2014 NFL Regular Season, Week 16

[rowech]

Holy crap!

[kingfc22]

And that's a wrap.

[Matthean]

Maybe somebody whispered "playoffs" into Manning's ear.

[Bobble]

Dalton Manning with the interception. ;-)

[rowech]

Still time left. They're acting like this is seconds left.

[Abe Sargent]

And we begin with another sack

[Galaril]

That felt like the call fir Manning to retire he is done. Time to get someone in Denver next year that can play in weather . This team will do nothing in the playoffs one and done.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Galaril

That felt like the call fir Manning to retire he is done. Time to get someone in Denver next year that can play in weather . This team will do nothing in the playoffs one and done.

It's not like playing in Denver now will be balmy. They still feel like a lock to be in the AFC title game.

[Danny]

Dont know why you call a timeout there, you could still have a chance if not getting the onside kick if you dont use a timeout there

[Abe Sargent]

Fourth pick by Manning?

[rowech]

Bobble at end. Will be overturned I think.

[Abe Sargent]

And that is game ladies and gents!

[Julio Riddols]

WHO FUCKIN DEY

[rowech]

Glad my reverse jinx worked. I know it's not normal Peyton but it still counts.

[bulletsponge]

Manning in playoff form already

[Thomkal]

Congrats to the Bengals fans for their team making the playoffs.

[Julio Riddols]

Man, you know you care too much about a specific football team when a win like this makes you feel amazing all over.

[Thomkal]

In other news, the Browns have announced Manziel is out next week, they tried to bring in Grossman for a week because Hoyer is also hurt, but no deal so Connor Shaw will get the start it looks like.

Meanwhile the Cards have decided to start Logan Thomas, but he will have a quick hook if he stinks up the place

[rowech]

Kudos to the gameplan and being willing to stay with it. Wasn't thrilled with the end game time management with 4:30 left but really like the rest.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

In other news, the Browns have announced Manziel is out next week, they tried to bring in Grossman for a week because Hoyer is also hurt, but no deal so Connor Shaw will get the start it looks like.

Meanwhile the Cards have decided to start Logan Thomas, but he will have a quick hook if he stinks up the place

Turned down by Rex Grossman.

Has any team ever been more effective at crushing fan's souls than the Cleveland Browns?

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

In other news, the Browns have announced Manziel is out next week, they tried to bring in Grossman for a week because Hoyer is also hurt, but no deal so Connor Shaw will get the start it looks like.

Would like to see Shaw do well honestly.

[DaddyTorgo]

Wow - 4 picks by Manning hmm?

That's not very good.

Homefield for the Pats without having to worry about the Buffalo game is nice though.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Turned down by Rex Grossman.

Has any team ever been more effective at crushing fan's souls than the Cleveland Browns?

Well it looks like here it was more the logistics of getting to Cleveland during Christmas week

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Well it looks like here it was more the logistics of getting to Cleveland during Christmas week

Or wanting to go to Cleveland during Christmas week.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Matthean

Or wanting to go to Cleveland during Christmas week.

Also true

[ColtCrazy]

More Manning postseason bashing. Just an interesting note

Manning Playoff record when...

less than 38 attempts: 6-3
more than 38 attempts: 5-9

Brady Playoff record when....

less than 38 attempts: 13-2
more than 38 attempts: 5-6

Rodgers Playoff record when...

less than 38 attempts: 5-1
more than 38 attempts: 1-3

Two points. One, QBs tend to lose in the playoffs when they are forced to pass a vast majority of the time. Secondly, Manning has had to do that in well over half his playoff starts and resulted in 75% of his playoff losses. Brady and Rodgers have had to do it a far less percentage of the time.
Manning's ability has also been his curse. Teams have treated him like Elway most of his career, expecting him to win the game. Brady and Rodgers are great. All 3 could be in the top 5 by the time they retire (IMO Manning/Brady already are), but they've had help.

This won't be a one and done playoff team.

On a side note, when it comes to overrated, I really think Bill Polian is in terms of being a GM. His 90s Bills and 00s Colts both had similar makeups, high scoring play from ahead defenses. Bills also benefited from a weak AFC era. But neither could do much against well balanced (and well coached) teams. that really couldn't grind out wins against balanced teams. Thankfully the Colts got theirs and the Bills would have gotten theirs if it hadn't been for wide right. B

Sorry, no more soapbox. What's the odds on a Seahawk-Pats Superbowl anyway?

