04/25/24
January 03, 2011
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.
I think you're gonna be OK.
(It's Rich Rod that wished he had nothing but a burrito to blame for whatever he dreamed last night).
There were people that actually did say stuff that was gong-eligible yesterday, though not in the racism category.
Here's an inspirational line from Pete Carroll after his Seahawks "won" the NFC West last night:
"I guess we won for all the teams that have a losing record and think they can't be champions. It can get done, you can do it,'' Carroll said.
I had successfully avoided a New Year's hangover until he came up with that.
Go 7-9 and cue the Queen track.
posted by beaverboard at 09:02 AM on January 03, 2011
Thanks bb.
I actually think it would be kind of funny if the Seahawks won the Superbowl.
posted by NoMich at 09:15 AM on January 03, 2011
I actually think it would be kind of funny if the Seahawks won the Superbowl.
Given the level of catastrophe that that would require to strike other teams, I don't think it would be funny at all.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:13 AM on January 03, 2011
To their credit, Seattle had one of the best game-ending clock-managing drives I've seen this year. Somehow, that's become a lost art in the NFL waiting for some offensive coordinator to discover hidden it in the mysterious Tomb of Favre's Dignity.
posted by kokaku at 10:19 AM on January 03, 2011
"I guess we won for all the teams that have a losing record and think they can't be champions."
Carroll makes it sound like losing is a disability and he's championing the rights of the win-impaired.
posted by rcade at 10:32 AM on January 03, 2011
After watching that game last night, I'd be surprised if either the Seahawks or the Rams could manage a win over the Maple Leafs in a first round playoff game.
posted by fabulon7 at 11:09 AM on January 03, 2011
The Browns have fired Mangenius.
Whoever takes over there next year has a chance to look like a genuine genius, as the Browns have some pieces, were suffering from injuries and next season they get to play the NFC Worst West.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:12 AM on January 03, 2011
Don't count the Seahawks out just yet. The ballboys just got back from Lowe's and they should be slathering the WD-40 on the visiting team K balls any minute now.
posted by beaverboard at 11:29 AM on January 03, 2011
could manage a win over the Maple Leafs in a first round playoff game
Maple Leafs ... playoffs? PLAYOFFS?
Look, both Seattle and the Rams are really bad. The 49ers are also bad - but all were in contention for a playoff spot during the last month of the season.
When is the last year that the Leafs were in contention after any month of the season?
posted by cixelsyd at 11:46 AM on January 03, 2011
Yes, Tom Coughlin is coming back to coach the Giants next year, but his job has been considered "on the line" because, despite their winning record, they were in danger of not making (and ultimately did not make) the playoffs. Meanwhile, Seattle puts a losing record together, gets in the playoffs and there is no discussion of whether Seahawks coach Pete Carroll's job should be in jeopardy or not. Also, no discussion (at least that I've heard) about Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo.
Conclusion: the NFC West potentially offers better job security for coaches.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:55 AM on January 03, 2011
Joey: Carroll, losing record or not, made the playoffs in the first year of a very expensive contract; my crystal ball says he would have had to go 1-15 to get the hook last night. Giants ownership are among the most conservative when it comes to changing coaches so Coughlin staying "despite" a 10-6 record is not much surprise as he was retained after worse finishes.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:18 PM on January 03, 2011
posted by kokaku at 02:23 PM on January 03, 2011
Didn't they say the Giants were the first 10-win team to not make the playoffs? If that's true, it would be pretty rough to fire a coach for that.
posted by fabulon7 at 02:45 PM on January 03, 2011
They did say that, yes, but they were wrong.
The Dolphins went 10-6 in 2003 and didn't make the post season.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 02:51 PM on January 03, 2011
2008 Patriots went 11-5, did not make the playoffs.
Did not fire the coach. (Who got 11 wins without Brady).
(There were times in 2010 when it seemed like Coughlin was going 10-6 without Eli. Or in spite of him.)
posted by beaverboard at 03:04 PM on January 03, 2011
From the Goodell reaches out to fans link: "the NFL this morning sent an email from commissioner Roger Goodell to about 5 million fans"
If you can't trust a spammer, who can you trust?
posted by yerfatma at 03:10 PM on January 03, 2011
Meanwhile, Ronnie Brown fell 16 rushing yards short of a $500,000 bonus.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 03:28 PM on January 03, 2011
I don't it's outside the realm of of possibility that 5 million people have gone to the NFL's website and filled out a newsletter sign-up form.
posted by NoMich at 03:50 PM on January 03, 2011
I do think it's out of the realm of possibility the checkbox said, "Please keep me up to date on all labor negotiations with those wicked, wicked players."
posted by yerfatma at 04:16 PM on January 03, 2011
Giants not only are keeping Coughlin they are giving him a new contract.
posted by billsaysthis at 08:56 PM on January 03, 2011
WNBA star Diana Taurasi tests positive for banned stimulant
posted by tommybiden at 11:40 PM on January 03, 2011
When is the last year that the Leafs were in contention after any month of the season?
The Leafs missed out on the playoffs in 2006-07 on the final day of the season, and missed out on the playoffs in 2006-06 on the final weekend of the season.
I actually think it would be kind of funny if the Seahawks won the Superbowl.
They could join the following teams that won playoff championships with losing records in the regular season:
1948-49 Toronto Maple Leafs 1937-38 Chicago Black Hawks
posted by grum@work at 12:51 AM on January 04, 2011
Ha! I say Ha! I would absolutely LOVE to see the Seahawks spoil everybody's pile-on party of disdain for their admittedly pathetic, backing-in route to the playoffs. I mean, what if the Saints actually DO have a tough time getting a road playoff win (something they have NEVER done)? What if, all of a sudden, the Seahwks wake up and actually sort of play football? Win a playoff game and move on? Then what does that do to everybody else's view of How Things Should Be? Maybe Clipboard Jesus can deliver another miracle come Saturday. That, to me, would be AWESOME!
Now of course, I am a Seattle fan so I am just happy that the Rams, 49'ers, and Cardinals are sitting at home watching the game. But that's how the rules for the post-season are set up. If you don't like it change it after the lockout. But the first step in turning this into Bizarro World has been taken.
posted by THX-1138 at 05:36 PM on January 04, 2011
I had a dream last night where I got the banhammer here for racist comments. WTF? I guess that's the last time I'll eat a burrito just before going to bed.