"Being champions feels so good!" — 2010 NFL Post-Season: Wildcard Weekend Thread

Saints at http://c0848462.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/3d93bd2c4f3f1b33c02182fd0f20476f.png
Jets at Colts
Ravens at Chiefs
Packers at Eagles

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/22634/browns-fire-head-coach-eric-mangini

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns officially fired head coach Eric Mangini, the team announced Monday morning.

Mangini was 10-22 in two seasons in Cleveland, including a 2-10 mark in the AFC North. The Browns were embarrassed, 41-9, in Mangini's last game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

We will have much more on Cleveland's coaching change coming up in the AFC North blog.

it is hard to come up with much in mangini's defense.

That team would've sucked no matter who was coaching. Not enough good players.

They should've traded Cribbs by now. That dude is a luxury item.

True, but Mangini isn't really right for any team. I can't think of anything he does particularly well.

Maybe now he can concentrate on his excellent French-toast making skills. (couldnt think of anything either, maybe culinary is his bag, shrug)

http://grab.by/8bhq

lol espn why r all the quarterbacks running

I just took this quiz:

http://www.sporcle.com/games/crow_t_robot/cromartie

the texans as a franchise seems to be defined by the kind of safe mediocrity demonstrated by the decision to bring kubiak back. i thought the bad record this year might have been enough of a push to stir things up but i should've known better than to underestimate the steadfastness of their tedious equilibrium. i like to see coaches given time to make things happen but this team has been going nowhere for a few seasons and now is going backwards, and that's not really a pattern you are looking to reinforce.

The Texans are probably gonna clean up once Peyton retires...

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/waffledowntheriver/Fffff2.jpg

idk

http://i.imgur.com/wpmZr.gif

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5209/5324277140_a3ebea335b.jpg

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/01/ricky_williams_rips_tony_spara.php#more

dude needs to smoke up and mellow out imo

PeteCarroll
excited for saturday yet??
42 seconds ago

NO PETE I AM NOT

I think some of these clubs holding on to a coach might be because of the inevitible lockout/strike that is going to happen.

Hue Jackson interviewing for the 49ers job. Dude's done a lotta good for the Raiders, kinda hope he doesn't go but Niners could do worse.
http://www.sbreport.net/raider_news/008/5821.html

Also despite earlier NOO DONT GO reactions to Cable's possible ouster, I haven't seen anything definitive to tell me that that would even happen. And crazy Al never talks to anyone anyway so it's all speculation. Hello North Korea.

Hue Jackson was a good coordinator for the Falcons too, hope the Raiders hang onto him.

Mike Mularkey's going to interview w/Denver and Cleveland. Sorta hoping they snatch him up and the Falcons replace him w/Josh McDaniels.

McDaniels would be a nice fit for the Falcons. Sound like an analyst lol but "I like his enthusiasm!"

Are Gruden and Cowher both blacklisted or something? Has any team even given them an interview?

It would be my dream to have Chucky back at Oakland but that will never happen. ;_;

I think seeing unheralded guys like Mike Smith and John Harbaugh get success, might lead some owners to save the cash and try someone a bit less heralded.

Are Gruden and Cowher both blacklisted or something?

Cowher has turned down interview opportunities for teams he doesn't want to work for.

cable seems right for the silver and black. i mean, disagree, get out of line?? he breaks your face, man.

He doesn't have a lot of guile, which is almost 100% why I like him. And that he smashes dudez in the face.

Also he looks a little like Ray Winstone.

The 49ers GM/coach search has been pretty embarrassing so far.

PTT mentions it above, but oh man, that ricky williams interview:

On the major difference between the Patriots and the Dolphins: “They have a quarterback.”

_____________________________________

On Brandon Marshall: “Being around Brandon a lot – I like the guy, I think the world of him – but as a teammate, sometimes he makes it difficult to like him and support him. It’s not necessarily what he says, it’s when he says it and the way he says it. But for the most part the things that he says are things that everyone else wants to say, but no one has the courage, or the balls. And some of it is intelligence – they’re smart enough not to say those things, because they don’t want to burn bridges. But when you have $50 million, then you can get away with whatever you want.”

love this guy.

The Cleveland Browns want to talk to Pat Shurmur about the vacancy created when Eric Mangini was fired. A Cleveland Plain Dealer beat reporter says Shurmur’s meeting with the Browns will take place on Thursday.

