The only people who will really have their eyes on the balls today will be the quarterbacks.
Clarity…She couldn’t, could she? Just couldn’t resist, the Little Minx.
Will there be inflation or deflation.
My cat likes the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet. On now.
I desire Russell Wilson to have a spectacular performance that makes the difference, with Seattle winning a close game. And that Lynch’s strong running will disrupt New England from stopping Wilson’s running.
Nevertheless, I predict that New England will win because the Seattle defense will be unable to disrupt Brady’s passing game.
As a citizen in Washington State, I’m up to my eyeballs in Seahawk info. I have watched the progress of the team with interest since Pete Carroll came on board as head coach. He’s put in place a somewhat different philosophy than most pro coaches. It seems to be working. It is more about the psychology of the game and how to encourage his players to perform at their best. He and his GM, John Schneider, have a way of identifying players who can be motivated to improve and do their best while also putting the team ahead of their own personal glory. So many teams have a few stars that are the big attention grabbers and the rest are treated like supporting cast. The Seahawks have many no-name players who perform well above average at their positions on game day.
It should be a tough game. Both teams are very good and Bill Belichick has shown that he is a Hall of Fame coach over his 15 years at New England. He obviously knows how to prepare a team to win. I would like to see Seattle win, but I hope it won’t be a game like last year where the Broncos came into the game flat as a pancake and got blown out.
Let’s play ball and may the best team win.
Patriot fans here enjoying the game @ home away from
home, we left snowy NE with our Calico kitty in tow
for the long car ride to Clearwater Fl where it is 72.
Not missing the latest snow storm scheduled for tonight
my weather bug icon says it’s 20 there, brrrrr!
I concur with JJ may the best team win.
Personally, I am looking forward to the start of the MLB season. We have 10 inches of snow on the ground, stiff wind, and more snow coming down. After dinner it will be movie time and glasses of wine before wading through the snow as we take the dogs for their night walk. For all of you football fans, may you have an exciting game.
brady TD pass to LaFell , sweet !
Join us at the Ace of Spades Super Bowl thread, things are hopping over there.
Al W:
Things are always hopping over at Aces.
The blogosphere’s funniest comments section.
Russell’s last seconds TD pass for a Half Time tie was PERFECTO!!
Katy…Who…?
BEST Ever half time was ZZTop in New Orleans. Baaaaaad Muthas’!!
Just saw a picture of Belichick, over at WeaselZippers, wearing a DTOM tee shirt. Like.
lookin grim for Pats now ! even tho wilson sacked
Cheaters win…
My prediction of NE winning was right on. But, I am disappointed with Seattle. They deserved to lose, however. They should not have let the clock run down and then pass on 2nd down; they could have run dependable Lynch several more times.
ZZ Top! I agree NeoConScum; they were the best show ever.
Good game! With 20 seconds to go it looked like the Seahawks would score and win. The miracle catch by Kearse to set them up was just that – a miracle. It looked like another astonishing finish for the Seahawks. But the Pats DB made a great play on that pass at the goal line. Great competition and outstanding effort by both teams. I really enjoyed it.
The Seahawks will be back. 🙂
The Pats don’t need no steenkin’ deflated balls.
Fair and square!
The announcers are saying best Superbowl ever.
I wouldn’t know, but I’ll take their word for it.
“The Pats don’t need no steenkin’ deflated balls.”
_______________________________________
Oh really, well answer this one:
Why have they CHEATED multiple times?
Why is it that they have proven that the rules seemingly do not to them apply?
After reading quite extensively about the recent deflated ball controversy (far more than interests me, since I’m most definitely not a football aficionado and am only the mildest of Patriots fans). I am not at all convinced there’s any there there. Suffice to say that from what I’ve read the evidence is hardly compelling, and there are alternative explanations other than cheating.
Of course, if the league wants to penalize them in some way after a thorough investigation in which they determine the Pats did something wrong, that’s fine with me. I can wait.
Stunning win !!! Loved it
Too bad hawks had to show such shabby sportsmanship
By petuantly acting out in the face of their well earned defeat
Kind of like what happened to GB in that game
Again pats in a great fun to watch SB
Winners gotta win & babies hsve to complain that
Whaaaa I lost mommy they didnt plsy fair!!!!!
Sorry…. Whaaa they didnt play fair quote the babies
“They cheated once, here, so-called ‘Spygate.'”
Actually, the reality is they were caught cheating once. Who knows?
Good night. She says with a big smile & sweet satisfaction!
T:
Your point?
You can say about any team that they might have cheated many times and not been caught. It’s basically a meaningless thing to say.
Didn’t have a dog in this fight, but I really enjoyed the game. It was one of the all-time craziest.
