04/25/24
August 31, 2012
SportsFilter: The Friday 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.
Floyd Mayweather bets $3 million on Michigan over Alabama. Roll Tide!
posted by phaedon at 06:20 PM on August 31, 2012
The Pats trimmed some notable guys during roster cut down today.
Especially bummed about Hoyer. I think he's got potential. I'd like to see him catch on somewhere.
posted by beaverboard at 07:56 PM on August 31, 2012
Yeah, a couple of those really surprised me. Dropping Branch and Gaffney is really quite strange. They're now carrying three experienced receivers (and Slater, who's a lot better on special teams) and four tight ends, one of which is Visanthe Shiancoe who has some bizarre hip injury and isn't even practicing.
Koppen I can understand is a financial move (particularly if Waters comes back and Connolly can shift to center) but anyone who's seen Mallett knows he's not ready to play in the NFL. Hoyer was steady and unspectacular, and given he's worked with Brady for years will likely find a roster soon.
They are carrying a ton of defensive ends (I count 7?) and defensive backs (which, given their history, is not a bad idea) but they seems really thin on offensive depth. Chalk this up to not always understanding what Bill B. is thinking.
posted by dfleming at 08:22 AM on September 01, 2012
I would envision them re-signing Gaffney in the near future.
posted by dyams at 12:18 PM on September 01, 2012
Looks like Mayweather would be better off wiping his ass with his money than betting it on college football. Thinking a Big 10 team would actually make a game of a matchup against a SEC team? Alabama of all teams? He may have taken too many punches to the head.
posted by dyams at 10:16 PM on September 01, 2012
Yeah, it's completely ridiculous that a Big Ten team could be within two touchdowns of an SEC team, or even beat one.
posted by Etrigan at 11:17 PM on September 01, 2012
So what you're saying, Etrigan, is that in the history of college football my statement doesn't hold up? Wow, touche. You got me. You and Mayweather should pool your money together and bet the Big Ten every time they face the Big 10. If you're smart you'll double the money when teams like Ohio State play a SEC team for the national championship.
posted by dyams at 12:22 AM on September 02, 2012
So what you're saying, Etrigan, is that in the history of college football my statement doesn't hold up?
Both examples happened during this calendar year.
Considering the new season is only one game old, referring to the last games played of the previous season is as recent as you could possibly get.
posted by grum@work at 12:34 AM on September 02, 2012
dyams, there's a difference between, say, "This was a dumb bet because even without the starters it lost to the draft, Alabama is an excellent team, while Michigan is suspect in many areas and is likely overrated as a preseason #8 or even #12," and "This was a dumb bet because the SEC rules and Vanderbilt would go 11-1 in the Big Ten every year WOO PIG ROLL TIDE CHOMP EM GATORS GO COCKS!" Your analysis may have tinged just the tiniest bit toward the latter.
posted by Etrigan at 08:44 AM on September 02, 2012
My analysis is based on Alabama being the most dominant program currently in college football and Michigan having proven nothing in recent years. It also may have to do with the memory of those over-hyped National Championship games from a few years back when prognosticators wanted us to buy into the idea Ohio State actually had the ability to make a game of it.
But yes, in many cases I would be hesitant to bet big money against one of the top-tier SEC teams and be able to have real confidence in the pick.
I apologize for my tone and errors in last night's posts. A bit shitfaced.
posted by dyams at 10:49 AM on September 02, 2012
The Jets finally scored their first TD of the preseason.
Tebow fans can line up their plastic Jesus statues on gameday all they want, but the real power governing the team's fortunes is currently held by whoever in the greater metropolitan area has been lighting a ring of candles encircling a commemorative bust of Herman Edwards.