NFL Playoffs: The Wild-Card Round

[M GO BLUE!!!]

In regards to facing the team that beat the Jets in last year's AFC Championship Game, Rex Ryan said "I want to put the shoe on the other foot."

You would think that in light of recent revelations he would choose his words more carefully.

(I almost said "step lightly," but do we need more puns?)

[Suicane75]

He's not gonna toe the line but rather try and get a leg up. Even if he looks like a heel.



















Rick Ankiel

[RainMaker]

Looking forward to just about all the games. The NFC is wide open.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Guess this gets posted here...I don't think there is an NFL offseason thread yet

Massage therapists sue Brett Favre, Jets over texts - NFL - SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/01/03/brett-favre-lawsuit.ap/index.html?eref=sihp)


Two massage therapists sued Brett Favre on Monday, saying they lost their part-time jobs with the New York Jets after complaining about sexually suggestive text messages from the veteran quarterback.
Claiming they were subjected to sexual harassment and job discrimination, Christina Scavo and Shannon O'Toole are seeking unspecified damages from Favre, the Jets and a Jets massage coordinator.
The suit also includes a message Favre allegedly sent to a third, unidentified massage therapist. "Kinda lonely tonight," it says. "I guess I have bad intentions."
The team declined to comment. Favre's agent didn't immediately return a telephone message.

[Comey]

Guess this gets posted here...I don't think there is an NFL offseason thread yet

Massage therapists sue Brett Favre, Jets over texts - NFL - SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/01/03/brett-favre-lawsuit.ap/index.html?eref=sihp)

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So they want him to get fined by the NFL, too?

[Ksyrup]

New OT rules are in effect this weekend.

[spleen1015]

Looking at all of the teams in this year's playoffs except the Seahawks, I think this thing is wide open. We are going to have some good football games to watch. 3 of this week's game are going to be fun to watch. I don't think the Seahawks stand a chance against the Saints, but you never know I guess.

I can't wait for the weekend.

[jeff061]

New OT rules are in effect this weekend.

Still don't understand the logic behind only changing something for the playoffs.

[SteveMax58]

Still don't understand the logic behind only changing something for the playoffs.

Changing the rules for the playoffs is sort of like a casket match for the WWE title. You have to do this so people realize it's serious.

[jeff061]

Ok....how does putting it in effect for the regular and post season at the same time not work?

[SteveMax58]

Ok....how does putting it in effect for the regular and post season at the same time not work?

I'll have a tech out shortly to help with your sarcasm detector. ;)

[jeff061]

Yeah,I think the WWE reference done broke it.

[RomaGoth]

Guess this gets posted here...I don't think there is an NFL offseason thread yet

Massage therapists sue Brett Favre, Jets over texts - NFL - SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/01/03/brett-favre-lawsuit.ap/index.html?eref=sihp)

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Is it normal for team massage therapists to give massages at players' homes? Especially women? I mean, this just appears to be very shady, both on the Jets and Favre's part.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

i hate the sterger fiasco with the fire of a thousand suns.

broncos reportedly want a 2nd for orton. if you're sf do you pay it?

[Passacaglia]

Still don't understand the logic behind only changing something for the playoffs.

Well, the OT rules were different for the playoffs anyway.

[Logan]

i hate the sterger fiasco with the fire of a thousand suns.

broncos reportedly want a 2nd for orton. if you're sf do you pay it?

No...unless the new people think Orton is at least a medium term answer which stops you from drafting a QB with the 7th pick. You can't invest a 1st and a 2nd in QBs.

[Butter]

New OT rules are in effect this weekend.

Someone care to refresh me? I think I have forgotten whatever this was.

[Passacaglia]

Someone care to refresh me? I think I have forgotten whatever this was.

Basically the same, except if there is a FG on the first drive, the game doesn't end.

[spleen1015]

If the team with 1st possession kicks a FG, the other team gets a chance to match the FG or score a TD. If they match with a FG, than the next score wins.

If the team kicking off to start OT, recovers an onside kick, that counts as the receiving teams first possession. So, if the team that recovers the onside kick scores, they win.

[jeff061]

Well, the OT rules were different for the playoffs anyway.

That was just to prevent a tie though or am I wrong about that?

