Here we go again, with another non-story...It opens with this...
"Peyton Manning didn't shake hands with New Orleans Saints players after his Indianapolis Colts lost 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV. Apparently some think this is a sign of poor sportsmanship from the NFL's greatest player. It's not."
Well thank God they got the "It's not" part right...So why did this piece have to be written...What was the purpose, other then getting it into people's heads that Manning is a douche? There was no other reason...It was an exciting tag line, just to get people sucked in...'Peyton did what?' 'What a jerk!'
I can't stand when "News sources" do this crap...But I have an even bigger problem with this article...Look at that quote...
Chris Chase, whoever he may be, called Peyton Manning "the NFL's greatest player." Chris, you should be fired...Dude just lost the "Super Bowl"...He has a 9-9 record in playoff games...He's not the greatest player of all-time...And he isn't the greatest player now...
The media always want to give Manning praise for how he calls his own plays at the line...How smart he is...All the things he can do as a quarterback...But never do they dump on him for his mistakes...Funny how nobody is saying, why didn't he call that quick slant they like to run, on that 3rd and 1 play...Instead he called a run that was stuffed...Saints get the ball back, kick a field goal before halftime...Get the momentum...
Let's be honest...Peyton was rattled late in the game and it showed...The Greatest don't look like that...
I'm assuming some will ask me who I think the greatest player in the NFL is...I honestly can't say who the greatest is right now...Of all-time, I will always say Jim Brown...Greatest QB...I put Otto Graham up there...Along with him, Unitas, Montana...I have Brady higher then Manning...As a Clevelander it hurts to say this, but I have Elway up there too...
And just for the record, I have Brees ahead of Manning...
I'd like to see something new from the sports media...Stop giving the loser so many accolades...Brees, and the Saints played their collective asses off, I'm hearing and reading more about stupid Peyton Manning...While we're at it...Let's stop giving Manning so many accolades...
Is he good? Yes...Are there better? Yes
Let's start giving the guys that beat him some nut swing for a change...
sorry so early with this, I'm heading out the door as I type!
I was sitting there, filling my face with all things high in saturated fat and trans fats, drinking high calorie beer and saying to anyone in ear shot....
"Peyton, just make one mistake you friggin machine"!
and he did.
Drew Brees is the MVP and the Patriot fans everywhere are glad as we have secured the "Team of the Decade" title, 3 SB wins, followed by Pittsburgh with 2.
Why didn't Peyton run across the field to shake hands with Drew?
answer, he couldn't!
He won't take the heat in the press Brady and Belichick took a couple of years back, but his excuse is the same...
He couldn't find anyone through the rain storm of confetti so he put his helmut back on and ran to the safety of the locker room.
Drew and the Saints' 31 -17 win proved that they are the better team. I'm glad for many reasons the main one being the revival of the city of New Orleans. They are no longer underwater and they now have a Super Bowl Championship. Wouldn't you love to be in town for that parade?
My favorite commercial was Betty White and the snickers with Abe Vagota playing QB....that guy is as old as Farve!
The BudLight asteroid made me chuckle a little.
and speaking of WTF... Who were they....who who!I've been a Who fan for a long time....that being freaking said.....
Peter...Roger......rest home!
The best part of the our night at oldharrys was the food!
stuffies....little necks....jumbo shrimp....sweet potato fries...sharp cheddah....jack....onion dip.....wings.....on and on...all night long......
a chaser of tums..How many tums can you take in a 24 hour period?
when asked I replied 40 I think.......
my sister in law read the lable and corrected me
7 maximum!
ok so I'm using some of next weeks dose.
In the "how did that happen catagory" the Boston Bruins beat Montreal 3-0
meanwhile the Celtics blew an eleven point 3 qtr lead and lost to Orlando.
Las Vegas has waisted no time on next seasons odds.
the Colts are the favorites to win the SB next year
at 6.5-1
the Chargers are at 8-1, the Patriots at 10-1 and Pittsburgh at 11-1
I guess the 26 players on the Saints that are free agents is the reason the Champions are at 15-1 in repeating.
Sorry that's all I have.
I'm on the road tonight and won't be back in town till Thursday. thanks for reading and commenting my friends, I may have to give up this prime time spot if I'm traveling on Tuesdays.
I'll be in touch
and keep on gabbing.
Congrats to Fan82 for taking the crown in the first ever YGS SuperBowl Spectacular!
It could have gone the other way and we would have been putting the 'Burger-King' paper crown onto Sully. But Fan was able to grab the bonus and pull ahead of Sully for the outright lead. If it had to go to the tie-break, both would have scored a 0, but the tie-break for the tie-break would have gone to Sully for being the closest with 68 as opposed to Fan's 69.