And I do get a kick out of that big lunk, Gronkowski. Kid really enjoys himself enormously.
Reflected glory – the father of Julian Edelman, who caught the winning TD pass from Brady, is a local mechanic who works on our clunky old Dodge Caravan.
I was rooting for SEA, but only barely. I’m not a big football fan. Good game, but SEA blew it at the end. They should NEVER have passed on 2nd and 1…not with Lynch to run it.
They F’ed up.
Hopefully, they’ll learn not to get cute next time.
Stats don’t lie about the effectiveness of running or the lower chance of turnover, even if it’s not as sexy as passing.
I am among those who thought it was crazy not to run Lynch at the 1-yd line. Yet I swear I heard a stat after the game that in five tries from the 1-yd line this year Lynch scored only once. It seems hard to believe when he usually gains 4-5 yards even when he is “stopped” at the line of scrimmage. He’s one of the toughest inside runners I have ever seen and I’m not a Seahawks fan.
Malcolm Butler made the game winning interception. He had attended Hinds Community College and West Alabama University. He was undrafted in 2014 and had only played in 11 games this season. That was his first pro interception.
I hope the kid gets a huge contract now. He certainly earned it.
W*O*W..!! Why, Oh Why, the pass at the goal line with inches & seconds to go. Pete has some serious s’plainin’ to do!! Helluva game, though. W*O*W..!!
The Today show interviewed Malcolm Butler this morning…what a humble and sweet young man. He was an undrafted rookie who was working part time in the drive thru at Popeyes not too long ago. With all the focus on bad coaching decisions and Brady and deflate gate etc., it’s good to see a nice guy like Butler getting recognition.
CV,
They were showing Malcolm on the sidelines immediately after the interception last night and he was pointing to heaven. Not surprising because West Alabama University is a Christian college.
Unfortunately the Trayvon Martins and Michael Browns get all of the attention. But there are many like Malcolm in the community that get no attention.
“Your point?
You can say about any team that they might have cheated many times and not been caught. It’s basically a meaningless thing to say.”
_______________________________________
Uh, no need to make the above statement.
Only need to read the very link you sent.
Matt Walsh, a former videographer for the Patriots organization reached an agreement (with indemnity) with the NFL in handing over 8 tapes of the Patriots videoing opponent teams.
“Multiple times”. Eight tapes produced.
And it was proven by, Matt Walsh, that the Pats did set up video to record the “walkthrough” prior to their first Superbowl game. Against the Rams. With intent to tape them. Something happened and no tape exists of the event.
Why did Bill “Belicheat” (the name given him by highly regarded, and no-cheater, coach Don Shula)?
Why did he cross the line?
I believe it has to do with his first head coach experiences.
Five of six years as head coach of the Cleveland Browns were dismal LOSING seasons.
His first year with the Patriots was a LOSING season at 5-11 (even with Drew Bledsoe, a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback).
Belicheat, at that time, apparently “felt” the need to create more variables in his favor.
Some of those variables to include cheating. So that he could END his LOSING track record.
Some might say, “creative”.
Some could say, “industrious”.
Some would argue, “driven”.
Okay.
Bottom line: Bill Belicheat was found, by the NFL, to be a cheater. Hefty fines. Loss of draft pick. And then——the NFL destroyed all of the evidence so as to eliminate any chance of others coming forward to use it for additional claims that were alleged.
After all, the NFL is notorious for mis-handling and bungling their participation in misconduct; Ray Rice scandal, concussion issues, etc.
They wanted this “Spygate” to be gone.
But they could not simply ignore it with Matt Walsh’s evidence and some other collaborative eye witness accounts. So they took it as far as they did while minimizing the P.R. fallout.
Patriots: Cheaters. Multiple times. Fact.
Slice it, and dice it, and excuse it, any way you wish.
Bill Belicheat pushes the envelope in many ways. Some of which cross the line as set forth by the rules of the game. FACT. PROVEN.
And the Pats’ fans who wish to stick their head in the ground while ignoring these established Truths simply point and scream, “WHINERS”.
{{{ Laughing at you }}}
Pathetic.
FWIW: I am no Seahawk fan. Their coach never accounted for his participation in the scandal at USC. He simply left USC in the lurch.
However, he was very much involved in the Reggie Bush controversy. Where interested parties gave Reggie’s mother a home valued at, $600,000., at the time. To keep little Reggie comfortable while attending school there.
Deemed illegal by NCAA.
USC was made to account for it.
Not Pete Carroll.
He made like a birdie and flew off to become a Seahawk. Coward.
Congrats to the Patriots on a well deserved win.
