Taken from: AnAbsoluteCreation @ http://www.belowtopsecret.com/thread193972/pg1\n\nNow I have to say that the game I just watched was disheartening. I am not a Seahawks fan, although if I was I'd be pissed. The referrees made some suspicious calls. Anyone share my concerns? \n\nA few reasons to push for Pitsburg: \n\nPitsburg has a 4 to 1 fan base in detroit this week. It is a better story for Pitsburg with the legendary Jerome Bettis retiring. Then I thought, if Pitsburg has more fans, they'll sell more merchindise, therefore NFL corporate junkies get more money. \n\nNow if you didn't see the game don't bother replying, because before I saw it, I would't believe it either. Just about 5 really questionable calls. Costing Seatle 2 touchdowns.\n\n(I myself AM a Seahawks fan I don't even care about the Super bowl anymore.  We lost! - Life goes on.  But I thought this was a good discussion point for conspiracy nuts.)
199003
First off Ill have to say this was one of the worst officiated Super Bowls Ive ever seen, but a conspiracy.....Uhh I dont know. Seattle didnt help themselves by letting Pittsburgh get a 3rd and long early in the game. They also kicked themselves in the butt by letting Willie Parker run vertially untouched into the end zone at the beginning of the secong half. So Seattle fans, you must also point the finger at your beloved Seahawks too. Plus Im sure the Steelers felt the refs redeemed themselves after the blew that call in Indianapolis.
363028
Powerhouse Titans. Nice touch.\n\nI'm a Giants fan, and a very bitterly disappointed one at the moment. Shockey is known for his outlandish statements. He's a passionate and fiery player. He says asinine things. Do all Giants fans agree with him? No. I sure as hell don't. I thought we'd win today's game against the Titans, but I was seriously (and now am definately) doubting the team's ability to win against Dallas. \n\nI'm not looking forward to this game whatsoever. It's going to take a flat out miracle for the Giants to win against Dallas. That's all there is to it.\n\nJust because Shockey wants to get some publicity for saying crazy things doesn't mean the rest of us Giants fans agree with him or want to watch our team get pummelled game after game.
195830
I have been a fan for over 30 years...and it came to a crashing halt the day they signed that oxygen thief.  I have no use for T.O. he is an insult to the great athletes that play in the NFL.  His ego has already took its toll on the last two teams he played for and it will be no different in Dallas.  By the way...Bledsoe had some of the best numbers in the NFL last year...he is a great QB in his own right....so there should be no complaints there.
419808
I've contended since his rookie season how grossly NFL fans and pundits have overrated Big-Ben.  I've been head scratching since he came into the league, wondering why people can't see it's that championship caliber defense and top-rated, two-headed rushing attack that led to his success.  \n\nSure, he had his moments.  He's a big guy with quick feet who can escape the pocket and therefore extend the play.  Yes, he won a Super Bowl.  MAY I REMIND people of how he has played in many playoff games, to include the Super Bowl?  \n\nThe Patriots dared him to throw in his rookie year in the playoffs.  He choked badly.  He was just awful.  Don't take my word for it, watch the tape or look up the stats.\n\nThat same year he won against the Jets in spite of tossing some God-awful, untimely interceptions.  Just awful.  Again, watch the tape---it doesn't lie.  \n\nFast-forward to last year's Super Bowl.  He was just awful.  Statistically, I might add, the WORST performance ever by a winning QB in the Super Bowl.  Fact.  He threw THREE (3) interceptions, ZERO (0) touchdowns, while completing less than half (the equivalent of batting .200 in a baseball series) of his passes for barely over 100 yards.  He was just awful.   BUT----he had that monster, bone-crushing defense and a pounding rushing attack no other team in football possessed (with the varity of backs at his disposal, combined with his O-line's ability to create holes).  \n\nHe's got some talent, and I get why Pittsburgh likes him after the "Slash" Stewart debacle, but watch the games.  Watch him play.  A big pass or two down the field for touchdowns every now and again, or a 15 yard scramble on 3rd down does NOT an excellent quarterback make.   And he thrives off play action, but heck----even I could sell the run if I had a top rated rushing attack at my disposal.  