1. Coin-Toss: Colts - Saints: SAINTS
2. Coin-Toss Elect: Kick - Receive: RECEIVE
3. Coin-Toss Extra: Get both team and option:
4. Opening Kick-off returned for TD: Yes - NO: NO
5. First team to score: Colts-Saints: COLTS
6. First score: Run - Pass - FG: FG
7. First score Extra: Get both team and style of score:
8. First Quarter score: Over-Under 21: 10-UNDER
9. Halftime score: Over-Under 30: 16-UNDER
10. Third Quarter score: Over-Under 45: 33-UNDER
11. Final Score: Over-Under 60: 48-UNDER
12. Final Score Difference: +/- 9: 14-OVER
13. Last digits of Final Score: (like on a squares board) S-1, C-7
14. Winner: Colts - Saints: SAINTS
15. MVP: Offensive-Defensive: OFFENSIVE
SUPER BONUS: Get this one right and you get a bonus of 50 points! This will be the ONLY multiple choice pick in this challenge.
Who will the MVP winner thank first: A: Mom B: God C: Other C: OTHER. He really didn't 'THANK' anyone in particular.
Okay, lets get the corny lines out of the way...Yes, The Saints came marching in!
And now they're running out of Miami with the Lombardi Trophy after beating the Colts 31-17...I love watching a Manning lose...No I won't be saying "Who Dat!?!" That's just silly, and it makes you sound like a douche...I don't care if you're a 300 pound football player...You sound like a douche!
I shit you not...NFL.com says "Who Dat? True Dat?" DOUCHE-BAGGERY I say!
But I'm glad the douches from New Orleans won, instead of the douches from Indy...
The game was looking tight early...At the half the Colts were up 10-6...But had barely touched the ball in the second quarter...The tide was turning...
With halftime upon us...It was time for Mrs. Beeze and I to play a game of, The Chicken and the Wolf...It was a tie!
There's nothing like bumping uglies with a couple of old men in the background sounding like crap...Listen Who fans...I'm a Who fan, and I can admit that they sounded bad...If nothing else, they sounded old...The NFL and CBS could have paid me half to cover some of The Who songs...
Then I realized something...This was all a big marketing strategy...CBS has the "Super Bowl"...3 of their top shows are the "CSI" family...And all 3 have a song by The Who as their theme song...All 3 songs were played tonight...
My God, I really hate CBS right now...
So, back to the game...The Saints come out with a huge set of balls, and go for an onside kick to open the second half...They recover it and take the ball down field for a touchdown...The Colts respond with their own scoring drive...The Saints add a field goal...Hartley's 3rd for more then 40 yards in the game...
In the 4th quarter the Saints take the lead on a touchdown pass to Shockey...Then the Colts drive is abruptly ended by an interception, returned for a touchdown by Tracy Porter...Many people doubted the Saints defense, but they have made plays like this all year...They did it again...Congrats New Orleans...You finally have something to cheer about other then Gumbo and Jazz...
Here people...A softer side of the Beeze...As a father, I really liked seeing this shot, and a number of others like it, of Drew Brees with his son...
Now, since I'm talking all this "Super Bowl" stuff...I have to say, I've grown tired of all the "Super Bowl Sunday" hype...It's become almost a national holiday...Hell the Fish House closes on "Super Bowl Sunday." But yet, they have me there slingin' fish on Christmas Eve...
Seriously, Mrs. Beeze actually watched the whole game with me...She doesn't do that all season...But she does on this big day...She likes to see the commercials...SERIOUSLY?
I was actually pissed I couldn't jump around...I hate having to sit through commercials...Okay, I wasn't going to talk commercials, but I have to say this...Bud Light had quality and quantity...And Go Daddy...You bitches are grossly overrated...Danica go crash a car!
Now before I leave here, I wanted to throw a little hockey in here...My New York Rangers mad a move last week...They picked up the often traded Olli Jokinen...Jokinen has made a career out of being a guy people always talk about near the trade deadline...Then he gets moved, and his new team and him, do nothing in the playoffs...Will he do more offensively then Ales Kotalik, and Chris Higgins? (the two Rangers shipped out to get Jokinen) Of course he will...But so could I with the way those two Nancies have played this year...I hope Olli isn't a black cat...But I think he is!
Now, I'm getting outta here...Little Beeze wore me out this week with his non-stop energy, non-stop talking, and non-stop questions...Including the one I got just before the big game started...He was getting ready for bed, and started playing with his balls...Dad what are these? Why do the roll around like this? What do they do?
I handled the topic like this...
"They're your testicles...Right now they do nothing...
leave them alone...Get to bed!"
And we're mere moments away from the most anticipated - most hyped - single day sporting events in our culture. The Super Bowl. Nothing captures the American consciousness like the NFL Championship game. Parties. Commercials. All-hang-out football. Football for the uninitiated. Football for the most ardent fan.