They were attacked by the sports Bolsheviks in an attempt to destroy them before they could win. It’s the same thing the left/Democrats do to Republicans; smear, smear, smear.
Harold, your drama is duly noted.
“attacked”? Settle down, schoolgirl.
When someone is found to be a cheater (convenient memory loss on your behalf for ignoring this fact), it is hardly out of line to question new incidents which produce the specter of additional cheating.
It’s a bit like a “rap sheet”. When you have one, it sticks with you.
I know, that cuts deep for ideologues, and those like you.
Now, go back and crawl under that rock from which you emerged…
First up was ESPN’s Sports Science series, which showed how the pressure differentials in footballs manifest in the real world. They found that a typical NFL player could depress a deflated ball by less than an additional 1 mm. Further, the deflated ball weighed a less a regulation ball. How much less? About the weight of a dollar bill. Work in additional air-speed resistance and its not clear that any material advantage would be gained by deflating the balls in the way the Patriots were alleged to have done.
Then a group called HeadSmart Labs ran an experiment analyzing what effect changes in temperature and humidity would have had on the internal pressure of the footballs. They tried to replicate the conditions of the AFC championship game–you can watch the video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxsXFX3tDpg) . . .
But the take away is that under the conditions of the Colts-Patriots game, all of the footballs HeadSmart Labs tested experienced a drop in pressure–and the average drop was 1.82 psi. Or, right about in the range that was observed at the game.
“T:
Your point?”
Aside from the fact that Clarityseeker above points out that the Pats “single” infraction was actually a series of multiple infractions (i.e., no accident here) there’s this:
We don’t know what any team is doing, really. We could argue that other teams are playing by the rules; we could also argue that most (all) teams probably bend the rules as much as possible to achieve an edge. That the Pats (or any team) are now on record as having been caught cheating (one charge, multiple counts) IMO nullifies giving them the benefit of the doubt.
One might revert to the “innocent until proven guilty” defense, but this is not a court of law. My point is no more meaningless than being asked if you’ve ever declared bankruptcy or if you’ve ever committed a felony. It having been proven that one intentionally played outside the rules while maintaining the appearance of playing within the rules changes my perception of the team and so it should. In my mind the burden of proof is now on them. Cheat on me once, your shame . . . .
cirrus:
The REAL “gist”, which you and ESPN clearly miss.
It matters very little whether the “science” reconciles motivation(s) for altering 11 balls.
I know this is a rude awakening for one travelling down such a path. However, here’s the “REAL GIST”.
It matters only with regard to the preference of the individual who would alter the object. Whether that individual PREFERS the object altered to his/her desired condition, form, playability. That’s the “gist”.
I could spend considerable time ‘splainin’ to you the myriad professional athletes across the many different sport’s disciplines, and their “quirky” behaviors, preferences, incredibly subtle equipment used. It’s all personal.
Just one example:
“(Tiger) Woods is among those who prefer a smallish putter grip, but some players like a little bulk. John Daly adds three wraps of tape under his grip. The result gives Daly a grip size he prefers and delivers the right feel. That’s because Daly normally adds about 40 grams of weight to his putter head, and the light grip makes the head seem even heavier. Bubba Watson also likes an oversize grip, adding four layers of tape under his Ping grip.” http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2010-08/golf-johnson-equipment-0823
Granted, no rules violations are involved in golf example given. But, it points out the degree of subtle distinctions in equipment preferences. And they are subtle. Kinda’ like one quarterback’s preference for the subtlety of ball air pressure. Disregarding “scientific” determinations as to whether they “make sense”. DOES NOT MATTER. It’s personal preferences.
To offer those up is irrelevant. What matters is how those personal preferences comport with RULES. Rules established so as to develop consistencies and “guardrails” for what is determined to be “acceptable” by those who govern the game. Period.
Put that in your science pipe and smoke it.
That’s Entertainment – The reality show most of America watched last night was great fun, lots of suspense, lots of action and a funny surprise ending. Super-wealthy team owners, using very wealthy players ended another season of fun, games and intrigue with a bang and it has about as much meaning for our lives as the goofy crap on Duck Dynasty unless we were stupid enough to bet on the game.
That’s about all I know or care about that.
The thing I don’t understand about the football pressure controversy is this:
If the pressure of the balls is crucial to the play of the game, then (although provided by the home team) why are the balls not 1) in the care of the referees instead of the home team and 2) why are they not checked for accuracy when each new ball is put into play and thereafter?
You got that right. My Monday morning rolls around just the same as it did last week.
