NFL Week 17 General Discussion Thread

Two games today with the rest of the bunch tomorrow. As usual in the final week of the season, most of these games are meaningless, at least on paper.

Denver 23, San Diego 7 (Meaningless game, save for the fact that Phillip Rivers is in need of some help)
NY Giants 30, Oakland 21 (Tiki runs for 203; New York takes the NFC East)

Early Sunday scores:

Seattle 17, Green Bay 23 (Packers eliminated from contention in the Reggie Bush race)
Cincinnati 3, Kansas City 37 (Dick Vermeil announced his retirement)
Buffalo 26, NY Jets 30
Arizona 13, Indiannapolis 17 (See *Legion*'s post)
Carolina 44, Atlanta 9 (Panthers clinch wild card spot)
Miami 28, New England 26
New Orleans 13, Tampa Bay 27 (Bucs win NFC South)
Baltimore 16, Cleveland 20
Detroit 21, Pittsburgh 35

Reports coming in:

Mike Sherman to be fired this week
Dom Capers to be fired this week
Mike Tice to be fired this week
Mike Martz to be fired this week
Norv Turner to be fired this week
Jim Haslett to be fired this week (surprising)
Dick Vermeil to retire Monday
Dennis Green to be asked to fire a bunch of his assistant coaches - could be sent packing himself if he refuses

Chiefs OC Al Saunders a strong candidate for Houston job
Redskins DC Gregg Williams a strong candidate for many jobs
Mike Martz to get plenty of looks after he gets fired

Rat Boy wrote:

Arizona 19, Indiannapolis 17 (Colts now tied with Denver for best record in the AFC)

Except for the fact that replay reversed the Arizona TD and as a result they did not, in fact, win.

Yeah, when I checked the ESPN real-time score thing, it said the game was over with that score before the call was reversed.

Edit: Oh, and Doug Flutie = teh awesome.

Flutie may be awesome, but Maurice Clarett is felonious

I've been waiting for someone to make a drop-kick. Jim McMahon used to make drop-kicks in warmups from 40+ yards but he never got a chance to do one in a game.

Indeed, all are welcome to drop-kick their Flutie Fan Club membership registrations to me any time

Welp, the Chefs are out of the playoffs. Again. Another underwhelming season from them, after expecting a much better defense. I wonder who will take over for Vermiel. If it is Cunningham again, I will freaking scream.

Worse news for the Chiefs will be when Al Saunders gets a job elsewhere, unless KC jumps on the chance to promote him.

Late Sunday scores:

Chicago 10, Minnesota 34
Tennesse 13, Jacksonville 40
Houston 17, San Francisco 20 (Texans "win" the first pick of the forthcoming draft)

Now, whether or not Reggie Bush decides to come out in light of such tantilizing opportunities to begin his NFL career in remains to be seen. I wouldn't be surprised that if he does decide to go pro, he'll try to pull an Eli Manning and get a spot on a "good" team.

Reggie Bush is coming out, guaranteed. It was different for Leinart where he came back to a team that was keeping all its stars. USC's top talent is all leaving, and I don't see Bush sticking around for a post-Leinart, post-LenDale White, post-lots of people USC (though no doubt USC has good players coming in the pipeline, but it's still going to be a big step down from being the nation's best team)

In other news, Jacksonville's scout team spanked the crap out of the Titans. They were up 40-0 until the Titans finally scored two TDs against the absolute bottom of the Jags' depth chart (including guys even I haven't heard of - and I thought I knew pretty much all of the active roster).

Matt Jones took two snaps at QB, including completing a 6 yard pass. It's pretty funny how strange it looked to see a white man lining up to take a snap at QB for the team. 3rd stringer Quinn Gray helped convince me that he would be perfectly fine as a #2 QB if Garrard is traded in the offseason. Gray was an MVP in NFL Europe, and though he might not be the next Brad Johnson or Kurt Warner, he's worthy of a #2 spot. Doesn't hurt that Matt Jones can be an emergency QB at any point as well.

*Legion* wrote:

Mike Tice to be fired today

Fixed.

The skins game nearly killed me. The way Brunell was playing early on looked almost like he was purposely overthrowing. Some of those tosses were painfully similar to Kerry "Look, I'm shaving points" Collins' play. I was pretty tense watching the game until the dirge of turnovers shattered Philly's momentum. It was a shame the Skins defensive line didn't kick into high gear earlier, but they've shown over the last dozen games that they're a last minute endurance bunch. Still, first playoffs games in a good six years now gives me a pretty healthy smile. Good to see the boys back in things again - especially so soon after Gibbs came back.

For the second time this season, the Redskins and Buccaneers square off when the franchises meet in an NFC wild-card matchup on Saturday (4:30 ET, ABC). Tampa Bay defeated Washington 36-35 in Week 10.

Hurray playoff football!

Jim Haslett to be fired this week (surprising)

Not really. What has he really donw ith the talent he has the last 5 or so years? Besides drop off the chart at the end of the year.

karmajay wrote:

Not really. What has he really donw ith the talent he has the last 5 or so years? Besides drop off the chart at the end of the year.

He did one thing this year - stay with the team. That job could not have been any less desirable than this year, and it's only slightly more desirable next year. I wouldn't have expected them to go coach-hunting until they stabilized the franchise.

I love Doug Flutie. That is all.