Football at its most pure.
Tonight the Colts and the Saints battle for the right to call themselves champion. And this year there will be a true champion. Its the first time in over twenty years the top teams in each conference face each other.
The Colts literally gave away a perfect season in the name of playoff preparation. The Saints at 13-0 were still battling for the top seed with the Vikings. Peyton Manning - son of the face of the New Orleans Saints - faces his home town team in the only professional uniform he's ever worn. Drew Brees, cast off from the Chargers when Phillip Rivers became their choice to head the franchise, leads the once moribund Saints to their first Super Bowl and with him and his team, the hopes of a devastated city.
This should be an epic, offensive battle. Enjoy....and the Saints win the toss and will receive.
Contrary to popular belief, your humble scribe did not go on suicide watch after the Vikings overtime loss to the Saints. I did brood quietly for a couple hours and then shrugged it off as I got past the loss and soothed myself with some college basketball for a few days, but I am excited about the game of the year that is on tap and in recent years lived up to the hype.
Its what every football player dreams of, running out of the tunnel on the field where every football fan is watching. The holy grail of football is at stake. The Super Bowl is the unquestioned biggest football game of the year. Though laconic Dallas RB Duane Thomas once asked “If it’s the ultimate game, why do they play it every year?” The audience grows and the hype grows, this is the game even the non-fan knows about. Lets look at some facts and historical data first:
Super Bowl Fast Facts
The game will be broadcast in 160 countries worldwide, would you like breakfast with the Super Bowl? That’s what it will be in Sydney where the game will kickoff at 10:25 Monday morning
The first contest between the Packers and Chiefs was broadcast on two networks and didnt sell out
Tickets for the first game were $8 & $12, cheapest ticket for this years game $800
There has never been a shutout or overtime in any of the 43 previous games.
Most Points by a team: 55
Fewest Points: 3
First team to score in the Super Bowl has won 28 of the 43 games
Team Fast Facts
The Saints are the first team to lose their last three games of the regular season yet still make the Super Bowl
This is the first time the conferences top ranked teams have both advanced to the Super Bowl since The Bills & Cowboys did so for Super Bowl 28
The Colts are the first team to make the Super Bowl twice each representing two different cities (The Raiders made it 4 times coming from Oakland but once in LA)
Super Bowl 44 Indianapolis Colts (16-2) vs New Orleans Saints (15-3) For The NFL Championship and the Vince Lombardi Trophy
Sun Life Stadium, Miami 6:25 (CBS)
Favorite Colts by 5
More Fast Facts IND: The Colts have made each of their Super Bowl appearances in Miami, 2 as the Baltimore Colts at the old Orange Bowl and this is their second while in Indianapolis NO: Saints are the 4th NFC team in the last seven years to make their first Super Bowl
Team Dossiers
New Orleans Saints (15-3) National Football Conference Champions
Head Coach: Sean Payton (4th Season 38-26 all with Saints, 3-1 in postseason all with Saints 41-27 overall)
Regular Season Record: 13-3 NFC South Champions (#1 Seed)
Regular Season Statistics: PF 510 (1 NFC, 1 NFL) PA 341 (most allowed by a conference champion)
Rankings Offense 1 Defense 25 Road To Miami:
Earned 1st Round Bye as NFC #1 seed
Defeated NFC West Champion Cardinals 45-14 in Divisional Round
Defeated NFC North Champion Vikings in OT 31-28 in NFC Championship
Who Dat? Don’t call ‘em the Aints anymore!
The Saints are a relentless emotional squad that seems to have a million ways to beat you. Led by the fiery Drew Brees, the Saints offense can and will put up a tons of points. They have decent running game featuring the solid running trio of Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell and the resurgent play of Reggie Bush all three are solid receivers out of the backfield and Bush is doubly valuable as a feared return artist. The Saints strength on the defensive side of the ball is their strong secondary led by All-Pro FS Darren Sharper who is someone that must be accounted for on every play.
Indianapolis Colts (16-2) American Football Conference Champions
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell (1st Season 14-2 regular season and 2-0 in postseason 16-2 overall all in Indianapolis including playoffs)
Regular Season Record: 14-2 AFC South Champions (#1 Seed)
PF 416 PA 307
Rankings Offense 9 Defense 18
Road To Miami:
Earned 1st Round Bye as AFC #2 seed
DefeatedAFC Wild Card-2 Ravens 20-3 in AFC Divisional Round
Defeated AFC Wild Card 1 Jets 30-17 in AFC Championship
Colts cash in as perennial title contender
These aren’t the same high powered Colts you remember from back in the day, but they still have the systematic leadership and fundamental play of Peyton Manning and he is the brains and engine of a dangerous offense. This offense passes and passes and might as an afterthought run the ball on occasion. This is an offense that will wear you down. On the other side, their defense isn’t as flashy and is dogged for being vanilla from time to time, but they don’t give up many points and with an offense that scores as often as they do, their defense doesn’t have to do much. A little known fact is that the Colts D has given up 18 or fewer points in 12 games and 20 total in two playoff games.