You rush the ball 15 times in a row for 5, 10 yards a carry and duhhh----there's going to be some play-action fake opportunities!  \n\nHis medical issues are only compounding the harsh reality that without a championship caliber defense (yes, it's good but not what it once was), and without that POUNDING rushing attack ("Fast" Willie Parker is a fine back, but not a pounding, classic in-between the tackles runner the Steelers have thrived on), you could line up on all four downs, if need be, and hammer away for a first down 4-5 yards at a whack----his true colors are shining through.  He may one day be a journeyman caliber guy, but for now, he throws interceptions like they're going out of style (he threw them more often than 3/4 of the league, by the way, his rookie year----in spite of the fact he attempted fewer passes than any other player in the league.  Dead last).\n\nThe Steelers won in SPITE of Ben last year.  And while stats only tell part of a story, sometimes they tell a very clear and convincing story.  The guy had the worst statistical performance EVER by a starting QB, people.  EVER!  To defend him with statements such as, "Well yeah, but he won the game!" is just nonsense.  It's glib nonsense.  It would be like a pitcher walking 9 batters, giving up 5 home runs and 19 hits over 6 innings before getting pulled for a reliever, but winning the game 9-8 because his offense out-slugged the other team.  To argue, "Well, that pitcher won the game, baby!  He's a winner!" is congruous to what Steeler fans say about Big Ben.
39067
The referees once again, ruined the game in my opinion.  They made good calls for the most part but completely BLEW it on two game-impacting called penalities.\nThe offensive pass interference on Jackson that wiped out the Seattle TD was clearly a bad call.  The contact was actually initiated by the defender and Jackson did not push off.\nThen the offensive holding call (??? really? where?) that negated a hefty gain down the the Pittsburgh 2 yard line.\nOn the Big Ben TD.  My opinion was that he really did score, if only by an inch.  The ball did break the plane of the goal line while in the air which is all that is needed, regardless of the fact that when he landed the ball was back outside the goal.\nSo they got that one right.  Unfortunately, the Hawks lost probably 11 points and game momentum over two calls that can only be described as "bad" at the very best.
541005
The reason why you are seeing so may posts that are essentially "HA! In your face republicans! How do you like me now!?" Is because those people are gloating in a 'win'.\n\nThe ***overwhelming*** majority of the posts that I've come across like this don't have a ***real*** question any where in the "question". It's just folks gloating. No new information. No legitimate request for information. Just gloating.\n\nYou see this ***same*** type of behavior when rival sporting teams compete. The fans of the winning team will gloat and say things like "How do you like those apples?"\n\nIn point of fact they are not intrested in even the slightest way shape or form how the fans of the loseing team feel about apples.\n\nIn short... let them gloat. None of this will matter in any real scence until 2008. For the time being it's pretty much status quo and gearing up for the next big thing.\n\nHope this helps!
187342
well, I'm a huge Raider fan to start out.  When I saw that the Titans took Young and the Jets stuck with their guns and took D'Brickashaw I was like "WE GOT LEINART!!!! WE GOT LEINART!!!"  then it came time for the Raiders to pick and I vividly remember hearing the commish saying "....the Oakland Raiders select Mmm" and I threw my hands in the air in triumph "Michael Huff from Texas"  man....the life was sucked out of me.  If you would have said the Raiders are gonna get Huff in the draft I would have been happy as hell.  If you THEN would have told me, "by the way, Leinart would have been available and you would have passed on him" I would think you were high.\nBut from all accounts the Raiders have high hopes for Andrew Walter and wern't about to draft another QB from USC even though Leinart probably won't resemble Todd Maranovich in the least bit.\nI love Huff and love it even more that he'll be starting and making plays week 1.  Darnell Bing is gonna suprise some people on the Raiders and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets someones starting job this season.\nHoward I know little to nothing about, only that he's an energy ball and has alot to learn and know even less about Paul McQuistan even though Weber St is like 15 minutes from my house LOL\n\nGO RAIDERS!!!!
