The NFL 2011 Thread

[jeffd]

Their pass defense is shockingly bad, but they are still 5-1. They have plenty of time to get it right.

Their D cost them the season last year against the Jets. Their offense puts up big numbers except in a couple of games per year. But their defense is almost always good for giving up 3 TDs per game, so if the offense can’t score 4 TDs they are hosed.

[Mark_Asher]

Harbaugh seems like a classless asshat. Here I was thinking it was Pete Carroll that was the douche.

His brother’s not much better. The Ravens were up 37-7 against the Rams with a little over two minutes to go in the game and tried to throw a long bomb – they kept Flacco in, even, which is just kind of stupid. And that was a couple of minutes after challenging a non-fumble the Ravens recovered claiming it really was a fumble. I’m not sure why they were trying to rub it in.

[mkozlows]

Their D cost them the season last year against the Jets. Their offense puts up big numbers except in a couple of games per year. But their defense is almost always good for giving up 3 TDs per game, so if the offense can’t score 4 TDs they are hosed.

Yeah, but what’s a great team that has a solid defense right now?

[Lorini]

Once the Raiders are playing Pryor then they are giving up on the season - he’s not NFL ready. You need to hope that Boller has flipped a switch since he’s been in Oakland.

Well they don’t have a QB signed for next year, which is part of the reason they picked up Pryor. So I think he may see some play, maybe not some starts but some play.

[sluggo]

That’s a bummer about Campbell. I can’t say I believed the Raiders were a serious playoff team – I think they’ve made some nice strides forward, that’s all – but their next two games are against KC and Denver. They probably should be 6-2 heading into November 10 showdown against the Chargers (which also happens to be the premiere of Thursday Night Football). But now they’ll probably take a step back and that game might not be as l33t as it might have been.

[Thongsy]

Seeing some of the Harbaugh/Schwartz coverage, I’ve lost some respect for Harbaugh. Obviously both coaches were asked about it and the video clearly shows that after the two shook hands, Harbaugh slapped Schwartz on the back pretty hard as they were going their seperate ways, something Schwartz obviously didn’t like. In his presser, Schwartz basically says that Harbaugh said something obscene.

What bothers me is that Harbaugh tries to laugh the whole thing off by suggesting maybe he shook hands too hard, doesn’t even mention the back slap, and doesn’t really deny any language (though he doesn’t admit to it either).

It’ll be interesting to see how the league offices react, since commentators all seem to assume some fines are coming.

Harbaugh probably did go overboard in celebrating the victory, but it’s not like Schwartz did nothing wrong either. He’s just as equally passionate and intense as Harbaugh from what I’m hearing. Harbaugh did have an aggressive handshake with Schwartz and patted him on the shoulder, yes it was strong pat upon further review but none of this warranted what Schwartz did.

Schwartz is trying to play the victim here, saying Harbaugh shoved him and cuss at him. I just don’t buy it. Yea, Harbaugh really didn’t apologize during his press conference either. He actually poured more salt in the wound and insulted Schwartz farther with that backhanded apology about the aggressive handshake that Schwartz couldn’t handle.

It’s really a non-issue and it sadly is overshadowing the story of the actual game.

[Sarkus]

Harbaugh probably did go overboard in celebrating the victory, but it’s not like Schwartz did nothing wrong either. He’s just as equally passionate and intense as Harbaugh from what I’m hearing. Harbaugh did have an aggressive handshake with Schwartz and patted him on the shoulder, yes it was strong pat upon further review but none of this warranted what Schwartz did.

Schwartz is trying to play the victim here, saying Harbaugh shoved him and cuss at him. I just don’t buy it. Yea, Harbaugh really didn’t apologize during his press conference either. He actually poured more salt in the wound and insulted Schwartz farther with that backhanded apology about the aggressive handshake that Schwartz couldn’t handle.

It’s really a non-issue and it sadly is overshadowing the story of the actual game.

I’m not defending Schwartz going after Harbaugh at all. But callilng it a “pat” is really stretching things. It was clearly a pretty hard slap, and done as the two parted. The talk about the handshake is pure BS brought up by Harbaugh and was a pretty classless way to respond to the questions.

I’ve read or seen several comments (from sports columnists to former players and coaches) on this since it happened and nearly all of them agree Harbaugh was in the wrong in his actions. As one pointed out, Harbaugh does not seem to have figured out there is a line between what is ok for a player to do and what is ok for the coach to do in the same situation.