When the Colts have the ball
Offensive Team Leaders
QB Peyton Manning 4500 Yds 33 TDs
RB Joseph Addai 828 Yards 10 Tds
WR Reggie Wayne 100 rec 1264 10TDs Dallas Clark 100 Rec 1106 Yds 10Tds
Peyton Manning won his 4th MVP this year and leads a potent passing attack, the Colts running game is there to be sure and Joseph Addai is a decent back but his play and impact has been minimal in the postseason. Add in the young receiving duo of Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon and the Colts are a tough team to gameplan for.
Edge: Colts
When the Saints have the ball
Offensive Team Leaders
QB Drew Brees 4338 Yds 34 TDS
RB Pierre Thomas 794 Yds 6TDs
WR Marques Colston 70 Rec 1074 Yds 9TDS
Drew Brees had a down year compared to his near record season of 2008, but his game management skills are top notch. He is he unquestioned leader of this team. Thomas is a decent option and good with catches out of the backfield. Colston leads a squad of underrated receivers, you can be sure that this team will try to exploit the hobbled Dwight Freeney as much as possible, giving Brees time to work in the pocket is not a safe option for the Colts defense
Edge: Saints
Coaching
Jim Caldwell reminds me a bit of George Seifert of those old Niners squads of the late 80s and early 90s, handed the reins of a top flight and is smart enough not to tinker with it too much. The Colts play like they did under Tony Dungy, smart cool and efficient. Sean Peyton is the energetic coach of the Saints who keeps his squad loose enough to shrug off a late season slide to be ready for two division champs in the playoffs. Edge: Even
Analysis
This is the heavyweight fight the football nation wanted. Both squads can give a scoreboard a workout and have strong leadership on both sides of the ball. Brees and his squad want to prove that they belong with the elite in the NFL and have the strength on both sides of the ball to validiate that thinking. On defense, The Saints look to force turnovers and have openly talked about “remember me” hits on Manning to rattle his confidence. Good luck with that, I see Manning picking the Saints defense apart much like Brett Favre did in the NFC title game. The difference is that Manning won’t force the ball like Favre did and the Colts wont turn the ball over as much, I see both teams trading punches but the Saints wearing down late and Manning marching the Colts to a late score that ices the game
Pick- Colts 34 Saints 24
Championship Week: 1-1 Playoff Total: 3-7
The Next Spec Sheet will post tomorrow. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
The Pro Football Hall Of Fame announced that seven men would be inducted into their facility, but they once again showed why the current selection process must be changed by their lack of knowledge of the game or its history.
Two players selected, Russ Grimm and Ricky Jackson, were dubious choices. Both are worthy of the selection, yet there is a long line of players more deserving. Not just players who played the same position as them, but in the overall scheme of worthiness.
Jackson was a one dimensional outside linebacker who went to the Pro Bowl six times in his career. He never was named First Team All-Pro in his career, and had just eight interceptions. Jackson was an excellent pass rusher, but that is about all he did.
Having spent 13 of his 15 seasons in New Orleans probably had a huge impact on this selection, because the Saints finally reached the Super Bowl for the first time ever this year. The other factor of the city still trying to recover from the impact of a hurricane certainly played a factor in his selection as well.
In other words, more political hogwash has plagued the halls in Canton once again.
Russ Grimm went in because the voters had yet to truly recognize the Washington Redskins famed blocking group called "The Hogs". This unit took the Redskins to four Super Bowls in 10 years, and won three. Grimm was a member of all of those teams, but he did not play in two of the victories.
Injuries had ravaged his career by his sixth year as a player. He participated in a full season just five times in his 11 year career, and was a part time starter for the last five years of his career. He went to the Pro Bowl four times, and was First Team All-Pro three times.Though he had a fine career, there are players even in his own franchise who are much more deserving.
Though there are many players who played the same position as Jackson and Grimm, with more accolades, still waiting to get into Canton, none were on the final ballot or even the initial ballot in a severely flawed selection process. Yet there was a few huge glaring omissions from the final list that these voters left out of Canton once again.
Don Coryell then retired from coaching, at the age of 62 years old, with 111 wins in 195 games overall. He is the first Coach With 100 Wins In pro And college football.
Coryell's 69 wins are the second most in Chargers history behind Hall Of Fame coach Sid Gillman, and his nine seasons with the team are also the second most behind Gillman.
