12/23/24
December 03, 2017
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.
Just saw the selection. Alabama and Georgia both get in, and Ohio State is left out. Trouble is that they won't expand to 8 teams unless the regular schedule is cut by at least one game. The schools complain about the playoffs taking classroom time away from the athletes as it is. Of course, they never complain about the money.
posted by Howard_T at 12:43 PM on December 03, 2017
Gronk should miss some time over this late hit cheap shot.
posted by rcade at 05:30 PM on December 03, 2017
It will take a season where Alabama is clearly not one of the top 4 teams before they expand to 8, and then likely it will happen the very next year. Even then less lucrative undefeated teams like UCF and Boise State teams will probably never get a shot.
Big money programs in NCAA Basketball also always get favorable seeding in March ... but they do have to play the lower ranked small schools that they avoid playing otherwise.
posted by cixelsyd at 05:37 PM on December 03, 2017
Good thing the Niners don't need to draft a QB at the moment, as Jimmy G might play them out of the top of the round and position them to select an elite defender instead.
Or, if they can't win a couple more ballgames, the Niners can stay high in the draft order and wait for the Bears to call, offering all their 2018 picks for the chance to move up so they can draft Luke Falk.
posted by beaverboard at 06:30 PM on December 03, 2017
I feel like a large majority of college football fans want an 8-team playoff. Is it the NCAA or colleges (or both) that don't want it? Regardless of the number, there will always be a debate at the cut line, but with 8 teams in, we are far less likely to leave out a team that could win the title than we are currently.
posted by bender at 09:15 AM on December 04, 2017
Gronk should miss some time over this late hit cheap shot
Up 23-3 late in the 4th on a play that meant nothing except for the Patriots padding their stat line.
Precedent indicates textbook 2 games. I'd be very surprised if the NFL gives him yet another pass being that this was a targeted head shot .. from behind .. to an opponent laying on the field.
posted by cixelsyd at 10:32 AM on December 04, 2017
Just want to thank Rcade etal for the NFL pool, I'm having fun with it, keeping me interested in the NFL with my Gmen having a well embarrassing season.
posted by truthhurts at 10:41 AM on December 04, 2017
Gronk got off easy for his idiot goon move with just a one game suspension.
I especially disliked his ballet footwork prior to launching himself as he decided which leg to push off from to get the most body drive on the prone, defenseless player.
I'd make him get in an elevator with Ray Rice and Hannibal Lecter and see how that goes.
posted by beaverboard at 05:59 PM on December 04, 2017
It has been reported that Gronk is appealing the suspension. He did at least admit to the offense in question.
posted by cixelsyd at 06:14 PM on December 04, 2017
It'd be great if, on appeal, it was raised to two games.
posted by opel70 at 08:22 AM on December 05, 2017
NFLPA appeals all suspensions essentially automatically. Not sure Gronk had much say in it.
posted by yerfatma at 01:28 PM on December 06, 2017
You know, it's not the worst thing a Patriots tight end has ever done.
posted by tommybiden at 09:03 AM on December 07, 2017
Is this about Rod Rutledge flipping his car coming home from The Foxy Lady?
posted by yerfatma at 01:07 PM on December 08, 2017
I think this is the year where the push for a 8-team bowl playoff is going to pick up a lot of steam.