Thank god this nightmare of a season is finally over...

I can settle in for some nice beers this weekend and prepare for my anti-Manning cheering.

Mmm burritos wrote:

The skins game nearly killed me. The way Brunell was playing early on looked almost like he was purposely overthrowing. Some of those tosses were painfully similar to Kerry "Look, I'm shaving points" Collins' play. I was pretty tense watching the game until the dirge of turnovers shattered Philly's momentum. It was a shame the Skins defensive line didn't kick into high gear earlier, but they've shown over the last dozen games that they're a last minute endurance bunch. Still, first playoffs games in a good six years now gives me a pretty healthy smile. Good to see the boys back in things again - especially so soon after Gibbs came back.

This morning's Washington Post has a story about a pretty surprising exchange between Clinton Portis and Joe Gibbs during the game. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/01/AR2006010101041.html

As Joe Gibbs walked past the Redskins' bench last week at FedEx Field, running back Clinton Portis started screaming at his Hall of Fame coach. "It's 'gut' and 'power.' Do you want to win?" yelled Portis, demanding the up-the-middle, punch-in-the-nose plays he loves to run.

"Yeah, I want to win the game" said the surprised Gibbs, not accustomed to being asked by his players if he prefers to win.

"Then it's 'gut' and 'power,' " repeated the 5-foot-10, 212-pound Portis, who doesn't look like nature intended that he be used as a human battering ram.

"Okay, I got it," said Gibbs, who did as he was told.

Good to see Portis is willing to speak truth to power.

TheGameguru wrote:

Thank god this nightmare of a season is finally over...

I can settle in for some nice beers this weekend and prepare for my anti-Manning cheering.


I'll root for Peyton and against his punk brother. How can you not like Peyton?

Any calls about the Chiefs coaching job yet Swampy? Do they know you made the Superbowl this year?

Packers fans, rejoice.

Certis wrote:

Any calls about the Chiefs coaching job yet Swampy? Do they know you made the Superbowl this year?

They won't hire me. A condition of my taking the job would be public flogging of defensive players for missed tackles.

Well, reports were right so far. Every single firing listed above (except Norv Turner - yet) has happened, as well as Denny Green having to fire 2 of his assistant coaches (and a 3rd "retiring").

Jay Glazer has not yet reported any rumors of Swampy in the running for KC's job, though, even though I believe Carl Peterson is flexible on the flogging thing.

I admit I'm suprised Sherman was fired. I think he did the best job he could this year and the Packer's recent problems have not been the coach, it's been the GM. Also with all the other vacanies, who do they expect to get that is a better coach than Sherman? Also I figured Favre would be back next year, now not so sure, also not sure the management there wants him back...

I think when your veteran QB is in there throwing 29 INTs, that's not good coaching. That kind of play would not have been allowed on Mike Holmgren's watch. It was one thing when Favre was a young player developing into a QB. As a veteran, it would not have flown. Holmgren would bench Favre for that kind of play if he had to. On Sherman's watch, Favre is out there slinging the ball however the hell he wants.

Sherman getting fired isn't just about this year - it's about a steady downward spiral the team has been on. And Brett Favre is responsible for more than his fair share of that.

The Sherman firing was much needed and long in coming. I was expecting it after last season, but instead they gave him a two-year extension. So, yesterday's news was music to my ears. Now, to see what they do with it. I still think Mariucci would be a good fit.

And, I know that I am going to sound like a huge Favre apologist, but I don't think you can place all the blame on him for his play. The OL this year was atrocious. Yes, you can argue that Favre was still the one who threw the ball, but give him some help on the line (if he comes back) and you won't see 29 INTs.

All the coaching firings you mentioned were deserved, imho.

Worst offenders - Mike Tice, who last night commented that what he had done with the team showed he deserved another head coaching job (my response - shut the f*** up and go scalp tickets with your strippers on your luxury yacht, and invite Randy over for good yucks over the ole Randy Ratio crap - you idiot!)

Norv Turner - I've said before, and I'll say again - one of the best coordinators around, and I love the guy as that. BUT, his record TIME AND TIME AGAIN has shown he sucks balls as a head coach. Any dissent?

Sherman and Haslett should have been fired last year, so no surprise. And yes, Haslett hung in there, but maybe the owner is thinking, new coach/new town/new team motif...eh?

Next on the list - will Parcells stay with Dallas, or leave Jerry hunting for that bargain basement coach?
And for God's sakes, fire Matt Millen - Detroit should not be stuck as a 4-12 or so team with all their picks...

AND MOST IMPORTANT - How bout that 6 game win streak the Dolphins hit on, in their usual 'we can go 0-4 in Dec' timeframe? I think I may be in love with Saban...is that so wrong?

Pigpen wrote:

AND MOST IMPORTANT - How bout that 6 game win streak the Dolphins hit on, in their usual 'we can go 0-4 in Dec' timeframe? I think I may be in love with Saban...is that so wrong?

Absolutely not! Saban, Krennel (yeah, I know they weren't great, but he did well with what he was handed), and Gibbs all pleasantly surprised me this year. I had Miami and the Skins chalked up for 6-10 and 8-8 seasons, respectively, and figured Cleveland would crash in around 4-12. Saban was easily the big surprise of the year, but all three have earned some respect knuckles from the Burrito.