Don Coryell then retired from coaching in 1986, at the age of 62 years old, with 111 wins in 195 games overall. He is the first coach With 100 Wins In pro and college football. To try and sum up this man's career or impact on football is nearly impossible. Virtually every offense today on all levels is a variation of his system.
Bill Walsh, who is a member of Canton, and Coryell also have several ties in football. Walsh used to rely on Isaac Curtis, a player Coryell coached in college, while Walsh was an assistant coach with the Bengals. Walsh also coached under Tommy Protho for one year with the San Diego Chargers, the man Coryell would replace as head coach.
While Walsh is credited with the "West Coast Offense", he started out as a student of Hall Of Fame coaches Sid Gillman, Al Davis, and Paul Brown's downfield passing philosophies.
It was Coryell who really started this offense, and refined it as each year passed during his coaching career. He turned around every team he coached from college to the pros immediately. Though most remember his days in San Diego, his time in Saint Louis also must be hailed.
He took a perennial loser, and made them a serious contender in an NFC East that was mostly dominated by the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins throughout the 1970's. He made quarterback Jim Hart a much better player and surrounded Hart with many weapons. Wide receivers Mel Gray and Pat Tilley were wide receivers who excelled along with Hall Of Fame tight end Jackie Smith in Coryell's system.
Gray holds a franchise record for having at least one catch in 121 consecutive games, and is tenth in franchise history with 351 receptions. He is fourth in Cardinals history with 45 touchdown receptions, fifth in receiving yards, and averaged an outstanding 18.9 yards per reception.
Smith is still second in career receiving yards with the team, fifth in receptions and touchdowns, and averaged an excellent 16.5 yards per catch. Tilley was a fourth-round find by Coryell in 1976, and ended up sixth in career receptions with the Cardinals, and third in receiving yards.
One other thing Coryell brought to the NFL was the use of the multi-purpose running back. Terry Metcalf was his first of many backs who did everything well. Metcalf led the NFL in total yards with 2,462 yards, which is still the best in team history.
Lionel James of the Chargers passed that total in 1985, and it is no coincidence that James was coached by Coryell in that season as well.James had 2,535 yards, a record that stood until the 2000 season and is still the third best total ever.
Coryell also resurrected the career of fullback Jim Otis. Otis joined the Cardinals in Coryell's first season after spending his first three years as a back up with the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs. Coryell turned Otis into a Pro Bowl player in 1975, after gaining a career best 1,076 rushing yards.
Factor in such other weapons like Ike Harris, J.V. Cain, Wayne Morris, Steve Jones, Donny Anderson, Ahmad Rashad, and Earl Thomas, and one can see all the fantastic players Coryell used to make Saint Louis a winner.
He also worked with Jim Hanifan in making the Cardinals perhaps the best offensive line in the league during Coryell's tenure. The line consisted of Hall Of Fame tackle Dan Dierdorf and Pro Bowl players like Tom Banks, Conrad Dobler, Ernie McMillan, and Bob Young most of the time.
They gave up just 55 sacks from 1974 to 1977, including only eight in 1975. This was the fewest allowed in NFL history, until it was surpassed by the Miami Dolphins in 1988 by one.
Though the Cardinals were an explosive offense, their defense and ownership let them down. This would be a theme throughout most of Coryell's coaching career in the NFL.
In his 14 seasons as a coach, his offenses led the NFL in net yards gained per passing attempt five times. They finished in the top five of the NFL six more times.
His teams led the NFL in passing yards seven times, and none of his teams finished lower than seventh. They led the NFL in passing touchdowns three times, and finished in the top ten nine other times. His offenses also led the league in passing attempts two times, finished second five times, and was in the top ten another five times.
But Coryell also ran a balanced attack where the run was important. Twice his teams led the NFL in rushing touchdowns, and they finished in the top ten eight more times, and finished in the top five in yards per carry three times. Twice they were in the top ten in rushing attempts and yards.
His teams led the NFL in total offense yards five times, and in the top ten another six times. Twice his teams led the NFL in yardage differential, which is the number of yards they outgained their opponents that year. His teams also finished in the top ten an additional five times in this category. Coryell's teams led the league in points differential once, and finished in the top ten another six times.
When Coryell hit San Diego in 1978, the spotlight on his genius was shining. He took wide receiver John Jefferson in the first round that year and had him become the first player in NFL history to gain over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons.
He transformed Dan Fouts into a spectacular quarterback. Fouts became the second player in pro football history, and the first in NFL history, to have over 4,000 yards passing in a season. Fouts then would go on to pass for even more yards the next two seasons, and he became just the second player in NFL history to have consecutive seasons of at least 30 touchdown passes. Only six more quarterbacks have accomplished this feat since.
