that tactic after nine games in the NFL, it sounds like he's not handling the New York media. Showing them fear is like chum to sharks.
posted by rcade at 02:14 PM on November 16, 2009
Interesting move for a team which for so many years were the Bungels and iffy players, and now that they seem to have finally got it together, signs a known malcontent.
posted by jmd82 at 02:14 PM on November 16, 2009
Way to nip that shit in the bud.
What, actual communication with the fans who pay his salary?
posted by yerfatma at 02:58 PM on November 16, 2009
Cedric Benson Hip injury more serious then expected. Thats why they picked up Larry Johnson. Seems like there are some better backs out there.
posted by Debo270 at 02:58 PM on November 16, 2009
"Coach said take a knee, so sorry to my fantasy owners, I apologize," Jones-Drew said. "I had myself today, too, so it was a tough call, but whatever it takes to get the victory."
Suffice to say, MJD not scoring a TD made me lose by 3 points. If only he would've scored, I would be in 1st instead of 3rd.
posted by BornIcon at 03:26 PM on November 16, 2009
I was reading this article while I was...well, let's just say I read this article in yesterday's Detroit Free Press. It struck me as some of the worst writing I've ever seen in a newspaper. Hell, this is worse than a lot of columns I see on sports blogs. Have newspapers sunk so low that they need to hire writers that can't even keep a coherent thought from paragraph to paragraph?
posted by MeatSaber at 04:39 PM on November 16, 2009
Hrm. This is already becoming an interesting silly season for F1. Mercedes buys out Brawn GP. I wonder how the divorce with McLaren will work out...
posted by bluemagpie at 07:53 PM on November 16, 2009
Allen Iverson and the Grizzlies have parted ways. From the link: "Memphis fans greeted the biggest star ever to play for the Grizzlies with a big crowd for his introductory news conference and eagerly bought up his No. 3 jersey, though he wound up never playing a game on the team's home court." Ouch.
posted by rcade at 08:18 PM on November 16, 2009
Okay so who had 3 games in the Inevitable Grizzlies/Iverson Split-Up predictions?
posted by lilnemo at 10:42 PM on November 16, 2009
Doehead, with a prescience beyond that of Kreskin, has made me once again eat a bit of crow. I hate this signing, and I really hope that he'll remain inactive for the immediate future. Of course, that means that Benson needs to heal up quickly.
I really wish that Mike Brown wasn't determined to save the world one troubled young man at a time. He rolled the dice with Benson and, for the time being, hit the jackpot; that doesn't mean you're infallible, Mike.
posted by tahoemoj at 10:47 PM on November 16, 2009
Interesting background as to how professional surfing operates.