NFL Week 9 -- Did you know Aaron Rodgers will win the MVP?

[DeToxRox]

COTTRELL OUT, RIVERA IN FOR THE BOLTS
Posted by Mike Florio on October 28, 2008, 4:12 p.m.

The San Diego Chargers have announced that defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell has been fired.

Effective immediately, the new defensive coordinator is linebackers coach Ron Rivera.

Cottrell was hired to run the defense after Norv Turner replaced coach Marty Schottenheimer in February 2007.

Rivera had been the defensive coordinator of the Bears, and received several interviews for head-coaching jobs during the 2007 hiring cycle. But the Bears opted not to keep him, and the Tampa Two coordinator landed in the San Diego 3-4 system.

The move is likely a shot across the bow at Turner, who could be on the way out as well if the 3-5 Chargers don’t turn things around in the second half of the season.

[yacovfb]

It's about time. The D can only get better with Rivera.

[hoopsguy]

No problem with the move, but I guess they are not yet willing to admit that removing Schottenheimer for Turner as head coach wasn't the right play? Or do Chargers fans really put more of this at the D-Coordinator's feet than the head coach?

[yacovfb]

No problem with the move, but I guess they are not yet willing to admit that removing Schottenheimer for Turner as head coach wasn't the right play? Or do Chargers fans really put more of this at the D-Coordinator's feet than the head coach?

I'm not exactly pleased with Turner, but he's led us to 2 more playoff wins in his one season than Marty did during his tenure.

As for this season, yeah Norv's the head coach so the buck stops with him. But he's doing an excellent job calling the offense so maybe this change will be what the team needs. Still not holding my breath that they win more than 8 this year.

[JediKooter]

About ding dang time. I was getting tired of Cottrell's passer friendly schemes. Hopefully Ron Rivera can turn the Chargers D around.

[Scarecrow]

This just in...

The Tampa 2 defense is D E A D ! ! ! !

Signed,

Ted Cotrell
Tony Dungy
Herm Edwards

[Thomkal]

well in a continuation from the Week 8 thread, Culpepper has decided not to visit KC now, saying he has another team that's interested in him. That team turns out to be the Lions where he has now worked out for. A bit surprised they would be interested in Culpepper because they liked their current starter whose name I can't spell and his backup. Or so I thought.

But the good news for me is that Tyler Thigpen lives on for the Chiefs!

[Axxon]

This just in...

The Tampa 2 defense is D E A D ! ! ! !

Signed,

Ted Cotrell
Tony Dungy
Herm Edwards

Hmm, I may have to think about that one.

Signed,

Monte Kiffin

2008 TB Defense, 2nd in league in points, 5th in yards against.

You wannabes can talk all you want about your flavor of the Tampa 2 but as the creator of it, I'd say it still has some legs.

[stevew]

Can one of these things be about Bruce Arians getting fired, and replaced by someone with a fuckin clue? Someday? Maybe before the season is lost?

[fantom1979]

Cottrell's career as defensive coordinator:

Defensive Rank in Yardage
98 Bills -- 6th
99 Bills -- 1st
00 Bills -- 3rd
01 Jets* -- 19th
02 Jets* -- 24th
03 Jets* -- 21st
04 Vikings -- 28th
05 Vikings -- 21st
07 Chargers -- 14th
08 Chargers -- 32nd

* Forced to use a 4-3 (Cottrell is considered a 3-4 expert) by head coach Herm Edwards



I think it is safe to say that Cottrell is highly over rated. I hated him in New York. After the stops in Minnesota and San Diego, maybe teams have finally learned.

[JediKooter]

The sad thing about Cottrell and the Chargers is, they pulled his ass out of retirement to screw up the Chargers' defense.

Way to go Cottrell, you made the Chargers' pass defense worse than the Lions...THE LIONS!!!!

My hat comes off to Ron Rivera and the task he has at hand.

[Apathetic Lurker]

Stop your bellyaching ya bunch of Nancy's!

He did fine in Buffalo..Maybe the craptacular players on the Jets, Vikes and Chargers had something to do with it..




Although I do like Rivera

[Thomkal]

saw on one of the news tickers that Culpepper has signed a 2 year deal with the Lions.