My vote for worst commercials…
the commercial that became a huge downer when they pointed out a kid dies and never gets to do fun stuff…
the commercial that feminists put up in which they discuss, throw like a girl, run like a girl, etc… as if its not based on what we see, and what happens for most..
and the battle between two women trying to up each other on what they have in their homes their husbands got them, with one claiming a birthing center in the basement… as she hands a baby to a woman and says “its a boy, sorry”
OldTexan,
Thanks. Subject is over for me.
Be well…
on another note… your will is not valid if they judge can be convinced that your not what the judge approves of.
Superior Court judge in Newmarket [Ontario] set aside Spence’s will and divided his $400,000 estate equally between his two daughters. “It is clear and uncontradicted, in my view, that the reason for disinheriting Verolin, as articulated by the deceased, was one based on a clearly stated racist principle,” ruled Justice C.A. Gilmore
i have no idea under what law a judge can put that aside… after all, he has to assume the thoughts of the deceased… who cant argue otherwise.. then put it aside based on whim given there is no specific law or such that grants such power…
welcome to soviet style court in the west…
the law is whatever the judge makes up and thats that
Clarityseeker and T:
“Spygate” was one form of cheating, one m.o. for cheating that the Patriots used, the only one we know happened. I didn’t mean I absolutely know it was something they only did on one single occasion. I assume it’s likely they did it on many occasions.
Belicheck’s defense is here—he didn’t think what he was doing was technically illegal. You can (and I’m sure do) reject that explanation as poppycock, but if he didn’t think it was actually illegal, why wouldn’t he have been doing it more than once?
Angry that the team he loved fired him and offended that former colleagues he once considered his friends had since shunned him, Matt Walsh suddenly found himself in position to strike back…
Walsh and his lawyer have not publicly addressed the allegation about the Patriots taping the Rams, but the lawyer has informed the NFL that Walsh possesses materials, presumably videotapes, from his time with the team. Walsh also told a former Patriots coworker, who was interviewed by the Globe, that he taped opponents’ signals after Belichick joined the team in 2000 until he left the video crew after the 2002 Super Bowl.
If Walsh’s tapes show only that the Patriots previously broke NFL rules by recording opponents’ signals, the evidence would do little more than corroborate what Belichick already has acknowledged to Goodell – that he approved such taping from the time he joined the team in 2000, believing he was not violating the spirit of the rules (a position Goodell rejected). But if Walsh possesses a tape of the Rams’ final preparations before the 2002 Super Bowl, it would be far more damaging and leave Belichick and the Patriots vulnerable to more severe sanctions.
He didn’t possess such a tape.
Also, read this, especially the second half, which contains a lengthy discussion of the rules and the practices that “Spygate” supposedly violated. Rather more complicated than the sound bites would have it.
As I’ve said, I’m neither a football fan or even a Patriots fan, except in the mildest sense, so I’m certainly not holding the view I hold because of my rabid fandom.
Neo,
“Belicheck’s defense is here–he didn’t think what he was doing was technically illegal.”
I can understand cutting the line so closely one truly thinks they are still within the rules and I know that this sometimes does happen. This happens frequently in filing taxes; people take deductions they honestly think they are entitled to but get called out in a audit. If one has a reasonable explanation, it is not beyond the IRS to waive penalties on the subsequent underpayment.
If, however, one claims they are within the rules, but performs the act surreptitiously they belie their own claims. This is why I usually dismiss this defense, not just in Belichik’s case, but most times it is offered by anyone.
I don’t know enough about the Pats taping incident to make more than an assumption, but my assumption is based on the fact that the infraction wasn’t commonly know to be happening and had to be discovered.
T:
Did you read this article that I linked in my previous comment?
In response to your particular point, see this:
Belichick didn’t send Estrella out with an easily obtainable hidden camera. For seven years, he had cameramen stand in plain sight of other teams, thousands of fans, and television cameras. Critics voice dismay that the NFL didn’t follow a legal investigation’s standards.
And more generally see this (please read the whole article if you haven’t already) :
One of Belichick’s fiercest Spygate critics and Mudd’s boss from 2002-2008 with the Colts, Tony Dungy, also served on Schottenheimer’s Kansas City staff. Other notable Schottenheimer assistants in Kansas City include Herm Edwards, who later served as the Jets’ head coach before returning to the Chiefs in that capacity.
Edwards was so familiar with taping tactics that he waved to the Patriots’ camera recording him. Long time Steelers’ coach Bill Cowher also worked for Schottenheimer in Kansas City. During his career,Schottenheimer also coached the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers.
During Schottenheimer’s first few seasons in Kansas City, offenses still used hand signals too, meaning his defense also benefited from deciphering signals.
The media reports as if filming opposing coaches is a violation of NFL rules. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell shares this belief and apparently based his punishment on it.