I lol'd.

alfred williams: i'm telling you, mcfadden is for real, the stuff he was doing against you (broncos), he reminded me of bo jackson...

brandon lloyd: ...EVERYONE looked like bo jackson, man. (LOLS ALL AROUND)

Pat Shurmur morelike pat SURE-WIN

go browns

cable gone then. at last! jerkoff. how did that team not get to the superbowl. i heard they only won 6 divisional games. what a joke. this has just been a horribly embarrassing year for the ordinarily respectable raiders franchise.

WHAT

AL DAVIS YOU MYOPIC BITTER OLD FORESKIN WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU. AGGGGGHHHH

http://shegivesgoodsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/AlDavisIsAGhoulorisittheotherwayaround1.jpg

I hope that when Al reaches the gates of Hell that satan greets him with the face of Pete Rozelle and leads him by the hand to thr chamber of eternal Superbowl losses and boiling oil enemas

al davis will never die be serious

STFU

;_;

ha sry

<3

hugs

thanks bro

If they make Hue Jackson coach I think it's a good move.

I guess...

Yeah, that's what I'm hearing now, that Davis did it because Hue Jackson was interviewing with the Niners and he didn't want to lose him. He is supposed to be offering Jackson the Raiders job.

I had heard that the only way Jackson would stay was if he was head coach, but then there didn't seem to be any good reason to let Cable go and I convinced myself that it wouldn't happen.

It could be worse. Fuck, it HAS been worse, lol.

Jackson is the first guy they've had in the building in a long time with any kind of credentials whatsoever.

Also he looks a little like Ray Winstone.

― VegemiteGrrrl, Tuesday, January 4, 2011 7:14 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark

haha! Ray Winstone would make an awesome coach btw.

Just so you have more to look forward to, next years strength of schedule forecasts (lol carolina):
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/35095/2011-strength-of-schedule

Team Combined win-loss record Percentage

1. Carolina Panthers 142-114-0 .555
2. Buffalo Bills 137-119-0 .535
3t. New York Jets* 133-123-0 .520
3t. Indianapolis Colts* 133-123-0 .520
3t. Jacksonville Jaguars 133-123-0 .520
3t. Kansas City Chiefs* 133-123-0 .520
3t. San Diego Chargers 133-133-0 .520
3t. Denver Broncos 133-123-0 .520
3t. Detroit Lions 133-123-0 .520
10t. Miami Dolphins 132-124-0 .516
10t. Houston Texans 132-124-0 .516
10t. Minnesota Vikings 132-124-0 .516
13t. Green Bay Packers* 130-126-0 .508
13t. New Orleans Saints* 130-126-0 .508
15t. New England Patriots* 129-127-0 .504
15t. Philadelphia Eagles* 129-127-0 .504
15t. Dallas Cowboys 129-127-0 .504
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 127-129-0 .496
19t. Cleveland Browns 126-130-0 .492
19t. Oakland Raiders 126-130-0 .492
19t. New York Giants 126-130-0 .492
19t. Atlanta Falcons* 126-130-0 .492
23t. Tennessee Titans 125-131-0 .488
23t. Chicago Bears* 125-131-0 .488
23t. Seattle http://c0848462.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/3d93bd2c4f3f1b33c02182fd0f20476f.png* 125-131-0 .488
26. St. Louis Rams 122-134-0 .477
27t. Pittsburgh Steelers* 121-135-0 .473
27t. Cincinnati Bengals 121-135-0 .473
27t. Washington Redskins 121-135-0 .473
30. San Francisco 49ers 119-137-0 .465
31. Baltimore Ravens* 117-139-0 .457
32. Arizona Cardinals 113-143-0 .441

Source: ESPN Stats & Information | *Reached playoffs in 2010

yeah, upset, but i'm from philly. used to it :/

also apparently vick really wanted to get the ball to... riley cooper?

mega mixed feelings here - like the pack, hate the eagles, really wanted to see the http://c0848462.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/3d93bd2c4f3f1b33c02182fd0f20476f.png @ atlanta obv - packers-bears nfccg could be pretty amazing

Hugs, Mordy

Bears Pack will be awes: hope there. Is snow!!!

Would be

i'm u_u that we're getting robbed of vick's return to atlanta tbh

Yeah that sucks, true

how fucked up is the nfl that somehow the bears got the http://c0848462.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/3d93bd2c4f3f1b33c02182fd0f20476f.png & not the falcons

[dog-fighting joke goes here]

love the pack.

there was a story in sports-illustrated, maybe 10 -- 15 years ago (before GB's last SB win), about how green bay would never, ever be a top-shelf franchise again because young stars didn't want to play in wisconsin. nonsense.