[NobodyHere]

I think Bill Polian was a great GM in the first half of his tenure with the Colts. However after that Peyton Manning was able to cover up his mediocrity until he was injured. I'm kind of afraid that that Andrew Luck will cover up for Ryan Grigson in the same way.

I mean Bill Polian's first round draft choices were pretty solid with Manning Edgerrin James, Rob Morris(who may not have been the best but he stuck around the team for a long time), Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney etc...

He lost me when he trade a 1st round pick plus another for some other team's second round pick which was spent on a bust.

[stevew]

NFL MVP should be interesting. I guess Rodgers has been anointed but I see a case for 4-5 QBs. I guess Ben gets hurt by having probably the best back and WR on his team but with a big win over Cincy and 5000ish yards passing he deserves a strong look. Losing to the Jets/Bucs also doesn't help.

[Danny]

Demarco Murray or Leveon Bell. This is the age of the QB, but these two guys are allowing Romo and Ben to have the best seasons of their careers.

I lean towards Murray especially if Cowboys win next week and get a bye week.

My choice of QB's would probably be Russell Wilson (assuming they win and get a bye), amazing what he has done with so little talent on offense (outside of Beast mode)

[Julio Riddols]

I'd go with Murray too. Also, go Raiders.

[rowech]

Tony Dungy said on the Dan Patrick show that Gronkowski or Bobby Wagner should be the MVP. Was happy to hear someone agree with me on Gronk. Wasn't thrilled it was Dungy.

[jeff061]

Ha, somes up my feelings as well Rowech.

Putting numbers aside, Gronk has been showing for years now that the Pats offense is broken when he's not on the field and healthy.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by Danny

Demarco Murray or Leveon Bell. This is the age of the QB, but these two guys are allowing Romo and Ben to have the best seasons of their careers.

I lean towards Murray especially if Cowboys win next week and get a bye week.

My choice of QB's would probably be Russell Wilson (assuming they win and get a bye), amazing what he has done with so little talent on offense (outside of Beast mode)

The games where Romo has missed time due to injury or his back wasn't right are the games the Cowboys have lost this year. I think it's tough to argue Murray over Romo for who's been more valuable to Dallas. Not to say Romo should win over Rodgers or anyone else deserving.

[Scoobz0202]

I would agree with that and it has become more apparent as the season has progressed. The Cowboys improvement this year has more to do with their offensive line than anything else. The offensive line has allowed a talented running back to do great things. But, like pretty much all of the NFL, I think you could replace Murray much easier than Romo. Even going into the Colts game I wasn't too upset if Murray missed and was interested in seeing what Randle would do. I would be extremely worried if Romo was out.

[Danny]

Originally Posted by JAG

The games where Romo has missed time due to injury or his back wasn't right are the games the Cowboys have lost this year. I think it's tough to argue Murray over Romo for who's been more valuable to Dallas. Not to say Romo should win over Rodgers or anyone else deserving.

I think this is very unfair to Murray. I'm not even sure the combined powered of Payton, brown, smith and sanders could win it with weeden at qb

[JAG]

Originally Posted by Danny

I think this is very unfair to Murray. I'm not even sure the combined powered of Payton, brown, smith and sanders could win it with weeden at qb

It's not unfair at all. Murray has had a great season, so has Dallas' OL and Dez Bryant. But Dallas could win with their backup RBs playing and get 60-75% of Murray's production. I don't believe you can't say the same about Dallas without Romo, thus I think he's been more valuable.

[Scoobz0202]

Originally Posted by Danny

I think this is very unfair to Murray. I'm not even sure the combined powered of Payton, brown, smith and sanders could win it with weeden at qb

True. And also, the drop off at back ups is too drastic for my example to really mean much like you alluded to. I am one of those that has always been a Romo fan, though, so I may elevating his importance, but I do feel like as the year has progressed it has really shown how valuable he is.

Murray is having an outstanding year, though. You just have to be spectacular to win as a non-QB, or hope for a really down year at QB. Or have back-to-back spectacular years.