A September 6, 2006 memo from Ray Anderson, the NFL head of game operations, adds to this. However, the rules don’t support this belief. Anderson’s memo reads, “Videotaping of any type, including but not limited to taping of an opponent’s offensive or defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches’ booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to club staff members during the game.”
Unfortunately, the memo misquotes the rules, and Anderson can’t change the rules. Rule changes must be proposed to and voted on by the teams. The NFL cited the misquoted rules against the Patriots from pages A105-A106 of the league’s Policy Manual for Member Clubs Volume II: Game Operations 2007 edition.
Miscellaneous Rules and Regulations, Section A. reads, “No video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches’ booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game.”
The league also cited a portion of section D against the Patriots. Section D reads, “To ensure the protection of equipment and employees of the teams’ video departments, please follow the guidelines listed for the video shooting booths at your stadium.”
The league quoted the first guideline against the Patriots, “All video shooting locations must be enclosed on all sides with a roof overhead.” The rules never prohibit filming coaches. The sections used against the Patriots only concern camera locations.
Anderson’s memo adds an emphasis on signals, which isn’t in the rules. Also, Anderson says that videotaping is prohibited from “any other locations accessible to club staff members.”
This isn’t in the rules either.
The rule mentions only three spots where teams can’t use video equipment during games–the coaches’ booth, the locker room, and the field. No rule bars teams from recording signals as long as they locate their cameras properly.
Despite this, Goodell and especially the media continue to portray signal taping as the problem when the only real issue is camera location.
Even the location technicality isn’t open and shut…
As I said, read the whole thing. It’s quite informative.
Excellent blog you have got here.. It’s difficult to find high-quality writing like yours nowadays.
I honestly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
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You just could not help yourself on that one…
The only people who will really have their eyes on the balls today will be the quarterbacks.
Clarity…She couldn’t, could she? Just couldn’t resist, the Little Minx.
Will there be inflation or deflation.
My cat likes the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet. On now.
I desire Russell Wilson to have a spectacular performance that makes the difference, with Seattle winning a close game. And that Lynch’s strong running will disrupt New England from stopping Wilson’s running.
Nevertheless, I predict that New England will win because the Seattle defense will be unable to disrupt Brady’s passing game.
As a citizen in Washington State, I’m up to my eyeballs in Seahawk info. I have watched the progress of the team with interest since Pete Carroll came on board as head coach. He’s put in place a somewhat different philosophy than most pro coaches. It seems to be working. It is more about the psychology of the game and how to encourage his players to perform at their best. He and his GM, John Schneider, have a way of identifying players who can be motivated to improve and do their best while also putting the team ahead of their own personal glory. So many teams have a few stars that are the big attention grabbers and the rest are treated like supporting cast. The Seahawks have many no-name players who perform well above average at their positions on game day.
It should be a tough game. Both teams are very good and Bill Belichick has shown that he is a Hall of Fame coach over his 15 years at New England. He obviously knows how to prepare a team to win. I would like to see Seattle win, but I hope it won’t be a game like last year where the Broncos came into the game flat as a pancake and got blown out.
Let’s play ball and may the best team win.
Patriot fans here enjoying the game @ home away from
home, we left snowy NE with our Calico kitty in tow
for the long car ride to Clearwater Fl where it is 72.
Not missing the latest snow storm scheduled for tonight
my weather bug icon says it’s 20 there, brrrrr!
I concur with JJ may the best team win.
Personally, I am looking forward to the start of the MLB season. We have 10 inches of snow on the ground, stiff wind, and more snow coming down. After dinner it will be movie time and glasses of wine before wading through the snow as we take the dogs for their night walk. For all of you football fans, may you have an exciting game.
brady TD pass to LaFell , sweet !
Join us at the Ace of Spades Super Bowl thread, things are hopping over there.
Al W:
Things are always hopping over at Aces.
The blogosphere’s funniest comments section.
Russell’s last seconds TD pass for a Half Time tie was PERFECTO!!
Katy…Who…?
BEST Ever half time was ZZTop in New Orleans. Baaaaaad Muthas’!!
Just saw a picture of Belichick, over at WeaselZippers, wearing a DTOM tee shirt. Like.
lookin grim for Pats now ! even tho wilson sacked
Cheaters win…
My prediction of NE winning was right on. But, I am disappointed with Seattle. They deserved to lose, however. They should not have let the clock run down and then pass on 2nd down; they could have run dependable Lynch several more times.
ZZ Top! I agree NeoConScum; they were the best show ever.
Good game! With 20 seconds to go it looked like the Seahawks would score and win. The miracle catch by Kearse to set them up was just that – a miracle. It looked like another astonishing finish for the Seahawks. But the Pats DB made a great play on that pass at the goal line. Great competition and outstanding effort by both teams. I really enjoyed it.
