3561

Cowher’s definately a possibility, assuming he really does want to coach again. The Dolphins will have to be willing to dump Ireland, though, because Cowher has passed on some other jobs because he wants personnel people he is comfortable with. But I’m guessing cleaning house in Miami isn’t going to be a problem.

And like I said, what is going on in Oakland?

3562

I think you’ll see a lot of talk this week about how you can’t blame Sparano for letting the Broncos move the ball at will in the last 5 minutes or not recovering an onside kick, and as embarassing as the loss was, he might still survive to next week.

But the most damnable offense from him today was going for a 2 pt conversion for absolutely no reason, and the point he gave away there turned out to be pretty big – it meant the Broncos only needed one 2-pt conversion to tie, instead of two. Unless you can convert 2pt-ers at a better than 50% rate, you simply don’t go for them until the 4th quarter, and not until you’re basically forced to.

I’d say it’s 50-50 whether Sparano gets axed on Monday or Tuesday. If he survives and they lose to KC in two weeks, they’ll dump him then for sure.

3563

Um, we’re losing. Like by two TD’s. And soon Jackson will have to choose between a QB that only throws to the other team, a QB who has never played in the NFL, and a QB that hasn’t practiced in months and months. It doesn’t look as if the Raiders will win this game and we haven’t even had a field goal try yet.

3564

Do you even have a kicker this week?

3565

Looks like we’re about to find out.

Edit: Apparently not, as they were about to run some play with Bush in the QB position. Instead we get a time out. And then a failure of the Bush formation.

You know, I get that Boller is crap, but the Raiders did decide to keep him as their backup this year. And yet its clear that they have no confidence in him. So why did they keep him?

3566

Who knows. But I think Campbell now has a good shot at getting a decent offer to stay for next season. I also think their confidence in him took a major dive since they’ve seen him on the field.

3567

Yeah, some guy named Dave Rayner.

3568

Like Sluggo, I wish I had been less correct about this. The Packers aren’t doomed, because Rodgers is great, but Ponder’s looking really good against the weak secondary. (And Peterson is running at will, too.)

As much talk as there is about the talent level on the Packers, I increasingly suspect that they’re a Colts-like team, where if Rodgers went out, they’d be lucky to win at all.

3569

I wouldn’t go that far - the Packers have much better defensive talent then the Colts ever had. They are just depleted from injuries at the moment.

3570

But that’s true of Brady as well. The Patriots give up more yardage than any other team in the league. You can’t win that way unless you have a stellar QB like Brady.

3571

And Rodgers really is amazing. Starts off 13 for 13, and his first incompletion is a blatant drop as the ball bounces off the numbers of a receiver.

3572

Well unless the Raiders just want to give up on this game, they have to make a change at QB. Boller threw yet another INT at the end of the half. Should be VERY interesting to see who comes out to play the 2nd half.

3573

There is a gawd. Palmer’s coming in.

3574

So if you’re the Vikings, and you’re leading at the half, do you just take it as a given that you’re going to lose?

(Two plays into the second half, the Packers took the lead for the first time.)

3575

Dear Vikings,

That guy in the green uniform is Greg Jennings. He is allowed to catch the ball and score points. He’s also pretty good. You might want to have someone cover him instead of letting him get 40 yards behind your defense for the easiest touchdown in the history of football.

Sincerely,
Sluggo

3576

Rayner is a great kicker – he did well enough filling in for Jason Hanson last year that they let him compete for the roster spot this year. Hanson was glad to see him go after the pre season, 'cause he was good. Glad to see Rayner getting some work elsewhere in the league.

3577

Good. Too bad we are so far behind that he won’t have a chance to show his stuff.

3578

WTF, Metrodome crowd? Did you get taken over completely by Packers fans?

The roar of approval that went up when Woodson intercepted that ball…

3579

Palmer has thrown a TD!

To the Chiefs.

/sadtrombone

3580

That’s too bad for Palmer, but he really didn’t look that bad. It wasn’t a stupid pick, at least.