For better or worse, though, it is the story of the day and the game. Which in and of itself shows the mistake they both made because they are the story and not their players.

[sluggo]

I’m pretty sure there’s no employment scenario where it’s appropriate to run up to a 45 year old man, yell “Woooo! Yeah!!!” and then shove him out of the way like an annoying kid. I’m a pretty non-violent person, but that’s grade school bullshit, and if Schwartz had grabbed Harbaugh by the collar and cold-cocked him, I’d have given him two thumbs up.

[Woolen_Horde]

Dear god, the Vikings are terrible. They can’t do anything right.

[Omniscia]

Yeah, I turned the game off before the second quarter finished. It would be one thing if it were a competitive, contested game, but McNabb looks awful and I’m getting tired of watching Matt Forte all night.

[robsam]

Had I known that Chicago was going to actually block and defend Cutler, which they have not done this year until tonight, I would not have picked the frigging Vikings to win.

[Raife]

[Sarkus]

Both the “primetime” games this week really suck, don’t they? Next week is just as bad (Indy/NO and Bal/Jax) and the week after marginal (Dal/Phi, KC/SD). Baltimore at Pittsburgh on Nov. 6 is the next good national game.

[sluggo]

Hester is just amazing.

[mkozlows]

Is there anything in football more dispiriting than the long, grinding drive for a TD followed by a TD runback? It’s like that huge swing from proud satisfaction to dismay in one play.

[robsam]

Both the “primetime” games this week really suck, don’t they? Next week is just as bad (Indy/NO and Bal/Jax) and the week after marginal (Dal/Phi, KC/SD). Baltimore at Pittsburgh on Nov. 6 is the next good national game.

Dallas/Philly is marginal? Okay, I sort of get it based on their records this year, but that’s a serious old school rivalry game.

[Sarkus]

Dallas/Philly is marginal? Okay, I sort of get it based on their records this year, but that’s a serious old school rivalry game.

Its still marginal from a national interest point of view. The Raiders and Broncos have a long rivalry, but if they are playing on MNF and both are 2-6 going in, just how much do you care beyond the default “it’s football”?

I also used marginal in the case of Dallas/Philly because that could be a decent matchup by then. Depends on what happens between now and then. Nothing is going to happen between now and then that is going to make Baltimore at Jacksonville exciting to watch.

[AndrewMyers]

Is there anything in football more dispiriting than the long, grinding drive for a TD followed by a TD runback? It’s like that huge swing from proud satisfaction to dismay in one play.

A long, grinding drive for a game- winning TD in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter that ends with a red zone pick-six (aka Lionsball in the 00’s).

[mkozlows]

A long, grinding drive for a game- winning TD in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter that ends with a red zone pick-six (aka Lionsball in the 00’s).

See, I thought about that, but I think that’s actually not as emotionally wrenching. Because until they score the TD, you’re tense. So you get tension followed by revulsion, which is entirely different from tension resolved with pleasant satisfaction and then turned to dismay.

(I’ve had a lot of time watching the Lions to really calibrate these degrees of hopelessness.)

[Bill_Dungsroman]

I’m not defending Schwartz going after Harbaugh at all. But callilng it a “pat” is really stretching things. It was clearly a pretty hard slap, and done as the two parted. The talk about the handshake is pure BS brought up by Harbaugh and was a pretty classless way to respond to the questions.

I’ve read or seen several comments (from sports columnists to former players and coaches) on this since it happened and nearly all of them agree Harbaugh was in the wrong in his actions. As one pointed out, Harbaugh does not seem to have figured out there is a line between what is ok for a player to do and what is ok for the coach to do in the same situation.

Thanks for your opinions, Seahawks Fan. Way to leave out Harbaugh taking full responsibility and blame for his owns actions. “It’s on me,” he said. Yes, it was uncalled for. It was a byproduct of his excitement, so clearly shame on him for being excited about an exciting win. It’s not like Schwartz hasn’t talked shit at a press conference, either. He’s calling a clap on the back a shove, which is pretty retarded.

For better or worse, though, it is the story of the day and the game. Which in and of itself shows the mistake they both made because they are the story and not their players.

Oh so they took away that win from the Niners? No I don’t think so. They won the game and if the inappropriate behavior Harbaugh displayed can never be forgiven even after he apologizes, then I guess that’s the way it goes.