The Seahawks will be back. 🙂
The Pats don’t need no steenkin’ deflated balls.
Fair and square!
The announcers are saying best Superbowl ever.
I wouldn’t know, but I’ll take their word for it.
“The Pats don’t need no steenkin’ deflated balls.”
_______________________________________
Oh really, well answer this one:
Why have they CHEATED multiple times?
Why is it that they have proven that the rules seemingly do not to them apply?
I’m very patient. Take your time…
Clarityseeker:
They cheated once, here, so-called “Spygate.”
After reading quite extensively about the recent deflated ball controversy (far more than interests me, since I’m most definitely not a football aficionado and am only the mildest of Patriots fans). I am not at all convinced there’s any there there. Suffice to say that from what I’ve read the evidence is hardly compelling, and there are alternative explanations other than cheating.
Of course, if the league wants to penalize them in some way after a thorough investigation in which they determine the Pats did something wrong, that’s fine with me. I can wait.
Stunning win !!! Loved it
Too bad hawks had to show such shabby sportsmanship
By petuantly acting out in the face of their well earned defeat
Kind of like what happened to GB in that game
Again pats in a great fun to watch SB
Winners gotta win & babies hsve to complain that
Whaaaa I lost mommy they didnt plsy fair!!!!!
Sorry…. Whaaa they didnt play fair quote the babies
“They cheated once, here, so-called ‘Spygate.'”
Actually, the reality is they were caught cheating once. Who knows?
Good night. She says with a big smile & sweet satisfaction!
T:
Your point?
You can say about any team that they might have cheated many times and not been caught. It’s basically a meaningless thing to say.
Didn’t have a dog in this fight, but I really enjoyed the game. It was one of the all-time craziest.
And I do get a kick out of that big lunk, Gronkowski. Kid really enjoys himself enormously.
Reflected glory – the father of Julian Edelman, who caught the winning TD pass from Brady, is a local mechanic who works on our clunky old Dodge Caravan.
I was rooting for SEA, but only barely. I’m not a big football fan. Good game, but SEA blew it at the end. They should NEVER have passed on 2nd and 1…not with Lynch to run it.
They F’ed up.
Hopefully, they’ll learn not to get cute next time.
Stats don’t lie about the effectiveness of running or the lower chance of turnover, even if it’s not as sexy as passing.
I am among those who thought it was crazy not to run Lynch at the 1-yd line. Yet I swear I heard a stat after the game that in five tries from the 1-yd line this year Lynch scored only once. It seems hard to believe when he usually gains 4-5 yards even when he is “stopped” at the line of scrimmage. He’s one of the toughest inside runners I have ever seen and I’m not a Seahawks fan.
Malcolm Butler made the game winning interception. He had attended Hinds Community College and West Alabama University. He was undrafted in 2014 and had only played in 11 games this season. That was his first pro interception.
I hope the kid gets a huge contract now. He certainly earned it.
W*O*W..!! Why, Oh Why, the pass at the goal line with inches & seconds to go. Pete has some serious s’plainin’ to do!! Helluva game, though. W*O*W..!!
The Today show interviewed Malcolm Butler this morning…what a humble and sweet young man. He was an undrafted rookie who was working part time in the drive thru at Popeyes not too long ago. With all the focus on bad coaching decisions and Brady and deflate gate etc., it’s good to see a nice guy like Butler getting recognition.
CV,
They were showing Malcolm on the sidelines immediately after the interception last night and he was pointing to heaven. Not surprising because West Alabama University is a Christian college.
Unfortunately the Trayvon Martins and Michael Browns get all of the attention. But there are many like Malcolm in the community that get no attention.
“Your point?
You can say about any team that they might have cheated many times and not been caught. It’s basically a meaningless thing to say.”
_______________________________________
Uh, no need to make the above statement.
Only need to read the very link you sent.
Matt Walsh, a former videographer for the Patriots organization reached an agreement (with indemnity) with the NFL in handing over 8 tapes of the Patriots videoing opponent teams.
“Multiple times”. Eight tapes produced.
And it was proven by, Matt Walsh, that the Pats did set up video to record the “walkthrough” prior to their first Superbowl game. Against the Rams. With intent to tape them. Something happened and no tape exists of the event.
Why did Bill “Belicheat” (the name given him by highly regarded, and no-cheater, coach Don Shula)?
Why did he cross the line?
I believe it has to do with his first head coach experiences.
Five of six years as head coach of the Cleveland Browns were dismal LOSING seasons.
His first year with the Patriots was a LOSING season at 5-11 (even with Drew Bledsoe, a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback).