[Butter]

Reverse jinx!

[Danny]

Originally Posted by JAG

It's not unfair at all. Murray has had a great season, so has Dallas' OL and Dez Bryant. But Dallas could win with their backup RBs playing and get 60-75% of Murray's production. I don't believe you can't say the same about Dallas without Romo, thus I think he's been more valuable.

If that's how you value it then no non qb would ever win. I like to compare it to an average starter at that position instead

[Arles]

That was a disappointing effort by Denver last night, but I'm not sure it matters. With Buffalo resting nearly all their injured guys (a la Darius and others), I wouldn't see them beating a fully healthy NE team in Foxboro. So, as long as Denver beats Oakland on Sunday, they will still have the #2 seed.

The Cincy-Pitt game will be interesting. I'm not sure either NE or Denver wants to face the Steelers in round 2. So, NE will be rooting for Pitt and Denver will probably be rooting for Cincy. If Cincy were to pull the upset, that would setup matchups of Indy-Pitt (4-5) and Cincy-Balt/SD (3-6). That could setup a situation where Pitt beats Indy and travels to NE while Denver gets a rematch in Denver against Cincy. I'd be pretty happy with that setup if I were a Broncos fan. Had Denver won last night, they'd basically have assured themselves of a matchup against Pittsburgh in round 2.

[Buccaneer]

I'm getting annoyed at the delusional flashes-of-greatness qbs who thinks that completing one nice in ten means that he has shown flashes of greatness. Every single QB that has ever played has done that and all it means is that you can take a snap in the nfl.

[Buccaneer]

"It's been a year of growing up for me. This is a job for me now. I have to take this a lot more seriously," Manziel added.

You think? Isn't this what many said a year ago, including the Browns organization (which they and others got criticized for in some quarters)? You can't use the tired excuse of "being young" because others (not named Clowney) in the league at his age have worked hard, even those with 6th-round talent.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

You think? Isn't this what many said a year ago, including the Browns organization (which they and others got criticized for in some quarters)? You can't use the tired excuse of "being young" because others (not named Clowney) in the league at his age have worked hard, even those with 6th-round talent.

I thought the the criticism the Browns received was based on the treatment of a player that they not only drafted in the first round but traded up to get him. If they felt he was not a hard worker and was not a future starting QB, why draft him at all? They (the Browns front office) can't use the excuse that they did not know the player until he got to camp. Here is the summary of his NFL Draft Profile

Johnny Manziel Draft Profile – NFL.com

A once-in-a-generation, run-around, ad-lib, sandlot-style quarterback who consistently won games playing a brand of fast-paced, jailbreak football that often goes off script and can be difficult both to game plan with and against. Is most comfortable on the move outside the pocket where he can find open throwing lanes and see the field and will command mush rush and extra spy defenders. Has defied the odds and proven to be a great college-system quarterback, but still must prove he is willing to work to be great, adjust his hard-partying, Hollywood lifestyle and be able to inspire his teammates by more than his playmaking ability. Overall character, leadership ability and work habits will define his NFL career. Rare competitiveness and third-down efficiency could carry him a long way, yet he could be challenged to avoid a crash-and-burn scenario if he does not settle down and mature. A high-risk, high-reward pick, Manziel stands to benefit from entering the NFL at a time when moving pockets are trending. No other quarterback can change the tempo of a game better if a demanding head coach feels confident he can manage the risk.

I even went back to this year's draft thread and found this from an organization that I know you respect.

Leaked Internal Scouting Report: The Patriots Do Not Like Johnny Manziel


So after the combine, the pro days, the personal interviews etc., the Browns felt comfortable enough with their due diligence to trade up to get Manziel. Given the above and other weaknesses that are in that profile, it was silly for the Browns management to publicly say the things that they said about Manziel. Shame on Manziel for not putting in the work, but the Browns knew what they were getting when they handed in that draft card. They better hope Mike Pettine is the "demanding head coach" that can get the best out of Manziel.

[Buccaneer]

miami_fan, I understand. I think my frame of reference started after the draft when the organization (and Hoyer) were complaining about his work ethic. I agree that the Browns should not have drafted him, let alone trade up, when they knew what they were going to get.