445169
The Flyers have lots to prove tonight, the Sabs have some key injuries, anyone who thinks it's a given is delusional.\n\nI finally dumped Joni from my fantasy team and it pained me to do so.     I don't know what the Flyers can do right now, it must be very frustrating being a fan.\n\nPersonally I think Hatcher is a fossil, Peter can't be a one man band all the time either.  Like I said, I don't know what the answers are but I don't think Nedved is going to be a game changer.  \n\nI love my Sabs, but it seems whenever I underestimate a team I get my lunch handed to me.  I drop -12 Joni, so watch tonight will be his night....I make a derogatory remark about Nedved--he'll have a hat trick.  \n\nGo Sabs.....and good luck to Philly....after tonight.:-)
233771
You will go if you pay for another ring, like your crappy team did last year. The seahawks were robbed and you steelers fans know it. Maybe the Browns will buy a superbowl this year instead.... GO BROWNS  \n\nPITTSBURGH SUCKS\nPITTSBURGH SUCKS
463486
I for one will not eat your humble pie never LIKED ROMANOV right from the word go. yes I thought it was great last season any fan would. for you to say you cant wait for the demise of Hearts you cant be a true fan of football. AND YES HEARTS FANS DID NOTICE. that's why there was alot off us very worried. and yes some jambos did have there blind folds on when it came to him. but at long last they have woken up. I admit they should have woken up when he sacked George Burley. When was the last time you Heard GOD GAVE ME ROMANOV at any HEARTS game not be for some time now. I have only missed 3 away games due to work have been to all home games never heard it once. HEARTS FANS DO  SUPPORT  though thick and thin glory hunting is the last thing you can call a hearts fan. NO Matter where HEARTS play I will be there. But in saying that if Mr Romanov fills MY HEARTS TEAM WITH ALL LITHUANIANS I WILL NOT BUY A NEW SEASON TICKET.
20741
lol..Steelers..they win , they can stop the seahawks run..did you see how SA was shining the second half against the pan?..steelers d is not gonna lay down like that...the hawks have an antsy QB ,the blitz will be perfect..HAHAHAHAHA.....they(hawks have alot of talent, i see how under a great coach they have strived to be better..they deserve to be where they are....but did you see RoeRoe(QB) on fire!!!???!!he was in the zone and the oc was pulling out all the stops...i look forward to the super bowl two great teams and two of the most emotional coaches in the game..since they both had 30 plus points in the last playoff games.... this Extra Large(XL)Superbowl should be one for the ages!!....now the superbowl wait begins!! ...Ben AKA RoeRoe.. Super Bowl MVP!!
188255
Okay, I was had, and I am dumb A couple of readers have written in (and my thanks to them) to tell me that the “fight” between Michael Strahan and Tom Arnold on The Best Damn Sports Show was, in fact, an April Fools Joke. My congratulations to everyone involved. I didn’t think those guys were capable of such a quality ruse.\n\nSome commentors made some pretty good points about the inauthenticity, too. You’re a clever bunch, Deadspinners.\n\nThe entire set-up was a ruse, too. Tom Arnold didn’t even write a book. They went all out with this thing. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and general manager Ernie Accorsi were briefed ahead of time that it would be happening, so they wouldn’t flip out.\n\nWell done, Best Damn Sports Show.
62309
I think this is great.\n\nMike Tirico from SU calling the most popular nationally televised game, with the help of former QB Joe Theimsmann and current PTI co-host Tony Kornheiser. Suzy Kolber and Michelle Tafoys who just went to Detroit will be on the sidelines. You couldn't ask for a better team. Al Michaels is great though, I wish he could have stayed.