Belicheat, at that time, apparently “felt” the need to create more variables in his favor.
Some of those variables to include cheating. So that he could END his LOSING track record.
Some might say, “creative”.
Some could say, “industrious”.
Some would argue, “driven”.
Okay.
Bottom line: Bill Belicheat was found, by the NFL, to be a cheater. Hefty fines. Loss of draft pick. And then——the NFL destroyed all of the evidence so as to eliminate any chance of others coming forward to use it for additional claims that were alleged.
After all, the NFL is notorious for mis-handling and bungling their participation in misconduct; Ray Rice scandal, concussion issues, etc.
They wanted this “Spygate” to be gone.
But they could not simply ignore it with Matt Walsh’s evidence and some other collaborative eye witness accounts. So they took it as far as they did while minimizing the P.R. fallout.
Patriots: Cheaters. Multiple times. Fact.
Slice it, and dice it, and excuse it, any way you wish.
Bill Belicheat pushes the envelope in many ways. Some of which cross the line as set forth by the rules of the game. FACT. PROVEN.
And the Pats’ fans who wish to stick their head in the ground while ignoring these established Truths simply point and scream, “WHINERS”.
{{{ Laughing at you }}}
Pathetic.
FWIW: I am no Seahawk fan. Their coach never accounted for his participation in the scandal at USC. He simply left USC in the lurch.
However, he was very much involved in the Reggie Bush controversy. Where interested parties gave Reggie’s mother a home valued at, $600,000., at the time. To keep little Reggie comfortable while attending school there.
Deemed illegal by NCAA.
USC was made to account for it.
Not Pete Carroll.
He made like a birdie and flew off to become a Seahawk. Coward.
Congrats to the Patriots on a well deserved win.
They were attacked by the sports Bolsheviks in an attempt to destroy them before they could win. It’s the same thing the left/Democrats do to Republicans; smear, smear, smear.
Harold, your drama is duly noted.
“attacked”? Settle down, schoolgirl.
When someone is found to be a cheater (convenient memory loss on your behalf for ignoring this fact), it is hardly out of line to question new incidents which produce the specter of additional cheating.
It’s a bit like a “rap sheet”. When you have one, it sticks with you.
I know, that cuts deep for ideologues, and those like you.
Now, go back and crawl under that rock from which you emerged…
For what it’s worth, from the Weekly Standard:
The End of Deflategate
(http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/end-deflategate_832331.html)
The gist:
First up was ESPN’s Sports Science series, which showed how the pressure differentials in footballs manifest in the real world. They found that a typical NFL player could depress a deflated ball by less than an additional 1 mm. Further, the deflated ball weighed a less a regulation ball. How much less? About the weight of a dollar bill. Work in additional air-speed resistance and its not clear that any material advantage would be gained by deflating the balls in the way the Patriots were alleged to have done.
Then a group called HeadSmart Labs ran an experiment analyzing what effect changes in temperature and humidity would have had on the internal pressure of the footballs. They tried to replicate the conditions of the AFC championship game–you can watch the video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxsXFX3tDpg) . . .
But the take away is that under the conditions of the Colts-Patriots game, all of the footballs HeadSmart Labs tested experienced a drop in pressure–and the average drop was 1.82 psi. Or, right about in the range that was observed at the game.
“T:
Your point?”
Aside from the fact that Clarityseeker above points out that the Pats “single” infraction was actually a series of multiple infractions (i.e., no accident here) there’s this:
We don’t know what any team is doing, really. We could argue that other teams are playing by the rules; we could also argue that most (all) teams probably bend the rules as much as possible to achieve an edge. That the Pats (or any team) are now on record as having been caught cheating (one charge, multiple counts) IMO nullifies giving them the benefit of the doubt.
One might revert to the “innocent until proven guilty” defense, but this is not a court of law. My point is no more meaningless than being asked if you’ve ever declared bankruptcy or if you’ve ever committed a felony. It having been proven that one intentionally played outside the rules while maintaining the appearance of playing within the rules changes my perception of the team and so it should. In my mind the burden of proof is now on them. Cheat on me once, your shame . . . .
cirrus:
The REAL “gist”, which you and ESPN clearly miss.
It matters very little whether the “science” reconciles motivation(s) for altering 11 balls.
I know this is a rude awakening for one travelling down such a path. However, here’s the “REAL GIST”.
It matters only with regard to the preference of the individual who would alter the object. Whether that individual PREFERS the object altered to his/her desired condition, form, playability. That’s the “gist”.
I could spend considerable time ‘splainin’ to you the myriad professional athletes across the many different sport’s disciplines, and their “quirky” behaviors, preferences, incredibly subtle equipment used. It’s all personal.