[SteveMax58]

I wish they could figure out an incentive to go for the 2-point conversion attempt late in games rather than reward the safe choice of just tying games and hoping for the coinflip in OT. I dont see these rules helping that...other than to just prolong the game itself. Not that they were designed to change that necessarily...but I think these OT rules further reinforce the "always go the CYA" approach.

[Ksyrup]

I understand what the intent is with the OT rule, but I think it's ridiculous to penalize a FG attempt and essentially change the way the game is played just for OT. If the vast majority of owners think a FG is somehow a less legitimate way to win a game than a TD, kick return, defensive TD, or safety, then they should just eliminate the FG from the game altogether.

The worst part, to me, is that you're penalizing/hamstringing the team who receives the kickoff, yet potentially setting up the opposing team to win the game in the same apparently distasteful manner the receiving team would have won it. What I mean is... say you receive the OT kickoff around the 35. You drive to the opponent 33. The owners don't like the fact that you can basically drive 30 yards and win the game with a kick and are trying to (I assume) force teams to go for the TD on the opening OT drive. So OK - you've got the ball 4th-and-3 at the 33. If you kick the FG, you don't automatically win. If you punt it, the other team gets the ball with a chance to outright win. If you go for it, you either get to continue the drive to try to win, or - and this is what gets me - you fail to convert the 4th down, the other team gets the ball around their OWN 35, and all THEY need to do is, um, drive about 30 yards and win the game with a FG.

How the hell does that solve anything? Yes, you got first crack at scoring...but not really, because the typical rules that we've played football by for decades don't actually count in OT. Basically, I don't like the idea that the kicking team can win the game with a FG, but the first team can't. On that first change of possessions (assuming the receiving team doesn't score a TD), the opposing team should have to score a TD as well.

[DataKing]

I just hope the Eagles smack around the Packers this weekend, so I can stop listening to all of the Packer fans around here gloat about making it in...

[spleen1015]

I don't really like the OT rules much either, regular season or post season.

I think they should just play another 15 minutes quarter and keep playing quarters until someone is ahead at the end of a quarter.

Who cares if they have to play 7 quarters. Win the damn game quicker.

[SteveMax58]

How the hell does that solve anything? Yes, you got first crack at scoring...but not really, because the typical rules that we've played football by for decades don't actually count in OT. Basically, I don't like the idea that the kicking team can win the game with a FG, but the first team can't. On that first change of possessions (assuming the receiving team doesn't score a TD), the opposing team should have to score a TD as well.

I agree...I don't think it really solves anything but to prolong the game. And I actually think the winner of the coinflip SHOULD elect to kickoff as there is little advantage (beyond scoring a TD) for the receiving team.

[Arles]

I just hope the Eagles smack around the Packers this weekend, so I can stop listening to all of the Packer fans around here gloat about making it in...
I'll remind the Bears fans that they are one Calvin Johnson mis-called TD from losing the division and being out of the playoffs entirely (GB would win the div and NYG would be the WC). The Bears had no injuries all season and still needed help from the refs (both in the 18-penalty home game against GB and the Det game) to win the division :cool:

I think it's obvious out of the 4 BYE teams which one is the paper tiger :eek:

[DataKing]

And (insert team name here) has never had a game handed to them by the refs? Puhlease...

[Arles]

True, but the Calvin Johnson play is about as close to getting a game handed to you by the refs that you can get.

Hey, it's the NFL and that's how teams get in sometimes. I just wouldn't take shots at other fans for getting in when the Bears were gifted the division :D

[Passacaglia]

I wish they could figure out an incentive to go for the 2-point conversion attempt late in games rather than reward the safe choice of just tying games and hoping for the coinflip in OT. I dont see these rules helping that...other than to just prolong the game itself. Not that they were designed to change that necessarily...but I think these OT rules further reinforce the "always go the CYA" approach.

Someone on here mentioned it once, and it's such a good idea that I've started championing it. They should just start OT with play resumed just as it was when the game ended. It's more fair, and it gives incentive for a team to go for 2 at the end of the game if they don't want to kick the ball off to start OT.

[Logan]

You mean by making the correct call? Are we really still discussing this? Take it up with the Competition Committee.

[Passacaglia]

I just wouldn't take shots at other fans for getting in when the Bears were gifted the division :D

Yeah, that's totally what he did, too. :rolleyes:

[Logan]

Someone on here mentioned it once, and it's such a good idea that I've started championing it. They should just start OT with play resumed just as it was when the game ended. It's more fair, and it gives incentive for a team to go for 2 at the end of the game if they don't want to kick the ball off to start OT.