What a game

awww, jackson

BURGERTIME YALL

Kobe was chided about Eagles by locker room when he walked in. 'Akers!' Jokingly yelled Artest. Kobe: 'First of all, eff y'all'

im watching Bobs Burgers

bob's arms look like this turtles neck

http://i.imgur.com/ememH.jpg

Why are you watching that

idk man all those fuckin ads about BURGERS just made me deathly curious

its better than a new Simpsons ep anyway

Lol why bc I'm hungry that's why! :)

I'm watching Times of Harvey Milk (peering down at u from great height lol)

also, almost every Home Movies voice actor is in this so i kinda had to give it a shot

Yeah, I'm watching it for the Home Movies connection. It could get better.

I like Kristen Schaal a lot: lemme know if it's worth a look. Something about the scrawly animation turned me off

its ok, its like a 5 out of 10

I'm doing a readthrough for a show that has a horrible first draft right now :/

I don't get the point of this show existing

i dont get the point of u existing

It's already better than American Dad, so...that's one point.

American dad is hideously mediocre, soooo...

What I want to know is why can't there be more football

Well, when the 18-game season comes, there will be. More really crummy, starters-sitting-out, tired, injury-ridden football.

:( it was a rhetorical question Johnny

I know I know...I just feel like if I write something to that effect on the internet enough times, Goodell and the owners might see it and realize the err of their ways.

I hear ya

http://hockeyfightproductions.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-come-to-bury-manning-not-to-praise.html

Did you know that in the entirety of the Packers/Bears rivalry that they have only played against each other once in the playoffs, and that was in the 1940's? How epic would this NFC Championship game be??

i've defended the playoff system as it generally works, but they desperately need to implement seeding by record, ignoring the division winners. atl's "prize" for being the best team in the nfc is getting the wild card packers, while the bears get the http://c0848462.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/3d93bd2c4f3f1b33c02182fd0f20476f.png, who are still one win from .500

makes no gd sense

Yeah that I definitely do agree with. I mean I kind of like the idea of the http://c0848462.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/3d93bd2c4f3f1b33c02182fd0f20476f.png getting to make some noise, the divisional structure is something that I feel is very important to the game. But the Bears seem to have caught a massive break when GB won as otherwise they'd be playing the Eagles.

Bears/Hawks will be a crazy matchup for sure, I don't think I'll be able to predict that one within like 3 touchdowns. Both teams have played some pretty terrible, terrible football over the regular season.

also I wonder if the 2010 Bears make the super bowl, will they be better or worse than the 2006 Super Bowl team??

For all Cutler's flaws, he's better than Rex.

bears defense doesn't seem quite as intimidating in 2010 as it did in 2006

I can't even picture the Bears in this superbowl. Like, I keep forgetting they're in the playoffs.

I dunno if I'd necessarily prefer Cutler over Grossman to take the shot in the red zone on third down.

cutler, no contest, but remember,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/etienne_saint/cutttler.jpg

I'd take Cutler any day, on one of his "good days" he's as good as anyone in the league, and in terms of raw talent he's way above Grossman. He's capable of lifting a team on its shoulders and yet seems to actually do it so infrequently. The Bears certainly are on the side of fortune this season.

Just for posterity - the Bears are one of the worst teams in passing (28th) and running (22nd), and their pass defense is not great either (20th). The only thing they do well is stop the run. GB has a point differential 100 points higher than them. They have scored less points than every playoff team except for the one they are going to be playing, though their defense seems solid. Dunno how much those numbers were inflated by playing against the likes of Shaun Hill, Drew Stanton, Tyler Thigpen, Jimmy Clausen, and Joe Webb, but they seem to be stingy giving up points, Jets game excepted.

I think the 2010 Bears defense is probably a bit better up front and a bit less in the defensive backs than the 2006 club. It's the Bears, the offense is probably about the same, although the earlier club was better in the run. The O-line was definitely better back in 06. Cutler will make mistakes, but Grossman was totally maddening. Big thing with the Bears is they have to keep a balence.

I'd say the Bears are probably a year early on the development. Thing is that they have mix of vets on the o-line and defense and some players are really young.

gonna call you all on this cutler v grossman bidness when santa claus's favorite son doesn't get em to the big dance

also I wonder if the 2010 Bears make the super bowl, will they be better or worse than the 2006 Super Bowl team??

― frogbs, Monday, January 10, 2011 3:55 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark

defense was way better in 06 until tommie harris got hurt - offense kind of weird, like earl said their o-line and running game was better then, but cutler's a big edge over grossman. they also got some favorable matchups in the playoffs that year (http://c0848462.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/3d93bd2c4f3f1b33c02182fd0f20476f.png, saints)