Just one example:
“(Tiger) Woods is among those who prefer a smallish putter grip, but some players like a little bulk. John Daly adds three wraps of tape under his grip. The result gives Daly a grip size he prefers and delivers the right feel. That’s because Daly normally adds about 40 grams of weight to his putter head, and the light grip makes the head seem even heavier. Bubba Watson also likes an oversize grip, adding four layers of tape under his Ping grip.”
http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2010-08/golf-johnson-equipment-0823
Granted, no rules violations are involved in golf example given. But, it points out the degree of subtle distinctions in equipment preferences. And they are subtle. Kinda’ like one quarterback’s preference for the subtlety of ball air pressure. Disregarding “scientific” determinations as to whether they “make sense”. DOES NOT MATTER. It’s personal preferences.
To offer those up is irrelevant. What matters is how those personal preferences comport with RULES. Rules established so as to develop consistencies and “guardrails” for what is determined to be “acceptable” by those who govern the game. Period.
Put that in your science pipe and smoke it.
That’s Entertainment – The reality show most of America watched last night was great fun, lots of suspense, lots of action and a funny surprise ending. Super-wealthy team owners, using very wealthy players ended another season of fun, games and intrigue with a bang and it has about as much meaning for our lives as the goofy crap on Duck Dynasty unless we were stupid enough to bet on the game.
That’s about all I know or care about that.
The thing I don’t understand about the football pressure controversy is this:
If the pressure of the balls is crucial to the play of the game, then (although provided by the home team) why are the balls not 1) in the care of the referees instead of the home team and 2) why are they not checked for accuracy when each new ball is put into play and thereafter?
It would seem to be naé¯ve to let any team care for such a primary piece of game equipment.
Old Texan,
You got that right. My Monday morning rolls around just the same as it did last week.
My vote for worst commercials…
the commercial that became a huge downer when they pointed out a kid dies and never gets to do fun stuff…
the commercial that feminists put up in which they discuss, throw like a girl, run like a girl, etc… as if its not based on what we see, and what happens for most..
and the battle between two women trying to up each other on what they have in their homes their husbands got them, with one claiming a birthing center in the basement… as she hands a baby to a woman and says “its a boy, sorry”
OldTexan,
Thanks. Subject is over for me.
Be well…
on another note… your will is not valid if they judge can be convinced that your not what the judge approves of.
Superior Court judge in Newmarket [Ontario] set aside Spence’s will and divided his $400,000 estate equally between his two daughters. “It is clear and uncontradicted, in my view, that the reason for disinheriting Verolin, as articulated by the deceased, was one based on a clearly stated racist principle,” ruled Justice C.A. Gilmore
i have no idea under what law a judge can put that aside… after all, he has to assume the thoughts of the deceased… who cant argue otherwise.. then put it aside based on whim given there is no specific law or such that grants such power…
welcome to soviet style court in the west…
the law is whatever the judge makes up and thats that
Clarityseeker and T:
“Spygate” was one form of cheating, one m.o. for cheating that the Patriots used, the only one we know happened. I didn’t mean I absolutely know it was something they only did on one single occasion. I assume it’s likely they did it on many occasions.
Belicheck’s defense is here—he didn’t think what he was doing was technically illegal. You can (and I’m sure do) reject that explanation as poppycock, but if he didn’t think it was actually illegal, why wouldn’t he have been doing it more than once?
Here’s a fascinating article about Matt Walsh:
He didn’t possess such a tape.
Also, read this, especially the second half, which contains a lengthy discussion of the rules and the practices that “Spygate” supposedly violated. Rather more complicated than the sound bites would have it.
As I’ve said, I’m neither a football fan or even a Patriots fan, except in the mildest sense, so I’m certainly not holding the view I hold because of my rabid fandom.
Neo,
“Belicheck’s defense is here–he didn’t think what he was doing was technically illegal.”
I can understand cutting the line so closely one truly thinks they are still within the rules and I know that this sometimes does happen. This happens frequently in filing taxes; people take deductions they honestly think they are entitled to but get called out in a audit. If one has a reasonable explanation, it is not beyond the IRS to waive penalties on the subsequent underpayment.
If, however, one claims they are within the rules, but performs the act surreptitiously they belie their own claims. This is why I usually dismiss this defense, not just in Belichik’s case, but most times it is offered by anyone.
I don’t know enough about the Pats taping incident to make more than an assumption, but my assumption is based on the fact that the infraction wasn’t commonly know to be happening and had to be discovered.
T:
Did you read this article that I linked in my previous comment?
In response to your particular point, see this:
And more generally see this (please read the whole article if you haven’t already) :
As I said, read the whole thing. It’s quite informative.
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