So will Tyler Thigpen look awful against the Bucs or good like against the Jets, or somewhere in between? Discuss. :)

[Jas_lov]

So the biggest NFL story of the week was Aaron Rodgers getting a much deserved contract extension through 2014. The Packers have their new franchise quarterback while the rest of the NFC North is still looking. Aaron Rodgers is probably the leading candidate for NFL MVP now and I bet he wins it. Don't be surprised if he leads the Packers to an upset win today against the Titans.

Another big story was KGB getting released by the Packers. He was injured and no longer quick enough. The Packers got rid of most of the dead weight in the offseason but KGB needed to go.

[Lathum]

So ESPN just showed a feature about how Ditka almost ran for senate against Obama in 2004. Does anyone know if that was a serious story or one of those Kenny Mayne-esque features.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Aaron Rodgers is probably the leading candidate for NFL MVP now and I bet he wins it.
What?

Edit: Sorry, I guess joke's on me. I figured out a long time ago that nobody reads anything this guy says anymore, but I fell for it. Doh!

[GrantDawg]

So ESPN just showed a feature about how Ditka almost ran for senate against Obama in 2004. Does anyone know if that was a serious story or one of those Kenny Mayne-esque features.


No, he was considering it.

[Lathum]

No, he was considering it.

that was my question, was he considering it. I thought maybe the whole story was a joke. Thats really interesting. If Obama wins and the economy tanks I guess we can blame Ditka.

[GrantDawg]

that was my question, was he considering it. I thought maybe the whole story was a joke. Thats really interesting. If Obama wins and the economy tanks I guess we can blame Ditka.


The "no" was about it being a joke. I don't know how far it went, but he was considering it.

[Raiders Army]

Mike Brown intercepts Orlavsky and returns it for a TD with less than 2 minutes played. Detroit challenges down by contact.

[Pumpy Tudors]

All professional football is dead to me because I just found out that the AFL's New Orleans VooDoo folded. I guess I'll try to keep watching this "NFL" stuff, but my heart isn't in it.

[Thomkal]

Cards get a TD reversed as well, but Thigpen gets the Chiefs up early against the Bucs

[Thomkal]

Chiefs recover a Ernest Graham fumble and are in the red zone looking to score again

[Thomkal]

Chiefs up by 2 TD's. who needs Larry Johnson anyway

[Thomkal]

Chiefs score again when Tyler Thigpen catches a pass from WR Bradley.

[Atocep]

Apparently the bears think its a good idea to stack the line and single cover Calvin Johnson today....

[Lathum]

I see Chad Johnson has 2 TD's today, did he pull out the Obama banner?

[airulf]

What the hell was that? Bironas lines up for a 63 yard fg at the half, but instead the holder just takes a knee???

[Atocep]

The bears amazing gameplan has the Lions looking like the '99 rams.

[MikeVic]

All professional football is dead to me because I just found out that the AFL's New Orleans VooDoo folded. I guess I'll try to keep watching this "NFL" stuff, but my heart isn't in it.

:(

[MikeVic]

What the hell was that? Bironas lines up for a 63 yard fg at the half, but instead the holder just takes a knee???

The announcer said something like "he's lining up to tie the NFL record with Jack Dempsey and Jason Elam." I could've sworn Matt Bryant hit a 64 yarder last year or the year before...?

[Thomkal]

They had to take Orton off the field in a cart-looks like his ankle. Bad time to pick Chicago as my High team...

[Lathum]

What the hell was that? Bironas lines up for a 63 yard fg at the half, but instead the holder just takes a knee???
they were probably trying to get the defense to jump then go for a more makeable 58 yarder

[Pumpy Tudors]

The announcer said something like "he's lining up to tie the NFL record with Jack Dempsey and Jason Elam." I could've sworn Matt Bryant hit a 64 yarder last year or the year before...?
Nah, Bryant's was 62.

[Surtt]

I think it is safe to say that Cottrell is highly over rated. I hated him in New York. After the stops in Minnesota and San Diego, maybe teams have finally learned.


After his 2 years in Minny, I could not believe he got another job in the NFL.
His philosophy seems to be play prevent the whole game and hope the other team screws up.

[airulf]

Nah, Bryant's was 62.


Didn't some guy break the record, but since it was in pre-season it doesn't count?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Didn't some guy break the record, but since it was in pre-season it doesn't count?
I may be wrong on who it was, but I believe it was Ola Kimrin who did that.

[Radii]

This game between runaway NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers' Packers and the Titans has been pretty good!