I'm pretty sure we've gone back and forth on this too, but I don't remember...doesn't that fundamentally change how teams approach end of game situations? If it's tied and you get the ball back with 50 seconds left...there's not really 50 seconds left.

[SteveMax58]

I'm pretty sure we've gone back and forth on this too, but I don't remember...doesn't that fundamentally change how teams approach end of game situations? If it's tied and you get the ball back with 50 seconds left...there's not really 50 seconds left.

Yeah, I think that's the beauty of it. The team that ties the game with 50 seconds left would have more incentive to go for 2 since the receiving team would have 50 seconds plus OT to score.

I had not heard that idea before but I think I like it.

[Passacaglia]

I'm pretty sure we've gone back and forth on this too, but I don't remember...doesn't that fundamentally change how teams approach end of game situations? If it's tied and you get the ball back with 50 seconds left...there's not really 50 seconds left.

It does change it. Would you prefer that team to think, "oh crap, the game just got tied and we got the ball, we need to score now or else we get screwed by an unfair system?" I'd rather just let the teams play their game without having to worry about the clock. They're not behind, they shouldn't have to play hurry-up. Also, if the other team doesn't like it, they can go for 2 (or get a TD instead of a FG if that's how they tied it up).

[Logan]

For the record, I don't have a problem with the old system at all. We ran through the actual numbers n one of the old threads, but something like only 20% of games ended on a FG on the first drive of the OT period. That doesn't scream "unfair" to me.

I think forcing the tying team (or go ahead/losing team depending on going for 2) to make that decision just because their final possession happened to come at the end of the game is more unfair.

[Arles]

Yeah, that's totally what he did, too. :rolleyes:
It's the Packers-Bears, I reserve my right to completely mis-characterize any argument I wish!

[DataKing]

It's the Packers-Bears, I reserve my right to completely mis-characterize any argument I wish!

Spoken like a true Packer fan. :D

[Logan]

Who is going to be the first coach to attempt an onside kick to start overtime? Doing so meets the receiving team's requirement of a chance of possession. Do the odds of converting the onside kick plus the odds of keeping the other team out of the end zone from 40 yards out make it worth it?

[TargetPractice6]

How the hell does that solve anything? Yes, you got first crack at scoring...but not really, because the typical rules that we've played football by for decades don't actually count in OT. Basically, I don't like the idea that the kicking team can win the game with a FG, but the first team can't. On that first change of possessions (assuming the receiving team doesn't score a TD), the opposing team should have to score a TD as well.
The difference is the kicking team has to make a defensive stop AND kick a field goal to win. The receiving team can still win the game with a field goal, but they have to make a stop of their own after the kick to get the victory. It looks to me that the rule makes both team have to accomplish the same thing to win via field goal in OT (hold on D + FG).

[molson]

Who is going to be the first coach to attempt an onside kick to start overtime? Doing so meets the receiving team's requirement of a chance of possession. Do the odds of converting the onside kick plus the odds of keeping the other team out of the end zone from 40 yards out make it worth it?

I predict this happens the next time Marty Mornhinweg gets a head coaching gig.

[Logan]

Just read that "surprise" onside kicks are successful at a 60% clip.

[RomaGoth]

I predict this happens the next time Marty Mornhinweg gets a head coaching gig.

Nah, he would defer because of wind direction.

[RainMaker]

I'll remind the Bears fans that they are one Calvin Johnson mis-called TD from losing the division and being out of the playoffs entirely (GB would win the div and NYG would be the WC). The Bears had no injuries all season and still needed help from the refs (both in the 18-penalty home game against GB and the Det game) to win the division :cool:

I think it's obvious out of the 4 BYE teams which one is the paper tiger :eek:
You can also say that the Bears got screwed by the refs in the Washington game when they clearly got over the goalline on the QB sneak. So it evened out in the end.

http://beargoggleson.com/files/2010/10/cutler-qb-sneak2.jpg

Not saying the Bears are great or anything either. They have been extremely lucky from an injury standpoint and have a lot of flaws. But they're still a good team that has beaten some quality opponents. I don't see them any less deserving of a bye either. They did beat Philly who would be next in line to get it.

And the 18-penalty game wasn't luck. Peppers caused a lot of those penalties by abusing Tauscher.