Besides his Chargers teams becoming the first to have three 1,000 yard receivers, their 1981 team had a 1,000 yard rusher in Chuck Muncie and two 1,000 yard receivers in Winslow and Joiner. Wes Chandler finished 43 yards short from joining them in the thousand yards club that year, which would have given them three receivers and a running back with 1,000 yards in one season. This is an accomplishment never duplicated in league history.
After his success with Metcalf, Coryell found other versatile backs to use in San Diego. Men like Muncie, James Brooks, Earnest Jackson, Gary Anderson, Mike Thomas, Lydell Mitchell, Don Woods, Clarence Williams, and the diminutive Lionel James all excelled in his offense.
While Coryell's critics wrongly point to his lack of championship wins, the stinginess of the owners he was employed by was a huge reason why his teams never went past a conference championship game.
While the frugality of Cardinals owner Bill Bidwell is legendary, the Chargers owner Eugene Klein was equally penurious. San Diego lost Jefferson and Fred Dean because of contract disputes. Dean left the Chargers mid-season in 1981 to go to the San Francisco 49ers because of this reason. Dean was a key reason the 49ers won Super Bowl XVI that year, and was named UPI Defensive Player Of The Year.
With Dean gone, it hurt the Chargers defense immensely. The Chargers had the best defensive line in the NFL up until then, featuring Dean and Pro Bowl defensive tackles Louie Kelcher and Gary "Big Hands" Johnson.
All three were drafted together in 1975, and had a strong bond that had the fans nickname them "The Bruise Brothers". All three would eventually join the 49ers and help them win a Super Bowl.
Don Coryell changed the way football was played. The now all too common sight on multiple receiver sets was first started by him, as are many versions of his offenses being run these days. They are all spawns of his genius.
The Redskins three Super Bowls winning teams and Saint Louis Rams two Super Bowl winning teams had his disciples run offenses that were invented by Coryell. His impact on the game will reverberate for generations to come.
Winslow stated it best when he said, "For Don Coryell to not be in the Hall of Fame is a lack of knowledge of the voters. That's the nicest way that I can put that. A lack of understanding of the legacy of the game."
Many Hall Of Fame players and Pro Bowlers were coached by Coryell in the NFL. The list of players inducted into Canton includes Dan Fouts, Winslow, Charlie Joiner, Dan Dierdorf, Jackie Smith, Fred Dean, and Roger Wehrli.
All, except Dean, called on the voters to induct Coryell in their acceptance speeches. Joe Gibbs and John Madden were disciples of his who also called for his induction in their acceptance speeches. These words from these inductees obviously have fallen on the deaf ears of the same voters who had selected them.
This is a despicable crime still perpetrated by the voters to this very day, as shown by the recent induction process. It also shows that Canton must change their induction system.
Another player who was excluded from being inducted was Ray Guy, the greatest punter in the history of football. Guy is the first punter to ever be drafted in the first round by the NFL. He went to the Pro Bowl seven times in his career, and was named First Team All-Pro three times.
At the 1976 Pro Bowl, Ray Guy became the first punter to hit the Louisiana Superdome video screen. He punted the ball over 70 yards in four of his seasons, and once booted five balls over 60 yards in one season alone. He was a versatile player who could pass the ball or run it, and he never had a punt returned for a touchdown in his career. He led the NFL in punting three times also, also kicked off for aging kicker George Blanda, a Hall of Famer, for several years.
He was an integral part of the Raiders. He also was on three Super Bowl winning teams in Oakland during his career. The highlight of his Super Bowls was in 1983. His punt in Super Bowl XVIII pinned Washington inside their 12 yard line, which led to a Raiders touchdown via a turnover the next play.
Guy is the punter on the National Football League's 75th Anniversary Team, the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary Team and as a member of the NFL 1970's All-Decade team.
If you saw Ray Guy, you must be scratching your head right now as to why he isn't in Canton already. His punts were legendary. Other teams would test the balls that he punted for helium, due to the heights his punts attained.
He was the first punter to be nominated for induction, but he still has not been selected. It brings into question the football knowledge of the voters. Some, who claim to be "purists", say that specialist do not belong because they only get on the field for a few plays each game.
After seeing placekicker Jan Stenerud inducted in 1991, there seemed to be a hope that the voters were finally recognizing the importance of special teams. Canton's reason for existence based upon what players do once on the field, and there is no doubt that Ray Guy helped the Raiders win many games and championships.
Being inducted will not get any easier for either Coryell or Guy as the years pass by, and there is the fear that they won't be alive to enjoy it. Coryell is approaching the age of 86, and Guy is 61 years old. Making them wait another year is a gamble and a sign of disregard and disrespect.