[saldana]

They had to take Orton off the field in a cart-looks like his ankle. Bad time to pick Chicago as my High team...

which means the inevitable return of Good Rex/Bad Rex on TWIP:popcorn:

[Radii]

Random Stats:

JT O'Sullivan has passed for more yards this season than Aaron Rodgers.

Chad Pennington has a higher QB rating this season than Aaron Rodgers.

[Atocep]

And Rex gives the bears the lead.

[Radii]

This Green Bay/Tennessee game is one where I cannot tell if each team is playing great defense, or each team is playing terrible on offense. Either way, its 16-16 with a minute left, Titans ball, they just completed a pass to get out to their own 40 yard line.

[Radii]

After looking totally helpless on offense for the entire second half, Kerry Collins marches down field to set up a game winning FG attempt(47 yards) on the last play of the game.

[Radii]

OVERTIME. FG hits the right upright.

[Izulde]

What the hell happened to the Ravens D?

And why is the Dolphins game starting now rather than at 1?

[Atocep]

The lions would have won this game by at least 2 scores if Orlovsky could hit Calvin Johnson on a pass longer than 15 yards.

[Izulde]

Yay Ravens D got INT. Gimme those points! :D

[Pumpy Tudors]

And why is the Dolphins game starting now rather than at 1?
They don't play games that early in Denver.

[miked]

My word. Bironas setting up for a FG in OT, and the TV cuts to commercial because the afternoon games are on. WTF!

[Front Office Midget]

Even though he made it, isn't it a bit of a weird decision to kick a 41 yard FG on 3rd and 1 in OT? That's a tough FG, he just missed a 47 yarder, and they could certainly continue the drive... Weird. I would have been very happy if he missed that. :(

[Atocep]

Bad Rex is better than good Orlovsky.

I'm fairly certain the Lions easily beat the bears with any other QB in the league starting for them today.

[Thomkal]

ugh Chiefs lead the entire game but let the Bucs get back into in the second half, tie the game late and now have the ball in OT. Chiefs have scored over 20 points in the last two Thigpen's starts

[GrantDawg]

Ryan hits Jenkins for a TD right over MeAngelo Hall. Gotta love it.

[Tigercat]

Oh God, this Fox team of Vasgersian and Pearson is the worst NFL announcing team I have heard in years. They are clueless and have no flow at all.

Falcons come out with a no huddle system allowing Ryan to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage, the announcers proceed to call those adjustments "confusion at the line of scrimmage." Meanwhile, Ryan in his "confusion" leads Atlanta down the field for a TD.

[Buccaneer]

Nice come from behind victory for the Bucs.

[Thomkal]

And the Bucs march down the field and kick the winning FG. What a shame for the Chiefs. Shame for the Lions too, both deserved to win after leading most of their games.

[sterlingice]

which means the inevitable return of Good Rex/Bad Rex on TWIP:popcorn:

woo!

SI

[PackerFanatic]

This Green Bay/Tennessee game is one where I cannot tell if each team is playing great defense, or each team is playing terrible on offense. Either way, its 16-16 with a minute left, Titans ball, they just completed a pass to get out to their own 40 yard line.

No kidding...I still feel that Green Bay could have easily won that game. So many chances for turnovers on defense and they couldn't get them. They needed more from their offense too and couldn't get anything moving. At least it is promising that they hung in there with one of the best in the league.

[SirFozzie]

LOLOakland

(edit: it's even worse then I thought! Oakland has NO YARDS total with 4:00 to play in the first half!!!!)

[Matthean]

Bad Rex is better than good Orlovsky.

I'm fairly certain the Lions easily beat the bears with any other QB in the league starting for them today.

The odd thing is that he has 5 TDs and 2 INTs, in his last four games and a decent QB rating, but if you watch him play, he's far from impressive. The lack of pass blocking really isn't helping either.

I did love how the announcers basically overly stated how well the Lions D played in the second half during a drive that the Bears basically drove down field with ease and used the same running play for huge gains three times.

[GrantDawg]

LOLOakland

(edit: it's even worse then I thought! Oakland has NO YARDS total with 4:00 to play in the first half!!!!)


Oakland did have something go their way. Ryan was stripped of the ball stepping up to throw. But then they have the ball with a few seconds left in the half, and Abraham gets his 3rd sack of the half. This is a really bad game.

[SirFozzie]

-7 yards in the first half. Can we please send the Raiders to the CFL?

