January 12, 2014

SportsFilter: The Sunday 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.

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 6 comments

Winnipeg Jets fire Claude Noel, hire Paul Maurice

posted by tommybiden at 12:48 PM on January 12, 2014

Noel was a good coach in a bad situation.

Jets are saddled with a number of players they count on that don't show up on a regular basis. Noel was prevented from benching the under performing "stars" while the GM unsuccessfully attempted to move Wheeler, Byfuglein, and others.

Best case scenario is the Jets tank badly this year, get rid of the majority of their current "leadership" (not including Stuart), and draft more young talent to join the group they already have.

posted by cixelsyd at 08:43 PM on January 12, 2014

So our final four in the NFL is:

Manning
vs
Brady and Belichick

and

Pete Carroll
vs
Jim Harbaugh

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the boys over at the NFL/CBS/FOX marketing department are happy right now. They've got all their previous clips and talking points queued up.

posted by grum@work at 10:54 PM on January 12, 2014

Not to mention if the Seahawks and Patriots face off in the Superbowl, it's basically a Pete Carroll reunion party (given how loved he was back in his New England days...).

On the other hand, a Seahawks/Broncos match could- what with the legalization of recreational marijuana by the two states involved- lead to Super Bowl XLIX being unofficial dubbed the "Bud Bowl"... or maybe just the Smoka Bowl.

posted by hincandenza at 11:38 PM on January 12, 2014

We had the Harbaugh Bowl last year and that was a bit much.

The thing I'm grateful for is that there is not much likelihood at this point that we'll ever see a Manning brothers Super Bowl. I don't think I'd survive the manufactured hysteria if that ever happened.

The drama was bad enough when Peyton needed to find a new team and people were clutching plastic statuettes and praying that he would stay in the AFC so the pre-ordained fantasy of the Mannings going head to head for all the marbles would come true.

posted by beaverboard at 01:25 AM on January 13, 2014

it's basically a Pete Carroll reunion party

Bobby Grier will be tailgating. Or at least roasted in effigy by Pats fans.

posted by yerfatma at 12:01 PM on January 13, 2014

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