430655
That is an excellent question that only ownership and management can truly answer.\nFrom what took place in last nights loss to Jacksonville, it does seem that if Shockey had been thrown the ball more often they may have scored more.\nI think if they used him more in conjuction with Tiki and the running game, Jeremy would be a lot more effective throughout the game.\nShockey is an excellent catch and run receiver.\nHow about using him in a variation of the screen pass; but will Eli under throw him like he did with Tiki?\nOr how about sending him deep like they do with Plaxico? No wait; Eli may under throw it again.\nWhen I talk with my brother, I jokingly refer to Eli as Perfect Play Eli.\nIt seems to me that everything has to go perfect for Eli to complete a pass.\nI think he READS TOO SLOW.\nMost of the time defenders know exactly to whom he’s throwing the ball.\nIt’s a wonder he’s not throwing more INTs than what he is.\nIn his defense; I think there’s too much pressure on him to hit the deep pass.\nAND I think somebody wants Plaxico to be A and THE STAR RECEIVER.
408286
No,  its stupid in my humble  fan opinion.      As the great Steve Young says you never pull a veteran QB unless your hopes of the playoffs are gone.   And the broncos are still in the hunt....WIll they still be?  TIme will tell....Im saying no......Because teams will go hard after the rookie.......He may have looked good in preseason but that was preseason......And alot of the time he was partly running with the second string....The game is so fast and Denver runs a very complicated offense......For people who expect the kid to just go in and be an instant star are wrong.    I wouldn't be surprised if he had a really terrible game on Sunday that some broncos fans would be calling for him to be benched...some fans are so fickle.....In my humble opinion Plummer was the  best shot......But what do I know?   Ex Broncos like Terrell Davis are saying its a big mistake to pull JPlummer  out.   People are quick to forgot that the broncos were one step away from the superbowl last year.......Plummer  didn't lose it for them...The defense did.......
458153
Couple of things:\n\n1) I was surprised to find out that this year the Fiesta Bowl is not the National Game. There is going to be a separate Bowl game this year called the "National Title" game.\n\n2) Michigan Should get the rematch and I'll tell you why:\n\nMichigan is the 2nd best team in the country and deserves a rematch. I'm an OSU fan, and I know that if anyone but Michigan goes to the National Championship game (which is not the Rose Bowl) OSU will get the title.\n\nThe whole point of the BCS is supposed to be having the two best teams play in the championship. Michigan is definitely a lot better than N.D. and USC. If Michigan doesn't rematch, they should do away with the BCS (which I would be cool with, because I hate the BCS).\n\nBeing a huge OSU fan, I didn't want a rematch because I just wanted the title, but now I do and I'll tell you why:\n\nA. Michigan is better than the rest of the teams in NCAA Football.\nB. Troy Smith would be the first OSU QB to beat Michigan 4 times\nC. OSU's center will not mis-snap the ball twice and cut our turnovers in half (helping us win by more than 3 points).\nD. Michigan's Hart said that OSU is nothing special and if they play again Michigan will beat OSU. I would like to see Hart eat those words!\nE. Another victory against Michigan will help OSU's stats in that rivalry (beating them twice a year will help us catch up quickly :))\nF. Llyod Carr said that this was the best team he has ever coached, so I like the idea of the OSU team being better. And it would be cool to have them be beat twice. \n\n3. The only reason the rematch wouldn't happen is to make the game multiconference and increase ratings to get more money. \n\n\nWhatever happens, this is going to be the Buckeyes' year! GO BUCKS!
62886
Like everyone else said, they don't want any team to have a home-field advantage. Also, you are talking about tens of thousands of people coming to the site of the Super Bowl. These people all need hotels, airfare and othere accomodations. Trying to plan something this big with only one or two weeks notice would be a complete disaster. There are some NFL cities (like Green Bay) that simply could never handle that many people at once on short notice. Jacksonville had trouble with it a few years ago, and they had plenty of warning. This needs to be planned out years in advance. Plus the NFL likes to reward cities (like Detroit, or Houston last year) that build shiny new stadiums for their teams. They don't want the Super Bowl to be played in a dump.