[DeToxRox]

Culpepper is all but assured to play, if not start, next week vs Jax. Thankfully the Lions playbooks is all of 2 pages, one of which is all Rollouts, so that is one page Culpepper doesn't need to read.

Kudos to the Bengals, huge win.

Now get me Michael Oher.

[Eaglesfan27]

The Eagles finally get creative down near the goal line - TD pass to G Todd Herremans.

[hoopsguy]

Dolphins just put together a sustained march down the field, culminating in a Brown TD run to go up 9 on Broncos. Very impressive to see them do that on the road, in a tight game, even if it is against the Broncos D.

[MJ4H]

I see my boy Peyton Hillis is having a monster game for Denver? No TV for the game so I don't actually see it, unfortunately, though. Anyone watching can fill me in?

[hoopsguy]

I've been on and off the Denver/Miami game, but from what I can tell Dolphins have really taken away a lot of what Broncos want. No ground game to speak of, Marshall has one catch. The Hillis game seems, from what I've seen, to be a case of Cutler (sometimes) taking what the defense is giving him.

[st.cronin]

Its a little hard for me to believe, but if the Pats win tonight they'll be alone in first place in the AFC East.

[Buccaneer]

I love the Falcons victory over the pathetic Raiders.

[stevew]

I tell you what....it was too fucking cold in Cleveland today.

Derek Anderson's arena clearing interception to Suggs put a nice exclamation point on the Browns squandered day.

[Big Fo]

The Dolphins revival continues with another solid win. If Indy wins tonight we're just a game out of first with Seattle and Oakland at home the next two weeks, which could setup a big game vs. the Pats.

[DeToxRox]

Packers are 4-4 ... Aaron Rodgers for MVP!!!

Truthfully tho, midyear MVP has to be Portis or Warner.

[stevew]

Aaron Rodgers, the overwhelming favorite to win the 2008-09 NFL MVP, needs to figure out how to get the ball to Jennings in the endzone or my fantasy team is cooked.

[stevew]

dola-
Ray Rice broke some really good runs today. He definitely adds stuff to the Baltimore offense that Maghee doesn't.

Flacco played pretty well too, of course he's nowhere near as good as MVP Aaron Rodgers.

[stevew]

In hindsight, I guess picking up Fargas and starting him wasn't the best fantasy move this week. I wish the raiders would play with some pride once in awhile.

[GrantDawg]

In hindsight, I guess picking up Fargas and starting him wasn't the best fantasy move this week. I wish the raiders would play with some pride once in awhile.


Ew. Really bad move.

[Raiders Army]

It's hard being a fan

[Buccaneer]

Raiders are about as far down as an NFL franschise could be, of what I have seen since 1970. I remember those awful Oilers, Colts, Bengals, etc. teams, as well as recently with the Lions and last year's Falcons. At least all of those teams had some hope for the future (which proved out) but the Raiders probably have to change everything top to bottom.

[stevew]

Russell had one of the worst stat lines I've ever seen. 6-19, 30ish passing yards, 1 INT. His rating for the game was 19.0, because he managed to only throw one interception in 19 attempts. Small victories I guess.

[SirFozzie]

Damn. That was a long.. long punt. :)

[miami_fan]

The Dolphins revival continues with another solid win. If Indy wins tonight we're just a game out of first with Seattle and Oakland at home the next two weeks, which could setup a big game vs. the Pats.

4-4 at this point is an absolute though, pleasant shock.

[Big Fo]

4-4 at this point is an absolute though, pleasant shock.

Most definitely, I was hoping for five or six wins all season.

[GrantDawg]

Most definitely, I was hoping for five or six wins all season.


With ya with the Falcons. I was just hoping we'd show some improvement. I don't how long we can keep this up, but I'm quite happy thus far.

[Thomkal]

Packers are 4-4 ... Aaron Rodgers for MVP!!!

Truthfully tho, midyear MVP has to be Portis or Warner.

Well I like the Warner talk since I'm a Cards fan, but I think Drew Brees should be a contender for that title too.

[SirFozzie]

If I see one more inside handoff from the shotgun from the Pats, I may scream.

[Thomkal]

And don't look now, but my beloved Cards have a 3 game lead in their division. Which blows my mind frankly.

[Buccaneer]

And don't look now, but my beloved Cards have a 3 game lead in their division. Which blows my mind frankly.

Mrs Bucc's only rooting interest this season is Kurt and the Arizona Cardinals. She and I were out shopping today and our son was calling us every 15 minutes to give us Kurt updates.

