American Football

[JJ1532]

If it weren’t for the fact that Patricia is off to coach the Lions after tonight seriously I’d be calling for his firing for this showing on defence.

Isn't it also fair to say that this Pats defence isn't actually that good? Surely you can't put all their struggles on him?

 

[Ciderhead]

This has all got an air of inevitability about it, hasn't it?

 

[JJ1532]

Ridiculous. Just ridiculous. Brady could play until he's 50 at this rate.

 

[kieran_vale]

Another Pats Super Bowl going to the wire. Brady has had himself some serious numbers tonight. Terrific play by Gronk.

This game is the equivalent of a Men’s final at Wimbledon where it’s all about holding serve.

This game is legit going to be about who has the ball last.

 

[Ciderhead]

This is the best Superbowl since.... the last one! First two I watched in 2013 and 15 were damp squibs, picked up since then!

 

[Ciderhead]

This is how to do it though with this drive, juust make the 1st down each time, drag the clock out as much as possible

 

[kieran_vale]

Got to give credit where it’s due this is a championship drive from Philly right now. Win or lose just an incredible game.

 

[kieran_vale]

Oh great another is it a catch review...

Again for me yes that is. Surely at that point he’s a runner.

 

[Ciderhead]

He only loses control after he comes back up that's got to be a TD

 

[JJ1532]

Well, at least we can see the "what is a catch" lunacy played out in the big game. How has this never been an issue before this season?

 

[kieran_vale]

He only loses control after he comes back up that's got to be a TD

The whole surviving the ground thing again. It all depends if they class him as a runner. For me he had control before so should stand.

 

[Ciderhead]

Right call. We all know Brady's gonna march back down the field anyway

 

[Ciderhead]

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

[kieran_vale]

Shitting hell.

 

[Ciderhead]

There's still time to take it to overtime....

 

[Ciderhead]

What was he doing there?!

 

[kieran_vale]

With no timeouts this is too much of an ask.

And calling that on the kickoff is not helping.

 

[JJ1532]

Pfft, Brady just wanted a bigger challenge....

 

[kieran_vale]

Ah well nearly. Well done Philly. Definitely not a case of defence wins championships tonight.

 

[JJ1532]

The Brady magic finally wearing off it seems. Fair play to the Eagles for winning their first championship, just a shame they have the worst fan base in the world.

 

[Ciderhead]

Get in there! I honestly don't think I'd be more chuffed if it was the Packers. After how brutal it was to see Wentz go down in that Rams game, to come back from that...they deserve this.

And that's no disrespect to the Pats. They played brilliantly, Tom Brady with more passing yards than anyone in Superbowl history (beating his own record!), they contributed to one of if not the greatest games I've ever seen.

Fantastic. Got to be up for work at 7, I don't care. Worth it.

 

[Aberstone]

What a game! Thought the Pats were going to score on that Hail Mary at the end there.

 

[kieran_vale]

The Brady magic finally wearing off it seems. Fair play to the Eagles for winning their first championship, just a shame they have the worst fan base in the world.

I’d take issue with you saying that on Brady. He is literally the only reason that game was close. Threw for over 500 yards. Can’t blame him in the slightest when his defence gets owned like that.

But either way Eagles were the better team. No complaints.

Edit - And just to add congrats to Nick Foles. You’re about to get seriously well paid somewhere.

 

[JJ1532]

Wowzas, McDaniels agrees to stay in New England. Either he got a seriously big raise or there may have been some other promises made to him for him to turn down such a great opportunity with the Colts.

 

[kieran_vale]

I can only guess its one of two things. Firstly has he got word from Belichick and Kraft that the former is approaching the end and the succession plan is in place with BB moving more to a GM/President type role. Secondly and also very feasible is that Andrew Lucks recovery is not going well, he has taken a battering in his short career.

Either way McDaniels has probably screwed over his chances of a HC job with any other team than the Pats after this. Nobody will want to touch him. Glad he's staying even if he pisses me off at times trying to be too clever with his playcalling.

 

[Anon]

I've harped on about it before, but this is another reason why I dislike this rule about needing a team knocked out before coaches can sign elsewhere. Colts have been dicked about by McDaniels, likely lost out on their other considerations, and will be way behind others when it comes to assessing the roster pre-draft. Really unprofessional.

Maybe Luck's shoulder is not good? If so, that job is a total 100% rebuild. Maybe BB's given his notice for retiring/leaving, and that's lead McDaniels to be a lock for HC once that happens? ... I can't believe this is just about a salary rise.

The fun thing would be to see McDaniels come in, see Brady retire, and Jimmy G ripping it up elsewhere I wonder what McDaniels' opinion on the trade was...

 

[kieran_vale]

The fun thing would be to see McDaniels come in, see Brady retire, and Jimmy G ripping it up elsewhere I wonder what McDaniels' opinion on the trade was...

It was over Jimmy G that BB and Kraft are rumoured to have had a falling out which prompted rumours he was looking at an exit plan. Personally I found the story was embelished a little (ESPN on the Patriots and after Mortensons early deflategate reporting always apply some scepticism) but was also believable on the key part of it. Brady apparently wants to keep going until he's 45. Whether that's achievable is questionable but then again he is pretty much re-writing the history books with his level of play at this age now.

Looks like Greg Schiano is rumoured to be favourite for DC. Big friend of BB indeed it was him who got him the job in Tampa originally. Only other candidate could be LB coach Brian Flores.

Strange goings on in New England regardless. Thinks haven't felt quite right for a while and culminated with this whole Malcolm Butler farce pre-game on Sunday.

 

[Anon]

Can't recall the author, but that article a few weeks' back about internal rumblings between Kraft/BB/Brady that naturally got thrown under the bus by a lot of Pats fans (not you Kieran)... perhaps it had some weight to it after all. It does all seem very strange, yeah.

I wonder if it was a case of BB wanting to keep JG - and maybe even trade Brady - but when BB lost that power struggle vs Kraft and Brady, and Jimmy's gone, BB's thought fuck it, let someone else take over. All guesswork of course. I'm sure Brady does want to keep playing, but lest we forget how quickly the cliff comes and no amount of yoga will stop that.

 

[kieran_vale]

Seth Wickersham was the author. I have to admit at first I thought it was ESPN stirring the pot but then this author did do a credible piece on the whole Ezekiel Elliot saga last year. Over time though I definitely think it's completely believable over BB not wanting to trade Jimmy G. This is the guy who is more famous than anyone for trading someone a year early so absolutely believe that. Some of it was just fluff like Brady getting the hump over the "Patriot of the week award". I struggle with that when the guy has been favourite for league MVP especially since Wentz went down. But the key point seemed reasonable to me. This is the article in question though

http://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/story/_/p...-brady-bill-belichick-internal-power-struggle

The other one to keep an eye on is Gronk. Openly stated was considering his future in the game after Sunday. Personally I think it's a ploy to get more money as his remaining two years on his contract are extremely team friendly but after that hit from Church in the AFCCG certainly can't blame him for considering it.

 

[kieran_vale]

Just to add though on McDaniels. I've never made a secret that I hold the Colts in even more disdain than I do our divisional rivals including the Jets but this is a dickish move from him. Not least for the assistants who would no doubt have already been hired in anticipation and put in place plans to up sticks to Indy etc. Not good.