[Mustang]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/2448730058_ac37c0e0fe.jpg

[Pumpy Tudors]

Since the Calvin Johnson play has been brought up in this thread, I want to state that I feel weird being one of the three people in the world who think the call on the field was correct. :(

[SteveMax58]

Since the Calvin Johnson play has been brought up in this thread, I want to state that I feel weird being one of the three people in the world who think the call on the field was correct. :(

Four.

[Passacaglia]

For the record, I don't have a problem with the old system at all. We ran through the actual numbers n one of the old threads, but something like only 20% of games ended on a FG on the first drive of the OT period. That doesn't scream "unfair" to me.

I think forcing the tying team (or go ahead/losing team depending on going for 2) to make that decision just because their final possession happened to come at the end of the game is more unfair.

It may not scream it, but it whispers it pretty loudly.

Forcing the team to make a decision sounds weird -- you could also say they "get" to make that decision. I look at it as this: when the game ends, the score is tied, but one team has an advantage because they have the ball. Why should that go away once the 4th quarter ends?

[miami_fan]

I don't really like the OT rules much either, regular season or post season.

I think they should just play another 15 minutes quarter and keep playing quarters until someone is ahead at the end of a quarter.

Who cares if they have to play 7 quarters. Win the damn game quicker.

+1000

[spleen1015]

Bud Adams says buh-bye to Vince Young.

Tennessee Titans announce Vince Young won't return next season - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5993142)

[Thomkal]

Looks like Jeff Fisher won that battle

[jeff061]

Did not see that coming. Wonder if Fisher did.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Maybe if there is ever a 2011 season they can trade him for Big Albert.

I was wondering if this would be in the WC thread (team not in playoffs) or the coach thread. (not a coach, but has an impact)

Can't be a start of the next season thread, because... it's not quite limbo time!

[EagleFan]

If the team kicking off to start OT, recovers an onside kick, that counts as the receiving teams first possession. So, if the team that recovers the onside kick scores, they win.

There is actually an added incentive to try this if you have a good redzone defense.... which pretty much leaves the Eagles out of that conversation.

[EagleFan]

Who is going to be the first coach to attempt an onside kick to start overtime? Doing so meets the receiving team's requirement of a chance of possession. Do the odds of converting the onside kick plus the odds of keeping the other team out of the end zone from 40 yards out make it worth it?

Doh, didn't read far enough into the thread yet... :)

[Suburban Rhythm]

Bud Adams says buh-bye to Vince Young.

Tennessee Titans announce Vince Young won't return next season - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5993142)

"...and at quarterback for YOUR OAKLAND RAIDERS!!!!..."

[spleen1015]

Maybe if there is ever a 2011 season they can trade him for Big Albert

No freaking way that happens. Now you have me worried. With what Shanahan has done, nothing would surprise me.

[spleen1015]

EDIT - I misread it. They are flying out to try and convince him to be their coach.

[ISiddiqui]

An really touching story about Mark Sanchez, I thought I'd share:

New York Jets' Mark Sanchez choked up by death of young fan - ESPN New York (http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5991920)

Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Mark Sanchez recalls Aiden Binkley
By Rich Cimini
ESPNNewYork.com

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Mark Sanchez went to work Tuesday, preparing for a big football game. Some 40 miles away, a little boy from Queens, N.Y., was buried -- a friend of the New York Jets quarterback.

Sanchez and Aiden Binkley, 11, met each other only a few weeks ago, but they became fast friends. Binkley was suffering from a rare form of cancer, and he had only two wishes -- he wanted his two brothers to stay healthy and he wanted to meet Sanchez.
And so he did.

Aiden visited the Jets' training facility Dec. 15, and he received the VIP treatment, as if he were a big-name player making a free-agent visit. He watched practice and was escorted to owner Woody Johnson's second-floor office, where he met Antonio Cromartie, Dustin Keller, Mike Devito and others.

And, finally, Sanchez. The people who were there say Aiden's face lit up like Broadway at night.

"He sat there, beaming and smiling," said Aiden's mother, Lisa Binkley, who initially wasn't sure if it was a good idea to make the trip because Aiden was in such pain.

"Nothing meant more to him than coming here and meeting Mark and meeting the Jets," Keller said quietly Wednesday in the Jets' locker room. "Great kid ... a tough situation."