[SirFozzie]

Wow. There's two mistakes you don't expect from the Colts.

[DaddyTorgo]

i don't think the NFL could have expected Pats-Colts to be 7-6 at the half when they first scheduled this game for SNF.

[SirFozzie]

Open up the damn offense, Pats!

[miami_fan]

Anyone see the Giants-Cowboys game? I am trying to figure out how the hell Justin Tuck was supposed to avoid that roughing the passer penalty when he sacked Bollinger.

[Thomkal]

Mrs Bucc's only rooting interest this season is Kurt and the Arizona Cardinals. She and I were out shopping today and our son was calling us every 15 minutes to give us Kurt updates.

You picked your wife wisely. :D

[SirFozzie]

See Matt? They won't throw a flag if you throw the ball more than 10 yards!

[Karlifornia]

You picked your wife wisely. :D

If only you could say the same to Kurt Warner ;)

[Thomkal]

heh Karl

[SirFozzie]

ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Gaffney!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Buccaneer]

See Matt? They won't throw a flag if you throw the ball more than 10 yards!

Yeah, that's funny. According to Sportsline, the longs are:

11
11
10
9
11
11
8

[SirFozzie]

Billy just fucked us over. L) Shades of the Baltimore game last year.

[Radii]

what the hell?

Is going for it on 4th and 1 inside the 10 when only down 3 *really* a smart idea?

[SirFozzie]

Damn. Great kick by Vinatieri. Would have been good from 60.

[airulf]

Yeah, that's funny. According to Sportsline, the longs are:

11
11
10
9
11
11
8

Cassel going "deep" on this drive with completions of 13 and 16 yards ;)

[airulf]

That penalty on Thomas probably just cost the game for the Pats.

[SirFozzie]

Ouch. Horrible time for a late hit, but I don't really have a problem with the call.

Now we need a quick stop

[SirFozzie]

Ball game.

[Coffee Warlord]

By the by, word is Orton's out for a month with a high ankle sprain.

[DaddyTorgo]

too many QB injuries this year - it's ridiculous

[Atocep]

too many QB injuries this year - it's ridiculous

Well the obvious answer to that is more games.

[Kodos]

Nice to see the Colts get a game they needed tonight.

[gstelmack]

Well the obvious answer to that is more games.

It won't be more games, it will be replacing preseason games. Where guys are getting hurt anyway? Why not at least make those games count if stars are going down regardless?

[Buccaneer]

It won't be more games, it will be replacing preseason games. Where guys are getting hurt anyway? Why not at least make those games count if stars are going down regardless?

No, most starters only play sparingly in preseason games. They will play in the extra regular season games and therefore, increase the chance of more injuries to starters and reducing the quality of play.

[stevew]

Did big Ben get hurt on that sneak.

[henry296]

Did big Ben get hurt on that sneak.

They aren't sure when he got hurt, but it probably was the sack or the deep pass when he got hit on the arm.

By the way, Leftwich has a cannon of an arm and I feel ok if he had to play the next 3 games. Don't the Cowboys wish they had Leftwich instead of Johnson and Bollinger.

[cuervo72]

I am liking this Guitar Hero ad campaign.

[Lathum]

Leftwich has looked great this half

[Lathum]

Nice win by Pitt bouncing back after a tough home loss. I think this win solidifies the Giants as by far the best team in the league.

[stevew]

Big victory. Now they need to go smack the Colts in the mouth, and get into playoff form.

Didn't like spotting the Redskins 3 points there at the beginning, but whatcha gonna do.

Defense has been playing all world thus far, hopefully it continues. Even though they're missing some key players in the secondary.

[EagleFan]

Actually they spotted them 6 points with the onside and interception.

[flere-imsaho]

So ESPN just showed a feature about how Ditka almost ran for senate against Obama in 2004. Does anyone know if that was a serious story or one of those Kenny Mayne-esque features.

After Jack Ryan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Ryan_(2004_U.S._Senate_candidate)) bowed out of the race, the IL state GOP, which has been in shambles for most of the decade, but was really in shambles in 2004, was casting about for new candidates. The state GOP courted Ditka madly (mostly because their bench was so bad) but eventually he decided against it due to family & business concerns. By the time that was over Obama had gained so much momentum that pretty much no-one in-state wanted to run against him so they recruited Alan Keyes in from out of state. The election quickly descended into farce, and the rest is history.