Rumors of getting retired players involved in the selection process, especially those already in Canton, has been circulated for years. These are the people who truly know who belong, especially considering there are countless voters not even knowing what positions many gridiron legends played.
It, as Winslow stated, truly shows a lack of knowledge of the current voters. It also shows the corrupt political process involved in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. A process that has wrongly kept Don Coryell and Ray Guy from still taking their rightful place.
It’s here finally, The hype in Boston over the last few weeks hasn’t been huge so that is good. I have some random thoughts on this game and I’m in a sharing mood so I will share these with you.
It’s overdone the whole thing two weeks and then another 5 hours of pregame and anaylsis. ( I won't be subjected to it Youth basketball from 2 to 6 :)) In reality it’s one game. Whoever makes more plays on that day wins. Throw the stats out which may predict success but they are merely an indicator.( I feel like Belichick after a loss)
A game like this with two very explosive offensives will force the defenses too make a play and make the difference in the game. Whatever defense does that wins. Because both teams will put up a ton of points. Whatever defense steps up will make the difference. In the NFL on any given Sunday any time can beat any other team.
Commercials
The commercials I don’t care occasionally there is a funny one. The ones I like the best is the ones that nobody gets. I just sit there thinking some marketing team thinks they know what sells . They convince a CEO to spend millions of dollars and then they are forgotten the next day. I have to love it.
Halftime
I usually, genuflect to the porcelain throne in the Kingdom ofBath. So thehalftime show could be The Who, The Guesswho, But I’m going to take a Journey to the Porcelain and Then Fly Like Eagle afterwards.
Superbowl Parties
I’ll pass thank you. Too destracting I want to watch the game and enjoy it especially if it’s a good one. I’ll watch it with my kids and we will buy some type of Superbowl party food and watch the game. Is it a party no. Because I probably won’t eat any off it and I can go to another TV if they bug me. (I feel like a crusty old SOB)
I just want an entertaining game today and I think we will get one. I want to see Peyton Manning at his best because the guy totally entertains me and this all about be entertaining for 4 hours. I also what Drew Brees to be at his best same reason.
There is also nothing worse than a one sided Superbowl. You might as well pop the Godfather onor meaningless death and destruction movie at the no hope point.. Even better turn the lights out and go to bed so we wake nice and fresh in the morning.
Finally Predictions.
A good Game I don’t care who wins. Whoever makes the most plays to put their team in a postion to win. If the Colts should win Bill Polian and Jim Caldwell may be forgiven for taking an undefeated season and not shutting up Mercury Morris but more importantly looking those players and fans(they are great fans in Indy) in the face. Yeah, all is forgiven because they got the ultimate prize the Superbowl and team over personnel game and all that BS.
If the Saints win, that city will deserve. The city has changed forever after Katrina . the folks down there deserve a break especially with a team that has never been their before.
Hey Saints fans use to call that team the ain’ts and where bags over their heads for good reason. Now they are a great team and deserve some glory.
As far as my prediction . I just want to be entertained. I can’t bet against Peyton. But on any given Sunday!
Now before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, I wrote this before the Patriots dropped their Perfect season with a minute and thirty seconds to go, so there might be some re-arranging going on. But I offer this to you as a conversation starter.
The Super Bowl and "Super Sunday" has become a true American holiday, a spectacle where even those who have no rooting interest in either participant come together with family and friends to watch the biggest football game of the year, and maybe catch a funny commercial or two.
From this uniquely American spectacle springs a truly international phenomenon: the Top 5 List. The following are this author's choices for the Top 5 Super Bowl games of all time:
Super Bowl XXXII - 1998
Denver Broncos 31 - Green Bay Packers 24
The Broncos advanced to the Super Bowl for the fifth time in their history and hoping to finally win the championship for their veteran quarterback John Elway. The rumors were that he would retire following the game. The Green Bay Packers, on the other hand, were the defending champions after having defeated the New England Patriots the previous year. Quarterback Brett Favre had won his third consecutive MVP and had passed for 35 touchdowns in 1997. Green Bay was 11 point favorites over the AFC Champions in the game.
With 1:45 on the clock, the Packers had the opportunity to tie the game. The Packers advanced the ball to Denvers' 31 yard line, but Favre's next two passes fell incomplete and on 4th and 6 to go, John Mobley broke up a Favre to Mark Chmura pass to seal the victory for the Broncos and John Elway.
Elway, it is worth noting, not only did not retire at the end of the 1997 season, but led the Broncos back to their second Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl XXXIII over the Atlanta Falcons.
Super Bowl III - 1969
New York Jets 16 - Baltimore Colts 7
The Baltimore Colts of the National Football League were a bit of a surprise champion, after having been led to a 13-1 record by a journeyman quarterback when super star Johnny Unitas went down injured.