The 24-year-old quarterback was immediately taken by Aiden and his upbeat personality and his love of the Jets. A few days later, Sanchez & Co. beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh -- the biggest win of the season -- and Sanchez sent his new friend a game ball.

Sanchez was deeply touched by Aiden, who battled rhabdomyosarcoma, according to a 2008 New York Daily News article. There was a lemon-sized tumor that spread from his pelvis to his lungs, and he required 60 weeks of chemotherapy.

They became texting buddies and, one day, Sanchez surprised Aiden's parents by asking, "Can I come over?" When Sanchez arrived, the boy was sleeping. Sanchez sat at Aiden's feet, waiting until he woke up.

"He opened his eyes and there was Mark, sitting on the couch," Lisa said. "He was so sweet."

They ended up having a long conversation, like a couple of old friends. Aiden took Sanchez to his bedroom and showed him his sports stuff, including his hockey stick. He gave Sanchez a camouflage bracelet with the inscription, "Binkley's Battle." Sanchez and Keller were wearing the bracelets Wednesday in the Jets' locker room.

"My man, Aiden ... breaks my heart," Sanchez said Tuesday during his weekly spot on "The Michael Kay Show" on 1050 ESPN Radio. "He's so tough."

Sanchez, choked with emotion, paused several times as he talked about Aiden, whom he met through the Teddy Atlas Foundation. Atlas, the boxing trainer and ESPN analyst, was a Jets special assistant under former coach Eric Mangini.

"He brought me so much inspiration. ... It's hard to talk about him," Sanchez said. "He meant the world to me. I felt like I've known him forever. ... I saw his personality. I saw his competitive spirit. I saw him fighting every day.

"I'm complaining about a shoulder. Are you kidding me? ... I think he was 11 years old, and he has cancer eating away at his body," Sanchez continued. "This kid is fighting every day. He's smiling every time I talk to him. I visited him at his home. I mean, he has to get carried up the stairs because he's so weak and all he wants to talk about is LT [LaDainian Tomlinson] and Darrelle Revis and Rex Ryan and me.

"Oh, man, it kills you, just thinking about it. I love him to death."

Sanchez was sitting at his locker before facing the Steelers, going over the game plan one last time, when he received a text from Aiden. His friend was concerned about the chilly weather.

"He's saying, 'It looks cold out there in Pittsburgh. I'm glad I'm watching from home. Good luck,'" Sanchez said with a chuckle. "Little stuff like that really fires you up."

After the game, Aiden fired off a congratulatory text to Sanchez. Don't expect a return text, his mother warned, explaining that Sanchez would be too busy to answer an 11-year-old boy. So they watched his post-game news conference on TV, never imagining they'd hear from him.
About 20 minutes later, the phone rang. It was Sanchez.

"We were blown away," Lisa said.

In his final days, Aiden's cancer was so unbearable that he couldn't get out of bed. But he kept his phone close by, just in case his friend Mark decided to call or text.

"He'd be lying in bed, in such pain, and the phone would ring -- and he'd smile," Lisa said.

Funny thing about Sanchez's texts: Instead of a simple, inspiration message, he always posed a question, trying to initiate a conversation.
Their friendship was born at a difficult time for Sanchez. The Jets were on a two-game losing streak after being embarrassed by the New England Patriots 45-3 and showing no energy in a 10-6 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Even Ryan admitted he thought about pulling his franchise quarterback from the Miami game.

"I'm not a happy camper, I'm upset, I'm frustrated," Sanchez said. "I want to make it right. I want to hurry up and play another game."
Along came Aiden.

"All I hear from someone is, 'There's a youngster who's terminally ill with cancer and all he wants to do is meet you,'" Sanchez said. "It changes your whole world. It stops everything. You get a chance to step back. It's really close to my heart. ... He's the best. I love him."
Keith Sullivan, an Atlas Foundation board member, was struck by Sanchez's sincerity. In that initial meeting, Sanchez and Aiden exchanged cell phone numbers, Sanchez telling the boy, "I'll shoot you a text later. We'll talk." And Sullivan hoped it wasn't just lip service, a millionaire athlete trying to appease a starstruck kid.

Sanchez called. They talked.

"Aiden had a smile on his face for the last three weeks of his life," Sullivan said.

Aiden lost his courageous battle last Thursday. Before the Jets' game last Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, the Jets honored him with a moment of silence.

Rich Cimini covers the Jets for ESPNNewYork.com. Follow him on Twitter.