No one considered the upstart New York Jets - from the junior American Football League - up to the challenge of beating the battle tested Baltimore squad. They had already lost to the Oakland Raiders once in the season and barely squeaked by the Raiders in the AFL Championship game, but had found ways of winning all season long.
After having won the first two NFL-AFL World Championship games in handy fashion, the NFL was seeking to demonstrate their dominance, while the AFL was trying to demonstrate their credentials. In the days before the game, the Jets' young quarterback Joe Namath boldly predicted a victory for the upstart Jets. Still, they entered the game as 18-point underdogs, one of the biggest upsets in the history of the game.
Super Bowl XXXIV - 2000
St. Louis Rams 23 - Tennessee Titans 16
The St. Louis Rams were the "Greatest Show on Turf" and entered the game looking for their first championship since 1951. The Titans had won the AFL Championship as the Houston Oilers, but had never played a Super Bowl.
Kurt Warner, the Rams quarterback, was an undrafted free agent and began the year as a back up to starter Trent Green, but after Green was injured, Warner became the everyday starter. In the Super Bowl he threw for 414 yards without an interception and was awarded the MVP, but that was only part of the story.
This game is known for the final play of the game, nicknamed "the Tackle." The Titans took possession with 1:54 left on their own 10-yard line. With 6 second left, and on the Rams 10 yard line, As time clicked down, Titans quarterback Steve McNair hit wide receiver Kevin Dyson with hopes of tying the game and forcing the first over time in the history of the Super Bowl. As the clock struck 0:00, Linebacker Mike Jones tackled an outstretched Dyson at the 1 yard line, preserving the Rams victory. Super Bowl XXV - 1991
New York Giants 20 - Buffalo Bills 19
With 2:16 left in the game, Buffalo trailed by 1-point after having taken the lead 19-17 at the beginning of the fourth with a 63-yard, 4-play scoring drive. The Bills took possession of the ball on their own 10-yard line. In 8-plays and with 8 seconds showing on the clock, the Bills had advanced to the Giants 29-yard line setting up a 47-yard field goal attempt for kicker Scott Norwood.
Norwood, 31 at the time, had a rough season. Of 29 field goal attempts, he made only 18 for a little better than 62%. Of course, the Bills were such an offensive juggernaut that the kicking position was a bit of an afterthought.
In the biggest kick of his life, and to that point, the biggest kick in Super Bowl history, the ball was snapped and placed perfectly. The kick went up and...sailed wide right. With 4 seconds showing on the clock, the New York Football Giants and head coach Bill Parcells were the NFL Champions.
Super Bowl XXXVI - 2002
New England Patriots 20 - St. Louis Rams 17
If Super Bowl XXXIV was a fairy tale for Rams' quarterback Kurt Warner, Super Bowl XXXVI was no less a fairy tale for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. By 2001, the Rams had cemented their catchphrase of "Greatest Show on Turf" in the minds of the football watching public and were considered to be the prime candidate for the Super Bowl Championship through most of the season.
By the time the teams met in November, the Patriots were 5-4, but lost in a hard fought game in Foxborough. It would be the last time the Pats would lose that season.
The Pats went into the game as 14 point underdogs, but quickly rocketed out to a 14-point lead on the strength of a Ty Law interception return for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter though, the Rams demonstrated the offensive prowess that had landed them in the Championship, tying the score at 17 after Patriots linebacker Willie McGinnest was called for holding on a play Kurt Warner had fumbled the ball at the Patriots goal line; a ball that was returned the length of the field for another Patriots touchdown. With 1:30 left on the clock, the score was tied, but the Patriots had one more possession.
With no timeouts remaining, the Patriots took possession. Brady completed three passes to running back JR Redmond, and with 33 seconds left, the ball sat on their 41-yard line. With a 23-yard pass to Troy Brown, who ducked out of bounds to stop the clock with the ball on the Rams' 36-yard line. Brady then completed a pass to tight end Jermaine Wiggins to advance the ball to the Rams' 30-yard line. With 7 seconds remaining on the clock, Brady spiked the ball and set up a 48-yard field goal attempt for Adam Vinatieri.
The call from the Patriots radio network: "The ball is down, the kick is up and it...is...GOOD!" marking the first Patriots world championship and the first time the Super Bowl was decided with a score on the last play of the game.
And now they're running out of Miami with the Lombardi Trophy after beating the Colts 31-17...I love watching a Manning lose...No I won't be saying "Who Dat!?!" That's just silly, and it makes you sound like a douche...I don't care if you're a 300 pound football player...You sound like a douche!
There's nothing like bumping uglies with a couple of old men in the background sounding like crap...Listen Who fans...I'm a Who fan, and I can admit that they sounded bad...If nothing else, they sounded old...The NFL and CBS could have paid me half to cover some of The Who songs...
